STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- This borough sure knows how to raise the bar.
Over the past two weeks, we asked you to nominate -- and then vote for -- the borough's "Best Neighborhood Bars" in the latest category of the 2015 Staten Island Readers' Choice Awards.
Your diverse nominees prove our theory that a true "Neighborhood" hangout has to be much more than a run-of-the-mill booze stop.
From punk rock dives and German beer gardens to upscale gastropubs and cocktail lounges, a true "Neighborhood Bar" is often about camaraderie, live music, pub grub and making memories that last a lifetime.
*And your "Best Bar: East Shore/Mid-Island" winner is: Lee's Tavern -- 60 Hancock St., Dongan Hills; 718-667-9749 -- with 1,011 votes. For the record: That's more votes than any other single bar in this entire poll.
The Palemine family took over this beloved borough bar in 1969 from Leroy Moresco -- the orginal proprietor affectionately dubbed "Mr. Lee" by regulars.
With its vintage mosaic tiled floor and burnished tin ceiling, this woodsy, welcoming watering hole is a throwback to S.I. of yesteryear.
The main attraction at Lee's: Pizza with a very crunchy, almost biscuit-like crust and a subtly flavorful tomato sauce.
It's not available by the slice and you can't get it delivered -- i.e. you actually gotta show up with the family (or friends) to eat it. And boy, do we ever: There's a reason Lee's also racked up 4,765 votes to take second-place in the 2014 Readers' Choice Awards poll for "Best Pizza" and 1,979 votes to win 2014's "Best Family Restaurant" honors.
More family value: Lee's is famous for serving loyal patrons their signature thin-crust meatless pies on Fridays during the Catholic holy period of Lent.
Oh, and the fried calamari is pretty legendary, too.
- Runners up with vote counts:
HERE'S HOW STATEN ISLAND READERS' CHOICE AWARDS WORK:
THE NOMINATION PHASE: AUG. 10 -- The nomination phase for your "2015's Best Restaurant Foods" runs from Aug. 10, through Sunday, Aug. 16. You posted your nominees in the comments section, as well as on Facebook and via email. We depended on your passionate suggestions to determine the finalists.
THE VOTING PHASE: MONDAY, AUG. 17 -- Your "Best Restaurant Foods" poll finalists are announced. The voting phase runs from Monday, Aug. 17, to Sunday, Aug. 23, at SILive.com/readerschoice. Help us get the word out to make sure your finalists get their share of the voting love!
Please note: We reserve the right to disqualify, or invalidate votes for, any entrant that gains from an unfair advantage in the voting process. This includes, but is not limited to, the offering of any prizes for votes.
AND THE WINNER IS: MONDAY, AUG. 24 -- We announce your "Best Restaurant Foods" winner. Then the entire process starts all over again with a new category Monday, Aug. 31.
WHAT'S NEXT: After the initial nominate-vote-win category cycle, we will follow up with a series of additional voting categories celebrating so many aspects of life on S.I.
Just like last year we'll ask you to share your expertise on ALL local restaurants, bars, arts, entertainment, businesses, shopping, sports and recreation. So keep an eye out for these polls as they appear online!
Nominate your picks as their respective categories are announced, one by one, at SILive.com/readerschoice. Nominees with the most votes become the finalists for the final poll.
EARLY NEXT YEAR: We will publish a compilation of all your categories -- and it will serve as the definitive guide to everything great about Staten Island.
QUESTIONS? Post them in the comments section below or email bailey@siadvance.com. He'll answer them as soon as possible.
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