Did someone order an extra side of sass?

Welcome to the 2005 Readers' Choice Restaurant Poll! We look forward to this issue every year because it combines two subjects that are very dear to our hearts: food and local businesses. This time around, we've completely revamped the poll to reflect the changing tastes and growing appetites of our beloved Duke City. We've trimmed away some of the staler categories (Best Juice Bar) and fattened it up with more of you favorite foods (Best Enchiladas, Best Use of Chocolate). And because we know you love getting the inside industry scoop, there's even a Chef's Day Off section. Let it be a window into the minds, hearts and stomachs of your favorite local celebrity chefs.

The beauty of the RCRP is twofold: Reward the best local restaurants with recognition, and provide our readers with an invaluable guide to the best food our city has to offer. Now all you've got to do is keep eating and voting. We think it's a great system. Bon appetit!

Julie Huffman

Best Greek

When it comes to ethnic eateries, it's all Greek to you, Albuquerque. The Duke City has a fine and flourishing selection of Grecian goodies, and respondents chimed in on everything from casual diners to fancier digs. Nonetheless, it was Olympia Café that thundered as loudly as Zeus himself, thanks to affordable and filling daily specials, buttery pita bread and Olympic-sized wands of gyro meat. No doubt the serene island scene at Mykonos helped them to nab second place, while Yanni's Mediterranean Bar & Grill puts the "Opa!" back in, uh, "open for lunch and dinner."

Best New Restaurant

We're lucky here in Albuquerque. We have more restaurants per capita than heavy hitters like New York City, and new ones seem to keep popping up every week. Our readers loved lots of new restaurants but they gave the most votes to the carry-out-and-delivery-only pizza masters at Da Vinci's Gourmet Pizza. Our readers also went crazy over Nob Hill's swank new sushi joint Crazy Fish Restaurant, which got second. The meat-lover's paradise over at the Gruet Steak House garnered third.

Best Pancakes

A pile of steaming-hot cakes, fresh out of the pan, slathered in maple syrup with a dab of butter floating in the center of it all like the unblinking eye of God himself—could there possibly be a more beautiful way to start your morning? We don't think so. And, of course, you can sink your teeth into the winners at Frontier earlier than those at most other restaurants, because everyone's favorite big yellow barn is open around the clock. With three locations scattered throughout the area, it's easy to get your pancake fix at the Range Café and Bakery, too, which is a good thing, since they came in second place. Third went to another University area favorite, the packed and popular Mannie's Family Restaurant.

Wes Naman

Bob Peterson, Executive Chef, Seasons of Albuquerque