It’s a common complaint from my single friends:

There’s no place for people our age to meet other people our age.

We’re not in college — best meeting place for adults, hands down — anymore. We’re over clubs. And that idea we can meet people in line at the grocery store? Yeah, who’s done that?

So here’s some good news for my single friends: Harbor Court Bistro, which occupies the third floor restaurant and bar area of Harbor Court in downtown, is opening today.

I got a sneak peek at the new spot — a venture of Elizabeth Hata Watanabe, owner of The O Lounge — on Friday. And I was thrilled — OK, relieved — that this new spot has the same cool vibe as Palomino, which had a 10-year run in the same space from 1997 to 2007.

Inside the bar area on Friday. It was packed!

And I missed Palomino. (Cassis Restaurant and Wine Bar, which operated there for 10 months, was too expensive and, well, French.) It was comfortable, not pretentious, with good pupus and cocktails. And that’s how Harbor Court Bistro felt, at least on Friday.

The best part was much of the wait staff and bartenders from Palomino — which I thought was a very adult place to meet people — came back.

Two bartenders from Palomino who came back.

Not sure if the bistro will host live music, but the band was a hit on Friday. People actually got up and danced.

Friday’s event was star-studded, at least by Honolulu standards. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was there — and occasionally dancing. TV anchors including Diane Ako, Malika Dudley and Jill Kuramoto really upped the cute factor. And several lawmakers — who probably wouldn’t want to be named here — were also in attendance, sans alcoholic drinks.

The restaurant wasn’t serving its full menu — which Watanabe calls “eclectic international” — but here’s what we did have:

The restaurant offers five different pizzas: Hawaiian, Greek, Four Cheese, Chicken Alfredo and Classic Meat Combo. We sampled the latter ($11), which came with pepperoni, Italian sausage and sterling silver beef. Great with beer!

One of its signature pupus is the seasoned soybeans with furikake and mochi crunch. According to the menu, this is only served on the bar side.

We enjoyed the sauteed button mushrooms ($8), which came steaming hot and topped with garlic pepper butter and Parmesan cheese.

We tried the chicken quesadilla with peppers, goat cheese and a fruit salsa. I thought the flavors went well together, but it was a bit dry.

Another pupu favorite: steak fries with a really unusual banana ketchup. Yep, banana. It’s weird at first, but it starts to grow on you.

So if you’re looking for adult conversations without the distractions of go-go girls dancing on bar tables, check out the Harbor Court Bistro. At least you’ll feel like a grown-up among other grown-ups!