Maybe it's because this is an election year, or maybe you're just feeling loads of affection for Big D, but something prompted you readers to come to this website by the boatload to share your opinions on the city's best food, booze, shops, people and places. In fact, in the finest of traditions of Texas politics, some of you told us repeatedly what you specifically like about Dallas in 2012. (The late Duke of Duval County would be proud.) Read on to see what readers loved best and check out our own picks to see how we compared. Here's hoping that the other major election this year has the same sort of turnout.

FOOD & DRINK

Best Chef
Dean Fearing
Fearing's
2121 McKinney Ave.
214-922-4848, fearingsrestaurant.com

Best New Restaurant
Coffee House Cafe
6150 Frankford Road
214-232-2333
coffeehousecafe.com

Best Breakfast
Norma's
1123 W. Davis St.
214-946-4711
normascafe.com

Best Late-Night Restaurant
Cafe Brazil
Multiple locations
cafebrazil.com

Best Sunday Brunch
Smoke
901 Fort Worth Ave.
214-393-4141
smokerestaurant.com

Best Coffeehouse
Pearl Cup
1900 Henderson Ave.
214-824-9500

Best Chinese Restaurant
Royal China
6025 Royal Lane No. 201
214-361-1771
royalchinadallas.com

Best Indian Restaurant
Taj Mahal
10455 N. Central Expressway No. 120
214-692-0535
tajmahaldallas.com

Best Italian Restaurant
Lucia
408 W. 8th St.
214-948-4998
luciadallas.com

Best Tex-Mex Restaurant
Chuy's
Multiple locations
chuys.com

Best BBQ
Pecan Lodge
1010 S. Pearl Expressway
214-748-8900
pecanlodge.com

Best Burger
Twisted Root
Multiple locations
twistedrootburgerco.com

Best Pizza
Il Cane Rosso
2612 Commerce St.
214-741-1188
ilcanerosso.com

Best Steak
Bob's Steak & Chop House
Multiple locations
bobs-steakandchop.com

Best Sushi
Blue Fish
Multiple locations
thebluefishsushi.com

Best Margarita
Gloria's
Multiple locations
gloriasrestaurants.com

Best Beer Selection
Flying Saucer
Multiple locations
beerknurd.com

Best Cocktails (Tie)
Bolsa
614 W. Davis St.
214-943-1883
bolsadallas.com

The Cedars Social
1326 S. Lamar St.
214-928-7700
thecedarssocial.com

Best Taqueria
Fuel City
801 S. Riverfront Blvd.
214-426-0011
fuelcity-tacos.com

Best Meal Under $15
Capriotti's
Multiple locations
capriottis.com

Best Chicken-Fried Steak
Norma's
1123 W. Davis St.
214-946-4711
normascafe.com

Best Ice Cream/Yogurt
Paciugo
Multiple locations
paciugo.com

NIGHTLIFE

Best Bar
The Libertine 2101 Greenville Ave.
214-824-7900
libertinebar.com

Best Dive Bar
Lee Harvey's
1807 Gould St.
214-428-1555
leeharveys.com

Best Happy Hour
Gloria's
Multiple locations
gloriasrestaurants.com

Best Outdoor Patio or Deck
Ozona
4615 Greenville Ave.
214-265-9105
ozonagrill.com

Best Gay Bar
Round Up Saloon
3912 Cedar Springs Road
214-522-9611
roundupsaloon.com

Best Rock Bar
La Grange
2407 Elm St.
214-741-2008
lagrangedallas.com

Best Honky-Tonk
Adair's Saloon
2624 Commerce St.
214-939-9900
adairssaloon.com

Best Dance Club
S4
3911 Cedar Springs Road
214-526-7171
partyattheblock.com

Best Live Music Venue
Granada Theater
3524 Greenville Ave.
214-824-9933
granadatheater.com

Best Strip Club Baby Dolls
10250 Shady Trail
214-358-5511
babydolls.com

Best Karaoke
Family Karaoke
11433 Goodnight Lane
469-522-0365
familydfw.com

Best Sports Bar
Frankie's
Multiple locations
frankiesbar.com

ARTS & CULTURE

Best Art Gallery
Kettle
2714 Elm St.
kettleart.com

Best Salon
Avalon
3699 McKinney Avenue
avalon-salon.com

Best Museum
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 North Harwood St.
214-922-1200
dm-art.org

Best Theater Company
Dallas Theater Center
2400 Flora St.
214-526-8210
dallastheatercenter.org

Best Local Actor (Tie)
Steve Walters and Chamblee Ferguson

Best Local Actress
Liz Mikel

Best Theater Director (Tie) Joel Ferrell and Tom Parr IV

Best Television News Show
WFAA-TV Channel 8

Best Television News Personality
Ron Corning
WFAA-TV Channel 8

Best Television Sports Personality
Dale Hansen
WFAA-TV Channel 8

Best Radio Station (Talk)
The Ticket
KTCK-AM 1310

Best Radio Station (Music)
KXT
KKXT-FM 91.7

Best Radio Talk Show
Kid Kraddick
KISS-FM 106.1

Best Radio Personality
Gordon Keith
KTCK-AM 1310 The Ticket

Best Local Music Release
Sarah Jaffe
The Body Wins

Best Local Band
The O's

Best Columnist
Steve Blow
The Dallas Morning News

MARKET

Best Men's Clothing Store
H&M
NorthPark Center
8687 N. Central Expressway
214-265-0015, hm.com

Best Women's Clothing Store
Nordstrom
Multiple locations
shop.nordstrom.com

Best Kid's Clothing Store
GAP
Multiple locations
gap.com

Best Wine/Liquor Store
Spec's
9500 N. Central Expressway
214-369-2800
specsonline.com

Best Grocery Store
Central Market
Multiple locations
centralmarket.com

Best Vintage Shop
Dolly Python
1916 North Haskell Ave.
214-887-3434
dollypythonvintage.com

Best Shoe Store
SAS
9665 North Central Expressway
214-696-0548
sasshoes.com

Best Car Wash (Tie)
Vintage
Multiple locations
vintagecarwash.com

Fuel City
801 S. Riverfront Blvd.
214-426-0011
fuelcitywash.com

Best Furniture Store
Weir's
Multiple locations
weirsfurniture.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Best Neighborhood
Oak Cliff

Best Hotel
Belmont
901 Fort Worth Ave., 214-393-2300, belmontdallas.com

Best Movie Theater
Angelika Film Center
5321 East Mockingbird Lane
214-841-4700
angelikafilmcenter.com

Best Politician
Angela Hunt
City Council District 14

Best Blog or Website
Gorilla vs. Bear
gorillavsbear.net

Best Pro Sports Coach
Ron Washington
Texas Rangers

Best Dallas Maverick
Dirk Nowitzki

Best Dallas Cowboy
Jason Witten

Best Dallas Star
Jamie Benn

Best Texas Ranger
Josh Hamilton

Best Place to Work out
LA Fitness Multiple locations
lafitness.com