iO Italian Osteria - Pattaya — Restaurant in Pattaya City

Love this place. I dine in about once a month. I'm always surprised there aren't more customers. I think maybe from the outside people think it looks fancy, and is therefore expensive. If you're reading this, understand it's a casual restaurant where everyone is welcome. Really good food and moderate prices for the quality. Prices are like what you'd drop on a meal at Applebee's, so don't fret. The other thing is that all the restaurants on this floor of the mall do the Thai style of greeting passersby which is kind of uncomfortable. People want to walk in on their own volition.

Anyway, once inside you're treated to free, fresh bread with olive oil and vinegar. The house draft beer here is really good. Especially if you're tired of the typical Thai offerings. The kitchen is open viewing which is a nice touch. The salads are delicious and often with hard to come by ingredients that you don't often see elsewhere in Thailand. I love the burrata pizza. I sometimes go for the daily specials that they've got written on the giant chalkboard above the kitchen.

Just a solid place to spend a meal. I always leave happy. On level with similar restaurants found in Bangkok. Something sorely missing in Pattaya in my opinion.

The staff are all friendly and super on top of their service...

I asked if they could make the spicy chicken not spicy. The waitress showed me a menu that had a different chicken dish and she said it was not spicy. I ordered it and after three small bites my lips, mouth and throat were burning. I was finished. Even the vegetables were too spicy. They also served me stale bread.

I asked her why she told me the dish was not spicy when I specifically stated that I did not want a spicy dish. She said it's only a little spicy. I can eat a little spicy. That was ridiculous. She didn't say it was a little spicy when she showed it to me. She said it was not spicy.

I can't rate the service very high when they do something like that. I have had other dishes there that were good, but the bread is always hit or miss. This review is based on this meal.

The atmosphere is more of a personal preference. It's in a mall and some seating is out where people are walking by.

I paid the bill and took the meal with me and will see if a Thai friend of mine wants to try it. It may end up in the garbage.

The price of that meal was a little over $16.00 US dollars. That's before they ad their service fee and tax. With the fees, tax and bottle of water, it came to around $20.00 US dollars. Not out of line if it was good. The prices I stated are based on current...

As I walked toward the restaurant to check out the menu I was greeted with smiles. I wasn't hungry but needed to grab dinner so I was glad to see that they had light meals.

The waitress who helped me was patient and efficient. She told me about their smoothie and juice flavor options. I opted for orange juice which was quite refreshing.

I ordered a tomato and olive focaccia. My order came in good time. I was truly enjoying the meal when I was met with a rather unpleasant visitor. A cockroach 🪳 walking on my seat. I immediately lost my appetite and wanted to leave the restaurant.

I am however a lover pf sorbet and gelato. They had lemon gelato and I wanted some. So I asked them to pack my focaccia to go and the gelato to go as well.

With a smile on her face tje waitress said politely that the gelato is better when eaten at the restaurant. As much as I wanted to get out. I took my mind off the roach and agreed to enjoy my lemon gelato at the restaurant.

The gelato was delicious. Garnished with almonds, walnuts and cranberries. It also had a biscotti base. I truly enjoyed it.

The staff were constantly smiling.

Aside from the uninvited guest I actually liked...