In their annual Best Of Seattle series, the Seattle Weekly has treated Ballard well.

For Best Food Neighborhood, where else is there to look than our once humble neighborhood? In their article, "It's a Lock," they stand in awe at the evolution of Ballard.

"For any longtime Seattleite, the evolution of Ballard into one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods sometimes elicits a shake of the head. For decades the domain of elderly Scandinavians, the butt of at least a third of the jokes on Almost Live, and largely a food wasteland outside of Ray’s Boathouse, Ballard’s status as the most vibrant part of Seattle’s food scene seems hard to believe. But here we are."

Shout outs galore: Bastille Cafe and Bar, Stoneburner, the Walrus and the Carpenter, Staple and Fancy, King's Hardware, BalMar, the Matador, La Carta de Oaxaca, Shiku, Ocho, Hazlewood, Hattie's Hat, Cafe Munir, Delancey, Fat Hen, Senor Moose and Ray's Boathouse.

Ballard also gets a little shout out for Best Food trend -- the oyster happy hour. For that, you can't beat the Walrus and the Carpenter and the Ballard Annex Oyster House.

Reader's picked Ballard as "Best Neighborhood" and "Best Farmers Market." They also picked Bitterroot as the best BBQ, Po Dog as the best hot dog and La Carta de Oaxaca as the best Mexican place.

In a "Guest Bests," Seattle restauranter Ethan Stowell said Cafe Besalu is the best bakery ("Best croissant anywhere! No joke.) and the not yet opened Bourbon & Bones has the best fried chicken.

Also: Ballard Smoke Shop was named "Best Place to Drown Your Sorrows." Kangaroo & Kiwi was named "Best Soccer Bar." Card Kingdom was named "Best Gaming Store." Lucky Dry Goods was named "Best Vintage/Thrift." And the Ballard-friendly food truck Cheese Wizards was named "Best Geeky Eats."

For the full list of Seattle Weekly's "Best Of," visit www.seattleweekly.com, or pick up their paper.

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