I knew it would be only a matter of time before I would make my way into one of Columbus’ many Cameron Mitchell restaurants.

For the most part, they are all the same. The bar, always attractive, will be the first thing one see when he or she walks in. The menus don’t vary too much from place to place; there are only different components that are altered depending on the theme. There will be everything from filet mignon to swordfish to burgers and fries. To sum it up, C.M. restaurants have similar pricing schemes, try to accommodate a steak and potatoes city, and are presented in a refreshing atmosphere.

Columbus Brewing Company, 525 Short St., just southwest of downtown in the Brewery District seemed like the natural choice.

One thing I noticed when I walked into this restaurant was the crowds that weren’t getting any younger. The average age, although I didn’t go around and ask, had to have been comparable to that of Goldie Hawn. 

It’s actually a fairly cool place too. The seating area is somewhat dimly lit and there are a good number of oversized booths with views into the kitchen, as well as a large bar area. There are also views into the back where the store bought beer is brewed in huge vats and bottled. 

I do suggest making reservations, particularly on a weekend night, although the wait was half of what the hostess said it would be.

If you do find yourself waiting and 21, you can have a seat at the bar and sample some of the freshly brewed beers. I personally recommend the Porter, but they always have other regulars available, as well as holiday and seasonal brews. You can also take home a half-gallon jug for $8.95.

I was impressed immediately with the Hot and Sour Fried Calamari ($8.95). The thick sauce was heavy with spice and had a touch of sweetness. “You could put anything in that sauce and it would still be good,” said co-reviewer Ryan. 

Ryan also tried the C.B.C. House salad ($4.50), which he said was fresh, but lacked the add-ons. According to him there were only three olives.

Co-reviewer L-Jo had the Caesar Salad ($4.95). She thought the portions were large; however it didn’t make much of a difference when the dressing wasn’t what she was expecting.

The C.B.C. Onion Soup ($4.50) is loaded with three different cheeses and served piping hot. I felt the sweet taste added volumes to the soup and I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again.

For her main dish, L-Jo enjoyed the Oven Roasted Herb Chicken ($14.95). “Now I know what other restaurants are trying to do when they have crusted chicken. It was cooked to perfection and the flavor was descent.” She also admired the fluff in the scallion-mashed potatoes.

The crust of the Jerk Chicken Pizza ($9.50) was a bit too floury. The chicken was spicy and not too sparse, but it was stringier than I would have liked. There was just the right amount of tomatoes. I thought the corn salsa, however, didn’t mix well with the mozzarella. After an appetizer and soup, I was only able to eat about half of this large pie. If you’re short on your dough (excuse the pun), you might want to split it.

Ryan said his Cured Pork Tenderloin ($14.95) was a good consistency when ordered medium, although the slices were small. He was less pleased with the large portion of red cabbage that accompanied the meat. “I’m not on a cabbage diet,” he said. “It would be better off being served at a soup kitchen. It wasn’t well balanced. Give me something green.”

C.B.C. offers five desserts, all under $5, including the Upside-Down Banana Cream Pie with candied pecans ($4.50) and the Triple Chocolate Tower ($4.95), a macadamia nut brownie with Graeters Double Chocolate Chunk ice cream.

The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Dinner is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the week, and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Nicholas Gill is a senior in English and journalism and can be reached for question or comment at [email protected].