Even though I really like Otoro81 and consider it as one of the best options around, I was underwhelmed by the overall atmosphere and layout of the restaurant and terrace as well as the offering on the menu, which is limited to fixed sets of maki and sashimi alongside some starters. I might try out the Vomero outlet as well, which seems to have a larger and more sophisticated indoor restaurant and it might provide a more intriguing experience.

Anyway, we went for some ebi tempura (fried shrimp) and some Fiano di Avelino white wine while waiting for the main dish. We opted for the a luxury uramaki set that in comparison to other places around was quite underwhelming. Even though it looked nice, in the end all rolls where more or less identical and covered with dressing, rendering the taste of the fish a bit indistinguishable. We had maguro (tuna back) uramaki (inside out roll) with maguro topping, ebi (shrimp) uramaki (inside out roll) with zuzuki (sea bass) topping, sake (salmon) uramaki (inside out roll) with gari (pickled ginger) topping, maguro (tuna back) tartare uramaki (inside out roll) with avocado topping and ebi tempura (fried shrimp) uramaki (inside out roll) with ebi (shrimp) topping. It was not bad, but also not great.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Overall, Otoro Lab seemed to be a nice new addition to the realm of sushi restaurants in Napoli, but did not live up the expectations. Being associated with Otoro81, a premium Japanese restaurant, it really disappointed both from a perspective of atmosphere as well as from culinary experience. The menu options are limited, but even more drastically the dishes offered all focus on the same ingredients, mainly tuna back, salmon and shrimp. Considering it is an upscale and expensive restaurant, this is hardy what I would expect. The food quality is good but due to the heavy use of sauce and dressing, the taste is somewhat indistinct and does not pay tribute to the ingredients or to Japanese cuisine in general. The drink menu is limited as well, but some nice wines are available. The service was nice and forthcoming, but also there was not flexility to adjust fixed sets from the menu to our desires. All in all, it was not a bad experience, but certainly not what I expected from Otoro Lab.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: January 7, 2022

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Exceptional Dinner

With a group of colleagues we arrived at the restaurant for an early dinner. We were seated at a nice table with a good view over the sushi lounge and were served some nice sake tempura (fried salmon) as an amuse-bouche to kick of the dinner. We decided to sample the premium selection plates and ordered some individual premium items on top and were set for an amazing experience.

First, we had an amazing otoro (fatty tuna belly) tartare, which was absolutely breathtaking. It was followed by an sashimi plate with maguro (tuna back), hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon), suzuki (sea bass), hotategai (scallop) and ebi (shrimp) of which the scallop and shrimp were most amazing. We also sampled an hamachi (yellowtail) carpaccio with jalapeño dressing, which also excellent.

The next plate came with same hamachi (yellowtail), suzuki (sea bass), maguro (tuna back), sake (salmon) and ebi (shrimp) sashimi as well as hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon), maguro (tuna back), suzuki (sea bass), kuruma ebi (tiger prawn) and red ebi (shrimp) nigiri. The hamachi was excellent but surpassed by the outstanding texture and taste of the tiger prawn and red shrimp. Although this was a simple plate with standard items, it already was a remarkable dinner.

We then opted for some more toro (tuna belly) dishes. We tried the otoro (fatty tuna belly) tartare gunkan (battleship sushi), otoro (fatty tuna belly), otoro (fatty tuna belly) nigiri with maguro (tuna back) nigiri. All of these items were jaw dropping and rank among the best quality and taste of tuna in Napoli.

Subsequently we had two orders of the large signature mix plate that offers the most premium pieces the restaurant has to offer. It came with sake (salmon) maki, a amazing sake (salmon) uramaki (inside out roll) with seared sake (salmon) tartare topping, otoro (fatty tuna belly) nigiri with otoro (fatty tuna belly) tartare topping, sake (salmon), hamachi (yellowtail) with uni (sea urchin) topping, suzuki (sea bass) nigiri, ebi (shrimp) with ika (squid) and tobiko (flying fish roe) topping), kani (crab), kuruma ebi (tiger prawn) and ika (squid) nigiri with caviar topping.

To say the least, this plate was amazing. The combination of flavours created by the carefully picked toppings was outstanding and the quality and taste of the items was excellent. Most amazing were the yellowtail with the sea urchin, the squid with caviar and tiger prawn. It was only surpassed by the fatty tuna belly, that was as excellent as ever.

All in all, this was an absolutely excellent dinner that ranks among the best sushi experiences I ever had in Napoli. Just recently I resampled all the top choices in town and Otoro81 definitely outperformed the competition.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Otoro81 is an excellent Japanese restaurant with an amazing interior design and modern atmosphere. The lounge is very stylish but uses warm colours, so it feels comfy and cozy despite the cocktail bar and DJ setting. It invites for long stays that extend beyond the dinner. The menu options are extensive and offer both classic and highly exclusive items that are otherwise hard or even impossible to find in Napoli. The quality and taste of the food is outstanding. Although not on the same level as high end options globally, it certainly is one of its kind in Southern Italy. So far, it is the only restaurant that servers tuna at a high quality and also offers fatty tuna cuts that are excellent. The drink menu is extensive and offers anything you could hope for from cocktails to wine and spirits. The service team is excellent, friendly and forthcoming and creates a good vibe. For sure I will be back at Otoro81.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: June 1, 2019

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Dinner at otoro81

This is the second time I went to the restaurant and this time we chose a table at the far end of room. In a group of 3 people there was no way to squeeze us in at the bar. We started out with some wakame and maguro (bluefin tuna back) tataki plate as well as an amazing o-toro (bluefin fatty tuna belly) tartare. This was an experience to be remembered and scores among the most unique tuna dishes I ever had.

Afterwards we a plate of mixed sashimi with sake (salmon), maguro (bluefin tun back) and hamachi (yellowtail). Although the sake was very good, the overall experience was a little disappointing in comparison to the first course. Lastly we ordered a unagi (freshwater eel) and sake (salmon) inside out roll, which was pretty good and a few more pieces of the o-toro (bluefin fatty tuna belly) as nigiri, the signature dish of the restaurant.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Overall, dining a otoro81 is an absolute delight. It it is the best sushi restaurant I have been to in Napoli so far and provides al welcoming and totally unique atmosphere. The menu options are good, although this time they seemed limited compared to the previous visit when I was seated at the bar. The food quality and taste is outstanding and also the dink menu provides everything one could desire. The service was friendly but a little bit distanced this time. It was a very busy night, so it probably was because of that. All in all, I recommend to check out this restaurant but would advise to sit at the sushi bar for the best experience.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: April 14, 2018

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Amazing Sushi Dinner

Located in the basement of a typical Napoli building, the newly renovated bar feels stylish and warm. The restaurant offers various tables as well as some limited seats at the sushi bar, where I was greeted with a small tuna tartare on a blue chip. It was amazing. Also, the sushi bar is highly communicative and allowed me to chat with the sushi chef (a rare setup in Napoli). While I waited for my sashimi plate, I tried the dragon roll with ebi (shrimp) and unagi (freshwater eel). It was very tasty, although I don’t like large amounts of avocado in sushi rolls.

The sashimi plate was absolutely amazing and the best I had so far in Napoli. It came with maguro (bluefin tuna back), seared ibodai (butterfish), sake (salmon), katsuo (bonito fish), hamachi (yellowtail), suzuki (sea bass) and o-toro (bluefin fatty tuna belly), the signature fish of the restaurant. By far it was the best tuna I had in Napoli. The o-toro was especially amazing and had a very intriguing texture. I also enjoyed the sake, the ibodai as well as the katsuo.

As this started out as the most impressive sushi experience in Napoli so far, I decided to go for more specialties from the menu. I was amazed by the hotategai (scallop) and o-toro (bluefin fatty tuna belly) nigiri and also enjoyed the ibodai (butterfish) and unagi (frehwater eel) nigiri. The maguro (bluefin tuna back) and suzuki (sea bass) nigiri were also very nice, but most impressive was the hotategai (scallop) with ibodai (buttefish) and ikura (salmon roe) topping. The mango ice cream with ikura was a nice cooldown but something I could have skipped.

Sushi Guide Verdict

Hands down, otoro81 is the best sushi restaurant in Napoli that I have been to so far. It impressed me both with its atmosphere, its interior setting as well as the outstanding menu options and breathtaking food quality. The taste of the fish at this restaurant outpaces the competition in the area by a long shot. The cocktail menu is extensive and very upscale, making this location an ideal place for a long night out. The service was excellent and I really enjoyed talking with the chef during the meal, something I miss in many of the Neapolitan sushi restaurants.

Atmosphere
Menu Options
Food Quality
Drink Variety
Service
Average

Review date: February 27, 2018

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