Otto Enoteca and Pizzeria (Italian Pizzeria, Greenwich Village)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location
1 5th Ave.
Southeast corner of street, on 8th St.

Cuisine:
Pizzeria

If you don't know who Mario Batali is, then you don't watch the Food Network. This man is the Italian restaurant king of NYC these days, it seems. I don't know if I'll ever get to try Del Posto, since it's so far out of my price range, "it would take a miracle."

My sister and her husband did take me to Babbo one year for my birthday (hmmm, birthday...), and I truly enjoyed the rustic Italian cuisine and the ambiance was beautiful -- a cozy, converted brownstone.

But I'm not here to talk about either or those Batali places. In fact, I'm not a huge fan of the Molto Mario, with those shoes that for some reason everyone loves. Eh, I've never tried them, and a good friend of mine can't stop wearing them. But they're ugly.

I'm here to rate Otto. When I got there, it wasn't for the plebian-friendly prices for the food, that such a gourmand as Batali would want to offer. I was drawn to the gelato. It's a running joke when every time my friends go back to Italy, they ask me what I want from there. I respond immediately, "gelato." For those who know me, gelato and ice cream are my kryptonite.

NY Magazine just rated their favorite ice cream sandwiches. Because of this article, I started salivating. I convinced my colleague to go on a little three hour tour with me. Ok, it was just a short trip.

We arrived to the restaurant, without realizing what it was. The crowd was not our flavor, but then again, we're flip-flop-wearing slackers, not part of the normal Happy Hour crowd. We stood at one of the bars, and ordered two brioches to go.

I went for the brioche with olive oil gelato. My colleague, the brioche with ricotta gelato.

Our verdict? The gelato was heavenly. The olive oil, smooth, gentle, and delicious. The ricotta, sweet and creamy. Both wonderful. The brioche part of the ice cream sandwich? Well, a bit dry. I choked on mine twice.

Would I go back? Hell yes. For those prices? The antipasti are supposed to be excellent, and $9.00 pasta? Just right for the working schmo. So, head over to Otto! Tell me what you think of the actual food!