Abistro, owned and run by husband and wife team Abdoul and Cassandra Gueye, serves West African fusion cuisine. Originally from Senegal, Chef Gueye incorporates his classical training and Asian ingredients to create a successful fusion of African, French and Asian fare. Cassandra runs the front of the house, and her presence makes everyone feel welcome and taken care of, especially when there’s a wait. Another welcoming aspect of this small but lively restaurant is that it’s BYOB. Could it get any better?

One of the entrée specials was blackened catfish with black bean sauce, corn salsa, coconut sautéed plantains, and sautéed vegetables. Another wonderful surprise, all the flavors — while individually strong — complemented one another. The crunchiness of the corn contrasted the smoothness of the catfish and puréed black bean sauce. The plantains were sweet and supple with hints of coconut and maple syrup, and a vegetable medley of bok choi, spinach and mushrooms could have convinced me to become vegetarian.

Abistro is a popular spot; even at 9pm there was a good 20-minute wait, and with good reason. It houses good grub, good vibes and merriment all around. Doesn’t that sound like somewhere you’d want to be?