The votes are in, and the winners have been selected for OnMilwaukee's Best Dining 2009. The results of this readers' poll, including an editors' pick, are available in this series of articles that run all October long during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.

Most of the category headings in the annual OnMilwaukee.com Reader's Poll are pretty straightforward.

Best pizza.

Best ribs.

Best fries.

Most of the time, there is little room for interpretation. This one, however, is an exception. We asked to vote on the "Best Venue for Food," when we probably should have asked for "Best Food at a Venue."

Fortunately, none of the write-in candidates for this category included popular restaurants like Sanford, Lake Park Bistro or Dream Dance Steak. One entrant did, however, submit "my kitchen" as a wild-card choice.

By best venue for food, we mean places you visit to do something besides eat -- such as sightsee, shop, watch a sporting event. Most folks knew what we were talking about, and the winning choice was clear-cut.

The Milwaukee Public Market, which allows guests to shop and dine, collected nearly one-third of the total vote to wrestle the title away from runner-up (and editors' pick), the Wisconsin State Fair and third-place finisher Summerfest.

The Public Market features 20 specialty food vendors, with products ranging from bread and baked goods, wine and spirits, candy, cheese, coffee, fresh produce, meat, poultry and seafood.

OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Wisconsin State Fair

Runners-up:
2. Wisconsin State Fair
3. Summerfest
4. Miller Park
5. Milwaukee Art Museum
6. Milwaukee Public Museum
7. UWM Union
8. Potawatomi Bingo Casino
9. The Shops of Grand Avenue
10. Milwaukee County Zoo
11. Gen. Mitchell International Airport
12. Bradley Center
13. Milwaukee County Courthouse
14. Festa Italiana