Pizza Powering Music Education

Music has fueled what we do since we opened the first OTTO in Portland’s Arts District in 2009.  We have employed, supported, and fed creative types for the past 14 years. We’ve hosted live music, sponsored live music events, and we personally program the music we play in our restaurants every day. Music is an essential ingredient for us.  We’ve seen first-hand how music can foster creative collaboration, encourage the exchange of ideas, and build community, and in 2023 we are committed to making an impact, at a time when music education funding is being reduced or eliminated. 

Maine Academy of Modern Music

Starting April 1, $1 from every Seasonal Special pizza sold in Maine and Massachusetts will be donated to local non-profit organizations working to make quality music education available to students. 

In Maine, $1 from every Seasonal Special pie sold will be donated to the Maine Academy of Modern Music, a nonprofit organization serving over 2000 students statewide – over 1600 of which access quality music programming at a free or reduced cost. Additionally, MAMM regularly provides music education programs to schools, civic organizations and other non-profit organizations throughout Maine. 

In Massachusetts, $1 from every Seasonal Special pie will go to Berklee’s City Music Boston, a nonprofit program that provides music education to 4th-12th graders in underserved communities in Greater Boston (and beyond).  

City Music Boston

OTTO’s Seasonal Specials rotate on a quarterly basis, often utilizing a creative mix of fresh, in-season toppings.  Many of these quarterly signature pizzas have become customer favorites over the years, eventually finding their way onto our year-round menu. Our current special is Asparagus, Prosciutto & Pesto, available through May 31, 2023, with a new special announced June 1. 

We are excited to kick off this partnership with MAMM and City Music Boston.  Next time you order one of our Seasonal Specials, know that you are helping to power music education, one pie at a time. 

Place your order today!
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Our NEW Yarmouth location is NOW OPEN

If you’ve driven on US-1 in Yarmouth, you’ve likely seen the sign. It’s kinda hard to miss.

After 6+ years at our Main St. location, we have closed the doors and re-opened just down the road at 305 US-1 (in the former Maine Coffee Roasters building).

Just a stone’s throw from Yarmouth High and North Yarmouth Academy, OTTO Yarmouth is now offering counter service, takeout, and delivery, with a dining room opening in the next few months (along with beer and wine!). And with dedicated parking, pickup orders are a breeze.

Customers will be pleased to know that our phone number, and our online ordering link will not change with this move, as these will follow us to our new home. Our delivery radius will also remain unchanged.

We look forward to seeing your smiling faces at 305 US-1 in Yarmouth.

OTTO Yarmouth is moving!

If you’ve driven on US-1 in Yarmouth, you’ve likely seen the sign. It’s kinda hard to miss.

After 6+ years at our Main St. location, we will be closing the doors and re-opening just down the road at 305 US-1 (the former Maine Coffee Roasters location).

Just a stone’s throw from Yarmouth High and North Yarmouth Academy, OTTO Yarmouth will be providing counter service, takeout, and delivery initially, with a dining room opening in the next few months (along with beer and wine!). On-site parking is also available.

Customers will be pleased to know that our phone number, and our online ordering link will not change with this move, as these will follow us to our new home. Our delivery radius will also remain unchanged.

As with any move, restaurant or otherwise, there are several moving parts, so we can’t yet share our final date for our Main Street location, or the opening date of the new US-1 location, we will be sharing more information as we get closer, and will continue to provide updates as we go!

Stay tuned! We look forward to seeing your smiling faces at 305 US-1 in Yarmouth.

BOGO gift cards make holiday shopping easy (and delicious)

BOGO Gift Cards at OTTO


OTTO gift cards are now BUY ONE, GET ONE free through January 7, 2022! For every $25 spent on OTTO gift cards, you will receive $5 on a bonus card!

Give them both away, or keep one (or both!) for yourself. It’s kinda putting pizza in the bank and earning interest!

To make your holiday shopping easier this year, we have made all gift cards available for purchase online. Customers may choose to have physical cards mailed or e-gift cards sent via email.

OTTO gift cards are perfect stocking-stuffers, and are great gifts for teachers, mail carriers, caregivers, or anyone who deserves a little something special during the holidays.

(Please note: Gift card ‘reloads’ are not eligible for BOGO)

Order online at www.ottoportland.com/shop or purchase at any OTTO location.

OTTO Beverly is NOW OPEN!

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our brand new Beverly MA location.

Located at 199 Rantoul Street, below Canvas Apartments, and just a block away from the Beverly Farmer’s Market and Veterans Memorial Park, OTTO Beverly serves by the slice or whole pie, with indoor and outdoor seating.

In addition to walk-up ordering, OTTO Beverly provides delivery service (with contact-free options) throughout Beverly, and into Salem.

Looking for takeout options? Customers may order ahead and skip the wait with Mobile Pickup by ordering through the OTTO Mobile App or online via ottoportland.com.

In keeping with OTTO’s ongoing support for regional charities and community organizations, OTTO Beverly will be participating in the Tips For Kids program, in which 100% of all tips will be donated to Beverly-area youth organizations.

Additionally, $1 from every Seasonal Special pizza sold will be donated to Cooking Matters, a MA-based organization helping connect low-income families with the tools and resources to prepare healthy food on a budget. 

OTTO is excited to be part of the Beverly community. We look forward to seeing new faces (and familiar ones too).

OTTO Partners with FEED KIDS and Cooking Matters to combat food insecurity

At OTTO, we strongly believe in investing in our communities, and are proud to support a variety of causes and local organizations. Since we opened our doors in 2009, we’ve worked with over 500 organizations – from hosting fundraisers, to sponsoring teams, and handing out pizza to 5k participants – giving back is an important part of what we do.

As OTTO continues to grow and expand into new communities, we are continuously redefining the ways in which we give back. It is important that we are intentional and impactful with our reach, and that we’re able to align our core values with our giving. As a restaurant, one issue that is extremely important to us is food insecurity. We believe that no child should ever go hungry, and that families, schools, and communities should have the tools and resources to combat food insecurity. We’ve recently partnered with organizations in Maine and Massachusetts which aim to do just that – end child hunger in our communities, and provide families with the resources to connect them to healthy and affordable food options. Starting March 1, OTTO will be donating $1 from every monthly special pizza sold to FEED KIDS in Maine, and to Cooking Matters in Massachusetts.

Full Plates, Full Potential – FEED Kids

Full Plates, Full Potential is an organization dedicated to ending child hunger in Maine. “[Their] work focuses on increasing participation in school breakfast, after school meals, and summer meal programs.” We are proud to say that we are now one of their FEED KIDS Partners, and will be donating $1 of every monthly special pizza sold in Maine to Full Plates, Full Potential.

Cooking Matters MA

Cooking Matters is a campaign developed by Share Our Strength; a nonprofit that aims to end poverty and hunger. More specifically, Cooking Matters aims to end childhood hunger by “inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices. [Their] programs teach parents and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals.” Cooking Matters helps connect low-income families with the tools and resources to prepare healthy food on a budget. OTTO will donate $1 of every monthly special pizza sold in Massachusetts to Cooking Matters.

Follow us to learn more about how we will be working with these two organizations to help end child hunger in our communities.

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

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

Hello, Saco! OTTO opening full-service location adjacent to Cinemagic IMAX!

Untitled-1The rumors are true. OTTO will be opening its 7th Maine location this June on Route 1 in Saco, adjacent to the Cinemagic IMAX theater and across the street from Funtown Splashtown.

The 80-seat location at 779 Portland Road will feature all the OTTO bells and whistles, and then some:

  • Quick-serve slice counter
  • Full-service dining room
  • Full bar (with 12-20 taps of regional craft beer)
  • Takeout counter
  • Outdoor patio seating

We are thrilled to become part of the neighborhood, and we have been humbled by an abundance of well-wishes and welcomes from Saco residents, businesses, employees and organizations. We can’t express how excited we are.

To stay up to date on our progress, opening dates, events, and more, please like our OTTO Saco Facebook page.  For employment opportunities, please visit our careers page.

See you this summer, Saco!

OTTO featured in ‘Crusts: The Ultimate Baker’s Book’

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OTTO founders Anthony Allen and Mike Keon are featured in Crusts, a brand new, 848-page baking book from Cider Mill Press.

Crusts: The Ultimate Baker’s Book features over 300 recipes from expert bakers around the world, covering breads, croissants, pizzas, pies, and more. The publisher describes the cookbook as “the ultimate resource for every level chef, and is a keystone addition to your cookbook library.”

Written by Barbara Elisi Caracciolo, owner of Spigamadre bakery in Sweden and blogger behind Bread and Companatico, Crusts runs the gamut, featuring: gluten-free, Paleo, vegetarian, and vegan recipes; complete how-to sections on making your own dough, bread, and pizzas with easy-to-follow instructions; helpful tips and techniques from expert bakers and chefs; culinary histories behind your favorite loaves and pastries; an illustrated catalog of more than 100 grains from around the world and throughout time, and much more.

IMG_7097The book features a profile on OTTO, an interview with owners Mike and Anthony, and the recipe for OTTO’s signature ‘Masher’ pie (Mashed Potato, Bacon & Scallion), which has been named one of the best pizzas in America by The Food Network.

It’s an elegant and informative book, packed with a wealth of insight and inspiration. Pick it up at your local independent bookstore, directly from the publisher, or anywhere books are sold.

Celebrate OTTO’s 8th birthday with 8 throwback pies throughout June!

On June 18, OTTO turns 8! To celebrate, we will be bringing back 8 classic OTTO pies for a limited time throughout the month of June!  Each week, we will be featuring 2 throwbacks, including fan faves like our Zucchini, Spinach & Summer Squash pie, and our Apple, Bacon & Red Onion.

Each Friday at 5pm, two pies will be available for 7 days. Check out the schedule below and mark your calendars!

18893282_1706999769311946_2863031500396257067_nThrowbacks will be available at all OTTO locations.

We have lots of other good stuff planned for June, including a very special birthday beer collaboration with Rising Tide. We’ll soon be pouring OCTO, which is a potato IPA (!!!) using Maine potatoes, as well as Nugget and Cascade hops from The Hop Yard!

Stay tuned!