Crazy Otto’s is the kind of place where the locals revel in quirky customs and off-the-wall menu items. Not satisfied with your typical Spanish breakfast omelet? Well, try Scotty’s Chili Cheese Dog – the ingredients don’t need to be described– or the Bacon and Chicken Liver, which states its intentions up front. And feeling a bit tight? Then hope a freight train passes by. The waitress will spin a wheel and you might win a free meal. In short, it has all the markings of a funky, down-home local institution – which, in fact, it is. The Lancaster restaurant has been going strong since it was founded in 1973 by retiree Otto Lindsel on Sierra Highway right next to a rail line, close enough that it shook when trains passed. Over the years, the Antelope Valley diner has seen its reputation expand like one of its outsized omelets. Otto’s goes through about 22,000 eggs a week, and in 1993 it broke the record for the world’s biggest omelet. After losing the title, it took it back in 2002 when loyal clientele helped out to whip up one with 34,000 eggs. That was enough to draw a visit from the Terminator himself in 2005, just after Arnold Schwarzenegger had been elected governor. Most recently, the restaurant was named the Small Business of the Year in the 36th Assembly District by Assemblyman Steve Fox, who lauded Otto’s for “outstanding dedication to customer service, great food, and hard work.” The restaurant, now owned by two partners, moved from its original location after the 1994 Northridge earthquake and has expanded to six locations: two in Lancaster and others in Acton, Leona Valley, Rosamond and even one inside of Edwards Air Force Base. Wendy Klingkamer, manager of the restaurant, grew up dining at the restaurant and has been working at the Avenue I location in Lancaster for the past six years. “I remember when Crazy Otto’s was by the railroad tracks,” she said. “It’s kind of an icon in this town.” – Jacquelinne Mejia
Restaurant Breaking All the Eggs
