I saw the billboard on I-64 which promised “Amish cooking” and “everything made from scratch.” I don’t know what the first term is supposed to refer to, but I do understand the second, and the Schwartz’s fell flat on that account. I stopped for breakfast, and it may well have been made from “scratch” in the kitchens of Sysco. The ads also touted “family style serving.”
I admire anybody in the restaurant biz – it’s tough going. And this seems to be the perfect watering hole for the local rural community – meaning I am doubtful they get many tourists, it’s five miles off the interstate on a road to nowhere.
In retrospect, as I got further down (west) on I-64, there were quite a few billboards for “Amish” restaurants.
Here’s what I got out of the experience. I had stopped for breakfast, which they serve on weekends only. Apparently the balance of meal service, every day, is “cafeteria style,” which to me is not the same as “family style,” which I take to mean platters of food brought to the table for all to share, like I had in Wisconsin Dells at the Paul Bunyan Cook Shanty. (mmm, platters of breakfast pork meats!).
The breakfast menu was limited. Egg dishes, biscuits and gravy (which seemed to be a popular order), pancakes. I ordered the “breakfast casserole,” an unusual choice for me. Scrambled eggs, bread crumbs, bacon, sausage, cheese, with hash browns and toast.
There weren’t that many customers, and there was an abundance of server help, but the food was slow, and sorry, folks, but nothing special. Like I implied above, I really don’t think that much of it was “from scratch.” Servers (which may have been all family members) were not very knowledgeable about the dishes.
Anyway, it was OK. I can’t recommend it, really, but I can’t say “don’t go,” either.
They are customers of Sysco, that was evident from the condiments and other table products. And as I don’t care about healthy eating, I’d prefer butter on the table to “whipped topping.”
But maybe that’s what the Amish are known for. I strongly suspect the lunch and dinner offerings would be much better.
Schwartz Restaurant Menu
Schwartz Family Restaurant Review