Well you oughta...

When corny and cheesy are good things...

Otto has been on my list of places to visit since moving into Notting Hill. A year and a smidge on, I finally made it. Twice in one week. (well that's given away the ending to the story!)

Otto is a pizza place. Not just any normal pizza place mind you... it's a cornmeal (read: polenta) pizza crust pizza place. Those close to my heart know my love of corn. It wasn't too hard to win me over on this one.

The menu offers a couple of the more usual pizza flavours but the remaining are unique and inventive. Nothing too crazy mind you but unique ingredients you wouldn't usually associate. Additionally, there are changing 'specials' on the board to add to the already tough decision. (the Brooklyn Chicken is already a firm favourite...)

Admittedly this place isn't cheap but it's not your local Dominoes or pizza/kebab/fish & chips/burgers all in one joint. You're looking at just under £5 a slice (flavours are sold per slice) but with a normal appetite you'd only need 2 slices max. Add a milkshake or float and you'll be rolling out the door holding your belly! (The Eton Mess milkshake is a summer special so get in there before it's gone. You won't regret it!)

I may be deluding myself (highly likely) but I came away feeling like I had eaten a healthier alternative to your usual slice. The cornmeal is filling (with it's own unique taste) but doesn't leave that heavy lump in your belly. Additionally, the ingredients are clearly of high quality and with each slice made to order (the wait is worth it) you know you've got a good deal.

The style of the place is American and the vibe casual. Posters of famous books adorn the walls and seating are reminiscent of school days. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and yes, actually helpful! Would we go back? I've already answered that one...

You really oughta try it for yourself...


--------------------------------
Otto can be found at:
6 Chepstow Road,
Notting Hill W2 5BH
T: 0207 792 4088

E: feedback@ottopizza.co.uk


Opening hours:
Mon - Fri: 12noon - 3pm and 5:30pm - 11pm 

Sat: 12noon - 11pm
Sun: 12pm - 10pm

More than just potatoes...

Cocktails and Steaks go underground...

Beneath the streets of Soho is a cavernous room serving steak. Nothing dodgy, it's MASH (acronym for 'Modern American Steak House') a rather indulgent Danish owned restaurant. 

As someone who takes great pleasure in getting a good deal, MASH probably isn't a place I'd frequent due to it's indulgent nature and top shelf prices. Especially if not for a special occasion. Faced with a good deal, a table was quickly booked.

Entering the venue, you're faced with a cloak room and spiral staircase to floors below. What opens up before you on the main restaurant floor will leave you with your mouth agape. The place is huge and simply put, fancy. With the vibe of a decadent 1920's restaurant, booths and tables roll out before you while a wall of (one can only presume) fancy wine bottles are displayed against one side. A midst it all, 2 glass cases show off the dry aired Danish steaks available on the menu.

On a Monday evening, the place wasn't exactly buzzing but it still surprisingly had quite a few diners. There's not much of an atmosphere with the place being on the quieter side but it's a place for special occasions and work dinners when someone else is picking up the bill. You can only imagine the number of suits and well-off scattered around us making us feel slightly like we didn't quite fit in but hey... we still enjoyed ourselves!

The service in this place is impeccable and for once I didn't grumble about the 12.5% discretionary service charge! With 2 cocktails, 2 steaks, 2 sides and 2 sauces and a coffee our total bill came to over £80 and even with the 50% off steaks made my eye twitch a little.

Cocktails were certainly tasty and well executed (bloody axe on the American Psycho!). Steaks were well sized, tasty and cooked as desired. A complaint in many reviews is that the sides veer strongly towards the salty. As a lover of salt, even I would have to agree but saying that, it's still edible and we didn't send it back to the kitchen so it mustn't have been too bad. By the end of our meal we were far too full to even think about desserts but there's certainly a couple on there I'd like to try sometime...

Would we come back? Based on the food, surrounds and service then hell yes! BUT, MASH isn't the kindest on the purse strings (the envelope the bill comes in says it all!) so take advantage of their 50% off steaks in July deal. (except Fridays and Saturdays)  If you miss out on the deal, maybe save it for a special occasion to visit rather than a casual Monday night dinner... ahem.

--------------------------------------------------

MASH can be found at:

77 Brewer Street

London W1F 9ZN

T: 0207 734 2608

E: info @mashsteak.co.uk

Opening Hours:

Lunch

Mon - Sat: 12noon - 3pm

Dinner:

Mon - Sun: 5:30pm - 11:30pm