I can only describe my experience at Oti as warm and delightful. We went for date night and felt as though we weren't in New York anymore but rather in a friend's home in eastern Europe. Everyone was so friendly, the vibes were warm, and the food was delicious. My boyfriend described the ricotta toast as a "symphony of flavors"-- sweet, savory, salty, sour, it had it all. The dinner was topped off with a surprise dessert of gummy bears that came with the check. I couldn't help but think that this is what hospitality is to me, delightful experiences that we keep wanting to talk about and coming back to. Immediately after dinner my boyfriend added Oti to his list of favorite restaurants in the city, we can't wait to come back! read more

Oti - Modern European Near Me - New York, New York

Side note: As this place is technically Romanian, I requested to change the listing from New American to Modern European to match the other Romanian places along with potentially switching cocktail bar to small plates though this can go either way. Anyway this is a tiny spot with the inside looking like someone's house so it's a fun atmosphere. They apparently added cocktails since I was here a while ago which is a good idea as the somewhat salty food here definitely goes with drinks. I believe I had a glass of white wine when I was here but I'm not positive. The service was friendly and gave recommendations to the people here who weren't sure what they were going to order. In terms of Romanian food, I heavily prefer Danubius in Queens among other spots near there but this is a decent option and especially if you don't want to travel to Queens/Brooklyn. For prices as no one has taken a photo of the menu yet, the larger/shared plates are from around $16 bucks (outside of the not so good mamaliga) to $21 while the small plates are around $10. I went with two dishes and one was good and one was just alright and I tried some other dishes from some other people which ranged from bad to OK/decent. In general, the food was fine though lacking some of the more unique flavors listed. The more expensive of the option and easily the best food I had here was the Pickled Mushroom Toast for $21 listed as market mushrooms pickled in a housemade brine on top of bone marrow ricotta spread on top of toast soaked in beef juice. While I could not really detect the beef juice, this had wonderful textures and flavor with the mixed pickled mushrooms being a highlight which had some softness and crunch. The ricotta added some creaminess and the little brown parts on it (presumably the bone marrow) had a bit of richness. The good sourdough from whatever bakery they get it from was nice and thick which is a good idea as it probably would have fallen apart otherwise. If you don't love pickles, you'll probably hate this but I liked it a lot. The other dish which was just okay was "The Mici (meech)" for $16 consisting of lamb and beef housemade sausages spiced with Romanian herb blend and served with miso mustard. The sausages were a bit soft with the texture not being my favorite compared to other restaurants serving this dish. The mustard and herb blend on top was a bit overpowering with a light fermented flavor presumably from the miso which also added a unique though slightly unappetizing off yellow color. The portion size was decent as it definitely could have been split between two people and it was just fine overall. From others, I tried a few different things which were mostly the small plates which are worse. The Mamaliga ($10) had a worse texture than at Danubius or at Moldovan Cafe and I wish I had the eggs and a stronger cheese which is usually what makes this a lot better and I wouldn't recommend it. The Spiced Pickled Red Grapes ($9) was a novel idea with lightly spicy grapes and would go well with a cocktail or beer. The Zakuska dip ($9) was the best of the smaller plates with the same good bread and a nicely roasted red pepper/eggplant dip with a bit of sweetness from the caramelized onions though I prefer similar dips from other places. They also gave us some Gummy Bears as dessert at the end which was unique (no, I'm not writing more about them.) If every dish here was as good as the mushroom toast, I would much more heavily recommend this place but that's not the case as if I didn't have said mushroom toast, I'd very likely be giving this place a 2 for the overall quality. As the best word to describe this place is unique and OK, 3 stars is accurate. read more

See all

Place is cute and service is good. Our friend booked his birthday there and we had a large table outside on a cold day. While there was no heating, they provided us with blankets to cover up. It was still cold. It is a tapas place with 5 items on the menu. The dishes themselves were good. I enjoyed the ones I could eat. I don't eat gluten or pork so was only able to eat 3/5 dishes. For gluten free accommodation, they made some taco shells which were pretty good. Others at our table kept trying to eat the taco shells as well. Maybe due to lack of variety in options or because the bread was dry. The service was good and accommodating and staff did their best given the circumstances. Overall, the place is ok. The limited menu options, not enough ways to accommodate dietary restrictions and the relative high cost for what it is doesn't put it on the top of my list. read more

Oti - Modern European Near Me - New York, New York

Cozy charming spot in LES. It's a small kitchen with mostly everything prepped and ready to serve, smart way on running it. *Pickled Mushroom Toast - very good, balanced. *Zakuska (Smoked Aubergine) - my favorite dish, just love the flavor and smokiness, the smell is taken consideration into the dish. *Spiced Pickled Red Grapes - simple yet delicious. Great creation. *White Bean Dip - I'd say Zakuska wins over this. *Polenta - cheesy polenta Cocktails creation were filled with storytelling which was very lovely. Will come back!! read more

See all

I absolutely loved my experience at Oti - delicious food, immaculate vibes, and amazing service! Super cozy atmosphere and perfect for a date night. I've never had Romanian food before but I loved the unique flavor profiles. Our waiter Kat was also amazing and gave us a new cocktail she was testing with granola that was so fun and delicious - I'm so excited to come back and try their cocktail menu when they release it :) The standout dishes for me were: Zakuska Dip: a red, tomato and aubergine spread that comes with bread, their best seller Pickled Mushroom Toast: I was obsessed with this one, the acidity paired so nicely with the mushrooms We also got the broken burrata and Romanian stuffed peppers, which were both also delicious. 4 tapas was more than enough food for two of us and I think we even had leftovers. I'd love to come back and try the whole menu next time since I enjoyed my experience so much. One of my favorite meals this month, and will be recommending to friends! 5/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service read more

See all

It was first time trying Romanian(ish) dishes that complimented each other from start to finish. The server was super helpful and advised what pickled dish would pair with the salty dishes. The 5 dishes arrived in this order: Broken Burrata, Mussels, Polenta, Mici, Spiced Pickled Red Grapes. Each dish had a unique tasting profile from the first bite to the after taste as well as pairing it with the next dish that arrived. Do come with an open mind and palate when trying these dishes. I most certainly did and experienced new flavor profiles and combinations that were complimentary with slight contrast which is good since it expands the tasting experience. The space was cozy but quite lively the more guests that arrived through the door. The music selection was cover songs from popular artists, it was a nice surprise since it ranged from pop jazz, classical, and latin lounge. When your check arrives, it comes with a gummy bear treat that I enjoyed very much. Highly recommend bringing someone to share or small group since the restaurant is very intimate for small parties or dinner for two type of space read more

See all

First time having romanian food so i can't judge/compare this to other romanian food but for just FOOD, it was amazing. Food: we got the meech (meatballs), mussels, zakuska dip, spiced pickled red grapes, and polenta. They were all really flavorful and amazing but the highlights for me were the zakuska dip (i hope they sell this in a big jar one day) and the mussels. oh and the BREAD. perfectly toasted and delicious. we got about 3 refills on the bread and used it to soak up all the good mussel broth, dip, sauces, etc. atmosphere: very cute and cozy. great for date spot service: amazing, no complaints price: a little on the pricey side, spent over $70 (including tax and tip) for 2 people but def worth it. highly recommend! read more

See all

The unassuming spot in this quiet area serves remarkably tasty meals. The staff's performance enhanced the creative dishes. The workers were magnificent! The food choices, affordable costs and outstanding service exceed expectations. Oti has us planning return visits. read more

The best Romanian food I have had in US (except Chicago with a tripe soup) , not that I have eaten a lot of it in the Northeast. Mămăligă, fasole bătută, zacuscă and stuffed peppers were like home, heavenly. Elias , if you bring more Romanian wines, there is this white wine I discovered in Romania recently, called Solo Quinta, that you may wanna consider too. read more

Fantastic meal in a tucked away spot in the LES. Really unique meal and fantastic wine selection. Each dish was better than the last, pickled grapes were like nothing I have had before - a must have. Beautiful interior that was cozy and well decorated, and side note loved the music that played. Service was great, but we were also one of a few tables - I couldn't believe this place wasn't more packed! read more

We had our best Wednesday evening at Oti last week. It was one of the perfect restaurants I've found recently. The interior is relatively small but can accommodate quite a few seats with bar seats, plus they have a cute outdoor dining space. They hold live jazz every Wednesday, which I was lucky to find out on the day! Chef Elya serves Romanian fusion food, along with Romanian drinks(wine and beer) and fun and creative mixology by Kat, the GM. Service was absolutely kind, engaging, and professional. The impression I got was everything here is based on the fine dining quo with their own personalities. In short, I can enjoy high-quality food and top-notch service in a delightful atmosphere. I will definitely come back again and again and also recommend it to my friends! read more

See all

What a gem of a little restaurant. We felt like we were in chef Elias' home kitchen enjoying small plates of delicious Romanian inspired foods. The mici, stuffed peppers and fasole bătută were especially memorable. The hostess was so friendly, offering tastings of wine as soon as we took our seats. The atmosphere warm and cozy. read more

They put together a 'holiday market' that promised mulled wine and live music. Got the artists to promote and bring their friends who spent money but they did not promote themselves and did not provide what they promised. They used local artists/makers for their own good giving them nothing in return when they could have devoted that time and energy to another market. read more

This was our second time at Oti and both times we were greeted with such amazing hospitality. The food tasted incredible and looks beautiful, but the restaurant is not stuffy or pretentious. You feel like you are in a restaurant run by friends. We got to spend time with the chef, Stephanie, who was not only so humble but was intent on making sure our night was special. Good food, good wine, good conversation. That's what a restaurant should be. No notes. Thank you so much to Stephanie and Oti! read more

All in all, we had a very nice experience at Oti. The food is delicious and the service is very friendly. Unfortunately, I didn't look closely enough at the wine prices. For a very moderately priced restaurant, most of the wines hover around $100 a bottle. I accidentally ordered a bottle for $104 that I thought was $26 -- the price of a glass. I understand that restaurants have to mark up alcohol but this just seemed so out of line with the food prices. When I mentioned it to the waitress, she said Eastern European wines are very expensive. We checked and the wine retails for $24, less than they are charging for a glass. Again, I fully admit that this was my fault but I just want others to be aware. read more

My family had such a wonderful experience eating here while visiting our son during his internship. The staff was so attentive, incredibly kind and efficient. The food is amazing! My 100% Romanian wife had tears in her eyes as every meal catered to her childhood. Highly recommended! read more

Great service and the food was delicious!! Definitely has an intimate and romantic vibe. Will be back!!!

Food was subpar for the cost. Not traditional enough to be culturally significant. Not good enough to warrant its lack of authenticity. The atmosphere however was horrendous. Seated on a wooden plank box in the corner in a cramped and uninviting environment. They try to make it up with gimmicks like "house made ceramic plates," but it's style over substance and not good style at that. If you do find yourself here, get the michi, was better than the other things we got. read more

Awesome inventive cuisine with Romanian influence. The space is definitely small, but the owner and wait/bar staff are great at navigating people. Lovely backyard space as well. read more

Despite the diversity of cuisines in NYC, I've somehow never come across Romanian food, so I figured this restaurant would be worth a shot. The flavors were really interesting - the dill added a refreshing accent to the burrata, the smoky beer with the mussels was something I've never tasted before, and although the paprika ice cream seemed like a concoction only the psycho horned mascot of the restaurant dreamed up, it was actually quite tasty. The presentation of each dish was as imaginative as the food itself. I've never eaten so many flowers. The restaurant is small, which created a really pleasant, intimate setting for me and my friends and the service was on point. I'll definitely be back - hopefully before the LES hipsters and foodie folk blow it up. read more

See all

Go immediately!! I had heard good things before going but the whole experience beat my expectations. I wasn't even sure what Romanian food was but wanted to try something new. The flavors were incredible - intricate, rich, and complex. Even with the food being so good, I would go back just for the cocktails. Not only that, but the warmth and friendliness of the atmosphere really does feel like you're in a best friends kitchen. The chef and staff are so lovely and making the entire experience feel like the best dinner party I've ever been to. read more

See all

I really enjoyed dining at Oti for a few reasons: 1- friendly, intimate atmosphere. The place is tiny tiny tiny, but that creates such a sweet ambiance where you can talk to the owner and waitstaff. 2- great food. Some reviewers are saying it is not true Romanian. As a Romanian, I can attest to this and that's ok! It is a Romanian-American fusion restaurant and that's a beautiful thing. It's great to see Romanian food expand outside of this traditional bounds. 3- inventive cocktails. The Negroni is top notch. It's also made in a special glass right in front of you! 4- service. The owner was kind enough to accommodate the menu for my mom due to religious reasons. I was very grateful! Overall I recommend Oti and I would return!! read more

A really good reinterpreted Romanian food. The owner is so sweet and makes everyone feel welcomed. All the food I tried was amazing and the vibe was very cozy. read more

Oti - Mushroom toast - Modern European Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Love Oti. Good vibe, staff is awesome - attentive but also happy to let you hang out if you want to - recommended we try a couple different wines when we were considering what to have and gave us a tasting, food is AMAZING, and they gave us some gummy bears with our check *thumbs up ;) read more

Great atmosphere it feels like home. The food was great , I had the meatballs, roasted pickled peppers and the cheese pastry. My favorite was the cheese pastry. The service was good and very attentive and friendly . read more

See all

Small space but cozy! As a romanian, I was pleasantly surprised to see a different take on some romanian classics. The mussels were amazing. Really hoping they eventually add papanasi, ciorba, and sarmale to the menu soon! read more

Let's not call this tasteless joke Romanian food. Let's not call this tasteless joke edible food. Let's not call this thing food. The "mushroom toast" that was supposed to contain ricotta and bone marrow contained neither, and the "jus" was simply absent. The "mici" (minced grilled meat) was dry and tasteless. The "fasole batuta" was a thin white liquid of unidentifiable origin. The cheese pastry started its life in a freezer of a grocery story and was floating in melted fat. As a desert we were offered four gummi bears. This establishment should be subsidized by the antiacids and the antiemetics industry. Yuck from beginning to end. The wine, incidentally, was horrible too. I have no idea where the pictures on their website were taken. Probably from a good restaurant. read more

You would never expect this place to be a restaurant if you are walking in broad daylight but finding out and setting up a resy was well worth it! I don't know much about Romanian food but after eating at Oti - I need more of it in my life. I had the 3 course meal that consisted of The Burrata, The Burger, and The Bread. I'll start with the Burrata; I thought it was just going to be another Burrata, but it was definitely creamier and smoother than most I've tasted so I'd give it a 4/5. The Burger; The smokey presentation was definitely a vibe and the juiciness from the burger did not disappoint me with the side of potatoes it came with that was cut using an artisans knife. Most definitely whispered Entree (4.5/5). Now The BREAD. LET ME TALK ABOUT THIS BREAD. I ain't a big desert guy, I like ice cream that's it but I've never tasted something so light but full of flavor and left me wanting more. The Bread was a beautiful wrap up to all that I ate (5/5). I will also add the drinks were a delicious pairing and I would just stay there for the cocktails alone. I later found out that the menu rotates monthly for seasonality and you will have to check their website or call for more information. Hope you get try everything! Because I definitely will! read more

Oti - The menu rotates monthly for seasonality! - Modern European Near Me - New York, New York

Loved this place. The vibe, service, old video from Romania running on the wall. The food was good too, if a bit heavy. Best were the appetizers and drinks. The meat balls and polenta could have been more tender, and the brownie for dessert, softer and more chocolaty. All that said, I would go back in a second, if I could get a seat at one of the three tables! read more

The new tapas menu is really great. The pickled peppers go really well with the creamy polenta. My favorite of the night was sarmale (cabbage wrap). The dessert was so interesting too. Presentation is great and the chef& owner is very hospitable. Will definitely be back for more read more

See all

Not Romanian at all. Very expensive for very underwhelming and uninventive food. We were very disappointed.

It was my first time trying Romanian food and I was pleasantly surprised by how innovative and flavor-specific each dish was. The Burrata, bread, eggplant and ice cream were all so different but dangerously delicious. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. JUST TRY IT FOR YOURSELF! I really hope Oti gets its recognition in NYC because its made obvious that Elias and his team love the food that they create as well as providing exceptional hospitality and service to each customer. I can't wait to come back. read more

Some restaurants bring out your food, but this restaurant brings you its heart. I had the pleasure of experiencing its slew of pop-ups and exciting dishes and now that it's a full live brick and mortar, I'm excited I can have this food and vibe on the regular. Simple as I can put it - go! read more

This food was amazing. The Romanian dishes are perfect. Meatballs and polenta and the cocktails! Cozy joint with a great staff and a small, thoughtful menu. Highly recommend. read more

I'm from Texas so I haven't eaten physically at Oti yet...however, I've tasted chef Elias's cookings many times. If his impromptu throw downs with food and cocktails are 5 stars...I can't imagine what the Oti experience will be like! read more

Firstly none of the dishes were Romanian. We are adventurous eaters and instead we served a mozzarella with no flavor and what tasted like Trader Joe's meatballs. For $70 a person, it was theft!!! Save your money and go to greenpoint for real Eastern European fare. read more

Oti embodies artistic excellence, exceptional hospitality, and soul-filling cuisine. Truly an experience to remember with attention given to every little detail! read more

A stunning introduction to novel cuisine! I'd never tried Romanian food before, so it was great to have some familiar flavors reimagined. I definitely want to come back soon! read more