OUR PICK: South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company, 1420 S. Alamo St., suite 102, (210) 788-8000

Josh Biffle knows gelato. Having studied the art of gelato under lauded makers in Italy — where he met wife and partner Diletta Gallorini — Biffle lets his palate and love of fresh ingredients do the talking. At South Alamode Panini & Gelato, you’ll want to try the pistachio as every batch of pistachio gelato is made with pistachios imported from Bronte, Sicily, toasted and made into a paste in-house. Or stop by for velvety takes on peanut butter, nutella, ricotta, goat cheese and other hard-to-find flavors such as Zuppa Inglese (citrusy custard, chocolate hazelnut sauce and spiced cake) or Struffoli (their take on a Christmas-time dessert found in Naples that combines deep fried dough balls, honey and spinkles). The San Antonio river isn’t exactly the Amalfi Coast, but this gelato gets us as close as we’re going to get for the time being.

WINNER: Bakery Lorraine, 306 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 110, (210) 862-5582, bakerylorraine.com

2. Cake Crumbs, 1218 W. Bitters Road, Suite 108, (210) 906-3783, cakecrumbssa.com

3. Bird Bakery, 5912 Broadway, (210) 804-2473, birdbakery.com

WINNER: Smoke Shack, 3714 Broadway, (210) 957-1430, smokeshacksa.com

2. Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q, multiple locations, rudysbbq.com

3. 2m Smokehouse & Catering, 2731 S. W. W. White Road, (210) 885-93
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WINNER: Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe, 918 N. Main Ave., (210) 951-2802, luluscafeinsa.com

2. De Wese’s Tip Top Cafe, 2814 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 735-2222

3. MK Davis Restaurant, 1302 N. Flores St., (210) 223-1208, mkdavisrestaurant.com

WINNER: Golden Wok, multiple locations, goldenwoksa.com

2. Ding How, 4531 NW Loop 410, (210) 549-8881, dinghowsa.com

3. Taste of Asia, 300 W. Bitters Road, Suite 120, (210) 496-6266

WINNER: Local Coffee, multiple locations, localcoffeesa.com

2. Barrio Barista, 3735 Culebra Road, (210) 519-5403, barriobarista.coffee

3. Rosella Coffee Co., 203 E. Jones Ave., Suite 101, (210) 277-8574, rosellacoffee.com

WINNER: Blanco Cafe, 1720 Blanco Road, (210) 732-6480

2. Taco Libre, 6511 Ingram Road, Suite 101, (210) 592-6288, facebook.com/vivatacolibre

3. Rosario’s, multiple locations, rosariossa.com

WINNER: Justin’s Ice Cream, 245 E. Commerce, (210) 222-2707, facebook.com/Justinsicecreamsanantonioriverwalk

2. Lick Honest Ice Creams, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 2101, (210) 314-8166, ilikelick.com

3. Amy’s Ice Creams, 255 E. Basse Road, Suite 430, (210) 832-8886, amysicecreams.com

WINNER: Nectar Wine Bar & Ale House, 214 Broadway, (210) 375-4082, nectarsa.com

2. Snociopa, 6423 Babcock Road, Suite 104 , (210) 455 -8638, snopioca.com

3. Bar Louie, multiple locations, barlouie.com

WINNER: Sweet Yams, 218 N. Cherry St., (210) 229-9267, facebook.com/sweetyamsorganic

2. Green Vegetarian Cuisine, multiple locations, eatatgreen.com

3. Viva Vegeria, 1422 Nogalitos St., (210) 465-9233, myvegeria.com

WINNER: Sea Island Shrimp House, multiple locations, shrimphouse.com

2. El Bucanero, multiple locations, bucanerosanantonio.com

3. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 76 North East Loop 410, (210) 340-7143, pappadeaux.com