It’s unfair to review a place after only one visit but my excuse is that it’s what most other reviewers here have done. This makes me feel a little less guilty about recounting my underwhelming experience at Osteria Oggi in contrast to everyone else’s superlative ones.
Generally Italian food does tend to be fairly elemental, but I found this to be especially exaggerated here. This is pasta. This is cheese. This is meat. I won’t say it was boring. It was just “expected” and not something I would be in any hurry to return to.
Service was also very scant on my visit. My partner and I stared intently at several servers wanting to order but were consciously ignored – repeatedly. We weren’t the only ones either, with a party of three next to us waiting for probably 10-15 minutes before they were able to order drinks. This is considering it was on a week night with the restaurant half empty. Unlike us though, the people next to us were happy to wait and enjoy the ambience of the Osteria Oggi.
This brings me to my main annoyance with this restaurant – the fit out. Visually it is spectacular. Luxurious, unexpected and original. In practice however the polished concrete bench, tiled floor and bare walls make this place incredibly noisy. Combine this with the fact that you’ll more than likely be sharing a table with other people and you will feel like you are in a food court. I get it; this is meant to be casual and lively. However it can be a bit tiring shouting across the table at your partner, just so you can be heard above the din of diners next to you trying to do the same. Best to just abandon conversation. Just take out your phone and take photos of the food instead.
Location
Pirie Street, City Centre, Adelaide, SA