This Ohio Buffet Looks Ordinary But Still Keeps Regulars Coming Back Weekly
Drive past Der Dutchman at 445 S Jefferson Ave in Plain City, Ohio, and you might wonder what all the fuss is about.
The building sits there without much fanfare, looking like plenty of other family restaurants scattered across the Midwest.
But step inside on any given Tuesday morning or Saturday afternoon, and you will find packed dining rooms filled with people who have been coming back for years.
I have visited this place more times than I can count, and each trip reminds me why so many locals treat it like their second home.
The answer is not flashy or complicated.
Der Dutchman delivers honest Amish-style cooking, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel like family.
What keeps regulars driving from Middletown, Columbus, and beyond is not just the food.
It is the whole experience, from the moment you walk through the doors until you leave with a bag of bakery treats.
Let me walk you through all the reasons that make this ordinary-looking buffet so special that people plan their weeks around it.
A Buffet That Delivers Comfort Without Pretense
Walking up to the buffet line at Der Dutchman feels like stepping into a family reunion where everyone is invited.
You will not find fancy labels or exotic ingredients here.
Instead, trays of roast beef, ham, fried chicken, and pork sit waiting under warming lights, looking exactly like what your grandmother might have made for Sunday dinner.
The setup is straightforward and efficient.
One section holds the hot entrées and sides, while another area features a full salad bar stocked with fresh vegetables, pickled beets, and other cold options.
At the end of the line, you will spot desserts, including bread pudding and leftover bakery items like cookies and pastries.
What surprises first-time visitors is how well everything is maintained throughout service.
Staff members constantly monitor the buffet, refilling trays and wiping down surfaces.
The food stays hot and fresh, which matters when you are paying under twenty dollars for all-you-can-eat.
Regulars know to pace themselves because there is always more coming out of the kitchen.
Bakery Magic That Starts Before You Even Sit Down
Before you reach the dining room, the bakery greets you with a display that could tempt a saint.
Glass cases stretch along the wall, packed with donuts the size of dinner plates, cream-filled long johns, fresh pies, and homemade fudge.
The smell alone has convinced more than one person to skip the buffet entirely and just load up on sweets.
Those donuts deserve their reputation.
They are fluffy, generously sized, and come in varieties that change throughout the day.
Long johns filled with cream disappear fast, especially on weekend mornings.
Regulars will tell you to grab your bakery items early because popular flavors sell out by mid-afternoon.
The bakery also serves as a strategic waiting area when the restaurant gets busy.
Instead of standing around feeling impatient, you can browse the cases and plan your dessert strategy.
Many people order whole pies to take home, with coconut cream and banana cream being top sellers year-round.
Service That Remembers Your Drink Order
Servers at Der Dutchman have a talent that impresses even skeptical diners.
They remember drink orders for entire tables without writing anything down.
When you are part of a group of thirty people like one reviewer experienced, watching a server deliver everyone’s beverages correctly feels like witnessing a magic trick.
But the real skill shows in how attentive the staff remains throughout your meal.
Water glasses get refilled before you notice they are empty.
Plates disappear from the table as soon as you finish.
If you have questions about the buffet or need recommendations, servers offer genuine help rather than rushed responses.
This level of service matters more at a buffet restaurant than you might expect.
Good servers know when to check in and when to let you enjoy your meal in peace.
They balance efficiency with friendliness, creating an atmosphere where you feel cared for without being hovered over constantly.
A Gift Shop That Demands Extra Time
Calling the Der Dutchman gift shop an afterthought would be like calling the Grand Canyon a ditch.
This two-story retail space sprawls across enough square footage to qualify as its own destination.
Shelves overflow with handmade quilts, wooden toys, kitchen gadgets, candles, jams, and seasonal decorations that change throughout the year.
Smart diners plan for at least thirty minutes of browsing time after their meal.
The first floor focuses on food items and smaller gifts, while upstairs, you will find furniture, larger home décor pieces, and specialty items.
Everything reflects the Amish aesthetic of quality craftsmanship and practical design.
The gift shop serves another important function during busy times.
When wait times stretch past thirty minutes on weekend afternoons, exploring the merchandise makes the delay feel shorter.
Many regulars admit they have purchased items they never intended to buy simply because they had time to discover them while waiting for a table.
Breakfast That Converts Morning Skeptics
Breakfast at Der Dutchman operates on a different level than the lunch and dinner service.
The morning buffet features biscuits with sausage gravy that have earned cult status among regulars.
These are not delicate, flaky biscuits.
They are substantial, hearty, and designed to fuel you through a full day of work.
Pancakes ordered fresh from the menu arrive looking more like dinner plates than breakfast food.
They dwarf the standard buffet offerings in both size and quality.
If you want the best breakfast experience, order the pancakes separately rather than taking them from the warming trays.
The breakfast buffet runs from seven in the morning when the doors open, giving early risers plenty of time to enjoy multiple plates before the lunch crowd arrives.
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter, making them ideal for anyone who wants a relaxed meal without the weekend rush.
Just remember, they close on Sundays, so plan your breakfast cravings accordingly.
Sides That Outshine The Main Course
Many buffets treat side dishes as filler, but Der Dutchman flips that script entirely.
Regulars will tell you the sides often steal the show from the meats.
Stewed tomatoes, potato salad, honey-glazed carrots, and mashed potatoes with multiple gravy options create tough decisions about plate space management.
The mashed potatoes spark debate among visitors.
Some reviews praise them as creamy and perfect, while others complain they taste instant.
My experience suggests quality varies depending on when you visit and how recently the kitchen has refilled the buffet.
Fresh batches deliver that homemade texture everyone craves.
Stuffing, corn, green beans, and chicken noodles round out the vegetable and starch options.
The variety means even picky eaters find something they enjoy.
One smart strategy is to take small portions of several sides on your first trip, then return for full servings of your favorites.
This approach prevents wasted food and disappointed taste buds.
Fried Chicken Worth The Drive
Ask any regular what brings them back to Der Dutchman, and fried chicken appears in almost every answer.
The kitchen prepares it in the broasted style, which creates an extra crispy coating while keeping the meat juicy inside.
Chicken breasts dominate the buffet trays, though some visitors report the legs can be smaller than expected.
The chicken disappears fast during peak hours, which tells you everything you need to know about its popularity.
Fresh batches come out regularly, and smart diners watch for those moments when kitchen staff delivers a new tray.
That first piece from a fresh batch hits differently than one that has been sitting under the heat lamp.
Comparing this fried chicken to what you might cook at home misses the point entirely.
The value comes from having someone else handle the messy frying process while you relax and enjoy unlimited servings.
Plus, the seasoning blend has that elusive quality that makes you want just one more piece before you leave.
Atmosphere That Welcomes Everyone
Der Dutchman manages to feel both spacious and cozy at the same time.
The dining room stretches across a large area with plenty of tables, yet the décor and lighting create intimate spaces where conversations flow easily.
Wood tones and simple decorations reflect the Amish aesthetic without feeling like a theme park version of rural life.
Groups of all sizes find accommodation here.
The staff has experience seating parties of thirty or more, arranging tables so everyone can talk and laugh together, even when the room layout does not allow for one giant table.
This flexibility makes Der Dutchman popular for family reunions, church groups, and veteran organizations.
Even during busy periods when the parking lot overflows, the dining room never feels chaotic or overwhelming.
The high ceilings and smart layout prevent that cramped cafeteria feeling some buffet restaurants create.
You can enjoy your meal without feeling rushed or crowded, which matters when you are paying for an all-you-can-eat experience.
Smart Timing Makes All The Difference
Knowing when to visit Der Dutchman separates the satisfied customers from the frustrated ones.
Weekday afternoons offer the shortest wait times and the most relaxed atmosphere.
The buffet stays fully stocked, but you will not fight crowds for access to the fried chicken or have to wait for tables.
Weekend visits require more planning and patience.
Friday and Saturday evenings stretch the hours until eight o’clock, attracting families and couples looking for a satisfying dinner without cooking.
Arriving right when they open at seven in the morning gives you first crack at the breakfast buffet before the church crowd fills the parking lot.
Remember that Der Dutchman closes on Sundays, which surprises many first-time visitors who assume weekend hours include the traditional day of rest.
This closure reflects the Amish values that influence the restaurant’s operations.
Plan your visit for any other day of the week, and you will find consistent hours from seven in the morning until seven or eight at night, depending on the day.
Value That Keeps Wallets Happy
Finding an all-you-can-eat buffet for under twenty dollars feels increasingly rare in modern restaurant economics.
Der Dutchman maintains this pricing while delivering quality that exceeds many competitors, charging significantly more.
The value calculation becomes even better when you factor in the variety of meats, sides, and desserts included in that single price.
Ordering from the menu offers another option for people who prefer plated meals over buffet service.
The portions arrive generous and fresh, with items like those massive pancakes providing enough food for two meals.
Menu prices align with the moderate range you would expect from a family restaurant.
The bakery provides additional value opportunities.
Buying a whole pie to take home costs less than purchasing individual slices at many bakeries, and the quality matches or exceeds what you would find at specialty shops.
Donuts, cookies, and other treats offer affordable ways to extend your Der Dutchman experience beyond the dining room.
Many regulars budget for both a meal and bakery purchases because the combined value still beats eating at trendier establishments.