OTTO is barely past its first birthday but you would think it's been around for years. Its simple, unpretentious concept of sausage and beer might explain why it's been welcomed so warmly in the Norwood neighbourhood it calls home.
Norwood is pretty centrally located but has a reputation for being part of the inner city. I grew up in the neighbourhood, five blocks down in fact, and coincidentally went to pre-school and kindergarten at the family centre across the street from OTTO. Occasionally we would also buy cakes from the neighbouring La Favorite Pastry Shop, so it's nice to see that it's still kicking around years later. I never paid much attention to the seedy bar that used to be in OTTO's place, but I definitely remember passing by this spot everyday on the bus while coming home from school.
We arrived at OTTO a few minutes after they opened and claimed one of their side booths. A long communal table, bar stools, and smaller two to four-tops made up the rest of the seating. They did warn us beforehand that we could be moved if it got busier but it never got to that point in the time we were there.
Like mentioned earlier, OTTO's focus is on two things: sausage and beer. The drinks list, on a double-sided A4, easily trumps the food menu in terms of selection. I don't know much about beer but I can appreciate their effort to showcase ones that are locally brewed and crafted. And speaking of local, sausages are handcrafted, sourced from a fellow Edmonton small business, Fuge Fine Meat, who also supplies to other restaurants including Canteen and Sugarbowl.
The menu is designed for sharing, with everything coming out on a wooden platter adorned with butcher paper. No fuss, a real humble family-style type of dining experience.
We started off with an order of cod bon bons ($10.00), beer-battered cod served with a spicy cherry sauce. Based on the menu description, I don't know why I was expecting a mini fish and chips, but it's more akin to a cod fritter. The fish is blended, almost to a mashed potato texture, and formed into four small bites. The crispy batter coating was thin and wispy. It almost reminded me of wu gok, or taro dumplings, from dim sum. The fritters rested on a creamy mayonnaise, which was actually a well-suited pairing, but it did leave me wondering where the spicy cherry sauce comes in.
It was by coincidence that we came on a Monday, when all sausages (and pints) cost $6.00 instead of the regular $8.00. There are eight different sausages to choose from, four of which are pork-based: the andouille, chorizo, Italian fennel, and the OTTO dog. The other four are 100% pork-free: a beef bratwurst, a lamb and beef merguez, a spicy Italian chicken, and even a vegan sausage, made with potatoes, apple, barley, and sage. Sausages are ordered individually, and served sliced in half. For the price, you're also given a side of sauerkraut and pickles, and a choice of condiments in squeeze bottles (pickled mustard, spicy ketchup, hot beer mustard). If you weren't sharing, you can opt for the NYC style sausage in a bun ($10.00) or Currywurst ($13.00), beef bratwurst smothered with a tomato curry sauce and laid on a bed of fries.
We opted for two sausages to share, the American andouille (front) and the exclusive namesake OTTO dog. The andouille sausage is loaded with pepper and thyme, and finished off with braised pork and Cabernet Sauvignon. The OTTO dog is a classic bratwurst with caraway and fresh garlic, studded with pieces of smoked gouda. The OTTO dog was definitely my favourite of the two, milder in flavour with bits of melty cheese throughout. The andouille was nicely spiced, but had a much coarser texture.
To fill up the platter (and your stomach), OTTO serves up a good variety of sides, available in small or large. We got the small sizes, which was a good enough portion for the two of us to share. Consider getting the large if you come with a bigger party.
Fries (small $5.00 / large $10.00) seem to go hand-in-hand with sausages. These are dressed up with a garlic herb butter and served with a spicy mayo dip. The fries could have been a touch crispier but they were still pretty addictive to munch on.
We also enjoyed the creamy dill coleslaw (small $4.00 / large $8.00), crunchy shaved veggies in a creamy dressing. I'm normally not a fan of dill but it was quite subtle in this case. Get the coleslaw if you're looking for something refreshing to cut the fat.
No meal is complete without veggies ($7.00). Brussels sprouts, apples, and onions, sautéed in a mustard and agave honey sauce. The dressing on these veggies is sweet with a slight kick of horseradish. I also loved how the onions were nicely caramelized.
With good food at a more than reasonable price point, OTTO has definitely succeeded in making an inclusive and family-friendly gathering spot for its community. Visiting the restaurant on a cold winter day almost felt like coming back home for me.
OTTO Food and Drink
11405 95 ST
Edmonton, AB
Edmonton, AB
(780) 477-6244
- CT
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