Der Dutchman
3713 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL, 34232
Der Dutchman Menu
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Address :
3713 Bahia Vista St
Sarasota, FL, 34232 - Phone (941) 955-8007
- Website https://www.dhgroup.com/en/fl/fl-restaurant.php
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Lorinn W.
Der Dutchman Restaurant has wonderful, fresh, home made, home cooked food. Everything we ate tasted delicious. Even their salad dressing tasted extra good. They have a great buffet with a large array of choices, from salads to desserts. They're very accommodating too.
(5)Taylor K.
This was my first visit here and I was so overwhelmed (in a good way) at everything this place offered. There are two parking lots surrounding the building which I'm told comes in handy during the winter. On the first floor is the bakery where you can get all sorts of treats to either take home with you or to eat there. I purchased a lemon filled donut which was so tasty! I normally like plain (black) coffee but felt compelled to try their Nutella ice blended coffee which was okay, not anything outstanding or worth ordering again. They also have a little sunroom area where you can enjoy eating/drinking your treats. In the corner, on your way to the bathroom and banquet room there is a section of postcards and key chains which are great if you're visiting or want to take home a keepsake. Upstairs is a shop fully of cute knickknacks. You can find a gift for almost anyone on that floor! There's everything from jewelry, clothing, accessories (purses, etc.), kitchenware, soaps, and even garden decor. I'm looking forward to visiting again as the seasons change. One of the sales associates informed me that they get really into their Christmas decorations and throw in-store parties!
(4)Chachala E.
Went to the buffet for dinner. Salad bar was great. Waitress was very good. Fried chicken, fish, pot roast mashed potatoes-a good assortment of comfort food at a reasonable price. $14.95 . Dessert choices include bread pudding, chocolate cake vanilla cake and custard ice cream. Looking at the pics posted, we also thought there would be an assortment of pastries, but that's in the bakery. You can order off a menu as well. Plus after your meal, you can wander around the gift shop and food emporium. Great place to take a group of fussy eaters.
(4)Shannon M.
Wow! If you want a good old-fashioned meal, check this place out. Hearty Amish food abounds, particularly broasted chicken (all the crispy goodness of fried chicken with a lot less fat!), potato cakes (rather like latkes; they are even served with sour cream), and homemade noodles (eel-slippery and evading the fork!) You can peruse the enormous salad bar (which seems to be a popular choice) or order off the menu. We rounded out our meal with a huge piece of strawberry pie with fresh whipped cream. This was a wonderful meal, and immensely affordable; dinner for 3 was around $35! This restaurant is gigantic, and it's a good thing: it's apparently the place to be at dinnertime! Despite the crowds, it's not incredibly loud because the floors are carpeted and the ceiling has acoustical tiles, so both deaden the noise -- smart! Come no later than 5 pm if you don't want to be in a line (it moves fast though because there are so many tables). At one point a literal busload of Amish people arrived! After (or before) you eat, be sure to visit the upstairs gift shop and the bakery on the ground floor as well! Overall, a totally satisfying traditional meal.
(5)Tory R.
I love Der Dutchman! I live in Ohio and have been to the Der Dutchman locations there many times! I especially love coming to the one in Sarasota as I get two of my favorite things all in one day: beaches and home-cooking!! It seems like this is a larger restaurant than the Ohio ones....I dunno...maybe it's just me. The buffet is really good and all the food is hot and fresh! Of course, you can order from the menu of you choose. There is a nice sized bakery full of treats and deliciousness! Upstairs is Carlisle Gifts for trinkets and gifts. Great spot in the middle of Sarasota's Amish community! Love this place and will always come back!!
(5)Marqus R.
I sort put the staff of Der Dutchman to the test by requesting seating for a party of 54 people, and though I at first got the "You have to be kidding us?" facial expression, they quickly and kindly obliged though it did involve a lot of table moving and table setting on their part. In all, they certainly proved themselves to be up to the task. Der Dutchman is sort of a chain restaurant takeoff on Amish cooking which is far more predominate around the areas of Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch regions than in Florida, but all in all very much the same and comparatively, with the minor exceptions things like real home tasting Shoofly pie, pretty much identical. It's not only a large restaurant but also an Amish based marketplace and bakery. The donuts, breads and baked goods, all prepared on premises are the real thing. Their jarred goods like jellies, preserves, apple butter, pickled beets, peaches and the like really very much Amish though I couldn't find certain items, such as pickled fiddle sticks, probably because spring fern sprouts are more Amish farm picked and home prepared than being a commercially raised and prepared crop. The restaurant itself has a menu with a' la carte offerings but is basically buffet oriented. True to the tradition of what basically constitutes Amish cuisine, it's primarily meat and potato based and hearty in character; the type of food meant to nourish hard working farm hands. I've eaten in a good number of commercial restaurants offering Amish cooked meals as well as in the homes of the Amish, and no matter what you may here otherwise, the taste of the food between the two, commercial and home, are not the same. That is not to say that one is better or the other worse, just different. In fact, actual home cooked Amish food is most often the inferior, sometimes bordering upon culinary disasters. But, when you consider that the Amish are still trying to cook without electric, temperature controls, auto timing or other modern means, it's little wonder that most home meals don't come out as being very good. So, in short, though these knock off Amish food restaurants may claim the food is authentic to Amish home cooking, they're not and, for the most part, you can be glad that they aren't. Other than for certain items that may not be a part of the buffet, such as Amish style meatloaf, your best bet is to stick with the buffet. The food is generally good, inexpensive in that it only runs around $17 a plate including a drink (no alcohol served...though the Amish themselves tend to be big time drinkers...Anyone for Schnapps?) and dessert.
(3)Vera B.
Best place for comfort food that I have ever been too. You can order or They have a buffet so you can have a little bit of everything. The fried chicken, ham or fish is amazing! The sides, like mac n cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes and corn, are mouth watering. And for dessert they have all kinds of pies for and additional price or all you can eat bread pudding!! I have been here dozens of times over the years and have never been disappointed!
(5)Tom F.
Der Dutchman than Troyers than Der Dutchman again. Whoever owns it the food has remained the same GOOD! Make life simple and order the buffett! It has everything you want, the meats, salads, veggies, fixings yes! Your favorite family dinner has arrived!!! This place also has a gift shop and many bake goods. Please do yourself a favor and grab a slice of pie or take one home, there fantastic! My personal favorite is the peanut pie but I'm a peanut butter junkie so of course I'd pick this one!!! A quick FYI get here early (around 4-5:00 especially during tourist season) or expect to wait awhile!
(4)Lindsay G.
I'm giving this 3 stars since it wasn't my cup of tea, but hubs and his parents who went w/ us said they loved the food! I try to eat healthy, so that's likely why I didn't prefer it. First, they have a bakery up front and a store w/ local crafts upstairs. (Picture Cracker Barrel-ish) Both had a lot of great things! You can either order from the menu, but most go to the buffet. My 5 yr old loved their homestyle mac 'n' cheese and pulled chicken. My inlaws/hubs enjoyed the other offerings on the buffet...mashed potatoes, meatloaf, fried chicken, apple dessert, etc. I had the salad bar..it was ok. As far as the friendliness of the staff and cleanliness, that aspect was great.
(3)Alex U.
Maybe I should have ordered off the menu? The buffet was fast and seemed to be what most were going for. The mashed potatoes are not real; they are instant. The "roast beef" is pot roast and was tasteless. The beef and chicken gravy had a crust over the top, clearly most didn't want or care for either. If this is Amish home cooking....wow. Two of us ate for $14.39 each plus tax. You can eat all you want but no doggie bags or leftovers leave the place. By the looks of most of the customers, they go to eat until they get their fill. If you are looking for volume and value, this is your place. Otherwise, skip it.
(4)Helen S.
We stopped on our way to the beach and enjoyed the AYCE breakfast buffet. It was 8.99 per person. Delicious. Carb overload so be prepared. I loved the fried mush(or polenta to some) the OJ was fresh squeezed and oh so good. The Amish traditional peanut butter spread was outstanding. The homemade cream filled donuts were out of this world. So so delicious. The frozen fruit slush was cool and refreshing. Service was great. Clean place. Friendly and not overpriced right in the heart of Sarasota. Try it at least one time.
(4)Karry H.
This place is amazing. The food is all homemade, real mashed potatoes, fabulous salad buffet, every meat you could think of. Dont forget to try the peanut butter spread at every table...put some on a buttered roll and fall in love! Great gift shop upstairs as well, enjoy!
(5)Tim W.
Good Amish style buffet right down the street from Yoder's. Der Dutchman has a large gift shop but most of them items are made in China instead of being made by the Amish. Everything seemed to be fresh in the bakery and there were a lot of different goodies there except shoo-fly pie, couldn't find it. We decided to try Der Dutchman because there was a line wrapped around Yoder's and no parking. Here you can order from the menu or select the buffet style meal which is loaded with a lot of awesome options. Salad bar, chicken, meatloaf, veggies, fried chicken, and two types of chocolate cake just to get started. Pie is $2 per slice if you chose the buffet or $3.29 per slice with everything else off the menu. It was crowded but they give you a pager and by the time we were done looking around the gift shop, we were ready to be seated. The waitresses were working hard all except ours, we didn't see her around much. Seemed like we just got a bad waitress but that happens from time to time and I don't think it represents the overall service as a whole. While we all ordered the buffet, we all agreed Der Dutchman was better than Yoder's.
(4)Annie W.
Best.Donuts.Ever --- We ended up coming in during the end of breakfast and went for the breakfast bar since it was so reasonably priced. We ended up trying these Carmel/Maple long john donuts filled with some sort of Bavarian creme filling. They were the best donuts I've ever had and I've been to plenty of fancy donut shops. They do have a shop in the front where you can purchase minis for .45 cents or whole donuts for 1.39. The Apple Fritters looked pretty darn good as well! If they opened up a corner drive thru at a busy area they'd have more cash than they knew what to do with. Unbelievable donuts. Great job!!!
(4)conor b.
Delicious baked goods, especially the donuts. Perfect to dine in at their restaurant for homestyle kitchen cooking, or easy to swing in and pick up whatever you need. This is our new stop for Saturday morning donuts. They also have milk from a local dairy farm that pairs perfectly with your box of donuts. Doughnuts that make you want to go nuts, they are that good. The people that work there are pleasant, and sweet. The donuts are made fresh on site and probably the best in town.
(5)Lynda J.
Everyone has to go just once! Get the buffet to start it's worth every cent! Love the clean fresh salad bar and the hot buffet is just as good! I never have room for dessert but the soft serve and cake is a yummy end! Traditional Amish style foods! Love the chicken and Friday night short rib special!!
(5)Steve K.
I was very disappointed during my first visit. The buffet selection was very small and the buffet table was very messy and the food was presented in a sloppy manner. However, the waitress service was friendly and helpful The restaurant is clean and the selection in the stores areas was plentiful
(2)Michael F.
Huge, family friendly place, featuring a hot & cold buffet. Fifteen dollars & change for all you can eat. More American than "dutch" IMHO with crispy chicken a favorite, along with desserts. There's a bakery & gift shop. Half price for young children. Closes at 8.
(4)Jules H.
My boyfriend and I were in Sarasota visiting my parents who were there for the winter and we decided to try Der Dutchman for breakfast. We didn't know what to expect and we were so happy that we went. When we walked in, we put in our names with the very lovely hostesses and were told it would be about a 10-15 minute wait, so we decided to look around the bakery for a bit. The bakery is huge and has tons of wonderful looking items from baked goods to jams to salads and we purchased several things when we were leaving. After only 5 minutes, our pager buzzed and we were seated in the restaurant which is huge, bright and spotless. We perused the menu, but all decided to hit the buffet which is so reasonably priced. It was filled with all of the usual suspects but also included a couple of interesting choices that were quite good. After lunch we went upstairs to check out the store which had beautiful Amish quilts and tons of other things to buy. We, unfortunately, didn't have much time to shop, but I'd definitely like to head up there again the next time I am in Sarasota.
(4)Ryan P.
The buffet is a little weak for the money, but the regular entrees, pie, and breakfast are excellent. Very clean and friendly, we have eaten there twice this week already.
(4)J S.
Average, maybe BELOW average. Had buffet, and about half of the choices were just fine, the other half, disgusting. Had those dreadful instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans, and horribly overcooked fried chicken. Desserts were a huge disappointment- leftover, unsold donuts cut in half, or a tired piece of sheetcake, about the size of a silver dollar. May go back, but will avoid the buffet like the plague. So should you.
(2)Amanda P.
I love Der Dutchman! I was born and raised in Sarasota, FL. Been to this Amish restaurant countless times over the past 22 years! There's plenty of food to satisfy anybody's appetite... and this is coming from a picky eater! My grandpa is a daily regular for coffee from here... he sits with his old friends and chats about everything. Der Dutchman is a great place to eat at with your family. They have amazing custard pie as well! Downside: The price for dining in the restaurant for the buffet is somewhat pricey per person! And, I don't live in Sarasota anymore. But when I come home for visiting... I try to come in and eat at least once while I'm in town.
(4)Robson T.
All. You. Can. Eat. Amish. Food. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Visited yesterday for the daily lunch buffet. The spread did not disappoint at all. The massive spread featured a great salad bar (although I did hesitate on the mustard eggs,) and an even greater lunch buffet spread. Star of the show? All of them! The fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potato, gravy, other turkey and chicken dishes, candied sweet potato--everything was on point. Our party of three just wished our tummies could handle more of the Der Dutchman goodness. Restaurant was very well kept. Clean. Efficient. And all the waiting staff were delightful. Decoration was quaint, and they even had a nice instrumental ring in the background. Perfect for a relaxing lunch. We loved Yoders for their spread and their pies. But this is like Yoders, buffet style (sans the pies) and it might just be Sarasota's best kept secret! (You have no idea.)
(4)Taylor D.
Let's start with the store of Amish goodies! Everything from cheese to delicious cakes and pies! Home-made goods that taste like...well...home! Very well decorated establishment, and well modestly dressed waitresses. So if you're looking for Kim Kardashian in tight jeans, look elsewhere. I got the buffet, and it was decent. My favorite dish had to be the breaded pudding, or the roast beef. Soft serve comes free with the purchase of a buffet as well, which is a nice touch :) The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star review would be that it did not match my mothers cooking. In the slightest, but any slight taste of home is great :) Will be back for sure!
(4)Mema C.
Went to eat here after buying things from the store a few times. We had the buffet and I was very happy with the selections. They had all the basics. The sweet tea is good, not too sweet. The server was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant.
(4)Tiffani D.
An all-around great experience with friendly staff and down home Amish food. My first stop was in the shop where there were tons of delicious baked goods for sale, as well as cheeses, fudge, etc. I was tempted to buy the whole shop! The exterior and interior of the building were very nice and comfortable. The buffet was great, though a little on the pricey side at nearly $15. I definitely want to come back!
(4)Arby B.
Just okay, nothing spectacular or extraordinary. For the buffet price, i would rather go to a chinese buffet or even Golden Corral where there are more selections and probably would taste better.
(3)Leila N.
Nice selection of foods, cooked well
(4)Lee P.
Yummy! Always a good meal and great service.
(5)Steve F.
Der Dutchman always offers fresh food, they draw a lot of customers, and I've eaten there quite a few times. With so many customers they'd almost have to offer fresh food because their chefs are probably constantly cooking new batches. My only quibble with Der Dutchman is that I'm not convinced that the food is really true Amish food. I have Amish cookbooks and the recipes are not the same. For example, the pies are good, but they definitely have that commercial appearance and taste. I know a "home-baked" pie when I eat one and Der Dutchman taste like they came off a pie assembly line.
(4)Will B.
You can't do much better when looking for a breakfast/lunch buffet. The fried chicken is fantastic and always seems fresh. The only downside is they are closed on Sundays and it always seems to be a Sunday when I'm in the area and looking to eat :(
(5)WizardPrang X.
We came into town looking for Amish food. We spotted two restaurants - Yoder's and this place. This place was bigger and nicer looking, so her Ladyship decided we were eating here. I said nothing; I suspected that Yoder's was better; time will tell... This place looks like the Der Dutchman up in Ohio. So much so that I am convinced that it is some kind of franchise. The food was ok, though prices were high (no lunch menu) and chicken pieces were on the small size. If you are looking for the Amish equivalent of McDonald's, this is it. I will not be returning.
(3)Robert H.
Worst turkey dinner ever ... simply bad ... returned turkey ... thought pie would be better ... Pecan pie as bad as turkey ... back to Yoders up the street ... no comparison ... best to wait in line at Yoders than this place.
(1)Aimee M.
This place is the best I've had in a long time. The food was delicious and the workers were so friendly. It was a wonderful experience. I can't wait to go back and take my kids with me.
(5)Jay K.
Wholesome food buffet style. It's hard to argue with Amish cooking and Der Dutchman is no exception. You'll never leave hungry. It's a buffet/cafeteria setting, so don't expect fine dining, but do expect tasty home style cooking like grandma used to make.
(4)Frank M.
I you're looking for comfort food, then this is the place to go!! Amish cooking at its best. The buffet is what most people come for, but the menu is also good. The fried chicken is amazing and their pies are to die for!!
(3)Sandy R.
Travel about 1.5 hrs from home in Fort Myers to come to this restaurant. I enjoy the variety of the buffet. Food is good, but nothing special. It's just the assortment that I'm attracted to as I like to "sample" a little of this and little of that! Fried chicken is good. I enjoy the bakery in the front as we as the upstairs gift shop.
(4)Javi V.
Awesome chicken, superb salads, staff is nice. My wife and I love to go. What else can you say. Oh and don't forget to try their sweets. Get ready to break your diet because it's yummy
(5)Laura H.
WARNING: WEAR STRETCHY PANTS! Der Dutchman is one of my favorite sinful indulgences in Sarasota! They have a buffet which makes me unreasonably happy! Fried chicken, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken noodle soup, And the salad bar that would be equally as delicious if you weren't so fall from eating the aforementioned goodies! They have moved their "peanut butter spread" to bottles on the table... Definitely try this if you go to the restaurant! It's like a heavenly peanut butter dessert! I put it directly onto spoon, and then directly in my mouth! Delicious! The service is always wonderful--and, if you have any thoughts of ever eating again once you leave there, stop in the bakery and bring some goodies home!
(5)Bryan L.
Der Dutchman makes for a good one time experience of mass produced Amish fare with a market/store to visit. Other than the fried chicken the food was bland. No one in our group cared to go up for seconds at their buffet as the food was uninspiring. Yoder's offers far better food if you have a craving for Amish while Der Dutchman is worth visiting once for the experience.
(2)Anthony G.
Pennsylvania Dutch flavor in Sarasota. Very impressive establishment. Immaculately clean. Buffet food is well prepared and tasty. Baked goods are fresh and delicious. Will definately return.
(4)John W.
This place is so overrated that it is sad. The atmosphere is cheerless, the service is slow, and the food is really not that great. I went there for the first time in a while with my extended family for lunch because my father-in-law wanted to eat there. I suggested Yoders, which is right across the street and also serves Amish-style country cooking, but was overruled by "Big Al." Resigned, I went and ordered a cheeseburger. I almost wept when I saw the tiny, preformed (and doubtless, frozen) hamburger patty lying lifelessly on a bun that that resembled bread that could only have been baked by someone who HATES bread! Worst of all were the lettuce, tomato, and onion. The lettuce was a wilted piece of green that I would have peeled off of the head and thrown in the sink in order to get to the edible lettuce below. The tomato was a mealy piece of pink styrofoam - I wished they had forgotten to give it to me. Worst of all was the onion. Now, when I ask for onion, I WANT onion - in EVERY bite! This is, of course, impossible when you are served two individual rings from the outside of the onion. Seriously, if you can't give the customer an entire SLICE of onion (oh, how DECADENT!) why bother at all? The desert was a fiasco at best. I ordered a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and it was a pile of mush. The ice cream they served with it was soft serve, which is stupid, and if I have to explain to you WHY serving soft-serve ice cream with pie is stupid, you're not going to understand it. And what did Big Al, the man who HAD to go to Der Dutchman order for lunch?! A BAKED POTATO! That's it! A single baked potato! He could have got a baked potato at Yoders and not subjected all of the rest of us to this terrible lunch!!! This restaurant is no longer locally owned, and it shows. The far superior Yoders (which is locally owned) is right across the street, so eat there instead, unless you want just a baked potato, in which case, of course, you'll HAVE to eat at Der Dutchman. You can thank me later....
(2)Miranda B.
No bargains here. Back to Yoder's next time. May not be coming back anytime soon...they don't even have lunch prices any more. Ordered a 3 piece dinner to share (with s child) and the waitress makes a comment me not to share the salad bar, even though I ordered him al a carte side.
(2)William S.
Corporate amish eatery. N I thing special. Its an ohio corporate chain. Buffett is not as good as ones in ohio and indiana. Same looks right down to store and seating. Pickled egss are too sweet they should have more vinegar taste and be more sour. Turkey looks like a slopoy mess. Ohio stores have sliced roasted turkey breast not this mess. Service is good. Mac and cheese is runny. This is corporate verison of comfort food.
(2)Selmy B.
Home cooking a la Amish. Buffet or menu dining. Pricey for Buffet at $14.95 during the week. Needs coupons. The food is always fresh and the buffet areas are maintained stocked and cleaned. The buffet includes a salad bar, hot dishes, desserts, and ice cream. Drinks are an additional cost. There is also a complete menu if you do not feel like eating from the buffet. This is definitely a huge Amish spot full of families and all the gray hairs of Sarasota.
(4)Dutch V.
Best breakfast buffet I ever had. Also there was fresh pies, jams, bread, etc. For sale. A great place to stop.
(5)Richie H.
Had dinner from the buffet. Salad choices were good, Dinner items were somewhat limited. Desserts were very limited. Food was good - some items were slightly bland, Chocolate cake was great! My friend commented that the mashed potatos tasted like real potatos. Great service, tea glass was constantly filled. Restaraunt & buffet is clean and well kept. Good overall experience. Biggest complaint is the price is TOO HIGH!!! Buffet with a glass of tea is $18. with tip $20+ per person. For that price I could have went to Outback or Red Lobster. I could see as much as $11.95 for a dinner buffet but not $18 unless it's filled with crab legs! Not likely that I will return unless they lower the price or I feel like "splurging"!
(3)Chad V.
Can't beat the value. $13.99 for full hot buffet, salad bar and dessert. Great service with a smile and great comfort food. A must if visiting Sarasota... Bring the whole family! I highly recommend the fried chicken... It's crispy and not greasy!
(5)Mikee N.
If you like an all you can eat buffet then this is the place. Huge selection. Take out bakery with a big selection of fancy cakes, pastries and donuts. You can skip the buffet and order off the menu which we do often. Good old-fashioned, comfort food AMISH STYLE. You won't go home hungry.
(3)Tom L.
Had a plate of mashed potatoes with noodles, gravy, and turkey on top. Talk about comfort food! Good, but nothing special. Restaurant was very big and very clean. Excellent service. Prices are reasonable.
(3)Greg U.
Everything was good or great...Loved the roasted Turkey and creamed corn. If you want a buck off each guest, grab one of the Sarasota tourist guide books..they're usually one in there.
(4)Lola B.
We went to Der Dutchman for Thanksgiving a Day dinner and it was awesome! It was a buffet for only $20.99. They had turkey, beef, ham, corm, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, rolls among other things. There was a very long line just to put your name in but it went very quickly. Among getting a pager it only took 25 minutes to get a table. We thoroughly enjoy the experience and will be back.
(5)Chris D.
Not a young crowd place, but good buffet food.
(4)Jennifer G.
I love this place! We go here pretty much every time we visit Sarasota. Their buffet can't be beat. Everything on the salad bar is fresh and delicious. The ranch dressing rocks, but so does the sweet and sour (try it!!). I get both and take turns dipping my salad in each one. The pasta salads are really good - there is a greek one with fettucine and a macaroni salad made with shell pasta - I'm a big fan of both of them. The peanut butter they have on the tables in the squeeze bottles is awesome - grab a couple of packs of crackers from the salad bar and give it a shot - you won't regret it! On to the hot food. Fried. Chicken. Nom. Seriously. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. I'm also a huge fan of their macaroni and cheese. I tried the pulled pork recently and that was good as well, my husband loves their meatload but it's all secondary to the amazing fried chicken. If by some chance you manage to save room for dessert (which you should try to do but it will take will power to step away from the chicken and mac and cheese) - I recommend the pie. What kind you might ask? Any kind! My personal favorites are: banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate cream, chocolate peanut butter cream, peach, and strawberry but they are all really good. Take some time to browse the bakery on your way out and I'm sure you'll grab some treats for later. If it's around the holidays they should have these decorated iced cookies out there - I'd say they are in my top 5 of favorite cookies so you should probably try those as well, but they are only on special occasions/holidays.
(5)Jennifer B.
I'm so sorry to the kind servers and Amish community of Sarasota but this food was not good. But then again, I ate off of the buffet line so what was I supposed to expect? The end.
(2)Jack O.
Great Amish comfort food. Great selection on the buffet as well as a full menu to choose from. Service is great and the homemade pies were to die for. Worth coming to check out.
(5)Kristen P.
A friend of mine that lives near the restaurant recommended it and she grew up around the Amish community so she would know about authentic Amish food. I did not find the broasted chicken all that great but the other food items I tried were delicious. I ended up getting the buffet to try a bit of everything. What I like about this place is that they have all in one place. There is a mini market place, a bakery and a giftshop so no need to to drive to different locations. I thought the atmosphere was nice and clean and a lot of space so no need to feel cramped. If in the Sarasota area I would return to this location.
(4)Lynn H.
Food looked and tasted like it was from a can. Everything had sugar in it. Not my cup of tea. Too expensive for that type of meal. Really! Only 2 hot vegetables. Nice and clean though!
(2)Lara d.
After going to Yoders and Amish restaurants in Lancaster, PA, I found this place to be a bit off the mark. We went for the breakfast buffet and it was a small buffet and a lot of the food was missing the seasoning and flavoring to make it a good experience. The service was top notch and friendly, but it did not make up for the lack of flavor in the food. What I did find to be very good was the market and grocery section. The lemon meringue pie we picked up was very good and lasted the ride back to Miami, we also loved the fact that we got cheeses from Amish Cheese makers in Ohio that we had bought before when we last visited Ohio. There were jams, breads, baked desserts, snacks that anyone who has enjoyed shopping for Amish treats before would enjoy. Sadly the dining experience was off the mark and I wouldn't return for. I would rather go back to Yoders.
(3)Gerry H.
Who knew that Sarasota had a vibrant Amish Community? I thought they preferred the blustery Midwest or North East. Shows how much I know. In terms of casual fare, this place is about as good as it gets. The service is outstanding, and despite the earnest appearance of the wait staff, they're good natured and quick with a smile. The throughput of this place must be incredible; it's huge, and they move diners in and out very efficiently. But that doesn't impede the "Homemade" quality of the food. The broasted chicken is divine, as are the other main dishes. The sides are fresh and delicious, and the pie, needless to say, is outstanding. Don't forget to pick up some baked goods to go. The cookies, etc are on par with the other incredible victuals.
(5)Diane M.
Good quality, service somewhat lacking.
(3)Lissete D.
The price of the buffet is not outrageous. I'm not a huge eater and according to my husband, I am a huge waste when it comes to buffets. But considering the price is just under $14 per person and you get to try a little of everything, I found it to be a great option. Just as comparison, three pieces of chicken on the regular menu runs about $11. Everything that we tried was good to very good. Of course, the boasted chicken was delish, the pot roast & pulled pork were both tender and tasty. Sides and salads were good as well. They also had fish available on the buffet. Desserts are minimal and included cake, pudding and soft serve ice cream. Good enough for me, but if you prefer something else, you can add it on for just $2. Good value, good food and friendly service!
(5)Miriam W.
If you're looking for good Amish home cooking, and you enjoy the buffet experience, then this is your place. There will be no big challenges to your palate here; this is comfort food and some of it could use some spicing up, but many things I had were delicious. I like the fried chicken, the vegetable sides are good, if sometimes a bit overcooked, and the desserts are great. Their signature pies are not offered on the buffet, and will cost you extra, so I usually just enjoy the cake or pudding they give you with the buffet. They had a date nut bread pudding recently that was wonderful. This is a fun place to bring a crowd, but go early or late, as the wait can get very long.
(4)Rita R.
Formerly Troyers, Der Dutchman is an absolute MUST when visiting Sarasota! The service was excellent, the food was fresh, hot and delicious. My favorite is their famous broasted chicken. Moist, tender and juicy. Their roasted turkey breast was seasoned well and juicy as well. One of my favorite dishes growing up was mashed potatoes, egg noodles and turkey (or chicken). I made my own combination from the buffet. I was only a little disappointed in the noodles. The were a bit over done and not as al dente as I like them and the gravy too thin was not seasoned well. This is the only reason I gave a 4 star rating this time. One dish that took me way back to my Great Aunt's Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen was the creamed corn. OMGoodness! Fresh corn, cream and butter and sugar. The only thing that was missing was her brûléed top. Don't forget to buy a package of fresh 3 inch high dinner rolls on the way out!
(4)Joe L.
Talk about good Amish cooking. I went with something that was similar to a chicken pot pie if the crust had been smashed up (I went there 3 weeks ago, so I can't remember what it was called off the top of my head). All I know is it was good and definitely filled me up. I had fresh strawberry pie for dessert with whipped cream. Also very good. What you would expect from a place that serves good Amish food. The only negative thing I would have to say about it was the ambiance. Huge, cafeteria style dining hall. Can't say I was surprised since there was a delicious looking buffet, but it did get pretty noisy and it was hard to hear my family that I was there with. Oh well. The pie sure made up for it!
(4)Matthew T.
I had to admit going here as it is totally not my thing but a group of people were meeting here and this is where they picked to have breakfast before heading out for other things. Portions are way too huge for me and it is just typical breakfast food. It is fine, but nothing special and trying to kill you with huge portions. And there is all you can eat breakfast buffett, really? I mean maybe if I was going to go be a lumber jack or plow the field all day and this was the only time I was going to get to eat. Everything is just sweet or fatty. I'll pass next time they want to meet here for breakfast. Service if friendly but that doesn't make up for the lead weight I had in my gutt after having eggs sunny side up, which I still don't understand how that can happen!
(2)Ken H.
Delicious - Always love eating here!Tremendous lunch and dinner buffets. The turkey is very tender, BBQ pork and fried chicken quite tasty, all sides and salad bar are fantastic. Being Pennsylvania Dutch myself I have a great appreciation for this type of food, and this is top-notch! Someone recommended eating at a local competitor as well, but I found that food was very bland (& service slow.) Der Dutchman is clearly the best in the area for this kind of menu.
(5)Henry H.
Two words, BROASTED CHICKEN! So good! If you like any type of fried chicken, definitely check this place out! You can either order from a menu or have the buffet. We opted for the buffet and were not disappointed. There was a very good salad section as well as pot roast, turkey, and of course BROASTED CHICKEN! There was a decent selection of desserts to choose from and you could also order a piece of pie and/or soft serve ice cream from the waiter as part of the buffet.
(4)Paul C.
Ok they underwent a change in ownership and it's no longer Troyer's Dutch Heritage it's now Der Dutchman the food was the same but not an Amish person in sight and it looks like they were making some serious changes to the upstairs gift shop.
(4)Christine G.
My family and I live not too far from here but we don't visit too often since a lot of nights it is just too busy and there is quite a wait time. We decided to go a little on the late side on a Saturday night and were able to get seated quickly. We opted for the dinner buffet which is all you can eat including dessert. The food is typical American fair. Good, home-cooked food. They offer quite a few meat selections to choose from. That night there was glazed ham, turkey, roast beef, pulled pork and friend chicken. Along with two different types of fish. The salad bar is well stocked with plenty of fresh toppings. They even get it right by keeping the salad plates chilled. The salad bar also offers a few different pasta salads as well as potato salad. My husband thinks it is a little pricey at almost $14/person but I don't think it is bad at all considering there is a good selection, the food is fresh and well prepared.
(3)Brandy B.
I wasn't sure how they were going to accomplish authentic Amish cooking in a buffet restaurant atmosphere. They have accomplished it splendidly! This is seriously the single best buffet restaurant my family has ever visited. All I can say is if you are a picky eater, or if you have a picky eater in the family then you know the stress that can be caused to make everyone happy. In our case, this is a restaurant located in one of our favorite vacation areas. We are a big fan of trying new things on vacations. Eating in locations we are unfamiliar with locally. We don't revisit places so that we can continue our try a new place trend. The reason all of that is important is because we go here EVERY SINGLE TIME we go to the Sarasota area! They have such a large variety of hot and cold dishes! Including things that I understand from my grandma to be traditional Amish dishes that I was unfamiliar with and tried anyway. The fried chicken was perfect, very crispy with a nice batter. A note for pie lovers everywhere... GET THE PIE!!! Do not dismay if you have a small wait either! There is a lovely store to go through! When I was there I purchased old fashioned candies and a beautiful handkerchief. To give you an idea of the ages I went there with my grandmother (late 70's), parents (early 50's), daughter (7), and I am in my late 20's. We liked it so much that we went back once more before we left!
(5)John S.
Had breakfast here. The food was very good, but I stayed away from the buffet which looked empty and all dried up at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday.
(4)Gail L.
Absolutely the best chicken I have ever had. The buffet is a good price for the variety of foods offered, all of which are so homemade tasting, just like my grandmother's cooking. Soups are always good and the salad bar has quite an offering. Very clean establishment and friendly staff. Only downside is that this place is packed in season, so we try to go a little later in the afternoon between lunch rush and early diners.
(5)Val G.
I have nothing against the Amish (except maybe that the women have to wear a get-up that isn't much different than having to wear a burqa for religious reasons). In the summer in Ontario, I love taking special trips to the little town of St. Jacob's to go to the Mennonite stores and bakeries. I also love the fresh Amish-made pretzels from Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. I take issue here with slack buffet control and lack of healthy vegetarian options. The food served here is very home-style middle America. A lot of the patrons were noticeably overweight, elderly or sporting large crosses. The gift shop upstairs is half Christian paraphernalia and half 50+ women's clothing and accessories. Nothing wrong with that(or maybe there is...), just not what I'm in the market for. The market area sells whole pies, baked goods, desserts, cheese, bread, all kinds of pickles + preserves, chocolates, jellies but this isn't gourmet stuff. Ex: cupcakes described as 'yellow'. The last thing I want to call to mind is yellowcake as I bite into a cupcake. Giant pieces of cheese for only $4. Makes me question the quality of the milk products used and therefore the quality of the life of the cow. I would like to see more healthy items in the buffet. There were hardly any vegetable dishes. That would be the easy place to start. The meat should also be separated from the other hot food items to prevent cross-contamination with the vegetable and side dishes. It's not worth my while to pay $8.99 for a meal of mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and soggy looking chopped green beans potentially from a can. We opted for tea and a slice of pie. The pie was pretty decent. I guess that's what this place is known for. Our server was sweet if not sadly a bit simple. There's a real possibility that she is locked in a closet to sleep at night.
(2)Maj A.
Great food and like the buffet . Good home made cooking . Good value too for sure you can't beat the price.
(4)Patsy T.
Big place, very simple decor, Amish owned, I assume. There's a buffet salad bar or full buffet for 10 or 11 dollars. Food was ok. Nothing to scream about, but ok. I had the chicken, which was baked and then fried- I think...it was good and moist. I added the salad bar for an extra couple bucks, good value there. I ventured into the retail store. Lots of homemade quilts that were $100 to $200. The bakery had some of the cheapest desserts ever! That's the best part of my visit.
(3)Heather M.
Ehh. Up north in Ohio that is called Der Dutchman and it was Heaven on earth from beginning to finish. This place however did not live up to that standard so I was very disappointed. I had the buffet and I definitely prefer fried chicken to "broasted" chicken any day. However, the mashed potatoes were great! I have dined in and done the buffet and for some reason it is never as good as I hope it will be. Its definitely not the best Amish food I've ever had. Overall the place is OK.
(2)Ivan P.
I hadn't been to "Der Dutchman" here in Sarasota in nearly 10 years time. Well I broke that trend after visiting the local town Yoder's restaurant. So I went to enjoy Der Dutchman after all these years. In comparison to Yoder's foot print Der Dutchman has the better parking and building layout. Since Der Dutchman is all under one roof upon entering you walk right into the sinful and tempting Deli / Bakery. Then right behind is the restaurant itself that is able to sit up to 300 overall. Since Yoder's is broken up into a tight squeeze parking wise and with 3 smaller buildings layout wise. (1 is the proper restaurant with take out windows, the fresh produce building, and the 3rd is the gift shop) The Der Dutchman gift shop appears to be on they're 2nd floor. The porch area of Der Dutchman has a line-up of handmade rocking chairs secured by a chain. Each of those rocking chairs seems to retail for like $220, but they are extremely well crafted. (over a dozen are showcased all nearly identical for slight differences in fine workmanship) I came in right at the tail end of the Lunch period. However I did not order from the buffet. I started off with a plain Ceasar salad which was disappointing, even the salad croutons were off in stiffness. (IHOP has the best softer salad croutons I've ever tasted) However the my main entree made up for the lackluster salad. I ordered a Stir Fry with the chicken and shrimp combo. Delicious since they used "Brown Rice" for this dish, although to be picky they were very few water chestnuts. (I overly enjoy water chestnuts as a personal preference in Cantonese food) For Dessert i ordered a Butterscotch cream pie which was very tasty. No need for a scoop of ice cream here the whip cream topping and butterscotch chips makes up for it. I did have a lemonade as my main beverage. Which wasn't as good as the one made over at Yoder's. I would give this powered lemonade 6.5 out of 10.
(4)Alicia D.
Friendly service. The fried chicken (I think they call it broasted though-- broiled and roasted) is incredibly delicious. Solid buffet. You will leave here stuffed and happy.
(4)Darren O.
The five star rating here is based on what Troyer's is, which is mainly a buffet style Amish restaurant. The food is always fresh, and the quality of the food is as good, if not better, than other sit down Amish restaurants that we've tried. The broasted chicken is moist and tender and seasoned perfectly. The meatloaf that I had was very, very good. The mashed potatoes were creamy and buttery and just perfect. Add the full salad bar into the mix and you have a fast, but also good, meal. Normally I'm not a big fan of buffets because the food can have a tendency to sit around too long, but that's never been a problem at Troyer's due to the amount of people they have on a nightly basis. The food is always being overturned and as someone with a sensitivity to MSG I can pretty fairly say that none is used in their foods. If you like a good home cooked style meal you'll want to make sure to check out Troyer's Dutch Heritage!
(5)Gary H.
Everything is fresh and home made. I'm not a big fan of buffetts but these guys have a great salad bar. If your craving freid chicken then youre gonna wanna check this place out.
(4)Harvey D.
I was really expecting great things from this place and it just didn't deliver. First of all, they just don't put enough food in the buffet for my liking and almost all of the food they do put in there is cooked with butter or cheese and it was all very bland with almost no spice at all. The broasted chicken was decent although they were really slow in refilling the chicken since it was the most popular dish on the buffet. The mashed potatoes were loaded with butter and the vegetables are also drenched in butter. I do have to admit that the salad was good and probably the best thing about this place other than the bakery. The desserts on the buffet were chocolate and oatmeal cake which were just ok. You do get a couple of small scoops of ice cream with your meal but since I don't eat ice cream, I didn't try this option. I wish they would have substituted the ice cream for something else like a cinnamon, brownie, etc. The waitress was attentive although being a buffet, she really doesn't have to do anything but refill the drinks. The bakery is the best part of this establishment. Even though I didn't buy anything from the bakery, just walking through it and seeing all the freshly baked desserts and goodies was worth it. They had a store upstairs which is a waste of time and has mostly junk and overpriced stuff that you don't need. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back to this place since the food wasn't great and there are plenty of buffets in this area.
(2)Christina A.
Loved this place! The food was just like Grandma used to make it and not very expensive either!
(5)J J.
This buffet is terrific! The chicken is delicious! The salad bar is amazing! We were in the area recently on a hot day and couldn't eat in because we had the dog along, so we went in and ordered take-out. We had chicken dinners to go ready in 5 minutes, just long enough to visit the amazing bakery! (And yes, the gift shop is also worth a visit!)
(5)Michele A.
This is a great place to meet up with family of all ages for a casual meal. Troyer's is huge and is easily able to fit large groups. Whenever I need to meet up with my Grandmother, this is usually where we go. The menu is very straight forward and there is something for all taste buds. I don't do buffets, so I can't speak on that but I am a fan of the pot roast. The food isn't innovative or exotic, just plain good food that works great for children or elders. Another highlight of this place is the bakery where you take buy and take home all sorts of treats, from cheeses to sausages to pies and cookies. And upstairs there is a large gift shop which is great for wandering around after a big meal. I believe this place is run by Amish and Mennonites, so it is very religious but nothing I find offensive. The people working there are very sweet.
(4)Signe K.
Looks pretty. Full of old people wanting lots of food. My son and his housemate loves the fried chicken. I didn't get the buffet because I had eaten chicken the night before, and the rest of the proteins were smothered in bbq sauce. I ordered a taco salad(what was I thinking). YUK! Think sloppy Joe in a taco(rancid grease) shell. Never again. Wish we had gone to Morton's
(1)Hesays Shesays R.
Not a bad place to have a fast meal when you are in the mood for home cooked flavors... But the good things about this place is the bakery... we just wished they would put the same type of desserts on the buffet line... not the cheap stuff... Just a footnote... this restaurant caters more towards the retired people... so the food was a little blend... but not bad...
(3)Ed W.
Good not great. Definitely happy I made the stop. Had the dinner buffet. No real dessert choice which was a genuine disappointment. For the price I think it should be included. Everything seemed fresh and tasty. Service was prompt and polite.
(4)Gregory N.
We rolled into Sarasota in the early afternoon one day last week and since we were close by, we decided to check this place out in case we wanted to eat dinner there later that night. We strolled in like we owned the place (it's a yelp thing). It's got a huge dining room and the food is served buffet style. It really looked good, but since it was our wedding anniversary we decided not to eat there. However, their bakery looked amazing so we came back the next morning for doughnuts and pastries. I want to tell you, my close personal yelp friends, these doughnuts were the best I have ever eaten! I'm not a policeman, but I have eaten my share of doughnuts in my day. You MUST come here and get some doughnuts! The sour cream cake doughnut was just sweet enough with the icing fused with the cake and it had the unmistakable taste of real sour cream! I also had a cream filled iced doughnut, also amazing! The cream filling had the unmistakable taste of real cream! There were no short cuts at this place. This is an Amish settlement operation, so you know they are using authentic ingredients and old, passed-down-through-the-generations recipes. I really believe their doughnuts have the ability to bring peace to the world! I promptly picked up a dozen to take up to Tallahassee for my boys at school and I had to restrain myself from eating anymore! They disappeared very quickly and now we all might be going between Tally and Miami via Sarasota from now on.
(4)Todd F.
It's a Winner!! Good Old Fashion Home Cooking Amish Style! its a big place, seats about 850 people!! has a gift shop upstairs or take the elevator, and a country store downstairs with a bakery, cheese and meat counter, and jams, jellies,and pickled items in jars, just like they were years ago on the farm! order off the menu or go for the buffet, the buffet is the one for me! a hot bar 20 feet long and a salad bar 20feet long too, lots to pick from, around $15 each with ur drink. plenty of parking, spotlessly clean, and good eatin here! right in the middlle of Pinecraft community, that's the Amish/Mennoite community in Sarasota. located at 3713 Bahia Vista Street. formerly Troyers Dutch Heritage Restaurant.
(5)Susan N.
We were surprised to find an Amish/Mennonite community smack dab in the middle of Sarasota! We had eaten at an Amish restaurant in Pennsylvania, so decided to check out this traditional Amish restaurant. (We originally went on Sunday, but found that it was closed for the Sabbath, so returned the following day.) Didn't exactly order the dieters plate ... had a pork chop, sweet potato souffle (with chunky brown sugar bits), and Amish potato cakes (potato pancakes). It was all good and reasonably priced too! Browsed the gift shop and bakery and had to purchase additional snacks for the road. (However, the Amish red licorice tasted more like Twizzlers than the good Australian red licorice.)
(4)Mr. Robert Dobalina S.
In the 70's in was called Wagon Wheel and my sister baked their pies. In the 80's and 90's it was called Der Dutchman and their fried chicken was un.be.lie.va .ble. Now it's Troyer's Dutch Heritage and the food and service is still a 10. I'm Amish and can tell you this food is legit. This is what it's all about. Remember to order: 1) fried chicken 2) biscuits and gravy 3) pie Seriously some of the best comfort food you'll ever have.
(5)Selene K.
I used to go to Yoder's for meals until my Mennonite grandmother asked me to bring her here instead. Every since that day we go to Troyer's when visiting Sarasota and I do prefer it. I enjoy their country-classics and wonderful service. The shop is fun to look around and is a great way to bring some treats home too.
(4)Chuck S.
Good dinner buffet. Fried chicken was delicious! Bread pudding was to die for. Great value for the money. Good friendly service.
(4)Rox R.
I like this place but I also like Yoder's. I didn't know what to order and since they had a buffet, I went for that. Didn't try the salad bar. Roasted chicken was good and large. Brisket was good, especially with the yummy soft rolls. Don't fill yourself on rolls though... Mac n cheese is good, tasty. Green beans were ok- need a vegetable on my plate. Mash potatoes were good -but didn't wow me. I wanted to try a piece of cake since this place is 'competing' with Yoder's but they offered chocolate cake with the buffet. And it panned out good- very moist with yummy frosting (I also dabbed their peanut butter on top- a must). But, let me tell you- I didn't know about the soft serve ice cream until I was done and the waitress asked me if I wanted it. And I love ice cream! Lucky for me I had room for ice cream with my second piece of cake. Best soft serve ever! It was silky smooth chocolatabular! Next time, I would ask the waitress for this stuff ahead of the cake to make sure I have enough room. A must! If you have the pie, don't skip the ice cream. Have you ever tasted silk before cause now you will!
(4)Nic W.
Have been here several times. The desserts are great. Love the chocolate cream pie. The buffet is good but not great. I always walk away full but wish the food was a little better. The food is a little bland but overall ok.
(3)Bill T.
If you are into buffets, this is a very good place for you. The food (I had the buffet) was good, but very heavy. The market downstairs was very interesting.
(3)Kelly K.
I saw an ad for this place and we decided to try it. There are two Amish places really close together, so we decided we would see which one looked the best. The other place (Yoder's?) was tiny compared to this place, so we chose Troyer's. There was no wait, which was good. This place is huge!!! Our server was very sweet and fast. Hubby got a veggie burger and the salad bar (you can go to it all you want). I got the plate of 3 sides plus a tossed salad. I got creamed corn, Amish potato cakes, and cole slaw. It was all good. We had to try some of the pie for desert, since they have like 50 kinds. I got coconut cream and hubby got Key Lime. They were excellent. This place was cheap, too. It was only $22 for all that food. It wasn't the best veggie plate I've ever had, but it was good.
(3)Bri C.
I've been here twice: today and 3 years ago. There's this section of Sarasota which has some Amish stuff and this is by far the largest Amish restaurant/bakery/banquet hall. It a really nice building. I wonder when it was built. I think I had the buffet both times I've been here. The broasted chicken is very delicious. It's like fried chicken but broiled and breaded i think. The sides are all good. It feels like southern cooking, but you can tell that it is fresh (not canned). I really enjoyed the broccoli salad, although I wish the broccoli were in bigger pieces. You have to try the apple butter and homemade peanut butter with your bread. The store inside is also great to find pies, breads, sugar-free stuff, candy, jelly, etc. Very nice service, and very good food.
(4)preston p.
We love coming here for lunch and do plan to return to try a dinner or two. The place is huge and has a huge (in more ways than one) following. Yet, despite its popularity, we've never had to wait for a table. Contrary to one snotty reviewer posted, the buffet areas are clean and the "hot foods" are indeed hot. There is a separate salad line so this nonsense about "cross contamination" is just that - nonsense. Although most go for the buffet, you can order from the menu. There are at least two specials per day.
(4)Paul A.
This is one of my favorite Sarasota restaurants. The service is always excellent, the place is clean and the food is wonderful. I am not a fan of buffets, but I have to tell you, I'm a huge fan of this one. Lots of great choices, and the food is fresh and well tended to. My favorite food here is the fried chicken. It's truly outstanding. Their mashed potatoes are also outstanding. Aside from the foods they always offer, they will include a fish or other food in their buffet. While we have had items we did not care for, it was never a big deal, because there is so much else to choose from. Their bakery and market area in the store is also worth checking out. They offer a great selection of baked goods and other items to take home. Upstairs is a gift shop, which is always very well presented and updated, especially around Christmas. If you are looking for good home-style Amish cooking, this is a must!
(5)Jessica F.
So very disappointed with this restuarant. I had fried Cod, old frozen reheated dried out piece of fish? I guess. My companion ordered the pot roast, stringy and tough. With a water and an Iced Tea. Just about $32 bucks with a tip. Very poor, expensive for what we were served. Won't be back.
(1)Matthew S.
if you like good home cookin' breakfast spots with huge gift shops filled to the brim with grandma crack....you'll love this place. good place to pick up Mennonite chicks. (i kid, i kid) People thought this was: Dumb (120) Offensive (54) Not As Clever As The Reviewer Thinks It Is (1,587)
(4)Ed S.
We stopped by in Sarasota on our way to Key West. At first, we were planning to go to Yoder's which is a block away from Troyer's, then we saw the long line, then we decided to find a different place to eat, and accidentally found Troyer's. We didn't get the lunch buffet because we were not very hungry. I saw everybody else is getting the buffet. We ordered Heritage Western Burger and their Broasted chicken. I think they're quite good, even though we don't feel they're special. I guess we're expecting something really good for our first Amish meal.
(3)D D.
If you like buffet's, this is great! Their service was good and the food was good. The gift shop and bakery are very nice! However, while we were eating, we commented that we felt like we were at church and it didn't feel "homey" like an Amish place should. Still, I would try it again.
(3)J S.
Average, maybe BELOW average. Had buffet, and about half of the choices were just fine, the other half, disgusting. Had those dreadful instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans, and horribly overcooked fried chicken. Desserts were a huge disappointment- leftover, unsold donuts cut in half, or a tired piece of sheetcake, about the size of a silver dollar. May go back, but will avoid the buffet like the plague. So should you.
(2)Karry H.
This place is amazing. The food is all homemade, real mashed potatoes, fabulous salad buffet, every meat you could think of. Dont forget to try the peanut butter spread at every table...put some on a buttered roll and fall in love! Great gift shop upstairs as well, enjoy!
(5)Mema C.
Went to eat here after buying things from the store a few times. We had the buffet and I was very happy with the selections. They had all the basics. The sweet tea is good, not too sweet. The server was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant.
(4)Tiffani D.
An all-around great experience with friendly staff and down home Amish food. My first stop was in the shop where there were tons of delicious baked goods for sale, as well as cheeses, fudge, etc. I was tempted to buy the whole shop! The exterior and interior of the building were very nice and comfortable. The buffet was great, though a little on the pricey side at nearly $15. I definitely want to come back!
(4)Leila N.
Nice selection of foods, cooked well
(4)Arby B.
Just okay, nothing spectacular or extraordinary. For the buffet price, i would rather go to a chinese buffet or even Golden Corral where there are more selections and probably would taste better.
(3)Lee P.
Yummy! Always a good meal and great service.
(5)WizardPrang X.
We came into town looking for Amish food. We spotted two restaurants - Yoder's and this place. This place was bigger and nicer looking, so her Ladyship decided we were eating here. I said nothing; I suspected that Yoder's was better; time will tell... This place looks like the Der Dutchman up in Ohio. So much so that I am convinced that it is some kind of franchise. The food was ok, though prices were high (no lunch menu) and chicken pieces were on the small size. If you are looking for the Amish equivalent of McDonald's, this is it. I will not be returning.
(3)Steve F.
Der Dutchman always offers fresh food, they draw a lot of customers, and I've eaten there quite a few times. With so many customers they'd almost have to offer fresh food because their chefs are probably constantly cooking new batches. My only quibble with Der Dutchman is that I'm not convinced that the food is really true Amish food. I have Amish cookbooks and the recipes are not the same. For example, the pies are good, but they definitely have that commercial appearance and taste. I know a "home-baked" pie when I eat one and Der Dutchman taste like they came off a pie assembly line.
(4)Will B.
You can't do much better when looking for a breakfast/lunch buffet. The fried chicken is fantastic and always seems fresh. The only downside is they are closed on Sundays and it always seems to be a Sunday when I'm in the area and looking to eat :(
(5)Robert H.
Worst turkey dinner ever ... simply bad ... returned turkey ... thought pie would be better ... Pecan pie as bad as turkey ... back to Yoders up the street ... no comparison ... best to wait in line at Yoders than this place.
(1)Aimee M.
This place is the best I've had in a long time. The food was delicious and the workers were so friendly. It was a wonderful experience. I can't wait to go back and take my kids with me.
(5)Jay K.
Wholesome food buffet style. It's hard to argue with Amish cooking and Der Dutchman is no exception. You'll never leave hungry. It's a buffet/cafeteria setting, so don't expect fine dining, but do expect tasty home style cooking like grandma used to make.
(4)Frank M.
I you're looking for comfort food, then this is the place to go!! Amish cooking at its best. The buffet is what most people come for, but the menu is also good. The fried chicken is amazing and their pies are to die for!!
(3)Sandy R.
Travel about 1.5 hrs from home in Fort Myers to come to this restaurant. I enjoy the variety of the buffet. Food is good, but nothing special. It's just the assortment that I'm attracted to as I like to "sample" a little of this and little of that! Fried chicken is good. I enjoy the bakery in the front as we as the upstairs gift shop.
(4)Javi V.
Awesome chicken, superb salads, staff is nice. My wife and I love to go. What else can you say. Oh and don't forget to try their sweets. Get ready to break your diet because it's yummy
(5)Laura H.
WARNING: WEAR STRETCHY PANTS! Der Dutchman is one of my favorite sinful indulgences in Sarasota! They have a buffet which makes me unreasonably happy! Fried chicken, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken noodle soup, And the salad bar that would be equally as delicious if you weren't so fall from eating the aforementioned goodies! They have moved their "peanut butter spread" to bottles on the table... Definitely try this if you go to the restaurant! It's like a heavenly peanut butter dessert! I put it directly onto spoon, and then directly in my mouth! Delicious! The service is always wonderful--and, if you have any thoughts of ever eating again once you leave there, stop in the bakery and bring some goodies home!
(5)Bryan L.
Der Dutchman makes for a good one time experience of mass produced Amish fare with a market/store to visit. Other than the fried chicken the food was bland. No one in our group cared to go up for seconds at their buffet as the food was uninspiring. Yoder's offers far better food if you have a craving for Amish while Der Dutchman is worth visiting once for the experience.
(2)Anthony G.
Pennsylvania Dutch flavor in Sarasota. Very impressive establishment. Immaculately clean. Buffet food is well prepared and tasty. Baked goods are fresh and delicious. Will definately return.
(4)Jack O.
Great Amish comfort food. Great selection on the buffet as well as a full menu to choose from. Service is great and the homemade pies were to die for. Worth coming to check out.
(5)John W.
This place is so overrated that it is sad. The atmosphere is cheerless, the service is slow, and the food is really not that great. I went there for the first time in a while with my extended family for lunch because my father-in-law wanted to eat there. I suggested Yoders, which is right across the street and also serves Amish-style country cooking, but was overruled by "Big Al." Resigned, I went and ordered a cheeseburger. I almost wept when I saw the tiny, preformed (and doubtless, frozen) hamburger patty lying lifelessly on a bun that that resembled bread that could only have been baked by someone who HATES bread! Worst of all were the lettuce, tomato, and onion. The lettuce was a wilted piece of green that I would have peeled off of the head and thrown in the sink in order to get to the edible lettuce below. The tomato was a mealy piece of pink styrofoam - I wished they had forgotten to give it to me. Worst of all was the onion. Now, when I ask for onion, I WANT onion - in EVERY bite! This is, of course, impossible when you are served two individual rings from the outside of the onion. Seriously, if you can't give the customer an entire SLICE of onion (oh, how DECADENT!) why bother at all? The desert was a fiasco at best. I ordered a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and it was a pile of mush. The ice cream they served with it was soft serve, which is stupid, and if I have to explain to you WHY serving soft-serve ice cream with pie is stupid, you're not going to understand it. And what did Big Al, the man who HAD to go to Der Dutchman order for lunch?! A BAKED POTATO! That's it! A single baked potato! He could have got a baked potato at Yoders and not subjected all of the rest of us to this terrible lunch!!! This restaurant is no longer locally owned, and it shows. The far superior Yoders (which is locally owned) is right across the street, so eat there instead, unless you want just a baked potato, in which case, of course, you'll HAVE to eat at Der Dutchman. You can thank me later....
(2)Miranda B.
No bargains here. Back to Yoder's next time. May not be coming back anytime soon...they don't even have lunch prices any more. Ordered a 3 piece dinner to share (with s child) and the waitress makes a comment me not to share the salad bar, even though I ordered him al a carte side.
(2)Selmy B.
Home cooking a la Amish. Buffet or menu dining. Pricey for Buffet at $14.95 during the week. Needs coupons. The food is always fresh and the buffet areas are maintained stocked and cleaned. The buffet includes a salad bar, hot dishes, desserts, and ice cream. Drinks are an additional cost. There is also a complete menu if you do not feel like eating from the buffet. This is definitely a huge Amish spot full of families and all the gray hairs of Sarasota.
(4)William S.
Corporate amish eatery. N I thing special. Its an ohio corporate chain. Buffett is not as good as ones in ohio and indiana. Same looks right down to store and seating. Pickled egss are too sweet they should have more vinegar taste and be more sour. Turkey looks like a slopoy mess. Ohio stores have sliced roasted turkey breast not this mess. Service is good. Mac and cheese is runny. This is corporate verison of comfort food.
(2)Dutch V.
Best breakfast buffet I ever had. Also there was fresh pies, jams, bread, etc. For sale. A great place to stop.
(5)Richie H.
Had dinner from the buffet. Salad choices were good, Dinner items were somewhat limited. Desserts were very limited. Food was good - some items were slightly bland, Chocolate cake was great! My friend commented that the mashed potatos tasted like real potatos. Great service, tea glass was constantly filled. Restaraunt & buffet is clean and well kept. Good overall experience. Biggest complaint is the price is TOO HIGH!!! Buffet with a glass of tea is $18. with tip $20+ per person. For that price I could have went to Outback or Red Lobster. I could see as much as $11.95 for a dinner buffet but not $18 unless it's filled with crab legs! Not likely that I will return unless they lower the price or I feel like "splurging"!
(3)Chad V.
Can't beat the value. $13.99 for full hot buffet, salad bar and dessert. Great service with a smile and great comfort food. A must if visiting Sarasota... Bring the whole family! I highly recommend the fried chicken... It's crispy and not greasy!
(5)Mikee N.
If you like an all you can eat buffet then this is the place. Huge selection. Take out bakery with a big selection of fancy cakes, pastries and donuts. You can skip the buffet and order off the menu which we do often. Good old-fashioned, comfort food AMISH STYLE. You won't go home hungry.
(3)Tom L.
Had a plate of mashed potatoes with noodles, gravy, and turkey on top. Talk about comfort food! Good, but nothing special. Restaurant was very big and very clean. Excellent service. Prices are reasonable.
(3)Jennifer G.
I love this place! We go here pretty much every time we visit Sarasota. Their buffet can't be beat. Everything on the salad bar is fresh and delicious. The ranch dressing rocks, but so does the sweet and sour (try it!!). I get both and take turns dipping my salad in each one. The pasta salads are really good - there is a greek one with fettucine and a macaroni salad made with shell pasta - I'm a big fan of both of them. The peanut butter they have on the tables in the squeeze bottles is awesome - grab a couple of packs of crackers from the salad bar and give it a shot - you won't regret it! On to the hot food. Fried. Chicken. Nom. Seriously. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. I'm also a huge fan of their macaroni and cheese. I tried the pulled pork recently and that was good as well, my husband loves their meatload but it's all secondary to the amazing fried chicken. If by some chance you manage to save room for dessert (which you should try to do but it will take will power to step away from the chicken and mac and cheese) - I recommend the pie. What kind you might ask? Any kind! My personal favorites are: banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate cream, chocolate peanut butter cream, peach, and strawberry but they are all really good. Take some time to browse the bakery on your way out and I'm sure you'll grab some treats for later. If it's around the holidays they should have these decorated iced cookies out there - I'd say they are in my top 5 of favorite cookies so you should probably try those as well, but they are only on special occasions/holidays.
(5)Jennifer B.
I'm so sorry to the kind servers and Amish community of Sarasota but this food was not good. But then again, I ate off of the buffet line so what was I supposed to expect? The end.
(2)Kristen P.
A friend of mine that lives near the restaurant recommended it and she grew up around the Amish community so she would know about authentic Amish food. I did not find the broasted chicken all that great but the other food items I tried were delicious. I ended up getting the buffet to try a bit of everything. What I like about this place is that they have all in one place. There is a mini market place, a bakery and a giftshop so no need to to drive to different locations. I thought the atmosphere was nice and clean and a lot of space so no need to feel cramped. If in the Sarasota area I would return to this location.
(4)Lynn H.
Food looked and tasted like it was from a can. Everything had sugar in it. Not my cup of tea. Too expensive for that type of meal. Really! Only 2 hot vegetables. Nice and clean though!
(2)Lara d.
After going to Yoders and Amish restaurants in Lancaster, PA, I found this place to be a bit off the mark. We went for the breakfast buffet and it was a small buffet and a lot of the food was missing the seasoning and flavoring to make it a good experience. The service was top notch and friendly, but it did not make up for the lack of flavor in the food. What I did find to be very good was the market and grocery section. The lemon meringue pie we picked up was very good and lasted the ride back to Miami, we also loved the fact that we got cheeses from Amish Cheese makers in Ohio that we had bought before when we last visited Ohio. There were jams, breads, baked desserts, snacks that anyone who has enjoyed shopping for Amish treats before would enjoy. Sadly the dining experience was off the mark and I wouldn't return for. I would rather go back to Yoders.
(3)Gerry H.
Who knew that Sarasota had a vibrant Amish Community? I thought they preferred the blustery Midwest or North East. Shows how much I know. In terms of casual fare, this place is about as good as it gets. The service is outstanding, and despite the earnest appearance of the wait staff, they're good natured and quick with a smile. The throughput of this place must be incredible; it's huge, and they move diners in and out very efficiently. But that doesn't impede the "Homemade" quality of the food. The broasted chicken is divine, as are the other main dishes. The sides are fresh and delicious, and the pie, needless to say, is outstanding. Don't forget to pick up some baked goods to go. The cookies, etc are on par with the other incredible victuals.
(5)Lissete D.
The price of the buffet is not outrageous. I'm not a huge eater and according to my husband, I am a huge waste when it comes to buffets. But considering the price is just under $14 per person and you get to try a little of everything, I found it to be a great option. Just as comparison, three pieces of chicken on the regular menu runs about $11. Everything that we tried was good to very good. Of course, the boasted chicken was delish, the pot roast & pulled pork were both tender and tasty. Sides and salads were good as well. They also had fish available on the buffet. Desserts are minimal and included cake, pudding and soft serve ice cream. Good enough for me, but if you prefer something else, you can add it on for just $2. Good value, good food and friendly service!
(5)Diane M.
Good quality, service somewhat lacking.
(3)Miriam W.
If you're looking for good Amish home cooking, and you enjoy the buffet experience, then this is your place. There will be no big challenges to your palate here; this is comfort food and some of it could use some spicing up, but many things I had were delicious. I like the fried chicken, the vegetable sides are good, if sometimes a bit overcooked, and the desserts are great. Their signature pies are not offered on the buffet, and will cost you extra, so I usually just enjoy the cake or pudding they give you with the buffet. They had a date nut bread pudding recently that was wonderful. This is a fun place to bring a crowd, but go early or late, as the wait can get very long.
(4)Rita R.
Formerly Troyers, Der Dutchman is an absolute MUST when visiting Sarasota! The service was excellent, the food was fresh, hot and delicious. My favorite is their famous broasted chicken. Moist, tender and juicy. Their roasted turkey breast was seasoned well and juicy as well. One of my favorite dishes growing up was mashed potatoes, egg noodles and turkey (or chicken). I made my own combination from the buffet. I was only a little disappointed in the noodles. The were a bit over done and not as al dente as I like them and the gravy too thin was not seasoned well. This is the only reason I gave a 4 star rating this time. One dish that took me way back to my Great Aunt's Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen was the creamed corn. OMGoodness! Fresh corn, cream and butter and sugar. The only thing that was missing was her brûléed top. Don't forget to buy a package of fresh 3 inch high dinner rolls on the way out!
(4)Joe L.
Talk about good Amish cooking. I went with something that was similar to a chicken pot pie if the crust had been smashed up (I went there 3 weeks ago, so I can't remember what it was called off the top of my head). All I know is it was good and definitely filled me up. I had fresh strawberry pie for dessert with whipped cream. Also very good. What you would expect from a place that serves good Amish food. The only negative thing I would have to say about it was the ambiance. Huge, cafeteria style dining hall. Can't say I was surprised since there was a delicious looking buffet, but it did get pretty noisy and it was hard to hear my family that I was there with. Oh well. The pie sure made up for it!
(4)Matthew T.
I had to admit going here as it is totally not my thing but a group of people were meeting here and this is where they picked to have breakfast before heading out for other things. Portions are way too huge for me and it is just typical breakfast food. It is fine, but nothing special and trying to kill you with huge portions. And there is all you can eat breakfast buffett, really? I mean maybe if I was going to go be a lumber jack or plow the field all day and this was the only time I was going to get to eat. Everything is just sweet or fatty. I'll pass next time they want to meet here for breakfast. Service if friendly but that doesn't make up for the lead weight I had in my gutt after having eggs sunny side up, which I still don't understand how that can happen!
(2)Ken H.
Delicious - Always love eating here!Tremendous lunch and dinner buffets. The turkey is very tender, BBQ pork and fried chicken quite tasty, all sides and salad bar are fantastic. Being Pennsylvania Dutch myself I have a great appreciation for this type of food, and this is top-notch! Someone recommended eating at a local competitor as well, but I found that food was very bland (& service slow.) Der Dutchman is clearly the best in the area for this kind of menu.
(5)Greg U.
Everything was good or great...Loved the roasted Turkey and creamed corn. If you want a buck off each guest, grab one of the Sarasota tourist guide books..they're usually one in there.
(4)Henry H.
Two words, BROASTED CHICKEN! So good! If you like any type of fried chicken, definitely check this place out! You can either order from a menu or have the buffet. We opted for the buffet and were not disappointed. There was a very good salad section as well as pot roast, turkey, and of course BROASTED CHICKEN! There was a decent selection of desserts to choose from and you could also order a piece of pie and/or soft serve ice cream from the waiter as part of the buffet.
(4)Lola B.
We went to Der Dutchman for Thanksgiving a Day dinner and it was awesome! It was a buffet for only $20.99. They had turkey, beef, ham, corm, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, rolls among other things. There was a very long line just to put your name in but it went very quickly. Among getting a pager it only took 25 minutes to get a table. We thoroughly enjoy the experience and will be back.
(5)Chris D.
Not a young crowd place, but good buffet food.
(4)Paul C.
Ok they underwent a change in ownership and it's no longer Troyer's Dutch Heritage it's now Der Dutchman the food was the same but not an Amish person in sight and it looks like they were making some serious changes to the upstairs gift shop.
(4)Christine G.
My family and I live not too far from here but we don't visit too often since a lot of nights it is just too busy and there is quite a wait time. We decided to go a little on the late side on a Saturday night and were able to get seated quickly. We opted for the dinner buffet which is all you can eat including dessert. The food is typical American fair. Good, home-cooked food. They offer quite a few meat selections to choose from. That night there was glazed ham, turkey, roast beef, pulled pork and friend chicken. Along with two different types of fish. The salad bar is well stocked with plenty of fresh toppings. They even get it right by keeping the salad plates chilled. The salad bar also offers a few different pasta salads as well as potato salad. My husband thinks it is a little pricey at almost $14/person but I don't think it is bad at all considering there is a good selection, the food is fresh and well prepared.
(3)Taylor D.
Let's start with the store of Amish goodies! Everything from cheese to delicious cakes and pies! Home-made goods that taste like...well...home! Very well decorated establishment, and well modestly dressed waitresses. So if you're looking for Kim Kardashian in tight jeans, look elsewhere. I got the buffet, and it was decent. My favorite dish had to be the breaded pudding, or the roast beef. Soft serve comes free with the purchase of a buffet as well, which is a nice touch :) The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star review would be that it did not match my mothers cooking. In the slightest, but any slight taste of home is great :) Will be back for sure!
(4)Brandy B.
I wasn't sure how they were going to accomplish authentic Amish cooking in a buffet restaurant atmosphere. They have accomplished it splendidly! This is seriously the single best buffet restaurant my family has ever visited. All I can say is if you are a picky eater, or if you have a picky eater in the family then you know the stress that can be caused to make everyone happy. In our case, this is a restaurant located in one of our favorite vacation areas. We are a big fan of trying new things on vacations. Eating in locations we are unfamiliar with locally. We don't revisit places so that we can continue our try a new place trend. The reason all of that is important is because we go here EVERY SINGLE TIME we go to the Sarasota area! They have such a large variety of hot and cold dishes! Including things that I understand from my grandma to be traditional Amish dishes that I was unfamiliar with and tried anyway. The fried chicken was perfect, very crispy with a nice batter. A note for pie lovers everywhere... GET THE PIE!!! Do not dismay if you have a small wait either! There is a lovely store to go through! When I was there I purchased old fashioned candies and a beautiful handkerchief. To give you an idea of the ages I went there with my grandmother (late 70's), parents (early 50's), daughter (7), and I am in my late 20's. We liked it so much that we went back once more before we left!
(5)John S.
Had breakfast here. The food was very good, but I stayed away from the buffet which looked empty and all dried up at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday.
(4)Gail L.
Absolutely the best chicken I have ever had. The buffet is a good price for the variety of foods offered, all of which are so homemade tasting, just like my grandmother's cooking. Soups are always good and the salad bar has quite an offering. Very clean establishment and friendly staff. Only downside is that this place is packed in season, so we try to go a little later in the afternoon between lunch rush and early diners.
(5)Heather M.
Ehh. Up north in Ohio that is called Der Dutchman and it was Heaven on earth from beginning to finish. This place however did not live up to that standard so I was very disappointed. I had the buffet and I definitely prefer fried chicken to "broasted" chicken any day. However, the mashed potatoes were great! I have dined in and done the buffet and for some reason it is never as good as I hope it will be. Its definitely not the best Amish food I've ever had. Overall the place is OK.
(2)Hesays Shesays R.
Not a bad place to have a fast meal when you are in the mood for home cooked flavors... But the good things about this place is the bakery... we just wished they would put the same type of desserts on the buffet line... not the cheap stuff... Just a footnote... this restaurant caters more towards the retired people... so the food was a little blend... but not bad...
(3)Ed W.
Good not great. Definitely happy I made the stop. Had the dinner buffet. No real dessert choice which was a genuine disappointment. For the price I think it should be included. Everything seemed fresh and tasty. Service was prompt and polite.
(4)Val G.
I have nothing against the Amish (except maybe that the women have to wear a get-up that isn't much different than having to wear a burqa for religious reasons). In the summer in Ontario, I love taking special trips to the little town of St. Jacob's to go to the Mennonite stores and bakeries. I also love the fresh Amish-made pretzels from Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. I take issue here with slack buffet control and lack of healthy vegetarian options. The food served here is very home-style middle America. A lot of the patrons were noticeably overweight, elderly or sporting large crosses. The gift shop upstairs is half Christian paraphernalia and half 50+ women's clothing and accessories. Nothing wrong with that(or maybe there is...), just not what I'm in the market for. The market area sells whole pies, baked goods, desserts, cheese, bread, all kinds of pickles + preserves, chocolates, jellies but this isn't gourmet stuff. Ex: cupcakes described as 'yellow'. The last thing I want to call to mind is yellowcake as I bite into a cupcake. Giant pieces of cheese for only $4. Makes me question the quality of the milk products used and therefore the quality of the life of the cow. I would like to see more healthy items in the buffet. There were hardly any vegetable dishes. That would be the easy place to start. The meat should also be separated from the other hot food items to prevent cross-contamination with the vegetable and side dishes. It's not worth my while to pay $8.99 for a meal of mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and soggy looking chopped green beans potentially from a can. We opted for tea and a slice of pie. The pie was pretty decent. I guess that's what this place is known for. Our server was sweet if not sadly a bit simple. There's a real possibility that she is locked in a closet to sleep at night.
(2)Patsy T.
Big place, very simple decor, Amish owned, I assume. There's a buffet salad bar or full buffet for 10 or 11 dollars. Food was ok. Nothing to scream about, but ok. I had the chicken, which was baked and then fried- I think...it was good and moist. I added the salad bar for an extra couple bucks, good value there. I ventured into the retail store. Lots of homemade quilts that were $100 to $200. The bakery had some of the cheapest desserts ever! That's the best part of my visit.
(3)Maj A.
Great food and like the buffet . Good home made cooking . Good value too for sure you can't beat the price.
(4)Selene K.
I used to go to Yoder's for meals until my Mennonite grandmother asked me to bring her here instead. Every since that day we go to Troyer's when visiting Sarasota and I do prefer it. I enjoy their country-classics and wonderful service. The shop is fun to look around and is a great way to bring some treats home too.
(4)Chuck S.
Good dinner buffet. Fried chicken was delicious! Bread pudding was to die for. Great value for the money. Good friendly service.
(4)Ivan P.
I hadn't been to "Der Dutchman" here in Sarasota in nearly 10 years time. Well I broke that trend after visiting the local town Yoder's restaurant. So I went to enjoy Der Dutchman after all these years. In comparison to Yoder's foot print Der Dutchman has the better parking and building layout. Since Der Dutchman is all under one roof upon entering you walk right into the sinful and tempting Deli / Bakery. Then right behind is the restaurant itself that is able to sit up to 300 overall. Since Yoder's is broken up into a tight squeeze parking wise and with 3 smaller buildings layout wise. (1 is the proper restaurant with take out windows, the fresh produce building, and the 3rd is the gift shop) The Der Dutchman gift shop appears to be on they're 2nd floor. The porch area of Der Dutchman has a line-up of handmade rocking chairs secured by a chain. Each of those rocking chairs seems to retail for like $220, but they are extremely well crafted. (over a dozen are showcased all nearly identical for slight differences in fine workmanship) I came in right at the tail end of the Lunch period. However I did not order from the buffet. I started off with a plain Ceasar salad which was disappointing, even the salad croutons were off in stiffness. (IHOP has the best softer salad croutons I've ever tasted) However the my main entree made up for the lackluster salad. I ordered a Stir Fry with the chicken and shrimp combo. Delicious since they used "Brown Rice" for this dish, although to be picky they were very few water chestnuts. (I overly enjoy water chestnuts as a personal preference in Cantonese food) For Dessert i ordered a Butterscotch cream pie which was very tasty. No need for a scoop of ice cream here the whip cream topping and butterscotch chips makes up for it. I did have a lemonade as my main beverage. Which wasn't as good as the one made over at Yoder's. I would give this powered lemonade 6.5 out of 10.
(4)Alicia D.
Friendly service. The fried chicken (I think they call it broasted though-- broiled and roasted) is incredibly delicious. Solid buffet. You will leave here stuffed and happy.
(4)Darren O.
The five star rating here is based on what Troyer's is, which is mainly a buffet style Amish restaurant. The food is always fresh, and the quality of the food is as good, if not better, than other sit down Amish restaurants that we've tried. The broasted chicken is moist and tender and seasoned perfectly. The meatloaf that I had was very, very good. The mashed potatoes were creamy and buttery and just perfect. Add the full salad bar into the mix and you have a fast, but also good, meal. Normally I'm not a big fan of buffets because the food can have a tendency to sit around too long, but that's never been a problem at Troyer's due to the amount of people they have on a nightly basis. The food is always being overturned and as someone with a sensitivity to MSG I can pretty fairly say that none is used in their foods. If you like a good home cooked style meal you'll want to make sure to check out Troyer's Dutch Heritage!
(5)Gary H.
Everything is fresh and home made. I'm not a big fan of buffetts but these guys have a great salad bar. If your craving freid chicken then youre gonna wanna check this place out.
(4)Harvey D.
I was really expecting great things from this place and it just didn't deliver. First of all, they just don't put enough food in the buffet for my liking and almost all of the food they do put in there is cooked with butter or cheese and it was all very bland with almost no spice at all. The broasted chicken was decent although they were really slow in refilling the chicken since it was the most popular dish on the buffet. The mashed potatoes were loaded with butter and the vegetables are also drenched in butter. I do have to admit that the salad was good and probably the best thing about this place other than the bakery. The desserts on the buffet were chocolate and oatmeal cake which were just ok. You do get a couple of small scoops of ice cream with your meal but since I don't eat ice cream, I didn't try this option. I wish they would have substituted the ice cream for something else like a cinnamon, brownie, etc. The waitress was attentive although being a buffet, she really doesn't have to do anything but refill the drinks. The bakery is the best part of this establishment. Even though I didn't buy anything from the bakery, just walking through it and seeing all the freshly baked desserts and goodies was worth it. They had a store upstairs which is a waste of time and has mostly junk and overpriced stuff that you don't need. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back to this place since the food wasn't great and there are plenty of buffets in this area.
(2)Christina A.
Loved this place! The food was just like Grandma used to make it and not very expensive either!
(5)J J.
This buffet is terrific! The chicken is delicious! The salad bar is amazing! We were in the area recently on a hot day and couldn't eat in because we had the dog along, so we went in and ordered take-out. We had chicken dinners to go ready in 5 minutes, just long enough to visit the amazing bakery! (And yes, the gift shop is also worth a visit!)
(5)Michele A.
This is a great place to meet up with family of all ages for a casual meal. Troyer's is huge and is easily able to fit large groups. Whenever I need to meet up with my Grandmother, this is usually where we go. The menu is very straight forward and there is something for all taste buds. I don't do buffets, so I can't speak on that but I am a fan of the pot roast. The food isn't innovative or exotic, just plain good food that works great for children or elders. Another highlight of this place is the bakery where you take buy and take home all sorts of treats, from cheeses to sausages to pies and cookies. And upstairs there is a large gift shop which is great for wandering around after a big meal. I believe this place is run by Amish and Mennonites, so it is very religious but nothing I find offensive. The people working there are very sweet.
(4)Signe K.
Looks pretty. Full of old people wanting lots of food. My son and his housemate loves the fried chicken. I didn't get the buffet because I had eaten chicken the night before, and the rest of the proteins were smothered in bbq sauce. I ordered a taco salad(what was I thinking). YUK! Think sloppy Joe in a taco(rancid grease) shell. Never again. Wish we had gone to Morton's
(1)Gregory N.
We rolled into Sarasota in the early afternoon one day last week and since we were close by, we decided to check this place out in case we wanted to eat dinner there later that night. We strolled in like we owned the place (it's a yelp thing). It's got a huge dining room and the food is served buffet style. It really looked good, but since it was our wedding anniversary we decided not to eat there. However, their bakery looked amazing so we came back the next morning for doughnuts and pastries. I want to tell you, my close personal yelp friends, these doughnuts were the best I have ever eaten! I'm not a policeman, but I have eaten my share of doughnuts in my day. You MUST come here and get some doughnuts! The sour cream cake doughnut was just sweet enough with the icing fused with the cake and it had the unmistakable taste of real sour cream! I also had a cream filled iced doughnut, also amazing! The cream filling had the unmistakable taste of real cream! There were no short cuts at this place. This is an Amish settlement operation, so you know they are using authentic ingredients and old, passed-down-through-the-generations recipes. I really believe their doughnuts have the ability to bring peace to the world! I promptly picked up a dozen to take up to Tallahassee for my boys at school and I had to restrain myself from eating anymore! They disappeared very quickly and now we all might be going between Tally and Miami via Sarasota from now on.
(4)Todd F.
It's a Winner!! Good Old Fashion Home Cooking Amish Style! its a big place, seats about 850 people!! has a gift shop upstairs or take the elevator, and a country store downstairs with a bakery, cheese and meat counter, and jams, jellies,and pickled items in jars, just like they were years ago on the farm! order off the menu or go for the buffet, the buffet is the one for me! a hot bar 20 feet long and a salad bar 20feet long too, lots to pick from, around $15 each with ur drink. plenty of parking, spotlessly clean, and good eatin here! right in the middlle of Pinecraft community, that's the Amish/Mennoite community in Sarasota. located at 3713 Bahia Vista Street. formerly Troyers Dutch Heritage Restaurant.
(5)Susan N.
We were surprised to find an Amish/Mennonite community smack dab in the middle of Sarasota! We had eaten at an Amish restaurant in Pennsylvania, so decided to check out this traditional Amish restaurant. (We originally went on Sunday, but found that it was closed for the Sabbath, so returned the following day.) Didn't exactly order the dieters plate ... had a pork chop, sweet potato souffle (with chunky brown sugar bits), and Amish potato cakes (potato pancakes). It was all good and reasonably priced too! Browsed the gift shop and bakery and had to purchase additional snacks for the road. (However, the Amish red licorice tasted more like Twizzlers than the good Australian red licorice.)
(4)Mr. Robert Dobalina S.
In the 70's in was called Wagon Wheel and my sister baked their pies. In the 80's and 90's it was called Der Dutchman and their fried chicken was un.be.lie.va .ble. Now it's Troyer's Dutch Heritage and the food and service is still a 10. I'm Amish and can tell you this food is legit. This is what it's all about. Remember to order: 1) fried chicken 2) biscuits and gravy 3) pie Seriously some of the best comfort food you'll ever have.
(5)Rox R.
I like this place but I also like Yoder's. I didn't know what to order and since they had a buffet, I went for that. Didn't try the salad bar. Roasted chicken was good and large. Brisket was good, especially with the yummy soft rolls. Don't fill yourself on rolls though... Mac n cheese is good, tasty. Green beans were ok- need a vegetable on my plate. Mash potatoes were good -but didn't wow me. I wanted to try a piece of cake since this place is 'competing' with Yoder's but they offered chocolate cake with the buffet. And it panned out good- very moist with yummy frosting (I also dabbed their peanut butter on top- a must). But, let me tell you- I didn't know about the soft serve ice cream until I was done and the waitress asked me if I wanted it. And I love ice cream! Lucky for me I had room for ice cream with my second piece of cake. Best soft serve ever! It was silky smooth chocolatabular! Next time, I would ask the waitress for this stuff ahead of the cake to make sure I have enough room. A must! If you have the pie, don't skip the ice cream. Have you ever tasted silk before cause now you will!
(4)Nic W.
Have been here several times. The desserts are great. Love the chocolate cream pie. The buffet is good but not great. I always walk away full but wish the food was a little better. The food is a little bland but overall ok.
(3)Bill T.
If you are into buffets, this is a very good place for you. The food (I had the buffet) was good, but very heavy. The market downstairs was very interesting.
(3)Kelly K.
I saw an ad for this place and we decided to try it. There are two Amish places really close together, so we decided we would see which one looked the best. The other place (Yoder's?) was tiny compared to this place, so we chose Troyer's. There was no wait, which was good. This place is huge!!! Our server was very sweet and fast. Hubby got a veggie burger and the salad bar (you can go to it all you want). I got the plate of 3 sides plus a tossed salad. I got creamed corn, Amish potato cakes, and cole slaw. It was all good. We had to try some of the pie for desert, since they have like 50 kinds. I got coconut cream and hubby got Key Lime. They were excellent. This place was cheap, too. It was only $22 for all that food. It wasn't the best veggie plate I've ever had, but it was good.
(3)Bri C.
I've been here twice: today and 3 years ago. There's this section of Sarasota which has some Amish stuff and this is by far the largest Amish restaurant/bakery/banquet hall. It a really nice building. I wonder when it was built. I think I had the buffet both times I've been here. The broasted chicken is very delicious. It's like fried chicken but broiled and breaded i think. The sides are all good. It feels like southern cooking, but you can tell that it is fresh (not canned). I really enjoyed the broccoli salad, although I wish the broccoli were in bigger pieces. You have to try the apple butter and homemade peanut butter with your bread. The store inside is also great to find pies, breads, sugar-free stuff, candy, jelly, etc. Very nice service, and very good food.
(4)preston p.
We love coming here for lunch and do plan to return to try a dinner or two. The place is huge and has a huge (in more ways than one) following. Yet, despite its popularity, we've never had to wait for a table. Contrary to one snotty reviewer posted, the buffet areas are clean and the "hot foods" are indeed hot. There is a separate salad line so this nonsense about "cross contamination" is just that - nonsense. Although most go for the buffet, you can order from the menu. There are at least two specials per day.
(4)Paul A.
This is one of my favorite Sarasota restaurants. The service is always excellent, the place is clean and the food is wonderful. I am not a fan of buffets, but I have to tell you, I'm a huge fan of this one. Lots of great choices, and the food is fresh and well tended to. My favorite food here is the fried chicken. It's truly outstanding. Their mashed potatoes are also outstanding. Aside from the foods they always offer, they will include a fish or other food in their buffet. While we have had items we did not care for, it was never a big deal, because there is so much else to choose from. Their bakery and market area in the store is also worth checking out. They offer a great selection of baked goods and other items to take home. Upstairs is a gift shop, which is always very well presented and updated, especially around Christmas. If you are looking for good home-style Amish cooking, this is a must!
(5)Jessica F.
So very disappointed with this restuarant. I had fried Cod, old frozen reheated dried out piece of fish? I guess. My companion ordered the pot roast, stringy and tough. With a water and an Iced Tea. Just about $32 bucks with a tip. Very poor, expensive for what we were served. Won't be back.
(1)Matthew S.
if you like good home cookin' breakfast spots with huge gift shops filled to the brim with grandma crack....you'll love this place. good place to pick up Mennonite chicks. (i kid, i kid) People thought this was: Dumb (120) Offensive (54) Not As Clever As The Reviewer Thinks It Is (1,587)
(4)Ed S.
We stopped by in Sarasota on our way to Key West. At first, we were planning to go to Yoder's which is a block away from Troyer's, then we saw the long line, then we decided to find a different place to eat, and accidentally found Troyer's. We didn't get the lunch buffet because we were not very hungry. I saw everybody else is getting the buffet. We ordered Heritage Western Burger and their Broasted chicken. I think they're quite good, even though we don't feel they're special. I guess we're expecting something really good for our first Amish meal.
(3)D D.
If you like buffet's, this is great! Their service was good and the food was good. The gift shop and bakery are very nice! However, while we were eating, we commented that we felt like we were at church and it didn't feel "homey" like an Amish place should. Still, I would try it again.
(3)Alex U.
Maybe I should have ordered off the menu? The buffet was fast and seemed to be what most were going for. The mashed potatoes are not real; they are instant. The "roast beef" is pot roast and was tasteless. The beef and chicken gravy had a crust over the top, clearly most didn't want or care for either. If this is Amish home cooking....wow. Two of us ate for $14.39 each plus tax. You can eat all you want but no doggie bags or leftovers leave the place. By the looks of most of the customers, they go to eat until they get their fill. If you are looking for volume and value, this is your place. Otherwise, skip it.
(4)Tim W.
Good Amish style buffet right down the street from Yoder's. Der Dutchman has a large gift shop but most of them items are made in China instead of being made by the Amish. Everything seemed to be fresh in the bakery and there were a lot of different goodies there except shoo-fly pie, couldn't find it. We decided to try Der Dutchman because there was a line wrapped around Yoder's and no parking. Here you can order from the menu or select the buffet style meal which is loaded with a lot of awesome options. Salad bar, chicken, meatloaf, veggies, fried chicken, and two types of chocolate cake just to get started. Pie is $2 per slice if you chose the buffet or $3.29 per slice with everything else off the menu. It was crowded but they give you a pager and by the time we were done looking around the gift shop, we were ready to be seated. The waitresses were working hard all except ours, we didn't see her around much. Seemed like we just got a bad waitress but that happens from time to time and I don't think it represents the overall service as a whole. While we all ordered the buffet, we all agreed Der Dutchman was better than Yoder's.
(4)Annie W.
Best.Donuts.Ever --- We ended up coming in during the end of breakfast and went for the breakfast bar since it was so reasonably priced. We ended up trying these Carmel/Maple long john donuts filled with some sort of Bavarian creme filling. They were the best donuts I've ever had and I've been to plenty of fancy donut shops. They do have a shop in the front where you can purchase minis for .45 cents or whole donuts for 1.39. The Apple Fritters looked pretty darn good as well! If they opened up a corner drive thru at a busy area they'd have more cash than they knew what to do with. Unbelievable donuts. Great job!!!
(4)conor b.
Delicious baked goods, especially the donuts. Perfect to dine in at their restaurant for homestyle kitchen cooking, or easy to swing in and pick up whatever you need. This is our new stop for Saturday morning donuts. They also have milk from a local dairy farm that pairs perfectly with your box of donuts. Doughnuts that make you want to go nuts, they are that good. The people that work there are pleasant, and sweet. The donuts are made fresh on site and probably the best in town.
(5)Lynda J.
Everyone has to go just once! Get the buffet to start it's worth every cent! Love the clean fresh salad bar and the hot buffet is just as good! I never have room for dessert but the soft serve and cake is a yummy end! Traditional Amish style foods! Love the chicken and Friday night short rib special!!
(5)Steve K.
I was very disappointed during my first visit. The buffet selection was very small and the buffet table was very messy and the food was presented in a sloppy manner. However, the waitress service was friendly and helpful The restaurant is clean and the selection in the stores areas was plentiful
(2)Michael F.
Huge, family friendly place, featuring a hot & cold buffet. Fifteen dollars & change for all you can eat. More American than "dutch" IMHO with crispy chicken a favorite, along with desserts. There's a bakery & gift shop. Half price for young children. Closes at 8.
(4)Jules H.
My boyfriend and I were in Sarasota visiting my parents who were there for the winter and we decided to try Der Dutchman for breakfast. We didn't know what to expect and we were so happy that we went. When we walked in, we put in our names with the very lovely hostesses and were told it would be about a 10-15 minute wait, so we decided to look around the bakery for a bit. The bakery is huge and has tons of wonderful looking items from baked goods to jams to salads and we purchased several things when we were leaving. After only 5 minutes, our pager buzzed and we were seated in the restaurant which is huge, bright and spotless. We perused the menu, but all decided to hit the buffet which is so reasonably priced. It was filled with all of the usual suspects but also included a couple of interesting choices that were quite good. After lunch we went upstairs to check out the store which had beautiful Amish quilts and tons of other things to buy. We, unfortunately, didn't have much time to shop, but I'd definitely like to head up there again the next time I am in Sarasota.
(4)Ryan P.
The buffet is a little weak for the money, but the regular entrees, pie, and breakfast are excellent. Very clean and friendly, we have eaten there twice this week already.
(4)Robson T.
All. You. Can. Eat. Amish. Food. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Visited yesterday for the daily lunch buffet. The spread did not disappoint at all. The massive spread featured a great salad bar (although I did hesitate on the mustard eggs,) and an even greater lunch buffet spread. Star of the show? All of them! The fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potato, gravy, other turkey and chicken dishes, candied sweet potato--everything was on point. Our party of three just wished our tummies could handle more of the Der Dutchman goodness. Restaurant was very well kept. Clean. Efficient. And all the waiting staff were delightful. Decoration was quaint, and they even had a nice instrumental ring in the background. Perfect for a relaxing lunch. We loved Yoders for their spread and their pies. But this is like Yoders, buffet style (sans the pies) and it might just be Sarasota's best kept secret! (You have no idea.)
(4)Amanda P.
I love Der Dutchman! I was born and raised in Sarasota, FL. Been to this Amish restaurant countless times over the past 22 years! There's plenty of food to satisfy anybody's appetite... and this is coming from a picky eater! My grandpa is a daily regular for coffee from here... he sits with his old friends and chats about everything. Der Dutchman is a great place to eat at with your family. They have amazing custard pie as well! Downside: The price for dining in the restaurant for the buffet is somewhat pricey per person! And, I don't live in Sarasota anymore. But when I come home for visiting... I try to come in and eat at least once while I'm in town.
(4)Lorinn W.
Der Dutchman Restaurant has wonderful, fresh, home made, home cooked food. Everything we ate tasted delicious. Even their salad dressing tasted extra good. They have a great buffet with a large array of choices, from salads to desserts. They're very accommodating too.
(5)Taylor K.
This was my first visit here and I was so overwhelmed (in a good way) at everything this place offered. There are two parking lots surrounding the building which I'm told comes in handy during the winter. On the first floor is the bakery where you can get all sorts of treats to either take home with you or to eat there. I purchased a lemon filled donut which was so tasty! I normally like plain (black) coffee but felt compelled to try their Nutella ice blended coffee which was okay, not anything outstanding or worth ordering again. They also have a little sunroom area where you can enjoy eating/drinking your treats. In the corner, on your way to the bathroom and banquet room there is a section of postcards and key chains which are great if you're visiting or want to take home a keepsake. Upstairs is a shop fully of cute knickknacks. You can find a gift for almost anyone on that floor! There's everything from jewelry, clothing, accessories (purses, etc.), kitchenware, soaps, and even garden decor. I'm looking forward to visiting again as the seasons change. One of the sales associates informed me that they get really into their Christmas decorations and throw in-store parties!
(4)Chachala E.
Went to the buffet for dinner. Salad bar was great. Waitress was very good. Fried chicken, fish, pot roast mashed potatoes-a good assortment of comfort food at a reasonable price. $14.95 . Dessert choices include bread pudding, chocolate cake vanilla cake and custard ice cream. Looking at the pics posted, we also thought there would be an assortment of pastries, but that's in the bakery. You can order off a menu as well. Plus after your meal, you can wander around the gift shop and food emporium. Great place to take a group of fussy eaters.
(4)Amy L.
I would recommend Der Dutchman for their baked goods and their gift shop is cute. The food in general is cafeteria-style, pretty bland and limited as far as menu selection.
(3)Marqus R.
I sort put the staff of Der Dutchman to the test by requesting seating for a party of 54 people, and though I at first got the "You have to be kidding us?" facial expression, they quickly and kindly obliged though it did involve a lot of table moving and table setting on their part. In all, they certainly proved themselves to be up to the task. Der Dutchman is sort of a chain restaurant takeoff on Amish cooking which is far more predominate around the areas of Lancaster and Pennsylvania Dutch regions than in Florida, but all in all very much the same and comparatively, with the minor exceptions things like real home tasting Shoofly pie, pretty much identical. It's not only a large restaurant but also an Amish based marketplace and bakery. The donuts, breads and baked goods, all prepared on premises are the real thing. Their jarred goods like jellies, preserves, apple butter, pickled beets, peaches and the like really very much Amish though I couldn't find certain items, such as pickled fiddle sticks, probably because spring fern sprouts are more Amish farm picked and home prepared than being a commercially raised and prepared crop. The restaurant itself has a menu with a' la carte offerings but is basically buffet oriented. True to the tradition of what basically constitutes Amish cuisine, it's primarily meat and potato based and hearty in character; the type of food meant to nourish hard working farm hands. I've eaten in a good number of commercial restaurants offering Amish cooked meals as well as in the homes of the Amish, and no matter what you may here otherwise, the taste of the food between the two, commercial and home, are not the same. That is not to say that one is better or the other worse, just different. In fact, actual home cooked Amish food is most often the inferior, sometimes bordering upon culinary disasters. But, when you consider that the Amish are still trying to cook without electric, temperature controls, auto timing or other modern means, it's little wonder that most home meals don't come out as being very good. So, in short, though these knock off Amish food restaurants may claim the food is authentic to Amish home cooking, they're not and, for the most part, you can be glad that they aren't. Other than for certain items that may not be a part of the buffet, such as Amish style meatloaf, your best bet is to stick with the buffet. The food is generally good, inexpensive in that it only runs around $17 a plate including a drink (no alcohol served...though the Amish themselves tend to be big time drinkers...Anyone for Schnapps?) and dessert.
(3)Shannon M.
Wow! If you want a good old-fashioned meal, check this place out. Hearty Amish food abounds, particularly broasted chicken (all the crispy goodness of fried chicken with a lot less fat!), potato cakes (rather like latkes; they are even served with sour cream), and homemade noodles (eel-slippery and evading the fork!) You can peruse the enormous salad bar (which seems to be a popular choice) or order off the menu. We rounded out our meal with a huge piece of strawberry pie with fresh whipped cream. This was a wonderful meal, and immensely affordable; dinner for 3 was around $35! This restaurant is gigantic, and it's a good thing: it's apparently the place to be at dinnertime! Despite the crowds, it's not incredibly loud because the floors are carpeted and the ceiling has acoustical tiles, so both deaden the noise -- smart! Come no later than 5 pm if you don't want to be in a line (it moves fast though because there are so many tables). At one point a literal busload of Amish people arrived! After (or before) you eat, be sure to visit the upstairs gift shop and the bakery on the ground floor as well! Overall, a totally satisfying traditional meal.
(5)Tory R.
I love Der Dutchman! I live in Ohio and have been to the Der Dutchman locations there many times! I especially love coming to the one in Sarasota as I get two of my favorite things all in one day: beaches and home-cooking!! It seems like this is a larger restaurant than the Ohio ones....I dunno...maybe it's just me. The buffet is really good and all the food is hot and fresh! Of course, you can order from the menu of you choose. There is a nice sized bakery full of treats and deliciousness! Upstairs is Carlisle Gifts for trinkets and gifts. Great spot in the middle of Sarasota's Amish community! Love this place and will always come back!!
(5)Tom F.
Der Dutchman than Troyers than Der Dutchman again. Whoever owns it the food has remained the same GOOD! Make life simple and order the buffett! It has everything you want, the meats, salads, veggies, fixings yes! Your favorite family dinner has arrived!!! This place also has a gift shop and many bake goods. Please do yourself a favor and grab a slice of pie or take one home, there fantastic! My personal favorite is the peanut pie but I'm a peanut butter junkie so of course I'd pick this one!!! A quick FYI get here early (around 4-5:00 especially during tourist season) or expect to wait awhile!
(4)Vera B.
Best place for comfort food that I have ever been too. You can order or They have a buffet so you can have a little bit of everything. The fried chicken, ham or fish is amazing! The sides, like mac n cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes and corn, are mouth watering. And for dessert they have all kinds of pies for and additional price or all you can eat bread pudding!! I have been here dozens of times over the years and have never been disappointed!
(5)Lindsay G.
I'm giving this 3 stars since it wasn't my cup of tea, but hubs and his parents who went w/ us said they loved the food! I try to eat healthy, so that's likely why I didn't prefer it. First, they have a bakery up front and a store w/ local crafts upstairs. (Picture Cracker Barrel-ish) Both had a lot of great things! You can either order from the menu, but most go to the buffet. My 5 yr old loved their homestyle mac 'n' cheese and pulled chicken. My inlaws/hubs enjoyed the other offerings on the buffet...mashed potatoes, meatloaf, fried chicken, apple dessert, etc. I had the salad bar..it was ok. As far as the friendliness of the staff and cleanliness, that aspect was great.
(3)Helen S.
We stopped on our way to the beach and enjoyed the AYCE breakfast buffet. It was 8.99 per person. Delicious. Carb overload so be prepared. I loved the fried mush(or polenta to some) the OJ was fresh squeezed and oh so good. The Amish traditional peanut butter spread was outstanding. The homemade cream filled donuts were out of this world. So so delicious. The frozen fruit slush was cool and refreshing. Service was great. Clean place. Friendly and not overpriced right in the heart of Sarasota. Try it at least one time.
(4)