BEST OF 2024

Classic Roots performing with DJ Shub at the Wake the Giant Music Festival. Photo by Shannon Lepere

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.