Say Hello to Your Best of Lake Minnetonka 2023 Winners

Our cup runneth over with top-tier businesses and services.

I hope this doesn’t come off as trite—but this really is the best Best of Lake Minnetonka readers’ poll that we’ve published. With tried-and-true sections, new categories that stretched beyond our regular boundaries and others that included more areas of interest, our annual readers’ poll garnered more interest and votes than ever before. Our loyal readers turned themselves into active voters with spirits of enthusiasm and celebration for our community.

January served as the starting line for the readers’ poll when it went live for the entire month on lakeminnetonkamag.com. Once votes were tabulated, the list of finalists was posted online in March—just to give everyone a sneak peek into who and what was vying for the top spots. Now, we’ve reached the finish line and are ready to present your favorite businesses and service providers that are based in the community and/or serve the Lake Minnetonka area.

The results are listed in order of placement: first, second and third and, in some cases, a tie.

Dining

Best Bakery

Red Bench Bakery

Runners-up: Wuollet Bakery, The Grocer’s Table

Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery

Back Channel Brewing Co.

Runners-up: Excelsior Brewing Company, 6Smith

Best Breakfast or Brunch

Benedicts

Runners-up: Maggie’s Family Restaurant, Hazelwood Food + Drink

Best Desserts or Ice Cream

Licks Unlimited

Runners-up: Adele’s Frozen Custard, Lost Lake Creamery

Best International Cuisine

Yumi Japanese Restaurant

Runners-up: Sushi Fix, Macanda

Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop

The Lobby Coffee & Leisure

Runners-up: Red Bench Bakery, 318 Cafe

Best Outdoor Dining Space

Maynards

Runners-up: CōV, 6Smith

Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu

Stalk & Spade

Runners-up: Crisp & Green, Peoples Organic

Best Restaurant

6Smith

Runners-up: CōV, Josefina

Best Restaurant for a Power Lunch

Crisp & Green

Runners-up: CōV, 6Smith

Best Takeout or Curbside Service

Dakota Junction

Runners-up: Lago Tacos, Maynards

Best Burger

The Suburban (now closed)

Runners-up: 6Smith, Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille

Best Chicken Sandwich

North Coop

Runners-up: Maynards, Carbone’s Pizzeria

Best Pizza

Olive’s Fresh Pizza Bar

Runners-up: Punch Pizza, Joey Nova’s Pizzeria

Abode

Best Builder

John Kraemer & Sons

Runners-up: Stonewood, Boyer Building Corporation

Best Garden Center

Tonkadale Greenhouse

Runners-up: Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping, The Garden Patch

Best Home Decor or Furniture Store

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Runners-up: The Sitting Room, Villaume-Driscoll Gallery

Best Interior Design Firm

Studio M Interiors

Runners-up: Marceau Interiors, Martha O’Hara Interiors

Best Landscape Design Service

Yardscapes

Runners-up: Outdoor Excapes, Pleasant View Gardens

Best Lawn Service

Lawngevity Lawn & Snow

Runners-up: Rembrandt Landscapes, AJ’s Property Maintenance, Inc.

Best Locally Owned Hardware Store

True Value – Mound

Runners-up: Gopher Ace Hardware – Long Lake, Frattallone’s Hardware & Garden

Best Remodeler

John Kraemer & Sons, Revision (tie)

Runners-up: Boyer Building Corporation, MDS Remodeling

Best Senior Living Residence

Lake Minnetonka Shores/Presbyterian Homes

Runners-up: Folkestone/Presbyterian Homes, The Waters Senior Living

Self-Care

Best Barbershop

Lavish Salon

Runners-up: The Top Shave Lounge, 18/8 Wayzata 

Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio

Gypset Midwest Yoga

Runners-up: Spirit of the Lake Yoga and Wellness Center, Lake Minnetonka Pilates Bodywork

Best Med Spa

InnerBeauty Med Spa & Laser

Runners-up: Skin Rehab Aesthetics, LivSkin Med Spa

Best Place for a Manicure and Pedicure

Fabulous Nails, Lakeside Nails & Spa (tie)

Runners-up: Mérite House Beauty, Pro Nails

Best Salon Spa

Lavish Salon

Runners-up: Gardner & Co. Salon, Mérite House of Beauty

Wellness

Best Chiropractic Practice

The Brost Clinic

Runners-up: Excelsior Chiropractic, Vaida Wellness Center

Best Cosmetic Dentistry Practice

Orono Dental Care

Runners-up: West Lakes Dentistry, Holger Dental Group

Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice

Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery & Spa

Runners-up: Omni Cosmetic, Pinnacle Dermatology

Best Dental Practice

Orono Dental Care

Runners-up: West Lakes Dentistry, Holger Dental Group

Best Dermatology Practice

Daly Beauty

Runners-up: Lakes Dermatology, Pinnacle Dermatology

Best Eye Care Practice

Southwest Eye Care

Runners-up: Northwest Eye, Excelsior Eye Care

Best Family Medicine Practice

Park Nicollet Clinic

Runners-up: Ridgeview, Northwest Clinic, Wayzata Children’s Clinic

Best Holistic Wellness Practice

Spirit of the Lake Yoga and Wellness Center

Runners-up: The Brost Clinic, Driip IV Nutrient Therapy

Best OB-GYN Practice

OBGYN West

Runners-up: Western OBGYN, Haugen OB/GYN, Oakdale OBGYN

Best Orthodontic Practice

Kottemann Orthodontics

Runners-up: Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics, Ovation Orthodontics

Best Orthopedic Practice

Twin Cities Orthopedics

Runner-up: TRIA

Best Pediatric Practice

Wayzata Children’s Clinic

Runners-up: South Lake Pediatrics, Southdale Pediatrics 

Learning

Best Dance Studio

Creo Arts & Dance Conservatory

Runners-up: Velocity Dance and Theater, Esteem Dance, Fitness and Tumbling

Best Language Immersion Program or School

Minnetonka Public Schools

Runners-up: Minnewashta Elementary, Deephaven Elementary

Best Learning or Tutoring Center

Kay Tutoring

Runners-up: Bartel Tutoring and College Advising, Journey to Learning Tutoring

Best Preschool Program

St. Therese Catholic School

Runners-up: Orono Montessori School, Mount Calvary Preschool

Best Swim School or Lessons

Foss Swim School

Runners-up: Lafayette Club, Westonka Community Education

Pet Care

Best Dog-Friendly Establishment

Duke’s on 7

Runners-up: Back Channel Brewing Co., Excelsior Brewing Company

Best Dog Park

Susan E. Lurton Park

Runners-up: Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, Carver Park Reserve

Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service

Top Dog Country Club

Runners-up: Woofington, Oak Ridge Pet Boarding

Best Pet Grooming Service

Amber Paws

Runners-up: Woofington, Shampooch Grooming Salon

Best Veterinarian Practice

Westonka Animal Hospital

Runners-up: Long Lake Veterinary Clinic, Wayzata Pet Hospital

Services

Best Accounting

Copeland Buhl

Runners-up: Green T Accounting, Sims & Co.

Best Family Photographer

Memories in Time Photography

Runners-up: Emily John Photography, Tracie Bea Photographie

Best Home Inspector

Lakeland Home Inspections

Runner-up: Nick Pickert at Structure Tech Home Inspections

Best Law Practice

Morrison Sund

Runners-up: Sanford, Pierson, Thone & Strean, AND Law Offices

Best Mortgage Company

Lake West Mortgage

Runners-up: Wells Fargo, Bell Bank

Shops

Best Apparel Boutique

Ooh La La Boutique

Runners-up: General Store of Minnetonka, Evereve

Best Florist

Bayside Just Because … Floral & Gifts

Runners-up: Candlelight Florist, Gifts & Flower Delivery, Lilia

Best Gift Shop

General Store of Minnetonka

Runners-up: Five Swans, Ooh La La Boutique

Best Jewelry Store

Graham Jewelers

Runners-up: Timeless Jewelry & Clocks, Wayzata Jewelers

Best Specialty Kitchen or Foods Store

The Abundant Kitchen

Runners-up: The Grocer’s Table, Five Swans, General Store of Minnetonka

Leisure

Best Park, Open Space or Beach

Excelsior Commons

Runners-up: Surfside Park, Baker Park Reserve, Deephaven Beach

Best Place for a Date Night

6Smith

Runners-up: Vann, Gianni’s Steakhouse & Seafood

Best Place for Family Activities

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Runners-up: Victoria Burrows, Gale Woods Farm

Best Place for an Outdoor Adventure

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Runners-up: Lake Minnetonka, Carver County Parks

Best Place to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks

Excelsior

Runners-up: Lake Minnetonka, Delano

Best of the West Metro

Best Golf Course

Baker National Golf Course

Runners-up: Burl Oaks Golf Club, Chaska Town Course

Best Music School

The Music Coop

Runners-up: MacPhail Center for Music, Farmhouse Music Studio

Best Outdoor Skating or Hockey Rink

Klapprich Park & Field

Runners-up: Thorpe Park, Shirley Hills Primary School

Best Private School

The Blake School

Runners-up: Providence Academy, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Breck School

Best Specialty Athletic Store

The Lakes Running Co.

Runners-up: Gear West, Scheels

Best Staycation Hotel

The Hotel Landing

Runners-up: Hotel Excelsior, The Guest House

Best Summer Camp

Camp Christmas Tree

Runners-up: Lake Minnetonka Sailing School, Camp Fire Minnesota

Best Theater Program

Velocity Dance and Theater

Runners-up: Stages Theatre Company, Westonka Community Theatre

Best Winery

Schram Vineyards

Runners-up: The Winery at Sovereign Estate, Parley Lake Winery

Discover Minnesota

Best Campground

Baker Park Reserve

Runners-up: Bear Head Lake State Park, Eagle Bluff, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Lake Auburn Campground

Best Hiking or Biking Trail

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Runners-up: Luce Line Trail, Superior Hiking Trail

Best Live Theater

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Runners-up: Old Log Theatre, Guthrie Theater

Best Museum

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Runners-up: Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota History Museum

Best Music Venue

The Armory

Runners-up: First Avenue, The Narrows Saloon

Best Nordic Ski Trail or Alpine Hill

Hyland Hills Ski Area

Runners-up: Welch Village Ski & Snowboard Area, Baker Park Reserve

Best Resort or Lodge

Grand View Lodge

Runners-up: Lutsen Mountains, Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts

Best Wedding Photographer or Videographer

Memories in Time Photography

Runners-up: Lahzeh Photography, Flow Event Group, Tiffany Kokal Photography

Best Wedding Venue

Lafayette Club

Runners-up: Bavaria Downs, Al & Alma’s Supper Club, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum