Otto

Many people recommended Otto for a great New England pizza, so I went there with a group of friends. We all got beers and ordered the Margherita and the pepperoni red-sauce pizzas to share. Both pizzas were very good, though the pepperoni was excellent! I absolutely loved how thin and yummy the crust was. The outdoor area, where we sat, had nice lighting that gave off good, happy vibes, and the staff were very kind and gave us recommendations on the food. Overall, a good experience.

Interesting that this place gets rave reviews for its wood-fired pizza! I have reviewed hundreds of pizza places - see all my reviews - and this does not make the top ten in Connecticut. The dough is not on par with good "chew" wood-fired pizza. The fact that it was served cold didn't help. The one redeeming feature was a good tasting Greek salad. (Wine was not served at the right temperature either)

Loved the veggie lovers pizza. Loaded with roasted veggies, excellent thin crust and tasty cheese. Their take on Greek salad was different but enjoyable wit a very tasty dressing. Small selection of excellent draft beer. Friendly helpful service. Sunny outside tables at lunchtime. Recommended. We will be back.

Otto Yes, this is long, but I feel it’s important. I don’t like to do bad reviews; it’s even more difficult as I like “sister” restaurant River Tavern (see my review). The difference is if River Taven service lacks or a dish went wrong, I will always go back I will NEVER go back to Otto. In the movie Animal House Otter sitting next to Mandy in a lunchroom booth tries to convince Mandy to repeat a secret “hookup.” Realizing Otter won’t go away Mandy says, “Otter don’t flatter yourself; it wasn’t that great” In disbelief Otter mouths the words “Not that Great?” Sitting in Otto for the last time, all I could see was Otter and Otto mouthing the words “Not That Great?” I know Otto’s finds its way onto the top 20 pizza places in Connecticut, I know they have a following, and I know some of the staff believes it’s a diner’s “honor” to eat at Otto. For me, well OTTO “It’s Not That Great.” Living local provides the opportunity to dine at places before the Summer Crush. Arriving in the off-season without a reservation we were seated outside on a chilly night. Once seated we are told by the “Head Seater Person” "You have 45 minutes to order and eat” then left us with our mouths open in disbelief. So, we waited, in fact we waited so long we earnestly ask the late arriving waitress “When does our 45 minutes start.” When we had to wait again to get our food cleared for dessert we asked again about the 45 minute “eat and leave” edict. The tiramisu was very good no one was waiting for a table. What was my last visit, I made a reservation for 7:45p. Arriving 5 minutes early, we were told they were getting our table ready 7:45, 7:50, 7:55; at 8p we were told “We are getting your table ready (he pointed to the backlot) but it’s going to take a few minutes, or I can seat you now to start eating immediately.” As you ponder this statement as I did, the decision was sit “now, eat immediately” instead “waiting of a few minutes.” We were ignored for 17 minutes-harsh? We successful flagged two employees in addition to some quick looks, but no one came. The waitress finally arrived to take our drink order-we ordered everything: guacamole, small salad, 2 small pizzas, Asian shrimp. Not sure how long the apps took but know I was able to walk up the street to fabulous Honeycombs Craft Ice Cream, with a line, order a drink and bring it back just after they served the apps. Eating the apps, we were told that Otto ran out of small pizza dough, so one of our pizza’s would have to be a large. One pizza and the shrimp salad came out, the large pizza arrived as the first two dinners were almost gone. Trying to pay & leave we were charged for the large pizza; only after we pointed this out did they change the bill with another apology. The one bright spot at Otto is Cory– she is hardworking, attentive, polite, down-to-earth and gracious. Cory buses tables, runs (really) to get heaters from River Tavern, fills water – well just about everything. Cory is unpretentious and humble, which makes her stand out from the pretentious at Otto; maybe it’s time for Cory to greet and seat, then we would be told the truth and we would feel welcome instead of honored. I gave Otto’s 6 visits: The pizza is thin dough and each and every time the dough was limp and soggy (see pizza piece photo) so when you cut the pizza the “crust” pulls with the knife. Ordered the egg pizza 3x and it was bland and underwhelming. My first visit I ordered the eggplant casserole, and it was very tasty, a solid dish; I ordered the same casserole on visit 4 and it was horrible, not a little off, but so bad I lost my appetite. They were apologetic, training new chefs, took it off the bill and made me a new one to take home which no one eat. The apps are an afterthought as I’m not sure what “made to order” guacamole is (see picture). See the food here is ok but not great; and some staff – again, nothing like at The River Tavern – treat patrons like it’s some kind of honor to be seated at Otto – guess what, it is not.

I’ve been to Otto several times with friends and/or family. Pizzas are thin, soft crust. Our favorite one is margarita. Everything is fresh and good quality. We love coming in the summer time having a seat outside. I want to say big thank you to the staff and especially to the manager who handled unusual situation with a mean customer very well and appropriate, which makes you know that Otto won’t allow people who come in and disrespect others. Definitely will be coming back.

So we have been here several times, they now have an open air tent outside. We were sitting in the very back near the brook. The food is great, the staff is young, but well trained. The pizza is done in a brick fire oven. If you are planning to be in Chester, call for a reservation, they are popular. Enjoy!