More fresh flavors, less molecular gastronomy at Moto's sib.

by Emilie Zanger

Seasonal flavors and straightforward cooking take center stage at this mod Warehouse District bistro. No levitating food here; chef Thomas Bowman leaves most of the more far-out gastro-wizardry to sibling restaurant Moto next door. Instead, the menu touts market-fresh ingredients that shine in innovative preparations, from light and Mediterranean-inspired (seared octopus with tomato confit and grilled fennel) to down-home and soul-satisfying (a purple yam waffle with fried chicken breast, soft-boiled egg and okra). The dining room, with its exposed brick and wood floors, glows with accents of vivid orange, fuschia and lime green that manage to look sexy instead of silly in the candle light.

07/10/08

Great atmosphere, attentive service and amazing food

by tangy215

We tried this place because our poor college student wallets were too sad to afford it's sister restaurant, MOTO (with Iron Chef America champion Chef Cantu and pastry chef protege Chef Roche). To our delight, this choice did not fall short of our excitement and expectation! The atmosphere at OTOM was fun and trendy. The food was amazing! Try the salmon cerviche and the short rib ravioli! The drinks here are great too! They were like nothing I've tasted before! There is so much careful detail paid in putting together each of the dishes here. It truly makes the difference! The presentation of everything was beautiful and the sauces and garnishes were innovative and delicious! With hints of the molecular gastronomy techniques used at MOTO, OTOM's own dishes were definitely interesting and truly one-of-a-kind!

Unfortunately, the bill came out a bit higher than we had originally intended, but the experience, food, and excellent service made the trip well-worth our money! This is one of my new favorite restaurants in the city!

• Pros: Great service, food, ambience. Plenty of street parking and vallet if you prefer
• Cons: Light portion sizes