Ox Yoke Inn
4420 220th Trl, Amana, IA, 52203
Ox Yoke Inn Menu
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Address :
4420 220th Trl
Amana, IA, 52203 - Phone (319) 622-3441
- Website https://www.oxyokeinn.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dessert
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 : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Adriane P.
Ox Yolk Inn is a must visit at the Amana colonies. I've dined here 3x (with a Bavarian German person) and we were both pleased with the execution of the menu and the quant decor & hospitality. Some standouts: Chicken Schnitzel- good. My standard order. Noodles/Spatzel- I liked these best. Fresh cottage cheese with onion- refreshing Pickled Beets- good. Not a shining star by any means but I wouldn't kick them out of bed for eating crackers. Local Ham prepared German style- savory, sweet and salty but not overpowering in any of those characteristics. Coffee-fresh and p hot. Stuffed animal German black bears- aww The only way improvement I have is if it gets dog friendly, like a patio, but otherwise its charming. Guten Appetit!!! Tschus : )
(4)Anna N.
Definitely not very customer friendly. It was very obvious that the owners are cheap. They ask you not to waste any food but don't want you to take any home either. I also overheard them arguing with customers over a coupon and the manager was very inappropriate. Our waitress, Linda, was outstanding which is the only reason i would give this place two stars. You go Linda!
(2)Jack C.
We saw the reviews about arriving early for breakfast, so we arrived at 9:30 and immediately got a table. We all chose the Family style breakfast. It was wonderful. All of the food was homemade and very good. Nothing spectacular, or I would have given it 5 stars. The waitress was attentive and very friendly. I would definitely take the time to eat here again.
(4)J. H.
OMFG! If you don't stop here you are foolish. This is THE BEST eatery on this side of the state.
(5)Chris H.
I do not eat sauerkraut, coleslaw, or cottage cheese. Until this restaurant. I ate forks full of every one of them. My Jagger Schnitzel was fork tender and delicious (though more mushrooms would have been a bonus). My wife's pork chop was the best either of us has had in years.
(5)Caroline M.
My friend and I did lunch here a couple weeks ago. We've both dined at the Ox Yolk Inn in the past, her visit much more recent than mine, but we both got to relive fond memories. We arrived at the very end of their breakfast service and a wee bit early for the lunch service, so we waited it out. My friend had her heart set on fried chix. So that settled it....we'd wait it out. The adorable server seated us right before lunch service officially started and I scanned then menu. Pork tenderloin sandwich. Done! The server brought out rolls and their strawberry jam for us to munch on. Then our entrees arrived. Gloriously golden fried chicken (for my friend) and pork for myself. We savored each bite. We split a slice of coconut cream pie. The crust wasn't to my liking, but it totally reminded us of a diner style pie. Comforting. And simple.
(3)Caylene B.
Love this place!!!! We always eat downstairs at the "Bierstube" (beer room). Cool and cozy on a hot day. Try the handbreaded portobello mushrooms for an appetizer!
(5)Megan L.
This place is ridiculous. First off, the hostess who seated us was really rude. The waitress didn't even try to be nice, she just wrote down orders, and said nothing else. The food is a joke. Authentic German food comes out of a can? Its sloppy, dry or soggy, and tasteless? Yuck. Don't bother with this place. Its really overpriced too.
(1)Emily V.
Went here with my family to my brother's graduation and we had a great meal. I love that you can get a taste of German food and schnitzel and all of it's delight in this little restaurant in the Amana Colonies near Iowa City. The only thing I was annoyed with was it was a little confusing to understand who gets what (why so many rules?) when ordering our meal. Some of us had the local beer which was tasty. Schitzel Schnitzel Schintzel! Gotta love it!
(5)Tricia K.
Make it a point to drive a little further and have yourself a wonderful family style meal. Parking is no problem due to the large parking lot out back. I have only been here for lunch and dinner but it always puts a big smile on my face and I enjoy the family dining aspect of the meal. I usually get the wiener schnitzel which is simply delicious. My favorite sides happen to be the corn and the cottage cheese with green onions mixed in. I don't understand the mixed reviews on this restaurant as I have never had a bad meal here. Its not the most upscale food but its very midwestern and quite delicious in my opinion. If you are looking for a cosmopolitan meal, you are looking in the wrong area.
(5)Cristin M.
If you ever find yourself taking a trip to the area better known as the Amana Colonies, and you have a hankering for some damn fine food, I recommend you head over to the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana. I ate here once as a kid, and was dying to go back as soon as I knew I was headed to the area. I remembered that they serve you tons of food, so I made sure to bring my appetite. If you don't know anything about the Amanas, remember this - they're all about the communal way of life (or were up until the 1930's) and this restaurant is a good representation of that. Most of the menu is part of a family dining schema, where you pick out your entree, and then get refillable portions of bread, potato, vegetable, salad, and cottage cheese to share with the table. You don't have to go with that type of ordering, but if you don't, you'll miss out on part of the experience. My friend and I ordered the roast beef and jager schnitzel. The jager schnitzel was a fine specimen of Iowa pork that was breaded and lightly fried. It came with a side of spaetzle and topped with some nice, mild mushroom gravy. The pork itself was tender and juicy, with no tough bits. The roast beef was awesome! When you think of roast beef, you probably think of those sad, thin, tough pieces of meat that are screaming for some au jus just to liven it up a little. Not here, my friends. The Ox Yoke's roast beef was tender chunks of local beef, so tender that you didn't need a knife! And let's not forget all of those sides - top notch through and through. The mashed potatoes alone with the gravy were to die for, just like mom makes. And don't get me started on the cottage cheese with chives. If you're looking for home-style food, and you're near Iowa City, don't miss this. It's packed full on the weekends and the locals recommend it. Me + Iowa pork and beef = happy, died and gone to heaven, girl. At the end of your meal, the waitress will come around with a platter of desserts to choose from, but my friend and I were so stuffed that we couldn't even look at it. Oh well, maybe next time!
(5)Ray W.
Spent 6 whole days in Iowa (mainly Des Moines) and had lunch and dinner at 12 different places. This was #5 (of 12). We stopped here on the way home for lunch. Food was fantastic (though equal in quality, but not price) to our favorite Chicagoland German spot) and service was prompt. Portion sizes however, were extremely small. "Bang for the buck" cost them a star, but the "tiny" Weiner Schnitzel I'd gotten allowed me to try their desserts, which are well worth their cost!!! :) Reading some other reviews, I may have missed something by not going family-style (there were three of us who each wanted different meals). We'll be sure to give that a try the next time.
(4)Bonnie J.
Good home taste food. Homemade Strawberry Jelly was really good!!! Will stop again
(4)Erica H.
This is the only place I will eat in the Amanas. Now be careful - there is an Ox Yoke Inn on I-80 called the "Innerstate", this is not the real deal. You must venture into Main Amana to enjoy the real Ox Yoke. First thing - I recommend a reservation, especially on weekends. If you don't, expect to wait for a bit for a table. There's a cramped gift shop in the lobby, a small bar/lounge area where you can grab a Millstream beer while you wait, or a nice outdoor area if it's pleasant outside. This is cooking like your grandmother makes, if your grandmother happens to be a German farm wife. The best way to experience a meal is to go family style. Each guest orders their own main dish (choose from Iowa pork chops, wiener schnitzel, roasted chicken and many other hearty dishes), and then share the sides around the table. The potatoes are delicious! Odds are pretty good your server will probably also look like your grandmother. The female servers wear embroidered aprons and the males wear what look like modified liederhosen. They will work diligently to get your food out in a hurry, but don't expect too much warmth. These are a Germanic people. The name of the game is efficiency. If you happen to be in the area for a holiday (Easter, Mothers Day), they will often have a special brunch buffet. Recommend. You will be full, but save room for pie - anything with rhubarb is a winner.
(4)Alden C.
I loved the Ox Yoke Inn! At first though I was not too sure how it would go because it took a while to get seated and there were staff members nearby that did not seem all that busy. After I did get seated though I ordered the special of the day which was beef and noodles. The portion was small but it was enough for me and I had a nice side of coleslaw to go with it and everything was very tasty. I ordered a nice pilsner glass full of beer and got a sufficient buzz off of it. Never mind the fact that I am a light weight with alcohol. In the end though the experience was quite nice and I would totally go back!
(4)Lance G.
I've been coming here pretty much all my life and after a 20 year hiatus I'm glad to report that it's as good as it ever was. My love for family style dining can't be over emphasized, an endless supply of potatoes, corn, sauerkraut and home made cottage cheese. Yes I said home made cottage cheese, it's NOTHING like the stuff you get at the store. My favorite dish here is the honey apple smoked pork chop. *looks at Tsada with a mix of pity and suspicion* They serve a variety of local wines but I can't really recommend that, Iowa is NOT world renowned for wine making. I typically have a Millstream beer with my meal millstreambrewing.com what Iowa lacks in the wine department it more than makes up for in beer. Did I mention that I like beer? I like beer. As an added bonus on my last visit our waitress reminded me of Betty Boop's mother at the beginning of Minnie the Moocher. youtube.com/watch?v=Po9M… Good times.
(5)Joseph R.
After all the rave reviews we were really expecting something better. We both had the sauerbraten which was indistinguishable from plain old roast beef & gravy. Sides were mashed potatoes and canned corn. For a restaurant that touts its traditional German cuisine, it was more like something made from recipes out of a 1950's edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook. We didn't order "family style" - if we want endless humdrum potatoes, corn, sauerkraut and cottage cheese, we'll go to Golden Corral.
(2)Jim P.
Some restaurants are all about the food. Some are all about the concept. Some are all about the experience. But it's true rarity to have an "experience" kind of restaurant pull through with such wonderful food, too. The Amana Colonies haven't been the communes of yore for quite a long time now, but they do retain much of their rich historical tradition, even if only to attract passersby to make a detour from their road trips across the country. This restaurant is a prime example of classic American dining, even if it is (outstanding) German food. I went with my family and we had, between us, two types of schnitzel, smoked pork chops, sauerbraten, spaetzle, sauerkraut, potatoes, cole slaw, pickled ham, pickled beets, cottage cheese, two types of bread, corn, gravy, two kinds of pie, and German chocolate cake, to boot! Needless to say, every last morsel was simply perfect: meat falling prey to the side of a fork, gravy made from real drippings, really good locally-brewed beer (no pisswasser here!), cakes and pies like I've never even had before. The service was absolutely charming, and we all left stuffed to the brim with delicious food, unable to come up with any aspect of the entire meal that could have been any better. As the song goes, "Oh, there's nothing halfway about the Iowa way to treat you if we treat you, which we may not do at all." At least on this visit to Amana, we were treated, better than we could have even wanted, and there was definitely nothing halfway about it.
(5)joel w.
We had lunch at the Inn but ordered off of the dinner menu. The veal was exceptionally tender and tasty. As others have said, this isn't fancy food, just good wholesome cooking. We arrived at about 12:30 without reservations and had no trouble getting seated, however, by 1pm the place was a circus of people. My only real criticism was that the food lacks much in the way of seasoning, especially the vegetables. They are fresh, but a bit flat.
(4)Steve M.
I can say that anytime you are passing through Amana, Iowa you MUST stop at the Ox and the Yoke. Nothing beats the family style dinner they serve. If you go on the weekends I would recommend a reservation but it's worth the wait. I usually get the Amana Ham or Bratwurst but I have never gone with anyone that didn't enjoy their meal.
(4)mark d.
The food was great, I thought it was a little pricey, the total cost for three of us was $80 plus tip.
(4)Jim P.
Excellent restaurant. Had reservations for our extended family of 6 on a very busy Octoberfest weekend. We were seated promptly on time when seating times for walk in parties were over an hour. Server was very friendly, taking time to explain the menu and how they serve family style. Menu has a couple of the good beers from the local Amana brewery. German specialties were all amazing: Sauerbraten, Chicken Schnitzel, Wiener Schnitzel and Kasseler Rippchen. If you are visiting the colonies would highly recommend. If you're driving near Iowa City its worth the short diversion.
(5)Craig J.
Aspiring to mediocrity. Service was good food poorly prepared. We must have been here on an off night
(3)Karen V.
When in a group, everyone should select family style so all can share the sides that are brought with your entree. I had the burgundy mushroom gravy weinerschnitzel with spatzle. The meat was over cooked and the spatzle was watery with no texture or taste, very disappointing, but I was the only one who ordered that. Everyone really liked the strawberry jam. Service was great and the noise level was much lower than I remember from years ago. All the sides were very good!
(3)Megan P.
Fried chicken was DELiCIOUS!!! The Cole Slaw was wonderful!!! Those are the only good things I can say about this tourist trap!! The bread tasted flat and out of a package. The sauerkraut was just that... Sour. The corn was old. Please bring me a tiny bowl of mashed potatoes between 4 people!! (They were refilled but after we could track down the waiter) The service was lacking!! Our server was as dry as the bread!! Will probably not go back:( (I was very appreciative to the young lady that got us a bowl of applesauce for our hangry 2 year old!!)
(1)Mark M.
Excellent food. Melt in the mouth beef and succulent sumptuous food. Winner winner here
(5)Ann W.
Very disappointing! I had the pork schnitzel and my husband had the Wiener schnitzel. The meat was pretty good, but the vegetables were canned and over cooked. I had spaetzle which was mushy and tasteless. Greeters and servers seemed to care less that we were there. It was not a good experience.
(2)LaNeda A.
We stopped in Amana Iowa primarily for a great German meal. We were too late for dinner so tried breakfast. It was the worst meal I've had on the 1600 miles of travel this trip. I ordered potato pancakes. The onions and hashbrowns were barely warmed up, much less cooked, and flavorless. I left all but half of one pancake on the plate and was never asked if there was a problem with my meal. I rate this with one star only because my husband's buttermilk pancakes and eggs were okay.
(1)Denise G.
Decided to stop here the second day of my Amana trip. I went with family style eats this time. *Every* side was absolutely excellent. The schnitzel was thick with great texture and taste. I was a bit disappointed that, being Jagerschnitzel, it didn't have mushrooms which are traditional, and as far as I'm concerned, expected. But all-in-all it was a great meal. Good service, nice, traditional atmosphere with table linens, etc. like I remember from my childhood. They also have a nice, little dark pub downstairs (very traditional German) that we enjoyed while waiting to be called to the dining room. Good beer on tap.
(4)Lucy S.
I was too starving to send my food back to the kitchen. It felt like eating at someone's weird relatives' house. The kind of relatives who pour canned green beans onto a plate and stick them into the microwave for not long enough. And this might seem incongruous, but I also need to complain about how small the portions were. I do, however, really enjoy the fact that on no notice at 5pm on a Sunday night in rural Iowa, it's still possible to procure yourself a Wiener Schnitzel.
(2)Erin F.
Never disappoints. Great & plentiful German food served family style. Top it off with a locally brewed beer or root beer and it doesn't get much better.
(5)Mike M.
Thank you for once again satisfying my craving for eating way too much food. If I could eat here every day when I'm back in town I would. Brats, schnitzels, pork producyshhfrg. Sorry, just drooled on my smartphone. What I really want to do is just eat your rhubarb desserts. Sigh. I'll be back in another 6 months or so. For now I'll just have to wish you could bring me something while I'm waiting in the Cedar Rapids airport.
(4)Sarah R.
I'm judging this place relative to any other restaurant I could have stopped in at a nearby city, and NOT by the same German-specific food standard (unabashedly influenced by fond childhood memories) that previous reviews seemed to use. AMBIANCE: In a word, old. Feels like you've stumbled into your grandparent's forgotten parlor, complete with poor lighting (all the better to not see your food by?), dark green carpeting, antique floral wallpaper, and 19th century wall decor. Your dining companions will likely be 60+ years and a good 80lbs overweight. SERVICE: Quick. Polite. 100% female. FOOD: A large dose of salty gravy with a side of meat, mashed potatoes, and slaw. They do a family style for those really looking to kick their doctor in the face, but we ordered single plates which were plenty big and salty enough, especially if considering dessert. The roast beef sandwich was slathered in gravy and tasted like a salt lick, while the "special" roasted pork was the driest meat I've had this side of beef jerky. OVERALL: You're either going here for the oddity of the place (I plead guilty to this one), to chase some childhood memories, or you have no idea of what constitutes good food. Save your money, time, and waistline. (Side note, if you're heading West, just keep on trucking to the next descent town. The grocery store there has an amazing buffet with tons of fresh fruit!)
(2)Lauren M.
Ate here on a Sunday evening with my husband, kids and parents. We were seated immediately, treated very nicely and had a very pleasant and attentive server. The food was simple but delicious. The decor was a bit dated and the lobby area smelled kind of funny but I look forward to eating here again. I had a coupon but realized that I didn't order the family style for my entrée but they were kind enough to take a few bucks off anyway. My only regret is that I was too full after dinner to order dessert.
(4)Steve C.
Oh wow has this place gone down hill. I remember coming here 20 years ago when I was a kid. I remember the German food being phenomenal. Sadly I wasted hours of time I could have been driving and gotten home sooner. The food was barely above truck stop quality complete with a toothless Waffle House quality waitress. Actually that is an insult to Waffle House waitresses because I have never had a bad one. The lady seemed quite bothered by the fact we chose to eat dinner, questions were answered rudely. I ordered the jager shcnitzel which was not very good, the gravy tasted like they used a jar of Hunt's gravy and threw some mushrooms in it, and the veggies were canned crap. I forget what my wife had but it was equally crappy. The only thing decent I had was the beer, which was brewed locally. I remember the family style service to be quite the show, but we did not try it this time. I think this place has gone way too commercial for its own good and lost the 'home cooking' feel that made it great. They have some decently priced packages for golf and rooms from the many brochures I saw. Overall it was not even close to being worth the price or the waste of time. Recommendation: Skip this place all together if you are passing through. Stop at Flying J or another truck stop and you will probably get better food. If you take advantage of the package deals and have no other choice, have several of the local craft beers before you eat and I'm sure the food will be delicious.
(1)J B.
Disappointing. Unfriendly server. Waited nearly an hour for our food, and had to ask for refills. Food was ordinary at best.
(1)JAK K.
Whenever we are in Amana, Iowa, we have lunch or dinner at the Ox Yoke In. Family style servings and large portions make adding dessert challenging. It was hard to pass up the strawberry rhubarb custards (so we didn't and stuffed ourselves!). The schnitzels are the favorites
(4)Matt U.
I remember coming here when I around 7 years old and one score plus two years later, it remains delicious! We've tried all the places around town and this has consistently been the best one. The cottage cheese, corn and potatoes are brilliant and we've never had a dish here we'd didn't love. Great for groups and the portions are hearty enough that you'll be able to share and have leftovers!
(4)Eric J.
We have been a customer of the Ox Yoke Inn for over 20 years and have recommended it many times. This visit, however was very disappointing. The ham dinner was fatty and very thinly cut. Our waiter was not friendly, and did not appear to like his job.
(2)Terri S.
Definitely worth eating here. Ribs falling off the bone tender as well as the other food being very good. Glad we ate here.
(5)Ted B.
Once in a while, we have a drive out to the Amanas for the more-than-you-can-possibly-digest family-style breakfast. We usually eat at another of Amana's several restaurants - all of which seem to do more or less the same sort of trade - but this time we met up with my wife's grandparents, who insisted that we breakfast at the Ox Yoke. This particular restaurant is centrally located along the main street, and always seems to be fairly busy. In fact, we had to wait forty-five minutes for a table when we visited. As it turned out, we shouldn't have bothered waiting at all, because this was by far the worst Amana breakfast experience I've ever had. First, let me just add a couple of qualifiers: as far as I can tell, ALL of the Amana restaurants use canned fruit cocktail, and they all offer watered-down orange juice from concentrate. They all brew weak, watery coffee. And they all, to some extent, look like recreations of your old grandma's dining room in the 1970s. Those are givens, but they're not deal breakers by any means. What they tend to do well, or even very well, is bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, toast, jam and syrup. Simple stuff, but when it's done right, it just about hits the spot. The Ox Yoke did none of these things right. I hate to launch into a litany of failures and shortcomings, but really, there's no other way to go about it: Bacon: fried so hard that it shatters into a million pieces the moment your fork touches it. Sausage: hot dogs, yes, actual hot dogs. Eggs: like warm rubber. Potatoes: never arrived at the table, possibly a blessing. Pancakes: not the delicious crepe-style you get at the other restaurants, more like bigger versions of McDonald's pancakes. Toast: Wonderbread or something like it. Jam and syrup: straight from the supermarket. Even the stuff that you expect to be a bit rubbish in the Amanas (coffee, juice, etc.) was at least one degree worse than any of the other restaurants. The waitress was openly and audibly disdainful of our very presence, and she was rude to me and my children, both of whom were behaving remarkably well given the circumstances. The bill looked like something you'd pick up at the Ritz-Carlton, not at all reflective of the cost of running to your local discount grocery and chucking together a budget-priced breakfast. I won't even get into the dark, gloomy décor. (But I ought to mention the outlandish gift shop which at least offers entertaining browsing while you wait to be relieved of your hard-earned money.) Somehow, my wife's grandparents seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Perhaps they remember a time when the Ox Yoke was a respectable establishment, possibly sometime before the war. I didn't enjoy myself at all, and neither will anyone else who doesn't like being ripped off for some warmed-over, low-to-no quality store-bought food delivered to your table by a miserable old bag. Sorry, but this place is a sham. There are far, far better restaurants within strolling distance, so do yourself a favor and take a stroll.
(1)Gregory B.
This is for the in-town location: Amazing desserts. The Rhubarb Streusel is one of a kind, anywhere. Nice service. Great and unique batter on the fried chicken, wonderful vegetables, potatoes. But the kraut wasn't up to snuff this time, prices are high and the fruit salsa was old. A good but not a great choice.
(4)Mary R.
Chicken schnitzel , sauerbraten, German chocolate cake very good. Susie, our server, has been dishing it up for 37 years. I have eaten here occasionally for 50 years. It does not disappoint.
(5)Austin B.
Came here for Sunday brunch, turned out it was a big buffet. Waitress had a hangover and couldn't put a coherent sentence together. Food was just okay, for the $15 it cost I would have just ate breakfast at Hy-vee twice. For $15 the food should be so good that I want to eat until I puke, here I felt like I was eating just to recoup my costs.
(2)Dave T.
What a disappointment! We would stop 30 yrs ago, but won't stop again. We talking very ordinary food. The schnitzel was almost under cooked and the serving size was a 'kiddie' menu portion. The server had as much personality as a washboard. This on a Tuesday in October when they were not busy. Must have been the 2nd sting. I don't know how anyone can recommend this place other than nostalgia No Bookmark here.
(1)Michelle F.
Great food and service! Had the schnizel plated, which was more than enough food rather than doing family style. My husband had the plated knatwurst/brattwurst..we tasted each others and both were delicious! Very happy with the friendly service and atmosphere. Would go again!
(5)Mill V.
Fried chicken- moist and salty goodness. Mashed taters equally good. I loved the chives in the cottages cheese, I now eat cottage cheese like that at home! Very nice homey restaurant. WaY too much good, but damn good.
(4)Pia F.
This place is over-priced and the food is not authentic. I ended up ordering the coconut cream pie after a disappointing, mushy, tasteless pork tenderloin and was in dismay over the fact that it was full of cream whip and not fresh cream as the waitress insisted. You are better off eating at home. The beef barley soup is straight out of a Knor packet.
(1)Eric B.
If you like good family style food and are tired of the "Chain" restaurants I suggested Ox Yoke Inn at Amana. Served up family style we had Ham & Fried chicken with all the fix ens. All you can eat. This will probably remind you of your grandmothers cooking ... real down to earth.
(4)