Bar OTTO comes across in reviews as a lively yet intimate spot with standout cocktails and a sushi and sashimi program that many describe as fresh, inventive and beautifully presented. The ambience and service are repeatedly praised, with guests noting attentive, friendly staff, a welcoming bar area, and a warm vibe that suits dates, celebrations or casual nights with friends. The menu is praised for variety and quality, including daikon and burrata, crab bao, cod cheek skewers, wagyu and toro, a ramen with duck leg and truffle oil, and a yuzu cheesecake for dessert, with many savoring the tasting menu and strong wine or sake pairings. While some express that portions can be small for the price and a few service hiccups occur, the overall consensus highlights consistent excellence in food and atmosphere, a willingness to return for omakase or seasonal changes, and Bar OTTO as one of the city’s notable Japanese inspired options.
UPDATE to the below review: The restaurant took the time to personally contact my family to try & rectify this issue. They offered to try & right this wrong. As my husband & I had left Montreal, the restaurant invited my son to bring his girlfriend back for a redo. The manager personally waited on them & served them a lovely meal on the house. Thank you to the management of this restaurant for taking the time to read my review & address this issue with my family & internally with their waiter.
I don't write this review lightly. The food was top notch. However, if it were possible to give service a negative star, I would. I dined this evening as a family of five. We ordered two appetizers, several sushi entrees & a couple of warm entrees all to be served family style. The appetizers were served together. A little while later the sushi entrees & 1 hot entree were served all family style. I asked the waiter about the last entree (a black cod) & he said it would be brought over when there was room the table. The table was cleared of all of the main dishes & the final entree had not been brought out. I politely reminded the waiter & he said they were bringing it out. After a significant time passed, the family was frustrated by the fact that all entrees had been served other than the cod & requested the waiter to cancel the dish & get us the check. The waiter said he didn't know if he could cancel the fish. We simply wanted the check & wanted to leave. He brought us the check & said the cod would be right out. I reiterated that we no longer wanted the dish. He took the cod off of the check & proceeded to berate me & try to give me advice on how to be a restaurant patron, advising me in the future that I should tell the server if I was under a time constraint. I proceeded to tell him it wasn't about the time constraint, it was about proper service of food to a family, not serving all entres at once & leaving one out to be served when they felt like it. I have never been treated so rudely by a waiter in my life. Regardless of the freshness & quality of the food, I would never return to this restaurant. For this price, the service should be good. Not only was the service not good, I would have had better service at a fast food chain. Shame on this restaurant for allowing its server to treat its patrons this way. I left this meal with my blood pressure sky rocketing & frustrated by this horrendous experience. I truly hope the manager/owner of this restaurant reads this review & considers who they are employing.
We had the karaage & the chirashi here, along with drinks. The karaage was lovely, & for the price, the chirashi had a good amount of sashimi on top of a bed of rice. The only thing I'd complain about is the strong garlicky taste of the fish in the chirashi. There isn't supposed to be a garlic taste in chirashi whatsoever - I'm assuming it was to mask the fishy taste or possibly smell? But I'd prefer lemon or something else, not garlic, as it was a bit overpowering. Otherwise, the server was lovely & attentive & we got everything we needed.
Sep 25, 2025
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My experience at Bar Otto was fabulous. Incredibly fresh ingredients & the service was phenomenal. I found the price to ratio for the Wagyu & Toro not fabulous compared to say Nozy but overall still incredibly tasty. The soft shell crab Bao & the salmon Oshizushi were clear winners. The duck Mazemen was bland.
I came here with friends with expectations. We had a nice bottle of red wine & shared on some food. The soft shell Bao was awesome!! I'd thought the price was expensive for the little amount of food you get. So price to food portion is off. Overall, good atmosphere to have good conversations with friends.
A solid choice, have gone twice separated by a few months. Food is pretty good, service is good, ambience is okay. Have a good time until I see the bill, & then I'm immediately disappointed because other restaurants in this price range are just a lot better.
Really good food (Japanese/Asian/a bit of Western fusion food)! I love it so much. The sashimi was fresh & delicious (only one kind of fish was okay). We ordered five different dishes, & they were all well-made, fresh, & tasty. The servers were super friendly. However, the price was quite high. I feel the presentation of Nirigi can still be improved. But will be back again!
Aug 24, 2024
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**⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | A Tasty Experience at Bar Otto** **Customer Service: 5/5** From the moment we walked in, the staff was friendly & attentive. They made sure we felt welcomed & taken care of throughout our meal. **Ambiance: 4/5** Bar Otto's decor is cozy & inviting. It has a pleasant atmosphere, perfect for a casual meal or a special occasion. The only downside was that it got a bit noisy during peak hours. **Food Quality: 4/5** The menu has a great variety, & the food is delicious. Everything we tried was fresh & well-prepared. While most dishes met our expectations, a couple of them could use a bit more seasoning. **Value for Money: 3/5** The prices are on the higher side, but the quality of the food & service justifies it. It's a good choice for a treat or special night out. **Overall Experience: 4/5** If you're looking for a reliable dining spot, Bar Otto is worth a visit. They offer good food, friendly service, & a comfortable ambiance that makes for an enjoyable meal.
We tried an assortment of things, the Bao buns were my favourite & the dumplings were my friends favourite. I'd go back just for the boa buns. The nigiri assorted plate was amazing, the next best thing to being back in Japan. The cod cheeks were just okay, I liked how they were prepared though, never tried cod cheeks before but it was likely the best possible presentation & combination of flavors, nice & light tasting. The miso old fashioned was OUT of this world! Best cocktail ever, I had to order two. Parked at Atwater market, short walk. Service was next level, super impressed, wiped down the table between each service, super friendly. They refilled our water even though the bottle was left on the table. Hard to come by good service like this. For the price point this stood out to me. Easy to get a table at 630 on Friday, place was packed by 730. Thank you for a memorable evening ❤️
Extraordinarily small portions of adequately prepared mains & starters, at a price that screams "our rent is too high", served in a pleasantly decorated locale. Bring a phone to text others at your table as the sound levels tend reach a volume where voice conversation impossible. Strongly suggest that you skip the desserts, unless you are a fan of poorly prepared desserts void of any imagination. You can do a lot better than Otto. I am dubious of other reviews as most of the clients seemed to be there to pose with their food for Insta selfies. I suspect most may have never tried the food ordered after photographed.
Apr 4, 2024
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Bar Otto on Notre-Dame West stands out as one of my favourite dining spots in the city. The commendable price-value ratio pairs well with the exceptional quality of their fish & meat offerings. The staff's casual & welcoming demeanour adds a friendly touch to the dining experience, making it an ideal choice for a laid-back date night. A definite highlight is the chirashi plate, a fantastic option for fish enthusiasts. Complementing the culinary delights, Bar Otto boasts an impressive selection of natural wines, further enhancing the overall dining experience. Whether you choose to indulge in a dine-in experience to immerse yourself fully in the inviting ambiance or opt for the convenient take-out option, Bar Otto consistently delivers top-notch quality. Highly recommended for those seeking a memorable culinary adventure in Montreal.
