Otto

Went in today for breakfast. Got charged more than menu price. Made a mention to the server, she pretty much told me too bad. Then the cook/​owner started insulting my date. Called us pieces of s**t for asking and told us to pay and leave. What a horrible way for a business to go out. Thank God today was their last.

We were surprised that we were the only customers when we arrived here on this Saturday morning at around ten, especially considering the mob that was already assembled outside Jam one block up. Otto has a most excellent interior, from the mounted stag head with antlers to the faux bamboo wallpaper, and to the open kitchen with pots and pans hanging from a ceiling rack. A very creative mix of materials, styles and colors.
Because we were the only customers, we were able to snag the large table right inside the door. We were cheerily greeted and offered coffee. The coffee ($ 2.50), served in a French Press was actually the high point of the meal — absolutely delicious. The breakfast menu was solid, with even more options appearing than what shows on OTTO’s website. They played music (a mix ranging from Led Zeppelin to Bob Marley) at the perfect volume.
So yes, the restaurant concept is great, but service and food were off the mark.
We ordered beignets, zucchini fries, the Lamb Burger and the No Brainer. We thought it was cool when we requested the beignets that our server offered to bring them out last, as sort of a final course. But sure enough, the beignets were the first thing to arrive, and we didn’t get individual plates for the beignets either. The beignets ($ 7) were covered with powdered sugar and served with a jam and a caramel dipping sauce. While the beignets were hot and fresh, they had a bitter taste and the texture just wasn’t that appealing.
However, my No Brainer ($ 8) with scrambled eggs accented with sprigs of scallion, an English muffin and huge lightly seasoned home fries and bacon was very good. A hearty-​sized meal. On the other hand, JP and I both concurred that the Lamb Burger ($ 12) was not very good. Its seasonings were loud and unpleasant. Speaking of unpleasant, the bun was atrocious — it feel apart in quick order. The zucchini fries ($ 7) had a nice dipping sauce but the fries were undercooked and a disappointment.
Even though we were the only customers, we were never checked on during our meal. It was kind of funny that as we paid our bill, our server complimented us on arising early, because the «lazy hipsters» didn’t show up until noon. So just who were those people thronging Jam?

I agree with some of the other postings. These people are not customer service oriented and in a city where servers and owners are so friendly I would never go back to OTTO. The menu is not very creative either in a land where food is oh so creative and delicious there are many other options for a joyful meal. Cheers!

OMG… Delicious food, right-​size portions and interesting ingredients. I wanted an adventure on this rainy Sunday. Asked hubby to drive to a neighborhood in Portland and then use Unilocal to find a restaurant — the reviews were right!
Single serving of coffee in a french press, (hot, smooth and darkly wonderful). I had the omelette, hubby had the No Brain Breakfast. Both were great… but the best part? The English muffin. Served with lemon curd and marionberry preserves (in a squeeze bottle), this was absolutely delish. I’d go back just for this.
Our server was nice. We were the only people in the place… which made me a little nervous… but I told him, «If you’ve poisoned us, it was worth it.» :)
This would be a great place to take our friends. Edit: Thought we’d definitely go back… but the owner’s ‘tude is off-​putting. After thinking about it a bit more, I’ve decided that her lack of people skills leaves a lot to be desired. As a reviewer said previously, «there are a lot of restaurants in Portland with great food.» The more I think about it, this is a lot like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld (as Mandy S. pointed out). Great food, but if you don’t like people you’re in the wrong business.

Truly creative food!
I love when a place has really really good quality of product to start out with, meaning they don’t really HAVE to spice it up to hide what is really there.

In my attempts to review his place I wanted to give them zero stars, but that’s not an option, so I will leave them with one since I suppose the food was eatable. My first sign of the place being awful should of been that when I walked in not one other customer was in the place, not a good sign for the dinner hour on Hawthorne. My boyfriend and I were seated given menus and left for about 5 minutes while the cook/​waitress just hovered over by the kitchen. When she finally returned and I had set my heart on a watermelon mojito and I attempted to order she informed me they didn’t have that drink as they were in a seasonal transition. To me that’s a fair excuse, but why not inform the only customer in the whole place of that when I received my menu. I settled for a whiskey ginger instead. Once I got my drink and took a sip I realized there was a dead bug floating in my drink. Yum! Back to the drink menu.
I asked the server if she had a beer I wanted and she replied with great attitude that they did. Apparently not wanting bugs in your drink is high maintenance. Once we ordered food I had decided on the mussels, but to my surprise, that wasn’t available either. I went with the lamb burger and my boyfriend got the pork cheek. Once our food came out I asked for ranch for my potatoes, again I received attitude. «we don’t carry „pause“ ranch» well mayonnaise then? Sure she replies. Out comes a squirtable best foods mayo container you would find on the shelves at Freddie’s. So apparently she is to good And WAY to trendy for ranch but a mayo bottle is high class.
At this point I’m ready to go because I’m literally being glared at by the female cook, the food was good, but I wasn’t able to enjoy it because of everything else. This is a place I would never ever go back to.

I am hesitant to review this place because I maintain that it is one of the best kept secrets in Portland and I selfishly want to keep it that way. But ultimately they deserve all the business they can get.
Hands down the most delicious and flavorful old fashioned and dry martini you can find in Portland. But this is the only thing we regularly get there, otherwise we sample anything and everything on the menu and have never once been disappointed.
Tonight I got braised shortribs and my boyfriend got lamb shanks. The portions were large (so large in fact that we skipped dessert for probably the first time ever) and we didn’t leave a single morsel behind. Everything they cook is so complex and dynamic, never overdone but always even more interesting to taste than it sounds on the menu.
Prices are completely reasonable, they could get away with charging a lot more in this town but you can tell they want to keep it accessible. Wine list is really great and so reasonably priced it seems silly not to get a whole bottle. I know they do «Happy Sundays» right now too, where happy hour prices last all day.
This is a family run business and the personal touches show at every turn. Highly recommended to anyone, and makes a great date night when followed up with a movie at the Cinemagic.

My husband and I went here last night and it was special. The ambience was perfect: Not too bright, not too dark; not too noisy, not too quiet; the waiter was not obtrusive and not absent. He was really good at reading our pace, both for food courses and wine.
We had 3 starters, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. The standouts in each course were:
Starter: Fried zucchini. Good lord this was yummy. It was in a tempura-​like batter with a slightly spicy reddish sauce, with an aioli base I think.
Entrée: Pekin duck. Amazing crispy skin («crispy fatty bits» as my husband put it), perfect caramelization, prepared with figs, pistachios, and candied ginger. It was the best duck I’ve ever had.
Dessert: Five spice chocolate sorbet with vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries. The chocolate sorbet was almost like semifreddo, kind of a cross between sorbet and mousse in texture, not at all icy, just rich and with true chocolate flavor. Whatever chocolate they use must be one of the best. I wasn’t sure what was in five spice. It’s a combination five spices (!): star anise, cinnamon, and clove are common. It wasn’t «hot» spicy although it’s possible there was a hot spice in there layered just right so you couldn’t taste it.
I’m not a fan of zucchini or duck, and I usually avoid chocolate that’s been spiced. But I would get all of these again in a heartbeat. They were so good.
I had an awesome glass of Primitivo, and my husband enjoyed his glass of Sancerre.
It was a delicious meal that met our pace and budget and made for a special night.

Go! Go! Go! Took my brother here on a Saturday night for his birthday. The place was inexplicably empty, but the food was excellent.
We had:
Beet Caprese (surprising and tasty)
Shaved Asparagus salad (very nice)
Fish Tacos (excellent, albeit a bit spicy)
Ribs (best thing of the night, spicy green bean side okay)
Pork belly (nice texture, perfectly cooked)
The drinks were also quite good, but could probably use a bit more alcohol. (We tried the Greyhound).
We’ll definitely be going back — just hope it stays in business long enough.

As the «brother» to the reviewer below, I have to add my two cents to the review of this place. It is excellent, and it deserves to be visited by all.
The Beet Caprese was amazing. The earthy flavor of the pickled beet, coupled with the mozzarella and mixed greens, was just right. A perfect balance of flavor, throughout. The Shaved Asparagus Salad was perfect for sharing, and it too held a wonderful, layered flavor.
I had the Pork Belly. The tender, flavorful pieces were on an olive tapenade of sorts, which when eaten together, balanced the flavor of the pork with the acidity of the olive. My only complaint was that I could have used 2 more bites.
The prices are well inside fair. The open kitchen was clean and clutter-​free. The décor was trendy, but not too much. There was not the «hipster vibe» that seems to have overtaken so many Portland establishments. The service was tight and attentive. We did not eat dessert there, but we should have. Next time, for sure.

MEGA GEM
If rules for palindromes were less stringent I would say something along the lines of:
A man, a plan, a great restaurant that is inexplicably FAR less busy than it should be.
My family loves this place. Food is excellent and the place is run with care by real pros. Not sure why Unilocal overview says that Otto is not good for kids. We bring our two rugrats here all the time and the staff and owners could not be any more accommodating. Give this place a try!

We’ve been meaning to go back to Otto after attending the St Innocent winemaker dinner a couple of months ago. Finally made it this evening. The food was stellar. I had the shaved asparagus salad with tomato «candy» (actually, I’m guessing, simply roasted to the point of carmelization, thus bringing out their natural sweetness) followed by sturgeon with romesco sauce, sauteed radishes, sugar snaps and little sprouty greens. Both dishes were flawless — balanced in flavor and texture throughout. Jerry had tomato soup, then the lamb burger, and seemed to enjoy both.
Apps, entrees and wines (we had the Owen Roe Abbot’s Table, a fave) were reasonably priced, and the service was competent. Like others, I’m concerned about how unbusy they seemed to be on a Friday night. We drove home via the SE Clinton-​20^th-​ish restaurant nexus, which was jumping. Portland peeps, I wanna say, get out there and check this place out. These folks are putting out a righteous product, and they deserve our support.

This place wins Delicious-​Under-​The-​Radar-​Brunch-​Award. Strolled in Sunday with the hubs at 12:45pm and it was almost empty. Score! And, uh-​oh does this mean this place is no beuno?
Well, it was a great experience from beginning to end. Hubs enjoyed his stumptown coffee and I was delighted by the assam tea served in a ceramic tea pot. Finally! A brunch that doesn’t stiff tea drinkers with a a single supermarket Stash teabag. Yeah, I’m giving you the side eye Jam & Blue Pig.
Food was yummy, my veggie hash has a colorful assortment of veggies: haricot vert, zucchini, cauliflower etc. and came with a tasty homemade english muffiin.
Hubs enjoyed his spicy lamb burger.
We took to-​go a homemade brownie and slice of lemon olive cake. Both were seriously moist tasty goodness.
I need to go back to try the strawberry rhubarb pancakes (comes with side meat. mmm side meat) and the $ 4 (Seriously only $ 4?!) pork belly, egg, and cheese sandwich.

I’ve taken clients to OTTO and also enjoyed this establishment with my wife several times. Small plates with one of the best wine selections in town given the size of this restaurant. I think most of the wines are also available by glass. The wine is incredibly affordable compared to typical mark up.
I tried the salad with pistachios and pears: excellent. My wife loved the lamb burger as I did also. Every month there is a wine tasting paired with food too. Very little not to like. Kim, one of the owners is great and knowledgeable.
We are fortunate to have fantastic restaurants like this in the ‘Thorne!

I’m a big fan of Otto and I really want it to do well. It’s never very busy, but given the ambiance, quality of food, and quality of service, there should be a line out the door. For dinner, the razor clam appetizer always seems to sell out (meaning it is delicious… and it was, the one time I had it), but the green salad is surprising delicious and is another good option. Pretty much all of the dinner options are great. I’m dying to try the brunch, which looks amazing on the menu, is very reasonably priced and doesn’t have the ridiculous kinds of lines most of the other (more mediocre) places have in the neighborhood.
If you haven’t been, don’t be scared off by the lack of people. I promise that the people are friendly (its run by a family) and the food is great. Now it just needs someone to work some PR magic and spread the word!

Post-​Nicholas upliftment.
Okay, so the PLAN was to get a couple of pre-​movie drinks at this place. As it went, the movie got totes skipped due to some fantastic bevvies and doting attention paid to us by the owners. When showtime rolled around, we decided we were having too much fun to leave, despite the theatre being just across the street. Hungry Games, you’ll just have to wait.
Twas a Wednesday evening upon the dining hour. Dinner had been consumed earlier at the aforementioned Nicholas. We really wanted something to transmute our ‘meh’ to ‘yeh!’ and we found it. We walk in to an empty restaurant and sit at the bar. Eventually, another couple shows up and sits at table far from us but for the most part, we had the place to ourselves. I do hope this is not a representative turnout for this place as I’d like them to be around for a while.
We order our libations… me, ein beer; friend, a SE Sling. Beer fine, SE Sling okay. When Round 2 approached, we decided to see what else could be concocted using rum. The lady (co-​owner) ran through a few mental calculations and came up with something they’ve offered in the past which involves Amarena cherries. Holy Mother Mary, Abraham and the Twelve Apostles, was it good. Nicely tart and refreshing without being too sweet. I’m not sure if it had a name but it sounds like they’ll offer it during warmer weather. GET YOU SOMES.
While we’re sitting and talking, the subject of pickles comes up. Our hostess mentions all the things they pickle in-​house and offers us small samples of them. I forget all there were but peppers and cuke slices were among them. They use a variety of them in their bloody marys so that’s something I’ll try out during a brunch visit, which they do on the weekend. She also gave us some kind of cheese muffin or biscuit at no charge. These folks really made us feel welcome and appreciated, even though we were only getting liquid nourishment.
The starting time of the movie came, then went and we were unremorseful about its passing. We were able to have the more or less undivided attention of the staff and they took great care of us. They were really eager to talk with us and had our enjoyment as their main focus. Mission accomplished.
I will return for an actual dinner or brunch and I will do it soon. You might say that a 5 star score based (mainly) on drinks is a bit hasty but I care not for your protestations that I just now hypothesized. I do what I want.

It’s official… After going there last night for the 5^th time last night I can honestly say this is my favorite restaurant in the area. The menu is ever changing, the food is always wonderful, the cocktail are unique and reasonable priced and the staff lay back but friendly.
So why isn’t it busier? I really can’t tell you but believe me, it should be! Go, eat, drink and enjoy.

This review is long overdue! Me and my date enjoyed Valentine’s Day dinner at Otto and enjoyed our experience! I believe this was the 4^th time we’ve eaten at Otto and every time we’ve been to the restaurant it’s been a pleasure.
We were happy to see that Otto was packed on Valentine’s Day and hopefully will gain some patrons from the holiday visit as the other times we’ve dined at Otto the place looked a bit slow. We do not want Otto to close down because this is a great restaurant in a great location.
The menu was awesome! We started out sharing the pork belly starter, which burst with flavor. The outside was nice and crisp and melted in your mouth like butter. For the main course my date had Cornish Game Hen and I had the braised beef brisket. Both the dishes were spot on and memorable.
If you haven’t tried Otto it’s a must!

Just had a very enjoyable dinner at Otto. The menu is extremely interesting (and constantly changing), and the food there is a great value (we had several courses, 3 drinks, 2 desserts, and got out the door for under $ 100).
I find it really hard to believe that people had sub-​par service at Otto — the restaurant is incredibly intimate and I cannot picture the warm husband/​wife owner team as anything but attentive and engaged.
Portland IS a town with many food choices, but if you want to cut through the hype and enjoy some honest and creative food at an extremely fair price, Otto is a fantastic choice.

A great addition to Southeast Portland food scene. My husband and I came in for dinner and got to try several dishes. I had the sturgeon, which was delicious and substantial. I also had the niciose, which was a surprising take on the traditional french salad. Instead of a leafy green salad, it was cooked greens with a fried egg and sundried tomatos. Yum!
We had a 6 course meal, all of the dishes were well balanced in flavor. Dishes were meat-​heavy, but the meat was in smaller morsels and it was well seasoned. In other words, we didn’t feel heavy afterward.
Our dessert of strawberry shortcake was good homemade-​style fare and it was a great finish to the meal.