OTOM Restaurant

12/13/09

Expected more

by review56 at Citysearch

I know, the last thing I expected of this restaurant was blandness of food but I just can't say I enjoyed my first visit to this restaurant. Two appetizers ordered - Enoki Gnocchi and Grilled Octopus - the gnocchi was bland, really nothing exceptional here - when I want to salt something then there just isn't enough flavor - the octopus was better but a bit on the fishy side. Two dinners - Dorade and Veg Platter - the Dorade was tasting but his sharp little teeth goating me was a bit much even for this foodie - the fingerling potatoe with the fish - undercooked to the point of unedible - the Veg platter was okay - not anything better than okay. Also the mac and green pea spatzel - now that I could have had a bowl full of but alas it was not my dish so I at least got a taste ... Good Martini's but when I order an $10 vodka I have a hard time wondering if the two olive stuffed with blue cost me another $2 or was it because I said that magic name "martini" that jacked the price up to $12.00 a piece. All in all the servie was attentive but I don't really want to know about someones new tatoo and then see the bandages too. Yike - three stars now that I think about it maybe 2.

• Pros: Attentive Service
• Cons: Blandness of the food

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

by Emilie Zanger at Citysearch

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 at Citysearch

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