Montclair Wins Big in Suburban Essex Readers' Choice Awards

Best burger? Smashburger in Montclair. Best brunch? Raymond's on Church Street, followed up by Toast on Bloomfield Avenue. Best caterer? CulinAriane on Walnut Street.

Suburban Essex has released its Best of Essex 2011 Readers' Choice Awards and Montclair businesses, again and again, came out on top.

There were the winners that were no surprise at all, such as Applegate Farm being named best ice cream parlor. Applegate also won the top spot last year. And Osteria Giotto generally, and for some time, has served up some of the most fabulous food around. The magazine named it Essex's "Best Italian Restaurant" for the third year in a row. "On its menu, pastas are well represented, including gnocchi with fresh tomato and basil and orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage," the magazine said.

T.S. Ma was named best Chinese restaurant while Salute Brick Oven Bistro was named best new restaurant.

The battle over which Mexican restaurant is best in Montclair was settled when the magazine named Tinga, praising its catfish tacos with chipotle mayonnaise.

Amanti Vino was named the best place to buy wine while Cuban Pete's was named the best ethnic restaurant.

For sushi, you should head to Dai Kichi, or to Nori Sushi or Aorzora. Indeed, Montclair restaurants won all three top places in this category.

When it comes to shopping, Montclair also performs well. Hampton House was named best for home furnishings with The Banyan Tree coming in third. Readers also chose the Little Shoe Box as the best place to buy children's shoes.

Best storefront window was Just Kidding Around while best toy store was Learning Express. Best place for women's shoes was Tory Janes and for women's clothing was Barbara Eclectic. In fact, again, Montclair won all three spots in this category, with Ruby and CoCo in second and third place.

Check out the magazine to peruse the entire list of winners which, again, include loads of establishments from our fair city.

Congratulations everyone!