BEST ITALIAN
Saputo’s 801 E. Monroe St., 522-0105 www.saputos.com The people have spoken time and again. No Italian restaurant is quite so beloved by Springfield as Saputo’s. For more than 50 years, the Saputo family has used their old-world know-how to create classic dishes that would make mama proud, with a number of dishes using recipes that traveled over from the old country. Their anchovy salad, baked pastas and meatballs are always a perfect recommendation. Another recommendation? When getting the baked pastas, for the love of your tongue, wait until it cools down. If you can’t wait, well, that’s what dessert’s for.
Runner-up: Bella Milano

BEST BAR TO WATCH A SPORTING EVENT
Buffalo Wild Wings 4420 Wabash Ave., 546-9453 Even as you watch your team screw up their chances of making the World Series, ahem, St. Louis Cardinals, all’s not lost if you’re at Buffalo Wild Wings. Our voters seem to agree, picking the far-west side bar over downtown’s Sammy’s for the first time. There’s ample parking and indoor and outdoor seating, several big screens that give sports fans a front-row seat to the action and 14 different sauces like honey barbecue, Asian zing and mango habenero to douse your wings and tenders. If you feel the need to flex your muscles, check out the blazin’ sauce — maybe after a few beers.
Runner-up: Sammy’s Sports Bar

BEST GREEN-FOCUSED BUSINESS
Food Fantasies 1512 Wabash Ave., 793-8009 www.foodfantasies.com Other grocery stores have small “organic” sections, but Food Fantasies is basically organic heaven. “Green” may be so hip and in today, but Jerry Caslin and crew did it way before it was trendy, and still does it best. Must be why they’re celebrating 20 years of business this year. Their produce is locally grown, their meat free of chemicals, their brands natural and healthy, and their breads freshly made in-house and only using whole wheat, which they grind in the store. Vegetarians and vegans delight in Food Fantasies (shocker of the week: Springfield’s not exactly the easiest place to renounce meat), but there’s something for all of us, special diet or no, and not just mega-healthy things. Their snack food is wonderful, too, and different from everywhere else (Pirouline Chocolate Wafers. Yum).
Runner-up: Goodwill Industries

BEST GYROS
Gyros Stop 2907 S. MacArthur Blvd., 698-6463 If our readers think it, it must be true. For the second year running, Gyros Stop has the best gyros (yee-ros) in Springfield. In keeping with tradition, the Greek eatery piles thinly sliced, zestily spiced lamb meat, plenty of sour cream and cucumber sauce, onion and tomatoes on homemade pita bread. Feeling adventurous? Try the BBQ, chicken or western gyros or sample other Greek specialties like the souvlaki (shish kebab), spanakopita (spinach pita) or seganaki (flaming cheese). Last year’s Best Greek winner, Yanni’s, placed second, and Fat Moe’s, a new restaurant in Monroe Plaza, placed third.
Runner-up: Yanni’s, Fat Moe’s