Eight weeks and thousands of ballots later, the people of Falls Church have spoken. For the fourth consecutive year, News-Press readers cast votes in record numbers for their favorite places to eat, drink, shop and more in and around The Little City.
Falls Church’s obviously very popular Clare and Don’s Beach Shack emerged as the only multiple winner in the News-Press’ fourth annual reader’s vote. The winners in all 26 categories are listed in today’s special Best Of edition of the News-Press.
Clare and Don’s won for Best Lunch Spot, Outdoor Eating and Happy Hour. Moreover, they were runners-up in two other categories, Live Music and Spot to Watch the Game. Their “sister” restaurant, Mike’s Deli, won for Best Sandwiches.
Stepping into Clare and Don’s almost any time of day or day of the week confirms that the popularity is there. It is maintained not only by the funky surroundings, genuinely reminiscent of the beach, but an attentive and alert staff and a lot of choices on the menu.
As for the Best of Falls Church competition, completing its fourth year, the voting turnout was the highest yet. Votes were received and tabulated by the News-Press beginning on July 4.
(All Photos: Larry Golfer)
Best Burger
Elevation Burger – 442 S Washington St, Falls Church
Other Burger favorites: Burger 7, Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Mad Fox Brewing Company
Best Pizza
Pizzeria Orso – 400 S Maple Ave Falls Church
Other Pizza favorites: Flippin’ Pizza, Ledo Pizza, Mad Fox Brewing Company, ZPizza
Best Happy Hour
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack – 130 N Washington St Falls Church
Other Happy Hour Favorites: Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Mad Fox Brewing Company, spacebar
Best Spot to Watch the Game
Dogwood Tavern – 132 W. Broad Street, Falls Church
Other Game Day Favorites: Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Ledo Pizza, Mad Fox Brewing Company
Best Sandwiches
Mike’s Deli at Lazy Sundae – 112 N West St Falls Church
Other Sandwich favorites: Dogwood Tavern, Nourish Market, Panera Bread, spacebar
Best Lunch Spot
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack – 130 N Washington St Falls Church
Other Lunch favorites: Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Mad Fox Brewing Company, Panera Bread
Best Brunch
The Original Pancake House – 7395 Lee Hwy, Falls Church
Other Brunch favorites: Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Mad Fox Brewing Company, Pizzeria Orso
Best Outdoor Eating
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack – 130 N Washington St Falls Church
Other Outdoor Eating favorites: Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s 4 Provinces, Mad Fox Brewing Company, Pizzeria Orso
Best Sushi
Koi Koi – 450 W Broad St Falls Church
Other Sushi Favorites: Hoang’s Grill & Sushi Bar, Maneki Neko
Best Coffee House
Starbucks – Multiple Locations
Other Coffee favorites: Caribou Coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts, Little City Gourmet, Panera Bread
Best Bakery
Natalia’s Elegant Creations – nataliaselegantcreations.com
Other Bakery favorites: Dunkin’ Donuts, Milan Bakery, Panera Bread, Tiffany’s Bakery
Best Live Music Venue
The State Theatre – 220 N Washington St Falls Church
Other Live Music favorites: Bikenetic, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s Four Provinces
Best Retail Store
Brown’s Hardware – 100 W Broad St Falls Church
Other Retail favorites: Bikenetic, Brits on Broad, Stifel & Capra, Doodlehopper
Best Auto Service
Smokey’s Garage – 1105 W Broad St Falls Church
Other Auto Service favorites: City Sunoco, Curry’s Auto Service, Integrity Tire & Auto, Liberty
Best Yoga Studio
Dancing Mind Yoga – 929 W Broad St Falls Church
Other Yoga favorites: Bikram Yoga, Sacred Well Yoga
Best Health Club
24 Hour Fitness – 1000 E Broad St, Falls Church
Other Health Club favorites: Dancing Mind Yoga, Functional Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Vantage Fitness
Best Hair Salon
Hair Cuttery – Multiple Locations
Other Hair Salon favorites: Brits on Broad, Nash Hair Design, Perfect Endings
Best Nail Salon
Rex Day Spa – 442 S Washington St Falls Church
Other Nail Salon favorites: Aislinn Spa, ECA Nails, Present Nail Salon
Best Massage
Massage Envy – 1208 W Broad St, Falls Church
Other Massage favorites: Healthy By Intention, Malee Thai Massage
Best Florist
Falls Church Florist – 419 W Broad St Falls Church
Other Florist favorites: Galleria Florist, Giant Food
Best Doctor
Raymond Solano, Solano Spine & Sport Chiropractic – 313 Park Avenue # 100A , Falls Church
Other Doctor favorites: Allison Bae, Ted Perih, Andrea Schmieg, Gordon Theisz
Best Dentist
Dr. William Dougherty, III – 200 Little Falls St Falls Church
Other Dentist favorites: Melanie Love, Mark Miller, David Urban, Rachael Valltos
Best Bank
PNC Bank – Multiple Locations
More Bank favorites: BB&T Banks, Burke & Herbert, Suntrust, Wells Fargo
Best Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy – Multiple Locations
More Pharmacy favorites: Broad St. Pharmacy, Giant Food, Rite Aid, Safeway
Best Dry Cleaners
Spectrum Cleaners – 450 W Broad St #130, Falls Church
More Dry Cleaner favorites: Bridge Cleaners, Classic Cleaners, Hillwood Cleaners, Potomac Cleaners
Best Real Estate Agent
Tori McKinney, Keller Williams Realty
More Real Estate agents: JD Callander, Stacy Hennessey, Louise Molton, Kim Maller
