Eater’s lodged two complaints about
Otto of late, both having to do with being rushed out. I’m spending Mother’s Day evening with 8 mothers and daughters there [I will be testing out the Gluten-Free pasta sitch]. We have an 8pm ressie. Let’s see if we get the push. More soon.
Comments
in short ok i guess. i dont think they have all the kinks out yet. here's a rundown:
1. the waitress was clueless, didn't know the kitchen would make GF pasta. not a good sign.
2. once i told her the manager had given me the info, she went to the kitchen, without letting me even finish my sentence [she was a bad waitress]. she came back with the bag which was indeed GF and organic. but also used "soy flour". i decided to risk it.
3. i ordered the special pasta with ramps and chille flakes only to be told by the manager, after about 15 min, that the chef wouldn't make the daily special with GF pasta. sigh.
4. all the other pasta dishes save one had fish or nuts or both. so i had to order "cacio e pepe", which for any of you italians or foodies who know, and those that don't, is pasta with ground pepper, grated cheese and oil or butter. easy to make at home and thus not really a desireable resto dish. homey but nothing special.
5. the dish was fine, but the pasta was not cooked in adequately salted water and here's the kicker my tummy's been rumbling ever since.
now that could be from the wine i was drinking [which was excellent from montefalco region in italy], or from the soy flour, or the cheese or the butter.
needless to say im not the happiest of GF campers.
glad you had a positive exp. i've been to otto many many many times over the last 3-4 years with mostly very positive experiences and last night nothing was working, from surly bartenders, a mean host, to our sourpuss waitress, and mediocre food. the company [a table of mothers and daughters] was wonderful, but everything else, a hot mess.
serving GF pasta at this point feels a lip service gesture and not an integrated effort.
but maybe that was just the sunday staff.
ps: another diner from last night who is gluten free and corn free who had the GF pasta was up all night with tummy distress.