<a target="_blank" href="http://www.ottopizzeria.com/">Otto</a>

One Fifth Avenue,

New York, NY 10003

Tel +1 (212) 995-9559

July 2008

Owners Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich opened Otto, their
pizzeria/wine bar several years ago and have never looked back. Not
surprisingly in these tough economic times, Otto is almost always packed.
Diners come for the pizza, pasta and Italian charcuterie that are the house
specialties. And then there is the gelato, which is among the finest readers
are likely to find on this side of the Atlantic. The wine list is incredible in
both its size and scope. A number of wines are offered by the quartino (250ml),
an ideal size for two people that makes it easy to taste several wines without
having to order an entire bottle. The wine list contains a vast selection of
hard to find wines from Piedmont, Tuscany and the rest of Italy that would put
many a high-end restaurant to shame. Otto is open for lunch on the weekends,
and is an ideal place to take families with young children.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1379216417990-Otto_Tower.jpg"> The large plate of affettati (cold cuts) was delicious,
especially with a class of the Col
Vetoraz Prosecco, one of my favorite versions of this popular sparkler from
Veneto. I loved the Pizza Margherita D.O.P., which was topped with bufala
mozzarella. The Mushroom and Taleggio Pizza and the Prosciutto and Arugula
Pizza were standouts as well. Vie di
Romans’s 2004 Flor di Uis appeared to be in a bit of a closed phase. The
wine’s signature aromatics and lush fruit were present, but not fully
expressive. Cerbaiona’s 2005 Rosso di
Montalcino was absolutely gorgeous. This tasty red offered up sweet,
inviting aromatics along with bright red fruit in an elegant, refined style
that reminded me how great Sangiovese from Montalcino can be, even at the
simpler Rosso level. All the signature qualities of Cerbaiona’s more important
Brunellos were there, albeit in miniature. It was a great wine to enjoy
liberally alongside the delicious pizzas.&nbsp;

Food:

Crostini with lentils

Assorted affettati

Assorted pizzas&nbsp;

Wine:

<table>
 <tbody><tr>
 <td>
 NV
 </td>
 <td>
 Col Vetoraz Prosecco
 </td>
 <td>
 89
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2004
 </td>
 <td>
 Vie di Romans Flors di Uis
 </td>
 <td>
 93
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2005
 </td>
 <td>
 Cerbaiona Rosso di Montalcino
 </td>
 <td>
 92</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Photo and credit: Otto, New York]--Antonio Galloni

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