Elizabeth Lessner makes the restaurant biz look easy

The Other Paper wrote She’s the top

By Sara Smith / May 17, 2007

After spending nearly two decades working for other people in restaurants and bars, Lessner’s idealism and tenacity paid off in 2001 when she opened Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits, a hot new addition to the Short North scene. A nook of a bar with a pin-up-girl theme, Betty’s has become one of the busiest spots on High Street.

After Betty’s came Surly Girl Saloon, which she opened with partners Carmen Owens and Marcy Mays in 2005. Now, venturing out of the Short North, she’s opened her third joint with partner Chuck Hootman, Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails—located Downtown at the corner of Gay and Third streets—which celebrated its grand opening last Friday.

“This town has a ridiculous amount of opportunities. It frustrates me that people are not taking advantage of that,” she said, setting her cup of coffee down to check her BlackBerry.

The droves of swanky Due Amici regulars shared the sidewalk along Gay Street with Tip Top’s hip, arty crowd for the first time last Friday. Lessner said the juxtaposition of Due Amici’s valet line of luxury cars and the cluster of 10-speed bicycles parked in front of Tip Top was just what she wants to see more of in Columbus. Her restaurants have a knack for putting businessmen next to punk rockers next to working-class folks.

Tip Top Kitchen is less than a week old, but Lessner already has her eye on Clintonville for her next project.

READ MORE