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Home > Restaurants > OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria

All Reader Reviews of...

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria

1 Fifth Ave., New York, NY, 10011
at 8th St.
212-995-9559

6.5 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
60% Would you go back?
65% Would you take a date?
50% Would you take kids?
42% Would you go on business?
31% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 6.8
Service: 6.4
Décor: 7.5
Value: 6.7
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 64

Otto? It was a no- no

ashleyro from 22043 | Posted on 11/23/09

Overall Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 5
Service: 5
Décor: 7
Value: 5

The pros: 30 olives are only 4 dollars, but two people couldn't eat that many. We only waited about 30 min instead of an hour on a Sat night. Pizza was good- but greasy. Pasta was good but very undercooked and chewy. Cons: Our waitress was attentive but had a huge bee hive of dreadlocks that really repulsed me; sorry I know it's a personal taste, but not in a restaurant with this ambiance. The arugula salad was 99.9 % lettuce with 4 shrunken cherry tomatoes. When I mentioned the former to a female manager, she called me rude and offensive and walked away. A male manager apologized for her awful behavior. Overall, a bad experience for me, which is very rare.The bread was the best part, but still a no- no.

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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The best deal in the city

rgmofnyc from 10038 | Posted on 10/5/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 8
Service: 6
Décor: 8
Value: 10

For those people who must live on a budget and yet desire taste and class, Otto is just about the perfect solution. Although the food isn't perfect, the pizzas are truly great and so is the pasta. Every single group I take to this restaurant comments on how much they love it and what an amazing deal it is. A plate of penne puttanesca is only $9, and exceptionally well-made. It's a wonderful place to bring groups or families, and you'll feel like you're having a special dining experience while paying pennies.

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3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Wine Bar

Prupp2009 from 10006 | Posted on 8/14/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 7
Décor: 8
Value: 6

I've been to OTTO many times and bring friends that are visiting the area or are from Europe. We all love the place. The bartenders are knowledgable and the food I've had is great. I recommend the copa, salumi as well as the Caponata Melanzane. The pasta can be spotty though. It's been amazing and only average.

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3 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Wanted it to be better

birdgherl from 11231 | Posted on 7/4/09

Overall Rating: 7 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 7
Service: 7
Décor: 7
Value: 7

I have been here several times and enjoyed it but something always fell short. The fennel/orange salad was a total failure the first time and on another visit, the pizza was SO overwhelmed with chilis, I couldn't even eat it. Yet the lentil salad and various roasted vegetable antipasti were always great. Also, I loved all flavors of the gelato I have sampled. The pasta was sadly, just OK. I expect more from a Mario Batali restaurant.

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9 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

Wanted it to be better

birdgherl from 11231 | Posted on 7/4/09

Overall Rating: 7 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 7
Service: 7
Décor: 7
Value: 7

I have been here several times and enjoyed it but something always fell short. The fennel/orange salad was a total failure the first time and on another visit, the pizza was SO overwhelmed with chilis, I couldn't even eat it. Yet the lentil salad and various roasted vegetable antipasti were always great. Also, I loved all flavors of the gelato I have sampled. The pasta was sadly, just OK. I expect more from a Mario Batali restaurant.

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4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Disappointment

MiaWallace1 from 10028 | Posted on 6/15/09

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 3
Service: 5
Décor: 5
Value: 5

We were hoping for an authentic Italian meal ( I am a huge fan of Mario Batali's recipe books). instead, we found generic décor, rushed service and awful food. Bitter olives, overpowering flavors and greasy pizza. Pasta special was unedible. The restaurant has very little character and seems to be more geared towards tourists who will never return than devoted locals. If you are looking for a fabulous meal, go elsewhere.

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5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Classy and casual

scrycer from 11237 | Posted on 5/9/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 8
Service: 7
Décor: 8
Value: 10

Otto boasts a selective and delicious wine list with well-priced quartinos for those who don't want an entire bottle. The pizza is thin-crusted and usually creatively tasty, but don't go here for the common, cheesy, deep-dished pizzas. The one salad I've had was delicately flavored with a bit of citrus and held my interest more than most. However, my favorite dishes are the pastas which vary widely in tastes, usually very delicious, ranging from olive-oil mild to butter-squash-rich. Their sauces are very unique and their dishes are small, but quite filling. The atmosphere makes it perfect for a casual business get-together or a small family lunch. I'd say that Otto attains what it reaches for--a classy, tasteful, well-priced winebar. Go at non-peak hours for good service.

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3 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

otto reservation

laurawh82 from 10010 | Posted on 3/29/09

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? (NA)
Would you take kids? (NA)
Would you go on business? (NA)
Would you go on a special occasion? (NA)
Food: 9
Service: 1
Décor: 9
Value: 9

I have always been a huge fan of Otto and decided to have a party last night for 10 people at the restaurant. I made the reservation about a month ago and they called to confirm the reservation the day before. We showed up last night to find that they had cancelled my reservation and did not appear apologetic at all and we had to wait an extra hour for a table. I wanted to let the staff at Otto know that they have lost 10 valuable customers.

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10 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

How can this be a "Critic's Pick" yet critic's rated so low?

Massi from 10012 | Posted on 3/9/09

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 7
Service: 4
Décor: 7
Value: 5

I don't understand how Otto can get 2 stars by critics and still be checked as a critic's pick. The pizza was average and the service was terrible, with a dose of attitude.

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8 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Otto drove my discovery of the best Neapolitan Pizza... down the street

bioxpert from 02138 | Posted on 3/8/09

Overall Rating: 6 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? (NA)
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 6
Service: 3
Décor: 6
Value: 5

I've eaten at Otto and generally agree with some of the reviews about the mediocre pizza and surly staff. This time, I walked a couple of blocks south and stumbled on what I now think is the best pizza in Manhattan, Pizza Mezzaluna on West Houston at MacDougal. First, everyone in the place is Italian, staff and customers! The brick oven pizza is amazing, just like Rome and Amalfi, drizzled with spicy olive oil to give extra zing. BYOB, but it's worth it.

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9 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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