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Main Street Bistro Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii

Cuisine: Refined Comfort Food
The Big Deal: Tapas from 3-6 p.m.
Hours: Lunch 11-3 p.m., Tapas 3-7 p.m.
Waist Whittler: Ahi Cones, fresh ahi, local greens served in asiago cheese cone –  $8.95
I’ll Work Out Twice Tomorrow: Durham Ranch Burger with Coca Cola Onion Tapenade or Mac Nut Smoked Beef Brisket – really! $3.50/$9.50
Vegan Delight: Eggplant Terrine – the kind I wish every restaurant had on the menu for $8.95
Editor’s Fav: Roasted Beet Salad with local greens, candied cashews (a delightful departure from the typical pecans) none too strong Bleu, and luscious champagne pear vinaigrette. For my palate one of the best salads on Maui $8.95
Super Nouvelle: Shrimp Burger – so ono you will be addicted after one taste. Small kine shrimp mixed together with something that keeps ‘em connected and served in a super delicious bun with amazing sauce. $6.00
Better than expected: Just about everything
Don’t expect: Plush, slick surroundings.

Not many people head to Wailuku in the middle of the day expecting to have a rousing good time. In fact, unless you live or work there a trip to Wailuku can be a downright painful experience; it being the center of government, business and medicine for the County.

Whether he is aware of it or not, Chef Tom Selman performs a true public service at his Main Street Bistro, a foodie haven where post-traumatic stress victims can vanquish leftover smarts from unsavory court dates or visits to the clinic. Even if you walk in feeling a little punk and bedraggled, you’ll leave feeling like a champion. Not that it’s ever happened to me – but root canals aside, Main Street Bistro is an oasis, serving lunch and tapas Monday through Friday, 11-7 p.m.

A former chef du cuisine of David Paul’s Lahaina Grill and corporate chef for Sansei, Chef Selman calls his fare “refined comfort food.” Although the current location appears somewhat humble at first glance, the chef’s haute background reveals in dishes like the Ahi Cones, fresh tuna tartare served on local greens in a baked asiago cone. You’ll find gourmet touches in the simpler dishes, too — Capital Onion Rings with smokey homemade ketchup — and elegance in unexpected lunch choices like Macadamia Nut Smoked Duck Breast Salad. After lunch you’ll inevitably long for a repeat at dinner. Such dreams are fulfilled but once a month during Wailuku’s First Friday festivities when Main Street Bistro flings open its doors in celebration.

Main Street Shrimp Burger

Next First Friday Event: Rocktober, October 2^nd, 2009, when Wailuku will rock the town with the spirit of ROCK-TOBER at the monthly block party with live music, food specials, in-store activities, street vendors and more from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Enjoy classic rock with Bad Kitty at the Wailuku Banyan Tree Park; Rocky Horror Picture Show by Maui On Stage at the Iao Theater. Just down the street at Gallerie Ha Ha, there will be an Aloha Slam beginning at 8 pm and more Rock’n live music at Maui Thing at the corner of Main and Market !