Respite NOLA might be my favorite place in the city right now

I have been here 3 times since they opened in July (I think). I really, really like it quite a lot. I've held off reviewing it here but since McNulty and other people have now reviewed it the secret is definitely out.

First of all, it is in an...odd neighborhood, over by Addis and Pagoda in that Bayou Road/Bell Street triangle area.

It is very a small place, so there is only a few tables and then bar seating, they have a couple of tables outside while waiting for the table. While not full on hipster, it is hipster adjacent I would say. The staff sort of is, it is very casual, it is not an overly decorated place or anything like that. Casual, relaxed.

It is, at its heart, a bistro. The food is exceptional bistrofare in my opinion. I keep coming back for the same stuff. Raw Oysters, steak tartare, onion rings, steak frites (very much enough for two people, imo), a really freaking good Lava Cake dessert, etc. Everything is done with such skill, they are really taking some things some people would call simple and executing them perfectly. I really really need to expand and try some of the other things on the menu

Very much focused on wines in particular natural ones, and the main girl in there who has helped me out a few times is very very knowledgeable, clearly some level of higher wine training imo.

They do not take ressies except for larger parties I think, and it is small, as mentioned. The first time I went was on a weekend and we did have to wait about 30 minutes for a table of two. We drank some wine and the brothas in the little park across the street (that are literally always there it seems) were having a grand time playing tunes and throwing horseshoes.

I really like this place. It is not cheap, despite it being super casual (but not super expensive either). I highly recommend it.