Otis Cafe — Restaurant in Lincoln City

You can tell that the Otis Cafe has a cult like following and deservedly so however I went there for breakfast the other morning and it's a very busy place in case you didn't know and they fill up very quickly and there's a line that forms. And the first thing that struck me was they had very quick kitchen time and it tasted like my chicken fried steak had been fried earlier that morning and had been held in something because it wasn't crispy or oily so it means that it had time to drain and it feels like it sat somewhere where there was steam or moisture present like an oven. The kitchen time was insanely fast so it wouldn't surprise me at all considering how long it takes a chicken fried steak to deep fry if they were making them and holding them being that they are very popular. I could be assuming I'm just telling you what it tasted like in my experience was like. He may have deep fried that right away I'm just not sure how it would get that limp that quickly with a five to seven minute kitchen time. I cook a lot and my mom really liked donuts so I'm very familiar with deep frying and it takes a minute for a deep fried dish to get kind of cold and less crunchy it it just wasn't quite right It was delicious but it didn't taste fresh. And I was there to meet with a business associate and we had been there like just a little over a half an hour when like the lady kept coming up to us every like 2 to 3 minutes same with the coffee guy and constantly interrupting our conversation and it was like a strategy to get us to be uncomfortable to go so they could seat someone else at our table. I even said something like I get it we'll go You have a line There are people waiting. But we weren't there in an inordinate amount of time. I think we were at about 35 minutes at the table maybe 40 minutes. That's not really that long. I can understand if we had been there over an hour but we were seated at about 8:15 and I read the clock in my car and it was not even 9:00 a.m. yet. I was kind of shocked I was like what 8:52? Dang. So that's why it's a solid four star The food is really good but it seems like they're mass-producing it in order to serve the most number of people they can in their new space and congratulations to them to having that kind of customer volume but it just felt off. The service was very friendly but overly attentive and it felt purposeful If you're not trying to rush your customers out the door you may want to like step back and take a look at how you're interacting with them. The atmosphere pack jammed like a Portland brunch haunt. If that's your kind of thing then this is your kind of place. I'm not going to harsh on them for having a really large customer base. It's just disappointing that having that large customer base is kind of taken the pleasure out of eating there. Guess it's to go from now on, which by the way you have to go there anyways and tell them to their face what you want and wait there for it, there's no way to order in any other way but to...

TL;DR: Generous proportions. Breakfast all day. Bakery items for sale. Something I found interesting -- this diner does not have french fries. You could mug someone with the Pumpkin Loaf -- it's tasty too. Bread is made in house.

Parking: small private lot.

Atmosphere: fast paced small diner.

Service: wait to be seated, menu and check brought to the table, you will be watered. You can purchase bakery items at the counter next to the entrance/exit.

Kid Friendliness: No kids menu. Booster seats available. Kids will be given a paper cup with a lid and straw.

Menu: No pictures for the visually stimulated but descriptions are sufficient enough. Your server will tell you the daily specials and the specials are also written on a white board above the kitchen in case you forget -- it's a handful of items.

Apple-baked Ham and White Cheddar: I chose the grilled option. The cheese was nicely melted and the bread was satisfyingly thick and soft with a slight crispy outer layer. The ham on the other hand was a bit on the dry and chewy side in my opinion and I wasn't too impressed with the flavor -- it just tasted like salted meat. The proportion of meat was nice but the quality just wasn't there.

Basic Burger: Burger comes deconstructed (onions, pickle, tomato, shredded lettuce on the side). Though the presentation was nice, I found it slightly annoying when trying to pick up all the shredded lettuce to place into my burger. Everything looked and tasted fresh though. Mayo was already on the bun, no ketchup but ketchup is at the table. I chose the potato chips as the side -- they are crinkle cut, not overly salted, and crunchy but pretty average.

Beef Pot and Barley Soup: thick and hearty. Tastes almost like a chicken pot pie but beef flavored and in soup form, especially with the oyster crackers. It is very filling by itself. The only complaint I have is that it wasn't as hot as I expected a soup to be. I expect soup to be pipping hot off the stove where you have to use your birthday candle blowing breath to cool down before a bite and not just hot enough to eat right off the bat. If soup is not hot enough it, makes me think that it was either sitting out too long or was microwaved.

Pumpkin Bread: I personally like pumpkin bread so I thought I'd take home a loaf to try out. This thing is DENSE. I was so surprised at how heavy the loaf was when I picked it up -- you could mug someone with this thing, haha! It isn't overly sweet and has just enough moisture content. Very satisfying to have with a cup of joe.

Snickerdoodle Cookie: Large cookie that isn't too crumbly and has an even moisture content. Not overly sweet and is great for that tiny sweet tooth craving you may or may not have but you probably want to have. ;)

Coffee Cake: was sold out before we even sat down for lunch so I presume it must be good. So if you...

I’ve been coming to Otis Café for over 20 years—back when they were still located in the town of Otis—and I’ve always loved the food and service. It’s been a longtime favorite of mine. The German Potatoes with sausage and bacon are my go-to, and the molasses bread is incredible!

Recently, a friend came in from out of town and offered to take me and my three kids out to eat at our favorite restaurant, then let the kids play on the beach after. As a single mom going through a tough season—recently divorced and doing my best to get back on my feet—going out to a sit-down restaurant was a rare and special treat. We were all really looking forward to it, and the food didn’t disappoint.

At the end of the meal, the person who treated us paid the bill and immediately stepped outside to wait for us. I stayed behind to pack up leftovers and gather my kids. As I walked toward the front door, standing near the cashier, our server—who I’ve seen working there many times—suddenly stopped me. He raised his voice and waved the receipt in front of my face, asking loudly, “Was everything okay? Was the food okay? Was something wrong?”

I was caught completely off guard. People around us stopped and looked, and I could see the young woman who was clearing off our table also pause and watch with a visibly uncomfortable expression. I was confused until I saw the receipt and realized no tip had been left. I was shocked and embarrassed. I had no idea my friend didn’t tip—he’s usually someone who tips well—so it surprised me too.

I told the young woman how sorry I was, and I gave the only cash I had on me—a $6 tip. She was very kind and understanding, which I appreciated more than I can say. But the way the situation was handled by the server—so publicly and confrontationally—left me feeling humiliated in what was otherwise supposed to be a rare, joyful outing with my kids.

I fully understand how important tips are, and I deeply respect those in food service. I just wish this could have been handled more privately and respectfully. Otis Café has been part of many good memories for me over the years, and I’m still a fan—but I hope future interactions can reflect the warmth and hospitality that have always made this place so special.

As it stands right now, I still feel too...