"I know it's just pizza, but it was one probably of the best things I had in Portland, Maine!" So proclaims a quote from a recent customer on the home page of Otto Pizza, Portland, Maine. Clearly written from the POV of someone "from away," but here's the thing—most locals feel the same way. In less than two years, Otto has become a slow motion riot of saucy goodness, engulfing one storefront and then two in the arts district on Congress Street and recently slouching up Munjoy Hill for a third. Earlier this year they jumped from the Hill to Harvard Square, opening their first branch in Cambridge, Mass. Elizabeth Ginsburg of freefoodboston wrote a nicely detailed (and photographed) review in the spring, introducing Boston to the pleasures of the Portland pie. For a lesser pizzaria this might be grounds for resentment, for jealousy, for claims of prodigal sellout. But Otto has been pitch perfect in their assault of our foodie affections. Their pizza feels hand made, but not precious. The ingredients are fresh and original, but the price always feels fair. The people who work there are nice but not overly solicitous. In short, the place just feels natural in a way that makes sense in Portland. And by all accounts, Otto translates well to Cambridge. So rather than jealously guarding our treasure, let consider Otto as our gift to Cambridge. And maybe some of those Cambridgers will find themselves pulled to Portland upon graduation, impelled by an unseen (though delicious smelling) force. Next stop for Otto, Brooklyn or Berkeley?

Photo by Elizabeth Ginsburg, freefoodboston

Tags: entrepreneurs, Food and Foodies, live in portland, neighborhoods