Main Street Cafe

When Main Street Cafe first opened as Main Street Coffee and Deli it was amazing.  Its relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, devoted owner, and amazing food drew me to eat there nearly every day while the restaurant was in its infancy.  In fact, I was the first to review Main Street Coffee and Deli on Yelp when they opened and had a ROTD for that review.  However, due to a change in work location I stopped being able to visit with as much frequency and hadn't been to the restaurant in about 9 months when I walked in today.  Upon entering today the first thing I noticed, other than the new name, was a total change in atmosphere.  The relaxed deli that I remembered was suddenly an upscale sit down restaurant complete with a pretentious host.  When I asked the host if I could redeem the value that I had paid (note not the promotional value) for an expired Groupon per Groupons policy which says "the amount paid does not expire until it is used or refunded" he looked at me like I was asking for a free meal and asked me to step aside so he could assist a few nicely dressed ladies in fur coats.  He then tried to hook up some kind of Groupon scanner and when it would not work he told me to either come back some other day or have Groupon refund my money.  I asked if there was any other way to redeem it as many other businesses take Groupons without a special scanner and he insisted that there wasn't.  I ended up leaving without eating because I was so frustrated.  I went and had lunch elsewhere.  Between the host making me feel so unvalued as a customer and just plain embarrassed and the restaurant's total change in atmosphere I doubt I'll return.  It's a shame too because I loved Main Street Coffee and Deli.  Main Street Cafe just isn't the same.
Update: I contacted Groupon and they reached out to Main Street Cafe to try to clear up their confusion regarding accepting the amount paid, not promotional value, for the expired Groupon.  However, Main Street Cafe still would not honor my Groupon so I received a refund from Groupon.  I'm relieved that I got a refund from Groupon, but I'm sorry to see this restaurant's customer service decline so far in such a short amount of time.

Oh hot damn, this (place) is my jam.

Outside, Main Street Coffee & Deli is unassuming. Sure, it looks like a nice, modern place (with a great patio) where you can grab a cup o' joe and a sandwich. But inside, oh inside, you'll find a host of really delicious items. Like...

1) The Grilled Cheese: More so a ham and cheese, this positively delectable sandwich comes with all the special trimming that I love but would never actually put together at home. Perfectly grilled bread, cheeses, thinly sliced ham, tomato jam, pesto...it is one fantastic sandwich.

2) Couscous: Really interesting, a bit salty, but uber fresh and filled with herbs and pine nuts. A great side item for any sandwich, fo sho.

3) House made chips: Paprika, crispity goodness. I like chips, I typically don't *love* chips. And I loved these.

4) Friendly employees: Helpful and laid back, these folks seemed just pleased as punch to be there and serve some smiley customers.

5) A boudoir photo of George Costanza in the lounge area.

Need I say more?!

Main Street Coffee and Deli needed little more than a framed photo of a scantily clad George Costanza hanging on the wall to seduce me, but they didn't stop there. No, they had to also serve an array of delicious soups, sandwiches and salads--even pasta and couscous salads as well. B.A.T.S. (Bacon, Avocado, Tomato and Serrano Pickles on Sourdough bread) forever raised my expectations for lunch at a coffee shop. Aside: I write this review with a strong disdain for over toasted bread-heavy paninis in mind. Sliced bread of just the right thickness with a touch of butter and creamy smashed avocadoes inside gave new life to what is usually, for me, an annoyingly crunchy staple, the BLT.

I cannot begin to count how many times I have wished for an exhaustive and creative variety of lunch menu options while at a coffee shop; this is the place I've always imagined existing and it turns out that it does in another form besides Panera. Score! If only this place could have snagged Panera's place on Bardstown Road, I'd be even happier. Maybe a second location is in order? Who's with me?! Until then, memories of the B.A.T.S. sandwich complete with house-made chips and a pickle will keep luring me downtown.