Restaurant owner Tom Harten spends most of his time in the friendly surroundings of Mecklenburg Gardens, a Cincinnati landmark dating back to 1865 that he rescued from abandonment in 1996. Now, as Tom says, they're "alive and well after 141 years." They do a brisk lunch trade, have a popular happy hour and have a mutually beneficial relationship with nearby hotels The Vernon Manor and Kingsgate Marriott at UC. Mecklenburg's is doing its part to promote Corryville and the Clifton area later this month with a progressive dinner that stops at Tinks, Cactus Pear and Kingsgate. Zinzinnati's German heritage lives on at Mecklenburg's -- their schnitzel is second to none. (Anne Mitchell) CityBeat: Where did you eat your last great meal and what was it? Tom Harten: China Gourmet. Usually I call ahead and order Peking Duck. This time, I let them pick for me, and I had conch. It was tasty. CB: You've got a Fat Tuesday celebration scheduled for Feb. 20. How is that German? TH: We let our chef express himself! Brett Crowe, our chef, he's great with German food, but we can't confine him! And at Mardi Gras, everybody's got a little jazz in them, right?