Otto's Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Madison

Wonderful suburban hangout. If only I had a place like this in ... Pint margaritas and nicely strong make for a wonderful evening. The local conversation made this place all the more entertaining. Why some post-grad kids are not hanging out here is a wonder. Come for the cocktails; stay for the really strong pints! Started off with the Italian margarita - Amaretto ... and it comes in a pint. Awesomely strong. This is a good start. The bread basket is surprisingly good. I liked the crispy little puffs when I normally try to avoid the complimentary filler... I emptied my basket - darn it... curse my buzzed weakness. My first course were the mussels and they were sucked down on the toast points. I would have liked the toast points to be thinner and doubled but taking half bites worked. The dish was a great combination and very tasty. I have never seen such PHAT muscles before. GMO or something. Either way I loved it. The complimentary green salad was non-descript micro-greens. Pretty fresh but they may be stocking more then they can use in a night. The innocent offer of another margarita was answered by the buzzed little voice of OK... a mistake. The Otto's maragarita seemed stronger then the Italian. The Italian really destroyed me for all other margaritas; the Otto seemed to be missing the Amaretto. Despite the absence, I still sucked it down... I really shouldn't have. The main of duck was DELICIOUS!!! I subbed the mashed potatoes for cous cous and the sauce came on the side. The cherry reduction was fantastic and wished I had more to dip in it. The duck was also moist and crispy if that is possible. Still half a margarita to go and contemplating calling Uber, I had to chug it before my chocolate truffle cake came. I have this stigma of not wanting cocktails tainting my chocolate... a port is best but I am already regretting the 2nd margarita. The truffle cake was super chocolatey but too hard. It was warm which is good but too hard. I was expecting more of a very thick mousse but the texture did not stop me from devouring the thin slice. Would love to come back and...

I recently had the pleasure of revisiting Otto's Restaurant and Bar in Madison, Wisconsin, after several years, and I must say that it was an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment I arrived, the inviting atmosphere on the deck set the perfect tone for my meal.

My server, Tracy, deserves a special mention for her outstanding service. She was not only pleasant but also incredibly helpful in assisting me with my menu selection. Her knowledge and recommendations played a significant role in making my meal memorable.

To start, I ordered the Moroccan Crab Cakes as an appetizer, and they were nothing short of amazing. These crab cakes were a true culinary delight, and I savored every bite. In fact, they were so delicious that I found myself secretly relieved to be dining alone because I didn't want to share these tasty gems with anyone!

Moving on to my entrée, I opted for the Seared Scallop Salad, and it left me instantly impressed. The scallops were incredibly fresh, and they had a taste that transported me straight to the dock, as if they had just come off the boat. The blanched asparagus that accompanied the dish was a delightful surprise, and it tasted like something you could only find in season. The chef's preparation of this dish truly felt magical.

To conclude my meal, I took Tracy's knowledgeable recommendation and enjoyed a slice of cheesecake. It was the perfect way to end an exceptional dining experience at Otto's. The cheesecake was rich, creamy, and a delightful way to satisfy my sweet tooth.

In summary, my recent visit to Otto's Restaurant and Bar was a revelation, and I regret not returning sooner. The combination of a warm and inviting atmosphere, exceptional service by Tracy, and a menu filled with culinary delights left a lasting impression on me. I can confidently say that I won't be waiting years to return to Otto's next time. It's a place that I'll be eager to revisit soon to enjoy more of their...

My husband and I came to Otto’s for a date night.

Otto’s is located in an old house. Therefore, the layout of the restaurant inside is quite unique. Along with the lighting and decor, it gives the restaurant a cozy and warm feel to it.

Nicole was our server. After telling her it was our first time here, she was quite helpful and answered all of our questions.

(First I’d like to apologize- I did not use flash for my pictures. I didn’t want to be THAT person. I also forgot to take a picture of the Chef’s Tasting Menu, so I don’t recall the actual names of the plates we had)

I tried their NA apple mule, which was quite delicious.

For an appetizer we started off with the Otto’s sample platter. Which included bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms and prosciutto wrapped shrimp. Everything was very good.

We ended up ordering off of the Chef’s tasting Menu that was available.

So for our first course, we both had the bacon wrapped chestnuts. These were quite yummy.

Second course, I ordered the veal, mashed potatoes and asparagus.

The sauce for this meal, pulled everything together beautifully. It was incredible.

My husband went with the seafood platter. I couldn’t tell you what all was in it. I remember sea bass, mussels, shrimp maybe? It was amazing.

For the first course, we shared the espresso crème brûlée. Yes you heard that right. ESPRESSO crème brûlée. It. was. amazing. We also had the cherry macaroons. Which were unlike anything I’ve ever had. I still think of them.

The environment was cozy and intimate. Our server was amazing. The food, you can tell is carefully crafted, and arrives HOT to the table.

What more could you ask for?

If you need a date night location, check...