11/09/09

Ok pizza, good gelato

by TardyKat

For a pizzeria, I'd expected a much wider selection of pizzas and given that it's a Mario Batali establishment, maybe I was setting too high of an expectation. The $14 prosciutto & arugula pizza I had had a very crispy dough and the toppings tasted fresh. But for $14, it could've been better. I got the 3 scoops of gelato for $7.50 for dessert and tried olive oil, salty caramel and blueberry sorbetto flavors. The salty caramel was saltier than I expected and I didn't like it. If it was only a hint of salt, I think it would've tasted better. The olive oil and blueberry were actually quite good. I was there on a lazy Sunday afternoon, so it wasn't crowded and the waitress was friendly and helpful.

• Pros: Exotic gelato flavors
• Cons: limited pizza menu

11/02/09

Awful! Do not go!

by kellydillon

My friends and I went there to grab some drinks. The second we walked in we got dirty looks from the bartender. He asked for all of our IDs even though we are 25, which is not a big deal. We showed him, and then he goes to tell my one friend that her ID is fake! And refuses to serves us! Learn to do your job buddy and tell the difference between a real and a fake ID. He knew the ID was hers but we knew from the second we walked in there they didnt want us in there. Very snooty, snobby, and stuck-up. I will never be back ever. There is no need for that type of attitude.

• Pros: Nothing!

10/22/09

Delicous and snobby, just like New York

by MaddieNYU

My friends and I always walk through the beautiful Washington Mews pedestrian street right next to Washington Square Park. Even though there is no entrance on The Mews you can see into Otto's back windows. My friend Natalie always commented on how cool it looked, so for her birthday we decided to surprise her by taking her there.

When we made a reservation we were told we could bring in balloons and put them by our table. So that evening when the four of us snuck ahead of Natalie we brought a bouquet of balloons.

As soon as we walked in the door we were ignored, then made to stand awkwardly in the doorway until the time of our reservation (potentially ruining the surprise, if Natalie were to walk in.) Finally when we were about to be seated they said we in fact couldn't bring the balloons and had to leave them at coat check because they constituted "outside decorations."

It's beautifully furnished and really clean, but because we are all teens and young adults WE WERE TREATED LIKE KIDS. When Natalie arrived and we surprised her we ordered four pizzas and a pasta.

ALL THE PIZZAS WERE INCREDIBLE. I can confidently say that you can't order wrong at this place. Being from the west coast this was THE BEST PIZZA I'VE EVER HAD. Dessert was also delicious and I'd go back for the food, but not the staff or the crowds.

• Pros: The best pizza I've ever eaten
• Cons: Generally rude staff, even on my friend's birthday

08/27/09

Obnoxious Bartenders

by FB41

I have been here on several occasions and unfortunately on every one of them the bartenders have been consistently obnoxious, pretentious and just plain rude. The food is delicious and the wines amazing, so if you do go – AVOID THE BAR!!!!!!

• Pros: Great Food and Wine
• Cons: Bartenders

07/09/09

eggplant burned, noisy

by studiopetro

I went to Otto's last night with my family 9 people

2 people ordered the pasta with eggplant both said the eggplant was burnt. 2 people had the pasta with onions

it was liker eating Chef boy are dee out of a can

also it the music was to loud we asked the waiter to turn it down.

• Pros: we liked the meat platter
• Cons: out of 9 dihes 5 were bad

06/03/09

More the snackies than the main dishes

by aldo2002

Otto is best used as a place to meet on a Monday or Tuesday (weekends are just heaving) for a bottle of red and some of the marvelous cheeses with great little dip dabs - i.e. honey with truffle infusion, cranberry/cherry what-not etc. For dinner they do big groups and small, the dishes I think never really titillate other than a white clam pizza that is noteworthy and some general antipasto merriment that totally solid if not super memorable. The pasta I've had was very unremarkable. Its a pretty cool layout and the decor is decent, if you're doing a big private party and want unlimited wine with this and that food courses its not a terrible option, but I actually remember having a better deal and food experience at affiliate restaurant - Becco on restaurant row. Then again, that was for my 23rd birthday I believe - which was longer ago than I care to share.... try it out, its unlikely you'll hate it - the wine/cheese drink hang on a quieter night is a dope little steeze.

• Pros: lovely cheese and wine at chest high tables
• Cons: midlling pastas and pizza.....

01/23/09

Best Casual Restaurant in NYC

by NYCGlutenFreeGirl

This is my favorite restaurant in NYC - the prices are reasonable, the food is delicious, the waiters and waitresses are always helpful with choosing items. You must get the cheese plates and the veggies as appetizers. Huge wine list! This place is great for people with food allergies as well - the servers are very knowledgable, and they will make any of their pastas dishes gluten free! I have had two large group dinners here (25 people once, 10 another time) and both were done very well. My only cons would be that sometimes there is a long wait for tables and I wish they had a little bit more variety on the menu - but for the price you pay, this place is top notch.

• Pros: Delicious food, huge wine list, helpful servers
• Cons: sometimes long waits, menu a bit limited

01/12/09

skip the pizza

by nycjm

The cheese plate appetizer is delicious, and so is the gelato- try the olive oil flavor. However, I did not like the pizza. The crust was burnt, and there was nothing special about the toppings. I would go back for wine, cheese, and gelato but not pizza. When we went it was not very crowded. The service is not great, the waiter was very rude and they brought us the check before we were even done eating, which I hate. Overall, I was pretty disappointed.

• Pros: the gelato and cheese!
• Cons: the pizza and the service

12/19/08

Vongole is out of this world.

by j1032

Excellent antipasti, great service excellant pizza. AVOID the pasta. Mario could do much better than that. I went with a group of friends for my birthday and were having a great time until the pasta was served. Horrible. Im glad we started with antipasti and pizza cause no one ate the pasta.

• Pros: Antipasti, Pizza and wine
• Cons: Pasta

12/18/08

Never ever again....

by gourmet0815

This place was the BIGGEST disappointment in a long time! The table we got was very small (for three people), the service mediocre and the food just disgusting (I had a friend from Italy visiting and was so embarrassed...!). Mario Batali is risking his good reputation being associated with such a place!

• Pros: good location
• Cons: service, bad food