Montgomery Magazine’s 2022 Readers’ Choice award recipients are the local businesses that have earned your vote as the best at what they do in Montgomery County. We invite you to celebrate with your go-tos and try some soon-to-be favorites.
Congratulations to all our Readers’ Choice winners!
Food
Bakery
winner: Dawson’s Market
runner-up: Stella’s Bakery, Rockville
Barbeque
winner: Mission BBQ, Germantown & Rockville
runner-up: Urban Bar-B-Que, Rockville
Breakfast
winner: Attman’s Potomac Deli, Potomac
runner-up: First Watch, Rockville
Burgers
winner: BGR, Bethesda
runner-up: Dogfish Head Alehouse, Gaithersburg
Chinese
winner: Far East Rockville
runner-up: Peter Chang’s, Rockville
Crab Cakes
winner: Clyde’s, Rockville
runner-up: O’Donnell’s Market, Potomac
Deli
winner: Attman’s Potomac Village Deli, Potomac
runner-up: Parkway Deli,
Silver Spring
Family Restaurant
winner: Clyde’s Tower Oaks, Rockville
runner-up: Founding Farmers, Rockville
Fine Dining
winner: Il Pizzico, Rockville
runner-up: Clyde’s Tower Oaks, Rockville
French
winner: Mon Ami Gabi, Bethesda
runner-up: La Ferme, Chevy Chase
Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop
winner: Carmen’s Italian Ice
runner-up: TIE: Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Gaithersburg ; Jimmy Cone, Damascus
Indian
winner: Bombay Bistro, Rockville
runner-up: Tandoori Nights, Gaithersburg
Italian
winner: Il Pizzico, Rockville
runner-up: Gregorio’s Trattoria
Mediterranean
winner: Mykonos Grill, Rockville
runner-up: Cava Mezze, Rockville
Mexican
winner: Guapo’s
runner-up: Gringos & Mariachis
Peruvian Chicken
winner: Crisp & Juicy, Silver Spring
runner-up: Sardis
Pizza
winner: Ledo’s various
runner-up: Giuseppi’s Pizza Plus, Gaithersburg
Romantic Restaurant
winner: Old Angler Inn, Potomac
runner-up: Black Market Bistro, Garrett Park
Seafood
winner: O’Donnell’s Market
& Café, Rockville
runner-up: Coastal Flats, Gaithersburg
Steaks
winner: Capital Grill,
Chevy Chase
runner-up: Fogo De Chao, North Bethesda
Sushi
winner: Niwano Hana
runner-up: Raku, Bethesda
Thai
winner: Ruan Thai, Wheaton
runner-up: Thaitanium, Gaithersburg
Vietnamese
winner: Pho 75, Rockville
runner-up: Pho Grill, Olney
Weekend Brunch
winner: Attman’s Deli, Potomac
runner-up: First Watch
Wings
winner: Outta the Way Café
runner-up: Hard Times Café, Rockville
Drink
Best Beer Selection
winner: Dawson’s Market, Rockville
runner-up: World of Beer, Rockville
Bar with Live Music
winner: Outta the Way Café, Derwood
runner-up: Caddies On Cordell, Bethesda
Coffee Café
winner: Java Nation, Kensington & Rockville
runner-up: Dawson’s Market
Craft Brewery
winner: Brookeville Beer Farm, Brookeville
runner-up: Lone Oak, Laytonsville
Happy Hour
winner: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Rockville
runner-up: Gringos & Mariachis
Irish Pub
winner: Irish Inn, Glen Echo
runner-up: Finnegan’s Wake
Sport Bar
winner: Caddies On Cordell, Bethesda
runner-up: Quincey’s Park, Potomac
Wine Bar
winner: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Rockville
runner-up: Olney Winery, Olney
Everything Else
Auto Dealer
winner: Fitzgerald Auto Mall
runner-up: Ourisman Automotive Group
Auto Repair
winner: SB Automotive LLC
runner-up: Graeves, Olney
Bank
winner: Sandy Spring Bank
runner-up: Capital One Bank
Caterer
winner: Attman’s Potomac Deli
runner-up: Dawson’s Market
Consignment
Clothing Store
winner: Goodwill
runner-up: Style Me Sue, Damascus
Financial Planner/Service
winner: Morgan Stanley
runner-up: Clark Kendall
Hair Salon
winner: Progressions, Rockville
runner-up: One Glance, Gaithersburg
Home Cleaning Service
winner: Season Maids
runner-up: Maid Brigade of Rockville
Home Improvement
winner: Strosniders Hardware, Kensington
runner-up: GAC Services, Gaithersburg
In-Home Care
winner: Premier Homecare
runner-up: Care Plus
Kids’ Party Venue
winner: VisArts, Rockville
runner-up: Glen Echo Park Aquarium
Local Day Spa
winner: The Woodhouse Day Spa, North Bethesda
runner-up: Aspen Hill Club
Local Furniture Store
winner: Haverty’s, Rockville
runner-up: Marlo
Local Gift Store
winner: Artisans, Gaithersburg
runner-up: Purple Narwhal Music and Manga, Rockville
Local Jeweler
winner: Town Square Jewelers, Rockville
runner-up: Boone & Sons, Friendship Heights
Local Ladies’ Boutique
winner: Cottage Monet, Rockville
runner-up: Scout & Molly’s
Local Men’s
Clothing Store
winner: Nordstrom
runner-up: Jos. A. Bank
Music Store/Lessons
winner: Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, Wheaton
runner-up: Purple Narwhal Music & Manga
Nail Salon
winner: A-1 Nails, Germantown
runner-up: Progressions, Rockville
Party Entertainment
winner: Eric Energy
runner-up: Talk of the Town, Rockville
Pet Care Service
winner: Brookeville Animal Hospital, Brookeville
runner-up: DogiZone
Grooming Service
winner: Janneth’s Pet Grooming, Brinklow
runner-up: Fidoz N’ Felinez Grooming Salon & Day Spa
Real Estate Agent
winner: Jeweler Burton Group, Bethesda
runner-up: Jen Vo, Keller Williams Capital Properties
Retirement Community
winner: Leisure World, Silver Spring
runner-up: Riverwood, Silver Spring
Tutoring Service
winner: No Anxiety Prep
runner-up: Mathnasium of Onley
Urgent Care
winner: Patient First
runner-up: MedSTAR Urgent Care
Veterinarian
winner: Dr. Christina Stotz, Maple Springs, Darnestown
runner-up: Laytonsville
Animal Hospital
Wedding/Party Venues
winner: VisArts, Rockville
runner-up: Strathmore
Arts/Drama Program
winner: VisArts, Rockville,
runner-up: Olney Theatre, Olney
Ballet/Dance Studio
winner: Bethesda Conservatory
of Dance
runner-up: Maryland Youth Ballet, Silver Spring
Bowling Alley
winner: Pinstripes, Rockville
runner-up: Bowl America, Gaithersburg
Community Theater
winner: Olney Theater, Olney
runner-up: Strathmore, Rockville
Fair/Festival
winner: Montgomery County Fair
runner-up: Rockville Arts Festival
Fitness Club
winner: Aspen Hill Tennis Club, Aspen Hill
runner-up: Nimaste Yoga
Kids’ Attraction
winner: Aspen Hill Club
runner-up: Cabin John Regional Park, Rockville
Kids’ Sports League
winner: Aspen Hill Club
runner-up: DMV Rebels Basketball Club LLC
Martial Arts Studio
winner: Kaizen Karate
runner-up: Kangs Black Belt Academy, Olney
Movie Theater
winner: Regal, Rockville
runner-up: AFI, Silver Spring
Performing Arts Center
winner: Strathmore Music Center, North Bethesda
runner-up: Olney Theater, Olney
Summer Day Camp
winner: Calleva, Poolesville
runner-up: Aspen Hill Club, Silver Spring
I take exception to Olney Theatre Center and Strathmore being named “Best” Community Theater(s). They are professional theater companies and being named in the Performing Arts category is right and proper. You have done a huge disservice to the true community theatre organizations in Montgomery County: Rockville Musical Theatre, Rockville Little Theatre, Victorian Lyric Opera Company, British Players, Montgomery Playhouse, Sandy Spring Theatre Group, and among others. They rightly deserve to be recognized for their contributions to the Arts and quality of life in Montgomery County. These companies provide quality theatrical experiences at an affordable price. And not only do they provide opportunities for people to participate as audience members, but as volunteers who create and present plays and musicals to the public. These are the true community theatre organizations.