Today we’d like to introduce you to ALI SEVINDI.
Hi ALI, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
OTTO was founded in Charlottesville in 2020 by Haldun Turgay and Ali Sevindi with a clear goal: to serve fresh, delicious Mediterranean-inspired food in a way that feels approachable, satisfying, and enjoyable for everyone.
Both Haldun Turgay and Ali Sevindi came into the business with strong hospitality and business backgrounds, and their education and travels throughout Europe played an important role in shaping the concept. Experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and styles of hospitality helped influence not only the food, but also the way OTTO approaches service, presentation, and the overall guest experience.
From the beginning, the vision was always bigger than just operating a restaurant. OTTO was built to serve people in different ways, from everyday meals to catering, weddings, corporate events, university functions, private celebrations, and larger community events. Over time, that vision expanded further with the OTTO food truck and later the Richmond location.
As the company grew, Haldun Turgay and Ali Sevindi naturally focused on different areas of the business based on their strengths, while continuing to build OTTO together. The journey has included long hours, challenges, constant learning, and many adjustments along the way, but the focus has stayed the same.
Today, OTTO continues to grow around the same principles it started with: fresh food, strong hospitality, consistency, and creating an experience that people genuinely enjoy.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. We opened and grew through COVID, followed by inflation, rising labor costs, and major increases in food and operating expenses.
Another challenge has been maintaining the quality and authenticity of our food while keeping prices fair. We source traditional and natural ingredients carefully, including imported products when needed, and those costs have changed significantly over time.
For both the restaurant and catering side, the goal has always been the same: keep the food fresh, consistent, and high quality without making it unaffordable for our customers. That balance has been one of the biggest challenges, but also one of the most important parts of building OTTO.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
OTTO is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and catering company based in Charlottesville, with a growing presence in Richmond. We specialize in fresh, flavorful food for everyday dining as well as weddings, corporate events, university functions, private celebrations, and large-scale catering.
What sets us apart is the combination of food quality, flexibility, and hospitality. We are able to serve someone coming in for a quick lunch, but we can also handle a fully staffed wedding or a large event with setup, service, bartending, beverages, and cleanup.
We are especially proud that the brand has grown beyond the restaurant into catering, events, our food truck, and a second market, while still keeping the same focus on fresh food, consistency, and taking care of people well. We want OTTO to feel approachable, dependable, and memorable, whether someone visits us once or trusts us with one of the most important events of their life.
What makes you happy?
What makes us happiest is people and community. There is something special about serving good food, creating a welcoming experience, and seeing the reaction on someone’s face when they genuinely enjoy what you have prepared for them.
Hospitality is really about connection. Whether it is a regular customer, a family celebrating something important, or a large event, knowing that we helped create a good memory for someone is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Pricing:
- Fast-casual Mediterranean meals generally range from about $15 to $25 per person
- Catering buffet packages typically start around $25 per person for simpler corporate-style catering
- Wedding and full-service catering varies based on menu, staffing, setup, bar service, and event needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.otto-cville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottocville
