by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
The contest celebrated its 10th year of recognizing reader-chosen favorites in an eight-county coverage area. The contest includes 41 categories in seven divisions including seafood, food, drinks, retail, hospitality, experiences and business services.
All nominations and winners were required to be public establishments and venues in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. First-, second- and third-place winners were selected in each category. For 2025, there were multiple ties, especially in the hospitality categories.
Several new businesses, some in just their first year of operation, were recognized while many reader favorites from past years received continued….
