Harbor Court Bistro, the restaurant that replaced Palomino and Cassis at Harbor Court downtown, has lost the ability to serve liquor.

A large percentage of revenue from restaurants such as Harbor Court Bistro are derived from alcohol sales, which could be crucial to its survival at that location.

It opened in August with preliminary approval to serve alcohol.

The crowd was so large for the grand opening that not everyone was able to get in, which meant hundreds of people wound up milling about in Harbor Court's common area, upsetting residents in and around the building. The restaurant has severed ties with the consulting firm that drew the crowd, said owner Elizabeth Hata Watanabe.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission's grant of preliminary approval to serve alcohol also serves the purpose of opening a public comment period for area residents, said administrator Dewey Kim Jr.

The mixed-use commercial and residential Harbor Court building is home to many downtown denizens, including attorneys and judges, Kim said.

“;The law states that if a majority of 50 percent, plus one, of registered voters or owners within 500 feet of the establishment ... object, the commission, by law, cannot approve the license.”;

At a standing-room-only Liquor Commission meeting last week, protesters produced responses objecting to a permanent license from 78 percent of eligible voters in the area.

Neither organizers of the opposition nor a representative of building management could be reached.

“;Once you get to this level of protest, the commission can't consider approving it,”; said Kim.

However, from the testimony Kim heard at the hearing, “;there was no one who was protesting the Bistro ... in fact, all the people said they liked having Palomino and Cassis ... they thought it was good for the building to have a restaurant, and serving liquor was not the problem.”;

Bistro predecessors Cassis and Palomino had liquor licenses and were popular stops for pau-hana drinks and lingering dinners with beer, wine and or cocktails.

Watanabe has filed an appeal with the commission and is communicating with tenants to convince them that her fledgling restaurant, which employs 80 people, is not a nightclub.

“;I am appreciative of the tenants that are willing to work toward a resolution,”; she said.

In the meantime, Harbor Court Bistro will continue to open at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

“;I'm very blessed to have one of the busiest restaurants at lunch,”; she said, when alcoholic beverage sales are not quite so much of the take.

She invites diners to bring their own bottles to go along with their meals, she said.

It closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. and is open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.