Des Dutch Essenhaus — Restaurant in Clinton Township

This was one of the most awful experiences I have had at a restaurant. We should have known when we showed up and the place was completely empty during dinnertime. We ordered the salad wagon which was decent but the arugula was wilted, not terrible though. Ordered root beer and it was delicious, probably the high point of the meal. Thats where things got worse. Out waitress took our order, I got the Roast Pork (they were out of Roast Beef) with mashed potatoes and gravy abd green beans and my girlfriend got the Broasted Chicken (All White Meat) with mashed potatoes and gravy and the salad wagon. Within 5 minutes of ordering the food came out which was suspicious but I didnt think too much of it until I tasted the food. My girlfriends Broasted Chicken consisted of two shriveled wings and a dehydrated chicken breast that wouldnt be fit for dog food. The chicken was so bland it felt like they went out of their way to make it as bland as possible. It had clearly sat under a heat lamp for the better part of two hours before being served. The mashed potatoes were runny and tasteless and the gravy was weak. My roast pork was tasteless as well but atleast wasnt extremely dry. I looked and my girlfriend in shock because this place got good reviews and looked cool. The only redeemable food there was apple butter that was clearly from their gift shop. When we went to look at their bakery it was barren, with only two bags of cookies and a dozen whoopie pies. Absolutely crushed as this was our first time and I will not return. Atleast the waitress took the broasted chicken off the check after we complained and she even said "yeah the chicken did look pretty dry back there". I was appalled that someone would knowingly serve subpar food to a customer. Shame as Amish cooking is absolutely delicious. Two more things: their chicken noodle soup tastes like water and their chili is bland. Such a disappointment and...

Truly an local institution and an integral part of my childhood growing up in Mid-Ohio in the late 1990's early 2000's so I have a lot of nostalgia for this place. Was back several times in the last few years and found that the quality was very hit and miss. On one occasion it was great just like I remembered it and the last time the food was mediocre and quality of environment was poor. At its best the broasted chicken is cooked perfectly, the stuffing is just right and warm, and the mashed potatoes are light and fluffy. At its worst the chicken is cold and rubbery and the sides are just OK.

Also the ownership/management needs to do something dramatic with the building because the dining experience is subpar. I personally really love historic buildings but this place is going to fall down around their ears if they keep deferring maintenance and the whole place appears not to have been cleaned well in a decade. Just because it is old doesn't mean that it can't be clean --The bathrooms are a terrible and antiquated and don't appear to work well. We also had our meal interrupted by a swarm of flies and the staff kind of just shrugged their shoulders.

Going to have to try it again at some point but hope I don't get burned again by my nostalgia for the place. Anyways I do like this place better than their competition in Walnut Creek & Berlin since it is far more authentic and not a mass of people stampeding through the place to plunder the buffet like at those other establishments. Currently I'm trying to content myself with fast food fried chicken, which is quite good (if you know where to go) but not the Des Dutch Essenhaus back...

My family and I visited a few weeks ago to celebrate my husband and i's anniversary. We both got the ribs. (pictured) They were phenomenal, even with my plate having BBQ all over it. Mushrooms and fried were scrumptious as well! The service was prompt and attentive as well, all except for having to ask for rolls. We didn't have to do that before - they automatically just came out. Our complaint was the gentleman that played guitar. We must've went on a night where they had special music - and we got sat 10 feet away from him, and he had an amp.. Most of dinner we were forced to listen to the mediocre music, and weren't able to even conversate without yelling. We were the only people in the room full of empty tables and chairs. There's no reason we should've been sat right beside the entertainment. I have been a server for years - never would I sit folks that close, in an empty room. We're going to hear it 3 tables away and be more inclined to tip - if we don't feel like you're shoving the man in our faces. Just saying. I definitely wouldn't have sat another family directly beside the only table either. With us all trying to talk over the music - we were all sharing conversations. Not cool. Very poor hosting on that end.

On another note - I found an adorable mushroom 🍄 made from wood and a Walnut. Only $1.50! Super simple,...