2012 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Contest Winners

Below, you will find the 2012 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Contest Winners, as reported by Truckee's awesome newspaper, the Sierra Sun.

Each year, the staff from the Sierra Sun and the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza conduct an online-only contest in 68 different categories. Locals and visitors can vote during a three week period, and the results of the contest are announced in September.

This contest is great, because it allows people to recognize great businesses and individuals, and their great accomplishments. It also gives visitors or vacationers to Truckee and North Tahoe, who might not be familiar with the area, some great recommendations to start with.

Feel free to SHARE YOUR FAVORITES with the Truckee Travel Guide website, and become a part of the website!!!

Congratulations to ALL the winners!!

Best Food and Drink

Best Happy Hour:
Total submissions: 391

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 87
2. The River Grill (Tahoe City): 53
3. Hacienda del Lago (Tahoe City): 15

Best Breakfast:
Total submissions: 496

1. Squeeze In (Truckee): 115
2. Fire Sign Cafe (Sunnyside) 111
3. Old Post Office (Carnelian Bay): 52

Best Fine Dining:
Total submissions: 509

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 106
2. Wolfdale's Cuisine Unique Restaurant (Tahoe City): 44
3. Pianeta Ristorante (Truckee): 43

Best Barbecue:
Total submissions: 220

1. Smokey's Kitchen (Truckee): 120
2. T's Mesquite Rotisserie (Incline Village): 22
3. T & S Tri Tip sandwich at Truckee Thursdays: 18

Best Bar:
Total submissions: 426

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 100
t-2. Bar of America (Truckee): 33
t-2. Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats (Truckee): 32
3. Tourist Club (Truckee): 23

Best Outdoor Dining:
Total: 452

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 139
2. Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge (Sunnyside): 70
3. Gar Woods Grill & Pier (Carnelian Bay): 25

Best Restaurant View:
Total submissions: 488

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 169
2. Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge (Sunnyside): 79
3. West Shore Café (Homewood): 37

Best Fast Food:
Total submissions: 328

1. Bill's Rotisserie (Truckee): 56
2. Burger Me (Truckee): 46
3. T's Mesquite Rotisserie (Incline Village): 31

Best Sushi:
Total submissions: 406

t-1. Mamasake Sushi (Olympic Valley): 77
t-1. Drunken Monkey Sushi (Truckee): 77
2. Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee): 62
3. Java Sushi (Truckee): 47

Best Bakery:
Total submissions: 307

1. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City): 113
2. Treat Box Bakery (Truckee): 77
3. Sugar Pine Cakery (Tahoe City): 21

Best Burger:
Total submissions: 435

1. Burger Me (Truckee): 177
2. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 55
3. The Bridgetender (Tahoe City): 38

Best Asian Food:
Total submissions: 269

1. Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee): 77
2. Drunken Monkey Sushi (Truckee): 36
3. Thai Nakorn (Truckee): 25

Best Deli:
Total submissions: 376

1. Full Belly Deli (Truckee): 263
2. Tahoma Market PDQ (Tahoma): 23
3. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City): 12

Best Expresso/Coffee:
Total submissions: 428

1. Coffeebar (Truckee): 216
2. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City): 56
3. Wild Cherries Coffee House (Truckee): 41

Best Mexican Food:
Total submissions: 408

1. Tacos Jalisco (Truckee): 114
t-2. El Toro Bravo (Truckee): 35
t-2. Casa Baesa (Truckee): 35
3. La Mexicana (Kings Beach): 28

Best Vegetarian/Natural Food:
Total submissions: 252

1. Uncommon Kitchen (Tahoe City): 187
2. New Moon Natural Foods (Tahoe City, Truckee): 11
3. Red Truck (Truckee): 9

Best Pizza:
Total submissions: 460

1. Best Pies Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant (Truckee): 110
2. Village Pizzeria (Truckee) 53
t-3. Zano's Family Italian & Pizza (Truckee): 27
t-3. Peluso's Apizza (Kings Beach): 27
t-3. Fireside Pizza Company (Olympic Valley): 27

Best Ice Cream:
Total submissions: 260

t-1. Tahoe Creamery (various vendors): 47
t-1. Susie Scoops Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt (Incline Village): 47
2. Coffeebar (Truckee): 24
3. Tootsies (Tahoe City): 19

See some of my favorite Truckee restaurants!!

Share YOUR Truckee Restaurant recommendations with the Truckee Travel Guide readers!

Best Business

Best Gallery:
Total submissions: 178

1. Gallery Keoki (Olympic Valley): 47
2. Carmel Gallery (Truckee): 33
3. Riverside Studios (Truckee): 26

Best Ski/Board Shop:
Total submissions: 309

1. Tahoe Dave's Skis and Boards (Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Olympic Valley): 76
2. Porters Sports Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City, Truckee): 55
3. Totally Board (Truckee): 36

Best Sporting Goods:
Total submissions: 234

1. Truckee Sports Exchange (Truckee): 35
2. Porter Sports Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City, Truckee): 30
3. Mountain Hardware & Sports (Truckee): 27

Best Catering:
Total submissions: 198

1. Full Belly Deli (Truckee): 26
t-2. Moody's Bistro Bar & Beats (Truckee): 21
t-2. North Tahoe Catering (Kings Beach): 21
3. D'Lish Catering (Tahoe City): 19

Best Casino:
Total submissions: 170

1. Crystal Bay Casino (Crystal Bay): 120
2. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe (Incline Village): 17
3. Tahoe Biltmore (Crystal Bay): 11

Best Fitness Club:
Total submissions: 243

1. CrossFit Avalanche & Blizzard (Truckee, Tahoe Vista): 63
2. A Sante Lakeside Fitness (Tahoe City): 43
3. Performance Training Center by Julia Mancuso (Truckee): 32

Best Garden Supply/Nursery:
Total submissions: 222

1. Villager Nursery (Truckee): 100
2. Tahoe Tree Company (Tahoe City): 53
3. Perennial Landscape & Nursery (Tahoe Vista): 33

Best Bank:
Total submissions: 277

1. Bank of the West (various locations): 78
2. Plumas Bank (various locations): 62
3. Wells Fargo (various locations): 43

Best Gift Shop:
Total submissions: 187

1. Bespoke (Truckee): 29
2. Village Toys (Incline Village): 20
3. Riverside Studios (Truckee): 19

Best Landscape Company:
Total submissions: 141

1. Green Envy, Inc. (Tahoe City): 24
t-2. Rock & Rose Landscape (Truckee): 21
t-2. Blide Landscape and Construction (Truckee): 21
3. Perennial Landscape & Nursery (Tahoe Vista): 12

Best Tattoo:
Total submissions: 106

1. Lucky 7 Tattoo & Piercing (Kings Beach): 63
2. Truth Tattoo (Truckee): 30
3. Smiley's Tattoo (Truckee): 9

Best Veterinary Clinic:
Total submissions: 192

1. Sierra Pet Clinic (Truckee): 47
2. Burton Creek Veterinary Clinic (Tahoe City): 39
3. Donner-Truckee Veterinary Hospital (Truckee): 26

Best Auto Shop/Garage:
Total submissions: 221

1. Ward and Sons Automotive (Truckee): 34
2. The Auto & Tire Doctor (Truckee): 26
t-3. Big Bear Automotive (Tahoe City): 21
t-3. Quality Automotive and Smog (Truckee): 21

Best Clothing Store:
Total submissions: 222

1. Dressed Boutique (Truckee): 33
2. Mo, Jo & Zoe (Truckee): 26
3. Fine 'N Funky (Tahoe City): 18

Best Marina:
Total submissions: 116

1. Tahoe City Marina (Tahoe City): 39
2. Obexer's Boat Company (Homewood): 22
3. Sunnyside Marina & Storage (Sunnyside): 10

Best Bike Shop:
Total submissions: 263

1. Paco's Truckee Bike and Ski (Truckee): 80
2. Olympic Bike Shop (Tahoe City): 54
3. The BackCountry (Truckee): 25

Best Nail Salon:
Total submissions: 125

1. Sassy Nail Salon and Spa (Truckee): 38
2. T & T Nails (Truckee): 32
3. Unique Nail Spa (Tahoe City): 19

Best Hair Salon:
Total submissions: 296

1. Urban Angels Salon (Truckee): 107
2. Mane Attraction (Truckee): 22
3. Sierra Bella Vita (Tahoe City): 20

Best Massage:
Total submissions: 194

t-1. Zenergy Wellness Spa (Truckee): 22
t-1. Clearwater Day Spa (Tahoe City): 22
2. Truckee Massage (Truckee): 18
3. Trilogy Spa (Olympic Valley): 7

Best Martial Arts:
Total submissions: 30

1. Revolution Athletics Training Center (Truckee): 6
2. Tahoe City Martial Arts Academy (Tahoe City): 5
t-3. Tahoe Mountain Martial Arts & Yoga (Truckee): 3
t-3. Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Truckee): 3

Best Media Company/PR Firm/Newspaper:
Total submissions: 174

1. Sierra Sun: 70
2. Moonshine Ink: 37
3. Switchback PR & Marketing: 18

Best Nonprofit:
Total submissions: 388

1. Truckee Tahoe Humane Society: 96
2. High Fives Nonprofit Foundation: 95
3. Project MANA: 29

Best People

Best Bank Teller:
Total submissions: 74

1. Tyler Lightcap, Wells Fargo (Truckee): 7
2. Janet Baldridge, El Dorado Savings Bank: 6
3. Samantha Austin, Plumas Bank: 5

Best Bartender:
Total submissions: 252

1. Christopher St. Martin, Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 35
2. Duke Kelley, Paddlewheel Saloon (Incline Village): 10
3. Dennis Alexander, Captain Jon's (Tahoe Vista): 9

Best Barista:
Total submissions: 100

1. Travis Fields, Coffeebar (Truckee): 23
2. Stephanie McDonald, Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City): 19
3. Greg Buchheister, Coffeebar (Truckee): 10

Best Wait Person:
Total submissions: 163

1. Alicia McCann, Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 17
2. Craig Kimura, Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats (Truckee): 6
t-3. Maggie Hatt, Blue Coyote Bar & Grill (Truckee): 4
t-3. Jason Dobbs, Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee): 4
t-3. Alicia Pratt, Jax on the Tracks (Truckee): 4

Best Hair Stylist:
Total submissions: 264

1. Debra Schroepfer, Beach Comber Hair Studio (Tahoe City): 26
2. Melissa Dyk, Urban Angels (Truckee): 16
3. Lindsy Shontz, Urban Angels (Truckee): 15

Best Auto Mechanic:
Total submissions: 113

1. Dave Ward (Ward and Sons Automotive, Truckee): 27
2. Justin Moore, Moore Automotive (Truckee): 12
3. Dave Granville, DR Automotive (Truckee): 6

Best Massage Therapist:
Total submissions: 172

1. Amber Defazio, Zenergy Wellness Spa (Truckee): 10
t-2. Richard Leversee, Deep Well Being (Truckee): 8
t-2. Mary Beth Hamilton (Truckee): 8
3. Jamie Gemme, Gem Mountain Massage (Truckee): 7

Best Chef:
Total submissions: 199

1. David Smith, Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 37
2. Billy McCullough, Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee): 22
3. Chris Banovich, North Tahoe Catering (Kings Beach): 14

Best Teacher:
Total submissions: 168

t-1. Vicki Isacowitz, Clever Minds Learning Center: 7
t-1. Milton Hyams, Incline High School: 7
2. Yvonne Logan, Kings Beach Elementary School: 4
t-3. Vicky Brown, Tahoe Lake Elementary School: 3
t-3. Rachel Barth, Incline Middle School: 3

Best Volunteer:
Total submissions: 115

1. Beth Moxley: 5
t-2. Steve Wallace: 4
t-2. Keith Thomas: 4
t-2. Georgia Smith: 4
t-2. Aaron Gaines: 4
— Several with 3 votes

Best Ski Patroller:
Total submissions: 103

1. Lel Tone, Squaw Valley: 7
t-2. Robin McElroy, Squaw Valley 6
t-2. Jimmy Roberts, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort 6
t-3. Will Paden, Squaw Valley 4
t-3. Vince Arthur- Northstar 4

Best Boss:
Total submissions: 208

1. Mike Blide, Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 27
2. Eric Gwiazdowski, Rubicon Pizza Company (Northstar): 14
3. Meg Urie, SmallPond Studio (Truckee): 11

Best Local Artist:
Total submissions: 184

1. Lorien Powers: 24
2. Sarah Zimmerman: 17
3. Greg Van Loon: 8

Best Local Musician:
Total submissions: 205

1. Jenni Charles (Dead Winter Carpenters): 19
2. Brain Hess (Quartet Minus One, Live Robot): 15
3. Darin Talbot: 10

Best Places / Events

Best Summer Event:
Total submissions: 350

1. Truckee Thursdays: 85
2. Music on Commons Beach in Tahoe City: 55
3. Wanderlust Festival: 34

Best Winter Event:
Total submissions: 179

1. SnowFest!: 61
2. Rahlves Banzai Tour: 27
3. Cushing Crossing: 8

Best Concert Venue:
Total submissions: 270

1. Truckee Regional Amphitheater: 75
2. Commons Beach in Tahoe City: 66
3. Crystal Bay Club: 38

Best Beach:
Total submissions: 286

1. Sand Harbor: 35
t-2. Kings Beach State Recreation Area: 30
t-2. Moon Dunes Beach: 30
3. Hidden Beach: 19

Best Place to Boat:
Total submissions: 190

1. Lake Tahoe: 80
2. Donner Lake: 27
3. Boca Reservoir: 17

Best Place to Ski/Ride:
Total submissions: 340

1. Squaw Valley: 122
2. Alpine Meadows: 82
3. Northstar California: 49

Best Place to Golf:
Total submissions: 182

1. Northstar California: 25
2. Coyote Moon Golf Course (Truckee): 20
3. Ponderosa Golf Course (Truckee): 18

Best Place to Hike:
Total submissions: 246

1. Tahoe Rim Trail: 48
2. Desolation Wilderness: 24
3. Shirley Canyon 21

Best Place to Fish:
Total submissions: 102

1. Truckee River: 35
2. Donner Lake: 17
3. Boca Reservoir: 14

Best Place to Bike:
Total submissions: 159

1. Northstar California: 23
2. Flume Trail: 19
3. Tahoe Meadows: 17

Best Place to Camp:
Total submissions: 143

1. Desolation Wilderness: 25
2. DL Bliss State Park: 18
3. Donner Memorial State Park: 16

Best Place to Picnic:
Total submissions: 107

1. Donner Lake: 28
2. Truckee River: 8
3. Commons Beach in Tahoe City: 6

Best Place to Take a Date:
Total submissions: 187

1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee): 46
2. The Soule Domain (Brockway): 18
3. Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats (Truckee): 11

Best Place to People Watch:
Total submissions: 254

1. Truckee Thursdays 59
2. Squaw Valley: 15
t-3. Kings Beach: 14
t-3. Concerts at Commons Beach: 14

CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN TO ALL THE WINNERS!

See the 2011 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Winners!

See the 2013 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Winners!

See the 2015 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Winners!

See the 2016 Best of Truckee and North Tahoe Winners!