Authentic Italian food at reasonable prices. Sound incredible? Oso Ristorante offers just that. Located along Tanjong Pagar Road , the eatery's dark interiors and shady awnings make it easy to miss. Miss Oso and miss out on a gastronomic delight, though, for the 2-year-old eatery offers over seventy Italian specialties.

• The Vibe
  Keep your eyes peeled for Oso, for its location along Tanjong Pagar Road requires an alert pair of peepers to spot it while driving. Once found, however, be charmed by the rattan egg-shaped chairs in which you can be enveloped, outside the restaurant. Step in, and be greeted by an inviting chill-out area in which comfortable sofas, complete with red and grey pillows, accompany low tables for a relaxed look. Make your way through the narrow doorway leading to the dining area, and be surprised that it seats more people than expected. Round and oval paper lanterns give the place a somewhat Oriental vibe, while decorative branches adorned with crystals add a pretty touch to the ceiling. A wine cellar, in which the restaurant's 300 varieties of wine are stored, also doubles as a private dining room, where patrons may enjoy a meal away from the clatter of the rest of the premises.
• The Food
  Traditional Italian fare is the restaurant's main draw. Besides the ubiquitous pastas available nowadays, Oso offers an impressive spread of delectable antipasto (appetisers), affettatti (cold cuts) as well as carne (meat) and pesce (fish) dishes.

  Seafood lovers, do order the Granchio ($20) , which is an appetiser of crab meat, orange and mixed vegetables, in traditional scabece dressing. The crab meat was amazingly fresh, sweet and succulent with a taste of the sea. Those tired of wrestling with crab claws will be delighted as the crab is shelled for your enjoyment. The orange-hued mixed vegetables make for an eye-catching contrast of colour to the crab meat and side of arugula salad, and is appetisingly crunchy.

  The Bresaola ($21) or cured beef is tasty, but the deciding factor is the baby peach soaked with truffle oil, a slice of which decorates every sliver of beef. Resulting in a surprisingly zesty appetiser, this will tantalise the palate for more to come.

  Fans of traditional fare will do well to order the home made pappardelle with deboned oxtail and Porcini mushroom($22). The perfectly-made ribbon pasta simply glides down the throat, its taste nicely accentuated by the shredded oxtail and mushroom. It is simple yet satisfying Italian comfort food at its best.

  Those not in the mood for carbohydrate-laden pasta, try the Sogliola ($30) or grilled dover sole fillet, served with zucchini, marinated tomato and capers. However, diners used to fillets being soft and flaky may not like this dish as the fish has a surprisingly chewy consistency. Taste-wise, there is room for improvement as well.

  When dining at Oso, definitely save some space for dessert(all $12), as they are truly delightful. The Lemon and Mascarpone cheesecake, with limoncello liquor sauce, is a refreshing take on the ubiquitous cheesecake. The mascarpone, with its distinctive taste, is set off by the piquant limoncello , making a dance of flavours on the palate. Do also try the Crispy Cornucopia with Mandarino cream. The savoury-tasting Cornucopia shell is a good accompaniment to the sweet, light cream, further heightened by the tart orange slices. Last, but not least, chocolate lovers must try the Crostata, or hot dark chocolate tart with milk ice cream. The tart's shell is thin and crisp, while its chocolate middle, served hot and paired with milk ice cream, will send any chocoholic straight to dessert heaven.

• The Service
  Immaculately-dressed waiters greet you and never fail to ask if everything is fine in between courses. Attentive but not overbearing, they will add to your pleasant dining experience.

The SD Food Advisor's Take on Oso Ristorante
Nondescript, but looks can be deceiving. Look past its exterior and plunge into the hearty world of Italian cuisine. While the restaurant is a tad cramped, the quality of food and service more than makes up for this.