A Love Letter as We Close Our Doors at 40 Clinton Street

In 2019, Oti began as a small dream. A quiet idea that maybe, just maybe, we could build a place full of warmth, food, and a bit of magic. Over the years this little dream grew into something far beyond what we imagined. We had hard moments and failures. We had wonderful surprises and unexpected success. We fought, we learned, we cried, and we celebrated.

Never in a million years did I think we would be featured in The New Yorker. Or be in the running for Star Chef in Rising Stars. These things still feel surreal. But even with all of that, the real joy of Oti was never in the press or the praise. It was in the people.

Our team. Their hearts. Their quirks. Their humor. Their loyalty. Their talent. They brought Oti to life and gave it soul.

Our guests. You showed up for us. You embraced us. You loved us. You made every long night and every stressful moment worth it. You turned our tiny space into a home.

Closing Oti at 40 Clinton Street is a choice we made with care. It is strategic. It is intentional. It is for the sake of our future. And although we are closing these doors, we are not closing Oti.

This next chapter is full of possibility. Oti will live on through catering, pop up parties, and private events. We are finishing our cookbook. You will still find us on Instagram, and you can subscribe to stay in the loop as we share all the updates. We will also release details soon about our final days in the space. Please come. Please celebrate with us. Make a reservation and enjoy some of our last dishes. We will have special events for the closing and we want you there.

From the bottom of my heart, it has been a joy and a true privilege to serve you. You have changed me. You have made me better. I have walked through hell and impossibly hard moments. I have also felt the pure joy of watching your faces light up as you tasted our food. You trusted us with anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, losses, proposals, graduations, and difficult conversations. You shared moments of love and moments of grief. You brought your families. You created memories. And in doing so you gave me memories I will carry for the rest of my life.

Thank you. Deeply. Thank you.

With love,

Chef Elias