When you cross the stone bridge over the Alzette in the heart of Clausen, you can’t miss “OiO, Osteria con Cucina” thanks to its sublime wooden terrace with flowers overlooking the river. “OiO” refers to the lightness of oil drops that complete a plate. “Osteria con Cucina” is an ancient term describing a place where you can eat and drink. At OiO, you will enjoy an Italian cuisine focusing on products, celebrating freshness and simplicity.
All of Chef Leonardo De Paoli’s professional choices have led him to open OiO, a casual restaurant offering quality products “as I like it” he explains. To be the best manager of his own restaurant, the chef worked as a waiter for a year, learned the tricks of management by managing a team of 16 people in a restaurant in New York and, of course, worked for 7 years as sous-chef of the Grund’s double starred restaurant, Mosconi. A multi-skilled CV with which he can fulfil his dream with all the strings he has to his bow.
“I fell in love with the place and immediately knew the atmosphere I wanted to create” the Chef recalls. The result is minimalist, yet very intimate decor, with wooden tables and cross-backed country chairs in a vintage and rustic style. Hanging lamps from the exposed beams of the old brewery, modernised with a coat of light paint. Paintings of old Italian advertisements brighten up the white painted brick walls. OiO is undoubtedly a place where one likes to take refuge from the autumnal greyness and discover the Italian sun shining on the plate and in the friendly atmosphere. With only 9 tables inside and 10 outside, the team in the dining room is very attentive, which is essential for the chef. “I prefer to limit the number of tables to ensure a good experience for the customer.”
“A casual restaurant offering quality products as I like it.”
On the terrace, the Chef has placed dozens of empty pots and wine boxes filled with green plants, flowers and herbs on the low wall, which he takes care of with pleasure “it’s my way of de-stressing!” Before each service, the cooks come to pick the herbs they will need for the service.
The good news is that the terrace has recently been fitted out with a roof, which can be retracted in fine weather, so that you can enjoy a dinner at the water even in the middle of autumn, and an outdoor heater for greater comfort.
As for the menu, it is changed every two or three weeks to keep up with the latest arrivals. By choosing not to have a cold room, so as not to store too much, the cuisine offered at OiO is fresh Italian cuisine prepared with the best products every day, “if a product doesn’t suit me, I don’t serve it, it’s as simple as that, because I can’t cook a dish that I don’t think is up to scratch.” In the same vein, and with a view to reducing food waste as much as possible, the Chef proposes an antipasti called “Pappa al pomodoro” prepared with leftover bread and foccacia that simmers for 8 hours with San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and burrata. “This dish was an instant hit, so it remains on the menu all year round!” The fresh pasta is of course created à la minute, by a cook dedicated to this art, “with the machine that belonged to my grandmother,” explains the Chef.
Before succumbing to a dessert, taste one (or more) of the Italian cheeses selected from the “cheese ferrari” trolley, the pride of the Chef. Also passionate about wine, the chef and his team have carefully selected the 150 wines that make up their cellar. If the choice of a bottle is too difficult, 18 wines are offered by the glass, enough for a real tasting!
If you want to discover the secrets of Leonardo De Paoli’s cooking, you can follow him like his shadow for an entire service. “A great experience for food lovers to watch, participate in the creation and to taste the dishes and wines of course!” says the Chef with a smile, because as he reminds us “I have no secrets.” It is this open-mindedness and this desire to share a beautiful cuisine that you will find when you visit OiO. Buon appetito!
OiO
48, Montée de Clausen — L-1343 Luxembourg
Tel. +352 / 26 20 14 99