Best Onion Rings
The green pepper rings may get all the glory, but one bite of Murry’s onion rings and you’ll be telling your waiter that one fried vegetable just isn’t sufficient to meet your veggie quota for the day. Golden brown and oh-so-good, this mound of crispy thin onion strings is perfect as a starter or a side. And though the portion is certainly big enough to share, we think selfishness is perfectly acceptable.

3107 Green Meadows Way,
442-4969

Best Place to Propose
All right, you’ve worked up the courage to ask your inamorata to marry you — where do you pop the question? Shelter Gardens, of course. Although there are many spots that would be perfect, try the Rose Garden. There, surrounded by sweet floral scents, blurt it out, man. If she says yes, cool. If she says no, retreat to the giant stone sundial and contemplate the sad truth: The sundial is right only twice a year — you’re not even that good.

1817 W. Broadway,
445-8441,
virtual tour: www.shelterinsurance.com

Runner-Up: The Columns,
Francis Quadrangle,
University of Missouri

Readers’ Choice: Best Sports Announcer
A Mizzou game just wouldn’t be the same without Mike Kelly doing the play-by-play. The “Voice of the Tigers” has the rare ability to draw a picture with words that’s so vivid, listeners can practically smell the floor wax on Norm Stewart Court. No matter what’s happening on the field or court, Tiger fans count on Kelly to keep them in the game.

Best Outdoor Dining
Just about now it’s tough to imagine ditching our hats and coats and dining outdoors. But come springtime, everyone will be clamoring for a spot where they can eat while enjoying the lovely weather. The garden-esque aura of Flat Branch Pub & Brewing’s outdoor patio makes eating outside a heavenly experience. With plenty of seating and a delightful ambience, al fresco at Flat Branch is simply fantastic.

115 S. Fifth St.,
499-0400,
www.flatbranch.com

Runner-Up: Boone Tavern,
811 E. Walnut St.,
442-5123,
www.boonetavern.com

Best Cup of Coffee
In a coffeehouse-rich town like Columbia, caffeine junkies are devoted to their favorite cup of Joe. Lakota devotees will tell you that no other cup in town compares to the slow-roasted flavor of a steaming mug of Lakota coffee. The local shop uses only arabica beans, and they roast them fresh every day so each and every sip is full of flavor.

24 S. Ninth St., 874-2852,
www.lakotacoffee.com

Runner-Up: Starbucks,
304 S. Ninth St.,442-5802,
www.starbucks.com

Best SALAD
The health-conscious Columbians have not one, but two top spots to enjoy a bowl of leafy greens. And lucky for them, we’re not talking rabbit food. The Upper Crust and Addison’s make healthful greenery seem anything but boring. With toppings such as crispy Thai peanut chicken and Brie cheese and walnuts, these restaurants make salad taste like a reward rather than the rotten part of your New Year’s resolution.

Addison’s:
709 Cherry St.,
256-1995,
www.addisonsophias.com/addisons

Upper Crust:
3107 Green Meadows Way,
874-4044,
www.theuppercrust.biz; and two additional locations

Best Sports Bar
In a town where Tigers reign supreme, it is no surprise that Trumans, which opened in December 2004, is the prime place to sit back with a cold one and watch the game. This local hot spot has 40 TVs, so you’ll never miss a minute of the action. And if ice cold beer and high-def highlights aren’t enough, Trumans serves up award-winning hot wings to boot. So when you’re in the mood to imbibe a few and cheer on the local teams, there isn’t a better spot to grab a stool and settle in. Sorry Jayhawks fans: must love Tigers to drink here.

3304 W. Broadway Business Park Court,
445-1669,
www.trumansbar.com

Runner-Up: TK Brothers Grill & Games,
1412 Forum Blvd.,
447-4107,
www.tkbrothers.com

Best Answer To “Where Did You End Up Last Night?”
Generic Night Club belies its name with the thrum of music, smoking hot stage-side dancers, and a spectacular bar area. There’s not a more exhilarating, atmospheric place to linger until last call.

1025A E. Broadway,
442-5999,
www.genericnightclub.com

Best pizza
In the Midwest, pizza can cause quite a controversy: Chicagoans stand by the hearty deep dish and Missourians defend the cracker-thin crust. But, in Columbia, there’s no debating that good pizza can be summed up with one word: Shakespeare’s. This legendary local establishment takes top honors for its pizza year after year, and how could it not? Its handmade slices of heaven are loaded with toppings and are ooey, gooey and just plain delicious.

225 S. 9th St.,
449-2454,
www.shakespeares.com; and one additional location

Celebrity Pick: Eric Aldrich, KOMU-TV8 Meteorologist
Best water fountain
All that talk about the weather makes a guy’s mouth a little dry, and the best place to take a cold, refreshing sip of H20 is from the water fountain in the second-floor hallway of the Reynolds Alumni Center. I forecast the temperature there will only reach a chilly 50 degrees!

Best Place to Get a Manicure/Pedicure
It’s a scientific fact that biting your nails is no way to keep them in shape. Instead, visit Cosmetology Concepts Institute for a good cleaning, shaping and polishing. They’ll include a hand-and-arm massage, all for only $12. This reasonable price is possible because the Institute is a school for beauty and its students learn hands-on on your hands. If you can bite your toenails, you don’t need a gym, but a soothing pedicure with a relaxing foot massage would be in order. Let your fingers and your toes do the walking.

1611 Burlington St.,
Suite A, 449-7527,
www.cosmetology-concepts.com

1st Runner-Up: Riversong Spa & Salon,
2100 Forum Blvd., Suite C,
447-1772

2nd Runner-Up: Salon Adair & Spa,
3301 W. Broadway, Business Park Court, Suite H,
234-1560,
www.salonadair.com

Best Place to Take a Visitor
“What’s there to do around here?” Aunt Harriet whines. Oh, not much — just The District. That’s 43 blocks of downtown Columbia, which boasts 110 unique shops, 70 bars and restaurants, 45 live performances a week, as well as a lively mixture of historical architecture and not-so-historical college students. It’s hip, it’s hot, and it’s fun. There are 5,900 parking places, more than enough to hide Auntie’s ’53 Packard.

11 S. 10th St.,
442-6816,
www.discoverthedistrict.com

1st Runner-Up: Shelter Gardens,
1817 W. Broadway,
445-8441

2nd Runner-Up: Les Bourgeois Winery & Vineyard,
Rocheport, MO
573-698-2716,
www.missouriwine.com

Best mexican restaurant
Tacos and burritos and fajitas, oh my! El Maguey, one of the many Mexican restaurants in Columbia, takes top honors in this spicy category because it serves up every imaginable Mexican dish in large portions and for reasonable prices. Diners go loco for the friendly staff and quick service, and the full-flavored fare, such as the Burrito Jalisca or Carne Asada, will feel like a fiesta in your mouth.

901 E. Nifong Blvd.,
874-3812; and two additional locations

Runner Up: Rio Grande,
3306 W. Broadway Business Park Court,
445-2946

Staff Pick: Best Use of Fire
Because Mount St. Helens is a bit of a hike and ash explosions taste, well, ashy, head to Osaka Japanese Restaurant to witness Missouri’s delicious version of a volcanic eruption. At this up-close and personal hibachi steakhouse, a skillful chef will put on a show of culinary proportions by cooking your food right in front of your eyes. And though a flaming tower of onions may not be quite as sensational as molten lava, it is edible, which, in our opinion, makes it better.

120 E. Nifong Blvd.,
875-8588

Staff Pick: Best Use of Fire: Part II
Hungry pyromaniacs, get excited. For though fire can be used in a plethora of intriguing ways, the best is at Churchill’s, located in the Holiday Inn Select. At this fine dining establishment, a positively decadent bananas Foster is served on fire and left for diners to devour. The dessert combines bananas, ice cream and cinnamon with Gran Marnier and rum: talk about a fiery finish!

2200 I-70 Drive S.W.,
445-8531