Mayor Wharton was quick to make note of a recent study that rated cities on their variety of food. “Memphis ranked high,” he noted, “from seafood to barbecue to Chinese to traditional cuisine. To prove the point, the mayor visited Corky’s, winner of Best Barbecue BBQ Sandwich, where he insisted on the biggest napkin they could provide. “I was raised not only on barbecue but also goat and raccoon – with lots of vinegar.” As he dug into the traditional fare, he remained diplomatic: “I’ll never rank barbecue. So long as it’s within a reasonable margin, I declare it all to be good.”

 

Later it was time for something completely different at P.F. Chang’s, Best Chinese Restaurant, where Mayor Wharton said his favorite dishes are wonton soup (“light and so much flavor”) and the restaurant’s Shanghai shrimp with garlic sauce. “It’s got that diversity,” the mayor said, “a taste for everybody.”

 

Talk about diversity  —  Memphis loves Blues City Café’s ribs, Huey’s burgers, Bryant’s biscuits, catfish at Soul Fish Cafe, deli delights at Fino’s, Gibson’s doughnuts, steaks from Folk’s Folly, Sekisui’s sushi and Ciao Bella’s Italian fare.

 

No misery served up anywhere.

 

 

Best Bakery

 

Winner: Muddy’s Bake Shop

Muddy’s Bake Shop wins Memphis Most again for being just so irresistible. It’s a comfortable spot, centrally located, the staff and menu are good humored and, naturally, the goodies are dee-lish. It’s the icing on the cupcake.

5101 Sanderlin Ave., 683-8844; muddysbakeshop.com

 

Finalist:   La Baguette French Bread and Pastry

3088 Poplar Ave., 458-0900

 

Finalist:   Panera Bread Co.

Several locations; panerabread.com

 

 

Best Biscuits

 

Winner: Bryant’s Breakfast

Bryant’s Breakfast is an institution, so those legendary biscuits get some respect. Although The CA’s queen of the dining scene — food editor Jennifer Biggs — said it’s the sausage she likes most, sandwiched in one of those biscuits. You make the call.

3965 Summer Ave., 324-7494; bryantsbreakfast.com

 

Finalist:   Blue Plate Cafe

113 S Court Ave., 523-2050; 5469 Poplar Ave., 761-9696

 

Finalist:   Brother Juniper’s

3519 Walker Ave., 324-0144; brotherjunipers.com

 

 

Best Breakfast

 

Winner: Brother Juniper’s

Brother Juniper’s has long been a breakfast favorite and has the Memphis Most pedigree to prove it. It’s hard to beat the comfort of homemade bread plus an array of omelets, waffles and big potato skillets. It’s the righteous thing to do, brother.

3519 Walker Ave., 324-0144; brotherjunipers.com

 

Finalist:   Bryant’s Breakfast

3965 Summer Ave., 324-7494; bryantsbreakfast.com

 

Finalist:   Blue Plate Cafe

113 S. Court Ave., 523-2050; 5469 Poplar Ave., 761-9696

 

 

Best Memphis Doughnut

 

Winner: Gibson’s Donuts

Gibson’s Donuts wins Memphis Most again for those crumby delights that make your eyes glaze in sweet happiness. As Aristotle (or maybe Geoff Calkins) probably never said, “As you go through life, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.”

760 Mount Moriah Roa<script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.commercialappeal.com/static/Scripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.commercialappeal.com/static/Scripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">d, 682-8200; facebook.com/gibsonsdonuts

 

Finalist:   Howard’s Donuts

Several locations

 

Finalist:   Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Several locations; krispykreme.com

 

 

Best Business Lunch

 

Winner: Buckley’s Fine Filet Grill

Buckley’s Fine Filet Grill snags the Memphis Most prize but not because it’s a stuffy place to conduct business. It’s a great place to get good service, and a lot of care is taken with the cuisine. Steady and solid while delivering more than you expect — that’s good business right there.

5355 Poplar Ave., 683-4538; 919 Yates Road, 682-0570; buckleysgrill.com

 

Finalist:   Houston’s

5000 Poplar Ave., 683-0915

 

Finalist:   McEwen’s on Monroe

122 Monroe Ave., 527-7085; mcewensonmonroe.com

 

 

Best Deli

 

Winner: Fino’s Italian Grocery

Fino’s Italian Grocery is a grocery, yeah, and you can buy the ingredients for your sandwich there, but, mamma mia, why? Just get the sandwich already! And don’t forget the soup. There’s a reason this is the best in town, and your tummy will thank you for it. Mangia!

1853 Madison Ave., 272-3466

 

Finalist:   Bogie’s Delicatessen

Several locations

 

Finalist:   Lenny’s Sub Shop

Several locations; lennys.com

 

 

Best Barbecue Ribs

 

Winner: Blues City Cafe

Blues City Café wins this round in the world’s most competitive market. But the fare has gotten the attention of Bobby Flay, Bill Clinton and Bon Appetit magazine, so you can hardly go wrong. Plus, the cafe slings some mighty fine tamales and catfish, too. Bon appetit, really!

138 Beale St., 526-3637; bluescitycafe.com

 

Finalist:   Corky’s

Several locations; corkysbbq.com

 

Finalist:   Rendezvous

52 S. Second St., 523-2746; hogsfly.com

 

 

Best Barbecue Sandwich

 

Winner: Corky’s

Corky’s spans the globe and fills the belly with its long-popular hickory-smoked goodness. Co-owners Barry Pelts and Andy Woodman get those pork shoulders smokin’ from 20 to 22 hours before you sink your chops into ’em. “High quality product and best service day after day,” is the real secret, says Woodman. Slather it on.

Several locations; corkysbbq.com

 

Finalist:   Central BBQ

2249 Central Ave., 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave., 767-4672; cbqmemphis.com

 

Finalist:   Tops Bar-B-Q

Several locations; topsbarbq.com

 

 

Best Catfish

 

Winner: Soul Fish Cafe

Soul Fish Cafe is quite a catch. Portions are generous, the price is right and most importantly, it’s some good eatin’, from the cat bites appetizers to the make-you-happy desserts. And that filet in between.

862 S. Cooper St., 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Drive, Germantown, 755-6988; soulfishcafe.com

 

Finalist:    Olive Branch Catfish Co.

9659 Highway 178, Olive Branch, (662) 895-9494

 

Finalist:   Wolf River Cafe, Rossville

460 Main St. (Highway 194) Rossville, Tenn., (901) 853-2586

 

 

Best Pizza

 

Winner: Memphis Pizza Cafe

Memphis Pizza Cafe comes back as a Memphis Most winner probably because it eschews the routine pie in favor of letting you chew some scrumptious combinations of pizza goodness. Plus it has amazing calzones and sandwiches, and a pleasing variety of brews.  Ricotta baby!

Several locations; memphispizzacafe.com

 

Finalist:   Mellow Mushroom

3075 Village Shops Drive, Germantown, 907-0243; mellowmushroom.com

 

Finalist:   Fox Ridge Pizza

1769 N. Germantown Parkway, 758-6500

 

 

Best Burger

 

Winner: Huey’s

Huey’s can’t seem to help itself. A basket o’ fries and a juicy burger is a thing of perfection and has been for decades. The World Famous is all you really need, but the Senor Huey has been gaining ground. No matter either way. The important thing is you know where’s the beef.

Several locations; hueyburger.com

 

Finalist:   Tops Bar-B-Q

Several locations; topsbarbq.com

 

Finalist:   Belmont Grill

4970 Poplar Ave., 767-0305

 

 

Best Southern Fried Chicken

 

Winner: Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

You might make your own stab at Gus’s Fried Chicken with buttermilk, flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, fresh ground black pepper and peanut oil, but you might also get more muss and fuss than Gus and you’d miss the funky atmosphere. It’s a multiyear Memphis Most winner for a reason. Crunch on!

310 S. Front St., 527-4877; 2965 N. Germantown Road, 373-9111; 215 S. Center St., Collierville, 853-6005; 6745 U.S. 64, Oakland, 465-1821.

 

Finalist:   Jack Pirtle Fried Chicken

Several locations; jackpirtleschicken.com

 

Finalist:   Popeye’s

Several locations; popeyes.com

 

 

Best Sunday Brunch

Winner: Owen Brennan’s

Owen Brennan’s Sunday Brunch is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and don’t dawdle. There’s a reason it wins awards. Executive chef Scott DeLarme understands the nuances of good Creole and Cajun cooking and you will, too, when you dig in.

6150 Poplar Ave., 761-0990, brennansmemphis.com

 

Finalist:   The Peabody

149 Union Ave., 529-4199; peabodymemphis.com

 

Finalist:   Boscos Squared

2120 Madison Ave., 432-2222; boscosbeer.com

 

 

Best Steak

 

Winner: Folk’s Folly

Folk’s Folly is a longtime local tradition that knows the joy of having a Memphis Most award and knows how to cook some prime beef. How about a chili-rubbed New York Strip? A braised veal chop, perhaps? How about starting with salmon mousse? It’ll get your juices flowing.

551 S. Mendenhall Road, 762-8200; folksfolly.com

 

Finalist:   Buckley’s

Several locations; buckleysgrill.com/

 

Finalist:   Ruth’s Chris

6120 Poplar Ave., 761-0055; ruthschris.com

 

 

Best Seafood

 

Winner: Bonefish Grill

Bonefish Grill started 10 years ago in St. Petersburg, Fla., and has taken finny delights into about half the states in the union. Aiming for a blend of the familiar and the exotic, Bonefish hopes you’ll be hollering “tilapia rocks” before the meal is done. Go ahead, reel it in.

1250 N. Germantown Parkway, 753-2220; 4680 Merchant Park Circle, Collierville, 854-5822; bonefishgrill.com

 

Finalist:   Tsunami

928 S. Cooper St., 274-2556; tsunamimemphis.com

 

Finalist:   The Half Shell

688 S. Mendenhall Road, 682-3966; 7825 Winchester Road, 737-6755; halfshell-memphis.com

 

 

Best Chinese Restaurant

 

Winner: P.F. Chang’s

P.F. Chang’s has that well-done stir-fry of hipness, an out-of-the-ordinary menu, upscale decor and family friendliness that makes it a winner. Get a mixed group of P.F. Chang’s veterans and newbies and listen to how many times you hear, “You gotta try this!” Which means, then, you’ve gotta try it.

1181 Ridgeway Road,  818-3889; pfchangs.com

 

Finalist:   A-Tan

3445 Poplar Ave., 452-4477; atanrestaurant.com

 

Finalist:   Formosa

6685 Quince Road, 753-9898

 

 

Best Italian Restaurant

 

Winner: Ciao Bella Italian Grill

Ciao Bella Italian Grill can serve up whatever Italian you need (fried calamari, chicken parmigiana, veal piccata) but it’s also a Greek place (souvlakia, spanakopita, lamb shank), and it hardly seems fair to have to make you choose. Guess you’ll just have to go back.

565 Erin Drive, 205-2500; ciaobellamemphis.com

 

Finalist:   Pete & Sam’s

3886 Park Ave., 458-0694; peteandsamsrestaurant.com

 

Finalist:   Carrabba’s Italian Grill

5110 Poplar Ave., 685-9900; 4600 Merchants Park Circle, Collierville, 854-0200; carrabbas.com

 

 

Best Thai Restaurant

 

Winner: Bhan Thai

Bhan Thai is one of those terrific gems that’s comfortable and sophisticated. Executive chef Alex Kamsrijan deftly handles complex ingredients and makes meals that will wow you. Thai it up — you’ll like it.

1324 Peabody Ave., 272-1538; bhanthairestaurant.com

 

Finalist:   Bangkok Alley

Several locations; bangkokalley.com

 

Finalist:    Jasmine Thai and Vegetarian Restaurant

916 S. Cooper St., 725-0223

 

 

Best Sushi

 

Winner: Sekisui

Sekisui turns 21 this year, and it’s been a couple of decades of sushi awareness for Memphians thanks to Jimmy Ishii. The restaurateur has been a huge influence on many local restaurants, but his early devotion to bringing sushi here has paid off. We know how to roll.

Several locations; sekisuiusa.com

 

Finalist:    Blue Fin

135 S. Main St., 528-1010; bluefinmemphis.com

 

Finalist:   Osaka

Several locations; osaka-cuisine.com

 

 

Best Mexican Restaurant

 

Winner: El Porton

El Porton is a repeat winner of Memphis Most thanks to a savvy blend of freshly prepared dishes, welcoming patio areas, good prices and various locations. Plus, there’s the efficient to-go service and a deep menu. So what’s stopping you, amigo?

Several locations; elportonmexicanrestaurants.com

 

Finalist:   Las Delicias

4002 Park Ave., 458-9264; 3727 S. Mendenhall Road, 542-0170

 

Finalist:   Happy Mexican Restaurante and Cantina

385 S. Second St., 529-9991; happymexican.com