< Previous10 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice | September 2021 Affordable tuition, knowledgeable instructors, and a supportive staff add up to a quality education - right next door at Galveston College. Eligible local high school graduates who attend GC can receive Universal Access tuition assistance of up to $5,476! REAL LIFE. REAL EXPERIENCES. REAL SUCCESS. REAL Success GC.EDU It is the policy of Galveston College to provide equal opportunities without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information or veteran status. Dr Edward Zompa and the staff of West Isle Urgent Care would like to thank the community once again for Voting us #1 Best Urgent Care in Galveston County. • We are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. • You will ALWAYS be seen by a physician • On-site equipment enables same visit results • Rapid COVID-19 Testing, PCR and Antigen 2027 61st Street Galveston, TX. 77551 • 409-744-9800 Tyler Leslie - Owner • www.facebook.com/sandhillpools • tyler@sandhillpools.com Thank you for Voting us #1 Pool Company in All of Galveston County! Sandhill Pools & Design is a proudly Veteran and locally owned business specializes in custom gunite swimming pools, landscaping, and outdoor entertainment spaces. We also refurbish older pools and build decks & patios. Serving Galveston County and the Greater Houston area. W est Isle Urgent Care opened March 12, 2007, in response to the need for true urgent care medicine on Galves- ton Island. The clinic was the vision of Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. Edward Zompa and Family Practice Physician Dr. Gerard Guderi- an. Emergency Physician Dr. Douglas Kasper joined the prac- tice in 2008. In 2008, Gal- veston Island was devastated by Hurricane Ike. Less than 48 hours after the storm, West Isle Urgent Care was open and providing care to the public. For the next six weeks, pa- tients with varying medical problems and injuries were treated entirely for free. During this period, West Isle Urgent Care, in partnership with the Texas Department of Health and Galves- ton County Health district, provided tetanus vaccinations for more than 5,000 people at no charge. For about six months after the storm, the clinic was the only operating permanent medi- cal facility on the island. The clinic and Dr. Zompa were recognized by the Houston Chronicle as Heroes of The Storm. The Galveston County Health District also recognized Dr. Zompa as a Hurricane Ike Public Health Hero. WEST ISLE URGENT CARE BEST URGENT CARE UTMB HEALTH - URGENT CAREAFFINITY URGENT CARESeptember 2021 | Readers’ Choice | The Daily News | 11 S tarFine Furniture & Mattress knows that putting together the vision of a space can be an intimidating task that can lead to wrong-sized furniture and a frustrating experience. StarFine is here to make buying furniture fun and easy. StarFine is family-owned and makes caring about customers’ experience and satisfaction the top priority. The business offers more than 1,000 items in-store to browse through. If custom- ers don’t find exactly what they are looking for, StarFine has hundreds of custom-order options and a free in- home design service to get the entire home looking just right. The team of professional interior designers provides an exclusive com- plimentary design service that listens to customers’ visions and provides in- spired options for them to choose from. StarFine also allows clients to com- pletely customize furniture, including choosing fabrics, style, size, color, seat comfort, leg color and more. Buying furniture should be a re- laxing and fun experience, and it is at StarFine Furniture & Mattress. The staff is helpful, friendly and doesn’t do high-pressure sales; in fact, when you visit, they make customers feel like part of the family. The store carries an extensive collection of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, mattresses, home office furniture, home accents and outdoor furniture. STARFINE FURNITURE & MATTRESS BEST FURNITURE STORE, BEST MATTRESS STORE URBAN GYPSIES ON 6TH FURNITURE ZONE G alveston College provides the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce develop- ment, continuing education and com- munity service programs. The accredited college serves an ethnically diverse population of about 2,400 students each semester in credit programs and hundreds more annually in continuing education programs. Galveston College has proven to be a progressive, dynamic institution of higher education known for its partnerships with businesses and organizations and its commitment to provide a quality learning environment that is student-focused. Its programs have consistently gained local, state and national ac- claim in areas that include nursing and health sciences, workforce develop- ment initiatives, NJCAA athletics, innovative fundraising and special student services. The college is fiscally sound and strongly supported by local residents who have come to recognize Galveston College as an integral part of the growth and prosperity of the community. GALVESTON COLLEGE BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY UTMB HEALTH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTON T he Tremont House is rated No. 1 in Galveston on Tripadvisor. The building is elegant and modern, while also being historic and progressive. The Tremont House is again elevating and transforming with an eye on the future and a nod to the past. Long known by those in the know, the historic downtowns favorite hotspot has begun a restoration sure to delight long time patrons and new adventurers alike. The 132 rooms of whimsy, opulence and comfort await. No matter the occasion, The Tremont House is the perfect place to meet. From the stunning views of the Rooftop Bar to the temptations of Toujouse’s bar, the Tremont is the perfect place to end your day and rev up your night. Looking for a spot for your once in a lifetime wedding? The ballroom, with its grand staircase and lush surroundings, will make for a night to remember. Let its knowledgeable and welcom- ing team take care of every need with elevated service and a Texas-sized smile. The Tremont House is ready to assist you. Memorable and magical, your journey begins here. THE TREMONT HOUSE BEST HOTEL/MOTEL THE SAN LUIS RESORT, SPA AND CONFERENCE CENTER MOODY GARDENS S andhill Pools & Design is a proud- ly veteran and locally owned business that specializes in custom gunite swimming pools, landscaping and outdoor entertainment spaces. The company also refur- bishes older pools. Owner Tyler Leslie was born on the island and chose to come back after serving in the military. He has a deep commitment to this area and to the people who live here. Always taking pride in customizing each design, he builds trust and develops customer relationships by adding value to each of their lives. Spending time outside is what makes the Galveston County area special. The company’s goal is to build a space that provides years of happy memories. SANDHILL POOLS & DESIGNS BEST POOL COMPANY RAINEY POOL COMPANY POOLS123 COASTAL12 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice | September 2021 (800) 917-8906 | utmbhealth.com Congratulations to the UTMB Health Readers’ Choice Winners! • Hearing Specialist • Pediatrician - Dr. Matthew J. Hay • Physical Therapy & Rehab • Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics • Eye Doctor • Hospital • Optical Store • Pediatrician - Dr. Patricia Rogers • Pediatrics Thank you to all those that voted for our providers, services and facilities. We are grateful for your support and look forward to providing outstanding care to you and your family. 1st Place2nd Place Runner Up • University/College • Urgent CareSeptember 2021 | Readers’ Choice | The Daily News | 13 We are humbled, honored and so excited to have been chosen… THANK YOU! Essential Hospice provides comfort, compassion, dignity, and peace for patients and their families through end of life care. Hospice is about enhancing the quality of life. Want to talk to our friendly staff? Call 832-224-4756 We Care We’re Personable We’re Caregivers14 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice | September 2021 409-765-6833 • www.listerplumbinginc.com Commercial and residential repairs • Backflow testing License Numbers: M17798 and TACLA28258C Thank You for voting us Best Plumber in Galveston County! Thank you for voting Evelyn Deharde #1 Realtor in Galveston County Evelyn Deharde REALTOR SFR, NHC Texas First Choice Realty 409-256-5861 Humbled and thankful, we appreciate our loyal and future clients. office@atmospherethesalon.com www.atmospherethesalon.com 1221 23 rd St., Galveston, Tx 77550 409.750.9810 WITH MANY THANKS We’d like to acknowledge all the individuals - customers, employees, neighbors, associates, vendors and friends who make doing business here such a pleasure for us. Our family business continues to grow and prosper and we owe our success to you, our customers. You’re always welcome here, and we look forward to the privilege of serving you again soon. Lic# TACLB28269C Douglas Farence, Owner Office 409-763-0111 alfordair@gmail.com THANK YOU FOR VOTING US #1 for A/C & Heating P.O. Box 16015, Galveston, Texas 77551 An Independent DealerSeptember 2021 | Readers’ Choice | The Daily News | 15 Thank you for Voting Us Best American Food In Galveston County! Paul Luebano, Marisa Morales, Joey Smith and Sherry Smith 1824 Seawall Blvd. Galveston 409-763-8777 M ILLER’ S SEAWALL GRILL Congratulations to the winners of The Daily News’ 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. This special publication identifies and celebrates those businesses we all enjoy and share with our friends. Results are based on online voting. In June and July, we asked readers to nominate their favorite businesses in more than 100 categories. After we tallied the nominations and identified the top five finalists in each category, we asked readers to select winners in another round of voting that took place during the month of August. As you read along, you might find a few surprises, as well as businesses you expected to see. Galveston County is lucky to have so many local businesses from which to choose. We hope you hold on to this special publication, so the next time you’re looking for a new restaurant or place to shop, you’ll thumb through its pages and explore what Galveston County has to offer. This publication includes second- and third-place winners in each category to give readers options. In many categories, winners and runners-up were separated by just a handful of votes. We hope this publication not only starts conversations about who won, but sparks fierce debates about who really has the best burgers or pizza. Make sure to visit your favorite businesses and offer your congratulations! Congratulations to our 2021 Readers’ Choice winners The Daily News randomly selected 3 lucky winners to receive gift cards just for voting for their favorite businesses in our Readers’ Choice Awards. $250 – Joyce Payne $100 – Nancy Eisenhour $50 – Carol Hodges Thanks to everyone who participated!16 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice | September 2021 Come and see why we are the BEST IN TOWN! 409-744-9100 residencewestbeach.com facebook.com/ResWestBeach airbnb.com/h/residencatwestbeach Email: Manager@residencewestbeach.com Comfortable Bedroom Community Clubhouse Fully-Equipped Kitchen State-of-the-art Fitness Center Equipped with Smart Home Technology THANK YOU FOR VOTING US 2 YEARS IN A ROW Residence at West Beach #1 BEST Apartment Community in Galveston!September 2021 | Readers’ Choice | The Daily News | 17 800.231.6053 | AMOCOfcu.org Thank You FOR MAKING US #1 CREDIT UNION FINANCIAL PLANNING MORTGAGE LENDER We did it again! You told us over 13,000 times how much you appreciate us, and we owe that to our amazing employees and members. Thank you to all who voted! 25th & Strand Open Daily 10am – 5 pm www.galvestonRRmuseum.org18 | The Daily News | Readers’ Choice | September 2021 35th S (One block from Seawall) 409-762-3151 Monday - Saturday 11:00-7:00pm Sunday Closed “Humble but Addictive” – Conde-Nast Traveler Let Us Cater Your Parties & Events Conde-Nast Traveler Texas Monthly Houston Dining Guide Phone Orders Welcome Best Of course we still have our Trade Marked Turkey Cliffhanger Created by Donny Kerzee - the grandson of Clifford Earl Putnal, the Founder Thank you to all of our Devoted & Loyal Customers for your patience and understanding during the hard times of COVID and us being short handed. We will all get through this! A big Thank you to everyone again for Voting us Best Bar-B-Que In Galveston County Recommended by: 55 Years of family cooking, great BBQ for Galveston County! The Vargas Family would like to thank everyone who took the time and voted for Rudy & Paco’s and Vargas Cut & Catch in the Galveston Daily News Readers Choice Awards! We were humbled by the nominations and extremely honored for Rudy & Paco being awarded having the Best Waitstaff and Vargas Cut & Catch awarded Best Steak and Best Wine Selection! We sincerely thank you for your support and hope to see you at Rudy & Paco’s and Vargas Cut & Catch soon! Sincerely, 2028 Postoffice St. Galveston, TX 77551 2102 Postoffice St. Galveston, TX 77551 September 2021 | Readers’ Choice | The Daily News | 19 FOOD/CUISINE AMERICAN 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. The Gumbo Diner 3. Gypsy Joynt ASIAN 1. Yamato Japanese Restaurant 2. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi 3. Tongs Happy Buddha BAKERY 1. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 2. Good Dough Kolache Bakery 3. PattyCakes Bakery BARBECUE 1. Queen’s Bar-B-Que 2. Koop’s BBQ Kitchen & Catering 3. Pennie’s Tex Mex Take Out CAJUN 1. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar 2. Cajun Greek 3. The Lost Cajun FOOD TRUCK 1. Bronco Burritos 2. Koop’s BBQ Kitchen & Catering 3. Shrimp N Stuff Food Truck GREEK 1. Kritikos Grill 2. Yanni’s Gyros and Kebobs 3. Cajun Greek ITALIAN 1. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 2. Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza 3. Mario’s Ristorante MEXICAN 1. The Original Mexican Cafe 2. Taquilo’s Tex-Mex Cantina 3. Salsas Mexican Restaurant SEAFOOD 1. Saltwater Grill 2. Fish Company Taco 3. Katie’s Seafood House SOULFOOD 1. Soul 2 Soul 2. Johnae’s Soul Food T3. Mama Frances Soul Kitchen T3. Simp’s DINING BY OCCASION BREAKFAST 1. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 2. Good Dough Kolache Bakery 3. Miller’s Seawall Grill CATERER 1. Chef Mary Bass 2. Robinette & Company Caterers 3. Galveston Restaurant Group COFFEE HOUSE 1. MOD Coffeehouse 2. Cowboy Coffee 3. Art of Coffee KID FRIENDLY 1. Rainforest Cafe 2. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 3. Jimmy Changas LUNCH UNDER $10 1. Papa’s Pizza 2. Shrimp N Stuff 3. Fish Company Taco MOM & POP RESTAURANT 1. Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza 2. Los Patrones Fresh Mexican Cuisine 3. Café Canela Restaurant NEW RESTAURANT 1. Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House 2. Good Dough Kolache Bakery 3. Los Patrones Fresh Mexican Cuisine RESTAURANT PATIO 1. The Spot 2. Marais 3. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant SENIOR SPECIAL 1. Miller’s Seawall Grill 2. IHOP 3. Rigo’s Cafe SPORTS BAR 1. Brick House Tavern + Tap 2. The Press Box 3. Beerfoot Brewery SUNDAY BRUNCH 1. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe 2. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 3. Marais WAITSTAFF 1. Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar 2. Saltwater Grill 3. The Steakhouse SPECIALTY FOODS DELI 1. Old Moon Deli & Pies 2. Maceo Spice & Import Company 3. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe DESSERT 1. She-Devil Pastry 2. Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream 3. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe DONUTS 1. Donut Palace 2. Home Cut Donuts 3. Shipley Do-Nuts HAMBURGER 1. Doreck’s Meat Market 2. Hubcap Grill 3. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar ICE CREAM 1. Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream 2. La King’s Confectionery 3. Cool Cow Creamery MEAT MARKET/BUTCHER SHOP 1. Doreck’s Meat Market & Grill 2. H & R Food Market 3. The Chopping Block PIZZA 1. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 2. Mama Teresa’s Flying Pizza 3. Mario’s Ristorante SALAD BAR 1. Mario’s Ristorante 2. Salata 3. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill SANDWICH 1. Old Moon Deli & Pies 2. Maceo Spice & Import Company 3. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe STEAK 1 Vargas Cut & Catch 2. The Steakhouse 3. Number 13 Prime Steak and Seafood SUSHI BAR 1. Yamato Japanese Restaurant 2. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi 3. Masa Sushi SPECIALTY DRINKS BEER SELECTION @ A RESTAURANT 1. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar 2. Stuttgarden Tavern 3. Brick House Tavern + Tap BLOODY MARY 1. Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant 2. BLVD Seafood 3. Texas Tail Distillery BREWERY/DISTILLERY 1. Galveston Island Brewing 2. Texas Tail Distillery 3. Railean Distillers HAPPY HOUR 1. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi 2. 23rd Street Station Piano Bar 3. Daiquiri Time Out LIQUOR STORE 1. Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods 2. Total Wine & More 3. Economy Liquor MARGARITA 1. Taquilo’s Tex-Mex Cantina 2. 23rd Street Station Piano Bar 3. Salsas Mexican Restaurant MARTINI 1. Sky Bar Steak & Sushi 2. 23rd Street Station Piano Bar 3. The Steakhouse WINE SELECTION @ A RESTAURANT 1. Saltwater Grill 2. Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar 3. The Steakhouse PROFESSIONAL A/C & HEATING 1. Alford Air Conditioning Co. 2. Affordable Air & Heat 3. Bosworth Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. ACCOUNTANT 1. Katherine Overbeck Maxwell, CPA 2. Edward J. Walsh & Associates 3. Ann Masel ATTORNEY 1. The Doyle Law Firm PLLC 2. Shelby Scott 3. Roberts, Johnson and Cain BARBER SHOP 1. Razor’s Edge 2. Island Hair Retreat T3. Doyle’s Hair Shop T3. Pete’s Barber Shop CHILD CARE 1. Brite Beginnings Childcare Center 2. Moody Methodist Day 3. Children’s Coalition CLEANING SERVICE 1. Gulfside Cleaning Services 2. Longoria’s Cleaning and More 3. Rosa Rios Cleaning Service COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY 1. Galveston College 2. UTMB Health 3. Texas A&M University at Galveston DAY SPA 1. Hotel Galvez and Spa 2. The San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center 3. Santa Fe Day Spa DRY CLEANER 1. Pilgrim Cleaners 2. Quality Cleaners & Laundry 3. Dry Clean Supercenter AND THE WINNERS ARE ...Next >