[Jim Damaske, Times]

The polls have closed on our Readers' Choice awards, the aim to add a 26th restaurant to our Iconic Restaurants story, to run in Thursday's Weekend section (it'll go online on Wednesday, though, if you can't wait). The winner, by a landslide, is Crabby Bills. I've gotten a couple of lovely e-mails from Matt Loder, Sr., the CEO of Crabby Bills. He says the inclusion of Crabby Bills has been "very much an honor, humbling and eye opening." And, he adds philosophically, "I really think it’s not if we win or lose but how we play the game and what we come away with at the end of the day. The love of this business is what drives some restaurateurs to keep trying in the face of constant challenges and obstacles."

You said it, Mr. Loder.

With nine locations around the area (including a newish sushi bar at the Indian Rocks Beach spot), it all started with Bill and Dolores Loder back in 1983. SInce then, 22 family members have worked the restaurants and sold their way through tons of crabs, oysters and the rest of the gulf's bounty.

Congrats, Crabby Bills. You're in good company.