Who’s the best? We asked, and you answered. Thousands of votes were cast in Shelby Living Magazine’s annual Best of the Best contest. Read on to find out our readers’ favorites in Shelby County.

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DINING AND NIGHTLIFE

Best Local Coffee

Edgar’s Bakery
499 Southgate Drive, Pelham
205-987-0790 //
6801 Cahaba Valley Road No. 128, Birmingham
205-408-0897
edgarsbakery.com

Finalists: Chelsea Coffee House, Donut Joe’s, Kai’s Koffee, The Neighborhood Brew, Ground Up Coffee

Best Barbecue

Jim ‘N Nick’s
295 Alabaster Boulevard, Alabaster
jimnnicks.com
205-605-0170

Finalists: Jim ‘N Nick’s (Greystone), Lazy Boy BBQ, Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Tin Top BBQ 2, Full Moon (Alabaster), Good Ole Boys BBQ

Best Local Pizza

Area 41 Pizza Co.
30 Manning Place, Birmingham
41pizza.com
205-995-4141

Finalists: Joe’s Italian, Sanpeggio’s, Nino’s, Pizza Star, All Original Pizzeria, Buck Creek Pizza

 

Best Patio Dining

Margarita Grill
234 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham
themargaritagrill.com
205-982-7281

Finalists: Taco Mama, Pablo’s, Beef O’Brady’s, Superior Grill, The Depot, Little Donkey

 

Best Date Night

Joe’s Italian
21 Weatherly Club Drive, Alabaster
joesitalianonline.com
205-663-4111

Finalists: Bellinis, Chuck’s Fish, Amore, The Fish Market, Lil Bits Tavern

Best Sweet Treats

K&J’s Elegant Pastries and Creamery
236 1st St. S, Alabaster
kjselegantpastries.com
205-663-4827

Finalists: Edgar’s Bakery, Steel City Pops, Tee’s Cakes and Pastries, Frios Gourmet Pops, Pastry Art Bake Shoppe, Davis Drug Snack Bar

Best Bar/Cocktails

Margarita Grill
234 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham
themargaritagrill.com
205-982-7281

Finalists: Main Street Tavern, Taco Mama, Bellinis, Grey Bar 280, On Tap (Highway 280), Little Donkey

Best Ethnic Cuisine

Kobe Japanese Steak House and Sushi
340 Inverness Corners, Birmingham
ekobe.com
205-326-7996

Finalists: The Pita Hut, Eli’s Jerusalem Grill, Sushi Village, Golden City, Pinto Thai, Ginza

Best Caterer

Ashley Mac’s
5299 Valleydale Road, Birmingham
ashleymacs.com
205-346-6186

Finalists: Home Plate Cooking, Taziki’s (Alabaster), Taziki’s (Lee Branch Shopping Center), Dreamland Bar-B-Que (Highway 280), Catering by Bellinis, Bare Naked Noodles

Best Margarita

Superior Grill
4701 U.S. 280, Birmingham
birmingham.superiorgrill.com
205-991-5112

Finalists: Margarita Grill, Zapopan, Cozumel Grill, Pablo’s (Lee Branch), La Paz, El Patron

 

 

 

Best Lunch Spot

Taziki’s (Alabaster)
630 1st St. N., No. 200, Alabaster
tazikiscafe.com
205-216-3465

Finalists: The Pita Hut, Lil Bits Tavern, The Depot, Chicken Salad Chick, Ashley Mac’s, Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods

Best Kid Friendly Dining

Chick-fil-A (Alabaster)
125 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Alabaster
chick-fil-a.com
205-685-1190

Finalists: The Pita Hut, The Depot, Taco Mama, Lazy Boy BBQ, Zapopan

 

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Best Family Medicine Practice

Greenvale Pediatrics
1022 1st Ave. NE Suite 102, Alabaster
205-663-9550 //
101 Eagle Ridge Dr., Birmingham
205-995-1004
childrensal.org/greenvale-pediatrics

Finalists: Birmingham Internal Medicine Associates, Cahaba Family Medicine, Columbiana Clinic, UAB Inverness, Helena Family Medicine, Montevallo Family Medicine

Best Dermatology Practice

Inverness Dermatology & Laser
250 Inverness Center Dr., Hoover
invernessderm.com
205-995-5575

Finalists: Shelby Dermatology, Skin Wellness Center of Alabama, Cahaba Dermatology, Village Dermatology, True Dermatology

Best Dental Practice

Montevallo Family Dentistry
711 Wadsworth St., Montevallo
montevallofamdentistry.com
205-665-2224

Finalists: Columbiana Family Dentistry, Calera Dental Center, Shelby Pediatric Dentistry, Elite Dentistry, Inverness Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Honea Family Dentistry

Best Orthodontics Practice

Chelsea Orthodontics
300 Jade Park, Chelsea
chelseabraces.com
205-678-2770

Finalists: Calera Orthodontics, Birmingham Orthodontics, Edwards Orthodontics, Orthodontics South, Oak Mountain Orthodontics, Moore Orthodontics

Best Eye Care Practice

Pelham Eye Care
2617 U.S. 31, Pelham
pelhameyecare.com
205-664-1575

Finalists: Chelsea Eye Care, Hayes Eye Center, Jill K. Meyer, Alabaster Eye Care, Inverness Eye Care, Vision First

Best Chiropractic Care Practice

Chelsea Chiropractic
398 Chesser Road, Chelsea
chelseafamilychiro.com
205-678-1000

Finalists: Montevallo Chiropractic Center, Shelby Family Chiropractic, Greystone Chiropractic, Pelham Family Chiropractic, Precision Chiropractic, Columbiana Chiropractic Clinic

Best Local Pharmacy

Snider’s Pharmacy
15582 U.S. 280, Chelsea
facebook.com/SnidersPharmacy
205-678-3899

Finalists: Davis Drug, Montevallo Drug, Brooklere Pharmacy, Chelsea Apothecary, Double Oak Mountain Pharmacy, Neil’s Pharmacy

Best Local Hair Salon

Seventh Heaven Salon
301 W. College St., Columbiana
facebook.com/seventhheavenfullservicesalon
205-669-4092

Finalists: Salon 5, Morgan Ashley Salon, Spa One80, Studio V Salon, Uptown Salon, Oh Hair

 

Best Nail Salon

Foxy Nails & Spa
270 Doug Baker Boulevard, Birmingham
facebook.com/Foxy-Nails-Spa-Birmingham
205-437-0808

Finalists: Nail Star, St. Vincent’s Spa One Nineteen, Seventh Heaven, Nail Oasis, Diva Nails, Sun n’ Nails

Best Spa

Santa Fe Day Spa
611 Doug Baker Boulevard, Birmingham
santafedayspa.net
205-408-7221

Finalists: St. Vincent’s Spa One Nineteen, Spa Greystone, Spa 22, Spa One80, Azia Med Spa, Cahaba Dermatology

Best Fitness Center

St. Vincent’s One Nineteen
7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham
onenineteen.com/fitness
205-408-6510

Finalists: Alabaster YMCA, Greystone YMCA, Helena Health Club, Pelham YMCA, Anytime Fitness (Chelsea), Planet Fitness (Inverness)

 

SERVICES

Best Animal Clinic

Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic
5196 Caldwell Mill Road, Birmingham
cmacvet.com
205-991-7986

Finalists: Chelsea Animal Hospital, Montevallo Animal Clinic, 280 Animal Medical Center, Countryside Animal Hospital, North Shelby Animal Clinic, Cahaba Valley Animal Clinic

Best Florist

Main Street Florist
114 N. Main St., Columbiana
msflorist.com
205-669-3331

Finalists: Bloom and Petal, Sarah’s Flowers, Pelham Flowers by Desiree, Linda’s Florist, The Petal Cart, Le Fleur, LLC

 

Best Landscaping Company

Helena Lawn & Landscape
1724 Native Dancer Circle, Helena
205-620-9738

Finalists: Alabama Turf Works, Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens, SuperiorScape, Inc., Doug’s Lawn Care, American Tree Maintenance, Grounds Guys

Best Customer Service

Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic
5196 Caldwell Mill Road, Birmingham
cmacvet.com
205-991-7986

Finalists: Publix, Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods, Chick-fil-A, 3D Air Services, 280 Animal Medical Center

 

PLACES

Best Event/Wedding Venue

Douglas Manor
545 Chelsea Springs Dr., Columbiana
douglasmanorevents.com
205-369-8714

Finalists: Helena Hollow, American Village, Old Baker Farm, Corbin Farms Winery, The Sterling Castle, Alabama 4-H Center

Best Farmers Market

Mt Laurel Farmers Market
Manning Place, Mt Laurel Town Center
mtlaurel.com/blog/farmers-market-june-2018
205-408-8696

Finalists: Burnette Farms Market, Helena Market Days, Montevallo Farmers Market, Marketplace at Lee Branch, Alabaster Farmers Market, Columbiana Farmers Market

Best Home Improvement Store

Lowe’s (Alabaster)
235 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Alabaster
lowes.com
205-685-4060

Finalists: Lowe’s (Highway 280), The Home Depot (Pelham), Brown Lumber, The Home Depot (Highway 280), Tractor Supply (Chelsea), Lowe’s (Valleydale Road)

Best Garden Center

Cedar Creek Nursery
2979 Highway 119, Montevallo
cedarcreeknursery.com
205-665-5237

Finalists: Myer’s Plants and Pottery, Hanna’s Garden Shop, Lowe’s (Alabaster), Lowe’s (Highway 280), Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens, Helena Landscape Supply

Best Dance/Gymnastics Studio

Joy’s Dance Company
325 Shady Acres Road, Alabaster
joysdancecompany.com
205-835-8483

Finalists: Dance South, Corky Bell, NXS Gymnastics, Dance Et Cetera, Legacy Gymnastics, Head Over Heels Gymnastics

Best Community Center

Chelsea Community Center
11101 Chelsea Road, Chelsea
cityofchelsea.com
205-677-2052

Finalists: Alabaster Senior Center, Pelham Civic Complex, Columbiana Senior Center, Helena Community Center, Montevallo Senior Center, Heardmont Park Senior Center

Best Public Library

North Shelby Library
5521 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham
northshelbylibrary.org
205-439-5500

Finalists: Chelsea Public Library, Pelham Public Library, Albert L. Scott Library (Alabaster), Parnell Memorial Library (Montevallo), Columbiana Public Library, Jane B. Holmes Public Library (Helena)

Best City Park

Veterans Park Alabaster
7305 Highway 119, Alabaster
cityofalabaster.com
205-664-6840

Finalists: Oak Mountain State Park, Orr Park, Veterans Park on Valleydale, Heardmont Park, Chelsea Recreational Park, Buck Creek Park

Best Place for a Family Outing

Oak Mountain State Park
200 Terrace Drive, Pelham
alapark.com/oak-mountain-state-park
205-620-2520

Finalists: Old Baker Farm, American Village, Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Cahaba River, Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena, Alabama Wildlife Center

Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party

TreeTop Family Adventure
1012 Dunnavant Valley Road, Birmingham
treetop280.com
205-637-3780

Finalists: Helena Hollow, Let’s Play, Pump It Up, Oak Mountain Lanes, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Party Art

Best Golf Course

Ballantrae Golf Club
1300 Ballantrae Club Drive, Pelham
ballantraegolf.com
205-620-4653

Finalists: Timberline Golf Course, Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club, Inverness Country Club, Montevallo Golf Club, Oak Mountain State Park Golf Course, Greystone Golf and Country Club (Legacy)

Best Senior Living Facility

Somerby at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen
200 119 Boulevard, Birmingham
somerbyseniorliving.com
205-745-4600

Finalists: Danberry at Inverness, Columbiana Health & Rehab, Shelby Ridge, Lakeview Estates, Maplewood Assisted Living, Gardens of Pelham

Best Place to Worship

Church of the Highlands, Riverchase Campus
9013 Helena Road, Pelham
churchofthehighlands.com
205-980-5577

Finalists: Double Oak Community Church, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Kingwood Church, Westwood Baptist Church, Wilsonville Baptist Church, Liberty Baptist Church

 

SHOPPING

Best Gift Store

Magnolias
48 Chesser Crane Road, Chelsea
magnoliasgiftshop.com
205-618-9800

Finalists: Gifted, Cedar Creek Nursery, Davis Drug Gift Gallery, Skull Girl Soaps, Plain Jane Gifts, The Farm Company

Best Jewelry Store

Southeastern Jewelers, Inc., Inverness
5299 Valleydale Road, Birmingham
southeasternjewelers.net
205-980-9030

Finalists: Paul’s Diamond Center, Kay Jewelers (Alabaster), Kristalize Jewelry, Anthony & Co. Jewelers, M&M Jewelers

 

 

 

Best Home Store

Alabama Furniture Market
10 Commercial Park Drive, Calera
alabamafurnituremarket.com
206-668-9995

Finalists: Farmhouse + Family, Kirkland’s (Alabaster), Encore Resales, Urban Home Market, Brass Bear Antiques, The Mercantile

Best Consignment Store

Encore Resales
2831 Highway 31, Pelham
encorehome.com
205-358-7690

Finalists: Consigned Design, Me & Mom Consignments, Faith Consignment, The Cat’s Meow, WeePeat

Best Store for Kids

2 Girls & a Dog
16161 Old Highway 280, Chelsea
2girlsandadog.com
205-677-2225

Finalists: Sew Precious, Gifted, Tween Queens, Taylor Bug’s Kids Boutique, WeePeat

Best Local Clothing Store

The Ditsy Daisy

16383 U.S. 280, Chelsea

facebook.com/TheDitsyDaisy

205-678-6166

 

Finalists: Frou Four, Oh My Sole, LJ’s Retail Therapy, Southern Roots, High Cotton Boutique, The Sassy Shopper Boutique

 

EDUCATION

 

Best Teacher

Angie Harris
Chelsea Park Elementary School

Finalists: Rebecca Burnett, Karen Pruitt, Brian Copes, Sarah Beck

Best Public School

Thompson High School
1921 Warrior Parkway, Alabaster
acsboe.org
205-685-6700

Finalists: Chelsea Park Elementary, Forest Oaks Elementary, Helena High, Helena Elementary, Chelsea High School

 

 

 

Best Private School

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School
5510 Double Oak Lane, Birmingham
olvbirmingham.com
205-991-5963

Finalists: Kingwood Christian School, Briarwood Christian School, Evangel Classical Christian School, Indian Springs School, Cornerstone Christian School, Westminster School at Oak Mountain

Best Childcare

Covenant Classical School and Daycare Pelham
450 Huntley Parkway, Pelham
covenantclassical.com/locations/pelham-daycare
205-620-2626

Finalists: Kingwood Christian Child Development Center, CASA at Asbury United Methodist Church, Vinehouse Nursery, Odyssey Early Childcare at Inverness, Chace Learning Center and Daycare, Cahaba Valley Learning Center

 

HOME AND FINANCE

Best Local Financial Services

Brittani Morris, State Farm
State Farm Insurance Agent, Alabaster
facebook.com/pg/BrittaniMorrisStateFarm
205-988-4526

Finalists: Regions, Central State Bank, MortgageBanc

Best Local Insurance Agent/Agency

Brittani Morris, State Farm
State Farm Insurance Agent, Alabaster
facebook.com/pg/BrittaniMorrisStateFarm
205-988-4526

Finalists: Bob Butterworth State Farm, The Rinehart Agency, State Farm

 

 

 

 

Best Local Real Estate Agent

Andrea Hunter
RE/MAX Southern Homes
110 Inverness Corners, Birmingham
remax.com/realestateagentoffice/birmingham-al-35242-andreahunter
205-440-6398

Finalists: Brandi Edwards, Julie Smitherman, Danielle Turner, Eileen Watkins, Judy Loveless, Rachel Dunnaway

 

 

Best Real Estate Company

Keller Williams Realty
Metro South Office
224 1st St. N. Suite 225, Alabaster
kw.com
205-605-1000

Finalists: RealtySouth, ARC Realty, RE/MAX, Bradford Real Estate Group, Down South Realty, Joseph Realty

Best Bank

Central State Bank
11025 Highway 25, Calera
205-668-0711 //
57 County Road 87, Calera
205-621-1000 //
71 Limestone Parkway, Calera
205-668-7878
centralstatebank.com

Finalists: Regions Bank (Alabaster), America’s First Federal Credit Union (Pelham), Regions Bank (Chelsea), Regions Bank (Highway 280), America’s First Federal Credit Union (Inverness), Bryant Bank (Columbiana)

 

AUTO

Best Auto Service

Chelsea Tire Pros
347 Chesser Drive, Chelsea
chelseatireandservice.com
205-678-4944

Finalists: Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, The Garage, Alabaster Auto Service, Howard Tire & Automotive Services, Brown Auto & Alignment, Windham Tire and Auto

Best New Car Dealer

Ernest McCarty Ford
1471 1st St. N., Alabaster
emccartyford.com
205-663-3831

Finalists: Edwards Chevrolet, Med Center Mazda, Hoover Toyota, Tameron Honda, Riverchase Kia

 

 

 

Best Used Car Dealer

Donohoo Auto
8122 Helena Road, Pelham
donohooauto.com
877-872-6171

Finalists: Driver’s Way, Montevallo Imports, Susan Schein Automotive, Mundy Motor Co., Limbaugh Chelsea Motors, Southtown Motors

Best Oil Change

Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Alabaster
136 1st St. N., Alabaster
expressoil.com
205-663-2073

Finalists: Chelsea Tire Pros, Alabaster Auto Service

 

ARTS AND CULTURE

Best Local Festival

Alabaster CityFest
P.O. Box 2069, Alabaster
alabastercityfest.com
cityfest@alabastercityfest.com

Finalists: Mt Laurel Spring Festival, Buck Creek Festival, Montevallo Arts Fest, Liberty Day Festival, Shelby Iron Works Fall Festival, Calera Strawberry Festival

Best Local Museum

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
1919 9th St., Calera
hodrrm.org
205-668-3435

Finalists: Shelby County Museum & Archives, Shelby Iron Works, Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington, Kenneth R. Penhale Museum, Aldrich Coal Mine Museum

Best Local Cause

Shelby Humane Society
381 McDow Road, Columbiana
shelbyhumane.org
205-669-3916

Finalists: Backpack Buddies, King’s Home, The ARC of Shelby County, Alabama Wildlife Center, Angel Warriors Foundation, Oak Mountain Missions Ministries