BEST OF 2024
Classic Roots performing with DJ Shub at the Wake the Giant Music Festival. Photo by Shannon Lepere
The Best of Thunder Bay 2024 Readers’ Choice Survey
Our 13th annual Best of issue is like a snapshot of what makes Thunder Bay unique—after all, we are the only place with these indie businesses, these particular menu items, these exceptional outdoorsy destinations, these community members being excellent at what they do. Whether you are looking for the best breakfast sandwich, trivia night, Caribbean restaurant, or venue for karaoke (all new categories, by the way) you’re sure to be inspired by this biggest-ever list, all chosen by fellow TBayers. Congrats to all the winners and nominees!
-Bonnie Schiedel
ALL WINNERS VOTED BY WALLEYE READERS
*Click each header for a full list of results.
1. Best Finn pancakes
2. Best cup of coffee
3. Best tea
4. Best breakfast
5. Best breakfast sandwich/burrito (new question)
6. Best bakery
7. Best Cookie/Cupcake/Doughnut (new question)
8. Best butcher/deli
9. Best specialty food store
10. Best independent grocer
11. Best appetizers
12. Best Coney sauce
13. Best pizza
14. Best fries
15. Best perogies
16. Best cabbage rolls
17. Best wings
18. Best nachos
19. Best taco
20. Best poutine
21. Best burger
22. Best veggie burger
23. Best sweet potato fries
24. Best prime rib
25. Best ribs
26. Best fried chicken
27. Best sandwich
28. Best soup
29. Best dessert
30. Best ice cream/gelato
31. Best cocktail
32. Best locally made beer
33. Best beer selection
34. Best wine list
35. Best mocktail
36. Best business lunch
37. Best quick lunch
38. Best sushi
39. Best pasta
40. Best bon bon spareribs
41. Best noodle bowl
42. Best Indian restaurant
43. Best Caribbean restaurant (new question)
44. Best bannock
45. Best smoothie
46. Best salad
47. Best vegetarian/vegan restaurant
48. Best restaurant with gluten-free food
49. Best kid-friendly restaurant
50. Best restaurant
51. Best fine dining
52. Best pub food
53. Best food truck/trailer
54. Best take-out
55. Best caterer
56. Best roastery
57. Best patio
58. Best new restaurant 2023-2024
59. Best server
60. Best bartender
61. Best barista
62. Best head chef
63. Best book 2023-2024
64. Best photographer
65. Best videographer
66. Best visual artist
67. Best makeup artist
68. Best drag king/queen
69. Best public art installation
70. Best art exhibit 2023-2024
71. Best clothing designer
72. Best potter
73. Best crafter
74. Best jewelry maker
75. Best candle maker
76. Best tattoo artist
77. Best piercer
78. Best dancer
79. Best dance studio
80. Best dance instructor
81. Best beadworker
82. Best Thunder Bay-ism
83. Best place to people watch
84. Best walkable neighbourhood
85. Best place to impress a visitor
86. Best beach
87. Best urban river
88. Best weekend getaway
89. Best hairdresser
90. Best barber
91. Best esthetician
92. Best day spa
93. Best clothing store
94. Best market vendor
95. Best general/country store
96. Best window display
97. Best new business
98. Best trivia night
99. Best influencer
100. Best instagrammer
101. Best podcast
102. Best elected politician
103. Best local activist
104. Best current radio personality
105. Best comedian
106. Best busker
107. Best grassroots organization
108. Best place for a shag
109. Best indoor wedding venue
110. Best outdoor wedding venue
111. Best real estate agent
112. Best hotel
113. Best library
114. Best place to take a selfie
115. Best golf course
116. Best dog park
117. Best place to play pool
118. Best place to watch the game
119. Best local NHL player
120. Best local athlete
121. Best cannabis store
122. Best second-hand clothing curator
123. Best guided outdoor experience
124. Best outdoor store
125. Best bike shop
126. Best urban park
127. Best playground
128. Best antique store
129. Best local food producer
130. Best locally made non-food product
131. Best health food store
132. Best place for a bike ride
133. Best hiking trail
134. Best mountain bike trail
135. Best day paddle
136. Best group fitness instructor
137. Best personal trainer
138. Best gym/fitness club
139. Best yoga studio
140. Best yoga instructor
141. Best place to camp
142. Best reason to live in Thunder Bay
143. Best venue for live music
144. Best venue for karaoke (new question)
145. Best place to dance (new question)
146. Best recording studio
147. Best album 2023-2024
148. Best music video 2023-2024
149. Best singer
150. Best guitarist
151. Best bassist
152. Best drummer
153. Best keyboardist/pianist
154. Best DJ
155. Best solo artist
156. Best rock band
157. Best folk group
158. Best metal band
159. Best rap artist
160. Best jazz act
161. Best punk band
162. Best electronic act
163. Best blues act
164. Best choral group
165. Best country band
166. Best cover band
167. Best music instructor
168. Best local film 2023-2024
169. Best film director 2023-2024
170. Best film festival
171. Best theatre production 2023-2024
172. Best theatre director
173. Best theatre troupe
174. Best actor (all genders)
175. Best new event 2023-2024
176. Best festival
177. Best free event
178. Best family-friendly event
179. Best question we forgot to ask
And the Winner is…
That’s a wrap on The Walleye’s 13th annual Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Choice Survey. This year’s survey had a whopping 179 questions covering everything there is to love about living here, and with the announcement of the results in this issue, there are now 179 businesses, artists, people, places, musicians, and events with the title of “The Best” our city has to offer. But there’s still one last lucky winner to announce on top of it all.
Every person who took the time to complete the survey was entered in a draw for a chance to win an amazing all-seasons experience package worth $2,000 courtesy of Tourism Thunder Bay, and this year’s lucky winner is Pamela Boucher. Congrats!
Boucher is from Chapleau, Ontario and moved to Thunder Bay to complete a diploma in environmental engineering technology at Confederation College, and decided to stay in Thunder Bay upon graduation. Boucher enjoys exploring the city’s cafés and restaurants, noting that you can’t beat the friendly service so many of the city’s eateries boast. “I love how there’s so many local gems,” she says. Otherwise, Boucher likes to enjoy the best of both worlds that Thunder Bay has to offer, spending her free time attending concerts or taking camping trips. “I can drive 10 to 15 minutes and be outdoors. You can find a hiking trail. You can find a waterfall,” Boucher says. “The fact that we’re surrounded by nature but you still have the city feel is what I really like about it.”
Boucher has completed the Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Choice Survey for the last four or five years and is thrilled to win this year’s generous prize from Tourism Thunder Bay. We extend our thanks to the staff at Tourism Thunder Bay, each of you who took the time to participate this year, and all the fantastic people, places, and things in town that make this survey so much fun each year.