(From May 2011) The new year has brought downtown Corpus Christi a neighborhood-style restaurant as congenial as any good Paris bistro; the menu (as much American as French) should appeal to a range of ages and appetites, and service is surprisingly good for such a new spot, with careful attention given to small details—a chilled plate for the salad niçoise, a warm one for the savory braised short ribs. Popular at our table were an appetizer of fried gnocchi with house-made mayonnaise and a creamy potato and leek soup. But surpassing those was a simple dessert of poached pears with homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Make sure to check out the retro cocktails and the bistro’s namesake 500 bottles of wine at the Staghound Bar. Bar.