Osteria Felice in Central serves up delightful dishes and offers attentive service

Felice means happy in Italian, and the Epicurean Group, the force behind the Italian restaurant which has replaced Il Milione in Hutchison House, lives up to its boast to "put a smile on your face". The staff are welcoming and attentive, the surroundings convivial with pictures of smiling faces adorning the walls, and the delicious food completes the picture.

We started with the roast chicken and parmesan sandwich chicken broth zuppe and the fiora di latte mozzarella and burrata. The sandwich in the soup offered a delicious contrast of crunch in a tasty soup, à la clam chowder. The roasted leek was wonderful but the soft texture of both components would have benefited from some contrast.

Next were the quattro funghi pizza, with wild mushrooms, smoked buffalo mozzarella and basil; and a flavourful linguine vongole, with clams, zucchini and parsley. The pizza was delicious, and was accompanied by a side of tasty chilli flakes, but the topping was all in the middle, leaving a large crust around the edges. It could have been distributed better.

Dessert continued in a similar vein. Tiramisu was soft and delicious, exactly as it should be, while the lemon tart lived up to expectations, appearing with Campari and blood-orange sorbet.

While the wine and cocktails menus are extensive, we settled on a Birra Moretti and a glass of Painter Bridge red zinfandel from California.