By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Oct 13, 2009 at 1:03 PM
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.

You love the appetizers at La Merenda and you also think it's the city's best hidden dining gem!

Located east of South 1st Street in Walker's Point, La Merenda, 125 E. National Ave., is, admittedly, a little off the beaten path. It's Walker's Point neighbor, Crazy Water, came in second.

At La Merenda, the focus is on small plates from around the world. If you crave the Italian specialty osso buco, Indonesian sambal goreng udang, Spanish patatas bravas or Colombian empanadas, you'll find something to nosh at La Merenda, which is literally translated in Italian as "snack."

In a review of La Merenda, OnMilwaukee.com dining critic Amy Schubert said: "Service here is friendly, the mood upbeat and the atmosphere fun and lively, making La Merenda a great stop for light-hearted, devil-may-care dining; if you need a little color in your life, put this restaurant on your short list of places to visit, and go with friends so you can sample more fun, ethnic offerings."  OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Sala da Pranzo

Runners-up:

2. Crazy Water
(tie) El Rey
4. Tess
5. Jackson Grill
6. Triskele's
7. Polonez
8. Sala da Pranzo
9. Ilja's Place
10. Christie's
(tie) Cool Water
12. Centro
13. Guanajuato
14. Seoul
15. Phan' Garden