By Rick Clapp

The new O2 Bistro is the creation of maven and restaurant extraordinaire John Schaefer. He was the mastermind of Outriggers on the Kemah Channel where locals, as well as tourists, relished the great view and awesome fresh, fried seafood, burgers and cold beer.

The dynamic General Manager Tina Philepot was selected personally by Schaefer to run and operate O2 Bistro because of her vast knowledge and creativity in the kitchen. Philepot hails from some of Houston’s best establishments and fine eateries. Schaefer has taken a different and unique approach with O2 Bistro. This fine but casual eatery and bar offers the best in good fresh seafood, steaks, chops and superb delicious appetizers and mouthwatering decadent house-made desserts. The bar is fully loaded with premium call liquors, cold beers and a nice wine list. The friendly and knowledgeable bartenders Audra and Sierra put a nice face to the place. The bar is always lively and a great place to mingle, hangout or just have a drink and enjoy their renowned appetizers.

O2 Bistro knows appetizers. Some of the Bay’s best starters include the filet bites, which are so tender they just melt in your mouth and served with crispy fried onion strings. The charcuterie board is a real winner and feeds up to four as an appetizer. This delicious assorted platter offers artisan meats, cheeses, olives, mango chutney and fresh baked toast points.

Deviled eggs go well with your favorite drink, wine or cold beer. This southern favorite is simple but good and filling. The eggs are topped with tobiko, which gives them an epicurean taste liked by all. A must is the O2 mussels. These little delicacies are sake steamed with kaffir lime and green mango sunken into a coconut curry.

They also offer the largest list of affordable appetizers in the Galveston Bay area, including fresh oysters on the half shell or Rockefeller, snapper ceviche, calamari, and ahi poke just to name a few.

For the soup and salad lover, the jumbo lump crab bisque is sumptuous and served with lots of lump crab in a cream based soup. They have fresh salads such as the caprese salad, the wedge and a favorite is the house salad with seared ahi tuna, served with sesame seeds, fresh mango, and avocado in an incredible ginger citrus soy vinaigrette. O2 Bistro’s salads are complete meals in themselves.

All entrees served at O2 Bistro score extremely high marks, starting with Snapper Schaefer. This epicurean delight is served with a large fresh snapper filet with crabmeat, pasta, asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms and with lime chervil butter.

O2 Bistro’s regulars love these items. The blackened redfish Louisiana style with rice pilaf and vegetable medley as well as their authentic shrimp and grits with andouille sausage. Another choice of the locals is the shrimp and scallops pasta, served in an incredibly good garlic and white wine sauce. The double rack pork chop served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus in a unique cider blend – pepper glaze is incredible.

This pork chop rivals “you-know-who’s” at Baybrook Mall. For the salmon fans, a definite choice is the citrus glazed salmon, which is made to perfection and not overcooked. It comes with jasmine rice and a vegetable medley.

O2 caters to its meat lovers and offers all certified Black Angus cuts from Filet Mignon to Ribeye, New York Strip and a nice Top Sirloin. The quality of the steaks and price are right. For the best deal try their steak night, you will not believe the prices. You can even order a nice bottle of wine and not break the bank.

The popular O2 steak night also offers Mediterranean kebabs, shaking beef 8 oz. Vietnamese wok seared top sirloin, ribeyes, pork chop, ahi tuna and filet mignon. All served with sides at no extra cost! The steak night favorite is the filet mignon topped with fresh chimichurri sauce.

Your dessert finale with dinner, or just by itself, includes the best Crème brûlée, served with fresh berries, apple and blueberry crisp with pecan streusel and buttermilk-like ice cream. Simply delicious!

O2 Bistro’s happy hour is all day Wednesday at the bar and offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

O2 Bistro offers special themed wine dinners as well. The upstairs O2 private room seats up to 60 people and is perfect for your corporate receptions, dinners, special events, wedding showers, family reunions, holiday or birthday parties and more. There is no extra charge for the room.

The culinary dynamic duo, John Schaefer and Tina Philepot, have created a winning combination of great food at affordable prices, perfect for families and your choice of indoor or outdoor dining in a casual setting. You can come by land or by sea. Boat slips are available. O2 Bistro is conveniently located at 1002 Aspen Road at the entrance of Clear Lake Shores on the water.

Reservations not required but a good idea on Friday and Saturday nights. Call (281) 532-6860.

Come as you are to O2 Bistro and enjoy the view, great food in a most relaxed, casual, family-friendly setting. Tell John and Tina that Rick sent ya! Bon appetite!

CHEERS: Great views, friends, food and drinks in a relaxed, casual atmosphere