iO Italian Osteria Has A 4.6-Star Rating With Over 5K Reviews—Is It Worth The Hype?

iO Italian Osteria is a popular Italian restaurant at HillV2

Italian restaurants are aplenty in Singapore, but few possess the widespread popularity and acclaim that iO Italian Osteria has. Opened in 2014, the HillV2 restaurant currently boasts a 4.6-star rating with over 5k reviews on Google Maps, a testament to its high reception. Its prices are also on the more affordable end for Italian cuisine—a main dish here hovers around the $20++ range.

Of course, with the stellar selection of dishes here, you’re probably going to be spending quite a bit, as did we. We came away from this meal mostly impressed by iO Italian Osteria’s fare, though there are a few misses.

Food at iO Italian Osteria

We started our meal with one of the most sought-after items on the menu, the Stuffed Schiacciata Romana (from $13++). This humble-looking bread dish, thinner and crispier than focaccia, has a secret weapon: its truffle and cheese spread.

The two cheeses in this spread, pecorino and mascarpone, gave the bread a sharp, savoury finish with an underlying creaminess. The aromatic and earthy truffle only intensified the flavours, making this bread dish a force to be reckoned with.

We moved on to another of the restaurant’s claims to fame, the Porchetta ($12++). This classic Italian dish sees baked pork belly stuffed with wild fennel, with some mustard served on the side. We loved absolutely everything about this dish, from the crackly skin to the juicy meat. The wild fennel, with its sharp, herbaceous flavour, was the cherry on top.

For our pasta dish, our waiter recommended we try the Tagliolini Gamberi ($26++), said to be so popular that peak hours create a lengthy wait for this dish. Here, tagliolini is tossed with prawns, asparagus, and lemon for extra zest.

They nailed the pasta’s texture and the creamy prawn stock here, with the asparagus adding a grassy bite and freshness. This would’ve received our full backing if it weren’t for the rather tiny prawns—we expected something with more bite, given the price.

Our waiter also recommended we try the Pesce del Mercato ($26++), based on the fish of the day. It appeared to be a sea bass with a flaky texture and a gentle sear. However, the fish had really heavy-handed seasoning, making it much too salty for our tastes. It was also a tad limp and mushy, possibly from overcooking.

We concluded our meal with the Pistachio Tiramisu ($18++), a nutty spin on the classic Italian dish. Pistachio paste is sandwiched between mascarpone cream and soaked ladyfingers, with finely chopped pistachios dusted over the whole shebang. While the tiramisu itself wasn’t as rich and creamy as the best around, this was still a satisfying end to our meal.

Ambience at iO Italian Osteria

iO Italian Osteria has a lived-in, almost chaotic look that gives it an unmistakable charm. It’s as if you’re in the midst of a vibrant marketplace, except that Italian cuisine is the only thing sold here. Nevertheless, it’s a comfortable and welcoming spot that you could bring your friends and family to.

The restaurant is a three-minute walk from Hillview MRT Station.

iO Italian Osteria – Eatbook Review

iO Italian Osteria offers delicious Italian food at reasonable prices. It’s hard to resist the perfection of dishes like the Stuffed Schiacciata Romana and Porchetta, and the others are worth a shot, too.

For a $68++ Italian buffet at Conrad Singapore Orchard, read our Basilico review. For an award-winning pizzeria in Fort Canning, read our Pizzeria Vincenzo Capuano review.

Address: 4 Hillview Rise, #02-01, HillV2, Singapore 667979
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6710 7150
Website
iO Italian Osteria is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Rishav Chakraverty.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.