If you decide one day to sit down and try to find the largest restaurant in Indiana, you're going to come across a single result time and time again. There are plenty of wonderful (and big!) restaurants throughout the Hoosier State, but one sticks out above the rest as an amazingly huge, absolutely wonderful space for family and friends to come together. It's called Das Dutchman Essenhaus, and it's a delicious example of just how epic dining in Indiana can be. With more than 1,100 seats waiting to be filled day after day, Das Dutchman Essenhaus is a shining example of Indiana's "best of," through and through.
It's nestled in beautiful northern Indiana, right in the heart of Amish country.
One thing is for sure: this not-so-little nosh spot seems to have it all, and we love it!
Despite its enormity as a restaurant, Dutchman offers so much more to its guests than just a wonderful meal.
It's also a meeting venue, an entertainment venue, a bakery, and a wonderful inn. Its story goes like this: in 1970, a couple named Bob and Sue Miller moved from Ohio to our lovely little state of Indiana. They purchased a truck stop and, as time went on, it grew. And grew. And grew some more.
Soon enough, it had evolved into the behemoth of amazingness that it is now.
These days, it seems to be a little bit of everything, and we adore it. Don't let its enormous size intimidate you; it's got this amazing at-home feel to it, as if you're visiting Nana's and Papa's house instead of a restaurant.
The menu is just as enormous as Das Essenhaus itself.
No matter what time you arrive, you're in for a treat. Whether you're hoping for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anything in between, you'll be leaving with a full belly and a full heart. Come during specific days and times and test your appetite with the amazing buffet option; you'll never want to leave.
Of course, you'll want to leave some room for any (or maybe all) of the incredible desserts offered at Das Essenhaus's state-of-the-art Amish bakery.
You'll find whoopie pies, cakes, cookies, breads, pies, and so much more. The menu is ever-shifting and you'll want to return time and time again to see what's new.
Take your order to go and stay at the inn, or maybe check out the Heritage Hall theatre and see what's going on.
You can even grab some groceries while you're here, too! Das Dutchman Essenhaus is so much more than JUST the largest restaurant in Indiana; it's bound to become your favorite go-to spot for all sorts of things.
We bet you can't visit Das Dutchman Essenhaus just once - to do so would be a tragedy!
For lots more pictures, booking at the inn, entertainment schedules, and, of course, the full menu, make sure to visit the official Das Essenhaus website. Have you ever been to the largest restaurant in Indiana? What's your favorite dish? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
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