One building in Ohio holds a two-story gift shop, a Christmas store, a full bakery, and a buffet. That’s a lot of reasons to park the car.
The bakery counter alone could stall a whole family. Pies, fudge, donuts, and fresh-brewed coffee share the space.
Amish-style dishes like roast beef and pot pie anchor the menu.
I like a place that settles the dessert question early. Dinner, then a slice, then maybe a box to go.
I can’t imagine passing that pie case without a plan.
The parking lot is huge, and the dining room is built for crowds. So what does a roast beef dinner taste like with a bakery waiting by the exit?
A Family Restaurant Built Around Amish-Style Comfort
Der Dutchman is a family restaurant in Plain City, Ohio, built around hearty Amish-style cooking. The dining room is large and straightforward, with plenty of space for hungry crowds.
Nothing about the setup is fussy. Plates of home-style food come first, and the décor stays out of the way.
That plain approach suits the menu well. Roast beef and pot pie are the dishes most closely tied to the place, and both fit the comfort-food mood.
The destination also pulls more than a single kind of customer. A restaurant, a bakery, and a gift shop all live in the same building, so a visit can fill an afternoon.
At least one recent diner reported driving an hour to reach it. That kind of trip says plenty about how much a good slice of pie can matter to Ohioans.
Roast Beef And Pot Pie Hold Down The Menu
Few meals say Amish-style cooking faster than roast beef and pot pie. Both anchor the menu at Der Dutchman, and both arrive with the heartiness the place is known for.
Roast beef also appears on the buffet line. A recent diner paired it with chicken and mashed potatoes and called the whole plate outstanding.
Corned beef gets a mention too. One visitor praised a corned beef Reuben as some of the best they had eaten, which shows the menu stretches past the usual lineup.
Ham earns its own fans on the buffet. Chicken, pork, and roast beef round out the meat selection, so nobody has to settle.
Ordering from the menu is a solid move if the buffet feels like too much. Entrées arrive as a proper meal, and the bakery still waits nearby.
Pick Your Style: Salad Buffet, Full Buffet, Or Menu Entrées
Decisions start at the door. Guests can choose a salad buffet, a salad and food buffet, or individual entrées from the menu.
That flexibility helps mixed groups. One person can load up on greens while another goes straight for the hot trays.
The buffet earns plenty of attention. Visitors describe the line as clean and well stocked, with hot dishes refreshed as the day goes on.
One diner mentioned two additional buffet bars beyond the salad bar. Entrées, sides, and desserts are spread across them, so a lap or two is likely.
Breakfast brings its own spread, since doors open at seven in the morning. Mini pancakes, French toast sticks, and a fruit bar have all been noted.
Menu ordering stays a calm option when the crowd gets busy. It trades the walking for a table-side plate.
The Salad Bar Has Its Own Following
Some diners treat the salad bar as the main event. One regular said they could eat it and nothing else, which is a bold claim next to a pie counter.
The spread is large. Another guest brought a sister who was thrilled with the variety on offer.
Fruit gets its own attention. A great fruit bar sits in the breakfast offerings, and mini donuts were spotted alongside it.
The menu also carries a strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing. A recent guest called it a wonderful choice for presentation, taste, and sheer size.
Chicken on that salad came in generous amounts. Homemade yeast rolls rounded out the plate and sealed the order.
Skipping the hot trays is a legitimate plan here. A big salad plus a roll still leaves room for what waits in the bakery.
Mashed Potatoes, Broasted Chicken, And Dinner Roll Dreams
Comfort food lives in the sides. Mashed potatoes draw frequent mentions at Der Dutchman, and one visitor ordered them next to roast beef and chicken.
Broasted chicken shows up in the conversation as well. Ham, pork, and roast beef share the buffet, but the chicken has its own following.
Bread deserves a nod. Homemade yeast rolls impressed one guest enough to seal an order, and another praised the delicious bread.
Home cooking is the whole theme. One regular described the food as just like Mom’s, which is the highest compliment a mashed potato can get.
A few diners did offer mixed feedback on certain dishes. Some plates landed better than others, so sampling a little of everything makes sense.
That is the beauty of a buffet. A small first trip shows which dishes deserve a second helping.
Save Room, Because The Pies Are The Plot Twist
Pie gets serious attention at this Ohio stop. Mentions of pies show up often, and the bakery carries plenty of them.
Cream pie in particular earned praise from a recent guest. Strawberry and peach pies are popular for a limited time, which makes them seasonal treats.
If you came for sugar cream pie, ask the bakery team about it. Selections can change, and the case is the best place to check.
One longtime fan said you have to get the pie. Leftovers come easily, since a whole pie goes a long way.
Another visitor called the pies and pastries amazing, and the owners echoed the point. They invited that diner back for more of them.
Warm or not, a slice makes a fine dessert after a big dinner. Taking a whole pie home is an even better plan.
Long Johns Have Been A Childhood Habit For Some
A long john donut can turn a stop into a tradition. One local says they have been popping in since they were a kid, and the long john is always the order.
Donuts rank high among the most discussed items. Hundreds of mentions cover them, which makes the donut case a headliner.
Variety is the draw. A recent guest noted the many types of donuts on offer.
Mini donuts also showed up on the breakfast bar. They sit beside a fruit selection, which makes the first plate feel almost balanced.
Caramel bismarcks deserve a spot on the list too. One family took gigantic ones home from the bakery.
Boxes travel well. A dozen is a popular way to carry the experience out the door.
Fudge, Coffee, Cookies, And Other Bakery Side Quests
The bakery goes well beyond pie and donuts. Fudge and fresh-brewed coffee are part of the lineup.
Chocolate chip cookies get quiet praise. A longtime diner called them a great little way to finish a marvelous meal.
Bread pudding turns up in conversation as well. It sits among the topics visitors mention most, which makes it worth a look.
Bakery staff earn their own compliments. One guest called the team friendly and helpful, and another said a server steered them toward it.
Planning helps here. Browsing the case before dinner can turn the sweet tooth into a strategy.
Not every price tag was obvious in the display case, according to one diner. The owner responded that prices are now on the menu, so ask if anything looks unclear.
A Two-Story Gift Shop For Browsing Before Dinner
Shopping is built into the visit. Der Dutchman includes a two-story gift shop filled with unique items.
Jewelry is among the finds. One guest picked up a piece while waiting for dinner companions to arrive.
That gives the waiting game a fun twist. Anyone stuck in a lobby would happily trade a bench for shelves like these.
Servers sometimes point guests toward the shop. A recent diner said their waitress mentioned both the gift shop and the bakery.
Browsing before or after a meal is easy. The building keeps restaurant, bakery, and shop under one roof.
Gift ideas are not hard to find. A box of fudge or a pie to go makes a simple present for the host back home.
Yes, There Is A Christmas Store Inside
A Christmas store inside a restaurant sounds like a joke. At this building, it is real.
A recent diner noted the large bakery and store, plus a Christmas store within the building. That makes the place a holiday stop any time of year.
Ornaments and seasonal decor fit nicely with a pie run. Choosing a gift while a dessert box rides along is a pleasant combination.
Summer visitors can still enjoy it. Browsing a festive shop is a cool break from a day outside.
Fall and winter trips add extra charm. One group already planned to return in the fall.
Parents might find it a handy distraction. Kids and adults alike can wander through the displays while the table gets ready.
Big Tables For Big Families And Bigger Parties
Group dinners are easy to plan here. The dining room handles small and large parties, with lots of seating.
One diner brought a group of fourteen. Another attended a family dinner for thirty, and staff worked to seat everyone close enough to chat.
Tables could not be fully combined for that party. The team still found a way to keep the conversation going.
Buffet service helps big groups. Everyone grabs what they like, and no one waits on a single order.
Visitors also describe an atmosphere that fits families. The space is roomy and welcoming for kids and grandparents.
Busy times can bring a wait. One recent guest waited only about five minutes in a packed room, so patience tends to pay off.
Plan Around The Hours And The Sunday Closure
Timing matters. Der Dutchman opens at seven in the morning and closes at eight in the evening, Monday through Saturday.
Sunday is the exception. The restaurant is closed that day, so weekend plans should lean on Saturday.
Early risers have options. Breakfast items such as mini pancakes, French toast sticks, and biscuits with gravy have been noted.
Late-day visits work too. Dinner lasts until eight, which gives time for a slice and a coffee afterward.
Busy periods are worth anticipating. One guest said the place is a popular spot to meet up, so arriving off-peak could help.
Checking current hours before leaving home is smart. Schedules can shift around holidays and seasons.
Finding The Place At 445 S Jefferson Ave
The address is 445 S Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064. Punch it into the phone before leaving, because one visitor called the spot a bit out of the way.
Parking is the easy part. Guests describe a huge lot, so finding a space is not an issue even in a crowd.
Plain City sits in central Ohio, and the drive makes a good day trip. Some diners come from an hour or more away.
One guest compared the experience to a famous Pennsylvania smorgasbord, only smaller. The comparison hints at the scale of the buffet.
Restrooms drew a nod for being spotless. That detail matters on a longer drive.
Arrive hungry, but plan the pie. A carry-out box saves the best part for the ride home.
A Soft Verdict: Worth The Detour For Pie Lovers
Der Dutchman is not trying to be a tiny hideaway. It is a big, busy, family-friendly stop where buffet plates and bakery boxes share the spotlight.
Opinions vary, as they do anywhere. Some diners loved every dish, while others found certain items just okay.
The standout theme is variety. Salad bar, hot buffet, menu entrées, donuts, pies, and a gift shop all fit in one visit.
Pie lovers have the strongest case for going. A slice after dinner, or a whole one to carry home, makes the trip feel complete.
Ohioans looking for a drivable treat will find plenty here. Central Ohio has few places that combine a meal, a shopping trip, and dessert so neatly.
So pick a weekday, save room, and ask about the sugar cream pie. The worst outcome is leaving with a donut instead.
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