One of Glasgow’s newest Italian eateries could be about to be voted the best in the country less than two years after it opened.

Osteria Piero, in West Regent Street, has made it to the final of the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2010 and will compete with two Edinburgh rivals for the crown of best Italian bistro in the country.

The city centre restaurant has beaten all the odds to reach the final. It was launched in February 2008, just weeks before the country went into recession.

With no money to advertise, business partners Piero Sarti and Michelle McPike came up with the perfect recipe. “From the outset we have tried to be the best,” said 53-year-old Piero. “We always buy the best ingredients and everything is fresh with daily deliveries. We also serve assaggini, authentic Italian tapas, and we only use the top premium Caffe Vergnano. It’s often described as the best coffee in the world and you can’t buy it anywhere else in Glasgow.”

Piero launched the city centre bistro city after he and his brother sold the Sarti restaurant chain in Glasgow.

The choice of dishes at Osteria Piero is deliberately limited to make the most of the best seasonal produce from both Italy and Scotland. As a result the menu at the 70-cover restaurant is constantly changing.

Business partner Michelle McPike, 37, who looks after front of house added: “We don’t have a marketing budget so our growth is mainly from reviews and through word of mouth.”

She says the restaurant’s never had a bad review and it’s reputation for good food is attracting new admirers. That includes judges at the Scottish Restaurant Awards.

At a glittering awards ceremony at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh next month Osteria Piero could be named Scotland’s best Italian eaterie – just 16 days after its second birthday.