Crazy Otto's Empire Diner — Restaurant in Town of Herkimer

So, I came back to see if the food I got last time (review of the first time is below) was just a one-time thing or not, and sadly, it was still sub-par at best. It's not that good, really. I actually reduced my rating from 2 stars to 1 as the service was still lousy (even though there was only 3 other parties here at the time) and the food was seemingly worse than last time. My burger patty was thin and flat, and bland tasting. (Supposedly the "burger" that won an award was the burger patty and not an actual burger, so that really threw me.) But I still can't figure out how they won any awards. Maybe things have changed for the worse over the years since they won the award(s)?

I'm sorry, Otto, but this place really needs an improvement in food quality and taste. P.S. homemade food is a million times better than a Sysco "quality" foods product.

Old review:

The food is mediocre. Nothing impressed me at all. The decor was quite overwhelming. Service was under sub-par. It was quite a disappointment considering they brag about being the "Best Diner in NY." Fabricated "award?" Idk, it was pretty bad.

Reply to owner: I didn't complain about the food out of respect to the guests I was with. And when the waitress asked how everything was, I even said, "it was alright," stressing hard on the "alright" implying displeasure with the food. (Mind you, I didn't dine there the day I wrote this comment. It was a few days prior before I got time to write this review.) My comment about the fabricated award part was probably a bit harsh and I apologize. I'm sorry. But if the food we were served was judged for that award, it wouldn't be much of an award. Maybe it was just that day we were there, maybe not. I don't...

This is a funky railcar diner. The ambiance and smiling service warrant a stop alone, but the coffee is s great respite on a long road trip. Its fresh, hot and a rich strong brew-- regular and decaf! Full of flavor and not that watery stuff some cheap places serve. The staff recommended the mushroom swiss burger, saying the mushrooms are sauteed in a garlic butter. I was sold, and not disappointed! I added lettuce, tomato and onion, but held the mayo and asked for the burger cooked rate. The bun was delicious, but the burger was so large I had to leave most of the bread so I could finish it! My boyfriend got the philly vegetarian burger with a black bean patty and he really liked it. He opted for the home made kettle chips while I paid a bit more for fries. Go for the chips! They are a dark golden, very think and super crunchy treat. While my first batch of fries were not great, the staff noticed I wasn't eating them , inquired and when I admitted they seemed soggy and undercooked, she insisted on making me another serving. The second batch were hot, crispy and good, and Abby our waitress was incredibly welcoming and full of smiles and gave us the impression she wanted us to enjoy the experience, even though we were passing through and might never return. That's the kind of service worth seeking out. The menu is large. They feature a lot of very inexpensive lunch specials, and a good variety of options of simple and hearty diner food. The desserts were intriguing, especially the peanut butter chocolate cheesecake and key lime pie, but we were too stuffed to try it. We will return whenever we pass on our way to the adirondacks or...

The service was top notch. It seems like our table was checked on at the exact right times. The old timey feel of the diner is what I love to see in a diner. The decor coupled with the size, could potentially leave someone who has anxiety or who is claustrophobic, feeling a little cramped, just a heads up. However, as someone who has more mild of both, it didn’t bother me too much. The food was good. I had the Hawaiian burger, and the concept of pineapples on a burger blew my mind in the best possible way. The burger itself was very much a homemade burger, and didn’t feel manufactured, which I loved. It was a little dry for my personal taste, I ordered it well done, which I usually do, but there was (if I remember correctly) a teriyaki sauce on it and the pineapple, and that’s it. The bread was a delicious bread, but with a well done burger and the bread it was on, it didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I put ketchup on it and that was a mild mistake flavor wise, but it helped soften it up a little. However, that was a mistake on my part. Maybe if there was a little more teriyaki sauce I wouldn’t have run into this problem, I’m not sure. But, overall the food was really good. I found myself envious of the other meals at the table, and while I probably won’t find myself in that area again for a while, when I do stop through again, I will be stopping there for lunch. I would...