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| - Went to Otto's for some beer and food and left feeling satisfied. My dining companion had been here for beer, but hadn't tried any of the grub. It was busy when we arrived, but they squeezed us in at the bar. We both had Stone IPAs (from Escondido, CA) (14 oz., $8.00 - plus tax) - these were great.
We ordered the sausage platter ($35) and added an order of sauerkraut fritters ($5.50, 2 per order). Everything was really tasty, especially the fritters (remarkably light), the spicy sausages, the slaw, and the fries. These are the best fries I've had yet in Toronto (which is saying something, because all the Toronto fries I've had have seriously paled in comparison to any fry I've ever had in Montreal).
The house pickles were missing from our platter, and we had to get the attention of two servers to get these delivered. We're very glad we bothered, because these were delicious, and the little dish included oddball things like fennel, some orange thing we couldn't identify - no, it wasn't carrot! - and cauliflower. The sauces and mustards on the platter were good, but a little non-descript. A hot mustard would have been welcome.
If I went back, I would not get this sausage platter because I personally dislike the weisswurst (too soft and pillowy, almost creamy). I would order a la carte so I could try the pork schnitzel alongside my wurst, my sours and my slaw.
We washed all that down with another Stone.
(Beers are a little pricey, though certainly in line with other places in the neighborhood. Allow me to at least wish there was a happy hour.)
The crowd and staff are young, cool, well-heeled, and the design of the place is thoughtful and welcoming - we had our eye on it in the fall as they were sprucing up the place - it's very open and bustling. Will those huge windows open to the street in summer, I wonder, and I hope? The hanging hostas are a really nice touch and do help to give it that outdoor bierhalle feel.
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