I've been to Cafe Otto many times over the past 20 years or so and went there on Sunday evening for the first time in a while. Never again! The prices were ridiculous, $7.50 for wedges that would have been lucky to have been two small potatoes and a very small serve of nachos for $17.50! Spring roll at $3.80!
We just were hoping for a sandwich or light snack and there just wasn't enough choice on the menu at a reasonable price. No sandwiches were available in the evening, if I recall. Otto's always had been a pleasant and inexpensive place for a late snack, but I guess they have to pay for the renovations somehow. We won't be back.
Sad to say that what had been a great cafe for many years is no more.
I have fond memories of Cafe Otto. When our English Honours cohort had finished our respective theses, we came here for a celebratory dinner. However, I regret to say that the Cafe has changed in the intervening eight years - as, I'm sure, have I!
While service was friendly and cheerful, and the waitress most helpful with all our requests, the food was the biggest let-down. My chorizo pasta was the first pasta I've ever tasted that was crispy! It seemed as if it had been pan-fried after cooking, with areas of the penne looking a little...caramelised (?). An asking price of $19 for that seems to me severely over-inflated.
My friend seemed satisfied with her vegetable pie, just lacking in salt (and I must say the diverse ingredients in that sounded tantalising) but my review is for my own experience.
As for the ambience: it's quite dark and gloomy looking for what could be a beautiful space. I'm not quite sure what the blinking blue lights on a dead tree branch were meant to add. The outside courtyard is a much better proposition, but we weren't quite brave enough in the wintry cold.
Went here after finding the japanese place on glebe pt road was too full. To start we shared the turkish bread with sundried tomato paste which was actually quite good. For 3 people though we received 5 pieces so that was kind of annoying but I suppose we could have asked for 6 pieces.
I had the lemon chicken salad which was quite dry and small. Not worth the $15. The only good thing was that there was at least a decent amount of chicken there.
One of the other people on my table had the regular sized supreme pizza. It was quite a decent size although just a little too small for a guy.
The third person on my table had the pasta with proscuitto which was all stuffed into a small bowl and didn't look impressive for the $17 he paid for it. The only good thing about this place was the service. The waitress was incredibly attentive and friendly.
Also loved the gratis water upon arrival, there should be more of that in Sydney.
Sunday lunch - Had the Italian sausages, overcooked and boring with a chunk of broccoli to garnish, and bloody expensive. No effort in presentation, poorly cooked, just so, so average. Had garlic bread as a starter, I think a solitary ceremonial clove was just waved over the top of the grill, it was that flavourless. Service poor, ignored by all except for poor lass who was 'designated' the task of taking orders on her own. Won't go again...
Cafe Otto is a consistently disappointing experience on Glebe Point Road. It should be a great place to eat - the courtyard out the front is a lovely place to sit and chat but the food & value let this place down. Maybe the management can't afford the rent and do all they can to cut corners?
We turned up on Sunday for brunch and ordered pancakes. For $10 we got two small pankakes that tasted salty, a tiny pat of butter and a mediocre serving of syrup. I avoided eating them but my partner had a yucky taste in his mouth for hours afterwards.
The waiting staff seemed to be trying really hard to make up for the terrible kitchen and management. I would only go here for drinks and to sit in the leafy courtyard.
Went there Sunday for a late lunch. Ordered a couple of salads - I had the calamari with rocket - the calamari was oversalted, the rocket was yellowing with age. Partner had tuna salad - tinned tuna. Overpriced, slow service, won't bother going there again.
Wait staff incompetent, slow and unknowledgable. Service is slow and fragmented. Ok for a quick snack. Obvioulsy caters for the Uni crowd, not the general public. Coffee is absolutely appalling and the only resemblance to the real stuff is the colour. Atrocious wine list.
An ordinary experience in every way. The food was very average, pasta tossed on a plate with an ordinary sauce, certainly nothing interesting or exciting. Service was ordinary, could have been more attentive especially as there were very few folks there. Decor ordinary. With that wonderful open fire there could be something done to make the space inviting as opposed to dull.
Value, ordinary. Considering the location and the proximity to so many other places to eat, I would have thought more effort would go into encouraging people to choose Cafe Otto as a preferred eatery. A non event that does not deserve another visit unless something improves.
Highly disappointing apart from recommendations I have had. I have (silly enough) ventured for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all we're a terrible fiasco.
I don't feel I need to waste my time on detailing every incredible scenario but here are a few highlights. Both the kitchen, bar and waitstaff tend to lack common sense and hygiene. The colourful language that is at times yelled across the "cafe" is most offensive. The food is quite overpriced and boring and much like the coffee, is inconsistent.
A lovely atmosphere although you do have to call the waitress to your attention for service, even when they weren't busy. They are lovely though and were more than happy to serve us. Food was lovely and the wood fire makes such a difference.