Just apps tonight - lamb kofta good the charcuterie plate outstanding! Great atmosphere with a local band on the porch - highly recommend

My family and I went to Otto's in celebration of my dad's birthday. My sister, being intolerant to gluten, was well taken care of, even served gluten-free bread! Those pursuing a gluten-free diet know well that restaurant dessert options are often nonexistent. Flourless chocolate cake seems to be their go-to, if any. Otto's is an exception. They offered extensive gluten-free options for my sister, including her favorite, crème brûlée. My dad ordered the köfte for his appetizer and left his plate spotless. Torn between the Mediterranean Grill and the NY Strip and having expressed so to our waitress, my dad required guidance whereby she simply shrugged. And so my dad opted for the Mediterranean Grill. Unfortunately, his entrée was less than satisfactory. It included the very same red onion relish, the very same yogurt mint sauce, and the very same cous cous salad that my dad had just completed in his köfte appetizer. My dad addressed the repetition with our waitress to which she responded that she had never thought of telling him. The waitress did give us a free dessert as an apology, but the experience was disappointing for my dad nonetheless. read more

Very disappointing, overpriced food that was only average, drinks also overpriced. Saying that, it is a pleasant outdoor dining area

Otto's offers fantastic food, served by outstanding staff in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. The restaurant serves mainly seafood and steaks (don't go looking for much beyond that), but seafood appears to be its true specialty. The calamari appetizer was wonderful...lightly breaded, not greasy and tender. The seared scallops and the sea bass were excellent. Served piping hot and perfectly cooked. Even the asparagus was perfect - crispy outside, tender inside. Portions are generous, and, compared to other "higher-end" places in town, the prices are reasonable. The waitstaff is attentive and pleasant. All around, a great dining experience. One of the best I've had in Madison. read more

This is the best restaurant we have stumbled onto yet in Madison. Simply put, it's a hidden gem that we never would have found had my dad not moved in next door. Last Saturday, we pulled up at about 9 p.m. The place closes at 9:30, so it would have been fair of them to rush us or even turn us away. We walked into the bar and the bartender very kindly noticed that my dad was using a walker and told us about ramps on the side of the restaurant. It was a very cold night out but one of the employees actually went around to the other side and waited for us outside, in short sleeves, to offer assistance to my dad and hold the door. Once seated, we were just blown away by the cozy, quaint decor. This is an old house dating back to the 1800s which has been either beautifully restored or maintained. Either way, a restaurant in a house can be overly precious but that was not the case with Otto's. The whole experience was so warm and welcoming. Our server did not seem rushed and there was a large party next to us which had obviously been there for hours. This is truly like dining at someone's lovely home. The service was impeccable and the food absolutely exceeded our expectations. Everything was delicious and the attention to detail was evident everywhere. The bread was freshly baked for the table! At 9:30 at night! The cocktail and wine lists were thoughtful and not at all overpriced. The tomato and mushroom bisques were so good that we wanted to lick our bowls. For dinner, we all had some variation of seafood (grape leaf- wrapped salmon, scallops and a seafood trio, all accompanied by either rice or potatoes and beautifully presented and seasoned). Entrees may seem pricey at first glance but are not, for everything you get with it (and I am including the friendly, professional, knowledgeable service when I say that). Dessert was another welcome surprise, with housemade gelato that was as good (or even better) than I've tasted in Rome. The consistency was so creamy and the raspberry so flavorful that I wanted more the next day! Unfortunately, Otto's is closed on Sundays and Mondays. That said, I would make another trip here unhesitatingly. The experience was perfect and memorable in every way and my dad is so happy to have this so close to him in his new home. read more

Thanks for the nice reviews from Yelp, my husband and I chose the Otto's to celebrate my birthday. We enjoyed everything there including food, service and the atmosphere. Initially, we had a little trouble finding the entrance on the rainy December evening, felt somewhat overwhelmed passing the small crowded bar area to locate the host. However, after we checked in for our reservation, we were seated immediately at the table in the cozy corner on second floor, and the rest of the evening was relaxing and romantic. Our server was polite and prompt, said "happy birthday" to me after briefly introduced himself. I wish he could speak a little slower when introducing the specials given that we are nonnative English speakers and often slow to catch up with the ingredients, but he was nice to repeat when requested. My husband really liked the freshly baked bread with butter. The margarita was tasty with two straws, which I considered necessary to avoid eating the salt on the glass. The house green salads, combined with olive oil, vinegar and sparkled with some peppers, were very refreshing and appetizing. For entrees, husband chose the salmon special and I picked the scallop based on our server's recommendation. Both were so beautifully presented that we even took photos before we ate. The scallops, juicy and delicious, satisfied our tasting buds greatly. I also tried a piece of salmon offered by hubby and liked it too. The restaurant also offered us complementary desserts for my birthday, which we gladly took home to our kids. The cakes and the cream were also well enjoyed. The Otto's is definitely a good for special occasions. Things there are expensive but well worth the money. read more

My husband and I went to dinner here tonight for my birthday and it was fantastic. We had not been here before, but it must be a popular place for birthdays because there were at least three other couples there for the same reason. Anyway, the service was great - always on top of water refills, everything came out in good time and we were checked on without being over bearing. I was a little worried because I have to eat dairy-free for my baby who is allergic to any milk protein, but they were very accomidating. The waiter actually informed me that the chef has a son who is allergic to dairy and gluten and therefore is very understanding and knowledgable of restricting these types of things. I was able to get the mixed grilled seafood dinner with a substitution for the pesto oil and it was excellent. We also had an appetizer of the shrimp wrapped in prosciutto and my husband got the filet with fries. The shrimp were fantastic and my husbands steak was cooked as asked to medium rare. The fries were just OK he said, so he would probably go with the mashed potatoes next time, but he still ate all of them. For dessert, I got a free one since it was my birthday and was thrilled that they had sorbet so I could actually eat dessert. The blackberry sorbet was an excellent way to finish a fabulous meal. My husband got the turtle cheesecake with intentions to bring some home, however, it was so good, that he ate the whole thing there instead. This would probably make one of the top 8 meals I have had in Madison. I was worried because we are a younger couple and had gotten the impression that this restaurant was for an older crowd, but I did not feel the least bit out of place here. Definitely would recommend to my friends. read more

My boyfriend has been making me birthday reseravations at Otto's for the past 2 years, the service is the best, we had a exceptional waiter who recommended us the perfect wines to compliment our dinner and was really great at making it a high quality dining experience. I feel like it is one of the few places in the Madison area that you will not be out of place if you feel like being super dressy and the restaraunt itself is beautiful. The only complaint I would have to make is that the menu doesn't seem to change so we decided to try somewhere new this year. If the menu changed I would no doubt return. read more

Went for a Valenine's Day dinner with a group of girlfriends. Started with the Crispy Almond-Crusted Calamari that comes with the Caper aioli & horseradish marinara. It was delish. Apparently, I was having some sort of seafood deprivation issue because I got the Seafood Trio as an entree. It came wih roasted fennels, artichokes and red potatoes/asparagus. It was very good. Scallops were not the best, but still very good. Oliver's is probably the best scallop dish I have tried in Madison so far. The shrimp and salmon were very good and all perfectly cooked. The fennels and artichokes were great in flavors and textures. It was a great experience overall. Definitely seemed more suitable for couples & seemed intimate. It was a very sweet touch that they gave all the women a red rose to celebrate the day of Cupid. Loved it. Would go back again when we can sit outside! read more

Food was wonderful; however, the atmosphere was too loud. I could not hear my dinner companion across the table.

Just returned from a fabulous dining experience at Otto's restaurant and bar. The food was excellent, the service outstanding (thanks to Amy, our waitress)...if you like delicious seafood and perfectly prepared steaks....fresh vegetables....tomato bisque...this is the place to go! We will certainly return. read more

I had a very poor experience speaking with the owner over the phone. I called to book my rehearsal dinner there and he was nothing but rude. He told me that we couldn't have it on the deck because it might rain. I am in the wedding industry, I work at a venue, and I understand the risks of bad weather. I continued on trying to understand why he wouldn't let me book, asking follow up questions and he refused to answer any of the actual questions. He had no interest in taking the time out to speak with me as a potential client nor did he care about my services. He was more concerned with answering calls from other clients. I would never go to this restaurant based off a very unpleasant phone conversation with the owner, who also refused to identify himself. I work in customer service and this was shocking to say the least. read more

Otto's has become a favorite of ours. We enjoy sitting outside on a lovely summer night, and the bar is a warm and welcoming place in the cooler weather. The food is reliably good, and the wine selections are interesting. We are giving a it a 4 star because even if the food is quite good, the appetizer menu has not changed in years. It would be nice once in a while to have surprises from the menu. The service on our last visit also was not as good as usual. We could not make eye contact with our server for quite a while. We still like it very much and we will be back. read more

We went to celebrate our anniversary. Hadn't been to Otto's for over a decade, but still as good as I remembered. Nick was our server, and was outstanding!! The food was all really yummy:) Great taste and presentation. We had a cocktail in the bar while waiting for our table, and really enjoyed the atmosphere. It's a really comfortable, beautiful place to have a nice evening out. read more

This is a place for retirees with so-so taste buds want to have an upscale dinner. We ordered a Chilean sea bass ($29) and a rib eye steak ($29). Both of the dishes were nothing but the presentation. The meat was probably pre-frozen and lack of flavor. The fish was dry, although a Chilean sea bass should be super succulent. The pomegranate martini was watery. Everything was mediocre. Although they have boosters and highchairs, they have nil tolerance for young patrons. One of the customers, a women of late 50s, yelled at us - yes, she yelled at us at dinner tables - to take our 1 y.o. out of the place when he was fussing. The owner did not even address this female customer's inappropriate outburst. No matter what the situation was, that kind of aggression should never be tolerated - by anyone. There is a way of saying it rather than acting out. This woman, by screaming in public like that, minimized herself to a same level as our 1 y.o. baby. The owner clearly did not realize that we were also the customers who paid the expensive tub. We'll never ever go back to this place again. read more

Otto's is my go-to restaurant and bar for dates, business dinners and girlfriend get togethers. Kim, the bartender, in the quaint downstairs bar is a favorite. She remembers your drink order -- always a dirty Belvedere martini and then a glass of fruity pinot noir -- and remembers to refill your water glass. The mussels is my favorite dish on the menu -- a fantastic appetizer or entree with a salad. When looking for more filling dishes, I'll pick the duck or the sea bass. The mediterranean platter is perfect when I feel like a veggie meal, but I also occasionally choose the bruschetta or the crab cakes, which are very nice. Always a great wine list and the upstairs dining in summer (especially Thursday jazz nights) is lovely and relaxing. No one is ever going to hurry you out. If you are looking for quick chain-restaurant service, forget it. This is a slow food place and although the services isn't slow, it's not lightening speed either. And that's the way I like it. read more