Ototo

Ototo has been a favorite over the course of it’s incarnations. The current menu is stronger than ever. I have visited twice recently, once for dinner and once for brunch. There didn’t seem to be much of a crowd for brunch and I think I understand why. The menu is a bit pricey but more than that, there should be some breakfast specific items on the menu for brunch. I will be back. Cheers!

Had the Ikayaki (grilled squid), vegetable tempura, and the tonkatsu ramen. All were very good. The staff was really friendly. Its really small, depending on the night and time, and how busy they already are, you may have to wait.

I met the best bartender at Ototo, Heather. The food was pretty good but the service… Oh man the service. Heather was on the ball, the drinks kept flowing, and her personality was amazing. I would definitely go back if only to be waited on by Heather again!

I was in town for business and stopped for dinner with an important business client. We sat at the bar and it was a fantastic time. The bartender Heather was honestly the best part of the restaurant. The place was dull and lacking personality but she livened it up and made our dining experience enjoyable. The good was good but not exceptional. I would say the service is why this place gets five stars.

Excellent food and friendly staff! This place is a true gem and my neighborhood go-​to!

Ok just when I thought the other brothers across the street had it figured out. Restaurant was full just like the other two 100ft away but Ototo’s atmosphere was like being in an Aspen ski Japanese place. QUIET and intimate in an open restaurant layout. We ordered 8 items and get this All 8 were totally on the mark. Great service. Grilled Sardines, yakitori chicken, kinpiri, miso soup with clams, lobster wonton, miso soup, grilled sea salt chicken wing, and the Mochi coconut cake with green tea ice cream. At every turn tonight this te-​birth restaurant crushed it!!!

I’ve been on a kick where I hit the DEN family of restaurants right when they open to get the non-​crowd happy hour situation. Well, actually just Sushi Den.
Tonight I decided I wanted some Robata. Ototo seems to be the place. While it wasn’t the robata that I experienced at my only other robata experience at Tei Tei Robata in Dallas it was still pretty darn good. I had a few happy hour items and then I ordered the grilled squid which was most excellent.
The server Saki was super attentive and the service assitant Dakota was actually quite a hoot and was fun to cut up with. I’ll definitely go back.

Great service, great atmosphere and good food. Unfortunately I feel that once the novelty of this new restaurant wears off most people will have a very hard time with the price point.
Going in you expect the small plates that’s what its all about but the pricing is completely out of line and the prices for sake are simply outrageous.
I would much rather spend the same amount over at Sushi Den.
I truly wish them the best of luck but I personally do not see a bright future for this establishment.

Best meal we had in awhile! Great friendly staff thank you to Chef Oscar for an amazing meal! We will be coming back very soon!

I really want to love this place, I really do. However, it is still a work in progress. The dishes are hit-​or-​miss, with the classic stuff (sashimi-​related dishes, ramen) really good. It is pricey and I found myself spending less money at Sushi Den.

Dined at OTOTO last night and left feeling somewhat meh about it. The food was good and the ambiance was nice, but the outrageous prices cast a shadow over the entire meal. For 4 plates and 2 drinks we racked up an $ 80 bill (plus tip) and had to go down the street to Sexy Pizza afterward because our group was still hungry. Will not be returning unless it’s with a Groupon.

Tonkotsu Ramen — best ramen we’ve ever had (Sushi Den lobster ramen is close). No sushi, no rolls, but they do have good sashimi. The salmon sashimi (they let us get all salmon for the fresh catch of the day) was excellent. Menu is like tapas for Japanese food — small dishes to share that will vary based on personal preference. The Japanese Kurabota Pork Sausage was good, but not like I expected. Small sausages with some hot mustard and cabbage on the side.

Ototo may not have the variety of Sushi Den but WOW the dishes they did have where for the most part over the top! Love the fact that the place is small and not as noisy as Sushi Den. Ototo will before my first choice on Pearl Street and Sushi Den second and Izakaya third.

RUN! Don’t walk, OTOTO, the Sushi Den’s literal «Little Brother» has finally reopened with a 6 hour warning on Friday! It’s open!
The concept is that OTOTO will offer a traditional Japanese Izakaya menu including Robata-​yaki, and will not be serving sushi and rolls here. In Japanese cuisine, robatayaki (literally «fireside-​cooking»), often shortened to just robata, refers to a method of cooking, similar to barbecue, in which items of food on skewers are slow-​grilled over hot charcoal. You may know it as yakitori. Traditionally, the food consists of a combination of morsels of seafood and vegetables, but other kinds of food that are suitable for grilling such as chicken, pork belly, Wagyu beef will also be offered.
Well, our group was starved so we had 12 dishes. 12. and about 6 pitchers of sake. I was so in the moment, I forgot to take photos!
Everything, everything was delicious but the stand out highlights of this menu via me and the British Boyfriend are:
1. TONKOTSU RAMEN
2. GRILLED PORK BELLY
3. Little Fried Chicken starters!
4. WATER OF GOD SAKE
The restaurant is impeccably designed in true Sushi Den style, but has a more casual «beer and Sake», Happy Hour & Tapas feel. The price point is significantly more casual than Sushi Den too! I will come again and again. Can’t wait for a cold day and another bowl of Ramen!