Published: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 12:25 PM

Herald readers pick best of the area for Buzzie awards

Your favorites in more than 100 categories

For more than a decade, The Herald and heraldonline.com have given readers a chance to recognize their favorites around town with the annual Buzzies Readers' Choice Awards.

All your favorite categories are back, allowing you to recognize York County's favorite people and places, highest quality goods and services, and most irresistible places to chow down.

Yet again, you rewarded some old favorites for maintaining their top quality service - including David's Pawn Shop, PW's Ice Cream and Ebenezer Grill, which held on to win their categories for the 11th year.

Numerous others have been your favorites for several years. There are a few newcomers.

In more than 100 categories, you made clear choices on who has the best food and offers the best service. You'll find all the winners listed in the center of the section.

You'll also find details on restaurants readers picked and the people they honored.

Keep this edition of The Buzzies around as a reference, and the next time you need something in our community, you'll have more than 100 referrals at your fingertips!

Here's who you picked for the 2009 Herald Buzzies:

Food & drinks

Best Bagels: Durango Bagel, 295 Herlong Ave., Suite 401, Rock Hill

Blueberry and Italian bagels are popular, but plain is the all-time best seller, said owner Wayne Wingate. Most requested toppings include cream cheese and pineapple walnut. “They're wholesome,” he said. “Bagels are comfort food.”

Best Bakery: Carswell Bakery, 1204 Mount Gallant Road, Building 3, Rock Hill

The family-owned bakery carries a full line of homemade cakes, cookies and desserts, including wedding cakes. The most popular are decorated cakes and cheese rings. “I just like to please the customers with specialty decorating,” said owner Phyllis Carswell

Best Barbecue: Burk's BBQ, 2012 Cherry Road, Rock Hill

The restaurant cooks the barbecue over a pit where customers can watch, said Kevin Burkhamer, owner. Recipes come from his wife's family. Hush puppies are homemade, he said, “so they are the best.”

Best Biscuits: Bojangle's, 2382 Cherry Road, Rock Hill, 1278 E. Main St., Rock Hill, 493 S. Herlong Ave., Rock Hill

To provide the freshest biscuits, a new batch of homemade biscuits comes out of the ovens every 20 minutes at Bojangle's, said Sandy Jonas, manager at the Herlong restaurant. On average, they sell 400 to 500 biscuits a day, not including biscuit sandwiches or sweet biscuits.

Best Breakfast & Best Sunday Meal: Cracker Barrel, 2140 Manna Court, Rock Hill, 295 Carowinds Blvd., Fort Mill

Some customers like the food, said manager Paul Bakker, while others like the country and family atmosphere. The chicken breast dinner is a favorite, as well as the roast beef. They especially value their regular customers. “Some come every week,” he said

Best Buffet: Golden Corral, 1031 N. Anderson Road, Rock Hill

If Golden Corral doesn't have a dish you crave on the buffet, said general manager Glenda Turner, just ask and they'll do their best to fix it. “We probably have every food in the world on our buffet,” she said. The restaurant offers 10 different kinds of shrimp every night.

Best Chinese: Red Bowl Asian Bistro, 2760 Celanese Road, Rock Hill/ 845 Stockbridge Drive, Fort Mill

The finest and freshest ingredients go into the Asian cuisine, said manager Simon Wong. The Rock Hill location opened in July. “The response from the community has been great,” Wong said. The most popular dish is red curry chicken.

Best Coffee: Starbucks, 1303 Riverchase Blvd., Rock Hill/ 926 Market St., Fort Mill

Customers love the coffee and the service that comes with it, said store manager Andrea Dunham. “It's our people. Our customers have relationships with the people who work here. Starbucks is about the experience, the human connection when you get your cup of coffee.”

Best Deli: McAlister's Deli, 335 S. Herlong Ave., Rock Hill/ 735 Addison Ave., Rock Hill

You get famous sweet tea and smiling faces when you dine at McAlister's, said general manager Steve Young of the Addison Avenue store. Customers love the spuds and sandwiches, as well as the vegetarian meals and food for kids. “There is something for everyone,” Young said.