I've got a new one to add to the list:
Otto in Chester.
Heard about it recently and it was compared favorably to Bufalina in Guilford, which we love. Both are small and serve only small pies from wood-fired ovens, and both have an excellent, fresh seasonal salad to complement the pies. Whereas Bufalina is BYOB (which we
really love), Otto has a pretty varied wine list of interesting Italian whites, reds, rosés and sparklers, and a few decent bottled beers (also Avery sodas).
Went to Otto tonight.
For starters, it was a great early evening to be in Chester, thanks in part I believe to our own August West and his band, who could be heard perfectly, rolling up the Pattaconk River while we waited outside for our table on a beautiful night. That "Eyes of the World" killed! I could have waited forever while listening to that, but shortly after you went into "Shakedown Street" our table was ready. I think that was the end of show if I'm not mistaken though. Looked like a great crowd.
Anyway, we got four pizzas for five of us and it was exactly one pie too many, which meant it was perfect because we have leftovers.
The shaved fennel salad was insanely good. I will get that every time.
The margherita with liuzzi mozzarella, stracciatella and basil was probably the most popular and favorite for a few.
The porchetta, smoked mozzarella and wood-grilled asparagus was the favorite of our oldest daughter. I believe she had five or six pieces. I loved it also; my wife liked it but found it too rich/smoky after a few bites.
The soeltl farm pork ragù, mystic melville cheese and must ard greens pie had a nice little spice to it, with a great combination of bitter from the greens and sweet/spicy sauce and creamy cheese.
The simple cheese (half) was the least impressive, but good; the pepperoni (half) was excellent.
I think it is very different from Bufalina, which seems more like traditional apizza done extraordinarily well. This is a bit less traditional in terms of toppings, but that margherita killed it every bit as much as that "Eyes of the World." The other specialty pies were done really well, but more in the contemporary gourmet pie realm than traditional imo.
I give the edge to Bufalina overall for my tastes (and the BYOB!), but we will definitely be back to Otto, too.
Especially with the incredible sighting of a full, bright, double rainbow over the town as we left while the fringe of a storm must have glanced the area.
Great night. Definitely a good place to check out.
So...August, you been there? Where you by any chance wearing an olive green jacket? I thought I might have seen you standing out front as we drove by on our way home.
