Dry ice, disappearing fairy floss and even gravity-defying noodles, Melburnians have seen every theatrical food novelty there is. Now, there’s a new cafe in town from the alumni of White Mojo, Kitty Burns and The Guilty Moose that’s putting all that aside to focus on what’s truly important – genuinely good food with a hint of originality, made with fresh, interesting ingredients and served with a dose of warm hospitality, not pretentiousness.
Introducing OTTO Fine Food & Specialty Coffee! Brought to you by Melbourne hospitality experts, Alger Liu, Allen Goh and Jason Pribadi, collectively from Grossi Florentino, White Mojo, Kitty Burns and The Guilty Moose, the venue’s name is derived from an acronym of the phrase ‘Ode to the Original’. This mantra refers to the trio’s approach to both food and business; Of being pioneers with original ideas and a fresh attitude, using tried and tested methods and processes to bring intriguing results that combine the expected and the unexpected, the familiar and the ambitious, without resorting to flamboyant ploys.
This philosophy can be found in their distinctive menu, which incorporates unique ingredients with a Japanese focus such as freeze-dried truffles, funori (purple seaweed), tangerine pearls, whipped maple syrup and slow cooked duck egg yolk – all rarely seen on Melbourne’s food scene. Their signature dish, Exotic Mushrooms with Egg Custard, is the epitome of OTTO’s ingenuity. The inspiration for the dish comes from crème brûlée, however instead of a sweet dish, the team have created a savoury brûlée that is served with a fricassee of King Oyster, Shimeiji, Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms and a touch of black garlic and truffle to create an indulgent dish with a rich yet balanced flavour. If you prefer something a little more sinful, the luxurious Hotcakes with slow-cooked apple, blueberry gel, hob nob, butterscotch sauce, caramelised grains and mascarpone will hit the spot.
OTTO’s dedication to pioneering an approach to hospitality that values quality over trends is also abundantly clear in their choice of both coffee supplier and coffee machine. OTTO proudly serves Padre Coffee’s Daddy’s Girl blend, a smooth, chocolatey espresso with a consistent quality. As for their coffee machine, you won’t find any quite like it in Melbourne because OTTO’s Slayer Espresso Steam LP is the first of its kind to be used in the city. A beautiful piece of equipment that combines an artisanal approach to crafting espresso with high volume commercial needs, this model was chosen as it improves bar flow whilst aiding the barista in eliminating many variables to ensure consistency in the quality of espresso shots.
With their unique vision and commitment to originality, the team at OTTO hopes to return to the essence of what makes Melbourne’s cafe culture great: honest, down-to-earth food that is free from attention-seeking stunts, quality coffee and genuine hospitality. With all this in the bag, OTTO is sure to become a leading venue on Melbourne’s food scene bringing a new, original experiences to foodies from near and far, where the food on the plate is allowed to speak for itself.
OTTO is located at 3/189 Bridge Road, Richmond.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 7am – 4pm
Sunday: 8am – 4pm
Public holidays: 8am – 4pm
