Dot x Ott Review: Hip Restaurant & Mercantile In Bakersfield

If you’ve spent some time in downtown Bakersfield, the odds are that you’ve seen or heard of Dot x Ott Restaurant. This eatery & mercantile is located in the up-and-coming Eastchester part of downtown Bakersfield right off the corner of 18^th and O streets. Dot x Ott is one of those places that caught our attention immediately with their simple yet modern vibe.

After our first visit, we fell in love with their food and casual, hip atmosphere. This is a great spot to visit for lunch, weekend brunch, or special occasions like intimate Birthday dinners and date nights.

Dot x Ott Menu

With a small but well-thought-out menu, Dot x Ott specializes in lunch plates, weekend brunch, and drool-worthy dinner specials. Their seasonal menu is full of delicious goodies made with ingredients from local farms that they partner with. New creative items are constantly being added that will blow you away with their flavor combinations.

Most recently we visited Dot x Ott for my Birthday lunch on the day of their re-opening in April.

The Dot x Ott lunch menu leans towards lighter fare like soups, salads, and bowls but you can also get one of their more filling plates. Both of us had a really hard time choosing what to order because everything just sounded so good!

For lunch, I tried the Tempura Fish & Red Corn Tortilla Tacos which seemed to be a popular choice from taking a quick glance around. I’m usually not a big fan of fried fish but this plate was so light and tasted super fresh.

The taco plate was so colorful and well-presented that I almost felt bad for taking my first bite (but let’s be real – nothing will ever come between me and my food).  

My husband got the Korean BBQ Beef Bowl which was so delicious. The beef was very tender and just melted in your mouth. The spicy mango-jalapeño purple cabbage slaw and pickled carrots added lightness and crunch to balance out the meat & rice.

On a previous visit, we tried the Marrow & Eggs brunch plate that comes with slow-roasted bone marrow, 2 eggs, and toast that is served with a small side salad. For breakfast be sure to order the Stumptown Coffee, our personal favorite! After living in Portland for a year we’ve become huge fans of Stumptown coffee and always order it whenever we see it on a menu.

Not in the mood for coffee? Try one of the Dot x Ott refreshing drinks like the Hibiscus Mint Lemon Sparkler or Arnold Palmer made with in-house lemonade.

I really enjoyed how much thought was put into the presentation of everything we ordered from the menu, something that many other restaurants often overlook.

The Restaurant Is Very Modern

One of the best parts about dining at Dot x Ott is their stunning sleek décor. Dot x Ott offers an upscale dining experience in a very modern space that’s great for catching up with friends or showing off the best of downtown Bakersfield to someone who is visiting the city for the first time.

Looking for a relaxing place to enjoy a sunny afternoon brunch? Dot x Ott has an outstanding outdoor seating area and one of the most charming patios we’ve found in Bakersfield that is fun, casual, and downright gorgeous.  

It’s obvious that a lot of thought goes into everything Dot x Ott does from the attractive décor & well-thought-out menu to the smallest touches like their logo, font, and overall consistent look.

With unique decorations and a forward-thinking concept in a stunning red brick building, it’s great to see places like this open up in Downtown Bakersfield, an area that has experienced a lot of changes in recent years.

The Mercantile

After your meal be sure to browse the Dot x Ott market shelves for some amazing local products. At their store section, you can get fresh sustainably sourced products straight from Pickalittle Farms.

Some other items that you can often shop for at this mercantile are spices, cooking oil, candies, dry foods, and some delicious wine.

As someone who lives downtown Bakersfield, we often struggle to find fresh produce due to the limited number of grocery stores in this part of town. If the food at Dot x Ott has inspired you to step up your cooking game, you can grab a few items from their market before heading home after your meal.

It’s Also Dog Friendly

We’re always looking for dog-friendly restaurants in Bakersfield and we were so glad to find out that Dot x Ott allows dogs on their patio. With spacious outdoor seating, there is plenty of room for you and your four-legged friend!

Dot x Ott Location & Address:

930 18th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Plenty of street parking is usually available in downtown Bakersfield around the restaurant.

Stay Social

Want to add drool-worthy photos to your Insta feed? Be sure to follow their Instagram page here: @dotandott

You can also follow Dot x Ott on Facebook for more foodie inspo: Facebook.com/dotandott

I’m still dreaming of our last meal at Dot x Ott and I can’t wait to return and try some other dishes at this creative Bakersfield restaurant.

Looking for more restaurants to dine at in Bakersfield? Be sure to check out this post next: 10 Standout Places To Eat In Bakersfield, California.