Dish &Tell

Readers dish about the local meals they crave most.

Egg and Cactus Gorditas

Don Pancho

Don Poncho’s gorditas are my reward for making it to the gym on Saturday mornings. A little bit crisp on the outside but still tender, these warm corn our pouches are stu ed with creamy beans and seasoned chicken, steak, or my new favorite, eggs and cactus. Topped with lettuce, cheese, and splash of salsa, these are the breakfast of champions.

— Kirsten Harrington

Salmon BLT

Urban on Plant Kitchen & Bar

Picture-perfect salmon and thick-cut bacon, beautifully complemented by the crisp bite of arugula and the juicy sweetness of tomato. Finished with a velvety smear of mustard aioli, this sandwich is irresistible. Hands down, my rst choice when we are dining out!

— Melissa Reid

Samosa Chaat Cilantro & Spice Kitchen

It’s basically like a deconstructed samosa, blending crispy and crunchy with saucy creaminess all in one bite. It hits all the avors of sweet, tangy, salty, and spicy with the layers of chopped samoses, chickpeas, yogurt, and chutneys. It’s also a good size for sharing at a really great price!

— Jacki McAnally

Scialatielli dei Faraglioni

Simply Capri

This dish is a masterpiece of avors and textures, with each component perfectly complementing the next. Handmade egg ribbon pasta provides the base for succulent shrimp, tender clams, plump mussels, and delicate calamari, all enhanced by vibrant cherry tomatoes, parsley, and olive oil. Every time I take a bite, it brings me back to the warmth and joy of the Mediterranean.

— Jen Dixon

Sweater Season Salad

RusTeak

I crave this salad all the time. Always plump, perfectly seared U10 scallops over a bed of arugula, kale, and mixed greens with this fantastic green apple vinaigrette. Butternut squash, goat cheese, and candied walnuts are just a delicious bonus. The summer version with balsamic compressed strawberries is great, too, but I’m always ready for sweater season.

— Dr. Caroline Pawlak

Cheese Coney’s Skyline Chili

I literally dream about eating Cheese Coney’s!  Little hotdogs in a pillow-like bun dripping with that famous Skyline Chili and covered in u y delicious cheese.  The chili is like no chili I have ever tasted with a avor all its own, and the cheese just puts it over the top.  I am not from Cincinnati ,but after trying Skyline for the rst time a few months ago, I am hooked!

— Greg Zele

Roasted Bone Marrow Market to Table

The roasted bone marrow is incredibly decadent, with such a rich avor! Slathered on thick-cut, grilled focaccia and a few slices of pickled onion, it is truly indulgent and unlike anything I have experienced before. The presentation is lovely, too.

— Julie De La Fuente

Dish

Duck Fat Truffle Fries

Tasting Room

Can we talk about the duck fat tru e fries for a second, a dish that not only deserves its own mention, but its own ode to greatness? The hand-cut french fries, crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, get a salty blanket of parmesan, tru e oil ,and chives ,outdone only by the melted duck fat they’re cooked in. Make sure you order extra smoked aioli ... you won’t regret it.

— Diandra Culver