Otto's High Dive: The Delicious and Organic Reward of a Good Neighborhood Layout

Otto’s High Dive is a great example of a place that has become non-existent among all the crazy new housing developments happening across the Sunshine State. Florida has seemingly been building at a faster rate than the infrastructure that is meant to support it, and also building these houses and neighborhoods and giant cul-de-sacs in scattershot distant places without actually providing any fun options within these giant housing spaces. What we’re seeing primarily are giant plazas being built in replacement for creating businesses within walking distance of these suburban living circles.

Yes, new housing is always welcoming, but we’re not building new housing for Floridians, we’re not attempting to construct new spaces that caters to Floridians and caters to the environments surrounding them. We’re just seeing lines of similar-looking houses, walls separating them, and nothing besides HOA offices and maybe a clubhouse. For every Cagan’s Crossings, a popular Kissimmee/Clermont housing behemoth that has businesses and even a library within their occupancy spaces, we have a dozen new faraway unaffordable neighborhoods built to try to bring in rich folks from other states and even other countries.

Milk District, located within a few miles from Downtown Orlando, is a nice display on how to properly build a livable space for your people. Grid system, plenty of walkable space, a couple available parks for fresh air, building around green spaces instead of razing it all, a few local markets, and good visual and architectural variety of the houses that are built along the square miles occupied. Most importantly, local breweries and restaurants that can be easily accessible from your living space.

Located on the intersections of Thorton Park, Milk District, and Lake Eola Heights is a Cuban-Floridian rum bar built with the purpose of satisfying the clienteles while representing the state its located in. Otto’s High Dive is a concept that wouldn’t work everywhere, but it’s a very Floridian spot, and we love it for that reason…..even if the price tag can be a little high.

The place is a bit smaller, making it more intimate and more of a shared space among locals. Also can make your wait to be seated a bit lengthy so call ahead or make a reservation. It is a rum bar so you better be prepared to drink, as they have an extensive list of liquors and cocktails made by a dedicated staff who is on top of their game.

The menu has a good range of prices, you can spend $6-$10 to get some snacks, or go crazy with a large group and get the $120 seafood tower. Otto’s is at its best when you’re going in a fun group or with a special date, and both times I went it was clear that the experience hits its peak when approached from either angle. I went by myself, so I had to settle for what is one of the better Latin American dishes in all of Central Florida: their lechon asado.

It’s a Cuban plate of perfectly cooked happiness with perfect rice, spectacular house-made hot sauce, and some of the best pork outside of the Caribbean. An absolute delight. No additional notes required. 10/10, spectacular work. The only way to make this even better is if they had some great tres leches—

---YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tres leches was also an absolute gem, although this is definitely a portion that’s meant to be shared. Probably the largest slice I’ve ever experienced, and the price tag definitely resembles the notion that this delicious behemoth needs multiple participants.

Food and vibes like this can only come from well-designed neighborhoods where they build properly for the people they will ultimately sell/rent homes to. This place is the organic result of proper development, of an authentic neighborhood. A place like this will never emerge from those milquetoast neighborhoods constructed without an actual plan, without an effort to match the environment and the layout of the town its located in. We need more Ottos, and fewer big box restaurant chains occupying giant lifeless plazas that doesn’t even provide sidewalks to the new developments.

Otto’s High Dive is a great late-night hangout with great food, great drinks, while enjoying being in the middle of good Orlando neighborhoods. Enjoy the vibes, enjoy the crowd, and definitely get that tres leches.