Crazy Otto's Classic Burger
By: Stephen Bond
Updated: March 30, 2012
As Ray Kroc, the creator of McDonald's once said, "it requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun." but that's just what people see at Crazy Otto's Empire Dinner in Herkimer. Crazy Otto's was recently voted one of the best burger's in New York and this burger is as vintage as the restaurant it's made in. Owner Scott Tranter says, "When they called she was very surprised that we won with just a cheeseburger. I said 'well we have a very good cheeseburger.' You know if you want a classic burger at a classic restaurant this is where to come."
And Crazy Otto's draws crowds from all across the state include some from the Albany area. Bill Clarke says, "I'm a burger guy and Burger King across the street doesn't cut it. It's huge and it taste's really good too." And John "Sparky" Emrich added, "I have 3 or 4 of these things a week, it's the best I've had. The food here is the greatest, it's not just the burger it's everything. But the burger is... the flavor of that burger is I don't know."
Like any good chef, Scott has his secret recipe but the historic kitchen may have something to do with the flavor of the burger. "It's a 1952 Mountain View Diner that was manufactured in New Jersey and it was the most modern kitchen in all of Upstate at one time."
Now that Crazy Otto's has been recognized on a regional level it's time to go head to head with other regional champs. "So now we being the winner of region number 4, we go against the other regions now for the overall best burger in the state."


