The folks behind Tipo have done it again.
We can always rely on the team behind the popular Muslim-owned pasta bar to deliver, and this time, they’ve unveiled yet another exciting concept.
Aside from the OG Tipo Pasta Bar, they’ve also got Tipo Strada, Tipo Gnocchi, Tipo Pizzeria e Trattoria, and now, Tipo Osteria.
Tucked along Hamilton Road, the restaurant-cafe sports vintage furnishings and cosy mood lighting, ideal for both group gatherings and intimate dates. You can also find homemade pastries and freshly baked bread for sale, best enjoyed with an espresso.
For the unitiated, an osteria is a type of casual Italian eatery serving simple fare, with an emphasis on local specialities like pasta and grilled meat or fish, often served at shared tables.
As such, you can look forward to a selection of antipasti (starter), insalata (salad), primi (first course), secondi (second course), and a dolce (dessert).
Without a doubt, you should be heading straight for the four-course Set Menu (S$38.90), which features items from the a la carte menu, giving you the most bang for your buck. Portions are also pretty generous, so you can share it with a friend — unless the both of you have particularly big appetites.
For antipasti, you get to choose between two different serving styles of foccacia, and the Bruschetta (U.P. S$12), comprising sweet and juicy roasted cherry tomatoes, whipped feta, and basil on house foccacia, was the obvious choice.
It’s a classic combination you absolutely cannot go wrong with.
Before moving on to the primi, we chose to add on an extra antipasti, the Lasagne Fritta (S$15), deep-fried lasagne cubes stuffed with beef pastrami, cheese and black pepper, served with a fermented chilli tomato sauce.
Despite being a lot spicier than it looked, the piquant sauce really helped to cut through the richness of the lasagne cubes — a win in our books.
As for the pasta course, you’ve got classics like the Squid Ink Linguine (U.P. S$22) and Chicken Risotto (U.P. S$20), but it was the Duck Mousse Ravioli (U.P. S$24) that truly stole the show.
Think ravioli filled with braised duck mousse and topped with pickled turnip, served in a rich and comforting duck broth, with nary a hint of gaminess.
This is followed by the customary meat or seafood course, and as tempted as we were by the Barramundi (UP. S$30) and Osso Buco (U.P. S$30, +S$6), it was the Chicken Cotoletta (U.P. S$24) we eventually opted for.
Massive portion size aside — it’s about 300 to 350g of breaded chicken cutlet we’re dealing with here — I loved that the chicken was super meaty without being tough or chewy. It also paired wonderfully with the accompanying Italian slaw, parmesan, and mustard sauce.
As much as I would’ve loved to end the meal with the signature Tiramisu (U.P. S$12), which I previously tried at Tipo Gnocchi, my dining partner and I wanted something cold and refreshing. Thank goodness, then, for the Ricotta Semifreddo (U.P. S$12), a frozen dessert with a texture similiar to ice cream, adorned with blueberry compote, parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Don’t overlook the unique selection of Housecraft beverages, or mocktails, with drinks like the Spiced Pineapple Cobbler (S$10), Espresso Mocktini (S$10), and even non-alcoholic wine — we liked the fruity Altina Fingerlime Sauvignon Blanc (from S$12 per glass) reminscent of kombucha.
One thing to note: the ventilation wasn’t the best during our visit, which we’ll chalk up to teething issues, so we hope the team will take our feedback into consideration and work on providing an even more pleasant dining experience!
Eager to indulge in a hearty and unfussy Italian meal with your loved ones at Tipo Osteria? Reservations can be made here.
PS. Constantly on the lookout for Muslim-owned Italian spots in Singapore? You can also check out The Fluffy Chef and Gioia!
Tipo Osteria
Facebook | Instagram | Website
📍 16 Hamilton Rd, #01-05, Singapore 209186
🕒 10am–10pm (Daily)
For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨