Some of the best home style cooking out there!! Soooo good! Only downfall is the look of the restaurant..has an "old folks home" feel.
(5)
Jimmy H.
Awesome buffet, this is a great place for fat people to eat! Everything is home made and I also ordered the chocolate peanut butter pie which was delicious. There is also a bakery on site and an Amish gift store. Great place to take visitors!
(5)
Regina M.
Grown out of its roots, which was HAND MADE FOOD. The food is good - don't get me wrong - but its no longer freshly made from scratch. Its all about the mighty dollar now. In the gift shop, I didn't see a single piece of Amish made furniture and the few quilts they had were not handmade. It was clean as a whistle, the service was great, the food was really good ... but its not the Der Dutchman it used to be ... no longer "authentic." [SIGH]
(3)
William D.
BIG disappointment! Bland, bland, bland. After all the hype I had heard for years I expected so much and was dashed to the ground. And to round it off, a sticky table. Save your gas.
(1)
Mike S.
Not quite as good as Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana, but the food is very comparable. Amish home cooking and it's everything you'd expect. A decadent selection of fried chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes, etc. And the incredible desserts. We felt the buffet was a better value than family style because there's much more to choose from. Good stuff!!!
(4)
T-Bone L.
Ask anyone in the area and they will light up when talking about the Der Dutchman. I have never understood. It's an Amish restaurant and they offer chicken fried steak and lots of comfort food. I guess it's just not my scene. The pie is pretty great, though, I have to admit that.
(3)
Unknown C.
Ja das ist gut! Visiting Der Dutchman for the first time in a couple of years, was pleasantly surprised at some the updates. Had the buffet and as always there was plenty of selection good home style food. One thing you can count on is "Consistency" If you go at dinner time you can also expect crowds that are a mix of nice elderly folks, families and WorldWide Wrestling fans body slamming someone to get a drumstick. Actually that is an exaggeration because they do keep the food stocked. So if you'd like a nice homey restaurant and a little bit of shopping in their craft store and bakery you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Awesome donuts and other baked goods. Gift shop is legit for finding a Mother's Day or Christmas gift.
(5)
April W.
Went on Saturday morning for the breakfast buffet. Typical breakfast buffet food...eggs, sausage, hash browns, assorted fruits, muffins, biscuits and gravy, bacon etc. What I love about amish food is you can taste the naturalness. The sausage did not taste processed and same with the bacon. When I finished breakfast I really felt like the meal was made with love. The fruit was super fresh. Even had kiwis with skin still on them. Atmosphere was clean, friendly wait staff. Didn't have to wait for seating and we arrived at 10:30. They were setting up the lunch buffet that also had salad buffet and the waitress said if we wanted to part take in all buffets she would just charge us for lunch buffet. The idea sounded awesome but we were stuffed! Definitely worth the drive from columbus. I have never been to this one, only the one in mansfield. The store was very exciting, nice products to purchase for the home. The bakery was amazing, we had to look at all the fresh cooked breads and desserts. I purchased some cheese spread because my roommate brought some home one time and it was amazing. Restrooms were clean and nice. Overall great experience! Loved the drive through town.
(3)
Suzanne F.
Alrighty I remember the days when you waited forever for a coveted seat at this place. I used to love sitting in the Amish buggy to eat. I was running some errands with my Mom and she asked me to lunch here. I've always had a liking for the broasted chicken so I happily agreed to go. Well they've vastly expanded so there's no waiting it appears. We are seated immediately and we both opt for the lunch buffet. I got a salad before hand and it was very good as everything was fresh. I then got the broasted chicken mashed potatoes corn green beans and Mac and cheese. Boy it's the first time I remember ever thinking that the food was just meh. I mean MEH with a capital M. Yikes how did this happen where oh where did my yumminess go?????
(3)
Sarah P.
My family and I have been here several times. This is by far the CLEANEST buffet I have ever been to. They keep the food stocked. I don't think I have ever been here and they had ran out of something. The fried chicken is pretty good. The bigger pieces are not as crisp as the smaller ones sometimes...they need a little more cooking time, but that is the only complaint I have about their buffet food. Their dressing is absolutely the best dressing I have ever had in my life (please don't tell my husband I think theirs is better)!!! I can't get enough. Their pies, however are another story. I think they are yucky. I can make better pies and I am no skilled pie maker. If you want dessert, get it somewhere else, not here.
(4)
Suzanne M.
We were so excited to try Amish food, since we've heard so many great things about it. After a visit to Der Dutchman, unfortunately we still don't feel we've tried Amish food. We had the buffet which had broasted (looks like southern fried) chicken, ham, slow roasted shredded beef, ribs, etc. All the meats were dry except the ribs. The meatloaf was not on the buffet but we were able to add it for $1.00, on top of the $14.99 buffet price. It came with some sort of cherry flavored sweet and sour Karro Syrup all over it, and the meat tasted like TVP (Vegan textured vegetable protein). BLECH!! Everything also seemed to have an excess amount of sugar in it. The macaroni and cheese tasted like it came out of a can, mashed potatoes tasted "real", but were missing the buttery richness of homemade. After being told by plenty of folks that Amish food is delicious because it's made from all natural Amish farm fresh ingredients, and then seeing the "Peanut Butter Spread" (on every table), has high fructose corn syrup in it, and they had single serving industrially packaged butter and margarine packets on each table - not home made. For dessert we tried the Peach Pie. The filling was very close to, if not exactly like, the canned pie filling on any grocer's shelves, and the crust (which was obviously mass produced in some food processing kitchen) didn't appear to have been baked! The surprising thing is there were a hundred people eating there and a hundred people waiting to get seated, but these were not people with discriminating palettes, but more the type that frequents Golden Corral, and would most likely say "The food is mediocre but they give you a lot of it!" There is also a bakery, but I highly doubt they are making anything from scratch, and receiving premade bakery items from a central processing facility and just finishing the baking onsite. A large gift shop onsite helped us pass the 45 minute wait for a table. My advice to anyone wanting Amish food, is to see if you can offer to help an Amish family build a barn and stay long enough to partake in a meal. While the service was great, waiter extremely courteous, I don't recommend Der Dutchman for good food, much less, authentic Amish food.
(1)
Nick S.
7 WORDS: Grand Buffet, Updated Amish Feel, Homey, Pricey When we arrived, the parking lot was reasonably but the wait was non-existent and we were able to help ourselves to the buffet immediately. . The long bar included the usual "Amish-Style" cuisine: Fried Chicken, Chicken and Noodles (not dumplings), dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, bread pudding and complete salad and dessert bars. Everything was a small step above standard buffets and the seating area itself was clean and well-kept. It always gives the feel of Americana - comfortable booths with heavy padding or dining tables with all-wood hoop-backed chairs. Most of the food was great. However, I've noticed the problems with the cooking of the chicken is a trend with Der Dutchman. The chicken is either a little high in grease content in the breading or the grease itself hasn't been changed. This time, however, it was the former and not the latter. Next time, I think I will limit my chicken intake to one or two pieces and see how that goes. The service always has the perfect 'feel', the ambiance is always ultra-pleasant, and the buffet choices are truly buffet. Our bill came to 15.50 each and that very fair considering what we got to eat. Would I return to Der Dutchman? Always, unless I was trying to discover a new restaurant, good or bad....which is always my preferred method of dining out.
(4)
Linda H.
I realize that you have MSG in some of your food. But I never but those foods on my plate nor order them. I see list at the tables. But.... Every single time that I eat at your restraunt I feel sick to my stomach even sometimes before I get up from the table. Then I go lay down at home but I feel sick for a couple more hours. So I'm just wondering if MSG is getting in my food or bacteria ??? Also where I use to live The Dutch Essenhaus. In middlebury, IN. The have basically same food. I never in 23 plus years have felt that horrible. Horrible as in headache, sick to my tummy, and just terrible inside. There's something in your food. I've heard same complaint from other town folk. Please look into why this is please
(1)
Ryan S.
I have been here countless time because this seems to be the only place my parents want to go to while in town. I can't seem to get them to go any place else. Hey, you should try Bravo, it's like Olive Garden but more. . . Der Dutchman. Since you are shopping in Easton you we should eat at Bon Vies, they gave the best lobster. . . Der Dutchman. Well since you are getting a check up at tOSU, The Fish Market is just a block. . . Der Dutchman. Face palms. I pretty much just start heading up 33 before they finish asking, "want to meet for dinner." I am not complaining though, the Der Dutchman has pretty good typical American food--though nothing really for the vegan, vegetarian, health conscious out there. We are talking juicy roast beef, perfect mash potatoes, scrumptious stuffing, thick gravy, sometimes juicy chicken, and fresh salad. Served with delicious and fresh homemade bread, the place can fill a empty stomach for us who don't watch calories, carbs, or cholesterol intake. They also have 'family style, for large groups, and of course you can order dishes on its own. I've been coming here since I was in 8th grade. I remember when it was smaller and you waited outside on rocking chairs. It has since ballooned up into a megaplex building that rivals tourist traps in tourist busy cities. Billed as an Amish restaurant, the place seems more corporate chain now than it did then, losing some illusion of authenticity as it became more popular. With stores all over Ohio, and similar concepts popping up in Indiana, Plain Cities' spot has lost some of its destination appeal and novelty. Who know how much my memory is warped by time, but it seems that Der's food has lost some quality since the '80s, dropping closer to Crackle Barrel than it once was. It is still good, but I think Nancy's in Clintonville has them beat Chicken and Noodle wise. Still, the place is popular and can be crowded on the weekends. My last visit was during the week and it was pretty dead. One knock, the atmosphere can be boring, with the wide space, no music, and walls the reflect the sound of every spoon click, murmur, and squeak of shoes, the place lacks a cosy comfort. Though they are now adding walls that help this somewhat, a better experience environmentally is still needed. Of course they have a world class bakery; pies, crisps, scones, cookies are all well, well done. A gift shop is attached and has more than just county cornball crafts--there is actually some great stuff there. If you haven't been there and dig standard American, kitchen table fare, visit. It is a nice change.
(4)
Lori S.
Der Dutchman is review-proof. Seriously. How do you review a place like this? Dutchman is a local institution, one of those places you go with the family and pile into the car with friends to go hit up. My only quibble is that I always seem to get the urge to go here on a Sunday, when they are closed. I've been here dozens of times. It's simple, uncomplicated but delicious comfort food. I don't think I have ever ordered off the menu, I always get the buffet. How can I choose between chicken and noodles, or fried chicken (so good, that fried chicken), or pot roast, or whatever else is cooking? And THEN you can go into the bakery and take home some cookies or doughnuts or pie. Oh my, the pie. And I don't know what they do to their green beans but they're crazy good. The homemade bread and rolls are breadlicious. I just love Der Dutchman. It's like a big snuggly hug under an afghan, with mashed potatoes.
(5)
Amy D.
We had just finished with a long day at the Columbus Zoo, and our GPS was taking us on a scenic/random route towards our next destination. We ended up driving by Der Dutchman, we were famished, and decided to turn around & try it out. As a breakdown of my scoring: For the restaurant alone: 2-3 Factoring in the awesome bakery: bumps it to 4 I'm a "homestyle food" snob, as I come from a line of very serious country cooks. My husband & I both opted for the buffet for dinner. It was "ok." The food on the buffet included things like mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, noodles, fried chicken, roast beef, & biscuits. There was a salad bar, which offered pretty standard foods as well. The fried chicken was good, a bit under-seasoned, but that was easily remedied. Personally, I was NOT a fan of the noodles. Maybe they had been in the broth too long, but the size/taste reminded me of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup...gross! I also found to stuffing to be a little too carrot-heavy, which is not something I've ever had to say in regards to stuffing. They serve you fresh bread with this interesting peanut butter spread (don't read the ingredients or nutritional information). The peanut butter spread was one of those things that I simultaneously managed to love AND hate at the same time. It's so bizarre, but yummy. Their iced tea was perfectly steeped, which is something many places can't manage to achieve. The restaurant itself was interesting. Parts of it had extreme character (dine in a buggy? awesome!)...but the rest reminded me of a hotel conference room. And not a nice hotel, but like an airport Holiday Inn conference room. Service was REALLY friendly, and a major positive of this place. We couldn't help but to browse around the bakery on the way out. Our jaws hit the floor when we saw the Fritters. I *love* fritters, and they aren't an easily-found item at home. When we were there they had 2 varieties left, blueberry & cherry. They are HUGE and I consider them to be a steal at $1.30-something per fritter. We tried them out once we were back home, and they are AWESOME. I was afraid it would have a fake/chemical blueberry taste like many blueberry baked goods have, but these tasted like real blueberry. They were outstanding, and I will probably find myself craving these in the future...from 3.5 hours away.
(4)
Don W.
I chose the Der Dutchman for breakfast today because you can seat yourself, the service is very prompt and you have the choice of the buffet or ordering off the menu. I grew up on my Grand-mother's fried Mush for breakfast and mush is on the Der Dutchman menu. If you like mush, it is fried perfectly here and with a brief pour of maple syrup, I can't help but think of years past. I have eaten both lunch and dinner at other Ohio Der Dutchman restaurants and always found their food above average. In addition, the items in their bakery section are difficult not to stuff a few in a bag for home consumption or a treat on the road. When it came to service this morning, the staff excelled. Not only was my server very attentive to my table but on three occasions, other servers asked me if I needed a drink refill. It really does not get much better than this service anywhere, anytime. Now, one caution. I was here at 7::30 am (opens at 6:00am) and they only open one small area because of the limited customer flow for breakfast. This is perfect for a quiet and folksy early morning meal. However, in peak times, like holidays, weekends and summer evenings, my family tells me that you may need a lot of patience before getting to enjoy your meal. There is a gift shop and bakery to walk around in and kill time if there is a backlog of patrons. Do not let the word "buffet" make you think of the Golden Corral, Ponderosa and the like if this is your first visit. The Der Dutchman's buffet is well above the typical buffet type restaurant in both quality and selection. This Der Dutchman has a very good reputation with the locals from the west side of Columbus. There is ample parking and plenty of room for RV's.
(5)
Bobbi W.
I only gave 4 stars because they did not have gluten free/lactose free pastries and bread. We went the saturday before fathers day and enjoyed our time there. The buffet was very good.
(4)
Loraine A.
The breakfast buffet was good; plenty of food options & the servers were nice. It's a good spot for family gatherings.
(3)
Critic M.
Nothing impressive as I heard about the place. Over priced and low quality food, mostly from a can. Most of the food was over salted maybe for a reason. The donuts were good but too sugary and sweet. I still want to check their breakfast once. Not a bad place to go to if you crave some cheap country food.
(3)
Bill S.
Very good, extremely reasonably-priced food served by courteous wait-staff. They were able to handle every request we threw at them. If i'm back in the area, I'll stop in for sure!
(4)
Philip W.
I hate this restaurant but its donuts are amazing. If you feel like buffet style heartburn and super salty meats then come on down.
(2)
Caroline C.
I don't understand why people go nuts over this place. No matter what day of the week or time of day, the wait for the restaurant is apalling. The shortest wait we've had is 35 mins, and the longest 1 hr 45 mins. Ok, their fried chicken is probably the best in the area, but it is no way good enough to wait that long for. The restaurant is always packed and noisy, and people seem to lose their manners as soon as they reach the buffet bar. The food is mediocre. (I've read reviews on other sites from ex-employees who claim that a lot of the food is NOT made on the premises. The whole "Amish" thing is just a gimmick). The servers do the best they can to see that everyone is taken care of, but don't expect to have your glass re-filled immediately or plates cleared away promptly. We've been 5 times, and I can't be bothered to go again. The best thing about it is the wonderful bakery.
(2)
Tom J.
Fruit pies. I've tried over and over to get a good cherry pie from Der Dutchman. What is supposed to be cherry filling is mostly gelatinous filler with very few cherries hidden inside. I have even asked a waitress to see if she could find me one with a lot of fruit and it came back nearly the same as all of the others I have eaten there. I'm surprised that people drool over these pies. My experience is based on several years of trying the pie. I won't be eating their fruit pies again. The rest of their food is very good.
(1)
Joseph S.
*This reviews the bakery only* Wow! Big sized doughnuts! As soon as you walk in, you see a nice waiting room and past that is the bakery. But so far of the doughnuts I've ate, I was not impressed. The hype is the size, but the taste does not equal up. That's my opinion!!! I was more surprised when I asked for a custard doughnut, she said they don't have them. Only cream filled. That let me down. I did not get a chance to eat in the restaurant, but I hope to sometime.
(3)
Laura J.
Went back to Der Dutchman for another group gathering for lunch today. Dining here wasn't my suggestion, but I went along with the crowd. However, I just couldn't go along with everyone else and do the buffet. It's just always been too disappointing. Instead, I ordered a grilled chicken wrap from the menu, and it was one of the best wraps I've ever had anywhere. There was a lot of chicken in it and it was very tender. The tortilla was also very soft. You get a choice of dressing and I chose the Caesar. I was happy they put it on the side, because I forgot to ask. The Caesar dressing was perfect with the wrap. For the side dish, I ordered the onion rings. They we are crispy, which I like, but very greasy, which I don't. They had a nice flavor, but honestly, I would not order them again. Still, it is good to know that there is at least something there I enjoy for the next time I'm in a group that chooses to have a lunch or dinner event there. We also bought a smaller sized pie from the bakery. I do like that you don't have to get a full sized pie just to take some home.
(3)
Ed V.
a good restaurant I only ate the French fries. it was in 2013. I liked them so much I hade to orders of them the servers wear out dated 1960 style outfits. the lady who took my order was a hillock. I will be back
(3)
Demi F.
I can made a better Amish meal at home and I'm not Amish. Pretty mediocre for too high of prices. I love just minutes away and never go here because it's not worth it. I haven't ate anything that I've liked enough to get again, so I just stopped going. Service is usually good though. It always amazes me that people drive from far away for THIS. Certainly can find a better restaurant more close to home, maybe not Amish but you're not getting that here either. The bakery is pretty decent though. I visit there every ice and a while, could still find better baked goods at a high rates bakery though.
(1)
Kim R.
I felt like I was eating in a cafeteria at a nursing home....all the food was extremely bland. No taste at all. I was super excited about the noodles and was terribly disappointed. Frozen chicken and noodles are better than these. The environment, the decor, the plastic cups....all blah. I'm hoping the bakery makes up for the plain dinner.
(2)
Mark R.
Home cooking on a buffet! There is a real menu and options but why limit yourself? The small Amish chain (strange but true) is very good food cooked to perfection. And oh yeah it had a basket and gift shop. The salad bar is not a bunch of stuff just really fresh stuff. The croutons have a sweet vinegar flavor. And the bacon is actual bacon pieces cut by hand and knife. The green stuff is really fresh which ain't bad in February. The main bar had chickie, beef, ham, and some interesting meatballs. There are two types of noodles (chicken and beef) best thing ever beef noodles over mashed taters! There's chicken and beef gravy too. The ham is not glazed but covered in a gel of sweet goo. This all goes with fresh baked mini loaves of bread. Feel free to drown bread in Apple butter, peanut butter, Or just plain old butter! Yum either way. For $2 you can add slice of pie. Or on the bar is an interesting mix of crumbled pie crust and blueberry and Apple. There's jello with fruit. It's all good and simple. The buffet is $13 each.
(4)
Erik S.
This used to be our favorite restaurant to go to...up until almost 2 years ago. The pastries just do not taste the same as they used to, almost like there are more fillers. Sure, they are still gigantic, but the flavor just isn't there. I think Krispy Kremes have pulled ahead in the taste category. Schuler's in Springfield & Urbana blow Der Dutchman's pastries away. Their buffet fair is always good as buffets go. I believe the prices are fair, but I would actually pay more if the taste stayed the same as two years ago. A La Carte quality seems the same, which is to say, delicious. When you get two giant pancakes for under $7, you are guaranteed to satisfy your breakfast cravings. On the breakfast omelets, you can order grilled steak with it for that deluxe touch for not much more money. Der Dutchman, you face the same challenge as any other business with a growing customer base. Your hardcore fans won't mind paying a little more if you make good food. Please don't abandon quality to make a buck.
(2)
Eli S.
Went on a Wednesday night. We sat at a booth and honestly had to wait quite a while for our server. We got tired of waiting and helped ourselves to the buffet. We didn't have silverware after we returned so my brother had to go ask the guy stocking the buffet for some. After we were about halfway through our plates our server showed up. We tried to get the attention of other servers but they never looked over our way. They didn't have too much to offer on the buffet. They did keep it stocked well with hot food. The chicken was really good and so were the potatoes and noodles I put on them. They give you a little fresh baked loaf of bread that was really warm and steaming when you cut a piece off. With that being said, the offerings of meat were slim. Fried chicken, pot roast, meatballs and ham. I was expecting a few more meat choices for $13.99. Maybe I didn't understand the concept here as I believe people come here for the fried chicken but it wasn't my cup of tea. This review is hard for me because everything I ate was amazing. Just not enough variety for me. Our server was SO nice but the initial wait was a bit off putting.
(3)
Jon F.
Great place to eat. Buffet is outstanding. The place keeps getting bigger every time I come. Ive been coming for nearly 20 years. I am very appreciative of the fact they put an allergen menu on the table. Our family has various food allergies and it's really nice they've taken the time to try and make it easy. I appreciate this small but important extra step.
(4)
Nicole F.
Yesssssssss home cooking! I grew up outside Amish Country in Ohio and so Der Dutchman and other similar restaurants are my absolute favorite. Der Dutchman's buffet is delicious. Salad bar is stocked with fresh veggies and a variety of additional "salads" - pasta salad, macaroni salad, potato salad. The hot portion of the buffet has all the best Amish cooking you can imagine: noodles, mashed potatoes, chicken, gravy, green beans, carrots, bread pudding. You just can't get enough. There is a menu, of course, but the buffet is so good I never need to stray from it. PLUS every table gets bread and on the table is "Amish Peanut Butter" that you HAVE to try. This stuff is like crack. Imagine peanut butter mixed with maple syrup and marshmallow fluff, and this is what you can put on your bread. Yes. Yes! YES!
(5)
Catherine J.
Der Dutchman has been a family favorite for years. It used to feel really *out there*, but civilization has slowly grown up around it. As a kid, we liked the idea of sitting in the Amish buggy for our dinner (I don't think we ever did though), and the menu appealed to any picky kid's palate. Fast forward to my adult years, and the food is still comfortingly buttery, but a little bland given my choice. The baked goods are voluminous, both with whipped froth and prolificy (is that a word?). I prefer smaller portions of more flavor-packed culinary creations, but Der Dutchman has it's place. Der Dutchman is a great place to bring relatives from out of town, especially if the ages range from 5 - 95. Kids will like it, old folks will like it, and you'll feel like you're doing something Ohio-specific. Food and local-tourist vibe aside, Der Dutchman has two other things really going for it. First, the gift shop is surprisingly awesome. I've found some great home-dec treasures here. You kinda have to sift through some of that contrived country kitsch a bit, but there's some beautiful things in there. Second, Der Dutchman is a great biking destination. Traffic isn't too heavy, and (from Dublin) you can do a portion of the ride on a very well-maintained, wide bike path. Ten miles out, pause for some breakfast, and ten miles back. Easy peasy, and makes for a great Saturday morning.
(3)
Tracy W.
This place is amazing. .. it's an hour drive from Dayton but so worth it. . Not only the food is all home cooked but the store and bakery has all their items for sale. From the bread to the pies and the homemade pasta. .. the jellies and jams and butter. ... then their is the store with all the crafts. ... definitely worth the trip if you are ib the area. Also I suggest the buffet for dining. ... oh yes and the donuts are outstanding. ... come with your wallet and an empty trunk so you have room to take home plenty.
(5)
Mark K.
Surely I've reviewed this before? Anyway, it's okay for "home-cooked" food, and the buffet is decent. Service is good, though they're often overworked. And prices are high for what you get. The bakery is the star. Stop in there, eat dinner somewhere else. If you need to eat "Amish" go to the Country Kitchen down the road. Same menu, same owners, but smaller crowds.
(2)
Casey S.
I don't eat here very often but the times I have I've told myself I'm going to try something new but always fall back to the buffet. The food is comforting, reminds me of bob evans or cracker barrel quality. The buffet lacked a lot of variety but the bread pudding made up for it. Eating here every once in a while is fine but I wouldn't make it too much of a habit because I can cook similar things at home with more flavor and less travel time.
(3)
Scott B.
Okay this place gets good marks for very pleasant waitresses and good service but when it comes to the food I just don't see what why so many people seem to rave about DD. I have been twice, once trying out the buffet, and once ordering off the menu, and was underwhelmed both times. My barometer of this kind of home-style eating is "How good is the fried chicken?" It was better off the menu but still not great. Maybe if it had been in the "pan" just a little longer. Also the clear (as in no color whatsoever) transparent gravy looks extremely foul.
(2)
Ted D.
Mid quality food. The service, good enough for what you pay. $7-11 for their proclaimed buffet with meat. Terrible lines on most any day of the week. There is a smaller, identical restaurant on the same road down 3/4 mile. They serve the same food and employ the same kids from my wife's school. We live in the community. Dur Dutchman has even owned this smaller and more pleasant establishment over the years. Currently they do not and the service is still the same, food mid quality but there is a much smaller line.
(3)
Natalie S.
Ah hhhhh a haha. This place is so the epitome of some parts of the Midwest. I definitely treasure it as a part of my background. It's GIGANTIC and the times I went I was with my entire school class of several hundred students. We had Thanksgiving dinners there, with huge communal bowls of classic American holiday comfort food - mashed potatoes, stuffing, a simple salad, and lots of turkey. All my fellow hooligan classmates streamed into this hall, and found our seats based on which type of pie slice was sitting at our spot - certain of the less popular flavors were offered up by less fortunate slowpokes, who attempted to make a trade to no avail. This system was probably efficient for our Amish servers in their traditional dress, long gowns and aprons, but it usually resulted in lots of pie being consumed before the meal had even been served. Any pie not consumed before the gigantic, filling meal was most likely being flung about across tables by the time we were through. Goooood times.
(4)
Joe E.
This place is enormous and has quite the business. In addition to the restaurant, there is an excellent bakery attached along with a crafts & novelties store. Tons of parking spaces available, but you may have to walk a little. They do have a drop-off / pick-up place for those not as mobile. You will have a wait ahead of you when visiting at peak times, but they have a comfortable lobby or you can browse the bakery or crafts store to pass the time. The dining experience was top notch. I had family in from out of state. We went for the buffet option so to sample many of the different down-home cooking, comfort food menu items. You can order entrees from the menu as well. The salad bar is quite large and can be a whole meal in itself. Loved it! Plenty of main and side dish options. I enjoyed the turkey. Mashed potatoes were really runny, but the noodles were tasted like homemade. Prices were quite reasonable. Great place to take the family. Service was friendly and good. Okay ... if you are dieting ... AVOID the bakery! WOW! Bismark's and doughnuts alone will destroy best laid plans! We took one of their home made pies home and shared it. It was delicious. This spot is located in Plain City. So, it may be a bit of a drive for some. However, it is well worth the trip, have a delicious dining experience and terrific way to create some family memories.
(5)
Nijole T.
Ok, my fist review was based on Der Dutchman in Amish County about 2 hours away, this time I went to the Original in Plain City and now I believe in the hype. I still love local chops like Yutzy's more, but the Donuts and cookies are amazing! The other items cost more than everywhere else in town but the donuts are big as your head and if you get a dozen they are just under a dollar each, 3 kinds of fritters from blueberry, cherry to apple, all good, apple is the winner though. Great stuff, cute decor store a bit overpriced but if I wasn't looking at the pricetags I would have bought it all. The people are friendly, this will be a stop each time I go to Plain City for some Amish goodness!
(4)
Rebekah H.
I think Der Dutchman is getting lazy in the food they put out. Locals can tell you that the food has definitely been better. The chicken is getting a little crispy, the potatoes are now runny, and the corn is mushy. The service is on the decline, and I am not sure that the staff cares. We placed a carryout order for a church party, and it took us over 12 hours to get the order due to confusion in the kitchen!
(2)
Jarrod R.
This has been a staple of our family for too many years to count. At least since about 1981 when we moved to Indianapolis and started heading back to Galion, Ohio through Plain City to visit our "good looking relations." (Inside joke, my apologies). Der Dutchman has grown considerably since then, but the good quality comfort food has stayed consistent and delicious. While the food is wonderful, I would only refrain from giving them that final star due to the fact that they are too big. The restaurant has grown a little too large to be "cozy" and takes just a little "pinch" away from the atmosphere. Still, the service and food is top notch. Many happy returns, Der Dutchman. Hope too see you again soon!
(4)
Matt D.
I left a review before. I will have to say it was better but I will tell you the buffet is really just like any other. The only reason people go is the name. I know this as my family was in the chain restaurant business for many years until they sold the name. Now as for my visit today it was better but the food was not stocked up and this was at 1 pm. Now I felt rushed the person that waited on us made us feel rushed. We were their for a short time and we never got refills and she ask us if we wanted desert and when we said no out popped the bill and a bag for the bread she did the same thing to the table across from us. She took are plates and everything sweeped them up fast and more like be on your way. Considering the last time it was better but Der Dutchman you still need to work on some stuff food temp and keep it stocked and don't chop up the veggies to pulp and check them to make sure the veggies like cumbers are not soft. Thank for the service but still not a place I would recommend to others. I have talked to a number of persons that feel this way.
(2)
John F.
Excellent meals as well as baked goods. Have been going here for years and will continue to go as long as they're in business.
(5)
Kim D.
My family and I had the breakfast buffet. The eggs were like solid goo, baked items stale and old. It was disgusting. The coffee was absolutely horrible. It was like the last bit of the pot that sat for hours. We soent $42 for awful food. There are so many other fabulous places to eat in around Columbus. This is not one of them. I am mystified by the rave reviews. ..
(1)
Miss C.
Good, but highly overrated. The wait was very short for us, less than 5 minutes. The roasted turkey was delicious & very moist and tender. The green beans were mediocre. The dressing & gravy was not my taste at all. The server was ok, but a bit snippy. We split a piece of rhubarb pie and it was very good. It was a nice experience, but I don't have any plans to return. Columbus has many first class eateries that I want to try right in town. The drive out is a bit much.
(4)
Kevin B.
Disappointed, the quaint charm that used to be characteristic of this restaurant is gone, traded to commercialism and volume. We lived in Columbus for 35 years and moved 7 years ago. We enjoyed Der Dutchman when it was a small family run operation and the food was hand made with respectable ingredients. But, clearly that time has passed. The restaurant is much larger now (huge!). The staff is still as friendly. It's still a great place to take a family from a casual dining perspective. We had the breakfast buffet today and while the food was okay, there are better places in Columbus to go for a great tasting breakfast. My disappointment comes from how commercial and processed the food has gotten. I read the ingredient list on the peanut butter concoction the have in bottles on the tables and it was clear it was made in a chemical refinery! Certainly not the pure minimally processed foodstuff you'd expect at an Amish restaurant. I visited the bakery and read some of the baked good labels and again, there was nothing you couldn't get at your local grocery store. If you're into buying model home interior decorations and Kroger's groceries, you'll enjoy Der Dutchman. But, if you want a tasty better prepared breakfast or dinner venue, there are better places in the area.
(3)
Ray W.
Been here several times. I have found that its just best to go during the work week, during lunch time. Weekends its very busy and also on weekends, it seems like they get so busy things run out at the buffet and aren't replaced quick enough. Another thing about the weekends, one time I went and it was one of those busy days, they were slow to replace the chicken there at the buffet and when they finally did, the chicken, in my opinion, did not seem to be cooked all the way, it was sort of rubbery chewy like it still needed to cook longer and they may have pulled it out of the fryer because they were trying to keep up. Every other time I have been here, chicken has been fine. Just that one time really grossed me out. Like I said, avoid weekends and best time is to go on a day off during work week, during lunch.
(4)
Colleen R.
The bakery has some pretty solid treats. I really enjoyed the blackberry pie and the peach hand pies. I got an apple fritter, but it was comparable to many others I have eaten. I would give the bakery a 4 out of 5. I have tried a variety of their bakery items, and they have all been tasty! The restaurant... That is another story. I went with some friends on a Saturday night, and we had to wait 45 minutes. Expect to wait if you are coming at any peak eating hour. We all got the buffet that I had heard so much raving about. I got a small portion of all the meats and sides. I have to say - I was not impressed. The shredded turkey and beef were both extremely dry. The mashed potatoes were decent, but could have used some more flavoring. The chicken and noodles did not impress me. It tasted a little like Campbells with bigger noodles. The rolls were good, and the salad bar had plenty of options. I would give the restaurant a 2.5 out of 5. This is just not my style of restaurant.
(3)
Troy S.
My five stars is based on their donuts and bakery not the restaurant. I stopped in this morning for another bite of their Apple Fritter and Long Johns (I call them Cream Sticks because I am from NE Ohio. The Apple Fritter is just huge as it is bigger than my tiny hands put together. The donut was light, fluffy, and full of small bites of apples. I hadn't had a fresh one for quite some time and remembered why i hold all other fritters to the Der's standard. I also grabbed a Long John and ate half of it to refresh my taste buds. I had to do this for the integrity of my search for the best donut (I also ran about a mile today so I think it was ok). I think they just brought the Long John out as it was still fresh and warm. These are huge so eating a half is the equivalent of eating two Krispy Kremes. I love the lightness to each of these but let me warn you: The lightness disappears from your stomach when you eat a whole apple fritter and half of a Long John. I guess eating one or a half of one should be enough. The nice thing about their donuts is one can order a dozen and then cut them in half so you have 24 donuts and no one feels cheated. If I review their restaurant and buffet my stars would drop to 3 or 4. I have eaten here before but I tend not to like Amish comfort food since it is the food I grew up on. I can go home and get everything here made for me by my mom. So my review of Amish-Mennonite comfort food would be tainted.
(5)
Shawn M.
This place has good food, from its traditional.roots it has transversed over time. Not the same place it once was is the standard many hold it too. On a level of restaurants today it's top tier. I would bring my mother or the love of my life here for the experience and the food.
(4)
Samantha A.
This review is actually two separate reviews: one for the restaurant/buffet, and one for my Rehearsal Dinner. Restaurant: 5 stars. Delicious homemade food, awesome service, pie can't be beat, wonderful dinner buffet. Breakfast buffet cannot be beat. $7.99 and it includes those amazing chocolate long johns. Rehearsal Dinner: 1 star. Awful. Service was terrible (they gave us one waitress) and they set up the room in the most awkward way imaginable. Two separate rows of tables across a room, so most of the guests could not see each other and speeches were impossible. Now I know why the price seemed so reasonable.
(3)
Karen W.
You can never go wrong at the Der Dutchman for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or even if you come here with a group of people. I've eaten here many times and was never disappointed. Normally they have their usual menu and their buffet. You cant go wrong with either option. The staff here is very friendly as well. We were just here within the week with our church family. They quickly seated and the waitress was by to ask us for our drink orders. As we waited for our drinks, we had a salad infront of us, plus where I sat there was a piece of chocolate mousse pie. Yum. I did all I could not to dig into the pie before our dinner! ha! We were all served the buffet of mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, stuffing, pot roast, chicken and gravy. Yum. Overall the atmosphere in the banquet room was inviting and comfortable. Dont forget to stop in at the bakery and the gift shop! The wheat bread and other goodies are worth picking up a loaf or two while you are there. The gift shop is big and has a variety of different items that you can choose from -- a gift for a friend to doillies (sp?) to quilts to candles to pictures that you can hang on your wall. If you go here, eat and check out both the bakery and gift shop!!!
(5)
Tiffany C.
Wow, I have had the displeasure of dining at two horrible Dutch restaurants this week. Go figure. Der Dutchman was at one time authentic food where you could see the old Amish ladies in the back yelling at the young kids, and watch them make food, but sadly, Der Dutchman has went on the cheap, and everything is Ala aluminum can quality. Don't believe me? We knew people who used to work there a few years ago, and even our waitress on our visit last night admitted that some of the food products were from a can. This place is simply a tourist trap for really old people, or people requiring a large space for a reunion, or banquet, because the food is mediocre. You honestly can get better quality at Bob Evans, a chain Restaurant, and that I can verify since I worked there and have seen the KP firsthand. When we usually have to go here for family engagements I order the turkey Manhattan, but I tried the "homemade" noodles this time as a side, and they were anything but authentic. They reassembled the noodles you can find in a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup. I will say that at least the turkey on my Manhattan was amazing, so perhaps they're still REALLY cooking the poultry here, but all the sides are clearly from a can. People go crazy over the pies here, but they're so mediocre to me, and it came to no surprise when the waitress admitted some of the flavors are... yep, you guessed it, from A CAN! If you order your pie Ala mode, at least the soft serve ice-cream is pretty dagone good. The market area they have here is wonderful! They have plenty of sweets, cheeses, noodles, and breads to take home. They also have a HUGE gift area where you can find some unique and interesting things, and is nice to take a look around when wait times get long. I will praise Der Dutchman for being in the Plain City Community for over 25 years, and they've re-done the entire decor of the Restaurant, which looks amazing, and provides more seating room for visitors. The new set up is wonderful, and I'm so glad they added some bathrooms CLOSER to the eating area, so you don't feel like you have to walk a mile. Now... if you could only do something about the cheap canned food. Then I could appreciate you a little more. **MY ADVICE: Check out Dutch Kitchen down the road about two miles. They're small, quaint, and you won't have to fight Grandma to get that golden piece of chicken.
(2)
Marion R.
A must visit place
(5)
Stac M.
I have been to this place 3 times, so this review is a culmination of all 3 experiences. My first time here I didn't know what to expect and had never heard the hype as I was not a Cbuser, yet. It was good. I had the sweet potato fries and they were wonderful. My second and third times here, however, for the breakfast buffet, were complete failures. The buffet consisted of french toast sticks, sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy and their famous (practically) foot long cream sticks and more. The first time- it caused myself and my partner to be stuck in the bathroom for long periods of time. The second time it merely caused both of our stomachs to protest semi-violently. Why- (do you ask me) did we go back a second time for breakfast? Because our little girls who love the Bendaroos they gave them AND we had a $20 groupon. Never again. We both agree we would never again go there for breakfast and never again if we didn't have a groupon.
(1)
Patrick P.
I recently went back to the Der Dutchman after almost a year. I really like the renovations. This is hard review because it really a business with multiple aspects. I am rating the the Restaurant and Bakery. The restaurant is okay. I usually go there for breakfast. The menu is the only option for the early AM with a buffet later in the AM (around 7:30 AM). If iti is your first time - I recommend the buffet because you can decide what you like and do not. They offer many of the bakery items on the buffet - which is a real good opportunity to try some of their fabulous donuts. The breakfast is good - not outstanding. The people are friendly so I am not going to knock it. They offer the standard fair. A couple of notes the toast is from their home made bread and I realy like their skillets off the menu (eggs, potatoes, peppers, onions, bacon, and cheese). Breakfast will cost you $5-10 depending on what you get. Bakery: I believe this is where the amish recipes are still being used if I was to guess. Great pastries at a great price. A donze of donuts there will run you around $10. The portions are huge One Der Dutchman dozen = 2 dozen of a competitor. They offer 3 types of fritters (apple, blueberry, and cherry). They offer the most amazing Long Johns. They sell out of their Long John donuts on Saturdays usually They sell bread, pies, meats, cheeses, etc.. there. Go there for the bakery and if you have time get some breakfast.. Enjoy!
(4)
Tory R.
In my opinion, this is the best kind of food ever! I used to work in an Amish restaurant in Newark several years ago and I can see many similarites. Der Dutchman has really expanded and added on since I've been there last. There is a new wing open with a waiting area (with a baby grand piano), a nice bakery, and gift store. My parents and I went with a friend and had the dinner "barn-raising buffet." It was delicious! The salad bar had a variety of potato sald, slaw, pickled beets (my favorite), cottage cheese, three-bean salad, and other things. The buffee itself was amazing! It had chicken noodles, mashed potatos, stuffing, sugar cured ham, roast beef, fried chicken, green bean casserole, baked beans, rice, and a few other things I'm probably forgetting! I'm glad I live so close to this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kim M.
This place had really delicious food and a small town atmosphere a few years ago. When my kids were younger we would sit inside the Amish buggy and have delicious pot roast dinners with such great flavor, unfortunately it has been changed so much it hardly looks the same and the food is terrible. All four of the people in our party experienced pretty much the same thing, bland food. I ordered the meatloaf which used to actually look like meatloaf, never again. I am not sure who is working in that kitchen now but it did not appear to be Amish run anymore. Very overpriced for the quality of food you are offered. The gift shop is now full of trinkets that have nothing to do with the Amish culture. If you are looking for a Vera Bradley handbag though, its the place. First time in a long time my teenage son left most of the food behind on the plate.
(1)
Paul F.
First off, this is a really beautiful restaurant. Besides the dining area, it also encompases a grocery section where you can buy pies, sausages,, etc. And then there is a section for gifts and these go up in price to the hundreds of dollars. Now to the food. The salad bar has about everything you'd want. From lettuce to peas and beets and all kinds of dressings. The hot food area has fried chicken and ham, and meatball, and bbq'd beef. And other stuff that I can't recall. Oh, the mashed potatoes are great. And the home-style gravy. I think the people who are complaining about having to wait are really missing the point. If the food wasn't good, there wouldn't be any line.
(4)
Jeff A.
Wear you buffet bustin expandable pants and come hungry. Yummy! Oh yea, save room for some pie :^D
(5)
Steve M.
I've been to this restaurant a few times. As I was driving on back from C-Bus, I stopped by a Quaker State & Lube (Beavercreek). As I was going through the backroads to get back on 71, I vaguely remembered this area and then it clicked that there was a Amish restaurant near here. The gift shop is amazing, so many different arts and crafts. Its located near a bike path, so it makes for a perfect lunch/snack break. The bakery items are delicious and I would def. have to recommend the pies (cherry, dutch apple, coconut, and chocolate and peanut butter pie. Yum!!
What is going on here? 16 reviews and an average of 3 stars?! Who are you people?? Der Dutchman is a GEM. When you think of Chicago you think pizza, hot dogs, steaks. When you think of NYC you think of bagels, cupcakes, street meat. SF - all and any ethnic food. When you think of Columbus what comes to mind? I'll tell you what SHOULD come to mind - AMISH food. Now some of you may be offended by that comment...but stay with me for a second here. Yes, I know Columbus has a great food scene. But honestly, if you think of all the food types out there....a lot of the food categories are already taken by other cities. But AMISH food, think about it...where else have you had better Amish food? The cheese, the doughnuts, chicken noodle soup on top of mash potatoes! mmm mmm mmm! The other day my bf asked if I could make thick chicken noodle soup. Confused, I asked him what he was talking about. 'you know, the kind at der dutchman!', he responded. Boy, do I look Amish to you?
(4)
Seth D.
Ick. Pretty underwhelming all around. I've heard people talk about this place since German class in middle school and after it being built up in my head for the last 15 years, it was a huge let down. All the food was pretty bland and overcooked. The only thing that was halfway decent was the stuffing that I think had apples in it. My experience was topped off by a butterscotch pie that tasted reasonably good, but hardly like butterscotch. The service was acceptable, but I felt bad leaving a 20% tip as I think it was too much. As far as prices go, it was $30 for a kids buffet, and adult buffet, a piece of pie and a sundae. Not a good deal at all for a bunch of food from a can. I suppose if you're a Vera Bradley fan they do have a big selection in the gift shop.
(2)
Erin R.
Love the buffet. The store is pretty great. It's like cracker berrel times 3. It's just a little on the pricey side for lunch.
(4)
Dean K.
Hospitality from the Amish people is excellent. Very polite and very kind. Came to this place with my brother and his family. The server remembered exactly who they were. Probably because she never seen an Asian family before. But either way, service was great. We all ordered the buffet. Think of a smaller Home Town Buffet but with superior quality. Fried Chicken, roast beef, creamed corn, mashed potatoes are parts of the menu. Fried chicken was probably one of the best I had. To make this a great place was the dessert. We bought a rasberry cream pie that was better than any thing I had at Marie Calendars. Good job Amish people!
(4)
Carolyn E.
I've been to a lot of "Amish" buffet places like this over the years, and this is one of the best. Maybe it's the time of day I normally go (Thursday evenings), or maybe I've just been lucky, but I have walked away satisfied and sated every time. I always get the buffet, the highlight of which is the chicken - it's so flavorful you can just pull off the skin and eat the meat. I have a feeling the grease and salt content is ridiculous, but a tasty splurge now and then isn't a bad thing. Other offerings are also very good. Of note are the chicken and noodles, creamy corn, and the fresh-baked breads. I also really like the salad bar, even if the super-chopped salad is a bit unusual. It makes mixing in the other toppings very easy, though, and seems to release more flavor. The only item that is somewhat disappointing is the roast beef, which is rather chewy and dry most the time. Visit Sauder Village in Archbold for the best roast beef! Definitely save room for dessert! The pies here are top notch. I especially like the sugar and cream pies, made with -real- whipped cream which is dense and rich. Service, by the way, is very good. I've yet to have a server who wasn't friendly. Sometimes when busy they aren't as quick about the refills as one would like, but given the number of folks this place packs in, it's understandable. Before or after dining, be sure to drop by the gift shop and bakery. The gift shop is...well... overpriced, but interesting to look at. There is some very pretty jewelry. The bakery, though, has a lot of delicious things for sale, from fresh challah bread that will melt in your mouth, to entire boxes of cookies and pies. Be sure to try the doughnuts too - they're as big as your head, fresh-made, and ridiculously decadent. I don't even normally like doughnuts, but these are an exception. As to decor, at this moment, the place is being redone from outside in. The parking lot and large waiting areas are sprawling, confusing messes, and the main dining area has a sort of construction-site chic thing going. But, really, the food is the main thing here. I'm sure it will look great once the work is done. Be aware and wary of wild rug-rats who will trip you trying to go back to your table from the buffet. *Update: Looks like the renovations are nearly completed and it's looking good. The old waiting room is now a dining room, complete with an old buggy that now serves as a dining table in one corner. I bet I would have loved that as a kid! Food is as good as ever, whether you drop by on a week night, holiday, or weekend.
(5)
Kevin C.
I've been hearing from friends that Der Dutchman has an impressive bakery, so I decided to make the trip out there in the late afternoon. I've never been there before but wow...the place is HUGE and there were tons of people there. Frankly, I was wasn't interested in the dinner selections but I was very curious about the bakery. The bakery is virtually a store unto itself. There are tons of bread, cookies, and pies. Behind the counter are the donuts. The donut selection isn't mind-boggling but the donuts are utterly huge. Each donut is equal to two regular donuts. No joke. I'm trying to recall the selection: bismarks (vanilla, maple, and chocolate) various fritters, twist donuts, regular glazed, and perhaps a couple other types. You won't find a big variety here like you would at Buckeye Donuts or even Kroger's (when they're well-stocked). By the time I tried the donutes, it must have been around 6 PM but the donuts were still super-fresh. I'm assuming that Der Dutchman is making several batches throughout the day. If they would've been made in the early AM, the donuts I bought would've been stale already. Instead they were very fresh and quite delicious. My final verdict: the donuts were pretty great. I'm a bismark fan myself and personally didn't care for them too much as I found the cream on the inside was a bit too bland and greasy. I prefer a sweeter cream. On the other hand, I thought the apple fritter, twistee, and regular glazed were absolutely delicious. I would certainly buy them again. I should add that I also bought a small variety pack of cookies and they were great as well. I had assumed that with the huge assortment that Der Dutchman had in the bakery that it wasn't made in-house, but everything that I tried certainly had a homemade taste and was very fresh. Would I recommend the Der Dutchman bakery? Absolutely. Everything was delicious and fresh. Even at 5 PM on a Saturday, there was still a great selection of baked goods.
(4)
Mark H.
I have to agree with Laura J. The food is not so good. And the old Amish restaurant that occupied the space that is now the Dutch Kitchen (it was called the Kountry Kitchen, I think) was much much better. There is nothing inherently wrong with Amish style food, though one ought to work like an Amishman if one is going to eat like an Amishman. Otherwise, one risks tipping the scales at 300 lbs, as do many of the Der Dutchman customers. (And I used to live in PC when I was a kid, and consider the town my home town.)
(2)
Corrie H.
When you move 2,000 miles away from your birthplace, you do sometimes come back to visit, and when you do, you have your Homesick Circuit. For me, Der Dutchman is one of the stops on that circuit. It's just so... Midwestern. Nobody where I live now really understands meatloaf or open-faced sandwiches. The portions at Der Dutchman are huge. The salad bar is great: there is old-school lettuce (no arugula here!), and pickled eggs, and lots of shredded cheese, and unctuous clumpy salad dressings. The carbs... oh, the carbs. If you plan your meal right, you can have noodles AND mashed potatoes. Or what about some roast beef over mashed potatoes with a hunk of thick white bread? Yum. Der Dutchman's atmosphere is grandma chic, which means that the decor is somewhat fussy and yet plain, and also very comfortable and welcoming. I love it. I miss it. But I'll be there again someday.
(4)
Vernon A.
First, this is of course a cultural experience. If you want to get a feel for middle-working class suburban/rural Midwestern people and are not from here, here is the best place (far less weird than Walmart - although many of the same people are cast for both appearances at Der Dutchman and Walmart). So, if you are feeling like a cultural anthropologist, good place for some observation. As to the food, my very favorite thing is their amazing Thanksgiving take-away. I simply cannot cook a better turkey, and have tried numerous times. That plus the insanely good pies, my favorite being the chocolate pudding one that, I am sad to say, rivals memories of what my one grandmother made, which had been the standard bearer. House full of guests = happy when we do Der Dutchman and every time. I prefer this so I can concentrate on actually having fun/drinking. As to eating in, it is comfortfoodpalooza, and in mass quantities. The service is prompt and earnest and they all act and look lime they just left a church service. This is a family scene and very laid back, kids and old people everywhere. I also like the bake shop quite well and the quality of what they sell is really excellent, if predictable. We have never once bought a bad food item there. I won't comment on the gift shop other than to say they really get their audience and there is a lot of it. This is an incredibly well-run business. It also "is what it is,, and if you are up for it, you will be happy with the experience. If you cannot dig the aesthetic, go elsewhere, but you are missing out on some truly great pie.
(4)
Missy M.
Such soul warming comfort food! Its like thanksgiving dinner whenever you want. I also like to stop and grab a pastry and cup of coffee on my way through. the gift shop is nice if you need a quick gift or the waste time, its a bit pricey.
(5)
Heather A.
Since the moment I stepped foot in Columbus and talked up my beloved Cracker Barrel, all I have heard is Der Dutchman this, Der Dutchman that...so I finally went. And it wasn't bad but it was no Cracker Barrel. I know most people will laugh at that but southern folks know how it's done. Right down to the shopping. I WILL readily admit that the Der Dutchman gift shop area was charming and I love the whole Amish connection but the food...some of it was outstanding, don't get me wrong...but some of it was just plain disappointing. Maybe in its heyday this place was the shizzle fo rizzle but I think it's losing it's luster. And yes, the wait was horrendous both times I have been. Don't go hungry.
(4)
Joan C.
I walked into Der Dutchman and found myself in the midst of about 100 hardy Ohioans standing around in an ENORMOUS waiting room (seriously--you could fit an entire high school prom in the lobby) while some Amish lady screamed out names over the loudspeaker (e.g., Wayne, party of 15, Wayne, party of 15, your table is ready). So there's not much in the way of ambiance. But then I followed the intoxicating maple syrup aroma wafting from the bakery...and promptly bought my baby bro a delectable banana cream pie for his birthday. He owes me one. I seriously contemplated hoisting that thing onto my flight back to NYC. Anyway, I also managed to convince myself to buy a bag of popcorn, some sausage that got me flagged at airport security (no joke), spicy beef jerky, and a cream cheese spread made with "dried beef, cream cheese, scallions and tabasco {YUM}". My shopping made our 45 minute wait go by a lot faster. It was a Saturday night, I guess. The place was bumpin. And rightfully so--I attacked the buffet with a relish that would have done my Chinese ancestors proud. Their "broasted" (you say tomato, i say tomahto. they say broasted, i say fried) chicken is stellar, as is the creamed corn, the mashed potatoes, the noodles, the stuffing, the gravy, etc. And did I mention the banana cream pie??
(4)
Shane L.
Der Dutchman is an enormous Amish style restaurant, which actually has many Mennonite's working there. True to its roots, don't bother stopping by on Sunday, which is sad, as my favorite meal there is breakfast. Der Dutchman serve ample portions, and most opt for either family style dining (essentially a mini buffet brought to your table) or the buffet. Lunch/dinner is filled with turkey, roast beef, broasted chicken, beans, potatoes, and other country style items, and you can follow this up with one of a dozen or so awesome fresh pies they make. Breakfast features the best donuts you've ever had (especially their maple iced creme filled ones), combined with fruits (decent selection by Ohio standards), eggs, sausage, pancakes, and bacon. I go straight for donuts and bacon but the rest is great from what I hear. Service is rather good, seating is very ample (not sure there is a bigger setup in Columbus), and while there tends to be lots of families there, which is no surprise given the very reasonable prices, the kids tend to be rather well behaved.
(4)
Joseph V.
It's not mamas cooking but some of it's good. Maybe if your not lucky enough to have a southern girl at home cooking for ya it'd be better.
(2)
Meredith M.
In high school I remember my mom waking me up at the crack of dawn to drive three hours to eat at an authentic amish restaurant for breakfast. I'll admit that those were the best buttermilk biscuits I've ever had...The Windmill, that was the restaurants name. So when my husband and I decided to head out to the countyside to enjoy a haunted corn maze in celebration of Halloween we stopped here to eat. The wait was over an hour so I was anticipating a great home cooked meal. Unfortunately it was a disappointment. The chicken was really greasy and all of the sides on the buffet compared to those of Hometown or worse yet, Ponderosa. A final judgement couldn't be made without trying the chocolate pie, the pie is what awarded the Der Dutchman two stars, it was yummy. If I had known I could work it off being lost in a corn field for two hours I would have had another slice.
(2)
Ronald B.
Not bad but very pricey for phony "Amish" cooking. Don't go as often as we used to. Definitely over priced and over rated. With tax it came to almost $32 for 2 buffets. I can't believe the people who fall for the phony Amish cooking theme. This chain of restaurants is owned by a large corporation that opens them in Amish "tourist" areas. They also own the Dutch Kitchen down the road in Plain City. There are few if any actual Amish working or cooking at either place. Maybe a few local Amish girls hired to wait on tables and fool the tourists. It's comical to listen to people rave about the great "homemade" Amish food they just ate! I suspect much of it comes out of a can just like at Golden Corral. Not sure if its the economy or the high prices but the crowds are down. We got there at 6:15 PM on Sat. and were seated immediately. Usually had to wait 30 min or and hour on other visits.
(2)
Amy S.
I should never have looked at the ingredients of the foods in the gift shop. I think I would have been perfectly content being ignorant and remembering all my childhood days eating here, not knowing that there was high fructose corn syrup in everything. We had intended on getting a pie to take to my great grandfather's funeral, but ended up walking out thinking that for the prices, something fresh and natural would have been nice. On the upside, we did come up with the idea that next year, the Christmas present theme should be all presents that come from restaurant gift shops. Which means if you're a friend of mine, prepare for some pretty corny gifts!
(2)
Joe P.
Poor food quailty since new management. Known to reuse uneaten food. I always leave with heartburn.
(1)
Alicia F.
This place deserves a solid 3.5 stars. The fare is, as another reviewer described, American comfort holiday food, so it would be hard for me to not find anything I want on the menu. I had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. The meatloaf was a light, juicy variety (similar to the way my mom made it, so to me it was done right). I wasn't fond of the sauce on the meatloaf, which was basically a mild, sweet barbecue sauce. The mashed potatoes were of the proper consistency, and the green beans were really good. They were buttery and not overcooked. My husband had the baked chicken, potato pancakes, and cheesy mixed vegetables. He enjoyed it. I thought the vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower) looked overcooked but he ate them right up so maybe they were just right. The potato pancakes were good, but needed some topping other than butter or apple butter. Something like bacon and cheese. We of course left room for dessert. He had the banana cream pie and thought it was a particularly good one. I had the date pudding with ice cream, which consisted of 3 date bars on vanilla pudding with soft serve. The date bars were good, but I was expecting ice cream (not soft serve), and the vanilla pudding didn't appeal to me. I probably should have gone for the blackberry pie. So they don't get any points for the date pudding. The place is corporate. Any restaurant with tour bus parking can't be expected to be very homey. However, it has an expected "country" ambiance, similar to Cracker Barrel but with a more open, Grandma's house atmosphere (as opposed to Grandpa's antique barn like you get at Cracker Barrel). The bakery was impressive. There were all sorts of goodies I'd love to try. Of course all the baked goods (breads, sweet breads, pastries, pies, cakes, etc.), but also the preserves (strawberry freezer jam, pickled asparagus). Ok, so I'm not so sure I really want to try pickled asparagus, but it did catch my attention. But skip the gift shop. I don't think anything there is really handmade, it just pretends to be. There are plenty of places where you can buy that sort of thing that are way more interesting (like the weird "outlet mall" on the way to the Hocking Hills from Columbus or the even weirder gas station and gift shop on I-70 just west of the Ohio/WVA border).
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
hollie w.
Some of the best home style cooking out there!! Soooo good! Only downfall is the look of the restaurant..has an "old folks home" feel.
(5)Jimmy H.
Awesome buffet, this is a great place for fat people to eat! Everything is home made and I also ordered the chocolate peanut butter pie which was delicious. There is also a bakery on site and an Amish gift store. Great place to take visitors!
(5)Regina M.
Grown out of its roots, which was HAND MADE FOOD. The food is good - don't get me wrong - but its no longer freshly made from scratch. Its all about the mighty dollar now. In the gift shop, I didn't see a single piece of Amish made furniture and the few quilts they had were not handmade. It was clean as a whistle, the service was great, the food was really good ... but its not the Der Dutchman it used to be ... no longer "authentic." [SIGH]
(3)William D.
BIG disappointment! Bland, bland, bland. After all the hype I had heard for years I expected so much and was dashed to the ground. And to round it off, a sticky table. Save your gas.
(1)Mike S.
Not quite as good as Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana, but the food is very comparable. Amish home cooking and it's everything you'd expect. A decadent selection of fried chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes, etc. And the incredible desserts. We felt the buffet was a better value than family style because there's much more to choose from. Good stuff!!!
(4)T-Bone L.
Ask anyone in the area and they will light up when talking about the Der Dutchman. I have never understood. It's an Amish restaurant and they offer chicken fried steak and lots of comfort food. I guess it's just not my scene. The pie is pretty great, though, I have to admit that.
(3)Unknown C.
Ja das ist gut! Visiting Der Dutchman for the first time in a couple of years, was pleasantly surprised at some the updates. Had the buffet and as always there was plenty of selection good home style food. One thing you can count on is "Consistency" If you go at dinner time you can also expect crowds that are a mix of nice elderly folks, families and WorldWide Wrestling fans body slamming someone to get a drumstick. Actually that is an exaggeration because they do keep the food stocked. So if you'd like a nice homey restaurant and a little bit of shopping in their craft store and bakery you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jeremy W.
Awesome donuts and other baked goods. Gift shop is legit for finding a Mother's Day or Christmas gift.
(5)April W.
Went on Saturday morning for the breakfast buffet. Typical breakfast buffet food...eggs, sausage, hash browns, assorted fruits, muffins, biscuits and gravy, bacon etc. What I love about amish food is you can taste the naturalness. The sausage did not taste processed and same with the bacon. When I finished breakfast I really felt like the meal was made with love. The fruit was super fresh. Even had kiwis with skin still on them. Atmosphere was clean, friendly wait staff. Didn't have to wait for seating and we arrived at 10:30. They were setting up the lunch buffet that also had salad buffet and the waitress said if we wanted to part take in all buffets she would just charge us for lunch buffet. The idea sounded awesome but we were stuffed! Definitely worth the drive from columbus. I have never been to this one, only the one in mansfield. The store was very exciting, nice products to purchase for the home. The bakery was amazing, we had to look at all the fresh cooked breads and desserts. I purchased some cheese spread because my roommate brought some home one time and it was amazing. Restrooms were clean and nice. Overall great experience! Loved the drive through town.
(3)Suzanne F.
Alrighty I remember the days when you waited forever for a coveted seat at this place. I used to love sitting in the Amish buggy to eat. I was running some errands with my Mom and she asked me to lunch here. I've always had a liking for the broasted chicken so I happily agreed to go. Well they've vastly expanded so there's no waiting it appears. We are seated immediately and we both opt for the lunch buffet. I got a salad before hand and it was very good as everything was fresh. I then got the broasted chicken mashed potatoes corn green beans and Mac and cheese. Boy it's the first time I remember ever thinking that the food was just meh. I mean MEH with a capital M. Yikes how did this happen where oh where did my yumminess go?????
(3)Sarah P.
My family and I have been here several times. This is by far the CLEANEST buffet I have ever been to. They keep the food stocked. I don't think I have ever been here and they had ran out of something. The fried chicken is pretty good. The bigger pieces are not as crisp as the smaller ones sometimes...they need a little more cooking time, but that is the only complaint I have about their buffet food. Their dressing is absolutely the best dressing I have ever had in my life (please don't tell my husband I think theirs is better)!!! I can't get enough. Their pies, however are another story. I think they are yucky. I can make better pies and I am no skilled pie maker. If you want dessert, get it somewhere else, not here.
(4)Suzanne M.
We were so excited to try Amish food, since we've heard so many great things about it. After a visit to Der Dutchman, unfortunately we still don't feel we've tried Amish food. We had the buffet which had broasted (looks like southern fried) chicken, ham, slow roasted shredded beef, ribs, etc. All the meats were dry except the ribs. The meatloaf was not on the buffet but we were able to add it for $1.00, on top of the $14.99 buffet price. It came with some sort of cherry flavored sweet and sour Karro Syrup all over it, and the meat tasted like TVP (Vegan textured vegetable protein). BLECH!! Everything also seemed to have an excess amount of sugar in it. The macaroni and cheese tasted like it came out of a can, mashed potatoes tasted "real", but were missing the buttery richness of homemade. After being told by plenty of folks that Amish food is delicious because it's made from all natural Amish farm fresh ingredients, and then seeing the "Peanut Butter Spread" (on every table), has high fructose corn syrup in it, and they had single serving industrially packaged butter and margarine packets on each table - not home made. For dessert we tried the Peach Pie. The filling was very close to, if not exactly like, the canned pie filling on any grocer's shelves, and the crust (which was obviously mass produced in some food processing kitchen) didn't appear to have been baked! The surprising thing is there were a hundred people eating there and a hundred people waiting to get seated, but these were not people with discriminating palettes, but more the type that frequents Golden Corral, and would most likely say "The food is mediocre but they give you a lot of it!" There is also a bakery, but I highly doubt they are making anything from scratch, and receiving premade bakery items from a central processing facility and just finishing the baking onsite. A large gift shop onsite helped us pass the 45 minute wait for a table. My advice to anyone wanting Amish food, is to see if you can offer to help an Amish family build a barn and stay long enough to partake in a meal. While the service was great, waiter extremely courteous, I don't recommend Der Dutchman for good food, much less, authentic Amish food.
(1)Nick S.
7 WORDS: Grand Buffet, Updated Amish Feel, Homey, Pricey When we arrived, the parking lot was reasonably but the wait was non-existent and we were able to help ourselves to the buffet immediately. . The long bar included the usual "Amish-Style" cuisine: Fried Chicken, Chicken and Noodles (not dumplings), dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, bread pudding and complete salad and dessert bars. Everything was a small step above standard buffets and the seating area itself was clean and well-kept. It always gives the feel of Americana - comfortable booths with heavy padding or dining tables with all-wood hoop-backed chairs. Most of the food was great. However, I've noticed the problems with the cooking of the chicken is a trend with Der Dutchman. The chicken is either a little high in grease content in the breading or the grease itself hasn't been changed. This time, however, it was the former and not the latter. Next time, I think I will limit my chicken intake to one or two pieces and see how that goes. The service always has the perfect 'feel', the ambiance is always ultra-pleasant, and the buffet choices are truly buffet. Our bill came to 15.50 each and that very fair considering what we got to eat. Would I return to Der Dutchman? Always, unless I was trying to discover a new restaurant, good or bad....which is always my preferred method of dining out.
(4)Linda H.
I realize that you have MSG in some of your food. But I never but those foods on my plate nor order them. I see list at the tables. But.... Every single time that I eat at your restraunt I feel sick to my stomach even sometimes before I get up from the table. Then I go lay down at home but I feel sick for a couple more hours. So I'm just wondering if MSG is getting in my food or bacteria ??? Also where I use to live The Dutch Essenhaus. In middlebury, IN. The have basically same food. I never in 23 plus years have felt that horrible. Horrible as in headache, sick to my tummy, and just terrible inside. There's something in your food. I've heard same complaint from other town folk. Please look into why this is please
(1)Ryan S.
I have been here countless time because this seems to be the only place my parents want to go to while in town. I can't seem to get them to go any place else. Hey, you should try Bravo, it's like Olive Garden but more. . . Der Dutchman. Since you are shopping in Easton you we should eat at Bon Vies, they gave the best lobster. . . Der Dutchman. Well since you are getting a check up at tOSU, The Fish Market is just a block. . . Der Dutchman. Face palms. I pretty much just start heading up 33 before they finish asking, "want to meet for dinner." I am not complaining though, the Der Dutchman has pretty good typical American food--though nothing really for the vegan, vegetarian, health conscious out there. We are talking juicy roast beef, perfect mash potatoes, scrumptious stuffing, thick gravy, sometimes juicy chicken, and fresh salad. Served with delicious and fresh homemade bread, the place can fill a empty stomach for us who don't watch calories, carbs, or cholesterol intake. They also have 'family style, for large groups, and of course you can order dishes on its own. I've been coming here since I was in 8th grade. I remember when it was smaller and you waited outside on rocking chairs. It has since ballooned up into a megaplex building that rivals tourist traps in tourist busy cities. Billed as an Amish restaurant, the place seems more corporate chain now than it did then, losing some illusion of authenticity as it became more popular. With stores all over Ohio, and similar concepts popping up in Indiana, Plain Cities' spot has lost some of its destination appeal and novelty. Who know how much my memory is warped by time, but it seems that Der's food has lost some quality since the '80s, dropping closer to Crackle Barrel than it once was. It is still good, but I think Nancy's in Clintonville has them beat Chicken and Noodle wise. Still, the place is popular and can be crowded on the weekends. My last visit was during the week and it was pretty dead. One knock, the atmosphere can be boring, with the wide space, no music, and walls the reflect the sound of every spoon click, murmur, and squeak of shoes, the place lacks a cosy comfort. Though they are now adding walls that help this somewhat, a better experience environmentally is still needed. Of course they have a world class bakery; pies, crisps, scones, cookies are all well, well done. A gift shop is attached and has more than just county cornball crafts--there is actually some great stuff there. If you haven't been there and dig standard American, kitchen table fare, visit. It is a nice change.
(4)Lori S.
Der Dutchman is review-proof. Seriously. How do you review a place like this? Dutchman is a local institution, one of those places you go with the family and pile into the car with friends to go hit up. My only quibble is that I always seem to get the urge to go here on a Sunday, when they are closed. I've been here dozens of times. It's simple, uncomplicated but delicious comfort food. I don't think I have ever ordered off the menu, I always get the buffet. How can I choose between chicken and noodles, or fried chicken (so good, that fried chicken), or pot roast, or whatever else is cooking? And THEN you can go into the bakery and take home some cookies or doughnuts or pie. Oh my, the pie. And I don't know what they do to their green beans but they're crazy good. The homemade bread and rolls are breadlicious. I just love Der Dutchman. It's like a big snuggly hug under an afghan, with mashed potatoes.
(5)Amy D.
We had just finished with a long day at the Columbus Zoo, and our GPS was taking us on a scenic/random route towards our next destination. We ended up driving by Der Dutchman, we were famished, and decided to turn around & try it out. As a breakdown of my scoring: For the restaurant alone: 2-3 Factoring in the awesome bakery: bumps it to 4 I'm a "homestyle food" snob, as I come from a line of very serious country cooks. My husband & I both opted for the buffet for dinner. It was "ok." The food on the buffet included things like mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, noodles, fried chicken, roast beef, & biscuits. There was a salad bar, which offered pretty standard foods as well. The fried chicken was good, a bit under-seasoned, but that was easily remedied. Personally, I was NOT a fan of the noodles. Maybe they had been in the broth too long, but the size/taste reminded me of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup...gross! I also found to stuffing to be a little too carrot-heavy, which is not something I've ever had to say in regards to stuffing. They serve you fresh bread with this interesting peanut butter spread (don't read the ingredients or nutritional information). The peanut butter spread was one of those things that I simultaneously managed to love AND hate at the same time. It's so bizarre, but yummy. Their iced tea was perfectly steeped, which is something many places can't manage to achieve. The restaurant itself was interesting. Parts of it had extreme character (dine in a buggy? awesome!)...but the rest reminded me of a hotel conference room. And not a nice hotel, but like an airport Holiday Inn conference room. Service was REALLY friendly, and a major positive of this place. We couldn't help but to browse around the bakery on the way out. Our jaws hit the floor when we saw the Fritters. I *love* fritters, and they aren't an easily-found item at home. When we were there they had 2 varieties left, blueberry & cherry. They are HUGE and I consider them to be a steal at $1.30-something per fritter. We tried them out once we were back home, and they are AWESOME. I was afraid it would have a fake/chemical blueberry taste like many blueberry baked goods have, but these tasted like real blueberry. They were outstanding, and I will probably find myself craving these in the future...from 3.5 hours away.
(4)Don W.
I chose the Der Dutchman for breakfast today because you can seat yourself, the service is very prompt and you have the choice of the buffet or ordering off the menu. I grew up on my Grand-mother's fried Mush for breakfast and mush is on the Der Dutchman menu. If you like mush, it is fried perfectly here and with a brief pour of maple syrup, I can't help but think of years past. I have eaten both lunch and dinner at other Ohio Der Dutchman restaurants and always found their food above average. In addition, the items in their bakery section are difficult not to stuff a few in a bag for home consumption or a treat on the road. When it came to service this morning, the staff excelled. Not only was my server very attentive to my table but on three occasions, other servers asked me if I needed a drink refill. It really does not get much better than this service anywhere, anytime. Now, one caution. I was here at 7::30 am (opens at 6:00am) and they only open one small area because of the limited customer flow for breakfast. This is perfect for a quiet and folksy early morning meal. However, in peak times, like holidays, weekends and summer evenings, my family tells me that you may need a lot of patience before getting to enjoy your meal. There is a gift shop and bakery to walk around in and kill time if there is a backlog of patrons. Do not let the word "buffet" make you think of the Golden Corral, Ponderosa and the like if this is your first visit. The Der Dutchman's buffet is well above the typical buffet type restaurant in both quality and selection. This Der Dutchman has a very good reputation with the locals from the west side of Columbus. There is ample parking and plenty of room for RV's.
(5)Bobbi W.
I only gave 4 stars because they did not have gluten free/lactose free pastries and bread. We went the saturday before fathers day and enjoyed our time there. The buffet was very good.
(4)Loraine A.
The breakfast buffet was good; plenty of food options & the servers were nice. It's a good spot for family gatherings.
(3)Critic M.
Nothing impressive as I heard about the place. Over priced and low quality food, mostly from a can. Most of the food was over salted maybe for a reason. The donuts were good but too sugary and sweet. I still want to check their breakfast once. Not a bad place to go to if you crave some cheap country food.
(3)Bill S.
Very good, extremely reasonably-priced food served by courteous wait-staff. They were able to handle every request we threw at them. If i'm back in the area, I'll stop in for sure!
(4)Philip W.
I hate this restaurant but its donuts are amazing. If you feel like buffet style heartburn and super salty meats then come on down.
(2)Caroline C.
I don't understand why people go nuts over this place. No matter what day of the week or time of day, the wait for the restaurant is apalling. The shortest wait we've had is 35 mins, and the longest 1 hr 45 mins. Ok, their fried chicken is probably the best in the area, but it is no way good enough to wait that long for. The restaurant is always packed and noisy, and people seem to lose their manners as soon as they reach the buffet bar. The food is mediocre. (I've read reviews on other sites from ex-employees who claim that a lot of the food is NOT made on the premises. The whole "Amish" thing is just a gimmick). The servers do the best they can to see that everyone is taken care of, but don't expect to have your glass re-filled immediately or plates cleared away promptly. We've been 5 times, and I can't be bothered to go again. The best thing about it is the wonderful bakery.
(2)Tom J.
Fruit pies. I've tried over and over to get a good cherry pie from Der Dutchman. What is supposed to be cherry filling is mostly gelatinous filler with very few cherries hidden inside. I have even asked a waitress to see if she could find me one with a lot of fruit and it came back nearly the same as all of the others I have eaten there. I'm surprised that people drool over these pies. My experience is based on several years of trying the pie. I won't be eating their fruit pies again. The rest of their food is very good.
(1)Joseph S.
*This reviews the bakery only* Wow! Big sized doughnuts! As soon as you walk in, you see a nice waiting room and past that is the bakery. But so far of the doughnuts I've ate, I was not impressed. The hype is the size, but the taste does not equal up. That's my opinion!!! I was more surprised when I asked for a custard doughnut, she said they don't have them. Only cream filled. That let me down. I did not get a chance to eat in the restaurant, but I hope to sometime.
(3)Laura J.
Went back to Der Dutchman for another group gathering for lunch today. Dining here wasn't my suggestion, but I went along with the crowd. However, I just couldn't go along with everyone else and do the buffet. It's just always been too disappointing. Instead, I ordered a grilled chicken wrap from the menu, and it was one of the best wraps I've ever had anywhere. There was a lot of chicken in it and it was very tender. The tortilla was also very soft. You get a choice of dressing and I chose the Caesar. I was happy they put it on the side, because I forgot to ask. The Caesar dressing was perfect with the wrap. For the side dish, I ordered the onion rings. They we are crispy, which I like, but very greasy, which I don't. They had a nice flavor, but honestly, I would not order them again. Still, it is good to know that there is at least something there I enjoy for the next time I'm in a group that chooses to have a lunch or dinner event there. We also bought a smaller sized pie from the bakery. I do like that you don't have to get a full sized pie just to take some home.
(3)Ed V.
a good restaurant I only ate the French fries. it was in 2013. I liked them so much I hade to orders of them the servers wear out dated 1960 style outfits. the lady who took my order was a hillock. I will be back
(3)Demi F.
I can made a better Amish meal at home and I'm not Amish. Pretty mediocre for too high of prices. I love just minutes away and never go here because it's not worth it. I haven't ate anything that I've liked enough to get again, so I just stopped going. Service is usually good though. It always amazes me that people drive from far away for THIS. Certainly can find a better restaurant more close to home, maybe not Amish but you're not getting that here either. The bakery is pretty decent though. I visit there every ice and a while, could still find better baked goods at a high rates bakery though.
(1)Kim R.
I felt like I was eating in a cafeteria at a nursing home....all the food was extremely bland. No taste at all. I was super excited about the noodles and was terribly disappointed. Frozen chicken and noodles are better than these. The environment, the decor, the plastic cups....all blah. I'm hoping the bakery makes up for the plain dinner.
(2)Mark R.
Home cooking on a buffet! There is a real menu and options but why limit yourself? The small Amish chain (strange but true) is very good food cooked to perfection. And oh yeah it had a basket and gift shop. The salad bar is not a bunch of stuff just really fresh stuff. The croutons have a sweet vinegar flavor. And the bacon is actual bacon pieces cut by hand and knife. The green stuff is really fresh which ain't bad in February. The main bar had chickie, beef, ham, and some interesting meatballs. There are two types of noodles (chicken and beef) best thing ever beef noodles over mashed taters! There's chicken and beef gravy too. The ham is not glazed but covered in a gel of sweet goo. This all goes with fresh baked mini loaves of bread. Feel free to drown bread in Apple butter, peanut butter, Or just plain old butter! Yum either way. For $2 you can add slice of pie. Or on the bar is an interesting mix of crumbled pie crust and blueberry and Apple. There's jello with fruit. It's all good and simple. The buffet is $13 each.
(4)Erik S.
This used to be our favorite restaurant to go to...up until almost 2 years ago. The pastries just do not taste the same as they used to, almost like there are more fillers. Sure, they are still gigantic, but the flavor just isn't there. I think Krispy Kremes have pulled ahead in the taste category. Schuler's in Springfield & Urbana blow Der Dutchman's pastries away. Their buffet fair is always good as buffets go. I believe the prices are fair, but I would actually pay more if the taste stayed the same as two years ago. A La Carte quality seems the same, which is to say, delicious. When you get two giant pancakes for under $7, you are guaranteed to satisfy your breakfast cravings. On the breakfast omelets, you can order grilled steak with it for that deluxe touch for not much more money. Der Dutchman, you face the same challenge as any other business with a growing customer base. Your hardcore fans won't mind paying a little more if you make good food. Please don't abandon quality to make a buck.
(2)Eli S.
Went on a Wednesday night. We sat at a booth and honestly had to wait quite a while for our server. We got tired of waiting and helped ourselves to the buffet. We didn't have silverware after we returned so my brother had to go ask the guy stocking the buffet for some. After we were about halfway through our plates our server showed up. We tried to get the attention of other servers but they never looked over our way. They didn't have too much to offer on the buffet. They did keep it stocked well with hot food. The chicken was really good and so were the potatoes and noodles I put on them. They give you a little fresh baked loaf of bread that was really warm and steaming when you cut a piece off. With that being said, the offerings of meat were slim. Fried chicken, pot roast, meatballs and ham. I was expecting a few more meat choices for $13.99. Maybe I didn't understand the concept here as I believe people come here for the fried chicken but it wasn't my cup of tea. This review is hard for me because everything I ate was amazing. Just not enough variety for me. Our server was SO nice but the initial wait was a bit off putting.
(3)Jon F.
Great place to eat. Buffet is outstanding. The place keeps getting bigger every time I come. Ive been coming for nearly 20 years. I am very appreciative of the fact they put an allergen menu on the table. Our family has various food allergies and it's really nice they've taken the time to try and make it easy. I appreciate this small but important extra step.
(4)Nicole F.
Yesssssssss home cooking! I grew up outside Amish Country in Ohio and so Der Dutchman and other similar restaurants are my absolute favorite. Der Dutchman's buffet is delicious. Salad bar is stocked with fresh veggies and a variety of additional "salads" - pasta salad, macaroni salad, potato salad. The hot portion of the buffet has all the best Amish cooking you can imagine: noodles, mashed potatoes, chicken, gravy, green beans, carrots, bread pudding. You just can't get enough. There is a menu, of course, but the buffet is so good I never need to stray from it. PLUS every table gets bread and on the table is "Amish Peanut Butter" that you HAVE to try. This stuff is like crack. Imagine peanut butter mixed with maple syrup and marshmallow fluff, and this is what you can put on your bread. Yes. Yes! YES!
(5)Catherine J.
Der Dutchman has been a family favorite for years. It used to feel really *out there*, but civilization has slowly grown up around it. As a kid, we liked the idea of sitting in the Amish buggy for our dinner (I don't think we ever did though), and the menu appealed to any picky kid's palate. Fast forward to my adult years, and the food is still comfortingly buttery, but a little bland given my choice. The baked goods are voluminous, both with whipped froth and prolificy (is that a word?). I prefer smaller portions of more flavor-packed culinary creations, but Der Dutchman has it's place. Der Dutchman is a great place to bring relatives from out of town, especially if the ages range from 5 - 95. Kids will like it, old folks will like it, and you'll feel like you're doing something Ohio-specific. Food and local-tourist vibe aside, Der Dutchman has two other things really going for it. First, the gift shop is surprisingly awesome. I've found some great home-dec treasures here. You kinda have to sift through some of that contrived country kitsch a bit, but there's some beautiful things in there. Second, Der Dutchman is a great biking destination. Traffic isn't too heavy, and (from Dublin) you can do a portion of the ride on a very well-maintained, wide bike path. Ten miles out, pause for some breakfast, and ten miles back. Easy peasy, and makes for a great Saturday morning.
(3)Tracy W.
This place is amazing. .. it's an hour drive from Dayton but so worth it. . Not only the food is all home cooked but the store and bakery has all their items for sale. From the bread to the pies and the homemade pasta. .. the jellies and jams and butter. ... then their is the store with all the crafts. ... definitely worth the trip if you are ib the area. Also I suggest the buffet for dining. ... oh yes and the donuts are outstanding. ... come with your wallet and an empty trunk so you have room to take home plenty.
(5)Mark K.
Surely I've reviewed this before? Anyway, it's okay for "home-cooked" food, and the buffet is decent. Service is good, though they're often overworked. And prices are high for what you get. The bakery is the star. Stop in there, eat dinner somewhere else. If you need to eat "Amish" go to the Country Kitchen down the road. Same menu, same owners, but smaller crowds.
(2)Casey S.
I don't eat here very often but the times I have I've told myself I'm going to try something new but always fall back to the buffet. The food is comforting, reminds me of bob evans or cracker barrel quality. The buffet lacked a lot of variety but the bread pudding made up for it. Eating here every once in a while is fine but I wouldn't make it too much of a habit because I can cook similar things at home with more flavor and less travel time.
(3)Scott B.
Okay this place gets good marks for very pleasant waitresses and good service but when it comes to the food I just don't see what why so many people seem to rave about DD. I have been twice, once trying out the buffet, and once ordering off the menu, and was underwhelmed both times. My barometer of this kind of home-style eating is "How good is the fried chicken?" It was better off the menu but still not great. Maybe if it had been in the "pan" just a little longer. Also the clear (as in no color whatsoever) transparent gravy looks extremely foul.
(2)Ted D.
Mid quality food. The service, good enough for what you pay. $7-11 for their proclaimed buffet with meat. Terrible lines on most any day of the week. There is a smaller, identical restaurant on the same road down 3/4 mile. They serve the same food and employ the same kids from my wife's school. We live in the community. Dur Dutchman has even owned this smaller and more pleasant establishment over the years. Currently they do not and the service is still the same, food mid quality but there is a much smaller line.
(3)Natalie S.
Ah hhhhh a haha. This place is so the epitome of some parts of the Midwest. I definitely treasure it as a part of my background. It's GIGANTIC and the times I went I was with my entire school class of several hundred students. We had Thanksgiving dinners there, with huge communal bowls of classic American holiday comfort food - mashed potatoes, stuffing, a simple salad, and lots of turkey. All my fellow hooligan classmates streamed into this hall, and found our seats based on which type of pie slice was sitting at our spot - certain of the less popular flavors were offered up by less fortunate slowpokes, who attempted to make a trade to no avail. This system was probably efficient for our Amish servers in their traditional dress, long gowns and aprons, but it usually resulted in lots of pie being consumed before the meal had even been served. Any pie not consumed before the gigantic, filling meal was most likely being flung about across tables by the time we were through. Goooood times.
(4)Joe E.
This place is enormous and has quite the business. In addition to the restaurant, there is an excellent bakery attached along with a crafts & novelties store. Tons of parking spaces available, but you may have to walk a little. They do have a drop-off / pick-up place for those not as mobile. You will have a wait ahead of you when visiting at peak times, but they have a comfortable lobby or you can browse the bakery or crafts store to pass the time. The dining experience was top notch. I had family in from out of state. We went for the buffet option so to sample many of the different down-home cooking, comfort food menu items. You can order entrees from the menu as well. The salad bar is quite large and can be a whole meal in itself. Loved it! Plenty of main and side dish options. I enjoyed the turkey. Mashed potatoes were really runny, but the noodles were tasted like homemade. Prices were quite reasonable. Great place to take the family. Service was friendly and good. Okay ... if you are dieting ... AVOID the bakery! WOW! Bismark's and doughnuts alone will destroy best laid plans! We took one of their home made pies home and shared it. It was delicious. This spot is located in Plain City. So, it may be a bit of a drive for some. However, it is well worth the trip, have a delicious dining experience and terrific way to create some family memories.
(5)Nijole T.
Ok, my fist review was based on Der Dutchman in Amish County about 2 hours away, this time I went to the Original in Plain City and now I believe in the hype. I still love local chops like Yutzy's more, but the Donuts and cookies are amazing! The other items cost more than everywhere else in town but the donuts are big as your head and if you get a dozen they are just under a dollar each, 3 kinds of fritters from blueberry, cherry to apple, all good, apple is the winner though. Great stuff, cute decor store a bit overpriced but if I wasn't looking at the pricetags I would have bought it all. The people are friendly, this will be a stop each time I go to Plain City for some Amish goodness!
(4)Rebekah H.
I think Der Dutchman is getting lazy in the food they put out. Locals can tell you that the food has definitely been better. The chicken is getting a little crispy, the potatoes are now runny, and the corn is mushy. The service is on the decline, and I am not sure that the staff cares. We placed a carryout order for a church party, and it took us over 12 hours to get the order due to confusion in the kitchen!
(2)Jarrod R.
This has been a staple of our family for too many years to count. At least since about 1981 when we moved to Indianapolis and started heading back to Galion, Ohio through Plain City to visit our "good looking relations." (Inside joke, my apologies). Der Dutchman has grown considerably since then, but the good quality comfort food has stayed consistent and delicious. While the food is wonderful, I would only refrain from giving them that final star due to the fact that they are too big. The restaurant has grown a little too large to be "cozy" and takes just a little "pinch" away from the atmosphere. Still, the service and food is top notch. Many happy returns, Der Dutchman. Hope too see you again soon!
(4)Matt D.
I left a review before. I will have to say it was better but I will tell you the buffet is really just like any other. The only reason people go is the name. I know this as my family was in the chain restaurant business for many years until they sold the name. Now as for my visit today it was better but the food was not stocked up and this was at 1 pm. Now I felt rushed the person that waited on us made us feel rushed. We were their for a short time and we never got refills and she ask us if we wanted desert and when we said no out popped the bill and a bag for the bread she did the same thing to the table across from us. She took are plates and everything sweeped them up fast and more like be on your way. Considering the last time it was better but Der Dutchman you still need to work on some stuff food temp and keep it stocked and don't chop up the veggies to pulp and check them to make sure the veggies like cumbers are not soft. Thank for the service but still not a place I would recommend to others. I have talked to a number of persons that feel this way.
(2)John F.
Excellent meals as well as baked goods. Have been going here for years and will continue to go as long as they're in business.
(5)Kim D.
My family and I had the breakfast buffet. The eggs were like solid goo, baked items stale and old. It was disgusting. The coffee was absolutely horrible. It was like the last bit of the pot that sat for hours. We soent $42 for awful food. There are so many other fabulous places to eat in around Columbus. This is not one of them. I am mystified by the rave reviews. ..
(1)Miss C.
Good, but highly overrated. The wait was very short for us, less than 5 minutes. The roasted turkey was delicious & very moist and tender. The green beans were mediocre. The dressing & gravy was not my taste at all. The server was ok, but a bit snippy. We split a piece of rhubarb pie and it was very good. It was a nice experience, but I don't have any plans to return. Columbus has many first class eateries that I want to try right in town. The drive out is a bit much.
(4)Kevin B.
Disappointed, the quaint charm that used to be characteristic of this restaurant is gone, traded to commercialism and volume. We lived in Columbus for 35 years and moved 7 years ago. We enjoyed Der Dutchman when it was a small family run operation and the food was hand made with respectable ingredients. But, clearly that time has passed. The restaurant is much larger now (huge!). The staff is still as friendly. It's still a great place to take a family from a casual dining perspective. We had the breakfast buffet today and while the food was okay, there are better places in Columbus to go for a great tasting breakfast. My disappointment comes from how commercial and processed the food has gotten. I read the ingredient list on the peanut butter concoction the have in bottles on the tables and it was clear it was made in a chemical refinery! Certainly not the pure minimally processed foodstuff you'd expect at an Amish restaurant. I visited the bakery and read some of the baked good labels and again, there was nothing you couldn't get at your local grocery store. If you're into buying model home interior decorations and Kroger's groceries, you'll enjoy Der Dutchman. But, if you want a tasty better prepared breakfast or dinner venue, there are better places in the area.
(3)Ray W.
Been here several times. I have found that its just best to go during the work week, during lunch time. Weekends its very busy and also on weekends, it seems like they get so busy things run out at the buffet and aren't replaced quick enough. Another thing about the weekends, one time I went and it was one of those busy days, they were slow to replace the chicken there at the buffet and when they finally did, the chicken, in my opinion, did not seem to be cooked all the way, it was sort of rubbery chewy like it still needed to cook longer and they may have pulled it out of the fryer because they were trying to keep up. Every other time I have been here, chicken has been fine. Just that one time really grossed me out. Like I said, avoid weekends and best time is to go on a day off during work week, during lunch.
(4)Colleen R.
The bakery has some pretty solid treats. I really enjoyed the blackberry pie and the peach hand pies. I got an apple fritter, but it was comparable to many others I have eaten. I would give the bakery a 4 out of 5. I have tried a variety of their bakery items, and they have all been tasty! The restaurant... That is another story. I went with some friends on a Saturday night, and we had to wait 45 minutes. Expect to wait if you are coming at any peak eating hour. We all got the buffet that I had heard so much raving about. I got a small portion of all the meats and sides. I have to say - I was not impressed. The shredded turkey and beef were both extremely dry. The mashed potatoes were decent, but could have used some more flavoring. The chicken and noodles did not impress me. It tasted a little like Campbells with bigger noodles. The rolls were good, and the salad bar had plenty of options. I would give the restaurant a 2.5 out of 5. This is just not my style of restaurant.
(3)Troy S.
My five stars is based on their donuts and bakery not the restaurant. I stopped in this morning for another bite of their Apple Fritter and Long Johns (I call them Cream Sticks because I am from NE Ohio. The Apple Fritter is just huge as it is bigger than my tiny hands put together. The donut was light, fluffy, and full of small bites of apples. I hadn't had a fresh one for quite some time and remembered why i hold all other fritters to the Der's standard. I also grabbed a Long John and ate half of it to refresh my taste buds. I had to do this for the integrity of my search for the best donut (I also ran about a mile today so I think it was ok). I think they just brought the Long John out as it was still fresh and warm. These are huge so eating a half is the equivalent of eating two Krispy Kremes. I love the lightness to each of these but let me warn you: The lightness disappears from your stomach when you eat a whole apple fritter and half of a Long John. I guess eating one or a half of one should be enough. The nice thing about their donuts is one can order a dozen and then cut them in half so you have 24 donuts and no one feels cheated. If I review their restaurant and buffet my stars would drop to 3 or 4. I have eaten here before but I tend not to like Amish comfort food since it is the food I grew up on. I can go home and get everything here made for me by my mom. So my review of Amish-Mennonite comfort food would be tainted.
(5)Shawn M.
This place has good food, from its traditional.roots it has transversed over time. Not the same place it once was is the standard many hold it too. On a level of restaurants today it's top tier. I would bring my mother or the love of my life here for the experience and the food.
(4)Samantha A.
This review is actually two separate reviews: one for the restaurant/buffet, and one for my Rehearsal Dinner. Restaurant: 5 stars. Delicious homemade food, awesome service, pie can't be beat, wonderful dinner buffet. Breakfast buffet cannot be beat. $7.99 and it includes those amazing chocolate long johns. Rehearsal Dinner: 1 star. Awful. Service was terrible (they gave us one waitress) and they set up the room in the most awkward way imaginable. Two separate rows of tables across a room, so most of the guests could not see each other and speeches were impossible. Now I know why the price seemed so reasonable.
(3)Karen W.
You can never go wrong at the Der Dutchman for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or even if you come here with a group of people. I've eaten here many times and was never disappointed. Normally they have their usual menu and their buffet. You cant go wrong with either option. The staff here is very friendly as well. We were just here within the week with our church family. They quickly seated and the waitress was by to ask us for our drink orders. As we waited for our drinks, we had a salad infront of us, plus where I sat there was a piece of chocolate mousse pie. Yum. I did all I could not to dig into the pie before our dinner! ha! We were all served the buffet of mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, stuffing, pot roast, chicken and gravy. Yum. Overall the atmosphere in the banquet room was inviting and comfortable. Dont forget to stop in at the bakery and the gift shop! The wheat bread and other goodies are worth picking up a loaf or two while you are there. The gift shop is big and has a variety of different items that you can choose from -- a gift for a friend to doillies (sp?) to quilts to candles to pictures that you can hang on your wall. If you go here, eat and check out both the bakery and gift shop!!!
(5)Tiffany C.
Wow, I have had the displeasure of dining at two horrible Dutch restaurants this week. Go figure. Der Dutchman was at one time authentic food where you could see the old Amish ladies in the back yelling at the young kids, and watch them make food, but sadly, Der Dutchman has went on the cheap, and everything is Ala aluminum can quality. Don't believe me? We knew people who used to work there a few years ago, and even our waitress on our visit last night admitted that some of the food products were from a can. This place is simply a tourist trap for really old people, or people requiring a large space for a reunion, or banquet, because the food is mediocre. You honestly can get better quality at Bob Evans, a chain Restaurant, and that I can verify since I worked there and have seen the KP firsthand. When we usually have to go here for family engagements I order the turkey Manhattan, but I tried the "homemade" noodles this time as a side, and they were anything but authentic. They reassembled the noodles you can find in a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup. I will say that at least the turkey on my Manhattan was amazing, so perhaps they're still REALLY cooking the poultry here, but all the sides are clearly from a can. People go crazy over the pies here, but they're so mediocre to me, and it came to no surprise when the waitress admitted some of the flavors are... yep, you guessed it, from A CAN! If you order your pie Ala mode, at least the soft serve ice-cream is pretty dagone good. The market area they have here is wonderful! They have plenty of sweets, cheeses, noodles, and breads to take home. They also have a HUGE gift area where you can find some unique and interesting things, and is nice to take a look around when wait times get long. I will praise Der Dutchman for being in the Plain City Community for over 25 years, and they've re-done the entire decor of the Restaurant, which looks amazing, and provides more seating room for visitors. The new set up is wonderful, and I'm so glad they added some bathrooms CLOSER to the eating area, so you don't feel like you have to walk a mile. Now... if you could only do something about the cheap canned food. Then I could appreciate you a little more. **MY ADVICE: Check out Dutch Kitchen down the road about two miles. They're small, quaint, and you won't have to fight Grandma to get that golden piece of chicken.
(2)Marion R.
A must visit place
(5)Stac M.
I have been to this place 3 times, so this review is a culmination of all 3 experiences. My first time here I didn't know what to expect and had never heard the hype as I was not a Cbuser, yet. It was good. I had the sweet potato fries and they were wonderful. My second and third times here, however, for the breakfast buffet, were complete failures. The buffet consisted of french toast sticks, sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy and their famous (practically) foot long cream sticks and more. The first time- it caused myself and my partner to be stuck in the bathroom for long periods of time. The second time it merely caused both of our stomachs to protest semi-violently. Why- (do you ask me) did we go back a second time for breakfast? Because our little girls who love the Bendaroos they gave them AND we had a $20 groupon. Never again. We both agree we would never again go there for breakfast and never again if we didn't have a groupon.
(1)Patrick P.
I recently went back to the Der Dutchman after almost a year. I really like the renovations. This is hard review because it really a business with multiple aspects. I am rating the the Restaurant and Bakery. The restaurant is okay. I usually go there for breakfast. The menu is the only option for the early AM with a buffet later in the AM (around 7:30 AM). If iti is your first time - I recommend the buffet because you can decide what you like and do not. They offer many of the bakery items on the buffet - which is a real good opportunity to try some of their fabulous donuts. The breakfast is good - not outstanding. The people are friendly so I am not going to knock it. They offer the standard fair. A couple of notes the toast is from their home made bread and I realy like their skillets off the menu (eggs, potatoes, peppers, onions, bacon, and cheese). Breakfast will cost you $5-10 depending on what you get. Bakery: I believe this is where the amish recipes are still being used if I was to guess. Great pastries at a great price. A donze of donuts there will run you around $10. The portions are huge One Der Dutchman dozen = 2 dozen of a competitor. They offer 3 types of fritters (apple, blueberry, and cherry). They offer the most amazing Long Johns. They sell out of their Long John donuts on Saturdays usually They sell bread, pies, meats, cheeses, etc.. there. Go there for the bakery and if you have time get some breakfast.. Enjoy!
(4)Tory R.
In my opinion, this is the best kind of food ever! I used to work in an Amish restaurant in Newark several years ago and I can see many similarites. Der Dutchman has really expanded and added on since I've been there last. There is a new wing open with a waiting area (with a baby grand piano), a nice bakery, and gift store. My parents and I went with a friend and had the dinner "barn-raising buffet." It was delicious! The salad bar had a variety of potato sald, slaw, pickled beets (my favorite), cottage cheese, three-bean salad, and other things. The buffee itself was amazing! It had chicken noodles, mashed potatos, stuffing, sugar cured ham, roast beef, fried chicken, green bean casserole, baked beans, rice, and a few other things I'm probably forgetting! I'm glad I live so close to this place and can't wait to go back!
(5)Kim M.
This place had really delicious food and a small town atmosphere a few years ago. When my kids were younger we would sit inside the Amish buggy and have delicious pot roast dinners with such great flavor, unfortunately it has been changed so much it hardly looks the same and the food is terrible. All four of the people in our party experienced pretty much the same thing, bland food. I ordered the meatloaf which used to actually look like meatloaf, never again. I am not sure who is working in that kitchen now but it did not appear to be Amish run anymore. Very overpriced for the quality of food you are offered. The gift shop is now full of trinkets that have nothing to do with the Amish culture. If you are looking for a Vera Bradley handbag though, its the place. First time in a long time my teenage son left most of the food behind on the plate.
(1)Paul F.
First off, this is a really beautiful restaurant. Besides the dining area, it also encompases a grocery section where you can buy pies, sausages,, etc. And then there is a section for gifts and these go up in price to the hundreds of dollars. Now to the food. The salad bar has about everything you'd want. From lettuce to peas and beets and all kinds of dressings. The hot food area has fried chicken and ham, and meatball, and bbq'd beef. And other stuff that I can't recall. Oh, the mashed potatoes are great. And the home-style gravy. I think the people who are complaining about having to wait are really missing the point. If the food wasn't good, there wouldn't be any line.
(4)Jeff A.
Wear you buffet bustin expandable pants and come hungry. Yummy! Oh yea, save room for some pie :^D
(5)Steve M.
I've been to this restaurant a few times. As I was driving on back from C-Bus, I stopped by a Quaker State & Lube (Beavercreek). As I was going through the backroads to get back on 71, I vaguely remembered this area and then it clicked that there was a Amish restaurant near here. The gift shop is amazing, so many different arts and crafts. Its located near a bike path, so it makes for a perfect lunch/snack break. The bakery items are delicious and I would def. have to recommend the pies (cherry, dutch apple, coconut, and chocolate and peanut butter pie. Yum!!
(4)Jared E.
I love buffets, not gonna lie. Don't really even care how good the food is, especially if I'm hungover, which is the only time I ever eat here. This place is truly a trip--both in that you have to drive a ways to get out there and that it's just an interesting place. I'm going to go ahead and warn everyone, even though this should be obvious. It's an Amish style *family restaurant* and they do not serve alcohol. Now, you'd think if you explained this to someone it's kind of a given that there won't be alcohol--"We're going to an Amish Buffet." Well, I was in the mood for some super fatty, starchy buffet food a few weeks ago and craving Der Dutchman after a night out downtown. I went here with a girl who was also struggling with a hangover. So, we get there, and she says she can't "wait to get a mimosa," then when I tell her "you can't get one here" she says "oh, they don't have champagne, I'll just get a bloody mary." Wow. Anyway, she was pissed and it kind of ruined our whole adventure with her complaining. No, things didn't work out with us. The atmosphere here is campishly country kitchen styled mixed with what I would only call "funeral home décor." Yes, it reminds me of a funeral home. Wander around when you are done eating and you'll understand. Lots of furniture made to look nice but you can tell it's cheap with the silk flowers and dim lighting. Bleh. Just get your buffet on and then get the hell out before someone tries to embalm you. Although, I do feel like I'm dying after I eat here so maybe it is a funeral home/restaurant combo. On to the food--it's good food but not great. They start out offering you bread or rolls. They are served with AMAZING--no other words describe this--creamy caramel peanut butter marshmallow spread. This stuff is so so good. It does, however, contain TRANS FAT. They have bottles of it on every table and just be careful because trans fat KILLS PEOPLE, but its so yummy in everything it's mixed with that it's hard to resist. It not only lowers good cholesterol, but also makes bad cholesterol rise. It's pure poison. But, I don't eat here more than a couple times a year, so I figure I can handle a little. They also sell this stuff to buy and take home in their gift shop, which is filled with shelves and shelves of yummy baked goods and amish delights. Now the buffet salad bar: there's ALL KINDS OF GOOD STUFF on this thing. I always get started with the salad bar. The salad bar has unique "metal plates" that are kept ice cold. This is a nice touch. They also have the best dressings (probably trans fatty but who cares) I've just about ever had. The macaroni salad and cole slaw is also amazing. I usually make a salad with fresh bacon bits, chopped eggs, onions, blue cheese dressing and fresh grated cheddar cheese. Yep, super healthy. They also have homemade pickled eggs on the salad bar which are 2 die 4 if you like pickled eggs. Now for the buffet hot food: the fried chicken is crisp and delicious. They also have these sweet and sour ham ball things that are wonderful. They have chicken and noodles, assorted gravies, ham, roast beef and all kinds of stuff that I've had and it's all pretty good. The only complaint I have is that the mashed potatoes are not very good and remind me of the powdered mixed ones. I will also note that dessert is scant and/or non-existent--there's been bread pudding both times I've been here and it was blah tasting and that's all I saw in the dessert department. I think they want you to order dessert from the menu, which they are known for. All in all: not gourmet food, but good food. Go starving, or hungover, and get your money's worth. The only problem is that both times I've gone I'm so comatose and delirious from eating so much that I have trouble keeping my eyes open as I drive home.
(3)Angela H.
What is going on here? 16 reviews and an average of 3 stars?! Who are you people?? Der Dutchman is a GEM. When you think of Chicago you think pizza, hot dogs, steaks. When you think of NYC you think of bagels, cupcakes, street meat. SF - all and any ethnic food. When you think of Columbus what comes to mind? I'll tell you what SHOULD come to mind - AMISH food. Now some of you may be offended by that comment...but stay with me for a second here. Yes, I know Columbus has a great food scene. But honestly, if you think of all the food types out there....a lot of the food categories are already taken by other cities. But AMISH food, think about it...where else have you had better Amish food? The cheese, the doughnuts, chicken noodle soup on top of mash potatoes! mmm mmm mmm! The other day my bf asked if I could make thick chicken noodle soup. Confused, I asked him what he was talking about. 'you know, the kind at der dutchman!', he responded. Boy, do I look Amish to you?
(4)Seth D.
Ick. Pretty underwhelming all around. I've heard people talk about this place since German class in middle school and after it being built up in my head for the last 15 years, it was a huge let down. All the food was pretty bland and overcooked. The only thing that was halfway decent was the stuffing that I think had apples in it. My experience was topped off by a butterscotch pie that tasted reasonably good, but hardly like butterscotch. The service was acceptable, but I felt bad leaving a 20% tip as I think it was too much. As far as prices go, it was $30 for a kids buffet, and adult buffet, a piece of pie and a sundae. Not a good deal at all for a bunch of food from a can. I suppose if you're a Vera Bradley fan they do have a big selection in the gift shop.
(2)Erin R.
Love the buffet. The store is pretty great. It's like cracker berrel times 3. It's just a little on the pricey side for lunch.
(4)Dean K.
Hospitality from the Amish people is excellent. Very polite and very kind. Came to this place with my brother and his family. The server remembered exactly who they were. Probably because she never seen an Asian family before. But either way, service was great. We all ordered the buffet. Think of a smaller Home Town Buffet but with superior quality. Fried Chicken, roast beef, creamed corn, mashed potatoes are parts of the menu. Fried chicken was probably one of the best I had. To make this a great place was the dessert. We bought a rasberry cream pie that was better than any thing I had at Marie Calendars. Good job Amish people!
(4)Carolyn E.
I've been to a lot of "Amish" buffet places like this over the years, and this is one of the best. Maybe it's the time of day I normally go (Thursday evenings), or maybe I've just been lucky, but I have walked away satisfied and sated every time. I always get the buffet, the highlight of which is the chicken - it's so flavorful you can just pull off the skin and eat the meat. I have a feeling the grease and salt content is ridiculous, but a tasty splurge now and then isn't a bad thing. Other offerings are also very good. Of note are the chicken and noodles, creamy corn, and the fresh-baked breads. I also really like the salad bar, even if the super-chopped salad is a bit unusual. It makes mixing in the other toppings very easy, though, and seems to release more flavor. The only item that is somewhat disappointing is the roast beef, which is rather chewy and dry most the time. Visit Sauder Village in Archbold for the best roast beef! Definitely save room for dessert! The pies here are top notch. I especially like the sugar and cream pies, made with -real- whipped cream which is dense and rich. Service, by the way, is very good. I've yet to have a server who wasn't friendly. Sometimes when busy they aren't as quick about the refills as one would like, but given the number of folks this place packs in, it's understandable. Before or after dining, be sure to drop by the gift shop and bakery. The gift shop is...well... overpriced, but interesting to look at. There is some very pretty jewelry. The bakery, though, has a lot of delicious things for sale, from fresh challah bread that will melt in your mouth, to entire boxes of cookies and pies. Be sure to try the doughnuts too - they're as big as your head, fresh-made, and ridiculously decadent. I don't even normally like doughnuts, but these are an exception. As to decor, at this moment, the place is being redone from outside in. The parking lot and large waiting areas are sprawling, confusing messes, and the main dining area has a sort of construction-site chic thing going. But, really, the food is the main thing here. I'm sure it will look great once the work is done. Be aware and wary of wild rug-rats who will trip you trying to go back to your table from the buffet. *Update: Looks like the renovations are nearly completed and it's looking good. The old waiting room is now a dining room, complete with an old buggy that now serves as a dining table in one corner. I bet I would have loved that as a kid! Food is as good as ever, whether you drop by on a week night, holiday, or weekend.
(5)Kevin C.
I've been hearing from friends that Der Dutchman has an impressive bakery, so I decided to make the trip out there in the late afternoon. I've never been there before but wow...the place is HUGE and there were tons of people there. Frankly, I was wasn't interested in the dinner selections but I was very curious about the bakery. The bakery is virtually a store unto itself. There are tons of bread, cookies, and pies. Behind the counter are the donuts. The donut selection isn't mind-boggling but the donuts are utterly huge. Each donut is equal to two regular donuts. No joke. I'm trying to recall the selection: bismarks (vanilla, maple, and chocolate) various fritters, twist donuts, regular glazed, and perhaps a couple other types. You won't find a big variety here like you would at Buckeye Donuts or even Kroger's (when they're well-stocked). By the time I tried the donutes, it must have been around 6 PM but the donuts were still super-fresh. I'm assuming that Der Dutchman is making several batches throughout the day. If they would've been made in the early AM, the donuts I bought would've been stale already. Instead they were very fresh and quite delicious. My final verdict: the donuts were pretty great. I'm a bismark fan myself and personally didn't care for them too much as I found the cream on the inside was a bit too bland and greasy. I prefer a sweeter cream. On the other hand, I thought the apple fritter, twistee, and regular glazed were absolutely delicious. I would certainly buy them again. I should add that I also bought a small variety pack of cookies and they were great as well. I had assumed that with the huge assortment that Der Dutchman had in the bakery that it wasn't made in-house, but everything that I tried certainly had a homemade taste and was very fresh. Would I recommend the Der Dutchman bakery? Absolutely. Everything was delicious and fresh. Even at 5 PM on a Saturday, there was still a great selection of baked goods.
(4)Mark H.
I have to agree with Laura J. The food is not so good. And the old Amish restaurant that occupied the space that is now the Dutch Kitchen (it was called the Kountry Kitchen, I think) was much much better. There is nothing inherently wrong with Amish style food, though one ought to work like an Amishman if one is going to eat like an Amishman. Otherwise, one risks tipping the scales at 300 lbs, as do many of the Der Dutchman customers. (And I used to live in PC when I was a kid, and consider the town my home town.)
(2)Corrie H.
When you move 2,000 miles away from your birthplace, you do sometimes come back to visit, and when you do, you have your Homesick Circuit. For me, Der Dutchman is one of the stops on that circuit. It's just so... Midwestern. Nobody where I live now really understands meatloaf or open-faced sandwiches. The portions at Der Dutchman are huge. The salad bar is great: there is old-school lettuce (no arugula here!), and pickled eggs, and lots of shredded cheese, and unctuous clumpy salad dressings. The carbs... oh, the carbs. If you plan your meal right, you can have noodles AND mashed potatoes. Or what about some roast beef over mashed potatoes with a hunk of thick white bread? Yum. Der Dutchman's atmosphere is grandma chic, which means that the decor is somewhat fussy and yet plain, and also very comfortable and welcoming. I love it. I miss it. But I'll be there again someday.
(4)Vernon A.
First, this is of course a cultural experience. If you want to get a feel for middle-working class suburban/rural Midwestern people and are not from here, here is the best place (far less weird than Walmart - although many of the same people are cast for both appearances at Der Dutchman and Walmart). So, if you are feeling like a cultural anthropologist, good place for some observation. As to the food, my very favorite thing is their amazing Thanksgiving take-away. I simply cannot cook a better turkey, and have tried numerous times. That plus the insanely good pies, my favorite being the chocolate pudding one that, I am sad to say, rivals memories of what my one grandmother made, which had been the standard bearer. House full of guests = happy when we do Der Dutchman and every time. I prefer this so I can concentrate on actually having fun/drinking. As to eating in, it is comfortfoodpalooza, and in mass quantities. The service is prompt and earnest and they all act and look lime they just left a church service. This is a family scene and very laid back, kids and old people everywhere. I also like the bake shop quite well and the quality of what they sell is really excellent, if predictable. We have never once bought a bad food item there. I won't comment on the gift shop other than to say they really get their audience and there is a lot of it. This is an incredibly well-run business. It also "is what it is,, and if you are up for it, you will be happy with the experience. If you cannot dig the aesthetic, go elsewhere, but you are missing out on some truly great pie.
(4)Missy M.
Such soul warming comfort food! Its like thanksgiving dinner whenever you want. I also like to stop and grab a pastry and cup of coffee on my way through. the gift shop is nice if you need a quick gift or the waste time, its a bit pricey.
(5)Heather A.
Since the moment I stepped foot in Columbus and talked up my beloved Cracker Barrel, all I have heard is Der Dutchman this, Der Dutchman that...so I finally went. And it wasn't bad but it was no Cracker Barrel. I know most people will laugh at that but southern folks know how it's done. Right down to the shopping. I WILL readily admit that the Der Dutchman gift shop area was charming and I love the whole Amish connection but the food...some of it was outstanding, don't get me wrong...but some of it was just plain disappointing. Maybe in its heyday this place was the shizzle fo rizzle but I think it's losing it's luster. And yes, the wait was horrendous both times I have been. Don't go hungry.
(4)Joan C.
I walked into Der Dutchman and found myself in the midst of about 100 hardy Ohioans standing around in an ENORMOUS waiting room (seriously--you could fit an entire high school prom in the lobby) while some Amish lady screamed out names over the loudspeaker (e.g., Wayne, party of 15, Wayne, party of 15, your table is ready). So there's not much in the way of ambiance. But then I followed the intoxicating maple syrup aroma wafting from the bakery...and promptly bought my baby bro a delectable banana cream pie for his birthday. He owes me one. I seriously contemplated hoisting that thing onto my flight back to NYC. Anyway, I also managed to convince myself to buy a bag of popcorn, some sausage that got me flagged at airport security (no joke), spicy beef jerky, and a cream cheese spread made with "dried beef, cream cheese, scallions and tabasco {YUM}". My shopping made our 45 minute wait go by a lot faster. It was a Saturday night, I guess. The place was bumpin. And rightfully so--I attacked the buffet with a relish that would have done my Chinese ancestors proud. Their "broasted" (you say tomato, i say tomahto. they say broasted, i say fried) chicken is stellar, as is the creamed corn, the mashed potatoes, the noodles, the stuffing, the gravy, etc. And did I mention the banana cream pie??
(4)Shane L.
Der Dutchman is an enormous Amish style restaurant, which actually has many Mennonite's working there. True to its roots, don't bother stopping by on Sunday, which is sad, as my favorite meal there is breakfast. Der Dutchman serve ample portions, and most opt for either family style dining (essentially a mini buffet brought to your table) or the buffet. Lunch/dinner is filled with turkey, roast beef, broasted chicken, beans, potatoes, and other country style items, and you can follow this up with one of a dozen or so awesome fresh pies they make. Breakfast features the best donuts you've ever had (especially their maple iced creme filled ones), combined with fruits (decent selection by Ohio standards), eggs, sausage, pancakes, and bacon. I go straight for donuts and bacon but the rest is great from what I hear. Service is rather good, seating is very ample (not sure there is a bigger setup in Columbus), and while there tends to be lots of families there, which is no surprise given the very reasonable prices, the kids tend to be rather well behaved.
(4)Joseph V.
It's not mamas cooking but some of it's good. Maybe if your not lucky enough to have a southern girl at home cooking for ya it'd be better.
(2)Meredith M.
In high school I remember my mom waking me up at the crack of dawn to drive three hours to eat at an authentic amish restaurant for breakfast. I'll admit that those were the best buttermilk biscuits I've ever had...The Windmill, that was the restaurants name. So when my husband and I decided to head out to the countyside to enjoy a haunted corn maze in celebration of Halloween we stopped here to eat. The wait was over an hour so I was anticipating a great home cooked meal. Unfortunately it was a disappointment. The chicken was really greasy and all of the sides on the buffet compared to those of Hometown or worse yet, Ponderosa. A final judgement couldn't be made without trying the chocolate pie, the pie is what awarded the Der Dutchman two stars, it was yummy. If I had known I could work it off being lost in a corn field for two hours I would have had another slice.
(2)Ronald B.
Not bad but very pricey for phony "Amish" cooking. Don't go as often as we used to. Definitely over priced and over rated. With tax it came to almost $32 for 2 buffets. I can't believe the people who fall for the phony Amish cooking theme. This chain of restaurants is owned by a large corporation that opens them in Amish "tourist" areas. They also own the Dutch Kitchen down the road in Plain City. There are few if any actual Amish working or cooking at either place. Maybe a few local Amish girls hired to wait on tables and fool the tourists. It's comical to listen to people rave about the great "homemade" Amish food they just ate! I suspect much of it comes out of a can just like at Golden Corral. Not sure if its the economy or the high prices but the crowds are down. We got there at 6:15 PM on Sat. and were seated immediately. Usually had to wait 30 min or and hour on other visits.
(2)Amy S.
I should never have looked at the ingredients of the foods in the gift shop. I think I would have been perfectly content being ignorant and remembering all my childhood days eating here, not knowing that there was high fructose corn syrup in everything. We had intended on getting a pie to take to my great grandfather's funeral, but ended up walking out thinking that for the prices, something fresh and natural would have been nice. On the upside, we did come up with the idea that next year, the Christmas present theme should be all presents that come from restaurant gift shops. Which means if you're a friend of mine, prepare for some pretty corny gifts!
(2)Joe P.
Poor food quailty since new management. Known to reuse uneaten food. I always leave with heartburn.
(1)Alicia F.
This place deserves a solid 3.5 stars. The fare is, as another reviewer described, American comfort holiday food, so it would be hard for me to not find anything I want on the menu. I had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. The meatloaf was a light, juicy variety (similar to the way my mom made it, so to me it was done right). I wasn't fond of the sauce on the meatloaf, which was basically a mild, sweet barbecue sauce. The mashed potatoes were of the proper consistency, and the green beans were really good. They were buttery and not overcooked. My husband had the baked chicken, potato pancakes, and cheesy mixed vegetables. He enjoyed it. I thought the vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower) looked overcooked but he ate them right up so maybe they were just right. The potato pancakes were good, but needed some topping other than butter or apple butter. Something like bacon and cheese. We of course left room for dessert. He had the banana cream pie and thought it was a particularly good one. I had the date pudding with ice cream, which consisted of 3 date bars on vanilla pudding with soft serve. The date bars were good, but I was expecting ice cream (not soft serve), and the vanilla pudding didn't appeal to me. I probably should have gone for the blackberry pie. So they don't get any points for the date pudding. The place is corporate. Any restaurant with tour bus parking can't be expected to be very homey. However, it has an expected "country" ambiance, similar to Cracker Barrel but with a more open, Grandma's house atmosphere (as opposed to Grandpa's antique barn like you get at Cracker Barrel). The bakery was impressive. There were all sorts of goodies I'd love to try. Of course all the baked goods (breads, sweet breads, pastries, pies, cakes, etc.), but also the preserves (strawberry freezer jam, pickled asparagus). Ok, so I'm not so sure I really want to try pickled asparagus, but it did catch my attention. But skip the gift shop. I don't think anything there is really handmade, it just pretends to be. There are plenty of places where you can buy that sort of thing that are way more interesting (like the weird "outlet mall" on the way to the Hocking Hills from Columbus or the even weirder gas station and gift shop on I-70 just west of the Ohio/WVA border).
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