Best of Northside Small Businesses
Annual Readers’ Choice Awards
Winners of 2018

Best Specialty Retail Store
#1- Wagsburgh
#2- Tom Friday’s Meat Market
#3- Laverty Jewelry and Gifts

Best Beauty Service or Product Store
#1- Wagsburgh for PETS &
#1- Annex for PEOPLE
#2- The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers
#3- Happy Nails

Best Gift Shop
#1- Wagsburgh
#2- Laverty Jewelry and Gifts
#3- TIED: The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers and Alphabet City Book Store

Best Hair Salon or Barber Shop
#1- The Humble Barber Co.
#2- Dave’s Barber Shop
#3- Motive Salon

Best Health or Fitness Business
#1- Allegheny YMCA
#2- Sarah Heinz House
#3- California Cycle Path

Best Weekday Breakfast Spot
#1- Lindo’s Restaurant
#2- TIED: Tammy’s Place and Arnold’s Tea
#3- Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe

Best Weekend Brunch Spot
#1- Max’s Allegheny Tavern
#2- Federal Galley
#3- Brugge on North

Best Northside Coffee Spot
#1- Kaffeehaus
#2- Commonplace Coffee in MWS
#3- Arnold’s Tea

Best Lunch Spot
#1- China Taste
#2- North Shore Deli
#3- Max’s Allegheny Tavern

Best Dinner Spot
#1- Max’s Allegheny Tavern
#2- Legend’s Eatery
#3- TIED: Siempre Algo and Brugge on North

Best Craft Drink Spot
#1- Allegheny City Brewing
#2- Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse
#3- Penn Brewery

Best Bar for Good Drinks, Good Food, and Good People
#1- Penn Brewery
#2- TIED: Modern Cafe and Max’s Allegheny Tavern
#3- Federal Galley

Best Pizza Spot
#1- Badamo’s Pizza
#2- TIED: Michigan & Trumbull and Giorgio’s Place
#3- Chubby’s Pizza and Hoagies

Best Bakery
#1- Priory Fine Pastries
#2- BreadWorks
#3- Schorr Bakery

Best Venue for Live Music
#1- Stage AE
#2- Park House
#3- Elks Lodge #339

Best Venue for Visual & Performing Arts
#1- New Hazlett Theater
#2- Randyland
#3- City of Asylum

Best Museum
#1- National Aviary
#2- Children’s Museum
#3- Randyland

Want to know who won last year?
Read about 2017 winners, here.

Want to be the first to nominate your favorite business in 2019?
Sign up for our free, weekly e-newsletter for exclusive stories, contests, and updates on all things Northside, here.

Thank you readers & a very special thank you to the small business owners, employees, patrons, friends, and families who endeavor to make the Northside a vibrant community every day. All of the businesses listed here by the readers are anchors in their neighborhood’s business district. There are still a handful of small, family run businesses that were established as early as the 50’s, like Tom Friday’s Market, Bernie’s Photo Center, and Lockhart Tires. Today, in just 2018 alone, the Northside has also seen new family businesses like Siempre Algo, Mayfly Market, and Fritzy’s Gourmet Deli open their doors to serve the Northside community and beyond. Whether the business has served the Northside for decades, or is just starting up, their investment in each residents life to provide meaningful goods or services is invaluable. Support them however you can, whenever you can. -Lauren Stauffer, Business Manager