Ototo Sushi
(206) 691-3838
7 Boston St
Seattle,
WA
98109
47.6383
-122.3567
Neighborhoods: East Queen Anne, Magnolia / Queen Anne
Hours:
Sun-Thu 5pm-10:30pm
Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Price:
$$
Parking:
Street
Last updated 1.30.09
What People Are Saying About Ototo Sushi
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
This is not a cozy, snuggle-up kind of place, and it certainly doesn't blend into Queen Anne's otherwise low-profile restaurant row. It's clean, bright and starkly decorated; the outdoor chairs are an almost Day-Glo shade of red. But welcoming and attentive service, as well as a few sips of sake, provide sufficient warmth.
The Food
Presentation is lovely, doing the bright, fresh sashimi justice--the soft, silken amoebi (sweet raw shrimp) and delicate hotate (scallop) stand out. The spicy tuna roll is one of the best in the city, but also the simple Negitoro (fatty tuna with green onion) is equally impressive. The lobster roll, when it's on the menu, is fine, but not worth the extra money. Among the entrees, the miso-marinated salmon is excellent, as is the monkfish in sweet mango sauce. Desserts are tempting, especially the large chocolate calzone, but can be overkill after such a delicate dinner.
User Reviews
Yinzerjagoffs
June 27, 2009
I lived in Japan for 3 years. I have had sushi at Shiro’s and Saito’s which are widely believed to be the best in Seattle. I just don’t think that they are worth the money. I spend $100.00 at Shiro’s for dinner. At Ototo we only spend about $50-60. and I can tell you, Ototo is just as good or better. It is very hard to find really good sushi in the States. They all use American grown rice because Japanese rice is so expensive that they would have to charge you $15 for a roll! It is impossible to get the “real thing” without Japanese rice. That said making good sushi rice is an art. It takes years and years to learn how to do it properly and consistently. Hutch-san, the main sushi chef, is a master. His rice is never cold. He gets great salmon from somewhere! His otoro is bangin’ and his negitoro is usually made fresh on request. His side man Takashi does great work on the rolls too. They offer a variety of non-traditional rolls that you can find at most American sushi restaurants, but we stick with the traditional old school stuff. The food from the menu is ok, but not our favorite. The tempura is good. The gyoza is frozen and I don’t recommend it. The udon broth was very weak when we tried it. We never ever sit anywhere but the counter. I suggest you do the same. Enjoy the art of sushi making.
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neo2go
June 23, 2009
If I could give Ototo a 0, I would. We went with a group of four for dinner on a Tuesday evening - it was warm and nice so we asked to sit outside. After seating, our waitress left to tend to other tables, which is normal (obviously). However, we waited. And waited. And waited. After waiting more than 15 minutes for anyone to come out and acknowledge our presence, another group came and sat outside as well. They were there for less than five minutes when the waitress came out and asked if they had been helped. They said no, so we piped up as well that we hadn't been helped either. From the time we ordered (and we had already been there a good thirty minutes just waiting for tea and water), it took an additional 65 MINUTES for our sushi to come out. We had only ordered four rolls. By the time our food came out, the other group had already eaten, paid, and were long gone. Our drinks were never refilled, our waitress never came out to check on us, and for the first time in all of our lives, we left no tip. The service was that terrible! And it wasn't even busy! I have no idea what took so long but I will never eat there again!
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SHoodie
May 22, 2009
Based on the "best of" list in Citysearch, a friend and I went to this restaurant last night. The salmon seemed really fresh, but other than that, this seemed like a typical sushi establishment to me. The decor wasn't anything to write home about.
read full reviewThe Details on Ototo Sushi
Save Money:
The generous bento box--with sushi, tempura, miso soup and more--is an affordable indulgence.
Where to Sit:
Ask for a table away from the door--it's quite drafty inside.
What to Drink:
Unless you're a sake aficionado, the house brand--served warm in a nice earthenware vessel--will do just fine.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Family Style Dining, Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining
