Every year the Mankato Free Press polls residents and visitors alike to develop their annual Best of Mankato issue. This publication is full of listings of the best places to go to based on specific categories. Below is a list of winners in different dining and drinking categories. Please keep in mind that it’s a snapshot-in-time survey, and doesn’t mean that anyone who didn’t “win” isn’t very good at what they do.

Below is a partial list of winners. Check out the FULL LIST of winners here.

Breakfast

1st Weggy’s On Campus

2^nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

3rd NaKato Bar & Grill

Bakery / Donut Shop

1st Krusty’s Donuts

2nd 2 Pins Bakery by Tony Friesen

3^rd Sugar Belly

Coffee Shop

1st Coffee Hag

2nd Neutral Groundz

3rd Tendem Bagels

Asian Cuisine

1st Shogun Sushi & Hibachi

2nd China Star

3rd Hunan Garden

Burger Joint

1st The Boulder Tap House

2^nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3^rd  Flask

Mexican Cuisine

1^st  La Terraza Mexican Grill and Bar

2^nd  La Plaza F!esta

3^rd  El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant

Sub / Sandwich Shop

1st Jersey Mike’s Subs

2^nd Sadaka’s Deli

3^rd  Erbert and Gerbert’s

Pizza Place

1st Pagliai’s Pizza

2^nd  Jake’s Stadium Pizza

3^rd  Dino’s Pizzeria

Place to get a Steak

1st Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar

2nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3rd Swiss & Madison

Vegetarian Options

1st Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

2nd Sadaka’s Deli

3rd India Palace

Wings 

1st Buffalo Wild Wings

2nd Tav on the Ave

3rd Big Dogs Sports Cafe

Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

1st Mom & Pop’s

2^nd  Frozen Yogurt Creations

3rd Cold Stone Creamery

Happy Hour

1st Flask

2nd The Thunder Bar & Restaurant

3rd Pub 500

Signature Cocktail Joint 

1st Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

2nd  Flask

3^rd Pub 500

Winery

1st Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

2nd Indian Island Winery

3rd Javens Family Vineyard & Winery

Brewery

1st Mankato Brewery

2nd Schell’s

3rd Lost Sanity Brewing

Mediterranean Cuisine

1^st Sadaka’s Deli

2^nd Olives Mediterranean Restaurant

3^rd Shawarmania Mediterranean Grill

Food Truck

1st Lola

2nd The 507

3^rd TNT Eats

Atmosphere 

1^st  Indian Island Winery

2^nd  Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

2nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

Family Restaurant 

1^st  The Boulder Tap House

2^nd Backyard Bar & Grill

1st Weggy’s On Campus

Locally-Owned Restaurant 

1st Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar

2nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

3rd Backyard Bar & Grill

Chain Restaurant

1st The Boulder Tap House

2nd Buffalo Wild Wings

3rd Chipotle Mexican Grill

Fine Dining 

1^st Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar

2^nd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

3^rd Swiss & Madison

Sports Bar

1st Big Dogs Sports Cafe

2nd Tav on the Ave

3rd Buffalo Wild Wings

Business Lunch 

1st Tav on the Ave

2nd Pub 500

3rd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

Social Lunch 

1st Ummies Bar & Grill

2nd Pub 500

3rd Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

Patio Dining

1st Tav on the Ave

2nd Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, & Distillery

3^rd NaKato Bar & Grill

Best Takeout/Curbside

1^st Chipotle Mexican Grill

2^nd Sadaka’s Deli

3^rd  China Star