This Charming Restaurant In The Heart Of Amish Country Is An Iowa Dream

The Amish Country Store and Iowa Welcome Center is located at 109 Spruce Drive in Lamoni just off of I-35 at exit 4. The town of Lamoni is just north of the Missouri/Iowa border and is about an hour south of Des Moines. You can park your car or your buggy in front, enjoy a nice Maid Rite lunch, and spend some time shopping this retail establishment for Amish-made jams, baskets, cheese, candies, pies, and a nice selection of various gifts. Don't forget to buy some lemon snap cookies for the drive home.

Here at the Amish Country Store and Iowa Welcome Center, there's a great little place to get some signature Iowa diner food. There's also a beautiful gift shop full of Amish-made and classic Iowa treasures, and an Amish bakery.

This is a great place for a stop on a road trip. Even if you aren't hungry for an entire meal, you can treat yourself to a slice of delicious pie and a hot cup of coffee.

This store and restaurant opened in 2009.

The restaurant here serves classic loose meat sandwiches that are known in Iowa as Maid Rites.

Maid Rite restaurants are an Iowa-based chain that started in 1926. Franchises are independently owned. The menu at this particular Maid Rite location offers made-to-order sandwiches, Nathan's hot dogs, the best shakes around, and fries.

The Maid Rite options are a bit different here than they are at other Maid Rite locations in the state. Here, you can get Maid Rite specialties like the Green Olive and Mayo or the Cheese and Jalapeno.

This is Iowa, so a giant tenderloin is another delicious option.

Everything on the menu is made just how you like it. In fact, in 2014, the menu was expanded to include broasted chicken, wraps, and salads.

The area around the Amish Country Store offers beautiful views of rural Iowa.

Creative yard ornaments make this place easy to spot from the road.

The store offers a nice place to stretch your legs after a big Maid Rite meal.

There's no shortage of adorable gifts, treats, and Amish-made goodies.

Since Lamoni is the half-way mark between Kansas City and Des Moines, many people who regularly make the trip find that stopping here provides the break they need and some good food.

Bird houses, bread, quilts, rugs, furniture, and aprons are just a few of the Amish-made goods that this amazing store stocks year-round.

The Lamoni Amish Country Store is operated and owned by Graceland University, also located in Lamoni. They offer local Amish artisans a means by which to sell their handmade goods.

Many Amish businesses aren't open on Sundays, but the Maid Rite and Amish Country Store is open from 8:00am until 8:00pm Monday through Saturday and 8:00am until 8:00 pm on Sundays.

Have you been to the Maid Rite and Amish Country Store in Lamoni? Are there any other amazing restaurants in Iowa Amish Country? Let us know all about them in the comments.