Hello all, hope all of you are doing well. I am back again to share some amazing food that I've ate recently with my wife after a long week of business for the both of us. This is a place that my colleagues introduced me some time back but until this particular meal, I've been wanting to visit but somehow I shelved it for another day.
The Place
iO Italian Osteria
Address: Hill v2, 4 Hillview Rise, #02 - 01, Singapore 667979
Notes on this place: The restaurant is located in a neighbourhood shopping mall Hill v2 that has plenty of parking if you drive. iO is not the only restaurant here, this place is blessed with an array of restaurants and bakeries which I will definitely be back to explore and then share the food finds with all of you. In the part Hill v2 mall is hard to access if you are not driving, but with the opening the Hillview Downtown Line station for Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system, visiting Hill v2 is so much easier than before.
One thing I have to mention about this restaurant is their service. From getting me and my wife a seat till food ordering and serving, the service rendered was top notch and from time to time, there will be people coming to us and asked if the food is ok and if it suits our taste. I think this is something that I rarely see in restaurants in Singapore which I really appreciate. It really elevates the dining experience.
The ambience at this place feels so homely. I visited this place in the afternoon but with the lighting setup, I think it will be amazing during dinner time when the daylights starts to dim. Nice place to dine in and have a good meal with family and loved ones. I also like the open concept where you see the joy of the chefs preparing and cooking your meal. There is a small corner at the restaurant where it sell ready made Italian cookies, pastries, pizza and coffee. Do note, the pizza is freshly made and you'll know when a new batch is done from the smell oozing out from the oven.
The Food
Now to the main highlight of this post, the amazing food that is served. Prior to visiting, my wife and I took a peek at the reviews on google for the restaurant, there were plenty of good comments and plenty of recommendations. And I quote one of the review that caught my eye, "Everything is good, you can blindly order and you will not be disappointed." That is one bold statement to make and how much confidence this reviewer had with the restaurant.
So here's what my wife and I ordered:
For mains, we ordered family style to share the food between the two of us.
- Baked Lasagna "Grandma Style"
- Porchetta, Baked Pork Belly with Wild Fennel
- Pepperoni Pizza
We had some craving for Italian coffee so we ordered 2 different cups of caffein beverage.
- Americano (for me)
- Latte (for my wife)
We didn't order any dessert because we were rather full from the mains that we had.
Food Showcase & Review
The appearance of it look like an ordinary dish. But below the surface of the top crust packed a punch. I've tasted many Lasagna before and often end up in disappointment because I feel like I am eating a big stack of hardened pastry as I will need to exert some force when I cut into the Lasagna and put in a little more bite when I eat them. But this Lasagna is totally different from what I've tasted before. I can cut into it with so much ease and it almost melt in the mouth when I eat it. It felt so smooth, soft and so rich in flavour. If you've previously being disappointed by badly done Lasagna, this Lasagna served by iO will totally change your mind. A definitely must try dish here.
Served in long rectangular slices instead of the usual triangular slices cut out from round pans. Nicely baked with a good crisp throughout. The base bread is of a good thickness and balanced with the topping. (I've eaten some really thick base ones which is not a pleasant experience) The topping is well done as well with a good amount of cheese and generous serving of pepperoni. This pizza beats all franchise pizza outlets hands down no matter what gimmick these franchise can come up with. One of the better pizzas that I've eaten thus far.
A dish that made me rethink about the cantonese styled roast pork which looks very similar with a crackling skin form from holes in the top skin of pork belly. I was always a fan of roast pork and I do hold high standards when it comes to roast pork. This dish also had a crispy top skin, not the usual crackling kind but just a simple continuous layer that is really crispy with every bite. The good use of Fennel helps to curb the oily taste of eating pork belly elevating the dish further. Another must try from this restaurant.
Simple and rich aroma coffee for both variants. A good brew of coffee that is well worth the money spent. Not overly powering but no signs of being diluted.
Overall:
All the food we ordered were above standard and some were even top notch. I think it is really like what the review mentioned that you can order anything and not be disappointed. Good ambience, good service and good food, what more can I ask for? One thing I didn't mention early is that, while the food served are all fantastic, the price point is equally fantastic and highly affordable without burning a big hole in your wallet. I will definitely return for more of their amazing food and also their dessert that I didn't manage to order this time round.
Closing
A nice recommendation from my colleague which serves really good authentic Italian food and help me get rid of past impression of certain dishes which were not done properly. iO has successfully win me over as a customer and I will definitely be back for more. If you love Italian wine, they also have a good variety of Italian including the likes of Amarone, Barolo and Chianti which I think will be great for dinners.
Thank you for coming by and reading my post. Hope you enjoyed my sharing. Let me know your thoughts and I hope to share more good food with the community soon.
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