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Bagels

Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels provide the quintessential carbohydrate-rich, high-energy snack food for superheroes like Spider-Man. The bagels come in standard flavors such as poppyseed, raisin and egg, but also come in chocolate chip, sun-dried tomato and jalapeno. Spidey might confess to a few favorite flavors of cream cheese, too: walnut raisin, Belgian orange chocolate, Mexican salsa, strawberry and Dijon garlic. Izzy's also offers an assortment of freshly baked cookies, pizzas and Eastern European-influenced babkas. 477 California Ave., Palo Alto; 650-329-0700. www.izzysbrooklynbagels.com


Bakery/Desserts

For an extra kick of sugar, Weekly readers swear by Coupa Cafe, with its breakfast and French pastries, crepes, Chuao Chocolatier Bonbons and El Rey chocolates. Coupa took top honors in three Best Of categories this year -- readers also named it Best Coffee House and Best Wi-Fi Hot Spot. There's quality caffeine (smooth mountain-grown coffee from Venezuela) and all the wireless access you can use, assuming you can find a seat in this popular hangout. A hot spot indeed. 538 Ramona St., Palo Alto; 650-322-6872. www.coupacafe.com


Hall of Fame: Third Year

Everyone -- superhero or just regular folk -- knows that Prolific Oven is all about the cakes. With chocolate mocha, orange with almond, carrot (oh yes, with cream-cheese frosting), strawberry cream and more, even non-heroes can be feted in style. For smaller parties, there's a mouth-watering array of French pastries, from custard-filled eclairs and Napoleons to decadent lemon and fruit tarts. Oh yeah, and mounds of cookies. No surprise here that Prolific made the Hall of Fame. 550 Waverley St., Palo Alto; 650-326-8485. www.prolific-oven.com


Bar

You don't need to be athletic to favor The Old Pro, which also won in the Best Sports Bar category (see the full write-up in the Sports Bar category).


Breakfast

Sports superstars such as the Williams sisters have been spotted at Hobee's after vanquishing their latest foes. Famous blueberry coffeecake and omelets/scrambles available all day make the restaurant a local favorite. When hunger strikes, the BDBIT (or Best Darn Breakfast in Town -- two eggs, "country-style" hashbrowns, and coffeecake or toast) -- will have you sighing, "My hero!" Though the Town & Country Village location recently added a few outdoor tables, be prepared to wait on weekends. That's because Sunday brunch is also tops at Hobee's -- the restaurant is also in the Hall of Fame in this category. Town & Country Village, Palo Alto; 650-327-4111. 4424 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; 650-856-6124; and 2312 Central Expressway, Mountain View; 650-968-6050. www.hobees.com


Burrito

Pure ingredients, not mutant ones. That's what Chipotle Mexican Grill offers in its "nothing mutant about us" burritos. The restaurant uses only naturally raised meats -- free of antibiotics and added growth hormones, fed a vegetarian diet and humanely raised. And to kick-start those superpowers, the restaurant ladles up a zesty red chili-tomatillo salsa. Coming in second place in this category was Taqueria La Bamba, located on Old Middlefield Way in Mountain View. 2400 Charleston Road, Mountain View; 650-969-6528. www.chipotle.com


Coffee House

Coupa Cafe won in this category this year (as well as in the Best Bakery/Desserts and Wi-Fi Hot Spot category). For a full listing, see Bakery/Desserts.


Hall of Fame: Third Year

For those of us who can't fly, teleport or travel at the speed of light but wish we could, Peet's Coffee and Tea is the perfect stop. This caffeine Mecca offers a wide variety of rejuvenating fluids for every type of local chugger: frothy Freddos, soothing chai blends, industrial-strength coffee guaranteed to shake the cobwebs off the droopiest eyelids. Scattered throughout Palo Alto (and many other municipalities), Peet's stores also offer a healthy selection of muffins, cookies and pastries and other java-related paraphernalia. Palo Alto locations: 153 Homer Ave., 650-325-2091. Town & Country Village, 650-248-4771; Charleston Center, 3904 Middlefield Road, 650-433-0500; 436 University Ave., 650-319-0367. www.peets.com


Deli/Sandwiches

If there is one thing every superhero needs, it's strength. And what better way to get that power than through hearty sandwiches. The Village Cheese House, located in the recently updated Town & Country Village, offers an extensive selection of meats, cheeses and gourmet groceries. The real treat, though, is the handmade sandwiches, prepared with top-tier fillings and fresh breads. Try one of the house favorites, "The Works," a double-decker stuffed with meat, Swiss cheese, original spread, pickles, pepperoncini, lettuce, tomato and red onion. Town & Country Village, Palo Alto; 650-326-9251. www.thevch.com


Food-To-Go

Folks in a hurry don't have time to stand around at a restaurant. When they need to grab a quick bite, they head to Whole Foods, where an array of sandwiches, snacks, prepared packaged meals and salad-bar items are available in one convenient location. The grocery store also won for best produce, so snap up some fresh fruits and veggies while you're there, too. Weekly staffers are known to spend many a lunch break cruising the nearby Whole Foods aisles in downtown Palo Alto for a tasty treat. 774 Emerson St., Palo Alto; 650-326-8676; and 4800 El Camino Real, Los Altos; 650-559-0300. www.wholefoodsmarket.com


Grocery Store

Maybe it's the cheerful aloha shirts worn by the staff; maybe it's the international array of tempting foods; maybe it's the well-priced selection of wines, beers and spirits. Or perhaps it's all of those things that makes Trader Joe's a favorite among Weekly readers. From grocery store staples to ready-made foods, imported cheeses and exotic specialties, the grocery chain is known for its low prices and for constantly introducing new things, with less-popular items getting dropped in favor of newer, cheaper or more interesting items. 720 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park; 323-2134. www.traderjoes.com


Ice Cream/Gelato

Grown-ups and kids all need a sweet treat sometimes, and Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream offers classic flavors and new favorites. Made in-house, Rick's frozen yogurt and ice creams are indeed notoriously rich, and the small-business intimacy of the store is the cherry on top. Rick's recently expanded to include more indoor seating, but sitting outside with a cone after work or play is a quintessential Palo Alto summer experience. The quality and sheer variety of flavors (including adult favorites such as carob and honey, pistachio saffron and white chocolate ginger) has kept customers coming back faster than a speeding bullet for years. 3946 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; 650-493-6553.


Martini/Cocktails

Even a mild-mannered reporter can get supercharged after an evening of refreshment and spicy Cuban cuisine at La Bodeguita del Medio. The California Avenue restaurant/bar offers a slice of Old Havana, complete with cigar lounge. Mojitos, Hemingway cocktails, Cafe Cubana with rum and a host of other inventive drinks complement fresh seafood and classic Cuban dishes that also won La Bodeguita first place for international cuisine. 463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; 650-326-7762. www.labodeguita.com


Milkshake

Yep, the Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill won again in this category -- and also for the top place to dine with children. For the full listing, see the Dining with Kids category.


Produce

Those tents by El Camino on Sundays stand for something tasty. The California Avenue Farmers' Market has been around only since 2007, but it's clearly doing something right with Weekly readers. For many folks, a weekend morning wouldn't be complete without a leisurely amble with a basket and a stroller, stocking up on fresh fruits and veggies, enjoying the day, and composing ambitious menus in their minds. Voters gave the second-prize ribbon to the Palo Alto Farmers' Market downtown. California Avenue at El Camino Real, Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round, Palo Alto. www.urbanvillageonline.com


Hall of Fame: Second Year

Whole Foods is back in the Hall of Fame for Produce, and also scored with readers for Best Food-To-Go; see the full listing in Food-To-Go.


Salad

Two-time winner Pluto's also took top honors for Best Meal Under $20; see the full listing in that category.


Wine List

You don't have to go far to find some of the best wine the Bay Area has to offer. There are dozens of vineyards making their specialty vintages right here on the Peninsula, but unlike in Napa Valley, they aren't packaged in one convenient location. Enter Vino Locale, a Palo Alto wine bar that makes it easy to do a wine tour from one convenient location. Wines are primarily from Santa Clara County, with some from San Mateo and Alameda counties. In keeping with the "local" concept, Vino Locale serves food with locally grown ingredients -- part of the "Slow Food" movement. 431 Kipling St., Palo Alto; 650-328-0450. www.vinolocale.com


Yogurt

Superheroes need superfood. What better place than Fraiche Yogurt? Natural and fresh yogurt has some hidden powers: calcium and cultures, among others. Even if this modern place is not popular among superheroes yet, the cafe, with its house-made organic yogurt with fresh fruit and add-ins, is often full of devoted fans. It's not uncommon to see the spot attract a long queue and a sprinkling of customers finding improvised seating along the block on Emerson Street. There's now also a second location at Stanford University, as well as a pomegranate flavor option. The white-and-orange cardboard bowls have a great future. 644 Emerson St., Palo Alto; and 459 Lagunita Drive, Stanford University; 650-566-0055. www.fraicheyogurt.com

— Palo Alto Weekly staff