It's so O'sonho!
After a single plate, I fell in love. Is it possible to fall in love with a sea bass? In any case, sitting down at the new Portuguese restaurant O’sonho — which means “of dreams” — I found the sea bass was indeed dreamy: an enchanting fish bathed in a decadent lemon, butter and herb sauce, all laid out on a bed of fragrant rice. If happiness is a satisfied stomach, then this fish is one pathway to happiness. I can’t stop talking about this delightful bass.
Now, of course, everything else is worth pining over at O’sonho, which is located on Jupiter Street in Makati. Restaurant owners Nik and Cris Barancik wanted dining in O’sonho to be an enchanting experience. Here’s how enchanting: You walk through the glass doors and take a seat at one of the resto’s artsy tangerine couches. A warm light bathes the dining space. Everything is cozy, intimate. The mood is lively, even past midnight. The bar is well stocked to keep night owls happy. And the menu offers an array of delectable Portuguese specialties with a good mix of flavor and spice.
Portuguese cuisine is not so familiar to Filipino tastes, though Spanish is, of course. Aside from the sea bass, O’sonho also makes a delicious and delicate peri peri chicken pasta. The pasta is tossed in a dressing made of Greek olive oil, herbs, spices, and that special chili sauce called peri peri. Tender chicken slices are piled on top of this pasta for a very hearty finish. Enjoy this with a fruity glass of shiraz.
Moreover, Osonho’s also got other special entrées, including tenderloin steak, Angus rib-eye, Osonho’s dry seafood paella, a marinated leg of lamb dish called Jeera Meera Masala, skewers of tenderloin and seafood called Espetada de Carne, and the O’sonho salmon and lamb with Parmesan-crusted eggplant.
Meanwhile, for something light to snack on, try O’sonho’s very own take on the classic bacalao. It is a hearty dish of codfish that is cured in salt for some time before cooking in a tangy tomato stew. In this restaurant, Bacalhau de O’sonho is served in a little bowl with lots of pita bread for topping and dipping.
If that’s not appetizing enough, O’sonho also serves up Portuguese gambas, mozzarella veggie fritters, picado or beef salpicao, Portuguese chorizo, beer-battered fish fingers, chorizo sisig, and O’sonho’s Platter O’ Fries.
And for dessert, I had the pleasure of trying two irresistible delights. First there was sans rival — the buttercream and meringue icing added the perfect contrast, with neither overpowering the other. You get a bit of each in every bite. This was sinful, naughty and nutty.
Then came the Toblerone mousse. This dessert is not so sweet at all with layers of mousse and cake enveloping the palate for a full chocolate experience. Both of these desserts were actually created by Karen’s Kitchen especially for O’sonho. Try either of these with a hot cup of brewed coffee and you’ll be in dessert nirvana.
O’sonho is truly a place for those of us who eat for pleasure. The mood is light. The food is sensuous. And the whole O’sonho experience is simply delectable.
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O’sonho restaurant can be found along Jupiter Street, Makati (near Razon’s).
