Came here for a date night, the food was excellent, as was the service. Our server, I believe her name was Mindy, worked the top floor the evening of 3/8, was wonderful! She was warm and friendly, offered a great suggestion for dessert, which we got the Strawberry Napoleon, it was divine. The spinach artichoke pasta was absolutely amazing. 10/10 experience. We will definitely be going back for seconds.
MichelleC
Fantastic food and a great wine list. We enjoyed it all. Our service was slightly slow and we received our salads before our appetizers but it worked out okay. We will be back with a bigger group of friends in July for the music on the deck!
Garrett Miller
The Sea Bass, Scallops, and Fillet were delicious. The service was just as great. Everyone was very polite. Can't wait to go back and try another phenomenal meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Scallop
Peggy Menze
Food and service were exceptional!! Everything cooked to perfection!
We live across the street, so we enjoyed it about 4 years go. The menu has not changed in 7 years, the portions have gotten smaller, and the service has declined.Last night I witnessed the bartenders pouring extremely generous pours to a bunch of regulars and catering to them inappropriately. And then, one of these inebriated regulars, bought a round including the bartender! A bartender who openly drinks on the job?The calamari are delicious as was the bruschetta. The drinks were weak and mostly ice. I wish could give a better review, but these are the facts.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
HomerOmnivore
We've been going to Otto's for decades, but in the last couple years it's really gone downhill. We have always ordered the mussels, mostly for the delicious, rich sauce that the mussels are served in. Perhaps in a cost cutting move, Otto's has ruined this dish by diluting the sauce to a watery mess. It is no longer thick, rich, and delicious. It is now bland and soupy. The lamb chops and garlic mashed potatoes were excellent, as was the salad. Again, in a likely cost cutting move, Otto's has substituted thick and mushy french fries for what used to be thin, crispy, and outstanding french fries. The kitchen/server did not pace the meal well. It took forever for the appetizer to arrive, then the salad came in the middle of the mussels, and then the entrees arrived way too soon -- a few minutes after the salad arrived. Not great. Our fine dining experience was further diminished by the presence of a child of about 18 months who squawked during the meal. I love children, but for people who are paying over $150 to dine out at an upscale restaurant, it's not fair to other diners for parents to bring children of that age. That's on the parents but, to some extent, Otto's too. We may go back again, but it won't for a while. Otto's used to be one of our favorite restaurants. It saddens us to see how it has slipped.
brlabsnch
Otto's is a truly lovely lunch spot. The ambience is sophisticated with nice background jazz playing. The service was excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable. All 3 of us enjoyed our menu choices and the 2 desserts we shared. A hidden gem!
Dawn Westhoff
Loved everything-lamb kabobs and crab cakes to start. Chilean sea bass, rib eye, scallops, and duck for entrees. Friendly staff, good drinks made for a lovely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Moroccan Crab Cakes
Brianna Cacchione
Such a great meal that I'm still thinking about it the next day. We arrived a bit early and had a cocktail at the bar while we waited. The Otto's Sidecars were on point but a challenge to carry upstairs in a martini glass. Our boys enjoyed the seafood trio, the Maple Leaf Farms duck I had was perfectly glazed with cherries, and my husband had the Mediterranean platter. Such an intimate atmosphere. I look forward to returning.Kid-friendliness: A good fit for mature kids.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Seafood Trio, Mediterranean Platter
The food and service was spectacular as always. Cannot beat it in Madison. The only drawback is because of the old house it's housed in, the tables are so close together you hear everyones whispered conversations and if they're talking at a normal volume it's a bit annoying. But the staff is great and the food is phenomenal so what can ya do?
The more people a table seats and the more crowded the room, the noisier it is. Great food and service, but take out the large table and thin out the crowd—recognize that the spaces weren't designed for restaurant use.
Ellen Cook
Was not keen on having to walk a steep flight of stairs to our table. Even more so leaving after drinking and wearing heels. Go here in flats in case you get seated upstairs. Food and service was good.
We had a very nice evening dinner. Food was well prepared to our expectations. Our waitress was very courteous and efficient to our needs. Restaurant was completely full and fun to see how everyone enjoyed their evening too.
LoriR
We went here to celebrate my husband's birthday. Great experience! We actually showed up early for our reservation and they were able to accommodate us. Our server was very friendly and took good care of us. The food was delicious, drinks were tasty, and we enjoyed the ambiance. Note: their bruschetta was the best I've ever had! We will be back for sure!
LarryZ
The menu had a very nice variety of offerings. We started with the New Zealand Mussels, Tomato Bisque, and the House Salad all of which were tasty. For entrees, we had the Chilean Sea Bass, the Lamb Chops and the 8oz filet. Everything was well prepared and presented. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Truffle Cake and the Chocolate Mousse both of which were excellent. We will definitely return if we visit Madison in the future.
Came here for a date night, the food was excellent, as was the service. Our server, I believe her name was Mindy, worked the top floor the evening of 3/8, was wonderful! She was warm and friendly, offered a great suggestion for dessert, which we got the Strawberry Napoleon, it was divine. The spinach artichoke pasta was absolutely amazing. 10/10 experience. We will definitely be going back for seconds.
Fantastic food and a great wine list. We enjoyed it all. Our service was slightly slow and we received our salads before our appetizers but it worked out okay. We will be back with a bigger group of friends in July for the music on the deck!
The Sea Bass, Scallops, and Fillet were delicious. The service was just as great. Everyone was very polite. Can't wait to go back and try another phenomenal meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Scallop
Food and service were exceptional!! Everything cooked to perfection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Trio, Seared Scallop, Roasted Tomato Bisque, Strawberry Napoleon, Seared Scallop Salad
We live across the street, so we enjoyed it about 4 years go. The menu has not changed in 7 years, the portions have gotten smaller, and the service has declined.Last night I witnessed the bartenders pouring extremely generous pours to a bunch of regulars and catering to them inappropriately. And then, one of these inebriated regulars, bought a round including the bartender! A bartender who openly drinks on the job?The calamari are delicious as was the bruschetta. The drinks were weak and mostly ice. I wish could give a better review, but these are the facts.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
We've been going to Otto's for decades, but in the last couple years it's really gone downhill. We have always ordered the mussels, mostly for the delicious, rich sauce that the mussels are served in. Perhaps in a cost cutting move, Otto's has ruined this dish by diluting the sauce to a watery mess. It is no longer thick, rich, and delicious. It is now bland and soupy. The lamb chops and garlic mashed potatoes were excellent, as was the salad. Again, in a likely cost cutting move, Otto's has substituted thick and mushy french fries for what used to be thin, crispy, and outstanding french fries. The kitchen/server did not pace the meal well. It took forever for the appetizer to arrive, then the salad came in the middle of the mussels, and then the entrees arrived way too soon -- a few minutes after the salad arrived. Not great. Our fine dining experience was further diminished by the presence of a child of about 18 months who squawked during the meal. I love children, but for people who are paying over $150 to dine out at an upscale restaurant, it's not fair to other diners for parents to bring children of that age. That's on the parents but, to some extent, Otto's too. We may go back again, but it won't for a while. Otto's used to be one of our favorite restaurants. It saddens us to see how it has slipped.
Otto's is a truly lovely lunch spot. The ambience is sophisticated with nice background jazz playing. The service was excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable. All 3 of us enjoyed our menu choices and the 2 desserts we shared. A hidden gem!
Loved everything-lamb kabobs and crab cakes to start. Chilean sea bass, rib eye, scallops, and duck for entrees. Friendly staff, good drinks made for a lovely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Moroccan Crab Cakes
Such a great meal that I'm still thinking about it the next day. We arrived a bit early and had a cocktail at the bar while we waited. The Otto's Sidecars were on point but a challenge to carry upstairs in a martini glass. Our boys enjoyed the seafood trio, the Maple Leaf Farms duck I had was perfectly glazed with cherries, and my husband had the Mediterranean platter. Such an intimate atmosphere. I look forward to returning.Kid-friendliness: A good fit for mature kids.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Seafood Trio, Mediterranean Platter
The food and service was spectacular as always. Cannot beat it in Madison. The only drawback is because of the old house it's housed in, the tables are so close together you hear everyones whispered conversations and if they're talking at a normal volume it's a bit annoying. But the staff is great and the food is phenomenal so what can ya do?
Restaurantji Recommends
The more people a table seats and the more crowded the room, the noisier it is. Great food and service, but take out the large table and thin out the crowd—recognize that the spaces weren't designed for restaurant use.
Was not keen on having to walk a steep flight of stairs to our table. Even more so leaving after drinking and wearing heels. Go here in flats in case you get seated upstairs. Food and service was good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Trio, Roasted Chilean Sea Bass, Chardonnay, Strawberry Napoleon, Bruschetta
We had a very nice evening dinner. Food was well prepared to our expectations. Our waitress was very courteous and efficient to our needs. Restaurant was completely full and fun to see how everyone enjoyed their evening too.
We went here to celebrate my husband's birthday. Great experience! We actually showed up early for our reservation and they were able to accommodate us. Our server was very friendly and took good care of us. The food was delicious, drinks were tasty, and we enjoyed the ambiance. Note: their bruschetta was the best I've ever had! We will be back for sure!
The menu had a very nice variety of offerings. We started with the New Zealand Mussels, Tomato Bisque, and the House Salad all of which were tasty. For entrees, we had the Chilean Sea Bass, the Lamb Chops and the 8oz filet. Everything was well prepared and presented. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Truffle Cake and the Chocolate Mousse both of which were excellent. We will definitely return if we visit Madison in the future.