BEST BAKERY ITEMS BEST DESSERTS Incredibly Delicious 925 S. Seventh St., 528-8548 Several area bakeries and restaurants have delicious desserts. But only one spot has desserts deemed “Incredibly Delicious.” Not big on baked goods or desserts, we ventured into Incredibly Delicious to “take a look” at what they have to offer. We were pleasantly greeted at the door by a scrumptious aroma that led us to more pastries than we could have dreamed possible. There was cake, cookies, bread, tarts, croissants and more! There were things that we’d never tasted before, in flavors we never knew existed. Just when we thought we decided on a treat, a small voice from deep inside said, “Wait, there’s more!” Oh my gosh! No one said it would be this difficult. The pressure is beginning to be too much. We must decide which of the yummy treats to calm the sudden craving. And then it happened. Our eyes settled on what turned out to be a piece of heaven. Blueberry-orange coffee cake, an unusual and delicious combination. Needless to say, we wolfed down the coffee cake, and have returned countless times, indulging in way more goodies than the waistline can afford.

BEST BARBECUE Smokey Bones 2660 Dirksen Pkwy., 528-6410 We like a good fight. And if IT were conducting a barbecue match between BOS’s first and second place winners, then last year’s winner, Smokey Bones, just won another round. Perhaps it is due to several new dishes appearing on the menu since our last poll. They’ve added a fire-grilled sirloin steak, marinated in Cajun seasoning and topped with blue cheese crumbles and hickory bacon; a filet of grouper (blackened or fried) topped with lemon butter glaze; a turkey cobb salad; an avocado turkey burger; and smoked turkey club and grouper sandwiches. Several appetizers have also been introduced, including sweet potato stix – lightlyseasoned sweet potato fries, served with choice of brown sugar barbecue, garlic mayo, or spicy ketchup dipping sauce; crispy shrimp dunkers – fried jumbo shrimps, drizzled with teriyaki glaze and served with teriyaki ginger dipping sauce; and smoked southwest spring rolls – filled with shredded chicken, corn, black beans and spices. Our runner-up is Hickory River Smokehouse, who held the title for at least three consecutive years prior to Smokey Bones’ reign. Runner-up: Hickory River Smokehouse

BEST SPOT FOR A WORKING LUNCH OF 10 Dublin Pub 2413 S. MacArthur St., 793-6871 107 W. Cook, Vinegar Hill Mall, 679-1775 Let’s face it. We live in a day and age when time is precious. Since we can’t add more minutes to the day, we’re sometimes forced to combine lunch and work. If you’re working alone or in small group, finding a relatively quiet spot where the food is at least decent is not too difficult. But try finding an affordable spot that seats 10. Uhh…not so easy. Next time, voters recommend you try Dublin Pub, which runs $6.99 daily lunch specials. While the establishment’s banquet room requires a minimum of 25 people to reserve for such a meeting, Dublin’s is fairly well lit and management will make every effort to place you and your party in the back of the restaurant for some privacy. But don’t try combining work and lunch on Fridays – Dublin’s busiest day – when you may be disturbed by noisy, hungry crowds.

BEST BURGER Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers 2121 N. Grand Avenue East., 525-4952 There’s a lot to be said about loyalty. And after Krekel’s has served up burgers in the Springfield/Decatur area for more than 60 years, our voters have consistently shown where their loyalty lies when selecting the best burger in town. Yes, with seven central Illinois locations (one in Pawnee and five in the Decatur area), Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers has become a Springfield staple. But rest assured our voters make this choice based on taste and not longevity. These juicy, made-to-order burgers are simply fantastic. The meat is fresh. The prices are cheap. And the wait is short. Don’t leave without trying a Krekel’s shake, offered in 16 flavors.