I swear, Exeter seems to be the new foodie spot in NH. The trifecta of Cornicello, Vino e Vivo and Otis really set the bar. Only two seatings per night and being late isn't on the cards. Once they start ya gotta be there. And be there is what you'll want to be. A memorable five course meal with a choice of two different items for each. So if you're part of a couple you can sample everything. That's what we did. All the courses were masterfully done, the flavors superb and the amounts well chosen. At the end we were both full, for sure. The wine list isn't at the same level as the food. I'd have given a 4 1/2 based on that but wouldn't want to go down to a 4 so I'm up to a 5. The price is completely reasonable for the quality and variety. The ambience is cozy and perhaps a bit of a country feel. But just a bit. Well worth your hard earned dinero. read more

Five courses of deliciousness. Lots of creative servings with something for everyone, each one more beautiful than the last. The service is good. The mocktails are excellent. I recommend. read more

See all

What a wonderful experience, definitely recommend! I loved the charming atmosphere, a small dining area set with table, bar or kitchen options. A select 5 course menu with options based on preference but portions that are perfect.. you will be full by dessert! From the tasty carrot soup to the haddock that had the most delicious lemony sauce, to the divine beef with perfectly seasoned potatoes. The staff is friendly and the food timing perfect. Would love to go back as the menu adjusts in the future! read more

See all

One of the top dining establishments in the Seacoast, better than anywhere in Portsmouth! Exeter is becoming the best town for dining, in fact, Ambrose, next door to Otis also makes my top 5 in the area. We frequent Otis and love to sit at the chef table and watch Lee Frank do his magic. If you want romance, request the two top by the window. The menu changes weekly so it's tough to recommend anything. Anthony Bourdain used to warn about ordering chicken at a restaurant. Chef Frank has mastered making chicken the highlight of the evening. read more

Otis - Chef - New American Near Me - Exeter, New Hampshire

For once I've no smartass japes to make. I was served the best meal I've ever had last night and it wasn't close. Because of the prix fixe menu I was forced to order dishes that I wouldn't normally order and they were all amazing. The service was phenomenal, not one but two attentive waitresses made sure we were topped up at all times and both were super friendly. The meal was expensive but again, it's prix fixe so if you're whinging about the price, you're a fool. The spot itself is so lovely and intimate and the ambiance is just perfect. I've read some of the negative reviews and these clowns are taking the piss. The portions are small yes, but there are five courses. If five courses doesn't sort you out perhaps you'd be better off at the Golden Corral. Anyone complaining about the limited selection is also having a laugh, it's the whole point of the spot dummy and you knew that going in so bugger off. All told I splashed out over 3 hundo for the Duchess and I but Old Rory loves a drink so I had four pints and a lovely cocktail while the Duchess had a few glasses of wine. I'll not be here every week at that price but I've no regrets as I said, best meal I've had. 5 stars. read more

Over rated! The restaurant was loud and with all that expense - you think they could have something on the not so great wooden tables!!

Food was creative and very tasty. The service was very good. We did't have to wait too long between courses. Seating was very comfortable.

Thank you for an amazing experience! It was our first visit but certainly will not be our last! Every plate was exquisite in both taste and presentation, and the staff is top notch. We enjoyed sitting at the Chef's Table and watching Chef Lee create these beautiful plates. Cannot wait to return! read more

Quite a few very positive comments here, and we confirmed them last night. Lee Frank put on an awesome one man cooking demonstration for us. We were front and center at the 4-person chefs table. Reservations are a must, and they also give you the chance to preview the 5 course tasting menu for the evening. It's not an alacart menu. 2 seatings per night. They offer a full bar and nice wine selection. The service was excellent. What makes this hidden gem shine is the food pairings for each dish. Layers of flavor! The Lamb; cooked perf, brazed carrots & Brussel sprouts, rich brown sauce, over potato & feta. Four more dishes just as well layered, awsomness! Each dish was well plated and coordinated flavors. Chefs table seats 4, many other tables, it's a relatively small restaurant, hope you find it as enjoyable as we did. read more

See all

Finally made it to Otis, and enjoyed an exceptional meal start to finish. The bonus was that we were able to sit at the chef's table and had the pleasure to meet owner/chef Lee Frank, and chef Matt Berry (of Dahlia) who was the sous chef for the evening. The two of them made the dinner that much more enjoyable. At this time Otis is doing a 5 course prix fixe menu with 2 seatings per evening. The first seating is at 5:30 and ends at 7:30, a bit tight but they nailed it, and I can't say we felt rushed at all. There are two choices for each course, and the menu is updated weekly. Since there were two of us dining, we were able to select every dish offered. Some dishes were stronger than others, but not a bad one on the menu. Cocktails were also very good, as well as a nice wine selection. There is some real talent here, and Exeter is fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber, and glad to see the community supporting this style of creative dining. As the food changes frequently, I won't get into the dishes, but have posted a number of pictures. My favorite of each course was: The squash soup, Gnocchi, Duck, Beef and Sticky toffee pudding. Go check this place out! read more

See all

great food with complex flavors, nice and intimate ambiance, attentive service, and really good value for the money.

Food is amazing and the experience at the chef table is my favorite. Service was on point with drinks while we ate. Would recommend the chefs table always read more

This is a brutally honest review of the food here, not reflecting on the service or accommodations, which were very well done, but rather the overall taste and satisfaction of the foods that we had during this tasting. So, Otis is a restaurant that has a local celebrity chef that does 2 tasting courses for guests, reservations are a must and the seating is intimate (like 3 tables) and if not able to get that then you'll be at bar seating if space is available, so the whole thing is constructed to be an experience. I'll preface this by saying, I'm a foodie and snobbish when it comes to these things, so I set the bar pretty high having come from a food festival/ fine dining background, and have eaten at top restaurants in NY and LA, so I'm coming in hot with this one. We called last minute and got seating at the bar, the bartender and hostess were very friendly and helpful with drinks and seating, so now, for the food. 1) The Soup- Best part of the meal, fresh delectable, filling, flavorful, and well done (A+) 2) The Salad- Underdressed, Plain, Ordinary, Lackluster (D) 3) The Pasta- Decent texture but missing ingredients, sauce was watery, Ricotta helped but couldn't save the dish (C) 4) The Duck- Tries but fails, gamey and chewy, also needs something to give it a kick (C) 5) King Salmon- Plain, Too Fishy, Undercooked, Nicely plated but thats it (D) 6) The Steak- Also undercooked, too rare for my taste even though I said medium, Blue cheese in the grits was too underwhelming, was rooting for this dish but fell short (C) 7) Desserts- Both of these were bangers, so they finished strong on the sweets and were delicious (A) So overall, I know the chef has acclaim, lots of write ups, been on a bunch of shows, and really sets the stage for me to be impressed, but I wasn't However, like I told the hostess, I appreciate and applaude bringing this type of experience to Exeter, something that will enhance the towns appeal and dining experience, he is doing what he loves and creating something for people to come too and enjoy, so I wish him and his staff well. But if this were the Bachelor, I don't think he'd get a rose to move onto the next round. Sorry Chef read more

See all

Wow! I don't know where to start. We were a party of 5 for the 7:30 seating. It's a great concept, either a 5:30 or 7:30 seating, $75pp for an amazing 5 course meal where you get to choose between two items in each course. Service was friendly, relaxed, very well run and efficient. And then the meal. Perfectly executed, beautiful and simply delicious. The menu changes weekly, and this week I chose the sweet potato soup, the spatzle with local cheese, the chicken with a beautiful spinach sauce, pork tenderloin that was the most tender pork I have ever had, sitting on a bed of grits and the sticky toffee pudding, which was so rich and filling I couldn't finish it. We'll definitely come back and this time maybe bring our husbands. Thank you Otis! read more

See all

Spectacular experience from start to finish! Otis offers two seatings, on three evenings each week. They have a prix fixe menu with two choices for each course. Their wine list is very good, and they make great cocktails to order. It's fun to watch the kitchen and pass throughout the meal, so try and request bar seating if you can. Don't be late or you spoil it for everyone! Also, if you're coming to the second seating then don't be early, or they may not be ready for you yet. The food is divine and the service is super friendly and efficient. I haven't had such a great restaurant experience in ages. Highest possible recommendation. read more

It's awful to write this. This was truly one of the worst meals that I have had in a long time. 5 courses and you would think that at least one of them would have been good if not stellar. The whole experience was awful from the crowd of customers piling up at the front of the restaurant to the chef telling all of us to just sit wherever we wanted when the clock hit 7:30. The tables weren't properly set - our drink orders were screwed up - our special dietary consideratons provided with our reservation weren't considered. My husband's food came out but mine did not. The food was either tasteless, salty or cold. Presentation was an odd mix of overly flourished or just tossed on the plate. The one bright spot was our waitress who tried so hard to address every misstep with humor and good cheer. The space is charming and beautifully appointed but the restaurant is very loud when fully seated making it hard to have a conversation with a dinner partner. To be fair, we may have caught them on a bad night and it might be wise to give them the benefit of the doubt given alot of very positive reviews. We will wait a while before going back. read more

A truly wonderful experience. From the environment to the service but most of all the food. Flavors, textures, and placement of dishes were all carefully curated. Highly recommend. read more

A hidden gem of Exeter! Never thought I'd find a tasting menu here and yet, Otis blew me away. The tasting menu changes weekly, and you get two options for each of the five courses. Each course was incredibly plated and beyond delicious! I tried things I wasn't sure I'd like, but ended up loving them. My favorites were the trout on pumpernickel and the sweet potato pasta. The steak was also incredible, cooked to perfection and oh so juicy. It was a blast sitting up at the bar, seeing things being prepared in front of you. The pacing of the courses was perfect, we had enough time to savor each one and chat between them for a nice long date night. I loved the entire experience, and the price was so worth it. I can't wait to come back to something totally new! read more

See all

Overpriced , on our last visit for dinner we left thinking where we should go for dinner ! Portions were very small but to be fair food quality was very good , just not enough of it. I Would not recommend at all but hope it improves. Would be worth having some all round nice Restaurant in Exeter. read more

Hi end cuisine, Lee is an amazing host, enjoyable time every time we go. Recommend getting the kitchen bar table to converse with Lee and staff while you shine. read more

Everything was amazing. Food, service, drinks, all on point. Can't pick a favorite dish as they all stand out for different reasons. read more

See all

!I'd been wanting to try this place for a few years. Finally had the opportunity to take my son, his wife and two kids. Although there were like five courses, I only enjoyed two of them. So it is not a place I will ever go back to. The kitchen is open to the diners so in the middle of summer, in the hot humid room, you get to enjoy all of the greasy smoke from the grill! You have to pretty much shout to one another because the noise inside the room is overwhelmingly loud. The ventilation is not great apparently. Now some of you may feel this review is a bit too much. Yet consider the price of the place. if I am paying over five hundred dollars for a meal, I expect alot! read more

So good! Always fresh, tasty, and you can feel the love in each meal. This is one of the rare places you can find fine vegan dining. Easy parking! read more

Otis - I wanted a light beer, the recommendation was awesome!! - New American Near Me - Exeter, New Hampshire

See all

It was good. It was my Birthday, sat at the Chefs table, (Bar) .....Chef was not overly friendly, sort of aloof. Food was decent, price point, decent, vibe, not so much. read more

Otis is just across from the bandstand in downtown Exeter. It has two high tables and three low tables (at the windows on Front Street) but most seating is at the bar. Otis has a five course prix fixe tasting menu, with two choices per course. (If there are two of you, order one of each and trade off.) There are two seatings: one at 17:30 and one at 19:30. The clientele is chic. Otis fully deserves its reputation for exceptionally delicious food. The plating is exquisite and the service is impeccable. The wine list is short but inviting. The bartenders produce inventive, highly intoxicating cocktails. Five stars for the food, service, and bar. But this is a place to go for food, drink, the exercise of the vocal chords, and intimate shouting into dining partners' ears, not conversation or a tryst. The noise is deafening. If you are a serious gourmet proficient in American sign language, antisocial with a hearing aid you can turn off, have a significant other you'd rather not have to listen to over dinner, or are desperate to overhear raspy motormouths recount their travel schedules and adventures amidst competing guffaws and barks from other diners, this is surely your kind of place. Go there for the superb food, not the inevitably absent insight into the character and views of your partner or friend at the bar. read more

Let's start with I'm a vegetarian. Looking at the sample menu I was excited for this dinner tasting menu, which we had made our reservations weeks in advance and stated both guests were vegetarian. We were at the chefs table for the 5:30 seating on Thursday. Our menu choices for the 2nd 3rd and 4th course only contained 1 vegetarian option and it was a pasta dish for the 2nd course. I was informed we would be receiving both first course options as our 1st and 2nd course. Salad salad, whatever I love greens. Then came the 3rd course which was the vegetarian 2nd course pasta option. My 4th option was sautéed greens with some of the sauces used in the meat dishes. Too much oil and zero effort put into this dish. I was on my 4th course of the night and would have received more protein from a kid's yogurt. 5th course was dessert and not memorable. The cocktails we had were a basic bourbon and lemon drink. Salad, salad, tiny pasta and wilted oily greens. The meat dishes looked good going to the other tables. Definitely look elsewhere if you are vegetarian and lucky for you Exeter has many other much better alternatives. Don't even get me started on the $$$$ read more

The food is excellent, very inventive and tasty. And the always a good selection of wines. The service also excellent and the wait staff friendly. read more

We have been here more than once and in all honesty I don't think we will return. We are not price conscious folks per se, but for $80 a person we just expected more. The portions are very small and attractive but for us taste is the priority and if it looks good thats great. The seating is awkward but thats not their fault as it's an old building. I don't know how they get away with not having a bathroom and the one they do have in the hotel next store does not have heat and is up several stairs and my wife has a walking disability. I get what they are doing and personally have made my living in the food business for more than 40 years now. My wife chose the pork entree and it was over cooked and tough. The pasta dish was good but not great and my strip steak was just that a strip of steak and nothing special about it. The soup was good as were the desserts and the service was spot on. Unfortunately for us this is not somewhere we would head to again. read more

Phenomenal food. Locally sourced. Courteous and knowledgeable staff. Cozy environment. Highly recommend.

I'm always hesitant with a set tasting menu however Otis had the most delightful menu- perfect for every palate & made quite a few accommodations & special requests for our table. Everything was delicious! Excellent service as well. Truly enjoyable! read more

I suppose my expectations were too high as our friends had hyped this place up a lot. The good: Fresh and delicious food, good drinks. Toss up: They take reservations, this could be a negative if your trying to go on a whim. Cozy atmosphere, however can be very loud if you have sensitive ears. The not so good: Very expensive for what you get, fixed menu, you get what you get. Th portions are small (1 scallop on the scallop course, 5 strands of pasta on the pasta course, tiny piece of beef on the beef course) Service not on par with price; waiter was much slower than expected, had to flag down several times for refills on drinks. They claim to cook food gluten free until they screw up one of the courses and there is gluten in it. Maybe its just not my style. Great Food -Y Great Drinks - Y Great Service - N Appropriate Value - N Exceptional Atmosphere - N read more

Hello! I was there tonight with three friends. It was the 5:30pm service. It was quite but became noisy. The food was good for a NH restaurant, average for a good US restaurant. The decoration of the dishes was nice. The atmosphere was not relax. It feels that you have a dinner in a submarine. Everyone was working hard and being stressed. The best were the deserts and the fresh fish were well cooked. The worst was the wine... For 4 of us with mediocre wine, $534. Good luck, Bernie read more

Having just moved from NY to Exeter & accustomed to "pizza Friday", we had to give Otto a try & were so glad we did. The fresh ingredients & crispy crust made the pizza amazing. Will be back weekly, so many choices. Let's not forget to mention the ease of ordering, restaurant cleanliness & friendly staff! read more

Otis delivered an extraordinary dining experience -- maybe our best ever, and we've been to quite a few five-star restaurants. Every dish on the five-course tasting menu was super flavorful, fresh, beautifully prepared and plated. The cocktails were perfectly mixed and the service was friendly and efficient (we ate at the bar and loved our bartender). The decor is really warm and inviting even though the space is small. We highly recommend Otis and cannot wait to go back again. read more

The food is DELICIOUS- and I actually crave their soups. I tried recreating one of them- unsuccessfully! I love the décor and whole vibe of Otis. Perfect date restaurant - or for a small group of 4 to have an intimate meal. It's nice to have a place I can get dressed up and not feel out of place. Reminds me of living in the city. I love the open kitchen concept. This is one of my favorites. Highly recommend. read more

Wow! 10/10. This was a fantastic experience! Friendly staff, phenomenal food, cool atmosphere! This has it all! If you're even thinking about it...stop. No need to think any more. I would come back here in a heartbeat. read more

See all

Such a cool place in Exeter! If you are looking for a traditional clam chowder and lobster roll, this is not for you but if you want something different where chefs are truly trying to express themselves and create unique dishes, you must try Otis! I was told that the owner is also one of the chefs, and his passion definitely shows in decor, menu and the overall atmosphere. Every dish is well thought out, and apparently menu frequently changes (which is always a good sign). Drinks and food menu have something for everything, and the staff is always happy to give their recommendations. I had a very nice meal, and it was the first time in a week where I walked out full but without a feeling that I am about to burst out in little pieces (all the seafood in the area is just so good that you can't help yourself but overeat). Overall, I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a high quality meal in a chill modern atmosphere. read more

See all

Pizza is good; meatballs are good but delivery is problematic. So either eat there or do pick up.

Without sounding too dramatic, this is by far the best restaurant I have ever been to. The menu is so creative and different every time we go, the flavors are incredibly balanced and the experience of sitting at the chef's counter is award winning and down right captivating. Otis is second to none. read more

Great food, creative and appropriately priced service is excellent, however the Noise level makes it an unpleasant experience. read more