More than 40 new categories added to Dayton.com’s Best of 2018 poll

>> Complete list of winners in the 2017 Best of Dayton contest

THE CONTESTS

We are introducing more than 40 new categories in this year's poll and 132 total categories.

Last year’s contest featured 101 categories.

Categories in this year’s contest focus on food and dining, bars and nightlife, shopping, services, recreation, entertainment and more.

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We will accept nominations starting Monday, Nov. 5 through Nov. 26, so now is the perfect time to start thinking about all of your favorite people, places and things to nominate.

NEW CONTESTS

Here are the brand new contests added to this year’s Best of 2018 poll:

• Best Appetizer (dish, location)

• Best Barista

• Best Bowl of Soup

• Best Chili

• Best Chips

• Best Classic Restaurant

• Best County Fair

• Best Dayton landmark

• Best Do-Gooder

• Best Dog-friendly patio

• Best Festival

• Best Food Truck Dish

• Best Gala

• Best Grilled Cheese

• Best Haunted Attraction

• Best High School fans

• Best Historical Neighborhood

• Best Holiday Tradition

• Best Hotel

• Best Indoor Music Venue

• Best Local Band or Musician

• Best Local Chef

• Best Local Podcast

• Best Local Rising Star

• Best Locally-Made Beer (specific beer from a local brewery)

• Best Mac & Cheese

• Best Mascot

• Best Movie Theater

• Best Mural

• Best New Restaurant (opened in 2018)

• Best Onion Rings

• Best Outdoor Music Venue

• Best Place for a Birthday Party

• Best place to shop if you don't want to dress like everyone else

• Best Place to take the Kids

• Best place to take your dogs

• Best Realtor

• Best Square-Cut Pizza

• Best Unusual Pizza (specific pizza at specific location)

• Best Wedding Venue

• Best Winery

• Most Charming Suburb

• Best Spot to Take a Picture for Instagram

RETURNING FAVORITES

Here are some of your favorite contests from years past that will be featured again in this year’s Best of 2018 poll:

• Best Arcade/Gaming

• Best Art Gallery

• Best Asian Food

• Best Auto Dealer

• Best Auto Repair

• Best Bakery

• Best Bar Bathroom

• Best Barber Shop

• Best Bartender

• Best BBQ

• Best Bike Route

• Best Bloody Mary

• Best Bowling Alley

• Best Breakfast

• Best Brunch

• Best Burger

• Best Cheap Eats

• Best Cocktails

• Best Coffeehouse

• Best Comedy Club

• Best Consignment/Resale Store

• Best Craft Beer Selection

• Best Dance Club

• Best Dance Group

• Best Dayton Drag Queen

• Best Dayton-centric Gift

• Best Deli

• Best Dessert

• Best Diner

• Best Dive Bar

• Best Donuts

• Best Farmers Market

• Best Fine Dining

• Best Florist

• Best Food Truck

• Best French Fries

• Best Gay Bar

• Best Golf Course

• Best Gym

• Best Hair Salon

• Best Happy Hour

• Best Hidden Gem Restaurant

• Best Ice Cream

• Best Indian Food

• Best Italian Food

• Best Jewelry Store

• Best Karaoke

• Best Late-Night Eats

• Best Local Artist

• Best Local Athlete

• Best Local Brewery

• Best Local Celebrity

• Best Local Comedian (not Dave Chappelle) -- we LOVE you, Dave and fans, but this contest is meant for local amateur stand-up comedians

• Best Local DJ (nightclub)

• Best Local Photographer

• Best Local Theater Group

• Best Margarita

• Best Mediterranean/Greek Dining

• Best Mexican Food

• Best Museum

• Best Park or Playground

• Best Patio

• Best Pet Grooming

• Best Pizza Restaurant

• Best Place for a Business Lunch

• Best Place for a Picnic

• Best Place for Unique Gifts

• Best Place to Get Your Adrenaline Pumping

• Best Place to Meet Singles

• Best Place to Take a Date

• Best Place to Watch the Game

• Best Restaurant to take an Out-of-Towner

• Best Route for a Walk or Run

• Best Sandwich

• Best Seafood

• Best Secret Menu Item

• Best Spa

• Best Steak

• Best Sushi

• Best Taco

• Best Tattoo Artist

• Best Tattoo Shop

• Best Thrift Store

• Best Trivia

• Best Vegan Dining

• Best Vet

• Best View of Dayton

• Best Wings

• Friendliest Restaurant/Bar Staff

HOW TO NOMINATE

We will share specific instructions with you on how to use our new voting tool when the contest launches next week.

We encourage you to nominate all of your favorites so they have a chance to make the final ballot. And yes, you can nominate yourself.

The more nominations, the better the chances of making the final ballot.

The Dayton.com team will take all of your nominations into consideration before assembling the final ballot.

No nominations will be accepted after Nov. 26, so don’t miss your chance to get involved.

Nominations must be submitted through our nominating and voting tool. We will not accept nominations via email, phone call or social media commenting or messaging.

Final voting will run Dec. 5-22.

Everything you need to know about the Best of 2018 poll can be found on our Best of Dayton page.

>> How to have your say in Dayton.com’s Best of 2018 poll

>> Best of Dayton 2018: Complete contest guidelines