Marge’s Diner: Ottertail City, MN
While the kitschy vibe of Marge's Diner is happy to take patrons down memory lane in downtown Fargo—sharing the love of 70's lunch and brunch—Minnesota's lakes country had been patiently awaiting a bite of the giant pancake. Settling into a syrupy sweet spot in Ottertail City, MN, Marge's American diner classics now have a second home, sprinkling new life into the former main street site of the small town's beloved Betty's Pantry. From homemade pies and cinnamon rolls to tasty tater cakes, hangover hashbrowns, breakfast lasagna, walleye sandwiches, and brioche burgers, Marge's Diner is serving up the classics with a twist. Warning: If attempting the diner's XL take on the "The Pancake," your summer is about to get very full.
BY Tracy Nicholson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kristen Jyrkas
Marge’s Midwest Kitsch-en
A busy restaurateur with a BSBA in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, Dan Hurder is forever finding creative ways to feed the culinary masses. Hurder’s dining experiences cater to the crave in styles all their own. His current portfolio includes Twin Town Tavern in Wahpeton, ND, The Otter Supper Club & Lodge in Ottertail, MN, Marge’s Diner in both Fargo and Ottertail, then Fargo’s The Boiler Room, Brew Catering & Events, Chef’s Table Catering, and Urban Foods Catering of Moorhead.
In Ottertail City, population 687, Marge’s Diner brings Hurder’s more casual spin on a cozy American diner to lakes country, just a hop and skip away from Thumper Pond’s golf course. Breakfast begins at 8 am, and lunch goes from 10 am – 2 pm Wednesday through Sunday, including a soup and seasonal salad bar, homemade pies, mini donuts, biscuit bites, and giant cinnamon rolls for the taking.
With home-cooked meals in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere, Marge’s patrons bask in the retro glow of vintage cookie jars, copper Jell-O and cake molds, and well-loved knick-knacks – each tchotchke collectively reviving grandma’s kitschy kitchen from the 60s to the 70s.
“People often ask me, ‘What inspired the décor?’ I don’t really have an answer for that,” said Hurder. “With the original Marge’s in Fargo, we just knew we wanted something that felt very Midwest, like it had always been part of downtown. As we started thinking about who Marge might have been, the 70’s kitchen/living room vibe just kept pulling us back. When you start looking, it’s amazing how many things are lying around at thrift stores and in online marketplaces that were perfect for Marge’s. Apparently, most people’s trash is Marge’s treasure!”
““When you start looking, it’s amazing how many things are lying around at thrift stores and in online marketplaces that were perfect for Marge’s. Apparently, most people’s trash is Marge’s treasure!””
Rise & Shine
Since the Ottertail opening in mid-May, the most popular menu item has been the “Awesome Breakfast,” including two eggs, two tater cakes, a side of toast, and a choice of sausage or bacon, with the option to sub “fancy” hash browns.
If you’re looking for more depth, Marge’s signature Breakfast Lasagna is a must-try, including lasagna noodles layered with gravy, cheese, sausage, and egg smothered in Marge’s homemade sausage gravy. This hot dish is only available Saturdays and Sundays, and sells out fast, so get there early! “The Pancake,” paired with Marge’s housemade syrup, is a fluffy buttermilk and sweet cream beauty – ready to feed one ravenously hungry diner or everyone at the table. The XL flapjack arrives with a generous heap of warm butter and a side plate of eggs and bacon or sausage.
Marge’s general manager is Dexter Brown, a Perham, MN, resident who happens to have a degree in Environmental Science. In 2013, while in Wadena, MN, for a government-based internship, he started working as a part-time cook at The Otter. His passion for managing and running the kitchen eventually refocused on honing his hospitality skills, now taking on more responsibility as the managing partner for both The Otter Supper Club and Marge’s Diner.
Midwest Remix
Although one of Brown’s favorites is the Breakfast Lasagna, he also loves Emil’s Minnesota Omelet, an egg bake inspired by the former Betty’s Pantry, now a Midwest remix with Swiss cheese, mushrooms, sausage, and wild rice.
Hurder’s favorite item is the pancake. “The sweet cream really adds some incredible flavor to the pancake. Our homemade syrup is what my grandmother used to make because store-bought syrup was too expensive. Sure, 100% maple syrup is excellent, but Marge’s homemade syrup is excellent in a whole different way!”
Some menu items, like “The Pancake,” Breakfast Lasagna, Monte Cristo, and Hangover Hashbrowns, are favorites that were shared from Fargo to Ottertail. Others, like the Walleye Sandwich, were a creation of Ottertail that has since traveled to downtown Fargo’s Marge’s. Brown wants to make sure one popular menu item of Betty’s Pantry continues with the new ownership – homemade pie, by the slice or whole.
“This summer in Ottertail, we really want to focus on creating a regular menu of homemade pies and desserts,” said Brown. “For over 25 years, Betty’s was known for good pies. We’d love to continue that reputation and make great pie a staple at Marge’s – with a few twists of our own.”
Cabin Takeout Special
For those who would rather spend their time on the water than in the kitchen, Marge’s offers a “Cabin Takeout Special,” loaded with 10 slices of bacon, 10 links of sausage, 10 scrambled eggs, an XL hash brown, and wheat toast.
Ottertail Catering Company
Hurder also intends to maintain the popular catering business that Betty’s Pantry originally built in Ottertail. “While we are still taking catering orders as they come in, we are launching our new catering brand, “Ottertail Catering Company,” with a brand-new website and menu very soon.”
Hungry for more? Contact:
Marge’s Diner
102 Main St E West, Ottertail, MN
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday | 8am–2pm
Menu: ottertailmarge.com
218.367.3088
info@ottertailbetty.com