We have no idea why there isn't an exclamation mark after new restaurant Olivar's name. It just seems natural. But there isn't, even though they must be excited to be open. We didn't go to the grand opening last night, but we could smell the kitchen and it made us very hungry.

They're in Capitol Hill's Loveless building, at 806 East Roy Street, just across the street from the Harvard Exit theater. We just walked over to take a peek inside, and the Russian-fairytale murals are back, and look right at home.

If you're planning to try out Olivar's Franco-Spanish menu ($5-$15 small plates, with $14-$18 large plates, and a prix fixe dinner), they're open 5-10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Monday.

French chef Philippe Thomelin knows from tapas--he owned a tapas bar in Andalucia, where he lived for ten years, and he's worked around Seattle, at Il Terrazzo Carmine, Cascadia Restaurant, and assisted at Rover's, The Harvest Vine, Madison Park Cafe and Voila Bistrot. Now he's a Capitol Hill resident, with a wife who works at Amazon and an easy commute to Joe Bar. That's the full Seattleite experience, right there.