It’s “Best of” Season in the local newspaper world, with the publication last month of the Metro’s Best of Silicon Valley list and the beginning this week of balloting in the “Best of Willow Glen” version compiled by the WG Resident.

The Metro list is an interesting glimpse into how the rest of Silicon Valley sees us … through the local merchants that help define our neighborhood. Here are the WG businesses that made Metro’s “Best of Silicon Valley.” Metro published the top-three in each category, so the actual ranking is shown here in parentheses:

Best of Food & Sustenance

• Taiwan Restaurant — Best Chinese (#1) … Lincoln Avenue in Downtown WG
• Sushi Kazoo — Best Japanese (#1) and Best Sushi (#1) … Multiple South Bay locations, including one inside WG’s Garden Theater
• Tlaquepaque — Best Mexican (#2) … Multiple WG locations, including Lincoln & Curtner, Willow Street
• El Rancho — Best Taqueria (#3) … 1401 Almaden Road (at Alma) … close enough to WG
• Bill’s Cafe — Best Breakfast (#2) … Willow Street near Lincoln, although the Rosegarden location is probably pretty good, too.
• Aqui Cal-Mex — Best Patio (#3) and Best Margarita (#3) … Original location is on Lincoln Avenue in Downtown WG
• Pizza My Heart — Best Pizza (#3) … Lincoln Avenue near Minnesota, and everywhere else too.
• Mojo Burger — Best Burger (#1) again … Bird Avenue at Minnesota/Alma
• Dick’s Bakery — Best Bakery (#1) … Meridian Avenue at Hamilton
• Flour Flower — Best Desserts (#2) 896 Willow Street, near Bird
• Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt — Best Ice Cream (#3) … corner of Lincoln and Willow in Downtown WG
• La Villa — Best Deli/Sandwich Shop (#1) … Lincoln Avenue Downtown
• Cardinal Lounge — Best Late-Night Eats (#1) … Meridian Avenue at Hillsdale

Best of Shopping & Services

• Willow Glen Bicycles — Best Bicycle Shop (#1) … Willow Street at Lincoln Avenue
• Scott’s Super Video — Best Video/DVD Rental (#1) Willow Street at Bird Avenue
• Hjinx Comics — Best Comics Store (#1) … Lincoln Avenue at Malone Road
• Alchemy Hair Studio — Best Hair Salon (#3) … Metro says they have “multiple locations” without mentioning that both of them are on Lincoln Avenue, one at Broadway and the other close to Minnesota
• Peninsula Beauty — Best Beauty Supply (#2) Lincoln Avenue downtown
• Grapevine — Best Wine Shop (#2) Lincoln Avenue near Minnesota
• Willow Glen Dentistry — Best Dentist (#3) … on Lincoln Avenue attached to Bank of America
• Willow Glen Hardware — Best “Home Depot Alternative” (#3) aka ACE Hardware, on Lincoln at Curtner
• Fleurish — Best Gift Store (#1) … loving their newish location on Lincoln Avenue in Downtown WG
• Domus — Best Kitchen/Cooking Store (#1) and Best Gift Store (#3) … Technically awarded to the Los Gatos location, but now also located on Lincoln at Minnesota
• Hicklebees — Best Local Bookstore (#2) … Lincoln Avenue near Willow Glen Books
• Willow Glen Books — Best Local Bookstore (#3) … Lincoln Avenue near Hicklebees

Hicklebees and WG Books are still battling each other in the same category for Metro. Other, more sensible publications long ago separated these two combatants.

Best of Love & Romance

• Mann’s Jewelers — Best Jewelry Store (#2) … Lincoln Avenue

Whew! we just made it in to his category … no thanks to Dan Mokma.

Interestingly, there were several whole categories where WG went completely unrepresented, including Arts & Culture and Fashion, the latter of which was devoted entirely to worshiping to Santana Row, despite the presence of several quality retailers in WG. Whatever.

And while Aqui’s Best Margarita shows up in the Music & Nightlife list, but that was probably thanks to their other locations where there is actual nightlife.