Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery
195 N Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN, 46565
Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Shipshewana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Shipshewana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Shipshewana for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
195 N Van Buren St
Shipshewana, IN, 46565 - Phone (260) 768-4725
- Website https://www.BlueGateRestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : No
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jeff J.
Stopped in for the all you can eat buffet. Chicken ,stuffing ,mashed potatoes ,corn green beans ,and noodles plus a pretty good salad bar. Also a great selection of pies. Everything was great including the service. I would highly recommend this place for a great family meal.
(4)Clifford S.
Great lunch with homemade soup and a delightful server. She had a difficult table next to us so we admired her skill all the more. I am a soup kind of guy and the soups here all sounded great, it was hard to choose but I went with a corn chowder and it was scrumptious. Paired with a ham and cheese sandwich it was just about the perfect lunch. We sat outside as the weather was very cooperative as well. If you are in the area, I highly recommend this place. And have the soup!
(5)Sqirrl B.
I always end up buying a gift here for someone I know. The food is pretty good, and my mom loves the fried chicken. I like the chicken pot pie personally. The service here has always been really good, and my server yesterday was just great about a specialty salad order that I asked for. The bathrooms are amazing, and I think it's great that they have a nursing and changing station for the babies. So many restaurants don't have that simple amenity of even a hard folding seat for nursing. The only complaint I would have about this place is that it is so packed with people, and it's a little bit like being herded as cattle to get a seat. But that's Shipshe on a weekday for you. It's worth eating here so you don't overspend at the meat and cheese shop down the street!
(4)Pete S.
We have been here a couple of times before. It's a little pricey but it's something you don't do often. We love the fried chicken and the roast beef. The veggies are usually way over cooked as well as the noodles. The dressing and mashed potatoes are great. Then there is dessert. I usually have the Dutch Apple pie a la mode. Yum! Wife has the baked blueberry pie a la mode. It's also good. The service has always been great and the store is very clean.
(4)Linda B.
After reading reviews, I ordered the fried chicken with beef&noodles and veggies. Husband ordered the fish that came with hush puppies and fries. Blue Gate loses one star because the food is pretty salty. Other than that, we had a great experience and bough some of their tasty peanut butter. Make sure to go downstairs as they have more shops there.
(4)Rachel S.
We were in Shipshewana for a little getaway, and we had lunch at the Blue Gate. Do NOT have lunch at the Blue Gate! All of the tourist buses go there for lunch! The place was PACKED! We had to share a table with another couple, and they had set up extra folding tables to fit everyone in. It was ridiculously noisy! If you're looking for Amish ambiance, this isn't the place for that, either. It's super shiny and sparkly and has a super "corporate" feel. That being said, the food was pretty good. My husband and I shared the meat loaf dinner (which was PLENTY for the two of us---definitely share something), and Amish-style meat loaf just can't be beat! Our waitress was kind (if harried!), and she did her best to get to us as often as she could with the room being so packed.
(3)Curley L.
Stop here about once a year. Always large portions and good home style cooking. I opt for the fried chicken and it is always good. Stuffing is excellent. Wife has chicken salads and they are always fine. A great family place and worth the stop.
(4)Anna D.
Food was wonderful especially the chicken noodles and fried chicken. The wait was not horribly long but even if it were it would have been well worth it!
(5)David B.
Surrounded by Amish kitsch, both on the road driving in and in the restaurant building. But in the dining room, you find good service and fine food. The fried chicken was amazingly juicy - perhaps even too much so; the breast (an inherently drier piece) was better than the somewhat fatty thigh - but that's a quibble. This is pressure-fried chicken, so, though the spicing is different, it's strikingly reminiscent of what KFC original recipe chicken was like fifty years ago, when the Colonel was still making it himself. To borrow the phrase that KFC isn't entitled to any more, it was finger-licking good! Sides (I had applesauce, served as a salad course, and corn) also tasted fresh and genuinely home-made.
(5)B C.
Home cooked goodness! Yes, it's a little touristy but don't let that distract you from enjoying the delicious food. Had chicken noodles, mashed potatoes, chicken dressing, and coconut cream pie. Chicken noodles and mashed potatoes both needed additional salt/pepper but perfect after some self seasoning. Dressing was probably best I've ever had. Coconut cream pie was good, would try the apple pie next time!
(4)Joe I.
Gut-buster of a dinner. If you leave this place and are still hungry, it is not because they didn't give you enough food...it's because you didn't eat it! Meat & potatoes. Dinner offerings are pretty much standard fare. Pulled pork, turkey, chicken, meatloaf, etc. All has been good grub Filling, but not fancy. Seeing as this sits in the middle of an Amish community, it fits. Squeeze bottles of peanut butter/marshmallow fluff combination make this pretty evident. Friendly, but not formal. Ditto. We should try breakfast sometime...That might get me up to a 4 star.
(3)Lin F.
I ate at the restaurant last summer. I don't remember much about the entree but the apple pie. Now I have always loved apple pie but once I had apple pie here... it changed the way I would eat pie. The apples inside the pie were diced. I've never seen that before but I loved it. I'm a big fan of bite-sized food so it was very appealing to me. Now I only eat pie that has diced apples... which means my fiancé has to make the pie himself and dice all the apples up... but it's a great idea. As for the bakery, I brought home apple butter and peanut butter and it was a hit with everyone I gifted it to. I just went back today to stock up on large quantities for my family.
(4)Steve T.
A conflicted review. Great fried cod, but then greasy cold fries. The fried chicken was cooked nicely, but was over brined and very salty. Fast polite service. So in the end, it is just ok.
(3)Charlene S.
The food was delicious and service was impeccable! Kate was our server in the family style section and she was very attentive and fast! I recommend the pot roast and cherry pie!
(4)Melanie B.
I had what was probably the best liver and onions here that I have ever had. Now, I know many of you are going "blech" but my husband, who had the beef Manhattan, agreed that his was one of the best as well. Considering how busy they were, service was as good as could be expected and the wait was only about 15-20 minutes. After the meal, we walked down the hall to the bakery and bought jars of the french dressing and peanut butter we had just sampled during our dinner. Both are outstanding. I highly recommend the Blue Gate and will certainly go back again if I am ever in the area.
(5)Melissa G.
Blue Gate is pretty much a must do if you're from out of town. The food is wonderful and if you time it right, you won't have a long wait. Most times I've gone we've ordered family style, but have ordered off the menu a couple times also. The only downside is that your whole table has to agree, family style...or menu. Regardless, it's delicious and the pie is great! I recommend the banana cream pie!
(5)Richard A.
My wife and I have visited the Blue Gate a number of times over the years. We have been consistently pleased with the quality of the food and service. However, our latest visit, June 30, was a bit disappointing. The food quality was not the same. It was still good, but not as good as previously. We both had the meat loaf and found it to be loaded with filler and not as tasty as before. The mashed potatoes were obviously made from something other than fresh potatoes and were runny. On the plus side, the pies are still excellent. Being an optimist, I will assume they were just having an off day and we will try it again on our next visit to Shipshewana.
(3)Keith B.
The Blue Gate was great. We have been to many Amish restaurants in Pennsylvania and they are always family style. While that is great, we just can't eat enought to justify it. The Blue Gate offers both family style and menu dishes. My wife and I were able to split an "AMish Sampler Platter" and a coconut cream pie. We had plenty of food and it was delicious!
(4)Lakan D.
Amish cuisine, basically like a northern-style country food. Usually people went here to try fried chicken, I was going to order some fried chicken but that really stubborn side of me eventually got me to order a steak and I paid the price. The steak wasn't "bad", but it actually was not the greatest thing,it was like one of those they put on steakburgers, wasn't what I expected though. That one kind of disappointed me. Mashed potatoes and gravy that came along with it was good, a classic theme to Amish American food Beef brisket was nice and the sweet bread they served before. Let's talk about the environment , it's simply an Amish-themed environment, there is electrical facility and nothing of what I expected, which would be a reminiscent of eating at an Amish person's house.
(4)M M.
I love the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. I moved to Indiana in 2002 and I always enjoy a stop in Shipshewana and a meal at the Blue Gate. If you are in town for breakfast, on Saturday's they have a wonderful buffet. For lunch and dinner my favorite is always the fried chicken (all white meat), mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. I have also tried the roast beef and turkey, everything here is delicious. If you do not save room for pie after your meal, be sure to take home a piece! It is wonderful!
(5)Bill W.
Starts with bread and homemade peanut butter and apple butter. Peanut butter was totally different from store bought and was delicious. Fried chicken hot and juicy. Green beans were cooked from fresh. Chicken dressing not dry. Mashed potatoes ok but needed a little garlic. Noodles were fantastic. Had both chicken and beef gravy. They were both wonderful, especially on the noodles. Dessert is included. $15.99 pp.
(5)Brenda M.
How do you say "meh" in Dutch? This seems to be the place to go when you're visiting Shipshewana, but I think it's because there really isn't anywhere else. My grandmother liked it, but then again, she thinks going to Denny's is a nice night out. We waited over two hours for a table, and when we got ours, I was upset we waited. The food is just mediocre all around. Nothing that was served was hot, or flavorful. Our waitress was way too slammed to give us decent service, and if you wait over three hours from beginning to end, you expect great results. I wish I could recommend somewhere else to go for dinner in this town, but even our waitress said the Subway in the gas station across the street was better.
(2)Shyam S.
This is an Amish/Mennonite restaurant, gift shop, bakery and concert venue that looks like it was picked up from Pigeon Forge or Orlando or some other tourist trap and dropped into Shipshewana. Yes, the bakery and the food are top notch, but you can tell it is not 100% authentic; rather, it is clear that the menu and the whole enterprise have been set up to offer an "Amish experience" for tourists, even as actual Amish buggies clip-clop down the street outside. As far as the food goes, I fell in love with the Amish Peanut Butter and bread; as well as the incredibly moist fried chicken. There are a lot of regional favorites on the menu, but again, parts of it read like an IHOP menu (oriental chicken salad? vegetarian burger? chicken fingers?) I made the mistake of ordering a sugar-free apple pie slice for later (not nearly as good as I thought), but my friend was raving about her raspberry pie. I ordered the sweet potato casserole as my side dish to the fried chicken and it was so rich and sweet that it was practically a dessert. All in all, I am glad I visited, but I know there are more authentic restaurants in the area that I will make a point of visiting next time.
(3)Beverly W.
What a wonderful restaurant that serves Amish cooking. Really loved the food, beef so tender! The mash potatoes could not be any better. The place was packed and the service could not be better. Linda R. was our server and she was tremendous. She made us feel very welcome. Could not ask for more! Highly recommend for the best food ever. Couldn't finish it so we did not have dessert. Seen some people just having dessert. The FRESH Strawberry pie looked so wonderful and the varieties of the different pies would make choosing very difficult. If you want mouth watering dishes and great service, this is the place to go.
(5)Abbey N.
I've been going here with my family for many years during our annual summer Shipshewana trip. I look forward to it every year! The Blue Gate has the BEST home-cooked food! The meatloaf Manhattan is life changing and is my go-to dish (since there are a crazy amount of awesome dishes to choose from). Their desserts are also amazing, although I usually don't much room for it at the end of my meal :) The service is also always good for being such a popular place. They turn tables over quickly and always have friendly service.
(5)Tom S.
good food try just the menu Just as good and still more then you can eat. Save room for pie
(3)Jimmy C.
Bring a wheel barrow to get yourself out when you are done. OMG.
(5)Abigail C.
My husband and I went there for dinner recently. We order the family style meal with Chicken only. I loved the stuffing, and thought all the other side dishes were also good. The chicken was delicious. The service there was good as well. However, we were there toward the time of them closing at 8pm. Once our meal was completed and the waiter took the plates, he gave us the dessert menu. He took the order for the desserts and then it took several minutes to bring them out. My husband had the butterscotch pie, which I had a bite and thought it tasted good. I ordered the peach pie, which was yummy. The meal in itself had good portions that I couldn't finish the pie. I would recommend this place. Its a great date place and for families too.
(4)Merid L.
A very nice place and great staff. Very friendly! The food was actually not the highlight.The Amish sampler was over-brined so badly I gave up on it. I asked my wife and she said hers was also very salty. Maybe someone made a mistake Too bad! They give you plenty and its reasonable.
(3)Steven M.
For a buffet this place is ok. Everything was fresh and the servers kept the line stocked. The selection wasn't huge, but what they did have was good. They had piles of toast, which I love with jam. But there wasn't any out. You had to ask for it because everything should be slathered in gravey or that tub of melted cheddar. Not for me. I had to ask for ketchup for the hash browns and it was like I was holding them up. My plates were stacking up, I had three before someone noticed. I wouldn't come back even though everything was clean and orderly. I don't like tourist traps and I just think that you shouldn't have to ask for condiments. They should just be out.
(3)Yvonne O.
Back for the quarterly trip to Yoder's for meat. This time we got off to a later start, so by the time we rolled-into Shipshewana, it was almost 1:30 (EST) and there were lines for the main floor dining area. We had no idea there was a "family style" option in the basement, so we headed down there for immediate seating. The husband, with eyes bigger than his stomach, thought that the four meat option was the way to go - for two people - and we ended-up with a TON of food. It worked out in the end because he doesn't eat meatloaf and I was not eating ham or roast beef and we just shared the chicken. You also get bowls of green beans, noodles, mashed potatoes and stuffing - and their homemade bread is on the table with peanut butter and apple butter. All this, including a slice of your choice of what seems like an endless listing of pies (and you can take the pie home, but not the hot food) is only about $20 a head. I have to say that the meatloaf (sweet sauce on top - needs more) and chicken were tasty and the ham was (allegedly) less dry, but the roast beef looked gross. The sides were a miss for me - the noodles seemed soggy, the chicken stuffing was just weird and the mashed potatoes and green beans are just plain (naturally). If we come back here, I would wait and sit upstairs.
(2)Jay P.
The Fried Chicken here is excellent. However, it really depends on your preferences. If you usually choose Popeyes over KFC's original chicken, then I doubt you'll be all that impressed. The chicken was an upscale version of the KFC's original, which I actually think has pretty decent flavor. Before you scoff at me, there are restaurants the elitists swear by that have fried chicken that is bland and dry...even worse than a chain. Like others have mentioned, the wait here can be incredibly long. This is the "go to" place to eat in Shisphewana. If you get a late start to the day, you might be in for some trouble. If you're with others who are bothered by waiting or are too lazy to roam around town for a bit, plan ahead. The actual dining area isn't anything special. There's quite a lot of noise, particularly from annoying children. In the main dining area, there were also a fair amount of flies. Keep that in mind as well. After waiting so long, we already knew what we wanted. I'd recommend checking out the menu ahead of time. I began placing the order for all of us and made a side note to my dad that we would be sharing his appetizer. That threw off the old lady waitress, and she had to start over again. She then blamed it all on me for confusing her and at the end of the order, she said: "Don't ever do that to me again." I won't because I'll make sure to not have you as our waitress in the future. The rest of the dining experience was pleasant enough. The entrees were all pretty decent. The waitress came back to check on us once or twice. I don't know why we left a 20% tip because she was sort of condescending and unprofessional. Don't act like you're an old expert who has been waiting tables for thirty years. If that were the case, you wouldn't have become so easily flustered. This is the place to go for those who are regulars or those who want that "one-time signature spot in Shipshewana" experience. I might try the buffet in the future. Aside from doing that, I will not go out of my way to dine here. The food was good, and the ambiance was quaint. The service up front was organized enough, but the service in the dining room leaves more to be desired.
(3)Don M.
If your looking for some good home style cooking then this is the place. I started by chowing on the homemade bread and peanut butter. It was the yum-e, They have it in a squeeze bottle and it was all I could do not to just put it in my mouth and squeeze. I gave up on the bread as it was not needed just squeeze peanut butter all over my plate and scoop it up with a spoon and lick it clean. But I needed something else and the fried chicken was calling. Again yum-e! the leg was more like a club but no complaints just plain good. The chicken was very juicy and every bite was as good as the last. As I was chowing away I thought wow I could put peanut butter on here to. For sides I had some cottage cheese and slaw. Good meal, good service, nice place. Next time I think I will hit up the buffet!
(5)David L.
Taste: 1 Value: 1 Service: 3 I think the best part of my meal was the homemade bread. It came out as an entire loaf, and I had to cut individual pieces out. However, even that was just mediocre. 1. Amish Country Sampler, $13 The rest of my meal was pretty bad. I ordered the Amish country sampler, which came with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, pulled pork, pulled ham, corn, and some weird chicken stuff. Should have listened to Honey, as my experience was almost identical. Even Old Country Buffet is better than this.
(1)Tiffany L.
Headed to good ol' Shipshewana a few weekends ago with my lovely nephews and had a lovely little dinner at Blue Gate! They both ordered the meatloaf and bless his dear little heart my 11-year-old one claimed the meatloaf was the best he ever had in a restaurant and it was almost as good as NeeNee's... I'm NeeNee. He's my new favorite. I had the Amish sampler platter and it was really great! Definitely recommend trying that if you can't decide which way to go. We didn't really save room for dessert but, we had some anyway. I had the huge lemon meringue pie and 14-year-old had the gigantic carrot cake which he devoured. We liked dinner so much we came back from breakfast! We went with the buffet and they liked it a lot, I thought it was just so-so, but they were happy, so that works for me. They're still talking about the peanut butter spread and apple butter! We bought two jars after dinner, should have bought more! We found this place to be quite a bit better than dinner at the Dutchman Essenhaus so if you only have time for one meal in Shipshewana, I'd definitely head to Blue Gate.
(5)Ronald U.
We stopped by here because we heard great things. We had breakfast. My wife had the Apple bread french toast with a side of cornbread mush. Very tasty. I had the scrambled eggs with bacon. I can't believe how good it was. If we get back to Shipshewana, we definitely try to go for dinner and dessert.
(4)Sam R.
This is hands down the best ever. Everything is wonderful. It is where you eat when going to Shipshewana. No exceptions. The homemade bread is wonderful, the country style cooking is delicious. Never unsatisfied with the Blue Gate. You must go there. Also, you can buy most of the things you eat in the bakery. Always take home lots of food.
(5)Mary Beth G.
This place is a huge commercialized establishment where they bus in tourists to eat Coun*** Buffet quality meals. As you enter the main lobby, you go on the wait list for its 7 dining rooms (which look like old style college cafeteria spaces) spread over 3 floors, noisy, with harried wait staff that rarely appeared at our table or brought something in less than 12 minutes. The chicken dinner comes with super-overcooked canned green beans, mushy without taste noodles, and mashed potatoes. The non-crisp fried chicken tastes like it was sitting in mega-tubs, with pieces on top of each other in the kitchen...soggy, no special flavor or seasoning. The bread was on the stale side, even though it was a packed August Saturday night for Shipshewana...maybe left sitting out on mega tables next to the mega-tubs of steam-heated soggy chicken. The gravy resembled thick sludge in consistency and lacked any flavor or seasoning. This is not AMISH home-cooking. It hurts to see this place making millions on cafeteria food which does NOT represent the Amish heritage of fine cookery. Suppose this guy owns the town, one would guess. Having grown up in Indiana, saddened to experience what has become of Shipshewana and its glorious days of slow-living, simple culture with small quaint shops offering homemade food and items.
(2)Renita M.
In full disclosure, back in college I spent a summer working at the Riegsecker marketplace, at the Craft Barn, which is across the street from the Blue Gate. The funny thing is, I still like Essenhaus (down the road in Middlebury) better. But, the Blue Gate is pretty tasty. And Shipshewana is a cool little tourist trap of a town. (Note: Go to Wana Cup. Have some homemade root beer.) The food is nearly all homemade, full of real butter and lard and meat drippings. The pie is outstanding. The bread is delicious. You will not leave hungry. And now you can see a show, too. I don't really recommend the buggy rides, it's sort of ridiculous. Just take a leisurely drive around the back roads of LaGrange and Elkhart counties. Note to Wendy B et al: Amish people are *not* going to eat a meal out here. They are going to eat at home, where they have the exact same food. Or at Wana Cup, 'cause they want a cheeseburger and tater tots. P.S. That Amish peanut butter stuff everyone raves about? Yes, it's tasty. It's also just peanut butter, corn syrup and marshmallow fluff. There's nothing particularly Amish about it. Go for the apple butter instead.
(4)Mike R.
Never had a bad meal here. Fried chicken, roast beef, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes...could go on naming items that were excellent. The homemade bread, peanut butter, and apple butter available pre-meal are all amazing. The fish was the only thing I have had that simply decent. However, what sets this place apart is the huge selection of homemade pies (as well as other options in the bakery). Strawberry rhubarb and chocolate peanut butter have been favorites thus far. Prices and service are both great as well. Definitely worth the side trip off I-90.
(5)Abby B.
I used to work in the box office above the restaurant, and the best part of working here was the food! I highly recommend the meatloaf as it was always delicious.
(4)Ashley C.
This is what home cookin' is all about. You're greeted with a fresh loaf of bread and 2 condiments - apple butter and an amazing peanut butter/marshmallow/maple spread that's really addictive. (side note: you can buy jars of it in the gift shop, which also has baked goods, cookbooks, candies, jams, etc.). I had a beef and noodle dish that was really good, and my husband had the best fried chicken of his life. The dessert selection is fantastic (to be expected of an Amish restaurant), and the service is friendly. This place is great for families, and the prices are extremely fair. This was definitely worth the hour drive it took for us to get there from my mom's house.
(5)Scott L.
Traditional, Amish, down-home cooking. This is a great place. The food is well priced, the servers friendly and the food is outstanding. Nothing to complain about here.
(4)J H.
I'll keep this simple. YUMMY! Better than Das Essenhaus restaurant. Great fried chicken!
(4)Bobby D.
Not a bad place either, The Amish Country Sampler wasn't too bad. Though the green beans tasted like they were canned, As opposed to freshly made. The pulled ham was good, The Amish fried chicken was a pretty good treat. The chicken stuffing was OK. The mashed potatoes were pretty good. The pulled roast beef not too bad. The baked bread was pretty good as well. Yet the apple & peanut butters in the squeeze bottles looked characteristic to An Arby's Barbecue or Horsey Sauce or an Oriental Hot Mustard bottle. Yet as for the taste, Not bad at all.
(4)Harold S.
Excellent around, great roast beef and chicken all with generous portions of chicken noodlesand mash potatoes.
(5)Melissa Y.
I love the Blue Gate! My (long) list of favorites include the Haystack (breakfast), Popcorn Chicken Salad, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Roast Smoked Ham, Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes and their fresh fruit pies for dessert. It's a casual, friendly atmosphere with great service.
(5)Jessie C.
We went to Shipshewana to go shopping at Yoders Meat and Cheese Company and decided to try the Blue Gate. I ordered the Chicken and Noodles (half order) -" homemade noodles and chunks of chicken generously ladled over creamy real mashed potatoes" with a side of green beans. I was transported back to my great-grandmother's kitchen eating this delicious dish. It was just the right dish to order on a cold, winter day when I'm fighting off a cold. My husband ordered the Amish Country Sampler, which consisted of fried chicken, roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and corn. The fried chicken was juicy and the ham was delicious, according to him. To top lunch off, we had to finish with pie. I ordered the old fashioned cream, which tasted like the homemade pudding I grew up eating. My husband ordered the Dutch Apple, which was also delicious and had a crumbly, cinnamon-y crunchy topping. We'll definitely go back again.
(4)Joanne E.
Still visit the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery whenever I'm in the neighborhood (South Bend every July) or just driving past (on my way to/from Canada). Still Five stars in my book.
(5)Team Asphalt W.
We chose the all you can eat chicken for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Chicken, potatoes, dressing and noodles were good but the green beans were not very good. They didn't seem to be from a can but they weren't fresh either. Would be nice if there was a choice of a vegetable among the overload of carbohydrates (but so yummy!) A good value for lunch, drink and dessert. Service was efficient and very friendly. You can't take a doggy bag except for the dessert because you'll probably be too full to enjoy it.
(4)Diane S.
Enjoyed the Family Style Dinner and it was delicious! Will definitely be going back and hopefully including the Blue Gate Theater!!
(4)E J.
Best food by far in the area. The fried chicken is wonderful; the other food is good (though the salty sort of faux-homemade stuff common to places like this). Pies and cookies in the shop are tasty. Far better than the Essenhaus (which should be avoided).
(3)Julie B.
I went with a group of 8 people, and our server recommended the family style meal. It was around 18 a person for adults, and children is a dollar per year, but all you can eat everything so it evened out! And the food was all great! It came with all you can eat fried chicken (they even let us be picky about what pieces we wanted more of), mashed potatoes with 2 gravies, green beans, stuffing, chicken and noodles. You can also add in other meats for I believe a dollar more a person--we did the beef which melted in your mouth, and ham which was surprisingly shredded and got good reviews from those who had it. The meal came with a drink, bread, and dessert, which our server so nicely let us take to go (the rest of the meal cannot be). Everything was delicious! I'm not going to try to decipher what was homemade and what was standard restaurant food, but I'm sure it's a little of both. Either way, it was a great experience to add into the whole Shipshewana 'feel', and I would highly recommend giving Blue Gate a try :) Oh, and if you like cinnamon choose the cinnamon ice cream for dessert--so good!!
(5)Bruce M.
Great Amish food. A favorite of mine. I love the chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes.
(4)Dyke S.
Just took family member for a 65th birthday dinner. Would have to say I was disappointed in the food except the desert Potato chip appetizer were soggy with grease, very small portion. "Chopped steak"-a over done Quarter Pounder, very dry and tasteless. Fried Chicken seemed to be good. Corn side I would not eat-old and tired. Beef open plate sandwich, beef was good but was swimming in gravy. Chicken and noodle were fair. Chicken diced in little squares, would have thought with type of place the chicken would have been picked and small pieces. Pies for deserts were great. Sorry would not return for the food
(2)Honey S.
Cafeteria quality food at best. Their real mashed potatoes tasted as though they were dehydrated. Steamed veggies tasted like they were frozen. Granted I am from the westcoast & this is the Midwest. Still, in the heart of farming country, I don't understand the disparity. Vegetables right out of the garden need only a quick cooking. It seems in the Midwest the tradition is to over cook. If you must, go for the experience & order pie. I skipped desert as I didn't want another disappointment. Too bad as the town is a charming slice of rural America.
(1)Robert N.
The only reason I'm giving it a star is because it is convenient to all the attractions. I really hope the buffet isn't comparable to the regular meals and am hoping my terrible experience was a fluke. To start off we ordered unsweetened ice tea, which we had to get sent back since it tasted like it had artificial sweetener in it, which could have been disastrous since it screws with my body. The main dishes were bland. The noodles were soggy and dull. The ham was dry. The roast beef was cold. The meatballs were like burnt meatloaf with sauce. The apple crisp was bland. The macaroni and cheese just tasted like macaroni with a bland sauce. The fried chicken was very salty. The deserts were ok. The chocolate pie was off. What I thought was butterscotch pie was a light peanut butter taste, which didn't seem right, but was still good. The only thing I did like was the salad bar, but that's a no brainer to prepare. Just give me some spring greens with bacon, banana peppers, cheese and dressing and I'm a happy camper. I will never be going there again and will keep traveling to Essenhaus for our anniversary there every year.
(1)April T.
This place is so good and the service was amazing and the food is so good. This place is very busy. Put ur name in and get in line its pretty fast.
(5)Ron B.
I haven't had breaded pork chops since I as a teenager living at home and it's even better now! And the baked apples - perfect! I'm impressed! Wonderful home cooking!
(5)MaryLiz S.
Carb overload! Hey, carbs are cheap and you'll get a lot of that at the Blue Gate. We started out with some freshly made mini loaves of bread. On your table, there is apple butter with cinnamon and a peanut butter/marshmallow blend that are quite tasty for an appetizer while you wait for your meal. I started with a salad that was just ordinary head lettuce with some ordinary veggies. Not much fiber, but that's what they had. For my entree, I ordered the beef & noodles daily special. The picture had shown half noodles / half beef + mashed potatoes & gravy on the side. Awfully high in carbs, but I wanted something that would be a no-brainer for our waitress, since our group was large and we were trying to keep to a schedule. What arrived was a plate that was half mashed potatoes, half home made Amish noodles and less than one ounce of beef on the entire plate. This was smothered with bouillon cube gravy and call it lunch. Fortunately, one of my friends had ordered liver & onions, and found her portion to be too large, so she gave me quite a bit of her meat - which was tender, not rubbery. I was grateful to have some protein, since I was one of the drivers for our convoy and had to stay awake during the long trip home. Dessert was fairly nice: strawberry rhubarb pie with a brown sugar crumble topping. The pie crust was a hair gummy in the very center and not very brown at all so I know they were using shiny silver aluminum pans in the kitchen. I left behind most of the crust because it didn't have much flavor. I admit that I'm very picky. So for our group of seven it was about an hour and a half to get through lunch. Our waiter was a very young girl who needs some polishing. She was trying hard. She offered to refill my water glass without being asked, but she spilled some water onto my lunch. Also handing plates and clearing were awkward, but she was sincere and was doing her very best. My advice is to stick to the meatier dishes and you should do fine. If I hadn't gone with the daily special I would have gotten a hamburger, but if I go back I'll definitely get the liver & onions. Wrinkle your nose if that's not your taste, but some of us like all those vitamins! Two of my friends were using walkers and one a cane, so when we left the restaurant I ran out and got the car. I pulled into the little curved drive off of Middlebury Street so that they would not have to walk very far to get into the car. That made things easier on our group, so keep that in mind if you are with someone who has difficulty walking.
(2)karen f.
We didn't want to wait for a table in the dinning room so we opted for the salad bar downstairs. The service was great. The potato salad and the chicken noodle soup was outstanding! They give you small bowls for the soup but you can eat as much as you want off the salad bar. They had pickled beet eggs (which I did not try). The rest of the salad fix-en's were standard fare. I had the apple crumb pie for desert which was not the best.
(4)Dana C.
The smell that comes along with walking through the doors of this establishment is enough to make you wanna stuff an Amish doughnut in your face. I can't describe it, but I imagine that it's close to what heaven smells like. It took some time to get seated. We waited around 45 mins and it was a little after lunchtime on a weekday... and the restaurant is huuuge. So, it was really busy. After we were seated, it was smooth sailing from there. Also - they give your table a loaf of bread. Eat it all and smother it with the peanut butter on the table. DO IT. If you're not familiar with Amish food, you should take it on a date. It's just comfort food more than anything. Warm, meaty, delicious, lots of carbs, etc. Get whatever floats your boat and takes you back to simpler times. My simpler time was chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes. Tasty. Buuuut, the noodles were a little over-cooked. It had good flavor, but I was a little underwhelmed. If you happen to be in Shipshewana, and you don't want to eat the flea market food, I'd say this is a good option. Also, take a look at the other Amish places in the area before you for sure commit to Blue Gate.
(3)Thomas B.
Awesome food to follow a wonderful theater show... The chicken was in my opinion better by far than Frankenmuth. The only disappointment was that we ate late only an hour prior to the restaurant closing down for the evening and the pie selection was very minimal with only two to choose from. Neither of them among my favorites darn it.. I read all the great reviews here about the mini loaves of bread served in the restaurant and was hoping we could sample them but alas we ate in the buffet dining area and had a bit of a limited selection... We would enjoy this meal another time.
(4)Tom S.
Great pace for a home-cooked style meal. I've never had a bad meal. I especially like the roast beef. They can get busy, but usually seat you pretty quickly. The cost is a little higher, but that is because they use quality ingredients and portions are huge. Often times my wife and I can split a meal and we both get plenty to eat!
(5)Matt B.
Food was decent, way overpriced for what it was. I had the roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. Roast beef was tasty and tender. Mashed potatoes were obviously instant potatoes, and green beans tasted frozen. Not bad food, but nothing special.
(2)Matt F.
Let me describe The Blue Gate Restaurant this way: If your travels ever take you within an hour of Shipshewana... this is where you are having dinner. The authentic Amish cooking reminds me of my Grandma's house. From the moment the fresh loaf of bread with special butters hits the table... be warned to pace yourself. You're going to order all 4 meats family style. The fried chicken is as good as it gets. Other standouts include the roast beef, and noodles... but everything is amazing. Don't leave without ordering pie! Even if you have to take it to go... and be sure to stop by the bakery/gift shop to grab something for later. I love getting cheese here, but there are plenty of amazing snacks. Give yourself an hour before dinner to explore the shops of Shipshewana. The Amish culture is something people rarely have experience with. I'm not a huge shopper... but even I thought it was fun to look around at some of the cool stuff around town.
(5)Jason H.
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! The only reason it gets 1 star is because the salad bar was decent and that's where it stopped. Soup was Cream of Potato and it was bland and watery. The chicken was very salty, the "noodles" were soggy, the mac n Cheese was soggy n bland, the stuffing had no flavor and was bland and the cheddar garlic mashed potatoes tasted gross. To say the least, we won't be back again. Utterly disappointed and hopefully I don't have an upset stomach later. $35 bill and McDonald's serves better food on the Dollar Menu smdh
(1)Heather S.
The Blue Gate restaurant serves 'Amish' homestyle cooking that one may order individually or order family style. We opted for family style and it was a home run! Family style will run each person 16-19 bucks (see photos and menu) and will serve up unlimited amounts of hearty country goodness. All family style dinners include Fried Chicken and your choice of an Additional Protein .... roast beef meatloaf smoked ham Family style also includes the sides.... mashed potatoes stuffing gravy vegetables (we had green beans) homemade bread chicken and noodles dessert (pie, bread pudding or ice cream) beverage ( pop *yes, we say pop in the Midwest*, tea, water) Bottomline: Bring your appetite and get ready to throw down. The service was wonderful and the food hit the spot. My personal favorites were the fried chicken, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. My mom raved on about the delicious bread pudding and my husband love their pecan pie. Our visit was a top notch 'Amish' feast. We can't wait to come back and visit again. Boarding on 4/5 stars... I rounded up since our server was so awesome and friendly.
(4)Lin W.
A senior citizen who's diabetic, a vegetarian and a gluten free-er went to the Blue Gate Rest. for lunch and all three of us had a yummy experience! The restaurant is accessible for those who are in wheel chair or have ambulatory problems and the staff was very accommodating. The service was efficient, friendly and helpful. They have home-made style gluten free onion rings!! It was a very pleasant experience and if we lived close by, we would absolutely return!
(4)Wendy B.
I kept jokingly calling this place "Am-land" but it's true: seated next to a window, I counted just as many passing black buggies as motorized vehicles. There weren't any Amish patrons but I spotted Amish bonnets on a few of the employees. Those who were not Amish were not in Amish garb, so it didn't seem to be a gimmick, despite the advertised buggy rides for $7 per person out back. But what really matters is the chow, right? This place did not disappoint. I got the Amish sampler: a piece of buttermilk fried chicken, some beef pot roast, and some ham, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and a vegetable (mine was corn), and came with a side salad. The mashed potatoes were real, but nothing to write home about, but the proteins were all top notch and amazing. Also, it should be noted that the stuffing/dressing was the finest I've ever tasted in my life, and it was LOADED with giant chunks of chicken too. The French dressing for the salad was made in-house and was also the best I've ever tasted. On the table, there were pots of what we thought were crazy versions of mustard and ketchup, but while waiting for pie, we dabbled and realized they were homemade apple butter and the most delicious version of peanut butter. I was bummed that I was so full, because it would have been amazing on their whole-grain bread served pre-meal. My dining companions had similarly generous helpings and reported that they were impressed and amazed by the quality of the cooking. Now the downside: the pie wasn't all that, and in fact, I had planned on buying a pie to take home until I tried the pie crust: lardy and heavy. Meh. The filling in my banana cream was clearly homemade custard, but it was topped with Cool Whip, or something Amish that is indistinguishable from Cool Whip. So close and yet, so far. However, I did score some of that amazing peanut butter and French dressing to take home instead and their Snickerdoodles were pretty amazing. I understand that I'm somewhat of a pie snob, though, and they earned 5 stars from me before they even brought out the dessert menu. Totally worth the side-trip, and while it's nowhere near an exit off of Hwy 80, you can get there by driving parallel to it, so if you're passing through, you won't regret taking a few extra miles to visit the folks at The Blue Gate.
(5)Richard P.
Despite the tourist trap nature of the small town of Shipshewana, Indiana in LaGrange County, I couldn't resist the overcrowded charms of the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, an Amish-themed restaurant/bakery/theater complex fairly similar in presentation to the nearby Essenhaus. Owned by the Riegsecker family, the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery is one of several Riegsecker owned ventures in the area including Riegsecker, Inc., Blue Gate Theater, Blue Gate Garden Inn, Shipshewana Furniture Company, and Riegsecker Cabinet Co. I must confess that more than once while perusing Blue Gate that I found myself thinking I'd stumbled into a cross between Essenhaus and Cracker Barrel, mostly owing to the fact that Blue Gate's large retail area felt a lot more kitschy to me but, for the most part, in a fairly good kind of way. The choices for dining on the evening I arrived included going with a stage production they have nightly called "Josiah for President" and, yes, it's as corny as it sounds. However, once again, I do mean corny in a good kind of way. Then, you could simply go into another large dining area and order from the menu OR you could partake of their buffet for $14.95. As I'd just wheeled 26+ miles, I decided that a buffet sounded like a reasonable option and not that much more expensive than regular prices. The buffet included most of the country style foods you would expect including fried chicken, grilled chicken, pot roast, a variety of vegetables, stuffing, breads, etc. Of course, desserts were plentiful including my beloved chocolate pie. While the large dining area felt a lot like gathering at Grandma's on a Sunday after church (with a whole lot more people), there was something quaint and charming about the rather simple presentation of the buffet in non-cafeteria like warmers that were for the most part effective. They didn't flinch when a member of my party asked to be seated closer to the buffet, a request likely made out of consideration for my need to carry food and get through the crowd. As was true at Essenhaus, the emphasis here is on country cooking with an Amish/Mennonite theme and largely devoid of the razzle dazzle. There wasn't a single item I hate that I didn't completely enjoy and for the most part really loved. While I certainly wouldn't call it the best meal I've ever had, it was a quality meal at a good price and the chocolate pie that finished it off was a little piece of sugar coma heaven. There was one part of the experience that bugged me just a bit and it related to atmosphere. While I understand the need for strong communication in a facility as big as Blue Gate, several of the supervisory folks went around wearing headset/bluetooth type devices that really distracted from the whole Amish/Mennonite theme. The first time I noticed it I found it rather jarring and I couldn't shake the idea that I found it really distracting. For those who are intrigued, Blue Gate offers its bakery items online and also does catering and can handle groups. If you find yourself in Shipshewana, you owe it to yourself to check out Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery.
(4)Paul S.
Darn it - I would like to rate this better than average. Here's my quick thoughts: Bread was decent but nothing special. Fried chicken was moist and tasty. Liver and onions was tough and not so good. Baked apples, sweet potatoes, mashed with gravy all decent. Green beans were tasty. Thank goodness they didn't ruin them. All in all a nice atmosphere and it is a must do if you are in the Shipshawanna area. The two adjacent stores - gift and furniture are excellent. A great place to take mom or grandma.
(3)Stephanie S.
I have to say I feel a little uncomfortable with the touristy-ness of this place. Something feels inherently wrong about gawking at someone's culture for profit. And the behemoth Amish compounds in Shipshewana definitely made me think about that. We stopped here for lunch. I had the fried chicken with hush puppies and sweet potato casserole. The portion was large and about $13. The chicken was very good, but I found the breading to be overly salty. The hush puppies were very dried out and over-fried. The sweet potato thing was OK--very dessert-y. This place is very similar to a Cracker Barrel. Though I know it's not, it has a very chain-like feel to it. not a bad lunch option, but not sure I'd be back.
(3)Bill W.
Starts with bread and homemade peanut butter and apple butter. Peanut butter was totally different from store bought and was delicious. Fried chicken hot and juicy. Green beans were cooked from fresh. Chicken dressing not dry. Mashed potatoes ok but needed a little garlic. Noodles were fantastic. Had both chicken and beef gravy. They were both wonderful, especially on the noodles. Dessert is included. $15.99 pp.
(5)Lin W.
A senior citizen who's diabetic, a vegetarian and a gluten free-er went to the Blue Gate Rest. for lunch and all three of us had a yummy experience! The restaurant is accessible for those who are in wheel chair or have ambulatory problems and the staff was very accommodating. The service was efficient, friendly and helpful. They have home-made style gluten free onion rings!! It was a very pleasant experience and if we lived close by, we would absolutely return!
(4)Linda B.
After reading reviews, I ordered the fried chicken with beef&noodles and veggies. Husband ordered the fish that came with hush puppies and fries. Blue Gate loses one star because the food is pretty salty. Other than that, we had a great experience and bough some of their tasty peanut butter. Make sure to go downstairs as they have more shops there.
(4)Pete S.
We have been here a couple of times before. It's a little pricey but it's something you don't do often. We love the fried chicken and the roast beef. The veggies are usually way over cooked as well as the noodles. The dressing and mashed potatoes are great. Then there is dessert. I usually have the Dutch Apple pie a la mode. Yum! Wife has the baked blueberry pie a la mode. It's also good. The service has always been great and the store is very clean.
(4)Jeff J.
Stopped in for the all you can eat buffet. Chicken ,stuffing ,mashed potatoes ,corn green beans ,and noodles plus a pretty good salad bar. Also a great selection of pies. Everything was great including the service. I would highly recommend this place for a great family meal.
(4)Clifford S.
Great lunch with homemade soup and a delightful server. She had a difficult table next to us so we admired her skill all the more. I am a soup kind of guy and the soups here all sounded great, it was hard to choose but I went with a corn chowder and it was scrumptious. Paired with a ham and cheese sandwich it was just about the perfect lunch. We sat outside as the weather was very cooperative as well. If you are in the area, I highly recommend this place. And have the soup!
(5)Charlene S.
The food was delicious and service was impeccable! Kate was our server in the family style section and she was very attentive and fast! I recommend the pot roast and cherry pie!
(4)Richard A.
My wife and I have visited the Blue Gate a number of times over the years. We have been consistently pleased with the quality of the food and service. However, our latest visit, June 30, was a bit disappointing. The food quality was not the same. It was still good, but not as good as previously. We both had the meat loaf and found it to be loaded with filler and not as tasty as before. The mashed potatoes were obviously made from something other than fresh potatoes and were runny. On the plus side, the pies are still excellent. Being an optimist, I will assume they were just having an off day and we will try it again on our next visit to Shipshewana.
(3)Keith B.
The Blue Gate was great. We have been to many Amish restaurants in Pennsylvania and they are always family style. While that is great, we just can't eat enought to justify it. The Blue Gate offers both family style and menu dishes. My wife and I were able to split an "AMish Sampler Platter" and a coconut cream pie. We had plenty of food and it was delicious!
(4)Lakan D.
Amish cuisine, basically like a northern-style country food. Usually people went here to try fried chicken, I was going to order some fried chicken but that really stubborn side of me eventually got me to order a steak and I paid the price. The steak wasn't "bad", but it actually was not the greatest thing,it was like one of those they put on steakburgers, wasn't what I expected though. That one kind of disappointed me. Mashed potatoes and gravy that came along with it was good, a classic theme to Amish American food Beef brisket was nice and the sweet bread they served before. Let's talk about the environment , it's simply an Amish-themed environment, there is electrical facility and nothing of what I expected, which would be a reminiscent of eating at an Amish person's house.
(4)Brenda M.
How do you say "meh" in Dutch? This seems to be the place to go when you're visiting Shipshewana, but I think it's because there really isn't anywhere else. My grandmother liked it, but then again, she thinks going to Denny's is a nice night out. We waited over two hours for a table, and when we got ours, I was upset we waited. The food is just mediocre all around. Nothing that was served was hot, or flavorful. Our waitress was way too slammed to give us decent service, and if you wait over three hours from beginning to end, you expect great results. I wish I could recommend somewhere else to go for dinner in this town, but even our waitress said the Subway in the gas station across the street was better.
(2)Abigail C.
My husband and I went there for dinner recently. We order the family style meal with Chicken only. I loved the stuffing, and thought all the other side dishes were also good. The chicken was delicious. The service there was good as well. However, we were there toward the time of them closing at 8pm. Once our meal was completed and the waiter took the plates, he gave us the dessert menu. He took the order for the desserts and then it took several minutes to bring them out. My husband had the butterscotch pie, which I had a bite and thought it tasted good. I ordered the peach pie, which was yummy. The meal in itself had good portions that I couldn't finish the pie. I would recommend this place. Its a great date place and for families too.
(4)Merid L.
A very nice place and great staff. Very friendly! The food was actually not the highlight.The Amish sampler was over-brined so badly I gave up on it. I asked my wife and she said hers was also very salty. Maybe someone made a mistake Too bad! They give you plenty and its reasonable.
(3)Steven M.
For a buffet this place is ok. Everything was fresh and the servers kept the line stocked. The selection wasn't huge, but what they did have was good. They had piles of toast, which I love with jam. But there wasn't any out. You had to ask for it because everything should be slathered in gravey or that tub of melted cheddar. Not for me. I had to ask for ketchup for the hash browns and it was like I was holding them up. My plates were stacking up, I had three before someone noticed. I wouldn't come back even though everything was clean and orderly. I don't like tourist traps and I just think that you shouldn't have to ask for condiments. They should just be out.
(3)April T.
This place is so good and the service was amazing and the food is so good. This place is very busy. Put ur name in and get in line its pretty fast.
(5)Ron B.
I haven't had breaded pork chops since I as a teenager living at home and it's even better now! And the baked apples - perfect! I'm impressed! Wonderful home cooking!
(5)Yvonne O.
Back for the quarterly trip to Yoder's for meat. This time we got off to a later start, so by the time we rolled-into Shipshewana, it was almost 1:30 (EST) and there were lines for the main floor dining area. We had no idea there was a "family style" option in the basement, so we headed down there for immediate seating. The husband, with eyes bigger than his stomach, thought that the four meat option was the way to go - for two people - and we ended-up with a TON of food. It worked out in the end because he doesn't eat meatloaf and I was not eating ham or roast beef and we just shared the chicken. You also get bowls of green beans, noodles, mashed potatoes and stuffing - and their homemade bread is on the table with peanut butter and apple butter. All this, including a slice of your choice of what seems like an endless listing of pies (and you can take the pie home, but not the hot food) is only about $20 a head. I have to say that the meatloaf (sweet sauce on top - needs more) and chicken were tasty and the ham was (allegedly) less dry, but the roast beef looked gross. The sides were a miss for me - the noodles seemed soggy, the chicken stuffing was just weird and the mashed potatoes and green beans are just plain (naturally). If we come back here, I would wait and sit upstairs.
(2)Jay P.
The Fried Chicken here is excellent. However, it really depends on your preferences. If you usually choose Popeyes over KFC's original chicken, then I doubt you'll be all that impressed. The chicken was an upscale version of the KFC's original, which I actually think has pretty decent flavor. Before you scoff at me, there are restaurants the elitists swear by that have fried chicken that is bland and dry...even worse than a chain. Like others have mentioned, the wait here can be incredibly long. This is the "go to" place to eat in Shisphewana. If you get a late start to the day, you might be in for some trouble. If you're with others who are bothered by waiting or are too lazy to roam around town for a bit, plan ahead. The actual dining area isn't anything special. There's quite a lot of noise, particularly from annoying children. In the main dining area, there were also a fair amount of flies. Keep that in mind as well. After waiting so long, we already knew what we wanted. I'd recommend checking out the menu ahead of time. I began placing the order for all of us and made a side note to my dad that we would be sharing his appetizer. That threw off the old lady waitress, and she had to start over again. She then blamed it all on me for confusing her and at the end of the order, she said: "Don't ever do that to me again." I won't because I'll make sure to not have you as our waitress in the future. The rest of the dining experience was pleasant enough. The entrees were all pretty decent. The waitress came back to check on us once or twice. I don't know why we left a 20% tip because she was sort of condescending and unprofessional. Don't act like you're an old expert who has been waiting tables for thirty years. If that were the case, you wouldn't have become so easily flustered. This is the place to go for those who are regulars or those who want that "one-time signature spot in Shipshewana" experience. I might try the buffet in the future. Aside from doing that, I will not go out of my way to dine here. The food was good, and the ambiance was quaint. The service up front was organized enough, but the service in the dining room leaves more to be desired.
(3)Don M.
If your looking for some good home style cooking then this is the place. I started by chowing on the homemade bread and peanut butter. It was the yum-e, They have it in a squeeze bottle and it was all I could do not to just put it in my mouth and squeeze. I gave up on the bread as it was not needed just squeeze peanut butter all over my plate and scoop it up with a spoon and lick it clean. But I needed something else and the fried chicken was calling. Again yum-e! the leg was more like a club but no complaints just plain good. The chicken was very juicy and every bite was as good as the last. As I was chowing away I thought wow I could put peanut butter on here to. For sides I had some cottage cheese and slaw. Good meal, good service, nice place. Next time I think I will hit up the buffet!
(5)Matt F.
Let me describe The Blue Gate Restaurant this way: If your travels ever take you within an hour of Shipshewana... this is where you are having dinner. The authentic Amish cooking reminds me of my Grandma's house. From the moment the fresh loaf of bread with special butters hits the table... be warned to pace yourself. You're going to order all 4 meats family style. The fried chicken is as good as it gets. Other standouts include the roast beef, and noodles... but everything is amazing. Don't leave without ordering pie! Even if you have to take it to go... and be sure to stop by the bakery/gift shop to grab something for later. I love getting cheese here, but there are plenty of amazing snacks. Give yourself an hour before dinner to explore the shops of Shipshewana. The Amish culture is something people rarely have experience with. I'm not a huge shopper... but even I thought it was fun to look around at some of the cool stuff around town.
(5)Jason H.
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! The only reason it gets 1 star is because the salad bar was decent and that's where it stopped. Soup was Cream of Potato and it was bland and watery. The chicken was very salty, the "noodles" were soggy, the mac n Cheese was soggy n bland, the stuffing had no flavor and was bland and the cheddar garlic mashed potatoes tasted gross. To say the least, we won't be back again. Utterly disappointed and hopefully I don't have an upset stomach later. $35 bill and McDonald's serves better food on the Dollar Menu smdh
(1)Robert N.
The only reason I'm giving it a star is because it is convenient to all the attractions. I really hope the buffet isn't comparable to the regular meals and am hoping my terrible experience was a fluke. To start off we ordered unsweetened ice tea, which we had to get sent back since it tasted like it had artificial sweetener in it, which could have been disastrous since it screws with my body. The main dishes were bland. The noodles were soggy and dull. The ham was dry. The roast beef was cold. The meatballs were like burnt meatloaf with sauce. The apple crisp was bland. The macaroni and cheese just tasted like macaroni with a bland sauce. The fried chicken was very salty. The deserts were ok. The chocolate pie was off. What I thought was butterscotch pie was a light peanut butter taste, which didn't seem right, but was still good. The only thing I did like was the salad bar, but that's a no brainer to prepare. Just give me some spring greens with bacon, banana peppers, cheese and dressing and I'm a happy camper. I will never be going there again and will keep traveling to Essenhaus for our anniversary there every year.
(1)karen f.
We didn't want to wait for a table in the dinning room so we opted for the salad bar downstairs. The service was great. The potato salad and the chicken noodle soup was outstanding! They give you small bowls for the soup but you can eat as much as you want off the salad bar. They had pickled beet eggs (which I did not try). The rest of the salad fix-en's were standard fare. I had the apple crumb pie for desert which was not the best.
(4)MaryLiz S.
Carb overload! Hey, carbs are cheap and you'll get a lot of that at the Blue Gate. We started out with some freshly made mini loaves of bread. On your table, there is apple butter with cinnamon and a peanut butter/marshmallow blend that are quite tasty for an appetizer while you wait for your meal. I started with a salad that was just ordinary head lettuce with some ordinary veggies. Not much fiber, but that's what they had. For my entree, I ordered the beef & noodles daily special. The picture had shown half noodles / half beef + mashed potatoes & gravy on the side. Awfully high in carbs, but I wanted something that would be a no-brainer for our waitress, since our group was large and we were trying to keep to a schedule. What arrived was a plate that was half mashed potatoes, half home made Amish noodles and less than one ounce of beef on the entire plate. This was smothered with bouillon cube gravy and call it lunch. Fortunately, one of my friends had ordered liver & onions, and found her portion to be too large, so she gave me quite a bit of her meat - which was tender, not rubbery. I was grateful to have some protein, since I was one of the drivers for our convoy and had to stay awake during the long trip home. Dessert was fairly nice: strawberry rhubarb pie with a brown sugar crumble topping. The pie crust was a hair gummy in the very center and not very brown at all so I know they were using shiny silver aluminum pans in the kitchen. I left behind most of the crust because it didn't have much flavor. I admit that I'm very picky. So for our group of seven it was about an hour and a half to get through lunch. Our waiter was a very young girl who needs some polishing. She was trying hard. She offered to refill my water glass without being asked, but she spilled some water onto my lunch. Also handing plates and clearing were awkward, but she was sincere and was doing her very best. My advice is to stick to the meatier dishes and you should do fine. If I hadn't gone with the daily special I would have gotten a hamburger, but if I go back I'll definitely get the liver & onions. Wrinkle your nose if that's not your taste, but some of us like all those vitamins! Two of my friends were using walkers and one a cane, so when we left the restaurant I ran out and got the car. I pulled into the little curved drive off of Middlebury Street so that they would not have to walk very far to get into the car. That made things easier on our group, so keep that in mind if you are with someone who has difficulty walking.
(2)Heather S.
The Blue Gate restaurant serves 'Amish' homestyle cooking that one may order individually or order family style. We opted for family style and it was a home run! Family style will run each person 16-19 bucks (see photos and menu) and will serve up unlimited amounts of hearty country goodness. All family style dinners include Fried Chicken and your choice of an Additional Protein .... roast beef meatloaf smoked ham Family style also includes the sides.... mashed potatoes stuffing gravy vegetables (we had green beans) homemade bread chicken and noodles dessert (pie, bread pudding or ice cream) beverage ( pop *yes, we say pop in the Midwest*, tea, water) Bottomline: Bring your appetite and get ready to throw down. The service was wonderful and the food hit the spot. My personal favorites were the fried chicken, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. My mom raved on about the delicious bread pudding and my husband love their pecan pie. Our visit was a top notch 'Amish' feast. We can't wait to come back and visit again. Boarding on 4/5 stars... I rounded up since our server was so awesome and friendly.
(4)Dana C.
The smell that comes along with walking through the doors of this establishment is enough to make you wanna stuff an Amish doughnut in your face. I can't describe it, but I imagine that it's close to what heaven smells like. It took some time to get seated. We waited around 45 mins and it was a little after lunchtime on a weekday... and the restaurant is huuuge. So, it was really busy. After we were seated, it was smooth sailing from there. Also - they give your table a loaf of bread. Eat it all and smother it with the peanut butter on the table. DO IT. If you're not familiar with Amish food, you should take it on a date. It's just comfort food more than anything. Warm, meaty, delicious, lots of carbs, etc. Get whatever floats your boat and takes you back to simpler times. My simpler time was chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes. Tasty. Buuuut, the noodles were a little over-cooked. It had good flavor, but I was a little underwhelmed. If you happen to be in Shipshewana, and you don't want to eat the flea market food, I'd say this is a good option. Also, take a look at the other Amish places in the area before you for sure commit to Blue Gate.
(3)Thomas B.
Awesome food to follow a wonderful theater show... The chicken was in my opinion better by far than Frankenmuth. The only disappointment was that we ate late only an hour prior to the restaurant closing down for the evening and the pie selection was very minimal with only two to choose from. Neither of them among my favorites darn it.. I read all the great reviews here about the mini loaves of bread served in the restaurant and was hoping we could sample them but alas we ate in the buffet dining area and had a bit of a limited selection... We would enjoy this meal another time.
(4)Tom S.
Great pace for a home-cooked style meal. I've never had a bad meal. I especially like the roast beef. They can get busy, but usually seat you pretty quickly. The cost is a little higher, but that is because they use quality ingredients and portions are huge. Often times my wife and I can split a meal and we both get plenty to eat!
(5)Matt B.
Food was decent, way overpriced for what it was. I had the roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. Roast beef was tasty and tender. Mashed potatoes were obviously instant potatoes, and green beans tasted frozen. Not bad food, but nothing special.
(2)Beverly W.
What a wonderful restaurant that serves Amish cooking. Really loved the food, beef so tender! The mash potatoes could not be any better. The place was packed and the service could not be better. Linda R. was our server and she was tremendous. She made us feel very welcome. Could not ask for more! Highly recommend for the best food ever. Couldn't finish it so we did not have dessert. Seen some people just having dessert. The FRESH Strawberry pie looked so wonderful and the varieties of the different pies would make choosing very difficult. If you want mouth watering dishes and great service, this is the place to go.
(5)Shyam S.
This is an Amish/Mennonite restaurant, gift shop, bakery and concert venue that looks like it was picked up from Pigeon Forge or Orlando or some other tourist trap and dropped into Shipshewana. Yes, the bakery and the food are top notch, but you can tell it is not 100% authentic; rather, it is clear that the menu and the whole enterprise have been set up to offer an "Amish experience" for tourists, even as actual Amish buggies clip-clop down the street outside. As far as the food goes, I fell in love with the Amish Peanut Butter and bread; as well as the incredibly moist fried chicken. There are a lot of regional favorites on the menu, but again, parts of it read like an IHOP menu (oriental chicken salad? vegetarian burger? chicken fingers?) I made the mistake of ordering a sugar-free apple pie slice for later (not nearly as good as I thought), but my friend was raving about her raspberry pie. I ordered the sweet potato casserole as my side dish to the fried chicken and it was so rich and sweet that it was practically a dessert. All in all, I am glad I visited, but I know there are more authentic restaurants in the area that I will make a point of visiting next time.
(3)Abbey N.
I've been going here with my family for many years during our annual summer Shipshewana trip. I look forward to it every year! The Blue Gate has the BEST home-cooked food! The meatloaf Manhattan is life changing and is my go-to dish (since there are a crazy amount of awesome dishes to choose from). Their desserts are also amazing, although I usually don't much room for it at the end of my meal :) The service is also always good for being such a popular place. They turn tables over quickly and always have friendly service.
(5)Tom S.
good food try just the menu Just as good and still more then you can eat. Save room for pie
(3)Paul S.
Darn it - I would like to rate this better than average. Here's my quick thoughts: Bread was decent but nothing special. Fried chicken was moist and tasty. Liver and onions was tough and not so good. Baked apples, sweet potatoes, mashed with gravy all decent. Green beans were tasty. Thank goodness they didn't ruin them. All in all a nice atmosphere and it is a must do if you are in the Shipshawanna area. The two adjacent stores - gift and furniture are excellent. A great place to take mom or grandma.
(3)Stephanie S.
I have to say I feel a little uncomfortable with the touristy-ness of this place. Something feels inherently wrong about gawking at someone's culture for profit. And the behemoth Amish compounds in Shipshewana definitely made me think about that. We stopped here for lunch. I had the fried chicken with hush puppies and sweet potato casserole. The portion was large and about $13. The chicken was very good, but I found the breading to be overly salty. The hush puppies were very dried out and over-fried. The sweet potato thing was OK--very dessert-y. This place is very similar to a Cracker Barrel. Though I know it's not, it has a very chain-like feel to it. not a bad lunch option, but not sure I'd be back.
(3)Richard P.
Despite the tourist trap nature of the small town of Shipshewana, Indiana in LaGrange County, I couldn't resist the overcrowded charms of the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, an Amish-themed restaurant/bakery/theater complex fairly similar in presentation to the nearby Essenhaus. Owned by the Riegsecker family, the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery is one of several Riegsecker owned ventures in the area including Riegsecker, Inc., Blue Gate Theater, Blue Gate Garden Inn, Shipshewana Furniture Company, and Riegsecker Cabinet Co. I must confess that more than once while perusing Blue Gate that I found myself thinking I'd stumbled into a cross between Essenhaus and Cracker Barrel, mostly owing to the fact that Blue Gate's large retail area felt a lot more kitschy to me but, for the most part, in a fairly good kind of way. The choices for dining on the evening I arrived included going with a stage production they have nightly called "Josiah for President" and, yes, it's as corny as it sounds. However, once again, I do mean corny in a good kind of way. Then, you could simply go into another large dining area and order from the menu OR you could partake of their buffet for $14.95. As I'd just wheeled 26+ miles, I decided that a buffet sounded like a reasonable option and not that much more expensive than regular prices. The buffet included most of the country style foods you would expect including fried chicken, grilled chicken, pot roast, a variety of vegetables, stuffing, breads, etc. Of course, desserts were plentiful including my beloved chocolate pie. While the large dining area felt a lot like gathering at Grandma's on a Sunday after church (with a whole lot more people), there was something quaint and charming about the rather simple presentation of the buffet in non-cafeteria like warmers that were for the most part effective. They didn't flinch when a member of my party asked to be seated closer to the buffet, a request likely made out of consideration for my need to carry food and get through the crowd. As was true at Essenhaus, the emphasis here is on country cooking with an Amish/Mennonite theme and largely devoid of the razzle dazzle. There wasn't a single item I hate that I didn't completely enjoy and for the most part really loved. While I certainly wouldn't call it the best meal I've ever had, it was a quality meal at a good price and the chocolate pie that finished it off was a little piece of sugar coma heaven. There was one part of the experience that bugged me just a bit and it related to atmosphere. While I understand the need for strong communication in a facility as big as Blue Gate, several of the supervisory folks went around wearing headset/bluetooth type devices that really distracted from the whole Amish/Mennonite theme. The first time I noticed it I found it rather jarring and I couldn't shake the idea that I found it really distracting. For those who are intrigued, Blue Gate offers its bakery items online and also does catering and can handle groups. If you find yourself in Shipshewana, you owe it to yourself to check out Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery.
(4)Sqirrl B.
I always end up buying a gift here for someone I know. The food is pretty good, and my mom loves the fried chicken. I like the chicken pot pie personally. The service here has always been really good, and my server yesterday was just great about a specialty salad order that I asked for. The bathrooms are amazing, and I think it's great that they have a nursing and changing station for the babies. So many restaurants don't have that simple amenity of even a hard folding seat for nursing. The only complaint I would have about this place is that it is so packed with people, and it's a little bit like being herded as cattle to get a seat. But that's Shipshe on a weekday for you. It's worth eating here so you don't overspend at the meat and cheese shop down the street!
(4)Rachel S.
We were in Shipshewana for a little getaway, and we had lunch at the Blue Gate. Do NOT have lunch at the Blue Gate! All of the tourist buses go there for lunch! The place was PACKED! We had to share a table with another couple, and they had set up extra folding tables to fit everyone in. It was ridiculously noisy! If you're looking for Amish ambiance, this isn't the place for that, either. It's super shiny and sparkly and has a super "corporate" feel. That being said, the food was pretty good. My husband and I shared the meat loaf dinner (which was PLENTY for the two of us---definitely share something), and Amish-style meat loaf just can't be beat! Our waitress was kind (if harried!), and she did her best to get to us as often as she could with the room being so packed.
(3)Curley L.
Stop here about once a year. Always large portions and good home style cooking. I opt for the fried chicken and it is always good. Stuffing is excellent. Wife has chicken salads and they are always fine. A great family place and worth the stop.
(4)Anna D.
Food was wonderful especially the chicken noodles and fried chicken. The wait was not horribly long but even if it were it would have been well worth it!
(5)David B.
Surrounded by Amish kitsch, both on the road driving in and in the restaurant building. But in the dining room, you find good service and fine food. The fried chicken was amazingly juicy - perhaps even too much so; the breast (an inherently drier piece) was better than the somewhat fatty thigh - but that's a quibble. This is pressure-fried chicken, so, though the spicing is different, it's strikingly reminiscent of what KFC original recipe chicken was like fifty years ago, when the Colonel was still making it himself. To borrow the phrase that KFC isn't entitled to any more, it was finger-licking good! Sides (I had applesauce, served as a salad course, and corn) also tasted fresh and genuinely home-made.
(5)B C.
Home cooked goodness! Yes, it's a little touristy but don't let that distract you from enjoying the delicious food. Had chicken noodles, mashed potatoes, chicken dressing, and coconut cream pie. Chicken noodles and mashed potatoes both needed additional salt/pepper but perfect after some self seasoning. Dressing was probably best I've ever had. Coconut cream pie was good, would try the apple pie next time!
(4)Joe I.
Gut-buster of a dinner. If you leave this place and are still hungry, it is not because they didn't give you enough food...it's because you didn't eat it! Meat & potatoes. Dinner offerings are pretty much standard fare. Pulled pork, turkey, chicken, meatloaf, etc. All has been good grub Filling, but not fancy. Seeing as this sits in the middle of an Amish community, it fits. Squeeze bottles of peanut butter/marshmallow fluff combination make this pretty evident. Friendly, but not formal. Ditto. We should try breakfast sometime...That might get me up to a 4 star.
(3)Lin F.
I ate at the restaurant last summer. I don't remember much about the entree but the apple pie. Now I have always loved apple pie but once I had apple pie here... it changed the way I would eat pie. The apples inside the pie were diced. I've never seen that before but I loved it. I'm a big fan of bite-sized food so it was very appealing to me. Now I only eat pie that has diced apples... which means my fiancé has to make the pie himself and dice all the apples up... but it's a great idea. As for the bakery, I brought home apple butter and peanut butter and it was a hit with everyone I gifted it to. I just went back today to stock up on large quantities for my family.
(4)Steve T.
A conflicted review. Great fried cod, but then greasy cold fries. The fried chicken was cooked nicely, but was over brined and very salty. Fast polite service. So in the end, it is just ok.
(3)Melanie B.
I had what was probably the best liver and onions here that I have ever had. Now, I know many of you are going "blech" but my husband, who had the beef Manhattan, agreed that his was one of the best as well. Considering how busy they were, service was as good as could be expected and the wait was only about 15-20 minutes. After the meal, we walked down the hall to the bakery and bought jars of the french dressing and peanut butter we had just sampled during our dinner. Both are outstanding. I highly recommend the Blue Gate and will certainly go back again if I am ever in the area.
(5)Melissa G.
Blue Gate is pretty much a must do if you're from out of town. The food is wonderful and if you time it right, you won't have a long wait. Most times I've gone we've ordered family style, but have ordered off the menu a couple times also. The only downside is that your whole table has to agree, family style...or menu. Regardless, it's delicious and the pie is great! I recommend the banana cream pie!
(5)M M.
I love the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. I moved to Indiana in 2002 and I always enjoy a stop in Shipshewana and a meal at the Blue Gate. If you are in town for breakfast, on Saturday's they have a wonderful buffet. For lunch and dinner my favorite is always the fried chicken (all white meat), mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. I have also tried the roast beef and turkey, everything here is delicious. If you do not save room for pie after your meal, be sure to take home a piece! It is wonderful!
(5)David L.
Taste: 1 Value: 1 Service: 3 I think the best part of my meal was the homemade bread. It came out as an entire loaf, and I had to cut individual pieces out. However, even that was just mediocre. 1. Amish Country Sampler, $13 The rest of my meal was pretty bad. I ordered the Amish country sampler, which came with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, pulled pork, pulled ham, corn, and some weird chicken stuff. Should have listened to Honey, as my experience was almost identical. Even Old Country Buffet is better than this.
(1)Jimmy C.
Bring a wheel barrow to get yourself out when you are done. OMG.
(5)Tiffany L.
Headed to good ol' Shipshewana a few weekends ago with my lovely nephews and had a lovely little dinner at Blue Gate! They both ordered the meatloaf and bless his dear little heart my 11-year-old one claimed the meatloaf was the best he ever had in a restaurant and it was almost as good as NeeNee's... I'm NeeNee. He's my new favorite. I had the Amish sampler platter and it was really great! Definitely recommend trying that if you can't decide which way to go. We didn't really save room for dessert but, we had some anyway. I had the huge lemon meringue pie and 14-year-old had the gigantic carrot cake which he devoured. We liked dinner so much we came back from breakfast! We went with the buffet and they liked it a lot, I thought it was just so-so, but they were happy, so that works for me. They're still talking about the peanut butter spread and apple butter! We bought two jars after dinner, should have bought more! We found this place to be quite a bit better than dinner at the Dutchman Essenhaus so if you only have time for one meal in Shipshewana, I'd definitely head to Blue Gate.
(5)Ronald U.
We stopped by here because we heard great things. We had breakfast. My wife had the Apple bread french toast with a side of cornbread mush. Very tasty. I had the scrambled eggs with bacon. I can't believe how good it was. If we get back to Shipshewana, we definitely try to go for dinner and dessert.
(4)Sam R.
This is hands down the best ever. Everything is wonderful. It is where you eat when going to Shipshewana. No exceptions. The homemade bread is wonderful, the country style cooking is delicious. Never unsatisfied with the Blue Gate. You must go there. Also, you can buy most of the things you eat in the bakery. Always take home lots of food.
(5)Joanne E.
Still visit the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery whenever I'm in the neighborhood (South Bend every July) or just driving past (on my way to/from Canada). Still Five stars in my book.
(5)Team Asphalt W.
We chose the all you can eat chicken for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Chicken, potatoes, dressing and noodles were good but the green beans were not very good. They didn't seem to be from a can but they weren't fresh either. Would be nice if there was a choice of a vegetable among the overload of carbohydrates (but so yummy!) A good value for lunch, drink and dessert. Service was efficient and very friendly. You can't take a doggy bag except for the dessert because you'll probably be too full to enjoy it.
(4)Diane S.
Enjoyed the Family Style Dinner and it was delicious! Will definitely be going back and hopefully including the Blue Gate Theater!!
(4)Mary Beth G.
This place is a huge commercialized establishment where they bus in tourists to eat Coun*** Buffet quality meals. As you enter the main lobby, you go on the wait list for its 7 dining rooms (which look like old style college cafeteria spaces) spread over 3 floors, noisy, with harried wait staff that rarely appeared at our table or brought something in less than 12 minutes. The chicken dinner comes with super-overcooked canned green beans, mushy without taste noodles, and mashed potatoes. The non-crisp fried chicken tastes like it was sitting in mega-tubs, with pieces on top of each other in the kitchen...soggy, no special flavor or seasoning. The bread was on the stale side, even though it was a packed August Saturday night for Shipshewana...maybe left sitting out on mega tables next to the mega-tubs of steam-heated soggy chicken. The gravy resembled thick sludge in consistency and lacked any flavor or seasoning. This is not AMISH home-cooking. It hurts to see this place making millions on cafeteria food which does NOT represent the Amish heritage of fine cookery. Suppose this guy owns the town, one would guess. Having grown up in Indiana, saddened to experience what has become of Shipshewana and its glorious days of slow-living, simple culture with small quaint shops offering homemade food and items.
(2)Renita M.
In full disclosure, back in college I spent a summer working at the Riegsecker marketplace, at the Craft Barn, which is across the street from the Blue Gate. The funny thing is, I still like Essenhaus (down the road in Middlebury) better. But, the Blue Gate is pretty tasty. And Shipshewana is a cool little tourist trap of a town. (Note: Go to Wana Cup. Have some homemade root beer.) The food is nearly all homemade, full of real butter and lard and meat drippings. The pie is outstanding. The bread is delicious. You will not leave hungry. And now you can see a show, too. I don't really recommend the buggy rides, it's sort of ridiculous. Just take a leisurely drive around the back roads of LaGrange and Elkhart counties. Note to Wendy B et al: Amish people are *not* going to eat a meal out here. They are going to eat at home, where they have the exact same food. Or at Wana Cup, 'cause they want a cheeseburger and tater tots. P.S. That Amish peanut butter stuff everyone raves about? Yes, it's tasty. It's also just peanut butter, corn syrup and marshmallow fluff. There's nothing particularly Amish about it. Go for the apple butter instead.
(4)Mike R.
Never had a bad meal here. Fried chicken, roast beef, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes...could go on naming items that were excellent. The homemade bread, peanut butter, and apple butter available pre-meal are all amazing. The fish was the only thing I have had that simply decent. However, what sets this place apart is the huge selection of homemade pies (as well as other options in the bakery). Strawberry rhubarb and chocolate peanut butter have been favorites thus far. Prices and service are both great as well. Definitely worth the side trip off I-90.
(5)Abby B.
I used to work in the box office above the restaurant, and the best part of working here was the food! I highly recommend the meatloaf as it was always delicious.
(4)Ashley C.
This is what home cookin' is all about. You're greeted with a fresh loaf of bread and 2 condiments - apple butter and an amazing peanut butter/marshmallow/maple spread that's really addictive. (side note: you can buy jars of it in the gift shop, which also has baked goods, cookbooks, candies, jams, etc.). I had a beef and noodle dish that was really good, and my husband had the best fried chicken of his life. The dessert selection is fantastic (to be expected of an Amish restaurant), and the service is friendly. This place is great for families, and the prices are extremely fair. This was definitely worth the hour drive it took for us to get there from my mom's house.
(5)Scott L.
Traditional, Amish, down-home cooking. This is a great place. The food is well priced, the servers friendly and the food is outstanding. Nothing to complain about here.
(4)J H.
I'll keep this simple. YUMMY! Better than Das Essenhaus restaurant. Great fried chicken!
(4)Bobby D.
Not a bad place either, The Amish Country Sampler wasn't too bad. Though the green beans tasted like they were canned, As opposed to freshly made. The pulled ham was good, The Amish fried chicken was a pretty good treat. The chicken stuffing was OK. The mashed potatoes were pretty good. The pulled roast beef not too bad. The baked bread was pretty good as well. Yet the apple & peanut butters in the squeeze bottles looked characteristic to An Arby's Barbecue or Horsey Sauce or an Oriental Hot Mustard bottle. Yet as for the taste, Not bad at all.
(4)Harold S.
Excellent around, great roast beef and chicken all with generous portions of chicken noodlesand mash potatoes.
(5)Melissa Y.
I love the Blue Gate! My (long) list of favorites include the Haystack (breakfast), Popcorn Chicken Salad, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Roast Smoked Ham, Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes and their fresh fruit pies for dessert. It's a casual, friendly atmosphere with great service.
(5)Jessie C.
We went to Shipshewana to go shopping at Yoders Meat and Cheese Company and decided to try the Blue Gate. I ordered the Chicken and Noodles (half order) -" homemade noodles and chunks of chicken generously ladled over creamy real mashed potatoes" with a side of green beans. I was transported back to my great-grandmother's kitchen eating this delicious dish. It was just the right dish to order on a cold, winter day when I'm fighting off a cold. My husband ordered the Amish Country Sampler, which consisted of fried chicken, roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and corn. The fried chicken was juicy and the ham was delicious, according to him. To top lunch off, we had to finish with pie. I ordered the old fashioned cream, which tasted like the homemade pudding I grew up eating. My husband ordered the Dutch Apple, which was also delicious and had a crumbly, cinnamon-y crunchy topping. We'll definitely go back again.
(4)E J.
Best food by far in the area. The fried chicken is wonderful; the other food is good (though the salty sort of faux-homemade stuff common to places like this). Pies and cookies in the shop are tasty. Far better than the Essenhaus (which should be avoided).
(3)Julie B.
I went with a group of 8 people, and our server recommended the family style meal. It was around 18 a person for adults, and children is a dollar per year, but all you can eat everything so it evened out! And the food was all great! It came with all you can eat fried chicken (they even let us be picky about what pieces we wanted more of), mashed potatoes with 2 gravies, green beans, stuffing, chicken and noodles. You can also add in other meats for I believe a dollar more a person--we did the beef which melted in your mouth, and ham which was surprisingly shredded and got good reviews from those who had it. The meal came with a drink, bread, and dessert, which our server so nicely let us take to go (the rest of the meal cannot be). Everything was delicious! I'm not going to try to decipher what was homemade and what was standard restaurant food, but I'm sure it's a little of both. Either way, it was a great experience to add into the whole Shipshewana 'feel', and I would highly recommend giving Blue Gate a try :) Oh, and if you like cinnamon choose the cinnamon ice cream for dessert--so good!!
(5)Bruce M.
Great Amish food. A favorite of mine. I love the chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes.
(4)Dyke S.
Just took family member for a 65th birthday dinner. Would have to say I was disappointed in the food except the desert Potato chip appetizer were soggy with grease, very small portion. "Chopped steak"-a over done Quarter Pounder, very dry and tasteless. Fried Chicken seemed to be good. Corn side I would not eat-old and tired. Beef open plate sandwich, beef was good but was swimming in gravy. Chicken and noodle were fair. Chicken diced in little squares, would have thought with type of place the chicken would have been picked and small pieces. Pies for deserts were great. Sorry would not return for the food
(2)Honey S.
Cafeteria quality food at best. Their real mashed potatoes tasted as though they were dehydrated. Steamed veggies tasted like they were frozen. Granted I am from the westcoast & this is the Midwest. Still, in the heart of farming country, I don't understand the disparity. Vegetables right out of the garden need only a quick cooking. It seems in the Midwest the tradition is to over cook. If you must, go for the experience & order pie. I skipped desert as I didn't want another disappointment. Too bad as the town is a charming slice of rural America.
(1)Wendy B.
I kept jokingly calling this place "Am-land" but it's true: seated next to a window, I counted just as many passing black buggies as motorized vehicles. There weren't any Amish patrons but I spotted Amish bonnets on a few of the employees. Those who were not Amish were not in Amish garb, so it didn't seem to be a gimmick, despite the advertised buggy rides for $7 per person out back. But what really matters is the chow, right? This place did not disappoint. I got the Amish sampler: a piece of buttermilk fried chicken, some beef pot roast, and some ham, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and a vegetable (mine was corn), and came with a side salad. The mashed potatoes were real, but nothing to write home about, but the proteins were all top notch and amazing. Also, it should be noted that the stuffing/dressing was the finest I've ever tasted in my life, and it was LOADED with giant chunks of chicken too. The French dressing for the salad was made in-house and was also the best I've ever tasted. On the table, there were pots of what we thought were crazy versions of mustard and ketchup, but while waiting for pie, we dabbled and realized they were homemade apple butter and the most delicious version of peanut butter. I was bummed that I was so full, because it would have been amazing on their whole-grain bread served pre-meal. My dining companions had similarly generous helpings and reported that they were impressed and amazed by the quality of the cooking. Now the downside: the pie wasn't all that, and in fact, I had planned on buying a pie to take home until I tried the pie crust: lardy and heavy. Meh. The filling in my banana cream was clearly homemade custard, but it was topped with Cool Whip, or something Amish that is indistinguishable from Cool Whip. So close and yet, so far. However, I did score some of that amazing peanut butter and French dressing to take home instead and their Snickerdoodles were pretty amazing. I understand that I'm somewhat of a pie snob, though, and they earned 5 stars from me before they even brought out the dessert menu. Totally worth the side-trip, and while it's nowhere near an exit off of Hwy 80, you can get there by driving parallel to it, so if you're passing through, you won't regret taking a few extra miles to visit the folks at The Blue Gate.
(5)