Best of Hoover 2015

Food and Drink 

Most Friendly Service

  • Chick-fil-A
  • While you eat more chicken, you are also guaranteed a friendly greeting and fast service.
  • 3020 John Hawkins Parkway, 987-7568
  • Runner up: Jim ‘N Nick’s

Most Kid Friendly Restaurant 

  • Chick-fil-A
  • Who can beat chicken nuggets, waffle fries, soft-serve ice cream and lemonade with a side of playing in the ball pit.
  • 3020 John Hawkins Parkway, 987-7568
  • Runner up: The Boot

Best Date Night

  • Firebirds
  • This Patton Creek restaurant offers flavorful appetizers and entrees that are easy to share.
  • 191 Main Street, 733-2002
  • Runner up: J. Alexander’s

Best Breakfast/Brunch

  • The Egg and I
  • This popular breakfast destination welcomes civic groups including Hoover Kiwanis Club and Friends of Hoover for meetings.
  • 4741 Chace Circle, 982-8477
  • Runner up: Chick-fil-A

Best Ladies’ Lunch Spot

  • Zoe’s Kitchen
  • Fast and fresh, here diners can choose from a variety of healthy, Mediterranean dishes for lunch and dinner.
  • 180 Main Street, 989-4020
  • Runner up: The Boot

Best Asian Food

  • Sumo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
  • An original tenant in Patton Creek, Sumo is known for its hibachi, sushi bar and cocktails.
  • 151 Main Street, 444-1515
  • Runner up: New China

Best Casual Dining 

Jim ‘N Nick’s

  • A staple in the Birmingham area for 30 years, Jim ‘N Nick’s slow cooks its barbecue and adds homemade trimmings. 
  • 1810 Montgomery Hwy, 733-1300
  • Runner up: The Boot

Best Italian Food

  • Salvatore’s
  • Family owned and operated for 30 years, Salvatore’s offers a variety of pizza and pasta dishes.
  • 1594 Montgomery Hwy, 823-7206
  • Runner up: Costa’s

Best Mediterranean Food

  • Taziki’s
  • From Greek Salads to gyros to a host of other fresh options, Taziki’s brings a taste of Greece to Chace Lake. Friday Special, anyone?
  • 4745 Chase Circle, 682-6999
  • Runner up: Costa’s

Best Mexican Food

  • Iguana Grill 
  • Known for its authenticity, guest can find fresh Mexican food around inside this festive eatery.
  • 2085 Colonial Drive, Suite 101, 205-987-8240
  • Runner up: Habeñeros

Best New Restaurant 

  • Vecchia Pizzeria 
  • Vecchia is passionate about the fresh ingredients and right oven that make a pizza great. 
  • 610 Preserve Pkwy, Suite 100, 637-3036
  •  Runner up: Newk’s

Best Dessert

  • Edgar’s Strawberry Cake
  • Edgar’s Bakery specializes in themed cakes, gourmet lunch and breakfast, scratch-made pastries and more.
  • Patton Creek Shopping Center, 180 Main St, 205-444-1220
  • Runner up: Gigi’s Cupcakes

Best Burger 

  • Five Guys
  • Five Guy’s burgers use fresh ground beef and aren’t complete without a heaping bag of fries.
  • 4730 Chace Circle, Suite 128, 205-985-9883
  • Runner up: Baha Burger

Best Pizza

  • Tortugas 
  • Tortugas, a family-run establishment, serves Chicago-style stuffed pizza.
  • 2801 John Hawkins Parkway, 403-9800
  • Runner up: Salvatore’s

Best Coffee

  • Neighborhood Brew 
  • Friends, family and neighbors catch up and enjoy coffee at The Neighborhood Brew. 
  • 5184 Caldwell Mill Road, Suite 206, 980-7445
  • Runner up: Starbucks

Best Place for a Sweet Treat

  • Krispy Kreme
  • Most people might be lying if the “hot now” sign didn’t make them crave fried dough with addictingly sweet glaze.
  • 1990 New Patton Chapel Road, 205-822-8272
  • Runner up: Panera Bread

Community Best Church Choir

  • Hunter Street Baptist Church
  • Sopranos, altos tenors and bases come together to form the primary worship-leading choir at Hunter Street Baptist.
  • 2600 John Hawkins Parkway, 985-7295
  • Runner up: Riverchase United Methodist

Best Teacher

  • Jane Bruce
  • Bruce is an award-winning information technology instructor at Hoover High School.
  • Runner up: Krystal Pettit, Simmons Middle

Best Outdoor Space

  • Moss Rock Preserve
  • Two hundred fifty acres of hiking trails, bouldering rocks and more welcome nature lovers, bird watchers and anyone who enjoys stepping into the woods at Moss Rock.
  • 617 Preserve Parkway
  • Runner up: Aldridge Gardens

Best Community Event

  • Bluff Park Art Show
  • The Bluff Park Art Show permanent collection has grown to near 100 pieces of original art that rotate through the Hoover schools and other area locations. 
  • Runner up: Moss Rock Festival

Best Neighborhood

  • Bluff Park
  • Perched atop Shades Mountain, Bluff Park retains a distinctive of feel of community within Hoover.
  • Runner up: The Preserve

Best Place for Family Outing

  • Moss Rock Preserve
  • Families can hike, boulder walks, birdwatch or just explore the woods at Moss Rock without driving far from home.
  • 617 Preserve Parkway
  • Runner up: Veterans Park

Health and Wellness 

Best Work Out Facility 

  • Hoover YMCA
  • The YMCA offers a community center and variety of programs for the whole family.
  • 2250 John Hawkins Parkway, 396-1700
  • Runner up: Hoover Rec Center

Best Pharmacy 

  • CVS
  • CVS stocks up the products residents need to stay healthy and active.
  • Runner up: Publix

Best Dentist

  • Dr. Jennifer Morrissey-Patton, Hoover Family Dentistry
  • Dr. Morrissey makes sure her patients leave with clean teeth and a bright smile.
  • 425 Emery Drive, 989-8480
  • Runner up: Chace Lake Family Dentistry

Best Orthodontist 

  • Backus Orthodontics
  • The Backus Orthodontics team works to ensure the best service possible as they work to straighten teeth.
  • 425 Emery Drive, 987-0040
  • Runner up: PT Orthodontics

Best Pediatrician

  • Dr. John Cortopassi, Greenvale Pediatrics
  • Cortopassi is board-certified in pediatrics and has been a member of the Greenvale Pediatrics team since 1980.
  • Runner up: Dr. Jeff Malone, South Trace Pediatrics

Best Family Practitioner 

  • Dr. Jody Gilstrap, Baptist Health Center Hoover
  • Gilstrap is board-certified in family medicine and enjoys spending time with his family and coaching youth sports.
  • 5295 Preserve Parkway, 682-6077
  • Runner up: Dr. Carrie Huner, Brookwood Primary Care

Best Orthopedist

  • Dr. Jeffrey Davis, Andrews Sports Medicine 
  • Davis’s practice philosophy is to treat each patient with respect and provide complete attention to every individual. 
  • 201 Doug Baker Blvd., 939-3699
  • Runner up: Dr. Michael Ellerbusch, Southlake Orthopedics

Best Chiropractor

  • Dr. Trey Lott, Lott Pain Relief Inc. 
  • Lott provides a medical and chiropractic approach to treatment of neck pain, low back pain and sports injuries.
  • 2010 Patton Chapel Rd Suite 201, 822-3333
  • Runner up: Dr. Jerry Nesseler 

Best Spa

  • Renaissance Ross Bridge
  • The hotel’s spa offers scrubs, wraps, massages, facials, scalp treatments and more.
  • 4000 Grand Ave., 916-7677
  • Runner up: Massage Envy

Businesses and Services  

Best New Business 

  • Mainstreet Monograms
  • The shop offers comfort colors, raincoats, bandeaus, monogramming and many other popular designs.
  • 160 Main Street, 205-444-8989
  • Runner up: The Growing Tree

Best Customer Service

  • Publix
  • Publix claims it’s the place where “shopping is a pleasure,” and Hoover residents have voted that they agree.
  • 1584 Montgomery Highway, 824-72118; 2543 John Hawkins Parkway, 982-8506
  • Runner up: The Whole Scoop

Best Place to Buy a Gift

  • Wrapsody
  • This destination store for women sells unique and thoughtful gifts, including a wide selection of Greek paraphernalia.
  • 161 Main Street, Suite 127, 989-7277
  • Runner up: Lou Lou’s

Best Children’s Store 

  • Sew Precious 
  • This locally owned kids’ boutique is where moms turn for clothes for both boys and girls.
  • 180 Main Street, Suite 124, 444-0005
  • Runner up: Toys R Us

Best Place to Buy Home Décor

  • Home Goods
  • Every time you go in, the store’s selection of furniture and accessories changes up to offer new ideas and inspiration.
  • 1660 Montgomery Highway, 823-5221
  • Runner up: Hobby Lobby

Best Veterinarian 

  • Hope Animal Clinic
  • The mission of Hope Animal Clinic seeks to offer veterinary medicine and surgery as well as comprehensive pet care services.
  • 3051 Morgan Road, 426-2828
  • Runner up: Bluff Park Animal Clinic

Best Women’s Clothing Store

  • Von Maur
  • Von Maur’s brand is known for its clothing selection and customer service.
  • 2400 Riverchase Galleria, 982-4337
  • Runner up: Belk

Best Store for Men

  • Alabama Outdoors
  • This store provides a wide array of the leading brands in outdoors wear. 
  • 108 Inverness Plaza, 980-3303
  • Runner up: Jos A Bank 

Best Mechanic Shop

  • Estes Tire
  • Family owned and operated since 1975, Estes stocks tires, sells wheels and offers auto repair.
  • 3420 Old Columbiana Road, 979-7841
  • Runner up: Hendrick Automotive

Best Salon

  • Stone Salon
  • Stone Salon’s professional staff seeks to create beautiful hair for its clients.  
  • 616 Preserve Parkway, Suite 108, 
  • 205-824-7773
  • Runner up: Great Clips

Best Golf Course

  • Renaissance Ross Bridge
  • Ross Bridge’s long course offers multiple tees for golfers at all levels.
  • 4000 Grand Avenue, 916-7677
  • Runner up: Hoover Country Club

Best Grocery Store

  • Publix
  • Publix’s selection of groceries and shopping experience it top-rated by Hoover shoppers.
  • Runner up: Costco

Best Real Estate Agent

  • James Harwell, RealtySouth
  • James Harwell seeks customer service above all else, believing that every individual deserves his full commitment and loyalty.
  • 1220 Alford Ave., 822-2364
  • Runner up: Kelli Gunnels, RealySouth

Best Car Dealership – New Cars

  • Hoover Toyota
  • Hoover Toyota is one of Alabama’s oldest Toyota dealers, offering more than 20 years of sales, service and parts expertise to customers.
  • 2686 John Hawkins Parkway, 978-2600
  • Runner up: Long Lewis Ford

Best Car Dealership – Used Cars

  • CarMax
  • This national chain buys and sells all makes and models of cars from its Hoover location. 
  • 2696 John Hawkins Parkway, 985-0556
  • Runner up: Long Lewis Ford