New Italian restaurant coming to south side

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Restaurateur Angel Kim is planning to soon open an Italian fine-dining restaurant at the site of his former Argentina Steakhouse.

Called OssoBuco Italian American Bistro, the 1410 E. Republic Road restaurant is scheduled to launch June 4, said Kim, a co-owner in the venture.

“We absolutely love that location,” he said, pointing to a need for more specialty restaurants in Springfield. “It’s going to be kind of like Argentina Steakhouse coming back but with a different name.”

As the name suggests, the menu will feature osso buco, “a braised beef shank that’s been slow-cooked,” Kim said.

“It’s one of the most popular Italian dishes,” he added.

Other lunch and dinner menu items posted to OssoBuco’s Facebook page include pastas, salmon, a ribeye steak sandwich, chicken dishes, and soups and salads.

OssoBuco replaces the recently closed Frida Mexican Cuisine and Bar, in which Kim was a silent partner. Frida shuttered this month, Springfield Business Journal previously reported.

Kim said remodeling work of the space cost around $30,000, and he’s leasing the property from Rob Wilson, president and CEO of Rapid Robert’s Inc.

Kim also owns The Hill and ReRico Brazilian Grill.