I really question and am skeptical of some of the winners for the 2014 Reader's Choice. E.g., Uncle Yu's as Best Chinese restaurant and In-N-Out as Best Hamburger??!! I do not believe they are clearly the "Best". What about 3 Brothers and The Habit in San Ramon?

It seems like the selections of the winners for the Reader's Choice is more of a popularity contest rather than being the "Best" in the area.

Uncle Yu's is outright nasty, and a real head spinner as a first choice winner. The real question (you out there, Gina?) is why this list looks EXACTLY the same every year.
Leo's is far better than most of what passes for Chinese food up in this area, and several other good places never seem to make the list either. Most eateries that are on the list are pretty sub-par. Up here in Danville, if you put high prices on the menu and use a lot of fancy French & Italian words, that's all it takes to get them on the hook. It's it is greasy, pricey, and/or pretentious that seems to be the right formula. No accounting for bad taste.

I agree with Derek and Louisa. I find myself searching for better places outside our area for better quality, service and fair prices. Just for example even though it wasn't voted as one of the "Best", I was embarrassed when I entertained guests at Father Natures in Danville, and was bombarded with a very loud band while trying to enjoy our meals and conversation. I couldn't wait to leave the place. The old, plastic, cheap, patio furniture made me not want to sit in the chairs and ruin my clothing. It seems that some of Danville areas are so sure of their past good reputation that they do not try anymore to be better and just take it for granted that people will come. I chuckle when I hear that Danville residents should support their local businesses----why not the local businesses should try to earn our business instead.

Father Nature's sort of gets weaker as the day goes on. I think their breakfasts are quite good, and we still go there for lunch sometimes, but dinner is overpriced, mediocre, and as you observed, often quite noisy.
Most of the eateries in the Walgreens/pet Food Express part of the Livery are very good, and Santorini is excellent. And there are some other good ones here, but they never seem to make the list. Personally I think Walnut Creek has by far a higher percentage of good restaurants than Danville, but some might disagree.

@ Louisa

What gave it away that is was a popularity contest? It is a poll of the reader's choices, and polls are never a gauge to go by. Some of the choices say to me people don't get out much...

That reader choice was a little odd in my opinion.

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