OTTO To Provide Gluten-Free Crust Option

On Thursday, February 28, OTTO will begin providing a gluten-free crust option appropriate for guests with mild gluten sensitivities. Guests will also be able to wash their pizza down with a bottle of Estrella Damm, voted the World’s Best Gluten-Free Lager at the World Beer Awards.

glutenfree1Thousands of Portland- and Boston-area gluten-sensitive eaters have been dying to try OTTO’s mashed potato, scallion, and bacon pie, or the butternut squash, ricotta, and cranberry option. Starting Feb. 28, they can dig in.

Every pizza on OTTO’s menu, with the exception of the three-cheese tortellini (which is gluten-based) will be available on the new gluten-free crust.  Gluten-free pizzas will be available as 10″ pies.

OTTO’s gluten-free pizza is appropriate for guests with mild gluten sensitivity. However, it is not recommended to guests with celiac disease. While the crust is prepared off-site in a 100% gluten-free production facility, current store operations cannot guarantee that each hand-tossed pizza does not contain trace amounts of gluten.

OTTO realizes that the launch of gluten-free pizza will not only be music to the ears of gluten-sensitive eaters throughout New England, but to their families and friends as well, as families and friends often limit their dining choices to restaurants that are appropriate for the whole party.

OTTO looks forward to winning over a whole new wave of pizza aficionados.

OTTO Fundraiser Calendar: Good Food, Good Causes

Several great reasons to eat an entire pizza without feeling guilty.

PrintOTTO is pleased to be hosting an ongoing series of fundraiser nights to benefit regional charities and community organizations. At each event, a portion of sales will be donated to the dedicated organization.

The series will run in both Maine and Massachusetts, with Maine fundraisers taking place at OTTO’s new 574 Congress Street expansion, and the Massachusetts fundraisers taking place at OTTO’s BU location at 888 Commonwealth Avenue.

OTTO looks forward to partnering with area charities, schools, and non-profit organizations. The fundraiser series further extends OTTO’s philanthropic initiatives – the restaurant has been actively supporting charities and non-profits since opening its doors in 2009.

rmhcIn addition to raising funds, OTTO owners and staff hope the events will help raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and provide a venue for networking, brainstorming, and speaking with potential volunteers. OTTO also looks forward to working more closely with organizations and becoming better acquainted with those who dedicate their time to these causes.

The series is still in its infancy, and OTTO encourages charities, schools, and organizations to reach out to discuss opportunities. Those interested should send an email to contactus@ottoportland.com.

As of this writing the schedule is as follows (all dates are subject to change):

OTTO 574 Congress St. Portland (Arts District)salt
March 12 – Casco Bay High School Model UN
March 19 – Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
March 26 – Ronald McDonald House
April 2 – Portland Veterans’ Acupuncture Clinic
April 9 – American Liver Foundation’s Run For Research
April 16 – Portland Ballet
April 23 – LearningWorks

Grubstreet_logo_tshirtOTTO 888 Comm Ave, Boston (across from BU)
March 18 – The Lawrence School
March 19 – Project Mailbox
March 25 – Grub Street Writers
April 1 – Boston Marathon fundraiser to support the Boston Bruins Foundation
April 8 – BU Center for Gender, Sexuality & Activism
April 15 – Project Mailbox
April 22 – OnStage Dance Co.
April 29 – Children’s Center of Brookline
May 6 – Brookline Arts Center

Please consider supporting these organizations by stopping by OTTO during their events. A percentage of each purchase will go directly to the organization. It’s a great opportunity to eat an entire pizza without the guilt!

OTTO Delivers Pizza 3,158 Miles For Birthday Surprise

We at OTTO are aware that a lot of folks really, really like our pizza.  We have seen all kinds of public declarations that remind us that we’re doing something special. Our beloved Red Sox have placed large orders on consecutive weeks.  New Yorkers have declared OTTO the best pizza they’ve ever eaten.

We haven’t yet, however, received a request to deliver pizza all the way across the United States, no matter the cost. (We do offer free delivery in Portland, by the way!)IMG_0618-1

Joy and Jeff Johnson of Washington, reached out to OTTO to see if there was any way possible we could have a few pizzas delivered for their daughter Devi’s 18th birthday.

The Johnsons discovered OTTO’s Harvard Square location while on a college-hunting trip with Devi, and it was love at first bite. (They nearly missed their plane when they tried to get more pizza on their last day in Massachusetts.)

Since then, Devi and her parents have followed OTTO on Facebook, but simply couldn’t take the posts of pizza pictures any longer (“the daily torture!”).

That’s when the idea was born to have OTTO delivered cross-country as a surprise for Devi’s birthday. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

It was certainly one of the strangest requests we’ve received at OTTO. Never ones to shirk away from a challenge, we worked out a way to make it happen. On Tuesday, December 18th, OTTO’s 578 Congress Street (Portland) staff hand-tossed, built, baked, and packed two vegetarian pies for overnight shipping. The pies were crafted and packaged with great care to ensure they showed up as fresh, and as eye-pleasing, as possible.

The Johnsons, ever the good sports, promised to send photos of our pies arriving 3,158 miles away. As an added gesture of appreciation, the Johnsons made a donation in OTTO’s name to a New England-based literacy program.

We at OTTO wish Devi a very wonderful birthday, and hope that the pizza is as delicious as she remembers.

IMG_0623

photo-4

photo-5

photo-1

IMG_0603

IMG_0616

IMG_0622

IMG_0627

IMG_0629-1

OTTO’s Portland Expansion at 574 Congress Street Is Now Open For Dining!

OTTO 574 Congress StreetOTTO is pleased to announce that our new expansion to our 574 Congress Street slice shop is now open for dining.

While remodling of the former Wild Burrito storefront was underway this year, curious Portlanders peeked in as they strolled past, wondering what exactly was being done. After taking in the repurposed mahogany, subway tiles, and minimalist lighting, It didn’t take folks too long to realize that OTTO was simply becoming more symmetrical.

In April 2010, the original OTTO slice shop opened a sister shop, Enzo, directly next door. While Enzo had its own storefront entry, internally she and OTTO were conjoined. Enzo provided OTTO with much needed seating, and more importantly, an intimate bar setting with an array of fine wines and craft beer.

In the spirit of OTTO and Enzo, the 574 Congress expansion maintains the same cozy, minimalist aesthetic, while adding enough dining space (approximately 40 seats) to accomodate families and large parties, and a spacious, gorgeous bar perfect for dining, unwinding after work, or meeting up with friends and family.2012-11-28_18-38-09_999

The 574 Congress location not only expands OTTO’s capacity, it expands its menu. Guests will notice an expanded wine list, six additional taps of delicious craft brews, as well as OTTO’s signature salads and desserts.

Hours are 11:30am to 11pm Sunday through Thursday and 11:30am to 12am Friday and Saturday.

Come by. We’d love to see you.

OTTO’s Getting Bigger: A Sneak Peek Of Our 574 Congress Street Extension

You may have heard the news. If you’ve been to our 576 Congress Street, Portland location, you’ve certainly seen (and heard) some commotion.

It’s no secret that OTTO quickly outgrew it’s small digs at 576 Congress, even after the the addition of sister-shop ENZO at 576-A. Rest assured, Portland OTTO enthusiasts (and employees), you will soon have plenty of wiggle-room.

The expansion into 574 Congress (formerly Wild Burrito) will add 50 seats, an additional bar, and six more taps of your favorite craft brews.

While the opening is imminent, we are refraining from declaring an opening date. OTTO does nothing half-assed.

In the meantime, please enjoy the sneak peek of the new room. She’s a beauty.

Stay tuned. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we have a confirmed opening date.

Who is Elliott Brood? And Why Should You Care?

Elliott Brood is on tour and playing a bunch of shows in the northeast before heading over to Europe.

Music is an important ingredient at OTTO Pizza – we listen to it all the time. We listen to music while we’re setting up shop in the morning; it’s playing during the day when we’re taking care of our customers, and we crank it up at night while we’re cleaning up the shop to do it all over again the next day.

Some of the folks who work at OTTO Pizza are musicians themselves, and there are a ton of local bands that we love as well, but every once in a while, a band comes along that really grabs us and maybe we go a little crazy.

Elliott Brood is such a band. These guys are amazing. But don’t take our word for it. Check ’em out for yourself.

And apparently, Elliott Brood is on tour right now, which is great. Anybody else really like Elliott Brood? Why don’t you drop us a line at ottopizza668@gmail.com?

The Best Lines From OTTO Pizza Online Customer Reviews

One of the greatest things about the internet is the ability to cut through the crap and read actual first-hand comments about the food you’re thinking about eating. We can think of many times we’ve dodged a potential bullet by checking Yelp!, UrbanSpoon, etc., and learned first-hand about awful culinary experiences.

Here at OTTO, where we strive to always provide our customers with uniquely delicious pizza, a clean and cozy atmosphere, and great service, we make a point to monitor our online reviews. We’re pleased to report that they are overwhelmingly positive.

Some of these reviews are so great, that it seems criminal to not showcase them elsewhere.

Here are some snippets from the many wonderful online reviews of the OTTO experience:

From Steff, at UrbanSpoon (there is no best line — the whole thing is tremendous):

Dear Boyfriend,

I think you know this, but I’m having a love affair. With Otto’s. Oh, I know the three of us (you, me, and Otto’s) have had many randez-vous (sometimes multiple times a night), but you should know that when I leave your place . . . I stop for a quickie at Otto’s. When we’re kissing . . . I wish your beard had Otto’s crumbs in it. While you seasonally change your facial hair . . . they hourly change their options. They please me in a deep, thrilling way that no other man . . . or pizza joint . . . ever has. When I feel like I need to be loved safely and reliably, it’s their tomato-basil pizza that comforts me. When I desire that earthy, gritty kind of affection, I turn to their mushroom-cauliflower pizza. When I’m craving something a little more daring, a little more exotic and sexy, I have the white bean, roasted tomato, herb, and red flake (which is a mouthful . . . if you know what I mean). Yes, sometimes you are the more consistent lover; and, Otto’s has the tendency of teasing me so (oh, butternut-squash-cranberry, why can’t you always be there for me like I want to be for you?!). But it’s a small sin when their huge, heaping triangles of love are so reasonably priced. With their prices, it’s like they’re telling me: “from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish ’till death do us part, I hereby pledge you my faithfulness.”

I do, too, Ottos. I do, too.

Oh, boyfriend, it was only a matter of time before you realized with them it’s never forced. It’s never fake. It’s always the real deal: they are one of the best mouthgasm’s I have.

Please don’t be jealous,

Steff

From Rachel at Yelp!:

The ricotta, butternut & cranberry slice at Otto is merely a flatbread mechanism used to transport holiday cheer to my mouth, and that’s not pizza. That’s revolutionary. A $3.50 hit of “Thanksgiving essence” is now available during all seasons, forever.

From Sharkey at UrbanSpoon:

Just to be able to walk down Congress and grab a slice makes living here even sweeter. I love seeing smiley, happy faces walking the street, noshing on a slice from Otto’s. Best advertising there is!

From Matt at Yelp!:

When we get the call that there’s a meteor headed for Earth, many people will choose to be with family I’m sure.

I’ll be at Ottos Brookline (maybe I’ll invite the family along).

From Emily at Yelp!:

I need to find this Otto and have a talk with him. Who is he? What makes him tick? Most importantly, how did he become so awesome at making delicious slices of pizza?

From Christine at Yelp!:

I live in the North End of Boston and I am considering going to Harvard Square in the snow to get a slice. Its THAT GOOD.

A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Mouth-Watering OTTO Pizza Instagram Pics

Nothing makes us happier than knowing our customers love our pizza. While we love your praise when you’re in the shop, we also know that a picture’s worth a thousand words.

When our customers tweet or post pictures of our pizza (or our signature sodas and salads), we know they don’t just love it, they want others to love it too.

Here are 13 of our favorite OTTO shares on Instagram. Try not to drool on the keyboard, please.

1. From italianinboston:
otto pizza

2. From stretchandmayo:
otto pizza

3. From adewomol:
otto pizza

4. From constantlyconstance:
otto pizza

5. From just_me__just_em:
otto pizza

6. From shnrl:
otto pizza

7. From truestorycory:
otto pizza

8. From craigalansmalls:
otto pizza

9. From dibbee:
otto pizza

10. From bostontweet:
otto pizza

11. From mschafer87:
otto pizza

12. Also from from mschafer87:
otto pizza

13. And once again, mschafer87 (you really love us, don’t you?):
otto pizza

Monday, Oct. 1 is Free Slice Day at OTTO Pizza’s New Location at 888 Commonwealth Ave.

Claim a Free Slice on Monday, Oct. 1 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at OTTO Pizza’s BU Shop by Texting OTTO to 33938

Send a text message and grab a free slice of OTTO Pizza’s award-winning pie pizza, any variety, at OTTO Pizza’s newest location at 888 Commonwealth Ave. on Monday, Oct. 1, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“Our newest shop opened in the heart of the Boston University campus about a month ago and the response has been great,” OTTO Pizza co-owner Anthony Allen said. “This is our way of saying thank-you to our new friends and neighbors, who have been so welcoming. We’re glad to be here, and we’re looking forward to being a part of this neighborhood and the BU community for years to come.”

Customers who would like a free slice should text the key word OTTO to 33938, OTTO Pizza co-owner Mike Keon said. People who send the text message will receive a brief message in return, which they can show the counter person on Monday, Oct. 1, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to claim the free slice.

OTTO Pizza is owned by Allen and Keon, both veteran restaurateurs with decades of experience between them. OTTO Pizza currently has six locations: two full-service restaurants and a delivery-only outlet in Portland, Maine; and three shops in the Boston metro area: a Harvard Square location in Cambridge, Mass., that offers take-out service, a full-service restaurant in Coolidge Corner and the new full-service location at 888 Commonwealth Ave.

OTTO TO GO: Pizza Delivery Available in the Portland Area

Why order delivery from the big chains, when OTTO Pizza will come to you?OTTO Pizza delivers!

Now, of course we love to see you. Your smiling face brightens our day. But we also know there are times when it’s hard to get out of the house, or you just don’t feel like getting out of your pajamas.

If you live in the Portland area, you can order any of our deliciously different pizzas by phone or fax. Whether you’re in the East End, the West End, downtown, the Arts District, Old Port, or Munjoy Hill, OTTO will ensure your pizza is delivered hot and fresh from our oven.

Delivery times may vary, depending on volume, but you can expect to have our custom-topped gourmet pies within 30-45 minutes. Some of the big chains can’t even do that.

It’s OTTO-Matic. For the people.