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Ten Years of OTTO: Customers Tell Us About Their Favorite OTTO Experiences

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As part of our 10 Year Anniversary celebrations in June, we asked customers to tell us about their favorite OTTO experiences. We received hundreds of lovely comments and decided to publish a handful here on the OTTO blog. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

When we started OTTO in 1992, we had a few simple goals: To elevate pizza above its ‘staple’ status, and to create moments worth sharing. It was sharing that got us where we are today — word of mouth from the people we served day in and day out.

Thanks to all our customers for ten great years. We wouldn’t be here without you. We look forward to helping to create ten more years of memories with you.

My best friend and I discovered OTTO on Congress several years ago. We’d often grab a late afternoon slice on our downtown walkabouts. Over the years, when one of us needed advice, a shoulder or a serious chat, we’d declare an OTTO. We could talk anything through over a slice. Though our friendship has moved apart over the years, I know if one of us declared an OTTO, the other would show up. — P. D.

When my husband was offered a job in Portland in 2017 and my family considered making the move here, from Brooklyn NY, a place that has some serious pizza game, we came on a visit and happened upon OTTO. The first pies we ordered, Mango and Pulled Pork and Eggplant Ricotta and Basil, we’re life changing experiences and totally made us feel like we could picture ourselves in this new city. The flavor! The crust! We are now OTTO’s most devoted fans! DiFara no more! John’s is gone! Every Friday is OTTO night! — Amanda S.

Dinnertime with my family can be a real challenge but bringing my three kids, (1 vegetarian, 1 pescatarian and 1 gluten sensitive) to OTTO and watching them devour their pizzas and buffalo fries is such a gift! At OTTO, everyone can find a delicious option to fit their dietary needs and it’s a relief for a mom like me that all of your ingredients are high quality! Thank You OTTO! — Carrie C.

When I moved to Boston from Portland and saw an OTTO in Brookline, I knew it was going to be ok. — Leigh M.

Last summer, when we ordered OTTO and it never even made it in to the house…we just sat on the steps and ate it there in the dark. — Kate S.

We’ve celebrated our now-11 year-old son’s birthday twice at OTTO because it is his happy place. Friends, family and potato, bacon and scallion pizza. We know it will be a good time. 🙂 — Melissa P.

We had our favorite Mushroom and Sausage pizza from OTTO and ate it on the beach on Plum Island moments before we got engaged! — Jennifer G.

We are from NYC, just moved to Portland and had a couple of Italian-American friends visit. We had low expectations of pizza in Maine. Ok, no expectations. But a fast delivery, that weird sheet that keeps the crust crispy, and the smell of real cheese made the crowd sit up straight. First taste? One bite and the Italians stopped laughing at the bacon and mashed potatoes on the pie, and generally did not resume conversation until three boxes were empty. A few years later, the same friends came back to Portland with a list of things to do in Portland: eat OTTO pizza, and eat lobster, in that order. This year they ate lobster on their OTTO pizza. Respect. — Mary W.

The first date I had 5 and a half years ago was to OTTO with my now fiance! A memory we treasure. — Ryan J.

When we moved to Maine 5 years ago we had no idea where to get food. Didn’t even know where the grocery store was. But OTTO came through and delivered pizza everyday that first week to our doorstep and hasn’t stopped since. — Dan P.

The night before our wedding in August 2017 we had dinner with my soon to be father-in-law who was visiting from Texas. His wife was a chef who had recently passed away and he an avid foodie and (sometimes) critic. He was super impressed by the pizza and salads at the South Portland Cottage Rd restaurant and insisted we go again the next time he visited. (He also gave us a very generous gift to use toward our honeymoon!). He asks us about OTTO every time he plans a visit! — Stephanie M.

My wife and I were working very hard one humid summer evening painting the interior walls of the condo we just purchased on Washington Avenue so my son could live there for school. We had nothing left in us, no energy, no life. And we were famished…so we ordered from OTTO, which we heard great things about (but had never eaten). What a great gastronomic experience! Fresh, crisp, tasty, LITE (not chewy) pizza – what a reward for the hard work and sweat. We have since moved to Portland ourselves and have made OTTO our #1 pizza choice! — Ken S.

When I first moved to Maine my friend took me to OTTO and was like, “You have to try this mashed potato pizza.” I thought that sounded ridiculous until I tried a slice. I think I found Jesus in that moment. All my worries melted away amongst that delicious buttery potato and bacon goodness. I might name my first child Otto. — M C

OTTO X: Ten years! Ten towns! Celebrating a decade of OTTO!

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Chefs/owners Mike Keon and Anthony Allen invite you to join in celebrating 10 years of OTTO throughout the month of June.

All month long, and beyond, there will be will be no shortage of ways to celebrate — Keon and Allen want this to be a celebration of their customers and their employees — without which there would be no OTTO.

Since its humble beginnings as a tiny little slice shop on Portland, ME’s Congress Street, OTTO has grown to 13 location in 10 towns in Maine and Massachusetts.

10 YEAR HAPPENINGS

Lobster Masher: For the month of June, OTTO will introduce an extra special Pie of the Month—the “Lobster Masher.” A decadent mash-up (pun intended) of OTTO’s iconic Mashed Potato, Bacon and Scallion “Masher” pie, the “Lobster Masher” will be decadently garnished with fresh Maine lobster meat. The “Lobster Masher” will be priced to move (literally losing money as our way of saying thanks!) — $3.50 per slice, $14.50 for a small pie, and $22.75 for a large. All summer long, every OTTO pie will be served in a limited edition 10th anniversary pizza box.

The Lobster Masher (Mashed Potato, Bacon, Scallion and Fresh Maine Lobster)

OTTO X Ale: Rising Tide Brewing Company, a frequent OTTO collaborator over the years, has created a very special anniversary brew for the occasion. OTTO X, an IPA, will be served throughout June at all OTTO locations in Maine (and our Coolidge Corner, BU, and Arlington locations in MA).  OTTO X is a clean, crisp ale made with flaked rice, feat. Lemondrop, Mandarina and Columbus hops. Coming in at 5.6% ABV, this citrus-forward springtime brew features a nice lemon-oil and sweet orange character.

OTTO X: Anniversary Ale brewed in collaboration with Rising Tide Brewing

X Marks the Spot: On June 17th from 11:30-2pm, OTTO co-owners Mike Keon and Anthony Allen will be working the counter at OTTO’s original slice shop at 576 Congress St. in Portland — exactly where they were 10 years ago when they sold the very first OTTO slice.

Contests, Contests, Contests: In addition, fans should keep a sharp eye on OTTO’s Instagram (@ottoportland) for a series of prize pack giveaways – featuring sports and concert tickets, OTTO anniversary swag, brewery merch, gift cards, and much more.

Employee Parties: OTTO will be throwing 10th anniversary celebrations for employees only — one party in Maine on June 23, and one in Massachusetts on July 14. Restaurants will close at 7pm on these days, so that everyone in the OTTO family can join in the festivities.

THE OTTO STORY

OTTO is the brainchild of Anthony Allen and Mike Keon, who met each other over a decade ago as chefs at neighboring restaurants north of Boston. Allen had opened his first pizzeria on Nantucket at the age of seventeen, later opening a second location on Martha’s Vineyard. Keon came to cooking after working on fishing boats off the coast of Alaska. Their lasting friendship, complementary styles, and shared “less is more” culinary philosophy resulted in the opening of OTTO in downtown Portland, where Keon had been living and working. It was not long until OTTO was gaining regional and national attention for making some of the best pizza around.

“Mike and I are blown away by the fact that it’s been a decade,” says Allen. “Ten years and ten cities—I could never have dreamt it – well, maybe my 17-year-old self did back in-the-day on Nantucket when I opened my first pizza shop.”

“We are continuously working to make sure every pizza is perfect and every slice unforgettable,” says Keon. “Whether you grab a slice to go or eat in one of our full service dining rooms, every member of our team is motivated by this goal of consistently well-executed, uncomplicated food. Our staff has been absolutely monumental in our success – we are beyond grateful and would not be where we are today without them.”

ABOUT THE MENU & SPACES

OTTO is known for its “elevated” pizza approach, using high-quality ingredients – local when possible — and extremely creative toppings such as cranberries, butternut squash, spicy pulled pork, or (even) tortellini and seaweed. The 10th anniversary “Lobster Masher” is an extra special pie to celebrate the anniversary (OTTO features a unique, limited edition pie each month). OTTO is also one of the few places in New England that offers Detroit-Style pizza—featuring an extra thick crust and a crispy bottom.

Each OTTO pizzeria is unique, individually customized for both the physical space and the neighborhood in which it’s located. OTTO locations vary from slice shops to pick-up and delivery to full service dining room restaurants.