Tucked back in the Max Westheimer Airport terminal sits Ozzie's Diner, one of Norman's most popular and beloved restaurants. A staple of Norman cuisine since it opened, Ozzie's is famous for the All-You-Can-Eat breakfast that is offered for $5.49 everyday from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and until noon on Saturday. Lines can snake out the door on Saturdays with hungry customers waiting for their endless plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and much more.
But it isn't just about the breakfast. The menu features everything from "Ozzie's Pig Stand" sandwich to the popular Cajun Salad. And don't forget the most popular menu item, the Chicken Fried Steak. This comes in a "small size" that only takes up about half of a plate along with two sides. There is also a giant option that takes up a plate on its own, with a separate plate for the three sides that accompany the monstrous chicken fry.
Walking into Ozzie's is like walking into a different decade. From the mason jars full of iced tea to the Casablanca poster and the old style wall phone by the kitchen, Ozzie's is full of reminders of the past.
The restaurant has loyal followers from all over the country. Waitresses tell stories of pilots flying to Norman from as far as Colorado just for a meal at Ozzie's. The regulars at Ozzie's keep coming back for multiple reasons. The food is the most important reason of course, but the atmosphere and the wait staff also give the diner the old-time feel that people appreciate. Elizabeth Geyer and Dutch Tersteege have been frequenting Ozzie's together every Friday for years. Geyer first ate at Ozzie's 40 years ago after seeing signs on the road pointing her towards the diner. She convinced Tersteege to join her in her weekly ventures to Ozzie's about 7 years ago and he has been hooked ever since.
"I've been coming here about seven years. She drug me over here. It's good stuff, good food, the help is very friendly and the prices are reasonable," said Dutch as he worked on finishing his plate of Ozzie's Pig Stand.
The two enjoy Ozzie's so much that sometimes they make a Tuesday visit along with their weekly Friday stop.
"You feel like family when you walk in here, everyone is just delighted to see you," said Geyer.
The owners of Ozzie's graduated from Oklahoma State with degrees in Culinary Arts. The wide range of menu items shows their extensive knowledge of different foods, but the most surprising part of the menu is the prices. If the unlimited breakfast for less than $6 is surprising, then consider an Old Fashioned Hamburger for $3.99 or a 10 oz steak with three sides for $8.29.
Ozzie's location is something else that makes it unique. The location at the Max Westheimer airport makes it popular amongst the private plane flyers and pilots, but can make it hard to find for Norman locals. However, this does not deter large crowds from showing up early every day of the week, either for the unlimited breakfast or the daily specials.
"We have different specialties every night of the week. Friday nights, for an example we do the all you can eat catfish, Wednesday we do all you can eat fried chicken, we have many different specialties that go on during the week," said waitress Amie reed.
Even at 2 p.m. on a cold, rainy Friday there were enough people in the diner to need two waitresses and a cook to keep up with the orders. As Geyer and Tersteege can attest, Ozzie's keeps you coming back for more. and more. and more.
