Otto Restaurant — Restaurant in Waitematā

Update 8/4: Came back recently and had a lovely time with a group of 3 seated outside in the back. The waitress let us know it was happy hour so we ordered a few cocktails/beers per person and some focaccia bread. Delicious beverages and good bread as always.

Around 6:30 we were having water and a male host came up and told us they needed the table back as they had an hour and a half wait (which is fine, but no one told us or gave us a warning). My friend said they’d be willing to keep the table and order food and more drinks as their mum called and was joining soon for dinner time now but the host replied “We’re a restaurant not a bar”. (You offer a happy hour??). I was surprised he was quite rude about it. Unexpected coming from Cotto. We quickly got up to pay and while at the front he decided to offer we could sit out front if we wanted another drink, but we decided to just leave.

It was really unnecessary the way he spoke to us, since we were given no warning of a table time limit and had been consistently ordering items. Our tab was not low for the time we were there. Normally a restaurant would give you a 5-10 minute warning so you can finish your water after a dining.

Just very surprised because normally I bring people here and we order quite a lot of food and love to support local.

Please treat people with kindness.

Old review: I’ve eaten at Cotto a few times now, and each visit the food and service was excellent. It can be a bit long to get food during busy times so enjoy a glass of wine and be patient.

Once on a solo business trip I sat at the outside deck area (heated) and enjoy the lights of the bridge and cars passing on the motorway below. It was an excellent way to unwind and relax in a quiet area with a glass of wine. The Brussel sprouts and gnocchi were excellent.

Another time I came with family and we had a lovely time and shared several different plates. Most of them are meant to be shared like tapas.

Some of the tables are quite large and you might share with other parties if you're only 2 people. No reservations for only 2 people either. I did this on my last visit a few days ago and it was fine. Some tables do only have stools versus full back chairs.

Enjoyed a glass of white whine, gnocchi again, cauliflowers, fries, and spinach goat cheese dumplings. Gnocchi is still by far my favorite dish. It did take a very long time to come out Tuesday and my friend's drink was forgotten and we had to ask for it again, but the staff are super nice and they were busy so not too fussed.

I always have a good time here and can depend on the food being delicious every visit so it's a...

Great place for a group dine. The menu is made so that all the plates are shared and the more people you have the more items you can try. Overall really please with the speed of the food delivered out, the flavours, quantity and taste. To me it was an Italian twist with some nice unique items on the menu so it broke up the heaviness of -for example only pasta dishes. The smaller plates I enjoyed more than the actual mains which I thought I would like-in particular the lamb ragu which looked amazing on photos and irl too, but taste wise I don’t know, it was good but the flavours weren’t as complex as for example compared to spinach goat cheese dumplings which I had no idea what to expect but was nicely taken aback. The gnocchi was also super soft and a bit flavourless but the sauce of asparagus and pea was good and also accompanied nicely with pancetta I think that’s what we got. Though saying that-because we got to tray an array of smaller dishes, they accompanied the main carbs quite nicely, such as the lamb ribs that delivered a yum mouthful of protein aside some more soft sloppy pasta. Drink menu is nicely elaborate but I don’t know much on drinks-got to have a good mocktail spagliato Negroni (iykyk the meme) so I was happy. Dessert wise was a meh it’s aight vibes nice little finisher but I’d personally pass-we got affogato and I believe the chocolate nemesis; both were extremely rich, personally not my cup of coffee. Shoutout to the foccacia, best I’ve had in Auckland. I will dream of this.

We had a decent group size of 8-not everyone managed to make it on the dot of our table time-I understand servers need to come around and ask if we want to go ahead but surely not more than two times? We were asked I think around four times and it just felt slightly pushy, again understand they have to keep us in check with times and things but please surely mentioning it once or twice is enough? Other than that no issues with service, food was delivered with courtesy, plates were cleared quite promptly and all was well.

Seating arrangements are quite nice. Rowdy atmosphere but standard for k road and popular restaurants, nice to feel the place was packed out and everyone having...

Cotto, an Italian restaurant, offers an interesting ambiance and a range of Italian dishes. However, it's important to note that my experience with the service was quite disappointing. During our dining experience, the kitchen staff seemed to stare at us, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere.

The restaurant's interior still exudes a nice vibe, and the decor adds to its overall charm. The atmosphere remains inviting, and the restaurant has a pleasant ambiance that sets the stage for a potentially enjoyable dining experience.

When it comes to the food, Cotto still serves a variety of classic Italian dishes. The menu features traditional pasta dishes, flavorful pizzas, and other Italian favorites. However, it's worth mentioning that while the food may be decent, the subpar service I experienced affected the overall enjoyment of the meal.

Unfortunately, the service did not meet expectations during my visit. The kitchen staff's behavior, staring at us during our meal, was disconcerting and left a negative impression. Attentive and friendly service is a crucial aspect of any dining experience, and it's regrettable that this element fell short during my visit to Cotto.

I understand that the behavior of the kitchen staff may have been an isolated incident, but it's important to address it in the review. Consistency in service is key to maintaining a positive reputation and ensuring that customers have a pleasant time at the restaurant.

While the ambiance and the food at Cotto may have their merits, the service plays a crucial role in the overall dining experience. It's important for the management of Cotto to address any issues with their staff's behavior and strive to create an atmosphere where customers feel comfortable and valued.

In conclusion, Cotto offers an interesting ambiance and a range of Italian dishes. However, based on my personal experience, I must highlight the disappointing service and the kitchen staff's inappropriate behavior. It is my hope that the management takes this feedback constructively and works towards improving the overall dining experience for...