Planning a date night? Let Best of Butler County food and drink winners be your guide

Here are the winners and placers in the Food, Dining & Drinking categories, followed by a list of all placers:

Winners and placers

Best Appetizers

First place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Second place: Wings on Brookwood

147 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-844-1312

Third place: Fretboard Brewing & Public House

103 Main St., Hamilton

513-737-1111

Best Bakery

First place: Kelly’s Bakery

1335 Main St., Hamilton

513-285-4040

Second place: Luke’s Custom Cakes

221 High St., Hamilton

513-444-6336

Third place: Ross Bakery

1051 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-894-9016

Best Bar/Lounge

First place: Pinball Garage

113 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-805-7367

Second place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Third place: Nicc and Norms Tavern

1483 Millville Ave., Hamilton

513-883-1038

Best BBQ

First place: Neal’s Famous BBQ

202 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-737-2783

Second place: Pinball Garage

113 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-805-7367

Third place: City Barbeque

multiple area locations

citybbq.com

Best Breakfast

First place: Hyde’s Restaurant

130 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1287

Second place: Lindenwald Station

5072 Pleasant Ave., Fairfield

513-969-2202

Third place: Cozy’s Café & Pub

6440 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Twp.

513-644-9365

Best Brewery/Distillery

First place: Municipal Brew Works

20 High St., Hamilton

513-642-2424

Second place: Fretboard Brewing & Public House

103 Main St., Hamilton

513-737-1111

Third place: Swine City Brewing

4614 Industry Drive, Fairfield

513-201-7070

Best Brunch

First place: Cozy’s Café & Pub

6440 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Twp.

513-644-9365

Second place: Hyde’s Restaurant

130 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1287

Third place: Tano Bistro Hamilton

150 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton

513-795-8654

Best Buffet

First place: Allen’s Market

905 Shuler Ave., Hamilton

513-893-2752

Second place: Golden Dragon Buffet & Grill

86 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-894-6888

Third place: Bee’s Buffet

725 Nilles Road, Fairfield

513-858-6497

Best Caterer

First place: Allen’s Market

905 Shuler Ave., Hamilton

513-893-2752

Second place: Two Women in a Kitchen

866-866-0463

Third place: High St. Café (moving to Coach House Tavern at Berkeley Square)

100 Berkeley Drive, Hamilton

Best Chicken Sandwich

First place: Chick-fil-A

multiple area locations

chick-fil-a.com

Second place: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

multiple area locations

popeyes.com

Third place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Best Chinese Food

First place: Basil 1791

241 High St., Hamilton

513-883-1019

Second place: Asian Lantern

965 Main St., Hamilton

513-863-2392

Third place: Golden Dragon Buffet & Grill

86 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-894-6888

Best Chocolates

First place: Esther Price Candies

8621 N. Pavilion Drive, West Chester Twp.

513-860-0907

Second place: Henry’s Candy Co.

243 High St., Hamilton

513-889-2736

Third place: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop

1212 Central Ave., Middletown

513-783-4013

Best Coffee Shop

First place: True West Coffee

313 Main St., Hamilton

513-668-1488

Second place: The Fringe Coffee House

604 High St., Hamilton

Third place: Triple Moon Coffee Company

1100 Central Ave., Middletown

513-849-2220

Best Desserts

First place: Flub’s Ice Cream

multiple area locations

flubsicecream.com

Second place: Luke’s Custom Cakes

221 High St., Hamilton

513-444-6336

Third place: Hyde’s Restaurant

130 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1287

Best Diner

First place: Hyde’s Restaurant

130 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1287

Second place: ALL8UP Pizza & Hoagies

23 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-889-5227

Third place: Mz. Jade’s Soul Food

1131 Central Ave., Middletown

513-571-1150

Best Donut Shop

First place: Kelly’s Bakery

1335 Main St., Hamilton

513-285-4040

Second place: Ross Bakery

1051 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-894-9016

Third place: Donut Spot

5130 Pleasant Ave., Fairfield

513-863-7033

Best Ethnic Grocery

First place: Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-674-6000

Second place: El Gran Valle Verde

2320 Dixie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-5100

Third place: Casablanca Mediterranean Food

7743 Tylersville Road, West Chester

513-847-1600

Best Family Restaurant

First place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Second place: Hyde’s Restaurant

130 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1287

Third place: Wings on Brookwood

147 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-844-1312

Best Fine Dining

First place: Jag’s Steak & Seafood

5980 West Chester Road, West Chester

513-860-5353

Second place: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants

7490 Bales St., Liberty Twp.

513-463-9463

Third place: Tano Bistro Hamilton

150 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton

513-795-8654

Best Food Truck

First place: Cheese N Chong

cheesenchongfoodtruck.com

Second place: Brisketology at Pinball Garage

113 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

Third place: Neal’s Famous BBQ

202 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-737-2783

Best French Fries

First place: Penn Station East Coast Subs

multiple area locations

penn-station.com

Second place: Wings on Brookwood

147 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-844-1312

Third place: McDonald’s

multiple area locations

mcdonalds.com

Best Grocery Store

First place: Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-674-6000

Second place: ALDI

multiple area locations

shop.aldi.us

Third place: Allen’s Market

905 Shuler Ave., Hamilton

513-893-2752

Best Hamburger

First place: Mad Mike’s Burgers & Fries

194 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-844-6453

Second place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Third place: The Jug

3610 Central Ave., Middletown

513-424-1677

Best Happy Hour

First place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Second place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Third place: Agave & Rye

7125 Fountain View Drive, Liberty Twp.

513-779-8226

Best Hidden Gem Restaurant

First place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Second place: All8Up

23 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-889-5227

Third place: Mz. Jade’s Soul Food

1131 Central Ave., Middletown

513-571-1150

Best Hot Dog Stand

First place: Jolly’s Drive In (West)

165 Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-863-4191

Second place: Jolly’s Drive-In (East)

210 N. Erie Blvd. Highway, Hamilton

513-894-7541

Third place: The Root Beer Stand

11566 Reading Road, Sharonville

513-769-4349

Best Ice Cream

First place: Flub’s

multiple area locations

flubsicecream.com

Second place: Graeter’s

multiple area locations

graeters.com

Third place: The Cone

6855 Tylersville Road, West Chester

513-779-7040

Best Indian Food

First place: Om India

530 Wessel Drive, Fairfield

513-858-4141

Second place: Indian Fusion Restaurant

8179 Princeton Glendale Road, West Chester

513-499-2023

Third place: Indian Spice Train

7165 Liberty Centre Drive, West Chester

513-777-7800

Best Italian Food

First place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Second place: The Spinning Forchetta

4444 Hamilton Middletown Road, Liberty Twp.

513-330-5539

Third place: Caruso’s Ristorante & Bar

6765 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-889-3210

Best Japanese Food/Sushi

First place: Fuji Steak House

3373 Princeton Road, #123, Fairfield Twp.

513-844-2600

Second place: Basil 1791

241 High St., Hamilton

513-883-1019

Third place: Dancing Roll- West Chester

7743 Tylersville Road, Suite G, West Chester

513-755-6800

Best Mexican Food

First place: El Mariachi of Hamilton Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

787 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton

513-892-6300

Second place: Taqueria Guanajuato

752 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton

513-737-5263

Third place: El Rancho Nuevo

2870 Menards Blvd, Fairfield Twp.

513-737-3319

Best Middle Eastern Food

First place: Aladdin’s Eatery

9344 Union Centre Blvd., West Chester

513-874-1302

Second place: Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

7841 Tylersville Road, West Chester

513-898-2144

Third place: Greek Isles Restaurant

7037 Yankee Road, Liberty Twp.

513-755-0600

Best Natural Food Store

First place: Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-674-6000

Second place: Moon Co-Op

512 S. Locust St., #2129, Oxford

513-280-5020

Third place: Schaefer’s Farm Market & CSA

5024 Jacksonburg Road, Trenton

513-726-5307

Best Neighborhood Bar

First place: Hamilton’s Urban Backyard

501 Main St., Hamilton

513-893-9482

Second place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Third place: Pinball Garage

113 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-805-7367

Best Patio Dining

First place: Hamilton’s Urban Backyard

501 Main St., Hamilton

513-893-9482

Second place: Fretboard Brewing & Public House

103 Main St., Hamilton

513-737-1111

Third place: Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton

513-889-1530

Best Pizza

First place: Chester’s Pizzeria Inc.

2929 Dixie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1973

Second place: Cassano’s Pizza King

multiple area locations

cassanos.com

Third place: Richards Pizza

multiple area locations

richardspizza.com

Best Place to Buy Meats

First place: Allen’s Market

905 Shuler Ave., Hamilton

513-893-2752

Second place: Dave’s Quality Meats Of West Chester

4883 Smith Road, West Chester Twp.

513-874-3434

Third place: Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-674-6000

Best Restaurant to Take an Out-of-Towner

First place: Cozy’s Café & Pub

6440 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Twp.

513-644-9365

Second place: Billy Yanks

205 Main St., Hamilton

513-844-0130

Third place: Skyline Chili Hamilton

1496 S. Erie Blvd., Hamilton

513-737-3330

Best Seafood

First place: Bonefish Grill

7710 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester Twp.

513-755-2303

Second place: Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

513-674-6000

Third place: Mz. Jade’s Soul Food

1131 Central Ave., Middletown

513-571-1150

Best Square-Cut Pizza

First place: Cassano’s Pizza & Subs Pizza King

multiple area locations

cassanos.com

Second place: Chester’s Pizzeria Inc.

2929 Dixie Highway, Hamilton

513-892-1973

Third place: Jet’s Pizza

multiple area locations

jetspizza.com

Best Steakhouse

First place: Texas Roadhouse

multiple area locations

texasroadhouse.com

Second place: Jag’s Steak & Seafood

5980 West Chester Road, West Chester

513-860-5353

Third place: LongHorn Steakhouse

7711 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester

513-779-6690

Best Winery

First place: Hanover Winery

2165 Morman Road, Hamilton

513-863-3119

Second place: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants

7490 Bales St., Liberty Twp.

513-463-9463

Third place: Seven Mile Winery

3526 Somerville Jacksonburg Road, Middletown

513-212-1092

Best Wings

First place: Wings on Brookwood

147 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamilton

513-844-1312

Second place: Brisketology, Pinball Garage

113 N. 3rd St., Hamilton

513-805-7367

Third place: Buffalo Wild Wings

multiple area locations

buffalowildwings.com