I make it a point to try out as many Italian restaurants as I can when I dine out because I LOVE pasta. GIO which stands for Gourmet Italian Osteria, had been on my radar since I think even before COVID but I finally had the chance to try it recently and I have great news - it is perfect for date night. The cosy and intimate restaurant wasn't too noisy nor had did it have food smells when I visited as well, which was great. They have an extensive wine list and a manageable food menu.
We started with a glass each of this, which was well recommended by the sommelier.
Here's the menu of what's available at GIO - Gourmet Italian Osteria as of 2023 (since GST is now 8%!). It's a small selection of 5 fried pizzas,
To start off the meal, we ordered the Parmigiana di Melanzane (S$18), which was a vegetarian dish with deep-fried eggplant served with tomato sauce and grated pecorino. The dish was a perfect balance of flavours with the crispy eggplant that paired perfectly with the tangy tomato sauce. The crispy pecorino cheese bits also added a rich, salty flavour that also complemented the dish well.
Next, we tried their unique fried pizza called Pizza Fritta con Crudo, Caprino e Spinacini (S$28). This dish had prosciutto crudo, caprino cheese,and spinach bits and was not overly fried or oily (our main concern). The fried pizza dough gave a unique crispy texture to the thin crust, with the prosciutto adding a salty, meaty flavour that was balanced out by the creamy caprino cheese and the freshness of the spinach bits.
I would totally recommend giving their Pizza Fritta a try because its such a unique but well-executed dish.
Lastly, we tried the Rigatoni alla Carbonara (S$32), which was an authentic Italian dish made with guanciale (cured pork cheeks), egg yolks, pecorino cheese, and black pepper. No cream was added to the dish, making it as authentic as it can be. I just did not expect the rigatoni to be so huge. Overall the dish was rich, creamy and flavourful though it could get quite boring if one were to consume the entire thing, since the guanciale and cheese were quite salty! It's nice for two or 4 pax to share though.
And I think that was it, we didn't order any dessert because we were stuffed after two carb dishes and a fried dish. Overall, our experience at GIO - Gourmet Italian Osteria was great. The restaurant had a romantic ambiance and the friendly service made us feel welcome. The food was delicious, with the Pizza Fritta con Crudo being my top pick. If you're looking for a decent Italian restaurant in Singapore, GIO - Gourmet Italian Osteria is definitely worth trying!
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GIO - Gourmet Italian Osteria
27 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088450
Mondays to Fridays 11.30am to 3pm, Mondays to Saturdays 5.30pm to 11.30pm (12mn on Sat)
Closed on Sundays
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