Meet the Best of Lake Minnetonka 2021

Readers give their nods to hometown favorites.

Instagram hashtags have been around for a bit—#eatlocal, #playlocal, #shoplocal and on they go, but 2020 and into this year, the need to support local businesses and service providers was undeniably underscored in an urgent way. 

If participation in our annual Best of Lake Minnetonka Readers’ Poll is any indication, residents did their best to stand behind local businesses and service providers, who, in case after case, pivoted to adhere to new requirements and adapted to meet the needs of their customers and clients. This issue is devoted to those efforts. 

Climb aboard; let’s lift the sail and take a journey around the Best of Lake Minnetonka. Voting went live in January on our website, where readers set the course by voting for their favorites. The top three finalists in all categories were announced this spring, and now it’s time to present your winners and runners-up in a host of categories that help support and celebrate this community.

Were you a first place winner? Click here to order your customized Best of 2021 Framed Award.

Best Takeout / Curbside

1. Lago Tacos
2. CōV Wayzata
3. BLVD Kitchen & Bar

Best Outdoor Dining

1. Maynards
2. CōV Wayzata
3. 6Smith

Best Restaurant

1. Birch’s on the Lake
2. CōV Wayzata
3. Gianni’s Steakhouse & Seafood

Best Tavern / Bar / Brewery

1. Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge
2. Excelsior Brewing Company
3. Maynards

Best Breakfast

1. Original Pancake House, Minnetonka
2. Hazelwood Food + Drink, Tonka Bay
3. Maggie’s Family Restaurant, Wayzata

Best Builder

1. John Kraemer & Sons
2. Stonewood, LLC
3. Boyer Building Corporation

Best Remodeler

1. Revision Renovation, LLC (Part of the Stonewood, LLC family)
2. Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling
3. Boyer Building Corporation

Best Interior Designer

1. Studio M Interiors
2. The Sitting Room
3. Martha O’Hara (Martha O’Hara Interiors)

Best Senior Living Residence

1. Lake Minnetonka Shores
2. Folkestone
3. Deephaven Woods Senior Living

Best Landscape Designer

1. Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping
2. Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens
3. Yardscapes

Best Nursery / Garden Center

1. Tonkadale Greenhouse
2. Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping
3. Twin Orchards Nursery

Best Home Furnishings / Décor Store

1. Five Swans
2. The Sitting Room
3. The Vintage Loft

Best Fitness Studio / Yoga Studio / Gym

1. Life Time
2. The Marsh
3. The Barre

Best Dental Practice

1. Wayzata Family Dentistry
2. Lake Minnetonka Dental
3. Orono Dental Care

Best Orthodontic Practice

1. Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics, Minnetonka
2. Kottemann Orthodontics, Orono
3. Ovation! Orthodontics, Minnetonka

Best Chiropractic Practice

1. The Brost Clinic
2. Align Health & Wellness
3. Excelsior Chiropractic

Best Pediatric Practice

1. Wayzata Children’s Clinic, Minnetonka
2. South Lake Pediatrics, Minnetonka
3. Park Nicollet Clinic, Carlson Parkway

Best Eye Practice

1. Northwest Eye, Minnetonka
2. Excelsior Eye Care
3. Minnesota Eye Consultants, Minnetonka

Best Dermatology Practice

1. Zel Skin & Laser Specialists, Plymouth
2. Skin Care Doctors, Orono
3. Park Nicollet Clinic, Carlson Parkway

Best Medspa

1. LivSkin MedSpa
2. Skingevity Med Spa
3. Wayzata Medical Spa

Best Salon / Spa

1. Juut Salonspa, Wayzata
2. Lavish Salon, Wayzata
3. Sanctuary Salonspa, Excelsior

Best Apparel Boutique

1. General Store of Minnetonka
2. Evereve, Wayzata
3. Ooh La La Boutique, Excelsior

Best Gift Shop

1. General Store of Minnetonka
2. Five Swans, Wayzata
3. Ooh La La Boutique, Excelsior

Best Florist

1. Tonkadale Greenhouse
2. Candlelight Floral & Gifts
3. Bayside Just Because…

Best Specialty Foods / Kitchen Store

1. Kowalski’s Market, Excelsior
2. Lunds & Byerlys, Wayzata
3. Lakewinds Food Co-op, Minnetonka

Best Law Firm

1. Wayzata Law Group
2. Excelsior Law Firm
3. Sanford, Pierson, Thone & Strean, PLC

Best Doggy Daycare / Kennel

1. Top Dog Country Club
2. ADOGO Pet Hotel, Minnetonka
3. Woofington Luxury Petite Dog Resort & Spa

Best Veterinary Practice

1. Westonka Animal Hospital
2. Excelsior Animal Hospital
3. Long Lake Veterinary Clinic

Best Learning / Tutoring Center

1. Sylvan Learning of Minnetonka
2. Mathnasium of Minnetonka
3. College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors, Wayzata

Best Private Preschool / Childcare

1. Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School Pre-K
2. St. David’s Center
3. Wayzata Community Church Nursery School

Best Place for Kids’ Activities

1. Minnetonka Community Education
2. Mini Hops Gymnastics
3. North Shore Gymnastics Association