Otto Food and Drink
Anyone that knows me, knows I am not a fan of what Christmas has become… To me it is not about all of the commercialism and who buys what for whom. It should be about celebrating with family and friends, spending time with loved ones and enjoying wonderful food and drink together.
Otto was started on that premise. It was meant to be a gathering place for families and friends where you can enjoy some great Alberta craft beer and some great company. The food was not the focus, but is still a wonderful part of the celebration that is Otto.
Owner Ed Donszelmann (previously of Culina Mill Creek) is the creative force behind this little neighbourhood Gem tucked away in the Norwood community. The decor is simple and warm. There is an overhead garage door that can be opened for the summer months. Ed ads to the warmth of the space by being present and making his rounds. He makes sure each guest is well taken care of.
The liquor menu has a lot to choose from. The focus is on the beer, but there is a full bar and a wine list available as well. There is something to quench everyone’s thirst, or to pair with the simply delicious food.
The food… You can clearly see Ed’s Dutch influence on the menu. Otto’s specialty is Fuge Fine Meats which are now exclusively available only at Otto. You may have experienced some of Steve’s sausage at one of the local markets. The sausages are flavourful, tender and delicious – even the vegan option!
For our visit we tried the “Otto Dog” and the vegan “Smoked Apple Sage” sausage. Monday night is a great time to visit with $6 pints of beer and $6 sausages. The sausage is served naked with a small serving of sauerkraut and a home made pickle. If you want a bun for that bad boy, it’s only an extra $2. The mustards that you have to choose from are also amazing. If I remember correctly, Red Head Condiments supplies them.
I don’t normally like many versions of vegan/plant-based “meat”. It is usually an awful texture and not that tasty. Fuge has managed to make a plant-based sausage that is the same texture you would expect from a normal, every-day meat sausage. The flavours were nicely balanced, slightly smoky and delicious. I enjoyed a side order of the deep fried cauliflower.
My handsome dinner companion was nice enough to give me a taste of the Otto Dog; Sylvan Star smoked Gouda, caraway and fresh garlic are the standouts in this undeniably rich, flavourful sausage. They are not joking with that description. Juicy, tender and delicious. He had the garlic herb fries with spicy mayo as his side.
I thought that between two of us we would be able to try a few options, but we tapped out after the single sausage and side. Not even room for dessert! (I hear good things about dessert too though!)
Otto does focus on local suppliers and ingredients, you can see the loving detail that went into the menu with each item that is shared. You can taste the difference.
Children are welcome at Otto. Sundays they have a kids meal for only $5. You won’t break the bank with a visit to Otto, the prices are very reasonable.
Grab a couple of friends and enjoy some great beer, food and sparkling conversation at Otto.
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