Excellent food!! Beautiful building. Service was attentive but not intrusive. Owner stopped by our table to introduce himself and inquire about our dinner.
Christian Fleagle
Great food and service !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cynthia Yarmala
This place was a pleasant find . We have been enjoying bringing our quiet well minded pets to lunch after going to the Veterinary visit and with outdoor seating . Our surprise was how great the service and food was . We will definitely be back .
My new favorite go to for lunch or dinner!!! Love this place!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maris
The Worst Dining Experience I Have Ever Had
I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but my experience at Otto’s on the River was so disappointing that I feel obligated to share. This restaurant is rated highly on TripAdvisor, which is why I chose to try it, but based on my visit, that ranking is completely undeserved.
We started with the crab dip, which was a disaster. It didn’t taste like crab at all — just an overwhelming amount of cheese with no real seafood flavor. The scallops wrapped in bacon were equally disappointing: the scallops had no flavor, and the bacon was overcooked, fatty, and unpleasant to eat.
For the main course, I ordered the seafood scampi and specifically asked to substitute fettuccine for angel hair pasta. When my plate arrived, it was still angel hair, which I do not like. The dish itself was even worse than the pasta mistake. It was served more like a bowl of watery soup than a scampi, and the amount of seafood was shockingly small. What little seafood there was had been chopped into tiny, unappetizing pieces, making the entire dish both unappealing and unsatisfying.
The service didn’t improve the situation either. My request for a simple pasta substitution was ignored, and there was no effort to correct the mistake. On top of that, the dining environment itself was unpleasant — there were flies inside the restaurant that actually landed on my hand and on my food. That is not only disgusting but completely unacceptable in any restaurant, let alone one that claims to be among the best in the area.
I travel extensively for work and have eaten at countless restaurants across the country, and I can honestly say this was the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. I left hungry, frustrated, and feeling like I had wasted both my time and money.
This restaurant should not be ranked as the number one restaurant on TripAdvisor. That is completely misleading, and I strongly urge anyone considering dining here to look elsewhere. Do not go to Otto’s on the River — you will regret it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Carol Miller
We went here based on previous reviews. The furniture had holes in the couches, soiled chair covers, dirty windows & a pesky fly and fruit fly stayed with us for R entire dinner. Husbands duck breast was good. I had an OK blueberry salad , & bacon wrapped scallops which were horrible. They were dry, bacon super salty. It seems that they had been sitting around for quite a while. The waiter did take the scallops off R bill which was appreciated. It was a sad, sorry place. I would not recommend it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
NationalBreadMan
The Lamb Shank with Risotto was delicious as was the stuffed Haddock and the owner/chef was interesting to talk with about the local area. I'd recommend a stop here if you're looking for a delicious meal.
Ken Roberts
We had a great lunch here. The bartender/waitress was charming, a bit comical, and made it extra special. The crab dip appetizer was amazing. Only 3 stars on the food because my lamb burger was a bit overcooked and dry.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Robert
Our server Moe was a real Treat. Food was Great. Host was a bit of a Braggart about his Grandson Otto. Who is the namesake of this Gem. All in all quite a pleasant experience.
Georgia
Otto's on the River was terrific. The biscuits are a must! All of our meals were served hot and delicious.
Had an amazing Lamb burger that was a special! The view outside is very nice and the service was great. Will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Georgiana L.
Eclectic arty restaurant with great service and delicious food. Perfect stop for lunch or dinner with a view of the river. Definitely will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chri Lo
Arrived WITHOUT a reservation and were squeezed in no problem. Nice table with plenty of room. The appetizers, drinks and food arrived quickly. ALL tasted wonderful. Servings are large so you're either stuffing yourself, bringing some home or leaving it behind. The dessert options, which were bountiful, sounded great. Too many wonderful choices. All in all, if waa a great experience there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tina Strulowitz
My husband, young kids, and I were staying at a hotel in Augusta to visit family and needed local take-out for dinner. I searched on Google, reviewed a few limited or unhealthy menus, called a restaurant that was pretty dismissive about my questions, and then thankfully called Otto’s. The hostess answered the phone, was absolutely delightful, and then since she had a question for the manager, she asked him and he ended up sending me photos of their menu so we could choose. The menu was varied, healthy, and interesting! I ordered food for my husband and myself with the waitress, who was also wonderful and very helpful. We order the stuffed sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and Mediterranean salmon, and then asked if they had any kid-friendly items. They made my kids cheese pizza with a side of sautéed vegetables. Everything was ready in 30 minutes for pick-up and everything was delicious when we ate! I highly recommend this restaurant and we will be ordering again when we’re in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reen Robillard
Went in alone, after an interview in the area. It was empty when I arrived at 4pm. I believe it was the owner who took great care of me. I was having a rough day and was on the phone trying to get done assistance. The owner she was so very sweet not wanting to be rude but wanted to give me a little support and knowledge of her own. It was like talking to a friend, her information was very helpful and I needed directions on where, what, How and When. The food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala dish, it was served Hot, just enough sauce not to dry not floating. The pasta was cooked perfectly. I told the sweet lady I was definitely going to come back in. If I get a job in the area or move to that area it will be a favorite often visits. The dining room was filling up by the time I left.
Excellent food!! Beautiful building. Service was attentive but not intrusive. Owner stopped by our table to introduce himself and inquire about our dinner.
Great food and service !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was a pleasant find . We have been enjoying bringing our quiet well minded pets to lunch after going to the Veterinary visit and with outdoor seating . Our surprise was how great the service and food was . We will definitely be back .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Seafood Stuffed Haddock, Chicken Marsala, Blueberry Walnut Salad
My new favorite go to for lunch or dinner!!! Love this place!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Worst Dining Experience I Have Ever Had
I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but my experience at Otto’s on the River was so disappointing that I feel obligated to share. This restaurant is rated highly on TripAdvisor, which is why I chose to try it, but based on my visit, that ranking is completely undeserved.
We started with the crab dip, which was a disaster. It didn’t taste like crab at all — just an overwhelming amount of cheese with no real seafood flavor. The scallops wrapped in bacon were equally disappointing: the scallops had no flavor, and the bacon was overcooked, fatty, and unpleasant to eat.
For the main course, I ordered the seafood scampi and specifically asked to substitute fettuccine for angel hair pasta. When my plate arrived, it was still angel hair, which I do not like. The dish itself was even worse than the pasta mistake. It was served more like a bowl of watery soup than a scampi, and the amount of seafood was shockingly small. What little seafood there was had been chopped into tiny, unappetizing pieces, making the entire dish both unappealing and unsatisfying.
The service didn’t improve the situation either. My request for a simple pasta substitution was ignored, and there was no effort to correct the mistake. On top of that, the dining environment itself was unpleasant — there were flies inside the restaurant that actually landed on my hand and on my food. That is not only disgusting but completely unacceptable in any restaurant, let alone one that claims to be among the best in the area.
I travel extensively for work and have eaten at countless restaurants across the country, and I can honestly say this was the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. I left hungry, frustrated, and feeling like I had wasted both my time and money.
This restaurant should not be ranked as the number one restaurant on TripAdvisor. That is completely misleading, and I strongly urge anyone considering dining here to look elsewhere. Do not go to Otto’s on the River — you will regret it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We went here based on previous reviews. The furniture had holes in the couches, soiled chair covers, dirty windows & a pesky fly and fruit fly stayed with us for R entire dinner.
Husbands duck breast was good. I had an OK blueberry salad , & bacon wrapped scallops which were horrible. They were dry, bacon super salty. It seems that they had been sitting around for quite a while. The waiter did take the scallops off R bill which was appreciated. It was a sad, sorry place.
I would not recommend it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
The Lamb Shank with Risotto was delicious as was the stuffed Haddock and the owner/chef was interesting to talk with about the local area. I'd recommend a stop here if you're looking for a delicious meal.
We had a great lunch here. The bartender/waitress was charming, a bit comical, and made it extra special. The crab dip appetizer was amazing. Only 3 stars on the food because my lamb burger was a bit overcooked and dry.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Our server Moe was a real Treat. Food was Great. Host was a bit of a Braggart about his Grandson Otto. Who is the namesake of this Gem. All in all quite a pleasant experience.
Otto's on the River was terrific. The biscuits are a must! All of our meals were served hot and delicious.
Restaurantji Recommends
Had an amazing Lamb burger that was a special! The view outside is very nice and the service was great. Will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eclectic arty restaurant with great service and delicious food. Perfect stop for lunch or dinner with a view of the river. Definitely will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arrived WITHOUT a reservation and were squeezed in no problem. Nice table with plenty of room. The appetizers, drinks and food arrived quickly. ALL tasted wonderful. Servings are large so you're either stuffing yourself, bringing some home or leaving it behind. The dessert options, which were bountiful, sounded great. Too many wonderful choices. All in all, if waa a great experience there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband, young kids, and I were staying at a hotel in Augusta to visit family and needed local take-out for dinner. I searched on Google, reviewed a few limited or unhealthy menus, called a restaurant that was pretty dismissive about my questions, and then thankfully called Otto’s. The hostess answered the phone, was absolutely delightful, and then since she had a question for the manager, she asked him and he ended up sending me photos of their menu so we could choose. The menu was varied, healthy, and interesting! I ordered food for my husband and myself with the waitress, who was also wonderful and very helpful. We order the stuffed sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and Mediterranean salmon, and then asked if they had any kid-friendly items. They made my kids cheese pizza with a side of sautéed vegetables. Everything was ready in 30 minutes for pick-up and everything was delicious when we ate! I highly recommend this restaurant and we will be ordering again when we’re in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went in alone, after an interview in the area. It was empty when I arrived at 4pm. I believe it was the owner who took great care of me. I was having a rough day and was on the phone trying to get done assistance. The owner she was so very sweet not wanting to be rude but wanted to give me a little support and knowledge of her own. It was like talking to a friend, her information was very helpful and I needed directions on where, what, How and When.
The food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala dish, it was served Hot, just enough sauce not to dry not floating. The pasta was cooked perfectly. I told the sweet lady I was definitely going to come back in. If I get a job in the area or move to that area it will be a favorite often visits.
The dining room was filling up by the time I left.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
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