Schwartz Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Birdseye

This is a bit off the road trip highway commute, but worth it if you like comfort food! It's about a total 10 min detour going there and back to the highway.

Cafeteria style setup - you go through the line and pick your entree, sides and desserts. You kinda need to have a plan before you start. Check the menu and decide if you are doing a dinner - entree with sides - or AYCE - a few bucks more but unlimited. I opted for unlimited because I knew I wanted a dessert and once I added that it was only a $4 difference. Let me tell you I made that $3 up in food! I was lucky there was a local in line by me and she gave me the scoop so I was prepared.

I tried just about EVERYTHING. Here's my faves: -fried chicken, get a couple pieces, its that good -meatloaf, so moist and great flavor mashed potatoes, perfect texture, buttery flavor cheesy brocolli - delicious mac n cheese, LOVED the sauce and it was a bit runny which I like buttered noodles, LOVE the noodle and had a good flavor -coconut cream pie, amazing texture, best cream filling I've ever had! -bread slice with homemade peanut butter, so soft and warm and WOW

Things that were good, but I wouldn't order again because, well see above lol lasagna, heavy on cheesy, I prefer meaty chicken and noodles/dumplings, kinda plain, not my preference chocolate cake, was dry, I didn't finish it (I know I can't believe I'm even typing this lol!)

Once you have your tray you pick a seat and eat. If you purchase all you can eat and want more but the line is full, don't worry employees come around to check on you and they will grab you an item so you don't have to wait again.

Overall the stop is very efficient and tasty. The food is better than I even hoped! The service is friendly and helpful. One employee even offered to put runny items in their own bowls which I greatly appreciated!

If you are driving by - STOP HERE! If you live nearby - GO HERE EVERY WEEK!

I can't wait to be back in the area and come again. I'm already...

VERY SLOW and UNAPOLOGETIC. We had five people for a late breakfast (it was Sunday so some would even call it brunch). We arrived at 10:15 and were told "It's still breakfast so it will be about 45 minutes, or you can wait for the lunch buffet at 11:00." I guess we just didn't believe them or thought we misunderstood so we ordered breakfast. Nothing fancy eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes and toast. And then we sat and sat and sat. 30 minutes later we found our waitress and asked her about our order. She said "Yep, we're working on it". At 11:00 on the nose the buffet was loaded with pies and fried chicken and veggies, still nothing for us. Our order came out at 11:15 - a full hour wait for something Waffle House could have knocked out in less than 10 minutes. How was it? Average, they were fine eggs and bacon, but everyone in my party was so upset it wouldn't have mattered. I went to find the manager to see how this could happen. I asked why it took an hour for our breakfast to come out. He said "Well that happens when we get real busy like this." So I clarified "You mean this was just due to backup? This is your normal service?" He said, "Yes, you should really try to plan for it." I was floored. There were less than 30 people in the restaurant when we arrived. I know this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, but the place was less than half full. Since we had never been there and were on vacation in the area, we had no way to "plan for it". I paid my $51 bill and left with my wife so upset she was in tears. So in summary: 1) SLOW and they don't care 2) Food was average at best 3) Overpriced 4) They stole an hour of my life. Drive to French Lick or back to a Waffle House on the interstate and you will be much happier. Consider...

We saw this place as we drove to French Lick for our Eclipse Lodging.  For me, being Southern, and appreciating Good Country Cooking, it became a must visit stop before returning back to Atlanta.

Schwartz Family Restaurant did not disappoint.  The vegetables, beans, broccoli, corn, potatoes with cheese, noodles, county lasagna, fried chicken, and meatloaf, really hit the spot for this Country Boy and his Little Vietnamese Princess.  The sleeper of all was the chicken tortilla soup (we elected no tortilla chips)  was the best we have ever had.  My only regret was that I didn't persuade my Little Princess to forsake the "Hawaiian themed restaurant in French Lick for another food adventure here!  My suggestion is to be hungry, get the "all you can eat" and sample their dining delights!

This meal reminded me of our grand family meals when the family gathered to sample the cooking all of my Aunt's in Vesta, Georgia sixty years ago!  To the Schwartz Family, looking forward to your cookbook!

The service was excellent, and I cannot stress how good the food was.

Finally, I found many of the negative reviews amusing.  Clearly, were were at different...