Some road trips have a secret side quest, and on the stretch of I-71 near Columbus, that side quest usually ends with a plate of fried chicken. Plenty of drivers glance at the exit signs and keep going.
The ones who know better take a short ride west into Plain City, a small Ohio town with farm roots and a very big dining room. Families plan birthdays around it, work crews stop in for breakfast, and some folks drive an hour or more just for dinner and a bag of bakery treats.
The place has collected more than eleven thousand public opinions online and still holds a strong 4.6 average. Keep reading to learn where it is, what fills the buffet, why the bakery case is so hard to skip, and how to plan a stop that fits neatly into your next drive.
An Amish-Style Landmark on Jefferson Avenue
The destination behind all those detours is Der Dutchman, a family restaurant at 445 Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064, in the United States. It sits in central Ohio, a manageable drive from I-71 for anyone heading through the Columbus area.
Der Dutchman serves hearty Amish-style cooking in a roomy, straightforward dining room. Roast beef and pot pie are part of the regular lineup, and fried chicken has become a calling card.
The building holds more than a restaurant. A full bakery and a two-story gift shop share the space, so a meal can easily turn into a longer stop.
Plain City itself is a small town, and that suits the place well. Der Dutchman feels like a community anchor where relatives gather, coworkers grab breakfast, and travelers take a break from highway miles.
The restaurant is part of Dutchman Hospitality, a group with related restaurants in Ohio towns such as Bellville, Berlin, Walnut Creek, and Sugarcreek, plus a location in Sarasota.
All of that adds up to a destination that people plan for rather than stumble upon. The fried chicken may get the headline, but the full picture explains why the parking lot stays busy.
A Family Name With Ohio Roots
Good cooking travels by word of mouth, and the Dutchman name has been traveling across Ohio for decades. Some longtime fans have eaten at different Der Dutchman locations for close to forty years.
That kind of loyalty says a lot. Families who started coming as young couples now bring their grown kids and grandkids along.
The Plain City restaurant belongs to Dutchman Hospitality, which also runs Dutchman Valley and Berlin Farmstead restaurants. Their kitchens share a focus on Amish-style home cooking served in generous portions.
The Plain City location has also grown over the years. Returning diners notice more tables than they remember, plus a much bigger gift shop than before.
Not everyone loves every change. Some longtime regulars miss the cozier feel of the old days and say the bigger room now has more of a cafeteria vibe.
Still, growth usually follows demand. A restaurant does not keep adding seats unless people keep showing up to fill them, and Der Dutchman keeps filling them six days a week.
The Fried Chicken Worth an Exit
Call it the bird that launched a thousand detours. Fried chicken is the dish that keeps coming up when people talk about Der Dutchman, and the restaurant treats it as one of its famous meats.
It appears on the buffet next to ham, roast beef, and pork. It also shows up as a plated dinner for anyone who prefers to order from the menu.
Plenty of regulars have a set routine. They usually get the fried chicken, then admit that everything else on the menu is good too.
Pair it with roast beef and mashed potatoes, and many diners call the whole plate outstanding. Freshness gets a lot of credit for that result.
To be fair, chicken opinions run strong in both directions. A few diners have left disappointed, while others called it simply okay on a less impressive day.
That mix is honest, and it is part of the story. Most people, though, return because the chicken dinner is the comfort meal they came for, and leaving the highway for it feels like a fair trade.
Three Ways to Fill a Plate
Choice is a big deal here. Guests can pick the salad bar alone, the salad and food buffet together, or individual entrees from the menu.
The buffet is the main event for many. On busy days, people describe food that stays hot and gets refreshed often, along with a clean, well-stocked line.
Meat choices have included the famous chicken, ham, roast beef, and pork. Side dishes such as mashed potatoes and noodles round things out.
Large parties use the setup to their advantage. Groups of 14 and even 30 have been seated and fed without trouble, with servers keeping drinks coming fast.
Breakfast has its own buffet, too. Past spreads included scrambled eggs, mini pancakes, French toast sticks, biscuits and gravy, a fruit bar, and mini donuts.
Prices have changed over time, with the dinner buffet listed around $19.99 more recently. Prices now appear on the menu, which saves guessing.
Some quieter evenings may see one buffet area closed, so the selection can vary with the crowd.
Mashed Potatoes and Other Sidekicks
Every fried chicken dinner needs a strong supporting cast. At Der Dutchman, mashed potatoes play that role better than most.
They are among the most talked-about items on the menu. Diners pair them with chicken and roast beef and leave happy.
Noodles are another favorite on the side. Stuffing and gravy also have loyal fans, and plenty of gravy can rescue an entree that runs a little dry.
The turkey dinner shows how the sides can carry a plate. Even when the turkey itself misses, the potatoes and stuffing often save the meal.
Homemade yeast rolls deserve their own mention. Many guests call the bread a highlight, and the rolls sometimes outshine the main course.
Opinions on the sides are not unanimous. A few diners have questioned whether the potatoes are made from scratch.
Most guests, though, keep returning to these comforting basics. They are the dishes that make the dinner feel like a meal at home, only with somebody else doing the dishes.
A Salad Bar With a Fan Club
Some people walk past the fried chicken entirely. Their destination is the salad bar, and they are not shy about it.
Der Dutchman offers a large salad bar with a wide variety of choices. Some loyal guests say they could eat from it and nothing else.
It works well as a lighter option. Anyone who wants to stay in control around a buffet can choose the salad bar alone.
The menu adds more options for salad lovers. A strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing comes topped with plenty of chicken and arrives in a generous size.
Servers sometimes suggest it, and that suggestion tends to land well. A side of homemade yeast rolls completes the plate.
Not every visit is perfect here, either. Lettuce quality has drawn a complaint or two.
Overall, the salad bar holds its own in a building famous for heavier food. For groups with mixed appetites, it means nobody has to sit out the meal.
The Bakery Case Problem
Here is a fair warning. The bakery is the most mentioned feature of the whole building, and walking past it with empty hands takes real willpower.
The case holds cream pies, fruit pies, cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies, fudge, and donuts. Jam and rolls also go home in plenty of shopping bags.
Seasonal pies add a reason to return. Strawberry and peach pies appear for a limited time and tend to be popular.
Cream pies have a dedicated following. So does bread pudding, which earns a steady stream of mentions.
Freshly brewed coffee is available at the bakery as well. That makes it an easy stop for drivers who need something for the road.
Bakery staff earn praise for being friendly and helpful. They help first-timers sort through all the options.
Prices are not always low, and some shoppers once wished every item in the case had a price tag. A box of pie, though, has a way of making the drive home shorter.
Donuts, Long Johns, and Bismarcks
Donuts deserve their own chapter. Der Dutchman offers many kinds, and they rank among the most talked-about items on the property.
Long johns have a loyal following. Caramel bismarcks are gigantic, and they often leave in bakery bags heading out to the car.
Mini donuts sometimes appear on the breakfast buffet. That gives guests a small taste before they commit to a full-size purchase.
Full-size donuts are sold by the dozen. One past dozen cost $26, so these are better treated as a treat than a budget snack.
Families often pick up a box for later. It is an easy way to share the trip with people who stayed home.
A morning stop works well for donut fans. The doors open at 7 am, which lines up nicely with early travel plans.
Coffee from the bakery pairs naturally with the donut case. Few road trip breakfasts come together with less effort.
Two Stories of Gifts and Knickknacks
Waiting for a table rarely feels like waiting here. The two-story gift shop makes sure of that.
Shelves hold unique items, knickknacks, and unusual gifts. Jewelry is part of the mix, and some guests find a favorite piece while their dinner group is still arriving.
The shop has grown along with the rest of the building. Returning guests often comment on how much larger it is than they remember.
It works as a pressure valve on busy days. When the dining room is full, people browse instead of watching the clock.
Shoppers looking for a birthday or holiday present have a good chance of finding one. Much of the selection leans toward the kind of item that is hard to find at a regular mall.
Many people plan a little extra time for browsing before or after the meal. The shop has become a destination in its own right.
Just budget for it, since a quick browse has a habit of ending with a shopping bag.
Servers Who Remember Your Refill
Names come up often when people talk about the staff. Specific servers get thanked again and again for being upbeat, attentive, and quick.
Service at Der Dutchman tends to feel personal. Servers check on drinks often, suggest dishes, and keep tables from wanting anything.
Big groups benefit most. Staff have arranged tables for a party of 30 so everyone could sit close enough to talk and laugh together.
Breakfast crowds get the same care. Workers stopping in between jobs have found the morning team quick and cheerful.
Accuracy matters, too. Orders arrive right, and that keeps meals moving at a comfortable pace.
Cleanliness extends beyond the tables. The restrooms have been called spotless, which is a welcome detail for highway travelers.
Not every complaint is about service, which says something. Most critical comments focus on the food, while the people serving it earn steady praise.
Good hospitality has a way of bringing people back, sometimes on two days in a row.
Room for the Whole Reunion
Plenty of seats is not a small thing when the whole family wants to come. Der Dutchman has lots of seating and handles small and large groups well.
Birthday dinners, family parties, and casual meetups all happen here. The dining room is described as large and straightforward, built for volume.
Kids fit right in. The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly, and the buffet means picky eaters can choose their own plate.
That popularity comes with a catch. Busy times can mean a wait, so patience helps, especially around peak meal hours.
Some people miss the cozier feel of years past. The bigger room trades some charm for space.
For groups, that trade usually pays off. Few restaurants in a town this size can seat a crowd of 30 without breaking a sweat.
Solo travelers and couples also fit in comfortably. The room simply works for whoever walks through the door, and the bakery treats waiting on the way out make the visit easy to remember.
Hours, Costs, and Timing Tips
Planning ahead saves frustration. Der Dutchman opens Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm and closes on Sundays.
That Sunday closure trips up a lot of weekend travelers. Anyone driving I-71 on a Sunday should plan a different lunch stop.
Typical spending falls in the $10 to $20 range per person. A breakfast buffet was once priced at $13.99, and the dinner buffet has been listed around $19.99.
Prices can shift, so checking the menu on arrival helps. They are now printed on it.
Bakery items cost extra and can add up quickly. Dessert from the case is not always included with the buffet.
Timing affects the experience. Peak hours bring crowds and waits, while quieter times may mean a smaller buffet selection.
Early breakfast is a smart move for road trippers. The 7 am opening gets drivers fed and back on the highway before traffic builds.
The restaurant website, run through Dutchman Hospitality, is useful for checking details before the trip.
Is the Detour Worth It
Short answer, for most people, yes. Der Dutchman is a bit out of the way, yet many diners call it well worth the trip.
Some drive an hour each way and say they are never disappointed. Others compare it to famous smorgasbords in Pennsylvania, only on a smaller scale.
It is not flawless. Some dishes shine while others are just okay, and a handful of longtime fans feel the food is not what it once was.
That honest mix is useful to know. Expect hearty home-style cooking, not fine dining.
The strengths are clear. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, a large salad bar, and a bakery packed with pies and donuts keep the parking lot busy.
Add friendly servers, a two-story gift shop, and space for big groups, and the stop covers a lot of ground.
So next time the exit signs near Columbus roll by, consider steering toward Plain City. A chicken dinner and a pie for the road make a pretty good souvenir.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.