And I went back with a party of 10. Heidi was amazing and so was the food. This has to be on your list. read more

Ottos on the River - Scallop casserole with mashed potatoes. - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

Not many places in Augusta, but my wife and I decided to get an early dinner here before a local show. We were the only diners in the 4pm hour. I ordered the seafood casserole and my wife chose some type of stuffed fish. Before the food arrived we noticed a few gnats buzzing the table. No big deal, we thought we would kill them. Unfortunately, we were sitting near a large potted plant. Looking more closely, we noticed glue paper on a post with tons of gnats - clearly a problem the restaurant knew about. In fact, the proprietor came to our table and said he noticed us swatting away the gnats, and that he was sorry, but they "just put the plant there, and thought they had purchased soil that was clean". Come on, you're running a restaurant and should never make excuses for cleanliness! The food arrived. The casserole seemed like it wasn't fresh, masked by being microwaved to 400F. About half way in, I pulled a strand of hair out of a clump of casserole.... It can happen, but combined with the gnats and overall lack of cleanliness, it's too much. As we sat there, maybe it was just that day or time, but the thought for me was that the best days of the restaurant were in the past. The eclectic decor was dated and had many surfaces (eg picture frames) needing a wipe down to remove dust. I honestly feel bad to leave this review, as the owners are real people just trying to make it. That said, I hope they can step it up. It is a promising location, and there is little else in the area. read more

Nice location on Water Street, easy, free parking. The owners and bartender (Sue) were all super nice and welcoming - they get 5 stars. The food was average or a bit below average. Venison was overcooked; seafood pasta dish had a lot of seafood but was heavy and bland. Complimentary biscuits were served before the meal and they were really good, had great flavor -maybe a bit of rosemary? After the meal we were served complimentary chocolate covered strawberries - very nice touch. When it comes down to it, it's just the main meals that need upgrading as the experience, the staff, the front and back end of the main meal were all great. read more

My husband and I went there for lunch today. They did not have a cocktail menu that was fine. I order jumbo shrimp cocktail. He ordered steaks tips.The waitress we had was very nice. When our food arrived my jumbo shrimp cocktail had been put on a plate in disarray. The shrimp was not jumbo at all they were a medium at the most . The cocktail sauce was thrown along the plate. Not at all appealing to the eye. My husbands steaks tips where chewing and his mashed potatoes where reheated in the microwave that where leftovers from the day before! I did eat the shrimp that were not jumbo my husband ate some of his meal not much . When we were done our waitress was busy so he went inside to pay. Our waitress asked if she could help as she was getting another tables meal . My husband just let her know it was ok and we just wanted to leave . The waitress then apologized. When he walked into pay he heard our waitress telling the chef he needed to be more constant with his food. The owner by the way was sitting down on and his phone. There was another waitress discussing how " DiMillo's in Portland was over priced and how horrible their food was to other patrons of the restaurant. This place will not last much longer with an owner like this. The owner could hear this but never said anything . Our waitress was fantastic doing the best she could. We will not bring going back to Otto's . read more

Would not recommend. We experienced very poor service and were largely ignored until a manager stepped in to help us. When I asked about the tequila selection, I was told they were "all the same," which wasn't helpful--I had to ask again for them to check. Our food took quite a while, and when it finally arrived, our burgers were missing bacon. They brought some out on a separate plate afterward, but overall the experience felt disorganized. The food itself was underwhelming, and both the service and menu execution could use improvement. read more

We stopped here on our way to Bar Harbor. It was around noon and there were just a few people there. We were quickly seated and waited on. I chose the Blueberry Walnut Salad with chicken while my partner had the lamb burger. We both were happy with our meals and the service. On our way back to Portland we stopped in again for lunch. I chose the halibut sandwich with macaroni salad. My partner chose the Blueberry Walnut Salad. Again, both meals were delicious. It's a nice comfortable restaurant which has outdoor seating if you're interested. Ample parking. Service was great. If we're ever in the area again, I'm sure we'll stop by. read more

Ottos on the River - Blueberry Walnut Salad with chicken - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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Second time here since my original review early on after they opened. Thought it was time to give it another try. We had a nice evening, service was good with the new waiter, although things were really slow, I mean really slow! Apps were really good with the roasted brie and blueberries and the oysters. Entrees... ok, not great. Mixed reviews all around the table. read more

Ottos on the River - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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Great service. Eclectic menu. Friendly vibe. Great place to hang out and enjoy Water Street.

Service was great! Owner is very nice when you go ask about the Name Otto and where it's from. Highly recommend. read more

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i really wanted to enjoy this place, but unfortunately, we didn't. the ambiance was fine, seemed to attempt at being an intimate and fine-dining atmosphere, but instead it sort of felt like you're sitting in someone's house. our waiter was very kind and attentive. i ordered the fettucine alfredo, it was okay but not warm - it had definitely been sitting out for a while. my friend ordered the blueberry walnut salad which she'd had before and loved, but unfortunately it was practically inedible this time. the tomatoes were mushy and almost rotten. when we mentioned this to (whom I'd assume was the owner/manager) she didn't apologize, didn't offer a replacement, and didn't comp anything. which is fine, but normally when someone tells you they didn't enjoy their food you attempt to remedy the situation, but instead she seemed offended. overall underwhelming, especially considering the price. read more

Ottos on the River - Blueberry Walnut Salad - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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I'm visiting my daughter for Easter and she took me to lunch at Otto's. I cannot even begin to tell you about this wonderful place. Heidi is the most amazing host/bartender you could ask for, sharing all kinds of information about local places to go. And then there is Crystal's crab bisque and crap dip followed by homemade Tiramisu. Wow!! My daughter's carrot soup was also delicious. You cannot beat this place for a true Maine experience! read more

Quaint folksy restaurant with a great staff and excellent local food that sticks to your bones on a cold day. Welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. read more

Great service. Great atmosphere. Great food. We have enjoyed Ottos several times. Always a wonderful experience. read more

The food and service were exceptional. The decor was very relaxing so we could thoroughly enjoy our dinner. Our waitress was very pleasant and offered suggestions when we asked. Overall a very nice experience. read more

We reserved dinner on Thanksgiving. We got seated and the hostess brought us our rolls. She brought 2plates. Put a plate down in front of my wife and the plate with 2rolls in front of me and with her bare hands took one of the rolls and put it on my wife's plate. Then came time for dessert and they were all out of pie (WTF) They offered us Strawberry Shortcake. This is not exceptable. We paid good money for a complete Thanksgiving Dinner. I've owned restaurants before. This not the way you do business. Unfortunately my wife and I will not be back. read more

The food here is INCREDIBLE! Probably the best grilled chicken I've ever had! The lobster stew was also divine and had actual chunks of lobster meat in it. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! read more

I don't know if they were understaffed last night but I was dining alone and waited about 45 minutes for my dinner to arrive. The seafood stuffed haddock was pretty good, but it was not cheap and they serve a rather small portion. Don't think I'll be returning any time soon. read more

The food is incredible, the drinks are excellent, the service and the ambiance are truly amazing! read more

Ottos on the River - The lobster stew and a lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

Ambience: very relaxed place: come as you are for a high end meal. Sitting by an open window listening to Ella Fitzgerald, white table cloths and black flatware gives a casual restaurant a fancy feel. There could be cohesion with the decor but still welcoming. Our server, though new, was very attentive and very nice. The Patron checked in on us quickly and made sure we were taken care of. The food was better than good but not great. Except for the Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops-they were great! Large portions. I had the stuffed haddock... the haddock was cooked perfectly, the seafood filling could have been fresher/more seafoody; the mashed potatoes were tasty and green beans were crisp. The Brussel sprouts appetizer was also very good, split and charred with a soft center and extra crispy bacon bits. We were celebrating our anniversary while passing through the area and we are glad we stopped in! They made us feel special and even gave us a cute little chocolate treat. We were definitely too full for a full dessert so this was a sweet end to the meal. read more

Ottos on the River - Seafood Stuffed Haddock Bacon Wrapped Scallops Sauteed Brussels Sprouts - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

Amazing!!! Gretchen was our server and she was a delight! We had the scallops and crab dish as apps! Both perfectly cooked! We also had the seafood casserole and pasta... both were Devine! They brought us chocolate dipped strawberries to finish... the strawberries were the best we've had in years! Thank you Gretchen and owners for making us feel welcomed! read more

The ambiance was wonderful unfortunately that is where the good ended. The wait staff was not trained well at all, not their fault management take note. We ordered Brussel sprouts as an appetizer and were brought bacon wrapped scallops which we ended up keeping and the bacon was over cooked and the seasoning was minimal. For entrees we had a seafood casserole which was ok again the seasoning was missing, the same for the Chicken Marsala. When our entrees arrived we asked for salt and pepper as it was not on the table waited 5 minutes and asked again after another 2-3 minutes I had to go ask the front for salt and pepper. For the cost of the meal I was disappointed and I will not return. read more

Ordered the escargot and it was fabulous. Dry beefeater martini made perfectly. Ambience is so cozy. So glad I stopped in. Wonderful experience. Thank you read more

We were welcomed at the door by the owner Steve. He was awesome. He checked back with us often to make sure we got what we needed. We had the oysters which were delicious and we were able to order off the dinner menu for lunch. He even added sautéd onions and mushrooms to our steak which was cooked to perfection. We will be back. read more

Have enjoyed lunch at Otto's on a couple of occasions. My husband and I decided to make reservations for New Year's Eve. Very disappointed in the service and the food. Was definitely not worth what we paid. read more

Such a good meal! The food was awesome! I had Fettucine Alfredo, so good. Hubby had a pasta special, said it was delicious. The restaurant was beautiful. Our server (Jackie) was soooo sweet Only problem, I ordered a sangria The glass had lipstick on it (I wasn't wearing any) I pointed it out to the waitress she took the drink...they just poured the old one in a new glass .... YUCK read more

The Most Beautiful experience at Otto's on the River continues to exceed expectations!! The service is friendly and professional. Making you feel both special and among friends da!!! My personal fav Mushroom Porcini and my new go to Blueberry Walnut salad with goat cheese are the BEST! We love the crab and shrimp cakes an enticing appetizer! A new and first time ever is the blueberry crème brûlée so original a true Maine dessert!! My hubby devoured the double bone in Pork chop his 2nd time ordering and super tender, perfectly cooked and moist read more

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Heidi the bartender was amazing. She had awesome drink and food suggestions. Everything was wonderful and the lobster stew was over the top. Highly recommend you stop into the bar for a memorable time read more

I'm an Augusta native. I tried OTTO'S for the first time yesterday...and then came back today for more. The staff is not only lovely and attentive, but the food is delicious. I mean, let's be honest...I did come two days in a row and that says a lot. Many thanks to Heidi and Gretchen for being so much fun - you improved my experience tenfold. To anyone who reads this - eat at OTTO"S! read more

Wow!! Food was a bit late but well worth the wait. The service staff and owner/head chef Steve were very kind and apologetic due to the timing of our meal. Our meal was delicious and flavorful, we were so famished we didn't take any photos but they would not of captured the absolutely delightful meal. We are visiting from SOCAL and we haven't had too many memorable meals, THIS ONE WAS!! read more

We have been a few times and atmosphere is quaint, pleasant and the food and service is always great!

First time at Ottos and what a treat. We sat outside on the deck overlooking the river. Two of us had the filet mignons and one had stuffed haddock, Both were perfectly prepared, delicious and well presented. The staff was friendly and very gracious. This is definitely on our go to list for fine dining in Augusta. I was lucky to meet Steven, the owner. It is obvious to me that his heart and soul are committed to this restaurant and his guests. read more

Solid review. The restaurant had created a limited menu for the Ironman event in town in order to accommodate all the guests. The food was solid, I'd say 4 stars. Great and friendly service. read more

Great food! Awesome service! Great price! Visiting my parents who live in Manchester and have been raving about Otto's, so we all stopped by for lunch. Everything we ordered was fantastic: I had the tuna melt (switched the sourdough out for good rye bread); my wife had the full crab bisque and full lobster roll; 8 year old had the fettuccine Alfredo and ate it all; Mom and Dad split a chicken wrap (they usually have the Reuben but wanted a new try). Wife had the blackberry smash which was really tasty and I had the Foundation NE Hazy IPA (to support animal rescue and adoption of course!). 8 year old asked about desert and was tempted by many, but in the end she ordered and shared the amazing blueberry pie! The unique decor is quirky and fun along with the great food. The owners stopped by to check on us often, so with the home cooked food, it felt like having a great meal at home with family! Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Loved artsy atmosphere and fine dining experience with Linen Napkins & tableclothes...We loved the escargot app . I ordered the seafood casserole and my hubby had the filet mignon , it was excellent and Hot. Everyone was friendly and our server Mo was very attentive ..even homemade chocolates with our check. Thank you for All , the little touches , made a BIG Impression ! read more

This was a great meal, and the service was outstanding, and the local we a fun down town feel. I would recommend it to any new to the area. read more

Ottos on the River - The Manhattan was outstanding - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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The service was phenomenal and the atmosphere is really trendy. The wine selection was superb and the food was delicious. read more

Ottos on the River - Setting - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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Fabulous food and service. She had the wild salmon stuffed with spinach and I had the seafood casserole. This places is a gold mine!!!

Waitress was friendly. Apps took over 30 minutes and dinner another hour before the food arrived. The mushroom pasta was sitting in a sea of olive oil not a sauce. Very bizarre. The alfredo had to have sat under a lamp of a good hour. Bill was over $250 for 3 people, no one asked how our food was. We won't go back. read more

Please eat here!! After a funeral home visit last week, I stopped into this restaurant as it was on my list to try for a place to eat after my father's funeral. We are not from Maine and had not been to this place or many places in the area. All I knew was I needed someplace great and comfortable for after the service. I stopped in and met the owner. He was warm and personable. Could not do enough for me. I really had no appetite as I had just lost my dad a few days before and just left the funeral home. But I wanted to stop in and try the food and see the place. I ordered the French onion soup and the half of lobster sandwich. The French onion soup was just awesome. It was super-hot; the cheese was melted perfectly right on the mug and the toast was perfect in the broth. I brought the sandwich home (that too was perfect) but like I said no appetite. I did however have a bite of the macaroni salad that they give you as a side. It was amazing. It was real macaroni salad, like my grandma made it in the kitchen. Fast forward to funeral day.. We arrived at the restaurant. The room that they gave us was perfect. The table was perfect. The view was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect. Even the artwork was perfect. I am firm believer that the devil is in the details. They have got it covered. Appetizers were perfect, the crab dip, bacon wrapped scallops, and homemade chips are to die for. The meals were great. Most had the haddock or scallop casserole which they raved about. Then we had dessert... My oh my. The creme brulee comes in flavors, vanilla, blueberry, mango... What!!!!!??-- speechless. On the dessert plates they placed the cutest little mice made from an oreo cookie, chocolate covered cherry and a hershey kiss. It rocked my granddaughter and nephew's world, the toothpicks in the Shirley temples or Roy Rogers were snow men. Adorable and thoughtful. I did read the parking comments on a review prior to going. There is free parking in 2 places right nearby. If you take a left right after the restaurant there is a lot right, there on the river. My family all took photos there because it is gorgeous. There is also another free lot past the restaurant on your right. I am horrible at parallel parking, so I was thankful for both. When you are looking for somewhere for dinner... Say yes to this place You will not be sorry. read more

This is one of the worst place I have visited, oh my ... how they run this establishment? Dirtiest place and awful service. Is there any other better restaurants in this town ? We were traveling and wanted to stop for lunch and unfortunately this restaurant came up, so I decided to try but food is not good and service is slow, very dirty bathrooms and there are 100s of dead flies everywhere. I know I will never comeback here again but this town really need a good upscale restaurant for travelers. read more

Ottos on the River - Dead flies - Seafood Near Me - Augusta, Maine

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