OTTO'S SEA GRILL, An Atmosphere for all. Fine dining, casual dining, or party!!
Written: Sep 29 '03 (Updated Jun 07 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
|
|
| Quality of Service: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Great outside fun atmosphere
Cons: Service isn't always consistent.
The Bottom Line: Otto's can give you an atmosphere of fine dining, casual dining or a great party. It's your choice, Just pick where you want to sit, stand or dance.
|
|
|
| popsrocks's Full Review: Otto's Sea Grill |
This is the first in a series of reviews I hope to do on the Freeport's Nautical Mile restaurants. I chose Otto's for a couple of reasons. First it is probably one of the oldest. It was opened in 1929 and the second and third generations of Otto's family still run it.
I also chose it because it is one restaurant that I have been going to over the last thirty years of my married life.
THE INSIDE for QUIET FINE DINING
My wife and I would come down and dine in their indoor dining room. Over the years we had mixed results. It was mostly hit and miss with the help. The fare they served has been a fairly consistent good. I have better news to tell in a bit.
The dining area of today is still much as it is was years, though it has been refurbished on occasion. The square tables for four have red table clothes with white ever changing cloth over it. The dining room is comfortable and not all that noisy. Some of the tables directly overlook the canal. I always liked the window tables. Otto's also has a fine looking bar inside.
There are white coloured dividers that are set up when the rooms are divided for catering. They do luncheons, buffet's and full diners with a good assortment of choices for large and small groups.
During the week tables are readily available except for peak evening hours. You may have a short wait then. This part of the restaurant is open during the cooler weather when the outside has to close down. The menu is excellent and diverse. I'll tell you more about it later.
For the most part it seems that the quieter crowd goes inside for a nice comfortable and quiet dining experience.
THE OUTSIDE BAR AREA
OK, the quiet dining inside is definitely in high contrast to what is happening most summer nights. The outside bar is hopping. Actually there are two outside bars. Friday afternoons is when many local teachers come down and have a couple of drinks to break the mood of a hard week of teaching hundreds of kids. My wife is one of those afternoon party people. There are plenty of others having a good time too.
The teachers may be there but so will the biker crowd. These are what I think of as the casual hard cores. Many have their regular jobs during the day and then go out for a little release most nights or at least for the weekend. Ha, I have a couple of cousins from out east who make treks on their bikes down to Otto's on occasion. The atmosphere is a lot of fun. Nothing threatening. Just a lot of leather drinking beers and having laughs.
Rows of bright shiny Harley's and other bikes are set up in perfect rows across the street from the bar in the Otto's parking lot.
Most late spring, summer, and early fall nights have live music. Most are cover bands doing popular sixties seventies and contemporary rock.
The rustic outside atmosphere is terrific with the music. They have had one guy, a big guy like me, actually even bigger, who plays the guitar and sings. He's the best. He also has a band that plays some nights.
Depending on who's playing you get some dancing and many sing-a-longs. This ain't a little piano bar singer. On occasion it's half the place with drinks in hand singin out and loud. Just last week my wife and I had a good time over a couple of beers singing along and doing some major people watching.
Otto's has specials too. Sunday and Mondays during football season they may have special beer prices and wings at 10 cents each. There is always something going on.
I almost forgot. Out by the street side of the outdoor bars is a clam bar. A little building houses the area where the clam shuckers do their work. You can get them to go on the street or sit at the bar street side and enjoy. They will set you up with all the spices and other needs.
Otto's has a good selection of tap and bottled beers both domestic and imported. I'm easy, a Sam Adam's or a Killian's and I'm a happy guy. My wife happens to be a Corona gal with her slice of lime.
The bars also have frosted drinks. Mai-Tai, Planters Punch, Daiquiri's, Pina Colada, and Margaritas are great on that hot muggy day.
For dining they also have some pretty basic wines. They do have a couple of better wines. No real fine wines here.
CASUAL OUTSIDE DINING
Many others come down for very casual dining out on the deck overlooking the canal. This is a rustic feel with perhaps seating for seventy five to one hundred guests on wooden tables. The mood is very relaxed and so is the dress. As long as you have a shirt on your back and shoes on your feet, you are in. I suppose some kind of pants or shorts would be a good idea too. Some of the tables are close to the band if you want to be nearby the sounds. Most are a little removed from the action, overlooking the canal, but never totally from the music. It's not loud, yet it's nice to hear some good music.
Over the years my wife and I have moved from the inside quieter, finer dining to the outside relaxed or partying set depending on our mood or who we are with. Otto's is a great place to go as a couple, with other couples or a large group.
I really like the choices that can be made in one place.
The service at Otto's is still a bit spotty. We took a buddy of mine who came in from England there this last year. It was a slow early spring day. We were virtually ignored. The help would come took a bar order and then disappeared, came back with the drinks, said she'll return soon for our order and just didn't come back. I sent my wife and my buddy next door to Rachel's Waterside Grill. I have some great things to say about them in the future. I moved from the table to the outside bar with my drink. It was at least ten minutes before the gal even realized we left the table. I paid the bar tab and met them next door. It seems that when Otto's is busy, everyone is on their toes, otherwise.....
We were at Otto's again just last night. 8/05/04. The service was terrific. A kid by the name of Donnie did a great job taking our orders and serving us.
THE ATMOSPHERE OUTSIDE OTTO'S
Honestly, ever since they have rebuilt the Nautical Mile we just love going down there as often as we can. About three or four years ago the village with some funds made some major improvements. They raised the streets so they would nor flood every high tide. All the unsightly overhead electric lines were buried. Brick side walks, old fashioned lights, and more parking was made available. On busy nights you may have still have to search out a spot, but it's always doable. Other changes were made too. An Esplanade was put up, more public mooring space for day trippers, and an overlook at the end of the canal is a great place to take a walk to and get some great views of the bays.
The addition of the casino boats, more fine restaurants, more pleasure party boats that do sunset cruises and the like and many new shopping opportunities have made the area a "place to be". A miniature golf course is now nearby too.
THE MENU
As noted, the biggest reason we go down to Otto's is for the atmosphere. It really is fun. But guess what Otto's also has a menu and a very complete one at that.
This is seafood fare. I wouldn't call it culinary excellence. It's good seafood and even a bit more. They have improved their menu over the years. Ha, with the popularity of the place and the canal the prices have gone up a bit too but you can have some burgers for a few bucks or spend a good amount on a nice sized lobster. The choice is yours.
Appetizers
Some pretty regular stuff here. Giant shrimps and cocktail sauce are $7.95. Try the coconut shrimp, it's great at $9.95. Other offerings are Otto's onion Urchin which was pretty poor and the dip was worse. I have to say that my 21 year old daughter likes it. Stuffed celery, with Blue cheese, fried mozzerella sticks, wings, Maryland crab cakes, veggie platter with dip and chicken tenders are also on the menu. Most are in the 8-9 dollar range.
Soups
Manhattan, and New England chowders are offered along with the Otto's staple of French onion soup. I remember having that thirty years ago! The chowders are served in cups or bowls $3 and $4.
Clam Bar
I mentioned the outside clam bar earlier. Of course you can have any of it at your table , inside or out. They have a hot clam sampler of six clams for ten bucks. Raw Bar combos are on the menu and all other kinds of shell items. Try baked clams, clams casino, clams on the half shell, steamers, mussels, mussels marinara, and of course oysters. Many many years ago Freeport was known for its Oyster beds. Sadly they are now gone.
I happen to love fried calamari. I had it at Otto's a few weeks ago. It was the best I have had in years. You have to be careful with the stuff. It's easy to overcook it and then it's just too chewy. They did it perfectly in a light batter with the hot sauce, I prefer, on the side. I just had the same dish again last night. It was over linguini. The calamari was once again cooked to perfection and the sauce was good.
Salads
They have most of the regulars. Shrimp, Seafood, lettuce and tomato with onion, Caesar, grilled chicken and grilled shrimp Caesar salads are all available.
Outside you can have sandwiches and burgers. All are pretty good.
Entrees
Most entrees come with a basket of so, so tasting rolls and butter a choice of green salad or cole slaw, rice, baked, French or veggie.
Most of the fish meals are $18.00 -$23.00. The Calamari is $15.00 and clam strips $14.00.
The Swordfish is excellent. Also available are flounder, salmon, shrimp scampi, fried butterfly shrimp, sole Florentine with spinach, and other choices. Nothing is all that very special but all is very good. There are no inspirational dishes here. Just good ol' fish fare.
Well for the those who like their meat they use Black Angus for their 18 oz porterhouse at $30.00 and the 10 oz Fillet Mignon at $24.00. Baby back ribs are $21.00 and chicken breast is $18.00 as is the chicken cordonblue.
Specials
For the most part this means high prices. Whole lobster are at market price as are king crab legs and soft shell crabs. They charge a jumbo $47.00 for stuffed jumbo lobster tail. Just jumbo, not stuffed is $43.00. Twin tails $40.00 and just a single regular stuffed lobster tail is $37.00
Kids Menu
This place is terrific for the family earlier in the day on a weekend and most times during the week. The twelve and under crowd has about seven choices some of which are hamburger, fried shrimp, chicken tenders, and fried fillet of sole. These are priced at $7 and $8.
Dessert
I have yet to have a dessert at Otto's. My wife and I often after dinner, walk the canal and get a Ralphs Italian Ices or go to Ro's for some Hershey ice cream. There is another place that we used to go to for dessert. It's called Cafe by the Sea. It was once wonderful. It has gone through a couple of hands in the last year or so. We will have to try them again soon.
Some day I will have to try one of Otto's Tiramisu, Raspberry Bombs, or Chocolate Mousse Cakes. They also have homemade cherry cheese cake, key lime pie, and peach or strawberry Melba. The deserts are a reasonable $4.50 - $5.00
Coffee, espresso, and cappuccino can finish things off if you like.
Once again, Otto's is the place I like to go to just relax and unwind. There are other places on the canal that have some really inspired dishes. They will be reviewed here soon. I must go out to them again. All in the name of research! Otto's food is good and atmosphere is terrific.
also on the Nautical mile
Freeport's Nautical Mile A great destination with dozens of fine restaurants. Read about them here.
The Crab Shack
Cafe By the Sea Good menu, great desserts, and fun entertainment!
RACHEL'S Waterside Grill Fine Fare on the canal
Bracco's Clam and Oyster Bar
Water Lilly's Waterside Cafe
Pier 95 A very fine Portuguese-Mediterranean Restaurant on the Hudson Canal just minutes from the Nautical Mile
Montana's pizzeria and restaurant Good Italian food near Nautical Mile
Ralph's Famous Italian IcesThey are on Freeport's Nautical Mile and elsewhere across the Island
Freeport's, South Street Seaport Annex A quaint, interesting maritime museum.
OUTBACK Restaurant Good fare in Merrick Long Island
The White Castle Lynbrook
Wendy's East Meadow
Cheesecake FactoryWestbury
Jones Beach State ParkOur treasure, just five minutes from home
Montauk Point State Park and Lighthouse History, Fishing, Scenery, and quiet hikes.
Montauk Downs State Park Creature comforts and games
Camp Hero State Park A military base with secrets!
Hither Hills State Park Camping on the beach
Fire Island National Seashore and Lighthouse
Robert Moses State Park
Captree State Park Have fun fishing from party boats
Sagamore Hill Teddy Roosevelt's Summer White House
Wyndham Watch, LI Fine hotel, poor service
Marriott Hotel LI Great Location
Sheraton Hotel,LI Recommended
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations During the Summer come on down any night. The crowd is mixed and a lot of fun. They have some great live music too!
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.