Otto's in Camden

I’ve been wanting to eat at Otto’s for years, given the exceptional reputation of the restaurant - and it was just fantastic. The service, the wine list, the food, the atmosphere, all top notch. Exactly the kind of place you get to as early as possible and proceed to eat everything on the menu until closing time!

Cozy Old World atmosphere with sublime traditional French cuisine. Friendly, attentive staff. Lovely choice away from crowded Central London.

Just fabulous. An unique restaurant run with care and love

We have been fortunate to have dined at many of the finest restaurants in the US and Europe. Our dinner at Otto's was equal to or better than any of them. That the food was first rate and the service professional was expected. What really set Otto's apart was the atmosphere. Patrons and staff were having fun and what a refreshing experience that was. We did not have their famous duck but we did have the Bresse chicken and I would highly recommend it. We are in London quite often and we'll certainly be seeing Otto again.

I've been 4 times.Otto, Elin,Rueben are always so kind and welcoming.The pace of the meal is beautifully timed and relaxing.I took a couple of friends for the first time. Lovingly prepared food, with matched wines.One of my friends is vegetarian and was spellbound.It's great fun to see Otto glide around the room making the diners feel special. The pickled beetroot was the star for me - a first among equals.

Excellent experience at this French gem restaurant .

Otto’s is the perfect choice for an experience in fine dining with the added feature of genuine table side service for food preparation and presentation. The food is superb and the staff are very engaged. We will never miss the opportunity to dine at Otto’s when in London.

The restaurant is passed it's time I guess. It felt old and kind of decadent in a way. The food was good but not worth the experience nor the price.

Best restaurant in London. Unique and delicious experience.

Amazing place : traditional French food but with quite rare recipes ! Waiters are extremely friendly and helpful .

I had high expectations of Otto's from friends' recommendations and reviews from the food critics and was impressed that it exceeded those expectations. I had 10 guests with me and every one had a wonderful time. Twice-baked Cheese Soufflé was very popular and the Foie Gras was authentically made "in house" and thus delicate and perfect with the brioche. A jokey request for Salad Cream with it was met with good humour and a threat to make him eat it! The Lobster risotto was perfectly cooked with generous quantities of scallops and prawns as well as the Lobster with rice just cooked and creamy. The Agneau en Croute (Lamb Wellington) was reported as above expectation and attention was paid to degree of pinkness wanted. Desserts were also universally applauded from an exemplary crème brulée to a textbook Fondant au Chocolat and a well executed Baba au Rum with pineapple. Lovely selection of Cheeses instead of dessert was faultless and no extra cost. I chose wines from a moderate list centred on classic French areas - Canard Duchenne as aperitif with Mark Brédif's Vouvray and then Zédé de Labégorce as 3 of those classics. Conscientious service - serious or humorous as appropriate was noteworthy . Definitely going to return soon with a friend who was unavailable that day. A short report would not do Otto's justice!!

as always, Otto’s never disappoints… excellent on all levels !

It was one of our best French meals in a long time! Oliver was great, funny, engaging and professional. We had the Lobster Consommé that was finished tableside. Very good flavor in the broth. I enjoyed my steak tartare which was also prepared in front of me. The chance to see the tartare put together elevated the experience. It was served with a generous piece of foie gras. My husband had the quenelle. He enjoyed it but he has been spoiled with having quenelle in France a couple of times. We finished off the meal with one of the best Grand Marnier soufflé. Light airy with a delicious raspberry sauce. We will definitely come back to Otto the next time we are in London.

Spectacular as usual! Unpretentious, generous and delicious food with exceptional service. Ready for la grande bouffe!

Great food and ambience. Service was impeccable. We had the lamb and the fish, both tremendous.

As always , Otto's is always perfect and outstanding. You will never be disappointed - no matter how many times you go. It is a true gem and the standards never fail- the cuisine is out of this world and the personable service second to none !! A true 5***** Thank you again, Otto's !! Till next time

Everything is amazing at this little French gem. Just make sure it’s for a special occasion , bill gets punchy after a couple glasses of wine. Will go back again and again.

We were made to feel very welcome and the food was outstanding.

Yet another amazing meal at Otto’s. It never fails to impress. I am already looking forward to our next visit!

Classic French food and wine, to the usual high standard, attentively but not intrusively served

Great meal in a wonderful relaxed living room style setting

One of the best meals that I've had. Otto is a wonderful host and his teams attention to detail on the food and service is second to none. Highly recommended. If Heaven was a restaurant it would be Otto's.

Exceptional food, outstanding service, will definitely return

This is an extraordinary place to dine. The food was exceptional. We ordered the Bresse chicken for two, and it was served in two courses — and both were delicious. Courses are served at a calm pace, and staff do not hover over you. Yet staff always seemed to stop by or check in when needed.

We arrived early for our 6.30pm reservation, but the staff greeted us warmly and showed us to our table. And quickly serve us with Stillwater and a glass of wine each. Our two guests arrived shortly after and we were given the menus to peruse we took our time as we were soaking up excellent atmosphere, of a typical French restaurant the food was excellent. The staff first class we thoroughly enjoyed our evening thank you to everyone involved.

We were looking forward to a great meal with all the positive reviews but unfortunately we were left disappointed. Living in NY, we are used to a higher standard for classical French food and the sole was mealy and the beef overcooked. The wait staff and Otto were welcoming but I think k the food leaves something to be desired

Very old fashioned French restaurant, hard to find this sort of place nowadays. It does what it does exceptionally well.

Otto, a French restaurant nestled in the heart of the city, offers a delightful dining experience that caters to those who appreciate the finesse of French cuisine. Upon entering Otto, guests are greeted by a charming ambiance that combines classic elegance with a touch of modern sophistication. The decor is tastefully understated, with soft lighting and comfortable seating that set the stage for a memorable meal. The menu at Otto is a testament to the culinary artistry of its chefs. Each dish is carefully crafted using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, which bring out the authentic flavors of France. Standout starters include the foie gras & scallops are simply irresistible. The main courses are equally impressive. The Dover sole and Lamb Wellington are perfectly cooked. No French dining experience would be complete without dessert, and Otto does not disappoint. Soufflé is incredibly delicious. In conclusion, Otto offers an exquisite taste of France, making it a perfect spot for a special occasion or a romantic evening out. With its superb cuisine, elegant ambiance, and impeccable service, Otto stands out as a culinary gem in the city. Mr Otto himself is a charming man and always there to make sure everyone runs smoothly.

I'm ten years retired. My ex-colleagues decided to buy me lunch at Otto's. At The Don he was the best Maitre D there ever was and here he is again at his own stupendous restaurant in Gray's Inn Road. The welcome was extraordinary: the food just outstanding: the wine as good and the atmosphere just entirely right, friendly, approachable but discreet also. I had scallops, my friends had foie gras. We then had Chateaubriand. The afternoon blended into the evening. Just a wonderful few hours.

Best French food in London. Very fair price for what it is.

Exceptional food, service and ambiance as always!

Excellent food. Old fashioned in a very good way. A great place for a romantic dinner

A magical experience every time I visit… impeccable and expert service, delicious food of a bygone opulent era wrapped in an Alice in wonderland esq bow.

A wonderful old-school French dining experience! The Tounedos Rossini and Sole Muniere were both outstanding, as were the desserts - Grand Marnier soufflé and tart tatin. Service was excellent.

We enjoyed a great night last Friday. Excellent food and service! A truly traditional style French Restaurant run by the Owner Otto. I stared with the Scallop’s and my wife enjoyed the Tuna sashimi. For mains we were blown away with the quality of food , but also the service. We didn’t have the steak tartare , but we watched it being prepared for the table next to us and it was absolute theatre. The waiter was the star of the show and just reinforced the quality in the kitchen. A real treat and we can’t wait to visit again.

This was my 4th or 5th time at OTTO’s. I always go when I am in London. Amazing food and the atmosphere is like stepping back in time. The service is impeccable.

Dinner for six, birthday celebration, and every single dish ordered was outstanding, would be unfair to highlight one over another (but the scallops en croute were wonderful!). We were looked after by friendly, skilled staff who were committed to making our evening thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed - first class experience.

Our dinner at Otto's was outstanding, as it had been on all previous occasions. Otto takes utmost care in delivering every dish to perfection, and he generally serves the meal himself. On this occasion we had his Tournedos Rossini, beautifully presented, and exactly prepared to specification - my wife and I like our meat cooked differently. My wife's starter of a 'crab cocktail' beat the understated description by miles, and my white asparagus with a poached egg and a light, herb-infused sauce was a dream. I rate him above all of his London 'competitors' that I have had the opportunity to dine in, even if Michelin-starred, and many of the restaurants in France that I had an opportunity to visit and dine in. Elin, his manageress of many years, was equally most attentive as always, with unwavering advice concerning the menu, as well as question with regard to wine. Otto's is wonderfully intimate and personal and his cooking sublime.

Simply superb. Food is outstanding, service is quick, attentive and super friendly. Always a great meal.

Whats not to like about Otto's if you want to capture a moment in time with old fashioned elegance and diplomatic service. French wines encapsulate some eye watering prices but there were entry level stars of the vineyard too with the appropriate mature vintage to peruse from. Didn't do the decadent indulgent potentially heart attack inducing unique menus that they offer but this feels like a culinary journey to partake of downstairs which felt like the ultimate characterful event space to be deliciously trapped in an atmospheric bygone decadent era. Loaf's of bread with plenty of butter. Cheese trolley at room temperature always a vision to smile about.

The food is simply delicious.This is an occasion restaurant where classic French food is done superbly. Even when the Maestro is not present the excellently trained staff perform to very high standards.we enjoyed champagne then delicious well composed starters and main courses with not a pomegranate seed or a foam on the plates. Everything from the bread to the delicious bitter chocolate madeleines is thought through and just right.

Otto's is such an experience, food and staff always amazing

We have been to Otto's many times. This unique restaurant cooks beautiful, delicious food. Otto is a great presence, the masterful Maitre D, with Elon, Reuben and a stellar team. Last night we enjoyed the special lobster menu. It is sensational - pressed lobster consommé; followed by two main dishes with wonder fun sauces and accompaniments. This was mostly cooked by the table, restaurant theatre and perfect results. Otto chose an excellent Meursault, perfect with lobster. This restaurant has a rare ambience, full of eccentric artefacts, subtly lit, and with perfect service.

From the moment you walk into Otto’s you are made to feel welcome. There is nothing they won’t do for you, from helping you to choose your wine selection to cooking the food at your table. It’s superb. I would highly recommend and wouldn’t hesitate to go back.

Impeccable in every aspect. At first, I was skeptical as this little French gem is out of the way. I even had to recheck my reservation when I found it just to make sure. Open the door and that’s where my doubts ended. Service was spectacular. Food was brilliant. Best in class. Wine amazing and not $$$. If any restaurant deserves a Michelin star this is it! The chef is amazing. Make sure to get the soufflé, you will thank me later. Can’t recommend this restaurant enough!

Very good service and great food. Would recommend to anyone they visit. Wish I read up about the menu first to understanding the food a little more beforehand, staff were helpful and polite.

This was about the 18th time l have lunched or dined at Otto's and l shall continue to do so as it is always excellent in every respect. All the guests l have taken there agree and some have also become regulars. Otto's is a true antidote to the dull, corporate and unimaginative standard of so many restaurants.

Fabulous classic French cuisine done with an old school care for service and detail. We took our two children, aged 12 and 15, who the staff treated with such consideration. Surely one of the very best French experience restaurants in London.

Such brilliant service and very high quality of food. Very welcoming. Would highly recommend.

Otto’s is our “go to” French restaurant in London. It never disappoints and is always an enjoyable experience. We will be back 😊

Gorgeous venue and so quaintly French. Very authentic food and surroundings. The food and service was impeccable and the staff were brilliant. I will definitely return.

I love this restaurant. The service is fantastic and just the right level of attentive. The staff without exception are professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The decor makes me smile and transports you to a bygone era of bohemian elegance. And most importantly the food is truly excellent. Classic French cuisine but with all the flourishes that make it fun and special. My scallop starter with lobster bisque (with the caviar extra) was amazing. I could have eaten two servings without blinking. A goats cheese soufflé had my wife smiling with happiness. The best steak tartare we’ve ever had (and I have had a few) freshly prepared with care at the table. A monkfish cassoulet that was a delight and satisfying. The cheese plate was wonderful and I probably should have had the smaller option but then again that’s what statins are for. My wife’s crème brûlée was perfect. I could keep complimenting Otto’s and I will - it’s our second visit and won’t be our last. Yes it’s quite expensive but you truly get what you pay for here and I think it’s worth every penny.

Food is exceptional. Service is OK. Food took too long to arrive—almost an hour.

I love this restaurant. The service is fantastic and just the right level of attentive. The staff without exception are professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The decor makes me smile and transports you to a bygone era of bohemian elegance. And most importantly the food is truly excellent. Classic French cuisine but with all the flourishes that make it fun and special. My scallop starter with lobster bisque (with the caviar extra) was amazing. I could have eaten two servings without blinking. A goats cheese soufflé had my wife smiling with happiness. The best steak tartare we've ever had (and I have had a few) freshly prepared with care at the table. A monkfish cassoulet that was a delight and satisfying. The cheese plate was wonderful and I probably should have had the smaller option but then again that's what statins are for. My wife's crème brûlée was perfect. I could keep complimenting Otto's and I will - it's our second visit and won't be our last. Yes it's quite expensive but you truly get what you pay for here and I think it's worth every penny.

Exceptional food and service. Expensive but worth every penny.

We had a wonderful meal at Otto's, great service, fabulous food and atmosphere!

A good night out with friends. Great service and food.

The food was excellent and so was the service, an outstanding restaurant!

As ever, utterly excellent. Truly delicious food (I enjoyed prawns, black pudding and steak tartare), excellent sommelier to help us choose our wines and waiting staff to make the experience outstanding.

Amazing experience as always at Otto’s. Everything beautifully cooked and served with class. A very special place!

Although our food was tasty, they were out of 2 of their 3 specialty dishes and did not tell us about one of them before we were ready to order. Given that, the choices were very limited. We chose to share an appetizer which was a very rich soufflé and our waiter seemed extremely annoyed about that decision. The restaurant was expensive which we would not have minded but it wasn’t worth the price.

Very buzzy atmosphere albeit a couple of very rowdy tables - men wearing silly Viking helmets, guffawing women. Woman who'd put us on wait list a week or so beforehand didn't remember us and seemed a little chilly. My birthday, tho mentioned on booking site, wasn't acknowledged at all (wasn't wanting cake or singing but...). VERY expensive - nearly £500 for 4 of us, only two of whom had desserts, only two had aperitifs and we only had one bottle of cheapest red wine on menu. No tap water offered; £12 for two small bottles of still water, the second of which was brought without us being asked. Also the menu had changed from the one I'd chosen from online earlier in the day. BUT the warm bread and chicken liver pate brought to start with was gorgeous and the rest of the food pretty good - traditional French in style and rich. Not seen tournedos rossini on a menu for decades! It was delicious, as was lamb en croute. Fab scallops although lobster bisque a bit salty. Chic mousse a bit claggy and strong. Service niccely unobtrusive. Overall a great restaurant for a special occasion.

The beef could have been done better since it's a bit too chewy. Also, it would spice up the dining experience more if some music could be played. It was a little bit too silent. Like.. awkwardly

Outstanding. Two of the best things I have eaten this year, the Boudin Noir and the Tourte au Canard de Challans. Both were exceptional. There is also a good choice of reasonably priced wine to complement the food. Service is old school, as is the ambience and decor a great place to catchup with friends. What more can I say, book a table, you won't be diappointed.

The food was great and we totally enjoyed our meal. The service however was very slow and not very attentive. Unfortunately, we felt as if we were being ignored most of the evening. We do love the restaurant and will give it another try to see if it was just an off night for them.

Consistently awesome cooking, delicious delicious food from Chef, so happy to see familiar faces, Elin, Barbra, Oliver,, and Ruben. Highly recommended for anyone looking for top classic french cuisine done properly.

Otto’s is a truly exceptional restaurant, with outstanding classic French fine dining and faultless service in a warm and characterful environment. The duck press menu is a bucket list experience but every diner will leave feeling like royalty. Deservedly a personal favourite of many of London’s food critics and industry professionals.

I have been wanting to go to Ottos for several years. We finally went there last night where we went for the Pressed Duck. Now this is not cheap but it is unutterably delicious, absolutely outstanding. Ottos is the only place currently serving pressed duck (the Ritz does sometimes). This involves a lot of elaborate cooking at the table. Flames leap into the air, delicious smells waft across the table and you watch in awe as the team keep going. You are asked to take part in the actual pressing which involves turning a very heavy silver wheel that operates the press. This squeezes out the blood from various unspecified bits of the duck and is used as one of the main ingredients in making the truly stupendous gravy that accompanies the main course. The main course was slices of rare duck breast covered in the gravy. I can safely say that I have never eaten any duck that was remotely as good as this......in fact, I have very rarely eaten anything as good as this.

A very memorable meal. nice environment, great food and wine, excellent company. Oh and I guess we have to say something about the duck and the ceremony that accompanies it. Loved every minute.

Absolutely outstanding: a memorable dinner. We look forward to returning.

A marvellous French restaurant with lots of theatre as many dishes are prepared at your table. The food is excellent and the service friendly and efficient. Otto himself orchestrates to experience.

It would be hard to overstate how much my wife and I enjoyed our recent dinner at Otto's. The food was absolutely sensational, the service attentive and entertaining yet not overbearing, the decor is engagingly eccentric, the environment is welcoming and friendly - not snooty or off-putting or uncomfortable in the least - and perhaps best of all, nobody rushed us. It was a two and a half hour long evening out, and we enjoyed it entirely. My only complaint is that I wasn't able to have two main courses, but it's a good reason to return the next time I'm in London [New York is my home base]. It is not an inexpensive evening, but worth every penny and more. As the saying goes, book with confidence [and try the snails cooked in bone marrow, it's a life-changing experience].

About as far from a modern food factory as it is possible to get. A gem.

This restaurant never fails to deliver. Put it on your bucket list.

Classic French food in a wonderful setting. A unique dining experience in the UK.

This is an amazing one off restaurant. From the welcome to the incredible food it’s all authentic and wonderful. You only get this from family run places. Duck pie was excellent.

This was one of our most memorable meals in London (ever). Food was excellent, the wine and after dinner drink list were well curated and the service was impecable (and friendly). A little off the beaten path but worth it. Can personally recommend the duck pie which came with a heavenly sauce.

A very enjoyable return visit. Otto’s never fails to delight with its delicious food, particularly the steak tartare prepared at the table. Accompanied by excellent starters and desert and of course a well chosen wine. It’s expensive so only an annual treat.

I gave Otto's a five star review even though I really didn't like the grouse main course which I ordered. It was too strong for my taste but that does not mean that it was not well prepared. My wife had the beef wellington which she enjoyed. The first courses were escargot served with marrow bones and a shrimp cocktail. Both were good. The escargot might have been a little large--nothing to complain about. Next time I might split a first course and order the chicken. Good wine list which can be as reasonable or expensive as desired. I enjoyed the old school buzz and the wait staff were terrific. I would recommend this restaurant.

An excellent and charming restaurant serving glorious food. Well crafted « Cuisine Bourgeois » dishes are served with enthusiasm and professionalism, in a quirky interior that has none of the hall marks of cooperate investment….. thank Goodness For those of us in love with the French classics, they’re are few finer places in London ( probably in all of the UK)

If you want amazing, superb quality food served by friendly, caring, dedicated food professionals, you must go here! I expected a more elegant atmosphere, but once I had the food, I forgot about that!

Fantastic food in classic French style with friendly and welcoming staff and a great atmosphere.

A very good dish in a charming atmosphere. Thanks!

This place was on Jay Rayner’s places to eat before you die, and I can attest, it is for good reason that it is on the list.

My favourite restaurant in the world! As simple as that

We came for the Canard à la Presse in this lovely restaurant. Soon we were shown the partially roasted bird. The breasts and legs were removed, with the remaining carcass to be chopped up. Subsequently, only part of it returned to be pressed: too little liquid appeared. Before this stage someone was already working on the sauce which made me think we were watching a fake pressing . . . this didn’t diminish the utter quality of the first two courses. We drank Sauternes with the first and Haut Bages with the second. The latter was served too warm, room temperature instead of 16-18°. Our waiter cheerfully chilled the remaining wine. The disappointing leg appeared at least an hour later: it tasted like it was cooked a few days earlier with little flavour. My brother thought his was ok. I cannot help but be suspicious. We ended spending some £550 which I thought was excessive for what we received.

Amazing hidden gem. Food is divine, the wine list is extensive and service impeccable.

Always a wonderful experience- great food , unique interior - fabulous wine 🍷

An amazing experience, lovely ambiance, a bit of theatre with the steak tartare made at the table. Everything was perfect and will definitely go again.

This is now my favourite French restaurant outside of France. It reminded me of my dinner at La Tour d'Argent in Paris. The experience is similar, without the fancy style. Here it is more authentic and traditional. But the food has nothing to envy. All the dishes are impeccably prepared and the menu offer an incredible selection: choosing is impossible. The quality is extremely high and I am not applying the standards of a French restaurant abroad, but of a French restaurant in France. One of the best meals I have had! The staff is extremely caring and friendly. We need to thank God if we still have such traditional, reliable restaurants, who invest more on the quality of the culinary offer than the style and designe of the venue!

Inhospitable and rude behaviour from the proprietor throughout the meal, despite us being extremely polite and gracious customers and spending £225 per head. Was my 6th time in this restaurant in the last 3 years - I came during the pandemic when the restaurant was all but empty on a Friday and Saturday night. Food is good but I shall not be back.

Such a special restaurant - discreet but attentive service and absolutely top-notch classic French food.

Otto’s was absolutely outstanding – the excellent food surpassed only by the outstanding service

Amazing food and service that matches the value. Ambience is also nice. If they'd invest into a bit more thematic interiors it could become a really famous place easily.

Outstanding service, food and atmosphere. I cannot say enough about Otto's. A very memorable evening at a London institution.

The proprietor of this restaurant is a man who is dedicated to the pursuit of perfection; specifically, perfect execution of the French culinary classics. We've been three times. On our first visit, bird flu in France thwarted our quest for the almost-impossible-to-find pressed duck, so we had the lobster incarnation instead, pressed on a rare (possibly unique) lobster press created for the 1900 Paris exhibition. The theatre of the tableside preparation was memorable, and the lobster (done three ways, including a souffle) was easily the best I've ever eaten. Perfection is not always attained, and the second visit - for the same spectacle, the same dishes, in the company of a friend - faltered a tad as the lobster was noticeably overcooked, if only ever so slightly. Not a grave fault, but at £200 a person - before wine - it was just a bit disappointing. Last night, we returned to perfection. Escargots paired with a beautiful marrow bone, a boudin noir starter, and mains of tournedos rossini (really!), and veal sweetbreads, both in classic demi-glace reduction. The classics, executed at the highest level. The hosting was perfect too, unobtrusive but personal, with a special effort made to mark our wedding anniversary. It's clear that the staff are also dedicated to the pursuit of perfection - one feels that any employee who is not would be quickly ... eliminated. The decor is relaxed, fun even; mostly art from the 1960s (pop), combined with some from the 60s (Greco-Roman). Your fellow diners are happy to be here. Given the level of the service, the quality of the cooking, and the sheer joy of the experience, you may not care - or even notice - that you just paid £190 (pre-wine) for a chicken dinner for two. After all, perfection does not come cheap.

Extremely good. Menu very traditional and none the worse for that. Friendly service, good wines without ridiculous mark ups.

I've eaten here several times, but not on a Saturday. Service was patchy, and I had to return a dish. Not up to its usual standard, and not an evening I'd want to repeat.

Wonderful food and fabulous service. A memorable meal experience!

It is a very long time since I have eaten at a restaurant where the comfort and the pleasure of patrons is paramount. And on top of that all four in our group found the quality of the food, the presentation, the cooking to be truly memorable. We had a meal which we will recall, talk about, for a long time to come.