Asian

Amarin

Flavor: Amarin is friendly, delicious and a great value. The Thai Jade Noodle is the the most flavorful spinach pasta we've ever tasted. Better yet is the duck, a boneless duck half seasoned and crisp fried, sliced and fanned into a big ceramic bowl and surrounded by fresh green beans and carrots.

Flair: The small space is chic, if not flattering, and comfortably padded chairs surround the dark, wood tables that line the room.

3514 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-5533. Open 7 days. $9-$15.

Ando

Flavor: A standout among local Japanese places, Ando features elegantly prepared and presented dishes. It delivers simple, finely crafted food with painstaking attention to detail. Sushi rolls are fresh and tasty, and the vegetarian rolls are marvelous. But there are lots of other interesting things to try, too, like Goma Ae (boiled spinach) or Zaru Soba (cold buckwheat noodles). Dinner-for-two sushi and sashimi combinations can offer a better deal than separate entrées.

Flair: The atmosphere here is serious, perhaps even somber, with muted colors and drapes cloaking the windows. A Zen-like calm prevails.

5889 Pfeiffer Road, Blue Ash, 513-791-8687. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $12-$45.

Aoi Flavor: Along with the clean flavors and soft, velvety texture of the beautiful sushi and sashimi, the menu features traditional Japanese cold and hot appetizers, noodle soups and entrées such as Steamed Pork with Sesame Sauce and Beef or Chicken Teriyaki.

Flair: An elegant, uncluttered dining space with a semi-circular sushi bar dropped into the center of an otherwise angular room. Dramatic tones of deep red, bronze, gold and orange bleed down the wall of the booths which are separated by frosted panels that give you a delicious sense of privacy. From the time you're seated and your server provides a warm washcloth to clean your hands, you can relax in their care.

Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-431-9400. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $5-$21.

Apsara Flavor: Asian fusion -- something for anyone who enjoys visiting Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka all in one night. The cuisine ranges from the mild-mannered Blackened Ahi Tuna and Grilled Salmon to dramatic Cambodian Oxtail Soup and Sri Lankan curries. Come for happy hour and experience both exotic and Americanized appetizers, including the flavorful garlic and cilantro Crab Cakes with sweet chili aioli and mango chutney and the deeply satisfying Chicken Lettuce Wraps -- toasted ground rice stir-fried with chicken, watercress, green onions and cilantro.

Flair: Some men buy their wives dinner. Others, like the owner of Apsara, hire someone to create a replica of one of Angkor Watt's walls, with a 40-foot waterfall and reliefs of Apsaras, heavenly Hindu nymphs, and deliver it to her as a gift. The wall is visible from most places in the restaurant, but you can sit at the sushi bar for a close-up.

4785 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash, 513-554-1040. Open 7 days. $4-$30.

Asiana Flavor: A Thai/sushi restaurant offering eat in, carryout and delivery services. Specialties of the house include Pad Woon Sen (stir-fried wide noodles with chicken, egg, Napa cabbage, carrots, baby corn and snow peas) and delicious, reasonably priced sushi.

Flair: If your definition of a neighborhood joint includes sushi, this is the place for you. The modest décor in shades of green, pink and white provide a more feminine environment than many joints and make for a calm, relaxing experience. The service is leisurely and gives you enough time to sit back to enjoy your meal.

3922 Edwards Road, Oakley, 513-351-0999. Open Monday-Saturday. $8-$16.

Bangkok Bistro Flavor: Offers Thai noodles, curries, seafood, steak and poultry as well as fresh sushi. House specials include Crispy Duck served with a variety of stir-fried vegetables and the Three Flavored Fish with Sweet Chili Sauce. Noodle dishes range from Pad Thai to Drunken Noodles (rice noodles stir fried with shrimp, chicken, vegetables and basil leaves). Sushi lovers should try the Sushi and Sashimi Platter with tuna and salmon sashimi.

Flair: Exposed brick walls, Asian accents and mismatched wooden tables emphasize the bistro's casual atmosphere. For newcomers, the savvy and helpful staff will easily guide you through the menu.

3506 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-0707. Open 7 days. $10-17.

Beluga Flavor: A swanky, Zagat-approved Asian-American eatery perfectly tailored for Hyde Parkerites to go and eat good sushi while complaining about not being able to find good sushi. The Asian-Western fusion menu also boasts halibut with black truffle polenta, lobster stuffed with crab and plenty of non-marine offerings such as pasta, duck and lamb dishes that combine complex flavors. Want still more fusion? Try the green tea cheesecake. If you're a hungry night owl, come for the midnight-2 a.m. happy hour Fridays and Saturdays featuring a half-price late-night menu.

Flair: Ah, the cocktails -- the specialty mojitos, the selection of martinis, even a great wine list -- all served at Beluga's hopping bar with thumping music and banks of plasma screen TVs. Look for live DJs Friday and Saturday evenings.

3520 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, 513-533-4444. Open Monday-Saturday. $8-$30.

Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro Flavor: Healthy, affordable and quick Vietnamese food featuring stir-fried noodles, vermicelli salads and pho soups, all served vegetarian or with shrimp, pork, chicken or beef. It's feel-good food with plenty of cilantro and lemongrass to soothe the tummy. Not to worry: fried spring rolls with fiery dipping sauce offer one satisfying guilty pleasure.

Flair: A small, laid-back diner with good, friendly college vibes and plenty of sizzling action behind the counter. Great for when you're on the go, but plenty of counter and table seating for dining in.

2516 Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-281-1732. Open 7 days. $6-$6.50.

Dancing Wasabi Flavor: It looks like a mild-mannered sushi bar until you see local celebrity sushi chef Charlie Choi mixing up a Hot Mama (one of his Chef's Special Rolls) behind the bar. With deeply flavorful -- and at times indulgent -- sushi, such as the tasty Sunday Morning Roll deep-fried with salmon and cream cheese, Dancing Wasabi serves up both creative and traditional Japanese and Korean cuisine. Korean favorites include Bibimbap with marinated beef, fried egg, vegetables and rice served steaming in a hot stone pot.

Flair: Surprises include the well-chosen list of refreshing, ice-cold sakes that evoke warm summer nights, including Snow Maiden, with cream of coconut and passion fruit undertones. Also enjoy playful presentations such as the Mochi Ice Cream, with quintessential green tea ice cream wrapped in a chewy, taffy-like rice cake, and delivered as a Sunday with a cherry on top. Open into the wee hours of the morning on the weekends.

1018 Delta Avenue, Mount Lookout, 513-533-9218. Open 7 days. $5-$35.

Delight Thai Caf233 Flavor: Head here for some of the finest, most authentic Thai in the area. We love the soups like Tom Yum Goong (prawns, lemongrass, lime leaves, chili and lime juice) and the Tom Kah Gai (chicken, lemongrass, lime leaves and coconut milk). The Pad Thai is outstanding, and the curries (green, red, panaang) are particularly good. They also serve sushi.

Flair: Although a field trip for urbanites to a strip mall in the 'burbs, it's well worth the drive. The restaurant is pleasant and airy with high ceilings and lots of windows. Service is friendly and professional.

11928 Montgomery Road, Symmes Twp., 513-677-6175. Open 7 days. $8-$14.

First Wok Flavor: Fresh-tasting Chinese cuisine with all the usual suspects. Chef specials include Beef and Scallops, Mussels with Black Bean Sauce and Seafood Delight (jumbo shrimp, scallops, lobster and crab meat with assorted vegetables in white sauce.) The lunch buffet is also popular, and kids younger than 3 eat free.

Flair: An interesting blend of traditional Chinese restaurant décor and 20th-century Jazz. Most business is carryout. When you dine in, expect a more leisurely pace than you get at most Chinese restaurants.

3870 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-8388. Open 7 days. $5.25-12.95.

Gajah Wong West Caf233 Flavor: Subtle and exotic, Northside's Indonesian café offers invigorating dishes built around aromatic ingredients like coconut milk, lemon grass, Java chilies and ginger. The Rendang is like a tropical pot roast, with slow-cooked beef in a richly spiced, dark sauce with a side of watercress sautéed in ginger and garlic. Choose from shrimp, chicken, tofu or tempeh with other entrées, and on warm weekends they light up the outdoor grill for specials like chicken sate.

Flair: The fenced-in patio is a magical island oasis with big teak tables lit by kerosene lanterns and strings of colored lights. There's a stage for live world music on the weekends, and plenty of coffee/tea/espresso drinks and cocktails for lingering over. Gajah also has beer and wine available now.

3937 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, 513-591-3935. Open Wednesday-Saturday. $9.50-$22.50.

Green Papaya Flavor: There's a lot to choose from at Green Papaya: Thai entrées, noodles, fried rice, curries, stir-fries and fish. There are many creative dishes you won't find in other Thai restaurants, including a health-conscious menu section. The Green Papaya Salad highlights fresh fruit and vegetables with papaya, string beans, carrots, tomato, garlic and roasted peanuts are tossed in fish sauce and limejuice. Takeout options include Lunch Boxes that include soup, appetizer, fruit and a nice selection of sushi and Thai dishes. Try the Bubble Tea -- Green Papaya is one of the few local places to carry this Asian beverage of black tapioca pearls.

Flair: Green Papaya's interior has an overall calming effect. The gracious staff and bubbling sounds of the fountain in the middle of the dining room will help you slow down for a minute so you can chew in peace.

2942 Wasson Road, Oakley, 513-731-0107. Open 7 days. $9.95-$17.95.

Jo An Flavor: The discerning clientele of Japanese executives from down the road at the Toyota headquarters ensure that the food here is authentic and high quality. The sushi is excellent but don't limit yourself to that with such a wide variety of options. Choose from the sashimi, tempura, soups, salads, noodles and numerous cold appetizers. The menu also features items that are grilled, steamed or simmered.

Flair: The beauty of Jo An is that although it's located in the middle of nowhere (an anonymous office park by the airport), when you're there it really feels like somewhere else. The great sushi, subdued lighting, minimalist interior and tables full of Japanese businessmen in dark suits will transport you.

3940 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger, 859-746-2634. Open Monday-Saturday. $8 and up at lunchtime; $15 and up at dinner.

King Wok Flavor: The flavor of the China Sea, or something like that, with all the usual Chinese favorites and a special emphasis on fresh seafood. Treat yourself to a whole lobster stir-fried with slices of fresh ginger and scallions in a buttery sauce. It's heavenly. Or come for the Chinese Dim Sum that's now served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Flair: Look for the neon fish. The atmosphere is casual, perked up by the pink linen napkins, nice China and very friendly service. Your server will bone your fish for ease of eating -- now that's helpful!

203 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-723-1999. Open 7 days. $7-$13 (some prices seasonal and by the pound).

Ko-Sho Japanese Restaurant Flavor: Ko-Sho is well known to a small group of downtowners who love traditional Japanese food. The Gyoza (sublime shrimp dumplings pan-fried until crispy) is a good starter. Try their tasty and fun-to-eat Shabu-Shabu (thin slices of raw beef cooked tableside on a burner in a furiously bubbling broth. There's also good-quality sushi and sashimi. Lunch specials are a great value.

Flair: Ko-Sho is low-key and pretty quiet most of the time. But what it lacks in ambiance and buzz is overcome by its tasty, traditional food and friendly, professional service.

215 E. Ninth St., Downtown, 513-665-4950. Open 7 days. $13-$16.

Lemon Grass Flavor: Try the Crab Crispies (crab rangoons) appetizer, as Lemon Grass makes the best in town. From there, anything you choose from the varied menu is a safe bet. Some popular items are the Pad Thai, Yellow Curry or Lemon Grass Noodles served with egg, green and yellow onions, celery, bean sprouts and tomatoes.

Flair: This family-owned restaurant offers all the comfort of home, with intimate seating, friendly service and an overall good dining atmosphere. It's centrally located right next to Rookwood Pavilion.

2666 Madison Road, Hyde Park, 513-321-2882. Open 7 days. $9-$11.

Lu Lu's Asian Diner Flavor: Noodle soup is the world's best comfort food and LuLu's has the best. Favorites on the noodle-intensive menu include Hall Fun (wide rice noodles stir-fried with a ginger soy sauce) and Lard Cha (udon noodles stir-fried in a garlic sauce with bean sprouts, scallions and eggs). Try the Tom Yum soup for a starter (lemongrass, green onion, mushrooms, shrimp and Thai basil seasonings). The Pad Thai is ever popular, and the folks there recommend the curry-spiked Singapore Noodles with chicken and shrimp.

Flair: Filled with families, especially on the weekends. The dining room is pretty boisterous and has a feel similar to a fast-food joint. The no-nonsense staff will take care of you right away.

135 W. Kemper Road, Springdale, 513-671-4949. Open Monday-Saturday. $5.50-$9.50.

Matsuya Flavor: With three pages of appetizers and nine pages in total, Matsuya claims to have the most extensive menu of Cincinnati's numerous Japanese restaurants. If you go, take a page from the Japanese who rarely make a meal of sushi. Instead, order a bunch of hot and cold appetizers with sushi either at the beginning or the end of the meal.

Flair: Small, family-run restaurant with knowledgeable and professional servers, many of whom have been with the restaurant since it opened nearly 10 years ago. Clientele is a mix of Japanese businessmen and loyal locals.

7149 Manderlay Drive, Florence, 859-746-1199. Open 7 days. $11-$35.

Mei Flavor: Offers good, solid Japanese food. From crisp, light Vegetable Tempura to sushi to a traditional bento box (a perfect choice for those who like to graze), dishes are fresh and expertly prepared. Also try the Ebi Shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings), which are light and tasty, or the moist and nicely flavored rendition of Chicken Terikayi. A large selection of specialty sushi rolls is also available.

Flair: Service is polite and deferential, with Japanese hostesses and servers decked out in traditional garb. The ambiance is airy with lots of light-colored woods. A wall of private rooms is available, and there's a patio for outdoor dining.

8608 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, 513-891-6880. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $12-$23.

Miyoshi Flavor: Opening a bento box of barbecued eel at Miyoshi is better than opening a present on your birthday: delicious, fresh sushi, sashimi and tempura, of course, but also a wide variety of less-familiar authentic dishes. Seafood arrives daily.

Flair: Excellent, friendly service in a relaxed yet refined setting, with sushi bar seating to watch the action or comfortable tables. Zen garden entry. Reservations required for the private tatami room (non-smoking).

8660 Bankers St., Florence, 859-525-6564. Open Monday-Saturday. $12-$25.

Oriental Wok Flavor: Even if you've never gotten friendly with tofu, the Five-Spice version served over garlic spinach could become your new favorite food -- or perhaps the crisp and wonderful Five-Spice Shrimp and Calamari. Red-meat eaters will love the Beef Ho Fun or Peppercorn Stir-Fry. Save room for sesame balls and mango pudding. Try the Volcano Chicken served in a sweet and spicy Thai chile garlic sauce with pineapple, red peppers and other vegetables. All the appetizers -- from Crab Rangoon to Pot Stickers and more -- are made in-house from scratch. Not all Chinese restaurants can say the same.

Flair: The Wong family makes this place special. Mr. Wong is a showman, moving from table to table and making his guests feel welcome and special. His wife and daughters are as charming as they are beautiful.

317 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, 859-331-3000. Open 7 days. $10-$25.

Pacific Moon Caf233 Flavor: Alex Chin's menu offers fresh classic pork, chicken, seafood and vegetarian options from Pacific Rim countries in this new Levee location. Come for new Dim Sum brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays featuring traditional cart service. The dining hours are perfect for the service industry crowd or other late-nighters: they serve their full menu nightly until 2 a.m. (Sushi orders must be in by 1:30 a.m.)

Flair: The Little Pleasures appetizer menu allows diners to try a wide selection of Asian favorites, including delicious lightly fried crispy tofu, crab rangoon, steamed shark-fin dumplings and honey BBQ pork.

Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-261-MOON. Open 7 days. $9-$22.

P.F. Chang's Flavor: This national chain offers an unusual selection of Chinese dishes including a variety of seafood, chicken, beef, vegetarian and noodle dishes such as Spicy Chicken in Lettuce Wraps, Kung Pao Scallops, Szechwan Chicken Chow Fun (fat rice noodles tossed with Szechwan-spiced water chestnuts, scallions, chicken and chili peppers). Or try the Mongolian Shrimp or the grilled lemongrass prawns. Steak eaters will appreciate the soy-and-mild-chile-marinated N.Y. Strip served with bok choy.

Flair: The hip, fashionable décor provides an excellent backdrop for a night out on the town. Unlike most of the other popular chains, they take reservations. Winner of "Best Chinese."

2633 Edmondson Road, Norwood, 513-531-4567. Open 7 days. $7-$20.

Riverside Korean Restaurant Flavor: Authentic Korean food in Kentucky? Believe it. We love the Ya Chae Pa Jun (a thin vegetable pancake) or the traditional hot stone pot of Dolsot Bibim Bab (rice with vegetables and beef, chicken, or tofu topped with an egg over easy). Entrées are accompanied by nine tiny bowls of appetizers -- each a treat -- from fish cake to spinach and kim chi to radish.

Flair: Unassuming on the outside and easy to miss, it's another world inside with low tables, silk cushions and exotic music. Wear good socks -- you must remove your shoes to sit at the more traditional low tables.

512 Madison Ave., Covington, 859-291-1484. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $12-$36.

Ruthai's Thai Kitchen Flavor: The specialty of this kitchen has to be the noodle dishes, which come with your choice of vegetables and meat (chicken, pork, beef or seafood). If you don't favor soy sauce or chewy noodles, try the curries, sushi or the interesting Green Papaya Salad. No worries for picky eaters -- Ruthai's has an extensive menu that can fit any palate and there's plenty for vegetarians.

Flair: Tucked into a small space on Mount Lookout Square, Ruthai's offers comfy seating among Asian knick-knacks and posters. With room to seat only 25, carryout is a bustling business here.

3164 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, 513-871-7687. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $9-$15.

Sake Bomb Flavor: Sushi gone wild. Plenty of traditional nori, nigiri and sashimi for purists, but for those seeking new horizons you might find barbecue sauce, mayonnaise and tropical fruit in your nori roll. The menu also boasts generously portioned Japanese dumpling, tempura and teriyaki dishes. Check back soon for new specials to come with their forthcoming summer menu updates.

Flair: This place has become an after-hours industry destination, especially on Mondays -- when special industry night discounts are offered. Naturally, the drink of choice is a shot of sake suspended on chopsticks over beer, knocked into the pint by a pound on the table ("3, 2, 1, Sake Bomb!") and swiftly gulped.

3672 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-533-0555. Open 7 days. $5-$15.

Shanghai Mama's Flavor: Serves up a range of starters from Spring Rolls to Shrimp Tempura to the more unusual Shanghai Ravioli (spinach, tofu, ginger, siricha and hot mustard). For main dishes, choose among a wide selection of Shanghai Flatbread (scallion pancakes), noodle bowls and rice bowls.

Flair: With a setting meant to suggest a 1920s Chinese noodle house, it's dark and inviting. Friday and Saturday it's open until 3 a.m., serving up food and drink to weary post-clubbers and chefs and servers from Downtown restaurants looking for a bite to eat and a rest for tired feet.

216 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-241-7777. Open Monday-Saturday. $6-$10.

Song Long Flavor: This family-run restaurant has a legion of loyal patrons that flocks for its unique, distinctive and delicious Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Cold Sesame Noodles win annual awards and the Goi Cuon (cold rolls in rice paper) is the best in the city.

Flair: Comfortable and simple with a touch of kitschy Asian décor. If you're not familiar with Vietnamese food, the staff takes the time to explain menu options without making you feel ignorant. There's never a "one time only" at Song Long -- once you've eaten here you'll be back.

1737 Section Road, Roselawn, 513-351-7631. Open Monday-Saturday. $7-$16.

Sukhothai Thai Cuisine Flavor: Sukhothai's menu offers a number of perfectly prepared traditional dishes, including Pad Thai (the unofficial national dish of Thailand), various curries and a wide selection of stir-fries (which can be made with your choice of a protein, including tofu, shrimp, chicken and duck). Want something more exotic? Try the mango prawns stir-fried in a tamarind sauce or the garlic soft-shell crab. Just be sure to order a Singha (Thai beer) to take the edge off the spicy heat from those curry dishes!

Flair: Hidden down a winding path behind a car dealership off Montgomery Road, Sukhothai is well worth seeking out. The interior might be simple and a bit bare, but the delicious, highly seasoned food creates its own environment.

8102 Market Place Lane, Montgomery. 513-794-0057. Open Monday-Saturday. $6-$18.

Sung Korean Bistro Flavor: Sung tries to stay true to authentic Korean food while making it more approachable, offering traditional favorites such as dolsot bibimbab as well as more familiar stir-fried dishes. a phenomenal appetizer option is Haemul Padjun, a pancake with egg, shrimp, crabmeat, squid, green onion and pepper could easily feed four.

Flair: The dining room includes traditional-style floor seating in the back of the room. There are plans for a sushi bar in the works.

700 Elm St., Downtown, 513-721-SUNG. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $14-$19.

Teak Thai Flavor: Traditional Thai and unusual surprises, especially in the curry department, show up on this popular restaurant's menu. Teak's Pad Thai gets rave reviews, but some of our favorites are the Panaeng Curry (we love it with chunks of fried Tofu), Seafood Delight or Vegetable Thai Spicy.

Flair: The sushi bar downstairs lends itself to more of an upbeat bar atmosphere, but the upper levels are chic-casual for special occasions and small gatherings. The outside patio is one of the hardest seats to get in nice weather. Parking can be difficult, especially on weekends but the walk will be worth it. Winner of "Best Asian" and "Best Sushi."

1049 St. Gregory St., Mount Adams, 513-665-9800. Open 7 days. $11-$30.

Thai Namtip Flavor: Excellent dishes include Crispy Tofu with a perky peanut sauce, Chicken Coconut Soup with fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and chunks of chicken, Shrimp Panang Curry served in a stone pot and Pad See Ewe with wide rice noodles. Try Thai Namtip Spicy Fish, especially when they have red snapper.

Flair: Portraits of the Thai president and first lady on one wall and a large mural of Niagara Falls on the other. Not fancy, so come to this hidden West Side gem for the food. It's excellent.

5461 North Bend Road, Monfort Heights, 513-481-3360. Open 7 days. $7-$14.

Wild Ginger Flavor: This sleek venture from Lemon Grass owner Dao Yee has a full range of Thai, Vietnamese and even some Chinese food, but sushi is the way to go here, with selections like the Spicy Tuna Roll or Spider Roll. A new favorite is the Heema Roll with shrimp tempura, asparagus and avocado, topped with yellowfin tuna and sprinkled with crabmeat and tempura flakes. Order sushi by the boatload -- a Boat for One or a Boat for Two. Other menu selections include curries, Pad Thai and the Seafood Choo Chee with mussels, shrimp, calamari and scallops in a coconut milk curry sauce. Beer and wine are now available.

Flair: Wild Ginger conjures up visions of pungent, spicy Asian cuisine, but the low-key atmosphere, soft colors and bamboo furnishings create an intimate way to enjoy the flavor party in your mouth. As of press time, an expansion is under construction. Look forward to a pair of hibachi grills and a full bar!

3655 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, 513-533-9500. Open 7 days. $9-$15.

BBQ/Ribs
BBQ Revue Flavor: The smell of hickory wood hits your olfactory senses before you even make it in the door. Once inside you'll find all the necessities of a good neighborhood BBQ joint: lots of smoked meat slathered in a sweetish hot sauce with sides like creamy mac and cheese, green beans flavored with pork and cole slaw.

Flair: BBQ should never be served on anything other than paper plates and eaten with plastic forks. Take your cafeteria-style tray to one of the banquet tables in the dining rooms and dig in to the sounds of local news and neighborhood chatter amongst the old Hudepohl, Schoenling and Wiedemann signs.

4725 Madison Road, Madisonville, 513-871-3500. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $3-$17.

City Barbecue Flavor: This regional chain puts out some damn tasty barbeque, including mouth-watering beef brisket and a good and sloppy North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. Don't neglect your sides -- the vinegary greens and crusty hush puppies are stellar. The new Pulled Chicken Sandwich is a yummy addition to the fare.

Flair: Play with your food. City BBQ offers three sauces to mix and match -- a vinegar- and onion-based Carolina sauce, an original tomato-based sauce and mustard sauce.

3804 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-8890 and 7706 Voice of America Centre, West Chester, 513-755-0518. Open 7 days. $6-$19.

Goodie's Barbeque Flavor: Mr. Goodie sure knows his pork butt -- pork pit-smoked slowly 'til the fat has completely dissolved and a crunchy caramelized crust has formed on the outside, resulting in a deep but delicate smoked flavor. For those not tempted by the sauce, there are more standard items like the fish sandwich or fried okra. And we'll eat the chess pie until we're as plump as a tick.

Flair: Complete with neon signs, this down-home restaurant screams good eatin' at reasonable prices. The waitstaff is always friendly, making each trip here feel like eating at home. Winner of "Best Soul Food."

5841 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, 513-542-4663. Open Monday-Saturday. $5-$18.

Jim Dandy's Family BBQ Flavor: Favorites include the baby backs and pulled pork, and according to the owner, "People love the brisket!" The homemade sides are pretty outstanding, too, with red beans and rice and a yummy broccoli cauliflower slaw that's served cold. The homemade sausage is worth a try as well. Jim Dandy's hosts a serious barbecue competition in September where everyone can enter as long as they use charcoal or wood. No propane -- sorry, Hank.

Flair: Counter service with Carhartts and cashmere, side by side. Stop by to "see our pits in action!" or pull up to the drive-in window.

2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville, 513-771-4888. Open 7 days. $5-$20.

Ms. Helen's Grill Flavor: It's worth the wait for some of Ms. Helen's charcoal-grilled, slow-smoked barbecue slathered in her secret-recipe sauce, but you'll even find the side dishes addictive -- especially the crowd-pleasing mac and cheese and the cheesy garlic potatoes.

Flair: Drag a couple of small tables together and park yourself in the middle of the Findlay Market action for a ringside seat at Ms. Helen's, which is sandwiched between The Waffle Man and Luken's Poultry and Seafood Market.

126 Market House, Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-5678. Open Wednesday-Sunday. $3-$10.

Montgomery Inn Flavor: Area residents have enjoyed the signature barbequed ribs for more than 50 years, and we'll probably be enjoying them for another 50. Round out your meal with an order of the Saratoga Chips for the quintessential Montgomery Inn experience. Other menu choices include barbequed chicken or a mixed shrimp and chicken combo as well as non-saucy options such as chicken, steaks and pork chops.

Flair: The nooks and crannies of the original Inn's dining room are filled with sports memorabilia. The bustling servers dressed in black pants, vests and ties will make sure you get the extra napkins and bibs you'll need. Winner of "Best Barbecue."

9440 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-791-3482 and other locations. Open 7 days. $16-$30.

Pit to Plate Flavor: If any place could turn a vegetarian, Pit to Plate would be it. Its authentic Texas-style, hickory-smoked meat is slow-cooked and resonating with tenderness and flavor. Try the pulled pork or beef brisket -- both eye-rolling, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Plates come with a choice of two sides, including candied yams, cinnamon apples, greens and macaroni and cheese. The Rosemary Garlic Tilapia and the Chipotle Pork were recently added to the fare.

Flair: Ambiance is fun fusion kitsch -- Native American-meets-Southwest-meets-Cincinnati. Food is served on picnic ware with paper towels for napkins.

8021 Hamilton Ave., Mount Healthy, 513-931-9100. Open Monday-Saturday. $5-$18.

Walt's Barbeque Flavor: This place is meat-tastic, boasting a menu dominated by ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket all smoked and slow-cooked on-site.

Flair: The all-you-can-eat ribs deal on Tuesdays is worth the fight to secure a seat, which now much easier given Walt's new larger space.

6040 Colerain Ave., White Oak, 513-923-9800. Open 7 days. $10-$19.

Walt's Hitching Post Flavor: Barbecue ribs and Southern skillet-fried chicken are Walt's two signature items, and the home-fried potatoes are the best anywhere on Earth. Another treat is the tomato garlic salad dressing -- so unique and delicious you don't even care that it's over iceberg lettuce. And the rye bread is unlike anything you've ever tasted, drenched in salted butter.

Flair: Walt's feels like a nice restaurant your grandparents would have gone to celebrate a special occasion in 1964. From the white brick smokehouse that fills the parking lot with the smell of burning hickory to the wood-paneled interior, this place is filled with character.

3300 Madison Pike, Covington, 859-331-0494. Open 7 days. $10-$30.

Bistro/Café
Arthur's Flavor: We love the Blackened Bleu, Boursin Cheese or Spicy Black Bean burgers, but Arthur's also offers salads, sandwiches and entrées including Broiled Salmon, Asiago Cheese and Garlic Ravioli and Australian Sea Bass.

Flair: This neighborhood joint attracts an eclectic crowd of suits and blue-collar sorts. It's a great place to meet coworkers and friends after work. In season, the outdoor courtyard in the back is one of our favorite spots. Winner of "Best Outdoor Dining."

3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, 513-871-5543. Open 7 days. $7-$13.

Bronte Bistro Flavor: This casual restaurant is all about guilty pleasures. The smoothies are always tempting and the dessert case is chock full of chocolate temptations and fruity delights. The entrées are a little more involved -- Anjou Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad as well as other light fare -- but who needs food after a hefty slice of chocolate cake?

Flair: Walking into Bronte from the attached Joseph-Beth bookstore, you might start thinking this is just another one of those pretentious cafés. But you'd be wrong. The café is doused in rich, aesthetically pleasing colors that elicit good vibes, complete with large, comfy booths that appeal to quiet conversationalists and book lovers alike.

2692 Madison Road, Norwood, 513-396-8970. Open 7 days. $8-$15.

Caf233 de Paris Flavor: Offers Parisian café food at it's finest, focusing on traditionally French lunch and breakfast selections like Salade Nicoise and Croissant Foure aux Epinards (toasted croissant with spinach and feta).

Flair: Owner Khaled Atallah must be a favorite son of the City of Lights. His hearty "Bonsoir!" rings throughout the cafe, creating a charming, tres chic dining experience.

17 Garfield Place, Downtown, 513-651-1919. Open Monday-Friday. $3-$8.50

Chez T Cuisine Flavor: A brunch that would satisfy Julia Child herself. From ham and brie on a rustic baguette to fluffy omelettes to a flash-grilled Caesar salad, the food is humble while still being a real treat. Crépes printemps with ricotta cheese, lemon curd and warm berry compote would cheer anyone up on a dreary day. Or try the "Chez Tray," a fancy tasting platter of truffled egg salad, curried chicken salad and wheatberry salad with a petite soup du jour and greens.

Flair: From the Jazz to the potted herbs to the fancy French hand soap in the bathroom, everything is "just right."

1004 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, 513-321-2053. Open Monday-Saturday. $2-$12.

Dilly Deli Caf233 Wines and Gourmet Flavor: A surprising array of eclectic choices for a "deli." Does grilled shrimp and asparagus salad sound like a deli dish to you? The crab cakes, salmon filet and salad with grilled shrimp and asparagus are favorites among the regulars.

Flair: To accompany the fab food, you'll fine loads of excellent choices on the Wine Spectator and Beer Advocate award-winning beverage list. Still, this is a low-key neighborhood eatery for Eastsiders that's terrific for outdoor dining. Great wine shop and deli meats and cheeses.

6818 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, 513-561-5233. Open Monday-Saturday. $10-$25.

Greenup Caf233 Flavor: Country cookin,' French style. Breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and dinner featuring seasonal, local ingredients and simple, friendly preparations. Fine tart of ratatouille served with two fried eggs or buttermilk pancakes with Jill's maple butter. Good coffee and lovely assorted pastries all day long.

Flair: The most bohemian of the Jean-Robert Group restaurant, the rehabbed Covington brownstone that was previously home to the Wildflour Bakery. Bright walls with art nouveau décor and a charming garden patio make this cozy little neighborhood place a destination for people from all over the city. The scent of fresh-baked goods drifts seductively throughout the two floors calling you to make a choice between the almond and the chocolate croissants. Or you can have your croissant and eat it too -- just order the chocolate almond croissant and satisfy both urges. Winner of "Best Sunday Brunch."

308 Greenup St., Covington, 859-261-3663. Open 7 days; dinner Tuesday-Saturday. $15-$21.

Jean-Paul's Paradiso Flavor: Sure they offer great soups -- try the creamy roasted portobella mushroom -- pastas, panini, wraps and calzones. But many say they make the best pizzas in town. Find out for yourself: Try the Northern Woods, topped with wild mushrooms sautéed with rosemary and thyme, roasted red peppers and goat cheese.

Flair: Jean-Paul Belmont, a master chef and baker from Switzerland, is building his own little culinary empire around the Clough Pike Market in Mount Washington. The environment might be casual but the attention to detail is impeccable.

6732 Clough Pike, Mount Washington, 513-231-2780. Open Monday-Saturday. $5-$15.

JeanRo Bistro Flavor: This is "homestyle" French done in all its peasant glory from Cincinnati's culinary king, Jean-Robert de Cavel, featuring steak frites, Coq Au Vin and Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, Steamed Mussels and Vichyssoise and velvety, bittersweet Pot de Cr#232;me (the French version of chocolate pudding).

Flair: From the marigold walls with posters, photos and artifacts collected by Jean-Robert throughout his travels, there's no place more French in the city, except perhaps his home kitchen.

413 Vine St., Downtown, 513-621-1465. Open 7 Days. $16-$31.

Kona Bistro Flavor: Offers delicious appetizers and salads but the real gems here are entrées such as the Coconut Crusted Tilapia and the Asian Grilled Tofu stacked on top of fresh greens, with scallion sticky rice cakes. Kona is one of the few restaurants in Cincinnati that smartly honors vegetarians and vegans with as many interesting choices as the meat-eating patrons.

Flair: The first Kona up in Oxford gave Miami students a taste of something different. The Cincinnati arm of the operation opened in 2004 in a clean, trendy niche of Oakley Square. The service aims to please and the casual atmosphere will relax you if their unique wine and beer selection doesn't.

3012 Madison Road, Oakley, 513-842-5662; 31 W. High St., Oxford, 513-523-0686. Open 7 days. $14-$20.

La Cherie Bakery and Bistro Flavor: La Cherie focuses on something its owners felt was missing on the south side of the Ohio River: simple, healthy, home-cooked food. They make all their food from scratch including their French bread and bakery goods like the Cranberry Almond scones. One of our favorite things about the bistro is that breakfast never ends -- we can get quiche Lorraine, French toast with baked apple slices and a side of Glier's goetta, and time we want. Try the new made-from-scratch Blueberry Belgian waffles.

Flair: Service is as charming and personal as the space, which is simple in décor that includes and a larger table in the front window with a crotchet tablecloth, both heirlooms from co-owner Susan Burnett's family.

522 Main St., Covington, 859-261-8889. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $4-$8.

Latitudes Flavor: Tapas with a seafood emphasis in the heart of Milford. Ahi tuna spring rolls, crab cakes, Buffalo-style shrimp and sautéed mussels are all great choices. Or go veggie with portabella mushrooms, grilled and topped with herbed cheese and crabmeat or ravioli stuffed with pumpkin and goat cheese. There's even a miniature bison burger! The dining is light and suited more for active couples than families.

Flair: A great place to enjoy street-side seating on a nice spring night or cozy loft seating on a more intimate occasion. Remember, there's no better date food than tapas.

18 Main St., Milford, 513-831-9888; 7426 Beechmont Ave., 513-233-9888. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $6-$11.

Otto's Flavor: Otto's continues to impress with a small, well-crafted menu that includes a certified black angus filet with blue cheese bacon cream sauce, seared sea scallops atop spinach parmesan risotto with smoked tomato aioli and Chicken Otto with roast fingerling potatoes. Have the tomato pie for lunch.

Flair: Intimate, friendly and delicious. Otto's servers are charming, and there couldn't be a better, more welcoming neighborhood restaurant. There's a small private patio out back or sidewalk dining out front to enjoy when the weather's nice. Summer season brings back Sunday brunch.

521 Main St., Covington, 859-491-6678. Open 7 days. $20-$32

Rock Bottom Flavor: This microbrewery always has fresh ales to quench the beer thirst and a menu to cure any hungry appetite. Some of the most popular specialty dishes include Brown Ale Chicken with shiitake mushrooms, Mahi tacos served with a pineapple slaw and black beans and jambalaya with shrimp, sausage and chicken. Steaks, burgers and lighter salads are also offered.

Flair: Great meeting place for before or after a Reds or Bengals game. Rock Bottom's location also is a great place to take out-of-town guests or just for a night on the town.

10 Fountain Square, Downtown, 513-621-1588. Open 7 days. $10-$16.

Trio Flavor: One of the original upscale/casual restaurants in Cincinnati, Trio features a California-style menu of pizza and pastas, salads, sandwiches and entrées that still turns out consistently good food. From a Niçoise Salad to Thai Chicken or Smoked Salmon Pizza and main courses such as Chilean Sea Bass, Trio's kitchen is always dependable and delicious.

Flair: Usually crowded with dating couples, family celebrations and business meetings or gal pals sipping wine at the bar from the extensive wine menu. Despite its country club vibe and definite swank appeal, Trio is never pretentious and one of our top choices when we need "something for everyone."

7565 Kenwood Road, Kenwood, 513-984-1905. Open 7 days. $20-$30.

White House Inn Flavor: Serving what it calls "heartland cooking," the White House Inn offers a range of salads, sandwiches and main entrées that include Filet Mignon, Fried Chicken, Grilled Porkopolis Chops and Calf's Liver. Among the house specialties is a strip steak bathed in Jack Daniels sauce.

Flair: A relic of the West Chester of yesteryear, the White House Inn sits on six acres of former farmland, wedged in among myriad housing developments and warehouses that have blossomed in the past few years. It's big inside, with seven separate dining rooms.

4940 Mulhauser Road, West Chester, 513-860-1110. Open 7 days. $18-$30.

York Street Caf233 Flavor: This local favorite offers a lunch and dinner menu specializing in entrees like fresh halibut, smoked salmon and burgers. Try the popular Mediterranean Board, a sampling of hummus, tabouleh, baba ghanouj, Greek salad, spanikopita and pita that's perfect for sharing. Homemade desserts top off an always original and interesting meal at York Street.

Flair: Built as a pharmacy in 1880, the café is decorated in an eclectic, comfortable style, with original shelving and woodwork lining the walls. Original art shares space with quirky kitsch such as collections of dentures and Pez containers. Winner of "Best First Date Restaurant."

738 York St., Newport, 859-261-9675. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $8-$25.

Zebo's Bistro Flavor: As a general rule we never sleep in restaurants or eat in hotels, but Zebo's is a surprisingly tasty exception to humdrum rule of most hotel cafés. Their dinner selections are paired with wine suggestions, and there are fresh fish entrées like Seabass along with signature items such as duck breast stuffed with boursin cheese and marinated in a bourbon glaze.

Flair: This Marriott overall is a cut above with an exceptionally amiable staff throughout. Zebo's has a great river view of the downtown skyline and the servers are very accommodating.

10 W. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington, 859-392-3750. Open 7 days. $15-$35.

Breakfast/Lunch
Blue Jay Flavor: For some great-tasting, greasy-spoon, eggs-and-bacon type of breakfast, there's no place better. Hearty portions of eggs, home fries and goetta are regularly fried on the grill, and meals like cheese coneys, cheeseburgers or ham and cheese sandwiches hit the spot when breakfast won't. If you're in the mood for a light snack, order a homemade pie to go.

Flair: Danny and Kathryn Petropoulos opened this tiny Northside restaurant in 1967, and the couple still spends their days cooking and baking for customers. Regulars drift in and out throughout the day, and the waitresses love to chat with newcomers.

4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-0847. Open Monday-Saturday. $3-$7. First Watch Flavor: This "daytime café" offers breakfast, brunch and lunch items that range from healthy to hearty. With multiple locations in the area, there is sure to be one close to you. The breakfast options include a Killer Cajun Omelette, stuffed with chicken breast, mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese and onions. At lunchtime, try a burger, any of their specialty sandwiches or salads.

Flair: Great place for morning breakfast meetings, as it's a corporate reworking of a neighborhood diner. Coffee flows readily from large tureens to help jumpstart the brain. Great for family dining on the weekends. Winner of "Best Breakfast."

Multiple Locations. Open 7 days. $3-$7.

Martha Jeanne's Eatery Flavor: Simple, homemade food without frills, flavored with affection. Traditional breakfast with biscuits and gravy, eggs and hash browns, pancakes and French toast. For lunch, soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as a blue-plate special. The desserts are homemade, too, and half-portions are available. Perfect -- a sliver of pie is just what we wanted!

Flair: Clean and cozy with bright vinyl tablecloths, unmatched chairs and the unbreakable Corel plates our grandma used to have. There are no strangers here.

511 Fairfield Drive, Bellevue, 859-491-9258. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $3-$8.

Mokka Flavor: It just keeps getting better at this creative breakfast and lunch spot. Join them for Wrap It Up Fridays with $5 wraps. The breakfast item that's on everyone's lips is Mokka's French toast battered with corn flakes and topped with cr#232;me brulee pastry cream and bananas. We bet you can't eat the whole thing.

Flair: Mokka is working on un-fine-dining its new space. It isn't as quaint as the old one, but there's plenty of room and great booths. And it enthusiastic staff and prices can't be beat. Nothing on the menu is over $7 and everything shows effort.

518 E. Fifth St., Newport, 859-581-3700. Open 7 days. $2-$7.

Original Pancake House Flavor: A morning person's dream, offering everything from strawberry waffles to vegetarian omelettes. Regulars are hooked on the skillet-sized Dutch Baby Pancake (a bowl-shaped confection served with whipped butter, powdered sugar and lemon) and the Apple Pancake (an oven-baked specialty made with Granny Smith apples and a cinnamon glaze).

Flair: This family-style breakfast house has a loyal customer base and is always hopping, so there might be a wait, especially on weekends.

9977 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-745-0555. Open 7 days. $4-$9.

Paula's Caf233 Flavor: Offering hot and cold sandwiches, oversized salads and filling homemade soups, Paula's is more than a café -- it's an institution. The food here never fails to satisfy; just try the Cuban Sandwich: roast pork loin, ham and melted Swiss cheese pressed between slices of dense, fresh Shadeau Bakery bread to see just how good a sandwich can be.

Flair: This year, a bustling new downtown storefront joined its older sibling, still located in the heart of Findlay Market. At either spot, grab something on the run or hunker down for a well-deserved break from work or shopping.

41 E. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-381-3354. Open Monday-Friday. $4-$8.

Sugar 'N Spice Flavor: Mmm, real hash browns, plump omelettes, wispy thin blueberry pancakes with the tang of buttermilk, custard-y scrambled eggs and bottomless cups of coffee. Sugar 'N Spice is known for good breakfast comfort food served all day, but try some of their daily lunch specials like the Alotta Bull (1/2-pound roast beef sandwich) or the Red 'n Yeller (grilled cheese with tomato).

Flair: Not much, and that's why we like it. Weekend mornings are a guaranteed wait for breakfast, but otherwise it's a no-nonsense, elbows-on-the-counter environment.

4381 Reading Road, Bond Hill, 513-242-3521. Open 7 Days. $3-$7.

British/Celtic
Claddagh Irish Pub Flavor: Enjoy traditional fish and chips beer battered with Bass Ale, Shepherd's Pie, corned beef and cabbage and Irish Beef and Guinness Stew.

Flair: We're tempted to break out the chain-mail outfit and call each other "wench" when hanging out in Claddagh's castle-like bar and dining rooms, but there's nothing like the outside dining area with the beautiful view of the downtown skyline to take the bite out of our blarney.

Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-581-8888; 5075 Deerfield Blvd., Deerfield Twp., 513-770-0999. Open 7 days. $9-$20.

Cock 'N Bull Flavor: Serving "traditional" fish and chips -- well, without the mushy peas anyway -- a Reuben sandwich in a nod to Mainstrasse's German theme and the Famous Jim Beam steak to embrace Kentucky's famous bourbon tradition.

Flair: Especially lovely outdoors with a ringside seat on the liveliest corner in Covington.

601 Main St., Covington, 859-581-4253. Open 7 days. $7-$18.

The Crooked Nail Pub Flavor: The menu is a combination of affordable English pub fare and bar food with sandwiches, including the pub's self-proclaimed Famous Fish Sandwich and an open-faced corned beef reuben. Try the unusual but delicious deep-fried pickles at least once just to say you've eaten a deep-fried pickle.

Flair: Typical pub décor with wood paneling, Guinness beer advertisements and British flags provides a comfortable, familiar feel.

9303 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (Route 42), West Chester, 513-755-7800. Open Monday-Saturday. $10-$20.

Molly Malone's Irish Pub Flavor: Irish dishes, like the popular fish and chips, Shepherd's Pie and variations on a boxty theme: traditional beef and some twists, including chicken tikka and Seamus Ramirez's jalapeno version. There's also a filet, Sugar and Spice Salmon, Salmon and Cod Salad, Bow Tie Chicken Pasta and meatloaf. Wash your meal down with one of the many English or Irish ales.

Flair: The pub's cozy interior is a great neighborhood gathering place. Live music in the bar on Friday and Saturday nights, quieter in any of the three dining rooms.

6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, 513-531-0700. Open 7 days. $8-$16.

Nicholson's Flavor: There's nothing like a warm, comforting dish of Shepherd's Pie served with a good malty ale next to a warm, cozy fire. Well, except for winning the freakin' lottery, but what are the odds? So we suggest heading downtown to Nicholson's for a sure thing. The wood-grilled salmon is a best-seller, but the Osso Bucco is awfully good, too. Fresh seafood is market price. There are lunch and dinner specials daily.

Flair: The great mahogany bar -- which offers 90 single-malt scotches -- is the centerpiece, but even the urinals were made in Scotland! Now that's attention to detail.

625 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-564-9111. Open 7 days. $10-$33.

Burgers
City View Tavern Flavor: Still the best view and some of the tastiest burgers in town, and the prices are from back in the day when Mount Adams was known as a "bohemian" neighborhood with just regular folks. Try City View's Bloody Mary -- it repeatedly wins awards as the city's finest and hairiest. Stella Artois is among the beers newly added available at the bar.

Flair: Laid back and genuine, City View has managed to rise above the hype and stay real for generations. Good jukebox, cold beer, friendly folks. One note of caution: Unattended children of any age will be dismissed from the premises.

403 Oregon St., Mount Adams, 513-241-8439. Open 7 days. $3-$7.

Ollie's Trolley Flavor: Mr. Ollie's cooking is mighty good. Cole slaw aficionados swear he has the secret, and what they say about that deep-fried turkey is true -- it's not greasy, quite moist and a helluva lot easier to buy than make.

Flair: Now in two locations for your Ollie Burger pleasure. Limited seating, so grab some and go. You didn't want anyone to watch you munching that turkey drumstick anyway!

1607 Central Ave., West End, 513-381-6100. Open Monday-Saturday. $3-$45 (for whole turkeys).

Quatman's Caf233 Flavor: Known for its burgers, which are a 1/2-pound of grilled beef served with a fat slice of onion and pickle. Additional dinner or lunch options include its famous mock turtle soup, cheeseburgers, ham and cheese, roast beef, corned beef and turkey sandwiches and fish on Fridays. The chicken and ham salads are top notch.

Flair: An authentic Norwood experience if you're looking for one -- and who isn't? Filled with regulars and characters of all makes, Quatman's is a burp from the '50s with neon beer signs, checkered tablecloths and paper plates.

2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood, 513-731-4370. Open Monday-Saturday. $5-$10.

Zip's Caf233 Flavor: Zip's equals cheeseburgers. OK, now you get it. The meat is ground locally at Avril's on Court Street. The buns are baked locally at Klosterman's. Sure, there's a black bean burger, a turkey burger and even a tuna sandwich on the menu, but would you go to the Sistine Chapel and look at the floor? Eat the cheeseburger. The Girth Burger, a beef patty with a mett on top is sure to burst the seams of your pants.

Flair: There's a toy train running along the tracks, and patrons packed in like sardines. There's beer, and there are Zip Burgers. You're in the right place. Go wild and have the onion rings. Winner of "Best Burgers."

1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, 513-871-9876. Open 7 days. $4-$8.

Cajun
Dee Felice Flavor: New Orleans-style right in Covington with a Portabella Etouffée for that rarest of dining species, a Cajun vegetarian. Blackened steaks and seafood, not too spicy despite the menu warning, and nightly specials.

Flair: Jazz rules here, with excellent live music Wednesday through Sunday complementing the crisp linens and shiny brass rails. Mainstrasse's most upscale eatery now allows smoking only at the bar, which, is one more spot than you can smoke on this side of the river.

529 Main St., Covington, 859-261-2365. Open daily (dinner); half-price wine and appetizers Mondays; Sunday Brunch. $15-$30 (more for market-priced entrées).

Knotty Pine on the Bayou Flavor: Gulf Coast seafood, done Cajun style, or just the way you like it. Knotty Pine mixes its own seasonings, and it's been a recipe for success. Farm-raised oysters all year around. You've got to try the Karma Cake, an opera cream cake baked from an old family recipe by the owner's sister -- whose name is Karma!

Flair: Funky, comfortable, home cooking at the restaurant with the crooked floor. Crawfish boil every Thursday, and half-priced wine on Wednesdays by the bottle or by the glass. Live music during Mardi Gras.

1802 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, Ky., 859-781-2200. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $13-$26.

Casual
Allyn's Flavor: Best known for their Cajun menu items such as Blackened Gator, Jambalaya and Blackened New York Strip, but they also offer Tex-Mex Enchiladas, Burritos, Fajitas and Chimichangas as well as pasta dishes like the Lobster Ravioli Alfredo and Mardi Gras Pasta.

Flair: Great neighborhood hangout. The restaurant has a casual and lively bar/café atmosphere, especially on Sunday nights when the band cranks up. Check out the specialty shop where you can find local music CDs and a kick-ass wine selection at reasonable prices.

3538 Columbia Pkwy., Columbia-Tusculum, 513-871-5779. Open 7 days. $6-$25.

Arnold's Bar and Grill Flavor: Arnold's serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options at bargain prices, including a lunch menu (weekly specials) with sandwiches, burgers, bratwurst, grilled polenta, dinner specials, salads, meats and pasta.

Flair: The oldest continually operated bar in town -- Cincinnatians have been polishing the bar with their elbows here since 1861. There are authentic signs and antiques everywhere that create a real sense of history. Live music on weekends, and a courtyard for outdoor dining. Winner of "Best Restaurant with Live Music."

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-421-6234. Open Monday-Saturday. $8-$22.

Avari Bistro & Deli Flavor: If you've ever lived in Manhattan, you owe it to yourself to come to Avari for a kosher meal that will bring back such memories as homemade matzoh ball soup, chicken shwarma, corned beef and brisket. If you're not a fan of Jewish food, then try the Pasta Pomodoro and Buffalo Chicken Tenders.

Flair: Move beyond the deli case and chalkboard that greet you at the entrance and you'll find a clean, contemporary space where one family might be saying grace to start their meal while another is bensching after finishing theirs. But everyone's welcome!

4858 Hunt Road, Blue Ash, 513-984-9804. Open Sunday-Thursday, Friday daytime. $8-$22.

Behle Street Caf233 Flavor: Homey and delicious shouldn't be taken for granted. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans can be heavenly, especially when followed by Otis's beautiful homemade bread pudding. Behle Street consistently delivers a straightforward menu. The crab cakes are quite good, too.

Flair: When the weather is nice, the patio is open at Behle Street, and it's the perfect vantage point from which to view Daniel Libeskind's Ascent while you enjoy a sirloin burger or a Greek salad.

50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Covington. 859-291-4100. Open 7 days. $14-$28.

Blue Ash Chili Flavor: Cincinnati chili, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: three, four and five. This fine independent chili parlor, established in 1969, offers coneys for the kiddies and hearty double-decker sandwiches for big appetites. Meatloaf and ribeye steaks are alternative menu options.

Flair: Black-and-white checkered floors, single- and double-seater booths and plenty of friendly regulars.

9565 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, 513-984-6107. Open Monday-Saturday. $3.25-$8.

Camp Washington Chili Flavor: John Johnson, the patriarch of Camp Washington Chili, won't divulge the ingredients in his secret spice mix, but he will say that the secret to his success is that he doesn't use any imitation ingredients. Unlike many of the chili chains, Johnson never freezes the meat he uses, which he's been buying from the local slaughterhouses since he started his business. He also uses fresh onions, fresh garlic and Wisconsin cheddar cheese. Enjoy a bowl of cream of broccoli or chicken noodle soup to complement your meal.

Flair: The retro-style dining room is open 24 hours a day, and the customers are as varied as the different ways they order their chili. Winner of "Best Chili (Non-Chain)."

Hopple and Colerain streets, Camp Washington, 513-541-0061. Open Monday-Saturday. $5-$8.

The Comet Flavor: If it's burritos you crave, look no further. The Comet is sure to have just what you need. Their extensive burrito menu includes favorites like the Black & Tan (pinto and black beans, Monterey jack cheese, rice and salsa) and the Marinated Jerked Tofu. Or try a basket of chips with a trio of their homemade salsas.

Flair: Who else offers the eclectic combination of weekly live music, including the Comet Bluegrass Allstars, weekly karaoke, over 100 beer choices, pool tables and one of the best jukeboxes in town with lots of local picks?

4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-8900. Open 7 days. $4-$9.

Courtyard Caf233 on Main Flavor: Serves a step above ordinary bar food, offering stuffed mushrooms, burritos, double-decker sandwiches, soups and our favorite, the cole slaw.

Flair: A lunch destination for area workers, it's also a great place to hang out, eat some grub and drink some beers. As its name suggests, this place is all about the courtyard. At night, with the fire pit going in the two-level courtyard, this place can be a cozy hangout. It's more low-key than the rest of its Main Street bar brethren.

1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-723-1119. Open Monday-Saturday. $6-$12.

Currito Flavor: Formerly Boloco, Currito serves up "inspired burritos" that draw on culinary influences from around the world. Offerings range from to Cajun to Mediterranean to Bangkok as well as salads, chips and salsa and fruit smoothies. Snackers -- their own twist on quesadillas -- come with cheese and chicken, steak or even tofu.

Flair: Tired of wrestling with burritos as big as your head? Currito is a smaller alternative with a sizeable selection. The restaurant also offers healthier choices like brown rice instead of white for burrito fillings as well as organic tofu.

222 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-281-1500. Open 7 days. $6-$10.

Essencha Tea House Flavor: Light sandwiches, homemade soups and crepes are all here to complement the main attraction: precision-infused teas from around the world. Try an "ultra-premium grade" selection like Organic Jasmine Pearls, which slowly blossom in your glass teapot while releasing their floral essence.

Flair: Essencha isn't your Aunt Millie's tea parlor, with doilies and Victorian floral wallpaper. Rather, the small, tranquil space in the heart of Oakley's bustling town center tends toward minimalist, Zen-like décor.

3212 Madison Road, Oakley, 513-533-4832. Open 7 days. $3-$13.

Grandview Tavern & Grille Flavor: You'll have a hard time finding a better cheeseburger, and the sweet potato fries are definitely the best in town. Excellent salad topped with ahi tuna, medium rare. For dinner, try pan-seared salmon -- it's perfectly cooked. Offers a Sunday brunch buffet with eggs benedict, omelettes and a carving station.

Flair: A welcome addition to the neighborhood dining scene in Fort Mitchell, Grandview has fast become a favorite. The outdoor tables are the first to fill at lunch on nice spring days, but inside by the fire is perfect on any winter evening.

2220 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, 859-341-8439. Open 7 days. $9-$29.

Greyhound Tavern Flavor: The Greyhound's onion rings are, to an onion lover, what donuts are to Homer Simpson. The fried cod sandwich is stupendous, and Kentuckians would go a long way to find a better Hot Brown. Traditional Sunday brunch -- don't miss the sausage and egg casserole or the homemade biscuits.

Flair: The Fort Mitchell Greyhound will soon be joined by a second location at the site of the old Tousey House in Burlington, opening in June. The menu will be similar but there will be more outdoor seating available.

2500 Dixie Hwy., Fort Mitchell, 859-331-3767. Open 7 days. $15-$25.

Habits Caf233 Flavor: The large menu includes appetizers, sandwiches and entrées with everything from meatloaf to the popular Ostrich Burger. Still a favorite are the Potato Rags (deep-fried hash browns served with onion, bacon, cheese, tomato and ranch dressing) -- they might not sound too healthy, but they're sure tasty.

Flair: Right in the heart of Oakley Square, this is a classic neighborhood hangout with a diverse clientele and some hoppin' live music. The bar room is full of brewery advertising and inexpensive (but matching) furniture. There's a separate room with upholstered booths for a less pub-ish dining experience.

3036 Madison Road, Oakley, 513-631-8367. Open 7 days. $7-$17.

The Hideaway Food: Your meal here is likely to be casual, comfortable and a lot of fun. The kitchen serves up a broad range of tasty dishes -- vegetarian tamale pie served with dirty rice and salsa; catfish or tilapia with sautéed hominy and cornbread; homemade meatloaf; a flank steak and sharp provolone sandwich; and the new "tarted up" grilled cheese with roasted garlic and basil on ciabatta.

Flair: Located on a stretch of Northside's Hamilton Avenue, The Hideaway serves its homey dine-in fare amongst hipster garage-sale leftovers -- framed string art, velvet Elvises, and lots of Virgin Mary candles. Its kitschy, retro vibe and funky, earnest soundtrack might make you feel like you've gone back in time when you hid out in your best friend's basement playing Jim Morrison and Todd Rundgren.

4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-542-2444. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $12.95-$21.95.

Mammoth Caf233 Flavor: Same great coffee, but the menu features burritos and wraps like the Van Eatin' Burrito filled with hummus, guacamole, tofu, salsa and all good veggie things. Vegetarian breakfasts are offered all day. Breakfast and lunch items are baked in-house daily. And desserts from The Bonbonerie!

Flair: Great open space with a retro flair to the furnishings. Hip and friendly, there's a good mix of patrons enjoying their cappuccinos and reading from the great selection of reading material, from British fashion mags to CityBeat.

515 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-291-8875. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $6-$7.

Maribelle Tavern Flavor: Standards, like build-your-own burgers, but lots of surprises, too, like a "Grown-Up Grilled Cheese" with goat cheese and caramelized onions or Sweet Potato-Crusted Tilapia with a rum butter sauce. Sides include "Asian slaw" with bacon, mac 'n cheese, roasted sweet potatoes and spicy tavern fries. Everything on the all-day menu is made in-house, including desserts.

Flair: Restoration Hardware decor and a friendly staff in the heart of the "new" East End. Patio dining is coming soon. And picky eaters are welcome: The kitchen will make any substitutions you request.

2062 Eastern Avenue, East End, 513-861-2484. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $4-$14.

Mount Adams Bar & Grill Flavor: More grub than pub, this Bar & Grill offers a full menu of sandwiches, salads and entrées. Favorites include the grilled tuna steak and grilled salmon sandwiches as well as the fabulous burgers.

Flair: Popular with everyone from daytime lunchers to pre-Playhouse crowds, this is a beautiful old turn-of-the-century building with tile floors and a gorgeous bar. The long porch is a cozy spot in the summer for a breezy, late-night bite.

938 Hatch St., Mount Adams, 513-621-3666. Open 7 days. $4-$15.

Mount Adams Pavilion Flavor: Simple, delicious entrées that are several steps above typical bar fare. Unique quesadillas and the Fried Chicken Salad are house favorites. The bar is open year-round, though the new menu comes out with the spring sun.

Flair: You'll feel beautiful here. The bright colors, oversize murals of abstract art, the decks with the city view and the music played by the house DJ are all larger than life and craft a never-ending party.

949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-744-9200. Open 7 days. $6-$12.

O'Bryon's Irish Pub Flavor: Along with the usual bar food staples, O'Bryon's has more out-of-the-ordinary lunch specials such as Pulled Pork Barbecue and Meatloaf. Popular dinner items include the beer-battered cod sandwich, quesadillas and wings.

Flair: Located in the heart of the O'Bryonville business district, the pub is a spacious joint with tables with comfy chairs, a bar for those going solo and additional seating at a bar upstairs. It also has a great rooftop patio.

1998 Madison Road, O'Bryonville, 513-321-5525. Open 7 days. $8-$12.

Olives Flavor: Had a bad morning? Olives' chicken potpie is the perfect comfort food at lunch. For dinner, try meatball Bolognese linguine, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, fresh seafood or salad.

Flair: Olives "strives to serve good quality food at reasonable prices," and they do a good job of that. A great place for dinner before a movie at The Esquire or a UC event.

342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton 513-221-4200. Open 7 days. $8-$21.

Porkopolis Flavor: Owner Nick Longo, head guy at Nick's Chops and Chasers, offers a menu created around his signature boneless pork chops and BBQ ribs. Pork chop options range from blackened to ranch and Normandy styles, but tried-and-true flavor combinations like pork and sauerkraut are the menu stars.

Flair: The grill's location in the former Rookwood Pottery building gives you a full swig of Cincinnati history complete with seating in the actual kiln, photos of beefy Germanic potters and a display case of the famous ware.

1077 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 513-721-5456. Open 7 days. $11-$30.

The Pub at Crestview Hills Flavor: Once upon a time, the sun never set on the British empire -- so the pub calls all the world's food British, including cheeseburgers, chicken wings and ahi tuna satay. Whatever. Still, there are bangers and mash! And in spite of the dubious links to the peerage, it's good, well prepared bar food. Happy hour is 3-7 p.m. and 9 p.m. until close weekdays.

Flair: Fun, casual atmosphere in the popular Crestview Hills mall, the Pub gets a good young professional crowd. Great selection of beers and ales imported from Scotland, England, Belgium and Ireland.

2853 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills, 859-426-7827. Open 7 days. $8-$26.

Schoolhouse Restaurant Flavor: While it's not the peanut butter sandwiches and Twinkies mom packed your Ninja Turtle lunchbox with, it is comfort food only a mother could make. Fried chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn fritters, roast beef, cobblers, ice cream sundaes, cakes and pies -- all written in perfect cursive on the chalkboard and served by clones of our elementary school lunch lady.

Flair: A Civil War-era schoolhouse (and the first two-story school building in the Midwest), it fills with area families.

8031 Glendale-Milford Road, Camp Dennison, 513-831-5753. Open Thursday-Sunday. $11-$17.

Sully's Flavor: A vast menu of pub grub, including some nods in the Celtic direction with fish and chips, Guinness-enhanced Shepherd's pie and corned beef with boiled red potatoes, cabbage and mustard sauce, just like Mother McGee used to make.

Flair: This large, upscale sports bar has become a home base for Reds and Bengals fans. With 18 big-screen TVs and themed events like toga and keg parties, Sully's is party central.

700 Race St., Downtown, 513-381-4302. Open 7 days. $12-$20.

Universal Grille Flavor: How do you like your burger? Rare, medium, absolutely fabulous? This gay- and straight-friendly burger joint has undergone recent menu changes, but the burgers are still incredible. Recently reintroduced a lunch menu after being dinner-only for a while.

Flair: Clientele is truly a melting pot, with a daytime business crowd giving way to an animated party crowd. Thursday nights offers fun, flamboyant karaoke.

911 Vine St., Downtown, 513-381-6279. Open 7 days. $8-$25.

Coffeehouses
Brutopia Flavor: Features an Italian-style espresso bar where employees hand-build all the drinks. A small daily menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and baked goods as well as inventive smoothies all with fresh ingredients like the More Amore with strawberries, banana, organic dark chocolate and cream and the Red Riding Hood with strawberries, blueberries, organic vanilla yogurt and honey.

Flair: Owned by a co-op, Brutopia serves up locally roasted fair-trade coffee, which helps ensure basic human rights protections and fair payment to small coffee farmers around the globe. They also feature fair-trade tea, sugar and chocolate. Along with doing your part in making the world a better place, you get the hottest cup of coffee on Earth.

276 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4278. Open 7 days. $5-$7.

BuZZthru Espresso Bar Flavor: An eclectic and cluttered coffeehouse in the heart of Loveland with a great selection of coffee, pastries and muffins, a diverse clientele, a few comfy chairs and an overstocked bookshelf. Perfect!

Flair: If you're in a hurry, use BuZZthru's drive-thru window and you don't even have to get out of your car.

807 Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland. 513-677-2555. Open 7 days. Nothing over $5.

Coffee Emporium Flavor: Spend your time creating the perfect drink -- pick the type of bean, choose between caffeinated/decaffeinated, add a syrup addition or choose a flavor. The emphasis is on the coffee, but some food is offered, including soup from Myra's.

Flair: Walking into this roasting company, take a minute to breathe in the intense, hypnotic coffee scent. The modern downtown store is awash with coffee and tea smells. Scattered seats around the store are available for sitting and chatting, and a bar by the large windows offers refuge for the solo diners. The Hyde Park location is a diminutive Victorian with a quaint wisteria-covered arbor.

110 E. Central Pkwy., Downtown, 513-651-5483. Open Monday-Saturday; 3316 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-5943. Open 7 days. $2-$7.

Kaldi's Flavor: Kaldi's is crazy with $4 burger mania on Tuesday nights this summer, and old favorites like the hummus appetizer and a gingery curried chicken salad sandwich. Sunday brunch features a Mediterranean omelet with olives, feta, roasted red peppers and artichokes.

Flair: A neighborhood anchor, Kaldi's is the gathering place for artists, musicians, neighborhood folk and business people. The restaurant continues to offer a space for artists to show their works and musicians to play under the watchful eye of the illustrious goat head. Live music on Fridays. 1202 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-241-3070. Open 7 days. $3-$8.

Rohs Street Caf233 Flavor: In the mood for a perfectly prepared espresso or cappuccino? Then head down to Rohs Street Café, which features fair-trade, organic coffee from a local micro-roaster, assuring a high quality brew every time. Home-baked muffins and scones are available along with a soup of the day.

Flair: The large, open space serves as more than a café -- it's a bookstore, an art gallery, a venue for musical performances by great local acts and a place for neighborhood groups to get organized. So stop in, hang out and, if you want to, see how you can help make a difference!

245 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-328-7647. Open Monday-Saturday. $1.50-$4.25.

Sidewinder Coffee and Tea Flavor: The café offers a small collection of yummy items like vegan and non-vegan baked goods, soup, the turkey and Swiss breakfast burrito (get there earlier, they sell out fast) and mac and cheese, as well as locally roasted fair-trade and organic coffees, espresso drinks and a large selection of blended and loose-leaf teas not found anywhere else. If you're hungry, try some of their tasty treats like vegan baked goods.

Flair: When you're ready to come over to the hip side, start in Sidewinder's funky inside or courtyard. There's acoustic music 1-3:30 p.m. Sundays; 7-9:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and semi-regular open mics and poetry slams. Check out the latest art exhibit, hook up your WiFi and answer your e-mail, then, fortified on the elixir of life (espresso), go forth and explore Northside.

4181 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-542-8321. Open 7 days. $1.25-$5.

Sitwell's Flavor: Enjoy a wide range of coffee and alcoholic drinks or try a bowl of homemade soup. Treat yourself to an enormous shake (worth every bit of $5) or stick to their award-winning salads. The New York Egg Sandwich is the single most popular item on the menu. Try one on a Sunday morning with the sun angling in through the windows, and you'll know why. Delicious.

Flair: You can nurse a bottomless cup of coffee all day for $3. Check the schedule: They regularly play host to a local Celtic music group, an enthusiastic puppet troupe and other entertainers.

324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7487. Open 7 days. $10-$25.

Eastern European
Iron Skillet Flavor: Goulash is most definitely the flavor here, with five different types from which to choose on the lunch menu alone. Other favorites include stuffed cabbage, sauerbraten and chicken paprikash. As the self-proclaimed home of the "Best Schnitzels in Town," it is your solemn duty to try one of the 10 different kinds available. The hot slaw is a delicious surprise, both sweet and pleasantly sour at the same time. For the less adventurous, there are plenty of steak and sandwich options.

Flair: Lots to enjoy in this spacious and airy dining room.

6900 Valley Lane, Newtown, 513-561-6776. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $9-$22.

Roberto's Flavor: An ambitious and surprising menu with dishes from Russian and Eastern European to Mediterranean, Latin American and Caribbean. For appetizers, try the empanadas or the patacones, flattened and battered disc-shaped patties of seasoned plantain. The paella is delicious and flavorful, a heaped and generous order of slow-cooked rice filled with roasted red peppers, pork, chicken, spicy pieces of chorizo sausage, shrimp and clams served in their shells.

Flair: When you've had enough of the Subway and McDonald's franchises that dominate Loveland, Roberto's is a great spot for a paella and a glass of wine.

784 Loveland-Miami Road, Loveland, 513-683-9882. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $12-$29.

French
Jean Robert at Pigalls Flavor: French, fresh and (whenever possible) local. In summer, "the menu changes every time a farmer shows up at the back door." But when those humble ingredients arrive in the dining room, they've been transformed into four-star haute cuisine.

Flair: This is the gem in the Queen City's crown, but having said that, understand that perfect is not stuffy. Pigall's is fine dining for today, and while polished service is the rule, jackets and ties are required only for the maitre d', not the guests. The four-course celebration menu is surprisingly affordable at $40; wine pairings are $20 more. You owe it to yourself to go. Winner of "Best Overall Restauran" (tied with Boca).

127 W. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-721-1345. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Three-course prix fixe: $74; five-course prix fixe: $97.

Lavomatic Flavor: Chef Joanne Drilling describes the food as rustic, full-flavored French fare, and they use local ingredients as much as possible: the buffalo, rabbit and chicken are all farmed locally and the dessert menu includes Madisono's gelato and sorbets. Enjoy appetizers such as the Charcuterie with cured meats, meat mousse, pate and homemade pickled vegetable, Snail Skewers with Provencal vegetables or the Tarte Flambé.

Flair: How do you make dirty laundry hip and trendy? One way would be to sell it on eBay, but the Jean-Robert de Cavel family found a tastier approach with its latest venture -- a new wine bar and restaurant. The restaurant is a unique blend of the good things from our past and future. Housed in what was most likely a neighborhood Laundromat, the space also embraces an environmentally sound future in its design which features bamboo floors and tables, a bar made of cork and table bases that are recycled from Grammer's.

1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-621-1999. Open 7 days. $8-$18

Twist Flavor: Food is served from the Petite Bite Menu, where playful, fanciful food is as fun as it is sophisticated. Every dish is designed for sharing. The Twist French Castle is a bleu cheese stuffed meatball "slider." The Smoked Salmon Two Way is a sliver of smoked salmon on toast, topped with a swirl of salmon mousse and garnished with a quarter of a hard-boiled quail's egg.

Flair: Twist is Fourth Street's answer to big-city style with wine and nibbles in a setting worthy of Sex and the City. Beautiful room, beautiful people, beautiful food. Great jumping off point for dinner at Pigall's or an evening of its own.

129 W. Fourth St., Downtown 513-721-1345 Open 7 days. $6-$9.

German
Christy's/Lenhardt's Flavor: Appetizers are more Buffalo Wild Wings than Budapest, but entrées are very traditional Hungarian-German, heavy on the meat and the paprika. Try the Hungarian Goulash, Chicken Paprikasch or Sauerbraten along with spaetzle (small but filling stringy-looking dumplings) or an enormous fried potato pancake.

Flair: Still family-owned after three generations, Christy's/Lenhardt's is a piece of Cincinnati history. Housed in the once-regal surroundings of the former Moerlein mansion, it provides a glimpse into the area's storied German past. Service is welcoming and friendly, and there's bocce ball in the summer.

151 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-281-3600. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $8-$12.

Hofbráuhaus Flavor: Take it from someone who grew up thinking sauerkraut was one of the four food groups -- this is the real deal. Order the Schweinsbraten mit Kruste; after all, who doesn't love roast pork loin? Sauerbraten is their most popular dish, and they have a wurst for every occasion.

Flair: Genuine German beer hall mit der gusto. You can stand on your chair and yell "More beer!" over and over and not get thrown out. And if you start singing "Edelweiss" after your third Munich Weizen, you're not the first. Winner of "Best German." Don't miss the traditional German house band, playing every day after 1 p.m. Oompah!

200 E. Third St., Newport, 859-491-7200. Open 7 days. $10-$25.

Mecklenburg Gardens Flavor: Zinzinnati's German heritage lives on at Mecklenburg's -- their schnitzel is second to none. With a good selection of traditional German classics and Chef Brett Crowe's innovations like pan-seared lake perch or roasted lamb over creamy northern beans, alles gut!

Flair: Mecklenburg Gardens is a Cincinnati landmark dating back to 1865 that owner Tom Harten rescued from abandonment in 1996. Now, as Tom says, they're "alive and well after 141 years." There's live music most Friday and Saturday nights featuring bluesy sounds and traditional German tunes.

302 E. University Ave., Corryville, 513-221-5353. Open Monday-Saturday. $18-$22.

Homestyle
Anchor Grill Flavor: Get your goetta groove on here, as the traditional goetta and eggs breakfast is served 24/7; go wild and try a GLT. You only live once! The Anchor Burger is another big seller, as is the buttery grilled yellow cheese on Wonder Bread, the way God meant us to eat it.

Flair: We've dived and gone to heaven at the Anchor Grill. The third shift rules here -- a late-night paradise with "live" entertainment from the miniature electronic band featuring Barbie and Ken. Servers are "waddya-havin'-hon'" efficient, and the parade of nocturnal characters is better than any reality television show.

438 Pike St., Covington, 859-431-9498. Open 24/7. $4-$12.

The Echo Flavor: A favorite since 1945 with Eastsiders, The Echo is a no-frills diner serving Midwest classic homestyle favorites from meatloaf to grilled cheese and eggs, goetta and home fries to chef's salads and fish sandwiches. The breaded cod and beef and cheese loaf are some new fare.

Flair: None really, not even any wisecracking, surly waitresses. Just a straightforward, family-friendly, relaxed neighborhood gathering place -- like eating in your great aunt's kitchen without having to help her wash the dishes.

3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, 513-321-2816. Open 7 days. $7-$17.

Hathaways Flavor: The old-fashioned flavors of the soda counter, including the best darn chocolate shakes in town, classic cheeseburgers or Hathaway's specialty salad with a scoop of cottage cheese, yogurt, coconut, walnuts, raisins, fruit, and apricot dressing, served with a hot cinnamon muffin. Also serves up excellent breakfasts.

Flair: Recently refurbished but still a classic diner. The décor and the lighting are bright, with vintage boomerang patterned Formica countertops, lots of chrome and tile in turquoise and black. There are great historical photos on the walls and vintage music circa Bobby Darin and Ella Fitzgerald.

441 Vine St. in the Carew Tower, Downtown, 513-621-1332. Open Monday-Saturday. $4-$9.

The Hitching Post Flavor: "World's Best Fried Chicken" is this diner's claim to fame, but we're there in a New York minute for mac 'n cheese or any, and we mean any, of Aunt Ruth's pies, which have an almost cult following (you can order them whole to go as well, and we do). Made from scratch Fetuccini is available every Friday.

Flair: Checkered tablecloths and the whole diner nine yards with kitschy-cute memorabilia and family photos adorning the walls.

2715 Madison Road, Hyde Park, 513-871-9201. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $4-$13.

J&J's Restaurant Flavor: One of those comforting, back-in-the-day family restaurants that serves breakfast anytime and the best two-fisted double-deckers going. The home fries are a must -- weighing in at a pound, one order could easily serve four.

Flair: J&J's has a staunch stable of regulars to fill its booths. You might not get much small talk out of the waitresses who fly through the dining room like whirling dervishes, but you'll get a smile and fast, efficient service.

6159 Glenway Ave., Westwood, 513-661-2260. Open Monday-Saturday. $6-$8.

Pepper Pod Flavor: All the food is homemade here, and so is the staff, with several of founder Eddie Barton's grandsons now working at the restaurant, located in Newport since 1970. The menu includes chili, mozzarella cheese sticks, meatloaf, potato soup with cheddar cheese and all-day breakfast. Better still, it's open 24 hours a day, so it doesn't matter if you want your breakfast at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. The meatloaf goes quickly in the evening.

Flair: The wall-to-wall fluorescent lights are really bright, the kitchen is a whirlwind and friendly waitresses do laps around the center island to get to their tables. Specials are magic-markered on paper and stuck to the wall.

703 Monmouth St., Newport, 859-431-7455. Open 24/7. $2-$8.

Ron's Roost Flavor: There's plenty of chicken here (baked, barbecued and fried) but the menu has other options like filet mignon, barbecued pork ribs and the popular Oktoberfest Sauerbraten. And don't forget the hot bacon slaw, mock turtle soup and homemade cream pies.

Flair: With the giant Fiberglass rooster on the roof, the restaurant has been a West Side institution for more than 45 years. Inside is filled with chicken décor (it is too a style!) and sports memorabilia. The mom-and-pop joint almost always has a wait, so come in early or stop by late to avoid the rush.

3853 Race Road, Bridgetown, 513-574-0222. Open 7 days. $10-$20.

Tucker's Flavor: Well known for its hearty, fresh food, with the best vegetarian omelet and deluxe hash browns this side of hash heaven. The owners buy most of their products at nearby Findlay Market. Try the Big Tucker, a double-decker burger with cheese and special sauce. Other standbys include biscuits and gravy and the fried cod sandwich. The milkshakes, sadly, are no more, but there's always a big, hearty portions.

Flair: A vibrant piece of history, Tucker's has been a fixture on Vine Street since 1949. It's definitely no-frills and very high on atmosphere, with lots of regulars and walls hung with memorabilia from the past half-century.

1637 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-7123. Open Monday-Saturday. $4-$7.

Indian
Ambar Flavor: A wonderful, colorful, aromatic range of meat and vegetarian dishes, served up in the heart of Clifton's leafy gaslight district.

Flair: The chicken makhani is the most delicious, richest Indian dish we've ever tasted anywhere. Ever. Despite many serious attempts, it cannot be replicated at home. Winner of "Best Indian."

350 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7000. Open 7 days. $10-$16.

Amol Flavor: North Indian fare such as Saag Paneer (spinach, onions, ginger, Indian spices and Indian cheese with a hint of cream) and Chicken Korma (pieces of chicken cooked in a cream curry sauce with nuts and raisins). Complete the meal with an order of Naan -- there are 10 varieties to choose from including garlic and paneer (cheese filled).

Flair: The tantalizing smell of aromatic spices will have you salivating as you slide into one of the many booths in the large dining room. Enjoy the tinkling sounds of Eastern music as you point to your entrée selections for the server.

354 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-3600. Open 7 days. $8-$14.

Apna Indian Restaurant Flavor: Along with traditional favorites like Saag Paneer, Bhartha and Nav Rattan Korma (an almost chocolaty mix of vegetables, cashews and cream), look for novel selections such as the Kadai Ginger Chicken and Goat Curry.

Flair: The latest addition to Clifton's bevy of Indian restaurants offers a tasty, affordable buffet at lunch and dinner.

341 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-6800. Open 7 days. $9-$14.

Cumin Flavor: Chef/co-owner Yajan Upadhyaya makes magic in the kitchen bending Indian cuisine into tantalizing new creations that will make you feel like you're in New York or Los Angeles. The best in Asian fusion. Try Murgh Dhaniwal with Tandoori chicken, cashew nut gravy, and caramelized onions, or Duck Sooley, a tea-smoked tandoori duck breast with lemongrass-coconut risotto. Pair this with one of the most comprehensive wine lists in the city and live music every night, and you can't go wrong on a date.

Flair: The restaurant's new space shows off clean lines that evoke a Japanese aesthetic complete with a Warli tribal art mural painted by Rekha Upadhyaya, Yajan's mother. The bar area, co-owner Alex Mchaikhi's baby, pulsates with primary colors and music. Try one of the signature cocktails like the Bollywood (a ginger infused pomegranate juice mixed with champagne) or a Coconut Mojito (Cuban rum, Indian spice and coconut milk).

3520 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-871-8714. Open Tuesday-Saturday (lunch and dinner). $6-$28.

Krishna Flavor: Our mouth waters just thinking about their Indian cuisine. The saag paneer and the samosas are works of wonder. It's delicious but no-frills, served in a Styrofoam carryout box.

Flair: Basic, tight quarters are provided, as three small booths sit opposite the cooking and cashier line. Taken to go or eat in, it's a fine thing to be overpowered by Krishna's steamy, curried haze.

313 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-961-2878. Open 7 days. $7-$10.

Amma's Kitchen Flavor: Be prepared for flavor, as the one-of-a-kind dishes here stand out in the Indian crowd. Amma's serves 100 percent vegetarian cuisine. Try the Malai Kofta (cashews, almonds and cheese in a tomato-based gravy) or the Chana Batura (puffy bread served with chickpea curry). For newbies, the weekday lunch buffet is a great way to nibble and taste.

Flair: More interested in food than décor, Amma's is simple yet comfortable. The service is straightforward rather than warm and fuzzy; these gentlemen are very serious about their food.

7633 Reading Road, Roselawn, 513-821-2021. Open Wednesday-Monday. $5-$12.

Italian
Barresi's Flavor: From their signature bread, Zeppole, to homemade desserts, Barresi's food is nothing short of fabulous. This upscale Italian eatery food that can be described by three words: to die for. Favorites include the Osso Buco Milanese with risotto and the Salmon Cardinale with lobster cream sauce. Menu options also include other milk-fed veal dishes, traditional pastas, chicken, steaks and seafood.

Flair: Stellar fine-dining service has helped Barresi's keep its status as a dining gem since 1963. The current owner, Sarah Wagner, mixes things up a bit with wine-tastings, cooking classes and a monthly carryout special.

4111 Webster Ave., Deer Park, 513-793-2540. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $21-$40.

Bella Luna Flavor: Authentic Italian recipes from the Sicily and the Calabria regions of Italy, including marsala, tiramisu and chicken in Chianti with prosciutto. Better still, bottles of wine are half price on Wednesdays, and draft beers are 99 cents every day except Saturday.

Flair: A fun and eclectic atmosphere, with owner Harry Stephens making the rounds.

4632 Eastern Ave., East End, 513-871-5862. Open Tuesday-Sunday. $13-$25.

Betta's Italian Cuisine Flavor: Betta serves good, old-fashioned Italian food like Eggplant Parmigiano, Summer Fettuccini and Chicken Cacciatore, but look for innovative dishes like the Filo Chicken and Prosciutto Melone appetizer as well.

Flair: Quite simply, Betta herself. She makes you feel warm and welcome. Even if you're in hurry you'll want to sit a spell and enjoy Betta's company and fine cuisine.

1026 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout. 513-871-2233. Open Monday-Saturday. $10-$15.

Betta's Italian Oven Flavor: Pizza's the word here. Will DeLuca's 630-degree wood-fired oven produces tasty, thin-crust pies like the Quattro Stagioni with kalamata olives, proscuitto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and breadsticks, including the spicy pepperoni sticks. If pizza's not your thing, go for the Eggplant Parmesan; it's meaty, creamy, smoky and all-around delicious.

Flair: Serious food for people that work hard and laugh loud. There are plenty of regulars filling the tables every night -- always a sign of a consistently good meal.

3764 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-631-6836. Open Monday-Saturday. $9-$14.

Biagio's Bistro Flavor: Homemade pasta dishes and desserts easily turn this simple little bistro into a weekly stop. Owner/chef Biagio makes the pasta dishes in full view including the Penne Boscaiola with tomatoes, meat sauce, mushrooms, cream and peas and his wonderful Pasta Primavera with Pesto. And we just adore Biagio's Balls! Get your mind out of the gutter -- we're talking about his scrumptious Bavarian Cream Puffs.

Flair: The scent of garlic hits you like a velvet hammer as you walk in. The casual décor and cozy atmosphere make this a great stop before or after a movie at The Esquire. On busy nights Biagio himself jumps into server if the servers get behind.

308 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-861-4777. Open Monday-Saturday. $7-$15.

Bravo Cucina Italiana Flavor: Although they're a chain, with over 30 restaurants, Bravo doesn't lack uniqueness, serving up a varied menu of fresh, well-executed and flavorful Italian food. Try their pizzas and flatbreads or house specialties like the meaty Mama's Lasagna Bolognese or the Pasta Bravo tossed with grilled chicken, mushrooms and a red pepper sauce.

Flair: Stylish yet relaxed, with all cooking done in plain sight in an enormous open kitchen. Bravo is accommodating for groups: set it up ahead of time and they'll print special menus with your name on it (even for parties as small as two).

12110 Montgomery Road, Symmes Twp., 513-583-0583; 9436 Water Front Drive, West Chester, 513-759-9398. Open 7 days. $10-$27.

Brio Tuscan Grille Flavor: Upscale Tuscan-inspired dining featuring Mama's Lasagna Bolognese made from the founder's original recipe. Give them a try for Saturday and Sunday Bellini Brunch, featuring Frittata al Forno, Tuscan French Toast with marscapone cheese and more.

Flair: Great date place, as it's not terribly loud and there are lots of things to split. The al fresco area is nice, but you sometimes feel forgotten out there if they're not fully staffed.

Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-431-0900. Open 7 days. $15-$22.

Ferrari's Little Italy and Bakery Flavor: An impressive selection of dishes from Northern and Southern Italy, with daily seafood specials and an on-site bakery. Try the seafood cannelloni (cheese- and seafood-filled manicotti with a creamy lobster basil sauce) or the parmesan-crusted sole with lemon butter. If there's an Italian dish that's not on this menu, you won't miss it. From antipasti to ziti, it's here -- and it's authentic.

Flair: An outdoor patio in a wooded setting with wisteria vines or indoor informality. Ferrari's is family owned and operated, and they're proud of what they do

7677 Goff Terrace, Madeira. 513-272-2220. Restaurant open 7 days, bakery closed Sundays. $12-$29.

Germano's Flavor: Chef Germano is certainly adept at serving up the more "Americanized" Italian fare such as gnocchi, veal tenders and familiar pastas, but his real talent is in creating delicious and exotic dishes that reveal the old country in every delicious bite. Be forewarned: If you order the Raspberry Pie, it'll haunt your dreams until you have to go back to get another; before you know it, you're ordering whole pies to go.

Flair: The setting here is informal but not casual, intimate but not cramped. In fact, eating at Germano's is like stumbling on an Italian family's Sunday dinner -- and being invited to join the party.

9415 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-794-1155. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $17-$40.

Mama Vita's Flavor: Good homestyle Italian cooking with American flair. Features award-winning pizza that rivals Tavern on the Hill and manicotti that won "Best Carryout" from us in 2001. Mama Vita's pizzas range from Pesto Pizza with homemade pesto, ultra-fresh mushrooms and onions and rich mozzarella and feta cheese to American favorites, such as the BBQ Chicken and Southwestern Pizzas. Mama's also serves up good apps -- try the Torino Bruschetta and Garlic Cheese Bread.

Flair: Postmodern Olive Garden, down to the sleek tables and chairs. Small, cozy and family-friendly. Pizzas can be picked up frozen and taken home to bake. Mama's Pub next door serves the same menu, with an outdoor terrace, live music and wine-tastings.

6405 Branch-Hill Guinea Road, Loveland, 513-697-9705. Open Monday-Saturday. $4-$20.

Nicola's Restaurant Flavor: Nicola's serves cutting-edge Italian-based cuisine that can't be found anywhere else in the city. If you can see the beauty in a little oxtail, try the exquisite Carnaroli Risotto with spring onions, red endive and vaccinara sauce (a flavorful, tomato-based sauce made with oxtail stew.) If seafood is more palatable, try the Alaskan halibut with hen of the woods mushrooms, crispy potatoes and cream of artichokes. You can also indulge in Chef Cristian Pietoso's Grand Tasting menu Monday through Thursday.

Flair: Quite simply art on a plate. Pietoso uses the plate like a canvas. Such a shame to ruin his masterpiece, but hey, once you start you won't stop until you've licked the canvas clean.

1420 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-721-6200. Open Monday-Saturday. $23-$35.

Pitrelli's Italian Deli and Caf233 Flavor: This independently owned, family-friendly eatery serves simple, delicious Italian food. Old favorites like spaghetti and homemade meatballs are light and flavorful, and specials are tasty and filling. Pitrelli's also serves a good pizza with a light crust and toppings that include pancetta and spicy olives.

Flair: Neither slick nor chic, Pitrelli's offers instead a bona fide Mom and Pop experience. A reason is the family that runs it: Jim and Linda Pitrelli are wonderful people, retired grade school teachers who make you feel like you're a guest in their home. The tortellini is always great and be sure to check out Couples Night on Thursdays--a meal for two including salad, wine, pasta and meatballs for $45.

312 Reading Road, Mason, 513-770-0122. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $14-$18.

Pompilio's Flavor: The tomato sauce that memories are made of and the sausage that would make Junior Soprano proud. Homemade pasta, veal parmigiana, meatballs, minestrone -- whatsa matter f'you? Eat!

Flair: Traditional Italian in the heart of Newport, and we do mean heart. This is old school -- no shiny Levee chain stuff here.

600 Washington Ave., Newport, 859-581-3065. Open 7 days. $8-$13.

Primavista Flavor: Genuine flavors and tastes of Italy, from the roasted garlic cloves that come with your bread basket to the blissfully rich osso bucco Milanese, served with orzo pasta and a tiny fork to scoop out the rich bone marrow. Shrimp Antoinette is served atop warm croutons in a wonderful, garlicky sherry sauce. Gnocchi sautéed in butter with prosciutto and basil melts in your mouth, and the bread pudding is the best we've ever had.

Flair: High atop Price Hill overlooking the new "Cincinnati" convention center sign. The décor is subdued and rich drapes soften the rooms. A stone accent wall, fresh crisp linens and (most of all) the view make it distinctive. Winner of "Best Restaurant With a View."

810 Matson Place, Price Hill, 513-251-6467. Open 7 days. $16-$36.

Scotti's Flavor: Serves authentic Italian food, with pasta and veal dishes as the specialty. Established in 1912, Scotti's offers a large selection of pasta to accompany a large selection of sauces, many of which can be meatless. There is an extensive wine list to pair with any meal. For veal lovers, try the Veal Cutlet a la Parmigiana, breaded veal in a tomato sauce topped with Mozzarella cheese.

Flair: Inside is a dark cave-like interior with red-checked tablecloths, stalactite-like wine bottles layered with years of candle drippings and multi-colored tiles psychedelically plastered everywhere.

919 Vine St., Downtown, 513-721-9484. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $19-$30.

Spicy Pickle Flavor: The Denver-based chain's menu offers a selection of panini, salads, subs and wood-fired pizzettis (an 11-inch thin crust pizza) such as the Aztec pizzetti with roasted chicken, red onions, green peers, mozzarella and chipotle pesto. Salads are a cut above the usual casual fare options, featuring interesting ingredients like roasted portobello, toasted hazelnut, grilled onion and sun dried tomato.

Flair: This Clifton Heights storefront has screamed out for a good restaurant. An eager, knowledgeable young staff makes us certain the space has found its soul mate.

2504 W. Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-569-0000. Open 7 days. $2.50-$7.45

Trattoria Roma Flavor: Entrées feature seafood, veal, fresh pasta, chicken and aged Angus beef, including a mouth-watering lasagna made with homemade pasta and sauce, ground beef and a blend of five cheeses. Trattoria makes all their pasta, bread, sauces and desserts from scratch.

Flair: A cozy, romantic venue tucked between the flashier theater district restaurants, this unassuming spot has a small front room decorated in Mediterranean tones and a larger room in back. Both are filled with tables topped with the standard red-and-white tablecloths and candle-filled Chianti bottles. Service can be personality-dependent, but it's all a part of the charm.

609 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-723-0220. Open Monday-Saturday (usually closed on Sundays, but they open for dinner when the Aronoff Center has a big show running). $16-$33.

Via Vite Flavor: Little sister to its chic sibling Nicola's Ristorante Italiano in the Over-the-Rhine, Via Vite serves more casual fare, but the creative juices are just the same -- owner Nicola Pietoso and his son Cristian again pair up to give us another dining treasure. The menu includes appetizers, wood-fired pizzas (check of the one with pesto, artichokes and goat cheese), salads, pastas, entrées such as a grilled swordfish that features Grandma's peperonata or an oven-braised lamb shank with dreamy creamy polenta.

Flair: Via Vite fills an appalling gap in the Fountain Square renovation -- a new high-end restaurant that's locally owned.

520 Vine St., Downtown, 513-721-8483, Open 7 days. $18-$27.

Vincenzo's Flavor: Serving up Northern Italian food that it claims is the only "real" Italian food in Cincinnati, Vincenzo's offers a range of the usual favorites -- pasta, ravioli, veal, chicken and the daily seafood special. The food here is a labor of love for the Italian-born chef and owner Vincenzo Mazzocca, who trained as a chef in Italy.

Flair: Recently moved to a larger location (its former digs were a small space in a converted service station), the new dining room is graced with a small fountain and a balcony and has a spacious, open feel. Service is welcoming and friendly.

11525 Chester Road, Sharonville, 513-771-0022. Open Monday-Saturday. $14-$23.

Vito's Caf233 Flavor: Vito is always adding to the new delicacies to his incredible menu, and this spring brings Risotto di giorno, with fabulous flavors like red wine, pancetta, and gorgonzola or spinach and shitake. Pesce in Acqua Pazza -- fish in crazy water -- infuses the catch of the day with delectable flavors like spicy tomato broth. Ragu alla Bolognese is music to the meat lover's mouth, with pork, veal and beef simmered to perfection.

Flair: Speaking of music, you will love the experience of an evening at Vito's. The most talented servers in town sing for your supper, while Piano Pete tinkles the ivories.

654 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, 859-442-9444. Open Wednesday-Sunday. $8-$30.

Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern
Andy's Mediterranean Grill Flavor: Expect maximum Mediterranean flavor here. From its signature Shish Tawook (a marinated chicken kebab) and the best Dolmas (grape leaves) in town to the divine baklava and Turkish coffee, the fare is authentic, delicious and accessible. The recently added Farrouj -- half a rotisserie chicken delicately seasoned and served with a side salad and French fries -- is now a permanent menu item, and new to the menu is Mankoucheh, a Mediterranean pizza that comes in number of varieties. Don't forget about the shrimp kabobs.

Flair: Just the fact that a restaurant with exotic foods has a name as average as "Andy's" appeals to us, but we think belly dancing, the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and hookah pipes say it all.

906 Nassau Ave., Eden Park, 513-281-9791. Open Monday-Saturday. $15-$23.

Baba Budan's Flavor: There aren't many places in Cincinnati that offer both a full bar and a legit coffee shop. Baba Budan's offers the best of both chemically dependent worlds, and the sandwich menu offers a little extra as well -- hummus, tabouleh and more.

Flair: Local art and live entertainment in the form of DJs, open mic nights and other down-home performances.

239 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-221-1911. Open 7 days. $5-$8.

Caf233 Istanbul Flavor: The café offers the expanse of Mediterranean cuisine with everything from the enticing Doner Kebab, an Istanbul street eatery staple consisting of thinly sliced lamb slow-cooked on a vertical spit and served with rice pilaf and vegetables, to Vegetarian Lasagna and Grilled Apple Salmon. The signature dish is Iskender kabob, a lamb kabob over pita bread cut in strips and cooked in garlicky tomato sauce. New to the menu are spicy apricot chicken, shrimp kabobs and halibut.

Flair: A distinctly Middle Eastern tone with tapestries on the walls and ornate pewter smoking pipes. A vague opium-den vibe and the sectioned dining room put harems in mind.

Newport on the Levee, Newport, 859-581-1777. Open 7 days. $12-$25.

Floyd's Flavor: No matter how many places you've eaten tabouleh across the country, you'll still say Floyd's has the best -- hand-chopped with just the right ration of parsley to bulgur wheat. While the Roasted chicken is the restaurant's most popular dish (wait too long past 5 p.m. and you're out of luck), the lima beans mashed with fresh parsley, garlic, olive oil and lemon will make you forget your childish fear of this much-maligned legume.

Flair: The small, family-run restaurant lends itself to family-style dining. The intimate setting is perfect for relaxing, long meals. Sit by the front window to people watch or head out back to the secluded patio. Winner of "Best Mediterranean."

127 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-221-2434. Open Tuesday-Saturday. $7-$13.50.

Mediterranean Deli Flavor: The friendly fellows on Ludlow Ave. will sell you the freshest Arabic baklava and tell you the difference between it and other types of baklava. Lesser known items include Kataifi, Koulourajua and hummus galore. There's also a wide range of Greek and Middle Eastern salads and pita sandwiches. Dolma, hummus, tabouli and baba ganouj are available by the pound as well as a small selection of Middle Eastern grocery items.

Flair: The food is ideal for making a small picnic and hiking over to Burnet Woods, but there are also a few tables inside.

314 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-6060. Open Monday-Saturday. $2-$5.

Mirage Mediterranean Food Flavor: Owned by a family that hails from Armenia, a land-locked former Soviet republic wedged among Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Mirage offers a taste of the cuisines from throughout that region: Russian khinkali (a sort of beef-stuffed ravioli); Armenian kebobs (chicken, pork, beef or lamb); Middle Eastern falafel, hummus and baba ganoush; even gyros from Greece.

Flair: Heavy drapes, tablecloths and dimmed lighting at night soften the hard edges of a fairly plain room in the middle of a strip mall. But the gracious, engaging staff is so enthusiastic about the terrific homemade food that you'll feel like you're family.

11379 Montgomery Road, Symmes Twp., 513-469-0089. Open Monday-Saturday. $6-$15.

Mythos Flavor: Most famous gyros in town and a Greek menu like you can only find in New York, according to owner George Psihountakis and sons. Offers moussaka, souvlaki, pastitsio and vegetarian platters -- all homemade. Specials and soups change daily.

Flair: If you're downtown and get a craving for a kebab, Mythos is close by. Four locations meet your every kebab craving.

650 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-621-9222; 410 Vine St., Downtown, 513-381-3601; 100 E. Fourth St., Downtown, 513-381-3042; Opening soon in the Chiquita Center, 250 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Open Monday-Saturday. $4-$12.

Sebastian's Flavor: The longtime West Side lunch haunt is just as delicious as you remember it. An ethnic meat-lover's heaven, the menu offers numerous Greek items and what many to consider the best gyro in Cincinnati. The gyro meat also shows up in the Greek Salad and the Dolmathakia dinner (grape leaves served with gyro meat).

Flair: Family-run, friendly ambiance. Most orders are carryout, but there are a few tables and booths. Watch the gigantic cones of meat spin in front of heat lamps, keeping the meat ready to eat.

5209 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, 513-471-2100. Open Monday-Saturday. $3-$8.

Mexican
Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy Flavor: House specialties include Enchiladas de Cozumel and Salmon San Carlos, and the skewered steak, ubiquitous enchiladas and fajitas are as tasty as you expect. The flan is good, but for a guilty pleasure, try dessert nachos -- a cinnamon "tortilla" cut into eighths, each piece topped with a mini-scoop of praline ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and chocolate sauces.

Flair: With more than 40 locations, Abuelo's is attractive and polished but somewhat sanitized for the cruise-ship crowd.

2833 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills, 859-344-1344; 5010 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, 513-336-7449. Open 7 days. $10-$18.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant Flavor: Cancun is great for a large appetite and a small budget, offering inexpensive authentic Mexican dishes. Homemade guacamole, queso dip and Jalapeno Bean Soup provide all you need to warm up with one of the best margaritas in town. Lunch specials are ridiculously cheap, and dinners are well portioned. One of the most popular entrées is the Fajitas Mexicanas, with your choice of chicken or steak, served with grilled peppers, onions and tomatoes.

Flair: The original location in Forest Park recently expanded, and the restaurant next to Western Bowl is spacious and comfy.

11930 Hamilton Ave., Forest Park, 513-851-6310; 6383 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, 513-574-1639. Open 7 days. $5-$14.

Cactus Pear Flavor: The salsa is black because they roast the tomatoes. It's really good, too. Both locations offer a great selection of Southwestern dishes, including a chicken chula vista sandwich and Shrimp Marguerite pasta. The pitchers of frozen margaritas, particularly the sangria margarita, cure all ills. Get yo'self a designated driver. The Red Pepper Noodles remains a favorite.

Flair: More original than Don Pablo's, but not much like Tijuana.

3215 Jefferson Ave., Clifton, 513-961-7400. Open Monday-Saturday; 9100 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, 513-791-4424. Open 7 days. $8-$22.

Chipotle Flavor: In compliance with the company's "Food With Integrity" campaign, Chipotle's pork and chicken lived free-range, hormone and antibiotic-free existences before becoming food. We're not sure what kind of enclosed spaces the beef grows up in (or what kind of hormones it is subjected to), but it tastes just as delicious. Burritos, fajita bowls and tacos made quickly, and a margarita that some call "delicious."

Flair: Fast, friendly service makes up for a kitschy design of fake art and purposely danky-looking floors. Metal garbage cans are cool. Winner of "Best Burritos/Wraps."

Multiple locations. Open 7 days. $5-$7.

El Coyote Flavor: The area's pioneer Tex-Mex establishment now numbers three local locations, dishing out fabulous steaks, fajitas, enchiladas, empanadas and quesadillas. The grilled pork chop served with mashed sweet potatoes is a classic, and the garlic-mashed potatoes have a huge fan club.

Flair: Homey and friendly. Cozy and casual. Locally owned and operated, and proud of it.

7404 State Road, Anderson Twp., 513-232-5757; 3041 Dixie Hwy., Edgewood, 859-331-6767; 9183 Center Point Drive, West Chester, 513- 860-4745. Open 7 days. $9-$25.

Habañero Flavor: This homemade salsa haven has quickly established itself as a Ludlow Avenue staple. The burritos are excellent, everything is fresh, and few beers on tap make this place great for a hearty meal or a quick drink and snack before a night out. Signature items include the Mad Max (tilapia, pinto beans, rice, cheddar cheese and cabbage) and the Arroyo Hondo (hand-rubbed spiced flank steak, black beans, rice, caramelized onions and goat cheese).

Flair: A bright dining room offers space for bigger groups or privacy-seeking booth dwellers. Food is made to order and the staff is friendly and accommodating. Getting ready to open a second location at Newport on the Levee.

358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-961-6800. Open 7 days. $6-$7.

Jalapeño's Restaurante Mexicano Flavor: The downtown store is no longer open, but out in Madeira you can still find excellent quesadillas, enchiladas and burritos, as well as tasty Mexican beef, chicken, pork and seafood specialties that are among the area's best. There are also some tasty vegetarian options.?

Flair: Décor is brightly colored with lots of authentic Mexican wall hangings and decorations. The servers, many of whom are Spanish speaking, are professional and well acquainted with the menu.

7980 Hosbrook Road, Madeira, 513-793-0999. Open 7 days. $7-$25.

Javier's Mexican Restaurant Flavor: Downtown's favorite burrito stop is about to become oh so much more. A liquor license awaits Javier in Columbus, and the only thing stopping this already excellent Mexican restaurant from getting even cooler is the construction of a new bar. Soon Javier's will be open for dinner and stay open until 2 a.m. when it's full bar can really be enjoyed. These are prime additions to the famous Huevos Rancheros -- a breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs and chorizo sausage, the Enchiladas Con Pollo with Mole Sauce and the "burrito of the day."

Flair: Escape from your dreary office to check out the new digs. The staff