Café’s menu offers pollo instead of pierogies

Taking the place of Pyka’s Polish restaurant, it serves a variety of traditional Costa Rican and American foods.

By: Donna Lukiw
   As Rich Praster dined at Café Main Street, the new Costa-Rican/American restaurant, recently opened on South Main Street, across from the Rustic Mall, he said it’s like being at home.
   "You can go out and feel as comfortable as you would at home," Mr. Praster, a Manville resident of 17th Avenue, said.
   Café Main Street opened on March 22 taking the place of Pyka’s Polish restaurant, and serves a variety of traditional Costa Rican and American food such as arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), casado con pescado (fried flounder, rice and beans), hamburgers and fries and grilled chicken sandwiches.
   "We have American food but we also have Costa Rican food and in the Manville, Bound Brook and Somerville area, we have a lot of Hispanic people," co-owner Wayne Miller said.
   Mr. Miller of Clinton and co-owner and Bridgewater resident Manuel Araya who is originally from Costa Rica, opened the restaurant in Manville to cater to those people who want a Spanish breakfast or a simple Caesar salad.
   "I think that separates us from the other places that serve only American food," Mr. Miller said.
   Mr. Miller owned Old Queens Tavern in New Brunswick for 25 years before he met and befriended Mr. Araya at a local restaurant where Mr. Araya was cooking.
   "We formed a friendship and said if we find a place we’ll buy it," Mr. Miller said. "Manuel has been working in the restaurant business for 15 years and it was his dream to open up his own business."
   Mr. Miller said some near future plans for the restaurant include featuring a buffet-style brunch on Sunday afternoons for a special price beginning in the middle of April and buying a large flat screen television for soccer lovers.
   Café Main Street is opened on Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.