Yoder's is amazing. Grew up eating from here almost every week. I had my first corn fritter from here... it was good! I hardly ate inside, always ordered for pick-up. But they have friendly staff! They also have amazing pies.
(3)
Daniel B.
There is not a bad item on the menu it is all excellent. Huge portions great service friendly staff. If you go during season expect a wait but it is so worth it. Great breakfast and even better dinners and save room for dessert the pies are to die for.
(5)
Lauren C.
I went on a little mini weekend vacation to Sarasota and had heard about Yoder's restaurant and famous pies on the food network, so we had to stop in and see what it's all about. The Amish make fantastic home style dishes and don't disappoint on the flavor or large portion size by any means. We decided to keep it simple and split a cobb salad and a bowl of chili so we could have room for pie afterwards. The cobb salad was really tasty and had a ton of the usual toppings, so it wasn't "skimpy"! The chili was solid and hearty. After our meal came the difficult decision of which pie to try. There are a TON of delicious homemade pies and it's really hard to pick, ultimately we went with the banana cream and it was really heaven on a plate. If we weren't visiting from out of town and staying in a hotel with no fridge, I most definitely would have gotten a whole pie to bring home. They also have a cute little boutiquey gift shop on site which is worth checking out while waiting to be seated or after your meal. This place is a winner in my book.
(4)
WizardPrang X.
After the disappointment at Der Dutchman ( yelp.com/biz/der-dutchma… ), we came back a few days later to try out Yoder's. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the chicken was to die for. A wonderful meal, and a great way to forget the less-pleasant experience of the other place own the road.
(5)
Valerie A K.
What a delicious meal! My husband and I ordered one fried chicken dinner and one baked chicken dinner. Both were moist and delicious. The onion rings were outrageous and the coleslaw very special.We did not have room for dessert After reading Yelp reviews, we did not know what to expect and decided to treat this evening meal as an adventure. Wow what a treat!
(4)
L. W.
Wow! Best fried chicken I've ever had. Really ripe tomato slices and amazing fried okra as my sides. There was a long line but it moved quickly....totally worth a wait though. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)
Meagan S.
I've never had anything but good service here! They're food is always amazing. I made it a point to visit every time I'm in town. I also love their little gift shop and market next door.
(5)
Madison F.
I've had their "famous" fried chicken, and I'd have to say, I'm not impressed. While the chicken was moist, I wouldn't say it was more delicious than other fried chicken I have had, plus the outside lacks a good crunch which is something I particularly enjoy in fried chicken. However, their apple butter (and if you put it on their corn muffins) is absolutely delicious. It's the perfect mix of sweet and apple-cinnamon flavor and can be a bit addicting. But the best thing Yoder's sells is their pies. Their peanut butter pie is absolutely fantastic. The filling is creamy and filled with peanut-butter flavor and the sprinkled pieces of peanuts give it a nice crunch. Their fresh strawberry pie is also to die for, with delicious fresh strawberries topped with their homemade whipped cream. Their baked pies are not as good as their cream/fresh fruit pies but are still pretty decent.
(4)
Ay C.
I always love Yoder's. It is very tasty and very nice people!
(5)
Lauren F.
I went twice because I was hoping it would redeem itself. This place always has a long line to be seated, so go when you have a bit of time to dedicate. I wouldn't recommend this place if you are looking to eat something healthy; on my first visit I had to eat a plate of sliced tomatoes for lack of alternatives. The menu has a large selection of "home cooked" food. I don't believe they salt their food, likely based on clientele. The fried chicken comes in huge portions and is not deserving of "famous". Potato pancakes were quite boring as well. I am 99% sure their pies are store bought. It is brightly lit inside and the seating arrangement is crowded. The good news is we did not have an issue finding parking because they have their own lot. It's a fun theme place (makes me feel like I'm home in PA again), but not a place I care to go back to.
(2)
Deb S.
Food is good and plentiful, but the pies are hit and miss, the "FRUIT" pie black rasberry has no berries, just a lot of jam/jelly with crust, the rasberry cream also has no fruit, just a pudding pie with swirls of jam/ jelly. Chocolate peanut butter is better and the apple crumb is good although there were many seed pod parts in the pie. So ask before you buy if you want a fruit pie.
(3)
Seth F.
Honestly, this was just okay. I wouldn't really call it "good" food, but it wasn't all that bad. The homemade bread was good and the apple butter spread was alright. I've had way better homemade apple butter from a friend, though. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy along with fried okra. Again, I enjoyed the meal, but I wasnt impressed with the food. It seemed like your average country diner food. Where I was really disappointed, though, was the pie. The whole time my friends who had gone a few times swore by the pie and the restaurant seemed to advertize their famous pies, too. Maybe my particular pie order was a mistake. I ordered the blackberry pie and once it arrived, I saw that the blackberry filling was exactly like the congealed store-bought blackberry pies that I could buy for very cheap. The only saving grace was that the crust was a bit better than the store-bought version. A friend ordered the 1/4 white meat fried chicken and that honestly looked pretty good and moist. If I have a chance to go back, I'll probably order that along with one of their cream pies, which seems to be more their specialty. I got to try their potato chips which are crunchy and light and not greasy at all. The staff was very nice. No complaints there.
(3)
John M.
Yoders is a place I go to for breakfast every time I'm in Sarasota. The service is amazing, everyone is so friendly. The food is high quality fresh ingredients and you always get a large portion. They make great omelets and everything is always served with toast and homefries. They have a great homemade apple butter for the toast and from what I hear the pies are amazing. I had a taste of one and it was pretty good. I will be back on my next trip to Sarasota. They never seem to disappoint.
(4)
Paul H.
With all the reviews raving about the fried chicken and Adam Richman saying it is "the juiciest chicken" he's ever had. My chicken was quite the opposite. I ordered four dark meat chicken hoping it wouldn't be dry, well it was. The chicken skin had no flavor and the "dark" meat was dry as white meat. Kaitlyn asked me which sides I'd like. I asked her which ones were good and picked out two she had listed: mashed potatoes with gravy and mac n' cheese. The mashed potatoes were fairly plain even with the gravy. The mac n' cheese was good but nothing amazing. Why'd you let me down Kaitlyn! What's up with the Wonderbread? The only thing that saved the disaster of a dinner was the peanut butter cream pie that my family has been ordering for over a decade from Yoder's. I rarely give one stars but to sum up Yoder's Famous Fried Chicken: a letdown. I'm very disappointed.
(1)
Yvonne G.
Comfort food and clean restaurants are a Amish trademark AND the pie...always lots of homemade pie to eat there or take home!!
(4)
Heather L.
Yoder's is an institution. I try to explain Yoder's to my friends across the country by beginning with "it's this Amish restaurant in Florida that serves pies, meatloaf, potato pancakes, pot roast..." Okay. Great. Let me try this again. Pretend you have never had a plate of the average, American comfort food before. That means looking at the neuralyzer and ridding yourself of the repressed memories of that questionable meatloaf your mother made that warm summer, that cold piece of fried chicken at the bottom of a KFC bucket, or the leftover canned beans from the BBQ fundraiser. None of that matters now. Eating at Yoder's is like eating comfort food for the first time in your life. It may not prepare you for a day of beaching on Siesta Key, but it truly defines food that sticks to your ribs. The chicken is juicy, the cornbread is savory, the pies are amazing, and that is because Mama Yoder is slaving away in the kitchen to make people like you and I happy.
(5)
Kate I.
So disappointing...& I wanted to like it. I had seen Yoders on the Travel channel and food network shows and I wanted to experience this little slice of heaven. Atlas I fear its hay-day is over. The gift shop was cute, but the items I looked at were over-priced ( I expected to pay more for their craft, but on something's the price was ridiculous). There was atleast one rude worker in every area we visited. These things could be lived with because the food was what's important and is was beyond disappointing. Everything was bland. My green beans were so over cooked they had no taste and the "homemade" mashed potatoes tasted like they were box. The only redeeming items were the fried chicken and homemade pies, what they are famous for. My father said if it wasn't for me wanting to try it him & mom would had left after waiting 10 mins plus to get our drink order taken. Order a pie they'll ship it to u, but skip the meal it's not worth it. Sadly disappointed; although interested in trying the new Dutch Amish restaurant down the street.
(1)
Tim W.
Yoder's Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Sarasota, FL. This restaurant serves comfort food, amish style, and is located in the heart of the amish district in Sarasota. The service was 5 star, food came out super quick and the waitress was very attentive. I ordered the Roasted Chicken w/ Stuffing and the chicken was very dry. We asked for more gravy and it was brought out right away. I tried to order a whoopie pie because I saw it pictured on the placemat but the waitress told me they only sell them to go. I'm not sure why they don't sell these for dessert so I had to wait to eat dessert when I arrived home because I bought the whoppie pies at checkout to go. They were really good. Yoder's gives you large portions but they need to work on their dry chicken. I plan to return and I will update my review in due time.
(3)
Anthony C.
Awesome pies everything was fresh homemade and very filling warning portions are extremely large lol
(5)
Joe C.
Had a take home pie...their famed peanut butter pie. Hadn't had it in about 8 years. Totally cheaper ingredients in my opinion OR my taste buds are getting older because the pie didn't taste like much-especially peanut butter. Pretty disappointed! Sorry. I wanted it to be better. Now it just sits in my fridge until it expires and I throw it away... C'Mon Yoder's, don't cheap out on the pies!
(2)
James H.
We ate here for dinner on a Tuesday night in November and it wasn't crowded unlike the summer months where you have to wait like almost an hour for a table. We were sat quickly. (party of two) Asked for our order quickly and even the food was quick to the table. I ordered the 2pc fried chicken and she ordered the shrimp. We got multiple sides, such as mashed with white gravy, stuffing, mac and cheese, onion rings and amish potato pancakes. Everything was great, especially the chicken it was huge and juicy! We got three pie pieces to-go, which are amazing as well. They have a great little market as well with other souvenirs and other food items. I have also eaten here for breakfast and it is very good as well. We always stop here when we are in Sarasota!
(5)
Justine F.
I will say that fried chicken is forever ruined for my boyfriend and I because we live in Nashville and we have this thing called "Hot Chicken". I'm willing to admit this probably has a lot to do with why we thought Yoder's Fried Chicken was tasteless and nothing special. My boyfriend said his chicken was dry. That said, the mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. I am not a big fan of peanut butter or pies for that matter, but the peanut butter cream pie was heavenly. One of the best things I have ever tasted and also enjoyed their homemade cookies. I'd like to return when we are in Sarasota again, and will order something else besides the chicken. Looking forward to trying more of their baked goods and visiting the gift shop.
(3)
Christine K.
This place is definitely an experience to try. Food is good but some of the best things were the smaller things (see end of review for highlights). We went on a Friday and of course it's the only day they don't sell the famous fried chicken. So we had the 4 piece dark & white pan fried chicken. It came with a breast the size of my face, a drumstick, a wing, & a thigh with 2 sides. Between two orders for dinner for my hubby & me, we brought home 3 pieces. Definitely order the 2 piece each or share a 4 piece. Pan fried chicken was seasoned well, not too salty but it was definitely greasy. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday. The sides we tried: Baked sweet potato was swimming in butter, Mac n cheese had very soft macaroni noodles (I like my noodles al dente), homemade potato chips were crispy & addicting, cole slaw was too sweet, and Amish potato cakes which is like a firm pancake with potato shreds in them. We also had the taster of the peanut butter cream pie which was fresh & different. You need to have a bite of the PB crumbs pieces in every bite which is a little hard in the container it comes in. Pretty yummy & not heavy at all. My hubby thought it was too sweet without the pb crumble pieces. The standout of the whole meal was the bread & Apple butter they give you to start with. So soft & airy without a heavy crust. Comes out warm too. The homemade apple butter was not like the store bought jarred type. It tasted sweet and fresh. Almost like a fresh applesauce.
(4)
Michael G.
Mmmmmm.......
(4)
Victor R.
I dined with high expectations and they were all met!
(4)
Sandy R.
Nice place for home-cooking! The place is small and generally has a line out front. Once inside, the tables are so close together, it's a little bit claustrophic for me. The fried chicken is good, lots of meat, big portion. In the fall, I enjoyed one of the best desserts that I ever had. It was the "Pumpkin Pie Taster." So delicious and inexpensively priced (I think around $2.50.) You can purchase pies for carry-out. There is a small gift shop across the parking lot, as well as a produce market and deli next door.
(3)
Maryann N.
I live close to Lancaster in Pa., Yoders Restaurant did not compare to Amish restaurants back home, i compare it to the dinners back home. We had the fried chicken and Pot Roast, both were very bland for taste. I had the mashed sweet potatoes, although they were cold they did taste good. My wife had spinach it was also bland in taste,but the chicken stuffing was good. The service was fast and friendly. I will not be returning.
(2)
Krissy M.
Definitely a great place to visit in Sarasota! I ordered the special of the day: pulled smoked pork - so good! hubs had the fried chicken (I don't eat chicken, otherwise I definitely would have gone with that popular option). Dessert? DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING SPACE FOR! Hubs had the fresh peach pie (seasonal) and I had the peanut butter / chocolate pie - YUM.
(4)
Gina P.
Definitely the place to go when you want to throw your diet plans out the window. The food here is fantastic but in typical amish country fashion it definitely sticks to your ribs. The line wraps goes out the door and into the parking lot. They have been on diners, drive ins, and dives so it's a super popular joint. They are known for the fried chicken. The portions are absolutely insane. The half chicken white is two full breasts and two wings. For sides I had cole slaw and amish potato pancake. The pancake was odd I was thinking it was going to be more like a "latka" potato pancake but it was like a legit pancake. I also tried a cup of their chili which was really amazing. They have a special sauce to order with chicken for like an extra .50 or something. DO IT! The sauce is where it's at. It's like a homemade french dressing and it's great on the chicken. I packed most of my food in a leftover box bc I knew I needed pie. This place has a ton of pies. I got blueberry double crust. It was fantastic. Definitely a must try in Sarasota although to eat here often would definitely keep your cardiologist in business.
(4)
Robert T.
We had a yummy dinner and delicious pies. With six of us we had quite a variety. We had the fried chicken and sides. Our favorite sides were mashed potatoes, spiced apples and mac and cheese. We then had pumpkin cheese cake, crumb apple pie, strawberry and cream pie, chocolate creme pie, and yoders key lime. They all were great! If there is any complaint it was the the pie was $4.50/ slice.
(5)
Alethea B.
Just get the fried chicken, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, and a slice of strawberry rhubarb. I promise. Don't forget to drown everything in that delicious apple butter.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Breakfast was excellent, good ole home cooking. Portions were huge. I had bacon egg cheese biscuit, bacon was a little too greasy for my taste. BF had farmers skillet which had a loaf of potatos... sausage gravy was a must, very flavorful. Service was good, enjoyed checking out the farmers market and gift shop.
(4)
Adrianna U.
This review is just based on the peanut butter pie and atmosphere. First off, the ladies at the cashier were not the nicest people. When i got the pie, it wasn't bad. Just a little overhyped. It was ok, but nothing to come back for. Fluffiness was great, and it was nice and creamy. Besides that, i love all the Amish people biking around. I didn't know this existed in Florida. I feel so sheltered here in soflo! This Amish lady was very nice next to me, commenting how my doggy must be cold in the weather. Definitely a nice contrast from the lady at the counter.
(3)
JP A.
Love the fried chicken and the home style sides. Really large portions. My wife accidentally ordered the half fried chicken dinner. I had enough chicken breast left to make sandwiches for the whole family the next day. Peanut butter pie is my favorite! Highly recommended.
The food here is absolutely delicious! The portions are extremely huge and you will definitely want a to go box to take with you. Be sure to also take a slice of pie with you too because they have the best pie anywhere! I recommend the peanut butter cream pie! It is to die for!
(5)
Joyce C.
Went for a later lunch today, 1:30 ish, and the line was still out the door. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, but had some nice people around us to chat with. You don't come here for atmosphere, there is none. You don't come here for exciting or unusual dishes. You DO come here for basic comfort food. My husband had the fried chicken, he said it was very good, not heavily coated, and prepared crispy but not dry. I had the Wednesday special, roasted chicken. Good mashed potatoes, really good...other sides good as well. Okay now keep reading....you want the pie...it is about the pie. Love the pie...we got a banana cream to go, just ate my half a few minutes ago, did I tell you it's the pie. You can also get a whole pie to go, have done that on the holidays...service good...a really nice place to have in Sarasota...
(4)
D J.
This was my 2nd visit to Yoder's (I didn't write a review the 1st time because I wasn't impressed & thought I'd give it another try) BUT I'm still not impressed. All of the food I tried at Yoder's lack's flavor. The chicken is cooked well but could use some seasoning (& it wasn't as crispy as others have claimed). The slices of white bread they bring out while you wait on your food is delicious but it would be better if it was warm. The onion rings were the best thing I've eaten there. The corn was blah & the orka was cold & tasted as if it was 2days old (not fresh at all). The potato pancakes were bland & dry. I just don't think it's worth the wait. After going to Yoder's twice I'm still trying to figure out why the line is always out the door. However, their german chocolate whoopie pie is great! The red velvet not so much & the chocolate cake we had was one of the worst I've ever tasted (the texture & flavor was cardboard-like). Service was great, our waitress was very pleasant! I really wanted to love Yoder's but my expectations have not been met. I want to go back to give them one more try but I'd hate to be disappointed again (it maybe a waste of my time & money).
(2)
Ansen S.
You have to eat a half chicken and pie if you go!! Love this place and bought the mug!
(5)
Mike A.
Food is great no matter when you go and huge serving sizes. May take a few minutes to get in but once you set down you are taken good care of and the food is so good. Btw the pies are so ridiculous good.
(5)
Ayla Z.
Yoder's is one of those places where you you want to eat a slice of pie before you order (my favorite is the peanut butter pie, but there are so many to choose from!) Everything is homey and heartwarming. Perfect for bringing the whole family when they're hungry. Portions are huge and prices are low, and they sell whole pies to go!
(4)
Ed L.
Excellent bbq chicken on Thursday. PIE is amazing. Breads are really good. Enjoyed again & again. Mac side really nice and rich.
(5)
Richard R.
I'm not sure if there is a statute of limitations on writing a review, but let me say it's been about 2 years since we've visited this restaurant. We have family in Tampa and decided to do a day trip to Sarasota to try a different beach (other than Clearwater) and travel to two restaurants featured on Man vs. Food - Yoder's and The Old Salty Dog. We have visited many of the restaurants Adam Richman has recommended, but only about half are worth the trip, which is better than my record with Guy Fieri's recommendations. Surprisingly, of all the Travel/Food Channel Hosts who've featured restaurants on their shows... Andrew Zimmern of Bizzare Foods has been the most reliable when it comes to our tastes. The flavor of Yoder's fried chicken was average at best, certainly not something to drive out of your way to eat. The sides were pretty bland, and the peanut butter cream pie was nothing special... which was a real disappointment considering how mouth watering it seemed when watching the show. youtube.com/watch?v=2seV… Bottom line ---- Don't believe the hype!!!
(2)
Mike C.
over salty eerything
(2)
Kristina C.
Had the fried chicken, 2 piece white meat. Super dry, hard to swallow. Way too much food. I will go back to try pie, didn't have any room for it.
(1)
Travellady T.
What can I say, a lot. The food is great! I have had the chicken, the beef, a couple of the pies, and never have I been disappointed. Ever. The staff is quick and friendly. It can get crowed, so be prepared. Stop by the market when you leave, you will be glad you did.
(4)
Anonymous A.
Always delicious! I come here frequently. Lee is a very good waitress who is always friendly. The line is definitely worth the wait
(5)
Harvey D.
I only went into the deli and purchased some yummy sweets so this is the only part of Yoder's that I can comment on. The deli was stocked with a lot of delicious desserts and it was hard to pick which ones I wanted to walk away with. I ended up with the buckeyes, pecan pie bars, chocolate whoopie pies and the oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut butter sugarless cookies. I have tried everything so far except the cookies and they have all been great.
(4)
Jessica W.
So delicious and efficient. Would definitely recommend fried chicken (obvi), chicken and dumplings, and mac and cheese. Great service!
(5)
Adam B.
Why did I visit on a Friday? No fried chicken to be had! Ah well, we ordered two pie slices to go, a peanut butter cream and a southern pecan. The pecan had tons of pecans on it, which is key. It could have used some whipped cream though. Then again, I could have used a glass of milk. The peanut butter cream was awesome. It has vanilla custard, tons of whipped cream and two layers of peanut butter crumbs, which is a mix of chunky peanut butter and powdered sugar. One of the better pies I've had in a long time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(4)
Carey F.
I was really looking forward to eating here, but it really wasn't as good as I expected. It started when we arrived at the restaurant and had to line up for seating. The queue started outside and snaked back and forth once we were inside. It was extremely unpleasant, as there were lots of kids who were crying and fidgety and it just felt like a line at an amusement park. By the end of our experience, we felt like we'd been moved in, fed, and moved out as quickly as possible. I ordered the fried chicken, which was perfectly prepared and accompanied by large portion of mashed potatoes. Unfortunately the potatoes were drowned in flavorless white gravy. My husband and mother ordered roast beef and turkey respectively. They were each served a plate with a PILE of pulled meat, possibly a pound or more on each plate, with little to no seasoning and overcooked veggies on the side. It was extremely unappetizing and although my fried chicken was very good, the other two dishes looked and tasted pretty awful. We each got pie to go, which were good but didn't blow my mind! Overall, I enjoy an old-fashioned home-cooked meal more than anyone I know but I have to say this restaurant is definitely over-rated. On a more positive note, the fruit and vegetable market is definitely worth visiting. There is a broad selection, including items that are hard to find at most groceries, such as white sweet potatoes.
(3)
Deb C.
Fried chicken - very good but could've be a bit saltier. Potato cakes - really more of a doughy oniony pancake that kinda tasted like a hush puppy but without the crunch. They were bleh. Amish noodles - really needed both salt and pepper and even then they were not great. Baked apples - really good! Homemade bread - good! Apple butter - very good! Mashed potatoes - very good but chicken gravy was not good at all. Gravy was bland and very gelatinous. Service - Excellent. Atmosphere - very nice for this type of establishment. Prices - a bit high for this type of food. I got pie slices to go, so we'll see if they, at least, live up to all the hype.
(2)
Tom L.
My friend and I ordered from the walk-up window. I had banana cream pie, she had key lime pie. Banana cream was just ok... no bananas in the cream filling? Really mediocre. My friend said the key lime pie was very good. I tasted it, and thought it really tart. But, I guess that's how it's supposed to be? Coffee was TERRIBLE!!! Like water. And if you order decaf, make sure they bring you decaf. They brought me caffeinated, and I'm lucky I caught that mistake! And plan on waiting 15 minutes for your pie at the walk-up window.
(3)
Mikee N.
Cooking that is so good that you will think your grandmother is in the kitchen. Many flavors of pies too numerous to mention. Careful, one slice is a quarter of a pie. During the winter months the place is in full swing with tourists and a line trickles out the door. Well worth waiting in line.
(4)
Elijah K.
Ok this place has done a better job this round. Ordered the fried chicken and It was good this time. Tried the spaghetti and it was actually pretty darn good. Ordered the pie of course and there is nothing like it. I'm not big on crust but this pie is delicious. If for only pie, I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)
Melinda E.
Awesome food. We arrived at 330 pm on a Saturday and there already was a line out the door. It took an hour to get seated which went by fast. Met lots of people in line. Husband and I had the fried chicken which was not only HUGE, but It was cooked just right. I also got Harvard beets and corn cakes. Home made pies looked fantastic, but we were to full to get any. Take out available and was continually busy too. Still a line when we left. Next to the restaurant there is a little shop with jams, deli meat etc.. They also is a gift shop and a farmers market type shop. Definitely will go back.
(5)
Ayesha N.
A place that makes pies from scratch and have staff members that have the humility of angels from above is a great place in my books. I try to go at least once a year to this place and have friends who go on almost a pilgrimage to get a huge fresh pie to go. I recommend you try the fried chicken and save room for their cream pies which are my favorite (banana cream!) and their fruit pies (rhubarb anyone? Uh yes!) Put away your iPhones and just take in the greatness of this family owned place. If you need a recommendation of a pie to take home, the peanut butter pie is their best selling and with good reason!
(5)
Bruce M.
I have eaten @ yoders several times, was always pleased . This $60.00 takeout yesterday however was terrible. A whole chix ordered and all bloody, green beans seemed dumped from a can & unseasoned, and mac cheese was soup & bottom of the barrel quality. I did order the banana cream pie it was delicious, this is the only thing that saved a possible one star revue. I will post the outcome once i speak with them, personally....well to finish i just spoke with the mgr and the meal was taken care of which was nice but the replacement food terrible as well and the place after going to the head was like a truck stop, dirty, urine all over & hairy buggers all over the walls. Never again will i go here. Its a bunch of kids that dont care! Dont waist your time.....
(1)
Alex P.
The pie is amazing! We manage to get a couple slices of their pie once a week - it's that good. I've been here for breakfast as well and all of the menu offerings are spectacular and fresh tasting. Whenever we go for pie (around dinner time) there is a long wait to get inside, which must mean the dinner offerings are good as well. Yoder's is definitely a local gem.
(5)
Kelleigh M.
I love to stop at Yoder's when in the Sarasota area. Over the years they have expanded and now offer a produce stand and a market which features deli meats and cheeses. But the main reason I love stopping here is the peanut butter cream pie-oh my! Now mind you, it's not a dense pie, but instead almost pudding like with crunchy peanuts and creamy peanut butter. I believe it's their number 1 seller and if you try a slice you'll see why.
(4)
Melissa Q.
The food was fresh, nice and hot, and with VERY generous portions. I can't even begin to tell you how good their pies are...heaven on earth! Peanut butter pie is out of this world! Amish food is amazing and you will not be going home hungry!!! :)
(5)
James S.
A true to God gem. Super polite service, the best fried chicken I've ever eaten, and a peanut butter cream pie that was heavenly. Well worth the short wait to enter as we arrived at exactly lunch time. I legitimately can never eat friend chicken again knowing it will never match Yoder's. A+++++
(5)
JoAnn M.
Fast, on time, careful and hard working guys. Reasonably priced and we had a few laughs too. I would use them again. Thanks guys.
(5)
Roy P.
My rating is based strictly on their pies. Hands down, the best pies I've ever tasted. My personal favorite is their peanut butter pie, which is brought out on a little plate that can barely contain the enormity of the slice. The peanut butter isn't overwhelming, but you can definitely taste it - very smooth and creamy, and it's topped with more peanut butter crumbles which give it just enough texture. Their food on the other hand - not a fan, especially considering the insane wait. Run of the mill home made stuff that you can get just about anywhere. If you're just wanting a pie, head to the side walk up window and order there. Beats standing in line for over an hour.
(5)
Robin O.
We love Yoders. The Amish who run it are always very cheerful and friendly and service is fast and efficient. Their food is incredible! The homemade bread lighter than air, their apple butter, cinnamony delicious, excellent fried chicken, meatloaf made with their airy bread, country fried steak... If you like good old comfort food, then this is your place. And the PIES!!! We love all of them, but my daughter loved the Peanut Butter Pie the most. The portions are huge and our left overs/take home bag usually weighs 10lbs!
(5)
Tiffany D.
I dream about their peanut butter cream pie. I really pity those with nut allergies because this pie is the shizznit. I gladly skipped dinner for a hunk of this pie. My favorite part is the peanut butter crumble. It's like the filling in the Reese's pb cups but in powdered form. If I could, I would snort it. The pie keeps pretty well. It was in my presence for three days. I started to experiment with it and ate it with strawberries. OMFG . Do it. You will jizz your pants. Just grab a strawberry and scoop up some cream and pb blow and enjoy. Let the euphoria of Yoder's take over.
(5)
Marc S.
Amish food. I only come here for the pies! The pies are amazing, they have so many different types and they utterly luxurious heaping mounds of creamy pie. They have two types of pies: creamy and regular, or something like that. I've eaten several different types can't remember them all. Some kind of peanut butter or banana cream pie, the rhubarb pie is awesome. Get any of the pies in any flavors you won't be disappointed. These Amish do not play around with pie. Soo many flavors, all manner of fruits especially in the Dutch Pennyslvania vein, lots of berries and stuff. They do have a Key Lime Pie for our Florida sensibilities that i can imagine is quite scrumptious. It's a fabulous place and Sarasota should be proud to have it. These pies are the best thing the Dutch ever produced.
(5)
Julia F.
The pie was so amazing I was blown away! Don't leave yodels without ordering a piece of one of their pies. Heck! Order a whole pie!!
(5)
Tee W.
The desserts were delicious! The sweet cinnamon rolls were simply delicious! I've never tasted icing like that. The pumpkin pie with whipped cream was also amazing. As far as the other food goes, in my opinion it was simply OK. My wife loved it though. We went for breakfast one day and dinner another night. We were immediately seated for breakfast (4 people), but had to wait about an hour for dinner (7 people).The service both times was great. For breakfast my wife ordered pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with an orange juice. I ordered a sausage scrammble. The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious. I didn't care for my scramble though, as I didn't like the taste of the sausage, and the other ingredients were simply bland. When we returned for dinner, we finally got to try the fried chicken they are famous for. Personally I didn't get all the hype. While the chicken was very tender, I thought it too was bland, as were the side dishes we ordered (mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, mac and cheese). The fried okra and hot apples were good though. I wish I knew they had brown gravy though, as I would have ordered that. My wife can't wait to go back, were as I would rather go somewhere else. When we do go back, I think I'll just be ordering desserts for my main dish.
(3)
Benjamin M.
For the first seven years of my life, my family lived way out in rural Kentucky next to a family of Mennonites. I spent countless hours playing with a million Yoder kids. But--here's my confession--there is one part of those seven years that really stands out: THE FOOD! Yes, the Yoders from my childhood made the BEST homemade food I've ever had. Their cinnamon rolls were impossibly delicious. Last Saturday, I made drive down to Yoder's Restaurant to see if its food could measure up with that legendary food of my childhood. And the verdict? ... *ten seconds of a dramatic drum roll* YES!! Yoder's Restaurant is AMAZING!!! I ate breakfast at Yoder's with a group of five friends. All of us LOVED Yoder's and are already talking about when we can return. I ordered the Amish scramble which is a big papa-sized portion of two scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage (or ham or bacon), and spices all perfectly mixed together, smothered with plenty of your choice of cheese (sharp cheddar for me), and served with your choice of bread. Hands down one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. One of my friends ordered the Apple Fritter French Toast. She shared some of it with me, and I was blown away. This is definitely what I'll order if I return for breakfast. Imagine the best apple bread ever made... stuffed with fresh, soft apples... and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with hot syrup. Ah. Man. Amish people know how to do it. Small side note: the strawberry OJ is really good! Try it. The interior is wonderfully decorated with homey things and Amish-y items. It's nothing fancy at all--but, hey, that would be weird and wrong if it WAS a fancy Amish restaurant. Be sure to walk around outside after your meal. There is an awesome mural on the side of the market building and also some life-size cutouts of Amish people that cleverly connect to the mural. It's difficult to explain the awesomeness of Yoder's... so that means you should just go check it out yourself!
(5)
Amber M.
The only reason for not giving it a 5 was because their deep fryer was being used on Friday night for the catfish.My fried chicken was pan fried and not very good.Everything else was excellent though including the dessert.They also need a bigger parking lot lol
(4)
Jeanna L.
I love this place..I live close and this is where I get my produce, forget about thr grocery store produce. Its like stepping into the early 1900's market. Real good food. Don't miss the meat market next door. Or the pie next door the other way at Yoders restaurant.
(5)
Candido R.
Good wholesome food. Reminds me of old fashioned home cooking. A bit pricy for what you get.
(4)
Todd A.
This was my second trip. Perhaps eating at the original Mary Yoders in Ohio has influenced my perception, but I was not as impressed this second go round. I ate breakfast and lunch on this trip. The French toast was average but the coffee was smooth. At 8:30 am, the restaurant was empty. At 1:30 for lunch, there was about a fifteen minute wait. The roast beef Manhattan was OK. It was served in less than five minutes of ordering. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant and the gravy was very gelatinous. Unfortunately for the guests, their popularity has forced them to put quantity over quality.
(3)
Joanne E.
Shoofly pie, oh my. All the food is good, comfort food, home-cooked style. But really, the shoofly pie, oh my.
(5)
Axis S.
It's an institution. Comfort food, values preserved over a century, huge portions for a fair price and definitely where you go if you like pies or cakes for dessert. Families scattered all over the place, food sharing, styrofoam boxes being lugged out and people paying almost $20 for a pie to take home... So we waited in line, got placed in a booth, and ordered the chicken and a few sides. Shoulda saved room for dessert, maybe I'd get to 3 stars then. Maybe I'm too used to spicier foods, or it's been too long since I've been to the Yoders outside Perry, Georgia, where I first encountered Mennonite cooking, and memory has painted a better picture than what was there. Alice Waters' influence has a generation of cooks now able to do simple food incredibly well, and farm-to-table is an excellent culinary movement. I think this place does a brisk trade on memories and being an institution, but tasted critically this Yoder's left me wanting and reaching for condiments. Decent, but not superlative.
(2)
Brandon S.
Some good home cooking. Have not had that in awhile, so came and had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and fried okra...mmmmm mmmmm This is an Amish place and the line was out the door from all walks of life. I recommend.
(4)
Jane Q.
I love Yoders! The folks that work there are super friendly and helpful. It gets busy on the weekend for breakfast but so worth the wait. Love the coffee, cinnamon bun, pancakes, bacon omelette, and the banana cream pie! Food is fresh, hot, and delicious! Everyone should try Yoders. Oh love the fresh market and gift shop also! 2 thumbs up from me!!!
(5)
Sage M.
This place is absolutely one of the best places I've ever eaten! Thats saying allot food is my favorite! Don't be thrown off by the line that goes way out the door. There's a reason for it and they move so fast you'll be inside and sat in no time at all! Once we were sat it took longer to look threw their extensive menu than to receive our food! And don't get me started on their pie options! I had the veil Parmesan (my first time with veil, figured I needed to try it once) with a side of spaghetti and garlic bread and the option of 20 other sides! I went with corn cakes! AMAZING! Each table had fresh cream. homemade apple butter and you receive fresh bread when your sat! They have a mint sweet tea that is a must try! I also tried the rest of my family's meals which were just as good! They include a corn chowder that was too die for, fried okra, onion rings, chicken fried steak, chicken strips, and a blue cheese salad (which I don't usually like) it was all perfection! And from order, freshly cooked and on our table in around 10 minutes! We also left with left overs from each meal, the double blueberry pie, key lime pie, and chocolate cream pie (all of which were huge) to go because we were too full to eat one more bite! All of which cost under $50 there was 4 of us with dessert and I had veil!!! I just can't say enough how great this place is! Now if I can only get them to put one up in the country in California where I live!
(5)
Helene O.
Excellent fried chicken and amazing pies. The chocolate peanut butter pie is creamy and decadent--a must try. The chicken stuffing (smothered with gravy) is my favorite side and the potatoes and okra are really good too. The complimentary bread is fresh, soft and goes really well with the apple butter on the table. Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota and I stop by every time I'm in town. The food is always fresh and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. $5.50 will get you a tasty jar of apple butter to take home...yum!
(4)
Erika T.
After hearing for so long how great this place is, we finally got to try it last weekend. We got there around 2:00 and there was still quite a long line. We waited about 25 mins, which really wasn't that bad. I ordered the Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and mac n cheese. The portions were huge and plenty of food. However, I'm not sure Yoder's knows what a salt shaker is! The chicken HAD ABSOLUTELY NO flavor! Sad to say but Publix has better fried chicken. I don't get the hype! My husband ordered the Pulled Pork and that was pretty good, I wished that I had ordered that instead of the chicken. We ordered some pie to go. I got the Banana Cream Pie and it was about 25% banana cream filling and 75% whipped topping! I want pie, not whipped topping!!! And, I didn't care for the taste of the crust. Sorry but I don't see myself rushing back to go here. I don't see why the hype and long lines to get in this place!
(2)
Dwayne H.
Absolutely LOVE coming to Yoder's as this place is the ONLY true Amish cooking available in Sarasota! Yoder's is authentic Amish cooking and unlike the oversteamed and dried out cheap canned foods "Amish Style" buffet place up the street (yes, I have eaten there on more than one occasion and have been let down everytime), I have yet to leave Yoder's feeling underwhelmed of the kitchen's cooking! Service has always been met with a friendly smile and although the place is small, it is kept VERY clean and well organized to fulfill the masses that come through the doors. For those who have never tried Yoder's I will simply state, " SKIP the big fancy buffet wannabe up the street and come home to REAL Amish cuisine that is Yoder's!" There is nothing else comparable in Sarasota and they will forever be the BEST choice for Amish foods for me.
(5)
Shawn V.
for a mom and pop place this is definitely the best that it gets the pies are awesome the fried chicken is great and oh my the beef noodles rock...
(5)
Michael C.
Great home cooking. Huge portions. I was hungry and ordered a small barbecue pork and it was perfect. A large could feed two and have some left to take home. While the food is good, the real story here are the pies. Home made, piled high, and a slice is about a quarter of the pie tin. All that we tried--fruit or cream based--are delicious.
(4)
David R.
I've been eating at Yoders since the 80's. It was a favorite when I was home on leave from the military. I moved to Atlanta in 2000 and never found anything as good up there. I'm in Sarasota visiting, my daughter wanted KFC. I laughed and said I'll take you to the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. She ordered the half chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad. The service is quick, friendly and the food was fabulous! She quickly admitted that was the best friend chicken she has ever had. She took a bunch home with her, got up the next morning and had the rest for breakfast! Two days later and guess where she wants to go for dinner again? Heheheheeh with the economy the past several years and restaurants folding and great places to eat disappearing, it's fantastic to see places like this still happily in business with great food and service! Off we go to Yoder's.. I had the roast beef last time.. The meat loaf sure sounds good tonight!
(5)
Daren Y.
I saw this on Man vs Food and decided that I had to visit. Especially since I've heard how good the food is from locals of Sarasota. This cute little restaurant/shop complex is out in the residential area in the outer limits of Sarasota. Parking can be crowded but we were able to pull right in around 2pm on a weekday. From the outside, it looks like a quaint mom and pop place. Painted wooden structure with a fenced in area for people to hang out, a building with fresh produce and another building that is the restaurant proper. The three of us were greeted and seated right away. The dining area is kind of small, but there is plenty of room between tables. Country decor obviously. It was surprisingly quiet even though almost all the tables were occupied. Very pleasant waitress. We ordered and shortly thereafter we were given a stack of Amish bread, upon which we squirted their apple jelly (or whatever you call that stuff... tasted like liquid apple pie!) and it was delicious. The food came after about 10 minutes, which was pretty quick considering the nearly full house. I ordered the shepherd's pie with Amish potato cakes and corn muffins. My fiancee got their fried chicken (I told her to order half a chicken so I could eat some too!) with potato pancakes and broccoli. My friend got a quarter chicken, potato pancakes, and something else. I thought the shepherd's pie was ok, nothing really stood out to me. There was very little seasoning but a lot of saltiness. I wasn't particularly impressed. However, the potato cakes were phenomenal, as were the corn muffins (one of the softest and moistest I've ever had!). The fried chicken is a must have. If you have never eaten here, you MUST get the fried chicken. Whenever I order fried chicken, I usually peel off about 75% of the breading. However, I definitely ate the entire thing this time. It was that good. I'm not exactly a huge fried chicken person either, but this was absolutely delicious. Truly one of the best examples of fried chicken I've ever had. And of course, dessert. We ordered a Florida Key Lime pie and the peanut butter cream pie (the one they showed on MvF). I honestly couldn't decide which I liked better. Normally I'm more of a citrus type of guy, digging the lemon meringue and key lime, but I really couldn't decide on this. Both were fantastic. The service was very good. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She kept my water filled. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here (as did my fiancee) and we would come back again. Review is for a solid 4 stars.
(4)
Jack B.
We had heard about Yoder's Amish restaurant for years but had never been. Today was the day. Great home style cooking. Everything e ordered was well prepared, tasty and hot when served. The best fried okra I have ever eaten. Pies to die for, any of them. Staff was friendly, pleasant and helpful. She even bragged on her bosses as to what fine people they were and this came unsolicited. My wife suggested we just stay for breakfast. Give them a try you will leave full and happy with enough leftovers for another meal.
(5)
Taryn C.
Delicious, home cooked meals. The best cinnamon buns you will ever have. The best pies you will ever have. All of the staff are friendly and have never had bad service. The wait times can be long at times, but that's because this place is so freaking good.
(5)
Laurie K.
It has been 10 years since I first heard about this place, and have never been able to find someone to take the 2 hour and 28 minute road trip with me for lunch, well until today when I decided enough is enough and took my mom and went . I come from LI which is a day trip away from Lancaster PA and the Dutch Amish Country, which my family has frequented since I was a baby (40 plus years ago), so I KNOW delicious Amish cooking, which Yoder's is fantastic! Be ready to wait on line, but it is worth every moment we stood in the 93 degree weather. The line went briskly along and we were seated in less then an hour. The chicken is by far the most tastiest I have ever eaten, and the portions were huge! I had read a review that they only gave this place 4 out of 5 because they felt it was over priced... What a bunch of hogwash! Prices were very inline and with the servings there is plenty to take home for another day. Mom and I ate the same thing, but she had raspberry Ice Tea and I had Mint.... I have never drank tea where I felt like I had an actual mouthful of the herb or fruit. They were both spot on. I posted a picture of a MUST for dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie topped with bananas! It could have fed 4 people and this too reminded me of back north! You need to ask for this pie though as it is not on the regular menu but they will make it for you :) Wish this place was closer to us, but on our trip home we decided we would make a once a month excursion down. 10 Thumbs up for this place!!!
(5)
Olga G.
The place is very popular, the line is out the door but moves quickly. The menu is large, lots of yummy choices, good options for kids. I tried their cod, and it was awesome, fresh, perfectly seasoned. Do recommend it fried. I had it with beets( if u are a fan you' d like it) and carrot salad, a bit on the sweet side, but still good. Bread and homemade apple butter is delish! Fried chicken looked huge and tasted delish, and was also very popular, many people ordered it. Sandwiches looked great as well. Also tried fresh strawberry pie and it was yum!! One of the known items Finally tried breakfast too, and oh, mama!!! Strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast was unreal!!!!!! I'm salivating just thinking about it!! Warm, crispy outside mixed with strawberry gooey goodness was haven!!! This is a must and very popular item!! My husband got scrambled eggs with beef hash and a biscuit and a bowl of fruit. Eggs-fluffy cloud; biscuit-really homemade, huge, tasty; beef hash- just yum; fruit- freshest and sweetest I've ever had at a breakfast place. Also tried biscuits and gravy, very good, and pancakes, which were just delish, Real homemade stuff! Can't wait to come back to try more things! The gift store next door is adorable, had a lot of cute, interesting items, a lot handmade and their market was pretty good too, great selection of produce, tomatoes and strawberry were So good, fresh and delicious, and their homemade whole grain bread, oh, just to die for, perfect size slice, not too mushy or ruff, goes very well with a sandwich with one if their tomatoes. The whole area was a sight to see too, an amish area, so lots of Amish people around which was really neat. Worth visiting. The only reason 4 stars is a little overpriced, but it really is worth every penny!!
(4)
Robert C.
Went to Yoders this vacation and have to say the service has taken a hit. I had a side salad as one of my sides and they served it before the meal. I finished the salad and the empty bowl remained on our table through dinner and dessert. All the while two busser/food runners stood idly waiting for tables to empty out. The food continues to satisfy and the chocolate cake is still a winner with everyone. I had the lemon meringue pie this time and it was very good. My wife had the peach pie and it was off the chain delicious. I would recommend against the flounder. It was flat, over fried and tough and the corn meal coating overpowered the fish. Stick with the fried chicken or the baked chicken which both hit home runs every time.
(3)
Michael M.
This is Amish cooking at its best. The staff is extremely friendly, the food delicious (try the meatloaf or fried chicken) and the desserts are heavenly. A sure fine stop any time.
(5)
Michele D.
Very good the fried cicken and the peach pie too. Waitress kinds and friendly. Great value price. Reccommended.
(4)
L S.
Overall it's delicious. I think the fried chicken is way over rated. Had the AYCE fish yesterday .. it was rubbery and very bland. Everything else I've had has been fantastic. Always save room for pie or take some home!!
(4)
Mike S.
A long-time family favorite, and still considered best of the bunch of Amish/Mennonite/Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in Sarasota. Sarasota is an odd amalgam of settlers.....lots of artsy/richy snowbirds, regular folks to serve their needs and a colony of transplanted farmers from the Mennonite belt. Yoder's generally caters to the second 2 groups, who have large appetites, plain tastes and tolerance of massive doses of fats, carbs & calories. Come and eat like a celery farmer, and notice some of the locals riding 3-wheel bikes and wearing "plain clothes" looking like extras from the set of "Witness." Yoders offers comfort food at all meals and all forms, from hearty country breakfasts/biscuits, to their renowned fried chicken, overcooked veggies, wonderful on-site bread, ample butter for everything, finishing with their popular cream and fruit pies. Service is competent & friendly and you may have to wait for a table at noon and dinner rush hours. Forget getting any beer, wine, liquor or other devil's beverages, but caloric binging is permitted and facilitated.
(4)
Patsy T.
Love the Friday all you can eat fish lunches!!
(5)
Tiffany H.
This is probably the best place in Sarasota, and possibly all of Tampa Bay for a pie/cake-induced diabetic coma. My favorite pie? It's a toss-up between peanut butter and butterscotch, but then again I haven't had all of them. Yet. I also dig the lemon whoopie pies from the little deli/bakery. I've also picked up yogurt covered graham crackers, dried pineapple, and some other stuff that should only ever be a "once in a while" snack lest I triple in size. Now, about the restaurant. I've had dinner here a few times. I always try to go earlier (like 4pm) rather than later because the line can get long and I'm of the impatient variety. They also won't seat you if your entire party isn't there (though they did bend this rule for me when they were slow because I was waiting for friends with a baby). The employees are very friendly, that's a definite. I've ended up with fried chicken more often than not (and I'm not really big on it normally) and often have to pack some of it up to take it home. The downside is many of their sides (like the green beans) are canned. I know it's to keep costs down, but it would be awesome if fresh veggies were an option. So once you get through dinner, you can't leave without pie. If you had to pick between pie and actually eating, you should still pick pie. A slice of pie is enough for two people. One slice for me is good for three days. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I live an hour away! On the one hand I would get through their pie menu faster, and on the other I would need to buy larger pants.
(4)
Never Shovel Sno W.
leaving this review after my second visit ... The first time we stopped going north about 2 years ago - it was okay so we thought this time going south on the way home we would stop again ... Memorial Day 11:00 A,M, - waited about 20 - 25 minutes for a table ... We were asked if we were eating breakfast or lunch - lunch for us ... Seated, drink order taken, food order taken with an explanation that it may take a few extra minutes because the kitchen is switching from breakfast to lunch ... okay no problem - right ... Nothing difficult ordered ... well 40 minutes later, with tables all around us seated after us and served lunch items - i wasn't happy ... The food was okay ... chili was hot and tasty, turkey bacon melt sandwich good, chicken salad just so so we finished our meal and when paying the check I let the manager know of my dissatisfaction with the wait on the food ... to me she seemed quite aloof with an I don't give a sh...t attitude ... I am not familiar with the Sarasota area this place is located in - maybe it's the only game in town as the line is ridiculous ... I'll tell ya - I wouldn't wait an hour for this ... The do have a decent produce market next to the restaurant with fresh fruit and veges - decent prices ... not sure if I would return
(2)
nancy h.
I have heard about Yoder's for years,especially the pies. We finally made a trip for some dessert pie. They look beautiful I the case, we had trouble deciding whic to try. I asked about the favorites, best sellers,asked if the blueberry pie had lots berries or was more gel. We were told it was way more berries, pure deliciousness. We ordered a blueberry pie a la mode and a key lime pie. They arrived looking picture perfect. Took a bite, then another and looked at each other- what kook aide was everyone drinking. The pie has no flavor! The blueberry pie had one blueberry! Our server came and looked at it,agreed and brought us a chocolate peanut butter slice, one of the most popular. Hmmm, we took a bite, again, thought it was flavorless, but appealing to look at. We can check Yoder's off of our list. It was awful.
(1)
JP H.
This place is simply badass! Lots of parking but we warned this place gets packed fast and stays packed through out the day. Amazing Amish Desserts! Need I say more?!? Well I will! Banana Cream Pie and Vanilla Custard ftw! We will be coming back here whenever we are in Sarasota. We are from NYC and own a place in Orlando.
(5)
Molly K.
Absolutely delicious. We came here for lunch one day (best chicken tenders I've ever eaten) and breakfast later in the week. For breakfast, my boyfriend got the biscuits and gravy. Just one biscuit was HUGE and the gravy was to die for. The bacon tomato avocado skillet was delicious. Orange juice was fresh and scrumptious. We would recommend this place to everyone!!
(5)
JEREMY G.
If you like home made food loaded with butter then this is your nirvana. The quality was exceptional but the calorie and grease content was high as well. Along with this there is limited seating and parking. If you can Handle all of this though you will be able to enjoy some great food.
(4)
Lynn P.
This place is great. Have the chicken taste great and the breast is about the size of your head. I split a half a chic with my doughter. It was more then enough for us
(5)
Ben M.
I'm giving Yoder's a good review recommendation, because it is better overall than the many area rotten restaurants, and I believe a person could get better items on the menu than we were stuck with. The dining experience is really a mixed bag of good and bad. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. The severs are attentive and pleasant and not too annoying. The air in there is cool and fresh. The place was very busy when we went there, it has a good following, and lots of fat people eat there (and fat servers serve the food). There is a problem with the seating. Like most places with booths, the seats are too low and the table too high. The non-booth tables are low and not so far higher than the seats, but the seats are uncomfortably low, and uncushioned flat wood. It's like spending an hour eating while sitting on a flat board with a back on it. They also cram four chairs around a table the size for two patrons, so the table leg's base is in your way. The icewater is regular municipal tap water and has a bad taste. They served real butter, but with a cottony tasteless bread. The apple butter on the table was so sweet it was inedible for someone not accustomed to massive amounts of sugar. The entree servings are big, but big is not necessarily a good value. My fellow diner got the smoked chicken dinner, which was burned and dry. A dry bland piece of garlic toast came with it, which was only useful as a sponge to soak up some spilled water. Her baked potato seemed okay, but the side of apples was mushy bad-tasting food-service glop. I ordered the liver and onions dinner. The liver was burned, and thus the liver was blackened shoe-sole leather. The caramelized onions were partly raw, and the bacon was obviously not fresh-cooked. The fat on it was hard, cold and stiff, as if it had been pre-cooked quite a long time ago. The coleslaw was fresh and tasty and there was a lot of it. But, the blob of stuffing was just a gummy tasteless breadball with a covering of cheap salty food-service gravy-goo. Having not eaten everything, we ordered desserts. My plain cheesecake was a good size, fresh and rich. Her peanut butter pie was, however, a shapeless, loose, wet sloppy mess. It tasted good enough, but the texture was kind of yecchy. When it's busy, the chatter and the people bumping into you as they navigate through the aisles can start to really be annoying, so shovel your food in quickly. We didn't reject our overcooked food, because a cook that burns food is hopeless. I think there are items on the menu that they probably can do right, like sandwiches, but it seems a lot of what they have is low-grade food service pre-frozen stuff on a par with a "tv dinner".
(3)
Cassie M.
What a cute little place! The fried chicken is to die for. Great place if you want some home cooking! The pies all look amazing...I didn't have any but my friend had the chocolate peanut butter and said it was delicious...the pieces are huge. Definitely shareable...good luck agreeing on the same one though!
(4)
Ericka M.
Can I rate this over 5? Seriously though, I cannot rate this place high enough. We made the trip from Altamonte Springs to Sarasota because I had not heard enough good things about Yoder's. I was really hope it wouldn't be in vain. Oh man. It. Was. Amazing. Omg. I just can't. There was 3 of us and we just split 3 meals and went to town. Best idea i've had in a long time. Amazing. The inside is very crowded for the crowds they get but I didn't even care. I would climb stairs for this place if they asked me to. The portions are HUGE, the mashed potatoes are so creamy.... It was just a really great time. I did get pie (raspberry cream) and I couldn't believe how good it was. Man. I wanted to get some deli items/produce but that just means I can take another trip :D
(5)
Edward D.
In my experience, the TV food restaurants rarely live up to the hype. Yoders met my expectations half way. I had the famous fried chicken. While cooked to perfection, the pieces were too large for my liking and the coating was bland with no kick at all. I had the coconut cream pie which was excellent. It's worth a stop, but I would try something else on the menu for my main course.
(3)
Rob W.
The food is good, home made fare. All the menu items to me are just entrees for the main course, pie. They just make fabulous homemade pies here and they are always the focal point of the meal. The Amish vibe is very cool as well.
(3)
Adrian M.
OK, this would be more start if you know Amish food or Midwestern home cooked food and expect it. It is bland, bland. So the 2 stars reflect our enjoyment of the food. If you like that style, you might rate it higher. We went on the strength of people raving about the pie and fried chicken. A very popular place, with a 20 min wait at 3pm on a Friday afternoon. It has a lot of character, a lot of the worker were Amish and it is in an Amish community so interesting and fun to visit. Te fried chicken was very moist, and huge, but bland. My daughter got meatloaf, which was bland with bland gravy. Sides were very plain. Standout was the corn muffins which were excellent. And of course we had the pie. The egg custard pie was right on the mark p. the famous chocolate peanut butter pie was outstanding. The baked raspberry pie was meh, more like raspberry jam than raspberry pie. THe crust was not very good.
(2)
Kurt C.
We moved to Naples from Ohio about 3 years ago, 30 minutes from Amish Country, so we know Amish food!! This place is anything but. I can't say that any of the servers were actually amish, just women dresses and bonnets, and Mexican bus boys. Based on several people always raving about this place we decided to stop on a trip north. I like fried chicken and based on alot of reviews I went for it. Well the skin wasn't really fried, kind of a soggy battered skin. Chicken wasn't very moist or flavorful. Mashed potatoes and gravy and noodles, my wife and I both went for since were eating "Amish". I've had better instant potatoes, I think the gravy was strait out of a can, and the noodles.....well. ....not cooked consistently through, no flavor....we literally had maybe 3 bites between the two of us. We can cook better food at home by far. I would agree with a previous review stating Publix fried chicken is better.... The bread and apple butter were good. Nice soft bread and tasted fresh. We were reluctant to try pie but figured we would try. I think $4.50 a slice is a little steep but, hey, we're getting amish pie. Wife had the coconut cream pie and said it was good. Kids had chocolate peanut butter and they were happy. I tasted it and thought it was decent. I went for the peanut butter pie....what a disappointment. The only think peanut butter about it was some peanuts somewhere. It was mostly whipped topping and the filling was tasteless. Fortunately, we walked in with no wait but they filled up quickly. The place is a hole in the wall and nothing fancy or special about it. The service wasn't that great either. My conclusion is, maybe if you have never had amish food from the Midwest, this place may be good to you. However, as we come from that area this place is far from it. If we want amish again, we will try Der Dutchman up the road. Had we known it was there we probably would have went there to begin with. After the visit, I found out this place was on TV and rated for top 101 places to eat......Who put this on the list? Have you ate more than 101 places???? I would rather eat at chain restaurants any day. My suggestion.....save your money and go somewhere else. This place is not worth the hype.
(1)
Bryan S.
Enjoyed eating at Yoder's while on vacation. I ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and side salad with house dressing. Chicken was moist and crispy, potatoes were very smooth and house dressing did not disappoint. I hope to get back and try the breakfast that everyone raves about.
(4)
Richard P.
I had heard so much about this place that my disappointment is overwhelming. Yoders is an undeservedly popular Amish style restaurant serving very bland food in large quantities. Judging by the size of most of the other lunch diners when I was there I think the quantity rather than the quality is the big draw.
(2)
Melvin M.
A good meal, but anyone who has previously dined in one of the better Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants of Holmes County, OH, or Lancaster County, PA, will find this beach town copycat to be just that: (1) slightly lower in food quality (excepting the pies, which could hold their own with any Amish kitchen); (2) relatively high priced; and (3) infused with the air of a high-volume tourist trap. From the "English" waitresses wearing pants, to the Hispanic line cooks in the kitchen area, this restaurant also has a very different feel than it's counterparts on the heart of Amish country. Like most very popular restaurants which are geared primarily toward the tourist crowd, also expect a very long wait to get a table, even during the slow season.
(3)
Keri B.
Apparently their fried chicken was their main attraction...however, it was VERY dry and tasted like any other fried chicken I've had. I had to douse it with sauces to get it down. Perhaps I went on an off day? Other than that, the pie was fantastic, as were the breads. I went to their market and got TONS of fresh foods and cheeses. All in all, I will return.
(3)
Mac O.
3.5 stars. After lunch next door at Yoder's Restaurant, and before heading out to Longboat, husband and I swung by Yoder's Produce Market to stock up on produce for the condo. I was wanting local grapefruit for breakfast, local citrus for squeezing in Coronas and Bells Oberon, local peaches, nectarines, and mangoes for snacking on on the beach...what we found were California grapefruit and Georgia peaches. More than half the produce available -- while beautiful -- was from out-of-state. Hunh? We'd been drawn by the promise of farm-fresh, local produce. So to that end, we were pretty disappointed, tho we bought some anyway. But we did find other items we liked a whole bunch, including all-natural beef jerky, locally roasted ground coffee, extra sharp Canadian cheddar, Vinta crackers, Amish kettle corn, homemade granola (which was absolutely delicious), and fresh milk from Dakin Dairy Farms in nearby Myakka City. So, for produce Yoder's Market didn't deliver. But for dry goods and dairy, Yoder's Market came through like a champ.
(3)
N. D.
Summary: Pie and Turkey Dinner AMAZINGLY GOOD -but Fried chicken over rated and busy claustrophobic atmosphere We live a stones throw away from here in Port Charlotte. We finally made the trek 45 minutes up I-75 to celebrate a friends birthday by having some great fried chicken and some pie. I will admit we had some high expectations after seeing this place featured on TV. Allow me to walk you through our experience this evening. First we arrived to find a small but packed parking lot, luckily somebody was leaving as we pulled in which saved some hassle trying to park. There is a lot next to the restaurant with plenty more room. After baking in the sun in line for a bit and moving forward little by little we were greeted by the hostess. She asked number in party (no names) and on to the next. They seat as they have room to accommodate your party, it is not actually first come, first serve. They do not take reservations, so be ready to stand in a line. Upon entering it was rather chaotic, some what stuffy, and generally messy. Due to the high volume they serve, there isn't enough time dedicated to maintaining a kept dining area. The floor had crayons and various food items on it (I blame peoples lack of teaching their children proper manners more than I blame a restaurant for this.) Our food came fairly quickly, but was COLD the first time! The sides of mashed, mac and cheese, and my wife's Turkey dinner as a whole was very cold. The server was very accommodating and took back the sides and Turkey dinner to replace with a new order. When it came back it was all hot, but the mac and cheese was now very runny and not so good. The Turkey dinner was very very good once it was served hot and had a large portion. Now to the fried chicken. I had some high hopes for this item. I bought the half chicken at about $17 bucks. The flavor on the skin was good, but the meat was very dry and tough. I was very disappointed after hearing all the rave reviews and I admit it was a very meaty breast. However I have had better at my local Cracker Barrel and would not agree it is the best chicken around. Maybe it was just a bad day for them, I dunno as this was my first visit. Redeemed through the pie. The pie was amazing. Had peanut better, and baked blueberry, and also tried a little of the chocolate cake. All were above par, and worth a visit. It did meet the high expectations we had. Good portion and in my opinion worth the $4.75 a slice. To close, the turkey dinner my wife had was very very good as was the pie. I am betting some of their other items are good too. I think the fried chicken is a bit over rated, and in general it seems they may be pushing beyond a capacity they can handle and the quality of atmosphere is suffering a little.
(3)
Jared V.
I was rather underwhelmed with this place. I expected it to make my eyes roll back in my head and make me want to move to Sarasota. I drove from Orlando to come here specifically because of the reputation of the pies and comfort food. I went on a Friday. Guess what? No southern fried chicken on Fridays. Instead, their 'special' was pan-fried chicken. It was not crispy at all, and was about the same quality as original recipe KFC. Their chicken breasts were mutant giant chicken size. The fries were pretty good. They dropped some bread off and we slathered their apple butter on the pieces of bread which was the best part of the entire meal. My wife said the okra was excellent but the mashed potatoes and gravy was bland and the gravy was not very tasty. I saved room for pie and got blueberry crumb, while my wife got apricot. My filling tasted fine, but the crumb was somewhat bland and I had no crust underneath the filling, so I got almost no crust whatsoever. The apricot was bitter and the crust was too hard to the point of being crunchy. The service was slow and the food came out randomly. Apparently it is against amish policy to smile at people or be friendly; I was stared at stoically and was given attention but nobody looked happy to be there or made any effort to make me feel welcome. There were noisy, stupid teenagers a couple of tables away from me (one of them held up the giant sugar dispenser and loudly asked a random server "Is this salt?") and I had to deal with their stupid teenager jibber jabber talk about English class and Justin Beiber or whatever the hell stupid teenagers talk about. In summary, I have had better homestyle cooking, service, and pies elsewhere and Yoders is not worth the drive (at least not for me).
(2)
Ricky R.
I have been going to Yoder's since my inception in 1988. I could preach about Yoder's, but I'm going to keep it simple: - Typically there is a line out the door, but it is well worth the wait. - It has a cozy, "grandma's house" feel (if your grandma is Amish) - Staff is usually Amish, friendly, and meticulous (your table wont be dirty, you'll never run out of water, and you'll never wait for a check). - Considering the prices, their portions are generous. - You really can't go wrong with the main dishes - they're all flavorful and homemade. - Please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and order sides with your meal and dessert. - Order dessert. - For the love of God, order dessert. - All pies are delicious, carrot/chocolate cake are sinful, and the cinnamon buns could be the greatest thing I've let enter my body... that's what she said... Anyway, if you ever find yourself in a 100 mile radius of Yoder's, do yourself a favor and go. *So you can further appreciate their desserts: if a family member is in Sarasota, we make them get about 12 slices of pie/cake to bring back to Chicago. Seriously.
(5)
Lissete D.
Go with the correct mindset and you will be satisfied. Personally, we love Yoder's. Especially their pies. We've been going since before Man vs Food, so our expectations weren't at the level that many seem to have. All that being said, this is comfort food at it's best. I'm a fan of the broasted chicken & the meatloaf. If you go during strawberry season, you should try the best strawberry pie EVER! Service is always friendly & efficient.
(4)
Arverne G.
Carb heaven. Lunch consisted of delicious smoked chicken with barbecue sauce, yummy potato pancakes and sour cream, and so called baked apple ( really apple pie filling.) There was a lot of fresh made bread and super sweet apple butter on the table. The thin hostess came by and asked whether we were ready for dessert, and I asked her if she ate any and she said no, she had been through them all. I am sure their pie is great, but after that huge lunch, no one needed a dessert. The one problem that I had with this place is that a lot of the customers are very heavy. This is not a place to go if you are counting calories either. They use canned vegetables as sides and as I said above the inviting sides are very carb loaded. Just don't go there too often. The decor is very sweet and old fashioned, the service was efficient and friendly. I am just glad that I don't live in Sarasota, since I would probably go there more often than would be good for me..
(4)
Kristin D.
I love Yoder's so much that when we moved away from the area for 3 years, I used to dream about Yoder's pies and fried chicken. When we moved back home, it was one of the first places we stopped. The fried chicken is so juicy and seasoned just perfectly, the apple butter is the best I've ever had, and the pies are so good! Service is always great, but be prepared to wait to get a table. It is kind of annoying to wait 30 min. at the very least (and that's during off-season) for a table and there's not a real big waiting area. But the food is so worth the wait!
(5)
Tong J.
Great place to share a home-style meal with family. Reasonably priced with a warm and homey atmosphere. Their famous crispy fried chicken lived up to expectations, crispy on the outside and super moist on the inside. The seasoning on the crispy skin had the right about amount of salt. Additional seasoning inside would have made this fried chicken a five star piece of heaven. The corn muffins were also delicious! They were moist, tasty and buttery. With over 25 varieties of pies and cakes, it was tough to choose one. Be warned, each piece is HUGE. We ended up ordering the fresh peach pie, which was very good. Peaches were juicy and ripe. The creaminess and lightly sweet whipped cream complimented the tartness of the peach nicely. They don't take reservations so if you arrive after 5:30-6pm be prepared for at least a 45 minute wait on weekends. They do have a little gift shop nearby where you can pass the time.
(4)
Scott M.
Pan fried chicken is off the chain.
(4)
Hyundoe K.
Great restaurant. I always love to go here when I'm in the area. Fried chicken is great with their house dipping sauce. If you like good home cooking then this place is for you. Don't forget to try a slice of pie.
(4)
Jim H.
There are very few windows of opportunity for locals during season to get into Yoder's without standing in long lines and listening to how it's done "back in Akron". In the mood for breakfast on a recent weekday at 10:45 and spotting no line we careened into the parking lot. Seated immediately and nothing has changed here in years; same comfortable booths and chairs along with prompt and polite service. This is how all of America should be! We ordered a standard breakfast; my wife had one French toast (each piece is thick and huge) and bacon, while I had eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast. I couldn't resist a half order of bisquits and sausage gravy to share. Everything was good; the table side apple butter is delicious, the bacon thick, smokey and salty, home fries crispy and creamy on the inside and eggs fresh (actually tasted fresh!!) cooked as ordered. Okay, the sausage gravy is beyond outstanding. The half order is so big we brought home the other half (is that a quarter of an order?) and so good with large chunks of homemade spicy and flavorful sausage in a beautiful cream gravy. Even your Cardiologist couldn't resist it. We've eaten many dinners and a few lunches here through the years and everything is always good. I have to say there is no better breakfast, at very fair pricing, anywhere in Sarasota. Enjoy Yoder's, however before you get in line just brush up on the nuances and sports teams of Michigan, Ohio, and all of Canada for the coming small talk. Got It, Ahhh?
(4)
A S.
I think it is a unique idea in Florida to have an Amish restaurant but the food arrived to fast for me to believe it was fixed after I ordered it and wasn't off a pre-made assembly line. Go to cracker barrel, it is better and cheaper.
(2)
barbara m.
Delicious homemade food in a cozy, small diner atmosphere. Very quiet despite all the activity going on around us. We arrived exactly when they opened so we got in right away for lunch. When we left the line was out the door. We had the fried chicken which was served in enormus proportions. Another person in our party had the fish - also a huge portion. Very accommodating genuinely polite, capable wait staff.
(5)
Henry M.
Great service and even better food. It is home cooked meals. Only wish the had their fried chicken on Fridays. Pies are some of the best I have had.
(5)
Jeremy H.
Best homemade comfort food I have ever had! I had the turkey, fried chicken, and breakfast and everything was excellent. The pie, whoopie pies, and bread were also amazing! Great service as well. If you like good home cooking this is the place!
(5)
Sharie H.
First time here and it was great. The hostess was a bit rude but the waitress was awesome. Very friendly and homey atmosphere. The food was definitely comfort food. Macaroni was by far the best. The shop next door is a must also.
(4)
Adriana R.
Long wait, but it was so worth it! Their fried chicken and banana cream pie are delicious. The service was very good, the waitress was on top of everything. I will definitely go back for that banana cream pie!
(5)
Lee P.
Their food is great. Go there all the time and we are never disappointed.
(5)
Renee S.
Yoder's is such an awesome restaurant! Good home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I have never been disappointed. Been coming here since I moved to Sarasota 15 years ago. Make sure you save room for pie.
(5)
Natalie G.
My boyfriend and I come here ALL THE TIME. the staff is so beyond friendly. It's very clean and homey. Food is really well priced and fantastic portions. The pie is succulent and can tell they're made with pure and simple ingredients... I absolutely love yoder's. So warm and welcoming, the food always comes out from the kitchen quickly even when the place is packed with people. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Judi G.
When you live in Florida year round, you quickly learn that good fresh produce is out of season-too hot for much more than corn, watermelons and onions. Yoder's has a great selection of Mid West produce. Tomatoes from Michigan are very good. Wish they could carry Jersey tomatoes though! A variety of herbs and exotic fruits, North Carolina and Georgia peaches, blueberries and white eggplant. Prices are great compared to a grocery store, especially a seedless watermelon for $2.00. Run over to the market for pumpkin bread or strawberry bread. On Saturdays they smoke their own baby back ribs, saucy and juicy so they sell out fast.
(4)
Ryan S.
This place is pretty cool. Its deff old school and makes you feel like your in grandmas kitchen. My only dissapointment was they were out of the dutch apple crumb pie id been looking forward to. The rest of my party got fried chicken and all said it was amazing. I got country fried steak and while good wasnt the best ive ever had. The potato pancakes and mash and gravy were very good. Tried the pumpkin cream pie and the peanut butter pie both were good. Got cinnamon sweet rolls to go and they were very tasty beware they are huge and loaded with icing lol.
(4)
Dawn A.
4 stars for Holy cow....if you are looking for a home cooked meal like no other...look no further. I've first heard of Yoder's through my parents who travel to Sarasota often and was glad I finally got to go. First off I read through Yelp reviews that the baked chicken was where it's at, so I had to order it! It was a quarter chicken with 2 sides, I went with fries and warm fried apples. Before your meal is served, they give you just about a half loaf of bread for an appetizer with butter, like your meal wasn't enough. But since I was warned beforehand I knew the meal would be large. And large and in charge it was! It could easily be 3 meals for me! My husband ordered the pork bbq with fries and mac and cheese. Hello comfort food! All in all, it was a great experience, we did have a little bit of a wait during the lunch hour, but the waitress was quick to refill our drinks and asked how we were. And if the main meal wasn't enough they also have a large section of pies...famous for them. So we had to get the peanut butter pie to-go. Also, if you have time go to their Market area, which is right next door to the restaurant. So many good looking fruits/veggie items, as well as other nuts, honey and sweets. My only critique was the bathrooms were a bit small and i felt like the tables throughout the restaurant were a bit crammed in space.
(4)
Marie L.
This place is popular for good reason. Amazing food and fantastic desserts at a great price! I've been to Yoder's three times so far, and always make a trip over whenever I'm visiting family in Florida. The parking can be tight and you'll most likely have to wait for a table, but it's all worth it! On my most recent trip, my boyfriend and I shared their famous fried chicken with your choice of two sides. Cooked to perfection every time, crispy and tender. And of course it's huge! We ate our fill and still had plenty to bring home for sandwiches later. I always ask for extra chicken gravy too because it's soooo delicious. The first time I ordered the side of mashed potatoes with gravy, I didn't understand why the gravy was cream colored, but I thought it tasted insanely good. It turns out their gravy is homemade with real chicken stock. Have you ever eaten REAL gravy before? It puts any powdered or jarred "gravy" garbage to shame. I've eaten the meatloaf at Yoder's before too and it was just as delicious as the fried chicken. That side of mashed potatoes came with beef gravy, which again was phenomenal. I love that they serve you fresh food everyday with a great selection of sides to choose from. Of course mashed potatoes are pure comfort food, but they also offer awesome sides like fried okra, chicken stuffing, fresh vegetables and much more. I haven't even gotten to dessert yet, but I only have one word for you all... PIE! Yoder's makes the best pies on this side of the country (in my humble opinion) and there are so many delicious favors to choose from! I always get the same one, their chocolate peanut butter cream pie. I dream about this pie at home in NY. It's a perfect flavor combination of Reese's and fluffy cream pie all in one! I love the chopped peanuts added in for crunch and the incredible homemade whipped cream they pile on top. If you didn't save room for a full piece, you can get a "pie taster" for $2.50. It's a small, sweet bite to finish off an awesome meal. You can always buy an 8 or 10 inch pie to bring home, as well. If I have Florida family coming up to visit, I always beg them to bring me up a Yoder's pie to savor for as long as I possibly can... Usually about 3-5 days. It's that damn good!! Yoder's is one of those restaurants that actually lives up to the hype. My family first heard about it on Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Food, so I'm forever thankful to them for showing me the light. It's a restaurant you MUST MUST MUST enjoy at least once in your life. Otherwise, you truly don't know about the incredible food and pies you're missing out on. Stop by Yoder's the next time you're in/near Sarasota and I promise you'll be back for more.
(5)
Mick M.
All time favorite for several years. Pick anything on menu and it will be fantastic. Traditional good home cooking and outstanding pies, always served with a smile. You can never wrong here. Come early on holidays, the line is out the door.
(5)
Diana A.
I drive from tampa to buy my mom these pies! So that in itself should say it all. The staff is beyond friendly and very clean location. I like to buy the whole pie and when I get there there usually sold out of most, so last time I was lucky and got the strawberry pie which is universally my moms favorite, and this one has been her favorite by far. I got a pie that was a triple berry (don't quote me on the name of the pie lol). I honestly picked it because it was literally the last whole pie they had to sell. When I tasted it I was in love . I am not a sweets person but I loved both pies. This place is worth the drive.
(5)
Kelly L.
Want to take a walk back in time? Come on down to Yoders! We didn't eat at the restaurant but we did check out the market. They had everything! I ended up with artichokes, pink lady apples, hand churn butter, local eggs, Amish cheese and rambutan! I love those spiky Asian fruits and they are hard to find. They also had fresh breads, jams, local honey, and plenty of other goodies. It was my mom's birthday so we decided to grab a pie or cake from their bakery to take home. We went with the oatmeal cake which doesn't sound that interesting, right? WRONG. It had a crispy coconut-y caramel topping that was TO DIE FOR. It was one of those moments that was almost spiritual. I can't wait to come back and try the restaurant.
(4)
Robert N.
The Food Network got me again. I came in for the "Legendary" fried chicken. The chicken was the very opposite of impressive. Underseasoned. The skin was not crisp: no snap as we are all hunting for when we seek to indulge in fried chicken. The sides were very 1970's American diner : uninspired and devoid of seasoning. The gravy really struck me like it was from a giant tin can, if it was actually made on site shame on them. Great gravy can be found at Made and Sun Garden Cafe. Great fried chicken at Shore Diner, hell even Publix offers better fried chicken than yoder's. Don't believe for a minute that large portions make a meal worth eating.....dine elsewhere if you like food.
(1)
Tiffany E.
We came here with friends and were blown away. First of all these are the biggest portions i have ever seen. I ordered roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing. I ate 1/4 of it. Also save room for dessert because the pnut butter pie is amazing. The portions are huge prices are cheap and food is fresh!
(5)
Thomas A.
I'm not going to wax poetic on a place with 400 almost-exclusively positive reviews already...you get the drift, this place rocks. I was not disappointed in a single aspect of the meal (food, service, etc). Just fantastic. Chicken, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, onion rings, pie...all made well and with real ingredients. Biggest tip - Be prepared to wait outside in the heat for 20-45 minutes depending on the crowd level.
(5)
Nienna N.
Yoder's is always fabulous. Real traditional food like they made on the farm. Not haute cuisine just natural flavor
(5)
Duane D.
We came out of our way to try Yoders, which many of our friends rave about. Yoders is a smallish Amish restaurant a few miles off the Interstate. With a few Amish-themed exceptions, the menu is much like a Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel restaurant. It can be crowded. On a Friday night we waited about 30 minutes for a table for 2. I found the food to be good and the prices to be low. That being said, I don't understand all of the hype that has some people driving 50 miles to get here. It is good, and I will eat here again when I am in the area if the wait is reasonable--but it's not quite up to all the over-the-top hype.
(4)
Elena W.
Starting with the fresh made bread, it was a good sign of things to come. The food was just that! Croissant tuna sammy, croissant chicken salad sammy, & country fried steak. You heard that right, sammies on croissants. Not too buttery, not too flaky... Perfect for holding all that yummy goodness. Did I mention the French fries? For the love of all things holy, they were amazing!! Perfectly crisp, not soggy, and not too well done. Add some salt, and your taste buds will sing a heavenly song (when in Amish country, it's only fitting). Onto dessert, Florida key lime pie, best chocolate cake, and choc/peanut butter pie... Where to start? Key lime pie had a creamy yet tart taste; the kind that hits you at the end (like a fine wine). The chocolate cake, oh my oh my!!! The frosting alone is worthy of high praise. The cake was good, but the frosting was so delicious that you couldn't compare it to the cake. Now for the choc/PB pie... Layer after layer with chunks of peanuts, smooth chocolate goodness, and a perfect crust. What's not to love?? All in all, any negative comments you read about the food, chalk them up to yuppies that are used to $30 dinners. As for the service, yes it can be a bit slow, but their friendliness & food make up for it. They stay pretty busy, so don't go if you have less than an hour to grab lunch and get back to the office. I'd recommend takeout and get on with your life. All in all, we left happy, stuffed & with doggie bags. Man vs Food was spot on. Not to mention, I'm a pretty picky person.
(5)
Robbie C.
Yoders is a tourist attraction in the middle of an Amish community in Sarasota. As such, there is always a line out the door so be prepared to wait. The ambiance is diner like and the food is comfort type foods. I ordered the salmon which goes against what they are known for. It is a huge piece of salmon and came with a plastic cup of dill sauce. Not the best I have had and am always turned off by plastic but wasn't the worst either. The dish comes with two sides and I enjoyed the Mac n cheese. Asked our server if green beans were fresh or canned and was really surprised when she told me they are canned. Yuck! Especially when they have a real nice farmers market with fresh produce next door. So instead a got a salad which was pretty plain. When several in my party asked for bread before their meal, they were served plain white bread? We waited in line for this? So we did get a peanut butter pie to share between 4 of us, plenty to share and this was definitely the star of the show. They do have an outdoor takeout so would opt for this and get the pie. The farmers market is definitely worth a visit.
(3)
Abigail T.
I love them. Great American food. Had the pot roast today. Awesome. Brought home woopie pies delicious. They give large portions. Enjoy
(5)
Agi M.
The pie alone will change your life. Pick your favorite flavor (apple is mine!) and enjoy your slice of heaven! Fried chicken is also divine, don't try being healthy...get the dark meat and indulge.
(5)
K G.
Truly as good as it gets in terms of southern comfort food! We came here on a recommendation, which seems to be the way this place works- set off on a back road with no fancy signs, you'd miss it if you didn't know about it. But once you get into the jam packed parking lot, you know you've come to the right place. We got here around 7:15 at night, knowing they close at 8, so we figured that we missed peak dinner times and wouldn't be too crowded.. WRONG! We were greeted by a line out the door. Once we got inside we were met with walls adorned with various awards, newspaper clippings, along with a signed photo of Adam from Man vs. Food who visited and listed this place in his "Top 100 Places to Chow Down" on the Travel Channel. Such a glamorous award, yet the interior of Yoder's reminded me of my grandma's kitchen: plaid tablecloths, spinning ceiling fans, and pullout chairs for extra guests around a table. And if you weren't hungry enough, there are various homemade cookies and breads available for you to oogle at while waiting. But the jewel case of pies near the center of the restaurant is really what catches your eye as you walk by to your table, more on that later though. Now first and foremost, check your diet at the door. This is not the place to be concerned with trivial things like calories because we have a menu that's home to famous fried chicken to look through! With a soup of the day, veggie of the day and, oh yea, pie of the day, you will have trouble deciding, heaven knows we did. Our waitress was more than happy to give us extra time as we flip flopped between sandwiches on homemade croissants, country fried steak with homemade gravy, or blue plate specials which came with homemade bread (did I mention homemade?). We settled on the Thanksgiving dinner meal along with some mac and cheese and, of course, some fried chicken. The turkey dinner brought out looked, again, like grandma's. A mountain of white gravy slathered on stuffing and mashed potatoes, with cranberry sauce and a pile of turkey that was obviously cut right off the bird- no fancy thin shavings of meat, we're talking chunks of white and dark meat abound. The mac and cheese was so creamy I could slurp that sauce through a straw and also made for a good dunking sauce for the fried chicken which was crunchy and juicy. Curse you Yoder's, I broke my 60 day vegetarianism for your chicken and enjoyed every second of it! First time I ever saw my guy ask for a box there was just too much food to handle. Of course, full or not, we had to go for it all with a piece of pie. After flip flopping again, we settled on Strawberry Cream Pie. We split a slice and the waitress brought it cut on two plates without us asking, so I'm assuming sharing is a very common thing in this place. I'm glad she gave us our own piece since neither of us were willing to share! Huge fresh strawberry chunks gave me the illusion that I was eating healthy under a pound of whipped cream. The crust was like a cookie, delicious on its' own- no joke, I would pay to have someone teach me how to make it! We left at closing time, but I will have to come back to check out their next door farmer's market. And so we left a little fatter and a lot happier. We ate to our hearts content with leftovers for under $30 which is pretty good for the portions and quality of food. Like I said, I am not from here, but for sure I will be coming back at least once more before going back home. And so the legend of Yoder's will continue. Should anyone ask me if I know a good place, I'll refer to the little "house" off the beaten path!
(5)
C T.
What a find! My first time in Sarasota, Florida and where should we go for a bite to eat? We found Yoder's on Yelp. When we got to Yoder's, there was a line-up going into the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Saturday afternoon. Must be good if there is a line-up! Waited in line for about 20 minutes and saw Adam Richman's autographed picture in their feature window in the doorway. Also, the Man vs Food video of Yoder's was playing in the background on the plasma TV. Adam Richman ate fried chicken and their potato pancakes and their famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. We finally got a table for 5 people. One ordered the Fried chicken, fried okra and onion rings - delicious! One ordered the Fried chicken and mashed potato and gravy - smaller portion but just as good! One ordered the BBQ Chicken Leg and mashed potato - pretty good! Two ordered the Chicken Liver and Special Stuffing (only available on Saturdays), potato pancakes, fried okra, and Amish buttered noodles - can you say OMG!! Dessert was the best part - sis and I shared the famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was so light! Mum had the starwberry pie - quite delicious!!
(5)
Jen W.
Great lunch buffet. Loved the "broasted" chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes. Plentiful salad bar, lots of desserts & great soft serve ice cream. I bought a key lime pie and bag of kettle corn on the way out. Highly both! All for under $10/person.
(5)
Charles H.
The food is simple and simply delicious. I tried the pulled pork and I was delightfully surprised by the quality and the large portion. The pie was simply wonderful. You must try this place. Come hungry, it's worth the wait.
(5)
Selene K.
This review is for the pies/desserts only as I much prefer the food at Troyer's. My family has been going to this restaurant for years and will usually buy a whole pie during family gatherings. Very fresh and delicious.
(4)
Marquita M.
Best pies hands down... They saved my Christmas dinner!
(5)
Sundi P.
AMAZING peanut butter cream pie. My husband and I decided this is going to be a tradition on pi day.
(5)
Anthony A.
Holy moly this place was amazing. I had a food coma. I mean the fried chicken was phenomenonal. Those sides- wow! those potato chips and noodles and potato cakes ans don't forget about the fried corn on the cob. That apple butter was so good that we went to the Yoder's market after we ate and bought a whole jar of it. You can't go to Yoder's with out getting pie. Really it was the best pie Ive ever had.
(5)
Jillian K.
Bland bland bland. We had heard about this place for years and finally were in the area with the time to give it a try. We started with pie and coffee. We didn't hate the coffee and the shoofly pie had a pleasant molasses taste. The blueberry crumb was a sweet thick sugary syrup and blueberries with a crumb that lacked flavor or proper spices. The famous fried chicken did not have any seasoning, not even salt and pepper. The beets were served in a clear tasteless syrup that seemed to rob any flavor that might have naturally occurred. The fried okra was okay but could also have used some seasoning. This place seems to have a loyal fan base much like the Cracker Barrel. Really boring food served by really nice people.
(1)
Bethany B.
This was so excellent! By far the best breakfast. We didn't have too high of expectations as we figured it would be your heavy breakfast options. There certainly was that if you wanted it but I had a delicious veggie benedict with fresh fruit and there were options for fresh granola with fruit and yogurt, etc. Service was outstanding!!! Just go! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Joshua R.
Come Hungry because the serving sizes are huge. Great Amish cooking. Country style benedict was great and a lot of food
(4)
Ronald U.
Too Big for Their Britches-Now I know Yoder's enjoys lines around their building and our celebrities now that they have been featured on T.V.-unfortunately they care little for accomodating customers who have been frequenting this establishment for decades. I know I will not be missed but I certainly feel betrayed, I always ordered the $10.95- 7 ounce garlic chicken-not always garlic flaovred, it comes with 2 sides and stuffing. Brian the manager always allowed me to substitute the stuffing for okra or applesauce. on my last visit i was told by Brian that the stuffing was free and could not be substituted. Instead of saying this would be the last time we can make this substitution because the stuffing is free-i was loudly humiliated infront of guests and staff. why did you ever offer to substitue in the first place. had i been told this was not your policy that would have been fine. you are not a chain, why could i not be accomodated and why did i need to be insulted and humiliated. the servers will miss my generosity but i will not miss the artery clogging free stuffing that could not be substitued. So ends my decades as a Yoder customer!
(2)
Jenn S.
Okay, I don't even remember what I ate for dinner because I followed that with a huge slice of butterscotch pie, which is the best thing I have EVER eaten in my life. I want to marry it. It was creamy, smooth, and the most wonderful 2,000 calories in one place I have ever wolfed down. Holy F!!!
(4)
Joy H.
Great for breakfast or for dessert...you won't leave hungry or broke. The staff here is so friendly :)
(5)
Sarah D.
First, let's get one thing straight. If you want spicy food, or even heavily seasoned food, this is not the place for you. This is an Amish restaurant, and the Amish are plain. That carries over into their clothing, buildings and food. If you want good home cooking in a kitschy Amish atmosphere, then you'll enjoy your meal. I'll be honest, I grew up in Amish country in Central PA, so no matter what, I knew I'd like this place on pure nostalgia alone. But my husband enjoyed it as well. We heard stories of long lines waiting for a table, but we got there at 11 on a Tuesday and beat the lunch rush. My suggestion is to go during off hours. I had the Manhattan (open faced sandwich) and hubby had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which he loved. The mashed potatoes were very good as well as the homemade bread they bring for the table. Unfortunately we were too full to try the desserts, but I'd like to return and have a piece of the Strawberry Pie ( my favorite). Also, don't miss the Produce Market, Grocery and Gift Shop!
(4)
steve M.
First of all bring your appetites. The portions were absolutely ridiculous. We're talking Flintstones size. Very good (and huge) fried chicken. Excellent (and gigantic) meatloaf sandwich (which they call a Manhattan) Fantastic Pie. But the highlight of the meal for me was the apple butter. Best I've ever had. We bought a jar to take home. Well worth the trip is you want some serious comfort food in Sarasota
(4)
Dante B.
Go here for the pie and start with that. While you're at it, take some home with you. Wonderful wide selection of tasty cream and regular pies - I was there the day the place was featured on "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel. Now I understand why the Man vs. Food guy came here - they're darn good pies!
(5)
Craig R.
Fried chicken and PB cream pie are incredible! Come hungry!
(4)
Jen C.
The custard pie is AMAZING!!!
(5)
Julaine N.
Good breakfast. The pancakes are delicious as well as their fresh made breads. Be prepared to wait in line on a weekend morning, but if you are looking for some breakfast treats, the pancakes are worth it!
(3)
Steve G.
The food was so-so. We had the turkey which was dry, the stuffing seemed to be pedestrian, and the gravy seemed fairly tasteless. The meatloaf was ok, but seemed to be fairly standard. We were expecting a home-cooked style of a dinner and what we got was middle of the road lunch counter quality food.
(2)
Jesse B.
This is my spot for a early morning hangover cure. I know it sounds odd but it is true. I have them stored in my phone and when the only thing I can think about is biscuits and gravy I call for take out. Always biscuits and gravy for take out. The best I have found. Homemade biscuits and meaty gravy. Bring your own hot sauce. I also order pies ahead of time for holidays. Best around hands down. I'd be willing to bet this is some of the best "home cook'in" in town. One day maybe I'll go inside.
(4)
Carrie S.
I'm only rated this a 4 cuz the food is ok.. it wasn't the best.. My hubby and I went for breakfast.. I had a sausage and cheese omelette w/ home fries... The home fries was barely cooked..my hubby had homemade corn beef and hash and it wasn't that great but The four stars is for the amazing pies and desserts that they serve oh my talk about heaven in your mouth I had the chocolate peanut butter pie it was yummy..they also have a fresh produce market right next-door along with a deli which is also amazing and more goodies to fill your tummy...they have A huge selection of different types of Jams..they have whoopee pies and old-fashioned candy and lots of other cakes and desserts to choose from..all the fruit and vegetables look delicious as well I will definitely be back!! I will be back to try the restaurant again I will try dinner next time because I heard their fried chicken is off the chain..this place is definitely a great place to order your pies and desserts for holidays!! The service & the atmosphere was also very wonderful!
(4)
Katy T.
We tried the meatloaf and country fried steak, on our way down to Sarasota. Our table neighbor next to us ordered this incredible looking homemade cheesecake with strawberries on top, so we had to join. The pies look huge and amazing too, didn't have room for both, maybe on the way back home!
(5)
Helen L.
I crave their fried chicken a lot and will make the 35 minute drive to eat here. Their pies are amazing as well!
(5)
Randy R.
On vacation in the siesta key area we where recommended to have dinner at this establishment THANK YOU for your recommendation. BEST BEST fried chicken i've had in a long time. Everything about this place was great. The service was awesome. The food was spectacular and the desert was heavenly. If you want to try something great visit this place.
(5)
Jessica M.
Yoder's is a solid 3.5 in my book. So, in the middle of nowhere Florida lives these Amish folks. They have a produce stand, have a restaurant, and some other Amish attractions. Upon pulling up, I noticed quickly this was a facade. Living in Vegas, I think you get jaded because you know what a fake Paris or a fake Roman Empire facade look like from a mile away. The staff was definitely not Amish either. I don't think Amish can stand behind the hostess stand checking her iPhone. Anyway, I could careless about how pretty or dumpy a place is, it's all about the food, customer service, but mostly the food. There were signs about the world famous fried chicken and it was alright. Was it KFC, no, but it wasn't slap your grandma good either. The mashed potatoes weren't anything special, but the 5 bean salad I enjoyed was the cat's pajamas. Not really feeling my food, I boxed it up to go, so I could spruce it up later. What I and anyone else come her for is their pies. OMG. Moment of silence, please. Their peanutbutter pie is creamy, sweet, peanutbuttery perfection. Succulent. Yes, a pie can be succulent. I also have to tell you, I am not a pie fan. At all. 99% of pies suck, not Yoder's. They made me a believer. Service was attentive and the restaurant was busy. Not a legit Amish settlement so don't let that disappoint you. I'd skip the food and go straight to the pie window. It's the only thing worth waiting around for.
(3)
Lynda J.
A nice place for some good Amish food. This place is jam packed during season! Come prepared to stand in line. I usually get the broasted chicken and always have a piece of the delicious pie. My favorite is the coconut cream but the peanut butter is also great! Come hungry this is not the place to skip dessert!!
(4)
Sue G.
O M G.. Yes, yes, yes! The carmel apple french toast was so yuummmy, I almost cried. The Farmer's skillet was so huge my piggy hubby couldn't even eat it all! The ham STEAK(not sliver) melts in your mouth! Best coffe that I've had in a long time. The ice cold milk, oh Lord!!! I have heard they have very long waits, but we went on a Friday at 10:30 for brunch and walked right in! Check out the deli next door! Woooooow! Amazing prices!!! Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)
Shannon G.
Yum! Great food. Great pie :) Be warned they do not serve breakfast all day. I once came in at about 11:30 am and had to wait in line, and sadly was not able to get the French toast I had dreamed of.
(5)
Bryan T.
Went to this place today and was in heaven! I haven't had fried chicken this good in years. The raspberry tea was delicious and I don't even like tea. This had mom and grandma knocked out on the car ride home
(5)
conor b.
Classic comfort food coming from the heart of Sarasota's Amish community. Good for lunch, even better for breakfast. Quality service and you can expect consistent service, food and a little bit of a wait every time. They offer a fun treasure hunt for the kids as well that lets them stroll through the attached market and gift store for a sticker and at the end the get a prize. Mom and dad have already bought things from each place by this time, so it's darn clever. Anyway, I've never had a better friend chicken and I was born in the south. Those Amish know what they are doing. Grab a slice of pie and wrap it up!
(4)
William S.
Great portions on dinners. Make sure you're hungry if you order full dinners. Peanut butter pie is homemade and good. Had Dutch Apple pie and it was great too. Have been here a few times always busy due to the fact it's comfort food. They have take out window for pies. Also have a vegetable market and deli cut meats next to restaurant.
(4)
Chuck P.
Great home cooked meals and the pies are fantastic! Blueberry pie and my wife are the best of friends!
(4)
Travis J.
I absolutely love this place! Pretty small and you may have to wait, but the wait will be worth it! The staff is friendly and very patient. The items on the menu are very fresh and you do see the desserts on display. The food portions are good so come with an appetite! I ordered their famous fried chicken along with the mac and cheese and corn cakes. The chicken was crisp and juicy and almost as big as my head! The Mac and Cheese is creamy and rich, the corn cakes look like pancakes, but have that texture and taste of a cake! For dessert I got the peanut butter pie which is the know favorite. Words couldn't describe how amazing each bite was! I definitely recommend Yoders. It's away from all of the beaches and bars, but it's a relaxing location away from it all. Don't forget to stop in their fresh market shop, produce market, or gift shop!
(5)
Steve N.
I had never been here before after relocating to Sarasota. I happened to see it on the Food Network, but had heard good things since moving six months ago. I stopped in and got a peanut butter pie and a coconut cream pie to go. I tried the peanut butter pie and it was delicious! Different than any pie i have had before, but very very good. I can't speak to the restaurant or the meals there, but I was impressed!
(4)
Wayne P.
The best Amish restaurant anywhere . Plus their pies are to die for . Better to get there early for supper or you will have to wait in a long line .
(5)
Steve K.
I always stop in when I visit Sarasota. Food is good and plentiful and the service is great.
(4)
Chuck B.
Donuts and pastries - oh my goodness! If you have not had the great food at this restaurant for the best donuts in Florida you have to come by and try them. It's a temptation everytime I Drive by on Bahia Vista.
(5)
Ms S.
Stopped at the deli today for a couple of sandwiches to go. Asked for a roast beef and turkey on rye. After 15 mins the lady from the kitchen came out and told me they don't make that kind of sandwich, that it had to be either turkey or roast beef. I said okay, roast beef. Very expensive and about 2 slices of roast beef. The shop itself is cute with lots of good-looking sweets but would not go back for a sandwich.
(1)
Anne L.
My husband and I were visiting the Sarasota area and staying in an expensive hotel. We had one meal there, which was so-so, and then we heard about Yoder's. We gave Yoder's a try, and from then on, we ate nowhere else! Yoder's has the BEST food and the FRIENDLIEST service anyone could ask for. We made good use of their carry-out window, taking food back to the hotel to eat, although there are tables outside. Their breakfasts are delicious, their soups and sandwiches are fresh and remarkable, and their delicious dinners are more than plentiful. Best of all, everything really did taste homemade. I would gladly wait in line if I had to, just for a meal at Yoder's. Once you eat there, you'll be spoiled for any place else!
(5)
Rebecca L.
Pie. Just pie. Skip everything else tbh, I mean it's fine but pie tho. Best way to spend a morning in sarasota: go to the beach early, before it's too hot. Be one of those horrible people who runs on the beach. The come to Yoder's, still sweaty and salt-swept, and treat yo'self to a giant slice of your favorite pie and a coffee. You've earned it. You horrible person, you. Best pies: banana cream, chocolate peanut butter, butterscotch, dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb.
(4)
J S.
Never had a bad meal here, food always first-rate; Except; 1.) Fried chicken; How did they do it? Seems they've taken a flavorful bird, and got it to the point where it was devoid of any flavor whatsoever- a culinary miracle! And 2.) "Mashed potatoes" (Instant, believe it or not- yeeech!) Some "home made." Should be a law against calling these freeze dried/add water pellets "mashed potatoes." Avoid these two horrible, disappointing dishes, & you'll be fine. Give desserts a try, you won't be disappointed. Are you a "people watcher?" Or more specifically, a FAT people watcher? I have never seen so many disgusting, overweight slobs in one restaurant in my life- Makes the typical Cracker Barrel diner look like a tri-athelete by comparison. And if there's a line in front, check the waistlines on those bloated pigs- makes you want to turn vegetarian, I'm here to tell you.
(3)
Lisa W.
I wanted to love this more than I did. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and okra. All were good, but nothing was great. Hubby had fried chicken, green beans and Amish potato cakes. He liked the chicken and green beans. Others had Mac n cheese- good and baked apples. Our favorite thing was something not on the menu, but we took the advice of a fellow Yelper. Get the butterscotch banana cream pie. Very good. We walked around afterward, as they give the kids a small scavenger hunt/treasure map.
(3)
Ryan R.
Yoders is the best breakfast in Sarasota. My family visits the Sarasota once a year for vacation and it has become tradition to start and end our vacation at yoders. The sweet roll is amazing, eggs are FRESH and everything is amazing. Highly recommend making a trip to yoders!
(5)
Goody G.
Yoder's isn't too bad. There is a lot of hype about this place which I do not understand. My food was "Okay." It was not bad, not good... just OKAY. The portions were large, the food was cooked well but it was also bland. I grabbed a pie, on the way out, and it took me almost as long to wait for the pie as it did to eat dinner. The pie was also OKAY. I guess what makes people think it is so great is because there aren't a lot of bakeries around here that make these sorts of things but, again, it was just okay. You will certainly enjoy your meal and I do recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)
Robin G.
Excellent food, great service. We loved everything we got, the coffee wasn't anything to write home about but I didn't expect anything special. I recommend the stuffed french toast, delicious.
(5)
Frank A.
Food is amazing! Get the fried chicken! Pies to die for. Menu selection is like home cooking with all the basics such as turkey dinner, meatloaf, sandwiches, salads. Also open for breakfast. If you are in Sarasota and hungry, this is a must place to eat. Go ahead and bookmark it now, you can thank me later! BTW- there is an adjacent farm stand and gift store. Pies and baked goods to go as well!
(5)
Chastity B.
Not that impressed with dinner. Although the pie was excellent. Went between lunch and dinner around 4 so not even 1/4 of the tables taken. Service was so so. Don't think I will be returning unless it is for a piece of pie to go.
(3)
Diana D.
A staple of the Sarasota, FL region that has to be visited at least once if you are here. As residents of the area, there is a difference between Yoder's in season and out of season. In season the line will stretch out the door and the place will be mobbed. It's mobbed for a reason. It's good! The portions are HUGE. I have had several things off the menu and have been pleased every time. Some of the things I have ordered over the past year: - French Toast (huge portion, double inch thick slices - 1 slice will do for me but they serve 2 or 3 if you want). - Cinnamon pancakes that were awesome. - Fried Chicken (not Colonel Sanders ... the real deal here) - Meat Loaf that was good. - various sandwiches and salads. Bring an appetite - the portions are huge! Bathroom facilities are a little difficult to get to and are cramped and do not seem accessible. The decor and vibe is a country homestyle feel ... and it's relatively small. The wait is worth it. If you need a place for a larger crowd or want a little more breathing room, the Der Dutchman restaurant is right down the street. Both are Amish but Yoder's appears a bit less commercial.
(4)
Kem W.
I waited 40 minutes in line and decided the food probably wasn't worth that long a wait. I was there for breakfast. All the portions are ample, particularly the combination breakfasts. I had the corned beef hash (OK), a biscuit (excellent), and part of a sticky bun (OK but I'm not a fan of super sweet things.) We didn't have an opportunity for pie, which is this place's claim to fame, but they did look good. It's definitely worth a trip here for breakfast if you're in Sarasota.
(3)
Chris W.
A wonderful lunch place. We've been here a few times now and from the fried chicken to the beef and noodles to the pies you really can't go wrong with the food. Service is also top-notch (although due to the awesome food) it can take a while to get a table on the weekends. Definitely worth it though no matter when you come.
(5)
Oliver J.
Mixed bag. This restaurant claims to be Amish, which is known for it's honesty and simplicity. They use farm raised fish and CAFO raised animal for their meats. I'm disgusted, and I can only assume most Amish people would too. Those cheap and low quality ingredients resonate with the food quality. My macaroni and cheese was a sham. Not an ounce of cheese in the thing. I could dish by dish slanging the pros and cons, but overall, I won't be back for the food, other than perhaps to taste the fried chicken. The food is acceptable in taste and presentation, although far from impressive. Pie-wise, there we had the chocolate pecan - good, but far from anything special, and Key Lime Pie (normal), that was kind of gross.... gelatin like. It was fine, but I love key lime pie, and that was far from the mark. Conversely, we ordered a strawberry and rhubarb pie to take home. It was amazing. Not too sweet, and full of strawberries and rhubarb. The strawberries felt mashed, as to make sure the ingredients mixed, which was perfect.
(3)
Restaurant Maverick 1.
Homemade from scratch at a quality level most cannot duplicate. Amish atmosphere, unique place, awesome food, awesome service! HUGE PORTIONS!
(5)
Kara C.
After hearing about this place from too many people, we finally went! I'm just going to be honest, eat dessert first and then eat dinner! We ate so good at dinner and unfortunately didn't have enough room for dessert! The portions are huge and very good!
(5)
Shauna L.
Wow! The parking lot was PACKED because everyone is picking up their pies before Christmas Day. The apple butter is so good I bought some to fly home with me to give to my dad. I had the most tender sloppy joe for lunch. Fantastic home cooking! The gift shop closed before we could visit, maybe a stop on the return trip? I'd say highly likely.
(5)
Sharon S.
I cannot even begin to describe how delicious and fresh my food was. Two different people recommended this restaurant this past week so I decided to try it for myself. To say that it exceeded my expectations is an understatement. Our waitress was Mary Emma and she was so nice and helpful. When I told her it was my first visit she didn't try to rush me to order until I was able to look over the whole menu. I didn't want a really heavy lunch because of the heat so I ordered the Hawaiian Chicken Salad. It had coconut, small pieces of pineapple, and toasted almonds and was spectacular. Not sure what else it had but it didn't taste like mayo (which is good because I'm not a big fan of mayo) it was light and flavorful. But wait, there's more. There was also huge pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh pineapple. The nice surprise was a slice of homemade banana bread and a slice of strawberry bread. Of course, I ended up taking some home because of the portion sizes but I'm just disappointed that I was too full to try the pie. One day I plan on stopping in just for that. In a word, delicious!
(5)
Melissa A.
Very busy but still friendly service. I had the fried chicken which was ok. Tried the mini pies. The peanut butter pie was incredible. This is the place to go for delicious dessert not really for a meal
(4)
Ana B.
I really wanted to like this place as I have a great respect for diversity and different cultures. When my friend and I arrived, there was a 30 minute long wait on Wed night. Our expectation grew due to the wait and of course men vs. food is on. Customers and servers wearing taditional custumes made me excited about this adventure. I ordered quarter fried chicken with spinich and potato pancake. Fried chicken was tender and juicy but skin was not crispy. There was no seasoning on spinich and it looked like a baby puke. Potato pancake was okay. This place is over-commercialized and dissapoint me big time. For dissert, we ordered peanutbutter pie taster at 2.50. It came out on a cup. It was good but nothing special. My server was very kind and friendly but food was not up to par.
(2)
Connie G.
The fried chicken and country fried steak were great. The roasted turkey was a total disappointment: dry, served as leftover The pies were very good. The wait was at least half an hour...the place was packed....the decor tired to say the least. Service was very pleasant. Stick with the two fried dishes and the pies. Get there early if you want a full selection of pies or better yet, just pick up the pie and avoid the meal.
(2)
JASON M.
The pies!!!!! Peanut butter or banana cream.... Great home cooked food (really enjoyed the fried chicken) but those pies are phenomenal.
(5)
Grace C.
On a repeat visit earlier this month, I had to dock a star because there were some misses on this trip. I'd still come back and recommend it to visitors but is it the best place I've ever had pie? No. I tried the baked pies this time instead of the cream pies and I think this is really where their weakness is. Their shoefly pie and crumble apple pie were both forgettable. My apple pie filling seemed like it was straight from the can and really bland. The crust wasn't buttery. I always finish my dessert or take it to go but on this visit, my sister and I left our half-eaten pies untouched with zero hesitation. That's saying something from someone with a serious sweet tooth. Maybe we caught them on an off day. I'd still return just not 5-star worthy this time around. I enjoyed the apple butter with my multigrain toast. The potatoes that came as a side on some of our plates seemed more like boiled flavorless potatoes than home fries. I saw a table next to us that got extra crispy fried home fries and I'm wondering if they asked them to be extra crispy (duly noted next time around!)
(4)
Cecily A.
So I saw my first Amish community and restaurant today. Was pretty surreal seeing in person what I usually see on TV. You can smell this restaurant the second you open your car doors, whether it be tasty smelling batter for fried chicken or sweet smells of pies, breads, cakes, and muffins. The smell is honestly the first thing I quickly noticed, and secondly, how nice everyone seemed. Even though almost the entire dining room was older folks, some in English clothes, some in Amish dressings, they still accepted me in my short shorts and service was also quick and friendly. I enjoyed my home cooked meatloaf and had to try the Choco peanut butter banana pie for dessert which my fellow yelpers turned me onto. I must say that my sweet tooth is now cured for the rest of my vacay. :P Awesome experience, will definitely come back.
(5)
Beth F.
The sausage gravy & biscuit(s) is a Heavenly meal in itself! The apple fritter French toast was delicious (doesn't need the maple syrup). The raspberry/cream cheese stuffed French toast was good, but not as great for me as the Apple. Taking a Peanut Butter Cream Pie piece home to eat later cause we simply don't have the room to eat it now! Will be coming back for lunch and then again dinner in the next few days! Wanna try so much more!
We arrived at 10 a.m and only had to wait for one table to clear. It gave us time to snoop through the breads & whoopie pies available near the door. The hostess shared her mom is the baked goods baker (not pies). How lucky she is! I quickly was taken by the country grilled oatmeal. It was wonderful though the portion was waaaay too large. I enjoyed some homebaked bread with their stellar apple butter. My friend got the apple fritter French toast. It was good but we weren't sure why it got called "fritter" --it was apple bread French toast. Their baked apple side beats Cracker Barrel's. My friend ordered what she thought would be a small sweet roll and received a giant 1/4 of an entire sweet roll cake ($4). Prices were fair, portions were huge. But we couldn't help but think how we'd really love half portions and smaller prices (and not have to take more than half home). Our waitress was friendly and attentive. They cleaned tables swiftly. We enjoyed the art on the walls. We wished we could lounge around 'til 11 to try lunch!
(4)
Emily B.
Wow! This place is awesome! My boyfriend brought me here for breakfast. The place was packed. We waited about 10 minutes. We split a sweet roll, which is ginormous. Very sweet and yummy. Then he had the strawberry stuffed French toast and I had the apple stuffed French toast. I liked that it wasn't too sweet, but just enough. The portion size was big considering the price. More restaurants should be like that. I would definitely return next time we're in the area.
(5)
Laurie B.
Whenever we are in Sarasota we always have to take a stop at yoders !! It it such an experience ! If you go after 900 am on Saturday you may have to wait but it is well worth it ! My friend and I shared the raspberry cream cheese stuffed French toast which was out of this world ! Not to sweet but creamy and not soggy . We ordered the smallest order and still had slot leftover . We also shared the country fried steak breakfast and split that as well ! The eggs were cooked perfect and friend got a side of sausage gravy and I got a side of the hamburger gravy which was creamy and salty and worth every bite of calorie ! We had more than half of our breakfast left so don't be afraid to share ! I brought my daughter home the cinnamon bun which an army of 4 could eat off of . Stepping into yoders is like stepping back into a time where' things move slower and people are gracious and kind and you can feel the care and thought that is put into the food ! If you are ever in Sarasota don't miss a stop at yoders !!
(5)
Gerrald L.
Home style food, incredible, for sure a place to try when in town. Their pies are awesome too.
(5)
Daniel C.
Wife had a big salad with turkey, while I had grilled chicken dinner with fries and corn. Food was very tasty. Great service. Pies looked great, but had no time for dessert. Even at 2 on weekday afternoon, there was a line!
(4)
T. Isabella N.
Not sure why people are so crazy about this place. Had fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes. All very very bland. Not much flavor going on here folks. Most people eating there were senior citizens so maybe that says it all.
(1)
Richard W.
Their fried chicken I must recommend if you go. The chicken is very flavorful and delicious. I just can't see to stop eating it. Their wait staff is very friendly and they make you feel welcome to their establishment. Their pies are excellent.
(4)
Blondie P.
Good ol' home cooking at its finest. Large portions, plenty of choices, excellent pies, cookies and cakes. The service is friendly and fast. I had the Anna salad - spring mix, turkey, lots of fruit - with a strawberry vinaigrette, very colorful and very tasty. Prepare to wait unless you go at off hours. But the wait is well worth it.
(4)
Natarajan R.
Great food. fresh food. Generous portions. Great service. Most restuarants should aspire to this level of service.
(5)
Dionna S.
Can I just say this is the best breakfast and dinner in Sarasota! You will never leave hungry! Portions are huge and the food is wonderful. You have to try the peanut butter pancake with the homemade whipped cream! The fried chicken, the homemade apple butter, the desserts! Just great food! We try to go here twice a day when we are in Sarasota!
(5)
Sal L.
We were on vacation this month and went to Yoders TWICE. It is a homey Amish restaurant with great food, great quantity at a great price. The atmosphere is very old style and kitcheny..anyway we felt very at home there. We had a dinner and a breakfast there. Both were great. Highly recommend.
(5)
Tory L.
Who knew there was a thriving Amish population in Sarasota? Anyway, this place has some great fried chicken and pie! At first, I was a little miffed about paying over $15 for a few pieces of fried chicken. Then my order arrived and it's literally an entire plate of chicken! I've had my fair share of greasy, crispy fried chicken, but none that felt so "healthy". What do I mean? Well, Yoder's fried chicken is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, with very little minimum oozing oil when you tear it apart. I didn't feel a single ounce of guilt digging in. What also makes this place a gem is its pie! I've had the apple/blueberry/banana cream slices, and they are delicious! They use all local ingredients and make the pies fresh daily, so it tastes magical. The crust is crispy and the insides are full of gooey goodness. Top that off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you are good to go! TIP: share the fried chicken with 2-3 people to save space for pie (also a large serving, but I'm not sharing my dessert :P) !
(4)
A Foodie M.
The fried chicken is so good! Pies are good too. I tried the pumpkin cake this time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Great customer service as well. I will be returning to Yoder's.
(4)
Letha B.
First visit here was today. I would definitely drive the 45 min just to go. It was amazing!! My husband and I both had the fried chicken, I had the green beans and Mac n cheese, and he had okra with Mac n cheese. All our food was delicious! While standing in line a woman said we had to try the Coconut Cream Pie, we did and were not sorry. Best I have ever had. The slices of pie are huge! So happy we decided to share a slice. You definitely get your money's worth and more from here. Next we would like to try breakfast. I will say, the line was out the door, but it went pretty quick. We had a really sweet attentive waitress. She was so busy and did an amazing job of keeping up. I was very impressed and will be back for sure!
(5)
Chris P.
After a trip to the Ringling Brothers museum, we were ready for some lunch. My wife said that Yoder's was right up our alley. After a short wait we were seated. I got the fried chicken, my wife and her mom got the special beef & noodles and my father-in law got the pulled pork. The chicken was so-so. The noodles had gravy that was blatantly obvious that it came from a can. The green beans and corn tasted as if it was from a can and the potato cakes tasted as if they were made from potato powder. The only thing that was decent was the potato chips. When you think Amish, you think "farm fresh." This is most definitely not the case at Yoder's.
(1)
K G.
This place has definitely taken a dive. A couple years ago they had the best, humongous fried chicken. Now it's still mutant, but dry and seems they leave it sit under a warming light. Rubbery and gross. The mint tea is the only thing giving it a one star. Bleh.
(1)
Lisandra G.
Fantastic service. You can taste the love in the food. Huge portions and farm fresh meats. The orange juice would get 10 stars. I bought a jug of it at the market. The chicken was fried to perfection, the apple pie a la mode made time stand still. They lost a star bc the green beans were over cooked (like they are at most restaurants).
(4)
Bert H.
Food is fantastic, servers are very courteous and friendly, a line to get in is normal but well worth the wait, don't forget to take a couple pies home for later, I would recommend "Yoders" to anyone, except maybe all them northerners from the East Coast, they seem to have no taste and most of them give bad reviews, but hey everyone has their opinion...........
(5)
Darrin B.
Good food and I wish the cream pies were served at a cooler temp. Mine was room temp. Also had to wait one hour in line. .. If there is no line, go on in. But if there is a line pass it up. ... not worth an hour wait.
(3)
Jennifer S.
The meal was fresh the service excellent. The ambiance fitting. Had a wonderful meal with chili, and the stuffed tomato with chicken salad and house dressing to die for!! So glad we found this place. Worth the wait in line!
(5)
Michael W.
I don't know what some of the others are talking about, it's like we're talking about different restaurants. I had an amazing experience at this restaurant with my family. The service we received was top notch. I ordered the Manhattan with pot roast and I was given a HUGE portion. It tasted amazing but there was no way I could eat it all. After we all ordered pie I had the Carmel custard and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the experience and would go again the next time in the area.
(5)
Kim W.
We were in town for the half marathon weekend and decided to load up on Amish comfort food based on the rave reviews we'd seen about their fried chicken and pie. The line was still pretty long for 2pm, which would normally turn me off, but the smell of fried chicken kept us around. The restaurant itself has a no-frills, down-home feel - pretty much what you'd expect. I ordered the quarter chicken dinner with the Amish potato pancakes and fried okra. I figured it was my best chance at getting non-canned sides, based on what I'd read in other reviews. If you've never had Amish potato pancakes, they are not like latkes. They look more like regular buttermilk pancakes (except they're made from potato, obviously). The sides were ok, but not the greatest. The chicken wasn't like any other I'd had at a restaurant. It tasted homemade, like something my mom might make. It was good, but it didn't wow me like the reviews made me think it would. It was A LOT of food and I was barely able to eat even half of it, plus I wanted to save room for pie. :) I tried the chocolate peanut butter cream pie, while my table mates ordered the fresh strawberry cream, Yoder's key lime, and baked apple pie. I tried a bite of all and mine was the best. It's a good thing I don't live around here or else I would be eating way too much pie. Again though, it wasn't the best pie I've had like I read in other reviews. Overall, it was a good meal, not great, but I did enjoy it and would recommend at least trying it once.
(3)
Albie F.
What is exactly Amish food? Who cares! You'll say the same when you taste the amazing heart attack eatz at Yoder's. People don't wait in lines that go outside the restaurant door with a ~30 minute Friday night wait unless there is something good inside. We had a couple of the Friday specials along with a slice of the famous peanut butter cream pie. The two cabbage rolls you get are humongous and you'll have your work cut out for you with the ground beef & sausage wrapped inside of the cabbage leaves. The pan fried chicken was equally as good. Amish noodles, Amish potato cakes, fried okra, and mashed potatoes & gravy consisted of our sides that came with the meals. The Amish noodles and potato cakes stood out the most and are what I would definitely order again. Okay the noodles were doused in butter but you only live once. Check out the Man vs Food Youtube video clip on Yoder's website and you'll know everything you need to know about how they make the peanut butter cream pie. If you aren't ready to get a slice after that video, then stay home. One slice was enough for the two of us...trying to take that slice of pie down by yourself after a huge Amish meal is a heart attack waiting to happen..literally.
(5)
Aldo F.
We were so excited to finally have found an excuse to try this place, and boy, what a disappointment. Nothing in this place was anything remotely close to being considered good or flavorful. This place is famous because of their pressurized fried chicken and me being a fried chicken fan came in with huge expectations. Not only did the chicken not have any flavor and was incredibly bland but it was almost cold. Not that I have anything against Popeyes chicken but trust me when I tell you that Popeyes and KFC's chicken is beyond better than this place. The same can be said about everything else we tried here. Everything was bland with no flavor at all. My advise is to not believe the hype and long lines. The food here really sucked.
(1)
Randy S.
Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota . Large portions, great selection , and very friendly staff .
(5)
Brett H.
This is an Amish restaurant about 10min from I-75 so its a good place to stop if you are traveling anywhere. I had there top items: Fried Chicken, Mash Potatoes and Pie. The fried chicken was good. Apparently they were featured on Man v. Food and they do it a special way but it wasn't anything special. The mash potatoes were good and then I tried Amish Potato Pancakes. Now, I'm Jewish and to me, potato pancakes are fried and delicious. These were actual pancakes that have potatoes in the batter. Not so good. All this is pretty filling so you don't want to go too overboard because you want to leave room for the pie. They have a lot of different flavors and its amazingly good and the portion is big for a slice. I had the chocolate creme pie and it was delicious but I was too full and couldn't finish. Overall, its a nice atmosphere in a small town. The food is ok but this is a perfect place for pie. Stick with the pie!!!!
(3)
Eldon P.
My wife and I went yesterday with some friends for our first visit. We had a late breakfast and I was very pleased with it. I had a biscuit and gravy and was glad I did not go for 2 biscuits! One was plenty! My wife had French Toast with apples and stuff. She loved it. The other couple shared a breakfast platter and then pie. Everything was excellent. Service a+ only down thing it is a little crowded in there, not a lot of room. We will be back!
(4)
Steven K.
Yawn. I don't know what the big deal it.
(2)
Mark H.
1. The fried chicken is massive, but not overly flavorful. (IMO, Maryland Fried Chicken in Plant City, FL is much, much better.) 2. The pies are good, but not the best I've ever had. 3. The meatloaf is plentiful, but not even better than Cracker Barrel (or my Mom's) :) 4. Standing in line waiting to be seated is a negative. 5. The price-to-portion ratios are righteous. My advice... Go there for the experience if you're in the area, but certainly don't drive from hours away to go eat there; It's simply not worth it. I'll be down that way in July, and I plan on checking out their breakfast, so I'll opine about that experience then.
(2)
Justin S.
First of all, I'm from the Northeast, so I was like "What, there are Amish people in Sarasota?" As it turns out, yes there are... But they're hustling. By that, I mean the Bahia Vista Street area in Sarasota has a number of big businesses with an Amish bent, or at least appearing to be run my Amish people. With that, Yoder's is one of them (and quite possibly the most famous since I think that Man Versus Food Guy came here once) for their ridiculous peanut butter cream pie, which I will revert to. My friend and I, both of whom are in our 20s stopped by here for lunch not long ago, and we were far and away the youngest people in a five mile radius (by about 50 years), but hey, it's Sarasota, right (sorry)? Anyway, we perused the menu looking for what stood out and they do offer a lot of stuff... There are sandwiches and all kinds of meat and vegetable dishes, not to mention a bevy of breakfast choices, but we both went with the dish which allows you to choose three sides as your main course. I guess I was just feeling like a bit of variety. As a side note, (I would think) that one detractor to the popularity of this place would be that I am usually not up for this type of food in Sarasota's usual 100 degree weather, but hey, who am I to judge? Big ups to their fresh bread which is actually very good. Other memorable bites included the corn fritter cakes (basically pancakes with corn in them - sounds somewhat bad, but trust me, it's awesome), potato pancakes and the carrot-raisin salad. It's the simple, well-prepared comfort foods that seem to keep bringing people back. Oh yes, that, and the pie... Let me discuss the pie. I ordered the peanut butter cream pie and my friend ordered hummingbird cake. When the pie came, we thought they brought us a serving for four (which I guess you could say they did). It's basically just a creamy, peanut buttery mess that seems to take up whatever plate or serving surface it's placed on... But it's amazing. I can unequivocally say that you should get this when you come here. The hummingbird (layer) cake was good too, but the cream pies here are the real specialty and totally worth it. If you're in the area looking for a very filling, cozy and inexpensive meal, this is a great place. Rubbing (Ben-Gayed) elbows with the geriatric crowd is just another dimension that adds to the fun of this place.
(4)
William C.
A Sarasota institution. Please know that you are going to Yoders for "comfort" food. Its not fine dinning but it's wonderful homemade food. Turkey and stuffing, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and more. Also, note that the deserts are out of this world !! Breakfast is huge. Love it.
(4)
J A.
My perfect "last meal" would definitely include a piece of Yoder's pie. I love coming here for a meal, or to just pick up a pie at the window outside. Great comfort food at reasonable prices. Definitely don't plan on wearing your skimpiest bikini after a meal here. They do great comfort food staples like fried chicken, carrot salad and mashed potatoes. The waiters and waitresses are always so sweet and attentive. Coconut cream pie is my favorite, but they all look like winners. I love the pie "taster" of the day (smaller portion of pie) because I feel less guilty about indulging. Definitely check out the Yoder's market for delicious fresh produce and other fun things like jam and homemade cookies.
(5)
Scott P.
Pie pie and more pie. at least 20 pies to pick from. have a homemade meal. the fried chicken is wonderful and could feed 2 people easy.
(5)
Julia N.
This place is a local institution. The line is always out the door. We thought we had to try it at least once and am glad we did. The food was good but on the whole very heavy. We got meat loaf and fried chicken, and they were good, nothing stellar, but good. They serve fresh whole grain bread and apple butter as an appetizer which I just adored. There is nothing wrong with a squeezy tube of apple butter at the dinner table. They do offer good salads and small main course portions if you are trying not to overindulge or simply want to save room for pie. The pie was simply amazing. My step-mom got a taster portion of coconut cream pie. Not all of the pies are available in this smaller portion. We got the peanut butter crunch and Florida key lime pie. They were all very good, but we all agreed the key lime was the winner.
(3)
Krystal R.
Round 2 of Man vs. Food Sarasota tour brought us here, and I knew that I wanted some tasty pies. The words "Best pie" had kept ringing in my mind and I knew that after our so-so dinner that we needed something uplifting and delicious to end our night. Trying to park was a little difficult, the restaurant was jam-packed, and there were plenty of hungry customers eating away. Plates of fried chicken, biscuits and lots of great looking dishes passed us by as we waited for a table. We didn't wait too long, maybe 5 minutes on a Friday night. I'm kinda sad that we didn't dine here, because the fried chicken plate for $10 sounded like a steal and it looked heavenly. Oh well, our dessert portion of the night was chosen because of Adam Richman...so everyone was ready for some pie treats. We made it really easy for our waitress, and told her that we wanted desserts only....and that we flew 3000 miles for this piece of pie. She laughed at us because we jokingly said that for the love of pie brought us to this place. Our waitress, Valerie, was really sweet and brought our order of drinks in a swift manner. She gave us recommendations on pies to try. Everyone had different palates for dessert, and at least 3 of us ordered the dutch apple pie, my uncle ordered the Key lime pie, my aunt ordered the pecan pie, and I was in debate for something quirky and off-beat....like the shoofly pie or the peanut butter pie or something fruity and different from the group, but Valerie told me that if I love blueberries - then it would be perfect for me. Most of us got a scoop of ice cream on top, because that's the best way to eat a pie. Oh wow...my first bite of the blueberry pie was luscious, a mix of tangy and sweet...it was heavenly. Of course, everyone at our table had to sample each other pies. Loved the sweet and cream Key lime pie...it was soooo good. The pecan pie was a lovely reminder of the holidays coming around the corner, definitely a Thanksgiving favorite to me. The dutch apple pie was so fresh and had nice a crumbly buttery top...my husband gobbled the entire plate with no problem. I wish we would have dined here first, I would have ate my dessert as my meal instead!! We did come back the next day to get a couple more pies to take home for the rest of the famiily. How many more times will Califorians like us be able to enjoy some tasty Yoders' pie?? Seriously...it was worth the trek back and their pies are the best I've ever had. If you're in the area, this should be your number one spot to check out. The pies are smack-tastic!!
(5)
Rayni K.
The only time I've ever come across Amish people was when I was somewhere in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, so I know nothing of their cuisine. All I can say is that if it's always as good as what Yoder's offer, I might be convinced to become Amish myself. Their signature fried chicken meal is HUGE. We ordered the 1/4 chicken white meat, with mashed potatoes & gravy and corn muffins as sides. We then ordered the Peanut Butter Cream pie for dessert. Note: They charge an extra $2 for sharing/extra plate. We went around this by saying that I only wanted pie, while my partner wanted the chicken. This was only half a white lie 'cos I really did only want the pie. This is where I docked a star from their rating because I find it completely unnecessary and ... well, just a tad silly. The fried chicken, even though it was white meat, was extremely juicy and tasty! It wasn't dry at all and surprised me to no end. The mashed potatoes & gravy was one of the best I've ever tasted. And the corn muffins were pretty darn good as well. But there's no doubt that the absolute winner of our meal was the Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was ah-maze-ing! I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there and then 'cos of the amount of sugar in it, but if I had died eating their pie, I think I'd be perfectly content with that. We took home their Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream pie with us and it was just as good even after leaving it in the fridge overnight. Extra info: The line can get incredibly long. We got there at 5:45pm and it was already out the door. We finally got seated at 6:25 (that's a 40-minute wait).
(4)
J S.
If you want to try Amish Mennonite cooking in Sarasota, here is one place you can try. We've had a lot better, and we're from IN originally, home of some great Amish/Mennonite cooking in Shipshewanna, IN. We were very disappointed in our food, with the chicken being just so so. It definitely lacked flavor and was blah. Chicken gravy was the consistency of thick vanilla pudding and didn't even fall off the spoon when holding it upside down. Yuck! The pies are supposed to be good but we didn't sample any. During high season, (winter) this place is VERY difficult to get into, mainly because the restaurant is so small and there is very little parking. Sitting areas are VERY tight and jammed close together. A much better place to eat is Der Dutchman just down the street.
(2)
Brian B.
Really good breakfast. Great place for a Saturday (but not Sunday) morning Very deep breakfast menu with lots of tasty items. I am particularly a fan of the French Toast, but the skillets are very good as well. Never been there for lunch. Service is very good. There can be a line and a substantial one later at breakfast on a Saturday, but it moves pretty quickly. Remember they are closed on Sunday.
(4)
Dane C.
First off to All Foodies and such, don't come here and expect to be blown away by exploding flavors, dynamic plate presentations, and exotic ingredients. This is simple, wholesome, well executed food prepared by people who care. The fried chicken and really any pie is a must order for first timers.
(4)
Kevin W.
My first experience at Yoder's was through a pie my friend Paul bought me as I was visiting from Orlando. I've heard of this place through Man vs. Food and have been dying to try it. And behold I was not disappointed. I actually was not able to make it to the restaurant to eat, due to it being closed on Sunday, but Paul did hook me up with a pie to eat. A peanut butter one, which I've heard was the best. One bite from that baby, and you can definitely tell it was homemade from top to bottom. The airiness of the whip cream, through the peanut buttery deliciousness of the filling, to the sweet crumbly awesomeness of the crust. It was mighty good. Haven't tried any of the other pies yet, but will definitely come back for a second visit when I'm in town. Highly recommend this place for dessert if your in town!
(5)
Jerry m.
I want to give this place a better review as I live down the street from here and like the idea of home cooked food. But honestly, none of the dinner dishes are very good. You can get better food at a Cracker Barrel. The sides aren't bad, but the fried chicken isn't very juicy, and the meatloaf smelled and tasted like cat food. I will say that the desserts are pretty good though. Come for dessert, but pass on the dinner.
(2)
Captain C.
ONE OF THE BEST APPLE PIES EVER!! I'm a vegetarian, so there isn't much for us to eat at this famous Amish restauraunt. However, they have one of the best Apple Crumb pies I have ever had. Whenever I hit Sarasota, I pick up 1 or 2 pies to bring back home to Jacksonville. The manager of the place is so nice, he always packs it well for my journey, including placing it in a travel friendly strong plastic box. The servers are all friendly, and super helpful. Even though I just order my pies for take-out, I always tip them anyway. 4 stars instead of 5 only because they lack a viable selection of vegetarian food. But that's not what Amish food is known for, anyway. I just go for dessert! :)
(4)
Michelle M.
A visit to Yoder's is like a warm and homey visit to grandma's house. This is the place to get comfort dishes such as meatloaf and apple pie. The menu at Yoder's Restaurant contains tons of classic Southern/ Amish home cooked dishes and their specialty is their famous fried chicken. The fried chicken is hand-breaded and deep pressure fried to seal in the juices and give it a crispy texture outside. The fried chicken is served daily, except for Fridays. On Fridays the chicken is pan fried instead. There isn't much atmosphere in this casual restaurant unless you count the Amish, but the food is good and the service is friendly. Don't leave without trying one of their homemade pies (all made from scratch!).
(4)
Nathan T.
We heard about this restaurant on Yelp and after asking around with the locals determined the food was good and hearty, but the REAL reason to come here was the pie, especially the cream-based pies. (Apparently they use canned filling for their fruit pies.) At a recommendation we picked up a slice of the chocolate peanut butter pie, it did NOT disappoint. They have a takeout window that makes ordering a slice of pie or two a breeze, if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix, give Yoder's a try!
(4)
Tracy S.
This place is great! It's always really busy, which is a good sign about what you're getting into. It took us awhile this visit to get seated, but the line moved fairly quickly. The food is good, simple, and delicious. We both ended up getting the friend chicken (which included two really gigantic pieces!) and two different sides. The chicken was juicy and tasty, my fiance's mashed potatoes with gravy were phenomenal, and the carrot salad is unexpectedly fruity, but really delicious. The portions are gigantic, so don't be shocked if the prices seem at first glance to be really steep. There is easily enough food for two meals or more! The waiter was as attentive as he could be, given how busy the restaurant was. It took us a while to get our bread and the food was also a long time coming. No real complaint there, since the taste of the food seemed to indicate that it was made really freshly! We got a couple of slices of pie at the end. My fiance got a slice of blackberry pie which he absolutely loved. I got a slice of chocolate cream pie, which I admit I was a little disappointed by. The chocolate cream was bland and a little grainy and the flavor of the crust sort of overwhelmed it. The cream on top was really thick and just sweet enough, though! Altogether, a really great eating experience. Be prepared for a wait--especially right at mealtimes--but the wait is definitely worth it!
(4)
Carlos S.
Great food, Great Pie's, Great service. You will not regret it...
(5)
Robert N.
We don't pass out a Woohoo rating very often and only hold for the very best. Well, Yoder's is at the top of our list for an Amish theme type restaurant. We had the typical fried chicken, mash potatoes and all the trimmings type dinner. Yes, we did save room for a delicious piece of coconut pie. There is a farmers market next door so you can get all of your fruits and veggies while enjoying their delicious lunch menue. Seating is a bit "tight" so I would avoid the peak lunch hour if you are in a hurry. Have fun and don't forget your take out box...
(5)
Steve Z.
Yesterday driving up from South Florida to Tampa, my wife and I had a late lunch at Yoders. The service was great, but there fried chicken was disappointing. It did not have your typical Fried Chicken crunchy bite. Portion size was good but the chicken needed to be crunchy. Pie was excellent!!
(2)
Jason L.
The best pie in the world. One of my earliest memories was eating Yoder's peanut butter pie as a kid, and I got the chance to go back there this past year (29 years later[!]) and I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I remembered it. My brother got the butterscotch and it was amazing as well.
(5)
George R.
We love Yoder's!! The fried chicken, the apple butter, the brown gravy, and OF COURSE the desserts! We live in Orlando and actually contemplated driving the 2 hours south just for lunch...it's THAT good. Staff is friendly and service is always fast. Will definitely return over and over!!
(5)
Larry H.
Fruit pies have too much gelatin and not enough fruit. Not enough breading on fried chicken.
(3)
Kristin N.
Another Thank you to Man vs Food!!! Wow this place had a line even at 2pm and when we left it still had a line. We started off with some fresh tomatoes and boy where they fresh, I mean they do have a fresh market right next door (also owned by Yoders). We decided to trash Adam from Man vs Food and go for the Fried Chicken that is pressurized and Mash potatoes. WOW.....Although the chicken could have used just a bit of more seasoning in my opinion, the chicken like shown on TV is completely moist. The juices were pouring out of this chicken it was sooo good. Not many places can fry a chicken and have it come out that moist. OOOHHHH Mash potatoes, how I should have ordered more, the gravy it just melts in your mouth it's soo good. Then of course we had to save room for their famous cream filled peanut butter pie. My boyfriend and I aren't huge fans of peanut butter, but once you taste this pie you'll see why the locals keep coming back for more, and why the non locals always come back to visit. We also took an apple pie to take home with us. Last night we took our first bite, a sweet pie of Delish flavors savored our mouths as we took not one but two and three bites of this apple pie. One of the best pies I've had. If you are ever near this place, make sure to stick it out in the line, because its so worth the wait!
(5)
Diana C.
Soooo good!!! And everyone is amazingly KIND and FUN!!!! I didn't care for pies so much but now I love THEIR pies!!!! I want to try their fried chickens next time*^^* Cannot wait to go back and meet nice people again*^^*
(5)
Rox R.
Yeah! This place rocks. Though it seems like a tourist trap, its not- feels very genuine and homey. Good food. I had one of the specials- BBQ pork sandwich with the sweet potato side. The BBQ sandwich was tasty and hard to eat because the meat just fell out of the bun- use a knife! But, the mashed sweet potato were absolutely amazing- best I have ever had!! Don't miss this boat. Chocolate peanut butter cream pie was amazing. Share it because its too much for 1 person. Neither the peanut butter or chocolate is overpowering- they got it just right. BTW- did I mention how good the mashed sweet potato was? Just checking.. yeah, make that into a pie! Whoa, that would blow my mind.
(5)
Taylor C.
Food is amazing. The restaurant could be a little bigger, but other than that eveyrthing is PERFECT! The strawberry pie is amazing! Definitely recommend everyone goes here. Service is awesome as well.
(5)
Selena C.
Once I came with my family and waited in line forever since they kept seating groups before us, that were the same size or smaller. We finally got seated when another group behind us was about to get started pointed out to the hostess that we had been repeatedly skipped... Even though that was close to four years ago now I'm always a bit hesitant about dining. The cream pies are really really good though and I almost mooch off of my friends whenever they go and buy some. So yeah. Mixed feelings and cream pie.
(3)
Bill S.
Next time you are in Sarasota, don't miss a great meal at Yoder's! Be prepared to wait in line, but it's well worth the wait. Great food, reasonably priced, but be sure to save room for dessert - the pies are out-of-this-world good. I'm sure we'll be eating here anytime we are in the area.
(5)
Melissa A.
Go for the stuffed french toast!
(4)
Darren O.
Maybe I'm being too harsh on Yoder's here because I feel a bit bad about giving them a three star review. I hadn't been down to Sarasota in four years and for probably a decade before Yoder's was the go to place when we were down there. The meatloaf was always AMAZING, to the point if we were in Sarasota for two weeks I might have it six times while we were there. The pies were also to die for, the special chocolate peanut butter pie especially. Fast forward four years and a Man Vs. Food appearance and the place just didn't seem the same to me. The LONG lines were still out the door, causing an easy 45 minute wait to get a table and the place pretty much looked the same, except for the plasma tv on the wall playing the Man Vs. Food clip over and over and over... Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Man Vs. Food show, I just have to wonder if the exposure on that stated a downward trend at Yoder's. I tried the meatloaf, and it was ok, it just wasn't the meatloaf that I'd remembered from the past. A couple days later I tried the meatloaf on the buffet over at Troyer's down the street and it was better. The mashed potatoes were a bit cold in the middle, which was very odd to me. My father had the baked chicken and he complained that it was very dry. Since the chicken is something that Yoder's is supposed to be famous for, that was a pretty big letdown for him. I had a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie and it was more of a big mess of chocolate pudding with some crust underneath and some chocolate chips on top. Certainly not the worst pie I've ever had, but not the Yoder's pies that I'd have told you were the BEST anywhere in years past. The one thing I can say is that the homemade mint tea was most excellent. Our waitress was great and the service was excellent, the food just wasn't up to what I'd have liked. My mother and wife disagreed with me, so your mileage may vary here! I'm sure we will give Yoder's another chance next time we're in the area, but for this trip at least the lines were not worth waiting in especially with Troyer's Dutch Heritage a couple minutes down the road. Hopefully Yoder's will find a way to get back to the basics and become great again!
(3)
Salimeh K.
So we went here as my husband saw some show regarding this restaurant. Well there was a line out the door, so we thought the food would be great...ya right!! I ordered the fried chicken-it was dry and not tasty at all. Extremely bland and so disappointing. We did not bother ordering dessert as i was not happy with my meal. We just wanted to get out of there asap. Maybe if we visit the area we might give it another shot and try the breakfast and dessert, but no "famous fried chicken"...
(2)
Natalie W.
The breakfast here will blow your mind. I had the eggs and bacon which were so fresh and delicious. The orange juice was the best i've ever had in my life. The waiters are a little weird but I think that is all part of the authentic experience. Be sure to take home a home-made woopie pie. Also, be prepared for a wait in the morning, however they do a good job of moving people in and out quickly.
(4)
Brenda W.
Huge serving sizes of all American comfort food......try the homemade potato chips!!!! They are to die for.....yummy!!!! Our family of 5 had a fantastic dinner on a Friday night.
(4)
Jay F.
I am going to make this short....I have been here a lot over the years. no matter when I have gone there has always been a line out the door. Don't be discouraged when you see the like it moves quickly. It is most defiantly worth the wait. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for. Also the roast beef manhattan and the pulled pork BBQ all to die for. Also the fresh made pies just melt in your mouth
(5)
Jordan T.
Are you kidding me?! That is the best peanut butter cream pie ive ever had. The banana cream was good but it wasnt sweet enough, so it wasnt what I was expecting. I was thinking banana cream flavor like pudding but it was decent. The key lime was okay but nothing special. If you go here I'd definitely order the peanut butter cream or the chocolate peanut butter. The peanut butter cream made me overlook the others.
(4)
M W.
It just baffles me that this place is not only still in business, but successful. After hearing wonderful reviews, my husband and I stopped in for dinner and some pie. The menu offered many country-style choices. He chose the fried chicken, which we heard was amazing, and I had some sort of side-item meal. Well, the fried chicken was gross--KFC is far better--and the side item meal was beyond gross. I mean, they serve CANNED GREEN BEANS. Unapologetically, apparently. They say it's to keep costs down, but their menu prices are average, not cheap. Canned green beans. I just couldn't get over it. Why am I paying upwards of $8 for four cans of vegetables dumped on my plate? Also, despite being a bakery of sorts, they serve SLICED WONDERBREAD rather than fresh bread with your meal. Yes, we got a little plate piled high with five or six slices of WONDERBREAD. Gross. Their pies were okay--nothing to write home about. Super bland pie crusts but good filling. Lots of whipped cream. This restaurant is just gross. You couldn't pay me to eat here again.
(1)
Georgio B.
All 5 stars for Mrs Yoder!!! American comfort food does not get any better then this! And... the pies are to die for! You get more then your moneys worth. Don't pass this place up!
(5)
david h.
I went with a friend for breakfast and it was as excellent as a plain jane breakfast can be. I wish I could have surveyed what lunch and dinner was like because that is where the originality and essence of Yoder's would show (I think). I'd definitely go back. Smiley face
(4)
Ks K.
Great Yoder's produce & other good food. Parking in front, side or back (or if it's really busy, behind Yoder's restaurant. Very friendly helpful staff.
(4)
Holly D.
There must be a great appreciation for bland, poorly prepared food in this town. Meatloaf seemed odd in consistency and flavor. Almost like Banquet TV Dinner quality. The gravy was bizarre. The waitress said they made it with beef juices and corn starch. It was yuck. I've had better gravy out of a jar. The green beans were canned. Not going back. Even for pie. If your greatest effort is to open a can, I'm not interested.
(1)
E H.
The pie was the highlight of our recent dinner at Yoder's. I could have skipped everything else and gone straight to dessert. The meatloaf was bland for my taste, because it lacked seasoning, onion, or red/green pepper. The fried chicken was good, but it wasn't juicy. Perhaps if we had tried some dark meat pieces, it would have been less dry. Vegetables were good but also bland. The chocolate cream pie and Yoder's key lime pie were both excellent. The pie crust was the best I have tasted in a long time. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient.
(2)
TP F.
I've lived here 15 years, finally got to this place and I feel like a heel not liking it. Everyone kvells. Perhaps it's because the Food Channel's Adam Richman said the fried chicken was crisp and moist. Really though, it was overcooked and dry. And BLAND, which was the most surprising thing. Fried chicken is a no brainer seasoning-wise: gimme salt and pepper and Pepper. The sides were loaded with sugar. The decor is the dream someone else is having about your grandmother. Mostly though, I'm just not a dessert guy. Some of the pies are to die for (key lime) but others (Apple) are no better than any decent bakery's. The servers were really nice, if perfunctory. If I was 25 again and looking to load up on carbs and calories I'd be back there in a flash.
(2)
Katherine P.
I am rating this 3/5 not because of the food but because of the experience overall. We waited in line about 30 minutes for a table. When we finally got to the front of the line we were asked if we wanted lunch or breakfast. We wanted lunch because we've heard so much about the fried chicken. We were then advised that they had to serve all of the breakfast people first, even though it was 11:05am and they stopped serving breakfast at 10:45am, and we would have to wait for all of the breakfast customers to be seated before we could have lunch. So instead of waiting an unknown amount of time we settled for breakfast. We were then advised by our server that there were specific things on the breakfast menu that we couldn't even order because it was after 10:45. In addition to that, there were several flies around where we were sitting due to an open pickup window and the door being held open by people waiting in line. The food itself was good with big portions, but I probably would not go back again.
(3)
M R.
Yoder's brings traditional Mennonite food to Sarasota. If you wonder what makes this traditional home cooking different, my guess is butter and lard. Both of these add amazing flavor but have been attacked somewhat unfairly by the health police. The line at Yoder's is amazing. We arrived at 3:30 Saturday afternoon and had a 30 minute wait. The food, however, is worth the wait. My companion loved the mint tea. The meatloaf I tried is simply the best I've ever had, while my companion's chicken was merely adequate. The potato pancakes came out not as a latka (deep fried) but as a normal pancake. The result is disappointing. The blackberry pie, on the other hand, is quite good. Stick with traditional meat and potato dishes, and you'll be happy with Yoder's. Order a few extra peanut butter cream pies for friends and family. They'll love it!
(4)
Lin Lin S.
"amish" people are imaginary. it's all a gimmick. this is really just a cracker barrel run by people wearing bonnets and long skirts and white reeboks. forget the food. most of it was dry and bland. the veggies are from a can. just get the pie. huge slices of pudding filled pies, topped generously with whipped creme. coconut creme is good. this restaurant is good for families who want to contribute to the growing rate of adult and child obesity. "is there any green vegetable on your menu besides your ice berg lettuce salad?" we got canned green beans. hoo-rah.
(2)
John H.
Friends told us about Yoder's from Man v. Food episode on the Travel Channel. Also, watch Man v. Food and decided to try on out visit to Lido Key. Very nice place, went a lunch time midweek, no wait. Had the Fried Chicken and Turkey Manhattan (open face sandwich), both meals were very good. Also, tried the apple butter on the homemade bread, fantastic! Had the pineapple cream & raspberry pie samplers, awesome!
(4)
A A.
If you are on a diet, or thinking about a diet - this is probably not the place for you. But if you are looking for good home-cook food with great service then this is a good stop in sarasota. Some parking, and likely to have a long wait, but it goes fast. Pumpkin, and key lime pies are great. The fruit filled ones(pineapple, blueberries, etc) were ok but not as good as the other ones. Meatloaf, fried chicken, and smoked pulled pork were just what we needed after a long drive.
(4)
Jon M.
This place should be on every bucket list known to man. Don't eat for a day in advance because you will receive enormous portions. Also don't eat it all as you want to save room for pie! Every time I go to Florida I stop by, supper is great but the best is their breakfast. They have the best sweet roll and sweet roll pancakes you will ever taste. But don't forget, finish with pie!
(5)
W W.
Good food, big portions, reasonable price. Pies good but very fatty. Parking is difficult.
(4)
J S.
So who wouldn't have high expectations after all these reviews and the Man vs. Food thing, right? Well, this place was okay--at best. Fried Chicken--I had the Friday version (pan friend only--not that deep fried machine you see on TV). It was "meh" at best...but really...not very good. The meatloaf was only okay too. Very eggy...not very tasty. The mashed potatoes with the yellow gravy--slammin. Corn fritters (pancakes with corn in them--great). Green beans--canned--no salt. Okra--surprisingly good...and I don't care for okra. Desserts--peanut butter pie...worth all the hype it gets. Strawberry rhubarb--meh...not my thing. Overall, I would not go back. Everything is fresh...but just kinda bland.
(2)
D D.
Wonderful food! Wonderful service! Wonderful hospitality! Wonderful cleanliness! And, the most amazing pies you will find anywhere! Try the peanut butter cream pie - it's awesome! Thank you Yoder's for the a wonderful experience! I think we ate there 5 times while visiting Sarasota....
(5)
Phillip V.
Simply the best home cooked meals outside your house!! Come hungry and leave satisfied!!!!well worth the 1 hour drive from the Tampa area!!
(5)
Stacey L.
The best! Every year we visit Siesta Key, it involves a trip to Yoder's. Never fails to disappoint. My husband says their fried chicken is the best he has ever had. And I love the PIE! Tried the coconut cream this year and WOW was it great. Can't wait to come again next year.
(5)
Dean B.
very, very easy review to write. Yoder's Amish Restaurant is simply the best thing around!
(5)
Darren S.
5 stars for the pie and 2.5 stars for the food. I had the famous peanut butter pie and the girlfriend had the chocolate peanut butter. They were both wonderful. They were so good that we came back for some more pie on our way back through Sarasota on the same trip! The food on the other hand was nothing to be excited about. I had a well prepared chicken-fried steak and my girlfriend had crab cakes that she enjoyed.
(4)
Ryan D.
Excellent service here and delicious home cooked food. Had the blueberry cream pie upon waiters recommendation and it was definitely worth it!
(4)
Sue W.
loved the bread.......... so fresh!!! their food is good, good home cooked food. I have not had fried chicken where the flavor is in the meat as well, it usually stops in the skin! but their was juicy and excellent! mashed potatoes were delicious. For meatloaf lovers that was good. I wasnt crazy about their potato pancakes but im not crazy about it in gen. Hands down best baked apple crumb pie. cons I need more veggies with my meal if fried food is not comfort food then u wont enjoy this. Overall - they are awesome with what they do.
(4)
Lindsey C.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, including all of the classy "foodie" places I have visited. I am in grad school in Orlando and after MONTHS of talking about Yoder's, some classmates and I piled in the car and drove to Sarasota for the day to enjoy the beach, stock up at Trader Joe's, and then topped off the day at Yoder's. We stood in line, but not too terribly long. It was so worth it. I had the famous fried chicken, green beans and potato pancakes. My friends had the fried fish & mac n' cheese and the meatloaf & Amish noodles (mouth-watering). No one could finish their food because the servings are wonderfully large, so we all had to-go boxes for lunch the next day. Then came the pies. Oh the pies. We had peanut butter cream (hands down the crowd's favorite), chocolate cream (a taster, delicious when "mixed" with the peanut butter cream), apple crisp and blackberry crisp. Every bite was absolutely wonderful. The service is incredible. One person at our table couldn't decide between the turkey dinner and the meatloaf so the waitress brought him "tasters" of each to help him decide. Incredible service! We all left with to-go boxes and extra bags of baked goodies to take home, and we are already planning a trip back just to visit this restaurant. We also enjoyed experiencing the Amish community around the restaurant.
(5)
Emily G.
You can't not love Yoders. The staff is as sweet as can be and are always eager to please you. I've never had a complaint! If I could afford to eat there 3 times a day, every day, I would!
(5)
Debi L.
The pressure cooker fried chicken was dry and not as tasty as I thought it would be, but the portions are HUGE! I ate for 3 meals on 1 portion. Service was slow but friendly. Love the mint iced tea and the pies were good and seemed to weigh 10 lbs a piece. Get there early. The line can wrap around the building.
(4)
Dan M.
My family and I were pleased with the food here but it was by no means amazing despite being home made (from scratch). The meatloaf was good but had a lot of breading, the chicken tenders were dry, the fried chicken which everyone raves about, was a little dry and the skin wasn't entirely crisp. The banana and punpkin bread were very good as were the homemade potato chips. My cousins lemon meringue pie was very good (it was tart) but the coconut creme pie wasn't creamed enough nor did it have a strong coconut flavor. I was also disappointed in the peanut butter cream pie, which was showcased on man vs. food. It was made well, but I felt it lacked flavor. (The crust was good, however). All in all, a place worth trying. Although I dont think the quality of the food lived up to the hype, everything was home cooked and the service was especially fantastic. We had the nicest waitress (named Jennifer).
(3)
Debra O.
Ripoff! Food is nothing to remember. We had a bbq chicken sandwich with fries, a cheeseburger with coleslaw, and two iced teas. The bill was $29! WTF?? Beware-they charge you for every add-on, like $3 for coleslaw on top of a burger, and $1.50 for chopped onions. Pie is $5 per slice. I could bake a whole pie for that! Save your money.
(1)
P A.
Wife, two kids, and I, had breakfast here today. The wait was about 15 minutes at about 9am. We were seated in a booth and were promptly served by an attentive, competent waitress. Food quality was really good and was served HOT. I have had better, but considering the price point I was really happy and will visit again.
(4)
Ron R.
Very good wholesome food. The Amish know good cooking.
(4)
C K.
Great pie - great stuffing - fantastic gravy. Very busy, really nice staff. Interior could use an update, but when could they close to do it?
(4)
Diann B.
Great restaurant, they put a lot of love into their food and it shows. I would especially recommend the pies, they're bar none the best in the area. It's worth the wait in line, which sometimes bursts out the door. There's a reason that Man vs. Food came down here. It's good.
(5)
Christy S.
Must try their shoofly pie and homemade bread and apple butter. I am never disappointed when I come here. It's fresh down home cooking and the staff is always friendly. I love coming here when I'm out in Sarasota. It's even worth the wait in line ...
(4)
Fred G.
Awesome Reuben sandwich, unique sauce, buckets of iced tea, onion rings to die for, pie sampler. Worth the wait folks don't miss it.
(5)
Maria S.
The food was good.. The pie I had was ok, I saw Adam Richman on man v food there, so I decided to try it out. I went for dinner and the meatloaf was delish! We will be going for breakfast this week. I am on vacation and will be adding more reviews! Happy eating!
(3)
Jim-Barb T.
Having had a positive experience at Yoder's before, I felt safe in recommending it for a lunch meeting place. I'll start by saying that the coleslaw was the highlight of the whole meal. The four of us ordered the white meat chicken lunch special all with different side orders. I don't know if Yoder's just had a bad day or if they are slacking. Two of our chickens were not pink pink but definitely not fully cooked. Being on some what of a time restraint we didn't send the birds back we only asked for carry out boxes so we could finish cooking them when we got back home. I guess you have to be a special type of person to enjoy the corn cakes, and that stack of wonder bread that they put on the table didn't get touched which I hope they tossed after they removed it. The muffins were good but the container of honey that they put on the table was not pleasant to pick up as it was coated with drippings. The server we had was a young man that seemed at times to be distracted and took forever to refill our coffee cups. When we ordered our meals we heard that it was a good idea to order your choice of pie at that time as they sometime run out. We heard that the peanut butter cream was one to die for so we ordered it. When our server came around to ask us if we would like some desert with his order pad in hand, we said that we had already ordered our pie and yes we would like it now. Well it took a while but the pie came and I now have different feelings for the people and their taste buds that suggested this pie. The question now is if we will ever return to Yoder's? Well maybe but at this time we will not be recommending it to friends.
(1)
J G.
Just as good today as when my grandparents took us there 30+ years ago. Can't leave without having a piece of pie. We even had to get a whole pie and some Amish peanut butter to go.
(5)
Jeff H.
great place great food
(5)
Enjoy L.
We travel all over the country in our motor home and stay in many Amish areas, Lancaster PA, Shipshewana IN, Ohio , Wisconsin, just to name a few. Our love is Amish Quilts and good old fashion Amish cooking. Yoders is hands down the best Amish food we have had. If you leave hungry it's your fault! They serve up excellent quality and quantity to please everyone. We love Yoders and make it a destination now!
(5)
Melisa L.
I love amish cooking-it's just good old fashioned homemade food. I went Yoder's for breakfast and I was not disappointed! My husband and I both ordered the french toast. I ordered 3 slices. The bread is homemade. The slices are about 2" thick--I only ate 2 of 'em! Yoder's is known for their pie, so we took 2 home. One Peanut Butter pie, which is their specialty, and 1 blueberry pie. The peanut butter pie is a cream pie--not very sweet, which is good. My dad loved this pie. The blueberry pie is very juicy-i'm sure they use fresh blueberries to make this pie--YUMM! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, if you enjoy simple homemade food. Don't skip dessert!
(5)
Shannan M.
Continuing on my Man vs Food tour of Sarasota, FL, I felt compelled to visit this small Amish restaurant. I didn't quite know what to expect, but BOY AM I GLAD I WENT! This was the third and final restaurant featured on the Sarasota episode of Man v Food, and being that the first two were very disappointing, I was hoping Yoder's would redeem my faith in the show. I am a big fan of down home, comfort food and that's exactly what you'll get at Yoder's. I ordered the Turkey and Dressing meal with mashed potatoes and fried okra. I ordered the large plate and the portions were outrageously huge! It was more than enough for two meals and so I took half back to the beach house with me! The white-meat turkey was fresh and good. A little dry, but most turkey breast is. The mashed potatoes and stuffing were decent, both were greatly improved with salt and pepper. The fried okra was great! The highlight of my meal was most definitely the chocolate peanut butter pie that I specially ordered with fresh banana slices on top (as recommended by one of the servers). OMG, that was worth a half a day's worth of calories! It was HUGE (I took half of it home too), fresh, and delicious! Oh how I wish there were a Yoder's in Atlanta...
(4)
John M.
Wow, it was a great meal. I highly recommend the hamburger gravy. It is the first time I have had that but it was tasty and filling.
(4)
Dora B.
I kind of feel like Yoder's is going downhill by spreading itself so wide in terms of its food. They should have stuck with things like their fried chicken and meatloaf, but, come on, "Amish Quesadillas"? The menu is crammed with things that are clearly only there to provide something for everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but really only drags the quality down. Case in point, I'm not a big fan of their fried chicken, which I find personally too lightly seasoned, but when I saw they had chicken fingers I thought I'd just dunk them in their (very tasty) in-house French dressing. Before I ordered I asked the waitress if the chicken fingers were made the same as their fried chicken, and she seemed to get flustered and informed me in a low tone that they were bought bulk and frozen. Really? Ten bucks for frozen supermarket chicken fingers? The dive sports bar down the street makes their own chicken fingers from scratch, and Yoder's can't be bothered to chop up a chicken breast when they tout homemade cooking? I also decided to try their blueberry cream pie, and wound up throwing it out because the whipped cream just tasted like lard and the berries had no flavour... it clearly came from a can. I actually wound up ordering the meatloaf, which was okay, but was just barely cooked; I don't mind a bit of pink, but some portions of this were almost raw. It was clear that the kitchen is sacrificing quality for quantity since the place is so busy. Overall, if you go here in small parties (they have difficulty seating anything above four due to limited space) and confine yourself to the sorts of things you'd EXPECT to see coming out of an Amish kitchen (my husband said their Swedish meatballs were "pretty disgusting"), you'll probably do okay, but don't expect miracles. If not for the fact that our grandfather likes their Manhattans (roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy), my husband and I wouldn't make the effort to go there. It's just severely overhyped and has strayed so far from its roots that the quality just isn't there anymore. Of course some of the pies are good, but they really aren't worth waiting upwards of an hour in line for. Don't go out of your way for this one, and don't believe the hype.
(2)
Tracie L.
What I like about Yoders (besides the pie, which I'll get to later) is that the food is really basic. There's nothing fancy or complex about it, which is not at all like most other places I eat. The food is like something your grandmother would make, but tastier, and with ingredients that taste fresh and like they were high quality. Don't expect anything fancy, but delight in the simplicity. For example, my ham with applesauce came with applesauce in a little cup and big slab of meat on a plate - not even a little sprig of parsley to attempt to spruce it up. The real gem of this restaurants are the pies. The banana cream pie is absolutely to die for. I haven't had anything like it anywhere else in the country. I make a point of getting it whenever I'm out in FL to visit.
(5)
Archimedes A.
Amazing homemade pies, great lunch food. Chicken, which they are also famous for, was very dry.
(4)
Tom S.
Some days you just have to have your mother's home cooking. Large menu and a good buffet. Take home something from the bakery. Yum!
(4)
annaliese n.
an amish restaurant! with huge portions and gigantic pies! and real amish people! one lady even showed me the tattoos she got during her rumspringa. i think she could see that everyone was looking at little shocked about my tattooed appearance and she wanted to make me feel more comfortable. i love this place. friendly service and good people watching and fried chicken. and pie. big big pie.
(4)
Ashley H.
man i miss this place to death. their pie is amazing! too bad they don't ship it.
(5)
Michael A.
We didn't expect a whole lot from an Amish restaurant. Just some home-cooked deliciousness to counter all the chain-restaurant fare we've been eating lately. Certainly "homey", the restaurant is nothing to write home about. The wait staff was friendly. The menu is like the food . . . basic. The meatloaf was approaching the limit to how much breadcrumb could be stuffed into it. Still tasty, but meager on the protein. The garlic chicken was well-prepared but little flourish. We ordered potato pancakes and corn cakes. We didn't expect both of these to be the size of enormous pancakes. Between these 4 cakes and the stuffing which came with the chicken (which tasted so much like Stouffers my wife and I joked which came first . . . Stouffers or Yoders), there were probably 5 or 6 pounds of straight carbohydrates on the table. Oh, don't forget the bread (which was also nothing to write home about). The pies look and taste delicious. In the past we came to Yoders just for a holiday pie. This was our first and last meal there. We're pretty sicked out by the comment by another reviewer who noted visible roaches in the place. We didn't see any, but if we were to see some in a restaurant this would be that kind of place. Recommended only if you have middle-to-low expectations and/or you're carbing-up for a marathon.
(2)
J I.
The food is not worth the hype. The pies are decent.
(2)
Dianna B.
Since I had a wild hair, we decided to make the 90 minute trek down to Sarasota and try out Yoder's for a change. I've lived here nearly all my life and I've never, ever been to Yoder's. So what the heck, Road Trip it is! The drive down was uneventful, and finding it was pretty easy. Parking however, was... not so easy. The parking lot out front makes it appear as if the place only has 7 spots, it's a quirky little jag that lets you see the lot behind. We were fortunate that there were several spots behind that were open. As we'd been warned, there was a line that nearly wrapped all the way around the building, but that's OK, the weather was comfortable, the people infront and in back of us were pleasant and we made the best of it. All in all we were in line for about 45 minutes before we finally made it through the doors and into the inside portion of the restauraunt. After 5 more minutes, we were finally taken to our seat. Our waitress was friendly and very busy, her section seemed to consist of about 7 tables and she was able to handle each with aplomb and a smile. The menu contains down home favorites like Meat Loaf, Fried chicken and chicken liver, which is apparently quite popular among the locals. While we perused the menu, we were delivered a plate of bread, home made - and served with butter and fresh apple butter which was quite tasty. We placed our order: We'd decided each of us would order something different, so we could share. I opted for the 1/2 chicken all white meat with Mashed Potatoes and Macaroni & Cheese. My husband ordered the Meat Loaf with fried okra and corn cakes. The food came out quick, and it was easy to see that the chicken is made in huge batches. Some is very tender and juicy, other bits are dry. What can you do? The mashed potatoes were not from scratch, and the Macaroni & cheese, it was good, but institutional? The meat loaf was tasty, the okra, My husband said it was delicious, and the corncakes... odd but good. We ordered dessert too, I got their Famous Peanut butter Pie - it was good, but the dried Peanut butter on top confused me. It was unlike any peanut butter pie I'd had before. Too sweet and not rich enough for me. The husband had the Key Lime (Traditional) and loved it. We had unsweet tea and Mint tea (OMG! LOVE!) Over all, it's a solid place, Not bad in the least. I felt the chicken could have used a bit of salt in their mix, but that's about it. I'd come back. I loved the homey decor.
(3)
Jessica C.
This place is always on my must do list while is Sarasota! The line for a table is almost always out the door but the wait is worth it. I highly recommend that at least one person at your table gets the fried chicken, which comes in a half chicken and quarter chicken size. Trust me unless you can put away a lot and I mean A LOT of food get the quarter chicken size, it will be more than enough. It has to be some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. I also really enjoy the garlic chicken, very juicy and full of garlic flavor. And of course you need to get a slice of pie before you leave. You can even order a whole pie to go (which we do everytime!)
(5)
Rachel M.
Yoder's is a pretty cool place. It's not only a restaurant, but it actually occupies a pretty good sized block on the street. It consists of an Amish Gift Shop with different types of knick knacks, as well as things such as little girl's Amish formal wear. It also has its own restaurant, carry out window, picnic tables to eat outside with your doggie. In addition, you can take pics of a statue of Amish people and their horse and buggy, and a cool artistic mural. There is also a produce store, and a store that sells groceries, pies, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and any other goods that you may want to find that the Amish may use, or make. We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant. There is a long line that can wrap around the outside, so you may want to come early, or see if you can make reservations. I am not sure if that is the case. I did pick up a few items at the store including a quiche, chicken pot pie, one of their dessert bars, some passion fruit jam, and some fruit. I also bought some cute little bracelets at their Amish Gift Shop. Their food items: Egg and Ham Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, and the dessert bars were definitely out of this world, and I will definitely have to go back for them, and more. This is definitely not only an eating experience, but an all-around experience that one should check out. It's delicious and a great learning experience.
(5)
Don M.
Do not believe the hype. Cracker Barrel style food but Cracker Barrel has better food. Big portions but without the care and time spent you might expect from an Amish restaurant.
(1)
Greg C.
This is one of Sarasota's Amish restaurants. I arrived there with my in law's and got there at 4:15pm. I know what your thinking, "them old people eat early". Got seated and was greeted right away by our server. Within 15 minutes the line to come in was out the door. Very popular place visited by local Amish, tourists and locals. I had the Manhattan(a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy and veggies.) Great tasting sandwich with the roast beef being chunks of pot roast. You will not leave hungry from this place. They are famous for the fried chicken and amazing pies. Give it a try, you will not be sorry.
(4)
Chris H.
Yoder's came very highly recommended, so while we were in Siesta Keys we decided to stop by and take a look at the restaurant. First, the parking was packed, which is always a good sign. We then sat down and started figuring out our meals. Yoder's was featured on Man Vs. Food, and even the placemats regale you with that fact. Eventually we put in our order. I ordered the world famous fried chicken with amish noodles & fried okra as sides and the girlfriend got a open face turkey sandwich. The food that I did get, while a lot of food, was very bland and not well seasoned. Yoder's could do with learning to put salt in their food. That, and the fried chicken was dry, left us with an un-sastifying dinner. We finished off the meal with slices of pie. Once again large portions, not a whole lot of flavor. I really want to like Yoder's, I really do, but this visit just left me flat.
(3)
Heather B.
Good food, not excellent. Love that they use local produce. Fabulous pies! Especially the peach pie! Long wait. We had a large party & had split into two tables on Sunday afternoon.
(3)
Brian C.
Starting with fresh made bread and apple butter, it all went to (insert euphemism for declining quality) after that. Meatloaf was gelatinous and perfectly square on the edges, like it came out of a can. It tasted like it came out of a can. The smoked barbecue chicken was dry. The fried chicken was dry. The side dishes deserve a great big "meh" and every fat person in Sarasota bumped into our table, how appetizing.
(2)
Laurel A.
Second trip here and OMG Amazing!! If you've never been here, I highly recommend it. Went Saturday June 13, 2015, what a great start to my vacation. The cinnamon roll is amazing. Stopped in their deli and market this trip and the produce is awesome and the prices are even better, 6 ears of corn for $1.98, Huge seedless watermelons for $2.99. My daughter and her friend picked up produce to and everything was very good. Today was the last day of my vacation and my daughter is in love with their hummus and I've been wanting to try the Amish noodles, picked up a container for $1.88 to try at home for dinner and was not disappointed. Perfect portion and amazing price. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Sarah O.
Pro's: food, fried chicken is amazing, pies, peanut butter is the best, service (mostly Amish women) incredibly polite and patient, fast service, with any wait, line moves fast, all you can eat apple butter. Con's: none
(5)
Nora F.
I wish I could take home the grain bread. I loved the bread that I had. We came for breakfast with 4 other friends. So the 6 of us sat at the round table. The place was quite packed. Our waitress was very sweet. My husband said this place has the best french toast, so I let him order that while I ordered a spinach omelet with grain bread and fruit salad. Our friends ordered some french toast, traditional benedict and some combo breakfast. I loved my spinach omelet! I know I've said it before but I loved my grain bread! Unfortunately they don't sell the bread, oh no! I enjoyed my healthy breakfast while enjoying the amish restaurant with amish decorations. After breakfast we stopped by the gift shop next door. This was the best breakfast place I had in Sarasota. The drive was pretty far because this neighborhood is an amish town so the restaurant is surrounded by amish gift shop and amish market. I'm not sure about this one but I think the town is controlled by an amish mayor? You never know. Everyone who works here is a happy person *:) Whatever the case is, please visit this restaurant because it's worth it. Highly recommended!
(5)
Stacy G.
The wait was a little long. But well worth the wait! Service was excellent, the server was so sweet and came back often to refill drinks and make sure everything was good. I ordered a salad because I'm on a diet and it was the best salad I've ever had. Everyone else in our party ordered the fried chicken since they are known for chicken & pies. I will definitely make the trip back.
(5)
Anthony A.
Yodels was fun, and the pies are very well done and delicious, however my meal was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the Amish were supposed to make things home made? Why were the mashed potatoes instant? Why were the green beans and the gravy on my meat loaf out of a can? The fried chicken is supposed to be their specialty, but honestly it's better at Publix. If this place wants to live up to the hype, they need to make more things home made because I felt like I was eating at an old time cafeteria. Maybe that's why they have so many elderly customers, because they are from a time when canned food was acceptable. These octogenarians with their walkers and oxygen tanks were in a line all the way out the door. I'm happy they are doing a good business tho, and I hope this review doesn't come off as too scathing because it was a fun place to eat and definitely an experience.
(3)
C. E.
They have awesome fried chicken and meatloaf! Don't leave without eating their banana cream pie or peanut butter pie!!
(5)
Lynne L.
Love, love love this family owned restaurant. Great service, great food and top notch service.
(4)
Ken S.
I'm not sure where some of the bad reviews on here come from but those people are wrong. This place is fabulous. If you're looking for a candlelight dinner with wine and a separate fork for your salad, than this isn't your place. If you want simple, good food then it's definitely your place. The meatloaf and corn cakes were very good. The PB pie was HUGE! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Aimee P.
The only thing I have to complain about was the fact we couldn't order fried chicken on a Friday. Other than that, the food was pretty good and their deserts were uh-may-zing!
(4)
Alex O.
Amazing comfort food. Had the Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and fries okra. The gravy was awesome. Would recommend checking them out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Neil P.
We were very impressed with the food, Fridays is pan fryed chicken and it was out of this world good. Ordered the 4 pc and all i could eat was the breast so juicy it probably was a 1 1/2 lbs, mashed potato with gravy and hand sliced whole wheat bread FRESH! Mac & cheese was one of the best and they hand make over 30 pies so best thing to do is get there samplers. Pinecraft is the Amish village and they also have gift shop, farm fresh produce and a deli with all the Amish meats, cheese, pasta, candies, fresh made sandwiches. Its a Travel Channel destination with Adam Richman Man vs Food! We love it!
(5)
Kristen C.
My fiance and I experienced Yoder's for the first time in May 2015 and we absolutely LOVED it! The service was great and the food was even better. Their fried chicken was not only delicious, but huge!! We actually split a meal and couldn't eat everything, a first for my fiance! We ended up coming back later that afternoon and ordering chocolate and apple pies to take home to Georgia. The chocolate pie was literally the best I have ever had in my entire life!! The crust on that apple pie was heavenly. We went back earlier this month while visiting Sarasota and were heartbroken to see they were closed for renovations; however, we will be back in November for our wedding and plan on bringing the entire family to experience Yoder's!
(5)
Charity Z.
My husband and I are both food network fans. When we saw this place featured on 101 best places to eat in America we new we had to try it. So on the drive home we decided to stop in. Arriving at 430pm we did not have to wait to be seated. As soon as we sat down we did see the line accumulating. So be prepared to wait. To start we had the homemade butternut squash soup. It was amazing. All the perfect flavors blended together. As other reviewers stated, you must have the fried chicken! Perfect batter compliments the moistness of the chicken. What also stood out were the Amish potato pancakes. Beware portions are huge and plates are definitely shareable. Even the kids meals are enough to feed the entire family. The deserts are endless. Of course I had the bread pudding. It was perfect. Just how bread pudding should be. A crispy crust around the edges and softness of soaked bread. This meal in instant made me want to ascend Mount Everest. It was that good.
(5)
Morgan B.
We were on vacation and a friend recommended we try out this place. I was a little hesitant because I really wanted some fish. But this place was awesome! I had the cheeseburger soup to start. It comes with fresh homemade bread. Delicious. Then my friend and I split the full serving of fried chicken. There are a ton of sides to choose from. I got the tossed salad and the Amish pancakes. Everything was very good. The most important thing though is to save room for the pie. Oh my lord the pies!!! Try one or two or three! You won't be disappointed!! In will be coming back!
(5)
Debbie S.
We are in Sarasota for this year's vacation and went to Yoders last night for dinner. The daily special was pan fried chicken... with two sides. The four piece meal was so big that we brought 4 of 8 pieces home... the mashed potates and corn muffins were great. We also got the peanut butter pie and butterscotch pie sampler. And don't forget the homemade mint tea. Walked out thinking I was going to explode... and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Patty P.
Food is good, just good down home cooking! Servings are large! I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all were excellent! Fresh baked breads, homemade apple-butter and peanut butter, delicious pies! The fried chicken is amazing! The only down side is it can be quite crowded and a long wait, especially during season. However, you can meander around the shops there while you are waiting or after dinner and that totally makes up for it. The vibe is family friendly, not romantic so know what you are in for when you go, but do go, you won't regret it.
(3)
Jina C.
This is one of the most famous amish restaurants in Sarasota. It's been featured on Man V Food so i guess that's a good thing! Overall, the food is pretty tasty. I wasn't blown away or anything and I certainly did not like the 1 hour wait w/ no seating. The desserts look really good and the portions here are large. I think it's enough to split between 2 people. I guess I'm not into the traditional American comfort food cuisine. It was just A OK
(3)
Akaisha R.
Saw the reviews and had to go !! I learned come hungry and before 6 . It was good and filling !! I also had the strawberry short cake mmmmmm.... will come back !! Service was awesome and quick . I had the chicken fingers and mashed potatoes with awesome chicken gravy
(4)
Maureen O.
Amazing food! Huge portions and friendly service. The Amish noodles were amazing! My son enjoyed the garlic chicken breast and the rest of us had chicken and dumplings. Everything was very good! We had Shoo Fly Pie (not my favorite flavor of pie but my husband loved it). I had Yoder's Key Lime Pie and it was very creamy. There was a line going out the door but it moved quickly. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Ed E.
We arrived at the dinner rush and were told there would be a 45 minute wait. Actually only waited 10 minutes. The food was excellent. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered corn all of which were perfectly done. Don''t leave without trying a slice of pie! Decor is country/Amish and the dining room is a bit tight for space but the food more than made up for the small inconveniences.
(5)
Greg U.
Yet another great meal.
(4)
Barbara W.
Large portions, good food, chocolate cake and icing was fantastic. Roast turkey was a little dry, but when asked for extra gravy, it was given promptly. From PA Amish country where what's on their menu is very common here.
(4)
Randy T.
Heartiest breakfast in Sarasota; Great Amish home cookin.' This is a Sarasota favorite. If you decide to eat at Yoder's during high season, come early or bring a book. I'm not sure why "Man vs. Food" focused on the fried chicken when he came to town..for me, Yoder's is all about breakfast. Great food; huge portions; inexpensive. The homemade breads remind me of my mother's (but not quite as good, of course! Hi, Mom!). I have sampled most of the items on the breakfast menu, from omelets to biscuits & gravy, but my favorite has to be the stuffed french toast. To die for. The pies I have tried have all been delicious (love that Shoo-Fly), but I'm usually so full after my meal I can't even think about dessert!
(5)
Cheri P.
I wanted to try out Yoder's Restaurant in Sarasota as it has a pretty great reputation in the area and has even been featured on Man vs. Food. Yoder's is a traditional Amish restaurant located here in Sarasota, FL. There are a lot of other parts to this property including a gift shop, a fresh produce market and a deli. Since the restaurant was featured on Man vs. Food, it has become a very popular place to dine in this city. I like the atmosphere and seeing the Amish around here; you get a sort of homey, down-home feeling in the middle of a regular old suburban town. This is the area of Sarasota with the most Amish, so you see them riding around their bikes going here and there. A short disclaimer on my position on Amish restaurants: the first time I ever went to one it was an Amish place on Cattlemen and Bee Ridge and I was horrified by the food - it had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It is for this reason alone that I haven't gone to any other Amish restaurants since, and I'm SOOO glad Katie suggested this. Not surprisingly, that restaurant is no longer in business, but Yoder's is going strong! When you walk in, you actually have to stand in a cordoned-off line that literally didn't get any shorter the entire time Katie and I were there. I have a feeling that the line stays that way pretty much all day! It's not a long line though, at that time of day on a Friday (12:30 pm), we only had to wait about 15 minutes. However, I don't know what it's like during the weekend - I imagine it's quite a bit longer as the restaurant seemed to be to capacity pretty much the whole time we were there. We were greeted by some very friendly hostesses and our waitress was very nice. We didn't notice any sort of lag in service at all, considering their traffic. The clientele is pretty much what you'd expect - mostly tourist types and locals. I asked for the typical/popular menu items and was extremely happy I did that. I ordered the Meatloaf for my meal as it's one of the most popular dishes and it came with two sides off of a side menu with a dizzying array of choices! I let the waitress decide by telling me what was most traditional, and she suggested the Chicken Stuffing and the Amish Buttered Noodles. I happily accepted. Katie ordered a more tame choice - she opted to order something of a Chef Salad though I didn't catch the name of it. Just take a look at the picture for the pile of deliciousness that she ordered. She was also served a thick slice of Fruit Bread which looked so moist and soft. I get the feeling that you can't really go wrong with a choice at this place. My meal came with some super soft, light wheat bread, no doubt freshly homemade. We chatted about everything under the sun while waiting for our meals and when they finally came, I suddenly became psychic: there were two large doggy-bags about to appear in both of our futures. I bit into my meatloaf, and this was a nice, thick slice of it, slathered in a rich, thick chicken stock gravy - the perfect touch on top (aka Thank God it wasn't ketchup because I happen to detest the stuff). It was really good, but I think it could have used a bit more flavor - I happen to like onions and a bit more salt, but that's my personal preference. The sauce made up for it a bit though. The Buttered Noodles were just that: thick egg noodles covered in a drippy butter sauce. Not exactly heart-healthy fare, but sometimes taste has to trump the healthy factor, right? I'd be silly to even have to explain that these were delicious, 'cause noodles covered in butter...? C'mon. And the chicken stuffing. Alright, a lot of the time, stuffing is really hit or miss. Usually, there's just one ingredient that will throw it off. I have to say (abashedly) that I really only think there's one type of stuffing that's perfect and that's Stovetop. I know, isn't that like... sacrilege? But I mean, that's what I like. And this Stuffing. I think they added some extra nutmeg; my tastebuds detected some sort of spice like that. But other than that, it was like Stovetop with nutmeg. And if you know anything about me, you know I love nutmeg so naturally this was a winner for me. And put it all together - hearty meatloaf with chicken gravy, noodles covered in butter and a fresh take on my favorite stuffing. Yep, no question, I was mighty pleased with my choices. And briefly, for reporting's sake, I didn't try any of Katie's meal but I am sure it was just as good as mine, in a, you know, closer-to-healthy, boring kind of way. You know by now that it is my literary duty to deliver an account of a full meal wherever I dine, so I am obligated to have dessert...
(4)
Esther B.
Amish home cooking. Comfort food. Nothing fancy, just really good, unpretentious deliciousness for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, Yoder's is 202 miles from my front door. We always make it a must to stop in when we're anywhere near Sarasota. If any friends are taking a trip over to the west coast, I recommend Yoders, and then beg them to bring me a chocolate peanutbutter cream pie, some fried chicken, and Amish noodles (my 3 menu favorites). Large, varied menu has something to please everyone. What got me thinking about Yoder's today, after having eaten there last about 3 months ago? A trip to a very overpriced, over-hyped restaurant (you can read my previous review), where I had some very mediocre fried chicken, and wished that I were at Yoder's.
(5)
Danny H.
Two words....get the pie!!!! We got the chocolate peanut butter, and each person we spoke to said it was their favourite. We came in just for pie and yet had to get the chicken fried steak because it sounded great. Well it was, and the mashed potatoes with white gravy and mac n cheese were also both great. We couldn't finish it all, and we praised the wonderful staff at our hotel for having a fridge in the room so this meal wouldn't go to waste and we could eat it later! The sweet tea was also great, and I probably annoyed our server because I made her fill up my glass several times over our short stay, but she was on top of it the entire time and did a great job. Then came the pie...the main reason we came. I normally don't like nuts on my pie or cake or cookies, but the peanuts on there were just the right amount and added a great touch to the chocolate and peanut butter. the crust was flaky and just right. Just a fantastic dessert. If I wasn't so full, I probably would have licked the plate afterward. The Amish outfits were a great touch, although I'm sure they're a bit uncomfortable, but definitely gave it a home touch to it. Only issue with Yoder's is that its only open until 8 PM....but once you're there, you realize why. I think we were the youngest people there by about 30 years haha. So if you go, make sure its early...and not on Sunday as they're closed on Sunday
(5)
Ken S.
There is a reason there is always a line to get in; it's that good. Tasty fried chicken, wonderful side dishes, and desserts that taste like they came from a grandmother's kitchen who really knew how to cook, all at a reasonable price in a spotlessly clean restaurant. One of Florida's best.
(5)
Kelli L.
Great home cookin' at very reasonable prices! I always get the country fried steak with mashed potatoes & mac-n-cheese and it is just perfect! Their homemade bread and apple butter they bring out to every table is delicious too! My husband really likes their fried chicken and he loves the Amish noodles. We have tried several different pies, but my favorite is the Strawberry. Super fresh and both sweet and tart all in one. My husband likes to go on Wednesday's to get their lemon meringue. You can get a great, large meal for pretty cheap but be prepared to wait in line. And make sure you get there before 8pm.
(5)
Demmi S.
After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we thought the food must be worth waiting for - it wasn't! The waitstaff was very nice, but the food was expensive and bad. Even the pie that they are famous for was a very big disappointment.
(1)
Jessica S.
Very yummy! The chili was AMAZING and the mashed potatoes were TO DIE FOR (better with beef gravy than with chicken gravy). I was way too full to try any desserts though. Will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Rolf A.
I'm surprised that this placeisnt at 4.5 or 5 star level, because this place was out-of-this-world! The pie was the finisher for me! I know now why that guy from Man v. food went there in one of his episodes! Only negative are the long lines to be seated, but it is worth the wait!
(5)
Jessie S.
After seeing this restaurant featured on the Travel Channel I knew there was no way I was going to miss it the next time I was in the area. It was so, so good. It was actually an entire Amish complex, there was a produce stand, deli and gift shop in addition to the restaurant. As for the restaurant itself you stand in line until it's your turn. I'm sure the wait can get pretty lengthy during peak hours, we got there at about 1:30 and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't want to eat heavy comfort food in hot weather but it's well air conditioned. The lunch/dinner menu is filled with comfort food awesomeness. My husband ordered the fried chicken which we saw on the travel channel and it was juicy and well seasoned. Chicken on the bone isn't my thing but I enjoyed the bites he shared with me. For his two sides he chose macaroni and cheese and a corn fritter. The corn fritters ended up being dense pancakes studded with corn and served with syrup, it was unexpected but really, really good. I ordered the roast beef Manhattan, which was white bread, super tender roast beef, mashed potatoes all smothered with gravy made from homemade stock. This is one of my favorite dishes and this may be the best rendition I've ever had. The pie, oh the pie...we were both really full but there was no way we were leaving without dessert so we split a piece of peanut butter cream pie. This was incredible and the pastry cream was unworldly in its loveliness. Screw the mouse, this may be the happiness place on earth.
(5)
Mick F.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was the hour long wait to get in. Food was awesome, restaurant needs updated, but the food was awesome. Best Reuben in forever and peanutbutter pie was oooohhh. Even my kids said it was worth the wait. Great comfort food and the absolute nicest staff I've ever run in to. Please expand your seating area!
(4)
Jennifer S.
This place has the best pies. There are always long lines to get in but they seem to go pretty fast. I have only been here for the pies but I have heard around that the dinners are also really good. My favorite pie so far is the Apple Crumb. :)
(5)
Ed W.
When I go to Disney and pay $100 for admission, I accept that the environment is a make believe / artistic license dynamic. Hopefully we all agree that giant six foot mice walking bipedal and talking as though on helium don't exist. I do not, however, expect this fantasy reality when I go out to eat at what is held out to the public as authentic Amish. Sadly, that is all Yoder's restaurant is. Any attachment to the Amish community or lifestyle has long since passed. Heck my German lineage probably makes me more Amish than anyone in there. The food is at best average fair at RIDICULOUS price points. Two dollars for a soft drink, $4.50 for a slice of pie (which was no where near the hype) I felt sadly disappointed if not almost gullible and abused. For a lunch meal I had their roast beef, which was basically somewhere between post roast and goulash, tasteless and dry. That they drowned it in gravy didn't alleviate this condition. The sides were mashed and applesauce (which tasted like Motts and makes me wonder if that was even remotely made by a human). If you are into tourist traps by all means go. If you want something more authentic you'll have to go elsewhere, like Shady Mapple Smorgasbord up in Lancaster PA.
(1)
Cherry J.
The fried chicken and chicken-n-dumplin's each received favorable reviews, as did most of the side dishes (stuffing, potato pancakes, and fried okra). Not so good? The macaroni and cheese, which was pale and VERY watery--reminiscent of yucky cafeteria food, or worse. The bread was lame, too... regular old sliced sandwich bread (and pretty dry, I might add). We also sampled the peach pie, which I really enjoyed. I also liked the mint iced tea. After lunch, we checked out the adjacent gift shop and farmer's market. Not much to see there, although the veggies did look super fresh and I was pleased to find Mexican Coca-Cola! In addition to Adam Richman visiting the restaurant, the ladies working on the gift shop mentioned a visit from none other than Martha Stewart. However, she did a great job, and the food came out very quickly. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to make a return visit... but I would not be opposed to it, either.
(3)
Fuzzy B.
We went today on our second visit to Sarasota because of all the Yelp reviews - and thought it was great. GF had the meatloaf manhattan (which is meatloaf thinly disguised as a sandwich, with lots of gravy on top and mashed potatoes). BF had the 1/4 fried chicken (white). And we shared the peanut butter cream pie. Everything was delish - beware of the large portions. Make sure to check out market and deli next door.
(4)
Andrew T.
There was a line to get a table but the wait wasn't that long. Their meatloaf was amazing and I didnt think I would be able to eat pie but the it was so good I was able to eat and make it back to the car.
(4)
Becky B.
Yoder's, Yoder's, Yoder's.. I wish that transported me there. Where to start? I ordered the Turkey dinner. YUM! You get SO much for your money, the gravy is amazing, and the stuffing is satisfying. I finished my meal with the Chocolate Cream pie, it was good, but not as great as I thought it would be.. I wasn't too crazy about the crust, I think because I couldn't figure out whether it was a pastry crust or a graham cracker crust., it tasted more like graham, and I am partial to pastry for a chocolate cream pie! but other than that, it was really good! :) The waitstaff is really really friendly, and all in all it was a great experience, totally worth waiting in line for an hour! Can't wait to go back to get the fried chicken!
(5)
M. C.
Unbelievable food, desserts and service. You can't go wrong here. We usually order the fried chicken, Amish noodles, homemade potato chips. Everything is so good. For dessert try chocolate cream pie or blueberry crumb pie a la mode. YUMMY. I usually can't help but to make several visits here per vacation.
(5)
Sue D.
This is food from the 50's when people over ate, but worked it off with hard farm work. The food tastes like it came out of cans. Today it's suited only for those who wish to be obese; the food is full of fat, salt and sugar. All the things that Dr. Ozz says will kill you... be warned. We will never eat here again, while there were huge portions, nothing tasted good we also declined a box to take home the left over food. Its unhealthy and the food is gross !
(1)
chris w.
"The chocolate cream pie is like eating clouds!" - Chrystal Dillman
(5)
Mike B.
Breakfast - ate outside at the Picnic tables with carryout Family arrived for lunch around 11:15 am on a Saturday but was told tthat they don't serve lunch until the breakfast service was finished. We decided to do take out and the food was affordable and took about 15 minutes. We had the biscuits and gravy, mush, egg sandwiches and various drinks. We made a picnic of it sharing items between the family on the tables enjoying the sunny day. We also order a container of 4 cinnamon rolls which were very thick and very well frosted! My daughter went back and got the pulled chicken before we left and the sandwich was very tasty. Visited the market and got some fresh fruit for the vacation. The strawberrys were very good although the plums didn't taste well. We will visit again for dinner.
(3)
Todd O.
Only reason it is not one star is because the pie is good. This is a bad diner. I don't care what they tell you about grandma's homemade dishes. It's bland food that is most likely frozen. Skip the food and grab a pie to go
(2)
Maureen O.
Amazing food! Huge portions and friendly service. The Amish noodles were amazing! My son enjoyed the garlic chicken breast and the rest of us had chicken and dumplings. Everything was very good! We had Shoo Fly Pie (not my favorite flavor of pie but my husband loved it). I had Yoder's Key Lime Pie and it was very creamy. There was a line going out the door but it moved quickly. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Ed E.
We arrived at the dinner rush and were told there would be a 45 minute wait. Actually only waited 10 minutes. The food was excellent. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered corn all of which were perfectly done. Don''t leave without trying a slice of pie! Decor is country/Amish and the dining room is a bit tight for space but the food more than made up for the small inconveniences.
(5)
Greg U.
Yet another great meal.
(4)
Barbara W.
Large portions, good food, chocolate cake and icing was fantastic. Roast turkey was a little dry, but when asked for extra gravy, it was given promptly. From PA Amish country where what's on their menu is very common here.
(4)
Kurt C.
We moved to Naples from Ohio about 3 years ago, 30 minutes from Amish Country, so we know Amish food!! This place is anything but. I can't say that any of the servers were actually amish, just women dresses and bonnets, and Mexican bus boys. Based on several people always raving about this place we decided to stop on a trip north. I like fried chicken and based on alot of reviews I went for it. Well the skin wasn't really fried, kind of a soggy battered skin. Chicken wasn't very moist or flavorful. Mashed potatoes and gravy and noodles, my wife and I both went for since were eating "Amish". I've had better instant potatoes, I think the gravy was strait out of a can, and the noodles.....well. ....not cooked consistently through, no flavor....we literally had maybe 3 bites between the two of us. We can cook better food at home by far. I would agree with a previous review stating Publix fried chicken is better.... The bread and apple butter were good. Nice soft bread and tasted fresh. We were reluctant to try pie but figured we would try. I think $4.50 a slice is a little steep but, hey, we're getting amish pie. Wife had the coconut cream pie and said it was good. Kids had chocolate peanut butter and they were happy. I tasted it and thought it was decent. I went for the peanut butter pie....what a disappointment. The only think peanut butter about it was some peanuts somewhere. It was mostly whipped topping and the filling was tasteless. Fortunately, we walked in with no wait but they filled up quickly. The place is a hole in the wall and nothing fancy or special about it. The service wasn't that great either. My conclusion is, maybe if you have never had amish food from the Midwest, this place may be good to you. However, as we come from that area this place is far from it. If we want amish again, we will try Der Dutchman up the road. Had we known it was there we probably would have went there to begin with. After the visit, I found out this place was on TV and rated for top 101 places to eat......Who put this on the list? Have you ate more than 101 places???? I would rather eat at chain restaurants any day. My suggestion.....save your money and go somewhere else. This place is not worth the hype.
(1)
Bryan S.
Enjoyed eating at Yoder's while on vacation. I ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and side salad with house dressing. Chicken was moist and crispy, potatoes were very smooth and house dressing did not disappoint. I hope to get back and try the breakfast that everyone raves about.
(4)
Richard P.
I had heard so much about this place that my disappointment is overwhelming. Yoders is an undeservedly popular Amish style restaurant serving very bland food in large quantities. Judging by the size of most of the other lunch diners when I was there I think the quantity rather than the quality is the big draw.
(2)
Melvin M.
A good meal, but anyone who has previously dined in one of the better Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants of Holmes County, OH, or Lancaster County, PA, will find this beach town copycat to be just that: (1) slightly lower in food quality (excepting the pies, which could hold their own with any Amish kitchen); (2) relatively high priced; and (3) infused with the air of a high-volume tourist trap. From the "English" waitresses wearing pants, to the Hispanic line cooks in the kitchen area, this restaurant also has a very different feel than it's counterparts on the heart of Amish country. Like most very popular restaurants which are geared primarily toward the tourist crowd, also expect a very long wait to get a table, even during the slow season.
(3)
Keri B.
Apparently their fried chicken was their main attraction...however, it was VERY dry and tasted like any other fried chicken I've had. I had to douse it with sauces to get it down. Perhaps I went on an off day? Other than that, the pie was fantastic, as were the breads. I went to their market and got TONS of fresh foods and cheeses. All in all, I will return.
(3)
Mac O.
3.5 stars. After lunch next door at Yoder's Restaurant, and before heading out to Longboat, husband and I swung by Yoder's Produce Market to stock up on produce for the condo. I was wanting local grapefruit for breakfast, local citrus for squeezing in Coronas and Bells Oberon, local peaches, nectarines, and mangoes for snacking on on the beach...what we found were California grapefruit and Georgia peaches. More than half the produce available -- while beautiful -- was from out-of-state. Hunh? We'd been drawn by the promise of farm-fresh, local produce. So to that end, we were pretty disappointed, tho we bought some anyway. But we did find other items we liked a whole bunch, including all-natural beef jerky, locally roasted ground coffee, extra sharp Canadian cheddar, Vinta crackers, Amish kettle corn, homemade granola (which was absolutely delicious), and fresh milk from Dakin Dairy Farms in nearby Myakka City. So, for produce Yoder's Market didn't deliver. But for dry goods and dairy, Yoder's Market came through like a champ.
(3)
Jina C.
This is one of the most famous amish restaurants in Sarasota. It's been featured on Man V Food so i guess that's a good thing! Overall, the food is pretty tasty. I wasn't blown away or anything and I certainly did not like the 1 hour wait w/ no seating. The desserts look really good and the portions here are large. I think it's enough to split between 2 people. I guess I'm not into the traditional American comfort food cuisine. It was just A OK
(3)
Akaisha R.
Saw the reviews and had to go !! I learned come hungry and before 6 . It was good and filling !! I also had the strawberry short cake mmmmmm.... will come back !! Service was awesome and quick . I had the chicken fingers and mashed potatoes with awesome chicken gravy
(4)
N. D.
Summary: Pie and Turkey Dinner AMAZINGLY GOOD -but Fried chicken over rated and busy claustrophobic atmosphere We live a stones throw away from here in Port Charlotte. We finally made the trek 45 minutes up I-75 to celebrate a friends birthday by having some great fried chicken and some pie. I will admit we had some high expectations after seeing this place featured on TV. Allow me to walk you through our experience this evening. First we arrived to find a small but packed parking lot, luckily somebody was leaving as we pulled in which saved some hassle trying to park. There is a lot next to the restaurant with plenty more room. After baking in the sun in line for a bit and moving forward little by little we were greeted by the hostess. She asked number in party (no names) and on to the next. They seat as they have room to accommodate your party, it is not actually first come, first serve. They do not take reservations, so be ready to stand in a line. Upon entering it was rather chaotic, some what stuffy, and generally messy. Due to the high volume they serve, there isn't enough time dedicated to maintaining a kept dining area. The floor had crayons and various food items on it (I blame peoples lack of teaching their children proper manners more than I blame a restaurant for this.) Our food came fairly quickly, but was COLD the first time! The sides of mashed, mac and cheese, and my wife's Turkey dinner as a whole was very cold. The server was very accommodating and took back the sides and Turkey dinner to replace with a new order. When it came back it was all hot, but the mac and cheese was now very runny and not so good. The Turkey dinner was very very good once it was served hot and had a large portion. Now to the fried chicken. I had some high hopes for this item. I bought the half chicken at about $17 bucks. The flavor on the skin was good, but the meat was very dry and tough. I was very disappointed after hearing all the rave reviews and I admit it was a very meaty breast. However I have had better at my local Cracker Barrel and would not agree it is the best chicken around. Maybe it was just a bad day for them, I dunno as this was my first visit. Redeemed through the pie. The pie was amazing. Had peanut better, and baked blueberry, and also tried a little of the chocolate cake. All were above par, and worth a visit. It did meet the high expectations we had. Good portion and in my opinion worth the $4.75 a slice. To close, the turkey dinner my wife had was very very good as was the pie. I am betting some of their other items are good too. I think the fried chicken is a bit over rated, and in general it seems they may be pushing beyond a capacity they can handle and the quality of atmosphere is suffering a little.
(3)
Bill S.
Next time you are in Sarasota, don't miss a great meal at Yoder's! Be prepared to wait in line, but it's well worth the wait. Great food, reasonably priced, but be sure to save room for dessert - the pies are out-of-this-world good. I'm sure we'll be eating here anytime we are in the area.
(5)
Melissa A.
Go for the stuffed french toast!
(4)
Jared V.
I was rather underwhelmed with this place. I expected it to make my eyes roll back in my head and make me want to move to Sarasota. I drove from Orlando to come here specifically because of the reputation of the pies and comfort food. I went on a Friday. Guess what? No southern fried chicken on Fridays. Instead, their 'special' was pan-fried chicken. It was not crispy at all, and was about the same quality as original recipe KFC. Their chicken breasts were mutant giant chicken size. The fries were pretty good. They dropped some bread off and we slathered their apple butter on the pieces of bread which was the best part of the entire meal. My wife said the okra was excellent but the mashed potatoes and gravy was bland and the gravy was not very tasty. I saved room for pie and got blueberry crumb, while my wife got apricot. My filling tasted fine, but the crumb was somewhat bland and I had no crust underneath the filling, so I got almost no crust whatsoever. The apricot was bitter and the crust was too hard to the point of being crunchy. The service was slow and the food came out randomly. Apparently it is against amish policy to smile at people or be friendly; I was stared at stoically and was given attention but nobody looked happy to be there or made any effort to make me feel welcome. There were noisy, stupid teenagers a couple of tables away from me (one of them held up the giant sugar dispenser and loudly asked a random server "Is this salt?") and I had to deal with their stupid teenager jibber jabber talk about English class and Justin Beiber or whatever the hell stupid teenagers talk about. In summary, I have had better homestyle cooking, service, and pies elsewhere and Yoders is not worth the drive (at least not for me).
(2)
Ricky R.
I have been going to Yoder's since my inception in 1988. I could preach about Yoder's, but I'm going to keep it simple: - Typically there is a line out the door, but it is well worth the wait. - It has a cozy, "grandma's house" feel (if your grandma is Amish) - Staff is usually Amish, friendly, and meticulous (your table wont be dirty, you'll never run out of water, and you'll never wait for a check). - Considering the prices, their portions are generous. - You really can't go wrong with the main dishes - they're all flavorful and homemade. - Please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and order sides with your meal and dessert. - Order dessert. - For the love of God, order dessert. - All pies are delicious, carrot/chocolate cake are sinful, and the cinnamon buns could be the greatest thing I've let enter my body... that's what she said... Anyway, if you ever find yourself in a 100 mile radius of Yoder's, do yourself a favor and go. *So you can further appreciate their desserts: if a family member is in Sarasota, we make them get about 12 slices of pie/cake to bring back to Chicago. Seriously.
(5)
Lissete D.
Go with the correct mindset and you will be satisfied. Personally, we love Yoder's. Especially their pies. We've been going since before Man vs Food, so our expectations weren't at the level that many seem to have. All that being said, this is comfort food at it's best. I'm a fan of the broasted chicken & the meatloaf. If you go during strawberry season, you should try the best strawberry pie EVER! Service is always friendly & efficient.
(4)
Georgio B.
All 5 stars for Mrs Yoder!!! American comfort food does not get any better then this! And... the pies are to die for! You get more then your moneys worth. Don't pass this place up!
(5)
david h.
I went with a friend for breakfast and it was as excellent as a plain jane breakfast can be. I wish I could have surveyed what lunch and dinner was like because that is where the originality and essence of Yoder's would show (I think). I'd definitely go back. Smiley face
(4)
Ks K.
Great Yoder's produce & other good food. Parking in front, side or back (or if it's really busy, behind Yoder's restaurant. Very friendly helpful staff.
(4)
Holly D.
There must be a great appreciation for bland, poorly prepared food in this town. Meatloaf seemed odd in consistency and flavor. Almost like Banquet TV Dinner quality. The gravy was bizarre. The waitress said they made it with beef juices and corn starch. It was yuck. I've had better gravy out of a jar. The green beans were canned. Not going back. Even for pie. If your greatest effort is to open a can, I'm not interested.
(1)
E H.
The pie was the highlight of our recent dinner at Yoder's. I could have skipped everything else and gone straight to dessert. The meatloaf was bland for my taste, because it lacked seasoning, onion, or red/green pepper. The fried chicken was good, but it wasn't juicy. Perhaps if we had tried some dark meat pieces, it would have been less dry. Vegetables were good but also bland. The chocolate cream pie and Yoder's key lime pie were both excellent. The pie crust was the best I have tasted in a long time. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient.
(2)
TP F.
I've lived here 15 years, finally got to this place and I feel like a heel not liking it. Everyone kvells. Perhaps it's because the Food Channel's Adam Richman said the fried chicken was crisp and moist. Really though, it was overcooked and dry. And BLAND, which was the most surprising thing. Fried chicken is a no brainer seasoning-wise: gimme salt and pepper and Pepper. The sides were loaded with sugar. The decor is the dream someone else is having about your grandmother. Mostly though, I'm just not a dessert guy. Some of the pies are to die for (key lime) but others (Apple) are no better than any decent bakery's. The servers were really nice, if perfunctory. If I was 25 again and looking to load up on carbs and calories I'd be back there in a flash.
(2)
Katherine P.
I am rating this 3/5 not because of the food but because of the experience overall. We waited in line about 30 minutes for a table. When we finally got to the front of the line we were asked if we wanted lunch or breakfast. We wanted lunch because we've heard so much about the fried chicken. We were then advised that they had to serve all of the breakfast people first, even though it was 11:05am and they stopped serving breakfast at 10:45am, and we would have to wait for all of the breakfast customers to be seated before we could have lunch. So instead of waiting an unknown amount of time we settled for breakfast. We were then advised by our server that there were specific things on the breakfast menu that we couldn't even order because it was after 10:45. In addition to that, there were several flies around where we were sitting due to an open pickup window and the door being held open by people waiting in line. The food itself was good with big portions, but I probably would not go back again.
(3)
M R.
Yoder's brings traditional Mennonite food to Sarasota. If you wonder what makes this traditional home cooking different, my guess is butter and lard. Both of these add amazing flavor but have been attacked somewhat unfairly by the health police. The line at Yoder's is amazing. We arrived at 3:30 Saturday afternoon and had a 30 minute wait. The food, however, is worth the wait. My companion loved the mint tea. The meatloaf I tried is simply the best I've ever had, while my companion's chicken was merely adequate. The potato pancakes came out not as a latka (deep fried) but as a normal pancake. The result is disappointing. The blackberry pie, on the other hand, is quite good. Stick with traditional meat and potato dishes, and you'll be happy with Yoder's. Order a few extra peanut butter cream pies for friends and family. They'll love it!
(4)
Lin Lin S.
"amish" people are imaginary. it's all a gimmick. this is really just a cracker barrel run by people wearing bonnets and long skirts and white reeboks. forget the food. most of it was dry and bland. the veggies are from a can. just get the pie. huge slices of pudding filled pies, topped generously with whipped creme. coconut creme is good. this restaurant is good for families who want to contribute to the growing rate of adult and child obesity. "is there any green vegetable on your menu besides your ice berg lettuce salad?" we got canned green beans. hoo-rah.
(2)
Randy T.
Heartiest breakfast in Sarasota; Great Amish home cookin.' This is a Sarasota favorite. If you decide to eat at Yoder's during high season, come early or bring a book. I'm not sure why "Man vs. Food" focused on the fried chicken when he came to town..for me, Yoder's is all about breakfast. Great food; huge portions; inexpensive. The homemade breads remind me of my mother's (but not quite as good, of course! Hi, Mom!). I have sampled most of the items on the breakfast menu, from omelets to biscuits & gravy, but my favorite has to be the stuffed french toast. To die for. The pies I have tried have all been delicious (love that Shoo-Fly), but I'm usually so full after my meal I can't even think about dessert!
(5)
Cheri P.
I wanted to try out Yoder's Restaurant in Sarasota as it has a pretty great reputation in the area and has even been featured on Man vs. Food. Yoder's is a traditional Amish restaurant located here in Sarasota, FL. There are a lot of other parts to this property including a gift shop, a fresh produce market and a deli. Since the restaurant was featured on Man vs. Food, it has become a very popular place to dine in this city. I like the atmosphere and seeing the Amish around here; you get a sort of homey, down-home feeling in the middle of a regular old suburban town. This is the area of Sarasota with the most Amish, so you see them riding around their bikes going here and there. A short disclaimer on my position on Amish restaurants: the first time I ever went to one it was an Amish place on Cattlemen and Bee Ridge and I was horrified by the food - it had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It is for this reason alone that I haven't gone to any other Amish restaurants since, and I'm SOOO glad Katie suggested this. Not surprisingly, that restaurant is no longer in business, but Yoder's is going strong! When you walk in, you actually have to stand in a cordoned-off line that literally didn't get any shorter the entire time Katie and I were there. I have a feeling that the line stays that way pretty much all day! It's not a long line though, at that time of day on a Friday (12:30 pm), we only had to wait about 15 minutes. However, I don't know what it's like during the weekend - I imagine it's quite a bit longer as the restaurant seemed to be to capacity pretty much the whole time we were there. We were greeted by some very friendly hostesses and our waitress was very nice. We didn't notice any sort of lag in service at all, considering their traffic. The clientele is pretty much what you'd expect - mostly tourist types and locals. I asked for the typical/popular menu items and was extremely happy I did that. I ordered the Meatloaf for my meal as it's one of the most popular dishes and it came with two sides off of a side menu with a dizzying array of choices! I let the waitress decide by telling me what was most traditional, and she suggested the Chicken Stuffing and the Amish Buttered Noodles. I happily accepted. Katie ordered a more tame choice - she opted to order something of a Chef Salad though I didn't catch the name of it. Just take a look at the picture for the pile of deliciousness that she ordered. She was also served a thick slice of Fruit Bread which looked so moist and soft. I get the feeling that you can't really go wrong with a choice at this place. My meal came with some super soft, light wheat bread, no doubt freshly homemade. We chatted about everything under the sun while waiting for our meals and when they finally came, I suddenly became psychic: there were two large doggy-bags about to appear in both of our futures. I bit into my meatloaf, and this was a nice, thick slice of it, slathered in a rich, thick chicken stock gravy - the perfect touch on top (aka Thank God it wasn't ketchup because I happen to detest the stuff). It was really good, but I think it could have used a bit more flavor - I happen to like onions and a bit more salt, but that's my personal preference. The sauce made up for it a bit though. The Buttered Noodles were just that: thick egg noodles covered in a drippy butter sauce. Not exactly heart-healthy fare, but sometimes taste has to trump the healthy factor, right? I'd be silly to even have to explain that these were delicious, 'cause noodles covered in butter...? C'mon. And the chicken stuffing. Alright, a lot of the time, stuffing is really hit or miss. Usually, there's just one ingredient that will throw it off. I have to say (abashedly) that I really only think there's one type of stuffing that's perfect and that's Stovetop. I know, isn't that like... sacrilege? But I mean, that's what I like. And this Stuffing. I think they added some extra nutmeg; my tastebuds detected some sort of spice like that. But other than that, it was like Stovetop with nutmeg. And if you know anything about me, you know I love nutmeg so naturally this was a winner for me. And put it all together - hearty meatloaf with chicken gravy, noodles covered in butter and a fresh take on my favorite stuffing. Yep, no question, I was mighty pleased with my choices. And briefly, for reporting's sake, I didn't try any of Katie's meal but I am sure it was just as good as mine, in a, you know, closer-to-healthy, boring kind of way. You know by now that it is my literary duty to deliver an account of a full meal wherever I dine, so I am obligated to have dessert...
(4)
Esther B.
Amish home cooking. Comfort food. Nothing fancy, just really good, unpretentious deliciousness for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, Yoder's is 202 miles from my front door. We always make it a must to stop in when we're anywhere near Sarasota. If any friends are taking a trip over to the west coast, I recommend Yoders, and then beg them to bring me a chocolate peanutbutter cream pie, some fried chicken, and Amish noodles (my 3 menu favorites). Large, varied menu has something to please everyone. What got me thinking about Yoder's today, after having eaten there last about 3 months ago? A trip to a very overpriced, over-hyped restaurant (you can read my previous review), where I had some very mediocre fried chicken, and wished that I were at Yoder's.
(5)
Danny H.
Two words....get the pie!!!! We got the chocolate peanut butter, and each person we spoke to said it was their favourite. We came in just for pie and yet had to get the chicken fried steak because it sounded great. Well it was, and the mashed potatoes with white gravy and mac n cheese were also both great. We couldn't finish it all, and we praised the wonderful staff at our hotel for having a fridge in the room so this meal wouldn't go to waste and we could eat it later! The sweet tea was also great, and I probably annoyed our server because I made her fill up my glass several times over our short stay, but she was on top of it the entire time and did a great job. Then came the pie...the main reason we came. I normally don't like nuts on my pie or cake or cookies, but the peanuts on there were just the right amount and added a great touch to the chocolate and peanut butter. the crust was flaky and just right. Just a fantastic dessert. If I wasn't so full, I probably would have licked the plate afterward. The Amish outfits were a great touch, although I'm sure they're a bit uncomfortable, but definitely gave it a home touch to it. Only issue with Yoder's is that its only open until 8 PM....but once you're there, you realize why. I think we were the youngest people there by about 30 years haha. So if you go, make sure its early...and not on Sunday as they're closed on Sunday
(5)
Ken S.
There is a reason there is always a line to get in; it's that good. Tasty fried chicken, wonderful side dishes, and desserts that taste like they came from a grandmother's kitchen who really knew how to cook, all at a reasonable price in a spotlessly clean restaurant. One of Florida's best.
(5)
Demmi S.
After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we thought the food must be worth waiting for - it wasn't! The waitstaff was very nice, but the food was expensive and bad. Even the pie that they are famous for was a very big disappointment.
(1)
Jessica S.
Very yummy! The chili was AMAZING and the mashed potatoes were TO DIE FOR (better with beef gravy than with chicken gravy). I was way too full to try any desserts though. Will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Rolf A.
I'm surprised that this placeisnt at 4.5 or 5 star level, because this place was out-of-this-world! The pie was the finisher for me! I know now why that guy from Man v. food went there in one of his episodes! Only negative are the long lines to be seated, but it is worth the wait!
(5)
Jessie S.
After seeing this restaurant featured on the Travel Channel I knew there was no way I was going to miss it the next time I was in the area. It was so, so good. It was actually an entire Amish complex, there was a produce stand, deli and gift shop in addition to the restaurant. As for the restaurant itself you stand in line until it's your turn. I'm sure the wait can get pretty lengthy during peak hours, we got there at about 1:30 and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't want to eat heavy comfort food in hot weather but it's well air conditioned. The lunch/dinner menu is filled with comfort food awesomeness. My husband ordered the fried chicken which we saw on the travel channel and it was juicy and well seasoned. Chicken on the bone isn't my thing but I enjoyed the bites he shared with me. For his two sides he chose macaroni and cheese and a corn fritter. The corn fritters ended up being dense pancakes studded with corn and served with syrup, it was unexpected but really, really good. I ordered the roast beef Manhattan, which was white bread, super tender roast beef, mashed potatoes all smothered with gravy made from homemade stock. This is one of my favorite dishes and this may be the best rendition I've ever had. The pie, oh the pie...we were both really full but there was no way we were leaving without dessert so we split a piece of peanut butter cream pie. This was incredible and the pastry cream was unworldly in its loveliness. Screw the mouse, this may be the happiness place on earth.
(5)
Mick F.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was the hour long wait to get in. Food was awesome, restaurant needs updated, but the food was awesome. Best Reuben in forever and peanutbutter pie was oooohhh. Even my kids said it was worth the wait. Great comfort food and the absolute nicest staff I've ever run in to. Please expand your seating area!
(4)
Jennifer S.
This place has the best pies. There are always long lines to get in but they seem to go pretty fast. I have only been here for the pies but I have heard around that the dinners are also really good. My favorite pie so far is the Apple Crumb. :)
(5)
Ed W.
When I go to Disney and pay $100 for admission, I accept that the environment is a make believe / artistic license dynamic. Hopefully we all agree that giant six foot mice walking bipedal and talking as though on helium don't exist. I do not, however, expect this fantasy reality when I go out to eat at what is held out to the public as authentic Amish. Sadly, that is all Yoder's restaurant is. Any attachment to the Amish community or lifestyle has long since passed. Heck my German lineage probably makes me more Amish than anyone in there. The food is at best average fair at RIDICULOUS price points. Two dollars for a soft drink, $4.50 for a slice of pie (which was no where near the hype) I felt sadly disappointed if not almost gullible and abused. For a lunch meal I had their roast beef, which was basically somewhere between post roast and goulash, tasteless and dry. That they drowned it in gravy didn't alleviate this condition. The sides were mashed and applesauce (which tasted like Motts and makes me wonder if that was even remotely made by a human). If you are into tourist traps by all means go. If you want something more authentic you'll have to go elsewhere, like Shady Mapple Smorgasbord up in Lancaster PA.
(1)
Cherry J.
The fried chicken and chicken-n-dumplin's each received favorable reviews, as did most of the side dishes (stuffing, potato pancakes, and fried okra). Not so good? The macaroni and cheese, which was pale and VERY watery--reminiscent of yucky cafeteria food, or worse. The bread was lame, too... regular old sliced sandwich bread (and pretty dry, I might add). We also sampled the peach pie, which I really enjoyed. I also liked the mint iced tea. After lunch, we checked out the adjacent gift shop and farmer's market. Not much to see there, although the veggies did look super fresh and I was pleased to find Mexican Coca-Cola! In addition to Adam Richman visiting the restaurant, the ladies working on the gift shop mentioned a visit from none other than Martha Stewart. However, she did a great job, and the food came out very quickly. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to make a return visit... but I would not be opposed to it, either.
(3)
Fuzzy B.
We went today on our second visit to Sarasota because of all the Yelp reviews - and thought it was great. GF had the meatloaf manhattan (which is meatloaf thinly disguised as a sandwich, with lots of gravy on top and mashed potatoes). BF had the 1/4 fried chicken (white). And we shared the peanut butter cream pie. Everything was delish - beware of the large portions. Make sure to check out market and deli next door.
(4)
Andrew T.
There was a line to get a table but the wait wasn't that long. Their meatloaf was amazing and I didnt think I would be able to eat pie but the it was so good I was able to eat and make it back to the car.
(4)
Michelle M.
A visit to Yoder's is like a warm and homey visit to grandma's house. This is the place to get comfort dishes such as meatloaf and apple pie. The menu at Yoder's Restaurant contains tons of classic Southern/ Amish home cooked dishes and their specialty is their famous fried chicken. The fried chicken is hand-breaded and deep pressure fried to seal in the juices and give it a crispy texture outside. The fried chicken is served daily, except for Fridays. On Fridays the chicken is pan fried instead. There isn't much atmosphere in this casual restaurant unless you count the Amish, but the food is good and the service is friendly. Don't leave without trying one of their homemade pies (all made from scratch!).
(4)
Nathan T.
We heard about this restaurant on Yelp and after asking around with the locals determined the food was good and hearty, but the REAL reason to come here was the pie, especially the cream-based pies. (Apparently they use canned filling for their fruit pies.) At a recommendation we picked up a slice of the chocolate peanut butter pie, it did NOT disappoint. They have a takeout window that makes ordering a slice of pie or two a breeze, if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix, give Yoder's a try!
(4)
Mark H.
1. The fried chicken is massive, but not overly flavorful. (IMO, Maryland Fried Chicken in Plant City, FL is much, much better.) 2. The pies are good, but not the best I've ever had. 3. The meatloaf is plentiful, but not even better than Cracker Barrel (or my Mom's) :) 4. Standing in line waiting to be seated is a negative. 5. The price-to-portion ratios are righteous. My advice... Go there for the experience if you're in the area, but certainly don't drive from hours away to go eat there; It's simply not worth it. I'll be down that way in July, and I plan on checking out their breakfast, so I'll opine about that experience then.
(2)
Dane C.
First off to All Foodies and such, don't come here and expect to be blown away by exploding flavors, dynamic plate presentations, and exotic ingredients. This is simple, wholesome, well executed food prepared by people who care. The fried chicken and really any pie is a must order for first timers.
(4)
Tracy S.
This place is great! It's always really busy, which is a good sign about what you're getting into. It took us awhile this visit to get seated, but the line moved fairly quickly. The food is good, simple, and delicious. We both ended up getting the friend chicken (which included two really gigantic pieces!) and two different sides. The chicken was juicy and tasty, my fiance's mashed potatoes with gravy were phenomenal, and the carrot salad is unexpectedly fruity, but really delicious. The portions are gigantic, so don't be shocked if the prices seem at first glance to be really steep. There is easily enough food for two meals or more! The waiter was as attentive as he could be, given how busy the restaurant was. It took us a while to get our bread and the food was also a long time coming. No real complaint there, since the taste of the food seemed to indicate that it was made really freshly! We got a couple of slices of pie at the end. My fiance got a slice of blackberry pie which he absolutely loved. I got a slice of chocolate cream pie, which I admit I was a little disappointed by. The chocolate cream was bland and a little grainy and the flavor of the crust sort of overwhelmed it. The cream on top was really thick and just sweet enough, though! Altogether, a really great eating experience. Be prepared for a wait--especially right at mealtimes--but the wait is definitely worth it!
(4)
Carlos S.
Great food, Great Pie's, Great service. You will not regret it...
(5)
Robert N.
We don't pass out a Woohoo rating very often and only hold for the very best. Well, Yoder's is at the top of our list for an Amish theme type restaurant. We had the typical fried chicken, mash potatoes and all the trimmings type dinner. Yes, we did save room for a delicious piece of coconut pie. There is a farmers market next door so you can get all of your fruits and veggies while enjoying their delicious lunch menue. Seating is a bit "tight" so I would avoid the peak lunch hour if you are in a hurry. Have fun and don't forget your take out box...
(5)
Steve Z.
Yesterday driving up from South Florida to Tampa, my wife and I had a late lunch at Yoders. The service was great, but there fried chicken was disappointing. It did not have your typical Fried Chicken crunchy bite. Portion size was good but the chicken needed to be crunchy. Pie was excellent!!
(2)
P A.
Wife, two kids, and I, had breakfast here today. The wait was about 15 minutes at about 9am. We were seated in a booth and were promptly served by an attentive, competent waitress. Food quality was really good and was served HOT. I have had better, but considering the price point I was really happy and will visit again.
(4)
Ron R.
Very good wholesome food. The Amish know good cooking.
(4)
Kristin N.
Another Thank you to Man vs Food!!! Wow this place had a line even at 2pm and when we left it still had a line. We started off with some fresh tomatoes and boy where they fresh, I mean they do have a fresh market right next door (also owned by Yoders). We decided to trash Adam from Man vs Food and go for the Fried Chicken that is pressurized and Mash potatoes. WOW.....Although the chicken could have used just a bit of more seasoning in my opinion, the chicken like shown on TV is completely moist. The juices were pouring out of this chicken it was sooo good. Not many places can fry a chicken and have it come out that moist. OOOHHHH Mash potatoes, how I should have ordered more, the gravy it just melts in your mouth it's soo good. Then of course we had to save room for their famous cream filled peanut butter pie. My boyfriend and I aren't huge fans of peanut butter, but once you taste this pie you'll see why the locals keep coming back for more, and why the non locals always come back to visit. We also took an apple pie to take home with us. Last night we took our first bite, a sweet pie of Delish flavors savored our mouths as we took not one but two and three bites of this apple pie. One of the best pies I've had. If you are ever near this place, make sure to stick it out in the line, because its so worth the wait!
(5)
Diana C.
Soooo good!!! And everyone is amazingly KIND and FUN!!!! I didn't care for pies so much but now I love THEIR pies!!!! I want to try their fried chickens next time*^^* Cannot wait to go back and meet nice people again*^^*
(5)
Sue D.
This is food from the 50's when people over ate, but worked it off with hard farm work. The food tastes like it came out of cans. Today it's suited only for those who wish to be obese; the food is full of fat, salt and sugar. All the things that Dr. Ozz says will kill you... be warned. We will never eat here again, while there were huge portions, nothing tasted good we also declined a box to take home the left over food. Its unhealthy and the food is gross !
(1)
chris w.
"The chocolate cream pie is like eating clouds!" - Chrystal Dillman
(5)
Mike B.
Breakfast - ate outside at the Picnic tables with carryout Family arrived for lunch around 11:15 am on a Saturday but was told tthat they don't serve lunch until the breakfast service was finished. We decided to do take out and the food was affordable and took about 15 minutes. We had the biscuits and gravy, mush, egg sandwiches and various drinks. We made a picnic of it sharing items between the family on the tables enjoying the sunny day. We also order a container of 4 cinnamon rolls which were very thick and very well frosted! My daughter went back and got the pulled chicken before we left and the sandwich was very tasty. Visited the market and got some fresh fruit for the vacation. The strawberrys were very good although the plums didn't taste well. We will visit again for dinner.
(3)
Todd O.
Only reason it is not one star is because the pie is good. This is a bad diner. I don't care what they tell you about grandma's homemade dishes. It's bland food that is most likely frozen. Skip the food and grab a pie to go
(2)
C T.
What a find! My first time in Sarasota, Florida and where should we go for a bite to eat? We found Yoder's on Yelp. When we got to Yoder's, there was a line-up going into the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Saturday afternoon. Must be good if there is a line-up! Waited in line for about 20 minutes and saw Adam Richman's autographed picture in their feature window in the doorway. Also, the Man vs Food video of Yoder's was playing in the background on the plasma TV. Adam Richman ate fried chicken and their potato pancakes and their famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. We finally got a table for 5 people. One ordered the Fried chicken, fried okra and onion rings - delicious! One ordered the Fried chicken and mashed potato and gravy - smaller portion but just as good! One ordered the BBQ Chicken Leg and mashed potato - pretty good! Two ordered the Chicken Liver and Special Stuffing (only available on Saturdays), potato pancakes, fried okra, and Amish buttered noodles - can you say OMG!! Dessert was the best part - sis and I shared the famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was so light! Mum had the starwberry pie - quite delicious!!
(5)
Jen W.
Great lunch buffet. Loved the "broasted" chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes. Plentiful salad bar, lots of desserts & great soft serve ice cream. I bought a key lime pie and bag of kettle corn on the way out. Highly both! All for under $10/person.
(5)
Charles H.
The food is simple and simply delicious. I tried the pulled pork and I was delightfully surprised by the quality and the large portion. The pie was simply wonderful. You must try this place. Come hungry, it's worth the wait.
(5)
Selene K.
This review is for the pies/desserts only as I much prefer the food at Troyer's. My family has been going to this restaurant for years and will usually buy a whole pie during family gatherings. Very fresh and delicious.
(4)
Marquita M.
Best pies hands down... They saved my Christmas dinner!
(5)
Sundi P.
AMAZING peanut butter cream pie. My husband and I decided this is going to be a tradition on pi day.
(5)
Anthony A.
Holy moly this place was amazing. I had a food coma. I mean the fried chicken was phenomenonal. Those sides- wow! those potato chips and noodles and potato cakes ans don't forget about the fried corn on the cob. That apple butter was so good that we went to the Yoder's market after we ate and bought a whole jar of it. You can't go to Yoder's with out getting pie. Really it was the best pie Ive ever had.
(5)
Jillian K.
Bland bland bland. We had heard about this place for years and finally were in the area with the time to give it a try. We started with pie and coffee. We didn't hate the coffee and the shoofly pie had a pleasant molasses taste. The blueberry crumb was a sweet thick sugary syrup and blueberries with a crumb that lacked flavor or proper spices. The famous fried chicken did not have any seasoning, not even salt and pepper. The beets were served in a clear tasteless syrup that seemed to rob any flavor that might have naturally occurred. The fried okra was okay but could also have used some seasoning. This place seems to have a loyal fan base much like the Cracker Barrel. Really boring food served by really nice people.
(1)
Bethany B.
This was so excellent! By far the best breakfast. We didn't have too high of expectations as we figured it would be your heavy breakfast options. There certainly was that if you wanted it but I had a delicious veggie benedict with fresh fruit and there were options for fresh granola with fruit and yogurt, etc. Service was outstanding!!! Just go! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Joshua R.
Come Hungry because the serving sizes are huge. Great Amish cooking. Country style benedict was great and a lot of food
(4)
Ronald U.
Too Big for Their Britches-Now I know Yoder's enjoys lines around their building and our celebrities now that they have been featured on T.V.-unfortunately they care little for accomodating customers who have been frequenting this establishment for decades. I know I will not be missed but I certainly feel betrayed, I always ordered the $10.95- 7 ounce garlic chicken-not always garlic flaovred, it comes with 2 sides and stuffing. Brian the manager always allowed me to substitute the stuffing for okra or applesauce. on my last visit i was told by Brian that the stuffing was free and could not be substituted. Instead of saying this would be the last time we can make this substitution because the stuffing is free-i was loudly humiliated infront of guests and staff. why did you ever offer to substitue in the first place. had i been told this was not your policy that would have been fine. you are not a chain, why could i not be accomodated and why did i need to be insulted and humiliated. the servers will miss my generosity but i will not miss the artery clogging free stuffing that could not be substitued. So ends my decades as a Yoder customer!
(2)
Jenn S.
Okay, I don't even remember what I ate for dinner because I followed that with a huge slice of butterscotch pie, which is the best thing I have EVER eaten in my life. I want to marry it. It was creamy, smooth, and the most wonderful 2,000 calories in one place I have ever wolfed down. Holy F!!!
(4)
Joy H.
Great for breakfast or for dessert...you won't leave hungry or broke. The staff here is so friendly :)
(5)
Sarah D.
First, let's get one thing straight. If you want spicy food, or even heavily seasoned food, this is not the place for you. This is an Amish restaurant, and the Amish are plain. That carries over into their clothing, buildings and food. If you want good home cooking in a kitschy Amish atmosphere, then you'll enjoy your meal. I'll be honest, I grew up in Amish country in Central PA, so no matter what, I knew I'd like this place on pure nostalgia alone. But my husband enjoyed it as well. We heard stories of long lines waiting for a table, but we got there at 11 on a Tuesday and beat the lunch rush. My suggestion is to go during off hours. I had the Manhattan (open faced sandwich) and hubby had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which he loved. The mashed potatoes were very good as well as the homemade bread they bring for the table. Unfortunately we were too full to try the desserts, but I'd like to return and have a piece of the Strawberry Pie ( my favorite). Also, don't miss the Produce Market, Grocery and Gift Shop!
(4)
steve M.
First of all bring your appetites. The portions were absolutely ridiculous. We're talking Flintstones size. Very good (and huge) fried chicken. Excellent (and gigantic) meatloaf sandwich (which they call a Manhattan) Fantastic Pie. But the highlight of the meal for me was the apple butter. Best I've ever had. We bought a jar to take home. Well worth the trip is you want some serious comfort food in Sarasota
(4)
Dante B.
Go here for the pie and start with that. While you're at it, take some home with you. Wonderful wide selection of tasty cream and regular pies - I was there the day the place was featured on "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel. Now I understand why the Man vs. Food guy came here - they're darn good pies!
(5)
Craig R.
Fried chicken and PB cream pie are incredible! Come hungry!
(4)
Jen C.
The custard pie is AMAZING!!!
(5)
Julaine N.
Good breakfast. The pancakes are delicious as well as their fresh made breads. Be prepared to wait in line on a weekend morning, but if you are looking for some breakfast treats, the pancakes are worth it!
(3)
Steve G.
The food was so-so. We had the turkey which was dry, the stuffing seemed to be pedestrian, and the gravy seemed fairly tasteless. The meatloaf was ok, but seemed to be fairly standard. We were expecting a home-cooked style of a dinner and what we got was middle of the road lunch counter quality food.
(2)
Jesse B.
This is my spot for a early morning hangover cure. I know it sounds odd but it is true. I have them stored in my phone and when the only thing I can think about is biscuits and gravy I call for take out. Always biscuits and gravy for take out. The best I have found. Homemade biscuits and meaty gravy. Bring your own hot sauce. I also order pies ahead of time for holidays. Best around hands down. I'd be willing to bet this is some of the best "home cook'in" in town. One day maybe I'll go inside.
(4)
J S.
So who wouldn't have high expectations after all these reviews and the Man vs. Food thing, right? Well, this place was okay--at best. Fried Chicken--I had the Friday version (pan friend only--not that deep fried machine you see on TV). It was "meh" at best...but really...not very good. The meatloaf was only okay too. Very eggy...not very tasty. The mashed potatoes with the yellow gravy--slammin. Corn fritters (pancakes with corn in them--great). Green beans--canned--no salt. Okra--surprisingly good...and I don't care for okra. Desserts--peanut butter pie...worth all the hype it gets. Strawberry rhubarb--meh...not my thing. Overall, I would not go back. Everything is fresh...but just kinda bland.
(2)
D D.
Wonderful food! Wonderful service! Wonderful hospitality! Wonderful cleanliness! And, the most amazing pies you will find anywhere! Try the peanut butter cream pie - it's awesome! Thank you Yoder's for the a wonderful experience! I think we ate there 5 times while visiting Sarasota....
(5)
Phillip V.
Simply the best home cooked meals outside your house!! Come hungry and leave satisfied!!!!well worth the 1 hour drive from the Tampa area!!
(5)
Stacey L.
The best! Every year we visit Siesta Key, it involves a trip to Yoder's. Never fails to disappoint. My husband says their fried chicken is the best he has ever had. And I love the PIE! Tried the coconut cream this year and WOW was it great. Can't wait to come again next year.
(5)
Dean B.
very, very easy review to write. Yoder's Amish Restaurant is simply the best thing around!
(5)
Darren S.
5 stars for the pie and 2.5 stars for the food. I had the famous peanut butter pie and the girlfriend had the chocolate peanut butter. They were both wonderful. They were so good that we came back for some more pie on our way back through Sarasota on the same trip! The food on the other hand was nothing to be excited about. I had a well prepared chicken-fried steak and my girlfriend had crab cakes that she enjoyed.
(4)
Ryan D.
Excellent service here and delicious home cooked food. Had the blueberry cream pie upon waiters recommendation and it was definitely worth it!
(4)
Sue W.
loved the bread.......... so fresh!!! their food is good, good home cooked food. I have not had fried chicken where the flavor is in the meat as well, it usually stops in the skin! but their was juicy and excellent! mashed potatoes were delicious. For meatloaf lovers that was good. I wasnt crazy about their potato pancakes but im not crazy about it in gen. Hands down best baked apple crumb pie. cons I need more veggies with my meal if fried food is not comfort food then u wont enjoy this. Overall - they are awesome with what they do.
(4)
Lindsey C.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, including all of the classy "foodie" places I have visited. I am in grad school in Orlando and after MONTHS of talking about Yoder's, some classmates and I piled in the car and drove to Sarasota for the day to enjoy the beach, stock up at Trader Joe's, and then topped off the day at Yoder's. We stood in line, but not too terribly long. It was so worth it. I had the famous fried chicken, green beans and potato pancakes. My friends had the fried fish & mac n' cheese and the meatloaf & Amish noodles (mouth-watering). No one could finish their food because the servings are wonderfully large, so we all had to-go boxes for lunch the next day. Then came the pies. Oh the pies. We had peanut butter cream (hands down the crowd's favorite), chocolate cream (a taster, delicious when "mixed" with the peanut butter cream), apple crisp and blackberry crisp. Every bite was absolutely wonderful. The service is incredible. One person at our table couldn't decide between the turkey dinner and the meatloaf so the waitress brought him "tasters" of each to help him decide. Incredible service! We all left with to-go boxes and extra bags of baked goodies to take home, and we are already planning a trip back just to visit this restaurant. We also enjoyed experiencing the Amish community around the restaurant.
(5)
Emily G.
You can't not love Yoders. The staff is as sweet as can be and are always eager to please you. I've never had a complaint! If I could afford to eat there 3 times a day, every day, I would!
(5)
Debi L.
The pressure cooker fried chicken was dry and not as tasty as I thought it would be, but the portions are HUGE! I ate for 3 meals on 1 portion. Service was slow but friendly. Love the mint iced tea and the pies were good and seemed to weigh 10 lbs a piece. Get there early. The line can wrap around the building.
(4)
Dan M.
My family and I were pleased with the food here but it was by no means amazing despite being home made (from scratch). The meatloaf was good but had a lot of breading, the chicken tenders were dry, the fried chicken which everyone raves about, was a little dry and the skin wasn't entirely crisp. The banana and punpkin bread were very good as were the homemade potato chips. My cousins lemon meringue pie was very good (it was tart) but the coconut creme pie wasn't creamed enough nor did it have a strong coconut flavor. I was also disappointed in the peanut butter cream pie, which was showcased on man vs. food. It was made well, but I felt it lacked flavor. (The crust was good, however). All in all, a place worth trying. Although I dont think the quality of the food lived up to the hype, everything was home cooked and the service was especially fantastic. We had the nicest waitress (named Jennifer).
(3)
Debra O.
Ripoff! Food is nothing to remember. We had a bbq chicken sandwich with fries, a cheeseburger with coleslaw, and two iced teas. The bill was $29! WTF?? Beware-they charge you for every add-on, like $3 for coleslaw on top of a burger, and $1.50 for chopped onions. Pie is $5 per slice. I could bake a whole pie for that! Save your money.
(1)
Becky B.
Yoder's, Yoder's, Yoder's.. I wish that transported me there. Where to start? I ordered the Turkey dinner. YUM! You get SO much for your money, the gravy is amazing, and the stuffing is satisfying. I finished my meal with the Chocolate Cream pie, it was good, but not as great as I thought it would be.. I wasn't too crazy about the crust, I think because I couldn't figure out whether it was a pastry crust or a graham cracker crust., it tasted more like graham, and I am partial to pastry for a chocolate cream pie! but other than that, it was really good! :) The waitstaff is really really friendly, and all in all it was a great experience, totally worth waiting in line for an hour! Can't wait to go back to get the fried chicken!
(5)
M. C.
Unbelievable food, desserts and service. You can't go wrong here. We usually order the fried chicken, Amish noodles, homemade potato chips. Everything is so good. For dessert try chocolate cream pie or blueberry crumb pie a la mode. YUMMY. I usually can't help but to make several visits here per vacation.
(5)
C K.
Great pie - great stuffing - fantastic gravy. Very busy, really nice staff. Interior could use an update, but when could they close to do it?
(4)
Diann B.
Great restaurant, they put a lot of love into their food and it shows. I would especially recommend the pies, they're bar none the best in the area. It's worth the wait in line, which sometimes bursts out the door. There's a reason that Man vs. Food came down here. It's good.
(5)
Christy S.
Must try their shoofly pie and homemade bread and apple butter. I am never disappointed when I come here. It's fresh down home cooking and the staff is always friendly. I love coming here when I'm out in Sarasota. It's even worth the wait in line ...
(4)
Fred G.
Awesome Reuben sandwich, unique sauce, buckets of iced tea, onion rings to die for, pie sampler. Worth the wait folks don't miss it.
(5)
Maria S.
The food was good.. The pie I had was ok, I saw Adam Richman on man v food there, so I decided to try it out. I went for dinner and the meatloaf was delish! We will be going for breakfast this week. I am on vacation and will be adding more reviews! Happy eating!
(3)
Jim-Barb T.
Having had a positive experience at Yoder's before, I felt safe in recommending it for a lunch meeting place. I'll start by saying that the coleslaw was the highlight of the whole meal. The four of us ordered the white meat chicken lunch special all with different side orders. I don't know if Yoder's just had a bad day or if they are slacking. Two of our chickens were not pink pink but definitely not fully cooked. Being on some what of a time restraint we didn't send the birds back we only asked for carry out boxes so we could finish cooking them when we got back home. I guess you have to be a special type of person to enjoy the corn cakes, and that stack of wonder bread that they put on the table didn't get touched which I hope they tossed after they removed it. The muffins were good but the container of honey that they put on the table was not pleasant to pick up as it was coated with drippings. The server we had was a young man that seemed at times to be distracted and took forever to refill our coffee cups. When we ordered our meals we heard that it was a good idea to order your choice of pie at that time as they sometime run out. We heard that the peanut butter cream was one to die for so we ordered it. When our server came around to ask us if we would like some desert with his order pad in hand, we said that we had already ordered our pie and yes we would like it now. Well it took a while but the pie came and I now have different feelings for the people and their taste buds that suggested this pie. The question now is if we will ever return to Yoder's? Well maybe but at this time we will not be recommending it to friends.
(1)
J G.
Just as good today as when my grandparents took us there 30+ years ago. Can't leave without having a piece of pie. We even had to get a whole pie and some Amish peanut butter to go.
(5)
Jeff H.
great place great food
(5)
Enjoy L.
We travel all over the country in our motor home and stay in many Amish areas, Lancaster PA, Shipshewana IN, Ohio , Wisconsin, just to name a few. Our love is Amish Quilts and good old fashion Amish cooking. Yoders is hands down the best Amish food we have had. If you leave hungry it's your fault! They serve up excellent quality and quantity to please everyone. We love Yoders and make it a destination now!
(5)
Melisa L.
I love amish cooking-it's just good old fashioned homemade food. I went Yoder's for breakfast and I was not disappointed! My husband and I both ordered the french toast. I ordered 3 slices. The bread is homemade. The slices are about 2" thick--I only ate 2 of 'em! Yoder's is known for their pie, so we took 2 home. One Peanut Butter pie, which is their specialty, and 1 blueberry pie. The peanut butter pie is a cream pie--not very sweet, which is good. My dad loved this pie. The blueberry pie is very juicy-i'm sure they use fresh blueberries to make this pie--YUMM! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, if you enjoy simple homemade food. Don't skip dessert!
(5)
Shannan M.
Continuing on my Man vs Food tour of Sarasota, FL, I felt compelled to visit this small Amish restaurant. I didn't quite know what to expect, but BOY AM I GLAD I WENT! This was the third and final restaurant featured on the Sarasota episode of Man v Food, and being that the first two were very disappointing, I was hoping Yoder's would redeem my faith in the show. I am a big fan of down home, comfort food and that's exactly what you'll get at Yoder's. I ordered the Turkey and Dressing meal with mashed potatoes and fried okra. I ordered the large plate and the portions were outrageously huge! It was more than enough for two meals and so I took half back to the beach house with me! The white-meat turkey was fresh and good. A little dry, but most turkey breast is. The mashed potatoes and stuffing were decent, both were greatly improved with salt and pepper. The fried okra was great! The highlight of my meal was most definitely the chocolate peanut butter pie that I specially ordered with fresh banana slices on top (as recommended by one of the servers). OMG, that was worth a half a day's worth of calories! It was HUGE (I took half of it home too), fresh, and delicious! Oh how I wish there were a Yoder's in Atlanta...
(4)
John M.
Wow, it was a great meal. I highly recommend the hamburger gravy. It is the first time I have had that but it was tasty and filling.
(4)
Dora B.
I kind of feel like Yoder's is going downhill by spreading itself so wide in terms of its food. They should have stuck with things like their fried chicken and meatloaf, but, come on, "Amish Quesadillas"? The menu is crammed with things that are clearly only there to provide something for everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but really only drags the quality down. Case in point, I'm not a big fan of their fried chicken, which I find personally too lightly seasoned, but when I saw they had chicken fingers I thought I'd just dunk them in their (very tasty) in-house French dressing. Before I ordered I asked the waitress if the chicken fingers were made the same as their fried chicken, and she seemed to get flustered and informed me in a low tone that they were bought bulk and frozen. Really? Ten bucks for frozen supermarket chicken fingers? The dive sports bar down the street makes their own chicken fingers from scratch, and Yoder's can't be bothered to chop up a chicken breast when they tout homemade cooking? I also decided to try their blueberry cream pie, and wound up throwing it out because the whipped cream just tasted like lard and the berries had no flavour... it clearly came from a can. I actually wound up ordering the meatloaf, which was okay, but was just barely cooked; I don't mind a bit of pink, but some portions of this were almost raw. It was clear that the kitchen is sacrificing quality for quantity since the place is so busy. Overall, if you go here in small parties (they have difficulty seating anything above four due to limited space) and confine yourself to the sorts of things you'd EXPECT to see coming out of an Amish kitchen (my husband said their Swedish meatballs were "pretty disgusting"), you'll probably do okay, but don't expect miracles. If not for the fact that our grandfather likes their Manhattans (roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy), my husband and I wouldn't make the effort to go there. It's just severely overhyped and has strayed so far from its roots that the quality just isn't there anymore. Of course some of the pies are good, but they really aren't worth waiting upwards of an hour in line for. Don't go out of your way for this one, and don't believe the hype.
(2)
Tracie L.
What I like about Yoders (besides the pie, which I'll get to later) is that the food is really basic. There's nothing fancy or complex about it, which is not at all like most other places I eat. The food is like something your grandmother would make, but tastier, and with ingredients that taste fresh and like they were high quality. Don't expect anything fancy, but delight in the simplicity. For example, my ham with applesauce came with applesauce in a little cup and big slab of meat on a plate - not even a little sprig of parsley to attempt to spruce it up. The real gem of this restaurants are the pies. The banana cream pie is absolutely to die for. I haven't had anything like it anywhere else in the country. I make a point of getting it whenever I'm out in FL to visit.
(5)
Archimedes A.
Amazing homemade pies, great lunch food. Chicken, which they are also famous for, was very dry.
(4)
Tom S.
Some days you just have to have your mother's home cooking. Large menu and a good buffet. Take home something from the bakery. Yum!
(4)
annaliese n.
an amish restaurant! with huge portions and gigantic pies! and real amish people! one lady even showed me the tattoos she got during her rumspringa. i think she could see that everyone was looking at little shocked about my tattooed appearance and she wanted to make me feel more comfortable. i love this place. friendly service and good people watching and fried chicken. and pie. big big pie.
(4)
Ashley H.
man i miss this place to death. their pie is amazing! too bad they don't ship it.
(5)
Michael A.
We didn't expect a whole lot from an Amish restaurant. Just some home-cooked deliciousness to counter all the chain-restaurant fare we've been eating lately. Certainly "homey", the restaurant is nothing to write home about. The wait staff was friendly. The menu is like the food . . . basic. The meatloaf was approaching the limit to how much breadcrumb could be stuffed into it. Still tasty, but meager on the protein. The garlic chicken was well-prepared but little flourish. We ordered potato pancakes and corn cakes. We didn't expect both of these to be the size of enormous pancakes. Between these 4 cakes and the stuffing which came with the chicken (which tasted so much like Stouffers my wife and I joked which came first . . . Stouffers or Yoders), there were probably 5 or 6 pounds of straight carbohydrates on the table. Oh, don't forget the bread (which was also nothing to write home about). The pies look and taste delicious. In the past we came to Yoders just for a holiday pie. This was our first and last meal there. We're pretty sicked out by the comment by another reviewer who noted visible roaches in the place. We didn't see any, but if we were to see some in a restaurant this would be that kind of place. Recommended only if you have middle-to-low expectations and/or you're carbing-up for a marathon.
(2)
J I.
The food is not worth the hype. The pies are decent.
(2)
Deb S.
Food is good and plentiful, but the pies are hit and miss, the "FRUIT" pie black rasberry has no berries, just a lot of jam/jelly with crust, the rasberry cream also has no fruit, just a pudding pie with swirls of jam/ jelly. Chocolate peanut butter is better and the apple crumb is good although there were many seed pod parts in the pie. So ask before you buy if you want a fruit pie.
(3)
Seth F.
Honestly, this was just okay. I wouldn't really call it "good" food, but it wasn't all that bad. The homemade bread was good and the apple butter spread was alright. I've had way better homemade apple butter from a friend, though. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy along with fried okra. Again, I enjoyed the meal, but I wasnt impressed with the food. It seemed like your average country diner food. Where I was really disappointed, though, was the pie. The whole time my friends who had gone a few times swore by the pie and the restaurant seemed to advertize their famous pies, too. Maybe my particular pie order was a mistake. I ordered the blackberry pie and once it arrived, I saw that the blackberry filling was exactly like the congealed store-bought blackberry pies that I could buy for very cheap. The only saving grace was that the crust was a bit better than the store-bought version. A friend ordered the 1/4 white meat fried chicken and that honestly looked pretty good and moist. If I have a chance to go back, I'll probably order that along with one of their cream pies, which seems to be more their specialty. I got to try their potato chips which are crunchy and light and not greasy at all. The staff was very nice. No complaints there.
(3)
John M.
Yoders is a place I go to for breakfast every time I'm in Sarasota. The service is amazing, everyone is so friendly. The food is high quality fresh ingredients and you always get a large portion. They make great omelets and everything is always served with toast and homefries. They have a great homemade apple butter for the toast and from what I hear the pies are amazing. I had a taste of one and it was pretty good. I will be back on my next trip to Sarasota. They never seem to disappoint.
(4)
Paul H.
With all the reviews raving about the fried chicken and Adam Richman saying it is "the juiciest chicken" he's ever had. My chicken was quite the opposite. I ordered four dark meat chicken hoping it wouldn't be dry, well it was. The chicken skin had no flavor and the "dark" meat was dry as white meat. Kaitlyn asked me which sides I'd like. I asked her which ones were good and picked out two she had listed: mashed potatoes with gravy and mac n' cheese. The mashed potatoes were fairly plain even with the gravy. The mac n' cheese was good but nothing amazing. Why'd you let me down Kaitlyn! What's up with the Wonderbread? The only thing that saved the disaster of a dinner was the peanut butter cream pie that my family has been ordering for over a decade from Yoder's. I rarely give one stars but to sum up Yoder's Famous Fried Chicken: a letdown. I'm very disappointed.
(1)
Yvonne G.
Comfort food and clean restaurants are a Amish trademark AND the pie...always lots of homemade pie to eat there or take home!!
(4)
Heather L.
Yoder's is an institution. I try to explain Yoder's to my friends across the country by beginning with "it's this Amish restaurant in Florida that serves pies, meatloaf, potato pancakes, pot roast..." Okay. Great. Let me try this again. Pretend you have never had a plate of the average, American comfort food before. That means looking at the neuralyzer and ridding yourself of the repressed memories of that questionable meatloaf your mother made that warm summer, that cold piece of fried chicken at the bottom of a KFC bucket, or the leftover canned beans from the BBQ fundraiser. None of that matters now. Eating at Yoder's is like eating comfort food for the first time in your life. It may not prepare you for a day of beaching on Siesta Key, but it truly defines food that sticks to your ribs. The chicken is juicy, the cornbread is savory, the pies are amazing, and that is because Mama Yoder is slaving away in the kitchen to make people like you and I happy.
(5)
Kate I.
So disappointing...& I wanted to like it. I had seen Yoders on the Travel channel and food network shows and I wanted to experience this little slice of heaven. Atlas I fear its hay-day is over. The gift shop was cute, but the items I looked at were over-priced ( I expected to pay more for their craft, but on something's the price was ridiculous). There was atleast one rude worker in every area we visited. These things could be lived with because the food was what's important and is was beyond disappointing. Everything was bland. My green beans were so over cooked they had no taste and the "homemade" mashed potatoes tasted like they were box. The only redeeming items were the fried chicken and homemade pies, what they are famous for. My father said if it wasn't for me wanting to try it him & mom would had left after waiting 10 mins plus to get our drink order taken. Order a pie they'll ship it to u, but skip the meal it's not worth it. Sadly disappointed; although interested in trying the new Dutch Amish restaurant down the street.
(1)
Natalie G.
My boyfriend and I come here ALL THE TIME. the staff is so beyond friendly. It's very clean and homey. Food is really well priced and fantastic portions. The pie is succulent and can tell they're made with pure and simple ingredients... I absolutely love yoder's. So warm and welcoming, the food always comes out from the kitchen quickly even when the place is packed with people. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Tim W.
Yoder's Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Sarasota, FL. This restaurant serves comfort food, amish style, and is located in the heart of the amish district in Sarasota. The service was 5 star, food came out super quick and the waitress was very attentive. I ordered the Roasted Chicken w/ Stuffing and the chicken was very dry. We asked for more gravy and it was brought out right away. I tried to order a whoopie pie because I saw it pictured on the placemat but the waitress told me they only sell them to go. I'm not sure why they don't sell these for dessert so I had to wait to eat dessert when I arrived home because I bought the whoppie pies at checkout to go. They were really good. Yoder's gives you large portions but they need to work on their dry chicken. I plan to return and I will update my review in due time.
(3)
Anthony C.
Awesome pies everything was fresh homemade and very filling warning portions are extremely large lol
(5)
Joe C.
Had a take home pie...their famed peanut butter pie. Hadn't had it in about 8 years. Totally cheaper ingredients in my opinion OR my taste buds are getting older because the pie didn't taste like much-especially peanut butter. Pretty disappointed! Sorry. I wanted it to be better. Now it just sits in my fridge until it expires and I throw it away... C'Mon Yoder's, don't cheap out on the pies!
(2)
James H.
We ate here for dinner on a Tuesday night in November and it wasn't crowded unlike the summer months where you have to wait like almost an hour for a table. We were sat quickly. (party of two) Asked for our order quickly and even the food was quick to the table. I ordered the 2pc fried chicken and she ordered the shrimp. We got multiple sides, such as mashed with white gravy, stuffing, mac and cheese, onion rings and amish potato pancakes. Everything was great, especially the chicken it was huge and juicy! We got three pie pieces to-go, which are amazing as well. They have a great little market as well with other souvenirs and other food items. I have also eaten here for breakfast and it is very good as well. We always stop here when we are in Sarasota!
(5)
Justine F.
I will say that fried chicken is forever ruined for my boyfriend and I because we live in Nashville and we have this thing called "Hot Chicken". I'm willing to admit this probably has a lot to do with why we thought Yoder's Fried Chicken was tasteless and nothing special. My boyfriend said his chicken was dry. That said, the mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. I am not a big fan of peanut butter or pies for that matter, but the peanut butter cream pie was heavenly. One of the best things I have ever tasted and also enjoyed their homemade cookies. I'd like to return when we are in Sarasota again, and will order something else besides the chicken. Looking forward to trying more of their baked goods and visiting the gift shop.
(3)
Adam B.
Why did I visit on a Friday? No fried chicken to be had! Ah well, we ordered two pie slices to go, a peanut butter cream and a southern pecan. The pecan had tons of pecans on it, which is key. It could have used some whipped cream though. Then again, I could have used a glass of milk. The peanut butter cream was awesome. It has vanilla custard, tons of whipped cream and two layers of peanut butter crumbs, which is a mix of chunky peanut butter and powdered sugar. One of the better pies I've had in a long time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(4)
Christine K.
This place is definitely an experience to try. Food is good but some of the best things were the smaller things (see end of review for highlights). We went on a Friday and of course it's the only day they don't sell the famous fried chicken. So we had the 4 piece dark & white pan fried chicken. It came with a breast the size of my face, a drumstick, a wing, & a thigh with 2 sides. Between two orders for dinner for my hubby & me, we brought home 3 pieces. Definitely order the 2 piece each or share a 4 piece. Pan fried chicken was seasoned well, not too salty but it was definitely greasy. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday. The sides we tried: Baked sweet potato was swimming in butter, Mac n cheese had very soft macaroni noodles (I like my noodles al dente), homemade potato chips were crispy & addicting, cole slaw was too sweet, and Amish potato cakes which is like a firm pancake with potato shreds in them. We also had the taster of the peanut butter cream pie which was fresh & different. You need to have a bite of the PB crumbs pieces in every bite which is a little hard in the container it comes in. Pretty yummy & not heavy at all. My hubby thought it was too sweet without the pb crumble pieces. The standout of the whole meal was the bread & Apple butter they give you to start with. So soft & airy without a heavy crust. Comes out warm too. The homemade apple butter was not like the store bought jarred type. It tasted sweet and fresh. Almost like a fresh applesauce.
(4)
Michael G.
Mmmmmm.......
(4)
Victor R.
I dined with high expectations and they were all met!
(4)
Sandy R.
Nice place for home-cooking! The place is small and generally has a line out front. Once inside, the tables are so close together, it's a little bit claustrophic for me. The fried chicken is good, lots of meat, big portion. In the fall, I enjoyed one of the best desserts that I ever had. It was the "Pumpkin Pie Taster." So delicious and inexpensively priced (I think around $2.50.) You can purchase pies for carry-out. There is a small gift shop across the parking lot, as well as a produce market and deli next door.
(3)
Maryann N.
I live close to Lancaster in Pa., Yoders Restaurant did not compare to Amish restaurants back home, i compare it to the dinners back home. We had the fried chicken and Pot Roast, both were very bland for taste. I had the mashed sweet potatoes, although they were cold they did taste good. My wife had spinach it was also bland in taste,but the chicken stuffing was good. The service was fast and friendly. I will not be returning.
(2)
Krissy M.
Definitely a great place to visit in Sarasota! I ordered the special of the day: pulled smoked pork - so good! hubs had the fried chicken (I don't eat chicken, otherwise I definitely would have gone with that popular option). Dessert? DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING SPACE FOR! Hubs had the fresh peach pie (seasonal) and I had the peanut butter / chocolate pie - YUM.
(4)
Gina P.
Definitely the place to go when you want to throw your diet plans out the window. The food here is fantastic but in typical amish country fashion it definitely sticks to your ribs. The line wraps goes out the door and into the parking lot. They have been on diners, drive ins, and dives so it's a super popular joint. They are known for the fried chicken. The portions are absolutely insane. The half chicken white is two full breasts and two wings. For sides I had cole slaw and amish potato pancake. The pancake was odd I was thinking it was going to be more like a "latka" potato pancake but it was like a legit pancake. I also tried a cup of their chili which was really amazing. They have a special sauce to order with chicken for like an extra .50 or something. DO IT! The sauce is where it's at. It's like a homemade french dressing and it's great on the chicken. I packed most of my food in a leftover box bc I knew I needed pie. This place has a ton of pies. I got blueberry double crust. It was fantastic. Definitely a must try in Sarasota although to eat here often would definitely keep your cardiologist in business.
(4)
Robert T.
We had a yummy dinner and delicious pies. With six of us we had quite a variety. We had the fried chicken and sides. Our favorite sides were mashed potatoes, spiced apples and mac and cheese. We then had pumpkin cheese cake, crumb apple pie, strawberry and cream pie, chocolate creme pie, and yoders key lime. They all were great! If there is any complaint it was the the pie was $4.50/ slice.
(5)
Alethea B.
Just get the fried chicken, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, and a slice of strawberry rhubarb. I promise. Don't forget to drown everything in that delicious apple butter.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Breakfast was excellent, good ole home cooking. Portions were huge. I had bacon egg cheese biscuit, bacon was a little too greasy for my taste. BF had farmers skillet which had a loaf of potatos... sausage gravy was a must, very flavorful. Service was good, enjoyed checking out the farmers market and gift shop.
(4)
Adrianna U.
This review is just based on the peanut butter pie and atmosphere. First off, the ladies at the cashier were not the nicest people. When i got the pie, it wasn't bad. Just a little overhyped. It was ok, but nothing to come back for. Fluffiness was great, and it was nice and creamy. Besides that, i love all the Amish people biking around. I didn't know this existed in Florida. I feel so sheltered here in soflo! This Amish lady was very nice next to me, commenting how my doggy must be cold in the weather. Definitely a nice contrast from the lady at the counter.
(3)
JP A.
Love the fried chicken and the home style sides. Really large portions. My wife accidentally ordered the half fried chicken dinner. I had enough chicken breast left to make sandwiches for the whole family the next day. Peanut butter pie is my favorite! Highly recommended.
The food here is absolutely delicious! The portions are extremely huge and you will definitely want a to go box to take with you. Be sure to also take a slice of pie with you too because they have the best pie anywhere! I recommend the peanut butter cream pie! It is to die for!
(5)
Joyce C.
Went for a later lunch today, 1:30 ish, and the line was still out the door. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, but had some nice people around us to chat with. You don't come here for atmosphere, there is none. You don't come here for exciting or unusual dishes. You DO come here for basic comfort food. My husband had the fried chicken, he said it was very good, not heavily coated, and prepared crispy but not dry. I had the Wednesday special, roasted chicken. Good mashed potatoes, really good...other sides good as well. Okay now keep reading....you want the pie...it is about the pie. Love the pie...we got a banana cream to go, just ate my half a few minutes ago, did I tell you it's the pie. You can also get a whole pie to go, have done that on the holidays...service good...a really nice place to have in Sarasota...
(4)
D J.
This was my 2nd visit to Yoder's (I didn't write a review the 1st time because I wasn't impressed & thought I'd give it another try) BUT I'm still not impressed. All of the food I tried at Yoder's lack's flavor. The chicken is cooked well but could use some seasoning (& it wasn't as crispy as others have claimed). The slices of white bread they bring out while you wait on your food is delicious but it would be better if it was warm. The onion rings were the best thing I've eaten there. The corn was blah & the orka was cold & tasted as if it was 2days old (not fresh at all). The potato pancakes were bland & dry. I just don't think it's worth the wait. After going to Yoder's twice I'm still trying to figure out why the line is always out the door. However, their german chocolate whoopie pie is great! The red velvet not so much & the chocolate cake we had was one of the worst I've ever tasted (the texture & flavor was cardboard-like). Service was great, our waitress was very pleasant! I really wanted to love Yoder's but my expectations have not been met. I want to go back to give them one more try but I'd hate to be disappointed again (it maybe a waste of my time & money).
(2)
Ansen S.
You have to eat a half chicken and pie if you go!! Love this place and bought the mug!
(5)
Mike A.
Food is great no matter when you go and huge serving sizes. May take a few minutes to get in but once you set down you are taken good care of and the food is so good. Btw the pies are so ridiculous good.
(5)
Ayla Z.
Yoder's is one of those places where you you want to eat a slice of pie before you order (my favorite is the peanut butter pie, but there are so many to choose from!) Everything is homey and heartwarming. Perfect for bringing the whole family when they're hungry. Portions are huge and prices are low, and they sell whole pies to go!
(4)
Ed L.
Excellent bbq chicken on Thursday. PIE is amazing. Breads are really good. Enjoyed again & again. Mac side really nice and rich.
(5)
Richard R.
I'm not sure if there is a statute of limitations on writing a review, but let me say it's been about 2 years since we've visited this restaurant. We have family in Tampa and decided to do a day trip to Sarasota to try a different beach (other than Clearwater) and travel to two restaurants featured on Man vs. Food - Yoder's and The Old Salty Dog. We have visited many of the restaurants Adam Richman has recommended, but only about half are worth the trip, which is better than my record with Guy Fieri's recommendations. Surprisingly, of all the Travel/Food Channel Hosts who've featured restaurants on their shows... Andrew Zimmern of Bizzare Foods has been the most reliable when it comes to our tastes. The flavor of Yoder's fried chicken was average at best, certainly not something to drive out of your way to eat. The sides were pretty bland, and the peanut butter cream pie was nothing special... which was a real disappointment considering how mouth watering it seemed when watching the show. youtube.com/watch?v=2seV… Bottom line ---- Don't believe the hype!!!
(2)
Mike C.
over salty eerything
(2)
Kristina C.
Had the fried chicken, 2 piece white meat. Super dry, hard to swallow. Way too much food. I will go back to try pie, didn't have any room for it.
(1)
Travellady T.
What can I say, a lot. The food is great! I have had the chicken, the beef, a couple of the pies, and never have I been disappointed. Ever. The staff is quick and friendly. It can get crowed, so be prepared. Stop by the market when you leave, you will be glad you did.
(4)
Anonymous A.
Always delicious! I come here frequently. Lee is a very good waitress who is always friendly. The line is definitely worth the wait
(5)
Harvey D.
I only went into the deli and purchased some yummy sweets so this is the only part of Yoder's that I can comment on. The deli was stocked with a lot of delicious desserts and it was hard to pick which ones I wanted to walk away with. I ended up with the buckeyes, pecan pie bars, chocolate whoopie pies and the oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut butter sugarless cookies. I have tried everything so far except the cookies and they have all been great.
(4)
L. W.
Wow! Best fried chicken I've ever had. Really ripe tomato slices and amazing fried okra as my sides. There was a long line but it moved quickly....totally worth a wait though. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)
Meagan S.
I've never had anything but good service here! They're food is always amazing. I made it a point to visit every time I'm in town. I also love their little gift shop and market next door.
(5)
Jessica W.
So delicious and efficient. Would definitely recommend fried chicken (obvi), chicken and dumplings, and mac and cheese. Great service!
(5)
Carey F.
I was really looking forward to eating here, but it really wasn't as good as I expected. It started when we arrived at the restaurant and had to line up for seating. The queue started outside and snaked back and forth once we were inside. It was extremely unpleasant, as there were lots of kids who were crying and fidgety and it just felt like a line at an amusement park. By the end of our experience, we felt like we'd been moved in, fed, and moved out as quickly as possible. I ordered the fried chicken, which was perfectly prepared and accompanied by large portion of mashed potatoes. Unfortunately the potatoes were drowned in flavorless white gravy. My husband and mother ordered roast beef and turkey respectively. They were each served a plate with a PILE of pulled meat, possibly a pound or more on each plate, with little to no seasoning and overcooked veggies on the side. It was extremely unappetizing and although my fried chicken was very good, the other two dishes looked and tasted pretty awful. We each got pie to go, which were good but didn't blow my mind! Overall, I enjoy an old-fashioned home-cooked meal more than anyone I know but I have to say this restaurant is definitely over-rated. On a more positive note, the fruit and vegetable market is definitely worth visiting. There is a broad selection, including items that are hard to find at most groceries, such as white sweet potatoes.
(3)
Deb C.
Fried chicken - very good but could've be a bit saltier. Potato cakes - really more of a doughy oniony pancake that kinda tasted like a hush puppy but without the crunch. They were bleh. Amish noodles - really needed both salt and pepper and even then they were not great. Baked apples - really good! Homemade bread - good! Apple butter - very good! Mashed potatoes - very good but chicken gravy was not good at all. Gravy was bland and very gelatinous. Service - Excellent. Atmosphere - very nice for this type of establishment. Prices - a bit high for this type of food. I got pie slices to go, so we'll see if they, at least, live up to all the hype.
(2)
Tom L.
My friend and I ordered from the walk-up window. I had banana cream pie, she had key lime pie. Banana cream was just ok... no bananas in the cream filling? Really mediocre. My friend said the key lime pie was very good. I tasted it, and thought it really tart. But, I guess that's how it's supposed to be? Coffee was TERRIBLE!!! Like water. And if you order decaf, make sure they bring you decaf. They brought me caffeinated, and I'm lucky I caught that mistake! And plan on waiting 15 minutes for your pie at the walk-up window.
(3)
Mikee N.
Cooking that is so good that you will think your grandmother is in the kitchen. Many flavors of pies too numerous to mention. Careful, one slice is a quarter of a pie. During the winter months the place is in full swing with tourists and a line trickles out the door. Well worth waiting in line.
(4)
Elijah K.
Ok this place has done a better job this round. Ordered the fried chicken and It was good this time. Tried the spaghetti and it was actually pretty darn good. Ordered the pie of course and there is nothing like it. I'm not big on crust but this pie is delicious. If for only pie, I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)
Melinda E.
Awesome food. We arrived at 330 pm on a Saturday and there already was a line out the door. It took an hour to get seated which went by fast. Met lots of people in line. Husband and I had the fried chicken which was not only HUGE, but It was cooked just right. I also got Harvard beets and corn cakes. Home made pies looked fantastic, but we were to full to get any. Take out available and was continually busy too. Still a line when we left. Next to the restaurant there is a little shop with jams, deli meat etc.. They also is a gift shop and a farmers market type shop. Definitely will go back.
(5)
Ayesha N.
A place that makes pies from scratch and have staff members that have the humility of angels from above is a great place in my books. I try to go at least once a year to this place and have friends who go on almost a pilgrimage to get a huge fresh pie to go. I recommend you try the fried chicken and save room for their cream pies which are my favorite (banana cream!) and their fruit pies (rhubarb anyone? Uh yes!) Put away your iPhones and just take in the greatness of this family owned place. If you need a recommendation of a pie to take home, the peanut butter pie is their best selling and with good reason!
(5)
Bruce M.
I have eaten @ yoders several times, was always pleased . This $60.00 takeout yesterday however was terrible. A whole chix ordered and all bloody, green beans seemed dumped from a can & unseasoned, and mac cheese was soup & bottom of the barrel quality. I did order the banana cream pie it was delicious, this is the only thing that saved a possible one star revue. I will post the outcome once i speak with them, personally....well to finish i just spoke with the mgr and the meal was taken care of which was nice but the replacement food terrible as well and the place after going to the head was like a truck stop, dirty, urine all over & hairy buggers all over the walls. Never again will i go here. Its a bunch of kids that dont care! Dont waist your time.....
(1)
Alex P.
The pie is amazing! We manage to get a couple slices of their pie once a week - it's that good. I've been here for breakfast as well and all of the menu offerings are spectacular and fresh tasting. Whenever we go for pie (around dinner time) there is a long wait to get inside, which must mean the dinner offerings are good as well. Yoder's is definitely a local gem.
(5)
Kelleigh M.
I love to stop at Yoder's when in the Sarasota area. Over the years they have expanded and now offer a produce stand and a market which features deli meats and cheeses. But the main reason I love stopping here is the peanut butter cream pie-oh my! Now mind you, it's not a dense pie, but instead almost pudding like with crunchy peanuts and creamy peanut butter. I believe it's their number 1 seller and if you try a slice you'll see why.
(4)
Melissa Q.
The food was fresh, nice and hot, and with VERY generous portions. I can't even begin to tell you how good their pies are...heaven on earth! Peanut butter pie is out of this world! Amish food is amazing and you will not be going home hungry!!! :)
(5)
James S.
A true to God gem. Super polite service, the best fried chicken I've ever eaten, and a peanut butter cream pie that was heavenly. Well worth the short wait to enter as we arrived at exactly lunch time. I legitimately can never eat friend chicken again knowing it will never match Yoder's. A+++++
(5)
JoAnn M.
Fast, on time, careful and hard working guys. Reasonably priced and we had a few laughs too. I would use them again. Thanks guys.
(5)
Roy P.
My rating is based strictly on their pies. Hands down, the best pies I've ever tasted. My personal favorite is their peanut butter pie, which is brought out on a little plate that can barely contain the enormity of the slice. The peanut butter isn't overwhelming, but you can definitely taste it - very smooth and creamy, and it's topped with more peanut butter crumbles which give it just enough texture. Their food on the other hand - not a fan, especially considering the insane wait. Run of the mill home made stuff that you can get just about anywhere. If you're just wanting a pie, head to the side walk up window and order there. Beats standing in line for over an hour.
(5)
Robin O.
We love Yoders. The Amish who run it are always very cheerful and friendly and service is fast and efficient. Their food is incredible! The homemade bread lighter than air, their apple butter, cinnamony delicious, excellent fried chicken, meatloaf made with their airy bread, country fried steak... If you like good old comfort food, then this is your place. And the PIES!!! We love all of them, but my daughter loved the Peanut Butter Pie the most. The portions are huge and our left overs/take home bag usually weighs 10lbs!
(5)
Tiffany D.
I dream about their peanut butter cream pie. I really pity those with nut allergies because this pie is the shizznit. I gladly skipped dinner for a hunk of this pie. My favorite part is the peanut butter crumble. It's like the filling in the Reese's pb cups but in powdered form. If I could, I would snort it. The pie keeps pretty well. It was in my presence for three days. I started to experiment with it and ate it with strawberries. OMFG . Do it. You will jizz your pants. Just grab a strawberry and scoop up some cream and pb blow and enjoy. Let the euphoria of Yoder's take over.
(5)
Marc S.
Amish food. I only come here for the pies! The pies are amazing, they have so many different types and they utterly luxurious heaping mounds of creamy pie. They have two types of pies: creamy and regular, or something like that. I've eaten several different types can't remember them all. Some kind of peanut butter or banana cream pie, the rhubarb pie is awesome. Get any of the pies in any flavors you won't be disappointed. These Amish do not play around with pie. Soo many flavors, all manner of fruits especially in the Dutch Pennyslvania vein, lots of berries and stuff. They do have a Key Lime Pie for our Florida sensibilities that i can imagine is quite scrumptious. It's a fabulous place and Sarasota should be proud to have it. These pies are the best thing the Dutch ever produced.
(5)
Julia F.
The pie was so amazing I was blown away! Don't leave yodels without ordering a piece of one of their pies. Heck! Order a whole pie!!
(5)
Tee W.
The desserts were delicious! The sweet cinnamon rolls were simply delicious! I've never tasted icing like that. The pumpkin pie with whipped cream was also amazing. As far as the other food goes, in my opinion it was simply OK. My wife loved it though. We went for breakfast one day and dinner another night. We were immediately seated for breakfast (4 people), but had to wait about an hour for dinner (7 people).The service both times was great. For breakfast my wife ordered pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with an orange juice. I ordered a sausage scrammble. The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious. I didn't care for my scramble though, as I didn't like the taste of the sausage, and the other ingredients were simply bland. When we returned for dinner, we finally got to try the fried chicken they are famous for. Personally I didn't get all the hype. While the chicken was very tender, I thought it too was bland, as were the side dishes we ordered (mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, mac and cheese). The fried okra and hot apples were good though. I wish I knew they had brown gravy though, as I would have ordered that. My wife can't wait to go back, were as I would rather go somewhere else. When we do go back, I think I'll just be ordering desserts for my main dish.
(3)
Benjamin M.
For the first seven years of my life, my family lived way out in rural Kentucky next to a family of Mennonites. I spent countless hours playing with a million Yoder kids. But--here's my confession--there is one part of those seven years that really stands out: THE FOOD! Yes, the Yoders from my childhood made the BEST homemade food I've ever had. Their cinnamon rolls were impossibly delicious. Last Saturday, I made drive down to Yoder's Restaurant to see if its food could measure up with that legendary food of my childhood. And the verdict? ... *ten seconds of a dramatic drum roll* YES!! Yoder's Restaurant is AMAZING!!! I ate breakfast at Yoder's with a group of five friends. All of us LOVED Yoder's and are already talking about when we can return. I ordered the Amish scramble which is a big papa-sized portion of two scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage (or ham or bacon), and spices all perfectly mixed together, smothered with plenty of your choice of cheese (sharp cheddar for me), and served with your choice of bread. Hands down one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. One of my friends ordered the Apple Fritter French Toast. She shared some of it with me, and I was blown away. This is definitely what I'll order if I return for breakfast. Imagine the best apple bread ever made... stuffed with fresh, soft apples... and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with hot syrup. Ah. Man. Amish people know how to do it. Small side note: the strawberry OJ is really good! Try it. The interior is wonderfully decorated with homey things and Amish-y items. It's nothing fancy at all--but, hey, that would be weird and wrong if it WAS a fancy Amish restaurant. Be sure to walk around outside after your meal. There is an awesome mural on the side of the market building and also some life-size cutouts of Amish people that cleverly connect to the mural. It's difficult to explain the awesomeness of Yoder's... so that means you should just go check it out yourself!
(5)
Amber M.
The only reason for not giving it a 5 was because their deep fryer was being used on Friday night for the catfish.My fried chicken was pan fried and not very good.Everything else was excellent though including the dessert.They also need a bigger parking lot lol
(4)
Jeanna L.
I love this place..I live close and this is where I get my produce, forget about thr grocery store produce. Its like stepping into the early 1900's market. Real good food. Don't miss the meat market next door. Or the pie next door the other way at Yoders restaurant.
(5)
Candido R.
Good wholesome food. Reminds me of old fashioned home cooking. A bit pricy for what you get.
(4)
Todd A.
This was my second trip. Perhaps eating at the original Mary Yoders in Ohio has influenced my perception, but I was not as impressed this second go round. I ate breakfast and lunch on this trip. The French toast was average but the coffee was smooth. At 8:30 am, the restaurant was empty. At 1:30 for lunch, there was about a fifteen minute wait. The roast beef Manhattan was OK. It was served in less than five minutes of ordering. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant and the gravy was very gelatinous. Unfortunately for the guests, their popularity has forced them to put quantity over quality.
(3)
Joanne E.
Shoofly pie, oh my. All the food is good, comfort food, home-cooked style. But really, the shoofly pie, oh my.
(5)
Axis S.
It's an institution. Comfort food, values preserved over a century, huge portions for a fair price and definitely where you go if you like pies or cakes for dessert. Families scattered all over the place, food sharing, styrofoam boxes being lugged out and people paying almost $20 for a pie to take home... So we waited in line, got placed in a booth, and ordered the chicken and a few sides. Shoulda saved room for dessert, maybe I'd get to 3 stars then. Maybe I'm too used to spicier foods, or it's been too long since I've been to the Yoders outside Perry, Georgia, where I first encountered Mennonite cooking, and memory has painted a better picture than what was there. Alice Waters' influence has a generation of cooks now able to do simple food incredibly well, and farm-to-table is an excellent culinary movement. I think this place does a brisk trade on memories and being an institution, but tasted critically this Yoder's left me wanting and reaching for condiments. Decent, but not superlative.
(2)
Brandon S.
Some good home cooking. Have not had that in awhile, so came and had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and fried okra...mmmmm mmmmm This is an Amish place and the line was out the door from all walks of life. I recommend.
(4)
Sage M.
This place is absolutely one of the best places I've ever eaten! Thats saying allot food is my favorite! Don't be thrown off by the line that goes way out the door. There's a reason for it and they move so fast you'll be inside and sat in no time at all! Once we were sat it took longer to look threw their extensive menu than to receive our food! And don't get me started on their pie options! I had the veil Parmesan (my first time with veil, figured I needed to try it once) with a side of spaghetti and garlic bread and the option of 20 other sides! I went with corn cakes! AMAZING! Each table had fresh cream. homemade apple butter and you receive fresh bread when your sat! They have a mint sweet tea that is a must try! I also tried the rest of my family's meals which were just as good! They include a corn chowder that was too die for, fried okra, onion rings, chicken fried steak, chicken strips, and a blue cheese salad (which I don't usually like) it was all perfection! And from order, freshly cooked and on our table in around 10 minutes! We also left with left overs from each meal, the double blueberry pie, key lime pie, and chocolate cream pie (all of which were huge) to go because we were too full to eat one more bite! All of which cost under $50 there was 4 of us with dessert and I had veil!!! I just can't say enough how great this place is! Now if I can only get them to put one up in the country in California where I live!
(5)
Helene O.
Excellent fried chicken and amazing pies. The chocolate peanut butter pie is creamy and decadent--a must try. The chicken stuffing (smothered with gravy) is my favorite side and the potatoes and okra are really good too. The complimentary bread is fresh, soft and goes really well with the apple butter on the table. Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota and I stop by every time I'm in town. The food is always fresh and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. $5.50 will get you a tasty jar of apple butter to take home...yum!
(4)
Erika T.
After hearing for so long how great this place is, we finally got to try it last weekend. We got there around 2:00 and there was still quite a long line. We waited about 25 mins, which really wasn't that bad. I ordered the Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and mac n cheese. The portions were huge and plenty of food. However, I'm not sure Yoder's knows what a salt shaker is! The chicken HAD ABSOLUTELY NO flavor! Sad to say but Publix has better fried chicken. I don't get the hype! My husband ordered the Pulled Pork and that was pretty good, I wished that I had ordered that instead of the chicken. We ordered some pie to go. I got the Banana Cream Pie and it was about 25% banana cream filling and 75% whipped topping! I want pie, not whipped topping!!! And, I didn't care for the taste of the crust. Sorry but I don't see myself rushing back to go here. I don't see why the hype and long lines to get in this place!
(2)
Dwayne H.
Absolutely LOVE coming to Yoder's as this place is the ONLY true Amish cooking available in Sarasota! Yoder's is authentic Amish cooking and unlike the oversteamed and dried out cheap canned foods "Amish Style" buffet place up the street (yes, I have eaten there on more than one occasion and have been let down everytime), I have yet to leave Yoder's feeling underwhelmed of the kitchen's cooking! Service has always been met with a friendly smile and although the place is small, it is kept VERY clean and well organized to fulfill the masses that come through the doors. For those who have never tried Yoder's I will simply state, " SKIP the big fancy buffet wannabe up the street and come home to REAL Amish cuisine that is Yoder's!" There is nothing else comparable in Sarasota and they will forever be the BEST choice for Amish foods for me.
(5)
Shawn V.
for a mom and pop place this is definitely the best that it gets the pies are awesome the fried chicken is great and oh my the beef noodles rock...
(5)
Michael C.
Great home cooking. Huge portions. I was hungry and ordered a small barbecue pork and it was perfect. A large could feed two and have some left to take home. While the food is good, the real story here are the pies. Home made, piled high, and a slice is about a quarter of the pie tin. All that we tried--fruit or cream based--are delicious.
(4)
Mike S.
A long-time family favorite, and still considered best of the bunch of Amish/Mennonite/Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in Sarasota. Sarasota is an odd amalgam of settlers.....lots of artsy/richy snowbirds, regular folks to serve their needs and a colony of transplanted farmers from the Mennonite belt. Yoder's generally caters to the second 2 groups, who have large appetites, plain tastes and tolerance of massive doses of fats, carbs & calories. Come and eat like a celery farmer, and notice some of the locals riding 3-wheel bikes and wearing "plain clothes" looking like extras from the set of "Witness." Yoders offers comfort food at all meals and all forms, from hearty country breakfasts/biscuits, to their renowned fried chicken, overcooked veggies, wonderful on-site bread, ample butter for everything, finishing with their popular cream and fruit pies. Service is competent & friendly and you may have to wait for a table at noon and dinner rush hours. Forget getting any beer, wine, liquor or other devil's beverages, but caloric binging is permitted and facilitated.
(4)
Patsy T.
Love the Friday all you can eat fish lunches!!
(5)
John H.
Friends told us about Yoder's from Man v. Food episode on the Travel Channel. Also, watch Man v. Food and decided to try on out visit to Lido Key. Very nice place, went a lunch time midweek, no wait. Had the Fried Chicken and Turkey Manhattan (open face sandwich), both meals were very good. Also, tried the apple butter on the homemade bread, fantastic! Had the pineapple cream & raspberry pie samplers, awesome!
(4)
Daren Y.
I saw this on Man vs Food and decided that I had to visit. Especially since I've heard how good the food is from locals of Sarasota. This cute little restaurant/shop complex is out in the residential area in the outer limits of Sarasota. Parking can be crowded but we were able to pull right in around 2pm on a weekday. From the outside, it looks like a quaint mom and pop place. Painted wooden structure with a fenced in area for people to hang out, a building with fresh produce and another building that is the restaurant proper. The three of us were greeted and seated right away. The dining area is kind of small, but there is plenty of room between tables. Country decor obviously. It was surprisingly quiet even though almost all the tables were occupied. Very pleasant waitress. We ordered and shortly thereafter we were given a stack of Amish bread, upon which we squirted their apple jelly (or whatever you call that stuff... tasted like liquid apple pie!) and it was delicious. The food came after about 10 minutes, which was pretty quick considering the nearly full house. I ordered the shepherd's pie with Amish potato cakes and corn muffins. My fiancee got their fried chicken (I told her to order half a chicken so I could eat some too!) with potato pancakes and broccoli. My friend got a quarter chicken, potato pancakes, and something else. I thought the shepherd's pie was ok, nothing really stood out to me. There was very little seasoning but a lot of saltiness. I wasn't particularly impressed. However, the potato cakes were phenomenal, as were the corn muffins (one of the softest and moistest I've ever had!). The fried chicken is a must have. If you have never eaten here, you MUST get the fried chicken. Whenever I order fried chicken, I usually peel off about 75% of the breading. However, I definitely ate the entire thing this time. It was that good. I'm not exactly a huge fried chicken person either, but this was absolutely delicious. Truly one of the best examples of fried chicken I've ever had. And of course, dessert. We ordered a Florida Key Lime pie and the peanut butter cream pie (the one they showed on MvF). I honestly couldn't decide which I liked better. Normally I'm more of a citrus type of guy, digging the lemon meringue and key lime, but I really couldn't decide on this. Both were fantastic. The service was very good. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She kept my water filled. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here (as did my fiancee) and we would come back again. Review is for a solid 4 stars.
(4)
Jack B.
We had heard about Yoder's Amish restaurant for years but had never been. Today was the day. Great home style cooking. Everything e ordered was well prepared, tasty and hot when served. The best fried okra I have ever eaten. Pies to die for, any of them. Staff was friendly, pleasant and helpful. She even bragged on her bosses as to what fine people they were and this came unsolicited. My wife suggested we just stay for breakfast. Give them a try you will leave full and happy with enough leftovers for another meal.
(5)
Taryn C.
Delicious, home cooked meals. The best cinnamon buns you will ever have. The best pies you will ever have. All of the staff are friendly and have never had bad service. The wait times can be long at times, but that's because this place is so freaking good.
(5)
Tiffany H.
This is probably the best place in Sarasota, and possibly all of Tampa Bay for a pie/cake-induced diabetic coma. My favorite pie? It's a toss-up between peanut butter and butterscotch, but then again I haven't had all of them. Yet. I also dig the lemon whoopie pies from the little deli/bakery. I've also picked up yogurt covered graham crackers, dried pineapple, and some other stuff that should only ever be a "once in a while" snack lest I triple in size. Now, about the restaurant. I've had dinner here a few times. I always try to go earlier (like 4pm) rather than later because the line can get long and I'm of the impatient variety. They also won't seat you if your entire party isn't there (though they did bend this rule for me when they were slow because I was waiting for friends with a baby). The employees are very friendly, that's a definite. I've ended up with fried chicken more often than not (and I'm not really big on it normally) and often have to pack some of it up to take it home. The downside is many of their sides (like the green beans) are canned. I know it's to keep costs down, but it would be awesome if fresh veggies were an option. So once you get through dinner, you can't leave without pie. If you had to pick between pie and actually eating, you should still pick pie. A slice of pie is enough for two people. One slice for me is good for three days. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I live an hour away! On the one hand I would get through their pie menu faster, and on the other I would need to buy larger pants.
(4)
Never Shovel Sno W.
leaving this review after my second visit ... The first time we stopped going north about 2 years ago - it was okay so we thought this time going south on the way home we would stop again ... Memorial Day 11:00 A,M, - waited about 20 - 25 minutes for a table ... We were asked if we were eating breakfast or lunch - lunch for us ... Seated, drink order taken, food order taken with an explanation that it may take a few extra minutes because the kitchen is switching from breakfast to lunch ... okay no problem - right ... Nothing difficult ordered ... well 40 minutes later, with tables all around us seated after us and served lunch items - i wasn't happy ... The food was okay ... chili was hot and tasty, turkey bacon melt sandwich good, chicken salad just so so we finished our meal and when paying the check I let the manager know of my dissatisfaction with the wait on the food ... to me she seemed quite aloof with an I don't give a sh...t attitude ... I am not familiar with the Sarasota area this place is located in - maybe it's the only game in town as the line is ridiculous ... I'll tell ya - I wouldn't wait an hour for this ... The do have a decent produce market next to the restaurant with fresh fruit and veges - decent prices ... not sure if I would return
(2)
Kelli L.
Great home cookin' at very reasonable prices! I always get the country fried steak with mashed potatoes & mac-n-cheese and it is just perfect! Their homemade bread and apple butter they bring out to every table is delicious too! My husband really likes their fried chicken and he loves the Amish noodles. We have tried several different pies, but my favorite is the Strawberry. Super fresh and both sweet and tart all in one. My husband likes to go on Wednesday's to get their lemon meringue. You can get a great, large meal for pretty cheap but be prepared to wait in line. And make sure you get there before 8pm.
(5)
nancy h.
I have heard about Yoder's for years,especially the pies. We finally made a trip for some dessert pie. They look beautiful I the case, we had trouble deciding whic to try. I asked about the favorites, best sellers,asked if the blueberry pie had lots berries or was more gel. We were told it was way more berries, pure deliciousness. We ordered a blueberry pie a la mode and a key lime pie. They arrived looking picture perfect. Took a bite, then another and looked at each other- what kook aide was everyone drinking. The pie has no flavor! The blueberry pie had one blueberry! Our server came and looked at it,agreed and brought us a chocolate peanut butter slice, one of the most popular. Hmmm, we took a bite, again, thought it was flavorless, but appealing to look at. We can check Yoder's off of our list. It was awful.
(1)
JP H.
This place is simply badass! Lots of parking but we warned this place gets packed fast and stays packed through out the day. Amazing Amish Desserts! Need I say more?!? Well I will! Banana Cream Pie and Vanilla Custard ftw! We will be coming back here whenever we are in Sarasota. We are from NYC and own a place in Orlando.
(5)
Molly K.
Absolutely delicious. We came here for lunch one day (best chicken tenders I've ever eaten) and breakfast later in the week. For breakfast, my boyfriend got the biscuits and gravy. Just one biscuit was HUGE and the gravy was to die for. The bacon tomato avocado skillet was delicious. Orange juice was fresh and scrumptious. We would recommend this place to everyone!!
(5)
JEREMY G.
If you like home made food loaded with butter then this is your nirvana. The quality was exceptional but the calorie and grease content was high as well. Along with this there is limited seating and parking. If you can Handle all of this though you will be able to enjoy some great food.
(4)
Lynn P.
This place is great. Have the chicken taste great and the breast is about the size of your head. I split a half a chic with my doughter. It was more then enough for us
(5)
Jay F.
I am going to make this short....I have been here a lot over the years. no matter when I have gone there has always been a line out the door. Don't be discouraged when you see the like it moves quickly. It is most defiantly worth the wait. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for. Also the roast beef manhattan and the pulled pork BBQ all to die for. Also the fresh made pies just melt in your mouth
(5)
Jordan T.
Are you kidding me?! That is the best peanut butter cream pie ive ever had. The banana cream was good but it wasnt sweet enough, so it wasnt what I was expecting. I was thinking banana cream flavor like pudding but it was decent. The key lime was okay but nothing special. If you go here I'd definitely order the peanut butter cream or the chocolate peanut butter. The peanut butter cream made me overlook the others.
(4)
Ben M.
I'm giving Yoder's a good review recommendation, because it is better overall than the many area rotten restaurants, and I believe a person could get better items on the menu than we were stuck with. The dining experience is really a mixed bag of good and bad. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. The severs are attentive and pleasant and not too annoying. The air in there is cool and fresh. The place was very busy when we went there, it has a good following, and lots of fat people eat there (and fat servers serve the food). There is a problem with the seating. Like most places with booths, the seats are too low and the table too high. The non-booth tables are low and not so far higher than the seats, but the seats are uncomfortably low, and uncushioned flat wood. It's like spending an hour eating while sitting on a flat board with a back on it. They also cram four chairs around a table the size for two patrons, so the table leg's base is in your way. The icewater is regular municipal tap water and has a bad taste. They served real butter, but with a cottony tasteless bread. The apple butter on the table was so sweet it was inedible for someone not accustomed to massive amounts of sugar. The entree servings are big, but big is not necessarily a good value. My fellow diner got the smoked chicken dinner, which was burned and dry. A dry bland piece of garlic toast came with it, which was only useful as a sponge to soak up some spilled water. Her baked potato seemed okay, but the side of apples was mushy bad-tasting food-service glop. I ordered the liver and onions dinner. The liver was burned, and thus the liver was blackened shoe-sole leather. The caramelized onions were partly raw, and the bacon was obviously not fresh-cooked. The fat on it was hard, cold and stiff, as if it had been pre-cooked quite a long time ago. The coleslaw was fresh and tasty and there was a lot of it. But, the blob of stuffing was just a gummy tasteless breadball with a covering of cheap salty food-service gravy-goo. Having not eaten everything, we ordered desserts. My plain cheesecake was a good size, fresh and rich. Her peanut butter pie was, however, a shapeless, loose, wet sloppy mess. It tasted good enough, but the texture was kind of yecchy. When it's busy, the chatter and the people bumping into you as they navigate through the aisles can start to really be annoying, so shovel your food in quickly. We didn't reject our overcooked food, because a cook that burns food is hopeless. I think there are items on the menu that they probably can do right, like sandwiches, but it seems a lot of what they have is low-grade food service pre-frozen stuff on a par with a "tv dinner".
(3)
Cassie M.
What a cute little place! The fried chicken is to die for. Great place if you want some home cooking! The pies all look amazing...I didn't have any but my friend had the chocolate peanut butter and said it was delicious...the pieces are huge. Definitely shareable...good luck agreeing on the same one though!
(4)
Ericka M.
Can I rate this over 5? Seriously though, I cannot rate this place high enough. We made the trip from Altamonte Springs to Sarasota because I had not heard enough good things about Yoder's. I was really hope it wouldn't be in vain. Oh man. It. Was. Amazing. Omg. I just can't. There was 3 of us and we just split 3 meals and went to town. Best idea i've had in a long time. Amazing. The inside is very crowded for the crowds they get but I didn't even care. I would climb stairs for this place if they asked me to. The portions are HUGE, the mashed potatoes are so creamy.... It was just a really great time. I did get pie (raspberry cream) and I couldn't believe how good it was. Man. I wanted to get some deli items/produce but that just means I can take another trip :D
(5)
Edward D.
In my experience, the TV food restaurants rarely live up to the hype. Yoders met my expectations half way. I had the famous fried chicken. While cooked to perfection, the pieces were too large for my liking and the coating was bland with no kick at all. I had the coconut cream pie which was excellent. It's worth a stop, but I would try something else on the menu for my main course.
(3)
Rob W.
The food is good, home made fare. All the menu items to me are just entrees for the main course, pie. They just make fabulous homemade pies here and they are always the focal point of the meal. The Amish vibe is very cool as well.
(3)
Adrian M.
OK, this would be more start if you know Amish food or Midwestern home cooked food and expect it. It is bland, bland. So the 2 stars reflect our enjoyment of the food. If you like that style, you might rate it higher. We went on the strength of people raving about the pie and fried chicken. A very popular place, with a 20 min wait at 3pm on a Friday afternoon. It has a lot of character, a lot of the worker were Amish and it is in an Amish community so interesting and fun to visit. Te fried chicken was very moist, and huge, but bland. My daughter got meatloaf, which was bland with bland gravy. Sides were very plain. Standout was the corn muffins which were excellent. And of course we had the pie. The egg custard pie was right on the mark p. the famous chocolate peanut butter pie was outstanding. The baked raspberry pie was meh, more like raspberry jam than raspberry pie. THe crust was not very good.
(2)
Jason L.
The best pie in the world. One of my earliest memories was eating Yoder's peanut butter pie as a kid, and I got the chance to go back there this past year (29 years later[!]) and I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I remembered it. My brother got the butterscotch and it was amazing as well.
(5)
George R.
We love Yoder's!! The fried chicken, the apple butter, the brown gravy, and OF COURSE the desserts! We live in Orlando and actually contemplated driving the 2 hours south just for lunch...it's THAT good. Staff is friendly and service is always fast. Will definitely return over and over!!
(5)
Larry H.
Fruit pies have too much gelatin and not enough fruit. Not enough breading on fried chicken.
(3)
Ryan S.
This place is pretty cool. Its deff old school and makes you feel like your in grandmas kitchen. My only dissapointment was they were out of the dutch apple crumb pie id been looking forward to. The rest of my party got fried chicken and all said it was amazing. I got country fried steak and while good wasnt the best ive ever had. The potato pancakes and mash and gravy were very good. Tried the pumpkin cream pie and the peanut butter pie both were good. Got cinnamon sweet rolls to go and they were very tasty beware they are huge and loaded with icing lol.
(4)
Dawn A.
4 stars for Holy cow....if you are looking for a home cooked meal like no other...look no further. I've first heard of Yoder's through my parents who travel to Sarasota often and was glad I finally got to go. First off I read through Yelp reviews that the baked chicken was where it's at, so I had to order it! It was a quarter chicken with 2 sides, I went with fries and warm fried apples. Before your meal is served, they give you just about a half loaf of bread for an appetizer with butter, like your meal wasn't enough. But since I was warned beforehand I knew the meal would be large. And large and in charge it was! It could easily be 3 meals for me! My husband ordered the pork bbq with fries and mac and cheese. Hello comfort food! All in all, it was a great experience, we did have a little bit of a wait during the lunch hour, but the waitress was quick to refill our drinks and asked how we were. And if the main meal wasn't enough they also have a large section of pies...famous for them. So we had to get the peanut butter pie to-go. Also, if you have time go to their Market area, which is right next door to the restaurant. So many good looking fruits/veggie items, as well as other nuts, honey and sweets. My only critique was the bathrooms were a bit small and i felt like the tables throughout the restaurant were a bit crammed in space.
(4)
Brian C.
Starting with fresh made bread and apple butter, it all went to (insert euphemism for declining quality) after that. Meatloaf was gelatinous and perfectly square on the edges, like it came out of a can. It tasted like it came out of a can. The smoked barbecue chicken was dry. The fried chicken was dry. The side dishes deserve a great big "meh" and every fat person in Sarasota bumped into our table, how appetizing.
(2)
Laurel A.
Second trip here and OMG Amazing!! If you've never been here, I highly recommend it. Went Saturday June 13, 2015, what a great start to my vacation. The cinnamon roll is amazing. Stopped in their deli and market this trip and the produce is awesome and the prices are even better, 6 ears of corn for $1.98, Huge seedless watermelons for $2.99. My daughter and her friend picked up produce to and everything was very good. Today was the last day of my vacation and my daughter is in love with their hummus and I've been wanting to try the Amish noodles, picked up a container for $1.88 to try at home for dinner and was not disappointed. Perfect portion and amazing price. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Sarah O.
Pro's: food, fried chicken is amazing, pies, peanut butter is the best, service (mostly Amish women) incredibly polite and patient, fast service, with any wait, line moves fast, all you can eat apple butter. Con's: none
(5)
Marie L.
This place is popular for good reason. Amazing food and fantastic desserts at a great price! I've been to Yoder's three times so far, and always make a trip over whenever I'm visiting family in Florida. The parking can be tight and you'll most likely have to wait for a table, but it's all worth it! On my most recent trip, my boyfriend and I shared their famous fried chicken with your choice of two sides. Cooked to perfection every time, crispy and tender. And of course it's huge! We ate our fill and still had plenty to bring home for sandwiches later. I always ask for extra chicken gravy too because it's soooo delicious. The first time I ordered the side of mashed potatoes with gravy, I didn't understand why the gravy was cream colored, but I thought it tasted insanely good. It turns out their gravy is homemade with real chicken stock. Have you ever eaten REAL gravy before? It puts any powdered or jarred "gravy" garbage to shame. I've eaten the meatloaf at Yoder's before too and it was just as delicious as the fried chicken. That side of mashed potatoes came with beef gravy, which again was phenomenal. I love that they serve you fresh food everyday with a great selection of sides to choose from. Of course mashed potatoes are pure comfort food, but they also offer awesome sides like fried okra, chicken stuffing, fresh vegetables and much more. I haven't even gotten to dessert yet, but I only have one word for you all... PIE! Yoder's makes the best pies on this side of the country (in my humble opinion) and there are so many delicious favors to choose from! I always get the same one, their chocolate peanut butter cream pie. I dream about this pie at home in NY. It's a perfect flavor combination of Reese's and fluffy cream pie all in one! I love the chopped peanuts added in for crunch and the incredible homemade whipped cream they pile on top. If you didn't save room for a full piece, you can get a "pie taster" for $2.50. It's a small, sweet bite to finish off an awesome meal. You can always buy an 8 or 10 inch pie to bring home, as well. If I have Florida family coming up to visit, I always beg them to bring me up a Yoder's pie to savor for as long as I possibly can... Usually about 3-5 days. It's that damn good!! Yoder's is one of those restaurants that actually lives up to the hype. My family first heard about it on Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Food, so I'm forever thankful to them for showing me the light. It's a restaurant you MUST MUST MUST enjoy at least once in your life. Otherwise, you truly don't know about the incredible food and pies you're missing out on. Stop by Yoder's the next time you're in/near Sarasota and I promise you'll be back for more.
(5)
Mick M.
All time favorite for several years. Pick anything on menu and it will be fantastic. Traditional good home cooking and outstanding pies, always served with a smile. You can never wrong here. Come early on holidays, the line is out the door.
(5)
Diana A.
I drive from tampa to buy my mom these pies! So that in itself should say it all. The staff is beyond friendly and very clean location. I like to buy the whole pie and when I get there there usually sold out of most, so last time I was lucky and got the strawberry pie which is universally my moms favorite, and this one has been her favorite by far. I got a pie that was a triple berry (don't quote me on the name of the pie lol). I honestly picked it because it was literally the last whole pie they had to sell. When I tasted it I was in love . I am not a sweets person but I loved both pies. This place is worth the drive.
(5)
Kelly L.
Want to take a walk back in time? Come on down to Yoders! We didn't eat at the restaurant but we did check out the market. They had everything! I ended up with artichokes, pink lady apples, hand churn butter, local eggs, Amish cheese and rambutan! I love those spiky Asian fruits and they are hard to find. They also had fresh breads, jams, local honey, and plenty of other goodies. It was my mom's birthday so we decided to grab a pie or cake from their bakery to take home. We went with the oatmeal cake which doesn't sound that interesting, right? WRONG. It had a crispy coconut-y caramel topping that was TO DIE FOR. It was one of those moments that was almost spiritual. I can't wait to come back and try the restaurant.
(4)
Robert N.
The Food Network got me again. I came in for the "Legendary" fried chicken. The chicken was the very opposite of impressive. Underseasoned. The skin was not crisp: no snap as we are all hunting for when we seek to indulge in fried chicken. The sides were very 1970's American diner : uninspired and devoid of seasoning. The gravy really struck me like it was from a giant tin can, if it was actually made on site shame on them. Great gravy can be found at Made and Sun Garden Cafe. Great fried chicken at Shore Diner, hell even Publix offers better fried chicken than yoder's. Don't believe for a minute that large portions make a meal worth eating.....dine elsewhere if you like food.
(1)
Tiffany E.
We came here with friends and were blown away. First of all these are the biggest portions i have ever seen. I ordered roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing. I ate 1/4 of it. Also save room for dessert because the pnut butter pie is amazing. The portions are huge prices are cheap and food is fresh!
(5)
Thomas A.
I'm not going to wax poetic on a place with 400 almost-exclusively positive reviews already...you get the drift, this place rocks. I was not disappointed in a single aspect of the meal (food, service, etc). Just fantastic. Chicken, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, onion rings, pie...all made well and with real ingredients. Biggest tip - Be prepared to wait outside in the heat for 20-45 minutes depending on the crowd level.
(5)
Nienna N.
Yoder's is always fabulous. Real traditional food like they made on the farm. Not haute cuisine just natural flavor
(5)
Duane D.
We came out of our way to try Yoders, which many of our friends rave about. Yoders is a smallish Amish restaurant a few miles off the Interstate. With a few Amish-themed exceptions, the menu is much like a Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel restaurant. It can be crowded. On a Friday night we waited about 30 minutes for a table for 2. I found the food to be good and the prices to be low. That being said, I don't understand all of the hype that has some people driving 50 miles to get here. It is good, and I will eat here again when I am in the area if the wait is reasonable--but it's not quite up to all the over-the-top hype.
(4)
Elena W.
Starting with the fresh made bread, it was a good sign of things to come. The food was just that! Croissant tuna sammy, croissant chicken salad sammy, & country fried steak. You heard that right, sammies on croissants. Not too buttery, not too flaky... Perfect for holding all that yummy goodness. Did I mention the French fries? For the love of all things holy, they were amazing!! Perfectly crisp, not soggy, and not too well done. Add some salt, and your taste buds will sing a heavenly song (when in Amish country, it's only fitting). Onto dessert, Florida key lime pie, best chocolate cake, and choc/peanut butter pie... Where to start? Key lime pie had a creamy yet tart taste; the kind that hits you at the end (like a fine wine). The chocolate cake, oh my oh my!!! The frosting alone is worthy of high praise. The cake was good, but the frosting was so delicious that you couldn't compare it to the cake. Now for the choc/PB pie... Layer after layer with chunks of peanuts, smooth chocolate goodness, and a perfect crust. What's not to love?? All in all, any negative comments you read about the food, chalk them up to yuppies that are used to $30 dinners. As for the service, yes it can be a bit slow, but their friendliness & food make up for it. They stay pretty busy, so don't go if you have less than an hour to grab lunch and get back to the office. I'd recommend takeout and get on with your life. All in all, we left happy, stuffed & with doggie bags. Man vs Food was spot on. Not to mention, I'm a pretty picky person.
(5)
Robbie C.
Yoders is a tourist attraction in the middle of an Amish community in Sarasota. As such, there is always a line out the door so be prepared to wait. The ambiance is diner like and the food is comfort type foods. I ordered the salmon which goes against what they are known for. It is a huge piece of salmon and came with a plastic cup of dill sauce. Not the best I have had and am always turned off by plastic but wasn't the worst either. The dish comes with two sides and I enjoyed the Mac n cheese. Asked our server if green beans were fresh or canned and was really surprised when she told me they are canned. Yuck! Especially when they have a real nice farmers market with fresh produce next door. So instead a got a salad which was pretty plain. When several in my party asked for bread before their meal, they were served plain white bread? We waited in line for this? So we did get a peanut butter pie to share between 4 of us, plenty to share and this was definitely the star of the show. They do have an outdoor takeout so would opt for this and get the pie. The farmers market is definitely worth a visit.
(3)
Abigail T.
I love them. Great American food. Had the pot roast today. Awesome. Brought home woopie pies delicious. They give large portions. Enjoy
(5)
Agi M.
The pie alone will change your life. Pick your favorite flavor (apple is mine!) and enjoy your slice of heaven! Fried chicken is also divine, don't try being healthy...get the dark meat and indulge.
(5)
Dianna B.
Since I had a wild hair, we decided to make the 90 minute trek down to Sarasota and try out Yoder's for a change. I've lived here nearly all my life and I've never, ever been to Yoder's. So what the heck, Road Trip it is! The drive down was uneventful, and finding it was pretty easy. Parking however, was... not so easy. The parking lot out front makes it appear as if the place only has 7 spots, it's a quirky little jag that lets you see the lot behind. We were fortunate that there were several spots behind that were open. As we'd been warned, there was a line that nearly wrapped all the way around the building, but that's OK, the weather was comfortable, the people infront and in back of us were pleasant and we made the best of it. All in all we were in line for about 45 minutes before we finally made it through the doors and into the inside portion of the restauraunt. After 5 more minutes, we were finally taken to our seat. Our waitress was friendly and very busy, her section seemed to consist of about 7 tables and she was able to handle each with aplomb and a smile. The menu contains down home favorites like Meat Loaf, Fried chicken and chicken liver, which is apparently quite popular among the locals. While we perused the menu, we were delivered a plate of bread, home made - and served with butter and fresh apple butter which was quite tasty. We placed our order: We'd decided each of us would order something different, so we could share. I opted for the 1/2 chicken all white meat with Mashed Potatoes and Macaroni & Cheese. My husband ordered the Meat Loaf with fried okra and corn cakes. The food came out quick, and it was easy to see that the chicken is made in huge batches. Some is very tender and juicy, other bits are dry. What can you do? The mashed potatoes were not from scratch, and the Macaroni & cheese, it was good, but institutional? The meat loaf was tasty, the okra, My husband said it was delicious, and the corncakes... odd but good. We ordered dessert too, I got their Famous Peanut butter Pie - it was good, but the dried Peanut butter on top confused me. It was unlike any peanut butter pie I'd had before. Too sweet and not rich enough for me. The husband had the Key Lime (Traditional) and loved it. We had unsweet tea and Mint tea (OMG! LOVE!) Over all, it's a solid place, Not bad in the least. I felt the chicken could have used a bit of salt in their mix, but that's about it. I'd come back. I loved the homey decor.
(3)
Jessica C.
This place is always on my must do list while is Sarasota! The line for a table is almost always out the door but the wait is worth it. I highly recommend that at least one person at your table gets the fried chicken, which comes in a half chicken and quarter chicken size. Trust me unless you can put away a lot and I mean A LOT of food get the quarter chicken size, it will be more than enough. It has to be some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. I also really enjoy the garlic chicken, very juicy and full of garlic flavor. And of course you need to get a slice of pie before you leave. You can even order a whole pie to go (which we do everytime!)
(5)
Rachel M.
Yoder's is a pretty cool place. It's not only a restaurant, but it actually occupies a pretty good sized block on the street. It consists of an Amish Gift Shop with different types of knick knacks, as well as things such as little girl's Amish formal wear. It also has its own restaurant, carry out window, picnic tables to eat outside with your doggie. In addition, you can take pics of a statue of Amish people and their horse and buggy, and a cool artistic mural. There is also a produce store, and a store that sells groceries, pies, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and any other goods that you may want to find that the Amish may use, or make. We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant. There is a long line that can wrap around the outside, so you may want to come early, or see if you can make reservations. I am not sure if that is the case. I did pick up a few items at the store including a quiche, chicken pot pie, one of their dessert bars, some passion fruit jam, and some fruit. I also bought some cute little bracelets at their Amish Gift Shop. Their food items: Egg and Ham Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, and the dessert bars were definitely out of this world, and I will definitely have to go back for them, and more. This is definitely not only an eating experience, but an all-around experience that one should check out. It's delicious and a great learning experience.
(5)
Don M.
Do not believe the hype. Cracker Barrel style food but Cracker Barrel has better food. Big portions but without the care and time spent you might expect from an Amish restaurant.
(1)
Greg C.
This is one of Sarasota's Amish restaurants. I arrived there with my in law's and got there at 4:15pm. I know what your thinking, "them old people eat early". Got seated and was greeted right away by our server. Within 15 minutes the line to come in was out the door. Very popular place visited by local Amish, tourists and locals. I had the Manhattan(a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy and veggies.) Great tasting sandwich with the roast beef being chunks of pot roast. You will not leave hungry from this place. They are famous for the fried chicken and amazing pies. Give it a try, you will not be sorry.
(4)
Chris H.
Yoder's came very highly recommended, so while we were in Siesta Keys we decided to stop by and take a look at the restaurant. First, the parking was packed, which is always a good sign. We then sat down and started figuring out our meals. Yoder's was featured on Man Vs. Food, and even the placemats regale you with that fact. Eventually we put in our order. I ordered the world famous fried chicken with amish noodles & fried okra as sides and the girlfriend got a open face turkey sandwich. The food that I did get, while a lot of food, was very bland and not well seasoned. Yoder's could do with learning to put salt in their food. That, and the fried chicken was dry, left us with an un-sastifying dinner. We finished off the meal with slices of pie. Once again large portions, not a whole lot of flavor. I really want to like Yoder's, I really do, but this visit just left me flat.
(3)
Heather B.
Good food, not excellent. Love that they use local produce. Fabulous pies! Especially the peach pie! Long wait. We had a large party & had split into two tables on Sunday afternoon.
(3)
Nora F.
I wish I could take home the grain bread. I loved the bread that I had. We came for breakfast with 4 other friends. So the 6 of us sat at the round table. The place was quite packed. Our waitress was very sweet. My husband said this place has the best french toast, so I let him order that while I ordered a spinach omelet with grain bread and fruit salad. Our friends ordered some french toast, traditional benedict and some combo breakfast. I loved my spinach omelet! I know I've said it before but I loved my grain bread! Unfortunately they don't sell the bread, oh no! I enjoyed my healthy breakfast while enjoying the amish restaurant with amish decorations. After breakfast we stopped by the gift shop next door. This was the best breakfast place I had in Sarasota. The drive was pretty far because this neighborhood is an amish town so the restaurant is surrounded by amish gift shop and amish market. I'm not sure about this one but I think the town is controlled by an amish mayor? You never know. Everyone who works here is a happy person *:) Whatever the case is, please visit this restaurant because it's worth it. Highly recommended!
(5)
Anthony A.
Yodels was fun, and the pies are very well done and delicious, however my meal was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the Amish were supposed to make things home made? Why were the mashed potatoes instant? Why were the green beans and the gravy on my meat loaf out of a can? The fried chicken is supposed to be their specialty, but honestly it's better at Publix. If this place wants to live up to the hype, they need to make more things home made because I felt like I was eating at an old time cafeteria. Maybe that's why they have so many elderly customers, because they are from a time when canned food was acceptable. These octogenarians with their walkers and oxygen tanks were in a line all the way out the door. I'm happy they are doing a good business tho, and I hope this review doesn't come off as too scathing because it was a fun place to eat and definitely an experience.
(3)
C. E.
They have awesome fried chicken and meatloaf! Don't leave without eating their banana cream pie or peanut butter pie!!
(5)
Lynne L.
Love, love love this family owned restaurant. Great service, great food and top notch service.
(4)
Ken S.
I'm not sure where some of the bad reviews on here come from but those people are wrong. This place is fabulous. If you're looking for a candlelight dinner with wine and a separate fork for your salad, than this isn't your place. If you want simple, good food then it's definitely your place. The meatloaf and corn cakes were very good. The PB pie was HUGE! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Aimee P.
The only thing I have to complain about was the fact we couldn't order fried chicken on a Friday. Other than that, the food was pretty good and their deserts were uh-may-zing!
(4)
Alex O.
Amazing comfort food. Had the Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and fries okra. The gravy was awesome. Would recommend checking them out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Neil P.
We were very impressed with the food, Fridays is pan fryed chicken and it was out of this world good. Ordered the 4 pc and all i could eat was the breast so juicy it probably was a 1 1/2 lbs, mashed potato with gravy and hand sliced whole wheat bread FRESH! Mac & cheese was one of the best and they hand make over 30 pies so best thing to do is get there samplers. Pinecraft is the Amish village and they also have gift shop, farm fresh produce and a deli with all the Amish meats, cheese, pasta, candies, fresh made sandwiches. Its a Travel Channel destination with Adam Richman Man vs Food! We love it!
(5)
Kristen C.
My fiance and I experienced Yoder's for the first time in May 2015 and we absolutely LOVED it! The service was great and the food was even better. Their fried chicken was not only delicious, but huge!! We actually split a meal and couldn't eat everything, a first for my fiance! We ended up coming back later that afternoon and ordering chocolate and apple pies to take home to Georgia. The chocolate pie was literally the best I have ever had in my entire life!! The crust on that apple pie was heavenly. We went back earlier this month while visiting Sarasota and were heartbroken to see they were closed for renovations; however, we will be back in November for our wedding and plan on bringing the entire family to experience Yoder's!
(5)
Charity Z.
My husband and I are both food network fans. When we saw this place featured on 101 best places to eat in America we new we had to try it. So on the drive home we decided to stop in. Arriving at 430pm we did not have to wait to be seated. As soon as we sat down we did see the line accumulating. So be prepared to wait. To start we had the homemade butternut squash soup. It was amazing. All the perfect flavors blended together. As other reviewers stated, you must have the fried chicken! Perfect batter compliments the moistness of the chicken. What also stood out were the Amish potato pancakes. Beware portions are huge and plates are definitely shareable. Even the kids meals are enough to feed the entire family. The deserts are endless. Of course I had the bread pudding. It was perfect. Just how bread pudding should be. A crispy crust around the edges and softness of soaked bread. This meal in instant made me want to ascend Mount Everest. It was that good.
(5)
Morgan B.
We were on vacation and a friend recommended we try out this place. I was a little hesitant because I really wanted some fish. But this place was awesome! I had the cheeseburger soup to start. It comes with fresh homemade bread. Delicious. Then my friend and I split the full serving of fried chicken. There are a ton of sides to choose from. I got the tossed salad and the Amish pancakes. Everything was very good. The most important thing though is to save room for the pie. Oh my lord the pies!!! Try one or two or three! You won't be disappointed!! In will be coming back!
(5)
Debbie S.
We are in Sarasota for this year's vacation and went to Yoders last night for dinner. The daily special was pan fried chicken... with two sides. The four piece meal was so big that we brought 4 of 8 pieces home... the mashed potates and corn muffins were great. We also got the peanut butter pie and butterscotch pie sampler. And don't forget the homemade mint tea. Walked out thinking I was going to explode... and can't wait to go back.
(5)
K G.
Truly as good as it gets in terms of southern comfort food! We came here on a recommendation, which seems to be the way this place works- set off on a back road with no fancy signs, you'd miss it if you didn't know about it. But once you get into the jam packed parking lot, you know you've come to the right place. We got here around 7:15 at night, knowing they close at 8, so we figured that we missed peak dinner times and wouldn't be too crowded.. WRONG! We were greeted by a line out the door. Once we got inside we were met with walls adorned with various awards, newspaper clippings, along with a signed photo of Adam from Man vs. Food who visited and listed this place in his "Top 100 Places to Chow Down" on the Travel Channel. Such a glamorous award, yet the interior of Yoder's reminded me of my grandma's kitchen: plaid tablecloths, spinning ceiling fans, and pullout chairs for extra guests around a table. And if you weren't hungry enough, there are various homemade cookies and breads available for you to oogle at while waiting. But the jewel case of pies near the center of the restaurant is really what catches your eye as you walk by to your table, more on that later though. Now first and foremost, check your diet at the door. This is not the place to be concerned with trivial things like calories because we have a menu that's home to famous fried chicken to look through! With a soup of the day, veggie of the day and, oh yea, pie of the day, you will have trouble deciding, heaven knows we did. Our waitress was more than happy to give us extra time as we flip flopped between sandwiches on homemade croissants, country fried steak with homemade gravy, or blue plate specials which came with homemade bread (did I mention homemade?). We settled on the Thanksgiving dinner meal along with some mac and cheese and, of course, some fried chicken. The turkey dinner brought out looked, again, like grandma's. A mountain of white gravy slathered on stuffing and mashed potatoes, with cranberry sauce and a pile of turkey that was obviously cut right off the bird- no fancy thin shavings of meat, we're talking chunks of white and dark meat abound. The mac and cheese was so creamy I could slurp that sauce through a straw and also made for a good dunking sauce for the fried chicken which was crunchy and juicy. Curse you Yoder's, I broke my 60 day vegetarianism for your chicken and enjoyed every second of it! First time I ever saw my guy ask for a box there was just too much food to handle. Of course, full or not, we had to go for it all with a piece of pie. After flip flopping again, we settled on Strawberry Cream Pie. We split a slice and the waitress brought it cut on two plates without us asking, so I'm assuming sharing is a very common thing in this place. I'm glad she gave us our own piece since neither of us were willing to share! Huge fresh strawberry chunks gave me the illusion that I was eating healthy under a pound of whipped cream. The crust was like a cookie, delicious on its' own- no joke, I would pay to have someone teach me how to make it! We left at closing time, but I will have to come back to check out their next door farmer's market. And so we left a little fatter and a lot happier. We ate to our hearts content with leftovers for under $30 which is pretty good for the portions and quality of food. Like I said, I am not from here, but for sure I will be coming back at least once more before going back home. And so the legend of Yoder's will continue. Should anyone ask me if I know a good place, I'll refer to the little "house" off the beaten path!
(5)
Patty P.
Food is good, just good down home cooking! Servings are large! I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all were excellent! Fresh baked breads, homemade apple-butter and peanut butter, delicious pies! The fried chicken is amazing! The only down side is it can be quite crowded and a long wait, especially during season. However, you can meander around the shops there while you are waiting or after dinner and that totally makes up for it. The vibe is family friendly, not romantic so know what you are in for when you go, but do go, you won't regret it.
(3)
Carrie S.
I'm only rated this a 4 cuz the food is ok.. it wasn't the best.. My hubby and I went for breakfast.. I had a sausage and cheese omelette w/ home fries... The home fries was barely cooked..my hubby had homemade corn beef and hash and it wasn't that great but The four stars is for the amazing pies and desserts that they serve oh my talk about heaven in your mouth I had the chocolate peanut butter pie it was yummy..they also have a fresh produce market right next-door along with a deli which is also amazing and more goodies to fill your tummy...they have A huge selection of different types of Jams..they have whoopee pies and old-fashioned candy and lots of other cakes and desserts to choose from..all the fruit and vegetables look delicious as well I will definitely be back!! I will be back to try the restaurant again I will try dinner next time because I heard their fried chicken is off the chain..this place is definitely a great place to order your pies and desserts for holidays!! The service & the atmosphere was also very wonderful!
(4)
Katy T.
We tried the meatloaf and country fried steak, on our way down to Sarasota. Our table neighbor next to us ordered this incredible looking homemade cheesecake with strawberries on top, so we had to join. The pies look huge and amazing too, didn't have room for both, maybe on the way back home!
(5)
Helen L.
I crave their fried chicken a lot and will make the 35 minute drive to eat here. Their pies are amazing as well!
(5)
Randy R.
On vacation in the siesta key area we where recommended to have dinner at this establishment THANK YOU for your recommendation. BEST BEST fried chicken i've had in a long time. Everything about this place was great. The service was awesome. The food was spectacular and the desert was heavenly. If you want to try something great visit this place.
(5)
Stacy G.
The wait was a little long. But well worth the wait! Service was excellent, the server was so sweet and came back often to refill drinks and make sure everything was good. I ordered a salad because I'm on a diet and it was the best salad I've ever had. Everyone else in our party ordered the fried chicken since they are known for chicken & pies. I will definitely make the trip back.
(5)
Jessica M.
Yoder's is a solid 3.5 in my book. So, in the middle of nowhere Florida lives these Amish folks. They have a produce stand, have a restaurant, and some other Amish attractions. Upon pulling up, I noticed quickly this was a facade. Living in Vegas, I think you get jaded because you know what a fake Paris or a fake Roman Empire facade look like from a mile away. The staff was definitely not Amish either. I don't think Amish can stand behind the hostess stand checking her iPhone. Anyway, I could careless about how pretty or dumpy a place is, it's all about the food, customer service, but mostly the food. There were signs about the world famous fried chicken and it was alright. Was it KFC, no, but it wasn't slap your grandma good either. The mashed potatoes weren't anything special, but the 5 bean salad I enjoyed was the cat's pajamas. Not really feeling my food, I boxed it up to go, so I could spruce it up later. What I and anyone else come her for is their pies. OMG. Moment of silence, please. Their peanutbutter pie is creamy, sweet, peanutbuttery perfection. Succulent. Yes, a pie can be succulent. I also have to tell you, I am not a pie fan. At all. 99% of pies suck, not Yoder's. They made me a believer. Service was attentive and the restaurant was busy. Not a legit Amish settlement so don't let that disappoint you. I'd skip the food and go straight to the pie window. It's the only thing worth waiting around for.
(3)
Lynda J.
A nice place for some good Amish food. This place is jam packed during season! Come prepared to stand in line. I usually get the broasted chicken and always have a piece of the delicious pie. My favorite is the coconut cream but the peanut butter is also great! Come hungry this is not the place to skip dessert!!
(4)
Sue G.
O M G.. Yes, yes, yes! The carmel apple french toast was so yuummmy, I almost cried. The Farmer's skillet was so huge my piggy hubby couldn't even eat it all! The ham STEAK(not sliver) melts in your mouth! Best coffe that I've had in a long time. The ice cold milk, oh Lord!!! I have heard they have very long waits, but we went on a Friday at 10:30 for brunch and walked right in! Check out the deli next door! Woooooow! Amazing prices!!! Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)
Shannon G.
Yum! Great food. Great pie :) Be warned they do not serve breakfast all day. I once came in at about 11:30 am and had to wait in line, and sadly was not able to get the French toast I had dreamed of.
(5)
Bryan T.
Went to this place today and was in heaven! I haven't had fried chicken this good in years. The raspberry tea was delicious and I don't even like tea. This had mom and grandma knocked out on the car ride home
(5)
conor b.
Classic comfort food coming from the heart of Sarasota's Amish community. Good for lunch, even better for breakfast. Quality service and you can expect consistent service, food and a little bit of a wait every time. They offer a fun treasure hunt for the kids as well that lets them stroll through the attached market and gift store for a sticker and at the end the get a prize. Mom and dad have already bought things from each place by this time, so it's darn clever. Anyway, I've never had a better friend chicken and I was born in the south. Those Amish know what they are doing. Grab a slice of pie and wrap it up!
(4)
William S.
Great portions on dinners. Make sure you're hungry if you order full dinners. Peanut butter pie is homemade and good. Had Dutch Apple pie and it was great too. Have been here a few times always busy due to the fact it's comfort food. They have take out window for pies. Also have a vegetable market and deli cut meats next to restaurant.
(4)
Chuck P.
Great home cooked meals and the pies are fantastic! Blueberry pie and my wife are the best of friends!
(4)
Travis J.
I absolutely love this place! Pretty small and you may have to wait, but the wait will be worth it! The staff is friendly and very patient. The items on the menu are very fresh and you do see the desserts on display. The food portions are good so come with an appetite! I ordered their famous fried chicken along with the mac and cheese and corn cakes. The chicken was crisp and juicy and almost as big as my head! The Mac and Cheese is creamy and rich, the corn cakes look like pancakes, but have that texture and taste of a cake! For dessert I got the peanut butter pie which is the know favorite. Words couldn't describe how amazing each bite was! I definitely recommend Yoders. It's away from all of the beaches and bars, but it's a relaxing location away from it all. Don't forget to stop in their fresh market shop, produce market, or gift shop!
(5)
Steve N.
I had never been here before after relocating to Sarasota. I happened to see it on the Food Network, but had heard good things since moving six months ago. I stopped in and got a peanut butter pie and a coconut cream pie to go. I tried the peanut butter pie and it was delicious! Different than any pie i have had before, but very very good. I can't speak to the restaurant or the meals there, but I was impressed!
(4)
Wayne P.
The best Amish restaurant anywhere . Plus their pies are to die for . Better to get there early for supper or you will have to wait in a long line .
(5)
Steve K.
I always stop in when I visit Sarasota. Food is good and plentiful and the service is great.
(4)
Chuck B.
Donuts and pastries - oh my goodness! If you have not had the great food at this restaurant for the best donuts in Florida you have to come by and try them. It's a temptation everytime I Drive by on Bahia Vista.
(5)
Ms S.
Stopped at the deli today for a couple of sandwiches to go. Asked for a roast beef and turkey on rye. After 15 mins the lady from the kitchen came out and told me they don't make that kind of sandwich, that it had to be either turkey or roast beef. I said okay, roast beef. Very expensive and about 2 slices of roast beef. The shop itself is cute with lots of good-looking sweets but would not go back for a sandwich.
(1)
Kem W.
I waited 40 minutes in line and decided the food probably wasn't worth that long a wait. I was there for breakfast. All the portions are ample, particularly the combination breakfasts. I had the corned beef hash (OK), a biscuit (excellent), and part of a sticky bun (OK but I'm not a fan of super sweet things.) We didn't have an opportunity for pie, which is this place's claim to fame, but they did look good. It's definitely worth a trip here for breakfast if you're in Sarasota.
(3)
Chris W.
A wonderful lunch place. We've been here a few times now and from the fried chicken to the beef and noodles to the pies you really can't go wrong with the food. Service is also top-notch (although due to the awesome food) it can take a while to get a table on the weekends. Definitely worth it though no matter when you come.
(5)
Oliver J.
Mixed bag. This restaurant claims to be Amish, which is known for it's honesty and simplicity. They use farm raised fish and CAFO raised animal for their meats. I'm disgusted, and I can only assume most Amish people would too. Those cheap and low quality ingredients resonate with the food quality. My macaroni and cheese was a sham. Not an ounce of cheese in the thing. I could dish by dish slanging the pros and cons, but overall, I won't be back for the food, other than perhaps to taste the fried chicken. The food is acceptable in taste and presentation, although far from impressive. Pie-wise, there we had the chocolate pecan - good, but far from anything special, and Key Lime Pie (normal), that was kind of gross.... gelatin like. It was fine, but I love key lime pie, and that was far from the mark. Conversely, we ordered a strawberry and rhubarb pie to take home. It was amazing. Not too sweet, and full of strawberries and rhubarb. The strawberries felt mashed, as to make sure the ingredients mixed, which was perfect.
(3)
Restaurant Maverick 1.
Homemade from scratch at a quality level most cannot duplicate. Amish atmosphere, unique place, awesome food, awesome service! HUGE PORTIONS!
(5)
Kara C.
After hearing about this place from too many people, we finally went! I'm just going to be honest, eat dessert first and then eat dinner! We ate so good at dinner and unfortunately didn't have enough room for dessert! The portions are huge and very good!
(5)
Shauna L.
Wow! The parking lot was PACKED because everyone is picking up their pies before Christmas Day. The apple butter is so good I bought some to fly home with me to give to my dad. I had the most tender sloppy joe for lunch. Fantastic home cooking! The gift shop closed before we could visit, maybe a stop on the return trip? I'd say highly likely.
(5)
Sharon S.
I cannot even begin to describe how delicious and fresh my food was. Two different people recommended this restaurant this past week so I decided to try it for myself. To say that it exceeded my expectations is an understatement. Our waitress was Mary Emma and she was so nice and helpful. When I told her it was my first visit she didn't try to rush me to order until I was able to look over the whole menu. I didn't want a really heavy lunch because of the heat so I ordered the Hawaiian Chicken Salad. It had coconut, small pieces of pineapple, and toasted almonds and was spectacular. Not sure what else it had but it didn't taste like mayo (which is good because I'm not a big fan of mayo) it was light and flavorful. But wait, there's more. There was also huge pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh pineapple. The nice surprise was a slice of homemade banana bread and a slice of strawberry bread. Of course, I ended up taking some home because of the portion sizes but I'm just disappointed that I was too full to try the pie. One day I plan on stopping in just for that. In a word, delicious!
(5)
Melissa A.
Very busy but still friendly service. I had the fried chicken which was ok. Tried the mini pies. The peanut butter pie was incredible. This is the place to go for delicious dessert not really for a meal
(4)
Ana B.
I really wanted to like this place as I have a great respect for diversity and different cultures. When my friend and I arrived, there was a 30 minute long wait on Wed night. Our expectation grew due to the wait and of course men vs. food is on. Customers and servers wearing taditional custumes made me excited about this adventure. I ordered quarter fried chicken with spinich and potato pancake. Fried chicken was tender and juicy but skin was not crispy. There was no seasoning on spinich and it looked like a baby puke. Potato pancake was okay. This place is over-commercialized and dissapoint me big time. For dissert, we ordered peanutbutter pie taster at 2.50. It came out on a cup. It was good but nothing special. My server was very kind and friendly but food was not up to par.
(2)
Connie G.
The fried chicken and country fried steak were great. The roasted turkey was a total disappointment: dry, served as leftover The pies were very good. The wait was at least half an hour...the place was packed....the decor tired to say the least. Service was very pleasant. Stick with the two fried dishes and the pies. Get there early if you want a full selection of pies or better yet, just pick up the pie and avoid the meal.
(2)
JASON M.
The pies!!!!! Peanut butter or banana cream.... Great home cooked food (really enjoyed the fried chicken) but those pies are phenomenal.
(5)
Grace C.
On a repeat visit earlier this month, I had to dock a star because there were some misses on this trip. I'd still come back and recommend it to visitors but is it the best place I've ever had pie? No. I tried the baked pies this time instead of the cream pies and I think this is really where their weakness is. Their shoefly pie and crumble apple pie were both forgettable. My apple pie filling seemed like it was straight from the can and really bland. The crust wasn't buttery. I always finish my dessert or take it to go but on this visit, my sister and I left our half-eaten pies untouched with zero hesitation. That's saying something from someone with a serious sweet tooth. Maybe we caught them on an off day. I'd still return just not 5-star worthy this time around. I enjoyed the apple butter with my multigrain toast. The potatoes that came as a side on some of our plates seemed more like boiled flavorless potatoes than home fries. I saw a table next to us that got extra crispy fried home fries and I'm wondering if they asked them to be extra crispy (duly noted next time around!)
(4)
Cecily A.
So I saw my first Amish community and restaurant today. Was pretty surreal seeing in person what I usually see on TV. You can smell this restaurant the second you open your car doors, whether it be tasty smelling batter for fried chicken or sweet smells of pies, breads, cakes, and muffins. The smell is honestly the first thing I quickly noticed, and secondly, how nice everyone seemed. Even though almost the entire dining room was older folks, some in English clothes, some in Amish dressings, they still accepted me in my short shorts and service was also quick and friendly. I enjoyed my home cooked meatloaf and had to try the Choco peanut butter banana pie for dessert which my fellow yelpers turned me onto. I must say that my sweet tooth is now cured for the rest of my vacay. :P Awesome experience, will definitely come back.
(5)
Beth F.
The sausage gravy & biscuit(s) is a Heavenly meal in itself! The apple fritter French toast was delicious (doesn't need the maple syrup). The raspberry/cream cheese stuffed French toast was good, but not as great for me as the Apple. Taking a Peanut Butter Cream Pie piece home to eat later cause we simply don't have the room to eat it now! Will be coming back for lunch and then again dinner in the next few days! Wanna try so much more!
We arrived at 10 a.m and only had to wait for one table to clear. It gave us time to snoop through the breads & whoopie pies available near the door. The hostess shared her mom is the baked goods baker (not pies). How lucky she is! I quickly was taken by the country grilled oatmeal. It was wonderful though the portion was waaaay too large. I enjoyed some homebaked bread with their stellar apple butter. My friend got the apple fritter French toast. It was good but we weren't sure why it got called "fritter" --it was apple bread French toast. Their baked apple side beats Cracker Barrel's. My friend ordered what she thought would be a small sweet roll and received a giant 1/4 of an entire sweet roll cake ($4). Prices were fair, portions were huge. But we couldn't help but think how we'd really love half portions and smaller prices (and not have to take more than half home). Our waitress was friendly and attentive. They cleaned tables swiftly. We enjoyed the art on the walls. We wished we could lounge around 'til 11 to try lunch!
(4)
Emily B.
Wow! This place is awesome! My boyfriend brought me here for breakfast. The place was packed. We waited about 10 minutes. We split a sweet roll, which is ginormous. Very sweet and yummy. Then he had the strawberry stuffed French toast and I had the apple stuffed French toast. I liked that it wasn't too sweet, but just enough. The portion size was big considering the price. More restaurants should be like that. I would definitely return next time we're in the area.
(5)
Laurie B.
Whenever we are in Sarasota we always have to take a stop at yoders !! It it such an experience ! If you go after 900 am on Saturday you may have to wait but it is well worth it ! My friend and I shared the raspberry cream cheese stuffed French toast which was out of this world ! Not to sweet but creamy and not soggy . We ordered the smallest order and still had slot leftover . We also shared the country fried steak breakfast and split that as well ! The eggs were cooked perfect and friend got a side of sausage gravy and I got a side of the hamburger gravy which was creamy and salty and worth every bite of calorie ! We had more than half of our breakfast left so don't be afraid to share ! I brought my daughter home the cinnamon bun which an army of 4 could eat off of . Stepping into yoders is like stepping back into a time where' things move slower and people are gracious and kind and you can feel the care and thought that is put into the food ! If you are ever in Sarasota don't miss a stop at yoders !!
(5)
Gerrald L.
Home style food, incredible, for sure a place to try when in town. Their pies are awesome too.
(5)
Daniel C.
Wife had a big salad with turkey, while I had grilled chicken dinner with fries and corn. Food was very tasty. Great service. Pies looked great, but had no time for dessert. Even at 2 on weekday afternoon, there was a line!
(4)
T. Isabella N.
Not sure why people are so crazy about this place. Had fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes. All very very bland. Not much flavor going on here folks. Most people eating there were senior citizens so maybe that says it all.
(1)
Richard W.
Their fried chicken I must recommend if you go. The chicken is very flavorful and delicious. I just can't see to stop eating it. Their wait staff is very friendly and they make you feel welcome to their establishment. Their pies are excellent.
(4)
Blondie P.
Good ol' home cooking at its finest. Large portions, plenty of choices, excellent pies, cookies and cakes. The service is friendly and fast. I had the Anna salad - spring mix, turkey, lots of fruit - with a strawberry vinaigrette, very colorful and very tasty. Prepare to wait unless you go at off hours. But the wait is well worth it.
(4)
Natarajan R.
Great food. fresh food. Generous portions. Great service. Most restuarants should aspire to this level of service.
(5)
Dionna S.
Can I just say this is the best breakfast and dinner in Sarasota! You will never leave hungry! Portions are huge and the food is wonderful. You have to try the peanut butter pancake with the homemade whipped cream! The fried chicken, the homemade apple butter, the desserts! Just great food! We try to go here twice a day when we are in Sarasota!
(5)
Sal L.
We were on vacation this month and went to Yoders TWICE. It is a homey Amish restaurant with great food, great quantity at a great price. The atmosphere is very old style and kitcheny..anyway we felt very at home there. We had a dinner and a breakfast there. Both were great. Highly recommend.
(5)
Tory L.
Who knew there was a thriving Amish population in Sarasota? Anyway, this place has some great fried chicken and pie! At first, I was a little miffed about paying over $15 for a few pieces of fried chicken. Then my order arrived and it's literally an entire plate of chicken! I've had my fair share of greasy, crispy fried chicken, but none that felt so "healthy". What do I mean? Well, Yoder's fried chicken is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, with very little minimum oozing oil when you tear it apart. I didn't feel a single ounce of guilt digging in. What also makes this place a gem is its pie! I've had the apple/blueberry/banana cream slices, and they are delicious! They use all local ingredients and make the pies fresh daily, so it tastes magical. The crust is crispy and the insides are full of gooey goodness. Top that off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you are good to go! TIP: share the fried chicken with 2-3 people to save space for pie (also a large serving, but I'm not sharing my dessert :P) !
(4)
Letha B.
First visit here was today. I would definitely drive the 45 min just to go. It was amazing!! My husband and I both had the fried chicken, I had the green beans and Mac n cheese, and he had okra with Mac n cheese. All our food was delicious! While standing in line a woman said we had to try the Coconut Cream Pie, we did and were not sorry. Best I have ever had. The slices of pie are huge! So happy we decided to share a slice. You definitely get your money's worth and more from here. Next we would like to try breakfast. I will say, the line was out the door, but it went pretty quick. We had a really sweet attentive waitress. She was so busy and did an amazing job of keeping up. I was very impressed and will be back for sure!
(5)
Chris P.
After a trip to the Ringling Brothers museum, we were ready for some lunch. My wife said that Yoder's was right up our alley. After a short wait we were seated. I got the fried chicken, my wife and her mom got the special beef & noodles and my father-in law got the pulled pork. The chicken was so-so. The noodles had gravy that was blatantly obvious that it came from a can. The green beans and corn tasted as if it was from a can and the potato cakes tasted as if they were made from potato powder. The only thing that was decent was the potato chips. When you think Amish, you think "farm fresh." This is most definitely not the case at Yoder's.
(1)
K G.
This place has definitely taken a dive. A couple years ago they had the best, humongous fried chicken. Now it's still mutant, but dry and seems they leave it sit under a warming light. Rubbery and gross. The mint tea is the only thing giving it a one star. Bleh.
(1)
Lisandra G.
Fantastic service. You can taste the love in the food. Huge portions and farm fresh meats. The orange juice would get 10 stars. I bought a jug of it at the market. The chicken was fried to perfection, the apple pie a la mode made time stand still. They lost a star bc the green beans were over cooked (like they are at most restaurants).
(4)
Bert H.
Food is fantastic, servers are very courteous and friendly, a line to get in is normal but well worth the wait, don't forget to take a couple pies home for later, I would recommend "Yoders" to anyone, except maybe all them northerners from the East Coast, they seem to have no taste and most of them give bad reviews, but hey everyone has their opinion...........
(5)
Darrin B.
Good food and I wish the cream pies were served at a cooler temp. Mine was room temp. Also had to wait one hour in line. .. If there is no line, go on in. But if there is a line pass it up. ... not worth an hour wait.
(3)
Jennifer S.
The meal was fresh the service excellent. The ambiance fitting. Had a wonderful meal with chili, and the stuffed tomato with chicken salad and house dressing to die for!! So glad we found this place. Worth the wait in line!
(5)
A Foodie M.
The fried chicken is so good! Pies are good too. I tried the pumpkin cake this time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Great customer service as well. I will be returning to Yoder's.
(4)
Michael W.
I don't know what some of the others are talking about, it's like we're talking about different restaurants. I had an amazing experience at this restaurant with my family. The service we received was top notch. I ordered the Manhattan with pot roast and I was given a HUGE portion. It tasted amazing but there was no way I could eat it all. After we all ordered pie I had the Carmel custard and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the experience and would go again the next time in the area.
(5)
Jeremy H.
Best homemade comfort food I have ever had! I had the turkey, fried chicken, and breakfast and everything was excellent. The pie, whoopie pies, and bread were also amazing! Great service as well. If you like good home cooking this is the place!
(5)
Sharie H.
First time here and it was great. The hostess was a bit rude but the waitress was awesome. Very friendly and homey atmosphere. The food was definitely comfort food. Macaroni was by far the best. The shop next door is a must also.
(4)
Adriana R.
Long wait, but it was so worth it! Their fried chicken and banana cream pie are delicious. The service was very good, the waitress was on top of everything. I will definitely go back for that banana cream pie!
(5)
Lee P.
Their food is great. Go there all the time and we are never disappointed.
(5)
Kim W.
We were in town for the half marathon weekend and decided to load up on Amish comfort food based on the rave reviews we'd seen about their fried chicken and pie. The line was still pretty long for 2pm, which would normally turn me off, but the smell of fried chicken kept us around. The restaurant itself has a no-frills, down-home feel - pretty much what you'd expect. I ordered the quarter chicken dinner with the Amish potato pancakes and fried okra. I figured it was my best chance at getting non-canned sides, based on what I'd read in other reviews. If you've never had Amish potato pancakes, they are not like latkes. They look more like regular buttermilk pancakes (except they're made from potato, obviously). The sides were ok, but not the greatest. The chicken wasn't like any other I'd had at a restaurant. It tasted homemade, like something my mom might make. It was good, but it didn't wow me like the reviews made me think it would. It was A LOT of food and I was barely able to eat even half of it, plus I wanted to save room for pie. :) I tried the chocolate peanut butter cream pie, while my table mates ordered the fresh strawberry cream, Yoder's key lime, and baked apple pie. I tried a bite of all and mine was the best. It's a good thing I don't live around here or else I would be eating way too much pie. Again though, it wasn't the best pie I've had like I read in other reviews. Overall, it was a good meal, not great, but I did enjoy it and would recommend at least trying it once.
(3)
Judi G.
When you live in Florida year round, you quickly learn that good fresh produce is out of season-too hot for much more than corn, watermelons and onions. Yoder's has a great selection of Mid West produce. Tomatoes from Michigan are very good. Wish they could carry Jersey tomatoes though! A variety of herbs and exotic fruits, North Carolina and Georgia peaches, blueberries and white eggplant. Prices are great compared to a grocery store, especially a seedless watermelon for $2.00. Run over to the market for pumpkin bread or strawberry bread. On Saturdays they smoke their own baby back ribs, saucy and juicy so they sell out fast.
(4)
Amanda P.
Yoder's is amazing. Grew up eating from here almost every week. I had my first corn fritter from here... it was good! I hardly ate inside, always ordered for pick-up. But they have friendly staff! They also have amazing pies.
(3)
Daniel B.
There is not a bad item on the menu it is all excellent. Huge portions great service friendly staff. If you go during season expect a wait but it is so worth it. Great breakfast and even better dinners and save room for dessert the pies are to die for.
(5)
barbara m.
Delicious homemade food in a cozy, small diner atmosphere. Very quiet despite all the activity going on around us. We arrived exactly when they opened so we got in right away for lunch. When we left the line was out the door. We had the fried chicken which was served in enormus proportions. Another person in our party had the fish - also a huge portion. Very accommodating genuinely polite, capable wait staff.
(5)
Henry M.
Great service and even better food. It is home cooked meals. Only wish the had their fried chicken on Fridays. Pies are some of the best I have had.
(5)
Renee S.
Yoder's is such an awesome restaurant! Good home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I have never been disappointed. Been coming here since I moved to Sarasota 15 years ago. Make sure you save room for pie.
(5)
Lauren C.
I went on a little mini weekend vacation to Sarasota and had heard about Yoder's restaurant and famous pies on the food network, so we had to stop in and see what it's all about. The Amish make fantastic home style dishes and don't disappoint on the flavor or large portion size by any means. We decided to keep it simple and split a cobb salad and a bowl of chili so we could have room for pie afterwards. The cobb salad was really tasty and had a ton of the usual toppings, so it wasn't "skimpy"! The chili was solid and hearty. After our meal came the difficult decision of which pie to try. There are a TON of delicious homemade pies and it's really hard to pick, ultimately we went with the banana cream and it was really heaven on a plate. If we weren't visiting from out of town and staying in a hotel with no fridge, I most definitely would have gotten a whole pie to bring home. They also have a cute little boutiquey gift shop on site which is worth checking out while waiting to be seated or after your meal. This place is a winner in my book.
(4)
WizardPrang X.
After the disappointment at Der Dutchman ( yelp.com/biz/der-dutchma… ), we came back a few days later to try out Yoder's. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the chicken was to die for. A wonderful meal, and a great way to forget the less-pleasant experience of the other place own the road.
(5)
Valerie A K.
What a delicious meal! My husband and I ordered one fried chicken dinner and one baked chicken dinner. Both were moist and delicious. The onion rings were outrageous and the coleslaw very special.We did not have room for dessert After reading Yelp reviews, we did not know what to expect and decided to treat this evening meal as an adventure. Wow what a treat!
(4)
Anne L.
My husband and I were visiting the Sarasota area and staying in an expensive hotel. We had one meal there, which was so-so, and then we heard about Yoder's. We gave Yoder's a try, and from then on, we ate nowhere else! Yoder's has the BEST food and the FRIENDLIEST service anyone could ask for. We made good use of their carry-out window, taking food back to the hotel to eat, although there are tables outside. Their breakfasts are delicious, their soups and sandwiches are fresh and remarkable, and their delicious dinners are more than plentiful. Best of all, everything really did taste homemade. I would gladly wait in line if I had to, just for a meal at Yoder's. Once you eat there, you'll be spoiled for any place else!
(5)
Rebecca L.
Pie. Just pie. Skip everything else tbh, I mean it's fine but pie tho. Best way to spend a morning in sarasota: go to the beach early, before it's too hot. Be one of those horrible people who runs on the beach. The come to Yoder's, still sweaty and salt-swept, and treat yo'self to a giant slice of your favorite pie and a coffee. You've earned it. You horrible person, you. Best pies: banana cream, chocolate peanut butter, butterscotch, dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb.
(4)
J S.
Never had a bad meal here, food always first-rate; Except; 1.) Fried chicken; How did they do it? Seems they've taken a flavorful bird, and got it to the point where it was devoid of any flavor whatsoever- a culinary miracle! And 2.) "Mashed potatoes" (Instant, believe it or not- yeeech!) Some "home made." Should be a law against calling these freeze dried/add water pellets "mashed potatoes." Avoid these two horrible, disappointing dishes, & you'll be fine. Give desserts a try, you won't be disappointed. Are you a "people watcher?" Or more specifically, a FAT people watcher? I have never seen so many disgusting, overweight slobs in one restaurant in my life- Makes the typical Cracker Barrel diner look like a tri-athelete by comparison. And if there's a line in front, check the waistlines on those bloated pigs- makes you want to turn vegetarian, I'm here to tell you.
(3)
Lisa W.
I wanted to love this more than I did. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and okra. All were good, but nothing was great. Hubby had fried chicken, green beans and Amish potato cakes. He liked the chicken and green beans. Others had Mac n cheese- good and baked apples. Our favorite thing was something not on the menu, but we took the advice of a fellow Yelper. Get the butterscotch banana cream pie. Very good. We walked around afterward, as they give the kids a small scavenger hunt/treasure map.
(3)
Ryan R.
Yoders is the best breakfast in Sarasota. My family visits the Sarasota once a year for vacation and it has become tradition to start and end our vacation at yoders. The sweet roll is amazing, eggs are FRESH and everything is amazing. Highly recommend making a trip to yoders!
(5)
Goody G.
Yoder's isn't too bad. There is a lot of hype about this place which I do not understand. My food was "Okay." It was not bad, not good... just OKAY. The portions were large, the food was cooked well but it was also bland. I grabbed a pie, on the way out, and it took me almost as long to wait for the pie as it did to eat dinner. The pie was also OKAY. I guess what makes people think it is so great is because there aren't a lot of bakeries around here that make these sorts of things but, again, it was just okay. You will certainly enjoy your meal and I do recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)
Robin G.
Excellent food, great service. We loved everything we got, the coffee wasn't anything to write home about but I didn't expect anything special. I recommend the stuffed french toast, delicious.
(5)
Frank A.
Food is amazing! Get the fried chicken! Pies to die for. Menu selection is like home cooking with all the basics such as turkey dinner, meatloaf, sandwiches, salads. Also open for breakfast. If you are in Sarasota and hungry, this is a must place to eat. Go ahead and bookmark it now, you can thank me later! BTW- there is an adjacent farm stand and gift store. Pies and baked goods to go as well!
(5)
Chastity B.
Not that impressed with dinner. Although the pie was excellent. Went between lunch and dinner around 4 so not even 1/4 of the tables taken. Service was so so. Don't think I will be returning unless it is for a piece of pie to go.
(3)
Diana D.
A staple of the Sarasota, FL region that has to be visited at least once if you are here. As residents of the area, there is a difference between Yoder's in season and out of season. In season the line will stretch out the door and the place will be mobbed. It's mobbed for a reason. It's good! The portions are HUGE. I have had several things off the menu and have been pleased every time. Some of the things I have ordered over the past year: - French Toast (huge portion, double inch thick slices - 1 slice will do for me but they serve 2 or 3 if you want). - Cinnamon pancakes that were awesome. - Fried Chicken (not Colonel Sanders ... the real deal here) - Meat Loaf that was good. - various sandwiches and salads. Bring an appetite - the portions are huge! Bathroom facilities are a little difficult to get to and are cramped and do not seem accessible. The decor and vibe is a country homestyle feel ... and it's relatively small. The wait is worth it. If you need a place for a larger crowd or want a little more breathing room, the Der Dutchman restaurant is right down the street. Both are Amish but Yoder's appears a bit less commercial.
(4)
Madison F.
I've had their "famous" fried chicken, and I'd have to say, I'm not impressed. While the chicken was moist, I wouldn't say it was more delicious than other fried chicken I have had, plus the outside lacks a good crunch which is something I particularly enjoy in fried chicken. However, their apple butter (and if you put it on their corn muffins) is absolutely delicious. It's the perfect mix of sweet and apple-cinnamon flavor and can be a bit addicting. But the best thing Yoder's sells is their pies. Their peanut butter pie is absolutely fantastic. The filling is creamy and filled with peanut-butter flavor and the sprinkled pieces of peanuts give it a nice crunch. Their fresh strawberry pie is also to die for, with delicious fresh strawberries topped with their homemade whipped cream. Their baked pies are not as good as their cream/fresh fruit pies but are still pretty decent.
(4)
Ay C.
I always love Yoder's. It is very tasty and very nice people!
(5)
Lauren F.
I went twice because I was hoping it would redeem itself. This place always has a long line to be seated, so go when you have a bit of time to dedicate. I wouldn't recommend this place if you are looking to eat something healthy; on my first visit I had to eat a plate of sliced tomatoes for lack of alternatives. The menu has a large selection of "home cooked" food. I don't believe they salt their food, likely based on clientele. The fried chicken comes in huge portions and is not deserving of "famous". Potato pancakes were quite boring as well. I am 99% sure their pies are store bought. It is brightly lit inside and the seating arrangement is crowded. The good news is we did not have an issue finding parking because they have their own lot. It's a fun theme place (makes me feel like I'm home in PA again), but not a place I care to go back to.
(2)
Arverne G.
Carb heaven. Lunch consisted of delicious smoked chicken with barbecue sauce, yummy potato pancakes and sour cream, and so called baked apple ( really apple pie filling.) There was a lot of fresh made bread and super sweet apple butter on the table. The thin hostess came by and asked whether we were ready for dessert, and I asked her if she ate any and she said no, she had been through them all. I am sure their pie is great, but after that huge lunch, no one needed a dessert. The one problem that I had with this place is that a lot of the customers are very heavy. This is not a place to go if you are counting calories either. They use canned vegetables as sides and as I said above the inviting sides are very carb loaded. Just don't go there too often. The decor is very sweet and old fashioned, the service was efficient and friendly. I am just glad that I don't live in Sarasota, since I would probably go there more often than would be good for me..
(4)
Kristin D.
I love Yoder's so much that when we moved away from the area for 3 years, I used to dream about Yoder's pies and fried chicken. When we moved back home, it was one of the first places we stopped. The fried chicken is so juicy and seasoned just perfectly, the apple butter is the best I've ever had, and the pies are so good! Service is always great, but be prepared to wait to get a table. It is kind of annoying to wait 30 min. at the very least (and that's during off-season) for a table and there's not a real big waiting area. But the food is so worth the wait!
(5)
Tong J.
Great place to share a home-style meal with family. Reasonably priced with a warm and homey atmosphere. Their famous crispy fried chicken lived up to expectations, crispy on the outside and super moist on the inside. The seasoning on the crispy skin had the right about amount of salt. Additional seasoning inside would have made this fried chicken a five star piece of heaven. The corn muffins were also delicious! They were moist, tasty and buttery. With over 25 varieties of pies and cakes, it was tough to choose one. Be warned, each piece is HUGE. We ended up ordering the fresh peach pie, which was very good. Peaches were juicy and ripe. The creaminess and lightly sweet whipped cream complimented the tartness of the peach nicely. They don't take reservations so if you arrive after 5:30-6pm be prepared for at least a 45 minute wait on weekends. They do have a little gift shop nearby where you can pass the time.
(4)
Scott M.
Pan fried chicken is off the chain.
(4)
Hyundoe K.
Great restaurant. I always love to go here when I'm in the area. Fried chicken is great with their house dipping sauce. If you like good home cooking then this place is for you. Don't forget to try a slice of pie.
(4)
Jim H.
There are very few windows of opportunity for locals during season to get into Yoder's without standing in long lines and listening to how it's done "back in Akron". In the mood for breakfast on a recent weekday at 10:45 and spotting no line we careened into the parking lot. Seated immediately and nothing has changed here in years; same comfortable booths and chairs along with prompt and polite service. This is how all of America should be! We ordered a standard breakfast; my wife had one French toast (each piece is thick and huge) and bacon, while I had eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast. I couldn't resist a half order of bisquits and sausage gravy to share. Everything was good; the table side apple butter is delicious, the bacon thick, smokey and salty, home fries crispy and creamy on the inside and eggs fresh (actually tasted fresh!!) cooked as ordered. Okay, the sausage gravy is beyond outstanding. The half order is so big we brought home the other half (is that a quarter of an order?) and so good with large chunks of homemade spicy and flavorful sausage in a beautiful cream gravy. Even your Cardiologist couldn't resist it. We've eaten many dinners and a few lunches here through the years and everything is always good. I have to say there is no better breakfast, at very fair pricing, anywhere in Sarasota. Enjoy Yoder's, however before you get in line just brush up on the nuances and sports teams of Michigan, Ohio, and all of Canada for the coming small talk. Got It, Ahhh?
(4)
A S.
I think it is a unique idea in Florida to have an Amish restaurant but the food arrived to fast for me to believe it was fixed after I ordered it and wasn't off a pre-made assembly line. Go to cracker barrel, it is better and cheaper.
(2)
Albie F.
What is exactly Amish food? Who cares! You'll say the same when you taste the amazing heart attack eatz at Yoder's. People don't wait in lines that go outside the restaurant door with a ~30 minute Friday night wait unless there is something good inside. We had a couple of the Friday specials along with a slice of the famous peanut butter cream pie. The two cabbage rolls you get are humongous and you'll have your work cut out for you with the ground beef & sausage wrapped inside of the cabbage leaves. The pan fried chicken was equally as good. Amish noodles, Amish potato cakes, fried okra, and mashed potatoes & gravy consisted of our sides that came with the meals. The Amish noodles and potato cakes stood out the most and are what I would definitely order again. Okay the noodles were doused in butter but you only live once. Check out the Man vs Food Youtube video clip on Yoder's website and you'll know everything you need to know about how they make the peanut butter cream pie. If you aren't ready to get a slice after that video, then stay home. One slice was enough for the two of us...trying to take that slice of pie down by yourself after a huge Amish meal is a heart attack waiting to happen..literally.
(5)
Aldo F.
We were so excited to finally have found an excuse to try this place, and boy, what a disappointment. Nothing in this place was anything remotely close to being considered good or flavorful. This place is famous because of their pressurized fried chicken and me being a fried chicken fan came in with huge expectations. Not only did the chicken not have any flavor and was incredibly bland but it was almost cold. Not that I have anything against Popeyes chicken but trust me when I tell you that Popeyes and KFC's chicken is beyond better than this place. The same can be said about everything else we tried here. Everything was bland with no flavor at all. My advise is to not believe the hype and long lines. The food here really sucked.
(1)
Randy S.
Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota . Large portions, great selection , and very friendly staff .
(5)
Brett H.
This is an Amish restaurant about 10min from I-75 so its a good place to stop if you are traveling anywhere. I had there top items: Fried Chicken, Mash Potatoes and Pie. The fried chicken was good. Apparently they were featured on Man v. Food and they do it a special way but it wasn't anything special. The mash potatoes were good and then I tried Amish Potato Pancakes. Now, I'm Jewish and to me, potato pancakes are fried and delicious. These were actual pancakes that have potatoes in the batter. Not so good. All this is pretty filling so you don't want to go too overboard because you want to leave room for the pie. They have a lot of different flavors and its amazingly good and the portion is big for a slice. I had the chocolate creme pie and it was delicious but I was too full and couldn't finish. Overall, its a nice atmosphere in a small town. The food is ok but this is a perfect place for pie. Stick with the pie!!!!
(3)
Eldon P.
My wife and I went yesterday with some friends for our first visit. We had a late breakfast and I was very pleased with it. I had a biscuit and gravy and was glad I did not go for 2 biscuits! One was plenty! My wife had French Toast with apples and stuff. She loved it. The other couple shared a breakfast platter and then pie. Everything was excellent. Service a+ only down thing it is a little crowded in there, not a lot of room. We will be back!
(4)
Steven K.
Yawn. I don't know what the big deal it.
(2)
A A.
If you are on a diet, or thinking about a diet - this is probably not the place for you. But if you are looking for good home-cook food with great service then this is a good stop in sarasota. Some parking, and likely to have a long wait, but it goes fast. Pumpkin, and key lime pies are great. The fruit filled ones(pineapple, blueberries, etc) were ok but not as good as the other ones. Meatloaf, fried chicken, and smoked pulled pork were just what we needed after a long drive.
(4)
Justin S.
First of all, I'm from the Northeast, so I was like "What, there are Amish people in Sarasota?" As it turns out, yes there are... But they're hustling. By that, I mean the Bahia Vista Street area in Sarasota has a number of big businesses with an Amish bent, or at least appearing to be run my Amish people. With that, Yoder's is one of them (and quite possibly the most famous since I think that Man Versus Food Guy came here once) for their ridiculous peanut butter cream pie, which I will revert to. My friend and I, both of whom are in our 20s stopped by here for lunch not long ago, and we were far and away the youngest people in a five mile radius (by about 50 years), but hey, it's Sarasota, right (sorry)? Anyway, we perused the menu looking for what stood out and they do offer a lot of stuff... There are sandwiches and all kinds of meat and vegetable dishes, not to mention a bevy of breakfast choices, but we both went with the dish which allows you to choose three sides as your main course. I guess I was just feeling like a bit of variety. As a side note, (I would think) that one detractor to the popularity of this place would be that I am usually not up for this type of food in Sarasota's usual 100 degree weather, but hey, who am I to judge? Big ups to their fresh bread which is actually very good. Other memorable bites included the corn fritter cakes (basically pancakes with corn in them - sounds somewhat bad, but trust me, it's awesome), potato pancakes and the carrot-raisin salad. It's the simple, well-prepared comfort foods that seem to keep bringing people back. Oh yes, that, and the pie... Let me discuss the pie. I ordered the peanut butter cream pie and my friend ordered hummingbird cake. When the pie came, we thought they brought us a serving for four (which I guess you could say they did). It's basically just a creamy, peanut buttery mess that seems to take up whatever plate or serving surface it's placed on... But it's amazing. I can unequivocally say that you should get this when you come here. The hummingbird (layer) cake was good too, but the cream pies here are the real specialty and totally worth it. If you're in the area looking for a very filling, cozy and inexpensive meal, this is a great place. Rubbing (Ben-Gayed) elbows with the geriatric crowd is just another dimension that adds to the fun of this place.
(4)
William C.
A Sarasota institution. Please know that you are going to Yoders for "comfort" food. Its not fine dinning but it's wonderful homemade food. Turkey and stuffing, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and more. Also, note that the deserts are out of this world !! Breakfast is huge. Love it.
(4)
J A.
My perfect "last meal" would definitely include a piece of Yoder's pie. I love coming here for a meal, or to just pick up a pie at the window outside. Great comfort food at reasonable prices. Definitely don't plan on wearing your skimpiest bikini after a meal here. They do great comfort food staples like fried chicken, carrot salad and mashed potatoes. The waiters and waitresses are always so sweet and attentive. Coconut cream pie is my favorite, but they all look like winners. I love the pie "taster" of the day (smaller portion of pie) because I feel less guilty about indulging. Definitely check out the Yoder's market for delicious fresh produce and other fun things like jam and homemade cookies.
(5)
Scott P.
Pie pie and more pie. at least 20 pies to pick from. have a homemade meal. the fried chicken is wonderful and could feed 2 people easy.
(5)
Julia N.
This place is a local institution. The line is always out the door. We thought we had to try it at least once and am glad we did. The food was good but on the whole very heavy. We got meat loaf and fried chicken, and they were good, nothing stellar, but good. They serve fresh whole grain bread and apple butter as an appetizer which I just adored. There is nothing wrong with a squeezy tube of apple butter at the dinner table. They do offer good salads and small main course portions if you are trying not to overindulge or simply want to save room for pie. The pie was simply amazing. My step-mom got a taster portion of coconut cream pie. Not all of the pies are available in this smaller portion. We got the peanut butter crunch and Florida key lime pie. They were all very good, but we all agreed the key lime was the winner.
(3)
Krystal R.
Round 2 of Man vs. Food Sarasota tour brought us here, and I knew that I wanted some tasty pies. The words "Best pie" had kept ringing in my mind and I knew that after our so-so dinner that we needed something uplifting and delicious to end our night. Trying to park was a little difficult, the restaurant was jam-packed, and there were plenty of hungry customers eating away. Plates of fried chicken, biscuits and lots of great looking dishes passed us by as we waited for a table. We didn't wait too long, maybe 5 minutes on a Friday night. I'm kinda sad that we didn't dine here, because the fried chicken plate for $10 sounded like a steal and it looked heavenly. Oh well, our dessert portion of the night was chosen because of Adam Richman...so everyone was ready for some pie treats. We made it really easy for our waitress, and told her that we wanted desserts only....and that we flew 3000 miles for this piece of pie. She laughed at us because we jokingly said that for the love of pie brought us to this place. Our waitress, Valerie, was really sweet and brought our order of drinks in a swift manner. She gave us recommendations on pies to try. Everyone had different palates for dessert, and at least 3 of us ordered the dutch apple pie, my uncle ordered the Key lime pie, my aunt ordered the pecan pie, and I was in debate for something quirky and off-beat....like the shoofly pie or the peanut butter pie or something fruity and different from the group, but Valerie told me that if I love blueberries - then it would be perfect for me. Most of us got a scoop of ice cream on top, because that's the best way to eat a pie. Oh wow...my first bite of the blueberry pie was luscious, a mix of tangy and sweet...it was heavenly. Of course, everyone at our table had to sample each other pies. Loved the sweet and cream Key lime pie...it was soooo good. The pecan pie was a lovely reminder of the holidays coming around the corner, definitely a Thanksgiving favorite to me. The dutch apple pie was so fresh and had nice a crumbly buttery top...my husband gobbled the entire plate with no problem. I wish we would have dined here first, I would have ate my dessert as my meal instead!! We did come back the next day to get a couple more pies to take home for the rest of the famiily. How many more times will Califorians like us be able to enjoy some tasty Yoders' pie?? Seriously...it was worth the trek back and their pies are the best I've ever had. If you're in the area, this should be your number one spot to check out. The pies are smack-tastic!!
(5)
Rayni K.
The only time I've ever come across Amish people was when I was somewhere in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, so I know nothing of their cuisine. All I can say is that if it's always as good as what Yoder's offer, I might be convinced to become Amish myself. Their signature fried chicken meal is HUGE. We ordered the 1/4 chicken white meat, with mashed potatoes & gravy and corn muffins as sides. We then ordered the Peanut Butter Cream pie for dessert. Note: They charge an extra $2 for sharing/extra plate. We went around this by saying that I only wanted pie, while my partner wanted the chicken. This was only half a white lie 'cos I really did only want the pie. This is where I docked a star from their rating because I find it completely unnecessary and ... well, just a tad silly. The fried chicken, even though it was white meat, was extremely juicy and tasty! It wasn't dry at all and surprised me to no end. The mashed potatoes & gravy was one of the best I've ever tasted. And the corn muffins were pretty darn good as well. But there's no doubt that the absolute winner of our meal was the Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was ah-maze-ing! I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there and then 'cos of the amount of sugar in it, but if I had died eating their pie, I think I'd be perfectly content with that. We took home their Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream pie with us and it was just as good even after leaving it in the fridge overnight. Extra info: The line can get incredibly long. We got there at 5:45pm and it was already out the door. We finally got seated at 6:25 (that's a 40-minute wait).
(4)
J S.
If you want to try Amish Mennonite cooking in Sarasota, here is one place you can try. We've had a lot better, and we're from IN originally, home of some great Amish/Mennonite cooking in Shipshewanna, IN. We were very disappointed in our food, with the chicken being just so so. It definitely lacked flavor and was blah. Chicken gravy was the consistency of thick vanilla pudding and didn't even fall off the spoon when holding it upside down. Yuck! The pies are supposed to be good but we didn't sample any. During high season, (winter) this place is VERY difficult to get into, mainly because the restaurant is so small and there is very little parking. Sitting areas are VERY tight and jammed close together. A much better place to eat is Der Dutchman just down the street.
(2)
Brian B.
Really good breakfast. Great place for a Saturday (but not Sunday) morning Very deep breakfast menu with lots of tasty items. I am particularly a fan of the French Toast, but the skillets are very good as well. Never been there for lunch. Service is very good. There can be a line and a substantial one later at breakfast on a Saturday, but it moves pretty quickly. Remember they are closed on Sunday.
(4)
Jon M.
This place should be on every bucket list known to man. Don't eat for a day in advance because you will receive enormous portions. Also don't eat it all as you want to save room for pie! Every time I go to Florida I stop by, supper is great but the best is their breakfast. They have the best sweet roll and sweet roll pancakes you will ever taste. But don't forget, finish with pie!
(5)
W W.
Good food, big portions, reasonable price. Pies good but very fatty. Parking is difficult.
(4)
Kevin W.
My first experience at Yoder's was through a pie my friend Paul bought me as I was visiting from Orlando. I've heard of this place through Man vs. Food and have been dying to try it. And behold I was not disappointed. I actually was not able to make it to the restaurant to eat, due to it being closed on Sunday, but Paul did hook me up with a pie to eat. A peanut butter one, which I've heard was the best. One bite from that baby, and you can definitely tell it was homemade from top to bottom. The airiness of the whip cream, through the peanut buttery deliciousness of the filling, to the sweet crumbly awesomeness of the crust. It was mighty good. Haven't tried any of the other pies yet, but will definitely come back for a second visit when I'm in town. Highly recommend this place for dessert if your in town!
(5)
Jerry m.
I want to give this place a better review as I live down the street from here and like the idea of home cooked food. But honestly, none of the dinner dishes are very good. You can get better food at a Cracker Barrel. The sides aren't bad, but the fried chicken isn't very juicy, and the meatloaf smelled and tasted like cat food. I will say that the desserts are pretty good though. Come for dessert, but pass on the dinner.
(2)
Captain C.
ONE OF THE BEST APPLE PIES EVER!! I'm a vegetarian, so there isn't much for us to eat at this famous Amish restauraunt. However, they have one of the best Apple Crumb pies I have ever had. Whenever I hit Sarasota, I pick up 1 or 2 pies to bring back home to Jacksonville. The manager of the place is so nice, he always packs it well for my journey, including placing it in a travel friendly strong plastic box. The servers are all friendly, and super helpful. Even though I just order my pies for take-out, I always tip them anyway. 4 stars instead of 5 only because they lack a viable selection of vegetarian food. But that's not what Amish food is known for, anyway. I just go for dessert! :)
(4)
Jane Q.
I love Yoders! The folks that work there are super friendly and helpful. It gets busy on the weekend for breakfast but so worth the wait. Love the coffee, cinnamon bun, pancakes, bacon omelette, and the banana cream pie! Food is fresh, hot, and delicious! Everyone should try Yoders. Oh love the fresh market and gift shop also! 2 thumbs up from me!!!
(5)
David R.
I've been eating at Yoders since the 80's. It was a favorite when I was home on leave from the military. I moved to Atlanta in 2000 and never found anything as good up there. I'm in Sarasota visiting, my daughter wanted KFC. I laughed and said I'll take you to the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. She ordered the half chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad. The service is quick, friendly and the food was fabulous! She quickly admitted that was the best friend chicken she has ever had. She took a bunch home with her, got up the next morning and had the rest for breakfast! Two days later and guess where she wants to go for dinner again? Heheheheeh with the economy the past several years and restaurants folding and great places to eat disappearing, it's fantastic to see places like this still happily in business with great food and service! Off we go to Yoder's.. I had the roast beef last time.. The meat loaf sure sounds good tonight!
(5)
Laurie K.
It has been 10 years since I first heard about this place, and have never been able to find someone to take the 2 hour and 28 minute road trip with me for lunch, well until today when I decided enough is enough and took my mom and went . I come from LI which is a day trip away from Lancaster PA and the Dutch Amish Country, which my family has frequented since I was a baby (40 plus years ago), so I KNOW delicious Amish cooking, which Yoder's is fantastic! Be ready to wait on line, but it is worth every moment we stood in the 93 degree weather. The line went briskly along and we were seated in less then an hour. The chicken is by far the most tastiest I have ever eaten, and the portions were huge! I had read a review that they only gave this place 4 out of 5 because they felt it was over priced... What a bunch of hogwash! Prices were very inline and with the servings there is plenty to take home for another day. Mom and I ate the same thing, but she had raspberry Ice Tea and I had Mint.... I have never drank tea where I felt like I had an actual mouthful of the herb or fruit. They were both spot on. I posted a picture of a MUST for dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie topped with bananas! It could have fed 4 people and this too reminded me of back north! You need to ask for this pie though as it is not on the regular menu but they will make it for you :) Wish this place was closer to us, but on our trip home we decided we would make a once a month excursion down. 10 Thumbs up for this place!!!
(5)
Olga G.
The place is very popular, the line is out the door but moves quickly. The menu is large, lots of yummy choices, good options for kids. I tried their cod, and it was awesome, fresh, perfectly seasoned. Do recommend it fried. I had it with beets( if u are a fan you' d like it) and carrot salad, a bit on the sweet side, but still good. Bread and homemade apple butter is delish! Fried chicken looked huge and tasted delish, and was also very popular, many people ordered it. Sandwiches looked great as well. Also tried fresh strawberry pie and it was yum!! One of the known items Finally tried breakfast too, and oh, mama!!! Strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast was unreal!!!!!! I'm salivating just thinking about it!! Warm, crispy outside mixed with strawberry gooey goodness was haven!!! This is a must and very popular item!! My husband got scrambled eggs with beef hash and a biscuit and a bowl of fruit. Eggs-fluffy cloud; biscuit-really homemade, huge, tasty; beef hash- just yum; fruit- freshest and sweetest I've ever had at a breakfast place. Also tried biscuits and gravy, very good, and pancakes, which were just delish, Real homemade stuff! Can't wait to come back to try more things! The gift store next door is adorable, had a lot of cute, interesting items, a lot handmade and their market was pretty good too, great selection of produce, tomatoes and strawberry were So good, fresh and delicious, and their homemade whole grain bread, oh, just to die for, perfect size slice, not too mushy or ruff, goes very well with a sandwich with one if their tomatoes. The whole area was a sight to see too, an amish area, so lots of Amish people around which was really neat. Worth visiting. The only reason 4 stars is a little overpriced, but it really is worth every penny!!
(4)
Robert C.
Went to Yoders this vacation and have to say the service has taken a hit. I had a side salad as one of my sides and they served it before the meal. I finished the salad and the empty bowl remained on our table through dinner and dessert. All the while two busser/food runners stood idly waiting for tables to empty out. The food continues to satisfy and the chocolate cake is still a winner with everyone. I had the lemon meringue pie this time and it was very good. My wife had the peach pie and it was off the chain delicious. I would recommend against the flounder. It was flat, over fried and tough and the corn meal coating overpowered the fish. Stick with the fried chicken or the baked chicken which both hit home runs every time.
(3)
Michael M.
This is Amish cooking at its best. The staff is extremely friendly, the food delicious (try the meatloaf or fried chicken) and the desserts are heavenly. A sure fine stop any time.
(5)
Michele D.
Very good the fried cicken and the peach pie too. Waitress kinds and friendly. Great value price. Reccommended.
(4)
L S.
Overall it's delicious. I think the fried chicken is way over rated. Had the AYCE fish yesterday .. it was rubbery and very bland. Everything else I've had has been fantastic. Always save room for pie or take some home!!
(4)
Rox R.
Yeah! This place rocks. Though it seems like a tourist trap, its not- feels very genuine and homey. Good food. I had one of the specials- BBQ pork sandwich with the sweet potato side. The BBQ sandwich was tasty and hard to eat because the meat just fell out of the bun- use a knife! But, the mashed sweet potato were absolutely amazing- best I have ever had!! Don't miss this boat. Chocolate peanut butter cream pie was amazing. Share it because its too much for 1 person. Neither the peanut butter or chocolate is overpowering- they got it just right. BTW- did I mention how good the mashed sweet potato was? Just checking.. yeah, make that into a pie! Whoa, that would blow my mind.
(5)
Taylor C.
Food is amazing. The restaurant could be a little bigger, but other than that eveyrthing is PERFECT! The strawberry pie is amazing! Definitely recommend everyone goes here. Service is awesome as well.
(5)
Selena C.
Once I came with my family and waited in line forever since they kept seating groups before us, that were the same size or smaller. We finally got seated when another group behind us was about to get started pointed out to the hostess that we had been repeatedly skipped... Even though that was close to four years ago now I'm always a bit hesitant about dining. The cream pies are really really good though and I almost mooch off of my friends whenever they go and buy some. So yeah. Mixed feelings and cream pie.
(3)
Darren O.
Maybe I'm being too harsh on Yoder's here because I feel a bit bad about giving them a three star review. I hadn't been down to Sarasota in four years and for probably a decade before Yoder's was the go to place when we were down there. The meatloaf was always AMAZING, to the point if we were in Sarasota for two weeks I might have it six times while we were there. The pies were also to die for, the special chocolate peanut butter pie especially. Fast forward four years and a Man Vs. Food appearance and the place just didn't seem the same to me. The LONG lines were still out the door, causing an easy 45 minute wait to get a table and the place pretty much looked the same, except for the plasma tv on the wall playing the Man Vs. Food clip over and over and over... Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Man Vs. Food show, I just have to wonder if the exposure on that stated a downward trend at Yoder's. I tried the meatloaf, and it was ok, it just wasn't the meatloaf that I'd remembered from the past. A couple days later I tried the meatloaf on the buffet over at Troyer's down the street and it was better. The mashed potatoes were a bit cold in the middle, which was very odd to me. My father had the baked chicken and he complained that it was very dry. Since the chicken is something that Yoder's is supposed to be famous for, that was a pretty big letdown for him. I had a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie and it was more of a big mess of chocolate pudding with some crust underneath and some chocolate chips on top. Certainly not the worst pie I've ever had, but not the Yoder's pies that I'd have told you were the BEST anywhere in years past. The one thing I can say is that the homemade mint tea was most excellent. Our waitress was great and the service was excellent, the food just wasn't up to what I'd have liked. My mother and wife disagreed with me, so your mileage may vary here! I'm sure we will give Yoder's another chance next time we're in the area, but for this trip at least the lines were not worth waiting in especially with Troyer's Dutch Heritage a couple minutes down the road. Hopefully Yoder's will find a way to get back to the basics and become great again!
(3)
Salimeh K.
So we went here as my husband saw some show regarding this restaurant. Well there was a line out the door, so we thought the food would be great...ya right!! I ordered the fried chicken-it was dry and not tasty at all. Extremely bland and so disappointing. We did not bother ordering dessert as i was not happy with my meal. We just wanted to get out of there asap. Maybe if we visit the area we might give it another shot and try the breakfast and dessert, but no "famous fried chicken"...
(2)
Natalie W.
The breakfast here will blow your mind. I had the eggs and bacon which were so fresh and delicious. The orange juice was the best i've ever had in my life. The waiters are a little weird but I think that is all part of the authentic experience. Be sure to take home a home-made woopie pie. Also, be prepared for a wait in the morning, however they do a good job of moving people in and out quickly.
(4)
Brenda W.
Huge serving sizes of all American comfort food......try the homemade potato chips!!!! They are to die for.....yummy!!!! Our family of 5 had a fantastic dinner on a Friday night.
(4)
M W.
It just baffles me that this place is not only still in business, but successful. After hearing wonderful reviews, my husband and I stopped in for dinner and some pie. The menu offered many country-style choices. He chose the fried chicken, which we heard was amazing, and I had some sort of side-item meal. Well, the fried chicken was gross--KFC is far better--and the side item meal was beyond gross. I mean, they serve CANNED GREEN BEANS. Unapologetically, apparently. They say it's to keep costs down, but their menu prices are average, not cheap. Canned green beans. I just couldn't get over it. Why am I paying upwards of $8 for four cans of vegetables dumped on my plate? Also, despite being a bakery of sorts, they serve SLICED WONDERBREAD rather than fresh bread with your meal. Yes, we got a little plate piled high with five or six slices of WONDERBREAD. Gross. Their pies were okay--nothing to write home about. Super bland pie crusts but good filling. Lots of whipped cream. This restaurant is just gross. You couldn't pay me to eat here again.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Amanda P.
Yoder's is amazing. Grew up eating from here almost every week. I had my first corn fritter from here... it was good! I hardly ate inside, always ordered for pick-up. But they have friendly staff! They also have amazing pies.
(3)Daniel B.
There is not a bad item on the menu it is all excellent. Huge portions great service friendly staff. If you go during season expect a wait but it is so worth it. Great breakfast and even better dinners and save room for dessert the pies are to die for.
(5)Lauren C.
I went on a little mini weekend vacation to Sarasota and had heard about Yoder's restaurant and famous pies on the food network, so we had to stop in and see what it's all about. The Amish make fantastic home style dishes and don't disappoint on the flavor or large portion size by any means. We decided to keep it simple and split a cobb salad and a bowl of chili so we could have room for pie afterwards. The cobb salad was really tasty and had a ton of the usual toppings, so it wasn't "skimpy"! The chili was solid and hearty. After our meal came the difficult decision of which pie to try. There are a TON of delicious homemade pies and it's really hard to pick, ultimately we went with the banana cream and it was really heaven on a plate. If we weren't visiting from out of town and staying in a hotel with no fridge, I most definitely would have gotten a whole pie to bring home. They also have a cute little boutiquey gift shop on site which is worth checking out while waiting to be seated or after your meal. This place is a winner in my book.
(4)WizardPrang X.
After the disappointment at Der Dutchman ( yelp.com/biz/der-dutchma… ), we came back a few days later to try out Yoder's. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the chicken was to die for. A wonderful meal, and a great way to forget the less-pleasant experience of the other place own the road.
(5)Valerie A K.
What a delicious meal! My husband and I ordered one fried chicken dinner and one baked chicken dinner. Both were moist and delicious. The onion rings were outrageous and the coleslaw very special.We did not have room for dessert After reading Yelp reviews, we did not know what to expect and decided to treat this evening meal as an adventure. Wow what a treat!
(4)L. W.
Wow! Best fried chicken I've ever had. Really ripe tomato slices and amazing fried okra as my sides. There was a long line but it moved quickly....totally worth a wait though. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)Meagan S.
I've never had anything but good service here! They're food is always amazing. I made it a point to visit every time I'm in town. I also love their little gift shop and market next door.
(5)Madison F.
I've had their "famous" fried chicken, and I'd have to say, I'm not impressed. While the chicken was moist, I wouldn't say it was more delicious than other fried chicken I have had, plus the outside lacks a good crunch which is something I particularly enjoy in fried chicken. However, their apple butter (and if you put it on their corn muffins) is absolutely delicious. It's the perfect mix of sweet and apple-cinnamon flavor and can be a bit addicting. But the best thing Yoder's sells is their pies. Their peanut butter pie is absolutely fantastic. The filling is creamy and filled with peanut-butter flavor and the sprinkled pieces of peanuts give it a nice crunch. Their fresh strawberry pie is also to die for, with delicious fresh strawberries topped with their homemade whipped cream. Their baked pies are not as good as their cream/fresh fruit pies but are still pretty decent.
(4)Ay C.
I always love Yoder's. It is very tasty and very nice people!
(5)Lauren F.
I went twice because I was hoping it would redeem itself. This place always has a long line to be seated, so go when you have a bit of time to dedicate. I wouldn't recommend this place if you are looking to eat something healthy; on my first visit I had to eat a plate of sliced tomatoes for lack of alternatives. The menu has a large selection of "home cooked" food. I don't believe they salt their food, likely based on clientele. The fried chicken comes in huge portions and is not deserving of "famous". Potato pancakes were quite boring as well. I am 99% sure their pies are store bought. It is brightly lit inside and the seating arrangement is crowded. The good news is we did not have an issue finding parking because they have their own lot. It's a fun theme place (makes me feel like I'm home in PA again), but not a place I care to go back to.
(2)Deb S.
Food is good and plentiful, but the pies are hit and miss, the "FRUIT" pie black rasberry has no berries, just a lot of jam/jelly with crust, the rasberry cream also has no fruit, just a pudding pie with swirls of jam/ jelly. Chocolate peanut butter is better and the apple crumb is good although there were many seed pod parts in the pie. So ask before you buy if you want a fruit pie.
(3)Seth F.
Honestly, this was just okay. I wouldn't really call it "good" food, but it wasn't all that bad. The homemade bread was good and the apple butter spread was alright. I've had way better homemade apple butter from a friend, though. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy along with fried okra. Again, I enjoyed the meal, but I wasnt impressed with the food. It seemed like your average country diner food. Where I was really disappointed, though, was the pie. The whole time my friends who had gone a few times swore by the pie and the restaurant seemed to advertize their famous pies, too. Maybe my particular pie order was a mistake. I ordered the blackberry pie and once it arrived, I saw that the blackberry filling was exactly like the congealed store-bought blackberry pies that I could buy for very cheap. The only saving grace was that the crust was a bit better than the store-bought version. A friend ordered the 1/4 white meat fried chicken and that honestly looked pretty good and moist. If I have a chance to go back, I'll probably order that along with one of their cream pies, which seems to be more their specialty. I got to try their potato chips which are crunchy and light and not greasy at all. The staff was very nice. No complaints there.
(3)John M.
Yoders is a place I go to for breakfast every time I'm in Sarasota. The service is amazing, everyone is so friendly. The food is high quality fresh ingredients and you always get a large portion. They make great omelets and everything is always served with toast and homefries. They have a great homemade apple butter for the toast and from what I hear the pies are amazing. I had a taste of one and it was pretty good. I will be back on my next trip to Sarasota. They never seem to disappoint.
(4)Paul H.
With all the reviews raving about the fried chicken and Adam Richman saying it is "the juiciest chicken" he's ever had. My chicken was quite the opposite. I ordered four dark meat chicken hoping it wouldn't be dry, well it was. The chicken skin had no flavor and the "dark" meat was dry as white meat. Kaitlyn asked me which sides I'd like. I asked her which ones were good and picked out two she had listed: mashed potatoes with gravy and mac n' cheese. The mashed potatoes were fairly plain even with the gravy. The mac n' cheese was good but nothing amazing. Why'd you let me down Kaitlyn! What's up with the Wonderbread? The only thing that saved the disaster of a dinner was the peanut butter cream pie that my family has been ordering for over a decade from Yoder's. I rarely give one stars but to sum up Yoder's Famous Fried Chicken: a letdown. I'm very disappointed.
(1)Yvonne G.
Comfort food and clean restaurants are a Amish trademark AND the pie...always lots of homemade pie to eat there or take home!!
(4)Heather L.
Yoder's is an institution. I try to explain Yoder's to my friends across the country by beginning with "it's this Amish restaurant in Florida that serves pies, meatloaf, potato pancakes, pot roast..." Okay. Great. Let me try this again. Pretend you have never had a plate of the average, American comfort food before. That means looking at the neuralyzer and ridding yourself of the repressed memories of that questionable meatloaf your mother made that warm summer, that cold piece of fried chicken at the bottom of a KFC bucket, or the leftover canned beans from the BBQ fundraiser. None of that matters now. Eating at Yoder's is like eating comfort food for the first time in your life. It may not prepare you for a day of beaching on Siesta Key, but it truly defines food that sticks to your ribs. The chicken is juicy, the cornbread is savory, the pies are amazing, and that is because Mama Yoder is slaving away in the kitchen to make people like you and I happy.
(5)Kate I.
So disappointing...& I wanted to like it. I had seen Yoders on the Travel channel and food network shows and I wanted to experience this little slice of heaven. Atlas I fear its hay-day is over. The gift shop was cute, but the items I looked at were over-priced ( I expected to pay more for their craft, but on something's the price was ridiculous). There was atleast one rude worker in every area we visited. These things could be lived with because the food was what's important and is was beyond disappointing. Everything was bland. My green beans were so over cooked they had no taste and the "homemade" mashed potatoes tasted like they were box. The only redeeming items were the fried chicken and homemade pies, what they are famous for. My father said if it wasn't for me wanting to try it him & mom would had left after waiting 10 mins plus to get our drink order taken. Order a pie they'll ship it to u, but skip the meal it's not worth it. Sadly disappointed; although interested in trying the new Dutch Amish restaurant down the street.
(1)Tim W.
Yoder's Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Sarasota, FL. This restaurant serves comfort food, amish style, and is located in the heart of the amish district in Sarasota. The service was 5 star, food came out super quick and the waitress was very attentive. I ordered the Roasted Chicken w/ Stuffing and the chicken was very dry. We asked for more gravy and it was brought out right away. I tried to order a whoopie pie because I saw it pictured on the placemat but the waitress told me they only sell them to go. I'm not sure why they don't sell these for dessert so I had to wait to eat dessert when I arrived home because I bought the whoppie pies at checkout to go. They were really good. Yoder's gives you large portions but they need to work on their dry chicken. I plan to return and I will update my review in due time.
(3)Anthony C.
Awesome pies everything was fresh homemade and very filling warning portions are extremely large lol
(5)Joe C.
Had a take home pie...their famed peanut butter pie. Hadn't had it in about 8 years. Totally cheaper ingredients in my opinion OR my taste buds are getting older because the pie didn't taste like much-especially peanut butter. Pretty disappointed! Sorry. I wanted it to be better. Now it just sits in my fridge until it expires and I throw it away... C'Mon Yoder's, don't cheap out on the pies!
(2)James H.
We ate here for dinner on a Tuesday night in November and it wasn't crowded unlike the summer months where you have to wait like almost an hour for a table. We were sat quickly. (party of two) Asked for our order quickly and even the food was quick to the table. I ordered the 2pc fried chicken and she ordered the shrimp. We got multiple sides, such as mashed with white gravy, stuffing, mac and cheese, onion rings and amish potato pancakes. Everything was great, especially the chicken it was huge and juicy! We got three pie pieces to-go, which are amazing as well. They have a great little market as well with other souvenirs and other food items. I have also eaten here for breakfast and it is very good as well. We always stop here when we are in Sarasota!
(5)Justine F.
I will say that fried chicken is forever ruined for my boyfriend and I because we live in Nashville and we have this thing called "Hot Chicken". I'm willing to admit this probably has a lot to do with why we thought Yoder's Fried Chicken was tasteless and nothing special. My boyfriend said his chicken was dry. That said, the mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. I am not a big fan of peanut butter or pies for that matter, but the peanut butter cream pie was heavenly. One of the best things I have ever tasted and also enjoyed their homemade cookies. I'd like to return when we are in Sarasota again, and will order something else besides the chicken. Looking forward to trying more of their baked goods and visiting the gift shop.
(3)Christine K.
This place is definitely an experience to try. Food is good but some of the best things were the smaller things (see end of review for highlights). We went on a Friday and of course it's the only day they don't sell the famous fried chicken. So we had the 4 piece dark & white pan fried chicken. It came with a breast the size of my face, a drumstick, a wing, & a thigh with 2 sides. Between two orders for dinner for my hubby & me, we brought home 3 pieces. Definitely order the 2 piece each or share a 4 piece. Pan fried chicken was seasoned well, not too salty but it was definitely greasy. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday. The sides we tried: Baked sweet potato was swimming in butter, Mac n cheese had very soft macaroni noodles (I like my noodles al dente), homemade potato chips were crispy & addicting, cole slaw was too sweet, and Amish potato cakes which is like a firm pancake with potato shreds in them. We also had the taster of the peanut butter cream pie which was fresh & different. You need to have a bite of the PB crumbs pieces in every bite which is a little hard in the container it comes in. Pretty yummy & not heavy at all. My hubby thought it was too sweet without the pb crumble pieces. The standout of the whole meal was the bread & Apple butter they give you to start with. So soft & airy without a heavy crust. Comes out warm too. The homemade apple butter was not like the store bought jarred type. It tasted sweet and fresh. Almost like a fresh applesauce.
(4)Michael G.
Mmmmmm.......
(4)Victor R.
I dined with high expectations and they were all met!
(4)Sandy R.
Nice place for home-cooking! The place is small and generally has a line out front. Once inside, the tables are so close together, it's a little bit claustrophic for me. The fried chicken is good, lots of meat, big portion. In the fall, I enjoyed one of the best desserts that I ever had. It was the "Pumpkin Pie Taster." So delicious and inexpensively priced (I think around $2.50.) You can purchase pies for carry-out. There is a small gift shop across the parking lot, as well as a produce market and deli next door.
(3)Maryann N.
I live close to Lancaster in Pa., Yoders Restaurant did not compare to Amish restaurants back home, i compare it to the dinners back home. We had the fried chicken and Pot Roast, both were very bland for taste. I had the mashed sweet potatoes, although they were cold they did taste good. My wife had spinach it was also bland in taste,but the chicken stuffing was good. The service was fast and friendly. I will not be returning.
(2)Krissy M.
Definitely a great place to visit in Sarasota! I ordered the special of the day: pulled smoked pork - so good! hubs had the fried chicken (I don't eat chicken, otherwise I definitely would have gone with that popular option). Dessert? DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING SPACE FOR! Hubs had the fresh peach pie (seasonal) and I had the peanut butter / chocolate pie - YUM.
(4)Gina P.
Definitely the place to go when you want to throw your diet plans out the window. The food here is fantastic but in typical amish country fashion it definitely sticks to your ribs. The line wraps goes out the door and into the parking lot. They have been on diners, drive ins, and dives so it's a super popular joint. They are known for the fried chicken. The portions are absolutely insane. The half chicken white is two full breasts and two wings. For sides I had cole slaw and amish potato pancake. The pancake was odd I was thinking it was going to be more like a "latka" potato pancake but it was like a legit pancake. I also tried a cup of their chili which was really amazing. They have a special sauce to order with chicken for like an extra .50 or something. DO IT! The sauce is where it's at. It's like a homemade french dressing and it's great on the chicken. I packed most of my food in a leftover box bc I knew I needed pie. This place has a ton of pies. I got blueberry double crust. It was fantastic. Definitely a must try in Sarasota although to eat here often would definitely keep your cardiologist in business.
(4)Robert T.
We had a yummy dinner and delicious pies. With six of us we had quite a variety. We had the fried chicken and sides. Our favorite sides were mashed potatoes, spiced apples and mac and cheese. We then had pumpkin cheese cake, crumb apple pie, strawberry and cream pie, chocolate creme pie, and yoders key lime. They all were great! If there is any complaint it was the the pie was $4.50/ slice.
(5)Alethea B.
Just get the fried chicken, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, and a slice of strawberry rhubarb. I promise. Don't forget to drown everything in that delicious apple butter.
(5)Jennifer K.
Breakfast was excellent, good ole home cooking. Portions were huge. I had bacon egg cheese biscuit, bacon was a little too greasy for my taste. BF had farmers skillet which had a loaf of potatos... sausage gravy was a must, very flavorful. Service was good, enjoyed checking out the farmers market and gift shop.
(4)Adrianna U.
This review is just based on the peanut butter pie and atmosphere. First off, the ladies at the cashier were not the nicest people. When i got the pie, it wasn't bad. Just a little overhyped. It was ok, but nothing to come back for. Fluffiness was great, and it was nice and creamy. Besides that, i love all the Amish people biking around. I didn't know this existed in Florida. I feel so sheltered here in soflo! This Amish lady was very nice next to me, commenting how my doggy must be cold in the weather. Definitely a nice contrast from the lady at the counter.
(3)JP A.
Love the fried chicken and the home style sides. Really large portions. My wife accidentally ordered the half fried chicken dinner. I had enough chicken breast left to make sandwiches for the whole family the next day. Peanut butter pie is my favorite! Highly recommended.
(5)Didi D.
I stopped here with my fiancé for lunch, and it was an awkwardly unpleasant experience. We've never felt so bizarrely unwelcome in a restaurant before. At one point I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps somebody had pinned a swastika on my back. What gives, folks? Did I blink and grow a second head or something? An older gentleman was seating guests. He looked at us (through us, really), and mumbled "Two? Come on..." And then headed off to a table. I thought maybe he was having a lousy day, so I shrugged it off and followed. We passed a table with a fifty something year old couple and their two teen daughters. The wife was super pissy, super frumpy, and stopped what she was doing to glare at me angrily. Not sure what I did other than smile, and wait to move past her table to be seated. After giving me a full eye contact dirty look, she shifted her gaze to my five and a half months preggo belly. I'm not kidding, the miserable cow furrowed her brow deeply, and looked totally disgusted with my decision to bare offspring. She then lifted her gaze back to meet my eyes and shot me another angry glare while jutting out her chin. It was pure exaggerated disgust from a total stranger, and I've never experienced that in my life before. Uhhhh, do I look like somebody who banged your husband? Have you EVER had an orgasm? What is going on here? We were seated. My partner looked confused about the level of angry rudeness going on. Our waitress seemed nice, and took our orders, only to vanish after wards. Not sure what happened to her. Another older woman served us our food. She would not make eye contact with me, and also looked like she was having an absolutely terrible day. It was strange and off putting. When she took my plate she had her head craned, and was looking at another table, and never spoke to me. My partner commented, but we really didn't know what to make of it. He ordered a chicken blt that was actually quite good, but it was difficult by that point to focus on the food. As we were eating a man at another table across the room hauled off and slapped his wife. Nobody seemed to notice. Pretty sure some kind of toxin had been released into the air ducts, and it was making all the patrons banana sandwiches insane. We were seated at a booth surrounded on three sides by groups of elderly people. Each group had one person in it that possibly had tuberculosis, and was hacking and coughing up phlegm. It was like the cherry on top of an already delightful pie. Speaking of pie, we really wanted to try some, but the place was so twilight zone, that we decided we better high tail it out of there. It honestly seemed as though the staff, and some of the clientele wanted to tar and feather us. I think we stopped in on the worst day of the year for everybody in the building. My aunts love this place, so maybe we'll give it another try, but I'd be hesitant.
(1)Walt B.
The food here is absolutely delicious! The portions are extremely huge and you will definitely want a to go box to take with you. Be sure to also take a slice of pie with you too because they have the best pie anywhere! I recommend the peanut butter cream pie! It is to die for!
(5)Joyce C.
Went for a later lunch today, 1:30 ish, and the line was still out the door. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, but had some nice people around us to chat with. You don't come here for atmosphere, there is none. You don't come here for exciting or unusual dishes. You DO come here for basic comfort food. My husband had the fried chicken, he said it was very good, not heavily coated, and prepared crispy but not dry. I had the Wednesday special, roasted chicken. Good mashed potatoes, really good...other sides good as well. Okay now keep reading....you want the pie...it is about the pie. Love the pie...we got a banana cream to go, just ate my half a few minutes ago, did I tell you it's the pie. You can also get a whole pie to go, have done that on the holidays...service good...a really nice place to have in Sarasota...
(4)D J.
This was my 2nd visit to Yoder's (I didn't write a review the 1st time because I wasn't impressed & thought I'd give it another try) BUT I'm still not impressed. All of the food I tried at Yoder's lack's flavor. The chicken is cooked well but could use some seasoning (& it wasn't as crispy as others have claimed). The slices of white bread they bring out while you wait on your food is delicious but it would be better if it was warm. The onion rings were the best thing I've eaten there. The corn was blah & the orka was cold & tasted as if it was 2days old (not fresh at all). The potato pancakes were bland & dry. I just don't think it's worth the wait. After going to Yoder's twice I'm still trying to figure out why the line is always out the door. However, their german chocolate whoopie pie is great! The red velvet not so much & the chocolate cake we had was one of the worst I've ever tasted (the texture & flavor was cardboard-like). Service was great, our waitress was very pleasant! I really wanted to love Yoder's but my expectations have not been met. I want to go back to give them one more try but I'd hate to be disappointed again (it maybe a waste of my time & money).
(2)Ansen S.
You have to eat a half chicken and pie if you go!! Love this place and bought the mug!
(5)Mike A.
Food is great no matter when you go and huge serving sizes. May take a few minutes to get in but once you set down you are taken good care of and the food is so good. Btw the pies are so ridiculous good.
(5)Ayla Z.
Yoder's is one of those places where you you want to eat a slice of pie before you order (my favorite is the peanut butter pie, but there are so many to choose from!) Everything is homey and heartwarming. Perfect for bringing the whole family when they're hungry. Portions are huge and prices are low, and they sell whole pies to go!
(4)Ed L.
Excellent bbq chicken on Thursday. PIE is amazing. Breads are really good. Enjoyed again & again. Mac side really nice and rich.
(5)Richard R.
I'm not sure if there is a statute of limitations on writing a review, but let me say it's been about 2 years since we've visited this restaurant. We have family in Tampa and decided to do a day trip to Sarasota to try a different beach (other than Clearwater) and travel to two restaurants featured on Man vs. Food - Yoder's and The Old Salty Dog. We have visited many of the restaurants Adam Richman has recommended, but only about half are worth the trip, which is better than my record with Guy Fieri's recommendations. Surprisingly, of all the Travel/Food Channel Hosts who've featured restaurants on their shows... Andrew Zimmern of Bizzare Foods has been the most reliable when it comes to our tastes. The flavor of Yoder's fried chicken was average at best, certainly not something to drive out of your way to eat. The sides were pretty bland, and the peanut butter cream pie was nothing special... which was a real disappointment considering how mouth watering it seemed when watching the show. youtube.com/watch?v=2seV… Bottom line ---- Don't believe the hype!!!
(2)Mike C.
over salty eerything
(2)Kristina C.
Had the fried chicken, 2 piece white meat. Super dry, hard to swallow. Way too much food. I will go back to try pie, didn't have any room for it.
(1)Travellady T.
What can I say, a lot. The food is great! I have had the chicken, the beef, a couple of the pies, and never have I been disappointed. Ever. The staff is quick and friendly. It can get crowed, so be prepared. Stop by the market when you leave, you will be glad you did.
(4)Anonymous A.
Always delicious! I come here frequently. Lee is a very good waitress who is always friendly. The line is definitely worth the wait
(5)Harvey D.
I only went into the deli and purchased some yummy sweets so this is the only part of Yoder's that I can comment on. The deli was stocked with a lot of delicious desserts and it was hard to pick which ones I wanted to walk away with. I ended up with the buckeyes, pecan pie bars, chocolate whoopie pies and the oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut butter sugarless cookies. I have tried everything so far except the cookies and they have all been great.
(4)Jessica W.
So delicious and efficient. Would definitely recommend fried chicken (obvi), chicken and dumplings, and mac and cheese. Great service!
(5)Adam B.
Why did I visit on a Friday? No fried chicken to be had! Ah well, we ordered two pie slices to go, a peanut butter cream and a southern pecan. The pecan had tons of pecans on it, which is key. It could have used some whipped cream though. Then again, I could have used a glass of milk. The peanut butter cream was awesome. It has vanilla custard, tons of whipped cream and two layers of peanut butter crumbs, which is a mix of chunky peanut butter and powdered sugar. One of the better pies I've had in a long time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(4)Carey F.
I was really looking forward to eating here, but it really wasn't as good as I expected. It started when we arrived at the restaurant and had to line up for seating. The queue started outside and snaked back and forth once we were inside. It was extremely unpleasant, as there were lots of kids who were crying and fidgety and it just felt like a line at an amusement park. By the end of our experience, we felt like we'd been moved in, fed, and moved out as quickly as possible. I ordered the fried chicken, which was perfectly prepared and accompanied by large portion of mashed potatoes. Unfortunately the potatoes were drowned in flavorless white gravy. My husband and mother ordered roast beef and turkey respectively. They were each served a plate with a PILE of pulled meat, possibly a pound or more on each plate, with little to no seasoning and overcooked veggies on the side. It was extremely unappetizing and although my fried chicken was very good, the other two dishes looked and tasted pretty awful. We each got pie to go, which were good but didn't blow my mind! Overall, I enjoy an old-fashioned home-cooked meal more than anyone I know but I have to say this restaurant is definitely over-rated. On a more positive note, the fruit and vegetable market is definitely worth visiting. There is a broad selection, including items that are hard to find at most groceries, such as white sweet potatoes.
(3)Deb C.
Fried chicken - very good but could've be a bit saltier. Potato cakes - really more of a doughy oniony pancake that kinda tasted like a hush puppy but without the crunch. They were bleh. Amish noodles - really needed both salt and pepper and even then they were not great. Baked apples - really good! Homemade bread - good! Apple butter - very good! Mashed potatoes - very good but chicken gravy was not good at all. Gravy was bland and very gelatinous. Service - Excellent. Atmosphere - very nice for this type of establishment. Prices - a bit high for this type of food. I got pie slices to go, so we'll see if they, at least, live up to all the hype.
(2)Tom L.
My friend and I ordered from the walk-up window. I had banana cream pie, she had key lime pie. Banana cream was just ok... no bananas in the cream filling? Really mediocre. My friend said the key lime pie was very good. I tasted it, and thought it really tart. But, I guess that's how it's supposed to be? Coffee was TERRIBLE!!! Like water. And if you order decaf, make sure they bring you decaf. They brought me caffeinated, and I'm lucky I caught that mistake! And plan on waiting 15 minutes for your pie at the walk-up window.
(3)Mikee N.
Cooking that is so good that you will think your grandmother is in the kitchen. Many flavors of pies too numerous to mention. Careful, one slice is a quarter of a pie. During the winter months the place is in full swing with tourists and a line trickles out the door. Well worth waiting in line.
(4)Elijah K.
Ok this place has done a better job this round. Ordered the fried chicken and It was good this time. Tried the spaghetti and it was actually pretty darn good. Ordered the pie of course and there is nothing like it. I'm not big on crust but this pie is delicious. If for only pie, I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)Melinda E.
Awesome food. We arrived at 330 pm on a Saturday and there already was a line out the door. It took an hour to get seated which went by fast. Met lots of people in line. Husband and I had the fried chicken which was not only HUGE, but It was cooked just right. I also got Harvard beets and corn cakes. Home made pies looked fantastic, but we were to full to get any. Take out available and was continually busy too. Still a line when we left. Next to the restaurant there is a little shop with jams, deli meat etc.. They also is a gift shop and a farmers market type shop. Definitely will go back.
(5)Ayesha N.
A place that makes pies from scratch and have staff members that have the humility of angels from above is a great place in my books. I try to go at least once a year to this place and have friends who go on almost a pilgrimage to get a huge fresh pie to go. I recommend you try the fried chicken and save room for their cream pies which are my favorite (banana cream!) and their fruit pies (rhubarb anyone? Uh yes!) Put away your iPhones and just take in the greatness of this family owned place. If you need a recommendation of a pie to take home, the peanut butter pie is their best selling and with good reason!
(5)Bruce M.
I have eaten @ yoders several times, was always pleased . This $60.00 takeout yesterday however was terrible. A whole chix ordered and all bloody, green beans seemed dumped from a can & unseasoned, and mac cheese was soup & bottom of the barrel quality. I did order the banana cream pie it was delicious, this is the only thing that saved a possible one star revue. I will post the outcome once i speak with them, personally....well to finish i just spoke with the mgr and the meal was taken care of which was nice but the replacement food terrible as well and the place after going to the head was like a truck stop, dirty, urine all over & hairy buggers all over the walls. Never again will i go here. Its a bunch of kids that dont care! Dont waist your time.....
(1)Alex P.
The pie is amazing! We manage to get a couple slices of their pie once a week - it's that good. I've been here for breakfast as well and all of the menu offerings are spectacular and fresh tasting. Whenever we go for pie (around dinner time) there is a long wait to get inside, which must mean the dinner offerings are good as well. Yoder's is definitely a local gem.
(5)Kelleigh M.
I love to stop at Yoder's when in the Sarasota area. Over the years they have expanded and now offer a produce stand and a market which features deli meats and cheeses. But the main reason I love stopping here is the peanut butter cream pie-oh my! Now mind you, it's not a dense pie, but instead almost pudding like with crunchy peanuts and creamy peanut butter. I believe it's their number 1 seller and if you try a slice you'll see why.
(4)Melissa Q.
The food was fresh, nice and hot, and with VERY generous portions. I can't even begin to tell you how good their pies are...heaven on earth! Peanut butter pie is out of this world! Amish food is amazing and you will not be going home hungry!!! :)
(5)James S.
A true to God gem. Super polite service, the best fried chicken I've ever eaten, and a peanut butter cream pie that was heavenly. Well worth the short wait to enter as we arrived at exactly lunch time. I legitimately can never eat friend chicken again knowing it will never match Yoder's. A+++++
(5)JoAnn M.
Fast, on time, careful and hard working guys. Reasonably priced and we had a few laughs too. I would use them again. Thanks guys.
(5)Roy P.
My rating is based strictly on their pies. Hands down, the best pies I've ever tasted. My personal favorite is their peanut butter pie, which is brought out on a little plate that can barely contain the enormity of the slice. The peanut butter isn't overwhelming, but you can definitely taste it - very smooth and creamy, and it's topped with more peanut butter crumbles which give it just enough texture. Their food on the other hand - not a fan, especially considering the insane wait. Run of the mill home made stuff that you can get just about anywhere. If you're just wanting a pie, head to the side walk up window and order there. Beats standing in line for over an hour.
(5)Robin O.
We love Yoders. The Amish who run it are always very cheerful and friendly and service is fast and efficient. Their food is incredible! The homemade bread lighter than air, their apple butter, cinnamony delicious, excellent fried chicken, meatloaf made with their airy bread, country fried steak... If you like good old comfort food, then this is your place. And the PIES!!! We love all of them, but my daughter loved the Peanut Butter Pie the most. The portions are huge and our left overs/take home bag usually weighs 10lbs!
(5)Tiffany D.
I dream about their peanut butter cream pie. I really pity those with nut allergies because this pie is the shizznit. I gladly skipped dinner for a hunk of this pie. My favorite part is the peanut butter crumble. It's like the filling in the Reese's pb cups but in powdered form. If I could, I would snort it. The pie keeps pretty well. It was in my presence for three days. I started to experiment with it and ate it with strawberries. OMFG . Do it. You will jizz your pants. Just grab a strawberry and scoop up some cream and pb blow and enjoy. Let the euphoria of Yoder's take over.
(5)Marc S.
Amish food. I only come here for the pies! The pies are amazing, they have so many different types and they utterly luxurious heaping mounds of creamy pie. They have two types of pies: creamy and regular, or something like that. I've eaten several different types can't remember them all. Some kind of peanut butter or banana cream pie, the rhubarb pie is awesome. Get any of the pies in any flavors you won't be disappointed. These Amish do not play around with pie. Soo many flavors, all manner of fruits especially in the Dutch Pennyslvania vein, lots of berries and stuff. They do have a Key Lime Pie for our Florida sensibilities that i can imagine is quite scrumptious. It's a fabulous place and Sarasota should be proud to have it. These pies are the best thing the Dutch ever produced.
(5)Julia F.
The pie was so amazing I was blown away! Don't leave yodels without ordering a piece of one of their pies. Heck! Order a whole pie!!
(5)Tee W.
The desserts were delicious! The sweet cinnamon rolls were simply delicious! I've never tasted icing like that. The pumpkin pie with whipped cream was also amazing. As far as the other food goes, in my opinion it was simply OK. My wife loved it though. We went for breakfast one day and dinner another night. We were immediately seated for breakfast (4 people), but had to wait about an hour for dinner (7 people).The service both times was great. For breakfast my wife ordered pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with an orange juice. I ordered a sausage scrammble. The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious. I didn't care for my scramble though, as I didn't like the taste of the sausage, and the other ingredients were simply bland. When we returned for dinner, we finally got to try the fried chicken they are famous for. Personally I didn't get all the hype. While the chicken was very tender, I thought it too was bland, as were the side dishes we ordered (mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, mac and cheese). The fried okra and hot apples were good though. I wish I knew they had brown gravy though, as I would have ordered that. My wife can't wait to go back, were as I would rather go somewhere else. When we do go back, I think I'll just be ordering desserts for my main dish.
(3)Benjamin M.
For the first seven years of my life, my family lived way out in rural Kentucky next to a family of Mennonites. I spent countless hours playing with a million Yoder kids. But--here's my confession--there is one part of those seven years that really stands out: THE FOOD! Yes, the Yoders from my childhood made the BEST homemade food I've ever had. Their cinnamon rolls were impossibly delicious. Last Saturday, I made drive down to Yoder's Restaurant to see if its food could measure up with that legendary food of my childhood. And the verdict? ... *ten seconds of a dramatic drum roll* YES!! Yoder's Restaurant is AMAZING!!! I ate breakfast at Yoder's with a group of five friends. All of us LOVED Yoder's and are already talking about when we can return. I ordered the Amish scramble which is a big papa-sized portion of two scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage (or ham or bacon), and spices all perfectly mixed together, smothered with plenty of your choice of cheese (sharp cheddar for me), and served with your choice of bread. Hands down one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. One of my friends ordered the Apple Fritter French Toast. She shared some of it with me, and I was blown away. This is definitely what I'll order if I return for breakfast. Imagine the best apple bread ever made... stuffed with fresh, soft apples... and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with hot syrup. Ah. Man. Amish people know how to do it. Small side note: the strawberry OJ is really good! Try it. The interior is wonderfully decorated with homey things and Amish-y items. It's nothing fancy at all--but, hey, that would be weird and wrong if it WAS a fancy Amish restaurant. Be sure to walk around outside after your meal. There is an awesome mural on the side of the market building and also some life-size cutouts of Amish people that cleverly connect to the mural. It's difficult to explain the awesomeness of Yoder's... so that means you should just go check it out yourself!
(5)Amber M.
The only reason for not giving it a 5 was because their deep fryer was being used on Friday night for the catfish.My fried chicken was pan fried and not very good.Everything else was excellent though including the dessert.They also need a bigger parking lot lol
(4)Jeanna L.
I love this place..I live close and this is where I get my produce, forget about thr grocery store produce. Its like stepping into the early 1900's market. Real good food. Don't miss the meat market next door. Or the pie next door the other way at Yoders restaurant.
(5)Candido R.
Good wholesome food. Reminds me of old fashioned home cooking. A bit pricy for what you get.
(4)Todd A.
This was my second trip. Perhaps eating at the original Mary Yoders in Ohio has influenced my perception, but I was not as impressed this second go round. I ate breakfast and lunch on this trip. The French toast was average but the coffee was smooth. At 8:30 am, the restaurant was empty. At 1:30 for lunch, there was about a fifteen minute wait. The roast beef Manhattan was OK. It was served in less than five minutes of ordering. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant and the gravy was very gelatinous. Unfortunately for the guests, their popularity has forced them to put quantity over quality.
(3)Joanne E.
Shoofly pie, oh my. All the food is good, comfort food, home-cooked style. But really, the shoofly pie, oh my.
(5)Axis S.
It's an institution. Comfort food, values preserved over a century, huge portions for a fair price and definitely where you go if you like pies or cakes for dessert. Families scattered all over the place, food sharing, styrofoam boxes being lugged out and people paying almost $20 for a pie to take home... So we waited in line, got placed in a booth, and ordered the chicken and a few sides. Shoulda saved room for dessert, maybe I'd get to 3 stars then. Maybe I'm too used to spicier foods, or it's been too long since I've been to the Yoders outside Perry, Georgia, where I first encountered Mennonite cooking, and memory has painted a better picture than what was there. Alice Waters' influence has a generation of cooks now able to do simple food incredibly well, and farm-to-table is an excellent culinary movement. I think this place does a brisk trade on memories and being an institution, but tasted critically this Yoder's left me wanting and reaching for condiments. Decent, but not superlative.
(2)Brandon S.
Some good home cooking. Have not had that in awhile, so came and had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and fried okra...mmmmm mmmmm This is an Amish place and the line was out the door from all walks of life. I recommend.
(4)Jane Q.
I love Yoders! The folks that work there are super friendly and helpful. It gets busy on the weekend for breakfast but so worth the wait. Love the coffee, cinnamon bun, pancakes, bacon omelette, and the banana cream pie! Food is fresh, hot, and delicious! Everyone should try Yoders. Oh love the fresh market and gift shop also! 2 thumbs up from me!!!
(5)Sage M.
This place is absolutely one of the best places I've ever eaten! Thats saying allot food is my favorite! Don't be thrown off by the line that goes way out the door. There's a reason for it and they move so fast you'll be inside and sat in no time at all! Once we were sat it took longer to look threw their extensive menu than to receive our food! And don't get me started on their pie options! I had the veil Parmesan (my first time with veil, figured I needed to try it once) with a side of spaghetti and garlic bread and the option of 20 other sides! I went with corn cakes! AMAZING! Each table had fresh cream. homemade apple butter and you receive fresh bread when your sat! They have a mint sweet tea that is a must try! I also tried the rest of my family's meals which were just as good! They include a corn chowder that was too die for, fried okra, onion rings, chicken fried steak, chicken strips, and a blue cheese salad (which I don't usually like) it was all perfection! And from order, freshly cooked and on our table in around 10 minutes! We also left with left overs from each meal, the double blueberry pie, key lime pie, and chocolate cream pie (all of which were huge) to go because we were too full to eat one more bite! All of which cost under $50 there was 4 of us with dessert and I had veil!!! I just can't say enough how great this place is! Now if I can only get them to put one up in the country in California where I live!
(5)Helene O.
Excellent fried chicken and amazing pies. The chocolate peanut butter pie is creamy and decadent--a must try. The chicken stuffing (smothered with gravy) is my favorite side and the potatoes and okra are really good too. The complimentary bread is fresh, soft and goes really well with the apple butter on the table. Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota and I stop by every time I'm in town. The food is always fresh and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. $5.50 will get you a tasty jar of apple butter to take home...yum!
(4)Erika T.
After hearing for so long how great this place is, we finally got to try it last weekend. We got there around 2:00 and there was still quite a long line. We waited about 25 mins, which really wasn't that bad. I ordered the Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and mac n cheese. The portions were huge and plenty of food. However, I'm not sure Yoder's knows what a salt shaker is! The chicken HAD ABSOLUTELY NO flavor! Sad to say but Publix has better fried chicken. I don't get the hype! My husband ordered the Pulled Pork and that was pretty good, I wished that I had ordered that instead of the chicken. We ordered some pie to go. I got the Banana Cream Pie and it was about 25% banana cream filling and 75% whipped topping! I want pie, not whipped topping!!! And, I didn't care for the taste of the crust. Sorry but I don't see myself rushing back to go here. I don't see why the hype and long lines to get in this place!
(2)Dwayne H.
Absolutely LOVE coming to Yoder's as this place is the ONLY true Amish cooking available in Sarasota! Yoder's is authentic Amish cooking and unlike the oversteamed and dried out cheap canned foods "Amish Style" buffet place up the street (yes, I have eaten there on more than one occasion and have been let down everytime), I have yet to leave Yoder's feeling underwhelmed of the kitchen's cooking! Service has always been met with a friendly smile and although the place is small, it is kept VERY clean and well organized to fulfill the masses that come through the doors. For those who have never tried Yoder's I will simply state, " SKIP the big fancy buffet wannabe up the street and come home to REAL Amish cuisine that is Yoder's!" There is nothing else comparable in Sarasota and they will forever be the BEST choice for Amish foods for me.
(5)Shawn V.
for a mom and pop place this is definitely the best that it gets the pies are awesome the fried chicken is great and oh my the beef noodles rock...
(5)Michael C.
Great home cooking. Huge portions. I was hungry and ordered a small barbecue pork and it was perfect. A large could feed two and have some left to take home. While the food is good, the real story here are the pies. Home made, piled high, and a slice is about a quarter of the pie tin. All that we tried--fruit or cream based--are delicious.
(4)David R.
I've been eating at Yoders since the 80's. It was a favorite when I was home on leave from the military. I moved to Atlanta in 2000 and never found anything as good up there. I'm in Sarasota visiting, my daughter wanted KFC. I laughed and said I'll take you to the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. She ordered the half chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad. The service is quick, friendly and the food was fabulous! She quickly admitted that was the best friend chicken she has ever had. She took a bunch home with her, got up the next morning and had the rest for breakfast! Two days later and guess where she wants to go for dinner again? Heheheheeh with the economy the past several years and restaurants folding and great places to eat disappearing, it's fantastic to see places like this still happily in business with great food and service! Off we go to Yoder's.. I had the roast beef last time.. The meat loaf sure sounds good tonight!
(5)Daren Y.
I saw this on Man vs Food and decided that I had to visit. Especially since I've heard how good the food is from locals of Sarasota. This cute little restaurant/shop complex is out in the residential area in the outer limits of Sarasota. Parking can be crowded but we were able to pull right in around 2pm on a weekday. From the outside, it looks like a quaint mom and pop place. Painted wooden structure with a fenced in area for people to hang out, a building with fresh produce and another building that is the restaurant proper. The three of us were greeted and seated right away. The dining area is kind of small, but there is plenty of room between tables. Country decor obviously. It was surprisingly quiet even though almost all the tables were occupied. Very pleasant waitress. We ordered and shortly thereafter we were given a stack of Amish bread, upon which we squirted their apple jelly (or whatever you call that stuff... tasted like liquid apple pie!) and it was delicious. The food came after about 10 minutes, which was pretty quick considering the nearly full house. I ordered the shepherd's pie with Amish potato cakes and corn muffins. My fiancee got their fried chicken (I told her to order half a chicken so I could eat some too!) with potato pancakes and broccoli. My friend got a quarter chicken, potato pancakes, and something else. I thought the shepherd's pie was ok, nothing really stood out to me. There was very little seasoning but a lot of saltiness. I wasn't particularly impressed. However, the potato cakes were phenomenal, as were the corn muffins (one of the softest and moistest I've ever had!). The fried chicken is a must have. If you have never eaten here, you MUST get the fried chicken. Whenever I order fried chicken, I usually peel off about 75% of the breading. However, I definitely ate the entire thing this time. It was that good. I'm not exactly a huge fried chicken person either, but this was absolutely delicious. Truly one of the best examples of fried chicken I've ever had. And of course, dessert. We ordered a Florida Key Lime pie and the peanut butter cream pie (the one they showed on MvF). I honestly couldn't decide which I liked better. Normally I'm more of a citrus type of guy, digging the lemon meringue and key lime, but I really couldn't decide on this. Both were fantastic. The service was very good. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She kept my water filled. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here (as did my fiancee) and we would come back again. Review is for a solid 4 stars.
(4)Jack B.
We had heard about Yoder's Amish restaurant for years but had never been. Today was the day. Great home style cooking. Everything e ordered was well prepared, tasty and hot when served. The best fried okra I have ever eaten. Pies to die for, any of them. Staff was friendly, pleasant and helpful. She even bragged on her bosses as to what fine people they were and this came unsolicited. My wife suggested we just stay for breakfast. Give them a try you will leave full and happy with enough leftovers for another meal.
(5)Taryn C.
Delicious, home cooked meals. The best cinnamon buns you will ever have. The best pies you will ever have. All of the staff are friendly and have never had bad service. The wait times can be long at times, but that's because this place is so freaking good.
(5)Laurie K.
It has been 10 years since I first heard about this place, and have never been able to find someone to take the 2 hour and 28 minute road trip with me for lunch, well until today when I decided enough is enough and took my mom and went . I come from LI which is a day trip away from Lancaster PA and the Dutch Amish Country, which my family has frequented since I was a baby (40 plus years ago), so I KNOW delicious Amish cooking, which Yoder's is fantastic! Be ready to wait on line, but it is worth every moment we stood in the 93 degree weather. The line went briskly along and we were seated in less then an hour. The chicken is by far the most tastiest I have ever eaten, and the portions were huge! I had read a review that they only gave this place 4 out of 5 because they felt it was over priced... What a bunch of hogwash! Prices were very inline and with the servings there is plenty to take home for another day. Mom and I ate the same thing, but she had raspberry Ice Tea and I had Mint.... I have never drank tea where I felt like I had an actual mouthful of the herb or fruit. They were both spot on. I posted a picture of a MUST for dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie topped with bananas! It could have fed 4 people and this too reminded me of back north! You need to ask for this pie though as it is not on the regular menu but they will make it for you :) Wish this place was closer to us, but on our trip home we decided we would make a once a month excursion down. 10 Thumbs up for this place!!!
(5)Olga G.
The place is very popular, the line is out the door but moves quickly. The menu is large, lots of yummy choices, good options for kids. I tried their cod, and it was awesome, fresh, perfectly seasoned. Do recommend it fried. I had it with beets( if u are a fan you' d like it) and carrot salad, a bit on the sweet side, but still good. Bread and homemade apple butter is delish! Fried chicken looked huge and tasted delish, and was also very popular, many people ordered it. Sandwiches looked great as well. Also tried fresh strawberry pie and it was yum!! One of the known items Finally tried breakfast too, and oh, mama!!! Strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast was unreal!!!!!! I'm salivating just thinking about it!! Warm, crispy outside mixed with strawberry gooey goodness was haven!!! This is a must and very popular item!! My husband got scrambled eggs with beef hash and a biscuit and a bowl of fruit. Eggs-fluffy cloud; biscuit-really homemade, huge, tasty; beef hash- just yum; fruit- freshest and sweetest I've ever had at a breakfast place. Also tried biscuits and gravy, very good, and pancakes, which were just delish, Real homemade stuff! Can't wait to come back to try more things! The gift store next door is adorable, had a lot of cute, interesting items, a lot handmade and their market was pretty good too, great selection of produce, tomatoes and strawberry were So good, fresh and delicious, and their homemade whole grain bread, oh, just to die for, perfect size slice, not too mushy or ruff, goes very well with a sandwich with one if their tomatoes. The whole area was a sight to see too, an amish area, so lots of Amish people around which was really neat. Worth visiting. The only reason 4 stars is a little overpriced, but it really is worth every penny!!
(4)Robert C.
Went to Yoders this vacation and have to say the service has taken a hit. I had a side salad as one of my sides and they served it before the meal. I finished the salad and the empty bowl remained on our table through dinner and dessert. All the while two busser/food runners stood idly waiting for tables to empty out. The food continues to satisfy and the chocolate cake is still a winner with everyone. I had the lemon meringue pie this time and it was very good. My wife had the peach pie and it was off the chain delicious. I would recommend against the flounder. It was flat, over fried and tough and the corn meal coating overpowered the fish. Stick with the fried chicken or the baked chicken which both hit home runs every time.
(3)Michael M.
This is Amish cooking at its best. The staff is extremely friendly, the food delicious (try the meatloaf or fried chicken) and the desserts are heavenly. A sure fine stop any time.
(5)Michele D.
Very good the fried cicken and the peach pie too. Waitress kinds and friendly. Great value price. Reccommended.
(4)L S.
Overall it's delicious. I think the fried chicken is way over rated. Had the AYCE fish yesterday .. it was rubbery and very bland. Everything else I've had has been fantastic. Always save room for pie or take some home!!
(4)Mike S.
A long-time family favorite, and still considered best of the bunch of Amish/Mennonite/Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in Sarasota. Sarasota is an odd amalgam of settlers.....lots of artsy/richy snowbirds, regular folks to serve their needs and a colony of transplanted farmers from the Mennonite belt. Yoder's generally caters to the second 2 groups, who have large appetites, plain tastes and tolerance of massive doses of fats, carbs & calories. Come and eat like a celery farmer, and notice some of the locals riding 3-wheel bikes and wearing "plain clothes" looking like extras from the set of "Witness." Yoders offers comfort food at all meals and all forms, from hearty country breakfasts/biscuits, to their renowned fried chicken, overcooked veggies, wonderful on-site bread, ample butter for everything, finishing with their popular cream and fruit pies. Service is competent & friendly and you may have to wait for a table at noon and dinner rush hours. Forget getting any beer, wine, liquor or other devil's beverages, but caloric binging is permitted and facilitated.
(4)Patsy T.
Love the Friday all you can eat fish lunches!!
(5)Tiffany H.
This is probably the best place in Sarasota, and possibly all of Tampa Bay for a pie/cake-induced diabetic coma. My favorite pie? It's a toss-up between peanut butter and butterscotch, but then again I haven't had all of them. Yet. I also dig the lemon whoopie pies from the little deli/bakery. I've also picked up yogurt covered graham crackers, dried pineapple, and some other stuff that should only ever be a "once in a while" snack lest I triple in size. Now, about the restaurant. I've had dinner here a few times. I always try to go earlier (like 4pm) rather than later because the line can get long and I'm of the impatient variety. They also won't seat you if your entire party isn't there (though they did bend this rule for me when they were slow because I was waiting for friends with a baby). The employees are very friendly, that's a definite. I've ended up with fried chicken more often than not (and I'm not really big on it normally) and often have to pack some of it up to take it home. The downside is many of their sides (like the green beans) are canned. I know it's to keep costs down, but it would be awesome if fresh veggies were an option. So once you get through dinner, you can't leave without pie. If you had to pick between pie and actually eating, you should still pick pie. A slice of pie is enough for two people. One slice for me is good for three days. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I live an hour away! On the one hand I would get through their pie menu faster, and on the other I would need to buy larger pants.
(4)Never Shovel Sno W.
leaving this review after my second visit ... The first time we stopped going north about 2 years ago - it was okay so we thought this time going south on the way home we would stop again ... Memorial Day 11:00 A,M, - waited about 20 - 25 minutes for a table ... We were asked if we were eating breakfast or lunch - lunch for us ... Seated, drink order taken, food order taken with an explanation that it may take a few extra minutes because the kitchen is switching from breakfast to lunch ... okay no problem - right ... Nothing difficult ordered ... well 40 minutes later, with tables all around us seated after us and served lunch items - i wasn't happy ... The food was okay ... chili was hot and tasty, turkey bacon melt sandwich good, chicken salad just so so we finished our meal and when paying the check I let the manager know of my dissatisfaction with the wait on the food ... to me she seemed quite aloof with an I don't give a sh...t attitude ... I am not familiar with the Sarasota area this place is located in - maybe it's the only game in town as the line is ridiculous ... I'll tell ya - I wouldn't wait an hour for this ... The do have a decent produce market next to the restaurant with fresh fruit and veges - decent prices ... not sure if I would return
(2)nancy h.
I have heard about Yoder's for years,especially the pies. We finally made a trip for some dessert pie. They look beautiful I the case, we had trouble deciding whic to try. I asked about the favorites, best sellers,asked if the blueberry pie had lots berries or was more gel. We were told it was way more berries, pure deliciousness. We ordered a blueberry pie a la mode and a key lime pie. They arrived looking picture perfect. Took a bite, then another and looked at each other- what kook aide was everyone drinking. The pie has no flavor! The blueberry pie had one blueberry! Our server came and looked at it,agreed and brought us a chocolate peanut butter slice, one of the most popular. Hmmm, we took a bite, again, thought it was flavorless, but appealing to look at. We can check Yoder's off of our list. It was awful.
(1)JP H.
This place is simply badass! Lots of parking but we warned this place gets packed fast and stays packed through out the day. Amazing Amish Desserts! Need I say more?!? Well I will! Banana Cream Pie and Vanilla Custard ftw! We will be coming back here whenever we are in Sarasota. We are from NYC and own a place in Orlando.
(5)Molly K.
Absolutely delicious. We came here for lunch one day (best chicken tenders I've ever eaten) and breakfast later in the week. For breakfast, my boyfriend got the biscuits and gravy. Just one biscuit was HUGE and the gravy was to die for. The bacon tomato avocado skillet was delicious. Orange juice was fresh and scrumptious. We would recommend this place to everyone!!
(5)JEREMY G.
If you like home made food loaded with butter then this is your nirvana. The quality was exceptional but the calorie and grease content was high as well. Along with this there is limited seating and parking. If you can Handle all of this though you will be able to enjoy some great food.
(4)Lynn P.
This place is great. Have the chicken taste great and the breast is about the size of your head. I split a half a chic with my doughter. It was more then enough for us
(5)Ben M.
I'm giving Yoder's a good review recommendation, because it is better overall than the many area rotten restaurants, and I believe a person could get better items on the menu than we were stuck with. The dining experience is really a mixed bag of good and bad. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. The severs are attentive and pleasant and not too annoying. The air in there is cool and fresh. The place was very busy when we went there, it has a good following, and lots of fat people eat there (and fat servers serve the food). There is a problem with the seating. Like most places with booths, the seats are too low and the table too high. The non-booth tables are low and not so far higher than the seats, but the seats are uncomfortably low, and uncushioned flat wood. It's like spending an hour eating while sitting on a flat board with a back on it. They also cram four chairs around a table the size for two patrons, so the table leg's base is in your way. The icewater is regular municipal tap water and has a bad taste. They served real butter, but with a cottony tasteless bread. The apple butter on the table was so sweet it was inedible for someone not accustomed to massive amounts of sugar. The entree servings are big, but big is not necessarily a good value. My fellow diner got the smoked chicken dinner, which was burned and dry. A dry bland piece of garlic toast came with it, which was only useful as a sponge to soak up some spilled water. Her baked potato seemed okay, but the side of apples was mushy bad-tasting food-service glop. I ordered the liver and onions dinner. The liver was burned, and thus the liver was blackened shoe-sole leather. The caramelized onions were partly raw, and the bacon was obviously not fresh-cooked. The fat on it was hard, cold and stiff, as if it had been pre-cooked quite a long time ago. The coleslaw was fresh and tasty and there was a lot of it. But, the blob of stuffing was just a gummy tasteless breadball with a covering of cheap salty food-service gravy-goo. Having not eaten everything, we ordered desserts. My plain cheesecake was a good size, fresh and rich. Her peanut butter pie was, however, a shapeless, loose, wet sloppy mess. It tasted good enough, but the texture was kind of yecchy. When it's busy, the chatter and the people bumping into you as they navigate through the aisles can start to really be annoying, so shovel your food in quickly. We didn't reject our overcooked food, because a cook that burns food is hopeless. I think there are items on the menu that they probably can do right, like sandwiches, but it seems a lot of what they have is low-grade food service pre-frozen stuff on a par with a "tv dinner".
(3)Cassie M.
What a cute little place! The fried chicken is to die for. Great place if you want some home cooking! The pies all look amazing...I didn't have any but my friend had the chocolate peanut butter and said it was delicious...the pieces are huge. Definitely shareable...good luck agreeing on the same one though!
(4)Ericka M.
Can I rate this over 5? Seriously though, I cannot rate this place high enough. We made the trip from Altamonte Springs to Sarasota because I had not heard enough good things about Yoder's. I was really hope it wouldn't be in vain. Oh man. It. Was. Amazing. Omg. I just can't. There was 3 of us and we just split 3 meals and went to town. Best idea i've had in a long time. Amazing. The inside is very crowded for the crowds they get but I didn't even care. I would climb stairs for this place if they asked me to. The portions are HUGE, the mashed potatoes are so creamy.... It was just a really great time. I did get pie (raspberry cream) and I couldn't believe how good it was. Man. I wanted to get some deli items/produce but that just means I can take another trip :D
(5)Edward D.
In my experience, the TV food restaurants rarely live up to the hype. Yoders met my expectations half way. I had the famous fried chicken. While cooked to perfection, the pieces were too large for my liking and the coating was bland with no kick at all. I had the coconut cream pie which was excellent. It's worth a stop, but I would try something else on the menu for my main course.
(3)Rob W.
The food is good, home made fare. All the menu items to me are just entrees for the main course, pie. They just make fabulous homemade pies here and they are always the focal point of the meal. The Amish vibe is very cool as well.
(3)Adrian M.
OK, this would be more start if you know Amish food or Midwestern home cooked food and expect it. It is bland, bland. So the 2 stars reflect our enjoyment of the food. If you like that style, you might rate it higher. We went on the strength of people raving about the pie and fried chicken. A very popular place, with a 20 min wait at 3pm on a Friday afternoon. It has a lot of character, a lot of the worker were Amish and it is in an Amish community so interesting and fun to visit. Te fried chicken was very moist, and huge, but bland. My daughter got meatloaf, which was bland with bland gravy. Sides were very plain. Standout was the corn muffins which were excellent. And of course we had the pie. The egg custard pie was right on the mark p. the famous chocolate peanut butter pie was outstanding. The baked raspberry pie was meh, more like raspberry jam than raspberry pie. THe crust was not very good.
(2)Kurt C.
We moved to Naples from Ohio about 3 years ago, 30 minutes from Amish Country, so we know Amish food!! This place is anything but. I can't say that any of the servers were actually amish, just women dresses and bonnets, and Mexican bus boys. Based on several people always raving about this place we decided to stop on a trip north. I like fried chicken and based on alot of reviews I went for it. Well the skin wasn't really fried, kind of a soggy battered skin. Chicken wasn't very moist or flavorful. Mashed potatoes and gravy and noodles, my wife and I both went for since were eating "Amish". I've had better instant potatoes, I think the gravy was strait out of a can, and the noodles.....well. ....not cooked consistently through, no flavor....we literally had maybe 3 bites between the two of us. We can cook better food at home by far. I would agree with a previous review stating Publix fried chicken is better.... The bread and apple butter were good. Nice soft bread and tasted fresh. We were reluctant to try pie but figured we would try. I think $4.50 a slice is a little steep but, hey, we're getting amish pie. Wife had the coconut cream pie and said it was good. Kids had chocolate peanut butter and they were happy. I tasted it and thought it was decent. I went for the peanut butter pie....what a disappointment. The only think peanut butter about it was some peanuts somewhere. It was mostly whipped topping and the filling was tasteless. Fortunately, we walked in with no wait but they filled up quickly. The place is a hole in the wall and nothing fancy or special about it. The service wasn't that great either. My conclusion is, maybe if you have never had amish food from the Midwest, this place may be good to you. However, as we come from that area this place is far from it. If we want amish again, we will try Der Dutchman up the road. Had we known it was there we probably would have went there to begin with. After the visit, I found out this place was on TV and rated for top 101 places to eat......Who put this on the list? Have you ate more than 101 places???? I would rather eat at chain restaurants any day. My suggestion.....save your money and go somewhere else. This place is not worth the hype.
(1)Bryan S.
Enjoyed eating at Yoder's while on vacation. I ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and side salad with house dressing. Chicken was moist and crispy, potatoes were very smooth and house dressing did not disappoint. I hope to get back and try the breakfast that everyone raves about.
(4)Richard P.
I had heard so much about this place that my disappointment is overwhelming. Yoders is an undeservedly popular Amish style restaurant serving very bland food in large quantities. Judging by the size of most of the other lunch diners when I was there I think the quantity rather than the quality is the big draw.
(2)Melvin M.
A good meal, but anyone who has previously dined in one of the better Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants of Holmes County, OH, or Lancaster County, PA, will find this beach town copycat to be just that: (1) slightly lower in food quality (excepting the pies, which could hold their own with any Amish kitchen); (2) relatively high priced; and (3) infused with the air of a high-volume tourist trap. From the "English" waitresses wearing pants, to the Hispanic line cooks in the kitchen area, this restaurant also has a very different feel than it's counterparts on the heart of Amish country. Like most very popular restaurants which are geared primarily toward the tourist crowd, also expect a very long wait to get a table, even during the slow season.
(3)Keri B.
Apparently their fried chicken was their main attraction...however, it was VERY dry and tasted like any other fried chicken I've had. I had to douse it with sauces to get it down. Perhaps I went on an off day? Other than that, the pie was fantastic, as were the breads. I went to their market and got TONS of fresh foods and cheeses. All in all, I will return.
(3)Mac O.
3.5 stars. After lunch next door at Yoder's Restaurant, and before heading out to Longboat, husband and I swung by Yoder's Produce Market to stock up on produce for the condo. I was wanting local grapefruit for breakfast, local citrus for squeezing in Coronas and Bells Oberon, local peaches, nectarines, and mangoes for snacking on on the beach...what we found were California grapefruit and Georgia peaches. More than half the produce available -- while beautiful -- was from out-of-state. Hunh? We'd been drawn by the promise of farm-fresh, local produce. So to that end, we were pretty disappointed, tho we bought some anyway. But we did find other items we liked a whole bunch, including all-natural beef jerky, locally roasted ground coffee, extra sharp Canadian cheddar, Vinta crackers, Amish kettle corn, homemade granola (which was absolutely delicious), and fresh milk from Dakin Dairy Farms in nearby Myakka City. So, for produce Yoder's Market didn't deliver. But for dry goods and dairy, Yoder's Market came through like a champ.
(3)N. D.
Summary: Pie and Turkey Dinner AMAZINGLY GOOD -but Fried chicken over rated and busy claustrophobic atmosphere We live a stones throw away from here in Port Charlotte. We finally made the trek 45 minutes up I-75 to celebrate a friends birthday by having some great fried chicken and some pie. I will admit we had some high expectations after seeing this place featured on TV. Allow me to walk you through our experience this evening. First we arrived to find a small but packed parking lot, luckily somebody was leaving as we pulled in which saved some hassle trying to park. There is a lot next to the restaurant with plenty more room. After baking in the sun in line for a bit and moving forward little by little we were greeted by the hostess. She asked number in party (no names) and on to the next. They seat as they have room to accommodate your party, it is not actually first come, first serve. They do not take reservations, so be ready to stand in a line. Upon entering it was rather chaotic, some what stuffy, and generally messy. Due to the high volume they serve, there isn't enough time dedicated to maintaining a kept dining area. The floor had crayons and various food items on it (I blame peoples lack of teaching their children proper manners more than I blame a restaurant for this.) Our food came fairly quickly, but was COLD the first time! The sides of mashed, mac and cheese, and my wife's Turkey dinner as a whole was very cold. The server was very accommodating and took back the sides and Turkey dinner to replace with a new order. When it came back it was all hot, but the mac and cheese was now very runny and not so good. The Turkey dinner was very very good once it was served hot and had a large portion. Now to the fried chicken. I had some high hopes for this item. I bought the half chicken at about $17 bucks. The flavor on the skin was good, but the meat was very dry and tough. I was very disappointed after hearing all the rave reviews and I admit it was a very meaty breast. However I have had better at my local Cracker Barrel and would not agree it is the best chicken around. Maybe it was just a bad day for them, I dunno as this was my first visit. Redeemed through the pie. The pie was amazing. Had peanut better, and baked blueberry, and also tried a little of the chocolate cake. All were above par, and worth a visit. It did meet the high expectations we had. Good portion and in my opinion worth the $4.75 a slice. To close, the turkey dinner my wife had was very very good as was the pie. I am betting some of their other items are good too. I think the fried chicken is a bit over rated, and in general it seems they may be pushing beyond a capacity they can handle and the quality of atmosphere is suffering a little.
(3)Jared V.
I was rather underwhelmed with this place. I expected it to make my eyes roll back in my head and make me want to move to Sarasota. I drove from Orlando to come here specifically because of the reputation of the pies and comfort food. I went on a Friday. Guess what? No southern fried chicken on Fridays. Instead, their 'special' was pan-fried chicken. It was not crispy at all, and was about the same quality as original recipe KFC. Their chicken breasts were mutant giant chicken size. The fries were pretty good. They dropped some bread off and we slathered their apple butter on the pieces of bread which was the best part of the entire meal. My wife said the okra was excellent but the mashed potatoes and gravy was bland and the gravy was not very tasty. I saved room for pie and got blueberry crumb, while my wife got apricot. My filling tasted fine, but the crumb was somewhat bland and I had no crust underneath the filling, so I got almost no crust whatsoever. The apricot was bitter and the crust was too hard to the point of being crunchy. The service was slow and the food came out randomly. Apparently it is against amish policy to smile at people or be friendly; I was stared at stoically and was given attention but nobody looked happy to be there or made any effort to make me feel welcome. There were noisy, stupid teenagers a couple of tables away from me (one of them held up the giant sugar dispenser and loudly asked a random server "Is this salt?") and I had to deal with their stupid teenager jibber jabber talk about English class and Justin Beiber or whatever the hell stupid teenagers talk about. In summary, I have had better homestyle cooking, service, and pies elsewhere and Yoders is not worth the drive (at least not for me).
(2)Ricky R.
I have been going to Yoder's since my inception in 1988. I could preach about Yoder's, but I'm going to keep it simple: - Typically there is a line out the door, but it is well worth the wait. - It has a cozy, "grandma's house" feel (if your grandma is Amish) - Staff is usually Amish, friendly, and meticulous (your table wont be dirty, you'll never run out of water, and you'll never wait for a check). - Considering the prices, their portions are generous. - You really can't go wrong with the main dishes - they're all flavorful and homemade. - Please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and order sides with your meal and dessert. - Order dessert. - For the love of God, order dessert. - All pies are delicious, carrot/chocolate cake are sinful, and the cinnamon buns could be the greatest thing I've let enter my body... that's what she said... Anyway, if you ever find yourself in a 100 mile radius of Yoder's, do yourself a favor and go. *So you can further appreciate their desserts: if a family member is in Sarasota, we make them get about 12 slices of pie/cake to bring back to Chicago. Seriously.
(5)Lissete D.
Go with the correct mindset and you will be satisfied. Personally, we love Yoder's. Especially their pies. We've been going since before Man vs Food, so our expectations weren't at the level that many seem to have. All that being said, this is comfort food at it's best. I'm a fan of the broasted chicken & the meatloaf. If you go during strawberry season, you should try the best strawberry pie EVER! Service is always friendly & efficient.
(4)Arverne G.
Carb heaven. Lunch consisted of delicious smoked chicken with barbecue sauce, yummy potato pancakes and sour cream, and so called baked apple ( really apple pie filling.) There was a lot of fresh made bread and super sweet apple butter on the table. The thin hostess came by and asked whether we were ready for dessert, and I asked her if she ate any and she said no, she had been through them all. I am sure their pie is great, but after that huge lunch, no one needed a dessert. The one problem that I had with this place is that a lot of the customers are very heavy. This is not a place to go if you are counting calories either. They use canned vegetables as sides and as I said above the inviting sides are very carb loaded. Just don't go there too often. The decor is very sweet and old fashioned, the service was efficient and friendly. I am just glad that I don't live in Sarasota, since I would probably go there more often than would be good for me..
(4)Kristin D.
I love Yoder's so much that when we moved away from the area for 3 years, I used to dream about Yoder's pies and fried chicken. When we moved back home, it was one of the first places we stopped. The fried chicken is so juicy and seasoned just perfectly, the apple butter is the best I've ever had, and the pies are so good! Service is always great, but be prepared to wait to get a table. It is kind of annoying to wait 30 min. at the very least (and that's during off-season) for a table and there's not a real big waiting area. But the food is so worth the wait!
(5)Tong J.
Great place to share a home-style meal with family. Reasonably priced with a warm and homey atmosphere. Their famous crispy fried chicken lived up to expectations, crispy on the outside and super moist on the inside. The seasoning on the crispy skin had the right about amount of salt. Additional seasoning inside would have made this fried chicken a five star piece of heaven. The corn muffins were also delicious! They were moist, tasty and buttery. With over 25 varieties of pies and cakes, it was tough to choose one. Be warned, each piece is HUGE. We ended up ordering the fresh peach pie, which was very good. Peaches were juicy and ripe. The creaminess and lightly sweet whipped cream complimented the tartness of the peach nicely. They don't take reservations so if you arrive after 5:30-6pm be prepared for at least a 45 minute wait on weekends. They do have a little gift shop nearby where you can pass the time.
(4)Scott M.
Pan fried chicken is off the chain.
(4)Hyundoe K.
Great restaurant. I always love to go here when I'm in the area. Fried chicken is great with their house dipping sauce. If you like good home cooking then this place is for you. Don't forget to try a slice of pie.
(4)Jim H.
There are very few windows of opportunity for locals during season to get into Yoder's without standing in long lines and listening to how it's done "back in Akron". In the mood for breakfast on a recent weekday at 10:45 and spotting no line we careened into the parking lot. Seated immediately and nothing has changed here in years; same comfortable booths and chairs along with prompt and polite service. This is how all of America should be! We ordered a standard breakfast; my wife had one French toast (each piece is thick and huge) and bacon, while I had eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast. I couldn't resist a half order of bisquits and sausage gravy to share. Everything was good; the table side apple butter is delicious, the bacon thick, smokey and salty, home fries crispy and creamy on the inside and eggs fresh (actually tasted fresh!!) cooked as ordered. Okay, the sausage gravy is beyond outstanding. The half order is so big we brought home the other half (is that a quarter of an order?) and so good with large chunks of homemade spicy and flavorful sausage in a beautiful cream gravy. Even your Cardiologist couldn't resist it. We've eaten many dinners and a few lunches here through the years and everything is always good. I have to say there is no better breakfast, at very fair pricing, anywhere in Sarasota. Enjoy Yoder's, however before you get in line just brush up on the nuances and sports teams of Michigan, Ohio, and all of Canada for the coming small talk. Got It, Ahhh?
(4)A S.
I think it is a unique idea in Florida to have an Amish restaurant but the food arrived to fast for me to believe it was fixed after I ordered it and wasn't off a pre-made assembly line. Go to cracker barrel, it is better and cheaper.
(2)barbara m.
Delicious homemade food in a cozy, small diner atmosphere. Very quiet despite all the activity going on around us. We arrived exactly when they opened so we got in right away for lunch. When we left the line was out the door. We had the fried chicken which was served in enormus proportions. Another person in our party had the fish - also a huge portion. Very accommodating genuinely polite, capable wait staff.
(5)Henry M.
Great service and even better food. It is home cooked meals. Only wish the had their fried chicken on Fridays. Pies are some of the best I have had.
(5)Jeremy H.
Best homemade comfort food I have ever had! I had the turkey, fried chicken, and breakfast and everything was excellent. The pie, whoopie pies, and bread were also amazing! Great service as well. If you like good home cooking this is the place!
(5)Sharie H.
First time here and it was great. The hostess was a bit rude but the waitress was awesome. Very friendly and homey atmosphere. The food was definitely comfort food. Macaroni was by far the best. The shop next door is a must also.
(4)Adriana R.
Long wait, but it was so worth it! Their fried chicken and banana cream pie are delicious. The service was very good, the waitress was on top of everything. I will definitely go back for that banana cream pie!
(5)Lee P.
Their food is great. Go there all the time and we are never disappointed.
(5)Renee S.
Yoder's is such an awesome restaurant! Good home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I have never been disappointed. Been coming here since I moved to Sarasota 15 years ago. Make sure you save room for pie.
(5)Natalie G.
My boyfriend and I come here ALL THE TIME. the staff is so beyond friendly. It's very clean and homey. Food is really well priced and fantastic portions. The pie is succulent and can tell they're made with pure and simple ingredients... I absolutely love yoder's. So warm and welcoming, the food always comes out from the kitchen quickly even when the place is packed with people. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)Judi G.
When you live in Florida year round, you quickly learn that good fresh produce is out of season-too hot for much more than corn, watermelons and onions. Yoder's has a great selection of Mid West produce. Tomatoes from Michigan are very good. Wish they could carry Jersey tomatoes though! A variety of herbs and exotic fruits, North Carolina and Georgia peaches, blueberries and white eggplant. Prices are great compared to a grocery store, especially a seedless watermelon for $2.00. Run over to the market for pumpkin bread or strawberry bread. On Saturdays they smoke their own baby back ribs, saucy and juicy so they sell out fast.
(4)Ryan S.
This place is pretty cool. Its deff old school and makes you feel like your in grandmas kitchen. My only dissapointment was they were out of the dutch apple crumb pie id been looking forward to. The rest of my party got fried chicken and all said it was amazing. I got country fried steak and while good wasnt the best ive ever had. The potato pancakes and mash and gravy were very good. Tried the pumpkin cream pie and the peanut butter pie both were good. Got cinnamon sweet rolls to go and they were very tasty beware they are huge and loaded with icing lol.
(4)Dawn A.
4 stars for Holy cow....if you are looking for a home cooked meal like no other...look no further. I've first heard of Yoder's through my parents who travel to Sarasota often and was glad I finally got to go. First off I read through Yelp reviews that the baked chicken was where it's at, so I had to order it! It was a quarter chicken with 2 sides, I went with fries and warm fried apples. Before your meal is served, they give you just about a half loaf of bread for an appetizer with butter, like your meal wasn't enough. But since I was warned beforehand I knew the meal would be large. And large and in charge it was! It could easily be 3 meals for me! My husband ordered the pork bbq with fries and mac and cheese. Hello comfort food! All in all, it was a great experience, we did have a little bit of a wait during the lunch hour, but the waitress was quick to refill our drinks and asked how we were. And if the main meal wasn't enough they also have a large section of pies...famous for them. So we had to get the peanut butter pie to-go. Also, if you have time go to their Market area, which is right next door to the restaurant. So many good looking fruits/veggie items, as well as other nuts, honey and sweets. My only critique was the bathrooms were a bit small and i felt like the tables throughout the restaurant were a bit crammed in space.
(4)Marie L.
This place is popular for good reason. Amazing food and fantastic desserts at a great price! I've been to Yoder's three times so far, and always make a trip over whenever I'm visiting family in Florida. The parking can be tight and you'll most likely have to wait for a table, but it's all worth it! On my most recent trip, my boyfriend and I shared their famous fried chicken with your choice of two sides. Cooked to perfection every time, crispy and tender. And of course it's huge! We ate our fill and still had plenty to bring home for sandwiches later. I always ask for extra chicken gravy too because it's soooo delicious. The first time I ordered the side of mashed potatoes with gravy, I didn't understand why the gravy was cream colored, but I thought it tasted insanely good. It turns out their gravy is homemade with real chicken stock. Have you ever eaten REAL gravy before? It puts any powdered or jarred "gravy" garbage to shame. I've eaten the meatloaf at Yoder's before too and it was just as delicious as the fried chicken. That side of mashed potatoes came with beef gravy, which again was phenomenal. I love that they serve you fresh food everyday with a great selection of sides to choose from. Of course mashed potatoes are pure comfort food, but they also offer awesome sides like fried okra, chicken stuffing, fresh vegetables and much more. I haven't even gotten to dessert yet, but I only have one word for you all... PIE! Yoder's makes the best pies on this side of the country (in my humble opinion) and there are so many delicious favors to choose from! I always get the same one, their chocolate peanut butter cream pie. I dream about this pie at home in NY. It's a perfect flavor combination of Reese's and fluffy cream pie all in one! I love the chopped peanuts added in for crunch and the incredible homemade whipped cream they pile on top. If you didn't save room for a full piece, you can get a "pie taster" for $2.50. It's a small, sweet bite to finish off an awesome meal. You can always buy an 8 or 10 inch pie to bring home, as well. If I have Florida family coming up to visit, I always beg them to bring me up a Yoder's pie to savor for as long as I possibly can... Usually about 3-5 days. It's that damn good!! Yoder's is one of those restaurants that actually lives up to the hype. My family first heard about it on Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Food, so I'm forever thankful to them for showing me the light. It's a restaurant you MUST MUST MUST enjoy at least once in your life. Otherwise, you truly don't know about the incredible food and pies you're missing out on. Stop by Yoder's the next time you're in/near Sarasota and I promise you'll be back for more.
(5)Mick M.
All time favorite for several years. Pick anything on menu and it will be fantastic. Traditional good home cooking and outstanding pies, always served with a smile. You can never wrong here. Come early on holidays, the line is out the door.
(5)Diana A.
I drive from tampa to buy my mom these pies! So that in itself should say it all. The staff is beyond friendly and very clean location. I like to buy the whole pie and when I get there there usually sold out of most, so last time I was lucky and got the strawberry pie which is universally my moms favorite, and this one has been her favorite by far. I got a pie that was a triple berry (don't quote me on the name of the pie lol). I honestly picked it because it was literally the last whole pie they had to sell. When I tasted it I was in love . I am not a sweets person but I loved both pies. This place is worth the drive.
(5)Kelly L.
Want to take a walk back in time? Come on down to Yoders! We didn't eat at the restaurant but we did check out the market. They had everything! I ended up with artichokes, pink lady apples, hand churn butter, local eggs, Amish cheese and rambutan! I love those spiky Asian fruits and they are hard to find. They also had fresh breads, jams, local honey, and plenty of other goodies. It was my mom's birthday so we decided to grab a pie or cake from their bakery to take home. We went with the oatmeal cake which doesn't sound that interesting, right? WRONG. It had a crispy coconut-y caramel topping that was TO DIE FOR. It was one of those moments that was almost spiritual. I can't wait to come back and try the restaurant.
(4)Robert N.
The Food Network got me again. I came in for the "Legendary" fried chicken. The chicken was the very opposite of impressive. Underseasoned. The skin was not crisp: no snap as we are all hunting for when we seek to indulge in fried chicken. The sides were very 1970's American diner : uninspired and devoid of seasoning. The gravy really struck me like it was from a giant tin can, if it was actually made on site shame on them. Great gravy can be found at Made and Sun Garden Cafe. Great fried chicken at Shore Diner, hell even Publix offers better fried chicken than yoder's. Don't believe for a minute that large portions make a meal worth eating.....dine elsewhere if you like food.
(1)Tiffany E.
We came here with friends and were blown away. First of all these are the biggest portions i have ever seen. I ordered roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing. I ate 1/4 of it. Also save room for dessert because the pnut butter pie is amazing. The portions are huge prices are cheap and food is fresh!
(5)Thomas A.
I'm not going to wax poetic on a place with 400 almost-exclusively positive reviews already...you get the drift, this place rocks. I was not disappointed in a single aspect of the meal (food, service, etc). Just fantastic. Chicken, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, onion rings, pie...all made well and with real ingredients. Biggest tip - Be prepared to wait outside in the heat for 20-45 minutes depending on the crowd level.
(5)Nienna N.
Yoder's is always fabulous. Real traditional food like they made on the farm. Not haute cuisine just natural flavor
(5)Duane D.
We came out of our way to try Yoders, which many of our friends rave about. Yoders is a smallish Amish restaurant a few miles off the Interstate. With a few Amish-themed exceptions, the menu is much like a Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel restaurant. It can be crowded. On a Friday night we waited about 30 minutes for a table for 2. I found the food to be good and the prices to be low. That being said, I don't understand all of the hype that has some people driving 50 miles to get here. It is good, and I will eat here again when I am in the area if the wait is reasonable--but it's not quite up to all the over-the-top hype.
(4)Elena W.
Starting with the fresh made bread, it was a good sign of things to come. The food was just that! Croissant tuna sammy, croissant chicken salad sammy, & country fried steak. You heard that right, sammies on croissants. Not too buttery, not too flaky... Perfect for holding all that yummy goodness. Did I mention the French fries? For the love of all things holy, they were amazing!! Perfectly crisp, not soggy, and not too well done. Add some salt, and your taste buds will sing a heavenly song (when in Amish country, it's only fitting). Onto dessert, Florida key lime pie, best chocolate cake, and choc/peanut butter pie... Where to start? Key lime pie had a creamy yet tart taste; the kind that hits you at the end (like a fine wine). The chocolate cake, oh my oh my!!! The frosting alone is worthy of high praise. The cake was good, but the frosting was so delicious that you couldn't compare it to the cake. Now for the choc/PB pie... Layer after layer with chunks of peanuts, smooth chocolate goodness, and a perfect crust. What's not to love?? All in all, any negative comments you read about the food, chalk them up to yuppies that are used to $30 dinners. As for the service, yes it can be a bit slow, but their friendliness & food make up for it. They stay pretty busy, so don't go if you have less than an hour to grab lunch and get back to the office. I'd recommend takeout and get on with your life. All in all, we left happy, stuffed & with doggie bags. Man vs Food was spot on. Not to mention, I'm a pretty picky person.
(5)Robbie C.
Yoders is a tourist attraction in the middle of an Amish community in Sarasota. As such, there is always a line out the door so be prepared to wait. The ambiance is diner like and the food is comfort type foods. I ordered the salmon which goes against what they are known for. It is a huge piece of salmon and came with a plastic cup of dill sauce. Not the best I have had and am always turned off by plastic but wasn't the worst either. The dish comes with two sides and I enjoyed the Mac n cheese. Asked our server if green beans were fresh or canned and was really surprised when she told me they are canned. Yuck! Especially when they have a real nice farmers market with fresh produce next door. So instead a got a salad which was pretty plain. When several in my party asked for bread before their meal, they were served plain white bread? We waited in line for this? So we did get a peanut butter pie to share between 4 of us, plenty to share and this was definitely the star of the show. They do have an outdoor takeout so would opt for this and get the pie. The farmers market is definitely worth a visit.
(3)Abigail T.
I love them. Great American food. Had the pot roast today. Awesome. Brought home woopie pies delicious. They give large portions. Enjoy
(5)Agi M.
The pie alone will change your life. Pick your favorite flavor (apple is mine!) and enjoy your slice of heaven! Fried chicken is also divine, don't try being healthy...get the dark meat and indulge.
(5)K G.
Truly as good as it gets in terms of southern comfort food! We came here on a recommendation, which seems to be the way this place works- set off on a back road with no fancy signs, you'd miss it if you didn't know about it. But once you get into the jam packed parking lot, you know you've come to the right place. We got here around 7:15 at night, knowing they close at 8, so we figured that we missed peak dinner times and wouldn't be too crowded.. WRONG! We were greeted by a line out the door. Once we got inside we were met with walls adorned with various awards, newspaper clippings, along with a signed photo of Adam from Man vs. Food who visited and listed this place in his "Top 100 Places to Chow Down" on the Travel Channel. Such a glamorous award, yet the interior of Yoder's reminded me of my grandma's kitchen: plaid tablecloths, spinning ceiling fans, and pullout chairs for extra guests around a table. And if you weren't hungry enough, there are various homemade cookies and breads available for you to oogle at while waiting. But the jewel case of pies near the center of the restaurant is really what catches your eye as you walk by to your table, more on that later though. Now first and foremost, check your diet at the door. This is not the place to be concerned with trivial things like calories because we have a menu that's home to famous fried chicken to look through! With a soup of the day, veggie of the day and, oh yea, pie of the day, you will have trouble deciding, heaven knows we did. Our waitress was more than happy to give us extra time as we flip flopped between sandwiches on homemade croissants, country fried steak with homemade gravy, or blue plate specials which came with homemade bread (did I mention homemade?). We settled on the Thanksgiving dinner meal along with some mac and cheese and, of course, some fried chicken. The turkey dinner brought out looked, again, like grandma's. A mountain of white gravy slathered on stuffing and mashed potatoes, with cranberry sauce and a pile of turkey that was obviously cut right off the bird- no fancy thin shavings of meat, we're talking chunks of white and dark meat abound. The mac and cheese was so creamy I could slurp that sauce through a straw and also made for a good dunking sauce for the fried chicken which was crunchy and juicy. Curse you Yoder's, I broke my 60 day vegetarianism for your chicken and enjoyed every second of it! First time I ever saw my guy ask for a box there was just too much food to handle. Of course, full or not, we had to go for it all with a piece of pie. After flip flopping again, we settled on Strawberry Cream Pie. We split a slice and the waitress brought it cut on two plates without us asking, so I'm assuming sharing is a very common thing in this place. I'm glad she gave us our own piece since neither of us were willing to share! Huge fresh strawberry chunks gave me the illusion that I was eating healthy under a pound of whipped cream. The crust was like a cookie, delicious on its' own- no joke, I would pay to have someone teach me how to make it! We left at closing time, but I will have to come back to check out their next door farmer's market. And so we left a little fatter and a lot happier. We ate to our hearts content with leftovers for under $30 which is pretty good for the portions and quality of food. Like I said, I am not from here, but for sure I will be coming back at least once more before going back home. And so the legend of Yoder's will continue. Should anyone ask me if I know a good place, I'll refer to the little "house" off the beaten path!
(5)C T.
What a find! My first time in Sarasota, Florida and where should we go for a bite to eat? We found Yoder's on Yelp. When we got to Yoder's, there was a line-up going into the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Saturday afternoon. Must be good if there is a line-up! Waited in line for about 20 minutes and saw Adam Richman's autographed picture in their feature window in the doorway. Also, the Man vs Food video of Yoder's was playing in the background on the plasma TV. Adam Richman ate fried chicken and their potato pancakes and their famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. We finally got a table for 5 people. One ordered the Fried chicken, fried okra and onion rings - delicious! One ordered the Fried chicken and mashed potato and gravy - smaller portion but just as good! One ordered the BBQ Chicken Leg and mashed potato - pretty good! Two ordered the Chicken Liver and Special Stuffing (only available on Saturdays), potato pancakes, fried okra, and Amish buttered noodles - can you say OMG!! Dessert was the best part - sis and I shared the famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was so light! Mum had the starwberry pie - quite delicious!!
(5)Jen W.
Great lunch buffet. Loved the "broasted" chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes. Plentiful salad bar, lots of desserts & great soft serve ice cream. I bought a key lime pie and bag of kettle corn on the way out. Highly both! All for under $10/person.
(5)Charles H.
The food is simple and simply delicious. I tried the pulled pork and I was delightfully surprised by the quality and the large portion. The pie was simply wonderful. You must try this place. Come hungry, it's worth the wait.
(5)Selene K.
This review is for the pies/desserts only as I much prefer the food at Troyer's. My family has been going to this restaurant for years and will usually buy a whole pie during family gatherings. Very fresh and delicious.
(4)Marquita M.
Best pies hands down... They saved my Christmas dinner!
(5)Sundi P.
AMAZING peanut butter cream pie. My husband and I decided this is going to be a tradition on pi day.
(5)Anthony A.
Holy moly this place was amazing. I had a food coma. I mean the fried chicken was phenomenonal. Those sides- wow! those potato chips and noodles and potato cakes ans don't forget about the fried corn on the cob. That apple butter was so good that we went to the Yoder's market after we ate and bought a whole jar of it. You can't go to Yoder's with out getting pie. Really it was the best pie Ive ever had.
(5)Jillian K.
Bland bland bland. We had heard about this place for years and finally were in the area with the time to give it a try. We started with pie and coffee. We didn't hate the coffee and the shoofly pie had a pleasant molasses taste. The blueberry crumb was a sweet thick sugary syrup and blueberries with a crumb that lacked flavor or proper spices. The famous fried chicken did not have any seasoning, not even salt and pepper. The beets were served in a clear tasteless syrup that seemed to rob any flavor that might have naturally occurred. The fried okra was okay but could also have used some seasoning. This place seems to have a loyal fan base much like the Cracker Barrel. Really boring food served by really nice people.
(1)Bethany B.
This was so excellent! By far the best breakfast. We didn't have too high of expectations as we figured it would be your heavy breakfast options. There certainly was that if you wanted it but I had a delicious veggie benedict with fresh fruit and there were options for fresh granola with fruit and yogurt, etc. Service was outstanding!!! Just go! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Joshua R.
Come Hungry because the serving sizes are huge. Great Amish cooking. Country style benedict was great and a lot of food
(4)Ronald U.
Too Big for Their Britches-Now I know Yoder's enjoys lines around their building and our celebrities now that they have been featured on T.V.-unfortunately they care little for accomodating customers who have been frequenting this establishment for decades. I know I will not be missed but I certainly feel betrayed, I always ordered the $10.95- 7 ounce garlic chicken-not always garlic flaovred, it comes with 2 sides and stuffing. Brian the manager always allowed me to substitute the stuffing for okra or applesauce. on my last visit i was told by Brian that the stuffing was free and could not be substituted. Instead of saying this would be the last time we can make this substitution because the stuffing is free-i was loudly humiliated infront of guests and staff. why did you ever offer to substitue in the first place. had i been told this was not your policy that would have been fine. you are not a chain, why could i not be accomodated and why did i need to be insulted and humiliated. the servers will miss my generosity but i will not miss the artery clogging free stuffing that could not be substitued. So ends my decades as a Yoder customer!
(2)Jenn S.
Okay, I don't even remember what I ate for dinner because I followed that with a huge slice of butterscotch pie, which is the best thing I have EVER eaten in my life. I want to marry it. It was creamy, smooth, and the most wonderful 2,000 calories in one place I have ever wolfed down. Holy F!!!
(4)Joy H.
Great for breakfast or for dessert...you won't leave hungry or broke. The staff here is so friendly :)
(5)Sarah D.
First, let's get one thing straight. If you want spicy food, or even heavily seasoned food, this is not the place for you. This is an Amish restaurant, and the Amish are plain. That carries over into their clothing, buildings and food. If you want good home cooking in a kitschy Amish atmosphere, then you'll enjoy your meal. I'll be honest, I grew up in Amish country in Central PA, so no matter what, I knew I'd like this place on pure nostalgia alone. But my husband enjoyed it as well. We heard stories of long lines waiting for a table, but we got there at 11 on a Tuesday and beat the lunch rush. My suggestion is to go during off hours. I had the Manhattan (open faced sandwich) and hubby had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which he loved. The mashed potatoes were very good as well as the homemade bread they bring for the table. Unfortunately we were too full to try the desserts, but I'd like to return and have a piece of the Strawberry Pie ( my favorite). Also, don't miss the Produce Market, Grocery and Gift Shop!
(4)steve M.
First of all bring your appetites. The portions were absolutely ridiculous. We're talking Flintstones size. Very good (and huge) fried chicken. Excellent (and gigantic) meatloaf sandwich (which they call a Manhattan) Fantastic Pie. But the highlight of the meal for me was the apple butter. Best I've ever had. We bought a jar to take home. Well worth the trip is you want some serious comfort food in Sarasota
(4)Dante B.
Go here for the pie and start with that. While you're at it, take some home with you. Wonderful wide selection of tasty cream and regular pies - I was there the day the place was featured on "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel. Now I understand why the Man vs. Food guy came here - they're darn good pies!
(5)Craig R.
Fried chicken and PB cream pie are incredible! Come hungry!
(4)Jen C.
The custard pie is AMAZING!!!
(5)Julaine N.
Good breakfast. The pancakes are delicious as well as their fresh made breads. Be prepared to wait in line on a weekend morning, but if you are looking for some breakfast treats, the pancakes are worth it!
(3)Steve G.
The food was so-so. We had the turkey which was dry, the stuffing seemed to be pedestrian, and the gravy seemed fairly tasteless. The meatloaf was ok, but seemed to be fairly standard. We were expecting a home-cooked style of a dinner and what we got was middle of the road lunch counter quality food.
(2)Jesse B.
This is my spot for a early morning hangover cure. I know it sounds odd but it is true. I have them stored in my phone and when the only thing I can think about is biscuits and gravy I call for take out. Always biscuits and gravy for take out. The best I have found. Homemade biscuits and meaty gravy. Bring your own hot sauce. I also order pies ahead of time for holidays. Best around hands down. I'd be willing to bet this is some of the best "home cook'in" in town. One day maybe I'll go inside.
(4)Carrie S.
I'm only rated this a 4 cuz the food is ok.. it wasn't the best.. My hubby and I went for breakfast.. I had a sausage and cheese omelette w/ home fries... The home fries was barely cooked..my hubby had homemade corn beef and hash and it wasn't that great but The four stars is for the amazing pies and desserts that they serve oh my talk about heaven in your mouth I had the chocolate peanut butter pie it was yummy..they also have a fresh produce market right next-door along with a deli which is also amazing and more goodies to fill your tummy...they have A huge selection of different types of Jams..they have whoopee pies and old-fashioned candy and lots of other cakes and desserts to choose from..all the fruit and vegetables look delicious as well I will definitely be back!! I will be back to try the restaurant again I will try dinner next time because I heard their fried chicken is off the chain..this place is definitely a great place to order your pies and desserts for holidays!! The service & the atmosphere was also very wonderful!
(4)Katy T.
We tried the meatloaf and country fried steak, on our way down to Sarasota. Our table neighbor next to us ordered this incredible looking homemade cheesecake with strawberries on top, so we had to join. The pies look huge and amazing too, didn't have room for both, maybe on the way back home!
(5)Helen L.
I crave their fried chicken a lot and will make the 35 minute drive to eat here. Their pies are amazing as well!
(5)Randy R.
On vacation in the siesta key area we where recommended to have dinner at this establishment THANK YOU for your recommendation. BEST BEST fried chicken i've had in a long time. Everything about this place was great. The service was awesome. The food was spectacular and the desert was heavenly. If you want to try something great visit this place.
(5)Jessica M.
Yoder's is a solid 3.5 in my book. So, in the middle of nowhere Florida lives these Amish folks. They have a produce stand, have a restaurant, and some other Amish attractions. Upon pulling up, I noticed quickly this was a facade. Living in Vegas, I think you get jaded because you know what a fake Paris or a fake Roman Empire facade look like from a mile away. The staff was definitely not Amish either. I don't think Amish can stand behind the hostess stand checking her iPhone. Anyway, I could careless about how pretty or dumpy a place is, it's all about the food, customer service, but mostly the food. There were signs about the world famous fried chicken and it was alright. Was it KFC, no, but it wasn't slap your grandma good either. The mashed potatoes weren't anything special, but the 5 bean salad I enjoyed was the cat's pajamas. Not really feeling my food, I boxed it up to go, so I could spruce it up later. What I and anyone else come her for is their pies. OMG. Moment of silence, please. Their peanutbutter pie is creamy, sweet, peanutbuttery perfection. Succulent. Yes, a pie can be succulent. I also have to tell you, I am not a pie fan. At all. 99% of pies suck, not Yoder's. They made me a believer. Service was attentive and the restaurant was busy. Not a legit Amish settlement so don't let that disappoint you. I'd skip the food and go straight to the pie window. It's the only thing worth waiting around for.
(3)Lynda J.
A nice place for some good Amish food. This place is jam packed during season! Come prepared to stand in line. I usually get the broasted chicken and always have a piece of the delicious pie. My favorite is the coconut cream but the peanut butter is also great! Come hungry this is not the place to skip dessert!!
(4)Sue G.
O M G.. Yes, yes, yes! The carmel apple french toast was so yuummmy, I almost cried. The Farmer's skillet was so huge my piggy hubby couldn't even eat it all! The ham STEAK(not sliver) melts in your mouth! Best coffe that I've had in a long time. The ice cold milk, oh Lord!!! I have heard they have very long waits, but we went on a Friday at 10:30 for brunch and walked right in! Check out the deli next door! Woooooow! Amazing prices!!! Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)Shannon G.
Yum! Great food. Great pie :) Be warned they do not serve breakfast all day. I once came in at about 11:30 am and had to wait in line, and sadly was not able to get the French toast I had dreamed of.
(5)Bryan T.
Went to this place today and was in heaven! I haven't had fried chicken this good in years. The raspberry tea was delicious and I don't even like tea. This had mom and grandma knocked out on the car ride home
(5)conor b.
Classic comfort food coming from the heart of Sarasota's Amish community. Good for lunch, even better for breakfast. Quality service and you can expect consistent service, food and a little bit of a wait every time. They offer a fun treasure hunt for the kids as well that lets them stroll through the attached market and gift store for a sticker and at the end the get a prize. Mom and dad have already bought things from each place by this time, so it's darn clever. Anyway, I've never had a better friend chicken and I was born in the south. Those Amish know what they are doing. Grab a slice of pie and wrap it up!
(4)William S.
Great portions on dinners. Make sure you're hungry if you order full dinners. Peanut butter pie is homemade and good. Had Dutch Apple pie and it was great too. Have been here a few times always busy due to the fact it's comfort food. They have take out window for pies. Also have a vegetable market and deli cut meats next to restaurant.
(4)Chuck P.
Great home cooked meals and the pies are fantastic! Blueberry pie and my wife are the best of friends!
(4)Travis J.
I absolutely love this place! Pretty small and you may have to wait, but the wait will be worth it! The staff is friendly and very patient. The items on the menu are very fresh and you do see the desserts on display. The food portions are good so come with an appetite! I ordered their famous fried chicken along with the mac and cheese and corn cakes. The chicken was crisp and juicy and almost as big as my head! The Mac and Cheese is creamy and rich, the corn cakes look like pancakes, but have that texture and taste of a cake! For dessert I got the peanut butter pie which is the know favorite. Words couldn't describe how amazing each bite was! I definitely recommend Yoders. It's away from all of the beaches and bars, but it's a relaxing location away from it all. Don't forget to stop in their fresh market shop, produce market, or gift shop!
(5)Steve N.
I had never been here before after relocating to Sarasota. I happened to see it on the Food Network, but had heard good things since moving six months ago. I stopped in and got a peanut butter pie and a coconut cream pie to go. I tried the peanut butter pie and it was delicious! Different than any pie i have had before, but very very good. I can't speak to the restaurant or the meals there, but I was impressed!
(4)Wayne P.
The best Amish restaurant anywhere . Plus their pies are to die for . Better to get there early for supper or you will have to wait in a long line .
(5)Steve K.
I always stop in when I visit Sarasota. Food is good and plentiful and the service is great.
(4)Chuck B.
Donuts and pastries - oh my goodness! If you have not had the great food at this restaurant for the best donuts in Florida you have to come by and try them. It's a temptation everytime I Drive by on Bahia Vista.
(5)Ms S.
Stopped at the deli today for a couple of sandwiches to go. Asked for a roast beef and turkey on rye. After 15 mins the lady from the kitchen came out and told me they don't make that kind of sandwich, that it had to be either turkey or roast beef. I said okay, roast beef. Very expensive and about 2 slices of roast beef. The shop itself is cute with lots of good-looking sweets but would not go back for a sandwich.
(1)Anne L.
My husband and I were visiting the Sarasota area and staying in an expensive hotel. We had one meal there, which was so-so, and then we heard about Yoder's. We gave Yoder's a try, and from then on, we ate nowhere else! Yoder's has the BEST food and the FRIENDLIEST service anyone could ask for. We made good use of their carry-out window, taking food back to the hotel to eat, although there are tables outside. Their breakfasts are delicious, their soups and sandwiches are fresh and remarkable, and their delicious dinners are more than plentiful. Best of all, everything really did taste homemade. I would gladly wait in line if I had to, just for a meal at Yoder's. Once you eat there, you'll be spoiled for any place else!
(5)Rebecca L.
Pie. Just pie. Skip everything else tbh, I mean it's fine but pie tho. Best way to spend a morning in sarasota: go to the beach early, before it's too hot. Be one of those horrible people who runs on the beach. The come to Yoder's, still sweaty and salt-swept, and treat yo'self to a giant slice of your favorite pie and a coffee. You've earned it. You horrible person, you. Best pies: banana cream, chocolate peanut butter, butterscotch, dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb.
(4)J S.
Never had a bad meal here, food always first-rate; Except; 1.) Fried chicken; How did they do it? Seems they've taken a flavorful bird, and got it to the point where it was devoid of any flavor whatsoever- a culinary miracle! And 2.) "Mashed potatoes" (Instant, believe it or not- yeeech!) Some "home made." Should be a law against calling these freeze dried/add water pellets "mashed potatoes." Avoid these two horrible, disappointing dishes, & you'll be fine. Give desserts a try, you won't be disappointed. Are you a "people watcher?" Or more specifically, a FAT people watcher? I have never seen so many disgusting, overweight slobs in one restaurant in my life- Makes the typical Cracker Barrel diner look like a tri-athelete by comparison. And if there's a line in front, check the waistlines on those bloated pigs- makes you want to turn vegetarian, I'm here to tell you.
(3)Lisa W.
I wanted to love this more than I did. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and okra. All were good, but nothing was great. Hubby had fried chicken, green beans and Amish potato cakes. He liked the chicken and green beans. Others had Mac n cheese- good and baked apples. Our favorite thing was something not on the menu, but we took the advice of a fellow Yelper. Get the butterscotch banana cream pie. Very good. We walked around afterward, as they give the kids a small scavenger hunt/treasure map.
(3)Ryan R.
Yoders is the best breakfast in Sarasota. My family visits the Sarasota once a year for vacation and it has become tradition to start and end our vacation at yoders. The sweet roll is amazing, eggs are FRESH and everything is amazing. Highly recommend making a trip to yoders!
(5)Goody G.
Yoder's isn't too bad. There is a lot of hype about this place which I do not understand. My food was "Okay." It was not bad, not good... just OKAY. The portions were large, the food was cooked well but it was also bland. I grabbed a pie, on the way out, and it took me almost as long to wait for the pie as it did to eat dinner. The pie was also OKAY. I guess what makes people think it is so great is because there aren't a lot of bakeries around here that make these sorts of things but, again, it was just okay. You will certainly enjoy your meal and I do recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)Robin G.
Excellent food, great service. We loved everything we got, the coffee wasn't anything to write home about but I didn't expect anything special. I recommend the stuffed french toast, delicious.
(5)Frank A.
Food is amazing! Get the fried chicken! Pies to die for. Menu selection is like home cooking with all the basics such as turkey dinner, meatloaf, sandwiches, salads. Also open for breakfast. If you are in Sarasota and hungry, this is a must place to eat. Go ahead and bookmark it now, you can thank me later! BTW- there is an adjacent farm stand and gift store. Pies and baked goods to go as well!
(5)Chastity B.
Not that impressed with dinner. Although the pie was excellent. Went between lunch and dinner around 4 so not even 1/4 of the tables taken. Service was so so. Don't think I will be returning unless it is for a piece of pie to go.
(3)Diana D.
A staple of the Sarasota, FL region that has to be visited at least once if you are here. As residents of the area, there is a difference between Yoder's in season and out of season. In season the line will stretch out the door and the place will be mobbed. It's mobbed for a reason. It's good! The portions are HUGE. I have had several things off the menu and have been pleased every time. Some of the things I have ordered over the past year: - French Toast (huge portion, double inch thick slices - 1 slice will do for me but they serve 2 or 3 if you want). - Cinnamon pancakes that were awesome. - Fried Chicken (not Colonel Sanders ... the real deal here) - Meat Loaf that was good. - various sandwiches and salads. Bring an appetite - the portions are huge! Bathroom facilities are a little difficult to get to and are cramped and do not seem accessible. The decor and vibe is a country homestyle feel ... and it's relatively small. The wait is worth it. If you need a place for a larger crowd or want a little more breathing room, the Der Dutchman restaurant is right down the street. Both are Amish but Yoder's appears a bit less commercial.
(4)Kem W.
I waited 40 minutes in line and decided the food probably wasn't worth that long a wait. I was there for breakfast. All the portions are ample, particularly the combination breakfasts. I had the corned beef hash (OK), a biscuit (excellent), and part of a sticky bun (OK but I'm not a fan of super sweet things.) We didn't have an opportunity for pie, which is this place's claim to fame, but they did look good. It's definitely worth a trip here for breakfast if you're in Sarasota.
(3)Chris W.
A wonderful lunch place. We've been here a few times now and from the fried chicken to the beef and noodles to the pies you really can't go wrong with the food. Service is also top-notch (although due to the awesome food) it can take a while to get a table on the weekends. Definitely worth it though no matter when you come.
(5)Oliver J.
Mixed bag. This restaurant claims to be Amish, which is known for it's honesty and simplicity. They use farm raised fish and CAFO raised animal for their meats. I'm disgusted, and I can only assume most Amish people would too. Those cheap and low quality ingredients resonate with the food quality. My macaroni and cheese was a sham. Not an ounce of cheese in the thing. I could dish by dish slanging the pros and cons, but overall, I won't be back for the food, other than perhaps to taste the fried chicken. The food is acceptable in taste and presentation, although far from impressive. Pie-wise, there we had the chocolate pecan - good, but far from anything special, and Key Lime Pie (normal), that was kind of gross.... gelatin like. It was fine, but I love key lime pie, and that was far from the mark. Conversely, we ordered a strawberry and rhubarb pie to take home. It was amazing. Not too sweet, and full of strawberries and rhubarb. The strawberries felt mashed, as to make sure the ingredients mixed, which was perfect.
(3)Restaurant Maverick 1.
Homemade from scratch at a quality level most cannot duplicate. Amish atmosphere, unique place, awesome food, awesome service! HUGE PORTIONS!
(5)Kara C.
After hearing about this place from too many people, we finally went! I'm just going to be honest, eat dessert first and then eat dinner! We ate so good at dinner and unfortunately didn't have enough room for dessert! The portions are huge and very good!
(5)Shauna L.
Wow! The parking lot was PACKED because everyone is picking up their pies before Christmas Day. The apple butter is so good I bought some to fly home with me to give to my dad. I had the most tender sloppy joe for lunch. Fantastic home cooking! The gift shop closed before we could visit, maybe a stop on the return trip? I'd say highly likely.
(5)Sharon S.
I cannot even begin to describe how delicious and fresh my food was. Two different people recommended this restaurant this past week so I decided to try it for myself. To say that it exceeded my expectations is an understatement. Our waitress was Mary Emma and she was so nice and helpful. When I told her it was my first visit she didn't try to rush me to order until I was able to look over the whole menu. I didn't want a really heavy lunch because of the heat so I ordered the Hawaiian Chicken Salad. It had coconut, small pieces of pineapple, and toasted almonds and was spectacular. Not sure what else it had but it didn't taste like mayo (which is good because I'm not a big fan of mayo) it was light and flavorful. But wait, there's more. There was also huge pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh pineapple. The nice surprise was a slice of homemade banana bread and a slice of strawberry bread. Of course, I ended up taking some home because of the portion sizes but I'm just disappointed that I was too full to try the pie. One day I plan on stopping in just for that. In a word, delicious!
(5)Melissa A.
Very busy but still friendly service. I had the fried chicken which was ok. Tried the mini pies. The peanut butter pie was incredible. This is the place to go for delicious dessert not really for a meal
(4)Ana B.
I really wanted to like this place as I have a great respect for diversity and different cultures. When my friend and I arrived, there was a 30 minute long wait on Wed night. Our expectation grew due to the wait and of course men vs. food is on. Customers and servers wearing taditional custumes made me excited about this adventure. I ordered quarter fried chicken with spinich and potato pancake. Fried chicken was tender and juicy but skin was not crispy. There was no seasoning on spinich and it looked like a baby puke. Potato pancake was okay. This place is over-commercialized and dissapoint me big time. For dissert, we ordered peanutbutter pie taster at 2.50. It came out on a cup. It was good but nothing special. My server was very kind and friendly but food was not up to par.
(2)Connie G.
The fried chicken and country fried steak were great. The roasted turkey was a total disappointment: dry, served as leftover The pies were very good. The wait was at least half an hour...the place was packed....the decor tired to say the least. Service was very pleasant. Stick with the two fried dishes and the pies. Get there early if you want a full selection of pies or better yet, just pick up the pie and avoid the meal.
(2)JASON M.
The pies!!!!! Peanut butter or banana cream.... Great home cooked food (really enjoyed the fried chicken) but those pies are phenomenal.
(5)Grace C.
On a repeat visit earlier this month, I had to dock a star because there were some misses on this trip. I'd still come back and recommend it to visitors but is it the best place I've ever had pie? No. I tried the baked pies this time instead of the cream pies and I think this is really where their weakness is. Their shoefly pie and crumble apple pie were both forgettable. My apple pie filling seemed like it was straight from the can and really bland. The crust wasn't buttery. I always finish my dessert or take it to go but on this visit, my sister and I left our half-eaten pies untouched with zero hesitation. That's saying something from someone with a serious sweet tooth. Maybe we caught them on an off day. I'd still return just not 5-star worthy this time around. I enjoyed the apple butter with my multigrain toast. The potatoes that came as a side on some of our plates seemed more like boiled flavorless potatoes than home fries. I saw a table next to us that got extra crispy fried home fries and I'm wondering if they asked them to be extra crispy (duly noted next time around!)
(4)Cecily A.
So I saw my first Amish community and restaurant today. Was pretty surreal seeing in person what I usually see on TV. You can smell this restaurant the second you open your car doors, whether it be tasty smelling batter for fried chicken or sweet smells of pies, breads, cakes, and muffins. The smell is honestly the first thing I quickly noticed, and secondly, how nice everyone seemed. Even though almost the entire dining room was older folks, some in English clothes, some in Amish dressings, they still accepted me in my short shorts and service was also quick and friendly. I enjoyed my home cooked meatloaf and had to try the Choco peanut butter banana pie for dessert which my fellow yelpers turned me onto. I must say that my sweet tooth is now cured for the rest of my vacay. :P Awesome experience, will definitely come back.
(5)Beth F.
The sausage gravy & biscuit(s) is a Heavenly meal in itself! The apple fritter French toast was delicious (doesn't need the maple syrup). The raspberry/cream cheese stuffed French toast was good, but not as great for me as the Apple. Taking a Peanut Butter Cream Pie piece home to eat later cause we simply don't have the room to eat it now! Will be coming back for lunch and then again dinner in the next few days! Wanna try so much more!
(5)Meghan R.
Delicious, filling comfort food with huge portions and great prices! We came at 10:30 on a Saturday and with a long line out the door we were still seated in less than 10 minutes. The staff is extremely attentive and kind. My fiancé had a croissant breakfast sandwich that was loaded with butter and full of the best eggs he's ever had, and I had eggs Benedict that was also extremely delicious. Highly recommend the biscuit with sausage gravy as a side, you won't be disappointed. We were too full to have dessert but ordered some individual pie slices to go (with their reputation for amazing pies, we had to try a few different ones) and they were simply the best pie we ever had. Wish we lived down here so we could go back soon and try more of the menu! The gift shop was full of adorable keepsakes and handmade items as well.
(4)Deke K.
We arrived at 10 a.m and only had to wait for one table to clear. It gave us time to snoop through the breads & whoopie pies available near the door. The hostess shared her mom is the baked goods baker (not pies). How lucky she is! I quickly was taken by the country grilled oatmeal. It was wonderful though the portion was waaaay too large. I enjoyed some homebaked bread with their stellar apple butter. My friend got the apple fritter French toast. It was good but we weren't sure why it got called "fritter" --it was apple bread French toast. Their baked apple side beats Cracker Barrel's. My friend ordered what she thought would be a small sweet roll and received a giant 1/4 of an entire sweet roll cake ($4). Prices were fair, portions were huge. But we couldn't help but think how we'd really love half portions and smaller prices (and not have to take more than half home). Our waitress was friendly and attentive. They cleaned tables swiftly. We enjoyed the art on the walls. We wished we could lounge around 'til 11 to try lunch!
(4)Emily B.
Wow! This place is awesome! My boyfriend brought me here for breakfast. The place was packed. We waited about 10 minutes. We split a sweet roll, which is ginormous. Very sweet and yummy. Then he had the strawberry stuffed French toast and I had the apple stuffed French toast. I liked that it wasn't too sweet, but just enough. The portion size was big considering the price. More restaurants should be like that. I would definitely return next time we're in the area.
(5)Laurie B.
Whenever we are in Sarasota we always have to take a stop at yoders !! It it such an experience ! If you go after 900 am on Saturday you may have to wait but it is well worth it ! My friend and I shared the raspberry cream cheese stuffed French toast which was out of this world ! Not to sweet but creamy and not soggy . We ordered the smallest order and still had slot leftover . We also shared the country fried steak breakfast and split that as well ! The eggs were cooked perfect and friend got a side of sausage gravy and I got a side of the hamburger gravy which was creamy and salty and worth every bite of calorie ! We had more than half of our breakfast left so don't be afraid to share ! I brought my daughter home the cinnamon bun which an army of 4 could eat off of . Stepping into yoders is like stepping back into a time where' things move slower and people are gracious and kind and you can feel the care and thought that is put into the food ! If you are ever in Sarasota don't miss a stop at yoders !!
(5)Gerrald L.
Home style food, incredible, for sure a place to try when in town. Their pies are awesome too.
(5)Daniel C.
Wife had a big salad with turkey, while I had grilled chicken dinner with fries and corn. Food was very tasty. Great service. Pies looked great, but had no time for dessert. Even at 2 on weekday afternoon, there was a line!
(4)T. Isabella N.
Not sure why people are so crazy about this place. Had fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes. All very very bland. Not much flavor going on here folks. Most people eating there were senior citizens so maybe that says it all.
(1)Richard W.
Their fried chicken I must recommend if you go. The chicken is very flavorful and delicious. I just can't see to stop eating it. Their wait staff is very friendly and they make you feel welcome to their establishment. Their pies are excellent.
(4)Blondie P.
Good ol' home cooking at its finest. Large portions, plenty of choices, excellent pies, cookies and cakes. The service is friendly and fast. I had the Anna salad - spring mix, turkey, lots of fruit - with a strawberry vinaigrette, very colorful and very tasty. Prepare to wait unless you go at off hours. But the wait is well worth it.
(4)Natarajan R.
Great food. fresh food. Generous portions. Great service. Most restuarants should aspire to this level of service.
(5)Dionna S.
Can I just say this is the best breakfast and dinner in Sarasota! You will never leave hungry! Portions are huge and the food is wonderful. You have to try the peanut butter pancake with the homemade whipped cream! The fried chicken, the homemade apple butter, the desserts! Just great food! We try to go here twice a day when we are in Sarasota!
(5)Sal L.
We were on vacation this month and went to Yoders TWICE. It is a homey Amish restaurant with great food, great quantity at a great price. The atmosphere is very old style and kitcheny..anyway we felt very at home there. We had a dinner and a breakfast there. Both were great. Highly recommend.
(5)Tory L.
Who knew there was a thriving Amish population in Sarasota? Anyway, this place has some great fried chicken and pie! At first, I was a little miffed about paying over $15 for a few pieces of fried chicken. Then my order arrived and it's literally an entire plate of chicken! I've had my fair share of greasy, crispy fried chicken, but none that felt so "healthy". What do I mean? Well, Yoder's fried chicken is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, with very little minimum oozing oil when you tear it apart. I didn't feel a single ounce of guilt digging in. What also makes this place a gem is its pie! I've had the apple/blueberry/banana cream slices, and they are delicious! They use all local ingredients and make the pies fresh daily, so it tastes magical. The crust is crispy and the insides are full of gooey goodness. Top that off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you are good to go! TIP: share the fried chicken with 2-3 people to save space for pie (also a large serving, but I'm not sharing my dessert :P) !
(4)A Foodie M.
The fried chicken is so good! Pies are good too. I tried the pumpkin cake this time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Great customer service as well. I will be returning to Yoder's.
(4)Letha B.
First visit here was today. I would definitely drive the 45 min just to go. It was amazing!! My husband and I both had the fried chicken, I had the green beans and Mac n cheese, and he had okra with Mac n cheese. All our food was delicious! While standing in line a woman said we had to try the Coconut Cream Pie, we did and were not sorry. Best I have ever had. The slices of pie are huge! So happy we decided to share a slice. You definitely get your money's worth and more from here. Next we would like to try breakfast. I will say, the line was out the door, but it went pretty quick. We had a really sweet attentive waitress. She was so busy and did an amazing job of keeping up. I was very impressed and will be back for sure!
(5)Chris P.
After a trip to the Ringling Brothers museum, we were ready for some lunch. My wife said that Yoder's was right up our alley. After a short wait we were seated. I got the fried chicken, my wife and her mom got the special beef & noodles and my father-in law got the pulled pork. The chicken was so-so. The noodles had gravy that was blatantly obvious that it came from a can. The green beans and corn tasted as if it was from a can and the potato cakes tasted as if they were made from potato powder. The only thing that was decent was the potato chips. When you think Amish, you think "farm fresh." This is most definitely not the case at Yoder's.
(1)K G.
This place has definitely taken a dive. A couple years ago they had the best, humongous fried chicken. Now it's still mutant, but dry and seems they leave it sit under a warming light. Rubbery and gross. The mint tea is the only thing giving it a one star. Bleh.
(1)Lisandra G.
Fantastic service. You can taste the love in the food. Huge portions and farm fresh meats. The orange juice would get 10 stars. I bought a jug of it at the market. The chicken was fried to perfection, the apple pie a la mode made time stand still. They lost a star bc the green beans were over cooked (like they are at most restaurants).
(4)Bert H.
Food is fantastic, servers are very courteous and friendly, a line to get in is normal but well worth the wait, don't forget to take a couple pies home for later, I would recommend "Yoders" to anyone, except maybe all them northerners from the East Coast, they seem to have no taste and most of them give bad reviews, but hey everyone has their opinion...........
(5)Darrin B.
Good food and I wish the cream pies were served at a cooler temp. Mine was room temp. Also had to wait one hour in line. .. If there is no line, go on in. But if there is a line pass it up. ... not worth an hour wait.
(3)Jennifer S.
The meal was fresh the service excellent. The ambiance fitting. Had a wonderful meal with chili, and the stuffed tomato with chicken salad and house dressing to die for!! So glad we found this place. Worth the wait in line!
(5)Michael W.
I don't know what some of the others are talking about, it's like we're talking about different restaurants. I had an amazing experience at this restaurant with my family. The service we received was top notch. I ordered the Manhattan with pot roast and I was given a HUGE portion. It tasted amazing but there was no way I could eat it all. After we all ordered pie I had the Carmel custard and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the experience and would go again the next time in the area.
(5)Kim W.
We were in town for the half marathon weekend and decided to load up on Amish comfort food based on the rave reviews we'd seen about their fried chicken and pie. The line was still pretty long for 2pm, which would normally turn me off, but the smell of fried chicken kept us around. The restaurant itself has a no-frills, down-home feel - pretty much what you'd expect. I ordered the quarter chicken dinner with the Amish potato pancakes and fried okra. I figured it was my best chance at getting non-canned sides, based on what I'd read in other reviews. If you've never had Amish potato pancakes, they are not like latkes. They look more like regular buttermilk pancakes (except they're made from potato, obviously). The sides were ok, but not the greatest. The chicken wasn't like any other I'd had at a restaurant. It tasted homemade, like something my mom might make. It was good, but it didn't wow me like the reviews made me think it would. It was A LOT of food and I was barely able to eat even half of it, plus I wanted to save room for pie. :) I tried the chocolate peanut butter cream pie, while my table mates ordered the fresh strawberry cream, Yoder's key lime, and baked apple pie. I tried a bite of all and mine was the best. It's a good thing I don't live around here or else I would be eating way too much pie. Again though, it wasn't the best pie I've had like I read in other reviews. Overall, it was a good meal, not great, but I did enjoy it and would recommend at least trying it once.
(3)Albie F.
What is exactly Amish food? Who cares! You'll say the same when you taste the amazing heart attack eatz at Yoder's. People don't wait in lines that go outside the restaurant door with a ~30 minute Friday night wait unless there is something good inside. We had a couple of the Friday specials along with a slice of the famous peanut butter cream pie. The two cabbage rolls you get are humongous and you'll have your work cut out for you with the ground beef & sausage wrapped inside of the cabbage leaves. The pan fried chicken was equally as good. Amish noodles, Amish potato cakes, fried okra, and mashed potatoes & gravy consisted of our sides that came with the meals. The Amish noodles and potato cakes stood out the most and are what I would definitely order again. Okay the noodles were doused in butter but you only live once. Check out the Man vs Food Youtube video clip on Yoder's website and you'll know everything you need to know about how they make the peanut butter cream pie. If you aren't ready to get a slice after that video, then stay home. One slice was enough for the two of us...trying to take that slice of pie down by yourself after a huge Amish meal is a heart attack waiting to happen..literally.
(5)Aldo F.
We were so excited to finally have found an excuse to try this place, and boy, what a disappointment. Nothing in this place was anything remotely close to being considered good or flavorful. This place is famous because of their pressurized fried chicken and me being a fried chicken fan came in with huge expectations. Not only did the chicken not have any flavor and was incredibly bland but it was almost cold. Not that I have anything against Popeyes chicken but trust me when I tell you that Popeyes and KFC's chicken is beyond better than this place. The same can be said about everything else we tried here. Everything was bland with no flavor at all. My advise is to not believe the hype and long lines. The food here really sucked.
(1)Randy S.
Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota . Large portions, great selection , and very friendly staff .
(5)Brett H.
This is an Amish restaurant about 10min from I-75 so its a good place to stop if you are traveling anywhere. I had there top items: Fried Chicken, Mash Potatoes and Pie. The fried chicken was good. Apparently they were featured on Man v. Food and they do it a special way but it wasn't anything special. The mash potatoes were good and then I tried Amish Potato Pancakes. Now, I'm Jewish and to me, potato pancakes are fried and delicious. These were actual pancakes that have potatoes in the batter. Not so good. All this is pretty filling so you don't want to go too overboard because you want to leave room for the pie. They have a lot of different flavors and its amazingly good and the portion is big for a slice. I had the chocolate creme pie and it was delicious but I was too full and couldn't finish. Overall, its a nice atmosphere in a small town. The food is ok but this is a perfect place for pie. Stick with the pie!!!!
(3)Eldon P.
My wife and I went yesterday with some friends for our first visit. We had a late breakfast and I was very pleased with it. I had a biscuit and gravy and was glad I did not go for 2 biscuits! One was plenty! My wife had French Toast with apples and stuff. She loved it. The other couple shared a breakfast platter and then pie. Everything was excellent. Service a+ only down thing it is a little crowded in there, not a lot of room. We will be back!
(4)Steven K.
Yawn. I don't know what the big deal it.
(2)Mark H.
1. The fried chicken is massive, but not overly flavorful. (IMO, Maryland Fried Chicken in Plant City, FL is much, much better.) 2. The pies are good, but not the best I've ever had. 3. The meatloaf is plentiful, but not even better than Cracker Barrel (or my Mom's) :) 4. Standing in line waiting to be seated is a negative. 5. The price-to-portion ratios are righteous. My advice... Go there for the experience if you're in the area, but certainly don't drive from hours away to go eat there; It's simply not worth it. I'll be down that way in July, and I plan on checking out their breakfast, so I'll opine about that experience then.
(2)Justin S.
First of all, I'm from the Northeast, so I was like "What, there are Amish people in Sarasota?" As it turns out, yes there are... But they're hustling. By that, I mean the Bahia Vista Street area in Sarasota has a number of big businesses with an Amish bent, or at least appearing to be run my Amish people. With that, Yoder's is one of them (and quite possibly the most famous since I think that Man Versus Food Guy came here once) for their ridiculous peanut butter cream pie, which I will revert to. My friend and I, both of whom are in our 20s stopped by here for lunch not long ago, and we were far and away the youngest people in a five mile radius (by about 50 years), but hey, it's Sarasota, right (sorry)? Anyway, we perused the menu looking for what stood out and they do offer a lot of stuff... There are sandwiches and all kinds of meat and vegetable dishes, not to mention a bevy of breakfast choices, but we both went with the dish which allows you to choose three sides as your main course. I guess I was just feeling like a bit of variety. As a side note, (I would think) that one detractor to the popularity of this place would be that I am usually not up for this type of food in Sarasota's usual 100 degree weather, but hey, who am I to judge? Big ups to their fresh bread which is actually very good. Other memorable bites included the corn fritter cakes (basically pancakes with corn in them - sounds somewhat bad, but trust me, it's awesome), potato pancakes and the carrot-raisin salad. It's the simple, well-prepared comfort foods that seem to keep bringing people back. Oh yes, that, and the pie... Let me discuss the pie. I ordered the peanut butter cream pie and my friend ordered hummingbird cake. When the pie came, we thought they brought us a serving for four (which I guess you could say they did). It's basically just a creamy, peanut buttery mess that seems to take up whatever plate or serving surface it's placed on... But it's amazing. I can unequivocally say that you should get this when you come here. The hummingbird (layer) cake was good too, but the cream pies here are the real specialty and totally worth it. If you're in the area looking for a very filling, cozy and inexpensive meal, this is a great place. Rubbing (Ben-Gayed) elbows with the geriatric crowd is just another dimension that adds to the fun of this place.
(4)William C.
A Sarasota institution. Please know that you are going to Yoders for "comfort" food. Its not fine dinning but it's wonderful homemade food. Turkey and stuffing, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and more. Also, note that the deserts are out of this world !! Breakfast is huge. Love it.
(4)J A.
My perfect "last meal" would definitely include a piece of Yoder's pie. I love coming here for a meal, or to just pick up a pie at the window outside. Great comfort food at reasonable prices. Definitely don't plan on wearing your skimpiest bikini after a meal here. They do great comfort food staples like fried chicken, carrot salad and mashed potatoes. The waiters and waitresses are always so sweet and attentive. Coconut cream pie is my favorite, but they all look like winners. I love the pie "taster" of the day (smaller portion of pie) because I feel less guilty about indulging. Definitely check out the Yoder's market for delicious fresh produce and other fun things like jam and homemade cookies.
(5)Scott P.
Pie pie and more pie. at least 20 pies to pick from. have a homemade meal. the fried chicken is wonderful and could feed 2 people easy.
(5)Julia N.
This place is a local institution. The line is always out the door. We thought we had to try it at least once and am glad we did. The food was good but on the whole very heavy. We got meat loaf and fried chicken, and they were good, nothing stellar, but good. They serve fresh whole grain bread and apple butter as an appetizer which I just adored. There is nothing wrong with a squeezy tube of apple butter at the dinner table. They do offer good salads and small main course portions if you are trying not to overindulge or simply want to save room for pie. The pie was simply amazing. My step-mom got a taster portion of coconut cream pie. Not all of the pies are available in this smaller portion. We got the peanut butter crunch and Florida key lime pie. They were all very good, but we all agreed the key lime was the winner.
(3)Krystal R.
Round 2 of Man vs. Food Sarasota tour brought us here, and I knew that I wanted some tasty pies. The words "Best pie" had kept ringing in my mind and I knew that after our so-so dinner that we needed something uplifting and delicious to end our night. Trying to park was a little difficult, the restaurant was jam-packed, and there were plenty of hungry customers eating away. Plates of fried chicken, biscuits and lots of great looking dishes passed us by as we waited for a table. We didn't wait too long, maybe 5 minutes on a Friday night. I'm kinda sad that we didn't dine here, because the fried chicken plate for $10 sounded like a steal and it looked heavenly. Oh well, our dessert portion of the night was chosen because of Adam Richman...so everyone was ready for some pie treats. We made it really easy for our waitress, and told her that we wanted desserts only....and that we flew 3000 miles for this piece of pie. She laughed at us because we jokingly said that for the love of pie brought us to this place. Our waitress, Valerie, was really sweet and brought our order of drinks in a swift manner. She gave us recommendations on pies to try. Everyone had different palates for dessert, and at least 3 of us ordered the dutch apple pie, my uncle ordered the Key lime pie, my aunt ordered the pecan pie, and I was in debate for something quirky and off-beat....like the shoofly pie or the peanut butter pie or something fruity and different from the group, but Valerie told me that if I love blueberries - then it would be perfect for me. Most of us got a scoop of ice cream on top, because that's the best way to eat a pie. Oh wow...my first bite of the blueberry pie was luscious, a mix of tangy and sweet...it was heavenly. Of course, everyone at our table had to sample each other pies. Loved the sweet and cream Key lime pie...it was soooo good. The pecan pie was a lovely reminder of the holidays coming around the corner, definitely a Thanksgiving favorite to me. The dutch apple pie was so fresh and had nice a crumbly buttery top...my husband gobbled the entire plate with no problem. I wish we would have dined here first, I would have ate my dessert as my meal instead!! We did come back the next day to get a couple more pies to take home for the rest of the famiily. How many more times will Califorians like us be able to enjoy some tasty Yoders' pie?? Seriously...it was worth the trek back and their pies are the best I've ever had. If you're in the area, this should be your number one spot to check out. The pies are smack-tastic!!
(5)Rayni K.
The only time I've ever come across Amish people was when I was somewhere in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, so I know nothing of their cuisine. All I can say is that if it's always as good as what Yoder's offer, I might be convinced to become Amish myself. Their signature fried chicken meal is HUGE. We ordered the 1/4 chicken white meat, with mashed potatoes & gravy and corn muffins as sides. We then ordered the Peanut Butter Cream pie for dessert. Note: They charge an extra $2 for sharing/extra plate. We went around this by saying that I only wanted pie, while my partner wanted the chicken. This was only half a white lie 'cos I really did only want the pie. This is where I docked a star from their rating because I find it completely unnecessary and ... well, just a tad silly. The fried chicken, even though it was white meat, was extremely juicy and tasty! It wasn't dry at all and surprised me to no end. The mashed potatoes & gravy was one of the best I've ever tasted. And the corn muffins were pretty darn good as well. But there's no doubt that the absolute winner of our meal was the Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was ah-maze-ing! I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there and then 'cos of the amount of sugar in it, but if I had died eating their pie, I think I'd be perfectly content with that. We took home their Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream pie with us and it was just as good even after leaving it in the fridge overnight. Extra info: The line can get incredibly long. We got there at 5:45pm and it was already out the door. We finally got seated at 6:25 (that's a 40-minute wait).
(4)J S.
If you want to try Amish Mennonite cooking in Sarasota, here is one place you can try. We've had a lot better, and we're from IN originally, home of some great Amish/Mennonite cooking in Shipshewanna, IN. We were very disappointed in our food, with the chicken being just so so. It definitely lacked flavor and was blah. Chicken gravy was the consistency of thick vanilla pudding and didn't even fall off the spoon when holding it upside down. Yuck! The pies are supposed to be good but we didn't sample any. During high season, (winter) this place is VERY difficult to get into, mainly because the restaurant is so small and there is very little parking. Sitting areas are VERY tight and jammed close together. A much better place to eat is Der Dutchman just down the street.
(2)Brian B.
Really good breakfast. Great place for a Saturday (but not Sunday) morning Very deep breakfast menu with lots of tasty items. I am particularly a fan of the French Toast, but the skillets are very good as well. Never been there for lunch. Service is very good. There can be a line and a substantial one later at breakfast on a Saturday, but it moves pretty quickly. Remember they are closed on Sunday.
(4)Dane C.
First off to All Foodies and such, don't come here and expect to be blown away by exploding flavors, dynamic plate presentations, and exotic ingredients. This is simple, wholesome, well executed food prepared by people who care. The fried chicken and really any pie is a must order for first timers.
(4)Kevin W.
My first experience at Yoder's was through a pie my friend Paul bought me as I was visiting from Orlando. I've heard of this place through Man vs. Food and have been dying to try it. And behold I was not disappointed. I actually was not able to make it to the restaurant to eat, due to it being closed on Sunday, but Paul did hook me up with a pie to eat. A peanut butter one, which I've heard was the best. One bite from that baby, and you can definitely tell it was homemade from top to bottom. The airiness of the whip cream, through the peanut buttery deliciousness of the filling, to the sweet crumbly awesomeness of the crust. It was mighty good. Haven't tried any of the other pies yet, but will definitely come back for a second visit when I'm in town. Highly recommend this place for dessert if your in town!
(5)Jerry m.
I want to give this place a better review as I live down the street from here and like the idea of home cooked food. But honestly, none of the dinner dishes are very good. You can get better food at a Cracker Barrel. The sides aren't bad, but the fried chicken isn't very juicy, and the meatloaf smelled and tasted like cat food. I will say that the desserts are pretty good though. Come for dessert, but pass on the dinner.
(2)Captain C.
ONE OF THE BEST APPLE PIES EVER!! I'm a vegetarian, so there isn't much for us to eat at this famous Amish restauraunt. However, they have one of the best Apple Crumb pies I have ever had. Whenever I hit Sarasota, I pick up 1 or 2 pies to bring back home to Jacksonville. The manager of the place is so nice, he always packs it well for my journey, including placing it in a travel friendly strong plastic box. The servers are all friendly, and super helpful. Even though I just order my pies for take-out, I always tip them anyway. 4 stars instead of 5 only because they lack a viable selection of vegetarian food. But that's not what Amish food is known for, anyway. I just go for dessert! :)
(4)Michelle M.
A visit to Yoder's is like a warm and homey visit to grandma's house. This is the place to get comfort dishes such as meatloaf and apple pie. The menu at Yoder's Restaurant contains tons of classic Southern/ Amish home cooked dishes and their specialty is their famous fried chicken. The fried chicken is hand-breaded and deep pressure fried to seal in the juices and give it a crispy texture outside. The fried chicken is served daily, except for Fridays. On Fridays the chicken is pan fried instead. There isn't much atmosphere in this casual restaurant unless you count the Amish, but the food is good and the service is friendly. Don't leave without trying one of their homemade pies (all made from scratch!).
(4)Nathan T.
We heard about this restaurant on Yelp and after asking around with the locals determined the food was good and hearty, but the REAL reason to come here was the pie, especially the cream-based pies. (Apparently they use canned filling for their fruit pies.) At a recommendation we picked up a slice of the chocolate peanut butter pie, it did NOT disappoint. They have a takeout window that makes ordering a slice of pie or two a breeze, if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix, give Yoder's a try!
(4)Tracy S.
This place is great! It's always really busy, which is a good sign about what you're getting into. It took us awhile this visit to get seated, but the line moved fairly quickly. The food is good, simple, and delicious. We both ended up getting the friend chicken (which included two really gigantic pieces!) and two different sides. The chicken was juicy and tasty, my fiance's mashed potatoes with gravy were phenomenal, and the carrot salad is unexpectedly fruity, but really delicious. The portions are gigantic, so don't be shocked if the prices seem at first glance to be really steep. There is easily enough food for two meals or more! The waiter was as attentive as he could be, given how busy the restaurant was. It took us a while to get our bread and the food was also a long time coming. No real complaint there, since the taste of the food seemed to indicate that it was made really freshly! We got a couple of slices of pie at the end. My fiance got a slice of blackberry pie which he absolutely loved. I got a slice of chocolate cream pie, which I admit I was a little disappointed by. The chocolate cream was bland and a little grainy and the flavor of the crust sort of overwhelmed it. The cream on top was really thick and just sweet enough, though! Altogether, a really great eating experience. Be prepared for a wait--especially right at mealtimes--but the wait is definitely worth it!
(4)Carlos S.
Great food, Great Pie's, Great service. You will not regret it...
(5)Robert N.
We don't pass out a Woohoo rating very often and only hold for the very best. Well, Yoder's is at the top of our list for an Amish theme type restaurant. We had the typical fried chicken, mash potatoes and all the trimmings type dinner. Yes, we did save room for a delicious piece of coconut pie. There is a farmers market next door so you can get all of your fruits and veggies while enjoying their delicious lunch menue. Seating is a bit "tight" so I would avoid the peak lunch hour if you are in a hurry. Have fun and don't forget your take out box...
(5)Steve Z.
Yesterday driving up from South Florida to Tampa, my wife and I had a late lunch at Yoders. The service was great, but there fried chicken was disappointing. It did not have your typical Fried Chicken crunchy bite. Portion size was good but the chicken needed to be crunchy. Pie was excellent!!
(2)Jason L.
The best pie in the world. One of my earliest memories was eating Yoder's peanut butter pie as a kid, and I got the chance to go back there this past year (29 years later[!]) and I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I remembered it. My brother got the butterscotch and it was amazing as well.
(5)George R.
We love Yoder's!! The fried chicken, the apple butter, the brown gravy, and OF COURSE the desserts! We live in Orlando and actually contemplated driving the 2 hours south just for lunch...it's THAT good. Staff is friendly and service is always fast. Will definitely return over and over!!
(5)Larry H.
Fruit pies have too much gelatin and not enough fruit. Not enough breading on fried chicken.
(3)Kristin N.
Another Thank you to Man vs Food!!! Wow this place had a line even at 2pm and when we left it still had a line. We started off with some fresh tomatoes and boy where they fresh, I mean they do have a fresh market right next door (also owned by Yoders). We decided to trash Adam from Man vs Food and go for the Fried Chicken that is pressurized and Mash potatoes. WOW.....Although the chicken could have used just a bit of more seasoning in my opinion, the chicken like shown on TV is completely moist. The juices were pouring out of this chicken it was sooo good. Not many places can fry a chicken and have it come out that moist. OOOHHHH Mash potatoes, how I should have ordered more, the gravy it just melts in your mouth it's soo good. Then of course we had to save room for their famous cream filled peanut butter pie. My boyfriend and I aren't huge fans of peanut butter, but once you taste this pie you'll see why the locals keep coming back for more, and why the non locals always come back to visit. We also took an apple pie to take home with us. Last night we took our first bite, a sweet pie of Delish flavors savored our mouths as we took not one but two and three bites of this apple pie. One of the best pies I've had. If you are ever near this place, make sure to stick it out in the line, because its so worth the wait!
(5)Diana C.
Soooo good!!! And everyone is amazingly KIND and FUN!!!! I didn't care for pies so much but now I love THEIR pies!!!! I want to try their fried chickens next time*^^* Cannot wait to go back and meet nice people again*^^*
(5)Rox R.
Yeah! This place rocks. Though it seems like a tourist trap, its not- feels very genuine and homey. Good food. I had one of the specials- BBQ pork sandwich with the sweet potato side. The BBQ sandwich was tasty and hard to eat because the meat just fell out of the bun- use a knife! But, the mashed sweet potato were absolutely amazing- best I have ever had!! Don't miss this boat. Chocolate peanut butter cream pie was amazing. Share it because its too much for 1 person. Neither the peanut butter or chocolate is overpowering- they got it just right. BTW- did I mention how good the mashed sweet potato was? Just checking.. yeah, make that into a pie! Whoa, that would blow my mind.
(5)Taylor C.
Food is amazing. The restaurant could be a little bigger, but other than that eveyrthing is PERFECT! The strawberry pie is amazing! Definitely recommend everyone goes here. Service is awesome as well.
(5)Selena C.
Once I came with my family and waited in line forever since they kept seating groups before us, that were the same size or smaller. We finally got seated when another group behind us was about to get started pointed out to the hostess that we had been repeatedly skipped... Even though that was close to four years ago now I'm always a bit hesitant about dining. The cream pies are really really good though and I almost mooch off of my friends whenever they go and buy some. So yeah. Mixed feelings and cream pie.
(3)Bill S.
Next time you are in Sarasota, don't miss a great meal at Yoder's! Be prepared to wait in line, but it's well worth the wait. Great food, reasonably priced, but be sure to save room for dessert - the pies are out-of-this-world good. I'm sure we'll be eating here anytime we are in the area.
(5)Melissa A.
Go for the stuffed french toast!
(4)Darren O.
Maybe I'm being too harsh on Yoder's here because I feel a bit bad about giving them a three star review. I hadn't been down to Sarasota in four years and for probably a decade before Yoder's was the go to place when we were down there. The meatloaf was always AMAZING, to the point if we were in Sarasota for two weeks I might have it six times while we were there. The pies were also to die for, the special chocolate peanut butter pie especially. Fast forward four years and a Man Vs. Food appearance and the place just didn't seem the same to me. The LONG lines were still out the door, causing an easy 45 minute wait to get a table and the place pretty much looked the same, except for the plasma tv on the wall playing the Man Vs. Food clip over and over and over... Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Man Vs. Food show, I just have to wonder if the exposure on that stated a downward trend at Yoder's. I tried the meatloaf, and it was ok, it just wasn't the meatloaf that I'd remembered from the past. A couple days later I tried the meatloaf on the buffet over at Troyer's down the street and it was better. The mashed potatoes were a bit cold in the middle, which was very odd to me. My father had the baked chicken and he complained that it was very dry. Since the chicken is something that Yoder's is supposed to be famous for, that was a pretty big letdown for him. I had a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie and it was more of a big mess of chocolate pudding with some crust underneath and some chocolate chips on top. Certainly not the worst pie I've ever had, but not the Yoder's pies that I'd have told you were the BEST anywhere in years past. The one thing I can say is that the homemade mint tea was most excellent. Our waitress was great and the service was excellent, the food just wasn't up to what I'd have liked. My mother and wife disagreed with me, so your mileage may vary here! I'm sure we will give Yoder's another chance next time we're in the area, but for this trip at least the lines were not worth waiting in especially with Troyer's Dutch Heritage a couple minutes down the road. Hopefully Yoder's will find a way to get back to the basics and become great again!
(3)Salimeh K.
So we went here as my husband saw some show regarding this restaurant. Well there was a line out the door, so we thought the food would be great...ya right!! I ordered the fried chicken-it was dry and not tasty at all. Extremely bland and so disappointing. We did not bother ordering dessert as i was not happy with my meal. We just wanted to get out of there asap. Maybe if we visit the area we might give it another shot and try the breakfast and dessert, but no "famous fried chicken"...
(2)Natalie W.
The breakfast here will blow your mind. I had the eggs and bacon which were so fresh and delicious. The orange juice was the best i've ever had in my life. The waiters are a little weird but I think that is all part of the authentic experience. Be sure to take home a home-made woopie pie. Also, be prepared for a wait in the morning, however they do a good job of moving people in and out quickly.
(4)Brenda W.
Huge serving sizes of all American comfort food......try the homemade potato chips!!!! They are to die for.....yummy!!!! Our family of 5 had a fantastic dinner on a Friday night.
(4)Jay F.
I am going to make this short....I have been here a lot over the years. no matter when I have gone there has always been a line out the door. Don't be discouraged when you see the like it moves quickly. It is most defiantly worth the wait. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for. Also the roast beef manhattan and the pulled pork BBQ all to die for. Also the fresh made pies just melt in your mouth
(5)Jordan T.
Are you kidding me?! That is the best peanut butter cream pie ive ever had. The banana cream was good but it wasnt sweet enough, so it wasnt what I was expecting. I was thinking banana cream flavor like pudding but it was decent. The key lime was okay but nothing special. If you go here I'd definitely order the peanut butter cream or the chocolate peanut butter. The peanut butter cream made me overlook the others.
(4)M W.
It just baffles me that this place is not only still in business, but successful. After hearing wonderful reviews, my husband and I stopped in for dinner and some pie. The menu offered many country-style choices. He chose the fried chicken, which we heard was amazing, and I had some sort of side-item meal. Well, the fried chicken was gross--KFC is far better--and the side item meal was beyond gross. I mean, they serve CANNED GREEN BEANS. Unapologetically, apparently. They say it's to keep costs down, but their menu prices are average, not cheap. Canned green beans. I just couldn't get over it. Why am I paying upwards of $8 for four cans of vegetables dumped on my plate? Also, despite being a bakery of sorts, they serve SLICED WONDERBREAD rather than fresh bread with your meal. Yes, we got a little plate piled high with five or six slices of WONDERBREAD. Gross. Their pies were okay--nothing to write home about. Super bland pie crusts but good filling. Lots of whipped cream. This restaurant is just gross. You couldn't pay me to eat here again.
(1)Georgio B.
All 5 stars for Mrs Yoder!!! American comfort food does not get any better then this! And... the pies are to die for! You get more then your moneys worth. Don't pass this place up!
(5)david h.
I went with a friend for breakfast and it was as excellent as a plain jane breakfast can be. I wish I could have surveyed what lunch and dinner was like because that is where the originality and essence of Yoder's would show (I think). I'd definitely go back. Smiley face
(4)Ks K.
Great Yoder's produce & other good food. Parking in front, side or back (or if it's really busy, behind Yoder's restaurant. Very friendly helpful staff.
(4)Holly D.
There must be a great appreciation for bland, poorly prepared food in this town. Meatloaf seemed odd in consistency and flavor. Almost like Banquet TV Dinner quality. The gravy was bizarre. The waitress said they made it with beef juices and corn starch. It was yuck. I've had better gravy out of a jar. The green beans were canned. Not going back. Even for pie. If your greatest effort is to open a can, I'm not interested.
(1)E H.
The pie was the highlight of our recent dinner at Yoder's. I could have skipped everything else and gone straight to dessert. The meatloaf was bland for my taste, because it lacked seasoning, onion, or red/green pepper. The fried chicken was good, but it wasn't juicy. Perhaps if we had tried some dark meat pieces, it would have been less dry. Vegetables were good but also bland. The chocolate cream pie and Yoder's key lime pie were both excellent. The pie crust was the best I have tasted in a long time. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient.
(2)TP F.
I've lived here 15 years, finally got to this place and I feel like a heel not liking it. Everyone kvells. Perhaps it's because the Food Channel's Adam Richman said the fried chicken was crisp and moist. Really though, it was overcooked and dry. And BLAND, which was the most surprising thing. Fried chicken is a no brainer seasoning-wise: gimme salt and pepper and Pepper. The sides were loaded with sugar. The decor is the dream someone else is having about your grandmother. Mostly though, I'm just not a dessert guy. Some of the pies are to die for (key lime) but others (Apple) are no better than any decent bakery's. The servers were really nice, if perfunctory. If I was 25 again and looking to load up on carbs and calories I'd be back there in a flash.
(2)Katherine P.
I am rating this 3/5 not because of the food but because of the experience overall. We waited in line about 30 minutes for a table. When we finally got to the front of the line we were asked if we wanted lunch or breakfast. We wanted lunch because we've heard so much about the fried chicken. We were then advised that they had to serve all of the breakfast people first, even though it was 11:05am and they stopped serving breakfast at 10:45am, and we would have to wait for all of the breakfast customers to be seated before we could have lunch. So instead of waiting an unknown amount of time we settled for breakfast. We were then advised by our server that there were specific things on the breakfast menu that we couldn't even order because it was after 10:45. In addition to that, there were several flies around where we were sitting due to an open pickup window and the door being held open by people waiting in line. The food itself was good with big portions, but I probably would not go back again.
(3)M R.
Yoder's brings traditional Mennonite food to Sarasota. If you wonder what makes this traditional home cooking different, my guess is butter and lard. Both of these add amazing flavor but have been attacked somewhat unfairly by the health police. The line at Yoder's is amazing. We arrived at 3:30 Saturday afternoon and had a 30 minute wait. The food, however, is worth the wait. My companion loved the mint tea. The meatloaf I tried is simply the best I've ever had, while my companion's chicken was merely adequate. The potato pancakes came out not as a latka (deep fried) but as a normal pancake. The result is disappointing. The blackberry pie, on the other hand, is quite good. Stick with traditional meat and potato dishes, and you'll be happy with Yoder's. Order a few extra peanut butter cream pies for friends and family. They'll love it!
(4)Lin Lin S.
"amish" people are imaginary. it's all a gimmick. this is really just a cracker barrel run by people wearing bonnets and long skirts and white reeboks. forget the food. most of it was dry and bland. the veggies are from a can. just get the pie. huge slices of pudding filled pies, topped generously with whipped creme. coconut creme is good. this restaurant is good for families who want to contribute to the growing rate of adult and child obesity. "is there any green vegetable on your menu besides your ice berg lettuce salad?" we got canned green beans. hoo-rah.
(2)John H.
Friends told us about Yoder's from Man v. Food episode on the Travel Channel. Also, watch Man v. Food and decided to try on out visit to Lido Key. Very nice place, went a lunch time midweek, no wait. Had the Fried Chicken and Turkey Manhattan (open face sandwich), both meals were very good. Also, tried the apple butter on the homemade bread, fantastic! Had the pineapple cream & raspberry pie samplers, awesome!
(4)A A.
If you are on a diet, or thinking about a diet - this is probably not the place for you. But if you are looking for good home-cook food with great service then this is a good stop in sarasota. Some parking, and likely to have a long wait, but it goes fast. Pumpkin, and key lime pies are great. The fruit filled ones(pineapple, blueberries, etc) were ok but not as good as the other ones. Meatloaf, fried chicken, and smoked pulled pork were just what we needed after a long drive.
(4)Jon M.
This place should be on every bucket list known to man. Don't eat for a day in advance because you will receive enormous portions. Also don't eat it all as you want to save room for pie! Every time I go to Florida I stop by, supper is great but the best is their breakfast. They have the best sweet roll and sweet roll pancakes you will ever taste. But don't forget, finish with pie!
(5)W W.
Good food, big portions, reasonable price. Pies good but very fatty. Parking is difficult.
(4)J S.
So who wouldn't have high expectations after all these reviews and the Man vs. Food thing, right? Well, this place was okay--at best. Fried Chicken--I had the Friday version (pan friend only--not that deep fried machine you see on TV). It was "meh" at best...but really...not very good. The meatloaf was only okay too. Very eggy...not very tasty. The mashed potatoes with the yellow gravy--slammin. Corn fritters (pancakes with corn in them--great). Green beans--canned--no salt. Okra--surprisingly good...and I don't care for okra. Desserts--peanut butter pie...worth all the hype it gets. Strawberry rhubarb--meh...not my thing. Overall, I would not go back. Everything is fresh...but just kinda bland.
(2)D D.
Wonderful food! Wonderful service! Wonderful hospitality! Wonderful cleanliness! And, the most amazing pies you will find anywhere! Try the peanut butter cream pie - it's awesome! Thank you Yoder's for the a wonderful experience! I think we ate there 5 times while visiting Sarasota....
(5)Phillip V.
Simply the best home cooked meals outside your house!! Come hungry and leave satisfied!!!!well worth the 1 hour drive from the Tampa area!!
(5)Stacey L.
The best! Every year we visit Siesta Key, it involves a trip to Yoder's. Never fails to disappoint. My husband says their fried chicken is the best he has ever had. And I love the PIE! Tried the coconut cream this year and WOW was it great. Can't wait to come again next year.
(5)Dean B.
very, very easy review to write. Yoder's Amish Restaurant is simply the best thing around!
(5)Darren S.
5 stars for the pie and 2.5 stars for the food. I had the famous peanut butter pie and the girlfriend had the chocolate peanut butter. They were both wonderful. They were so good that we came back for some more pie on our way back through Sarasota on the same trip! The food on the other hand was nothing to be excited about. I had a well prepared chicken-fried steak and my girlfriend had crab cakes that she enjoyed.
(4)Ryan D.
Excellent service here and delicious home cooked food. Had the blueberry cream pie upon waiters recommendation and it was definitely worth it!
(4)Sue W.
loved the bread.......... so fresh!!! their food is good, good home cooked food. I have not had fried chicken where the flavor is in the meat as well, it usually stops in the skin! but their was juicy and excellent! mashed potatoes were delicious. For meatloaf lovers that was good. I wasnt crazy about their potato pancakes but im not crazy about it in gen. Hands down best baked apple crumb pie. cons I need more veggies with my meal if fried food is not comfort food then u wont enjoy this. Overall - they are awesome with what they do.
(4)Lindsey C.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, including all of the classy "foodie" places I have visited. I am in grad school in Orlando and after MONTHS of talking about Yoder's, some classmates and I piled in the car and drove to Sarasota for the day to enjoy the beach, stock up at Trader Joe's, and then topped off the day at Yoder's. We stood in line, but not too terribly long. It was so worth it. I had the famous fried chicken, green beans and potato pancakes. My friends had the fried fish & mac n' cheese and the meatloaf & Amish noodles (mouth-watering). No one could finish their food because the servings are wonderfully large, so we all had to-go boxes for lunch the next day. Then came the pies. Oh the pies. We had peanut butter cream (hands down the crowd's favorite), chocolate cream (a taster, delicious when "mixed" with the peanut butter cream), apple crisp and blackberry crisp. Every bite was absolutely wonderful. The service is incredible. One person at our table couldn't decide between the turkey dinner and the meatloaf so the waitress brought him "tasters" of each to help him decide. Incredible service! We all left with to-go boxes and extra bags of baked goodies to take home, and we are already planning a trip back just to visit this restaurant. We also enjoyed experiencing the Amish community around the restaurant.
(5)Emily G.
You can't not love Yoders. The staff is as sweet as can be and are always eager to please you. I've never had a complaint! If I could afford to eat there 3 times a day, every day, I would!
(5)Debi L.
The pressure cooker fried chicken was dry and not as tasty as I thought it would be, but the portions are HUGE! I ate for 3 meals on 1 portion. Service was slow but friendly. Love the mint iced tea and the pies were good and seemed to weigh 10 lbs a piece. Get there early. The line can wrap around the building.
(4)Dan M.
My family and I were pleased with the food here but it was by no means amazing despite being home made (from scratch). The meatloaf was good but had a lot of breading, the chicken tenders were dry, the fried chicken which everyone raves about, was a little dry and the skin wasn't entirely crisp. The banana and punpkin bread were very good as were the homemade potato chips. My cousins lemon meringue pie was very good (it was tart) but the coconut creme pie wasn't creamed enough nor did it have a strong coconut flavor. I was also disappointed in the peanut butter cream pie, which was showcased on man vs. food. It was made well, but I felt it lacked flavor. (The crust was good, however). All in all, a place worth trying. Although I dont think the quality of the food lived up to the hype, everything was home cooked and the service was especially fantastic. We had the nicest waitress (named Jennifer).
(3)Debra O.
Ripoff! Food is nothing to remember. We had a bbq chicken sandwich with fries, a cheeseburger with coleslaw, and two iced teas. The bill was $29! WTF?? Beware-they charge you for every add-on, like $3 for coleslaw on top of a burger, and $1.50 for chopped onions. Pie is $5 per slice. I could bake a whole pie for that! Save your money.
(1)P A.
Wife, two kids, and I, had breakfast here today. The wait was about 15 minutes at about 9am. We were seated in a booth and were promptly served by an attentive, competent waitress. Food quality was really good and was served HOT. I have had better, but considering the price point I was really happy and will visit again.
(4)Ron R.
Very good wholesome food. The Amish know good cooking.
(4)C K.
Great pie - great stuffing - fantastic gravy. Very busy, really nice staff. Interior could use an update, but when could they close to do it?
(4)Diann B.
Great restaurant, they put a lot of love into their food and it shows. I would especially recommend the pies, they're bar none the best in the area. It's worth the wait in line, which sometimes bursts out the door. There's a reason that Man vs. Food came down here. It's good.
(5)Christy S.
Must try their shoofly pie and homemade bread and apple butter. I am never disappointed when I come here. It's fresh down home cooking and the staff is always friendly. I love coming here when I'm out in Sarasota. It's even worth the wait in line ...
(4)Fred G.
Awesome Reuben sandwich, unique sauce, buckets of iced tea, onion rings to die for, pie sampler. Worth the wait folks don't miss it.
(5)Maria S.
The food was good.. The pie I had was ok, I saw Adam Richman on man v food there, so I decided to try it out. I went for dinner and the meatloaf was delish! We will be going for breakfast this week. I am on vacation and will be adding more reviews! Happy eating!
(3)Jim-Barb T.
Having had a positive experience at Yoder's before, I felt safe in recommending it for a lunch meeting place. I'll start by saying that the coleslaw was the highlight of the whole meal. The four of us ordered the white meat chicken lunch special all with different side orders. I don't know if Yoder's just had a bad day or if they are slacking. Two of our chickens were not pink pink but definitely not fully cooked. Being on some what of a time restraint we didn't send the birds back we only asked for carry out boxes so we could finish cooking them when we got back home. I guess you have to be a special type of person to enjoy the corn cakes, and that stack of wonder bread that they put on the table didn't get touched which I hope they tossed after they removed it. The muffins were good but the container of honey that they put on the table was not pleasant to pick up as it was coated with drippings. The server we had was a young man that seemed at times to be distracted and took forever to refill our coffee cups. When we ordered our meals we heard that it was a good idea to order your choice of pie at that time as they sometime run out. We heard that the peanut butter cream was one to die for so we ordered it. When our server came around to ask us if we would like some desert with his order pad in hand, we said that we had already ordered our pie and yes we would like it now. Well it took a while but the pie came and I now have different feelings for the people and their taste buds that suggested this pie. The question now is if we will ever return to Yoder's? Well maybe but at this time we will not be recommending it to friends.
(1)J G.
Just as good today as when my grandparents took us there 30+ years ago. Can't leave without having a piece of pie. We even had to get a whole pie and some Amish peanut butter to go.
(5)Jeff H.
great place great food
(5)Enjoy L.
We travel all over the country in our motor home and stay in many Amish areas, Lancaster PA, Shipshewana IN, Ohio , Wisconsin, just to name a few. Our love is Amish Quilts and good old fashion Amish cooking. Yoders is hands down the best Amish food we have had. If you leave hungry it's your fault! They serve up excellent quality and quantity to please everyone. We love Yoders and make it a destination now!
(5)Melisa L.
I love amish cooking-it's just good old fashioned homemade food. I went Yoder's for breakfast and I was not disappointed! My husband and I both ordered the french toast. I ordered 3 slices. The bread is homemade. The slices are about 2" thick--I only ate 2 of 'em! Yoder's is known for their pie, so we took 2 home. One Peanut Butter pie, which is their specialty, and 1 blueberry pie. The peanut butter pie is a cream pie--not very sweet, which is good. My dad loved this pie. The blueberry pie is very juicy-i'm sure they use fresh blueberries to make this pie--YUMM! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, if you enjoy simple homemade food. Don't skip dessert!
(5)Shannan M.
Continuing on my Man vs Food tour of Sarasota, FL, I felt compelled to visit this small Amish restaurant. I didn't quite know what to expect, but BOY AM I GLAD I WENT! This was the third and final restaurant featured on the Sarasota episode of Man v Food, and being that the first two were very disappointing, I was hoping Yoder's would redeem my faith in the show. I am a big fan of down home, comfort food and that's exactly what you'll get at Yoder's. I ordered the Turkey and Dressing meal with mashed potatoes and fried okra. I ordered the large plate and the portions were outrageously huge! It was more than enough for two meals and so I took half back to the beach house with me! The white-meat turkey was fresh and good. A little dry, but most turkey breast is. The mashed potatoes and stuffing were decent, both were greatly improved with salt and pepper. The fried okra was great! The highlight of my meal was most definitely the chocolate peanut butter pie that I specially ordered with fresh banana slices on top (as recommended by one of the servers). OMG, that was worth a half a day's worth of calories! It was HUGE (I took half of it home too), fresh, and delicious! Oh how I wish there were a Yoder's in Atlanta...
(4)John M.
Wow, it was a great meal. I highly recommend the hamburger gravy. It is the first time I have had that but it was tasty and filling.
(4)Dora B.
I kind of feel like Yoder's is going downhill by spreading itself so wide in terms of its food. They should have stuck with things like their fried chicken and meatloaf, but, come on, "Amish Quesadillas"? The menu is crammed with things that are clearly only there to provide something for everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but really only drags the quality down. Case in point, I'm not a big fan of their fried chicken, which I find personally too lightly seasoned, but when I saw they had chicken fingers I thought I'd just dunk them in their (very tasty) in-house French dressing. Before I ordered I asked the waitress if the chicken fingers were made the same as their fried chicken, and she seemed to get flustered and informed me in a low tone that they were bought bulk and frozen. Really? Ten bucks for frozen supermarket chicken fingers? The dive sports bar down the street makes their own chicken fingers from scratch, and Yoder's can't be bothered to chop up a chicken breast when they tout homemade cooking? I also decided to try their blueberry cream pie, and wound up throwing it out because the whipped cream just tasted like lard and the berries had no flavour... it clearly came from a can. I actually wound up ordering the meatloaf, which was okay, but was just barely cooked; I don't mind a bit of pink, but some portions of this were almost raw. It was clear that the kitchen is sacrificing quality for quantity since the place is so busy. Overall, if you go here in small parties (they have difficulty seating anything above four due to limited space) and confine yourself to the sorts of things you'd EXPECT to see coming out of an Amish kitchen (my husband said their Swedish meatballs were "pretty disgusting"), you'll probably do okay, but don't expect miracles. If not for the fact that our grandfather likes their Manhattans (roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy), my husband and I wouldn't make the effort to go there. It's just severely overhyped and has strayed so far from its roots that the quality just isn't there anymore. Of course some of the pies are good, but they really aren't worth waiting upwards of an hour in line for. Don't go out of your way for this one, and don't believe the hype.
(2)Tracie L.
What I like about Yoders (besides the pie, which I'll get to later) is that the food is really basic. There's nothing fancy or complex about it, which is not at all like most other places I eat. The food is like something your grandmother would make, but tastier, and with ingredients that taste fresh and like they were high quality. Don't expect anything fancy, but delight in the simplicity. For example, my ham with applesauce came with applesauce in a little cup and big slab of meat on a plate - not even a little sprig of parsley to attempt to spruce it up. The real gem of this restaurants are the pies. The banana cream pie is absolutely to die for. I haven't had anything like it anywhere else in the country. I make a point of getting it whenever I'm out in FL to visit.
(5)Archimedes A.
Amazing homemade pies, great lunch food. Chicken, which they are also famous for, was very dry.
(4)Tom S.
Some days you just have to have your mother's home cooking. Large menu and a good buffet. Take home something from the bakery. Yum!
(4)annaliese n.
an amish restaurant! with huge portions and gigantic pies! and real amish people! one lady even showed me the tattoos she got during her rumspringa. i think she could see that everyone was looking at little shocked about my tattooed appearance and she wanted to make me feel more comfortable. i love this place. friendly service and good people watching and fried chicken. and pie. big big pie.
(4)Ashley H.
man i miss this place to death. their pie is amazing! too bad they don't ship it.
(5)Michael A.
We didn't expect a whole lot from an Amish restaurant. Just some home-cooked deliciousness to counter all the chain-restaurant fare we've been eating lately. Certainly "homey", the restaurant is nothing to write home about. The wait staff was friendly. The menu is like the food . . . basic. The meatloaf was approaching the limit to how much breadcrumb could be stuffed into it. Still tasty, but meager on the protein. The garlic chicken was well-prepared but little flourish. We ordered potato pancakes and corn cakes. We didn't expect both of these to be the size of enormous pancakes. Between these 4 cakes and the stuffing which came with the chicken (which tasted so much like Stouffers my wife and I joked which came first . . . Stouffers or Yoders), there were probably 5 or 6 pounds of straight carbohydrates on the table. Oh, don't forget the bread (which was also nothing to write home about). The pies look and taste delicious. In the past we came to Yoders just for a holiday pie. This was our first and last meal there. We're pretty sicked out by the comment by another reviewer who noted visible roaches in the place. We didn't see any, but if we were to see some in a restaurant this would be that kind of place. Recommended only if you have middle-to-low expectations and/or you're carbing-up for a marathon.
(2)J I.
The food is not worth the hype. The pies are decent.
(2)Dianna B.
Since I had a wild hair, we decided to make the 90 minute trek down to Sarasota and try out Yoder's for a change. I've lived here nearly all my life and I've never, ever been to Yoder's. So what the heck, Road Trip it is! The drive down was uneventful, and finding it was pretty easy. Parking however, was... not so easy. The parking lot out front makes it appear as if the place only has 7 spots, it's a quirky little jag that lets you see the lot behind. We were fortunate that there were several spots behind that were open. As we'd been warned, there was a line that nearly wrapped all the way around the building, but that's OK, the weather was comfortable, the people infront and in back of us were pleasant and we made the best of it. All in all we were in line for about 45 minutes before we finally made it through the doors and into the inside portion of the restauraunt. After 5 more minutes, we were finally taken to our seat. Our waitress was friendly and very busy, her section seemed to consist of about 7 tables and she was able to handle each with aplomb and a smile. The menu contains down home favorites like Meat Loaf, Fried chicken and chicken liver, which is apparently quite popular among the locals. While we perused the menu, we were delivered a plate of bread, home made - and served with butter and fresh apple butter which was quite tasty. We placed our order: We'd decided each of us would order something different, so we could share. I opted for the 1/2 chicken all white meat with Mashed Potatoes and Macaroni & Cheese. My husband ordered the Meat Loaf with fried okra and corn cakes. The food came out quick, and it was easy to see that the chicken is made in huge batches. Some is very tender and juicy, other bits are dry. What can you do? The mashed potatoes were not from scratch, and the Macaroni & cheese, it was good, but institutional? The meat loaf was tasty, the okra, My husband said it was delicious, and the corncakes... odd but good. We ordered dessert too, I got their Famous Peanut butter Pie - it was good, but the dried Peanut butter on top confused me. It was unlike any peanut butter pie I'd had before. Too sweet and not rich enough for me. The husband had the Key Lime (Traditional) and loved it. We had unsweet tea and Mint tea (OMG! LOVE!) Over all, it's a solid place, Not bad in the least. I felt the chicken could have used a bit of salt in their mix, but that's about it. I'd come back. I loved the homey decor.
(3)Jessica C.
This place is always on my must do list while is Sarasota! The line for a table is almost always out the door but the wait is worth it. I highly recommend that at least one person at your table gets the fried chicken, which comes in a half chicken and quarter chicken size. Trust me unless you can put away a lot and I mean A LOT of food get the quarter chicken size, it will be more than enough. It has to be some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. I also really enjoy the garlic chicken, very juicy and full of garlic flavor. And of course you need to get a slice of pie before you leave. You can even order a whole pie to go (which we do everytime!)
(5)Rachel M.
Yoder's is a pretty cool place. It's not only a restaurant, but it actually occupies a pretty good sized block on the street. It consists of an Amish Gift Shop with different types of knick knacks, as well as things such as little girl's Amish formal wear. It also has its own restaurant, carry out window, picnic tables to eat outside with your doggie. In addition, you can take pics of a statue of Amish people and their horse and buggy, and a cool artistic mural. There is also a produce store, and a store that sells groceries, pies, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and any other goods that you may want to find that the Amish may use, or make. We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant. There is a long line that can wrap around the outside, so you may want to come early, or see if you can make reservations. I am not sure if that is the case. I did pick up a few items at the store including a quiche, chicken pot pie, one of their dessert bars, some passion fruit jam, and some fruit. I also bought some cute little bracelets at their Amish Gift Shop. Their food items: Egg and Ham Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, and the dessert bars were definitely out of this world, and I will definitely have to go back for them, and more. This is definitely not only an eating experience, but an all-around experience that one should check out. It's delicious and a great learning experience.
(5)Don M.
Do not believe the hype. Cracker Barrel style food but Cracker Barrel has better food. Big portions but without the care and time spent you might expect from an Amish restaurant.
(1)Greg C.
This is one of Sarasota's Amish restaurants. I arrived there with my in law's and got there at 4:15pm. I know what your thinking, "them old people eat early". Got seated and was greeted right away by our server. Within 15 minutes the line to come in was out the door. Very popular place visited by local Amish, tourists and locals. I had the Manhattan(a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy and veggies.) Great tasting sandwich with the roast beef being chunks of pot roast. You will not leave hungry from this place. They are famous for the fried chicken and amazing pies. Give it a try, you will not be sorry.
(4)Chris H.
Yoder's came very highly recommended, so while we were in Siesta Keys we decided to stop by and take a look at the restaurant. First, the parking was packed, which is always a good sign. We then sat down and started figuring out our meals. Yoder's was featured on Man Vs. Food, and even the placemats regale you with that fact. Eventually we put in our order. I ordered the world famous fried chicken with amish noodles & fried okra as sides and the girlfriend got a open face turkey sandwich. The food that I did get, while a lot of food, was very bland and not well seasoned. Yoder's could do with learning to put salt in their food. That, and the fried chicken was dry, left us with an un-sastifying dinner. We finished off the meal with slices of pie. Once again large portions, not a whole lot of flavor. I really want to like Yoder's, I really do, but this visit just left me flat.
(3)Heather B.
Good food, not excellent. Love that they use local produce. Fabulous pies! Especially the peach pie! Long wait. We had a large party & had split into two tables on Sunday afternoon.
(3)Brian C.
Starting with fresh made bread and apple butter, it all went to (insert euphemism for declining quality) after that. Meatloaf was gelatinous and perfectly square on the edges, like it came out of a can. It tasted like it came out of a can. The smoked barbecue chicken was dry. The fried chicken was dry. The side dishes deserve a great big "meh" and every fat person in Sarasota bumped into our table, how appetizing.
(2)Laurel A.
Second trip here and OMG Amazing!! If you've never been here, I highly recommend it. Went Saturday June 13, 2015, what a great start to my vacation. The cinnamon roll is amazing. Stopped in their deli and market this trip and the produce is awesome and the prices are even better, 6 ears of corn for $1.98, Huge seedless watermelons for $2.99. My daughter and her friend picked up produce to and everything was very good. Today was the last day of my vacation and my daughter is in love with their hummus and I've been wanting to try the Amish noodles, picked up a container for $1.88 to try at home for dinner and was not disappointed. Perfect portion and amazing price. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Sarah O.
Pro's: food, fried chicken is amazing, pies, peanut butter is the best, service (mostly Amish women) incredibly polite and patient, fast service, with any wait, line moves fast, all you can eat apple butter. Con's: none
(5)Nora F.
I wish I could take home the grain bread. I loved the bread that I had. We came for breakfast with 4 other friends. So the 6 of us sat at the round table. The place was quite packed. Our waitress was very sweet. My husband said this place has the best french toast, so I let him order that while I ordered a spinach omelet with grain bread and fruit salad. Our friends ordered some french toast, traditional benedict and some combo breakfast. I loved my spinach omelet! I know I've said it before but I loved my grain bread! Unfortunately they don't sell the bread, oh no! I enjoyed my healthy breakfast while enjoying the amish restaurant with amish decorations. After breakfast we stopped by the gift shop next door. This was the best breakfast place I had in Sarasota. The drive was pretty far because this neighborhood is an amish town so the restaurant is surrounded by amish gift shop and amish market. I'm not sure about this one but I think the town is controlled by an amish mayor? You never know. Everyone who works here is a happy person *:) Whatever the case is, please visit this restaurant because it's worth it. Highly recommended!
(5)Stacy G.
The wait was a little long. But well worth the wait! Service was excellent, the server was so sweet and came back often to refill drinks and make sure everything was good. I ordered a salad because I'm on a diet and it was the best salad I've ever had. Everyone else in our party ordered the fried chicken since they are known for chicken & pies. I will definitely make the trip back.
(5)Anthony A.
Yodels was fun, and the pies are very well done and delicious, however my meal was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the Amish were supposed to make things home made? Why were the mashed potatoes instant? Why were the green beans and the gravy on my meat loaf out of a can? The fried chicken is supposed to be their specialty, but honestly it's better at Publix. If this place wants to live up to the hype, they need to make more things home made because I felt like I was eating at an old time cafeteria. Maybe that's why they have so many elderly customers, because they are from a time when canned food was acceptable. These octogenarians with their walkers and oxygen tanks were in a line all the way out the door. I'm happy they are doing a good business tho, and I hope this review doesn't come off as too scathing because it was a fun place to eat and definitely an experience.
(3)C. E.
They have awesome fried chicken and meatloaf! Don't leave without eating their banana cream pie or peanut butter pie!!
(5)Lynne L.
Love, love love this family owned restaurant. Great service, great food and top notch service.
(4)Ken S.
I'm not sure where some of the bad reviews on here come from but those people are wrong. This place is fabulous. If you're looking for a candlelight dinner with wine and a separate fork for your salad, than this isn't your place. If you want simple, good food then it's definitely your place. The meatloaf and corn cakes were very good. The PB pie was HUGE! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Aimee P.
The only thing I have to complain about was the fact we couldn't order fried chicken on a Friday. Other than that, the food was pretty good and their deserts were uh-may-zing!
(4)Alex O.
Amazing comfort food. Had the Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and fries okra. The gravy was awesome. Would recommend checking them out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Neil P.
We were very impressed with the food, Fridays is pan fryed chicken and it was out of this world good. Ordered the 4 pc and all i could eat was the breast so juicy it probably was a 1 1/2 lbs, mashed potato with gravy and hand sliced whole wheat bread FRESH! Mac & cheese was one of the best and they hand make over 30 pies so best thing to do is get there samplers. Pinecraft is the Amish village and they also have gift shop, farm fresh produce and a deli with all the Amish meats, cheese, pasta, candies, fresh made sandwiches. Its a Travel Channel destination with Adam Richman Man vs Food! We love it!
(5)Kristen C.
My fiance and I experienced Yoder's for the first time in May 2015 and we absolutely LOVED it! The service was great and the food was even better. Their fried chicken was not only delicious, but huge!! We actually split a meal and couldn't eat everything, a first for my fiance! We ended up coming back later that afternoon and ordering chocolate and apple pies to take home to Georgia. The chocolate pie was literally the best I have ever had in my entire life!! The crust on that apple pie was heavenly. We went back earlier this month while visiting Sarasota and were heartbroken to see they were closed for renovations; however, we will be back in November for our wedding and plan on bringing the entire family to experience Yoder's!
(5)Charity Z.
My husband and I are both food network fans. When we saw this place featured on 101 best places to eat in America we new we had to try it. So on the drive home we decided to stop in. Arriving at 430pm we did not have to wait to be seated. As soon as we sat down we did see the line accumulating. So be prepared to wait. To start we had the homemade butternut squash soup. It was amazing. All the perfect flavors blended together. As other reviewers stated, you must have the fried chicken! Perfect batter compliments the moistness of the chicken. What also stood out were the Amish potato pancakes. Beware portions are huge and plates are definitely shareable. Even the kids meals are enough to feed the entire family. The deserts are endless. Of course I had the bread pudding. It was perfect. Just how bread pudding should be. A crispy crust around the edges and softness of soaked bread. This meal in instant made me want to ascend Mount Everest. It was that good.
(5)Morgan B.
We were on vacation and a friend recommended we try out this place. I was a little hesitant because I really wanted some fish. But this place was awesome! I had the cheeseburger soup to start. It comes with fresh homemade bread. Delicious. Then my friend and I split the full serving of fried chicken. There are a ton of sides to choose from. I got the tossed salad and the Amish pancakes. Everything was very good. The most important thing though is to save room for the pie. Oh my lord the pies!!! Try one or two or three! You won't be disappointed!! In will be coming back!
(5)Debbie S.
We are in Sarasota for this year's vacation and went to Yoders last night for dinner. The daily special was pan fried chicken... with two sides. The four piece meal was so big that we brought 4 of 8 pieces home... the mashed potates and corn muffins were great. We also got the peanut butter pie and butterscotch pie sampler. And don't forget the homemade mint tea. Walked out thinking I was going to explode... and can't wait to go back.
(5)Patty P.
Food is good, just good down home cooking! Servings are large! I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all were excellent! Fresh baked breads, homemade apple-butter and peanut butter, delicious pies! The fried chicken is amazing! The only down side is it can be quite crowded and a long wait, especially during season. However, you can meander around the shops there while you are waiting or after dinner and that totally makes up for it. The vibe is family friendly, not romantic so know what you are in for when you go, but do go, you won't regret it.
(3)Jina C.
This is one of the most famous amish restaurants in Sarasota. It's been featured on Man V Food so i guess that's a good thing! Overall, the food is pretty tasty. I wasn't blown away or anything and I certainly did not like the 1 hour wait w/ no seating. The desserts look really good and the portions here are large. I think it's enough to split between 2 people. I guess I'm not into the traditional American comfort food cuisine. It was just A OK
(3)Akaisha R.
Saw the reviews and had to go !! I learned come hungry and before 6 . It was good and filling !! I also had the strawberry short cake mmmmmm.... will come back !! Service was awesome and quick . I had the chicken fingers and mashed potatoes with awesome chicken gravy
(4)Maureen O.
Amazing food! Huge portions and friendly service. The Amish noodles were amazing! My son enjoyed the garlic chicken breast and the rest of us had chicken and dumplings. Everything was very good! We had Shoo Fly Pie (not my favorite flavor of pie but my husband loved it). I had Yoder's Key Lime Pie and it was very creamy. There was a line going out the door but it moved quickly. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Ed E.
We arrived at the dinner rush and were told there would be a 45 minute wait. Actually only waited 10 minutes. The food was excellent. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered corn all of which were perfectly done. Don''t leave without trying a slice of pie! Decor is country/Amish and the dining room is a bit tight for space but the food more than made up for the small inconveniences.
(5)Greg U.
Yet another great meal.
(4)Barbara W.
Large portions, good food, chocolate cake and icing was fantastic. Roast turkey was a little dry, but when asked for extra gravy, it was given promptly. From PA Amish country where what's on their menu is very common here.
(4)Randy T.
Heartiest breakfast in Sarasota; Great Amish home cookin.' This is a Sarasota favorite. If you decide to eat at Yoder's during high season, come early or bring a book. I'm not sure why "Man vs. Food" focused on the fried chicken when he came to town..for me, Yoder's is all about breakfast. Great food; huge portions; inexpensive. The homemade breads remind me of my mother's (but not quite as good, of course! Hi, Mom!). I have sampled most of the items on the breakfast menu, from omelets to biscuits & gravy, but my favorite has to be the stuffed french toast. To die for. The pies I have tried have all been delicious (love that Shoo-Fly), but I'm usually so full after my meal I can't even think about dessert!
(5)Cheri P.
I wanted to try out Yoder's Restaurant in Sarasota as it has a pretty great reputation in the area and has even been featured on Man vs. Food. Yoder's is a traditional Amish restaurant located here in Sarasota, FL. There are a lot of other parts to this property including a gift shop, a fresh produce market and a deli. Since the restaurant was featured on Man vs. Food, it has become a very popular place to dine in this city. I like the atmosphere and seeing the Amish around here; you get a sort of homey, down-home feeling in the middle of a regular old suburban town. This is the area of Sarasota with the most Amish, so you see them riding around their bikes going here and there. A short disclaimer on my position on Amish restaurants: the first time I ever went to one it was an Amish place on Cattlemen and Bee Ridge and I was horrified by the food - it had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It is for this reason alone that I haven't gone to any other Amish restaurants since, and I'm SOOO glad Katie suggested this. Not surprisingly, that restaurant is no longer in business, but Yoder's is going strong! When you walk in, you actually have to stand in a cordoned-off line that literally didn't get any shorter the entire time Katie and I were there. I have a feeling that the line stays that way pretty much all day! It's not a long line though, at that time of day on a Friday (12:30 pm), we only had to wait about 15 minutes. However, I don't know what it's like during the weekend - I imagine it's quite a bit longer as the restaurant seemed to be to capacity pretty much the whole time we were there. We were greeted by some very friendly hostesses and our waitress was very nice. We didn't notice any sort of lag in service at all, considering their traffic. The clientele is pretty much what you'd expect - mostly tourist types and locals. I asked for the typical/popular menu items and was extremely happy I did that. I ordered the Meatloaf for my meal as it's one of the most popular dishes and it came with two sides off of a side menu with a dizzying array of choices! I let the waitress decide by telling me what was most traditional, and she suggested the Chicken Stuffing and the Amish Buttered Noodles. I happily accepted. Katie ordered a more tame choice - she opted to order something of a Chef Salad though I didn't catch the name of it. Just take a look at the picture for the pile of deliciousness that she ordered. She was also served a thick slice of Fruit Bread which looked so moist and soft. I get the feeling that you can't really go wrong with a choice at this place. My meal came with some super soft, light wheat bread, no doubt freshly homemade. We chatted about everything under the sun while waiting for our meals and when they finally came, I suddenly became psychic: there were two large doggy-bags about to appear in both of our futures. I bit into my meatloaf, and this was a nice, thick slice of it, slathered in a rich, thick chicken stock gravy - the perfect touch on top (aka Thank God it wasn't ketchup because I happen to detest the stuff). It was really good, but I think it could have used a bit more flavor - I happen to like onions and a bit more salt, but that's my personal preference. The sauce made up for it a bit though. The Buttered Noodles were just that: thick egg noodles covered in a drippy butter sauce. Not exactly heart-healthy fare, but sometimes taste has to trump the healthy factor, right? I'd be silly to even have to explain that these were delicious, 'cause noodles covered in butter...? C'mon. And the chicken stuffing. Alright, a lot of the time, stuffing is really hit or miss. Usually, there's just one ingredient that will throw it off. I have to say (abashedly) that I really only think there's one type of stuffing that's perfect and that's Stovetop. I know, isn't that like... sacrilege? But I mean, that's what I like. And this Stuffing. I think they added some extra nutmeg; my tastebuds detected some sort of spice like that. But other than that, it was like Stovetop with nutmeg. And if you know anything about me, you know I love nutmeg so naturally this was a winner for me. And put it all together - hearty meatloaf with chicken gravy, noodles covered in butter and a fresh take on my favorite stuffing. Yep, no question, I was mighty pleased with my choices. And briefly, for reporting's sake, I didn't try any of Katie's meal but I am sure it was just as good as mine, in a, you know, closer-to-healthy, boring kind of way. You know by now that it is my literary duty to deliver an account of a full meal wherever I dine, so I am obligated to have dessert...
(4)Esther B.
Amish home cooking. Comfort food. Nothing fancy, just really good, unpretentious deliciousness for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, Yoder's is 202 miles from my front door. We always make it a must to stop in when we're anywhere near Sarasota. If any friends are taking a trip over to the west coast, I recommend Yoders, and then beg them to bring me a chocolate peanutbutter cream pie, some fried chicken, and Amish noodles (my 3 menu favorites). Large, varied menu has something to please everyone. What got me thinking about Yoder's today, after having eaten there last about 3 months ago? A trip to a very overpriced, over-hyped restaurant (you can read my previous review), where I had some very mediocre fried chicken, and wished that I were at Yoder's.
(5)Danny H.
Two words....get the pie!!!! We got the chocolate peanut butter, and each person we spoke to said it was their favourite. We came in just for pie and yet had to get the chicken fried steak because it sounded great. Well it was, and the mashed potatoes with white gravy and mac n cheese were also both great. We couldn't finish it all, and we praised the wonderful staff at our hotel for having a fridge in the room so this meal wouldn't go to waste and we could eat it later! The sweet tea was also great, and I probably annoyed our server because I made her fill up my glass several times over our short stay, but she was on top of it the entire time and did a great job. Then came the pie...the main reason we came. I normally don't like nuts on my pie or cake or cookies, but the peanuts on there were just the right amount and added a great touch to the chocolate and peanut butter. the crust was flaky and just right. Just a fantastic dessert. If I wasn't so full, I probably would have licked the plate afterward. The Amish outfits were a great touch, although I'm sure they're a bit uncomfortable, but definitely gave it a home touch to it. Only issue with Yoder's is that its only open until 8 PM....but once you're there, you realize why. I think we were the youngest people there by about 30 years haha. So if you go, make sure its early...and not on Sunday as they're closed on Sunday
(5)Ken S.
There is a reason there is always a line to get in; it's that good. Tasty fried chicken, wonderful side dishes, and desserts that taste like they came from a grandmother's kitchen who really knew how to cook, all at a reasonable price in a spotlessly clean restaurant. One of Florida's best.
(5)Kelli L.
Great home cookin' at very reasonable prices! I always get the country fried steak with mashed potatoes & mac-n-cheese and it is just perfect! Their homemade bread and apple butter they bring out to every table is delicious too! My husband really likes their fried chicken and he loves the Amish noodles. We have tried several different pies, but my favorite is the Strawberry. Super fresh and both sweet and tart all in one. My husband likes to go on Wednesday's to get their lemon meringue. You can get a great, large meal for pretty cheap but be prepared to wait in line. And make sure you get there before 8pm.
(5)Demmi S.
After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we thought the food must be worth waiting for - it wasn't! The waitstaff was very nice, but the food was expensive and bad. Even the pie that they are famous for was a very big disappointment.
(1)Jessica S.
Very yummy! The chili was AMAZING and the mashed potatoes were TO DIE FOR (better with beef gravy than with chicken gravy). I was way too full to try any desserts though. Will definitely be coming back.
(4)Rolf A.
I'm surprised that this placeisnt at 4.5 or 5 star level, because this place was out-of-this-world! The pie was the finisher for me! I know now why that guy from Man v. food went there in one of his episodes! Only negative are the long lines to be seated, but it is worth the wait!
(5)Jessie S.
After seeing this restaurant featured on the Travel Channel I knew there was no way I was going to miss it the next time I was in the area. It was so, so good. It was actually an entire Amish complex, there was a produce stand, deli and gift shop in addition to the restaurant. As for the restaurant itself you stand in line until it's your turn. I'm sure the wait can get pretty lengthy during peak hours, we got there at about 1:30 and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't want to eat heavy comfort food in hot weather but it's well air conditioned. The lunch/dinner menu is filled with comfort food awesomeness. My husband ordered the fried chicken which we saw on the travel channel and it was juicy and well seasoned. Chicken on the bone isn't my thing but I enjoyed the bites he shared with me. For his two sides he chose macaroni and cheese and a corn fritter. The corn fritters ended up being dense pancakes studded with corn and served with syrup, it was unexpected but really, really good. I ordered the roast beef Manhattan, which was white bread, super tender roast beef, mashed potatoes all smothered with gravy made from homemade stock. This is one of my favorite dishes and this may be the best rendition I've ever had. The pie, oh the pie...we were both really full but there was no way we were leaving without dessert so we split a piece of peanut butter cream pie. This was incredible and the pastry cream was unworldly in its loveliness. Screw the mouse, this may be the happiness place on earth.
(5)Mick F.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was the hour long wait to get in. Food was awesome, restaurant needs updated, but the food was awesome. Best Reuben in forever and peanutbutter pie was oooohhh. Even my kids said it was worth the wait. Great comfort food and the absolute nicest staff I've ever run in to. Please expand your seating area!
(4)Jennifer S.
This place has the best pies. There are always long lines to get in but they seem to go pretty fast. I have only been here for the pies but I have heard around that the dinners are also really good. My favorite pie so far is the Apple Crumb. :)
(5)Ed W.
When I go to Disney and pay $100 for admission, I accept that the environment is a make believe / artistic license dynamic. Hopefully we all agree that giant six foot mice walking bipedal and talking as though on helium don't exist. I do not, however, expect this fantasy reality when I go out to eat at what is held out to the public as authentic Amish. Sadly, that is all Yoder's restaurant is. Any attachment to the Amish community or lifestyle has long since passed. Heck my German lineage probably makes me more Amish than anyone in there. The food is at best average fair at RIDICULOUS price points. Two dollars for a soft drink, $4.50 for a slice of pie (which was no where near the hype) I felt sadly disappointed if not almost gullible and abused. For a lunch meal I had their roast beef, which was basically somewhere between post roast and goulash, tasteless and dry. That they drowned it in gravy didn't alleviate this condition. The sides were mashed and applesauce (which tasted like Motts and makes me wonder if that was even remotely made by a human). If you are into tourist traps by all means go. If you want something more authentic you'll have to go elsewhere, like Shady Mapple Smorgasbord up in Lancaster PA.
(1)Cherry J.
The fried chicken and chicken-n-dumplin's each received favorable reviews, as did most of the side dishes (stuffing, potato pancakes, and fried okra). Not so good? The macaroni and cheese, which was pale and VERY watery--reminiscent of yucky cafeteria food, or worse. The bread was lame, too... regular old sliced sandwich bread (and pretty dry, I might add). We also sampled the peach pie, which I really enjoyed. I also liked the mint iced tea. After lunch, we checked out the adjacent gift shop and farmer's market. Not much to see there, although the veggies did look super fresh and I was pleased to find Mexican Coca-Cola! In addition to Adam Richman visiting the restaurant, the ladies working on the gift shop mentioned a visit from none other than Martha Stewart. However, she did a great job, and the food came out very quickly. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to make a return visit... but I would not be opposed to it, either.
(3)Fuzzy B.
We went today on our second visit to Sarasota because of all the Yelp reviews - and thought it was great. GF had the meatloaf manhattan (which is meatloaf thinly disguised as a sandwich, with lots of gravy on top and mashed potatoes). BF had the 1/4 fried chicken (white). And we shared the peanut butter cream pie. Everything was delish - beware of the large portions. Make sure to check out market and deli next door.
(4)Andrew T.
There was a line to get a table but the wait wasn't that long. Their meatloaf was amazing and I didnt think I would be able to eat pie but the it was so good I was able to eat and make it back to the car.
(4)Becky B.
Yoder's, Yoder's, Yoder's.. I wish that transported me there. Where to start? I ordered the Turkey dinner. YUM! You get SO much for your money, the gravy is amazing, and the stuffing is satisfying. I finished my meal with the Chocolate Cream pie, it was good, but not as great as I thought it would be.. I wasn't too crazy about the crust, I think because I couldn't figure out whether it was a pastry crust or a graham cracker crust., it tasted more like graham, and I am partial to pastry for a chocolate cream pie! but other than that, it was really good! :) The waitstaff is really really friendly, and all in all it was a great experience, totally worth waiting in line for an hour! Can't wait to go back to get the fried chicken!
(5)M. C.
Unbelievable food, desserts and service. You can't go wrong here. We usually order the fried chicken, Amish noodles, homemade potato chips. Everything is so good. For dessert try chocolate cream pie or blueberry crumb pie a la mode. YUMMY. I usually can't help but to make several visits here per vacation.
(5)Sue D.
This is food from the 50's when people over ate, but worked it off with hard farm work. The food tastes like it came out of cans. Today it's suited only for those who wish to be obese; the food is full of fat, salt and sugar. All the things that Dr. Ozz says will kill you... be warned. We will never eat here again, while there were huge portions, nothing tasted good we also declined a box to take home the left over food. Its unhealthy and the food is gross !
(1)chris w.
"The chocolate cream pie is like eating clouds!" - Chrystal Dillman
(5)Mike B.
Breakfast - ate outside at the Picnic tables with carryout Family arrived for lunch around 11:15 am on a Saturday but was told tthat they don't serve lunch until the breakfast service was finished. We decided to do take out and the food was affordable and took about 15 minutes. We had the biscuits and gravy, mush, egg sandwiches and various drinks. We made a picnic of it sharing items between the family on the tables enjoying the sunny day. We also order a container of 4 cinnamon rolls which were very thick and very well frosted! My daughter went back and got the pulled chicken before we left and the sandwich was very tasty. Visited the market and got some fresh fruit for the vacation. The strawberrys were very good although the plums didn't taste well. We will visit again for dinner.
(3)Todd O.
Only reason it is not one star is because the pie is good. This is a bad diner. I don't care what they tell you about grandma's homemade dishes. It's bland food that is most likely frozen. Skip the food and grab a pie to go
(2)Maureen O.
Amazing food! Huge portions and friendly service. The Amish noodles were amazing! My son enjoyed the garlic chicken breast and the rest of us had chicken and dumplings. Everything was very good! We had Shoo Fly Pie (not my favorite flavor of pie but my husband loved it). I had Yoder's Key Lime Pie and it was very creamy. There was a line going out the door but it moved quickly. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Ed E.
We arrived at the dinner rush and were told there would be a 45 minute wait. Actually only waited 10 minutes. The food was excellent. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered corn all of which were perfectly done. Don''t leave without trying a slice of pie! Decor is country/Amish and the dining room is a bit tight for space but the food more than made up for the small inconveniences.
(5)Greg U.
Yet another great meal.
(4)Barbara W.
Large portions, good food, chocolate cake and icing was fantastic. Roast turkey was a little dry, but when asked for extra gravy, it was given promptly. From PA Amish country where what's on their menu is very common here.
(4)Kurt C.
We moved to Naples from Ohio about 3 years ago, 30 minutes from Amish Country, so we know Amish food!! This place is anything but. I can't say that any of the servers were actually amish, just women dresses and bonnets, and Mexican bus boys. Based on several people always raving about this place we decided to stop on a trip north. I like fried chicken and based on alot of reviews I went for it. Well the skin wasn't really fried, kind of a soggy battered skin. Chicken wasn't very moist or flavorful. Mashed potatoes and gravy and noodles, my wife and I both went for since were eating "Amish". I've had better instant potatoes, I think the gravy was strait out of a can, and the noodles.....well. ....not cooked consistently through, no flavor....we literally had maybe 3 bites between the two of us. We can cook better food at home by far. I would agree with a previous review stating Publix fried chicken is better.... The bread and apple butter were good. Nice soft bread and tasted fresh. We were reluctant to try pie but figured we would try. I think $4.50 a slice is a little steep but, hey, we're getting amish pie. Wife had the coconut cream pie and said it was good. Kids had chocolate peanut butter and they were happy. I tasted it and thought it was decent. I went for the peanut butter pie....what a disappointment. The only think peanut butter about it was some peanuts somewhere. It was mostly whipped topping and the filling was tasteless. Fortunately, we walked in with no wait but they filled up quickly. The place is a hole in the wall and nothing fancy or special about it. The service wasn't that great either. My conclusion is, maybe if you have never had amish food from the Midwest, this place may be good to you. However, as we come from that area this place is far from it. If we want amish again, we will try Der Dutchman up the road. Had we known it was there we probably would have went there to begin with. After the visit, I found out this place was on TV and rated for top 101 places to eat......Who put this on the list? Have you ate more than 101 places???? I would rather eat at chain restaurants any day. My suggestion.....save your money and go somewhere else. This place is not worth the hype.
(1)Bryan S.
Enjoyed eating at Yoder's while on vacation. I ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and side salad with house dressing. Chicken was moist and crispy, potatoes were very smooth and house dressing did not disappoint. I hope to get back and try the breakfast that everyone raves about.
(4)Richard P.
I had heard so much about this place that my disappointment is overwhelming. Yoders is an undeservedly popular Amish style restaurant serving very bland food in large quantities. Judging by the size of most of the other lunch diners when I was there I think the quantity rather than the quality is the big draw.
(2)Melvin M.
A good meal, but anyone who has previously dined in one of the better Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants of Holmes County, OH, or Lancaster County, PA, will find this beach town copycat to be just that: (1) slightly lower in food quality (excepting the pies, which could hold their own with any Amish kitchen); (2) relatively high priced; and (3) infused with the air of a high-volume tourist trap. From the "English" waitresses wearing pants, to the Hispanic line cooks in the kitchen area, this restaurant also has a very different feel than it's counterparts on the heart of Amish country. Like most very popular restaurants which are geared primarily toward the tourist crowd, also expect a very long wait to get a table, even during the slow season.
(3)Keri B.
Apparently their fried chicken was their main attraction...however, it was VERY dry and tasted like any other fried chicken I've had. I had to douse it with sauces to get it down. Perhaps I went on an off day? Other than that, the pie was fantastic, as were the breads. I went to their market and got TONS of fresh foods and cheeses. All in all, I will return.
(3)Mac O.
3.5 stars. After lunch next door at Yoder's Restaurant, and before heading out to Longboat, husband and I swung by Yoder's Produce Market to stock up on produce for the condo. I was wanting local grapefruit for breakfast, local citrus for squeezing in Coronas and Bells Oberon, local peaches, nectarines, and mangoes for snacking on on the beach...what we found were California grapefruit and Georgia peaches. More than half the produce available -- while beautiful -- was from out-of-state. Hunh? We'd been drawn by the promise of farm-fresh, local produce. So to that end, we were pretty disappointed, tho we bought some anyway. But we did find other items we liked a whole bunch, including all-natural beef jerky, locally roasted ground coffee, extra sharp Canadian cheddar, Vinta crackers, Amish kettle corn, homemade granola (which was absolutely delicious), and fresh milk from Dakin Dairy Farms in nearby Myakka City. So, for produce Yoder's Market didn't deliver. But for dry goods and dairy, Yoder's Market came through like a champ.
(3)Jina C.
This is one of the most famous amish restaurants in Sarasota. It's been featured on Man V Food so i guess that's a good thing! Overall, the food is pretty tasty. I wasn't blown away or anything and I certainly did not like the 1 hour wait w/ no seating. The desserts look really good and the portions here are large. I think it's enough to split between 2 people. I guess I'm not into the traditional American comfort food cuisine. It was just A OK
(3)Akaisha R.
Saw the reviews and had to go !! I learned come hungry and before 6 . It was good and filling !! I also had the strawberry short cake mmmmmm.... will come back !! Service was awesome and quick . I had the chicken fingers and mashed potatoes with awesome chicken gravy
(4)N. D.
Summary: Pie and Turkey Dinner AMAZINGLY GOOD -but Fried chicken over rated and busy claustrophobic atmosphere We live a stones throw away from here in Port Charlotte. We finally made the trek 45 minutes up I-75 to celebrate a friends birthday by having some great fried chicken and some pie. I will admit we had some high expectations after seeing this place featured on TV. Allow me to walk you through our experience this evening. First we arrived to find a small but packed parking lot, luckily somebody was leaving as we pulled in which saved some hassle trying to park. There is a lot next to the restaurant with plenty more room. After baking in the sun in line for a bit and moving forward little by little we were greeted by the hostess. She asked number in party (no names) and on to the next. They seat as they have room to accommodate your party, it is not actually first come, first serve. They do not take reservations, so be ready to stand in a line. Upon entering it was rather chaotic, some what stuffy, and generally messy. Due to the high volume they serve, there isn't enough time dedicated to maintaining a kept dining area. The floor had crayons and various food items on it (I blame peoples lack of teaching their children proper manners more than I blame a restaurant for this.) Our food came fairly quickly, but was COLD the first time! The sides of mashed, mac and cheese, and my wife's Turkey dinner as a whole was very cold. The server was very accommodating and took back the sides and Turkey dinner to replace with a new order. When it came back it was all hot, but the mac and cheese was now very runny and not so good. The Turkey dinner was very very good once it was served hot and had a large portion. Now to the fried chicken. I had some high hopes for this item. I bought the half chicken at about $17 bucks. The flavor on the skin was good, but the meat was very dry and tough. I was very disappointed after hearing all the rave reviews and I admit it was a very meaty breast. However I have had better at my local Cracker Barrel and would not agree it is the best chicken around. Maybe it was just a bad day for them, I dunno as this was my first visit. Redeemed through the pie. The pie was amazing. Had peanut better, and baked blueberry, and also tried a little of the chocolate cake. All were above par, and worth a visit. It did meet the high expectations we had. Good portion and in my opinion worth the $4.75 a slice. To close, the turkey dinner my wife had was very very good as was the pie. I am betting some of their other items are good too. I think the fried chicken is a bit over rated, and in general it seems they may be pushing beyond a capacity they can handle and the quality of atmosphere is suffering a little.
(3)Bill S.
Next time you are in Sarasota, don't miss a great meal at Yoder's! Be prepared to wait in line, but it's well worth the wait. Great food, reasonably priced, but be sure to save room for dessert - the pies are out-of-this-world good. I'm sure we'll be eating here anytime we are in the area.
(5)Melissa A.
Go for the stuffed french toast!
(4)Jared V.
I was rather underwhelmed with this place. I expected it to make my eyes roll back in my head and make me want to move to Sarasota. I drove from Orlando to come here specifically because of the reputation of the pies and comfort food. I went on a Friday. Guess what? No southern fried chicken on Fridays. Instead, their 'special' was pan-fried chicken. It was not crispy at all, and was about the same quality as original recipe KFC. Their chicken breasts were mutant giant chicken size. The fries were pretty good. They dropped some bread off and we slathered their apple butter on the pieces of bread which was the best part of the entire meal. My wife said the okra was excellent but the mashed potatoes and gravy was bland and the gravy was not very tasty. I saved room for pie and got blueberry crumb, while my wife got apricot. My filling tasted fine, but the crumb was somewhat bland and I had no crust underneath the filling, so I got almost no crust whatsoever. The apricot was bitter and the crust was too hard to the point of being crunchy. The service was slow and the food came out randomly. Apparently it is against amish policy to smile at people or be friendly; I was stared at stoically and was given attention but nobody looked happy to be there or made any effort to make me feel welcome. There were noisy, stupid teenagers a couple of tables away from me (one of them held up the giant sugar dispenser and loudly asked a random server "Is this salt?") and I had to deal with their stupid teenager jibber jabber talk about English class and Justin Beiber or whatever the hell stupid teenagers talk about. In summary, I have had better homestyle cooking, service, and pies elsewhere and Yoders is not worth the drive (at least not for me).
(2)Ricky R.
I have been going to Yoder's since my inception in 1988. I could preach about Yoder's, but I'm going to keep it simple: - Typically there is a line out the door, but it is well worth the wait. - It has a cozy, "grandma's house" feel (if your grandma is Amish) - Staff is usually Amish, friendly, and meticulous (your table wont be dirty, you'll never run out of water, and you'll never wait for a check). - Considering the prices, their portions are generous. - You really can't go wrong with the main dishes - they're all flavorful and homemade. - Please, PLEASE do yourself a favor and order sides with your meal and dessert. - Order dessert. - For the love of God, order dessert. - All pies are delicious, carrot/chocolate cake are sinful, and the cinnamon buns could be the greatest thing I've let enter my body... that's what she said... Anyway, if you ever find yourself in a 100 mile radius of Yoder's, do yourself a favor and go. *So you can further appreciate their desserts: if a family member is in Sarasota, we make them get about 12 slices of pie/cake to bring back to Chicago. Seriously.
(5)Lissete D.
Go with the correct mindset and you will be satisfied. Personally, we love Yoder's. Especially their pies. We've been going since before Man vs Food, so our expectations weren't at the level that many seem to have. All that being said, this is comfort food at it's best. I'm a fan of the broasted chicken & the meatloaf. If you go during strawberry season, you should try the best strawberry pie EVER! Service is always friendly & efficient.
(4)Georgio B.
All 5 stars for Mrs Yoder!!! American comfort food does not get any better then this! And... the pies are to die for! You get more then your moneys worth. Don't pass this place up!
(5)david h.
I went with a friend for breakfast and it was as excellent as a plain jane breakfast can be. I wish I could have surveyed what lunch and dinner was like because that is where the originality and essence of Yoder's would show (I think). I'd definitely go back. Smiley face
(4)Ks K.
Great Yoder's produce & other good food. Parking in front, side or back (or if it's really busy, behind Yoder's restaurant. Very friendly helpful staff.
(4)Holly D.
There must be a great appreciation for bland, poorly prepared food in this town. Meatloaf seemed odd in consistency and flavor. Almost like Banquet TV Dinner quality. The gravy was bizarre. The waitress said they made it with beef juices and corn starch. It was yuck. I've had better gravy out of a jar. The green beans were canned. Not going back. Even for pie. If your greatest effort is to open a can, I'm not interested.
(1)E H.
The pie was the highlight of our recent dinner at Yoder's. I could have skipped everything else and gone straight to dessert. The meatloaf was bland for my taste, because it lacked seasoning, onion, or red/green pepper. The fried chicken was good, but it wasn't juicy. Perhaps if we had tried some dark meat pieces, it would have been less dry. Vegetables were good but also bland. The chocolate cream pie and Yoder's key lime pie were both excellent. The pie crust was the best I have tasted in a long time. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient.
(2)TP F.
I've lived here 15 years, finally got to this place and I feel like a heel not liking it. Everyone kvells. Perhaps it's because the Food Channel's Adam Richman said the fried chicken was crisp and moist. Really though, it was overcooked and dry. And BLAND, which was the most surprising thing. Fried chicken is a no brainer seasoning-wise: gimme salt and pepper and Pepper. The sides were loaded with sugar. The decor is the dream someone else is having about your grandmother. Mostly though, I'm just not a dessert guy. Some of the pies are to die for (key lime) but others (Apple) are no better than any decent bakery's. The servers were really nice, if perfunctory. If I was 25 again and looking to load up on carbs and calories I'd be back there in a flash.
(2)Katherine P.
I am rating this 3/5 not because of the food but because of the experience overall. We waited in line about 30 minutes for a table. When we finally got to the front of the line we were asked if we wanted lunch or breakfast. We wanted lunch because we've heard so much about the fried chicken. We were then advised that they had to serve all of the breakfast people first, even though it was 11:05am and they stopped serving breakfast at 10:45am, and we would have to wait for all of the breakfast customers to be seated before we could have lunch. So instead of waiting an unknown amount of time we settled for breakfast. We were then advised by our server that there were specific things on the breakfast menu that we couldn't even order because it was after 10:45. In addition to that, there were several flies around where we were sitting due to an open pickup window and the door being held open by people waiting in line. The food itself was good with big portions, but I probably would not go back again.
(3)M R.
Yoder's brings traditional Mennonite food to Sarasota. If you wonder what makes this traditional home cooking different, my guess is butter and lard. Both of these add amazing flavor but have been attacked somewhat unfairly by the health police. The line at Yoder's is amazing. We arrived at 3:30 Saturday afternoon and had a 30 minute wait. The food, however, is worth the wait. My companion loved the mint tea. The meatloaf I tried is simply the best I've ever had, while my companion's chicken was merely adequate. The potato pancakes came out not as a latka (deep fried) but as a normal pancake. The result is disappointing. The blackberry pie, on the other hand, is quite good. Stick with traditional meat and potato dishes, and you'll be happy with Yoder's. Order a few extra peanut butter cream pies for friends and family. They'll love it!
(4)Lin Lin S.
"amish" people are imaginary. it's all a gimmick. this is really just a cracker barrel run by people wearing bonnets and long skirts and white reeboks. forget the food. most of it was dry and bland. the veggies are from a can. just get the pie. huge slices of pudding filled pies, topped generously with whipped creme. coconut creme is good. this restaurant is good for families who want to contribute to the growing rate of adult and child obesity. "is there any green vegetable on your menu besides your ice berg lettuce salad?" we got canned green beans. hoo-rah.
(2)Randy T.
Heartiest breakfast in Sarasota; Great Amish home cookin.' This is a Sarasota favorite. If you decide to eat at Yoder's during high season, come early or bring a book. I'm not sure why "Man vs. Food" focused on the fried chicken when he came to town..for me, Yoder's is all about breakfast. Great food; huge portions; inexpensive. The homemade breads remind me of my mother's (but not quite as good, of course! Hi, Mom!). I have sampled most of the items on the breakfast menu, from omelets to biscuits & gravy, but my favorite has to be the stuffed french toast. To die for. The pies I have tried have all been delicious (love that Shoo-Fly), but I'm usually so full after my meal I can't even think about dessert!
(5)Cheri P.
I wanted to try out Yoder's Restaurant in Sarasota as it has a pretty great reputation in the area and has even been featured on Man vs. Food. Yoder's is a traditional Amish restaurant located here in Sarasota, FL. There are a lot of other parts to this property including a gift shop, a fresh produce market and a deli. Since the restaurant was featured on Man vs. Food, it has become a very popular place to dine in this city. I like the atmosphere and seeing the Amish around here; you get a sort of homey, down-home feeling in the middle of a regular old suburban town. This is the area of Sarasota with the most Amish, so you see them riding around their bikes going here and there. A short disclaimer on my position on Amish restaurants: the first time I ever went to one it was an Amish place on Cattlemen and Bee Ridge and I was horrified by the food - it had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It is for this reason alone that I haven't gone to any other Amish restaurants since, and I'm SOOO glad Katie suggested this. Not surprisingly, that restaurant is no longer in business, but Yoder's is going strong! When you walk in, you actually have to stand in a cordoned-off line that literally didn't get any shorter the entire time Katie and I were there. I have a feeling that the line stays that way pretty much all day! It's not a long line though, at that time of day on a Friday (12:30 pm), we only had to wait about 15 minutes. However, I don't know what it's like during the weekend - I imagine it's quite a bit longer as the restaurant seemed to be to capacity pretty much the whole time we were there. We were greeted by some very friendly hostesses and our waitress was very nice. We didn't notice any sort of lag in service at all, considering their traffic. The clientele is pretty much what you'd expect - mostly tourist types and locals. I asked for the typical/popular menu items and was extremely happy I did that. I ordered the Meatloaf for my meal as it's one of the most popular dishes and it came with two sides off of a side menu with a dizzying array of choices! I let the waitress decide by telling me what was most traditional, and she suggested the Chicken Stuffing and the Amish Buttered Noodles. I happily accepted. Katie ordered a more tame choice - she opted to order something of a Chef Salad though I didn't catch the name of it. Just take a look at the picture for the pile of deliciousness that she ordered. She was also served a thick slice of Fruit Bread which looked so moist and soft. I get the feeling that you can't really go wrong with a choice at this place. My meal came with some super soft, light wheat bread, no doubt freshly homemade. We chatted about everything under the sun while waiting for our meals and when they finally came, I suddenly became psychic: there were two large doggy-bags about to appear in both of our futures. I bit into my meatloaf, and this was a nice, thick slice of it, slathered in a rich, thick chicken stock gravy - the perfect touch on top (aka Thank God it wasn't ketchup because I happen to detest the stuff). It was really good, but I think it could have used a bit more flavor - I happen to like onions and a bit more salt, but that's my personal preference. The sauce made up for it a bit though. The Buttered Noodles were just that: thick egg noodles covered in a drippy butter sauce. Not exactly heart-healthy fare, but sometimes taste has to trump the healthy factor, right? I'd be silly to even have to explain that these were delicious, 'cause noodles covered in butter...? C'mon. And the chicken stuffing. Alright, a lot of the time, stuffing is really hit or miss. Usually, there's just one ingredient that will throw it off. I have to say (abashedly) that I really only think there's one type of stuffing that's perfect and that's Stovetop. I know, isn't that like... sacrilege? But I mean, that's what I like. And this Stuffing. I think they added some extra nutmeg; my tastebuds detected some sort of spice like that. But other than that, it was like Stovetop with nutmeg. And if you know anything about me, you know I love nutmeg so naturally this was a winner for me. And put it all together - hearty meatloaf with chicken gravy, noodles covered in butter and a fresh take on my favorite stuffing. Yep, no question, I was mighty pleased with my choices. And briefly, for reporting's sake, I didn't try any of Katie's meal but I am sure it was just as good as mine, in a, you know, closer-to-healthy, boring kind of way. You know by now that it is my literary duty to deliver an account of a full meal wherever I dine, so I am obligated to have dessert...
(4)Esther B.
Amish home cooking. Comfort food. Nothing fancy, just really good, unpretentious deliciousness for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, Yoder's is 202 miles from my front door. We always make it a must to stop in when we're anywhere near Sarasota. If any friends are taking a trip over to the west coast, I recommend Yoders, and then beg them to bring me a chocolate peanutbutter cream pie, some fried chicken, and Amish noodles (my 3 menu favorites). Large, varied menu has something to please everyone. What got me thinking about Yoder's today, after having eaten there last about 3 months ago? A trip to a very overpriced, over-hyped restaurant (you can read my previous review), where I had some very mediocre fried chicken, and wished that I were at Yoder's.
(5)Danny H.
Two words....get the pie!!!! We got the chocolate peanut butter, and each person we spoke to said it was their favourite. We came in just for pie and yet had to get the chicken fried steak because it sounded great. Well it was, and the mashed potatoes with white gravy and mac n cheese were also both great. We couldn't finish it all, and we praised the wonderful staff at our hotel for having a fridge in the room so this meal wouldn't go to waste and we could eat it later! The sweet tea was also great, and I probably annoyed our server because I made her fill up my glass several times over our short stay, but she was on top of it the entire time and did a great job. Then came the pie...the main reason we came. I normally don't like nuts on my pie or cake or cookies, but the peanuts on there were just the right amount and added a great touch to the chocolate and peanut butter. the crust was flaky and just right. Just a fantastic dessert. If I wasn't so full, I probably would have licked the plate afterward. The Amish outfits were a great touch, although I'm sure they're a bit uncomfortable, but definitely gave it a home touch to it. Only issue with Yoder's is that its only open until 8 PM....but once you're there, you realize why. I think we were the youngest people there by about 30 years haha. So if you go, make sure its early...and not on Sunday as they're closed on Sunday
(5)Ken S.
There is a reason there is always a line to get in; it's that good. Tasty fried chicken, wonderful side dishes, and desserts that taste like they came from a grandmother's kitchen who really knew how to cook, all at a reasonable price in a spotlessly clean restaurant. One of Florida's best.
(5)Demmi S.
After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we thought the food must be worth waiting for - it wasn't! The waitstaff was very nice, but the food was expensive and bad. Even the pie that they are famous for was a very big disappointment.
(1)Jessica S.
Very yummy! The chili was AMAZING and the mashed potatoes were TO DIE FOR (better with beef gravy than with chicken gravy). I was way too full to try any desserts though. Will definitely be coming back.
(4)Rolf A.
I'm surprised that this placeisnt at 4.5 or 5 star level, because this place was out-of-this-world! The pie was the finisher for me! I know now why that guy from Man v. food went there in one of his episodes! Only negative are the long lines to be seated, but it is worth the wait!
(5)Jessie S.
After seeing this restaurant featured on the Travel Channel I knew there was no way I was going to miss it the next time I was in the area. It was so, so good. It was actually an entire Amish complex, there was a produce stand, deli and gift shop in addition to the restaurant. As for the restaurant itself you stand in line until it's your turn. I'm sure the wait can get pretty lengthy during peak hours, we got there at about 1:30 and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't want to eat heavy comfort food in hot weather but it's well air conditioned. The lunch/dinner menu is filled with comfort food awesomeness. My husband ordered the fried chicken which we saw on the travel channel and it was juicy and well seasoned. Chicken on the bone isn't my thing but I enjoyed the bites he shared with me. For his two sides he chose macaroni and cheese and a corn fritter. The corn fritters ended up being dense pancakes studded with corn and served with syrup, it was unexpected but really, really good. I ordered the roast beef Manhattan, which was white bread, super tender roast beef, mashed potatoes all smothered with gravy made from homemade stock. This is one of my favorite dishes and this may be the best rendition I've ever had. The pie, oh the pie...we were both really full but there was no way we were leaving without dessert so we split a piece of peanut butter cream pie. This was incredible and the pastry cream was unworldly in its loveliness. Screw the mouse, this may be the happiness place on earth.
(5)Mick F.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was the hour long wait to get in. Food was awesome, restaurant needs updated, but the food was awesome. Best Reuben in forever and peanutbutter pie was oooohhh. Even my kids said it was worth the wait. Great comfort food and the absolute nicest staff I've ever run in to. Please expand your seating area!
(4)Jennifer S.
This place has the best pies. There are always long lines to get in but they seem to go pretty fast. I have only been here for the pies but I have heard around that the dinners are also really good. My favorite pie so far is the Apple Crumb. :)
(5)Ed W.
When I go to Disney and pay $100 for admission, I accept that the environment is a make believe / artistic license dynamic. Hopefully we all agree that giant six foot mice walking bipedal and talking as though on helium don't exist. I do not, however, expect this fantasy reality when I go out to eat at what is held out to the public as authentic Amish. Sadly, that is all Yoder's restaurant is. Any attachment to the Amish community or lifestyle has long since passed. Heck my German lineage probably makes me more Amish than anyone in there. The food is at best average fair at RIDICULOUS price points. Two dollars for a soft drink, $4.50 for a slice of pie (which was no where near the hype) I felt sadly disappointed if not almost gullible and abused. For a lunch meal I had their roast beef, which was basically somewhere between post roast and goulash, tasteless and dry. That they drowned it in gravy didn't alleviate this condition. The sides were mashed and applesauce (which tasted like Motts and makes me wonder if that was even remotely made by a human). If you are into tourist traps by all means go. If you want something more authentic you'll have to go elsewhere, like Shady Mapple Smorgasbord up in Lancaster PA.
(1)Cherry J.
The fried chicken and chicken-n-dumplin's each received favorable reviews, as did most of the side dishes (stuffing, potato pancakes, and fried okra). Not so good? The macaroni and cheese, which was pale and VERY watery--reminiscent of yucky cafeteria food, or worse. The bread was lame, too... regular old sliced sandwich bread (and pretty dry, I might add). We also sampled the peach pie, which I really enjoyed. I also liked the mint iced tea. After lunch, we checked out the adjacent gift shop and farmer's market. Not much to see there, although the veggies did look super fresh and I was pleased to find Mexican Coca-Cola! In addition to Adam Richman visiting the restaurant, the ladies working on the gift shop mentioned a visit from none other than Martha Stewart. However, she did a great job, and the food came out very quickly. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to make a return visit... but I would not be opposed to it, either.
(3)Fuzzy B.
We went today on our second visit to Sarasota because of all the Yelp reviews - and thought it was great. GF had the meatloaf manhattan (which is meatloaf thinly disguised as a sandwich, with lots of gravy on top and mashed potatoes). BF had the 1/4 fried chicken (white). And we shared the peanut butter cream pie. Everything was delish - beware of the large portions. Make sure to check out market and deli next door.
(4)Andrew T.
There was a line to get a table but the wait wasn't that long. Their meatloaf was amazing and I didnt think I would be able to eat pie but the it was so good I was able to eat and make it back to the car.
(4)Michelle M.
A visit to Yoder's is like a warm and homey visit to grandma's house. This is the place to get comfort dishes such as meatloaf and apple pie. The menu at Yoder's Restaurant contains tons of classic Southern/ Amish home cooked dishes and their specialty is their famous fried chicken. The fried chicken is hand-breaded and deep pressure fried to seal in the juices and give it a crispy texture outside. The fried chicken is served daily, except for Fridays. On Fridays the chicken is pan fried instead. There isn't much atmosphere in this casual restaurant unless you count the Amish, but the food is good and the service is friendly. Don't leave without trying one of their homemade pies (all made from scratch!).
(4)Nathan T.
We heard about this restaurant on Yelp and after asking around with the locals determined the food was good and hearty, but the REAL reason to come here was the pie, especially the cream-based pies. (Apparently they use canned filling for their fruit pies.) At a recommendation we picked up a slice of the chocolate peanut butter pie, it did NOT disappoint. They have a takeout window that makes ordering a slice of pie or two a breeze, if you're looking for a sweet tooth fix, give Yoder's a try!
(4)Mark H.
1. The fried chicken is massive, but not overly flavorful. (IMO, Maryland Fried Chicken in Plant City, FL is much, much better.) 2. The pies are good, but not the best I've ever had. 3. The meatloaf is plentiful, but not even better than Cracker Barrel (or my Mom's) :) 4. Standing in line waiting to be seated is a negative. 5. The price-to-portion ratios are righteous. My advice... Go there for the experience if you're in the area, but certainly don't drive from hours away to go eat there; It's simply not worth it. I'll be down that way in July, and I plan on checking out their breakfast, so I'll opine about that experience then.
(2)Dane C.
First off to All Foodies and such, don't come here and expect to be blown away by exploding flavors, dynamic plate presentations, and exotic ingredients. This is simple, wholesome, well executed food prepared by people who care. The fried chicken and really any pie is a must order for first timers.
(4)Tracy S.
This place is great! It's always really busy, which is a good sign about what you're getting into. It took us awhile this visit to get seated, but the line moved fairly quickly. The food is good, simple, and delicious. We both ended up getting the friend chicken (which included two really gigantic pieces!) and two different sides. The chicken was juicy and tasty, my fiance's mashed potatoes with gravy were phenomenal, and the carrot salad is unexpectedly fruity, but really delicious. The portions are gigantic, so don't be shocked if the prices seem at first glance to be really steep. There is easily enough food for two meals or more! The waiter was as attentive as he could be, given how busy the restaurant was. It took us a while to get our bread and the food was also a long time coming. No real complaint there, since the taste of the food seemed to indicate that it was made really freshly! We got a couple of slices of pie at the end. My fiance got a slice of blackberry pie which he absolutely loved. I got a slice of chocolate cream pie, which I admit I was a little disappointed by. The chocolate cream was bland and a little grainy and the flavor of the crust sort of overwhelmed it. The cream on top was really thick and just sweet enough, though! Altogether, a really great eating experience. Be prepared for a wait--especially right at mealtimes--but the wait is definitely worth it!
(4)Carlos S.
Great food, Great Pie's, Great service. You will not regret it...
(5)Robert N.
We don't pass out a Woohoo rating very often and only hold for the very best. Well, Yoder's is at the top of our list for an Amish theme type restaurant. We had the typical fried chicken, mash potatoes and all the trimmings type dinner. Yes, we did save room for a delicious piece of coconut pie. There is a farmers market next door so you can get all of your fruits and veggies while enjoying their delicious lunch menue. Seating is a bit "tight" so I would avoid the peak lunch hour if you are in a hurry. Have fun and don't forget your take out box...
(5)Steve Z.
Yesterday driving up from South Florida to Tampa, my wife and I had a late lunch at Yoders. The service was great, but there fried chicken was disappointing. It did not have your typical Fried Chicken crunchy bite. Portion size was good but the chicken needed to be crunchy. Pie was excellent!!
(2)P A.
Wife, two kids, and I, had breakfast here today. The wait was about 15 minutes at about 9am. We were seated in a booth and were promptly served by an attentive, competent waitress. Food quality was really good and was served HOT. I have had better, but considering the price point I was really happy and will visit again.
(4)Ron R.
Very good wholesome food. The Amish know good cooking.
(4)Kristin N.
Another Thank you to Man vs Food!!! Wow this place had a line even at 2pm and when we left it still had a line. We started off with some fresh tomatoes and boy where they fresh, I mean they do have a fresh market right next door (also owned by Yoders). We decided to trash Adam from Man vs Food and go for the Fried Chicken that is pressurized and Mash potatoes. WOW.....Although the chicken could have used just a bit of more seasoning in my opinion, the chicken like shown on TV is completely moist. The juices were pouring out of this chicken it was sooo good. Not many places can fry a chicken and have it come out that moist. OOOHHHH Mash potatoes, how I should have ordered more, the gravy it just melts in your mouth it's soo good. Then of course we had to save room for their famous cream filled peanut butter pie. My boyfriend and I aren't huge fans of peanut butter, but once you taste this pie you'll see why the locals keep coming back for more, and why the non locals always come back to visit. We also took an apple pie to take home with us. Last night we took our first bite, a sweet pie of Delish flavors savored our mouths as we took not one but two and three bites of this apple pie. One of the best pies I've had. If you are ever near this place, make sure to stick it out in the line, because its so worth the wait!
(5)Diana C.
Soooo good!!! And everyone is amazingly KIND and FUN!!!! I didn't care for pies so much but now I love THEIR pies!!!! I want to try their fried chickens next time*^^* Cannot wait to go back and meet nice people again*^^*
(5)Sue D.
This is food from the 50's when people over ate, but worked it off with hard farm work. The food tastes like it came out of cans. Today it's suited only for those who wish to be obese; the food is full of fat, salt and sugar. All the things that Dr. Ozz says will kill you... be warned. We will never eat here again, while there were huge portions, nothing tasted good we also declined a box to take home the left over food. Its unhealthy and the food is gross !
(1)chris w.
"The chocolate cream pie is like eating clouds!" - Chrystal Dillman
(5)Mike B.
Breakfast - ate outside at the Picnic tables with carryout Family arrived for lunch around 11:15 am on a Saturday but was told tthat they don't serve lunch until the breakfast service was finished. We decided to do take out and the food was affordable and took about 15 minutes. We had the biscuits and gravy, mush, egg sandwiches and various drinks. We made a picnic of it sharing items between the family on the tables enjoying the sunny day. We also order a container of 4 cinnamon rolls which were very thick and very well frosted! My daughter went back and got the pulled chicken before we left and the sandwich was very tasty. Visited the market and got some fresh fruit for the vacation. The strawberrys were very good although the plums didn't taste well. We will visit again for dinner.
(3)Todd O.
Only reason it is not one star is because the pie is good. This is a bad diner. I don't care what they tell you about grandma's homemade dishes. It's bland food that is most likely frozen. Skip the food and grab a pie to go
(2)C T.
What a find! My first time in Sarasota, Florida and where should we go for a bite to eat? We found Yoder's on Yelp. When we got to Yoder's, there was a line-up going into the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Saturday afternoon. Must be good if there is a line-up! Waited in line for about 20 minutes and saw Adam Richman's autographed picture in their feature window in the doorway. Also, the Man vs Food video of Yoder's was playing in the background on the plasma TV. Adam Richman ate fried chicken and their potato pancakes and their famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. We finally got a table for 5 people. One ordered the Fried chicken, fried okra and onion rings - delicious! One ordered the Fried chicken and mashed potato and gravy - smaller portion but just as good! One ordered the BBQ Chicken Leg and mashed potato - pretty good! Two ordered the Chicken Liver and Special Stuffing (only available on Saturdays), potato pancakes, fried okra, and Amish buttered noodles - can you say OMG!! Dessert was the best part - sis and I shared the famous Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was so light! Mum had the starwberry pie - quite delicious!!
(5)Jen W.
Great lunch buffet. Loved the "broasted" chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes. Plentiful salad bar, lots of desserts & great soft serve ice cream. I bought a key lime pie and bag of kettle corn on the way out. Highly both! All for under $10/person.
(5)Charles H.
The food is simple and simply delicious. I tried the pulled pork and I was delightfully surprised by the quality and the large portion. The pie was simply wonderful. You must try this place. Come hungry, it's worth the wait.
(5)Selene K.
This review is for the pies/desserts only as I much prefer the food at Troyer's. My family has been going to this restaurant for years and will usually buy a whole pie during family gatherings. Very fresh and delicious.
(4)Marquita M.
Best pies hands down... They saved my Christmas dinner!
(5)Sundi P.
AMAZING peanut butter cream pie. My husband and I decided this is going to be a tradition on pi day.
(5)Anthony A.
Holy moly this place was amazing. I had a food coma. I mean the fried chicken was phenomenonal. Those sides- wow! those potato chips and noodles and potato cakes ans don't forget about the fried corn on the cob. That apple butter was so good that we went to the Yoder's market after we ate and bought a whole jar of it. You can't go to Yoder's with out getting pie. Really it was the best pie Ive ever had.
(5)Jillian K.
Bland bland bland. We had heard about this place for years and finally were in the area with the time to give it a try. We started with pie and coffee. We didn't hate the coffee and the shoofly pie had a pleasant molasses taste. The blueberry crumb was a sweet thick sugary syrup and blueberries with a crumb that lacked flavor or proper spices. The famous fried chicken did not have any seasoning, not even salt and pepper. The beets were served in a clear tasteless syrup that seemed to rob any flavor that might have naturally occurred. The fried okra was okay but could also have used some seasoning. This place seems to have a loyal fan base much like the Cracker Barrel. Really boring food served by really nice people.
(1)Bethany B.
This was so excellent! By far the best breakfast. We didn't have too high of expectations as we figured it would be your heavy breakfast options. There certainly was that if you wanted it but I had a delicious veggie benedict with fresh fruit and there were options for fresh granola with fruit and yogurt, etc. Service was outstanding!!! Just go! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Joshua R.
Come Hungry because the serving sizes are huge. Great Amish cooking. Country style benedict was great and a lot of food
(4)Ronald U.
Too Big for Their Britches-Now I know Yoder's enjoys lines around their building and our celebrities now that they have been featured on T.V.-unfortunately they care little for accomodating customers who have been frequenting this establishment for decades. I know I will not be missed but I certainly feel betrayed, I always ordered the $10.95- 7 ounce garlic chicken-not always garlic flaovred, it comes with 2 sides and stuffing. Brian the manager always allowed me to substitute the stuffing for okra or applesauce. on my last visit i was told by Brian that the stuffing was free and could not be substituted. Instead of saying this would be the last time we can make this substitution because the stuffing is free-i was loudly humiliated infront of guests and staff. why did you ever offer to substitue in the first place. had i been told this was not your policy that would have been fine. you are not a chain, why could i not be accomodated and why did i need to be insulted and humiliated. the servers will miss my generosity but i will not miss the artery clogging free stuffing that could not be substitued. So ends my decades as a Yoder customer!
(2)Jenn S.
Okay, I don't even remember what I ate for dinner because I followed that with a huge slice of butterscotch pie, which is the best thing I have EVER eaten in my life. I want to marry it. It was creamy, smooth, and the most wonderful 2,000 calories in one place I have ever wolfed down. Holy F!!!
(4)Joy H.
Great for breakfast or for dessert...you won't leave hungry or broke. The staff here is so friendly :)
(5)Sarah D.
First, let's get one thing straight. If you want spicy food, or even heavily seasoned food, this is not the place for you. This is an Amish restaurant, and the Amish are plain. That carries over into their clothing, buildings and food. If you want good home cooking in a kitschy Amish atmosphere, then you'll enjoy your meal. I'll be honest, I grew up in Amish country in Central PA, so no matter what, I knew I'd like this place on pure nostalgia alone. But my husband enjoyed it as well. We heard stories of long lines waiting for a table, but we got there at 11 on a Tuesday and beat the lunch rush. My suggestion is to go during off hours. I had the Manhattan (open faced sandwich) and hubby had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which he loved. The mashed potatoes were very good as well as the homemade bread they bring for the table. Unfortunately we were too full to try the desserts, but I'd like to return and have a piece of the Strawberry Pie ( my favorite). Also, don't miss the Produce Market, Grocery and Gift Shop!
(4)steve M.
First of all bring your appetites. The portions were absolutely ridiculous. We're talking Flintstones size. Very good (and huge) fried chicken. Excellent (and gigantic) meatloaf sandwich (which they call a Manhattan) Fantastic Pie. But the highlight of the meal for me was the apple butter. Best I've ever had. We bought a jar to take home. Well worth the trip is you want some serious comfort food in Sarasota
(4)Dante B.
Go here for the pie and start with that. While you're at it, take some home with you. Wonderful wide selection of tasty cream and regular pies - I was there the day the place was featured on "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel. Now I understand why the Man vs. Food guy came here - they're darn good pies!
(5)Craig R.
Fried chicken and PB cream pie are incredible! Come hungry!
(4)Jen C.
The custard pie is AMAZING!!!
(5)Julaine N.
Good breakfast. The pancakes are delicious as well as their fresh made breads. Be prepared to wait in line on a weekend morning, but if you are looking for some breakfast treats, the pancakes are worth it!
(3)Steve G.
The food was so-so. We had the turkey which was dry, the stuffing seemed to be pedestrian, and the gravy seemed fairly tasteless. The meatloaf was ok, but seemed to be fairly standard. We were expecting a home-cooked style of a dinner and what we got was middle of the road lunch counter quality food.
(2)Jesse B.
This is my spot for a early morning hangover cure. I know it sounds odd but it is true. I have them stored in my phone and when the only thing I can think about is biscuits and gravy I call for take out. Always biscuits and gravy for take out. The best I have found. Homemade biscuits and meaty gravy. Bring your own hot sauce. I also order pies ahead of time for holidays. Best around hands down. I'd be willing to bet this is some of the best "home cook'in" in town. One day maybe I'll go inside.
(4)J S.
So who wouldn't have high expectations after all these reviews and the Man vs. Food thing, right? Well, this place was okay--at best. Fried Chicken--I had the Friday version (pan friend only--not that deep fried machine you see on TV). It was "meh" at best...but really...not very good. The meatloaf was only okay too. Very eggy...not very tasty. The mashed potatoes with the yellow gravy--slammin. Corn fritters (pancakes with corn in them--great). Green beans--canned--no salt. Okra--surprisingly good...and I don't care for okra. Desserts--peanut butter pie...worth all the hype it gets. Strawberry rhubarb--meh...not my thing. Overall, I would not go back. Everything is fresh...but just kinda bland.
(2)D D.
Wonderful food! Wonderful service! Wonderful hospitality! Wonderful cleanliness! And, the most amazing pies you will find anywhere! Try the peanut butter cream pie - it's awesome! Thank you Yoder's for the a wonderful experience! I think we ate there 5 times while visiting Sarasota....
(5)Phillip V.
Simply the best home cooked meals outside your house!! Come hungry and leave satisfied!!!!well worth the 1 hour drive from the Tampa area!!
(5)Stacey L.
The best! Every year we visit Siesta Key, it involves a trip to Yoder's. Never fails to disappoint. My husband says their fried chicken is the best he has ever had. And I love the PIE! Tried the coconut cream this year and WOW was it great. Can't wait to come again next year.
(5)Dean B.
very, very easy review to write. Yoder's Amish Restaurant is simply the best thing around!
(5)Darren S.
5 stars for the pie and 2.5 stars for the food. I had the famous peanut butter pie and the girlfriend had the chocolate peanut butter. They were both wonderful. They were so good that we came back for some more pie on our way back through Sarasota on the same trip! The food on the other hand was nothing to be excited about. I had a well prepared chicken-fried steak and my girlfriend had crab cakes that she enjoyed.
(4)Ryan D.
Excellent service here and delicious home cooked food. Had the blueberry cream pie upon waiters recommendation and it was definitely worth it!
(4)Sue W.
loved the bread.......... so fresh!!! their food is good, good home cooked food. I have not had fried chicken where the flavor is in the meat as well, it usually stops in the skin! but their was juicy and excellent! mashed potatoes were delicious. For meatloaf lovers that was good. I wasnt crazy about their potato pancakes but im not crazy about it in gen. Hands down best baked apple crumb pie. cons I need more veggies with my meal if fried food is not comfort food then u wont enjoy this. Overall - they are awesome with what they do.
(4)Lindsey C.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, including all of the classy "foodie" places I have visited. I am in grad school in Orlando and after MONTHS of talking about Yoder's, some classmates and I piled in the car and drove to Sarasota for the day to enjoy the beach, stock up at Trader Joe's, and then topped off the day at Yoder's. We stood in line, but not too terribly long. It was so worth it. I had the famous fried chicken, green beans and potato pancakes. My friends had the fried fish & mac n' cheese and the meatloaf & Amish noodles (mouth-watering). No one could finish their food because the servings are wonderfully large, so we all had to-go boxes for lunch the next day. Then came the pies. Oh the pies. We had peanut butter cream (hands down the crowd's favorite), chocolate cream (a taster, delicious when "mixed" with the peanut butter cream), apple crisp and blackberry crisp. Every bite was absolutely wonderful. The service is incredible. One person at our table couldn't decide between the turkey dinner and the meatloaf so the waitress brought him "tasters" of each to help him decide. Incredible service! We all left with to-go boxes and extra bags of baked goodies to take home, and we are already planning a trip back just to visit this restaurant. We also enjoyed experiencing the Amish community around the restaurant.
(5)Emily G.
You can't not love Yoders. The staff is as sweet as can be and are always eager to please you. I've never had a complaint! If I could afford to eat there 3 times a day, every day, I would!
(5)Debi L.
The pressure cooker fried chicken was dry and not as tasty as I thought it would be, but the portions are HUGE! I ate for 3 meals on 1 portion. Service was slow but friendly. Love the mint iced tea and the pies were good and seemed to weigh 10 lbs a piece. Get there early. The line can wrap around the building.
(4)Dan M.
My family and I were pleased with the food here but it was by no means amazing despite being home made (from scratch). The meatloaf was good but had a lot of breading, the chicken tenders were dry, the fried chicken which everyone raves about, was a little dry and the skin wasn't entirely crisp. The banana and punpkin bread were very good as were the homemade potato chips. My cousins lemon meringue pie was very good (it was tart) but the coconut creme pie wasn't creamed enough nor did it have a strong coconut flavor. I was also disappointed in the peanut butter cream pie, which was showcased on man vs. food. It was made well, but I felt it lacked flavor. (The crust was good, however). All in all, a place worth trying. Although I dont think the quality of the food lived up to the hype, everything was home cooked and the service was especially fantastic. We had the nicest waitress (named Jennifer).
(3)Debra O.
Ripoff! Food is nothing to remember. We had a bbq chicken sandwich with fries, a cheeseburger with coleslaw, and two iced teas. The bill was $29! WTF?? Beware-they charge you for every add-on, like $3 for coleslaw on top of a burger, and $1.50 for chopped onions. Pie is $5 per slice. I could bake a whole pie for that! Save your money.
(1)Becky B.
Yoder's, Yoder's, Yoder's.. I wish that transported me there. Where to start? I ordered the Turkey dinner. YUM! You get SO much for your money, the gravy is amazing, and the stuffing is satisfying. I finished my meal with the Chocolate Cream pie, it was good, but not as great as I thought it would be.. I wasn't too crazy about the crust, I think because I couldn't figure out whether it was a pastry crust or a graham cracker crust., it tasted more like graham, and I am partial to pastry for a chocolate cream pie! but other than that, it was really good! :) The waitstaff is really really friendly, and all in all it was a great experience, totally worth waiting in line for an hour! Can't wait to go back to get the fried chicken!
(5)M. C.
Unbelievable food, desserts and service. You can't go wrong here. We usually order the fried chicken, Amish noodles, homemade potato chips. Everything is so good. For dessert try chocolate cream pie or blueberry crumb pie a la mode. YUMMY. I usually can't help but to make several visits here per vacation.
(5)C K.
Great pie - great stuffing - fantastic gravy. Very busy, really nice staff. Interior could use an update, but when could they close to do it?
(4)Diann B.
Great restaurant, they put a lot of love into their food and it shows. I would especially recommend the pies, they're bar none the best in the area. It's worth the wait in line, which sometimes bursts out the door. There's a reason that Man vs. Food came down here. It's good.
(5)Christy S.
Must try their shoofly pie and homemade bread and apple butter. I am never disappointed when I come here. It's fresh down home cooking and the staff is always friendly. I love coming here when I'm out in Sarasota. It's even worth the wait in line ...
(4)Fred G.
Awesome Reuben sandwich, unique sauce, buckets of iced tea, onion rings to die for, pie sampler. Worth the wait folks don't miss it.
(5)Maria S.
The food was good.. The pie I had was ok, I saw Adam Richman on man v food there, so I decided to try it out. I went for dinner and the meatloaf was delish! We will be going for breakfast this week. I am on vacation and will be adding more reviews! Happy eating!
(3)Jim-Barb T.
Having had a positive experience at Yoder's before, I felt safe in recommending it for a lunch meeting place. I'll start by saying that the coleslaw was the highlight of the whole meal. The four of us ordered the white meat chicken lunch special all with different side orders. I don't know if Yoder's just had a bad day or if they are slacking. Two of our chickens were not pink pink but definitely not fully cooked. Being on some what of a time restraint we didn't send the birds back we only asked for carry out boxes so we could finish cooking them when we got back home. I guess you have to be a special type of person to enjoy the corn cakes, and that stack of wonder bread that they put on the table didn't get touched which I hope they tossed after they removed it. The muffins were good but the container of honey that they put on the table was not pleasant to pick up as it was coated with drippings. The server we had was a young man that seemed at times to be distracted and took forever to refill our coffee cups. When we ordered our meals we heard that it was a good idea to order your choice of pie at that time as they sometime run out. We heard that the peanut butter cream was one to die for so we ordered it. When our server came around to ask us if we would like some desert with his order pad in hand, we said that we had already ordered our pie and yes we would like it now. Well it took a while but the pie came and I now have different feelings for the people and their taste buds that suggested this pie. The question now is if we will ever return to Yoder's? Well maybe but at this time we will not be recommending it to friends.
(1)J G.
Just as good today as when my grandparents took us there 30+ years ago. Can't leave without having a piece of pie. We even had to get a whole pie and some Amish peanut butter to go.
(5)Jeff H.
great place great food
(5)Enjoy L.
We travel all over the country in our motor home and stay in many Amish areas, Lancaster PA, Shipshewana IN, Ohio , Wisconsin, just to name a few. Our love is Amish Quilts and good old fashion Amish cooking. Yoders is hands down the best Amish food we have had. If you leave hungry it's your fault! They serve up excellent quality and quantity to please everyone. We love Yoders and make it a destination now!
(5)Melisa L.
I love amish cooking-it's just good old fashioned homemade food. I went Yoder's for breakfast and I was not disappointed! My husband and I both ordered the french toast. I ordered 3 slices. The bread is homemade. The slices are about 2" thick--I only ate 2 of 'em! Yoder's is known for their pie, so we took 2 home. One Peanut Butter pie, which is their specialty, and 1 blueberry pie. The peanut butter pie is a cream pie--not very sweet, which is good. My dad loved this pie. The blueberry pie is very juicy-i'm sure they use fresh blueberries to make this pie--YUMM! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, if you enjoy simple homemade food. Don't skip dessert!
(5)Shannan M.
Continuing on my Man vs Food tour of Sarasota, FL, I felt compelled to visit this small Amish restaurant. I didn't quite know what to expect, but BOY AM I GLAD I WENT! This was the third and final restaurant featured on the Sarasota episode of Man v Food, and being that the first two were very disappointing, I was hoping Yoder's would redeem my faith in the show. I am a big fan of down home, comfort food and that's exactly what you'll get at Yoder's. I ordered the Turkey and Dressing meal with mashed potatoes and fried okra. I ordered the large plate and the portions were outrageously huge! It was more than enough for two meals and so I took half back to the beach house with me! The white-meat turkey was fresh and good. A little dry, but most turkey breast is. The mashed potatoes and stuffing were decent, both were greatly improved with salt and pepper. The fried okra was great! The highlight of my meal was most definitely the chocolate peanut butter pie that I specially ordered with fresh banana slices on top (as recommended by one of the servers). OMG, that was worth a half a day's worth of calories! It was HUGE (I took half of it home too), fresh, and delicious! Oh how I wish there were a Yoder's in Atlanta...
(4)John M.
Wow, it was a great meal. I highly recommend the hamburger gravy. It is the first time I have had that but it was tasty and filling.
(4)Dora B.
I kind of feel like Yoder's is going downhill by spreading itself so wide in terms of its food. They should have stuck with things like their fried chicken and meatloaf, but, come on, "Amish Quesadillas"? The menu is crammed with things that are clearly only there to provide something for everyone, which sounds like a great idea, but really only drags the quality down. Case in point, I'm not a big fan of their fried chicken, which I find personally too lightly seasoned, but when I saw they had chicken fingers I thought I'd just dunk them in their (very tasty) in-house French dressing. Before I ordered I asked the waitress if the chicken fingers were made the same as their fried chicken, and she seemed to get flustered and informed me in a low tone that they were bought bulk and frozen. Really? Ten bucks for frozen supermarket chicken fingers? The dive sports bar down the street makes their own chicken fingers from scratch, and Yoder's can't be bothered to chop up a chicken breast when they tout homemade cooking? I also decided to try their blueberry cream pie, and wound up throwing it out because the whipped cream just tasted like lard and the berries had no flavour... it clearly came from a can. I actually wound up ordering the meatloaf, which was okay, but was just barely cooked; I don't mind a bit of pink, but some portions of this were almost raw. It was clear that the kitchen is sacrificing quality for quantity since the place is so busy. Overall, if you go here in small parties (they have difficulty seating anything above four due to limited space) and confine yourself to the sorts of things you'd EXPECT to see coming out of an Amish kitchen (my husband said their Swedish meatballs were "pretty disgusting"), you'll probably do okay, but don't expect miracles. If not for the fact that our grandfather likes their Manhattans (roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy), my husband and I wouldn't make the effort to go there. It's just severely overhyped and has strayed so far from its roots that the quality just isn't there anymore. Of course some of the pies are good, but they really aren't worth waiting upwards of an hour in line for. Don't go out of your way for this one, and don't believe the hype.
(2)Tracie L.
What I like about Yoders (besides the pie, which I'll get to later) is that the food is really basic. There's nothing fancy or complex about it, which is not at all like most other places I eat. The food is like something your grandmother would make, but tastier, and with ingredients that taste fresh and like they were high quality. Don't expect anything fancy, but delight in the simplicity. For example, my ham with applesauce came with applesauce in a little cup and big slab of meat on a plate - not even a little sprig of parsley to attempt to spruce it up. The real gem of this restaurants are the pies. The banana cream pie is absolutely to die for. I haven't had anything like it anywhere else in the country. I make a point of getting it whenever I'm out in FL to visit.
(5)Archimedes A.
Amazing homemade pies, great lunch food. Chicken, which they are also famous for, was very dry.
(4)Tom S.
Some days you just have to have your mother's home cooking. Large menu and a good buffet. Take home something from the bakery. Yum!
(4)annaliese n.
an amish restaurant! with huge portions and gigantic pies! and real amish people! one lady even showed me the tattoos she got during her rumspringa. i think she could see that everyone was looking at little shocked about my tattooed appearance and she wanted to make me feel more comfortable. i love this place. friendly service and good people watching and fried chicken. and pie. big big pie.
(4)Ashley H.
man i miss this place to death. their pie is amazing! too bad they don't ship it.
(5)Michael A.
We didn't expect a whole lot from an Amish restaurant. Just some home-cooked deliciousness to counter all the chain-restaurant fare we've been eating lately. Certainly "homey", the restaurant is nothing to write home about. The wait staff was friendly. The menu is like the food . . . basic. The meatloaf was approaching the limit to how much breadcrumb could be stuffed into it. Still tasty, but meager on the protein. The garlic chicken was well-prepared but little flourish. We ordered potato pancakes and corn cakes. We didn't expect both of these to be the size of enormous pancakes. Between these 4 cakes and the stuffing which came with the chicken (which tasted so much like Stouffers my wife and I joked which came first . . . Stouffers or Yoders), there were probably 5 or 6 pounds of straight carbohydrates on the table. Oh, don't forget the bread (which was also nothing to write home about). The pies look and taste delicious. In the past we came to Yoders just for a holiday pie. This was our first and last meal there. We're pretty sicked out by the comment by another reviewer who noted visible roaches in the place. We didn't see any, but if we were to see some in a restaurant this would be that kind of place. Recommended only if you have middle-to-low expectations and/or you're carbing-up for a marathon.
(2)J I.
The food is not worth the hype. The pies are decent.
(2)Deb S.
Food is good and plentiful, but the pies are hit and miss, the "FRUIT" pie black rasberry has no berries, just a lot of jam/jelly with crust, the rasberry cream also has no fruit, just a pudding pie with swirls of jam/ jelly. Chocolate peanut butter is better and the apple crumb is good although there were many seed pod parts in the pie. So ask before you buy if you want a fruit pie.
(3)Seth F.
Honestly, this was just okay. I wouldn't really call it "good" food, but it wasn't all that bad. The homemade bread was good and the apple butter spread was alright. I've had way better homemade apple butter from a friend, though. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy along with fried okra. Again, I enjoyed the meal, but I wasnt impressed with the food. It seemed like your average country diner food. Where I was really disappointed, though, was the pie. The whole time my friends who had gone a few times swore by the pie and the restaurant seemed to advertize their famous pies, too. Maybe my particular pie order was a mistake. I ordered the blackberry pie and once it arrived, I saw that the blackberry filling was exactly like the congealed store-bought blackberry pies that I could buy for very cheap. The only saving grace was that the crust was a bit better than the store-bought version. A friend ordered the 1/4 white meat fried chicken and that honestly looked pretty good and moist. If I have a chance to go back, I'll probably order that along with one of their cream pies, which seems to be more their specialty. I got to try their potato chips which are crunchy and light and not greasy at all. The staff was very nice. No complaints there.
(3)John M.
Yoders is a place I go to for breakfast every time I'm in Sarasota. The service is amazing, everyone is so friendly. The food is high quality fresh ingredients and you always get a large portion. They make great omelets and everything is always served with toast and homefries. They have a great homemade apple butter for the toast and from what I hear the pies are amazing. I had a taste of one and it was pretty good. I will be back on my next trip to Sarasota. They never seem to disappoint.
(4)Paul H.
With all the reviews raving about the fried chicken and Adam Richman saying it is "the juiciest chicken" he's ever had. My chicken was quite the opposite. I ordered four dark meat chicken hoping it wouldn't be dry, well it was. The chicken skin had no flavor and the "dark" meat was dry as white meat. Kaitlyn asked me which sides I'd like. I asked her which ones were good and picked out two she had listed: mashed potatoes with gravy and mac n' cheese. The mashed potatoes were fairly plain even with the gravy. The mac n' cheese was good but nothing amazing. Why'd you let me down Kaitlyn! What's up with the Wonderbread? The only thing that saved the disaster of a dinner was the peanut butter cream pie that my family has been ordering for over a decade from Yoder's. I rarely give one stars but to sum up Yoder's Famous Fried Chicken: a letdown. I'm very disappointed.
(1)Yvonne G.
Comfort food and clean restaurants are a Amish trademark AND the pie...always lots of homemade pie to eat there or take home!!
(4)Heather L.
Yoder's is an institution. I try to explain Yoder's to my friends across the country by beginning with "it's this Amish restaurant in Florida that serves pies, meatloaf, potato pancakes, pot roast..." Okay. Great. Let me try this again. Pretend you have never had a plate of the average, American comfort food before. That means looking at the neuralyzer and ridding yourself of the repressed memories of that questionable meatloaf your mother made that warm summer, that cold piece of fried chicken at the bottom of a KFC bucket, or the leftover canned beans from the BBQ fundraiser. None of that matters now. Eating at Yoder's is like eating comfort food for the first time in your life. It may not prepare you for a day of beaching on Siesta Key, but it truly defines food that sticks to your ribs. The chicken is juicy, the cornbread is savory, the pies are amazing, and that is because Mama Yoder is slaving away in the kitchen to make people like you and I happy.
(5)Kate I.
So disappointing...& I wanted to like it. I had seen Yoders on the Travel channel and food network shows and I wanted to experience this little slice of heaven. Atlas I fear its hay-day is over. The gift shop was cute, but the items I looked at were over-priced ( I expected to pay more for their craft, but on something's the price was ridiculous). There was atleast one rude worker in every area we visited. These things could be lived with because the food was what's important and is was beyond disappointing. Everything was bland. My green beans were so over cooked they had no taste and the "homemade" mashed potatoes tasted like they were box. The only redeeming items were the fried chicken and homemade pies, what they are famous for. My father said if it wasn't for me wanting to try it him & mom would had left after waiting 10 mins plus to get our drink order taken. Order a pie they'll ship it to u, but skip the meal it's not worth it. Sadly disappointed; although interested in trying the new Dutch Amish restaurant down the street.
(1)Natalie G.
My boyfriend and I come here ALL THE TIME. the staff is so beyond friendly. It's very clean and homey. Food is really well priced and fantastic portions. The pie is succulent and can tell they're made with pure and simple ingredients... I absolutely love yoder's. So warm and welcoming, the food always comes out from the kitchen quickly even when the place is packed with people. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)Tim W.
Yoder's Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Sarasota, FL. This restaurant serves comfort food, amish style, and is located in the heart of the amish district in Sarasota. The service was 5 star, food came out super quick and the waitress was very attentive. I ordered the Roasted Chicken w/ Stuffing and the chicken was very dry. We asked for more gravy and it was brought out right away. I tried to order a whoopie pie because I saw it pictured on the placemat but the waitress told me they only sell them to go. I'm not sure why they don't sell these for dessert so I had to wait to eat dessert when I arrived home because I bought the whoppie pies at checkout to go. They were really good. Yoder's gives you large portions but they need to work on their dry chicken. I plan to return and I will update my review in due time.
(3)Anthony C.
Awesome pies everything was fresh homemade and very filling warning portions are extremely large lol
(5)Joe C.
Had a take home pie...their famed peanut butter pie. Hadn't had it in about 8 years. Totally cheaper ingredients in my opinion OR my taste buds are getting older because the pie didn't taste like much-especially peanut butter. Pretty disappointed! Sorry. I wanted it to be better. Now it just sits in my fridge until it expires and I throw it away... C'Mon Yoder's, don't cheap out on the pies!
(2)James H.
We ate here for dinner on a Tuesday night in November and it wasn't crowded unlike the summer months where you have to wait like almost an hour for a table. We were sat quickly. (party of two) Asked for our order quickly and even the food was quick to the table. I ordered the 2pc fried chicken and she ordered the shrimp. We got multiple sides, such as mashed with white gravy, stuffing, mac and cheese, onion rings and amish potato pancakes. Everything was great, especially the chicken it was huge and juicy! We got three pie pieces to-go, which are amazing as well. They have a great little market as well with other souvenirs and other food items. I have also eaten here for breakfast and it is very good as well. We always stop here when we are in Sarasota!
(5)Justine F.
I will say that fried chicken is forever ruined for my boyfriend and I because we live in Nashville and we have this thing called "Hot Chicken". I'm willing to admit this probably has a lot to do with why we thought Yoder's Fried Chicken was tasteless and nothing special. My boyfriend said his chicken was dry. That said, the mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. I am not a big fan of peanut butter or pies for that matter, but the peanut butter cream pie was heavenly. One of the best things I have ever tasted and also enjoyed their homemade cookies. I'd like to return when we are in Sarasota again, and will order something else besides the chicken. Looking forward to trying more of their baked goods and visiting the gift shop.
(3)Adam B.
Why did I visit on a Friday? No fried chicken to be had! Ah well, we ordered two pie slices to go, a peanut butter cream and a southern pecan. The pecan had tons of pecans on it, which is key. It could have used some whipped cream though. Then again, I could have used a glass of milk. The peanut butter cream was awesome. It has vanilla custard, tons of whipped cream and two layers of peanut butter crumbs, which is a mix of chunky peanut butter and powdered sugar. One of the better pies I've had in a long time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(4)Christine K.
This place is definitely an experience to try. Food is good but some of the best things were the smaller things (see end of review for highlights). We went on a Friday and of course it's the only day they don't sell the famous fried chicken. So we had the 4 piece dark & white pan fried chicken. It came with a breast the size of my face, a drumstick, a wing, & a thigh with 2 sides. Between two orders for dinner for my hubby & me, we brought home 3 pieces. Definitely order the 2 piece each or share a 4 piece. Pan fried chicken was seasoned well, not too salty but it was definitely greasy. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday. The sides we tried: Baked sweet potato was swimming in butter, Mac n cheese had very soft macaroni noodles (I like my noodles al dente), homemade potato chips were crispy & addicting, cole slaw was too sweet, and Amish potato cakes which is like a firm pancake with potato shreds in them. We also had the taster of the peanut butter cream pie which was fresh & different. You need to have a bite of the PB crumbs pieces in every bite which is a little hard in the container it comes in. Pretty yummy & not heavy at all. My hubby thought it was too sweet without the pb crumble pieces. The standout of the whole meal was the bread & Apple butter they give you to start with. So soft & airy without a heavy crust. Comes out warm too. The homemade apple butter was not like the store bought jarred type. It tasted sweet and fresh. Almost like a fresh applesauce.
(4)Michael G.
Mmmmmm.......
(4)Victor R.
I dined with high expectations and they were all met!
(4)Sandy R.
Nice place for home-cooking! The place is small and generally has a line out front. Once inside, the tables are so close together, it's a little bit claustrophic for me. The fried chicken is good, lots of meat, big portion. In the fall, I enjoyed one of the best desserts that I ever had. It was the "Pumpkin Pie Taster." So delicious and inexpensively priced (I think around $2.50.) You can purchase pies for carry-out. There is a small gift shop across the parking lot, as well as a produce market and deli next door.
(3)Maryann N.
I live close to Lancaster in Pa., Yoders Restaurant did not compare to Amish restaurants back home, i compare it to the dinners back home. We had the fried chicken and Pot Roast, both were very bland for taste. I had the mashed sweet potatoes, although they were cold they did taste good. My wife had spinach it was also bland in taste,but the chicken stuffing was good. The service was fast and friendly. I will not be returning.
(2)Krissy M.
Definitely a great place to visit in Sarasota! I ordered the special of the day: pulled smoked pork - so good! hubs had the fried chicken (I don't eat chicken, otherwise I definitely would have gone with that popular option). Dessert? DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING SPACE FOR! Hubs had the fresh peach pie (seasonal) and I had the peanut butter / chocolate pie - YUM.
(4)Gina P.
Definitely the place to go when you want to throw your diet plans out the window. The food here is fantastic but in typical amish country fashion it definitely sticks to your ribs. The line wraps goes out the door and into the parking lot. They have been on diners, drive ins, and dives so it's a super popular joint. They are known for the fried chicken. The portions are absolutely insane. The half chicken white is two full breasts and two wings. For sides I had cole slaw and amish potato pancake. The pancake was odd I was thinking it was going to be more like a "latka" potato pancake but it was like a legit pancake. I also tried a cup of their chili which was really amazing. They have a special sauce to order with chicken for like an extra .50 or something. DO IT! The sauce is where it's at. It's like a homemade french dressing and it's great on the chicken. I packed most of my food in a leftover box bc I knew I needed pie. This place has a ton of pies. I got blueberry double crust. It was fantastic. Definitely a must try in Sarasota although to eat here often would definitely keep your cardiologist in business.
(4)Robert T.
We had a yummy dinner and delicious pies. With six of us we had quite a variety. We had the fried chicken and sides. Our favorite sides were mashed potatoes, spiced apples and mac and cheese. We then had pumpkin cheese cake, crumb apple pie, strawberry and cream pie, chocolate creme pie, and yoders key lime. They all were great! If there is any complaint it was the the pie was $4.50/ slice.
(5)Alethea B.
Just get the fried chicken, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, and a slice of strawberry rhubarb. I promise. Don't forget to drown everything in that delicious apple butter.
(5)Jennifer K.
Breakfast was excellent, good ole home cooking. Portions were huge. I had bacon egg cheese biscuit, bacon was a little too greasy for my taste. BF had farmers skillet which had a loaf of potatos... sausage gravy was a must, very flavorful. Service was good, enjoyed checking out the farmers market and gift shop.
(4)Adrianna U.
This review is just based on the peanut butter pie and atmosphere. First off, the ladies at the cashier were not the nicest people. When i got the pie, it wasn't bad. Just a little overhyped. It was ok, but nothing to come back for. Fluffiness was great, and it was nice and creamy. Besides that, i love all the Amish people biking around. I didn't know this existed in Florida. I feel so sheltered here in soflo! This Amish lady was very nice next to me, commenting how my doggy must be cold in the weather. Definitely a nice contrast from the lady at the counter.
(3)JP A.
Love the fried chicken and the home style sides. Really large portions. My wife accidentally ordered the half fried chicken dinner. I had enough chicken breast left to make sandwiches for the whole family the next day. Peanut butter pie is my favorite! Highly recommended.
(5)Didi D.
I stopped here with my fiancé for lunch, and it was an awkwardly unpleasant experience. We've never felt so bizarrely unwelcome in a restaurant before. At one point I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps somebody had pinned a swastika on my back. What gives, folks? Did I blink and grow a second head or something? An older gentleman was seating guests. He looked at us (through us, really), and mumbled "Two? Come on..." And then headed off to a table. I thought maybe he was having a lousy day, so I shrugged it off and followed. We passed a table with a fifty something year old couple and their two teen daughters. The wife was super pissy, super frumpy, and stopped what she was doing to glare at me angrily. Not sure what I did other than smile, and wait to move past her table to be seated. After giving me a full eye contact dirty look, she shifted her gaze to my five and a half months preggo belly. I'm not kidding, the miserable cow furrowed her brow deeply, and looked totally disgusted with my decision to bare offspring. She then lifted her gaze back to meet my eyes and shot me another angry glare while jutting out her chin. It was pure exaggerated disgust from a total stranger, and I've never experienced that in my life before. Uhhhh, do I look like somebody who banged your husband? Have you EVER had an orgasm? What is going on here? We were seated. My partner looked confused about the level of angry rudeness going on. Our waitress seemed nice, and took our orders, only to vanish after wards. Not sure what happened to her. Another older woman served us our food. She would not make eye contact with me, and also looked like she was having an absolutely terrible day. It was strange and off putting. When she took my plate she had her head craned, and was looking at another table, and never spoke to me. My partner commented, but we really didn't know what to make of it. He ordered a chicken blt that was actually quite good, but it was difficult by that point to focus on the food. As we were eating a man at another table across the room hauled off and slapped his wife. Nobody seemed to notice. Pretty sure some kind of toxin had been released into the air ducts, and it was making all the patrons banana sandwiches insane. We were seated at a booth surrounded on three sides by groups of elderly people. Each group had one person in it that possibly had tuberculosis, and was hacking and coughing up phlegm. It was like the cherry on top of an already delightful pie. Speaking of pie, we really wanted to try some, but the place was so twilight zone, that we decided we better high tail it out of there. It honestly seemed as though the staff, and some of the clientele wanted to tar and feather us. I think we stopped in on the worst day of the year for everybody in the building. My aunts love this place, so maybe we'll give it another try, but I'd be hesitant.
(1)Walt B.
The food here is absolutely delicious! The portions are extremely huge and you will definitely want a to go box to take with you. Be sure to also take a slice of pie with you too because they have the best pie anywhere! I recommend the peanut butter cream pie! It is to die for!
(5)Joyce C.
Went for a later lunch today, 1:30 ish, and the line was still out the door. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, but had some nice people around us to chat with. You don't come here for atmosphere, there is none. You don't come here for exciting or unusual dishes. You DO come here for basic comfort food. My husband had the fried chicken, he said it was very good, not heavily coated, and prepared crispy but not dry. I had the Wednesday special, roasted chicken. Good mashed potatoes, really good...other sides good as well. Okay now keep reading....you want the pie...it is about the pie. Love the pie...we got a banana cream to go, just ate my half a few minutes ago, did I tell you it's the pie. You can also get a whole pie to go, have done that on the holidays...service good...a really nice place to have in Sarasota...
(4)D J.
This was my 2nd visit to Yoder's (I didn't write a review the 1st time because I wasn't impressed & thought I'd give it another try) BUT I'm still not impressed. All of the food I tried at Yoder's lack's flavor. The chicken is cooked well but could use some seasoning (& it wasn't as crispy as others have claimed). The slices of white bread they bring out while you wait on your food is delicious but it would be better if it was warm. The onion rings were the best thing I've eaten there. The corn was blah & the orka was cold & tasted as if it was 2days old (not fresh at all). The potato pancakes were bland & dry. I just don't think it's worth the wait. After going to Yoder's twice I'm still trying to figure out why the line is always out the door. However, their german chocolate whoopie pie is great! The red velvet not so much & the chocolate cake we had was one of the worst I've ever tasted (the texture & flavor was cardboard-like). Service was great, our waitress was very pleasant! I really wanted to love Yoder's but my expectations have not been met. I want to go back to give them one more try but I'd hate to be disappointed again (it maybe a waste of my time & money).
(2)Ansen S.
You have to eat a half chicken and pie if you go!! Love this place and bought the mug!
(5)Mike A.
Food is great no matter when you go and huge serving sizes. May take a few minutes to get in but once you set down you are taken good care of and the food is so good. Btw the pies are so ridiculous good.
(5)Ayla Z.
Yoder's is one of those places where you you want to eat a slice of pie before you order (my favorite is the peanut butter pie, but there are so many to choose from!) Everything is homey and heartwarming. Perfect for bringing the whole family when they're hungry. Portions are huge and prices are low, and they sell whole pies to go!
(4)Ed L.
Excellent bbq chicken on Thursday. PIE is amazing. Breads are really good. Enjoyed again & again. Mac side really nice and rich.
(5)Richard R.
I'm not sure if there is a statute of limitations on writing a review, but let me say it's been about 2 years since we've visited this restaurant. We have family in Tampa and decided to do a day trip to Sarasota to try a different beach (other than Clearwater) and travel to two restaurants featured on Man vs. Food - Yoder's and The Old Salty Dog. We have visited many of the restaurants Adam Richman has recommended, but only about half are worth the trip, which is better than my record with Guy Fieri's recommendations. Surprisingly, of all the Travel/Food Channel Hosts who've featured restaurants on their shows... Andrew Zimmern of Bizzare Foods has been the most reliable when it comes to our tastes. The flavor of Yoder's fried chicken was average at best, certainly not something to drive out of your way to eat. The sides were pretty bland, and the peanut butter cream pie was nothing special... which was a real disappointment considering how mouth watering it seemed when watching the show. youtube.com/watch?v=2seV… Bottom line ---- Don't believe the hype!!!
(2)Mike C.
over salty eerything
(2)Kristina C.
Had the fried chicken, 2 piece white meat. Super dry, hard to swallow. Way too much food. I will go back to try pie, didn't have any room for it.
(1)Travellady T.
What can I say, a lot. The food is great! I have had the chicken, the beef, a couple of the pies, and never have I been disappointed. Ever. The staff is quick and friendly. It can get crowed, so be prepared. Stop by the market when you leave, you will be glad you did.
(4)Anonymous A.
Always delicious! I come here frequently. Lee is a very good waitress who is always friendly. The line is definitely worth the wait
(5)Harvey D.
I only went into the deli and purchased some yummy sweets so this is the only part of Yoder's that I can comment on. The deli was stocked with a lot of delicious desserts and it was hard to pick which ones I wanted to walk away with. I ended up with the buckeyes, pecan pie bars, chocolate whoopie pies and the oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut butter sugarless cookies. I have tried everything so far except the cookies and they have all been great.
(4)L. W.
Wow! Best fried chicken I've ever had. Really ripe tomato slices and amazing fried okra as my sides. There was a long line but it moved quickly....totally worth a wait though. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)Meagan S.
I've never had anything but good service here! They're food is always amazing. I made it a point to visit every time I'm in town. I also love their little gift shop and market next door.
(5)Jessica W.
So delicious and efficient. Would definitely recommend fried chicken (obvi), chicken and dumplings, and mac and cheese. Great service!
(5)Carey F.
I was really looking forward to eating here, but it really wasn't as good as I expected. It started when we arrived at the restaurant and had to line up for seating. The queue started outside and snaked back and forth once we were inside. It was extremely unpleasant, as there were lots of kids who were crying and fidgety and it just felt like a line at an amusement park. By the end of our experience, we felt like we'd been moved in, fed, and moved out as quickly as possible. I ordered the fried chicken, which was perfectly prepared and accompanied by large portion of mashed potatoes. Unfortunately the potatoes were drowned in flavorless white gravy. My husband and mother ordered roast beef and turkey respectively. They were each served a plate with a PILE of pulled meat, possibly a pound or more on each plate, with little to no seasoning and overcooked veggies on the side. It was extremely unappetizing and although my fried chicken was very good, the other two dishes looked and tasted pretty awful. We each got pie to go, which were good but didn't blow my mind! Overall, I enjoy an old-fashioned home-cooked meal more than anyone I know but I have to say this restaurant is definitely over-rated. On a more positive note, the fruit and vegetable market is definitely worth visiting. There is a broad selection, including items that are hard to find at most groceries, such as white sweet potatoes.
(3)Deb C.
Fried chicken - very good but could've be a bit saltier. Potato cakes - really more of a doughy oniony pancake that kinda tasted like a hush puppy but without the crunch. They were bleh. Amish noodles - really needed both salt and pepper and even then they were not great. Baked apples - really good! Homemade bread - good! Apple butter - very good! Mashed potatoes - very good but chicken gravy was not good at all. Gravy was bland and very gelatinous. Service - Excellent. Atmosphere - very nice for this type of establishment. Prices - a bit high for this type of food. I got pie slices to go, so we'll see if they, at least, live up to all the hype.
(2)Tom L.
My friend and I ordered from the walk-up window. I had banana cream pie, she had key lime pie. Banana cream was just ok... no bananas in the cream filling? Really mediocre. My friend said the key lime pie was very good. I tasted it, and thought it really tart. But, I guess that's how it's supposed to be? Coffee was TERRIBLE!!! Like water. And if you order decaf, make sure they bring you decaf. They brought me caffeinated, and I'm lucky I caught that mistake! And plan on waiting 15 minutes for your pie at the walk-up window.
(3)Mikee N.
Cooking that is so good that you will think your grandmother is in the kitchen. Many flavors of pies too numerous to mention. Careful, one slice is a quarter of a pie. During the winter months the place is in full swing with tourists and a line trickles out the door. Well worth waiting in line.
(4)Elijah K.
Ok this place has done a better job this round. Ordered the fried chicken and It was good this time. Tried the spaghetti and it was actually pretty darn good. Ordered the pie of course and there is nothing like it. I'm not big on crust but this pie is delicious. If for only pie, I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)Melinda E.
Awesome food. We arrived at 330 pm on a Saturday and there already was a line out the door. It took an hour to get seated which went by fast. Met lots of people in line. Husband and I had the fried chicken which was not only HUGE, but It was cooked just right. I also got Harvard beets and corn cakes. Home made pies looked fantastic, but we were to full to get any. Take out available and was continually busy too. Still a line when we left. Next to the restaurant there is a little shop with jams, deli meat etc.. They also is a gift shop and a farmers market type shop. Definitely will go back.
(5)Ayesha N.
A place that makes pies from scratch and have staff members that have the humility of angels from above is a great place in my books. I try to go at least once a year to this place and have friends who go on almost a pilgrimage to get a huge fresh pie to go. I recommend you try the fried chicken and save room for their cream pies which are my favorite (banana cream!) and their fruit pies (rhubarb anyone? Uh yes!) Put away your iPhones and just take in the greatness of this family owned place. If you need a recommendation of a pie to take home, the peanut butter pie is their best selling and with good reason!
(5)Bruce M.
I have eaten @ yoders several times, was always pleased . This $60.00 takeout yesterday however was terrible. A whole chix ordered and all bloody, green beans seemed dumped from a can & unseasoned, and mac cheese was soup & bottom of the barrel quality. I did order the banana cream pie it was delicious, this is the only thing that saved a possible one star revue. I will post the outcome once i speak with them, personally....well to finish i just spoke with the mgr and the meal was taken care of which was nice but the replacement food terrible as well and the place after going to the head was like a truck stop, dirty, urine all over & hairy buggers all over the walls. Never again will i go here. Its a bunch of kids that dont care! Dont waist your time.....
(1)Alex P.
The pie is amazing! We manage to get a couple slices of their pie once a week - it's that good. I've been here for breakfast as well and all of the menu offerings are spectacular and fresh tasting. Whenever we go for pie (around dinner time) there is a long wait to get inside, which must mean the dinner offerings are good as well. Yoder's is definitely a local gem.
(5)Kelleigh M.
I love to stop at Yoder's when in the Sarasota area. Over the years they have expanded and now offer a produce stand and a market which features deli meats and cheeses. But the main reason I love stopping here is the peanut butter cream pie-oh my! Now mind you, it's not a dense pie, but instead almost pudding like with crunchy peanuts and creamy peanut butter. I believe it's their number 1 seller and if you try a slice you'll see why.
(4)Melissa Q.
The food was fresh, nice and hot, and with VERY generous portions. I can't even begin to tell you how good their pies are...heaven on earth! Peanut butter pie is out of this world! Amish food is amazing and you will not be going home hungry!!! :)
(5)James S.
A true to God gem. Super polite service, the best fried chicken I've ever eaten, and a peanut butter cream pie that was heavenly. Well worth the short wait to enter as we arrived at exactly lunch time. I legitimately can never eat friend chicken again knowing it will never match Yoder's. A+++++
(5)JoAnn M.
Fast, on time, careful and hard working guys. Reasonably priced and we had a few laughs too. I would use them again. Thanks guys.
(5)Roy P.
My rating is based strictly on their pies. Hands down, the best pies I've ever tasted. My personal favorite is their peanut butter pie, which is brought out on a little plate that can barely contain the enormity of the slice. The peanut butter isn't overwhelming, but you can definitely taste it - very smooth and creamy, and it's topped with more peanut butter crumbles which give it just enough texture. Their food on the other hand - not a fan, especially considering the insane wait. Run of the mill home made stuff that you can get just about anywhere. If you're just wanting a pie, head to the side walk up window and order there. Beats standing in line for over an hour.
(5)Robin O.
We love Yoders. The Amish who run it are always very cheerful and friendly and service is fast and efficient. Their food is incredible! The homemade bread lighter than air, their apple butter, cinnamony delicious, excellent fried chicken, meatloaf made with their airy bread, country fried steak... If you like good old comfort food, then this is your place. And the PIES!!! We love all of them, but my daughter loved the Peanut Butter Pie the most. The portions are huge and our left overs/take home bag usually weighs 10lbs!
(5)Tiffany D.
I dream about their peanut butter cream pie. I really pity those with nut allergies because this pie is the shizznit. I gladly skipped dinner for a hunk of this pie. My favorite part is the peanut butter crumble. It's like the filling in the Reese's pb cups but in powdered form. If I could, I would snort it. The pie keeps pretty well. It was in my presence for three days. I started to experiment with it and ate it with strawberries. OMFG . Do it. You will jizz your pants. Just grab a strawberry and scoop up some cream and pb blow and enjoy. Let the euphoria of Yoder's take over.
(5)Marc S.
Amish food. I only come here for the pies! The pies are amazing, they have so many different types and they utterly luxurious heaping mounds of creamy pie. They have two types of pies: creamy and regular, or something like that. I've eaten several different types can't remember them all. Some kind of peanut butter or banana cream pie, the rhubarb pie is awesome. Get any of the pies in any flavors you won't be disappointed. These Amish do not play around with pie. Soo many flavors, all manner of fruits especially in the Dutch Pennyslvania vein, lots of berries and stuff. They do have a Key Lime Pie for our Florida sensibilities that i can imagine is quite scrumptious. It's a fabulous place and Sarasota should be proud to have it. These pies are the best thing the Dutch ever produced.
(5)Julia F.
The pie was so amazing I was blown away! Don't leave yodels without ordering a piece of one of their pies. Heck! Order a whole pie!!
(5)Tee W.
The desserts were delicious! The sweet cinnamon rolls were simply delicious! I've never tasted icing like that. The pumpkin pie with whipped cream was also amazing. As far as the other food goes, in my opinion it was simply OK. My wife loved it though. We went for breakfast one day and dinner another night. We were immediately seated for breakfast (4 people), but had to wait about an hour for dinner (7 people).The service both times was great. For breakfast my wife ordered pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with an orange juice. I ordered a sausage scrammble. The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious. I didn't care for my scramble though, as I didn't like the taste of the sausage, and the other ingredients were simply bland. When we returned for dinner, we finally got to try the fried chicken they are famous for. Personally I didn't get all the hype. While the chicken was very tender, I thought it too was bland, as were the side dishes we ordered (mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, mac and cheese). The fried okra and hot apples were good though. I wish I knew they had brown gravy though, as I would have ordered that. My wife can't wait to go back, were as I would rather go somewhere else. When we do go back, I think I'll just be ordering desserts for my main dish.
(3)Benjamin M.
For the first seven years of my life, my family lived way out in rural Kentucky next to a family of Mennonites. I spent countless hours playing with a million Yoder kids. But--here's my confession--there is one part of those seven years that really stands out: THE FOOD! Yes, the Yoders from my childhood made the BEST homemade food I've ever had. Their cinnamon rolls were impossibly delicious. Last Saturday, I made drive down to Yoder's Restaurant to see if its food could measure up with that legendary food of my childhood. And the verdict? ... *ten seconds of a dramatic drum roll* YES!! Yoder's Restaurant is AMAZING!!! I ate breakfast at Yoder's with a group of five friends. All of us LOVED Yoder's and are already talking about when we can return. I ordered the Amish scramble which is a big papa-sized portion of two scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage (or ham or bacon), and spices all perfectly mixed together, smothered with plenty of your choice of cheese (sharp cheddar for me), and served with your choice of bread. Hands down one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. One of my friends ordered the Apple Fritter French Toast. She shared some of it with me, and I was blown away. This is definitely what I'll order if I return for breakfast. Imagine the best apple bread ever made... stuffed with fresh, soft apples... and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with hot syrup. Ah. Man. Amish people know how to do it. Small side note: the strawberry OJ is really good! Try it. The interior is wonderfully decorated with homey things and Amish-y items. It's nothing fancy at all--but, hey, that would be weird and wrong if it WAS a fancy Amish restaurant. Be sure to walk around outside after your meal. There is an awesome mural on the side of the market building and also some life-size cutouts of Amish people that cleverly connect to the mural. It's difficult to explain the awesomeness of Yoder's... so that means you should just go check it out yourself!
(5)Amber M.
The only reason for not giving it a 5 was because their deep fryer was being used on Friday night for the catfish.My fried chicken was pan fried and not very good.Everything else was excellent though including the dessert.They also need a bigger parking lot lol
(4)Jeanna L.
I love this place..I live close and this is where I get my produce, forget about thr grocery store produce. Its like stepping into the early 1900's market. Real good food. Don't miss the meat market next door. Or the pie next door the other way at Yoders restaurant.
(5)Candido R.
Good wholesome food. Reminds me of old fashioned home cooking. A bit pricy for what you get.
(4)Todd A.
This was my second trip. Perhaps eating at the original Mary Yoders in Ohio has influenced my perception, but I was not as impressed this second go round. I ate breakfast and lunch on this trip. The French toast was average but the coffee was smooth. At 8:30 am, the restaurant was empty. At 1:30 for lunch, there was about a fifteen minute wait. The roast beef Manhattan was OK. It was served in less than five minutes of ordering. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant and the gravy was very gelatinous. Unfortunately for the guests, their popularity has forced them to put quantity over quality.
(3)Joanne E.
Shoofly pie, oh my. All the food is good, comfort food, home-cooked style. But really, the shoofly pie, oh my.
(5)Axis S.
It's an institution. Comfort food, values preserved over a century, huge portions for a fair price and definitely where you go if you like pies or cakes for dessert. Families scattered all over the place, food sharing, styrofoam boxes being lugged out and people paying almost $20 for a pie to take home... So we waited in line, got placed in a booth, and ordered the chicken and a few sides. Shoulda saved room for dessert, maybe I'd get to 3 stars then. Maybe I'm too used to spicier foods, or it's been too long since I've been to the Yoders outside Perry, Georgia, where I first encountered Mennonite cooking, and memory has painted a better picture than what was there. Alice Waters' influence has a generation of cooks now able to do simple food incredibly well, and farm-to-table is an excellent culinary movement. I think this place does a brisk trade on memories and being an institution, but tasted critically this Yoder's left me wanting and reaching for condiments. Decent, but not superlative.
(2)Brandon S.
Some good home cooking. Have not had that in awhile, so came and had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and fried okra...mmmmm mmmmm This is an Amish place and the line was out the door from all walks of life. I recommend.
(4)Sage M.
This place is absolutely one of the best places I've ever eaten! Thats saying allot food is my favorite! Don't be thrown off by the line that goes way out the door. There's a reason for it and they move so fast you'll be inside and sat in no time at all! Once we were sat it took longer to look threw their extensive menu than to receive our food! And don't get me started on their pie options! I had the veil Parmesan (my first time with veil, figured I needed to try it once) with a side of spaghetti and garlic bread and the option of 20 other sides! I went with corn cakes! AMAZING! Each table had fresh cream. homemade apple butter and you receive fresh bread when your sat! They have a mint sweet tea that is a must try! I also tried the rest of my family's meals which were just as good! They include a corn chowder that was too die for, fried okra, onion rings, chicken fried steak, chicken strips, and a blue cheese salad (which I don't usually like) it was all perfection! And from order, freshly cooked and on our table in around 10 minutes! We also left with left overs from each meal, the double blueberry pie, key lime pie, and chocolate cream pie (all of which were huge) to go because we were too full to eat one more bite! All of which cost under $50 there was 4 of us with dessert and I had veil!!! I just can't say enough how great this place is! Now if I can only get them to put one up in the country in California where I live!
(5)Helene O.
Excellent fried chicken and amazing pies. The chocolate peanut butter pie is creamy and decadent--a must try. The chicken stuffing (smothered with gravy) is my favorite side and the potatoes and okra are really good too. The complimentary bread is fresh, soft and goes really well with the apple butter on the table. Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota and I stop by every time I'm in town. The food is always fresh and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. $5.50 will get you a tasty jar of apple butter to take home...yum!
(4)Erika T.
After hearing for so long how great this place is, we finally got to try it last weekend. We got there around 2:00 and there was still quite a long line. We waited about 25 mins, which really wasn't that bad. I ordered the Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and mac n cheese. The portions were huge and plenty of food. However, I'm not sure Yoder's knows what a salt shaker is! The chicken HAD ABSOLUTELY NO flavor! Sad to say but Publix has better fried chicken. I don't get the hype! My husband ordered the Pulled Pork and that was pretty good, I wished that I had ordered that instead of the chicken. We ordered some pie to go. I got the Banana Cream Pie and it was about 25% banana cream filling and 75% whipped topping! I want pie, not whipped topping!!! And, I didn't care for the taste of the crust. Sorry but I don't see myself rushing back to go here. I don't see why the hype and long lines to get in this place!
(2)Dwayne H.
Absolutely LOVE coming to Yoder's as this place is the ONLY true Amish cooking available in Sarasota! Yoder's is authentic Amish cooking and unlike the oversteamed and dried out cheap canned foods "Amish Style" buffet place up the street (yes, I have eaten there on more than one occasion and have been let down everytime), I have yet to leave Yoder's feeling underwhelmed of the kitchen's cooking! Service has always been met with a friendly smile and although the place is small, it is kept VERY clean and well organized to fulfill the masses that come through the doors. For those who have never tried Yoder's I will simply state, " SKIP the big fancy buffet wannabe up the street and come home to REAL Amish cuisine that is Yoder's!" There is nothing else comparable in Sarasota and they will forever be the BEST choice for Amish foods for me.
(5)Shawn V.
for a mom and pop place this is definitely the best that it gets the pies are awesome the fried chicken is great and oh my the beef noodles rock...
(5)Michael C.
Great home cooking. Huge portions. I was hungry and ordered a small barbecue pork and it was perfect. A large could feed two and have some left to take home. While the food is good, the real story here are the pies. Home made, piled high, and a slice is about a quarter of the pie tin. All that we tried--fruit or cream based--are delicious.
(4)Mike S.
A long-time family favorite, and still considered best of the bunch of Amish/Mennonite/Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in Sarasota. Sarasota is an odd amalgam of settlers.....lots of artsy/richy snowbirds, regular folks to serve their needs and a colony of transplanted farmers from the Mennonite belt. Yoder's generally caters to the second 2 groups, who have large appetites, plain tastes and tolerance of massive doses of fats, carbs & calories. Come and eat like a celery farmer, and notice some of the locals riding 3-wheel bikes and wearing "plain clothes" looking like extras from the set of "Witness." Yoders offers comfort food at all meals and all forms, from hearty country breakfasts/biscuits, to their renowned fried chicken, overcooked veggies, wonderful on-site bread, ample butter for everything, finishing with their popular cream and fruit pies. Service is competent & friendly and you may have to wait for a table at noon and dinner rush hours. Forget getting any beer, wine, liquor or other devil's beverages, but caloric binging is permitted and facilitated.
(4)Patsy T.
Love the Friday all you can eat fish lunches!!
(5)John H.
Friends told us about Yoder's from Man v. Food episode on the Travel Channel. Also, watch Man v. Food and decided to try on out visit to Lido Key. Very nice place, went a lunch time midweek, no wait. Had the Fried Chicken and Turkey Manhattan (open face sandwich), both meals were very good. Also, tried the apple butter on the homemade bread, fantastic! Had the pineapple cream & raspberry pie samplers, awesome!
(4)Daren Y.
I saw this on Man vs Food and decided that I had to visit. Especially since I've heard how good the food is from locals of Sarasota. This cute little restaurant/shop complex is out in the residential area in the outer limits of Sarasota. Parking can be crowded but we were able to pull right in around 2pm on a weekday. From the outside, it looks like a quaint mom and pop place. Painted wooden structure with a fenced in area for people to hang out, a building with fresh produce and another building that is the restaurant proper. The three of us were greeted and seated right away. The dining area is kind of small, but there is plenty of room between tables. Country decor obviously. It was surprisingly quiet even though almost all the tables were occupied. Very pleasant waitress. We ordered and shortly thereafter we were given a stack of Amish bread, upon which we squirted their apple jelly (or whatever you call that stuff... tasted like liquid apple pie!) and it was delicious. The food came after about 10 minutes, which was pretty quick considering the nearly full house. I ordered the shepherd's pie with Amish potato cakes and corn muffins. My fiancee got their fried chicken (I told her to order half a chicken so I could eat some too!) with potato pancakes and broccoli. My friend got a quarter chicken, potato pancakes, and something else. I thought the shepherd's pie was ok, nothing really stood out to me. There was very little seasoning but a lot of saltiness. I wasn't particularly impressed. However, the potato cakes were phenomenal, as were the corn muffins (one of the softest and moistest I've ever had!). The fried chicken is a must have. If you have never eaten here, you MUST get the fried chicken. Whenever I order fried chicken, I usually peel off about 75% of the breading. However, I definitely ate the entire thing this time. It was that good. I'm not exactly a huge fried chicken person either, but this was absolutely delicious. Truly one of the best examples of fried chicken I've ever had. And of course, dessert. We ordered a Florida Key Lime pie and the peanut butter cream pie (the one they showed on MvF). I honestly couldn't decide which I liked better. Normally I'm more of a citrus type of guy, digging the lemon meringue and key lime, but I really couldn't decide on this. Both were fantastic. The service was very good. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She kept my water filled. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here (as did my fiancee) and we would come back again. Review is for a solid 4 stars.
(4)Jack B.
We had heard about Yoder's Amish restaurant for years but had never been. Today was the day. Great home style cooking. Everything e ordered was well prepared, tasty and hot when served. The best fried okra I have ever eaten. Pies to die for, any of them. Staff was friendly, pleasant and helpful. She even bragged on her bosses as to what fine people they were and this came unsolicited. My wife suggested we just stay for breakfast. Give them a try you will leave full and happy with enough leftovers for another meal.
(5)Taryn C.
Delicious, home cooked meals. The best cinnamon buns you will ever have. The best pies you will ever have. All of the staff are friendly and have never had bad service. The wait times can be long at times, but that's because this place is so freaking good.
(5)Tiffany H.
This is probably the best place in Sarasota, and possibly all of Tampa Bay for a pie/cake-induced diabetic coma. My favorite pie? It's a toss-up between peanut butter and butterscotch, but then again I haven't had all of them. Yet. I also dig the lemon whoopie pies from the little deli/bakery. I've also picked up yogurt covered graham crackers, dried pineapple, and some other stuff that should only ever be a "once in a while" snack lest I triple in size. Now, about the restaurant. I've had dinner here a few times. I always try to go earlier (like 4pm) rather than later because the line can get long and I'm of the impatient variety. They also won't seat you if your entire party isn't there (though they did bend this rule for me when they were slow because I was waiting for friends with a baby). The employees are very friendly, that's a definite. I've ended up with fried chicken more often than not (and I'm not really big on it normally) and often have to pack some of it up to take it home. The downside is many of their sides (like the green beans) are canned. I know it's to keep costs down, but it would be awesome if fresh veggies were an option. So once you get through dinner, you can't leave without pie. If you had to pick between pie and actually eating, you should still pick pie. A slice of pie is enough for two people. One slice for me is good for three days. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I live an hour away! On the one hand I would get through their pie menu faster, and on the other I would need to buy larger pants.
(4)Never Shovel Sno W.
leaving this review after my second visit ... The first time we stopped going north about 2 years ago - it was okay so we thought this time going south on the way home we would stop again ... Memorial Day 11:00 A,M, - waited about 20 - 25 minutes for a table ... We were asked if we were eating breakfast or lunch - lunch for us ... Seated, drink order taken, food order taken with an explanation that it may take a few extra minutes because the kitchen is switching from breakfast to lunch ... okay no problem - right ... Nothing difficult ordered ... well 40 minutes later, with tables all around us seated after us and served lunch items - i wasn't happy ... The food was okay ... chili was hot and tasty, turkey bacon melt sandwich good, chicken salad just so so we finished our meal and when paying the check I let the manager know of my dissatisfaction with the wait on the food ... to me she seemed quite aloof with an I don't give a sh...t attitude ... I am not familiar with the Sarasota area this place is located in - maybe it's the only game in town as the line is ridiculous ... I'll tell ya - I wouldn't wait an hour for this ... The do have a decent produce market next to the restaurant with fresh fruit and veges - decent prices ... not sure if I would return
(2)Kelli L.
Great home cookin' at very reasonable prices! I always get the country fried steak with mashed potatoes & mac-n-cheese and it is just perfect! Their homemade bread and apple butter they bring out to every table is delicious too! My husband really likes their fried chicken and he loves the Amish noodles. We have tried several different pies, but my favorite is the Strawberry. Super fresh and both sweet and tart all in one. My husband likes to go on Wednesday's to get their lemon meringue. You can get a great, large meal for pretty cheap but be prepared to wait in line. And make sure you get there before 8pm.
(5)nancy h.
I have heard about Yoder's for years,especially the pies. We finally made a trip for some dessert pie. They look beautiful I the case, we had trouble deciding whic to try. I asked about the favorites, best sellers,asked if the blueberry pie had lots berries or was more gel. We were told it was way more berries, pure deliciousness. We ordered a blueberry pie a la mode and a key lime pie. They arrived looking picture perfect. Took a bite, then another and looked at each other- what kook aide was everyone drinking. The pie has no flavor! The blueberry pie had one blueberry! Our server came and looked at it,agreed and brought us a chocolate peanut butter slice, one of the most popular. Hmmm, we took a bite, again, thought it was flavorless, but appealing to look at. We can check Yoder's off of our list. It was awful.
(1)JP H.
This place is simply badass! Lots of parking but we warned this place gets packed fast and stays packed through out the day. Amazing Amish Desserts! Need I say more?!? Well I will! Banana Cream Pie and Vanilla Custard ftw! We will be coming back here whenever we are in Sarasota. We are from NYC and own a place in Orlando.
(5)Molly K.
Absolutely delicious. We came here for lunch one day (best chicken tenders I've ever eaten) and breakfast later in the week. For breakfast, my boyfriend got the biscuits and gravy. Just one biscuit was HUGE and the gravy was to die for. The bacon tomato avocado skillet was delicious. Orange juice was fresh and scrumptious. We would recommend this place to everyone!!
(5)JEREMY G.
If you like home made food loaded with butter then this is your nirvana. The quality was exceptional but the calorie and grease content was high as well. Along with this there is limited seating and parking. If you can Handle all of this though you will be able to enjoy some great food.
(4)Lynn P.
This place is great. Have the chicken taste great and the breast is about the size of your head. I split a half a chic with my doughter. It was more then enough for us
(5)Jay F.
I am going to make this short....I have been here a lot over the years. no matter when I have gone there has always been a line out the door. Don't be discouraged when you see the like it moves quickly. It is most defiantly worth the wait. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for. Also the roast beef manhattan and the pulled pork BBQ all to die for. Also the fresh made pies just melt in your mouth
(5)Jordan T.
Are you kidding me?! That is the best peanut butter cream pie ive ever had. The banana cream was good but it wasnt sweet enough, so it wasnt what I was expecting. I was thinking banana cream flavor like pudding but it was decent. The key lime was okay but nothing special. If you go here I'd definitely order the peanut butter cream or the chocolate peanut butter. The peanut butter cream made me overlook the others.
(4)Ben M.
I'm giving Yoder's a good review recommendation, because it is better overall than the many area rotten restaurants, and I believe a person could get better items on the menu than we were stuck with. The dining experience is really a mixed bag of good and bad. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. The severs are attentive and pleasant and not too annoying. The air in there is cool and fresh. The place was very busy when we went there, it has a good following, and lots of fat people eat there (and fat servers serve the food). There is a problem with the seating. Like most places with booths, the seats are too low and the table too high. The non-booth tables are low and not so far higher than the seats, but the seats are uncomfortably low, and uncushioned flat wood. It's like spending an hour eating while sitting on a flat board with a back on it. They also cram four chairs around a table the size for two patrons, so the table leg's base is in your way. The icewater is regular municipal tap water and has a bad taste. They served real butter, but with a cottony tasteless bread. The apple butter on the table was so sweet it was inedible for someone not accustomed to massive amounts of sugar. The entree servings are big, but big is not necessarily a good value. My fellow diner got the smoked chicken dinner, which was burned and dry. A dry bland piece of garlic toast came with it, which was only useful as a sponge to soak up some spilled water. Her baked potato seemed okay, but the side of apples was mushy bad-tasting food-service glop. I ordered the liver and onions dinner. The liver was burned, and thus the liver was blackened shoe-sole leather. The caramelized onions were partly raw, and the bacon was obviously not fresh-cooked. The fat on it was hard, cold and stiff, as if it had been pre-cooked quite a long time ago. The coleslaw was fresh and tasty and there was a lot of it. But, the blob of stuffing was just a gummy tasteless breadball with a covering of cheap salty food-service gravy-goo. Having not eaten everything, we ordered desserts. My plain cheesecake was a good size, fresh and rich. Her peanut butter pie was, however, a shapeless, loose, wet sloppy mess. It tasted good enough, but the texture was kind of yecchy. When it's busy, the chatter and the people bumping into you as they navigate through the aisles can start to really be annoying, so shovel your food in quickly. We didn't reject our overcooked food, because a cook that burns food is hopeless. I think there are items on the menu that they probably can do right, like sandwiches, but it seems a lot of what they have is low-grade food service pre-frozen stuff on a par with a "tv dinner".
(3)Cassie M.
What a cute little place! The fried chicken is to die for. Great place if you want some home cooking! The pies all look amazing...I didn't have any but my friend had the chocolate peanut butter and said it was delicious...the pieces are huge. Definitely shareable...good luck agreeing on the same one though!
(4)Ericka M.
Can I rate this over 5? Seriously though, I cannot rate this place high enough. We made the trip from Altamonte Springs to Sarasota because I had not heard enough good things about Yoder's. I was really hope it wouldn't be in vain. Oh man. It. Was. Amazing. Omg. I just can't. There was 3 of us and we just split 3 meals and went to town. Best idea i've had in a long time. Amazing. The inside is very crowded for the crowds they get but I didn't even care. I would climb stairs for this place if they asked me to. The portions are HUGE, the mashed potatoes are so creamy.... It was just a really great time. I did get pie (raspberry cream) and I couldn't believe how good it was. Man. I wanted to get some deli items/produce but that just means I can take another trip :D
(5)Edward D.
In my experience, the TV food restaurants rarely live up to the hype. Yoders met my expectations half way. I had the famous fried chicken. While cooked to perfection, the pieces were too large for my liking and the coating was bland with no kick at all. I had the coconut cream pie which was excellent. It's worth a stop, but I would try something else on the menu for my main course.
(3)Rob W.
The food is good, home made fare. All the menu items to me are just entrees for the main course, pie. They just make fabulous homemade pies here and they are always the focal point of the meal. The Amish vibe is very cool as well.
(3)Adrian M.
OK, this would be more start if you know Amish food or Midwestern home cooked food and expect it. It is bland, bland. So the 2 stars reflect our enjoyment of the food. If you like that style, you might rate it higher. We went on the strength of people raving about the pie and fried chicken. A very popular place, with a 20 min wait at 3pm on a Friday afternoon. It has a lot of character, a lot of the worker were Amish and it is in an Amish community so interesting and fun to visit. Te fried chicken was very moist, and huge, but bland. My daughter got meatloaf, which was bland with bland gravy. Sides were very plain. Standout was the corn muffins which were excellent. And of course we had the pie. The egg custard pie was right on the mark p. the famous chocolate peanut butter pie was outstanding. The baked raspberry pie was meh, more like raspberry jam than raspberry pie. THe crust was not very good.
(2)Jason L.
The best pie in the world. One of my earliest memories was eating Yoder's peanut butter pie as a kid, and I got the chance to go back there this past year (29 years later[!]) and I'm happy to report that it was just as good as I remembered it. My brother got the butterscotch and it was amazing as well.
(5)George R.
We love Yoder's!! The fried chicken, the apple butter, the brown gravy, and OF COURSE the desserts! We live in Orlando and actually contemplated driving the 2 hours south just for lunch...it's THAT good. Staff is friendly and service is always fast. Will definitely return over and over!!
(5)Larry H.
Fruit pies have too much gelatin and not enough fruit. Not enough breading on fried chicken.
(3)Ryan S.
This place is pretty cool. Its deff old school and makes you feel like your in grandmas kitchen. My only dissapointment was they were out of the dutch apple crumb pie id been looking forward to. The rest of my party got fried chicken and all said it was amazing. I got country fried steak and while good wasnt the best ive ever had. The potato pancakes and mash and gravy were very good. Tried the pumpkin cream pie and the peanut butter pie both were good. Got cinnamon sweet rolls to go and they were very tasty beware they are huge and loaded with icing lol.
(4)Dawn A.
4 stars for Holy cow....if you are looking for a home cooked meal like no other...look no further. I've first heard of Yoder's through my parents who travel to Sarasota often and was glad I finally got to go. First off I read through Yelp reviews that the baked chicken was where it's at, so I had to order it! It was a quarter chicken with 2 sides, I went with fries and warm fried apples. Before your meal is served, they give you just about a half loaf of bread for an appetizer with butter, like your meal wasn't enough. But since I was warned beforehand I knew the meal would be large. And large and in charge it was! It could easily be 3 meals for me! My husband ordered the pork bbq with fries and mac and cheese. Hello comfort food! All in all, it was a great experience, we did have a little bit of a wait during the lunch hour, but the waitress was quick to refill our drinks and asked how we were. And if the main meal wasn't enough they also have a large section of pies...famous for them. So we had to get the peanut butter pie to-go. Also, if you have time go to their Market area, which is right next door to the restaurant. So many good looking fruits/veggie items, as well as other nuts, honey and sweets. My only critique was the bathrooms were a bit small and i felt like the tables throughout the restaurant were a bit crammed in space.
(4)Brian C.
Starting with fresh made bread and apple butter, it all went to (insert euphemism for declining quality) after that. Meatloaf was gelatinous and perfectly square on the edges, like it came out of a can. It tasted like it came out of a can. The smoked barbecue chicken was dry. The fried chicken was dry. The side dishes deserve a great big "meh" and every fat person in Sarasota bumped into our table, how appetizing.
(2)Laurel A.
Second trip here and OMG Amazing!! If you've never been here, I highly recommend it. Went Saturday June 13, 2015, what a great start to my vacation. The cinnamon roll is amazing. Stopped in their deli and market this trip and the produce is awesome and the prices are even better, 6 ears of corn for $1.98, Huge seedless watermelons for $2.99. My daughter and her friend picked up produce to and everything was very good. Today was the last day of my vacation and my daughter is in love with their hummus and I've been wanting to try the Amish noodles, picked up a container for $1.88 to try at home for dinner and was not disappointed. Perfect portion and amazing price. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Sarah O.
Pro's: food, fried chicken is amazing, pies, peanut butter is the best, service (mostly Amish women) incredibly polite and patient, fast service, with any wait, line moves fast, all you can eat apple butter. Con's: none
(5)Marie L.
This place is popular for good reason. Amazing food and fantastic desserts at a great price! I've been to Yoder's three times so far, and always make a trip over whenever I'm visiting family in Florida. The parking can be tight and you'll most likely have to wait for a table, but it's all worth it! On my most recent trip, my boyfriend and I shared their famous fried chicken with your choice of two sides. Cooked to perfection every time, crispy and tender. And of course it's huge! We ate our fill and still had plenty to bring home for sandwiches later. I always ask for extra chicken gravy too because it's soooo delicious. The first time I ordered the side of mashed potatoes with gravy, I didn't understand why the gravy was cream colored, but I thought it tasted insanely good. It turns out their gravy is homemade with real chicken stock. Have you ever eaten REAL gravy before? It puts any powdered or jarred "gravy" garbage to shame. I've eaten the meatloaf at Yoder's before too and it was just as delicious as the fried chicken. That side of mashed potatoes came with beef gravy, which again was phenomenal. I love that they serve you fresh food everyday with a great selection of sides to choose from. Of course mashed potatoes are pure comfort food, but they also offer awesome sides like fried okra, chicken stuffing, fresh vegetables and much more. I haven't even gotten to dessert yet, but I only have one word for you all... PIE! Yoder's makes the best pies on this side of the country (in my humble opinion) and there are so many delicious favors to choose from! I always get the same one, their chocolate peanut butter cream pie. I dream about this pie at home in NY. It's a perfect flavor combination of Reese's and fluffy cream pie all in one! I love the chopped peanuts added in for crunch and the incredible homemade whipped cream they pile on top. If you didn't save room for a full piece, you can get a "pie taster" for $2.50. It's a small, sweet bite to finish off an awesome meal. You can always buy an 8 or 10 inch pie to bring home, as well. If I have Florida family coming up to visit, I always beg them to bring me up a Yoder's pie to savor for as long as I possibly can... Usually about 3-5 days. It's that damn good!! Yoder's is one of those restaurants that actually lives up to the hype. My family first heard about it on Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Food, so I'm forever thankful to them for showing me the light. It's a restaurant you MUST MUST MUST enjoy at least once in your life. Otherwise, you truly don't know about the incredible food and pies you're missing out on. Stop by Yoder's the next time you're in/near Sarasota and I promise you'll be back for more.
(5)Mick M.
All time favorite for several years. Pick anything on menu and it will be fantastic. Traditional good home cooking and outstanding pies, always served with a smile. You can never wrong here. Come early on holidays, the line is out the door.
(5)Diana A.
I drive from tampa to buy my mom these pies! So that in itself should say it all. The staff is beyond friendly and very clean location. I like to buy the whole pie and when I get there there usually sold out of most, so last time I was lucky and got the strawberry pie which is universally my moms favorite, and this one has been her favorite by far. I got a pie that was a triple berry (don't quote me on the name of the pie lol). I honestly picked it because it was literally the last whole pie they had to sell. When I tasted it I was in love . I am not a sweets person but I loved both pies. This place is worth the drive.
(5)Kelly L.
Want to take a walk back in time? Come on down to Yoders! We didn't eat at the restaurant but we did check out the market. They had everything! I ended up with artichokes, pink lady apples, hand churn butter, local eggs, Amish cheese and rambutan! I love those spiky Asian fruits and they are hard to find. They also had fresh breads, jams, local honey, and plenty of other goodies. It was my mom's birthday so we decided to grab a pie or cake from their bakery to take home. We went with the oatmeal cake which doesn't sound that interesting, right? WRONG. It had a crispy coconut-y caramel topping that was TO DIE FOR. It was one of those moments that was almost spiritual. I can't wait to come back and try the restaurant.
(4)Robert N.
The Food Network got me again. I came in for the "Legendary" fried chicken. The chicken was the very opposite of impressive. Underseasoned. The skin was not crisp: no snap as we are all hunting for when we seek to indulge in fried chicken. The sides were very 1970's American diner : uninspired and devoid of seasoning. The gravy really struck me like it was from a giant tin can, if it was actually made on site shame on them. Great gravy can be found at Made and Sun Garden Cafe. Great fried chicken at Shore Diner, hell even Publix offers better fried chicken than yoder's. Don't believe for a minute that large portions make a meal worth eating.....dine elsewhere if you like food.
(1)Tiffany E.
We came here with friends and were blown away. First of all these are the biggest portions i have ever seen. I ordered roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing. I ate 1/4 of it. Also save room for dessert because the pnut butter pie is amazing. The portions are huge prices are cheap and food is fresh!
(5)Thomas A.
I'm not going to wax poetic on a place with 400 almost-exclusively positive reviews already...you get the drift, this place rocks. I was not disappointed in a single aspect of the meal (food, service, etc). Just fantastic. Chicken, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, onion rings, pie...all made well and with real ingredients. Biggest tip - Be prepared to wait outside in the heat for 20-45 minutes depending on the crowd level.
(5)Nienna N.
Yoder's is always fabulous. Real traditional food like they made on the farm. Not haute cuisine just natural flavor
(5)Duane D.
We came out of our way to try Yoders, which many of our friends rave about. Yoders is a smallish Amish restaurant a few miles off the Interstate. With a few Amish-themed exceptions, the menu is much like a Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel restaurant. It can be crowded. On a Friday night we waited about 30 minutes for a table for 2. I found the food to be good and the prices to be low. That being said, I don't understand all of the hype that has some people driving 50 miles to get here. It is good, and I will eat here again when I am in the area if the wait is reasonable--but it's not quite up to all the over-the-top hype.
(4)Elena W.
Starting with the fresh made bread, it was a good sign of things to come. The food was just that! Croissant tuna sammy, croissant chicken salad sammy, & country fried steak. You heard that right, sammies on croissants. Not too buttery, not too flaky... Perfect for holding all that yummy goodness. Did I mention the French fries? For the love of all things holy, they were amazing!! Perfectly crisp, not soggy, and not too well done. Add some salt, and your taste buds will sing a heavenly song (when in Amish country, it's only fitting). Onto dessert, Florida key lime pie, best chocolate cake, and choc/peanut butter pie... Where to start? Key lime pie had a creamy yet tart taste; the kind that hits you at the end (like a fine wine). The chocolate cake, oh my oh my!!! The frosting alone is worthy of high praise. The cake was good, but the frosting was so delicious that you couldn't compare it to the cake. Now for the choc/PB pie... Layer after layer with chunks of peanuts, smooth chocolate goodness, and a perfect crust. What's not to love?? All in all, any negative comments you read about the food, chalk them up to yuppies that are used to $30 dinners. As for the service, yes it can be a bit slow, but their friendliness & food make up for it. They stay pretty busy, so don't go if you have less than an hour to grab lunch and get back to the office. I'd recommend takeout and get on with your life. All in all, we left happy, stuffed & with doggie bags. Man vs Food was spot on. Not to mention, I'm a pretty picky person.
(5)Robbie C.
Yoders is a tourist attraction in the middle of an Amish community in Sarasota. As such, there is always a line out the door so be prepared to wait. The ambiance is diner like and the food is comfort type foods. I ordered the salmon which goes against what they are known for. It is a huge piece of salmon and came with a plastic cup of dill sauce. Not the best I have had and am always turned off by plastic but wasn't the worst either. The dish comes with two sides and I enjoyed the Mac n cheese. Asked our server if green beans were fresh or canned and was really surprised when she told me they are canned. Yuck! Especially when they have a real nice farmers market with fresh produce next door. So instead a got a salad which was pretty plain. When several in my party asked for bread before their meal, they were served plain white bread? We waited in line for this? So we did get a peanut butter pie to share between 4 of us, plenty to share and this was definitely the star of the show. They do have an outdoor takeout so would opt for this and get the pie. The farmers market is definitely worth a visit.
(3)Abigail T.
I love them. Great American food. Had the pot roast today. Awesome. Brought home woopie pies delicious. They give large portions. Enjoy
(5)Agi M.
The pie alone will change your life. Pick your favorite flavor (apple is mine!) and enjoy your slice of heaven! Fried chicken is also divine, don't try being healthy...get the dark meat and indulge.
(5)Dianna B.
Since I had a wild hair, we decided to make the 90 minute trek down to Sarasota and try out Yoder's for a change. I've lived here nearly all my life and I've never, ever been to Yoder's. So what the heck, Road Trip it is! The drive down was uneventful, and finding it was pretty easy. Parking however, was... not so easy. The parking lot out front makes it appear as if the place only has 7 spots, it's a quirky little jag that lets you see the lot behind. We were fortunate that there were several spots behind that were open. As we'd been warned, there was a line that nearly wrapped all the way around the building, but that's OK, the weather was comfortable, the people infront and in back of us were pleasant and we made the best of it. All in all we were in line for about 45 minutes before we finally made it through the doors and into the inside portion of the restauraunt. After 5 more minutes, we were finally taken to our seat. Our waitress was friendly and very busy, her section seemed to consist of about 7 tables and she was able to handle each with aplomb and a smile. The menu contains down home favorites like Meat Loaf, Fried chicken and chicken liver, which is apparently quite popular among the locals. While we perused the menu, we were delivered a plate of bread, home made - and served with butter and fresh apple butter which was quite tasty. We placed our order: We'd decided each of us would order something different, so we could share. I opted for the 1/2 chicken all white meat with Mashed Potatoes and Macaroni & Cheese. My husband ordered the Meat Loaf with fried okra and corn cakes. The food came out quick, and it was easy to see that the chicken is made in huge batches. Some is very tender and juicy, other bits are dry. What can you do? The mashed potatoes were not from scratch, and the Macaroni & cheese, it was good, but institutional? The meat loaf was tasty, the okra, My husband said it was delicious, and the corncakes... odd but good. We ordered dessert too, I got their Famous Peanut butter Pie - it was good, but the dried Peanut butter on top confused me. It was unlike any peanut butter pie I'd had before. Too sweet and not rich enough for me. The husband had the Key Lime (Traditional) and loved it. We had unsweet tea and Mint tea (OMG! LOVE!) Over all, it's a solid place, Not bad in the least. I felt the chicken could have used a bit of salt in their mix, but that's about it. I'd come back. I loved the homey decor.
(3)Jessica C.
This place is always on my must do list while is Sarasota! The line for a table is almost always out the door but the wait is worth it. I highly recommend that at least one person at your table gets the fried chicken, which comes in a half chicken and quarter chicken size. Trust me unless you can put away a lot and I mean A LOT of food get the quarter chicken size, it will be more than enough. It has to be some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. I also really enjoy the garlic chicken, very juicy and full of garlic flavor. And of course you need to get a slice of pie before you leave. You can even order a whole pie to go (which we do everytime!)
(5)Rachel M.
Yoder's is a pretty cool place. It's not only a restaurant, but it actually occupies a pretty good sized block on the street. It consists of an Amish Gift Shop with different types of knick knacks, as well as things such as little girl's Amish formal wear. It also has its own restaurant, carry out window, picnic tables to eat outside with your doggie. In addition, you can take pics of a statue of Amish people and their horse and buggy, and a cool artistic mural. There is also a produce store, and a store that sells groceries, pies, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and any other goods that you may want to find that the Amish may use, or make. We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant. There is a long line that can wrap around the outside, so you may want to come early, or see if you can make reservations. I am not sure if that is the case. I did pick up a few items at the store including a quiche, chicken pot pie, one of their dessert bars, some passion fruit jam, and some fruit. I also bought some cute little bracelets at their Amish Gift Shop. Their food items: Egg and Ham Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, and the dessert bars were definitely out of this world, and I will definitely have to go back for them, and more. This is definitely not only an eating experience, but an all-around experience that one should check out. It's delicious and a great learning experience.
(5)Don M.
Do not believe the hype. Cracker Barrel style food but Cracker Barrel has better food. Big portions but without the care and time spent you might expect from an Amish restaurant.
(1)Greg C.
This is one of Sarasota's Amish restaurants. I arrived there with my in law's and got there at 4:15pm. I know what your thinking, "them old people eat early". Got seated and was greeted right away by our server. Within 15 minutes the line to come in was out the door. Very popular place visited by local Amish, tourists and locals. I had the Manhattan(a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy and veggies.) Great tasting sandwich with the roast beef being chunks of pot roast. You will not leave hungry from this place. They are famous for the fried chicken and amazing pies. Give it a try, you will not be sorry.
(4)Chris H.
Yoder's came very highly recommended, so while we were in Siesta Keys we decided to stop by and take a look at the restaurant. First, the parking was packed, which is always a good sign. We then sat down and started figuring out our meals. Yoder's was featured on Man Vs. Food, and even the placemats regale you with that fact. Eventually we put in our order. I ordered the world famous fried chicken with amish noodles & fried okra as sides and the girlfriend got a open face turkey sandwich. The food that I did get, while a lot of food, was very bland and not well seasoned. Yoder's could do with learning to put salt in their food. That, and the fried chicken was dry, left us with an un-sastifying dinner. We finished off the meal with slices of pie. Once again large portions, not a whole lot of flavor. I really want to like Yoder's, I really do, but this visit just left me flat.
(3)Heather B.
Good food, not excellent. Love that they use local produce. Fabulous pies! Especially the peach pie! Long wait. We had a large party & had split into two tables on Sunday afternoon.
(3)Nora F.
I wish I could take home the grain bread. I loved the bread that I had. We came for breakfast with 4 other friends. So the 6 of us sat at the round table. The place was quite packed. Our waitress was very sweet. My husband said this place has the best french toast, so I let him order that while I ordered a spinach omelet with grain bread and fruit salad. Our friends ordered some french toast, traditional benedict and some combo breakfast. I loved my spinach omelet! I know I've said it before but I loved my grain bread! Unfortunately they don't sell the bread, oh no! I enjoyed my healthy breakfast while enjoying the amish restaurant with amish decorations. After breakfast we stopped by the gift shop next door. This was the best breakfast place I had in Sarasota. The drive was pretty far because this neighborhood is an amish town so the restaurant is surrounded by amish gift shop and amish market. I'm not sure about this one but I think the town is controlled by an amish mayor? You never know. Everyone who works here is a happy person *:) Whatever the case is, please visit this restaurant because it's worth it. Highly recommended!
(5)Anthony A.
Yodels was fun, and the pies are very well done and delicious, however my meal was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the Amish were supposed to make things home made? Why were the mashed potatoes instant? Why were the green beans and the gravy on my meat loaf out of a can? The fried chicken is supposed to be their specialty, but honestly it's better at Publix. If this place wants to live up to the hype, they need to make more things home made because I felt like I was eating at an old time cafeteria. Maybe that's why they have so many elderly customers, because they are from a time when canned food was acceptable. These octogenarians with their walkers and oxygen tanks were in a line all the way out the door. I'm happy they are doing a good business tho, and I hope this review doesn't come off as too scathing because it was a fun place to eat and definitely an experience.
(3)C. E.
They have awesome fried chicken and meatloaf! Don't leave without eating their banana cream pie or peanut butter pie!!
(5)Lynne L.
Love, love love this family owned restaurant. Great service, great food and top notch service.
(4)Ken S.
I'm not sure where some of the bad reviews on here come from but those people are wrong. This place is fabulous. If you're looking for a candlelight dinner with wine and a separate fork for your salad, than this isn't your place. If you want simple, good food then it's definitely your place. The meatloaf and corn cakes were very good. The PB pie was HUGE! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Aimee P.
The only thing I have to complain about was the fact we couldn't order fried chicken on a Friday. Other than that, the food was pretty good and their deserts were uh-may-zing!
(4)Alex O.
Amazing comfort food. Had the Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and fries okra. The gravy was awesome. Would recommend checking them out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Neil P.
We were very impressed with the food, Fridays is pan fryed chicken and it was out of this world good. Ordered the 4 pc and all i could eat was the breast so juicy it probably was a 1 1/2 lbs, mashed potato with gravy and hand sliced whole wheat bread FRESH! Mac & cheese was one of the best and they hand make over 30 pies so best thing to do is get there samplers. Pinecraft is the Amish village and they also have gift shop, farm fresh produce and a deli with all the Amish meats, cheese, pasta, candies, fresh made sandwiches. Its a Travel Channel destination with Adam Richman Man vs Food! We love it!
(5)Kristen C.
My fiance and I experienced Yoder's for the first time in May 2015 and we absolutely LOVED it! The service was great and the food was even better. Their fried chicken was not only delicious, but huge!! We actually split a meal and couldn't eat everything, a first for my fiance! We ended up coming back later that afternoon and ordering chocolate and apple pies to take home to Georgia. The chocolate pie was literally the best I have ever had in my entire life!! The crust on that apple pie was heavenly. We went back earlier this month while visiting Sarasota and were heartbroken to see they were closed for renovations; however, we will be back in November for our wedding and plan on bringing the entire family to experience Yoder's!
(5)Charity Z.
My husband and I are both food network fans. When we saw this place featured on 101 best places to eat in America we new we had to try it. So on the drive home we decided to stop in. Arriving at 430pm we did not have to wait to be seated. As soon as we sat down we did see the line accumulating. So be prepared to wait. To start we had the homemade butternut squash soup. It was amazing. All the perfect flavors blended together. As other reviewers stated, you must have the fried chicken! Perfect batter compliments the moistness of the chicken. What also stood out were the Amish potato pancakes. Beware portions are huge and plates are definitely shareable. Even the kids meals are enough to feed the entire family. The deserts are endless. Of course I had the bread pudding. It was perfect. Just how bread pudding should be. A crispy crust around the edges and softness of soaked bread. This meal in instant made me want to ascend Mount Everest. It was that good.
(5)Morgan B.
We were on vacation and a friend recommended we try out this place. I was a little hesitant because I really wanted some fish. But this place was awesome! I had the cheeseburger soup to start. It comes with fresh homemade bread. Delicious. Then my friend and I split the full serving of fried chicken. There are a ton of sides to choose from. I got the tossed salad and the Amish pancakes. Everything was very good. The most important thing though is to save room for the pie. Oh my lord the pies!!! Try one or two or three! You won't be disappointed!! In will be coming back!
(5)Debbie S.
We are in Sarasota for this year's vacation and went to Yoders last night for dinner. The daily special was pan fried chicken... with two sides. The four piece meal was so big that we brought 4 of 8 pieces home... the mashed potates and corn muffins were great. We also got the peanut butter pie and butterscotch pie sampler. And don't forget the homemade mint tea. Walked out thinking I was going to explode... and can't wait to go back.
(5)K G.
Truly as good as it gets in terms of southern comfort food! We came here on a recommendation, which seems to be the way this place works- set off on a back road with no fancy signs, you'd miss it if you didn't know about it. But once you get into the jam packed parking lot, you know you've come to the right place. We got here around 7:15 at night, knowing they close at 8, so we figured that we missed peak dinner times and wouldn't be too crowded.. WRONG! We were greeted by a line out the door. Once we got inside we were met with walls adorned with various awards, newspaper clippings, along with a signed photo of Adam from Man vs. Food who visited and listed this place in his "Top 100 Places to Chow Down" on the Travel Channel. Such a glamorous award, yet the interior of Yoder's reminded me of my grandma's kitchen: plaid tablecloths, spinning ceiling fans, and pullout chairs for extra guests around a table. And if you weren't hungry enough, there are various homemade cookies and breads available for you to oogle at while waiting. But the jewel case of pies near the center of the restaurant is really what catches your eye as you walk by to your table, more on that later though. Now first and foremost, check your diet at the door. This is not the place to be concerned with trivial things like calories because we have a menu that's home to famous fried chicken to look through! With a soup of the day, veggie of the day and, oh yea, pie of the day, you will have trouble deciding, heaven knows we did. Our waitress was more than happy to give us extra time as we flip flopped between sandwiches on homemade croissants, country fried steak with homemade gravy, or blue plate specials which came with homemade bread (did I mention homemade?). We settled on the Thanksgiving dinner meal along with some mac and cheese and, of course, some fried chicken. The turkey dinner brought out looked, again, like grandma's. A mountain of white gravy slathered on stuffing and mashed potatoes, with cranberry sauce and a pile of turkey that was obviously cut right off the bird- no fancy thin shavings of meat, we're talking chunks of white and dark meat abound. The mac and cheese was so creamy I could slurp that sauce through a straw and also made for a good dunking sauce for the fried chicken which was crunchy and juicy. Curse you Yoder's, I broke my 60 day vegetarianism for your chicken and enjoyed every second of it! First time I ever saw my guy ask for a box there was just too much food to handle. Of course, full or not, we had to go for it all with a piece of pie. After flip flopping again, we settled on Strawberry Cream Pie. We split a slice and the waitress brought it cut on two plates without us asking, so I'm assuming sharing is a very common thing in this place. I'm glad she gave us our own piece since neither of us were willing to share! Huge fresh strawberry chunks gave me the illusion that I was eating healthy under a pound of whipped cream. The crust was like a cookie, delicious on its' own- no joke, I would pay to have someone teach me how to make it! We left at closing time, but I will have to come back to check out their next door farmer's market. And so we left a little fatter and a lot happier. We ate to our hearts content with leftovers for under $30 which is pretty good for the portions and quality of food. Like I said, I am not from here, but for sure I will be coming back at least once more before going back home. And so the legend of Yoder's will continue. Should anyone ask me if I know a good place, I'll refer to the little "house" off the beaten path!
(5)Patty P.
Food is good, just good down home cooking! Servings are large! I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and all were excellent! Fresh baked breads, homemade apple-butter and peanut butter, delicious pies! The fried chicken is amazing! The only down side is it can be quite crowded and a long wait, especially during season. However, you can meander around the shops there while you are waiting or after dinner and that totally makes up for it. The vibe is family friendly, not romantic so know what you are in for when you go, but do go, you won't regret it.
(3)Carrie S.
I'm only rated this a 4 cuz the food is ok.. it wasn't the best.. My hubby and I went for breakfast.. I had a sausage and cheese omelette w/ home fries... The home fries was barely cooked..my hubby had homemade corn beef and hash and it wasn't that great but The four stars is for the amazing pies and desserts that they serve oh my talk about heaven in your mouth I had the chocolate peanut butter pie it was yummy..they also have a fresh produce market right next-door along with a deli which is also amazing and more goodies to fill your tummy...they have A huge selection of different types of Jams..they have whoopee pies and old-fashioned candy and lots of other cakes and desserts to choose from..all the fruit and vegetables look delicious as well I will definitely be back!! I will be back to try the restaurant again I will try dinner next time because I heard their fried chicken is off the chain..this place is definitely a great place to order your pies and desserts for holidays!! The service & the atmosphere was also very wonderful!
(4)Katy T.
We tried the meatloaf and country fried steak, on our way down to Sarasota. Our table neighbor next to us ordered this incredible looking homemade cheesecake with strawberries on top, so we had to join. The pies look huge and amazing too, didn't have room for both, maybe on the way back home!
(5)Helen L.
I crave their fried chicken a lot and will make the 35 minute drive to eat here. Their pies are amazing as well!
(5)Randy R.
On vacation in the siesta key area we where recommended to have dinner at this establishment THANK YOU for your recommendation. BEST BEST fried chicken i've had in a long time. Everything about this place was great. The service was awesome. The food was spectacular and the desert was heavenly. If you want to try something great visit this place.
(5)Stacy G.
The wait was a little long. But well worth the wait! Service was excellent, the server was so sweet and came back often to refill drinks and make sure everything was good. I ordered a salad because I'm on a diet and it was the best salad I've ever had. Everyone else in our party ordered the fried chicken since they are known for chicken & pies. I will definitely make the trip back.
(5)Jessica M.
Yoder's is a solid 3.5 in my book. So, in the middle of nowhere Florida lives these Amish folks. They have a produce stand, have a restaurant, and some other Amish attractions. Upon pulling up, I noticed quickly this was a facade. Living in Vegas, I think you get jaded because you know what a fake Paris or a fake Roman Empire facade look like from a mile away. The staff was definitely not Amish either. I don't think Amish can stand behind the hostess stand checking her iPhone. Anyway, I could careless about how pretty or dumpy a place is, it's all about the food, customer service, but mostly the food. There were signs about the world famous fried chicken and it was alright. Was it KFC, no, but it wasn't slap your grandma good either. The mashed potatoes weren't anything special, but the 5 bean salad I enjoyed was the cat's pajamas. Not really feeling my food, I boxed it up to go, so I could spruce it up later. What I and anyone else come her for is their pies. OMG. Moment of silence, please. Their peanutbutter pie is creamy, sweet, peanutbuttery perfection. Succulent. Yes, a pie can be succulent. I also have to tell you, I am not a pie fan. At all. 99% of pies suck, not Yoder's. They made me a believer. Service was attentive and the restaurant was busy. Not a legit Amish settlement so don't let that disappoint you. I'd skip the food and go straight to the pie window. It's the only thing worth waiting around for.
(3)Lynda J.
A nice place for some good Amish food. This place is jam packed during season! Come prepared to stand in line. I usually get the broasted chicken and always have a piece of the delicious pie. My favorite is the coconut cream but the peanut butter is also great! Come hungry this is not the place to skip dessert!!
(4)Sue G.
O M G.. Yes, yes, yes! The carmel apple french toast was so yuummmy, I almost cried. The Farmer's skillet was so huge my piggy hubby couldn't even eat it all! The ham STEAK(not sliver) melts in your mouth! Best coffe that I've had in a long time. The ice cold milk, oh Lord!!! I have heard they have very long waits, but we went on a Friday at 10:30 for brunch and walked right in! Check out the deli next door! Woooooow! Amazing prices!!! Can't wait to come back!!!
(5)Shannon G.
Yum! Great food. Great pie :) Be warned they do not serve breakfast all day. I once came in at about 11:30 am and had to wait in line, and sadly was not able to get the French toast I had dreamed of.
(5)Bryan T.
Went to this place today and was in heaven! I haven't had fried chicken this good in years. The raspberry tea was delicious and I don't even like tea. This had mom and grandma knocked out on the car ride home
(5)conor b.
Classic comfort food coming from the heart of Sarasota's Amish community. Good for lunch, even better for breakfast. Quality service and you can expect consistent service, food and a little bit of a wait every time. They offer a fun treasure hunt for the kids as well that lets them stroll through the attached market and gift store for a sticker and at the end the get a prize. Mom and dad have already bought things from each place by this time, so it's darn clever. Anyway, I've never had a better friend chicken and I was born in the south. Those Amish know what they are doing. Grab a slice of pie and wrap it up!
(4)William S.
Great portions on dinners. Make sure you're hungry if you order full dinners. Peanut butter pie is homemade and good. Had Dutch Apple pie and it was great too. Have been here a few times always busy due to the fact it's comfort food. They have take out window for pies. Also have a vegetable market and deli cut meats next to restaurant.
(4)Chuck P.
Great home cooked meals and the pies are fantastic! Blueberry pie and my wife are the best of friends!
(4)Travis J.
I absolutely love this place! Pretty small and you may have to wait, but the wait will be worth it! The staff is friendly and very patient. The items on the menu are very fresh and you do see the desserts on display. The food portions are good so come with an appetite! I ordered their famous fried chicken along with the mac and cheese and corn cakes. The chicken was crisp and juicy and almost as big as my head! The Mac and Cheese is creamy and rich, the corn cakes look like pancakes, but have that texture and taste of a cake! For dessert I got the peanut butter pie which is the know favorite. Words couldn't describe how amazing each bite was! I definitely recommend Yoders. It's away from all of the beaches and bars, but it's a relaxing location away from it all. Don't forget to stop in their fresh market shop, produce market, or gift shop!
(5)Steve N.
I had never been here before after relocating to Sarasota. I happened to see it on the Food Network, but had heard good things since moving six months ago. I stopped in and got a peanut butter pie and a coconut cream pie to go. I tried the peanut butter pie and it was delicious! Different than any pie i have had before, but very very good. I can't speak to the restaurant or the meals there, but I was impressed!
(4)Wayne P.
The best Amish restaurant anywhere . Plus their pies are to die for . Better to get there early for supper or you will have to wait in a long line .
(5)Steve K.
I always stop in when I visit Sarasota. Food is good and plentiful and the service is great.
(4)Chuck B.
Donuts and pastries - oh my goodness! If you have not had the great food at this restaurant for the best donuts in Florida you have to come by and try them. It's a temptation everytime I Drive by on Bahia Vista.
(5)Ms S.
Stopped at the deli today for a couple of sandwiches to go. Asked for a roast beef and turkey on rye. After 15 mins the lady from the kitchen came out and told me they don't make that kind of sandwich, that it had to be either turkey or roast beef. I said okay, roast beef. Very expensive and about 2 slices of roast beef. The shop itself is cute with lots of good-looking sweets but would not go back for a sandwich.
(1)Kem W.
I waited 40 minutes in line and decided the food probably wasn't worth that long a wait. I was there for breakfast. All the portions are ample, particularly the combination breakfasts. I had the corned beef hash (OK), a biscuit (excellent), and part of a sticky bun (OK but I'm not a fan of super sweet things.) We didn't have an opportunity for pie, which is this place's claim to fame, but they did look good. It's definitely worth a trip here for breakfast if you're in Sarasota.
(3)Chris W.
A wonderful lunch place. We've been here a few times now and from the fried chicken to the beef and noodles to the pies you really can't go wrong with the food. Service is also top-notch (although due to the awesome food) it can take a while to get a table on the weekends. Definitely worth it though no matter when you come.
(5)Oliver J.
Mixed bag. This restaurant claims to be Amish, which is known for it's honesty and simplicity. They use farm raised fish and CAFO raised animal for their meats. I'm disgusted, and I can only assume most Amish people would too. Those cheap and low quality ingredients resonate with the food quality. My macaroni and cheese was a sham. Not an ounce of cheese in the thing. I could dish by dish slanging the pros and cons, but overall, I won't be back for the food, other than perhaps to taste the fried chicken. The food is acceptable in taste and presentation, although far from impressive. Pie-wise, there we had the chocolate pecan - good, but far from anything special, and Key Lime Pie (normal), that was kind of gross.... gelatin like. It was fine, but I love key lime pie, and that was far from the mark. Conversely, we ordered a strawberry and rhubarb pie to take home. It was amazing. Not too sweet, and full of strawberries and rhubarb. The strawberries felt mashed, as to make sure the ingredients mixed, which was perfect.
(3)Restaurant Maverick 1.
Homemade from scratch at a quality level most cannot duplicate. Amish atmosphere, unique place, awesome food, awesome service! HUGE PORTIONS!
(5)Kara C.
After hearing about this place from too many people, we finally went! I'm just going to be honest, eat dessert first and then eat dinner! We ate so good at dinner and unfortunately didn't have enough room for dessert! The portions are huge and very good!
(5)Shauna L.
Wow! The parking lot was PACKED because everyone is picking up their pies before Christmas Day. The apple butter is so good I bought some to fly home with me to give to my dad. I had the most tender sloppy joe for lunch. Fantastic home cooking! The gift shop closed before we could visit, maybe a stop on the return trip? I'd say highly likely.
(5)Sharon S.
I cannot even begin to describe how delicious and fresh my food was. Two different people recommended this restaurant this past week so I decided to try it for myself. To say that it exceeded my expectations is an understatement. Our waitress was Mary Emma and she was so nice and helpful. When I told her it was my first visit she didn't try to rush me to order until I was able to look over the whole menu. I didn't want a really heavy lunch because of the heat so I ordered the Hawaiian Chicken Salad. It had coconut, small pieces of pineapple, and toasted almonds and was spectacular. Not sure what else it had but it didn't taste like mayo (which is good because I'm not a big fan of mayo) it was light and flavorful. But wait, there's more. There was also huge pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh pineapple. The nice surprise was a slice of homemade banana bread and a slice of strawberry bread. Of course, I ended up taking some home because of the portion sizes but I'm just disappointed that I was too full to try the pie. One day I plan on stopping in just for that. In a word, delicious!
(5)Melissa A.
Very busy but still friendly service. I had the fried chicken which was ok. Tried the mini pies. The peanut butter pie was incredible. This is the place to go for delicious dessert not really for a meal
(4)Ana B.
I really wanted to like this place as I have a great respect for diversity and different cultures. When my friend and I arrived, there was a 30 minute long wait on Wed night. Our expectation grew due to the wait and of course men vs. food is on. Customers and servers wearing taditional custumes made me excited about this adventure. I ordered quarter fried chicken with spinich and potato pancake. Fried chicken was tender and juicy but skin was not crispy. There was no seasoning on spinich and it looked like a baby puke. Potato pancake was okay. This place is over-commercialized and dissapoint me big time. For dissert, we ordered peanutbutter pie taster at 2.50. It came out on a cup. It was good but nothing special. My server was very kind and friendly but food was not up to par.
(2)Connie G.
The fried chicken and country fried steak were great. The roasted turkey was a total disappointment: dry, served as leftover The pies were very good. The wait was at least half an hour...the place was packed....the decor tired to say the least. Service was very pleasant. Stick with the two fried dishes and the pies. Get there early if you want a full selection of pies or better yet, just pick up the pie and avoid the meal.
(2)JASON M.
The pies!!!!! Peanut butter or banana cream.... Great home cooked food (really enjoyed the fried chicken) but those pies are phenomenal.
(5)Grace C.
On a repeat visit earlier this month, I had to dock a star because there were some misses on this trip. I'd still come back and recommend it to visitors but is it the best place I've ever had pie? No. I tried the baked pies this time instead of the cream pies and I think this is really where their weakness is. Their shoefly pie and crumble apple pie were both forgettable. My apple pie filling seemed like it was straight from the can and really bland. The crust wasn't buttery. I always finish my dessert or take it to go but on this visit, my sister and I left our half-eaten pies untouched with zero hesitation. That's saying something from someone with a serious sweet tooth. Maybe we caught them on an off day. I'd still return just not 5-star worthy this time around. I enjoyed the apple butter with my multigrain toast. The potatoes that came as a side on some of our plates seemed more like boiled flavorless potatoes than home fries. I saw a table next to us that got extra crispy fried home fries and I'm wondering if they asked them to be extra crispy (duly noted next time around!)
(4)Cecily A.
So I saw my first Amish community and restaurant today. Was pretty surreal seeing in person what I usually see on TV. You can smell this restaurant the second you open your car doors, whether it be tasty smelling batter for fried chicken or sweet smells of pies, breads, cakes, and muffins. The smell is honestly the first thing I quickly noticed, and secondly, how nice everyone seemed. Even though almost the entire dining room was older folks, some in English clothes, some in Amish dressings, they still accepted me in my short shorts and service was also quick and friendly. I enjoyed my home cooked meatloaf and had to try the Choco peanut butter banana pie for dessert which my fellow yelpers turned me onto. I must say that my sweet tooth is now cured for the rest of my vacay. :P Awesome experience, will definitely come back.
(5)Beth F.
The sausage gravy & biscuit(s) is a Heavenly meal in itself! The apple fritter French toast was delicious (doesn't need the maple syrup). The raspberry/cream cheese stuffed French toast was good, but not as great for me as the Apple. Taking a Peanut Butter Cream Pie piece home to eat later cause we simply don't have the room to eat it now! Will be coming back for lunch and then again dinner in the next few days! Wanna try so much more!
(5)Meghan R.
Delicious, filling comfort food with huge portions and great prices! We came at 10:30 on a Saturday and with a long line out the door we were still seated in less than 10 minutes. The staff is extremely attentive and kind. My fiancé had a croissant breakfast sandwich that was loaded with butter and full of the best eggs he's ever had, and I had eggs Benedict that was also extremely delicious. Highly recommend the biscuit with sausage gravy as a side, you won't be disappointed. We were too full to have dessert but ordered some individual pie slices to go (with their reputation for amazing pies, we had to try a few different ones) and they were simply the best pie we ever had. Wish we lived down here so we could go back soon and try more of the menu! The gift shop was full of adorable keepsakes and handmade items as well.
(4)Deke K.
We arrived at 10 a.m and only had to wait for one table to clear. It gave us time to snoop through the breads & whoopie pies available near the door. The hostess shared her mom is the baked goods baker (not pies). How lucky she is! I quickly was taken by the country grilled oatmeal. It was wonderful though the portion was waaaay too large. I enjoyed some homebaked bread with their stellar apple butter. My friend got the apple fritter French toast. It was good but we weren't sure why it got called "fritter" --it was apple bread French toast. Their baked apple side beats Cracker Barrel's. My friend ordered what she thought would be a small sweet roll and received a giant 1/4 of an entire sweet roll cake ($4). Prices were fair, portions were huge. But we couldn't help but think how we'd really love half portions and smaller prices (and not have to take more than half home). Our waitress was friendly and attentive. They cleaned tables swiftly. We enjoyed the art on the walls. We wished we could lounge around 'til 11 to try lunch!
(4)Emily B.
Wow! This place is awesome! My boyfriend brought me here for breakfast. The place was packed. We waited about 10 minutes. We split a sweet roll, which is ginormous. Very sweet and yummy. Then he had the strawberry stuffed French toast and I had the apple stuffed French toast. I liked that it wasn't too sweet, but just enough. The portion size was big considering the price. More restaurants should be like that. I would definitely return next time we're in the area.
(5)Laurie B.
Whenever we are in Sarasota we always have to take a stop at yoders !! It it such an experience ! If you go after 900 am on Saturday you may have to wait but it is well worth it ! My friend and I shared the raspberry cream cheese stuffed French toast which was out of this world ! Not to sweet but creamy and not soggy . We ordered the smallest order and still had slot leftover . We also shared the country fried steak breakfast and split that as well ! The eggs were cooked perfect and friend got a side of sausage gravy and I got a side of the hamburger gravy which was creamy and salty and worth every bite of calorie ! We had more than half of our breakfast left so don't be afraid to share ! I brought my daughter home the cinnamon bun which an army of 4 could eat off of . Stepping into yoders is like stepping back into a time where' things move slower and people are gracious and kind and you can feel the care and thought that is put into the food ! If you are ever in Sarasota don't miss a stop at yoders !!
(5)Gerrald L.
Home style food, incredible, for sure a place to try when in town. Their pies are awesome too.
(5)Daniel C.
Wife had a big salad with turkey, while I had grilled chicken dinner with fries and corn. Food was very tasty. Great service. Pies looked great, but had no time for dessert. Even at 2 on weekday afternoon, there was a line!
(4)T. Isabella N.
Not sure why people are so crazy about this place. Had fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes. All very very bland. Not much flavor going on here folks. Most people eating there were senior citizens so maybe that says it all.
(1)Richard W.
Their fried chicken I must recommend if you go. The chicken is very flavorful and delicious. I just can't see to stop eating it. Their wait staff is very friendly and they make you feel welcome to their establishment. Their pies are excellent.
(4)Blondie P.
Good ol' home cooking at its finest. Large portions, plenty of choices, excellent pies, cookies and cakes. The service is friendly and fast. I had the Anna salad - spring mix, turkey, lots of fruit - with a strawberry vinaigrette, very colorful and very tasty. Prepare to wait unless you go at off hours. But the wait is well worth it.
(4)Natarajan R.
Great food. fresh food. Generous portions. Great service. Most restuarants should aspire to this level of service.
(5)Dionna S.
Can I just say this is the best breakfast and dinner in Sarasota! You will never leave hungry! Portions are huge and the food is wonderful. You have to try the peanut butter pancake with the homemade whipped cream! The fried chicken, the homemade apple butter, the desserts! Just great food! We try to go here twice a day when we are in Sarasota!
(5)Sal L.
We were on vacation this month and went to Yoders TWICE. It is a homey Amish restaurant with great food, great quantity at a great price. The atmosphere is very old style and kitcheny..anyway we felt very at home there. We had a dinner and a breakfast there. Both were great. Highly recommend.
(5)Tory L.
Who knew there was a thriving Amish population in Sarasota? Anyway, this place has some great fried chicken and pie! At first, I was a little miffed about paying over $15 for a few pieces of fried chicken. Then my order arrived and it's literally an entire plate of chicken! I've had my fair share of greasy, crispy fried chicken, but none that felt so "healthy". What do I mean? Well, Yoder's fried chicken is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, with very little minimum oozing oil when you tear it apart. I didn't feel a single ounce of guilt digging in. What also makes this place a gem is its pie! I've had the apple/blueberry/banana cream slices, and they are delicious! They use all local ingredients and make the pies fresh daily, so it tastes magical. The crust is crispy and the insides are full of gooey goodness. Top that off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you are good to go! TIP: share the fried chicken with 2-3 people to save space for pie (also a large serving, but I'm not sharing my dessert :P) !
(4)Letha B.
First visit here was today. I would definitely drive the 45 min just to go. It was amazing!! My husband and I both had the fried chicken, I had the green beans and Mac n cheese, and he had okra with Mac n cheese. All our food was delicious! While standing in line a woman said we had to try the Coconut Cream Pie, we did and were not sorry. Best I have ever had. The slices of pie are huge! So happy we decided to share a slice. You definitely get your money's worth and more from here. Next we would like to try breakfast. I will say, the line was out the door, but it went pretty quick. We had a really sweet attentive waitress. She was so busy and did an amazing job of keeping up. I was very impressed and will be back for sure!
(5)Chris P.
After a trip to the Ringling Brothers museum, we were ready for some lunch. My wife said that Yoder's was right up our alley. After a short wait we were seated. I got the fried chicken, my wife and her mom got the special beef & noodles and my father-in law got the pulled pork. The chicken was so-so. The noodles had gravy that was blatantly obvious that it came from a can. The green beans and corn tasted as if it was from a can and the potato cakes tasted as if they were made from potato powder. The only thing that was decent was the potato chips. When you think Amish, you think "farm fresh." This is most definitely not the case at Yoder's.
(1)K G.
This place has definitely taken a dive. A couple years ago they had the best, humongous fried chicken. Now it's still mutant, but dry and seems they leave it sit under a warming light. Rubbery and gross. The mint tea is the only thing giving it a one star. Bleh.
(1)Lisandra G.
Fantastic service. You can taste the love in the food. Huge portions and farm fresh meats. The orange juice would get 10 stars. I bought a jug of it at the market. The chicken was fried to perfection, the apple pie a la mode made time stand still. They lost a star bc the green beans were over cooked (like they are at most restaurants).
(4)Bert H.
Food is fantastic, servers are very courteous and friendly, a line to get in is normal but well worth the wait, don't forget to take a couple pies home for later, I would recommend "Yoders" to anyone, except maybe all them northerners from the East Coast, they seem to have no taste and most of them give bad reviews, but hey everyone has their opinion...........
(5)Darrin B.
Good food and I wish the cream pies were served at a cooler temp. Mine was room temp. Also had to wait one hour in line. .. If there is no line, go on in. But if there is a line pass it up. ... not worth an hour wait.
(3)Jennifer S.
The meal was fresh the service excellent. The ambiance fitting. Had a wonderful meal with chili, and the stuffed tomato with chicken salad and house dressing to die for!! So glad we found this place. Worth the wait in line!
(5)A Foodie M.
The fried chicken is so good! Pies are good too. I tried the pumpkin cake this time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Great customer service as well. I will be returning to Yoder's.
(4)Michael W.
I don't know what some of the others are talking about, it's like we're talking about different restaurants. I had an amazing experience at this restaurant with my family. The service we received was top notch. I ordered the Manhattan with pot roast and I was given a HUGE portion. It tasted amazing but there was no way I could eat it all. After we all ordered pie I had the Carmel custard and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the experience and would go again the next time in the area.
(5)Jeremy H.
Best homemade comfort food I have ever had! I had the turkey, fried chicken, and breakfast and everything was excellent. The pie, whoopie pies, and bread were also amazing! Great service as well. If you like good home cooking this is the place!
(5)Sharie H.
First time here and it was great. The hostess was a bit rude but the waitress was awesome. Very friendly and homey atmosphere. The food was definitely comfort food. Macaroni was by far the best. The shop next door is a must also.
(4)Adriana R.
Long wait, but it was so worth it! Their fried chicken and banana cream pie are delicious. The service was very good, the waitress was on top of everything. I will definitely go back for that banana cream pie!
(5)Lee P.
Their food is great. Go there all the time and we are never disappointed.
(5)Kim W.
We were in town for the half marathon weekend and decided to load up on Amish comfort food based on the rave reviews we'd seen about their fried chicken and pie. The line was still pretty long for 2pm, which would normally turn me off, but the smell of fried chicken kept us around. The restaurant itself has a no-frills, down-home feel - pretty much what you'd expect. I ordered the quarter chicken dinner with the Amish potato pancakes and fried okra. I figured it was my best chance at getting non-canned sides, based on what I'd read in other reviews. If you've never had Amish potato pancakes, they are not like latkes. They look more like regular buttermilk pancakes (except they're made from potato, obviously). The sides were ok, but not the greatest. The chicken wasn't like any other I'd had at a restaurant. It tasted homemade, like something my mom might make. It was good, but it didn't wow me like the reviews made me think it would. It was A LOT of food and I was barely able to eat even half of it, plus I wanted to save room for pie. :) I tried the chocolate peanut butter cream pie, while my table mates ordered the fresh strawberry cream, Yoder's key lime, and baked apple pie. I tried a bite of all and mine was the best. It's a good thing I don't live around here or else I would be eating way too much pie. Again though, it wasn't the best pie I've had like I read in other reviews. Overall, it was a good meal, not great, but I did enjoy it and would recommend at least trying it once.
(3)Judi G.
When you live in Florida year round, you quickly learn that good fresh produce is out of season-too hot for much more than corn, watermelons and onions. Yoder's has a great selection of Mid West produce. Tomatoes from Michigan are very good. Wish they could carry Jersey tomatoes though! A variety of herbs and exotic fruits, North Carolina and Georgia peaches, blueberries and white eggplant. Prices are great compared to a grocery store, especially a seedless watermelon for $2.00. Run over to the market for pumpkin bread or strawberry bread. On Saturdays they smoke their own baby back ribs, saucy and juicy so they sell out fast.
(4)Amanda P.
Yoder's is amazing. Grew up eating from here almost every week. I had my first corn fritter from here... it was good! I hardly ate inside, always ordered for pick-up. But they have friendly staff! They also have amazing pies.
(3)Daniel B.
There is not a bad item on the menu it is all excellent. Huge portions great service friendly staff. If you go during season expect a wait but it is so worth it. Great breakfast and even better dinners and save room for dessert the pies are to die for.
(5)barbara m.
Delicious homemade food in a cozy, small diner atmosphere. Very quiet despite all the activity going on around us. We arrived exactly when they opened so we got in right away for lunch. When we left the line was out the door. We had the fried chicken which was served in enormus proportions. Another person in our party had the fish - also a huge portion. Very accommodating genuinely polite, capable wait staff.
(5)Henry M.
Great service and even better food. It is home cooked meals. Only wish the had their fried chicken on Fridays. Pies are some of the best I have had.
(5)Renee S.
Yoder's is such an awesome restaurant! Good home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I have never been disappointed. Been coming here since I moved to Sarasota 15 years ago. Make sure you save room for pie.
(5)Lauren C.
I went on a little mini weekend vacation to Sarasota and had heard about Yoder's restaurant and famous pies on the food network, so we had to stop in and see what it's all about. The Amish make fantastic home style dishes and don't disappoint on the flavor or large portion size by any means. We decided to keep it simple and split a cobb salad and a bowl of chili so we could have room for pie afterwards. The cobb salad was really tasty and had a ton of the usual toppings, so it wasn't "skimpy"! The chili was solid and hearty. After our meal came the difficult decision of which pie to try. There are a TON of delicious homemade pies and it's really hard to pick, ultimately we went with the banana cream and it was really heaven on a plate. If we weren't visiting from out of town and staying in a hotel with no fridge, I most definitely would have gotten a whole pie to bring home. They also have a cute little boutiquey gift shop on site which is worth checking out while waiting to be seated or after your meal. This place is a winner in my book.
(4)WizardPrang X.
After the disappointment at Der Dutchman ( yelp.com/biz/der-dutchma… ), we came back a few days later to try out Yoder's. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the chicken was to die for. A wonderful meal, and a great way to forget the less-pleasant experience of the other place own the road.
(5)Valerie A K.
What a delicious meal! My husband and I ordered one fried chicken dinner and one baked chicken dinner. Both were moist and delicious. The onion rings were outrageous and the coleslaw very special.We did not have room for dessert After reading Yelp reviews, we did not know what to expect and decided to treat this evening meal as an adventure. Wow what a treat!
(4)Anne L.
My husband and I were visiting the Sarasota area and staying in an expensive hotel. We had one meal there, which was so-so, and then we heard about Yoder's. We gave Yoder's a try, and from then on, we ate nowhere else! Yoder's has the BEST food and the FRIENDLIEST service anyone could ask for. We made good use of their carry-out window, taking food back to the hotel to eat, although there are tables outside. Their breakfasts are delicious, their soups and sandwiches are fresh and remarkable, and their delicious dinners are more than plentiful. Best of all, everything really did taste homemade. I would gladly wait in line if I had to, just for a meal at Yoder's. Once you eat there, you'll be spoiled for any place else!
(5)Rebecca L.
Pie. Just pie. Skip everything else tbh, I mean it's fine but pie tho. Best way to spend a morning in sarasota: go to the beach early, before it's too hot. Be one of those horrible people who runs on the beach. The come to Yoder's, still sweaty and salt-swept, and treat yo'self to a giant slice of your favorite pie and a coffee. You've earned it. You horrible person, you. Best pies: banana cream, chocolate peanut butter, butterscotch, dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb.
(4)J S.
Never had a bad meal here, food always first-rate; Except; 1.) Fried chicken; How did they do it? Seems they've taken a flavorful bird, and got it to the point where it was devoid of any flavor whatsoever- a culinary miracle! And 2.) "Mashed potatoes" (Instant, believe it or not- yeeech!) Some "home made." Should be a law against calling these freeze dried/add water pellets "mashed potatoes." Avoid these two horrible, disappointing dishes, & you'll be fine. Give desserts a try, you won't be disappointed. Are you a "people watcher?" Or more specifically, a FAT people watcher? I have never seen so many disgusting, overweight slobs in one restaurant in my life- Makes the typical Cracker Barrel diner look like a tri-athelete by comparison. And if there's a line in front, check the waistlines on those bloated pigs- makes you want to turn vegetarian, I'm here to tell you.
(3)Lisa W.
I wanted to love this more than I did. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and okra. All were good, but nothing was great. Hubby had fried chicken, green beans and Amish potato cakes. He liked the chicken and green beans. Others had Mac n cheese- good and baked apples. Our favorite thing was something not on the menu, but we took the advice of a fellow Yelper. Get the butterscotch banana cream pie. Very good. We walked around afterward, as they give the kids a small scavenger hunt/treasure map.
(3)Ryan R.
Yoders is the best breakfast in Sarasota. My family visits the Sarasota once a year for vacation and it has become tradition to start and end our vacation at yoders. The sweet roll is amazing, eggs are FRESH and everything is amazing. Highly recommend making a trip to yoders!
(5)Goody G.
Yoder's isn't too bad. There is a lot of hype about this place which I do not understand. My food was "Okay." It was not bad, not good... just OKAY. The portions were large, the food was cooked well but it was also bland. I grabbed a pie, on the way out, and it took me almost as long to wait for the pie as it did to eat dinner. The pie was also OKAY. I guess what makes people think it is so great is because there aren't a lot of bakeries around here that make these sorts of things but, again, it was just okay. You will certainly enjoy your meal and I do recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)Robin G.
Excellent food, great service. We loved everything we got, the coffee wasn't anything to write home about but I didn't expect anything special. I recommend the stuffed french toast, delicious.
(5)Frank A.
Food is amazing! Get the fried chicken! Pies to die for. Menu selection is like home cooking with all the basics such as turkey dinner, meatloaf, sandwiches, salads. Also open for breakfast. If you are in Sarasota and hungry, this is a must place to eat. Go ahead and bookmark it now, you can thank me later! BTW- there is an adjacent farm stand and gift store. Pies and baked goods to go as well!
(5)Chastity B.
Not that impressed with dinner. Although the pie was excellent. Went between lunch and dinner around 4 so not even 1/4 of the tables taken. Service was so so. Don't think I will be returning unless it is for a piece of pie to go.
(3)Diana D.
A staple of the Sarasota, FL region that has to be visited at least once if you are here. As residents of the area, there is a difference between Yoder's in season and out of season. In season the line will stretch out the door and the place will be mobbed. It's mobbed for a reason. It's good! The portions are HUGE. I have had several things off the menu and have been pleased every time. Some of the things I have ordered over the past year: - French Toast (huge portion, double inch thick slices - 1 slice will do for me but they serve 2 or 3 if you want). - Cinnamon pancakes that were awesome. - Fried Chicken (not Colonel Sanders ... the real deal here) - Meat Loaf that was good. - various sandwiches and salads. Bring an appetite - the portions are huge! Bathroom facilities are a little difficult to get to and are cramped and do not seem accessible. The decor and vibe is a country homestyle feel ... and it's relatively small. The wait is worth it. If you need a place for a larger crowd or want a little more breathing room, the Der Dutchman restaurant is right down the street. Both are Amish but Yoder's appears a bit less commercial.
(4)Madison F.
I've had their "famous" fried chicken, and I'd have to say, I'm not impressed. While the chicken was moist, I wouldn't say it was more delicious than other fried chicken I have had, plus the outside lacks a good crunch which is something I particularly enjoy in fried chicken. However, their apple butter (and if you put it on their corn muffins) is absolutely delicious. It's the perfect mix of sweet and apple-cinnamon flavor and can be a bit addicting. But the best thing Yoder's sells is their pies. Their peanut butter pie is absolutely fantastic. The filling is creamy and filled with peanut-butter flavor and the sprinkled pieces of peanuts give it a nice crunch. Their fresh strawberry pie is also to die for, with delicious fresh strawberries topped with their homemade whipped cream. Their baked pies are not as good as their cream/fresh fruit pies but are still pretty decent.
(4)Ay C.
I always love Yoder's. It is very tasty and very nice people!
(5)Lauren F.
I went twice because I was hoping it would redeem itself. This place always has a long line to be seated, so go when you have a bit of time to dedicate. I wouldn't recommend this place if you are looking to eat something healthy; on my first visit I had to eat a plate of sliced tomatoes for lack of alternatives. The menu has a large selection of "home cooked" food. I don't believe they salt their food, likely based on clientele. The fried chicken comes in huge portions and is not deserving of "famous". Potato pancakes were quite boring as well. I am 99% sure their pies are store bought. It is brightly lit inside and the seating arrangement is crowded. The good news is we did not have an issue finding parking because they have their own lot. It's a fun theme place (makes me feel like I'm home in PA again), but not a place I care to go back to.
(2)Arverne G.
Carb heaven. Lunch consisted of delicious smoked chicken with barbecue sauce, yummy potato pancakes and sour cream, and so called baked apple ( really apple pie filling.) There was a lot of fresh made bread and super sweet apple butter on the table. The thin hostess came by and asked whether we were ready for dessert, and I asked her if she ate any and she said no, she had been through them all. I am sure their pie is great, but after that huge lunch, no one needed a dessert. The one problem that I had with this place is that a lot of the customers are very heavy. This is not a place to go if you are counting calories either. They use canned vegetables as sides and as I said above the inviting sides are very carb loaded. Just don't go there too often. The decor is very sweet and old fashioned, the service was efficient and friendly. I am just glad that I don't live in Sarasota, since I would probably go there more often than would be good for me..
(4)Kristin D.
I love Yoder's so much that when we moved away from the area for 3 years, I used to dream about Yoder's pies and fried chicken. When we moved back home, it was one of the first places we stopped. The fried chicken is so juicy and seasoned just perfectly, the apple butter is the best I've ever had, and the pies are so good! Service is always great, but be prepared to wait to get a table. It is kind of annoying to wait 30 min. at the very least (and that's during off-season) for a table and there's not a real big waiting area. But the food is so worth the wait!
(5)Tong J.
Great place to share a home-style meal with family. Reasonably priced with a warm and homey atmosphere. Their famous crispy fried chicken lived up to expectations, crispy on the outside and super moist on the inside. The seasoning on the crispy skin had the right about amount of salt. Additional seasoning inside would have made this fried chicken a five star piece of heaven. The corn muffins were also delicious! They were moist, tasty and buttery. With over 25 varieties of pies and cakes, it was tough to choose one. Be warned, each piece is HUGE. We ended up ordering the fresh peach pie, which was very good. Peaches were juicy and ripe. The creaminess and lightly sweet whipped cream complimented the tartness of the peach nicely. They don't take reservations so if you arrive after 5:30-6pm be prepared for at least a 45 minute wait on weekends. They do have a little gift shop nearby where you can pass the time.
(4)Scott M.
Pan fried chicken is off the chain.
(4)Hyundoe K.
Great restaurant. I always love to go here when I'm in the area. Fried chicken is great with their house dipping sauce. If you like good home cooking then this place is for you. Don't forget to try a slice of pie.
(4)Jim H.
There are very few windows of opportunity for locals during season to get into Yoder's without standing in long lines and listening to how it's done "back in Akron". In the mood for breakfast on a recent weekday at 10:45 and spotting no line we careened into the parking lot. Seated immediately and nothing has changed here in years; same comfortable booths and chairs along with prompt and polite service. This is how all of America should be! We ordered a standard breakfast; my wife had one French toast (each piece is thick and huge) and bacon, while I had eggs, bacon, home fries, and toast. I couldn't resist a half order of bisquits and sausage gravy to share. Everything was good; the table side apple butter is delicious, the bacon thick, smokey and salty, home fries crispy and creamy on the inside and eggs fresh (actually tasted fresh!!) cooked as ordered. Okay, the sausage gravy is beyond outstanding. The half order is so big we brought home the other half (is that a quarter of an order?) and so good with large chunks of homemade spicy and flavorful sausage in a beautiful cream gravy. Even your Cardiologist couldn't resist it. We've eaten many dinners and a few lunches here through the years and everything is always good. I have to say there is no better breakfast, at very fair pricing, anywhere in Sarasota. Enjoy Yoder's, however before you get in line just brush up on the nuances and sports teams of Michigan, Ohio, and all of Canada for the coming small talk. Got It, Ahhh?
(4)A S.
I think it is a unique idea in Florida to have an Amish restaurant but the food arrived to fast for me to believe it was fixed after I ordered it and wasn't off a pre-made assembly line. Go to cracker barrel, it is better and cheaper.
(2)Albie F.
What is exactly Amish food? Who cares! You'll say the same when you taste the amazing heart attack eatz at Yoder's. People don't wait in lines that go outside the restaurant door with a ~30 minute Friday night wait unless there is something good inside. We had a couple of the Friday specials along with a slice of the famous peanut butter cream pie. The two cabbage rolls you get are humongous and you'll have your work cut out for you with the ground beef & sausage wrapped inside of the cabbage leaves. The pan fried chicken was equally as good. Amish noodles, Amish potato cakes, fried okra, and mashed potatoes & gravy consisted of our sides that came with the meals. The Amish noodles and potato cakes stood out the most and are what I would definitely order again. Okay the noodles were doused in butter but you only live once. Check out the Man vs Food Youtube video clip on Yoder's website and you'll know everything you need to know about how they make the peanut butter cream pie. If you aren't ready to get a slice after that video, then stay home. One slice was enough for the two of us...trying to take that slice of pie down by yourself after a huge Amish meal is a heart attack waiting to happen..literally.
(5)Aldo F.
We were so excited to finally have found an excuse to try this place, and boy, what a disappointment. Nothing in this place was anything remotely close to being considered good or flavorful. This place is famous because of their pressurized fried chicken and me being a fried chicken fan came in with huge expectations. Not only did the chicken not have any flavor and was incredibly bland but it was almost cold. Not that I have anything against Popeyes chicken but trust me when I tell you that Popeyes and KFC's chicken is beyond better than this place. The same can be said about everything else we tried here. Everything was bland with no flavor at all. My advise is to not believe the hype and long lines. The food here really sucked.
(1)Randy S.
Yoders is one of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota . Large portions, great selection , and very friendly staff .
(5)Brett H.
This is an Amish restaurant about 10min from I-75 so its a good place to stop if you are traveling anywhere. I had there top items: Fried Chicken, Mash Potatoes and Pie. The fried chicken was good. Apparently they were featured on Man v. Food and they do it a special way but it wasn't anything special. The mash potatoes were good and then I tried Amish Potato Pancakes. Now, I'm Jewish and to me, potato pancakes are fried and delicious. These were actual pancakes that have potatoes in the batter. Not so good. All this is pretty filling so you don't want to go too overboard because you want to leave room for the pie. They have a lot of different flavors and its amazingly good and the portion is big for a slice. I had the chocolate creme pie and it was delicious but I was too full and couldn't finish. Overall, its a nice atmosphere in a small town. The food is ok but this is a perfect place for pie. Stick with the pie!!!!
(3)Eldon P.
My wife and I went yesterday with some friends for our first visit. We had a late breakfast and I was very pleased with it. I had a biscuit and gravy and was glad I did not go for 2 biscuits! One was plenty! My wife had French Toast with apples and stuff. She loved it. The other couple shared a breakfast platter and then pie. Everything was excellent. Service a+ only down thing it is a little crowded in there, not a lot of room. We will be back!
(4)Steven K.
Yawn. I don't know what the big deal it.
(2)A A.
If you are on a diet, or thinking about a diet - this is probably not the place for you. But if you are looking for good home-cook food with great service then this is a good stop in sarasota. Some parking, and likely to have a long wait, but it goes fast. Pumpkin, and key lime pies are great. The fruit filled ones(pineapple, blueberries, etc) were ok but not as good as the other ones. Meatloaf, fried chicken, and smoked pulled pork were just what we needed after a long drive.
(4)Justin S.
First of all, I'm from the Northeast, so I was like "What, there are Amish people in Sarasota?" As it turns out, yes there are... But they're hustling. By that, I mean the Bahia Vista Street area in Sarasota has a number of big businesses with an Amish bent, or at least appearing to be run my Amish people. With that, Yoder's is one of them (and quite possibly the most famous since I think that Man Versus Food Guy came here once) for their ridiculous peanut butter cream pie, which I will revert to. My friend and I, both of whom are in our 20s stopped by here for lunch not long ago, and we were far and away the youngest people in a five mile radius (by about 50 years), but hey, it's Sarasota, right (sorry)? Anyway, we perused the menu looking for what stood out and they do offer a lot of stuff... There are sandwiches and all kinds of meat and vegetable dishes, not to mention a bevy of breakfast choices, but we both went with the dish which allows you to choose three sides as your main course. I guess I was just feeling like a bit of variety. As a side note, (I would think) that one detractor to the popularity of this place would be that I am usually not up for this type of food in Sarasota's usual 100 degree weather, but hey, who am I to judge? Big ups to their fresh bread which is actually very good. Other memorable bites included the corn fritter cakes (basically pancakes with corn in them - sounds somewhat bad, but trust me, it's awesome), potato pancakes and the carrot-raisin salad. It's the simple, well-prepared comfort foods that seem to keep bringing people back. Oh yes, that, and the pie... Let me discuss the pie. I ordered the peanut butter cream pie and my friend ordered hummingbird cake. When the pie came, we thought they brought us a serving for four (which I guess you could say they did). It's basically just a creamy, peanut buttery mess that seems to take up whatever plate or serving surface it's placed on... But it's amazing. I can unequivocally say that you should get this when you come here. The hummingbird (layer) cake was good too, but the cream pies here are the real specialty and totally worth it. If you're in the area looking for a very filling, cozy and inexpensive meal, this is a great place. Rubbing (Ben-Gayed) elbows with the geriatric crowd is just another dimension that adds to the fun of this place.
(4)William C.
A Sarasota institution. Please know that you are going to Yoders for "comfort" food. Its not fine dinning but it's wonderful homemade food. Turkey and stuffing, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and more. Also, note that the deserts are out of this world !! Breakfast is huge. Love it.
(4)J A.
My perfect "last meal" would definitely include a piece of Yoder's pie. I love coming here for a meal, or to just pick up a pie at the window outside. Great comfort food at reasonable prices. Definitely don't plan on wearing your skimpiest bikini after a meal here. They do great comfort food staples like fried chicken, carrot salad and mashed potatoes. The waiters and waitresses are always so sweet and attentive. Coconut cream pie is my favorite, but they all look like winners. I love the pie "taster" of the day (smaller portion of pie) because I feel less guilty about indulging. Definitely check out the Yoder's market for delicious fresh produce and other fun things like jam and homemade cookies.
(5)Scott P.
Pie pie and more pie. at least 20 pies to pick from. have a homemade meal. the fried chicken is wonderful and could feed 2 people easy.
(5)Julia N.
This place is a local institution. The line is always out the door. We thought we had to try it at least once and am glad we did. The food was good but on the whole very heavy. We got meat loaf and fried chicken, and they were good, nothing stellar, but good. They serve fresh whole grain bread and apple butter as an appetizer which I just adored. There is nothing wrong with a squeezy tube of apple butter at the dinner table. They do offer good salads and small main course portions if you are trying not to overindulge or simply want to save room for pie. The pie was simply amazing. My step-mom got a taster portion of coconut cream pie. Not all of the pies are available in this smaller portion. We got the peanut butter crunch and Florida key lime pie. They were all very good, but we all agreed the key lime was the winner.
(3)Krystal R.
Round 2 of Man vs. Food Sarasota tour brought us here, and I knew that I wanted some tasty pies. The words "Best pie" had kept ringing in my mind and I knew that after our so-so dinner that we needed something uplifting and delicious to end our night. Trying to park was a little difficult, the restaurant was jam-packed, and there were plenty of hungry customers eating away. Plates of fried chicken, biscuits and lots of great looking dishes passed us by as we waited for a table. We didn't wait too long, maybe 5 minutes on a Friday night. I'm kinda sad that we didn't dine here, because the fried chicken plate for $10 sounded like a steal and it looked heavenly. Oh well, our dessert portion of the night was chosen because of Adam Richman...so everyone was ready for some pie treats. We made it really easy for our waitress, and told her that we wanted desserts only....and that we flew 3000 miles for this piece of pie. She laughed at us because we jokingly said that for the love of pie brought us to this place. Our waitress, Valerie, was really sweet and brought our order of drinks in a swift manner. She gave us recommendations on pies to try. Everyone had different palates for dessert, and at least 3 of us ordered the dutch apple pie, my uncle ordered the Key lime pie, my aunt ordered the pecan pie, and I was in debate for something quirky and off-beat....like the shoofly pie or the peanut butter pie or something fruity and different from the group, but Valerie told me that if I love blueberries - then it would be perfect for me. Most of us got a scoop of ice cream on top, because that's the best way to eat a pie. Oh wow...my first bite of the blueberry pie was luscious, a mix of tangy and sweet...it was heavenly. Of course, everyone at our table had to sample each other pies. Loved the sweet and cream Key lime pie...it was soooo good. The pecan pie was a lovely reminder of the holidays coming around the corner, definitely a Thanksgiving favorite to me. The dutch apple pie was so fresh and had nice a crumbly buttery top...my husband gobbled the entire plate with no problem. I wish we would have dined here first, I would have ate my dessert as my meal instead!! We did come back the next day to get a couple more pies to take home for the rest of the famiily. How many more times will Califorians like us be able to enjoy some tasty Yoders' pie?? Seriously...it was worth the trek back and their pies are the best I've ever had. If you're in the area, this should be your number one spot to check out. The pies are smack-tastic!!
(5)Rayni K.
The only time I've ever come across Amish people was when I was somewhere in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, so I know nothing of their cuisine. All I can say is that if it's always as good as what Yoder's offer, I might be convinced to become Amish myself. Their signature fried chicken meal is HUGE. We ordered the 1/4 chicken white meat, with mashed potatoes & gravy and corn muffins as sides. We then ordered the Peanut Butter Cream pie for dessert. Note: They charge an extra $2 for sharing/extra plate. We went around this by saying that I only wanted pie, while my partner wanted the chicken. This was only half a white lie 'cos I really did only want the pie. This is where I docked a star from their rating because I find it completely unnecessary and ... well, just a tad silly. The fried chicken, even though it was white meat, was extremely juicy and tasty! It wasn't dry at all and surprised me to no end. The mashed potatoes & gravy was one of the best I've ever tasted. And the corn muffins were pretty darn good as well. But there's no doubt that the absolute winner of our meal was the Peanut Butter Cream pie. It was ah-maze-ing! I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there and then 'cos of the amount of sugar in it, but if I had died eating their pie, I think I'd be perfectly content with that. We took home their Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream pie with us and it was just as good even after leaving it in the fridge overnight. Extra info: The line can get incredibly long. We got there at 5:45pm and it was already out the door. We finally got seated at 6:25 (that's a 40-minute wait).
(4)J S.
If you want to try Amish Mennonite cooking in Sarasota, here is one place you can try. We've had a lot better, and we're from IN originally, home of some great Amish/Mennonite cooking in Shipshewanna, IN. We were very disappointed in our food, with the chicken being just so so. It definitely lacked flavor and was blah. Chicken gravy was the consistency of thick vanilla pudding and didn't even fall off the spoon when holding it upside down. Yuck! The pies are supposed to be good but we didn't sample any. During high season, (winter) this place is VERY difficult to get into, mainly because the restaurant is so small and there is very little parking. Sitting areas are VERY tight and jammed close together. A much better place to eat is Der Dutchman just down the street.
(2)Brian B.
Really good breakfast. Great place for a Saturday (but not Sunday) morning Very deep breakfast menu with lots of tasty items. I am particularly a fan of the French Toast, but the skillets are very good as well. Never been there for lunch. Service is very good. There can be a line and a substantial one later at breakfast on a Saturday, but it moves pretty quickly. Remember they are closed on Sunday.
(4)Jon M.
This place should be on every bucket list known to man. Don't eat for a day in advance because you will receive enormous portions. Also don't eat it all as you want to save room for pie! Every time I go to Florida I stop by, supper is great but the best is their breakfast. They have the best sweet roll and sweet roll pancakes you will ever taste. But don't forget, finish with pie!
(5)W W.
Good food, big portions, reasonable price. Pies good but very fatty. Parking is difficult.
(4)Kevin W.
My first experience at Yoder's was through a pie my friend Paul bought me as I was visiting from Orlando. I've heard of this place through Man vs. Food and have been dying to try it. And behold I was not disappointed. I actually was not able to make it to the restaurant to eat, due to it being closed on Sunday, but Paul did hook me up with a pie to eat. A peanut butter one, which I've heard was the best. One bite from that baby, and you can definitely tell it was homemade from top to bottom. The airiness of the whip cream, through the peanut buttery deliciousness of the filling, to the sweet crumbly awesomeness of the crust. It was mighty good. Haven't tried any of the other pies yet, but will definitely come back for a second visit when I'm in town. Highly recommend this place for dessert if your in town!
(5)Jerry m.
I want to give this place a better review as I live down the street from here and like the idea of home cooked food. But honestly, none of the dinner dishes are very good. You can get better food at a Cracker Barrel. The sides aren't bad, but the fried chicken isn't very juicy, and the meatloaf smelled and tasted like cat food. I will say that the desserts are pretty good though. Come for dessert, but pass on the dinner.
(2)Captain C.
ONE OF THE BEST APPLE PIES EVER!! I'm a vegetarian, so there isn't much for us to eat at this famous Amish restauraunt. However, they have one of the best Apple Crumb pies I have ever had. Whenever I hit Sarasota, I pick up 1 or 2 pies to bring back home to Jacksonville. The manager of the place is so nice, he always packs it well for my journey, including placing it in a travel friendly strong plastic box. The servers are all friendly, and super helpful. Even though I just order my pies for take-out, I always tip them anyway. 4 stars instead of 5 only because they lack a viable selection of vegetarian food. But that's not what Amish food is known for, anyway. I just go for dessert! :)
(4)Jane Q.
I love Yoders! The folks that work there are super friendly and helpful. It gets busy on the weekend for breakfast but so worth the wait. Love the coffee, cinnamon bun, pancakes, bacon omelette, and the banana cream pie! Food is fresh, hot, and delicious! Everyone should try Yoders. Oh love the fresh market and gift shop also! 2 thumbs up from me!!!
(5)David R.
I've been eating at Yoders since the 80's. It was a favorite when I was home on leave from the military. I moved to Atlanta in 2000 and never found anything as good up there. I'm in Sarasota visiting, my daughter wanted KFC. I laughed and said I'll take you to the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. She ordered the half chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad. The service is quick, friendly and the food was fabulous! She quickly admitted that was the best friend chicken she has ever had. She took a bunch home with her, got up the next morning and had the rest for breakfast! Two days later and guess where she wants to go for dinner again? Heheheheeh with the economy the past several years and restaurants folding and great places to eat disappearing, it's fantastic to see places like this still happily in business with great food and service! Off we go to Yoder's.. I had the roast beef last time.. The meat loaf sure sounds good tonight!
(5)Laurie K.
It has been 10 years since I first heard about this place, and have never been able to find someone to take the 2 hour and 28 minute road trip with me for lunch, well until today when I decided enough is enough and took my mom and went . I come from LI which is a day trip away from Lancaster PA and the Dutch Amish Country, which my family has frequented since I was a baby (40 plus years ago), so I KNOW delicious Amish cooking, which Yoder's is fantastic! Be ready to wait on line, but it is worth every moment we stood in the 93 degree weather. The line went briskly along and we were seated in less then an hour. The chicken is by far the most tastiest I have ever eaten, and the portions were huge! I had read a review that they only gave this place 4 out of 5 because they felt it was over priced... What a bunch of hogwash! Prices were very inline and with the servings there is plenty to take home for another day. Mom and I ate the same thing, but she had raspberry Ice Tea and I had Mint.... I have never drank tea where I felt like I had an actual mouthful of the herb or fruit. They were both spot on. I posted a picture of a MUST for dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie topped with bananas! It could have fed 4 people and this too reminded me of back north! You need to ask for this pie though as it is not on the regular menu but they will make it for you :) Wish this place was closer to us, but on our trip home we decided we would make a once a month excursion down. 10 Thumbs up for this place!!!
(5)Olga G.
The place is very popular, the line is out the door but moves quickly. The menu is large, lots of yummy choices, good options for kids. I tried their cod, and it was awesome, fresh, perfectly seasoned. Do recommend it fried. I had it with beets( if u are a fan you' d like it) and carrot salad, a bit on the sweet side, but still good. Bread and homemade apple butter is delish! Fried chicken looked huge and tasted delish, and was also very popular, many people ordered it. Sandwiches looked great as well. Also tried fresh strawberry pie and it was yum!! One of the known items Finally tried breakfast too, and oh, mama!!! Strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast was unreal!!!!!! I'm salivating just thinking about it!! Warm, crispy outside mixed with strawberry gooey goodness was haven!!! This is a must and very popular item!! My husband got scrambled eggs with beef hash and a biscuit and a bowl of fruit. Eggs-fluffy cloud; biscuit-really homemade, huge, tasty; beef hash- just yum; fruit- freshest and sweetest I've ever had at a breakfast place. Also tried biscuits and gravy, very good, and pancakes, which were just delish, Real homemade stuff! Can't wait to come back to try more things! The gift store next door is adorable, had a lot of cute, interesting items, a lot handmade and their market was pretty good too, great selection of produce, tomatoes and strawberry were So good, fresh and delicious, and their homemade whole grain bread, oh, just to die for, perfect size slice, not too mushy or ruff, goes very well with a sandwich with one if their tomatoes. The whole area was a sight to see too, an amish area, so lots of Amish people around which was really neat. Worth visiting. The only reason 4 stars is a little overpriced, but it really is worth every penny!!
(4)Robert C.
Went to Yoders this vacation and have to say the service has taken a hit. I had a side salad as one of my sides and they served it before the meal. I finished the salad and the empty bowl remained on our table through dinner and dessert. All the while two busser/food runners stood idly waiting for tables to empty out. The food continues to satisfy and the chocolate cake is still a winner with everyone. I had the lemon meringue pie this time and it was very good. My wife had the peach pie and it was off the chain delicious. I would recommend against the flounder. It was flat, over fried and tough and the corn meal coating overpowered the fish. Stick with the fried chicken or the baked chicken which both hit home runs every time.
(3)Michael M.
This is Amish cooking at its best. The staff is extremely friendly, the food delicious (try the meatloaf or fried chicken) and the desserts are heavenly. A sure fine stop any time.
(5)Michele D.
Very good the fried cicken and the peach pie too. Waitress kinds and friendly. Great value price. Reccommended.
(4)L S.
Overall it's delicious. I think the fried chicken is way over rated. Had the AYCE fish yesterday .. it was rubbery and very bland. Everything else I've had has been fantastic. Always save room for pie or take some home!!
(4)Rox R.
Yeah! This place rocks. Though it seems like a tourist trap, its not- feels very genuine and homey. Good food. I had one of the specials- BBQ pork sandwich with the sweet potato side. The BBQ sandwich was tasty and hard to eat because the meat just fell out of the bun- use a knife! But, the mashed sweet potato were absolutely amazing- best I have ever had!! Don't miss this boat. Chocolate peanut butter cream pie was amazing. Share it because its too much for 1 person. Neither the peanut butter or chocolate is overpowering- they got it just right. BTW- did I mention how good the mashed sweet potato was? Just checking.. yeah, make that into a pie! Whoa, that would blow my mind.
(5)Taylor C.
Food is amazing. The restaurant could be a little bigger, but other than that eveyrthing is PERFECT! The strawberry pie is amazing! Definitely recommend everyone goes here. Service is awesome as well.
(5)Selena C.
Once I came with my family and waited in line forever since they kept seating groups before us, that were the same size or smaller. We finally got seated when another group behind us was about to get started pointed out to the hostess that we had been repeatedly skipped... Even though that was close to four years ago now I'm always a bit hesitant about dining. The cream pies are really really good though and I almost mooch off of my friends whenever they go and buy some. So yeah. Mixed feelings and cream pie.
(3)Darren O.
Maybe I'm being too harsh on Yoder's here because I feel a bit bad about giving them a three star review. I hadn't been down to Sarasota in four years and for probably a decade before Yoder's was the go to place when we were down there. The meatloaf was always AMAZING, to the point if we were in Sarasota for two weeks I might have it six times while we were there. The pies were also to die for, the special chocolate peanut butter pie especially. Fast forward four years and a Man Vs. Food appearance and the place just didn't seem the same to me. The LONG lines were still out the door, causing an easy 45 minute wait to get a table and the place pretty much looked the same, except for the plasma tv on the wall playing the Man Vs. Food clip over and over and over... Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Man Vs. Food show, I just have to wonder if the exposure on that stated a downward trend at Yoder's. I tried the meatloaf, and it was ok, it just wasn't the meatloaf that I'd remembered from the past. A couple days later I tried the meatloaf on the buffet over at Troyer's down the street and it was better. The mashed potatoes were a bit cold in the middle, which was very odd to me. My father had the baked chicken and he complained that it was very dry. Since the chicken is something that Yoder's is supposed to be famous for, that was a pretty big letdown for him. I had a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie and it was more of a big mess of chocolate pudding with some crust underneath and some chocolate chips on top. Certainly not the worst pie I've ever had, but not the Yoder's pies that I'd have told you were the BEST anywhere in years past. The one thing I can say is that the homemade mint tea was most excellent. Our waitress was great and the service was excellent, the food just wasn't up to what I'd have liked. My mother and wife disagreed with me, so your mileage may vary here! I'm sure we will give Yoder's another chance next time we're in the area, but for this trip at least the lines were not worth waiting in especially with Troyer's Dutch Heritage a couple minutes down the road. Hopefully Yoder's will find a way to get back to the basics and become great again!
(3)Salimeh K.
So we went here as my husband saw some show regarding this restaurant. Well there was a line out the door, so we thought the food would be great...ya right!! I ordered the fried chicken-it was dry and not tasty at all. Extremely bland and so disappointing. We did not bother ordering dessert as i was not happy with my meal. We just wanted to get out of there asap. Maybe if we visit the area we might give it another shot and try the breakfast and dessert, but no "famous fried chicken"...
(2)Natalie W.
The breakfast here will blow your mind. I had the eggs and bacon which were so fresh and delicious. The orange juice was the best i've ever had in my life. The waiters are a little weird but I think that is all part of the authentic experience. Be sure to take home a home-made woopie pie. Also, be prepared for a wait in the morning, however they do a good job of moving people in and out quickly.
(4)Brenda W.
Huge serving sizes of all American comfort food......try the homemade potato chips!!!! They are to die for.....yummy!!!! Our family of 5 had a fantastic dinner on a Friday night.
(4)M W.
It just baffles me that this place is not only still in business, but successful. After hearing wonderful reviews, my husband and I stopped in for dinner and some pie. The menu offered many country-style choices. He chose the fried chicken, which we heard was amazing, and I had some sort of side-item meal. Well, the fried chicken was gross--KFC is far better--and the side item meal was beyond gross. I mean, they serve CANNED GREEN BEANS. Unapologetically, apparently. They say it's to keep costs down, but their menu prices are average, not cheap. Canned green beans. I just couldn't get over it. Why am I paying upwards of $8 for four cans of vegetables dumped on my plate? Also, despite being a bakery of sorts, they serve SLICED WONDERBREAD rather than fresh bread with your meal. Yes, we got a little plate piled high with five or six slices of WONDERBREAD. Gross. Their pies were okay--nothing to write home about. Super bland pie crusts but good filling. Lots of whipped cream. This restaurant is just gross. You couldn't pay me to eat here again.
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