Otto Restaurant Enoteca Pizzeria
- Nearest Transit:
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
9th Street (PATH)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 a.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
51 reviews
Brooklyn, NY
"My idea of heaven tastes like a Trevisana from Fornino. Pancetta, goat cheese, radiccio and tomato. It's the perfect salty, savory, starchy,…" read more »
179 Reviews for Otto Restaurant Enoteca Pizzeria
Sort of Las Vegas-y, Cheese Factory-y, gimmicky feeling place, which translates to decent food, crowded spaces, and long waits (although thankfully the dishes here are actually portioned for one person as opposed to CK Factory). The olive oil gelato though bumps this place up to 4 star territory. I wasn't sure how much I'd really like it but it is a must try here. Apparently they sell it by the pint too (probably for a ton of money I'm sure). The creme fraiche gelato is also really good.
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First off, I should probably note that I'm related to one of the managers at Otto, obviously implanting some inherent bias. So sue me.
Even if the above weren't true, it would remain one of my favorite restaurants in a city full of fantastic eateries. So it's not the cheapest place on Earth. Get over it folks, this is New York. Having tried each and every item on the extensive menu, even I have my personal favorites. The Spaghetti Alla Carbonara is superb (consider having them leave the pepper off though, as it can get a little too spicy with it). Without it? Pure perfection. All the flavors of gelati are fantastic, and without a doubt the highest quality (and feature the most creative variety) in the city. The prosciutto (so so good, literally melts in your mouth) is also not to be missed. For the oenophiles (wine lovers) among us, the wine list is long enough to keep you busy for a very long time and diverse enough to keep even the most experienced foodie coming back for me.
On a separate note, the interior is also very, very attractive. I'm not really sure where one previous comparison to "Las Vegas-y, Cheese factory-y, gimmicky" came from. Not at all. But whatever, go judge for yourself. Just go period.
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After a long day of gallery hopping, shopping, and a wonderful lunch at Gramercy Tavern my sister, mother, and I decided to head to Batalli's Otto for a late dinner. Having tasted Babbo only 2 days prior our expectations were high, but at the same time I've had 'designer' pizza before and not been impressed. The good news? Once again, Batalli proved that he isn't like 'the rest' and the food was amazing. The bad news? A $3.79 12oz soda, loud, and the 65 minute wait for a seat at 9:15 on a Wednesday.
Entering the crazy-loud atmosphere reminded me of a college bar in Columbus...except people were well dressed, the beer was mingling with pricey wine, and the appetizers looked amazing. We were given a calling card (Como) and found a flattop to order some appetizers. To my delight the salumi of the night was Mario's famous Lardo and the Bruschetta was Sweet Pea and Pancetta. While I generally go out of my way to avoid fat, this was vacation and who am I to resist the fame of lardo? $9/3oz of Lardo and $6 for what seemed like a pound of bruschetta was a heck of a deal.
Honestly, I'm not sure what I expected from the Lardo, but what I received was certainly unique. Sweet, salty, a tad spicy, and fatty as can be. Admittely my mother and sister were grossed out and I myself will certainly not crave the dish, but it was absolutely worth the
experience. The Bruschetta was amazing for the cost and the portion was so large that I was afraid I'd not be able to have pizza or dessert. A wonderful sweet pea compote on crunchy bread with crispy hot pancetta darted across the palate and scorched just right. Thankfully my sister loved it too and I was able to save room for the pizza.
Seated after approximately an hour, our server Nikki was quick to fill drinks, take orders, and get things moving...all told, Otto is very quick...almost frantic. For contorti we selected Octopus with Celery Lovage and Funghi Misti. My 3rd form of octopus in 3 days, this celery heavy offering paled in comparison to that of Babbo and Momofuku, yet it was still tender and tasty. The mushrooms, served just over room temperature, were woodsy and dense while still tasting wonderfully tender and fresh.
For pizza we decided to split the Margherita DOP with Tomato, Bufala Mozzarel, and Basil and the nightly special consisting of Funghi Misti with Thyme and Smoked Mozzarella. Both pizzas were wonderfully crisp with airy and irregular (clearly hand made) crusts laden with wonderful fresh toppings. Bufala Mozzarel, when done right, is heavenly and while ours was great I have certainly had better. The smoked Mozzarella, however, was beyond compare and one of my best cheese experiences ever. "New York" in crust and density, but very 'new age' in topings and presentation both pies were wonderful and a great deal at $11/ea for 6 well-topped slices.
Having heard rumor of the Olive Oil gelato, dessert was a must (when is it not?) but when I saw Mario would be taking on my favorite dessert of all time - tiramisu - I had to reassess. Thankfully my sister was in the mood for ice cream and obliged to the 3 flavors of gelati while my mother was so taken by GT's Rhubarb tart that she felt need to compare with Otto's Rhubarb Copetta with prosecco zabaglione, polenta, meyer lemon lavender gelato, pistachios, and strawberry gelato, and poached rhubarb.
Served quickly, the gelati trio was served with a nice looking cookie and divided into 3 triangles. While my sister loved the salty caramel and peppermint Chocolate Chip Gelati, I found both to be average. The olive oil, however, was the most unique item of the night (even over the lardo) and worth the praise bestowed by others in the past. Light, slick, sweet, salty, and perfect in mouth feel....just try it.
Mom's Copetta, similarly, was excellent and possibly even better than the earlier Tart. An incredible blend of soft polenta and crunchy pistachios, salty zabaglione and sweet gelato, sour lemon and mild lavender, the dish was almost too much...yet nearly perfect in most ways. If I were to utter any complaint it would be that there were too many 'seperate' flavors and not enough blending of the individuals.
Now, the tiramisu...amazing...yet flawed. What could have been the best tiramisu I'd ever tasted was demoted to 3rd or 4th by the relatively high rum content at the base. While top layers perfectly blended the delicate lady fingers, spicy rum sweet marscapone, and bittersweet chocolate, the bottom 2-3 inches were buzz inducing in punch. Perhaps it was the glass in which it was delivered or perhaps just the nature of this dish, but it just couldn't keep pace with the version at Il Mulino or Jean Phillipe.
All told, with tax and tip the 3 of us walked out of Otto under $90 and
quite happy with the experience. Had we made reservations and skipped the overpriced soda (w/o refills) Otto could have been 5 stars for its genre, but instead it'll settle for 4.
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Continuing my ice-cream conquest, I meandered into Otto's for a cool treat only.......Seated at the bar with other diners and deserters, I order three flavors for $7 plus warm chocolate sauce for $2.. The flavors I chose were strawberry balsamic(hmmmmmmm) spiced chocolate(underspiced) and salty caramel(hmmmmmmm) the icecream(gelati) is dense and made in house and all together were simply delish.
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Excellent pizza - try the Lardo. Yum yum. And they were extremely accommodating for my nut allergy.
Reasonable prices too.
The downside? Well, I came with a friend in a wheelchair and we seemed to have to wait much longer than other walk-ins. So hopefully that issue will be resolved - make more room for wheelchairs not just in certain sections.
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Do you believe in food fairies? I do.
Food fairies aren't actually fairies at all, but are magical creatures-- humans, really-- who possess a magical gift: the gift of food. The gift of great food, in the form of dinner, for free.
Yes, dear Yelpers, I came in contact with a food fairy when I ate dinner at Otto with 3 of my coworkers. The food fairy was one of them.
We had a lot of food. Three pizzas: the mushroom and some kind of rich cheese, the pepperoni, and the basic. I'd go over the menu and list the exact names, but it's way easier to.. not. We had artichokes, califlowers, mussels Normas pasta, and some heavenly proscuitto to split among us 4. I did my Tony Soprano proud.
The pepperoni pizza is not to be missed. I mean it. Don't even think about it. Thank me later with a slice.
And we had some fantasic wine. But a peculiar thing happened. Though there was a food fairy in our presence, so was the Wine Goblin. Oh, they so DO exist! Check it:
So Food Fairy E (I shall not give out his holy name) picks a wine for us all to share. By the way, they have a VERY extensive wine menu. So he picks a wine and a girl (at least at the time I thought she was a mere mortal with a Slavic accent) comes to our table with the wine and a corkscrew. She immediately begins praising the FF for his divine choice in wine. She pours some for FF and before she pours some for us all, asks if she could have a sip after we all got our share. FF is a kind man... and fairy, and said "of course."
It was no ordinary sip. The girl instantly transformed into a Wine Goblin as she flew off with a decent helping of wine: comparable to any of our servings. A little taken back, we enjoy our wine, we toast to me (in a matter of days I will no longer be gracing my friends with my presence), and soon finish the bottle.
We decide to give the Wine Goblin another chance. We ask her for another recommendation. She comes back with another bottle, opens it, pours wine for us all and once again... takes a rather generous sip of her own and flees the table. FF was troubled but the negativity could not last: 'twas time for dessert.
Olive oil, creme fresche, and hazlenue gelato. Oh mah gah.
FF and I were really into the olive oil, so much so that we just stuck to that side of the serving. While at first glance it doesn't seem to be very big, this stuff is rich. And so amazingly good. Get the olive oil. I think they even sprinkle some salt on. I had an O at the table. Good thing no one saw. Besides, it's improper, what with a FAIRY around.
So what makes a normal human being into a food fairy?
Simple: paying the bill.
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I believe that someone on Chowhound mentioned that there doesn't seem to be any other place that does what Otto does both better and cheaper. I fully agree.
I have been twice, both on off-hours (5pm on a weekday, and a weekend afternoon), and both times the place was bustling, but not full, so no input on the prime-time noise levels and crowding. The space is nice, especially if you sit in the larger room in the back - there's a little more open space, and the big windows out into the green street outside are nicer than when you sit in the hallway-like narrower connecting room. On the way, you also get to pass the condiment station, with the honey, pepper, etc - which is nicely laid out and one of those things that makes you imagine having your own country kitchen where you cook up delicious Italian treats.
The olives are great, and plentiful - the Alfonsos are especially nice, with a very bold flavor, and a very meaty texture (less tight, softer than the green ones, and very good as far as meat-to-pit is concerned). The cheese plate (we had the 7) is very nice, and the pieces are very generous, so that, when shared between 3 people, everyone got a more than a bite - enough to both taste, and then re-taste the cheese. All the cheese condiments (apricots, cherries, honey) are great. Get the triple cream, and the Grand Old Man (or something old man), supposedly the Gorgonzola is great too, but haven't tried.
The carbonara was really really great - the portion is a nice serving for one person as a main course, and nice for three people to taste. My Dutch companion insisted on cutting hers with a knife. I will have to verify if that's a cultural quirk of theirs.
Prosciutto and Pancetta were great, although they always are - cured fat and meat tend to be.
The flaws: First, I feel it might be better if they offered the antipasti in two sizes (per kind). The vegetable antipasti are all very generous, and I would welcome the option to get a smaller portion (say, half the portion, for $2, as opposed to full for $4), so that everyone just gets a couple bites - it would make it easier to try more stuff, without filling up on a big thing of beets, say. Since all the vegetables seem to be cured, and not cooked to order, there shouldn't be too much difficulty with that. As it is now, however, although the vegetables are cheap and delicious, I'd say that any of them really ought to be split in 4 or 5 (if you're going the tasting route, which seems to be the logical one in an antipasti / quartino focused spot).
The anchovy antipasti was yummy, but there were something like 3 anchovies, and way more croutons - a bit more balance would be welcome.
Service-wise: very nice and warm, but seemed to taper off toward the end of the meal - rarer water refilling / checkups, which was a little problematic since we were drinking wines by the quartino. The reason might have been the change of waiter - our first one was really great, helpful, and attentive; the second one seemed more stretched.
Olive oil gelato is fantastic, but you knew that already. I wish you could top it with some of the stellar rhubarb from the rhubarb coppetta.
Prices are what you'd expect - can be very reasonable if you limit drinking, and eat a lot of vegetables. I think that for 3 people, 7 cheeses, 3 vegetables, prosciutto, pancetta, a fish, a carbonara, 2 desserts, and 3 quartinos of wine came to $150 with tax, prior to tip. Could have ordered a little less, and slashed off maybe $10-15.
In all though, the light food, options, and reasonable price make this a great place to come back to. Lots of kids there.
Also, the slicing machines / curing vats displayed in the front are AWESOME. More of that "I wish I had that" vibe.
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I was advised that this restaurant didn't live up to expectations prior to going, but was then told by someone else that you have to order the "right things" when you go. So to find out the truth - I went and let me friend who made the latter comment do the ordering.
I have to say, the "right things" were really right. Basically we skipped all the pizzas and spaghetti, since I was told they are just "ok". We did order the 5 cheese plate (the Gorgonzola and Blue are absolutely supreme, the goat's not bad either. We like strong tasting cheeses), olives, asparagus, and a salad. The most important thing about this meal is the truffle honey. The first time I dipped the Gorgonzola into this honey then put it into my mouth, my eyes literally shot open and started sparkling. It was *SO* good I can't even describe it. This by itself made the meal worth it. The other dips were ok, but when we ordered our second round of cheeses we asked the waiters to just give us extra honey and skip the other two, which I don't even quite remember. I'd totally go back again and again just for the honey and cheeses since they don't sell that honey.
So if you do go to Otto, remember my lesson. Order the "right things"!
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Really tasty food at reasonable prices.
Unreasonable? The long long wait. And the cold cold COLD air conditioner blasting me (and my food) the entire time.
Don't skimp on dessert, though -- the olive oil gelato with sea salt is something to admire!
great pizza and pasta the way it was supposed to be made. i love it and have been here several times.
Came here as a rec from a friend. It's a nice, "grown-up" place to go to, but honestly, I didn't find the food that great. I would definitely come here for the wine and appetizers, but wouldn't really dine here. Felt rushed to get out of the place so that they sit another party. Service was fair.
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Not bad, and pretty good value for money. We came in during "in between" hrs, so it was not crowded. Bread had crust that was a touch burnt, but was very tasty, not stale. Probably hit and miss with that way of presenting (pre-cut, and wrapped in paper). Carbonara excellent. Pizza is simple thin crust in the true Italian style.
This place is my joint. A nice place with great food, and very reasonable.
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I've been here a couple times, once for business once for pleasure. The pizzas are great and the wine list will keep you busy - there are so many unknown labels, you can trust the staff or get something you know. The mushroom pizza is very salty, too salty for my taste. The staff is friendly and attentive, atmosphere is open and airy and the food overall is very good and definitely worth a repeat visit.
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Mario Batali is a great TV chef. He's done a great service to simple Italian cooking and parmesano reggiano. That being said, the concept doesn't really translate well to pizza.
First the bread- its frankly a little stale, and pre-wrapped in some wax paper. Not sure what they were aiming for with this, but its not exactly as appetizing as a bread basket. And pre-packaged breadsticks. OK, they are quite delicious, but where exactly are we going here?
The pizzas are creative- the toppings range from lardo, bottarga, arugal to fresh mozzerela. All are served thin crust style- and the toppings are quite thin too. Thin seems to be a theme here. Everything's quite subtle, but this is pizza. Is this what you want? I certainly don't want a thin layer of tomato sauce, but that's what you'll get. And you'll also get an urge to down at least 3 beverages because of the heavy bread in take of this meal.
Good thing for everyone that there's a large wine list.
But while the crust is cooked perfectly, the ingredients are fresh and terrific, and the taste is pretty good, it just doesn't come together. Not exactly the joyful pizza experience you get from a greasy, gooey cheesy slice from down the block. But also miles away from a gourmet dining experience (and no pretense of being one). So should I be satisfied with this?
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Love this place.
The thin crust pizzas with sweet tomoto sauce are great. The menu is reasonably priced and everything is good.
This is a great restaurant for a dinner with friends or a less formal date. Great for a glass of wine, too.
Careful though- it gets crowded! Make sure to call ahead for a reservation.
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I give this restaurant 5 stars because it's one of the few places in NY that I would come back to often AND can actually afford to eat at often. My boyfriend and I split the grilled vegetable pizza (it was a special, I think that's what it was called) and the pasta ala norma. We were there fore lunch and the portions were the perfect size. The pasta was al dente, and although I prefer my pasta more cooked, it was fantastic. The eggplant was roasted perfectly and very flavorful. The pizza had a delicious smoky flavor. This was the best meal for under $15 a person that I've had in New York!
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I agree with Fei C.
I was pretty excited to try this place out. I was annoyed from the get go, when the hostess would not seat my party since I was in the restroom. Sorry hostess lady, sometimes I gotta pee.
Our waiter rocked, he let us expand out table form to 6, with no complaints.
They are obviously trying to turn over tables quickly, but jeez, let me finish my food before you take it away, and if I am still eating it, I can not actually stack one plate on the other, so HOLD ON!
I have been to a bunch of Mario's restaurants, and the food is always good, but this place is just lacking in friendly service, and they give you no time to enjoy your meal.
Oh and no corkage.
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Yum, mouth waters just thinking about it. Always the hustle and bustle in there, but worth it. Service can sometimes be slow (even when I went there on a Monday at 1, when the restaurant was practically empty) but that hasnt stopped me from coming back. Thin crust pizzas are GREAT, so are the small appetizers ... Definitely a great spot to go with friends, or family in town, or even a date, just a bit loud, so be prepared.
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You should have seen my face when I first heard they serve something called "Lardo."
Really? They serve small slices of fat that take the name of an unsavory person, and we're going to dine here? What, "Tubbs" was full at this hour?
Rest assured, everything is amazing and this is probably the best deal you'll get for a dinner in NYC. Like him or hate him (I personally think he's cool, despite those god-awful Crocs), this is one of a handful of Iron Chef Mario Batali establishments scattered around NYC.
Prosecco = always good and always a good start to an excellent evening in an Italian restaurant.
Artichoke-heart salad = buttery yumness, perfectly paired with mint.
Lardo = cured slices of pork fat that are shiny, slippery, strange-feeling in your mouth, but have great flavor. It is a slice of fat, after all.
Pizza with arugula and prosciutto was perfect, with outstanding sauce. It probably will fall apart on you at first, like all pizza, but be sure to lick those fingers clean. Round Table this ain't.
Desserts of gelato (mine had some raspberry compote and whipped cream) with a prosecco/strawberry liqueur/pomegranate seed drink to keep it company.
My favorite fella insisted he pay for it, but he swears the damage was minimal.
I want to be an enotechnician when I grow up.
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Another of those perfection restaurants. A large, yet intimate dining room, capable of seating I-don't-know-how-many, but allowing most to be seated right away. A cool, comfortable orange-glow decor is warm and inviting. A front bar/waiting area will satiate should you have to wait.
We didn't, and instead were whisked right in, past mini-stations overflowing with bread and wine bottles. Heaven? Just about.
The menu is a bit overwhelming, unless your attention span is at its peak and you speak and/or read Italian. Still, it wasn't difficult to navigate to what I wanted, because the things I didn't understand sounded good. We went with an artichoke appetizer, a lardo pizza (no sauce -- just crust, cured pork fat, and light seasoning), and a prosciutto and arugula pizza. A glass of prosecco was followed by one of pinot grigio, for the perfect libatious compliment.
We ended with a couple of gelato-based desserts. Mine included pistachio-flavored, which i'm convinced was frozen pistachios themselves. Somehow.
Overall, I will keep going back to Otto every time I'm in New York, when I'm not busy trying Malto Mario Batali's other 12 restaurants there.
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I have to give it three stars because of the quality of the food relative to the price. In general I respect the Batali concept of bringing good food to the masses, however, at Otto it goes too far. It's almost charming that i have to wait, beyond my reservation, for my reservation to come up on the faux train station board. BUT it is obvioulsy a tragedy of the commons. This is a good idea and good restaurant that has been exploited by the customers and the management and you will quickly find yourself a number out of many that are being served that night. Lunch is great ,dinner chaotic, weeknds are absurd!
I absolutely love Otto. I call ahead, make reservations, and still wait fifteen minutes for a table, but it's okay. The mere kitsch of having a biglietto, that ticket to somewhere else, is a good enough feeling for me because I know that whatever I eat at Otto will make me happy.
Let's start, for example, with the antipasti: you can get prosciutto, a 'caprese,' octopus salad, cheese... you can go overboard pretty easily but if you exercise some restraint (as in, you'll figure you just have to come back and try everything else), you'll find some menu items that become go-to dishes.
The pasta, as is with many a Batali joint, fantastic; I'm as much a carbonara enthusiast as the next guy but the penne with peas and mint is a swooner for me, as is the bucatini alla gricia (with all its guanciale-rrific glory).
And oh yeah, let's not forget that pizza -- funghi & taleggio! Vongole! And the best goddamn margherita I've had!
The wine list is pretty intimidating if you're not at all an Italian wine freak, but it's honestly geared for mid-range wines ($40-70) and you'll have a nice selection if you stick to that price range. Never forget that the vini al quartino list is there for you to exploit and explore.
So yeah, raving about dinner sitting down. But what makes Otto the best? You can just park on a bar table, have a quick nosh and a sip, and start your night out right. (Or end it -- they serve until midnight, which would make it the best dessert place post-10pm. Get the olive oil gelato, you'll thank me later.)
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Otto is different than other wine bars. Instead of being dark and quiet and intimate...it's loud and bright and exciting. I like that's it's big and bustling. It's the perfect place to go with a big group of people. It has an extensive wine list with pretty reasonable prices. Our waitress was pretty knowledgeable and helped us pick out a great wine. I had the small plates when I ate here. The cheese plate was excellent...probably my favorite. I've read that the pizza's good..I'll probably try that next time. Definitely a place I will come back to.
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Love this place!
Food is delish - wine list extensive - atmosphere fun - waitt staff helpful.
Gets crowded, expect to wait for a table. Good bar area where you can enjoy a drink while you wait.
One of the best and most memorable meals I have ever had, right up there with the top ten ever.
We walked in on Sunday night at 7pm, waited maybe 10 minutes at which time We had a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio which was selected from their HUGE wine list, much bigger then their food menu. After all, it is an Enoteca.
We ordered a cheese course, triple cream brie, yes...it was that good, a Gorgonzola and a Romano all to die for served with freshly made fruit compotes. Amazing.
I ordered the spaghetti carbonara because it was made correctly without cream, just egg, garlic, pancetta and parmesano reggiano. Amazing.
The pizza Marghaerita is D.O.P. certified and was one of the best I have ever had.
Mario Batali continues to impress as this is my fourth of his restaurants to visit, all four amazing.
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Good pizza, even better mozzerella/basil/tomato salad and gelato.
If you really like the food, appetizers and good wine from traditional wine joints yet dislike the quiet pretentious atmosphere then Otto is your place. Good and loud music. The crowd was mix with young and old but they all had big banks accounts in common. Wine was great, and the appetizers were a nice compliment. The price was not that bad and on a small budget I was able to leave feeling spent.
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Carbonara.
That's all you need to know.
Make a reservation for this Batali restaurant, head in a little early to peruse the extensive Italian-inspired wine list and enjoy an appetizer or two at the bar, and then soon as you're seated and see your waiter, order the best Carbonara--peppery, perfectly sauced, and just the right amount of Pancetta--in NYC (maybe even the world...and I've been to Italy and tried plenty!).
You might also order the Arugala Salad. And you'll need to save room for dessert(s) which may seem unusual, but are absolutely delicious. The choices change from time to time, but I recommend the Olive Oil or Rhubarb Coppetta.
Dinner for two doesn't have to cost more than $60-70 including tip, but you may want to take your time and enjoy the meal with a bottle of wine.
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A few years back i had a short-lived run as a waiter in a restaurant in little italy which used a similar front of the house service system employed here at otto pizzeria. specifically, a sommelier, headwaiter, captain, runner, and busboy service template.
let me start by saying, the manifest functions of this particular system are:
the sommelier is charged with wine service including recommendations,
the captain is charged with food and drink orders and mainly delivers the drink orders,
the runners deliver food to its designated spot at the table,
and the busboy clears and crumbs the table.
the latent function of this system is:
the patron implicitly encounters a seamless and comfortable dining experience.
the former does not happen here.
so i ask. is this type of sophisticated service, generally reserved for fine dining, necessary for a pizza restaurant modeled after a train station?
but really, i mention all this to prepare you for one of those boorish and common service experiences unique to some NYC restaurants where service has grown fat and lazy due to over burgeoning success. oh, and that other experience unique to some patrons in NYC where after all the unnecessary grief you go crawling back because there is something about the meal, ambiance, drink, etc. that summons you!
that being said, i can only take one star away because the food, ambiance, and wine outshines the poor service. the ingredients are farm fresh and the wine is an education.
and there's the music! i love the music piped into the bars and dining areas at batali restaurants. my first night there, spoon's 'ga ga ga ga ga' was on the audio system. i'm talking pizza, good friends, tocai friuli and "...mmma mmma mmmma rhythym and soul." perfect!
the second night was clipse and the neptunes 'grinding' to the pasta carbonara! haa haa!
which leads up to the food.
the arugula salad - if you love tomatoes make sure you ask for extra. a simple and fresh arugula salad served with a few fire roasted cherry tomatoes that are extraordinary fruit bombs of concentrated flavor. great for a start or finish.
the octopus - fresh
roasted beets - fresh, sweet, delicious
brussels sprouts & vin cotto - simple and delicious
spicy rabe with ricotta salata - great combination
the carbonara - perfect
fennel pizza - really beautiful, served w/ a fresh sauce.
prosciutto & arugula - the proscuitto can be over powering but if you love proscuitto like i do then this is for you.
the pepperoni - disappointing the sauce was different from that of the other pies. simply tasted like catsup
clam pizza - amazing. a white sauce pizza baked with fresh clams. the clam juice pours out onto the pizza during the baking. the crust gets a little wet but no matter its really something special.
go early and go during the week. unless your willing to put up with the weekends' astronomical waits.
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If you have ever walked down the Washington Mews (between Fifth Ave. and University) you probably have noticed the muted energy that exists within Otto's windows. I frequently would pass by, and jealously skim the happy crowd. I couldn't hear the laughter, but I could see it, and automatically wanted to be a part of it. There were so many times I would think, "I have to try this place."
I made reservations for two and brought my boyfriend for our two month anniversary back in December. We made a reservation, but there was still a small wait. I didn't mind, because their wine bar was the perfect preface for dinner. We sat by a window that had a large enough sill to set our coats and glasses. We drank a whole bottle as we were waiting. The old fashioned train-station board was an excellent touch. When Otto was ready to seat you, your assigned Italian "destination" would flutter onto the board.
Dinner treated us just as well. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helped us pick out a wine that would suit both our tastes. She hit the spot perfectly. The food was good, although I have to admit, writing this four months later, I don't really remember. It must have not been amazing, but good enough. It was relatively inexpensive as well. They really love the wine there, and encourage getting a bottle. By keeping their dishes at a moderate price, it frees up the wallet for a bottle. Perfect. It was a lovely date.
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So, my mom's "break-up consolation, let's go shopping, get you settled into your new place" visit was almost over and we had about an hour to kill before she had to catch a flight. Decided to explore the new hood and find a happy hour somewhere.
Turned the corner at 5th and 13th and BAM...VERY!! COLD!! WIND!!
Screw exploring...find someplace close and warm!
Cue Otto. I've been there before but only on busy weekend nights and have never really been impressed. Food good/service asshole-ish has always been my perception.
At 5PM on a cold-ass Wednesday, however, it was perfect. We sat at the bar, the attentive and friendly bartender made a fab wine recommendation, we nibbled and enjoyed one last hour of mom and daughter time.
We ordered the Aglio Olio white pizza which exploded with garlicky peppery goodness. We planned on stopping there, but a waiter mistakenly brought someone else's sausage rigatoni dish to us and it smelled so damn good that we ordered one for ourselves. Hearty and flavorful.
Several regulars came in and had solo dinners at the bar. I can see myself becoming one of them as I settle into my new neighborhood.
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interesting decor, great service, solid vegetables, but the pizza/pasta was weak.
mozza is far better
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This place is not bad for what it is. It's not a dinner place, but not terrible for a pre night out drink or an afternoon snack. Wine list is very reasonably priced and extensive in variety, although lacks California and French. The menu is limited to pizzas, pastas, salads, olives and cheeses. Servers are nice, but a little too casual. Bar stuff is a little too old and too cranky.
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I don't know why I am even bothering to do this since everyone and their mother has already reviewed the place--
but seriously, the olive oil gelato was so freaking good I simply couldn't keep my mouth shut.
The pizza was great. Duh. I know~
The antipasto was super yummy too.
But go for the gelato--all dozen or so types--all at once--in a pretty colorful line down the center of your table. Eat it all.
Delicious, great cheese and antipasto selection....and damn, an enormous wine list.
Food was very good, service was very friendly, attentive, and very patient when we asked him questions about ingredients and cheese types.
Prices are extremely reasonable considering the high quality of the food, but they really get you with the wine....for example, a cheese plate with 3 varieties is $11 (very reasonable), but the average glass of wine hovers around $15.
I'll go back to put down another benjamin any day!
3.5 maybe?
This place was pretty good and cheap, but frankly I was confused by what Batali was going for.
The place was packed on a Friday night. The atmosphere was engaging for what I consider to be a post-Fraternity life crowd. I didn't really understand the dark wood and deep red paint that was juxtaposed with 3 Ja Rule songs in a row?
They have a monster wine list. Which initially thrilled me. However, the wines are all Italian, which is cute, but kind of annoying since I don't know many Italian wines that are good and less than $100 there. Our sommelier (which is weird considering the food is so cheap) picked a great moderately priced Super Tuscan. Fine/good so far.
Our party ordered a bunch of vegetable antipasti which were decent, but nothing mind-blowing. The pizzas were decent. The rigatoni with sausage and escarole was ok too.
If you come here get the Carbonara. Other reviewers have said this and I wish I had read them before I came here. The Carbonara is awesome.
Other than that. Eh.
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