A bistro is a small, casual restaurant that serves simple, hearty food. The word comes from France, where bistros have been popular gathering places for over a century. Picture a cozy neighborhood spot with a few tables, a chalkboard menu, and the smell of fresh bread or soup drifting from the kitchen.

Bistros are known for being relaxed and unpretentious. You won't find fancy decorations or formal waiters in tuxedos. Instead, bistros focus on making good, honest food: things like roast chicken, fresh salads, crusty sandwiches, or a bowl of French onion soup. The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly, the kind of place where regulars know the owner by name.

The word has spread beyond France, and now you'll find bistros in cities around the world. Sometimes restaurants use bistro in their name to signal that they're casual and welcoming rather than stuffy or expensive. A bistro-style meal means simple, flavorful cooking without unnecessary complexity, the kind of food that makes you feel satisfied and content rather than dazzled by fancy presentation.