The toughest readers’ pick in the poll, the “Bergen’s best-kept secret” category was up for grabs this year. But, once all the votes were counted, the winner was Lampshades Plus Factory Outlet in Garfield.
This River Drive store makes its own brand of top-quality lampshades, and will do custom designs to suit just about any request. The “Plus” in the name includes shades for chandeliers and sconces, as well as shams and a whole array of other home-furnishing goods.
Blythe Lainof of Northvale has seen the light “It is a great store that has wonderful possibilities; you can just walk in with a lamp and get whatever you need.”

In recent years, antiques lovers have gravitated to the streets of Ho-Ho-Kus in search of vintage treasures. Granny’s Attic is tops in shops for antiques. What brings shoppers like Victoria Fernands of Ho-Ho-Kus to Granny’s is the uniqueness of the inventory. “They have very unusual items in the shop,” Fernands notes, “and it’s so much fun to explore.”

RUNNERS-UP: Brownstone Mill, Midland Park; The Antique Design Center, Upper Saddle River

In one of the most popular categories in the poll, the race “boiled” down to two standouts. By a healthy schmeer, last year’s winner, Ronnie’s Hillsdale Hot Bagels, and a newcomer among the voting responses, Ridgewood Hot Bagels, took top honors.

For Sue Wilhoit of Ridgewood, it’s more than just delicious bagels at Ridgewood Hot Bagels. “The people are very friendly,” she says. “I like it because you walk in there, and the people and the atmosphere make you feel really good.”

Customer service drives Ilene Pakett of Woodcliff Lake to Ronnie’s. “His bagels are always fresh; he listens to customers and tries to attend with their needs,” she notes. “He has a great business going, he’s very involved with the community, but his bagels just taste the best. Wherever we travel to, we always compare the bagels we buy with Ronnie’s – and Ronnie’s is the gold standard.”

Nothing beats the sweet smell of fresh baked cakes and other confections. Butterflake Bake Shop, a classic along Cedar Lane in Teaneck, did anything but crumble against the competition.

“My family looks forward to their challah bread every Friday,” says Stefanie Jacobowitz of Leonia. “If there is any left after we devour it at Friday night dinner, we make the most delicious French toast out of it the next day!”

RUNNERS-UP: 2007 Readers’ Pick B&W Bakery, Hackensack

Need a trim? Slide into the chair at Larry and Phil’s for an old-fashioned shave and a haircut. “The nicest guys in the world” is how Oakland’s Joseph Pillari describes Larry and Phil. “I go there because of two men in particular: Joe and Phil,” notes Pillari. “They do a terrific job, and cut my whole family’s hair. My two boys and I have been going there for about five years.”

New this year to the readers poll results is Shelly’s Café in Teaneck. Shelly’s beat out the Sheraton Crossroads, the Bicycle Club in Englewood Cliffs and the Clinton Inn in Tenafly for the choice of best brunch in Bergen.
“In my family, we all have different tastes, so Shelly’s is perfect. For brunch, they serve a full buffet, and you can get whatever you want,” says Elie Haller of Teaneck. “We constantly go back and forth, tasting each others’ selections. It’s a very casual atmosphere, and the food is very good.”

Here’s the beef. It’s a tossup between popular Westwood dining destination The Iron Horse, and poll newcomer Noah’s Ark in Teaneck, for the best burger in Bergen.
Oradell’s Pam Daly prefers to take a bite of a juicy burger at The Iron Horse, because “the burgers are so sumptuous – they’re just so tasty and fresh.” Miriam Finkel of Englewood praises the perfect size and preparation of the burgers at Noah’s Ark: “There is a new burger menu with all these great samplings. Everything is amazing, and everyone I know goes there and loves it.”

Conrad’s has long been known for pleasing the sweet tooth. Less well known than some of the candy powerhouses in Bergen, Conrad’s received the most sugar cubes to be voted this year’s best. With a charming, old-fashioned kind of ice cream shop-candy shop kind of appeal, Conrad’s is “a classic,” according to Bonnie O’Keeffe of Woodcliff Lake. “The folks at Conrad’s know what works, and they stick to it. Conrad’s has been around forever, and in my mind, something that’s so long-lasting is there for a reason. It’s just classic treats and ice cream.”

RUNNERS-UP: 2007 Readers’ Pick Hanna Krause Homemade Candies, Paramus; Bischoff’s, Teaneck

Scrub-a-dub-dub, Ridgewood Auto Wash Company once again leads the pack as the readers’ choice for best place in Bergen get your wheels squeaky clean. Your car will sparkle once the drying and polishing team rubs it down.
“Quick service and fair prices cause me to get in line for a car wash,” says Lynne Freeman of Ridgewood. “It’s also very convenient, which factors into the decision.”

RUNNER-UP: Urban Auto Spa, Franklin Lakes

For the second time, the Market Basket in Franklin Lakes was an overwhelming choice for best caterer among (201) readers. Known for its catering expertise, Market Basket is a delightful emporium of holiday treats, including cheeses, specialty meats, baked goods and exotic produce. When St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, pick up a succulently seasoned corned beef, and cook up a most delicious Irish feast – it’d make a leprechaun turn over his pot of gold.
“Delicious food, generous portions and creative dishes are the signature of Market Basket,” says Joan Velardi of Glen Rock. “The service is wonderful; my brother-in-law has used their food for events at the convention center, and everything is great.”
RUNNER-UP: Rave Events, Teaneck

Voted top choice for cheese among readers in 2007, The Cheese Shop of Ridgewood is once again a hands-down favorite. The reason, readers say, is the variety of fare offered at the Ridgewood Avenue shop. “The quality and variety of cheeses are fantastic,” says Deb Malnati of Mahwah. “I don’t go to Ridgewood that often, but when I do, I always stop in for a treat.”
RUNNERS-UP: Chez Cheeze, Tenafly; Jerry’s Gourmet, Englewood

(201) Expert Pick, selected by Amelia Duggan, (201) Editor
“Josie Dvorken has an amazing talent when it comes to capturing the precious, angelic poses of children. She puts children at ease as she plays a form of ‘dress-up’ before a portrait sitting. The photos she has taken of my own children are sweet keepsakes that will be treasured always.”

There are hundreds of Chinese restaurants in Bergen. The favorite among readers? Egg roll-er, drum-roll, please... it’s Golden Dynasty in Franklin Lakes. Denise Rebori ventures from Woodcliff Lake to enjoy the fare. “My kids really like it, the staff are family-friendly, they have quick service and it’s just good Chinese food,” she notes.
RUNNERS-UP: Baumgart’s, Edgewater, Englewood and Ridgewood; Chopstix, Teaneck

Despite some stiff competition, Ridgewood Coffee Company again prevailed as Bergen bean counters’ choice for best coffeehouse. Located in the center of downtown Ridgewood, this java joint brews up a special blend of atmosphere and aroma to please customers like Keith Henthorn. “It’s just natural and relaxed,” he explains. “You’re greeted with such a welcoming; the barista always knows what I want. It’s a nice, homey place every time you go in.”
RUNNERS-UP: Cool Beans, Oradell; Holy Grounds, Allendale k, the variety of cheesecake offerings is the draw with the restaurant. “We love the chocolate mousse, pumpkin and Godiva chocolate cheesecakes,” Popkin says. Ridgewood’s Arlene Sobel agrees. “The Cheesecake Factory lives up to its name, with so many choices in cheesecakes – all of which have great flavors, freshness and decadence,” she says.

Extensive upgrades to this park from when most (201) readers were kids are now a hit with their own children for a “family day out.”
“As soon as the weather gets nice, I pack up the kids and we head for the Van Saun Zoo,” says Lori Orlando of Ramsey. “It’s just the right size to keep everyone entertained – without getting too tired from all the walking.” Orlando’s family loves the animals, especially the butterfly exhibit in the summer, and always tries to hop the train for a quick ride. “They love the tunnel,” she adds. “If time allows, we also try to play in the Harmony Park across the road, or go on the merry-go-round.”
Elaine Nazzaro of Upper Saddle River also can’t seem to get enough of Van Saun, taking her grandkids there over the past 20 years. “We took our first grandchild there when he was a tot, and he’s 18,” she notes. “We now have a little guy who is 2 1/2, and we are taking him there also. For many, many years we have been visiting Van Saun Park for the animals, the train and for everything the park has to offer. It’s just a park that keeps giving and giving as long as we keep having grandkids.”

RUNNERS-UP: Wild Duck Pond, Ridgewood; Votee Park, Teaneck

This category was a veritable blowout for 2008, with Mania’s topping the list for a cut and color. The reason seems to lie in the level of customer service the salon provides.
“They are just fantastic, everybody is so friendly,” says Dawn McPartland of Park Ridge. “The first time you walk in there, they make you feel like you are a very special person. They give you a tour of the place, and they explain everything and you just feel special and very well taken care of.”

Say “Cheesecake!” for this year’s choice for the best dessert menu: The Cheesecake Factory. When it comes to readers like Debra Popkin of Teaneck

If there’s one thing that (201) readers know, it’s a good diner. Drive around Bergen, and you’ll see dozens of these quintessentially New Jersey establishments – each with a parking lot full of hungry customers, and an endless menu of choices. For the second time, readers singled out Matthew’s Colonial Diner as the best. Frank Mortimer of Ho-Ho-Kus puts it simply: “The food, as well as the service, is always top notch.”

RUNNER-UP: Park Ridge Diner, Park Ridge

Bergen’s busting with quality dry-cleaning services, but voters choose to starch their shirts at Eddie’s in Waldwick.
“I use him because he’s reliable and when I tell him, ‘Hey, I got a stain here,’ he doesn’t worry about it,” says Paul Meismer of Ridgewood. “Eddie says, ‘Tell me what it is,’ and he gets it right out.”

It’s a tie between Abma’s Farm Market and DePiero’s. Ridgewood resident Maura Fleming likes the fact the poultry and produce sold at Abma’s are grown and raised right on the premises: “With Abma’s, they actually have homemade apple pies, and the chicken is their own chicken, the eggs are their own eggs.”
Audrey Gheysen of Park Ridge travels to DePiero’s for its superior array of fresh produce. “They have a wonderful selection throughout the year, they have good pricing and the produce is fresh,” she notes.

RUNNER-UP: Demarest Farm, Hillsdale

Bergen residents positively crackle with excitement at the prospect of the annual fireworks display from readers’ choice Ridgewood. Lisa Mayer-Aschhoff of Glen Rock shows the uninitiated the light: “It’s just a spectacular display. If you can deal with the crowd and get a spot, it’s definitely worth it.”

RUNNERS-UP: Allendale Fourth of July; Wyckoff Labor Day

Consistent quality and excellent service best describe this business, where customers like Elyse Beidner of Glen Rock have the utmost confidence in every bouquet. “When I leave them to their own devices like I did for my last holiday, I just walked in and said ‘Here are my containers, here are my colors, just do something,’” she explains of the loyalty that blossomed over years of frequenting her neighborhood florist. “The arrangements were beautiful. The people at Perry’s are very creative.”

RUNNERS-UP: Dean Street Greenery, Englewood; Allendale Flowers, Allendale

Personalized service is the reason readers like Carol Hill of Waldwick chose Frame It Yourself of Westwood as Bergen’s best frame shop. “They provide excellent color consultations,” she says, “and they help customers with limited design expertise make the right choice for a frame that will be in keeping with their specific home décor.”

RUNNER-UP: Jewel Spiegel Gallery, Englewood

Cedar Lane in Teaneck sparkles just a little bit more thanks to Animations, readers’ choice for the county’s best gift shop. “The store owners think about their clients and their customers; they think about quality, and not just about mass-producing,” says Teaneck local Elana Silber. “Overall, it’s just an amazing store.”

RUNNERS-UP: 2007 Readers’ Pick Happy Tuesday, Ridgewood; Blue Tulip, Englewood

(201) Expert Pick, selected by Bob Probert, Mexican food aficionado, Glen Rock
“Guacamole dates back to the Aztecs, who called it ahuaca-mulli, and thought it was an aphrodisiac. Its basic ingredients are avocado, chilies – usually jalapeño or Serrano – and salt, but that’s where the debate begins. Add tomato … onion … cilantro … lime juice … garlic? Some say ‘yes’; others, ‘no way.’
“One thing is certain – there is some pretty good guacamole being served in Bergen restaurants. Because the perfect ‘guac’ depends so much on personal preference, Mamá Mexico in Englewood Cliffs is my pick. It’s made tableside, assuring freshness, using the traditional Mexican mortar and pestle, called a molcajete. The avocados are perfectly ripe, allowing for both smooth and chunky textures, and the choice of optional ingredients assures that you can have it just the way you like it. At $14, it’s not cheap, but it’s worth it.
“Good runners-up are 3 Chicas and Blue Moon, both in Wyckoff, and Loco Mexican Café in Allendale. My favorite runner-up, though, was found at Fiesta Hut i

A staff pick as the best gym in Bergen in 2007, The Gym has now graduated to the best among readers for its high-tech, futuristic workout environment.
“The staff is very professional, and the equipment is quite impressive,” says Beth Krugman of Englewood. “My sister-in-law is a gym rat, and she was bowled over by it, and whenever she comes to visit, she always goes there and begs them to let her in.”

It’s a tie! Voters on the eastern side of Bergen cast their ballots for Bischoff’s, a Teaneck landmark. Westside Bergen residents voted for Van Dyk’s Ice Cream, a Ridgewood mainstay.
Why did these two scoop the competition? “’Cause there is no better,” Richard Narins, Woodcliff Lake, says of Bischoff’s. “They have the best, most unbelievable ice cream in the world.” Because of their Heavenly Hash alone, the Teaneck ice cream parlor has been his regular dessert destination for two decades.
As for Van Dyk’s, Fair Lawn’s Eileen Rocco raves about the “interesting” flavors and “always warm” staff, as well as the generous portions. “The ice cream tastes good, is very creamy and has always had such great flavor,” Rocco adds.

Lorraine Riscinti of River Vale likens the food at Casa Del Sol to that available along the famed Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. “I am from the Bronx, and I am used to good Italian food,” she explains. “Casa Del Sol is the closest thing I could find to Arthur Avenue here in Bergen!”

RUNNERS-UP: Jerry’s Gourmet, Englewood; Italian Riviera, Waldwick; and La Strada,
Midland Park

Mangia tutti! Italian restaurants abound in Bergen, but when choosing the most “al dente,” readers voted for Arturo’s. Wyckoff’s Monica Oake touts Arturo’s, saying “everything – from the service to the owner to the food – everything is superb.”
And for Bruce Silver of Fair Lawn, the enjoyment is in the true family environment of the place. “The father’s in the kitchen, the mom is walking around and the sons are there, so you know you are coming into a family restaurant – but it’s very elegant, and the service is great,” he says.

RUNNERS-UP: Andiamo Restaurant, Haworth; Savini Restaurant, Allendale; and Aldo’s Italian Restaurant, Wyckoff

(201) Expert Pick, selected by Bill Pitcher, The Record Food Editor

“How can a restaurant on Route 46 be a secret? When it’s tucked behind a bus stop, next to a pedestrian bridge and amid merging shopping-center traffic. You’ll love the balanced flavors in Japasia’s spider roll – soft-shell crab, mango and spicy tuna – and the intricacy with which the sushi chefs create a web of eel sauce and spicy mayonnaise beneath it. You’ll love the funky New York vibe, with techno music, a stone waterfall and orange lights at the sushi bar. And you’ll love that you can sometimes have this little gem all to yourself.”