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Not only are the people who work there unusually friendly and knowledgable, the pastries, soups and empanadas are fantastic. I especially like the mini-soup/empanada or soup/sandwich lunch special..Serious bang for the buck- and it feels a little bit like one of those treasures that only a few know about. I LOVE the cucumber/dill yogurt soup and a lemonade for lunch on a hot day. If you need a little something sweet after, you really can’t go wrong with any of the delicious cookies or cakes. The only tiny negative is that the empanadas get heated up in the microwave..They are much better if you get one to go and heat it up in your oven. Great little neighborhood spot.

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This is my favorite ‘healthy’ pizza place. They deliver so fast it makes you wonder if someone else called your order in before you did it yourself. I swear. It seems like my buzzer buzzes the second I hang up my phone to place an order. Try the clam pizza. Try the artichoke/chicken one. Try them all, they are fantabulous.
Oh, and the woman who answers the phone is so very pleasant which makes it even better.

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Tastes good, but it’s ridiculously overpriced for what it is…I had two slices and a small salad delivered, and including a tip, it came out to $19.00!!! Crazy, huh? Try Pintailes instead..Better pizza, still healthy and not greasy, better toppings, better salads and a much more reasonable price. They also are faster deliverers…It always seems like as soon as I hang up the phone, they buzz me with my dinner. Yum.

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The brunch here is excellent. If you come with a big appetite, you can definately get your money’s worth with the unlimited salad barrel. It’s not your typical salad bar at all. A huge array of all different salads, wings and other pretty things. Otherwise, it’s kinda overpriced. I had a great omelette with homefries and my friend had eggs benedict. We both had coffee and fresh juice (strawberry/orange!). They DO give you a lovely bread basket with delicious jam. The total was about $50 including a tip…kinda pricey for brunch in a very bare-bones factory setting. They were very patient though, and even though they were attentive with coffee and plate-clearing, they didn’t rush us at all and we stayed and chatted for almost an hour after we finished eating.

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The people who work here are so lovely and pleasant and I adore the whole experience of purchasing bread and cookies from them. The owners recently sold to someone new and I worried that the quality would change, but I am very happy to say, the only changes I’ve noticed are actually improvements!
Yum Yum Yummy stuff!

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When you walk into this place you are transported back into a place when people were ALL friendly. Customers seem to temporarily lose any attitude AND the people who work there are so warm and down to earth. The delicious cookies/cakes/ pastries reflect that spirit and are the best comfort food I have found so far. I CAN’T wait until this Thursday when they officially start baking rainbow and leaf cookies again. They don’t make them when it’s too warm out because the chocolate doesn’t behave. Try this place and fall in love with it.

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Want a huge array of food for $25? Go to Pio Pio. Very tasty things to eat and super speedy service (as a reward for waiting out in the cold perhaps).
Come hungry with a hungry pal and get the Matador special and splurge on the sangria. Just make sure to bundle up enough that waiting outside isn’t unpleasant. Great dinner and drinks for two (could really feed 3) with tip total about $40- very reasonable and
It’s well worth it.

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The pastry basket is not to be missed. Very good service, except that we weren’t allowed to order dessert because our waiter felt we’d had too much sugar. I think he was just kidding, but I’m really not sure. He was right though- we were all close to bursting after our entrees. Yummy bloody marys too- but very spicy.

Follow up:
Recently read a review of their seasonal outdoor ice cream cart and think I better head back asap to check it out. Who wants to come with me?

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Went for a prix fix restaurant week dinner last night. I was meeting 2 others who called to say they were going to be 20 minutes late, but the hostess happily sat me at our table anyway- which was a pleasant surprise. I had a very girlie, but very strong cocktail as I waited, and was checked on (but not in an annoying way) a couple of times by the waitstaff. The menu was unusual and appealing and I tried things I wouldn’t normally order…I figure, during restaurant week it’s the perfect time to branch out a bit. All 3 of us loved our apps, entree, dessert and the delicious flat bread and olives they kept bringing. The service was gracious, knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. The atmosphere, while a little loud, was open and airy and very tasteful. Looks like a fun place to come with a slightly larger party so that you can share lots of apps and grilled whole fish. I’ll come back someday…After I finish trying the other 50,000 restaurants in this amazing city.

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I LOVE Otto’s. I’ve been ordering in and dining here for about a year now and have never been less than thrilled about my bang-for-the buck. Delivery is super fast..Food is plentiful, fresh and delicioso. My favorite part of the delivery experience is that when you call and ask to hear the specials, you think you aren’t understanding one word of what the heavily-accented waiter is saying..But lo and behold, he finishes speaking (warpspeed fast) and you realize that you actually understood everything he said. Yes, I WILL have the garlic bread, Yes! I would like to hear about the desserts. Thanks Mr. nice thick accent man. You are the best. Try the rigotoni with chicken and artichokes and ask them to add fresh mozzerella. YUM. Or, if you are feeling iron depleted, try the awesome sliced steak sandwich.

Update March 2011: I DO still love Otto’s cafe…but I thought I’d add how much I love their butcher shop down the street a bit on 82nd and York ave. They make AMAZING sandwiches. I particularly love the smashed meatball, the chicken cutlets and the italians- usually on a roll or a baguette. I frequently grab a chopped salad and 1/4lb of tuna or chicken salad for a picnic near the river. Aside from that, it’s the best place to buy any kind of meat in the area, not to mention their frozen pastas. It has a wonderful old-world family-run feel to it and the people who work there are warm and helpful. There is often sawdust on the floor which I find particularly charming. Go check it out!