Otto Enoteca Pizzeria

Todd and I went to Otto last night. Tuesday, 6:30, and we didn't have to wait, although when we were leaving we noticed quite a few people waiting. Fortunately, it has a big, nice waiting area with tall tables where you can stand and sip your drink (maybe even order a snack?).

They've placed a lot of the tables for two in a corridor area near the kitchen, though, and that's where we ended up. (I looked around, and most of the other areas of the restaurant only had tables for four or more.) Not great seats, but not as bad as it sounds.

We ordered antipasti: cauliflower ($4), spicy artichoke hearts ($4) and swordfish ($8). They came out on a tray in these little tan crocks with spoons and a wax-paper packet of bread. The cauliflower with capers and artichokes with almonds were good but a little too similar to each other; the chunks of swordfish were my favorite, in this wonderfully fruity olive oil and with sweet, sweet fried fennel.

The pizza, which was the pizza of the day, a meatball and mozzarella one with tomato sauce ($13), was kinda boring. Cute, with tiny little meatballs and a flat, flat crust that was too soggy in the center to eat out of hand. I think the type of crust they use is probably better with the less-traditional toppings. I saw an asparagus pizza I might like to try if I can get Todd to go back.

We saw some interesting things go by; the gnocchi of the day was big strips of fried pizza dough, and I wanted to try a celery root and citrus salad.

The best part of the meal was the gelato ($7); I had ricotta gelato with wine-poached figs and candied walnuts and Todd had two kinds, butterscotch with crunchy toffe and pistacio (we could have shared, it was so rich, but then I wouldn't get the kind I wanted).

I wonder if it'd be OK to skip the pizza next time we go, and load up on the salads and antipasti?