Persimmon pudding is one of those desserts that tells you exactly where you are. Outside Southern Indiana, plenty of people have never tasted it, but around here it shows up at diners, cafes, and even ice cream counters.
The dense, spiced, orange-brown squares come from wild persimmons that grow across the hills of Lawrence and Brown counties. Mitchell even claims the title of persimmon country, and folks take their pudding seriously.
This list rounds up five spots where the treat has been spotted on the dessert menu, from a railroad-themed cafe to a downtown Bloomington favorite. Some serve it as a seasonal surprise, while others make it part of a classic country meal.
A few even offer a twist or two. Save this one for your next road trip through the hills, and maybe send it to the friend who always orders dessert first.
1. Railroad Cafe Lounge, Mitchell, IN
Starting in Mitchell just makes sense. The town sits in the heart of Indiana persimmon country, so finding the pudding at a Main Street cafe feels right at home.
Railroad Cafe Lounge, at 505 W Main St, leans into a railroad theme and serves hearty American comfort food. The breaded tenderloin is the big draw, and it arrives large enough to make you rethink dessert.
Don’t skip it, though.
Persimmon pudding turns up here as a dessert option, and it goes fast enough that some diners box up their slice early so nobody else claims it. Other homemade sweets like pie, cake, brownies, and a cotton candy cheesecake round out the case.
The doors open at 7 AM every day, so breakfast, lunch, or dinner all work. Sunday mornings get busy, while Monday mornings tend to be calmer.
Free parking is usually easy to find, and the kids’ menu and high chairs make it a simple family stop. Call 812-992-2300 to ask whether pudding is on the menu that day.
2. Mammas & Pappas, Bedford, IN
Persimmon pudding in July sounds like a contradiction. At Mammas & Pappas, it has happened.
Just north of Mitchell on Mitchell Road in Bedford, this casual hometown diner is better known for its extensive salad bar and fried chicken. Onion rings, sweet potato fries, and cheese curds fill out the appetizer side of things.
The pudding is a bonus for anyone who saves room.
Fair warning, it does sell out. Plan an earlier visit if the dessert is your main mission, and you’ll have better odds.
The restaurant opens at 11 AM daily and stays open until 9 PM most nights, a bit later on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekday afternoons are the quietest stretch.
Takeout, delivery, a drive-through, and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome give you plenty of ways to get your fix.
3. Millers Ice Cream House, Nashville, IN
An ice cream shop might be the last place you’d expect to find old-fashioned pudding. Millers Ice Cream House in Nashville breaks that rule with a smile.
Sitting at 61 W Main St in the Brown County arts village, Millers makes its ice cream in-house and rolls fresh waffle cones. Flavors range from classic favorites to originals like pumpkin pie and blackberry.
Persimmon pudding sits right alongside them, and it has earned its own loyal fans.
Here’s my suggestion. Grab the pudding and a scoop together, then wander the shops downtown.
Plan around the schedule, since the shop is closed Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 11 AM Wednesday through Sunday and closes around 5 or 6 PM, so this works best as an afternoon treat during a Brown County day trip.
4. Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant, Morgantown, IN
Two versions are better than one. Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant has served both classic persimmon pudding and a persimmon bread pudding, which gives this rustic stop a fun edge.
The restaurant sits on State Road 135 in the small crossroads community of Bean Blossom, north of Nashville. The menu reads like a country Sunday dinner, with fried chicken, pot roast, okra, catfish dinners, and breaded tenderloins.
Breakfast fans can go for the sausage gravy omelet.
Homemade pies are a big part of the appeal, especially the coconut cream. Still, the persimmon desserts are what earn Brownie’s a spot here.
Hours run 7 AM to 8 PM every day of the week. Friday afternoons fill up, while weekday mornings stay relaxed.
It’s an easy detour if you’re driving between Indianapolis and Brown County.
5. Uptown Cafe, Bloomington, IN
Bloomington’s Kirkwood Avenue offers plenty of dining choices, but few pair Cajun-Creole cooking with a Hoosier classic. Uptown Cafe does exactly that.
Found at 102 E Kirkwood Ave, this downtown fixture serves American food with a Southern Louisiana bent. Think shrimp and grits, seafood gumbo, eggs Benedict, and creme brulee French toast.
The dessert list includes creme brulee and chocolate lava cake.
Persimmon pudding has a place among them, which makes Uptown a great pick for introducing out-of-town family to the local favorite. It’s a dressier setting than the diners on this list, with prices around $20 to $30 per person.
Reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner, and weekend mornings are busy. Saturday hours split between brunch and dinner, and Sunday closes at 2 PM.
Parking downtown can be tricky, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
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