Monday 23rd of August 2010 07:43:38 PM

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I get to Columbus a couple of times a year and I’m always on the lookout for something new to try.

The name Tip Top reminded me of the old departed Tip Top Tap at the Alerton Hotel in Chicago, so I decided to stop by for beers and dinner.

There is a patio in front as you enter. The entrance is fairly narrow and contains a nice long bar with a beautiful bar back. The place widens in the back and there is a mix of booths and tables. There are pressed tin ceilings, exposed brick, brown paint and red bunting around the artwork adds up to some nice visual interest.

They offer 12 taps that include rotating seasonals from Bells, Great Lakes and local brewpubs. They also offer 9 craft bottles and a few domestic choices. The lines were immaculate. All drafts were served in pints and this included the barrel aged bourbon stout from Blue Grass. While not a huge selection, the beers were well thought out with a good variance in styles and breweries.

Good service with knowable barkeeps.

Food is "Ohio" comfort food. I thought they were going for upscale diner food and it works. Nice selection of main courses, salads and sandwiches.

I could see this being a bit of a hipster place (1st beer listed on draft and on the bottle list is PBR) but the vibe at happy hour is friendly and the tunes are a nice mix.

I would comeback for the tasty food, good beers, friendly service and decent ambiance.