Truffle Pig – Oshkosh
In a Bite
Restaurant Website: https://www.trufflepigwi.com/
Ambiance: Jazzy Italian vibes with stunning aesthetics
Music: Jazz playlist, comfortable 71 dB SPL
Service: Friendly staff, still learning
Price: $$-$$$
Food Style: Authentic Italian
What to Order: Beef tenderloin with truffle butter
Go Again? Absolutely yes
The Whole Plate
Oshkosh is known as a college town. UWO is a great campus but has earned the city the nickname Sloshkosh. However, TJ Rodgers is bringing some class to the downtown with Truffle Pig. If you don’t know, TJ was born and raised in Oshkosh before making a name (and a fortune) in semiconductors. He also owns TJ’s Highland Steakhouse at the Oshkosh Country Club and TJ’s Harbor Restaurant on the water. Safe to say, he’s got a big impact on food in Oshkosh.
Anyways! Truffle Pig is authentic Italian dining in the renovated Northwestern newspaper building. Cristiano Bassani was brought in as executive chef. Born in Bergamo, Italy, Chef Cristiano brings home grown Italian food and 36 years of kitchen experience across the world. That’s all nice but how does a journalist’s HQ make out as a restaurant? Let’s find out together.
Ambiance
The Northwestern building is a great spot for Truffle Pig. Huge stone columns support the historical looking building, beginning the experience before you even enter the restaurant. The Truffle Pig logo greets you in a rotating light on the ground at the door. More impactful at night. Very cool.
The host stand is a small room with beautiful mosaic tile floor. Once your reservation has been checked, your host opens the door for you to Italian wonderland. Warm tones remind of summer. Round ceilings and doorways where possible. Murals depicting scenes of Italian life capture your attention as you round the corner. There are a mix of booths, couches, and sturdy chair tables which offers good variety.
If you’ve been to a restaurant in Italy (or anywhere in Europe), you know it’s a tight fit in those ancient buildings. These spaces bring that compartmentalized feel without actually being cramped. The acoustics are decent as well. Music isn’t too loud. We didn’t have to yell to give our order or talk to each other.
Keep in mind when booking that there are three seating areas. The most iconic is the largest where we were sat but there is a medium size and a smaller room with windows to the street. Both are unique in their own right but not as big a show stopper. These spaces would be great for larger parties wishing to have more privacy. Just to manage people’s expectations, we wonder if they will make it possible to designate which room you’d like to be seated in when making a reservation.
The restaurant nails a classy atmosphere without feeling like a theme park version of Italy.
Service
Our servers were genuinely friendly and eager to help, though it’s clear they’re still getting familiar with the extensive Italian menu. Don’t let that discourage you – their enthusiasm more than makes up it. We love to ask for recommendations and our waitress provided lots of expertise even if she couldn’t say the Italian with 100% accuracy.
Something we haven’t experienced before: your leftovers are taken to the host stand at the front of the restaurant. You just pick up your bags as you leave rather than them sitting at your table. We did have two bags for two small containers so there are some efficiencies to be figured out with this.
Food
Let’s talk about that drinks first. The TJ’s Bellini captured summer in a glass, but a garnish would help it pop visually. The real standout was the Negroni Rossi. I’ve never had a negroni before but since this meal, it has become my go to. Sweet botanical front with a subtle bitter finish? Chef’s kiss. When it comes to the wine list, good luck. By the glass is navigable but there are 16 pages of bottles for the more well versed. The Susanmellio red wine proved to be an easy sipper that paired beautifully with our meal.
No additional charge for bread service like some places. Your choice of fresh focaccia, crusty Italian bread, or both. This is served with olive oil that’s brilliantly green and tastes pure, not a trace of bitter. Our waitress was kind enough to show us the bottle so we could find it for home!
The calamari and shrimp appetizer arrived piping hot. The batter was light and airy. The calamari rings were large, meaning they weren’t overcooked and chewy. The red sauce paired well but wasn’t a cocktail sauce. No horseradish, tomato forward, and served hot. We liked dipping in the olive oil from the bread service more because the oil is just that good. The prosciutto and burrata plate was exactly what you’d expect – simple, quality ingredients doing their thing.
For entrees, let’s talk about that candy wrapper pasta – this dish is indulgent. Rich sage butter, meaty filling, crispy pancetta AND when you spring for the truffle, it takes the whole thing to umami central. The pasta is thick and perfectly al dente. Then it is covered in a butter sauce. It does feel a little fatty, but like previously said, it’s indulgent. The sage herbaciousness is a home run.
The beef tenderloin with truffle butter made me question everything I thought I knew about premium beef. Wagyu can indeed suck it when the preparation is this on point. One could hardly tell where the beef began and the butter ended. Including your choice of side, you’ll be dreaming of this dish long after you leave.
For dessert, we tried the tiramisu and panna cotta. The tiramisu is not trying to be over the top – complex cocoa powder really shines, the cream is latte like, and coffee flavor is subtle. Order a double espresso on the side for this one if you want more coffee flavor like me. Usually a creme brûlée gal, Linds opted for the panna cotta. Just wow. Velvety texture, bold cream flavor, and a drizzle of rich caramel. It’s light and delicate while tasting like a literal bite of heaven. This is the dessert that’ll bring us back.
Taking It to Go
Truffle Pig delivers an experience that justifies the investment of renovation and showcases why authentic Italian cuisine reigns supreme. While the service team is still finding their rhythm with the extensive menu, their genuine friendliness and Chef Cristiano’s commitment to quality ingredients create something special in downtown Oshkosh.
The combination of that jazzy ambiance, impressive wine selection, and standout dishes like the beef tenderloin and panna cotta make this a destination worth the drive. Whether you’re looking for a date night spot or somewhere to impress out-of-town guests, Truffle Pig should definitely be on your list.