By Lauryn Johns
There’s something especially meaningful about being named one of the best when the recognition comes from the people who know you best: the people who live, work, shop, dine and raise their families right here in the Mohawk Valley.
At Mohawk Valley Living, we spend every month sharing the stories of the people, businesses and organizations that make this region what it is. So when Mohawk Valley residents choose their favorites, we think those familiar names deserve a little extra recognition.
With more than 130 categories, we couldn’t possibly feature every winner here. Instead, we’re shining a spotlight on a few familiar faces we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, along with businesses our readers and neighbors know well.
More Than a Title
A Community’s Choice Award means something because of exactly what its name suggests: the community chooses. Behind those votes are real experiences.
The server who already knows your order. The physical therapist who helped you get back to doing what you love. The local banker who was there for a first home or new business. Or the place your family has been going for so long, you can’t quite remember when the tradition started.
Those everyday experiences are what build trust and loyalty over time. When the people you serve take the time to recognize you, that’s an honor worth celebrating.
The Places We Gather
If there’s one thing Mohawk Valley residents have opinions about, it’s where to eat. Breakfast, burgers, Greek food, a good steak. We know our favorites.
Boulevard Diner earned the community’s vote for Breakfast, while Symeon’s was chosen for Greek Food. The Black Stallion earned top honors for Steakhouse, Roosters took home the win for Burgers, and Brimfield Farm Winery was voted the community’s favorite Winery.
For Rooster’s, this year marks a third consecutive Best Burger win, an honor made even more meaningful by its
beginnings as a one-person shop on Charlotte Street. Now at 51 North Genesee Street, Rooster’s remains
rooted in local relationships and genuine hospitality, serving fresh-baked buns from Salvatore’s Bakery and beef
from Chanatry’s. Faith guides the Christian-owned business, while its name honors Rooster “Mackenzie” Eisland, whose personality lives on through the rooster-with-sunglasses logo inspired by a favorite photo of him.
Different menus and different reasons for visiting, but these are more than places to grab a bite or a drink. They’re
where birthdays are celebrated, friends catch up, families gather and traditions are made.
Businesses We Trust
Some of our strongest relationships with area businesses are built when we need someone we can count on. This year, Helen M. Sarandrea P.T. PLLC was recognized as the Mohawk Valley’s choice for Physical Therapy Clinic, while Wadas Eye Group earned Eye Care Clinic. Beauty by Beer received the community’s vote for Facials, and Carbone Fitness was recognized as the area’s favorite Fitness Center/Gym.
Their services may be very different, but each recognition reflects the confidence of the people they serve. That same trust matters when we’re making some of life’s bigger decisions.
More Than Awards: A Reflection of Community
There are awards that recognize achievement, and then there are awards that tell a deeper story.
First Source Federal Credit Union has been honored for over two decades in the Best of the Best award competition, for the last six years placing first in four categories: Best Credit Union, Best Mortgage Lender, Best Place to Work, Best Locally (Member) Owned Business.
While receiving these honors is certainly meaningful, what makes them especially significant is how they are earned. These awards were decided by community vote, making them a reflection of the trust, relationships, and connections built over time between First Source, its members, and community partners.
For more than eight decades, First Source has operated under the credit union philosophy of people helping
people. As a member-owned financial institution, success is measured not simply by numbers, but by the impact made in the lives of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations throughout Central New York.
The recognition highlights the role First Source plays in helping members reach important financial milestones, while the honors of Best Place to Work and Best Locally (Member) Owned Business speak to a culture built on collaboration, service, and a shared commitment to the community.
In many ways, these awards belong to more than just First Source. They belong to the members who choose to bank locally, the business partners who collaborate on community initiatives, and the employees who bring First Source’s mission to life every day.
Most importantly, it is a moment to pause and express gratitude.
To every member, employee, community partner, and voter who helped make this recognition possible: thank you. Your confidence and support are the foundation of everything First Source does.
Because at the end of the day, these awards are not simply about being named the best, they are about the community that made it possible.
Together, We Are Community.
Bank of Utica earned the community’s vote for Bank, while First Source Federal Credit Union received an impressive four honors: Credit Union, Mortgage Lending Company, Locally Owned Business and Place to Work. Being recognized by customers is meaningful. And being recognized as a Place to Work says something about the experience inside those doors, too.
At Wadas Eye Group, that trust spans generations. What began as two practices founded by Drs. Theodore
Wadas and Nancy Bulas has grown into a true family business, with the next generation helping carry that legacy
forward. Today, the team includes Drs. Matthew Wadas, Benjamin Wadas, Amanda Scalise, Kimberly Wadas – and
licensed opticians William Wadas and Joe Markason – with offices in Whitesboro, Herkimer and Barneveld. Together, they combine more than 100 years of experience with the practice focus remaining the same as day one – providing quality, personalized eye care.
For Beauty by Beer, being voted Best Facials is especially meaningful as owner and licensed esthetician Kelly continues building her Barneveld business around personalized skincare, client confidence and giving back to the community she and her family call home. With a background in Health Studies and an approach that blends skincare expertise with individualized care, Kelly thoughtfully tailors each treatment to her clients’ unique needs, with the goal of delivering visible results and the confidence that comes with them.
From Big Moments to Everyday Life
Some businesses become part of our lives because they’re there for the moments we’ll remember for years to come. Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club was voted the Mohawk Valley’s favorite Wedding Venue, while A. Vitullo, Inc. earned honors for both Bridal/Formalwear Boutique and Men’s Clothing Store. From finding just the right thing to wear to celebrating the big day itself, these are the businesses that often find their way into family photos and favorite memories.
For families, Sprout & Bloom Preschool Learning Center was recognized for both Child Care and Pre-School, while Alpha Obedience Dog Training earned the title for Pet Training. And as many of us will tell you, and my family can certainly attest, sometimes the four-legged members of the family need a little guidance, too.
Sprout & Bloom’s story is an example of what community support can create. During a time of transition for several
experienced local preschool educators, parents saw an opportunity to keep those teachers in the community and
build something new. With the support of First United Methodist Church of New Hartford, educators, families and community members created a preschool from the ground up. In just months, an unexpected change became a thriving school, making recognition for both Child Care and Pre-School especially meaningful. As they put it, “We planted the seed together.”
Then there are the businesses we depend on simply to keep everyday life moving. Geraty Pools & Spa earned recognition for Swimming Pool/Spa, Rick Turk Tree Service was selected for Tree Service Company, and Clinton Tractor & Implement Co. took home the title of Lawn Equipment Store.
At Alpha Obedience Dog Training, this marks a third consecutive Pet Training win. For more than 20 years, founder Frank has helped thousands of dogs and their owners, guided by the belief that lasting results happen when “both ends of the leash” change. His approach was shaped in part by his long-haired German Shepherd, Loki, the dog who taught him the power of patience, purpose and commitment in training, and ultimately helped lay the foundation for Alpha Obedience itself.
Steet Ponte Auto Group earned four separate wins: Auto Repair Shop, New Car Dealership, Oil Change Service and Used Car Dealership. Cars need fixing, trees need trimming, lawns keep growing and pools need tending. Doing those everyday things well, year after year, is exactly how a business earns a loyal following.
North Star Orchards earned recognition in both Garden Center/Nursery and Produce, two categories that feel especially at home in the Mohawk Valley, where the changing seasons are such a big part of how we experience the year.
The Places That Make This Home
Some places become so familiar that it’s easy to forget how fortunate we are to have them here.
Munson was recognized in both the Art Gallery and Museum categories, honoring an institution that has long connected the Mohawk Valley with art, culture and creativity.
And maybe that’s what a list like this really shows us. What makes the Mohawk Valley special isn’t one landmark, restaurant, shop or institution. It’s the collection of places and people we’ve come to know as our own. It’s knowing
exactly where you want to go for breakfast. Having a business you recommend without hesitation. Seeing familiar names pass from one generation to the next while new ones find their place here.
It’s seeing the people behind these businesses employ our friends and neighbors, support area causes and continue investing in the region they call home. That’s the part of “local” that can’t always be measured in a transaction.
Chosen by the Mohawk Valley
Some of this year’s honorees have been serving the Mohawk Valley for generations. Others are building their stories right now. Some earned recognition in one category, while other took home several honors.
Their stories are different, but every recognition has one important thing in
common: it came from you.
Every nomination was someone taking a moment to say, “This place deserves to be recognized.” Every vote represented a customer, client, neighbor or friend choosing a business or organization that made an impression on them.
Collectively, those votes tell a bigger story about what the Mohawk Valley values. We value businesses that take care of their customers. We value quality and consistency. We value longtime local institutions and the entrepreneurs willing to build something new. Most importantly, we continue to value local.
At Mohawk Valley Living, we have the privilege of meeting the people behind so many of the names on these pages. We see the work they do, the people they employ and the ways they continue to invest in this region.
To those featured here, and to all of the 2026 Best of Mohawk Valley Community’s Choice Award winners, congratulations. And to everyone who voted for a favorite, recommended a business to a friend or simply chose to shop, dine and do business close to home, keep doing it. Those choices are what keep the Mohawk Valley’s favorite places part of the place we call home.
