OTTO

The most horrendous pizza I’ve ever had. We did take out, near closing time since not many places around us were open. Got two pizzas and both were covered with pepper. We had to brush off every slice before eating them. Not sure if they had a loose cap on the pepper shaker or this is the norm, unacceptable nonetheless.

📍Old Port, Portland 📅Visited: March 2023 🚘Parking: metered street parking, paid lots nearby 🛎Seating/Service: bar or table seating with service 🍴Menu Favorites: meatball and ricotta pizza among many other unique flavors (mashed potato & bacon) 🐶Dog-Friendly: no 👶🏼Kid-Friendly: yes ⭐️Recommend: order slices to get to try more of their flavor combos, but don't expect the best pizza you've ever had

Pizza in Maine? you say. Yes! Absolutely! Great pie, great vibes and atmosphere, very cute restaurant with outdoor seating, friendly chat at the bar. I had the sausage and vidalia onion pizza. Delicious. Service is fast and friendly. Good tunes. Just overall a good experience.

We ate more than one bite! After going to another pizza place that was “sold out” we came to Otto’s. We got exceptional service and two great pies. We ordered a cheese pizza and a 1/2 Ricotta Basil and 1/2 hot honey, Pineapple and bacon (sub’d mushrooms for bacon) We demolished them. The cheese pizza had a little extra char but I’d rather that than under done. It was a great experience.

We were spending the week in Portland, ME, and we were searching for a great pizza. Found Otto Pizza on the “One Slice” app and the pizza was amazing! Definitely worth the trip! Thank you Otto Pizza!

The PLACE to get pizza and a beer in Portland! Get here early because seating is limited and get busy. They also offer pizza by the slice next door if in a rush. Staff so friendly.

I stopped in and sat at the bar and ordered a beer and that's where the problems began. The kid behind the bar who was definitely high or afflicted by some mental challenge couldn't find a beer mug and when he finally did, could not figure out how to pour a beer. After 5 minutes of trying to pour a beer, he finally places a pint glass in front of me with about 3" of head and asks me if that looked okay to which I replied no, it doesn't. He disappeared into the back to supposedly fix or replace the keg never to be seen again. A couple of other staff came out and apologetically said they were out of beer mugs which I was not aware was a problem. All this time I thought he was in the back trying to swap out a keg. In addition, I was the only person at the bar and there were only two other patrons in the restaurant, so they were not busy. After another 5 minutes and no beer or anyone to take my order, I decided to leave and try my luck getting a slice at the takeout counter. The young girl at the takeout counter also looked and spoke as if though she may have been high or perhaps exhausted. This was early afternoon on a Saturday. She struggled to tell me what pizzas she had available by the slice and would look at the pies but couldn't formulate the words to describe or name them. I was able to buy a slice and take it to go and I'm happy to report the pizza was in fact tasty. However, the experience left me rather bewildered, and I will not be returning to Otto's unless I'm also high so I can be on the same level as the staff. :-) I'm giving them 2 stars because this place has potential and makes good pizza, but they need new staff and a strong store manager.

Some of the best pizza in Portland. Flavors and options are always great. The inside has a nice ambiance if you’re going on a date. The only confusing thing, and maybe I’ve just gotten bad luck, but the service is sometimes sub-par. I wolnt let it take a star away, however, this is an area they could be more consistent on. I think it’s because they don’t have a dedicated server so the cashier/pizza maker ends up taking orders and they maybe are not trained in customer service. And they are busy with their other tasks so not always on top of checking when people come in.

I mean, yes, of course, I recommend OTTO, and beyond that, this is my favorite OTTO location! I love this particular spot not only for its location but also for its cozy interior; I find most of the other OTTOS more impersonal, with the feeling that 99% of their attention is to take-out customers. Even though I do love most OTTO pizzas and love their crazy variety, my favorite thing to order here is their meatballs. I am insanely picky when it comes to meatballs or any "loose" meat products. These are handmade with quality ingredients, doused in the house red sauce, and topped with a bunch of thickly shaved parm...and they are GREAT! Sometimes, if I'm there with a larger group, we'll order multiple orders of meatballs and then a smaller pizza to use as the bread. YES!

Overall: first time at Otto and it's the OG one! I must say the flatbread pizza is phenomenal. There were some behind the scenes issues unrelated to the food but we weren't able to order any pork related items. Food: the cup char pep pizza was delicious. Cup char pepperoni is the superior topping. The hot honey flavor with the pineapple pizza is a sneaky good combination. The sweet spicy flavor of the hot honey is enhanced by the tart and sweetness of the pineapple. Ambience/Decor/Service: really old school looking restaurant like I'm in a western saloon. The service was pretty quick given the other BTS issues! Really would've liked to try the pulled pork selections but maybe next time.

I just had a piece of this pizza leftover and reheated, and dang was it delicious. I bet it was incredible fresh.

Was in Maine for a sec and knew I had to stop by the original Otto's pizza store! My friends and I opted for a sit down personal pizza instead of the typical slices because we were so far beyond famished and it was a good portion size! My usual go to is the mashed potato bacon scallion but this time I decided to switch it up and get the hot honey pepperoni with goat cheese instead, which was absolutely delish! The super nice waitress lady recommended it and said that you can taste that the pepperoni is a higher quality than regular and I agree! I usually don't like a lot of pepperoni on my pizza but I didn't mind it at all! My friend got the bacon pineapple hot honey and also liked it! The vibe of it was very woodsy and smaller because it was split between to go (slice pizzas) and the restaurant. Overall though, fun place to check out when in town!

Second only to Flatbread, Otto serves up some of the best pizza in Portland. You can't go wrong with whatever you order, as it will all be delicious pizza in a lively, rustic spot. What I love about Otto are their extensive offerings for vegetarians/vegans/gluten-sensitive diners (or conversely, meat lovers!). They go to great lengths to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions and preferences, which is both thoughtful and a strategic move as a business in Portland. Personally, you can't go wrong with their Four Cheese, or their Caramelized Pear, Blue Cheese & Arugula pizzas--YUM.

Pizza was amazing! And loved the customer service. We arrived closer to closing but they treated us so well and the pizza was delicious

The pizza is excellent. No problems with that at all. Delicious. Interesting. I will be back but maybe I'll try the other locations. Thing to be improved - the acoustics are so weird in here. Everyone seems so loud. Add some sound panels or at least put on some music.

I live in the Midwest but found Otto (at 225 Congress St.) last summer while visiting Portland, ME with my grandson. This year when my travels with my sister brought me back to Portland, I told my sister we HAD to go to Otto and have their mashed potato pizza. She thought I was nuts until she tried it, then agreed that the mashed potato, bacon, and scallions pizza was "lick your plate clean" delicious!!!! Not only is the food delicious, but the restaurant is charming, and everyone who works there are always so kind and attentive. I highly recommend this "cool joint" and would dine there on a regular basis if I lived locally.

Went to work in Portland from where I originally work up north. Company bought us Otto's for lunch. I had the Margherita pizza. Hands down the best pizza I've had in Maine since moving here. It's so fresh and perfect crust which is hard to find. I wish I was down longer to grabbed the Spicy Pulled Pork, Jalapeño & Pineapple. Next time I'm down for sure! I wish they were up north towards Bangor.

Great to see that Eric S. only responds to the positive reviews. No way to run a business and actually get better. Definitely think twice before going here! In town visiting and this place came highly recommended (4 adults and 2 kids). When we arrived there were only 2 people at the bar. It took 10 minutes to get water and menus (which should have been a tip off), but we decided to stay and order. We ordered cheese bread, 2 pizzas, and 3 salads. The pizza and bread took an hour and a half to come out. We had to request the salads to go after almost 2 hours there. No offer for anything to be taken off the bill (didn't force the issue and just paid). The place looked like it was being run by 4 teenagers. Otto, you have to do better because this was our worst experience in Portland so far.

Great pizza, we had takeout and really enjoyed it! The sauce was awesome and the toppings were fresh - overall a great pie and cheese stick order!

Ordered take out Margherita and meatballs. Both were solid and seemingly some of the best pizza in the area. Good sauce, good, unique crust - not thin or thick crust, and not boutique wood fired crust (though maybe these guys are wood fired?) but solid, good texture and pull. I'd go back but I'll like to try it fresh out of the oven. I will say, the pizza has stood the test of next day cold, too, so there's that.

Obsessed with this pizza chain. Love the thin crust. Squash, ricotta, dried cranberries = amazing. Such cute locations in Portland and Boston!

Otto is consistent and reliable and I think that's what you want in a pizzeria. They have a variety of different pies, from basic and traditional to some that are more off the wall (think mashed potatoes!), and every one I've tried is bangin'. Cocktails are wonderful too. Sometimes I wish they had more non-pizza items on the menu but that's not really what you come to a pizza place for is it? So it's hardly a detractor. This location is a pretty good size compared to a lot of nearby places; it's not often you'll come here and it's too crowded.

Five stars for service and quality, but they have to bring back the Tortellini pizza, it's breaking my heart.

Very good pizza (my mom's favorite). Definitely a go to pizza spot for our family. Dough and ingredients are quality.

Food is good, service is bad; we paid for a pizza that they apparently didn't have but didn't know they didn't have for about 10 minutes after we purchased it. Cashier at front was clearly flustered, forgot orders and constantly had to ask again what customers bought which slices; this seems like a huge oversight.

Absolutely love coming to the bar here, especially when Dre is working. Amazing service and conversation, and she makes my drinks perfect every time. A couple slices of mashed potato bacon, a drink, and a laugh with Portland's friendliest bartender...perfect Friday night.

They close at 9pm but the hipster kitchen won't sell slices at 8:15. A real work ethic is dead here. The owners need to take a good look at their staff.

Hopefully this Mean Cr@zy employee was let go. It's scary to think someone like this making our food and serving us. Do better OTTO. I will keep in touch to see if this employee was flred. The ambiance this type of behavior brings is not welcoming.

Ottos is hit or miss. Their pizza tastes good when it is slightly underbaked. Fresh (don't ever stop for a slice) and with loads of toppings because the use of sauce on pies is basically nonexistent. They have tons of staff turnover so that can make or break your experience too. Their known for signature flavors, bacon, mashed potatoes & scallion is the most recognizable. I'm a fan of the butternut squash, ricotta , and cranberry pie. Combos pizzas are good. Straight cheese or pep is decent too. Salads are fresh. Large sized and their red wine vinegarette is tart and addictive. Cesar salad with toasted bread is one of their best menu items. It's a decent pizza parlor. It's not craveworthy but it's not garbage either.

Potato bacon always fantastic. Best gluten free pizza (brocolli ricotta) that I have ever had by far, it rivaled the normal pies.

What is going on in the take out area?!? Was trying to pick up something quickly tonight (staying at hotel nearby). I ordered a salad(dressing not on the side), meatballs, soda and utensils. When I entered everyone's eyes opened wide like why is anyone here? I would assume a salad of three ingredients comes together or was premade. Meatballs are prob made in a batch. Drink comes out of the cooler. Two people looked confused and started milling around and muttering then disappeared to the back. Some one came through from the dining area, another surprised face. The girl came out two containers. Salad dressing was on side. Meatballs cold. Had to ask for Parmesan. Drink not available. Utensils not in bag. Was told to get myself. The hipster gang is not cute, they are shocking.

Some of the best pizza I've had! Don't miss this place. Definitely coming back. Got the potato, bacon, scallion and spicy pork, pepperoni and sausage. WOW.

My wife and I are retired, on a fixed income, and we are AARP members; so when we saw that Otto was near the Portland Art Museum and gave AARP members a discount, we wanted to try them. We presented the coupon when we ordered, and they seemed puzzled, but said nothing else until we got our bill. They refused to accept our coupon, didn't even offer a senior discount, and said the manager made that decision. Of course they didn't tell us up front, only after our bill came. Shame on you OTTO, taking advantage of us retirees!

Good pizza had better had worse You having a pizza party don't come here unless you want to spend a shit ton and don't care . teens , stoners , late night drinkers this pizza is not for you , there's better and cheaper . It's over hyped and I don't know why . You got a gluten free and vegan friend they will cater to that and it's good pizza . Service is always good , Overall pizza is pizza go test it out

We like Otto and normally go to the Read Street location, which runs like a well oiled machine. I don't know what happened to this place tonight, but it was a complete meltdown. The staff seemed to have absolutely no idea what they were doing. Nobody could keep track of what order was where, what needed to be made, what was in the oven, who was waiting, etc. There was a woman that seemed to be the manager, but she was just confusing things even more. I have been sitting here for over an hour (beyond the time they said it would be ready), and I am still waiting. Someone needs to do some training on process and perhaps look into a new manager. Never, never, never again. Will stick to Read Street.

OTTO offers some of the best delivery pizza I've had at a more than reasonable price. I'm used to getting greasy, soggy, disappointing pizza when I order delivery when traveling for work. This was the exact opposite experience, with my pizza being delivered in ~15 minutes after ordering (I was pretty close but too far to walk) and they knocked it out of the park. The dough was crispy on the bottom and sides but a little bit chewy in the middle and the toppings were perfectly balanced. This prevents making it a limp mess and impossible to eat with one hand, which is a metric I use on the integrity and done-ness of the crust versus the amount of toppings used. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about OTTO as they vastly exceeded my expectations. The one thing that prevented me from giving OTTO 5 stars is that while it was very well executed across the board and offers a good value, there isn't one thing that just "WOWED" me about the 'za. I'd definitely order it again but this isn't a true destination like some of the other famous pizza places in New England. Good? Absolutely. Worth your money if you find yourself close by? Without a doubt. Will it be the best pizza you've ever eaten? Unlikely, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying a well-executed, local slice or pie.

One of my very first Yelp reviews was for OTTO a decade ago. It was crass, and cringey, and full of inappropriate innuendos -- and that just isn't me anymore. So, admittedly, I took it down because people change. So do opinions. And so do restaurants. But my opinion of this restaurant has not changed. I love it just as much as I loved it when it first opened (slices were cheaper than they are now, the space was nothing more than just a five foot long counter, and if you were the Mayor on Foursquare you got a free slice everyday [... I was the Mayor for a really long time]). Now it's got expanded space to both the right and to the left with loads of seating options, lots of great live music, happy hour deals, community nights, awesome local beer on tap, salads (the Greek is delicious), and the range of pizza toppings has expanded (cauliflower left but then came back, they seem to have ditched the roasted garlic cloves altogether, and now have both vegan cheese AND vegan beef crumble options... times really have changed). So this review isn't really for this location, but for OTTO as a local chain. They're always going to have a special place in my heart (especially this location since it was the first), they're always going to hit the spot when it's 1:30am on a Friday or Saturday night, and it's always going to feel like what Portland was right before it became what it is (locals you feel me?). OTTO, I still love you. Thanks for being you and for only changing for the better. You've aged like the fine wine you serve.

Fifth trip to Portland and we found a pizza place to write home about! We came around 6pm and we're able to get a table without a wait. We had the potato and bacon pizza and it tasted like a combination of pizza and potato skin. We also had the meet pizza and had the crust made thicker. We would order both again and be back! Fresh ingredients and great service!

Pizza it's pretty much the best meal ever right? What would make it better mashed potato's and bacon on a pizza. It was amazing. I could have and should have ate more.

Got a vegan pie on a Saturday night with half pineapple and the other half mushrooms and cauliflower. Sorry to say, but it was overrated. It did the job of filling us, but left much to be desired... like seasoning

Gluten free pizza was delish and the beer choices were great!! Just what you didn't know you needed comfort food! Loved the laid back atmosphere!!!

I thought the pizza was just OKAY. I wasn't really a fan. Maybe we came on an off day or off hours (I think we were there close to closing). We were visiting from NY...if we are ever back in the area I don't think I would go back. The staff was great though and the sit down area next door where you can take your to go pizza was very cool (old pictures, nice bar area).

While in Portland, we had a hankering for pizza and Otto looked and sounded like a good place to try. Walking down Congress St, the whole pies in the window will make anyone pause and at least contemplate going in. You can grab a slice to go or sit down, order, and dine in. We did the latter. I wanted to try their famous masher pizza - yep... mashed potatoes, bacon, and scallions. I was having difficulty imagining what this would taste like because I hadn't seen mashed potatoes on a pizza before. When it came out, I realized that instead of mashed potatoes being slathered on the pizza, there were dollops of it covered by the cheese. This was actually really good. It reminded me of a loaded baked potato. If it had been piping hot, so that the cheese melted and pulled, it would have been excellent. We also tried their weekly special, which was a lasagna pizza, and a classic pepperoni pizza. The lasagna pizza was topped with tortellini, sausage, red sauce, and herbs. Again, this was very inventive and delicious. The toppings here are what are most intriguing but a good pie has to have a good foundation and the crust at Otto is top notch. When they pulled our slices out of the oven after a short time warming them, the crust was warm and it had a little crunch to it. Mostly though, it was soft and chewy, which I loved. It's great that they offer pizza by the slice and whole pies. We really enjoyed our lunch at Otto and we were delighted to learn that they have restaurants in Massachusetts as well. I look toward to trying more of what they offer on future trips up north.

Only in town for the night and we were craving pizza. After multiple failed attempts, we called OTTO. They were so helpful and made the process of ordering over the phone quick + easy. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Chris who made us feel very welcome. He went above and beyond to make our experience 5 stars. Not to mention the pizza is divine!! Amazing flavors, thoughtfully-curated profiles. A must if you're looking for pizza in Portland!

It's a warehouse feel with picnic tables. Could be okay but beer is limited. Pizza very limited and not good at all in my opinion. I hate super thin pizza with grease dripping off the sides and this was that. You can't pick it up like a slice as it flips over and grease runs everywhere. While it doesn't have that 50 year old dirty feel to the dining area many pizza places have, I'd still try another place.

This review is specifically for the delivery service to Brunswick. I have always been a fan of Otto's but was hesitant to try their new delivery service in which the pizzas are delivered partially baked to a local pick up location. I have to admit I was not convinced it would work well. My wife and daughter convinced me to try it and I'm so glad they did because it was effortless and successful. The ordering process and pickup was exceptionally easy. More importantly the pizza turned out fantastic when it was finished in the home oven for about 10 minutes at 450 degrees. I will definitely order again!!!

Yum! Best pizza ever! My son and I loved their pizza and definitely will be going back for more!

Otto is great for quick in and out pizza. You can order by the slice and they reheat it. The drink selection is limited. I ordered the pepperoni pizza which was good. My only issue was that it was not left in the over long enough and had some cool spots. However, the sauce was decent. Servers were friendly.

Ottos is just going to do it for me every time. I love Otto's pizza so much. Their ability to perfect the gluten-free pizza amazes me. They are always such a friendly pit stop on any trip I take. Whether it be in Portland, Portsmouth, Boston, or Newburyport - you can find me at Ottos. Such a cute brick oven joint that I am always happy to stop at.

Our family of 4 ate at Otto's on Congress Street during a visit to the area. The lady staffing the restaurant was pleasant and had a sense of urgency. Unfortunately everything else about our dining experience was awful. Our son ordered a kid's pizza, our daughter ordered a gluten free pizza, and my wife and I ordered a large pizza. My son's pizza arrived way before anything else. By the time the adult's pizza arrived he had eaten over half of his pizza. When the adult's pizza arrived we were told our daughter's gluten free pizza would be out in a minute. Twice more were told it was on its way. We tried to eat slowly so that our daughter would not have to eat alone. However, still her pizza never arrived. When I asked the waitress she said the gluten free crust was thin and the kitchen kept ripping it and having to start over. We had all finished eating by the time it arrived. Our daughter did not want to eat alone, so asked to have her pizza to go. Between our son's pizza arriving and our daughter's arriving there was more than a 30 minute gap. Quality of the adult pizza (bacon and pineapple) was disappointing with the crust over cooked around the perimeter. This is a pizza establishment. You would think that they would know how to cook a pizza correctly (ie without ripping crusts or overcooking them). Incredibly frustrating and disappointing!

Excellent pizza and pretty good pricing. For us a person ate about 3 large slices. 1 for a kid. Which was about 10 bucks a person to eat. Breadsticks are very fairly priced. You get a bunch with a tasty sauce. Maybe 12 pieces for 6 bucks. We loved the pulled pork and mango. 5 star pizza. Has a sweet but savory twist. The herb and mushroom was good but lacked stability (everything fell off while trying to get it out of the box) flavor was decent though so between a 3 and a 4. Overall excellent pizza shop with a lot of variety to meet anyone's palette. Also you can do half and half pizzas to try more flavors.

Beautiful day of hiking and kayaking the eastern prom. Settled down and decided to walk around town and just take in more of the day. Love this location as it is right on Congress St and Forest. Awesome to people watch. Sit here and looked out the window with a slice and a beer. Hey. Not a bad way to take it all in. First slice was in front of me in under five minutes. Love the mash potato slice. Having a second and my Session IPA. Can't go wrong. The decor is great. The wood bar and the tile. Perfect! Sit inside or outside. Watch the people go by and let me tell you. It's like having dinner and a show. Thanks

After a day of walking around downtown, I was so thankful to eat here. OTTO pizza is a local chain and has been in Portland since 2009. My friend and I ate here late afternoon during the week and it wasn't crowded at all. We decided to split a small butternut squash, ricotta, and cranberry pizza. We didn't have to wait for our delicious pizza. The small was a good portion to split between two people. The crust had a great texture, thin, but not too thin and a good crisp. The toppings were fresh and flavorful, like autumn in your mouth! This pizza was definitely 1 of my favorite meals during my trip to Portland and my top three favorite pizzas overall. Yum, yum, yum. If you can't make it to this location, they have other locations in Portland and Massachusetts. You can also earn rewards if you sign up for their website!

It's not our first time at Ottos but it's our first time at this location. My number 1 rule before eating is to NOT go to the restroom. There's is nothing more than an appetite killer than a nasty restroom. Nasty restroom, nasty kitchen. If they can't clean the bathroom properly, guess what? The kitchen must also be horribly disgusting. AND I broke my rule. First off, the toilet was disgusting like it hasn't seen a toilet brush in a while. The water bottle container had white and black stuff stuck on the inside of the bottle. So we didn't drink the water. As for the food, it was just ok. We ordered meatballs appetizer and gluten free pepperoni pizza. The meatballs were tough and not tender at all and it came out luke warm. The pizza was a nightmare. It was so doughy and undercooked. We paid $15 for the pizza and it was quite disappointing. The dough was frozen pre-made so it was tough. If they can't do gluten free right, they should just not offer them.

Great crust, with a location downtown Portland and in Cape Elizabeth. The pepperoni pizza was a hit with the family, and a personal favorite is the meatball with mushroom pizza. The beer list is very nicely curated with rotating specials.

Great pizza, family friendly, awesome staff. A+ spot then you're in Portland and need a pizza place.

We love OTTO pizza. We ate in here twice in July 2017 & got take out June 2019. Today we ordered online & walked there to pick up, which I guess doesn't happen as frequently because they tried to recharge our credit card. Also everything on their menu on the website was not available for online ordering. We settled on one small spicy pulled pork & scallion pizza and one small mushroom, bacon, onion pizza. We also ordered 2 small Greek salads, which were larger & better than we expected them to be. Well done for take out salads. Pizzas were both delicious as usual, thin crust & pulled pork was indeed quite spicy. Pleased with our 3rd visit. Recommend it for unique toppings such as mashed potatoes, avocado, butternut squash, eggplant, even lobster which was a June special!