Back in March, the online nominations period opened for this year’s awards. From those nominees, the finalists were tabulated and the official online ballot developed. This year’s nomination period also gave you—our readers—the chance to expand the awards. As a result, five brand new categories are being honored for the very first time in 2019. We have ties in two categories this year, with the largest margin of victory in a single category seeing its winner garner a commanding 77.3% of the vote. We are blown away at how participation continues to grow each year. This year’s winners have much to be proud of! Your 2019 Best of Cenla Award winners are…
Barbeque Restaurant: Outlaw’s BBQ
Italian Restaurant: Verona
Mexican Restaurant: Los Portales
Chinese Restaurant: Oriental Wok
Seafood Restaurant: Buckets Crawfish & Seafood
American/Grill Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
Pizza Restaurant: Wildwood Pizza
Dessert Item: Little Cakes w/ Big Attitude
Friendliest Waitstaff: Chick-fil-A
Breakfast Menu: Pitt Grill
Lunch Menu: The Cottage
Happy Hour: Spirits Food & Friends
Place to Eat After Church: Piccadilly
Coffee: CC’s Coffee House
Local Brewery: Huckleberry Brewing Co.
Margarita: Sombrero’s
Martini: The Mirror Room
Daiquiri: Jack’s
Steak: Texas Roadhouse
Hamburger: Walk-On’s Bistreaux
Salad: Spirits Food & Friends
Sandwich/Po-Boy: Po-Boy Express
Elementary School (K-6): Buckeye Elementary
Middle School (6-8): Pineville Junior High
High School (9-12): Pineville High School
Daycare: Calvary Baptist Church
Dance Studio: Just Dance
Place to Hear Live Music: Spirits Food & Friends
Tourism Attraction: Alexandria Zoo
Museum: T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum
Fair/Festival of 2018: AlexRiverFete
Hospital: CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini
Nursing Home/Assisted Living: The Oaks Center
Bank: Red River Bank
Credit Union: Heart of Louisiana FCU
Auto Dealer: Walker Honda
Marine/Boat Dealer: Cheek’s Marine
Hardware Store: John Ward ACE Hardware
Pharmacy: Ray’s Pharmacy
Music Store: Red River Music
Women’s Clothes: Southern Accents Boutique
Men’s Clothes: Dillard’s
Gym/Workout Facility: Louisiana Athletic Club Pineville
Medical Spa: The Atrium / Timeless MedSpa (tie)
Day Spa: Spa Belleza
Sporting Goods Store: Academy Sports & Outdoors
Florist: Alexandria House of Flowers
Jeweler: Schnack’s Fine Jewelry
Hair Salon: The Color Bar / Mirror Image Salon (tie)
Barber Shop: Day’s Barber Shop
Auto Mechanic: George Hauk Automotive
Auto Body Shop: Advanced Collision
Auto Towing Service: Metro Towing
Pet Grooming: Sandy’s Clip-n-Dip
Contractor/Builder: Tudor, Inc.
Lawn Service: Grasshopper Lawn Care
Security/Alarm Service: Simpson Security Systems
Place to Buy a Gift: John Ward Interiors
Yoga Studio: Yoga Ya-Ya
Councilperson/Alderman: Tom Bouchie, City of Pineville
State Legislator: Sen. Jay Luneau
Judge: Mary Lauve Doggett
Minister: Fr. Chad Partain
Doctor: Dr. Zulma Laracuente
Veterinarian: Dr. Melanie Toal
Insurance Agent: Brian Thomson
Real Estate Agent: Craig Sykes
Financial Advisor: Justin Flynn, Edward Jones
Photographer/Videographer: Veronica VanGessel
Massage Therapist: Payden Moore, Spa Belleza
Bartender): Shy Tyler, El Paso Mexican Restaurant
Barista: Amanda Phillips, Tamp & Grind
Musician/Group: Rapides Symphony Orchestra
Radio Talk Show: The Morning Q Crew
Radio Station: Q93 KQID
Radio DJ: Shy Tyler, Cenla Broadcasting
TV Station: KALB TV-5 NBC
TV Personality: Sherman Desselle, KALB
Art Exhibit in 2018: Dirty South Cup Competition, River Oaks Square
Theatre Performance in 2018: The Little Mermaid, Lagniappe Theatre Company
