The New York Upstate Diner Frying Chicken Riggies The Utica Way
Craving authentic Upstate flavor? This New York Upstate Diner serves Chicken Riggies the Utica way, rich, spicy, and totally unforgettable.
I stumbled into Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner on a gray Tuesday, chasing rumors of riggies so good they haunt your dreams. Central New York owns this dish the way Buffalo owns wings, and Herkimer holds its own corner of the legacy with chrome counters and a skillet that never cools.
Chicken riggies blend Italian-American heart with Mohawk Valley fire, a creamy tomato embrace spiked by cherry peppers that remind you comfort food can still pack a punch.
At Otto’s, the recipe honors Utica tradition while the diner vibe keeps things easy, the kind of place where strangers nod hello and regulars know the menu by heart.
Chrome glints under fluorescent lights, neon hums above the door, and the griddle never stops singing its sizzle song.
Author's summary: Authentic Upstate flavor at Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner.