The Buffet At This Ohio Spot Is The Kind You’ll Think About All Week Long
I pulled into 445 S Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064, USA with a plan as simple as a warm roll and butter, and Der Dutchman gently turned that plan into a whole story worth sharing.
The dining room felt like a spacious front porch where strangers nod as if they’ve known you for years, and the buffet sent out comforting aromas that whispered, this is where your week finally slows down.
Reviews had promised welcoming smiles and Amish comfort classics, and the room proved every word true before my first plate even arrived.
If you’re craving food that tastes like home without the cleanup, you’re in the right place.
Comfort Starts With a Roll
Warm bread is a handshake you can eat, and Der Dutchman squeezes back with buttery confidence.
The basket arrives like a small parade of golden rolls, each one soft enough to sigh when torn. Butter melts instantly, soaking the crumb until it tastes like sunshine on a farmhouse step.
Guests around me echoed the Google love for the bread service, praising how staff refills without fuss and with genuine cheer.
A server set down fresh rolls with a quiet grin that said you are in good hands here.
That simple gesture made the table feel like a familiar kitchen, not a stop on a busy road.
Flavor rides the line between sweet and savory, with a gentle yeast perfume that calls for seconds.
The texture stays cloud-light inside, with a delicate jacket that shatters softly under your fingers. Start here, and the buffet already feels like a promise being kept.
Fried Chicken That Means Business
Crunch speaks louder than hype, and this fried chicken speaks fluent delight.
The coating is crisp with a peppery wink, while the meat stays tender enough to carve with a sigh.
Each piece lands on the plate with a confident thud that says bring mashed potatoes immediately.
Online reviewers often call this the dish they drive back for, and I get why after one bite.
Staff rotate fresh pans swiftly, so the skin keeps its brittle snap instead of slipping into sog.
That rhythm matters because every guest arrives hopeful for heat, texture, and comfort in the same bite.
The seasoning feels balanced, never showy, letting the chicken taste like itself plus a friendly chorus of spices.
Paired with a spoonful of pan gravy, it becomes the type of simple that is surprisingly hard to do.
If you want the buffet in one sentence, it is this: honest food made carefully and served hot.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, No Debates
Mashed potatoes can whisper or shout, and these choose an eloquent middle.
They are creamy without slipping into glue, with small buttery ridges that catch gravy like friendly footholds.
The brown gravy tastes like roasted drippings and patience, pooling into perfect little lakes.
Nearby, a couple nodded at their plates the way people nod at a good song, and I understood.
Reviews often celebrate the comfort sides, and this one is the quiet hero that completes every forkful.
The staff keeps the pan tidy and stirred, so every scoop feels fresh and smooth.
The flavor leans savory with a gentle dairy sweetness, not heavy, just steady and soothing.
It plays wingman to chicken, meatloaf, or roast beef without stealing the scene. By the last bite, you realize you are full of both food and calm, which feels like the point.
Salad Bar That Actually Refreshes
Freshness shows up in the crunch, and the salad bar crackles like morning grass.
Greens are crisp, cucumbers snap cleanly, and the pickled beets add a ruby little drumbeat.
House dressings lean creamy and bright, with ranch that tastes like it was whisked minutes ago.
Reviewers often praise the variety and tidiness, and I saw a staff member polishing tongs between refills.
That care keeps flavors honest, so tomatoes stay sweet instead of sleepy.
It is the kind of station that resets your appetite without feeling like homework.
A scoop of cottage cheese next to a sprinkle of sunflower seeds delivers farmhouse charm in miniature.
The color mix makes the plate look like a cheerful quilt, playful but balanced.
By the time you return to the hot line, your palate is awake and ready for round two.
Noodles Over Mashed Potatoes, Midwestern Poetry
Carb on carb is not a gamble here, it is a hometown tradition with great manners.
The handmade noodles arrive tender and slightly chewy, lounging in a savory broth that clings just right.
Poured over mashed potatoes, they create a layered comfort that feels both playful and wise.
Guests nearby compared notes and smiled, quoting reviews about the noodles like a favorite lyric.
A server recommended a pepper sprinkle and she was dead right, waking up the broth beautifully.
The presentation is humble, bowl first, steam second, aroma third, like a kind magic trick.
Each bite tastes like Sunday afternoon decided to extend its hours through Tuesday.
The textures harmonize, silky noodles meeting plush potatoes in an easy handshake.
If you want a signature bite that explains the place, this is your translator.
Turkey, Dressing, and Gravy Like a Holiday You Can Schedule
Turkey can be stubbornly dry, but this version behaves like it knows the assignment.
Slices are moist with a gentle roast note, and the dressing brings sagey comfort without overpowering.
A generous ladle of gravy ties everything together like a friendly handshake across the plate.
Multiple reviewers mention feeling like it is a holiday meal any day, and I felt that too.
The carving stays neat and quick, with staff keeping trays replenished so lines move smoothly.
There is a calm confidence to the service that turns a busy buffet into an easy glide.
Texturally, the chew is soft and pleasing, with stuffing edges offering a tiny toast crunch.
The flavor profile is classic in the best way, familiar yet alive. If your week needs a reset button, this trio presses it gently and completely.
Pie Case With Pulling Power
The pie case is a tractor beam with crust, and you will not resist for long.
Apple slices stack under a golden lattice, while peanut butter cream sits tall like a polite skyscraper.
Chocolate cream gleams with a glossy cap that practically reflects your happy face.
Reviewers rave about the bakery, and the staff speaks fluent dessert recommendations with gentle pride.
My slice of peanut butter cream balanced airy mousse with sturdy crust, rich but not heavy.
A dollop of whipped topping floated like a little cloud that actually did something.
Even one forkful feels celebratory, the kind of sweet that clears the static in your day.
Presentation is tidy and classic, each slice cut clean with generous filling. If you came for dinner, you will leave planning tomorrow around pie logistics.
Service That Feels Like a Neighborly Nudge
Good service disappears, great service lingers, and here it lingers in the best way.
Plates vanish right when you consider stacking them, and refills land before thirst forms a sentence. Greetings feel sincere, like you are recognized even if it is your first time.
That lines up with countless Google notes praising friendliness and calm efficiency during busy hours.
I watched a server kneel to chat with an older guest about favorite pies, then hustle back with a slice crowned just right.
Small gestures knit the room together, turning tables into little islands of ease.
By the time I stepped out, I knew why people plan weekly visits and bring family.
The address may read 445 S Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064, USA, but the feeling reads welcome back.
Der Dutchman is perfect for anyone who craves comfort, clarity, and a meal that remembers your name.