Others might ponder the complexities of the world, but our readers know what's really important -- like where to find the best sushi, who's got the loosest slots, and what's the answer to the burning question, "What's the best cheap date?"

This poll of what's best in our community is a look at what makes locals shop, drink, dine and play, and where they go to do it. You can use it to see how your opinions fared, and as a checklist for new places and things to try in the coming year. Just remember, if you didn't vote, you can't complain. And if you did vote, good for you for making your views known.

Those who filled out ballots were entered into a drawing for a $150 gift certificate to the best new restaurant. The winner: Chris Lake of Sparks, who will enjoy a meal at Tapestries in northwest Reno.

FOOD and DRINK

BEST COFFEE SHOP

Some voters took the "coffee" in coffee house literally and voted for Starbucks, but everyone else knows it's all about the food.

1. Peppermill Coffee Shop

2. Starbucks

3. Eldorado Tivoli Gardens

BEST BREAKFAST

It's 'Adam and Eve on a raft with a pig" for a retro start to the day at Peg's.

1. Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs

2. Heidi's

3. IHOP

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

We're just parroting what the readers say -- it's Toucan Charlie's inside the Atlantis to start their week.

1. Atlantis' Toucan Charlie's

2. Peppermill's Island Buffet

3. Eldorado's Chef's Buffet

BEST SANDWICH

Port of Subs still sinks the competition, but there's a newcomer lurking in the waters.

1. Port of Subs

2. Delitowne

3. Quizno's

BEST BURGER

This blast from the past rocks readers' appetites by keeping it classically simple.

1. In-N-Out Burger

2. Little Nugget

3. Juicy's

BEST PIZZA

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, it's still Round Table that's crowned king.

1. Round Table

2. JJ's Pie Co.

3. Blue Moon

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Say hola! to the new queen of tortillas.

1. Bertha Miranda's

2. Mi Casa Too

3. Beto's

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

The Eldorado's La Strada slides pasta the Olive Garden.

1. Eldorado's La Strada

2. Olive Garden

3. Zozo's

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

The fortune cookie reads "Jade for luck and the best Chinese food in town."

1. Palais de Jade

2. P.F. Chang's

3. Eldorado's Golden Fortune

BEST VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

This restaurant's won so many times, it could retire its number.

1. Pho 777

2. Golden Flower

3. Saigon Pearl

BEST THAI RESTAUANT

Bangkok Cuisine curries flavor with voters.

1. Bangkok Cuisine

2. Café de Thai

3. A Taste of Thai

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

Readers make their own passageway to this garden of delights.

1. India Garden

2. India Kabob & Curry

3. A Taste of India

BEST SUSHI

Sushi Pier catches the wave of approval and floats to the top.

1. Sushi Pier

2. Atlantis Sushi Bar

3. Sushi Club

BEST STEAK HOUSE

The shrimp may be on the barbi, but our readers raise the steaks at Harrah's Reno.

1. Harrah's Steak House

2. Outback

3. Peppermill Steak House

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Rapscallion steams into port, once again ahead of the fleet.

1. Rapscallion

2. Peppermill's Oceano

3. Atlantis Sushi & Oyster Bar

BEST NON-CASINO BUFFET

OK, we get it. You like Chinese food and lots of it.

1. King Buffet

2. China Star

3. Top of China

BEST ICE CREAM

Cold Stone licks the competition again.

1. Cold Stone

2. Marble Slab

3. Baskin Robbins

BEST DESSERT

Just hand them the cake and no one gets hurt.

1. Eldorado's Tivoli Gardens

2. Claim Jumper

3. The Chocolate Bar

BEST PLACE FOR A SPECIAL DATE

Impressing them with your good taste? Priceless.

1. Eldorado's Roxy

2. Harrah's Steak House

3. LuLou's

BEST PLACE TO BLOW YOUR PAYCHECK ON A NICE MEAL

Go ahead, you're worth it.

1. Harrah's Steak House

2. Eldorado's Roxy

3. Peppermill's White Orchid

BEST NATIONAL CHAIN RESTAURANT

They may be national chains, but personal service makes the difference.

1. P.F. Chang's

2. Claim Jumper

3. Macaroni Grill

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

They proved that the new kids on the block can play with the big kids.

1. Tapestries

2. The Stone House Café

3. Pinnocchio's in Sparks

BEST LATE-NIGHT MENU

From midnight snacks to serious chow, these restaurants won the approval of local nightowls.

1. Peppermill Coffee Shop

2. Eldorado's Tivoli Gardens

3. Bully's

BEST HAPPY HOUR

Eat, drink and meet Mary, for tomorrow's another game.

1. Bully's

2. Outback

3. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge

BEST MARTINI

"Shaken, not stirred," or is that, "shake it, don't break it?" However you like it, readers like to sip at the Eldorado's Roxy.

1. Eldorado's Roxy

2. The Chocolate Bar

3. Harrah's Sapphire Lounge

BEST MICROBREW

Our readers go for the gusto at the Eldorado's Brew Brothers.

1. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

2. Great Basin Brewing Co.

3. Silver Peak

BEST BEER SELECTION

Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall and on the bar.

1. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

2. Great Basin Brewing Co.

3. Silver Peak

BEST TAKE-OUT

Nope, it's not Betty. It's Applebee's.

1. Applebee's

2. In-N-Out Burger

3. Famous Murphy's

BEST CHICKEN WINGS

Well, yee-hah. It's Joe Bob's.

1. Joe Bob's Chicken Palace

2. Bully's

3. Wingstop

BEST WINE LIST

Eldorado's Roxy pops readers' corks in this category.

1. Eldorado's Roxy

2. Atlantis' MonteVigna

3. Harrah's Steak House

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BEST ART GALLERY

Picture this -- the Museum won again. Guess our readers are lookers, not buyers.

1. Nevada Museum of Art

2. Stremmel Gallery

3. Richardson Gallery

BEST PLACE TO LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC

What? I can't hear you.

1. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

2. Reno Hilton Garage

3. Wingfield Park

BEST LOCAL BAND/MUSICIAN

It's nice to see our local musicians so appreciated.

1. Sol' Jibe

2. Steel Breeze

3. Left of Centre

BEST SPECIAL EVENT

Just don't step on their blue suede shoes.

1. Hot August Nights

2. John Ascuaga's Nugget's Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off

3. Artown

BEST RADIO STATION

Readers signaled their choice -- Sunny 106.9FM

1. Sunny 106.9FM

2. KRZK 100.9FM

3. KTHX 100.1FM

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY

You turn them on.

1. Ross Mitchell & Monica Jaye

2. Tim, Malayna & Tim

3. Bill & Connie

BEST SPORTS BAR

It's a goal...no wait, it's a basket...make that a home run.

1. Bully's

2. Sparky's

3. Baldini's Taps

BEST NIGHTCLUB

Now if they could just get Michael Bublé in the Bubinga.

1. Eldorado Bubinga Lounge

2. Vino

3. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

BEST GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

A fancy drink, some hot bods and chocolate. Now that's what our readers call a perfect night.

1. Eldorado Bubinga Lounge

2. Harrah's "Chippendales"

3. The Chocolate Bar

BEST GUYS' NIGHT OUT

Boys will be boys, bless 'em.

1. Men's Club

2. Eldorado Bubinga Lounge

3. Wild Orchid

BEST "MEET" MARKET

Must be squeezing all that fresh fruit in the fresh air.

1. Sparks Hometowne Farmer's Market

2. Eldorado's Bubinga Lounge

3. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

BEST PLACE TO ROMANCE HIM/HER

Just don't try to skinny dip.

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Eldorado's Roxy

3. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge

BEST "AFTER-HOURS" HANGOUT

There's just something about saying 'Meet me at the Chocolate Bar."

1. The Chocolate Bar

2. Eldorado's Bubinga Lounge

3. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge

BEST CHEAP DATE (not a person, please!)

So no, it's not your ex.

1. Century Theatres

2. Riverwalk

3. In-N-Out Burger

RECREATION

BEST GOLF COURSE

Foreplay is best, readers say, at Red Hawk.

1. Red Hawk

2. Lakeridge

3. Montreux

BEST PLACE TO CROSS COUNTRY SKI

Any place that has trees to hang on to.

1. Mt. Rose Meadows

2. Northstar

3. Squaw Valley USA

BEST RESORT FOR SKIERS

The "Lady of the Mountain" wins again.

1. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

2. Squaw Valley USA

3. Northstar

BEST RESORT FOR BOARDERS

Cowabunga, man, it wasn't too long ago that they weren't even allowed on the slopes.

1. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

2. Northstar

3. Boreal

BEST PLACE TO RUN/JOG/WALK

Warning, some readers got tired out just reading the category.

1. Sparks Marina

2. Virginia Lake

3. Riverwalk

BEST SPOT FOR WATER SPORTS

Ahoy, these mates' choices to weigh anchor are the same as last year's.

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Pyramid Lake

3. Truckee River Whitewater Park

BEST FITNESS CENTER/GYM

There's something very freeing about exercising at 2 a.m.

1. 24 Hour Fitness

2. Gold's Gym

3. Saint Mary's Center for Health & Fitness

BEST YOGA STUDIO

Some readers liked theirs with nuts -- oh wait, that's yogurt.

1. Yoga Shack

2. Bikram Yoga

3. Yoga Loka

BEST SKATEBOARDING PARK

Kids, don't let your parents try this without a net.

1. Rattlesnake Mountain Skate Park at Mira Loma

2. Idlewild Skate Park

3. Burgess Skate Park

BEST PLAYGROUND

Woo, woo. It's gotta be the train.

1. Idlewild Park

2. Rancho San Rafael

3. Sparks Marina

BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR POOCH

We did get some votes for Harrah's Steak House, but they were signed with a paw print. Pet owners chose something cheaper -- like free.

1. Rancho San Rafael dog park

2. Sparks Marina

3. Virginia Lake dog park

BEST LOCAL PARK

Even people without dogs like the Rancho. Maybe it has something to do with those big old balloons in the fall.

1. Rancho San Rafael

2. Idlewild Park

3. Sparks Marina

BEST ARCADE

Readers like to whack their moles at the Reno Hilton.

1. Reno Hilton's Fun Quest

2. Circus Circus

3. John Ascuaga's Nugget

BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY

Guess most kids are born in the summer.

1. Wild Island Family Adventure Park/Coconut Bowl

2. Chuck E. Cheese

3. Jump Man Jump

SHOPPING AND SERVICES

BEST SELECTION OF WOMEN'S CLOTHES

Now all they need is a Thanksgiving Day parade.

1. Macy's

2. Dillard's

3. Kohl's

BEST SELECTION OF MEN'S CLOTHES

Must be while they were waiting for their wives to finish shopping.

1. Macy's

2. Dillard's

3. Men's Wearhouse

BEST BOUTIQUE CLOTHING

Who says Reno's not hip?

1. Lodo Loft

2. Lipstick

3. Attic

BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES

Make that one-stop shopping for Macy's.

1. Macy's

2. DSW

3. Dillard's

BEST PLACE TO BUY PET SUPPLIES

Fido's owners give Petco two paws up.

1. Petco

2. Petsmart

3. Scraps

BEST PLACE TO BUY BABY THINGS

Grandmothers everywhere swear by Babies R Us.

1. Babies R Us

2. Wal-Mart

3. Target

BEST GROCERY STORE

Raley's "produced" the most votes, if you carrot all.

1. Raley's

2. Winco

3. Wal-Mart

BEST SPECIALITY FOOD STORE

This store really rings our readers' bells.

1. Trader Joe's

2. Wild Oats

3. Blue Bounty

BEST WINE SELECTION -- RETAIL

Readers like their vino discounted.

1. Ben's Discount Liquor

2. Whispering Vine

3. Trader Joe's

BEST BRIDAL SHOP

We popped the question, and the answer was "Yes, it's David's again this year."

1. David's Bridal

2. Marchele's

3. Blue Garter

BEST BOOKSTORE -- NEW

In this battle of David and Goliath, the giants win, but the local favorite still hangs tough.

1. Barnes & Noble

2. Borders

3. Sundance

BEST BOOKSTORE -- USED

It must be fate.

1. Dharma

2. Paperback Exchange

3. Sundance

BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSIC

When they're through downloading from the Net, they head for Tower Records.

1. Tower Records

2. Best Buy

3. Soundwave CDs

BEST GARDEN SHOP/NURSERY

If your plastic plants die, better head to our readers' top choices.

1. Moana Nursery

2. G & G Nursery

3. Home Depot

BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR HOME DÉCOR

Again, voters were a bit literal, and chose Home Depot. Luckily there's Bed, Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus when you're through painting and refinishing the floors.

1. Home Depot

2. Bed, Bath & Beyond

3. Cost Plus

BEST FLORIST

This bud's for you.

1. Sparks Florist

2. St. Ives

3. Moana Nursery

BEST JEWELRY

Just remember guys, diamonds are your best friend.

1. Rogers

2. Zales

3. Gem Gallery

BEST FURNITURE

It's only fair. Last year, the newcomer, Ashley took first, and now it's newcomer R.C. Wiley's turn.

1. R.C. Wiley

2. Ashley

3. Ric's Furniture Warehouse

BEST CAR REPAIR SHOP

On the road again is the best place for your car. If it can't be there, readers like Greg's.

1. Greg's Garage

2. Reno Vulcanizing

3. Automotion

BEST CAR WASH

Ring that bell, Mission wins again.

1. Mission Car Wash

2. Franktown Corners

3. Winners Corner

BEST PLACE TO BUY UNIQUE GIFTS

If it's the thought that counts, think out of the box.

1. Cost Plus

2. Boulevard

3. La Bussola

BEST PLACE TO BUY ELECTRONICS

Unplugged and wired, readers voted for Best Buy.

1. Best Buy

2. Circuit City

3. Costco

BEST CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER

The little orange man can hear him now.

1. Cingular

2. Verizon

3. Sprint

BEST PLACE TO BUY OUTDOOR GEAR

Tents, backpacks and shoes, oh my. Our readers say head to REI.

1. REI

2. Sportsman's Warehouse

3. Gart Sports/Sports Authority

CASINO

BEST CASINO BUFFET

Bet the voters don't eat like a bird at this buffet.

1. Atlantis' Toucan Charlie's

2. Peppermill's Island Buffet

3. Eldorado's Chef's Buffet

BEST CASINO RESTAURANT

The Eldorado's elegant Roxy moves up to first in this year's voting.

1. Eldorado's Roxy

2. Harrah's Steak House

3. Eldorado's La Strada

BEST CASINO BAR/NIGHTCLUB

After eating at the best casino restaurant, you can stroll over to the best casino bar and nightclub and never leave the premises.

1. Eldorado's Bubinga Lounge

2. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge

3. Eldorado's Brew Brothers

BEST CASINO SHOW

Readers liked the quirky, cirque style of "Balagan."

1. Eldorado's "Balagan"

2. Harrah's "Bareback"

3. Silver Legacy's Catch a Rising Star comedy club

BEST CONCERTS

The Reno Hilton wins again, but the downtown Reno Events Center is music to a lot of voters' ears.

1. Reno Hilton

2. Reno Events Center

3. Silver Legacy

LOOSEST SLOTS

Cha-ching. The Peppermill hit the jackpot with readers.

1. Peppermill

2. Eldorado

3. Atlantis

FRIENDLIEST ATMOSPHERE

Must be all those loose slots, but readers found the Peppermill to be the friendliest.

1. Peppermill

2. Eldorado

3. Atlantis

BEST TABLE GAMES

When they laid their cards out on the table, it was at the Atlantis.

1. Atlantis

2. Eldorado

3. Peppermill

BEST SLOT SELECTION

The Atlantis takes over the top slot, so to speak.

1. Atlantis

2. Peppermill

3. Eldorado

LUCKIEST PLACE TO GAMBLE

When the chips are down, voters say head to the Eldorado.

1. Eldorado

2. Peppermill

3. Atlantis