The 2011 Best of Mercer Island contest was voted on by readers of the Mercer Island Reporter. Thanks for making it a success in its second year!

Best Businesses

Here are the business winners and runners up for the 2011 Best of Mercer Island contest.

Favorite Island retail shop
• Island Books
• Finders
• What To Wear

Best place to get pampered
• Cindy’s Nails
• Sugar and Swank
• The Island Salon & Spa

Best place for a haircut
• Studio 904
• Hedman’s
• Au Courant

Best place for dry cleaning
• Correy’s
• Lakeview

Best place to bank
• Wells Fargo
• Bank of America
• U.S. Bank

Best place to buy a gift
• Island Books
• Finders
• Mercer Island Florist

Best place to buy flowers
• Mercer Island Florist
• QFC

Favorite People

Here are some of your favorite people for the 2011 Best of Mercer Island contest.

Best Realtor on the Island
• Greg Rosenwald
• Helen Martin
• Jay Agoado

Best dentist
• Dr. Ken McNabb
• Dr. Carrie York; Dr. Bova (tie)

Best Doctor
• Dr. Dannette Glassy
• Dr. Hal Quinn
• Dr. John Schreuder

Best organization to be a member of
• Chamber of Commerce
• Stroum JCC
• Rotary

Favorite teacher
• Marchelle Waldman
• Jan Sayers
• Bret Ogata; Mr. Briardy (tie)

Favorite mechanic
• Brad at Mercer Island Shell
• Pete at the south-end Chevron
• David Ulrich

Favorite city employee
• Ali Spietz
• Diane Mortenson
• Yvonne Defty; Rich Conrad; Paul West (three-way tie)

Favorite firefighter
• All of them
• Chris Tubbs
• Jason Cook

Favorite police officer
• Joe Morris
• Ed Holmes
• Jennifer Franklin

Favorite grocery store cashier
• Linda at QFC
• Mary Jane at QFC; Cricket at Albertsons (tie)

Favorite bartender/barista/server
• Dave at Noah’s; Josh at south-end Starbucks; all staff at the Roanoke (three-way tie)

Best Outdoors

Here are the best places to head outside as voted on for the 2011 Best of Mercer Island contest.

Best natural treasure
• Luther Burbank Park
• Pioneer Park
• The Lid

Best park for the kids
• Luther Burbank Park
• Mercerdale Park
• Dragon Park

Best view on the Island
• The Lid
• Luther Burbank Park
• The Beach Club

Best remote spot
• Pioneer Park
• Luther Burbank Park
• Clarke Beach

Best beach
• Luther Burbank Park
• Clarke Beach
• Groveland Beaches

Fun Stuff

We asked voters three questions about fun stuff on Mercer Island. Here are the answers:

Should Mercer Island have a designated nude beach?
• No: 77%  • Yes: 22%

Do you think the MISD snail logo should be changed?
• No: 51%  • Yes: 48%

Do you think Mercer Island should have a first-run movie theater?
• Yes: 63%     • No: 38%

Best in Food

Best place to buy wine
• QFC
• Cellar 46
• Albertsons

Best bar/restaurant to meet friends
• The Roanoke
• The Islander
• Bennett’s

Best happy hour
• Cellar 46
• The Islander
• Bennett’s

Best place for coffee and conversation
• Starbucks
• Tully’s
• Noah’s

Best place for lunch
• Alpenland
• Bennett’s
• Noah’s

Best place for dinner
• Bennett’s
• The Islander
• Yuzen

Best delivery/take-out
• Sahara Pizza
• Pon Proem
• Tony Maroni’s; Roberto’s (tie)

Best date place
• Bennett’s
• The Roanoke
• The Islander