At the Herald-News, our mission is to serve our communities and make them better places to live.
We are not alone, local businesses and our loyal readers play an important role in our communities. In September, we invited our readers to vote on our website for their favorite businesses in the 2025 Best of Will County Reader’s Choice Awards.
These are the best of the best according to you, our readers. We’re pleased to present this year’s Best of Will County Reader’s Choice winners….and we look forward to doing it all again next year.
Or visit: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-festa-italiana-sponsorship-levels
Dan’s East Joliet 229 E. Cass Street (815) 723-3844 Mon-Fri 9 AM to 5:30 PM Dan’s West Joliet 1003 Plainfield Road (Rt. 30) (815) 722-0712 Mon-Sat 9 AM to 5:30 PM
Thank you for voting me one of the
for 8 consecutive years!
"Truly humbled to be voted one of the Best Mortgage Brokers in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Will County for the eighth year in a row. Grateful to my clients, team, and referral partners for your trust, loyalty, and support. You make every year more meaningful."
– Dave Holmes
The Herald News Best of Will County Readers' Choice Awards
Eight-Time Winner (2018–2025)
David Holmes
Senior Mortgage Loan Originator
DavidH@MyOakLeaf.com
P: 815-405-6002
24252 W Main St, Plainfield, IL 60544
NMLS ID: 217960
Thank you for voting me
BEST MORTGAGE BROKER
OF WILL COUNTY for 10 consecutive years!
"I’m truly honored and grateful to share that I’ve been voted the 2025 Herald-News Best Mortgage Broker of Will County for the 10th year in a row. Ten incredible years of serving families, partners, and this community. Your trust and support inspire me every single day.”
–Joe LaGiglia
The Herald News Best of Will County Readers' Choice Awards Ten-Time Winner (2016–2025)
Joseph LaGiglia
Senior Mortgage Loan Originator JosephL@MyOakLeaf.com P: 630-936-3242 24252 W Main St, Plainfield, IL 60544
NMLS ID: 703971
AUTOMOTIVE
AUTO BODY SERVICES
BEST John Lawson’s Auto Rebuilders Inc.
One of the Best Greg’s Body Shop Probst Collision LLC.
AUTO DETAILING
BEST
MQ Detailing
One of the Best Clean Image Car Wash & Professional Detail Center Elite Detailing
AUTO MAINTENANCE / REPAIR
Doc Motor Works Auto Repair
One of the Best American Motorsports
Mickey’s Tire & Service Centers
CAR WASH
Clean Image Car Wash & Professional Detail Center
One of the Best Motor Mat Car Wash Gas N Wash
FARM EQUIPMENT
BEST
Shorewood Home & Auto
One of the Best Tractor Supply Channahon Blaine’s Farm and Fleet
MOTORCYCLE / ATV DEALER
BEST
Conrad Harley Davidson
One of the Best Kalbo’s Performance Cycle Shorewood Home and Auto
Encore Resale Shop
NEW CAR DEALER
BEST
Webb Chevy Plainfield
One of the Best Hawk Subaru Hawk Volkswagen of Joliet
TIRE CENTER
BEST
Mickey’s Tire & Service Centers
One of the Best Discount Tire Tire Tracks USA
Proud to be Voted BEST of the BEST BEST: Resale & Antiques
If you’re looking for the region’s BEST resale items and antiques, visit the ENCORE SHOP on the campus of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Thank you for voting us # 1!
Our shop sells
• Adult and children’s clothing
• Antiques
• Household items
• Seasonal decorations
• Books
• Jewelry and more!
The Encore Shop is located at 710 Cedar Crossing Drive, across from The Kurtz & Vana Family Pavilion.
Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays & the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All proceeds benefit Silver Cross Hospital.
For more information, call the Encore Shop at (815) 300-7642.
White Fence Farm Restaurant was voted Best Fried Chicken
BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUE
BEST
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe
One of the Best We Rock the Spectrum Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center
BOWLING ALLEY
BEST Twisted Pin
One of the Best Channahon Lanes and Mini Golf Joliet Town & Country Lanes
FAMILY / SPECIALTY / HOBBY
DANCE STUDIO
BEST
BDA Dance Studio
One of the Best Revolution Dance Studio Vaughan Dance Academy
EVENT VENUE
BEST Rialto Square Theater
One of the Best Warehouse 109 Jacob Henry Mansion
FAMILY RECREATION
BEST
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe
One of the Best We Rock the SpectrumShorewood YMCA
FESTIVAL
/ LOCAL EVENT
BEST Festa Italiana
One of the Best 3 Rivers Fest Channahon Kiwanis of Plainfield Oktoberfest
STRONG COMMUNITIES START HERE
With a mission centered on balance, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, millions of people, just like you, are receiving the support and resources they need to engage in healthy lifestyles.
THE Y IS YOUR ONE-STOP SOURCE FOR FAMILY FUN:
• Affordable and safe year-round child care programs
• Personal training, group exercise classes, and free fitness consultations
• Private, group, and adaptive swim lessons
• Youth and adult sports leagues, clinics, and camps
• Preschool programs, youth enrichment classes, and birthday parties
• Senior fitness classes and social clubs
WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME
At the YMCA, no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. Stop by today to learn more about the Y’s Financial Assistance Program.
JOIN THE Y TODAY Visit www.jolietymca.org or stop by the Y today!
PLACE FOR LIVE
Plainfield School District was voted Best Public School District
Malinowksi and Sefcik was voted Best Dentist
FOOD & DRINK
CATERING
BEST Niko’s Catering
One of the Best Wyler BBQ Bella Cucina Catering
CHICKEN WINGS
BEST
Big Pauly’s Wood Fired Pizza
One of the Best Top Fuel Saloon Paradise Bay Bar and Grill
DELI / SANDWICH SHOP
BEST Jitters
One of the Best The Corned Beef Hideout Mr. Submarine
DONUTS
BEST Donut Den
One of the Best Home Cut Donuts, Inc. Fleckenstein’s Bakery
FOOD & DRINK
FINE DINING
Al’s Steak House
One of the Best Capri Sogno Public Landing FISH FRY
Croatian Club
One of the Best Top Fuel Saloon VFW Post 9545
FRIED CHICKEN
White Fence Farm Main Restaurant
One of the Best VFW 9545 New Lenox Chicken and Spice GYRO
Gyro Shack
One of the Best Mickeys
Johnny’s Beef & Gyros HOT DOG BEST
Babes Home Cookin’
One of the Best Jody’s Hot Dogs
Joey’s Red Hots Crest Hill
ICE CREAM / CUSTARD
The Original Walt’s Ice Cream
One of the Best TCBY Cherry Bomb Sweets
ITALIAN BEEF
Portillo’s Hot Dogs
One of the Best Craver’s The Big Chill
La Dolce Vita per tutti, Rt. 59 Plainfield
One of the Best Mamma Onesta’s Italian Restaurant Pesciolino Osteria
LIQUOR STORE
Binny’s Beverage Depot
One of the Best Binny’s Beverage Depot - Mokena Kenwood Liquors - Homer Glen
Foundation
One of the Best Metro Grill & Bar The Royal Tea Room
MEAT MARKET
/ BUTCHER SHOP BEST Tischler’s Market
One of the Best Mitchell’s Food Mart Faletti Meats
MEXICAN FOOD
BEST
Tortilla Flatz Mexican Grill
La Mex
One of the Best Tortilla Flatz Mexican Grill Mo Joes
One of the Best Habanero on Essington Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant
Will County Brewing Company
One of the Best Mad Hatchet Brewing Werk Force Brewing
OUTDOOR DINING
Jameson’s Pub
One of the Best Ace Drive-In McBride’s on 52 PIZZA (DEEP DISH)
Giordano’s
One of the Best Maurie’s Table Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
PIZZA (THIN CRUST)
Big Pauly’s Wood Fired Pizza
One of the Best Cemeno’s Pizza Maurie’s Table POOR BOY
Merichka’s Restaurant
One of the Best Moe Joe’s Cookie’s Restaurant
ROMANTIC DINNER
CUT 158 Chophouse
One of the Best Al’s Steak House Restaurant Capri Sogno SPORTS
Double J Sports Bar
One of the Best McBride’s on 52 Uptown STEAK
Al’s Steak House Restaurant
One of the Best CUT 158 Chophouse Top Fuel Saloon
VAUGHAN DANCE
HEALTH & BEAUTY
ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR
BEST
Dr. Puppala – Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
One of the Best Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush-Joliet
Dr. Bradley D. Dworsky, MD, Hinsdale Orthopedics, New Lenox
PEDIATRICIAN
BEST
Dr. Aschinberg, Joliet
One of the Best eKids Pediatric Quick Care
Dr J Pediatrics Shorewood
PHYSICAL THERAPY
BEST
Brightmore Physical Therapy
One of the Best Athletico Physical TherapyShorewood
Absolute Integrated Health Pain Management Center Plainfield IL
PODIATRIST
BEST
Essington Podiatry Group, Dr. Ada Paolucci and Dr. Andrew Wahl
One of the Best Dr. Tiernan – Advanced Foot & Ankle Joliet
Caneva Foot & Ankle Clinic
Dr. Paul Kirchner – Homer Glen
Smooth Peach Wax Studio LLC was
Mistwood Golf Club was voted Best Golf Course
SENIOR CARE FACILITY BEST Timbers of Shorewood
One of the Best Alden Estates of Shorewood Willow Falls Retirement Community
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE SERVICES
Sage Bodywork & Wellness
One of the Best Tranquility Massage and Salt Room
Restore Therapy Massage, Channahon
URGENT CARE
Emediate Cure - Joliet, Shorewood, and Plainfield
One of the Best Silver Cross Urgent Care Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus
WAXING / HAIR REMOVAL
BEST The Smooth Peach Wax Studio LLC
One of the Best Happy Wax CoCo Esthetic’s, LLC
&
BEAUTY
YOGA STUDIO
Sage Bodywork & Wellness
One of the Best Just Breathe Yoga Studio Rise Aerial and Yoga Fitness
Powers Painting & Decorating, LLC
One of the Best R.E. Duchene Construction Relentless Kitchen & Bath
Sentry Pest Solutions
One of the Best Southwest Pest Control Services Co Pfeiffer Pest Control
PLUMBING
Omega Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
One of the Best PDM Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Since 1885 TMZ Plumbing, Inc.
