What in the world was I doing having lunch at Cassis, Chef Mavro's new restaurant in downtown Honolulu, on its second day of business? My normal reaction to seeing a menu with those extravagent prices would be to excuse myself and run screaming for the nearest exit. On this day, however, I was lunching with another former Star-Bulletin writer and self-described "foodie" who was dying to try Mavro's offerings. So I gritted my teeth and stayed put.

The setting is little changed from Palamino, which formerly occupied the space. The service, okay, not pretentious. The food? Well, Perhaps you're different, but for the $30 tab--and we're talking luncheon portions here--I expected something close to perfection..

I ordered CASSOULET, portuguese bean stew, garlic herb crust, $25.00, figuring that a price like that on something sounding so ordinary must signal a dazzlingly subtle taste treat. I'm sorry, but the combination of tastes and presentation wasn't worth the price of admission. It was, well, "interesting", if you know what I mean, but it didn't inspire an urge to deconstruct the tastes and attempt to replicate them later at home.

My friend had the Tuesday special, PORK KAU YUK, mochi potatoes, chinese root vegetables, pork jus, also $25.00. He added an order of the recommended wine, which turned out to be a miserly portion for $12. Most bottles of wine opened at our house set us back less than that. But his meal looked great, as you can see in the photo. Taste? He thought it was good enough to want to come back soon with his wife, despite the high price.

So we had a split verdict on the place. I'm perfectly happy to plant myself elsewhere for lunch without feeling deprived. My foodie friend looks forward to repeating the experience as his budget permits.