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A colorful dish that will soothe your tired body after a long walk
"OTTO"

[Interview, text and photography]
Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC Student Staff)
Suhon Kanai, 2nd year student, School of Law

Located halfway between Waseda Campus and Takadanobaba Station, OTTO is a spaghetti restaurant that's easy to stop by when Baba-aruki. The owner, Mr. Tsuno, decided to set up his restaurant in this location by pure chance, and initially had no idea that Waseda Street was a route taken by Waseda students. Thanks to its location, the restaurant is beloved by Waseda students and faculty, and is now in its 18th year since opening!

All seats are at the counter, with eight seats available. You can see Tsuno-san's serious look as he uses his knife, the occasional flame rising from the frying pan, the sound of the ingredients being fried, and the aroma of the sauce wafting up to the dining area. You can see the entire process of how the spaghetti is made, which adds to the excitement of the food.

Left: The bright and clean interior
Right: Mr. Tsuno cooks skillfully from the counter

The menu has several bases, such as tomato sauce, carbonara, and peperoncino, and is further divided into categories based on ingredients, such as cod roe, mentaiko, clams, and mushrooms. The usual 100g portion is available, but there's also the pleasant bonus of being able to get an extra 50g for free. The daily "Today's Lunch" comes with a salad and a choice of four drinks, including tea and orange juice, so you're sure to be satisfied.

This time, I tried two dishes recommended by Tsuno: the creamy Japanese-style carbonara , and the spicy vegetable peperoncino from Today's Lunch.

First up is the Japanese-style Carbonara. The glossy golden sauce is sure to whet your appetite. As soon as you put it in your mouth, the melting sweetness and gentle richness of the dashi permeate your mouth...! The thick, chewy, high-quality noodles are perfectly cooked to perfection, giving them the perfect texture. The soft texture of the bacon and mushrooms matches perfectly with the thick, creamy sauce. The flavor is so gentle that I couldn't stop eating and finished it in no time.

"Japanese Carbonara" 930 yen. All plates used in the restaurant are different in color and pattern. The photo shows 100g of noodles.

Next up was the "Peperoncino with Vegetables." The flavor of olive oil and the fragrant garlic can be felt without even getting close to the dish, and as soon as you put it in your mouth, it penetrates deep into your body. A gentle yet sharp spiciness comes afterwards. If you like spicy food, this is an addictive taste.

It is made with an abundance of colorful vegetables such as broccoli, pumpkin, and eggplant, and has a great texture. He tries to use seasonal vegetables, not only for taste but also for price. This time it contained spinach, but in the summer it will be replaced with cabbage. Even if the ingredients change, "I try to make the peperoncino taste as similar as possible," he said.

Today's lunch: "Peperoncino with vegetables" 980 yen. Includes salad and drink

Also eye-catching on the menu is the phrase, "We accept orders off the menu. Please feel free to ask." Apparently, they even accommodate requests that are not on the menu! Mr. Tsuno says with a smile, "Once customers get used to me, they start to get selfish (laughs)." Apparently, regular customers actually request things like "eggplant and bacon in tomato sauce" and "lots of mushrooms." During the interview, Mr. Tsuno's comment, "Well, I'll make anything that's not on the menu," left a lasting impression.

The name "OTTO" means the number 8 in Italian, and refers to the fact that the restaurant has eight seats.

They change the vegetables according to the season and also accommodate orders off the menu. This flexible service would not be possible without Mr. Tsuno's skill. Be sure to stop by on your way to Baba-aruki. You're sure to find a dish you'll love.

Store Information
[Store name] OTTO
[Address] 2-15-4 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
[Business hours] 11:30-15:00, 17:30-21:00 (last order 21:00)
*Payment is cash only.
【Closed】Sunday

*All prices in the article include tax.

A message from the owner, Mr. Tsuno, to Waseda students

"Thank you for always taking care of me!"