or once, the hype seems justified: Main Street is basically booming exponentially with hot new lounges and eateries, boasting concepts and ideas to lure that sought-after nightlife crowd. Public Lounge & Eatery (Main & 17th), the city's latest temple of DIY, dishes out its own share of fun and palpable energy.

While Public looks tiny from the outside, it’s surprisingly long within, stretching far past the bar into a hallway lined with single-person booths, reminiscent of a galley kitchen. The décor is warehouse-industrial: concrete with wooden beams outline the room.

On a visit one recent Sunday night, four of us were accommodated comfortably. Within a couple of hours, six more friends joined us, and we were still able to find room, despite the fact that the place, at this point, was packed to capacity. Public’s walls show off local art; flashy, controversial, always supportive of the local scene, always for sale. Wednesday and Saturday nights, local talent spins chill and funky beats.

Despite all these elements of cool, it is still the food that stands out. Chef Anne Ramsay offers a blend of Mediterranean and West Coast cuisine, with small portions designed to share. Over at the bar a respectable array of house concoctions is doled out, but we started with a bottle of Chilean Santa Rita Merlot ($24). A wise choice, as the aromas - dominated by red fruits, vanilla and fine herbs - created an easy, medium body, showcasing its sweetness and rounded tannins. The wine list is made up of about ten wines each, white and red, and, considering the area, is reasonably priced (from $18 to $40).