Best of Halifax | THE COAST

Even the very best things have room for improvement. That’s why after 22 years of surveying the city to find the Best of Halifax, we’re still making changes to our annual readers’ choice awards. Our latest upgrade zeroes in on the survey’s holy grail—our Hall of Fame. It’s where the very best of the Best are elevated to after they’ve dominated long enough to be dubbed untouchable.

In the past we’ve retired individual categories—like Best Falafel, Best Laundromat and Best Newsstand—meaning once we inducted one into the Hall of Fame, no one could win it ever again. Kind of like when a sports team retires a legend’s jersey. The problem is, some categories—like Best Chinese, Best Donair, Best Pizza Pie and Best Patio—aren’t quite ready to ride off into the sunset, they’re still lively with interesting, new contenders battling to take the top spot. Their rulers though, they’ve reached legend status. In short, our old system had some holes in it.

In efforts to both keep survey interesting and give longtime winners an extra special pat on the back, we decided it was time to induct not just categories, but winners, into the Hall of Fame. And 10 consecutive wins earns you that spot. This year’s five new Hall of Famers—The Great Wall, King of Donair, Gaudet Optical, Your Father’s Moustache and Salvatore’s Pizza—have dozens and dozens of plaques between them (YFM has won SEVENTEEN consecutive times!). And this year they’ll officially retire. They will be eligible to win other categories in the future, just not the ones that got them into the Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to the enduring businesses who we welcome into BOH big leagues this year. We can’t wait to see what new winners 2017 brings.

THE BEST OF HALIFAX HALL OF FAME

2016
Best Chinese, The Great Wall
Best Donair, King of Donair
Best Optical, Store, Gaudet Optical
Best Patio, Your Father’s Moustache
Best Pizza Pie, Salvatore’s Pizzaiolo Trattoria

2014
Best Newsstand, Atlantic News
Best Shawarma, Mezza Lebanese Kitchen, Barrington Street

2013
Best Place To Satisfy A Sweet Tooth, Freak Lunchbox, Halifax
Best Sex-toy Shop, Venus Envy

2012
Best Movie Theatre, Oxford Theatre
Best Steak, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar

2011
Best Clubhouse, Your Father's Moustache
Best DVD Rental Store, Video Difference

2010
Best Dim Sum, The Great Wall Restaurant
Best Home Accessories Store, Attica Furnishings

2009
Best Nachos, Economy Shoe Shop
Best Political Cartoonist, Bruce MacKinnon

2008
Best Catering, Scanway Catering
Best Laundromat, Bluenose Laundromat
Best Mussels, Five Fishermen
Best News Anchor, Steve Murphy

2007
Best Cinnamon Bun, Mary's Bread Basket
Best Falafel, Ray's Falafel
Best Street, Spring Garden Road
Best Theatre, Neptune Theatre