La Playa Bistro opened in July with a low-key event, but the response from the neighborhood has been anything but low-key. The restaurant, located at 1005 Rosecrans St., sits right in the heart of the La Playa neighborhood and attracts boaters, yacht club members and neighbors who just like to be near the water. Ray Broady and Cindi Hoang own the bistro and recommend making reservations if planning a visit for dinner. La Playa bistro offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as happy-hour specials. Hoang characterizes a bistro as a casual place that serves wine. Distressed wood flooring, floor to ceiling windows and a neighborhood ambiance add to the character of the new structure. La Playa Bistro sells a range of wines from around the world. “It’s a casual elegance here,” Hoang said. The restaurant has been in the works for two years. Over the years, Hoang has watched the property change from a gas station to a U-Haul pick-up and drop-off location, to an abandoned lot. “It was built from scratch,” Hoang said of the new building, owned by the Oliver McMillan Development Group. Hoang previously owned Point Coffee in the same neighborhood. She grew a reputation for sharing quotes with customers, as she would post them at the coffee shop daily. Many customers looked forward to these quotes and some would even supply Hoang with new quips. Some quotes were funny and others meaningful. To Hoang, this was a tradition that she wanted to continue at the new bistro. She noted that when people read the quotes it instantly lifted their spirits and put them in a relaxed mood. She wants diners at La Playa Bistro to feel the same way. She appreciates the caliber of local residents and loves being by the water. “I live in paradise right here,” said Hoang, who lives nearby. Hoang describes the fare at La Playa Bistro as New American, California cuisine. While the menu will change with the season, the bistro offers dishes that will serve as anchors, such as the popular lamb burgers and French toast. “We do a really nice chicken pot pie with organic chicken breast,” Hoang said. Other menu items will be more temporary. The chefs use whatever fish is freshest that day. Most of the ingredients are organic as well. “We celebrate the fresh food of the season,” Hoang said. In the future, the owners hope to add a marketplace. There is limited parking behind the bistro, but guests may also park on the surrounding streets. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information or to see the rolling quotes, visit www.laplayabistro.com. Call (619) 546-9500 for reservations.