On a previous post I was lightly chastised for eating at Subway while in the Berne Amish settlement. Why choose fast food with all that good Swiss fare around?
The Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. Shipshewana, Indiana
It got me thinking about Amish-style eateries. Truth be told, when I’m in, say Lancaster County, I eat at Amish restaurants like The King Farm and The Riehl Place and Zook’s, and frequent both Weavers’ and Millers’ when visiting Ohio. At these local joints, the menu is unpredictable, but always tasty, and the price is, well, literally impossible to beat.
But I definitely visit the more conventional places as well. And there are some good ones out there which will make sure you leave with a happy belly.
What about Amish–do they eat at these restaurants? Sure. And one way to tell the better ones is by the number of Amish in the place. One of the more memorable interviews for my Amish business book was conducted during the busy lunch hour at Mrs. Yoder’s in Mt. Hope, Ohio, where you’ll often see many homegrown and visiting Plain folks.
The winter denizens of Pinecraft, Florida famously set up shop in local feed halls like Troyer’s. Multiple Lancaster Amish have raved to me about Shady Maple, which I think we can include in this category too.
Come and get it! Lebanon County, PA
Do Amish own these places? That is less common. Though you’ll have Amish employees, particularly young girls as waitresses, Amish just haven’t taken a lot of ownership in the restaurant industry. There are exceptions though.
For instance, a few years back Amish in a Nebraska settlement ran a restaurant in a distant town, requiring them to make a 60-mile one-way trip. Amish sisters in Arthur Illinois operate Roselen’s Coffee Shop, not quite a restaurant, but with its own drive-thru. Many Amish operate small sandwich and grilled food stands in markets (tell me if I’ve missed any others).
How do you know it’s an “Amish” place? You kind of know one when you see one (taste one?), don’t you? The menu, of course, is the place to start. Look for hearty fare like chicken and dumplings, corn meal mush, meatloaf, butter noodles, and so on. And you’ve got to have a wide selection of pies.
Amish Homestead Cafe. Ethridge, Tennessee
I’m using the term “Amish restaurant” very broadly, and would include eateries advertising themselves as PA Dutch, “Amish-style”, etc. Of course, the name doesn’t always tell you everything. And just because it has a buggy in the logo doesn’t mean the food automatically passes muster with the culinary Ordnung.
One of my favorites which I think fits the bill is Boyd and Wurthmann’s in Berlin, Ohio. For many reasons–the old-timey feel to the place, good prices and selection (had a trail bologna sandwich last time), the Amish-style peanut butter spread complimented by robust, bottomless cups of coffee. It’s always packed, with a lot of locals–never a bad sign.
How about you–what’s your favorite Amish restaurant? What makes it good?
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53 responses to What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
fav restaurant
It would most def. have to be Yoders down it pinecraft, the little retirement settlement in Sarasota Florida. My family and I moved to North Carolina, if it were not for my mother and Yoder’s fried chicken and any of thier pies, I would never go back to florida! It is 50% of the reason I am going home for Thanksgiving…lol
Fav Amish Restaurant
We love Dienner’s on Rt. 30 just east of Lancaster. Huge selection, reasonable prices, lots of Amish customers. Open 7am-6pm except Fridays when they open a bit later (but not much). I believe it’s Mennonite owned.
Favorite Amish Restaurant
We love eat at Katie’s Kitchen in Ronks, PA- Amish owned and operated. Also , we love Yoders, in New Holland PA, an inexpensive buffet, used by many of the Amish and Mennonites. Have heard excellent things about Dienner’s and will try that on our next trip to PA in Sept. /12. Where is Reihl’s Place and Zooks- location?- We have spent time in that area of Pa for the last 4 years and have not discovered them.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Hi Karla, this was me trying to joke again–Riehl and Zook are actually the last names of some of my Amish friends (ditto Weavers, Millers…).
The price I pay at these “Amish restaurants” is zero, so it literally can’t be beat–my clue that they’re not exactly restaurants
(well, that’s not true, I usually bring something along or pitch in, but close enough to zero for me!).
Resturant
Hello
My Wife unn myself love to eat at Katie’s Kitchen in Ronks PA
we like it best on Tuesday when they serve the Amish Wedding Meal
you can’t beat it. we highly suggest that you try it and you will
not go away hungary as they sure give you enough to eat and they
are always friendly.
Rach unn Ivan
Yummy resturant...
Growing up my folks would take us to Shippshewane (sp?!) area so we could go to the flea market…while there would would drive south to The Das Dutchman EssenHaus. Man, I loved that place! I believe its Mennonite owned and most all the waitstaff were Mennonite and Amish. We would always order the meal family-style and would get large dishes of mashed potatoes, butter homemade egg noodles (YUM!), fried chicken, etc. Plus the dessert selection is incredible. I’d love to take my children there one day.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Das Dutchman EssenHaus
I first went there when it was a smaller restaurant, now it’s become a tourist attraction. Seems to have lost a little of its ambience.
We love the one in Yoder, KS, just outside of Hutchinson, KS. Whenever we go home we try to eat there. Worth a stop!
It’s only a part-time restaurant, but there’s a full restaurant inside the open-3-days-a-week Amish market in Annapolis, MD. It serves the non-Amish customers of the market, but I’m pretty sure it’s Amish-owned since everything else in the market is. Great food! And the hostess is a dwarf who’s Amish; my daughter is also a dwarf, and when she was visiting and we took her to the restaurant, the two of them had a lovely time discussing how fun it is (not!) to be short in a tall person’s world. My daughter was quite envious of her ability to have clothing that fits perfectly since I’ve spent my entire life tailoring clothing for her! Oh, and the food is classic delicious Amish restaurant — I particularly adore the meatloaf.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Laura–really a great story. Food sounds good too, and interesting to hear about another Amish-run place.
The Casselman Inn, Grantsville, MD http://www.thecasselman.com/restaurant.php
I always have to go here at least once for lunch or dinner when I get back home. Good, simple, down-home country food and they have this amazing bakery in the basement. The owners are not Amish, but have Amish in their family tree and you’ll probably find a Mennonite or two either serving or eating there.
Another restaurant right down the road is the Penn Alps. Also awesome home cooked food with a large gift shop and an artisan village. These are both on the National Road and the Casselman Bridge is right by the Penn Alps. Lots of history and things to see in the area.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Definitely my favorite restaurant is Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana. We’ve been having dinner there for approximately 26 years, and the food hasn’t changed. It’s every bit as good now as it was the first time we ate there. Twice a year I spend 5-6 days in Shipshewana for a quilt retreat, and I always drive to the Essenhaus for dinner no matter what. The roast beef is like no other roast beef I’ve ever tasted, and the dressing is made with a cornbread base. Pies are outstanding! Salads are always fresh and cold. Sweet potato casserole is yummy! I could go on and on. I have not had any food there that I didn’t like. The very best!
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Well, much to my surprise, the Michelin Stars article that came out today, named the top 20 “Best Food” small townsand NONE of them were in Amish areas! In fact, most were in France, only 1 was in the United States, Yountville, CA made the list.
Best selection & most expensive), Millers Smorgasboard in Yonks, PA
Best in Holmes Co OH with most Amish attending, Mrs. Millers Mt. Hope (How does a man know which hat to leave with when he hangs them on the hat rack, they all look the same?)
Best VIEW while dining-Der Dutchman, Walnut Creek OH
Most Charming, Grandmas Homestead, Charm, OH
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Headwear Conundrum.
Hello, Valerie:
Some theories:
a) They write their names on the inside of the hat (not much use if they’re all called Miller),
b) They somehow manage to remember its exact position,
c) They go by the ‘feel’ of the hat (small dents or bits of loose straw),
d) They yell out “Is this yours?”, or
e) They just don’t care (they switch hats when they meet again the next day).
Very funny GreyCatz,
At this particular restaurant (Which is Mrs. Yoders, not Millers as I mistakenly wrote) the hat rack is a long horizontal board with pegs-I suppose you could count which # peg your hat is on-
I was wondering the difference between “Das” & “Der”, now seeing there’s Das Essehaus vs Der Dutchman-feminine vs. masculine?
This was a good topic to refer back to when traveling, thanks Erik!
You have one of those careers other’s have to fight coveting….
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
I like the GreyCatz theories too, especially e
And I’m glad you enjoyed it Valerie. I feel fortunate for all this, that’s for sure.
The only problem with posts like this is they remind me how far I am from a good blackberry pie (in Poland right now–not a pie country and still waiting for the first PA Dutch restaurant
)
German Articles.
Hello, Valerie:
Here’s a short run-down of German definite articles (singular):
DER is masculine, so ‘der Mann’ = the man,
DAS is neuter/neutrum, so ‘das Haus’ = the house,
DIE is feminine, so ‘die Küche’ = the kitchen. DIE is pronounced [dee].
DIE is also used for plural, so ‘die amische’ = the Amish.
‘Das Dutchman Essenhaus’ is a curious blend of English and German: ‘Dutchman’ referring to nationality doesn’t exist in German (it would be ‘nederländer’). Here, it is used as an adjective, which would render the name as ‘das nederländische Essenhaus’ in High German.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Valerie,
I ask that same question to my husband every year when we go to our annual Khaki Ball (it is a dinner/dance for US Navy Chiefs and their spouses). They all wear the same hat and they just pile them together and yet every Chief ends up with his own at the end of the night (even after a few drinks!)
My only answer is that is must be universal among guys!
Mmmmm.
Amish + Restaurant =
* No Self Control
* Gluttony
* Indigestion
* Diet
Seriously, must find me an Amish Buffet… its been a while. I hear there’s a new one in the Milroy, IN area. Anyone want to join me?
I haven’t had the pleasure of eating in many Amish restaurants so I would have to say Stoltzfus Farm Restaurant in Intercourse, PA.
NO DOUBT my all time favorite place in Lancaster
)
I haven’t had the pleasure of eating in many Amish restaurants so I would have to say Stoltzfus Farm Restaurant in Intercourse, PA. Their ham loaf is to die for, or perhaps better, to live for. They gave me their recipe which I make two or three times a year. It always pleases our dinner guests in Oxford, Mississippi.
William I am assuming that no one has opened a PA Dutch style place in your neck of the woods yet?
Mississippi doesn’t have a lot of Amish as you well know but it seems like it could be a hit even at that small community. The Mississippi Amish posts get a good bit of traffic on this blog, as one unscientific indicator of interest.
Karla Hans
Karla, you asked about Reihls and Zooks in Lancaster County.
I do not know of a resturant by either of those names, I do know of a Reihls craft place on an amish farm. And not sure what you’re asking about Zooks.
In Lancaster County, I love Shady Maple Smorgasboard (wear your pants with the elactic), Yoders, Dienners, Family Cupboard, Oregon Dairy.
Someone mentioned these two names of restaurants in Lancaster County. I only know of a Zooks store and the Reihl’s craft barn too. That is why I asked. I have never see restaurants by those names. We also enjoy Shady Maple, as well as Yoders and Family Cupboard, All excellent Amish food.
Hi Loretta, Karla–these were actually names of Amish friends–the “Amish restaurants” being their kitchens! I explained a little more in response to Karla’s first comment above.
There is also a “Zook’s Motel” in Lancaster but not an Amish place. There are some homestays but don’t know of any Amish in the full-bore lodging business
Favorite Amish Restaurant
Living in the Cleveland OH area, we go to Holmes/Wayne County Amish country several times a year. Love the broasted chicken, salad bar and everything else at The Amish Door in Wilmot. Also agree with Valerie above that Grandma’s Homestead in Charm OH has a ‘charm’ of its own. Love their breakfast buffet, including mush and sausage gravy & biscuits.
favorite amish area
I have travelled to many amish/menonnite areas, and my favorites are:
Mrs.Yoder’s Kitchen, Mt. Hope Ohio
Dutch Valley Kitchen, Sugar creek Ohio
Blue Gate Restaurant, Shipshewana, Indiana
Das Essehaus, Middlebury Indiana
Anna Mae’s, Millbank, Ontario Canada
Der Dutchman Essehaus, Walnut Creek, Ohio
Grandma’s Homestead, Charm, Ohio
Threshers Dinner @ Amish Acres, Nappanee Indiana
Boyd & Weirthman, Berlin, Ohio
Tiffany’s, Topeka, Indiana
I can’t wait to visit Ohio next month, and go to Mrs. Yoder’s, truely my favorite chicken and buffet dinner. Marie B, Windsor Ontario Canada
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Excellent list Marie and nice to see a Canadian entry.
I’ve never been to an Amish eatery, just a market stall with a few stools.
I wish I had the experience of eating at an Amish restaurant, I imagine it would be homey.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the Rally Squirrels kept me up last night till all hours and I watched the last game of the World Series tonight, I need my rest after a long ’11 season. Go Jays in 12? Dare I dream to see the blue birds v Nats?
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
A baseball/sports tangent comment
Shom, on baseball, I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to go through 162 games, gut-wrenching come from behinds in the playoffs, go all the way to game 7, then lose.
The baseball season seems too long by about 100 games. It usually only comes on my radar about playoffs time.
I think the name we give it in the states, national “pastime”, is about right. It’s sort of a sport but not quite, at least in my thinking (hey, any game where you can wear baggy pants as a uniform, chew tobacco, and sport a belly, but still manage to compete…there is something different there than what you see from the typical athlete in most other sports). “Pastime” seems to capture it.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
And bringing it full circle...
…some of these baseball athletes look like they have been to a couple Amish buffet restaurants in their time!
Favorite Amish Restaurant
The favorites of my wife and I are Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury Indiana and Der Dutchman Essenhaus in Walnut Creek Ohio. They both are very clean, and have a really large menu with great food and service. Both are really great restaurants and I think owned by the same family.
Does anyone know of some place in the Lancaster Pa area of their equal? We haven’t toured the Lancaster area near as much but could never find a similar restaurant.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Check out the Shady Maple resturant
oops restaurant
I have never been to an Amish restaurant. When I was in Pennsylvania my friends said they were taking me to an Amish restaurant. The only thing Amish about it was the name. I was really disappointed. I didn’t know about Amish like I do now from you Erik, and Richard and Kevin. Now when I got to Pennsylvania, I will go to some of the above restaurants. Wish we had some Amish restaurants in New York State near where I live. I do have a friend who is Mennonite and her food is delicious. She doesn’t run a restaurant-but if you were at her house during planting or havesting season you think she did with all the workers eating there at meal time.
Marilyn
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Getting ready to go the Der Dutchman in Plain City, Ohio. Marcus Yoder
Best Restaurant
Hi Erik! We love to eat at Tiffany’s in Topeka, Indiana. How to tell the best Amish Restaurants? It’s where all the buggies are, of course! (In Shipsewana, IN “Wana Cup” is an interesting place, too.)
Thanks for your good work!
Ann
Oh, Tiffany’s in Topeka, Ind. is absolutely marvellous- especially if you want to eat where the locals eat. Many tables were full of Amish out for dinner. The food was VERY reasonable and tasty. They also had an ice cream counter, where the Amish young people were stopping in , to buy a cone or treat. Neat to experience the true Amish life!!
Amish Restaurant in NY for Marilyn
Don’t know where you are in NY, but Essen Haus in Penn Yan is excellent. I’m sure there are others as there are a lot of Amish settlements in NY State now.
Just got back from another little jaunt to Lancaster and have to tell you, we found another great Amish-run place that just might have Katie’s Kitchen beat! It’s called Hometown Kitchen and is located behind Fisher’s Fabric & Housewares store ( a really neat place, as well ) on Route 896 in Bart/Georgetown. It has all Amish cooks and servers, and like Katie’s, for breakfast they also have the delicious ” potatoe chip ” style fried potatoes, thick homemade bread, and yummy homemade strawberry jam. The difference, however, is in the portion size and price, with Hometown being better.
Funny thing, though, when we were there a big group of about 25 Amish men and women came in and went into the banquet room where the tables were set up in one big half square shape, and as we were leaving the servers were just starting to take in large bowls of noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, and platters of meat and bread, giving the appearance of some kind of celebration. It just struck me funny because you usually hear of such things taking place at their homes with family and friends – not in a public place like this, you know?
Anyway, our other favorite restaurants in Lancaster, besides those already mentioned, are the Bird-In-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord on Rt. 340, and the Dutch-Way Restaurant/Markets in Gap and Myerstown. We also loved all the places everyone has already named for Holmes/Wayne Counties in Ohio, but does anyone know of any other’s not mentioned yet?
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Debbie – I can only think of 2 more right now in the Wayne/Holmes County area…
The Farmstead in Berlin, OH
Das Dutch Kitchen in Dalton, OH
Not eaten at The Farmstead but I hear many good things about them. Das Dutch Kitchen is good. My favorite though is still Mrs. Yoder’s in Mt. Hope.
In the Arthur, Illinois area, I usually eat at Yoder’s in
Arthur. I love their Sat. morning breakfast buffet.
In the Elkhart/Lagrange Counties area, I like Village Inn in
Middlebury and Wana Cup in Shipshewana.
And in the Daviess County, Indiana area I like Stoll’s Lakeview
Restaurant a couple of miles north of Loogootee. Good food and
a beautiful setting next to a lake.
In the larger settlements, there are sometimes one or more homes
where you can eat a meal, with reservations and usually with a
group. I have eaten such a meal in an Amish home near Middlebury,
Indiana, and also in one in Daviess County, Indiana. Both had
very good food and in both homes, the extended family members
sang a few songs after dinner and the children recited a couple
of poems. A very worthwhile, memorable experience.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
What's your favorite Amish restaurant?
This is my first time posting, and I am thoroughly enjoying Amish America. Wish I would have known about this website long ago.
In 1973 I was a newlywed, and with money in our pockets, we headed out for a 2-week driving vacation, focused on historical locations which included the Lancaster county, PA area. I knew there were many Amish in the area and I was anxious to see the buggys on the roads, as well as the Amish people – fascinating! My curiosity would lead me to focus in on every detail of the buggy, horses, tack; then at the last moment I would quickly turn my head so that they wouldn’t see me staring. I was very worried about being caught looking them in the face, since we were repeatedly told not to do so, as it was an insult to them.
On to the food: we were in the Lancaster Co. area, don’t know highway names or numbers, but remember being intrigued by the road signs such as Bird in Hand and Intercourse, PA. We ate at a large buffet restaurant in, I believe, Bird in Hand, PA. We were told it was Amish-owned, but I don’t really know. There were long lines waiting to get in, and we were dicouraged because we were very hungry! However, no fear, the doors opened and the lines disappeared. There were long tables pushed together, and we chatted with strangers as we waited. Large steaming bowls and platters were placed on the tables family style. I don’t remember all the types of food, meat etc. served, except there was a lot of everything! What I do remember was the shoofly pie! I loved it and wanted more! The restaurant was geared towards tourists, and I didn’t see any Amish eating there when we were there. It was a fast-moving food service style (yesterday’s fast food per the Amish?). They moved the diners in and out very quickly in a controlled manner. I had never eaten in this type of restaurant before or since, and the experience was great fun for us! I would love to head back to Amish country again, for the great food and the charming culture.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Hi Joan,
Where in Penn Yan is Essen Haus? I would love to take a run down there and eat Amish food. Thank you so much for your help.
Marilyn
Reply to Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
Essenhaus is located at 1300 NY Rt. 14A, Penn Yan, NY. Phone – 315-531-9500
www.essenhaus-restaurant.com/
Hope you have a lovely dinner there.
Joan
For Marilyn Again...
Hi again, Marilyn…
When I went to survey that link about Essenhaus I could hardly believe my eyes. They closed in September and the restaurant is for sale. I am so sorry to have led you astray about it. I had no idea. Guess I don’t know of an Amish restaurant in NY after all (though with all the Amish currently living in NY I expect there are some.) For another good Amish/Mennonite experience that IS still open, try Sauder’s Mennonite Market on River Road in Seneca Falls, NY. It’s not a restaurant, but a large food store with all kinds of “Dutch” foods, bulk foods, cards, books, and wooden crafts and outside buildings. It is well worth the trip to experience Sauder’s. We try to go every couple months as it’s about an hour from our home. It is owned by conservative Mennonites, but many Amish shop there.
Joan
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Hi Chelsea, and thanks for your suggestions. We did eat at The Farmstead in Berlin, and although they had good food it just seemed too commercialized or lacked that certain atmosphere, if you know what I mean? Das Dutch Kitchen is a new one we’ll have to try, though. But I’m with you on Mrs. Yoder’s in Mt. Hope being the best, and the last time we were there the week-long horse sales were going on across the street at the auction so Mrs. Yoder’s had a buffet every night of it and we ate there atleast 3 times! I think the Amish in that area are a little more social and ” modern ” and tend to eat out alot more than the ones I’m used to in Lancaster County, PA. You would never see all of their buggies lined up at the hitching rails of a restaurant like you do at Mrs. Yoder’s, and then go in to see everything from just a young courting couple sitting together to a whole family of several generations enjoying a meal. And that’s what so neat and different about that area.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Das Dutch Kitchen is aimed towards tourists and local “English” more than the Amish. I think this has to do mainly with its location being right on Route 30 and with Swartzentrubber Amish being the main Amish in the surrounding area. They wouldn’t be as likely to eat out in a restaurant as the Old Order are. So if you want a place where Amish frequent often, I’d stick with Mrs. Yoder’s
The Windmill Bake Shop on 501 in South Boston, is Mennonite owned and operated, with Amish and Mennonite workers. Good Sandwiches and soup at lunchtime, with excellent baked goods. Closest thing we have to an Amish restaurant down this way.
South Boston, Virginia, that is…..
I’m almost embarrassed to admit that we frequent Mrs. Yoder’s on an almost weekly basis.
Not good for the waistline or the wallet (it’s not expensive but we go too often!) but sure is good for the tastebuds.
Boyd and Wurthmann is probably our second most frequent stop.
We do like the other more “touristy” places like Dutch Valley and Der Dutchman (they are owned by the same family), but they can be pricey and are very busy with bus tours, so locals often avoid them during the season. Amish Door is just a few minutes away – we stopped going there as often as we did when they raised the prices much higher and the food seemed not as tasty as in previous years, but the last few times we’ve gone it’s been more like the old days (and busier again, which is good).
We also like to go to the little basement restaurant in the Town and Country grocery/dry goods store in Kidron. Cheap and basic food, homemade.
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Amish Resturant
Are there ANY Amish resturants in Southern Mi? I have searched all over & can’t seem to find any.
Thanks for any info
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