What makes the perfect mouthful? With a crisp apple or a perfectly ripe peach, it’s elemental. We asked CityBeat staffers and a selection of our friends to answer a tough question: What’s the best thing they’ve eaten in Greater Cincinnati. And we got some great answers, from giant Girthburgers to fancy foie gras. Let’s wander through the local culinary scene...  

Amarin Flavor: Amarin has an extensive menu (actually three small ones) featuring just about any Thai or sushi dish you’ve ever come across and several signature items. Most dishes are big enoug  

BBQ RevueFlavor: 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. The ribs   

Arthur’sFlavor: Cincinnati’s version of Cheers — your quintessential neighborhood bar. Even if the food was bad, you’d still go. Of course, it’s not. Some of our favorite  

Annabel’sFlavor: You’ll be glad to hear that breakfast is served all day at Annabel’s. Where else can you get cornmeal pancakes with honey crunch butter and homemade syrup, or carrot  

Claddagh Irish PubFlavor: Big portions of solid food nod to the Irish, like mussels simmered in Harp Lager; Jameson Irish Whiskey-glazed sirloin steak; and baby back ribs with Guinness Stout BBQ sauce  

Black Angus Burgers & BrewsFlavor: Bustin’ out must-try burgers made of 100 percent Angus beef and topped with the freshest ingredients. Specialties include the Black n’ Blue and Chipo  

Dee Felice CaféFlavor: New Orleans-style right in Covington with a Portabella Etouffée for that rarest of dining species, a Cajun vegetarian. Chef’s specialties include traditional  

Allyn’sFlavor: The sheer number of menu items you’ll find at Allyn’s will surprise you. There are Cajun specialties like Blackened Gator, jambalaya and red beans and rice; slow-cooke  

BrutopiaFlavor: Italian espresso and a small daily menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and excellent baked goods from Take the Cake, as well as inventive smoothies with fresh ingredi  

Iron SkilletFlavor: Did you even know that there are eight kinds of schnitzel? At the Iron Skillet, there’s a schnitzel for every day of the week and then some, as it celebrates traditional East  

EmanuFlavor: Many Cincinnatians might be unfamiliar with the slow-cooked, aromatically spiced delicacies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, like Kilwa Sega (strips of marinated beef sautéed with onions,   

Lavomatic Café & Urban Wine BarFlavor: Urban fare with a twist, like tater tots with truffles, salad on the grill or cupcakes made of meatloaf. Featuring local, seasonally sourced ingredien  

Christy’s/Lenhardt’s Flavor: Christy’s/Lenhardt’s is a piece of Cincinnati history. Housed in the once-regal surroundings of the former Moerlein mansion, it now provides a comf  

Anchor GrillFlavor: All the food that goes great with the cigarette you will most certainly smoke after eating it. You’re not living if haven’t tried a GLT (goetta, lettuce and tomato sand