Established in the kingdom 3 years ago, Oskar first came to the scene in Bangkok in 2011. It soon became a favorite among those looking for a casually elegant restaurant serving hearty food, and potent cocktails. It seemed only natural then, that the Oskar owners open a second location in Phnom Penh, when the time and location were ripe for something new.

Oskar specializes in Western cuisine, and its menu is specially crafted by none other than the Michelin-starred Chef Julien Lavigne (currently based in Bangkok). The kitchen in Phnom Penh is operated by chef Antony Pagani, a swiss national who worked all around the world before settling in the Khmer capital. Oskar serves dishes using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, and is a forerunner in the mission to support the use of local products as much as possible.

So what does a typical dining experience at Oskar consist of? Let us share our recipe/experience!

To begin with, we were warmly welcomed with three starters. Starting off is the Tuna Tataki with avocado mousse, teriyaki salad and sashimi sauce. Served in a beautiful glass jar, the tuna is cooked just enough to gain some color on the outside while remaining deliciously raw on the inside. This dish can be enjoyed solo, or shared around the table.

Buratta Cheese Salad may be a dish you’ve seen before, but the Buratta Cheese used at Oskar is not your usual fare. Freshly made in Siem Reap using Thai cow milk, Oskar restocks this cheese every few days to ensure optimal freshness. The salad is served with cherry tomatoes, rocket, basil dressing. Cheese lovers, BEWARE! Once you get a taste of this, no Buratta Cheese Salad will ever be able to live up to its standards.  Now go ahead and dip the Norwegian Salmon Skewer in this delicious wasabi sauce - not too strong, not too weak…. but just right!

A perfect night wouldn’t be complete without pizza. Burrata makes another welcome appearance, this time alongside parma ham. Another mouthwatering option is the Oskar pizza with truffle oil, parmesan and rocket salad. One more warning, diner - each slice tastes better than the last, and before long you’ll be licking the plate.

Moving onto the main course-the Rib Eye Steak. Using premium quality beef from Bassac Farm, this rib eye steak is served with potato croquettes, sautéed mushrooms, rocket salad and ratatouille and Kampot pepper sauce.

What’s special about this particular dish? About 90% of the vegetables used in the ratatouille are local products and the beef comes from a local farm where they breed hybrid cows. This way, the beef still remains local but of a higher quality what one would normally find here.

Moving onto the Mushroom Risotto - paired with seared foie gras, porcini mushrooms and port wine sauce, this was one of the stars of the night. Both the risotto and foie gras are creamy in their own right, but when put together they’re a match made in decadent heaven.

You might already be full from all of the delicious dishes above, but that’s why we have the expression “there is a second stomach for dessert!” One does not simply  forego the signature Oskar Chocolate Brownie... and trust us, this dissert tastes just as good as it looks. Warm and rich, this Brownie is topped with a nice, velvety scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the hot gooeyness of the brownie and the cold caress of the ice cream spikes the flavors to whole new levels. You’ll be growing a third stomach for another helping!

Last but not least, DRINKS! We tried several cocktails such Roku Gin Tonic, Cherry Blossom Sour Lychee and Rose Martini and Dragon Eyes Mojito (some of Oskar’s finest cocktails). If you are more in a wine state of mind, there are 50+ handpicked bottles of wine from vineyards all around the globe just waiting to be sipped appreciatively.

P.S Some promos at Oskar to keep an eye out!

• Ladies Night every Wednesday (Buy one get one free for all ladies on selected drinks) 
• Oskar Saturdays late happy hour (50% off on selected drinks from 10.30pm to midnight) 
• Every Monday is Industry nights (Buy one get one free for everyone working in the Food and Beverage industry).

Location: 159 Street Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Phsar Kandal 1, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh | Googlemap

Operating hours: 5PM - 2AM