29 Going on 79

The Black Olive is the Short North's newest restaurant in what used to be the Coffee Table - Columbus' preeminant gay cruise joint. I never went into the Coffee Table, but I saw more gay porn on the laptops of the Coffee Table's patrons as I walked by on High Street than anywhere else.

The prices at the Black Olive are surprisingly reasonable, given the swanky feel of the white-table cloth restaurant. Their cocktail menu is eclectic and I recommend the cream soda - vanilla vodka, rootbeer liqeuer and soda water.

The service was great and they were nothing but helpful as our numbers changed right up until dinner. I hope the Black Olive does well and maintains the restaurant anchor on the sad west side of High Street. The powerhouse trio of Betty's, Rigsby's and RJ Snapper's need something to keep them humble!