One of the can’t-miss experiences in Shipshewana is eating inside an Amish home. You’ll find the comforts of home, delicious food, and relaxing country views, but it’s the food and atmosphere that make it a moment you won’t soon forget. However, when it comes to finding an Amish home to eat at, we’ve got some tips for you so you can reserve a date, arrive without worry, and sit down for one of the heartiest meals you’ve ever eaten.
1. Reserve Your Date Ahead of Time
As soon as you decide you want to visit Shipshewana Amish Country and want to eat in an Amish home, you will need to call the homeowner ahead of time to make a reservation. Be flexible on the time of day and date of your trip. Many visitors have success when they book their hotel, get their Blue Gate Theatre tickets, and make their in-home meal reservation all at the same time and far in advance. This way, you can fill in the rest of your dining and touring experiences around the Amish availability.
It’s recommended to book your spot a few weeks in advance of your trip to Shipshewana. Just as you would at a high-end restaurant, it’s required that you call and speak with the owner of the Amish home to ensure they have your details before you arrive. They are not a traditional restaurant and cannot take last-minute reservations. If they are not cooking for a big group, they are not open to the general public.
Note: You must make a reservation by phone. You cannot book a meal on the same day. You need to make a reservation days ahead of your arrival in town. (30 days). Nor can you arrive at an Amish home to join a meal without a reservation.
Shipshe Pro Tip: The homeowner may not answer the phone when you call; that is normal. Leave a message with your details and group size, and they will return the call at their leisure. If you do not hear back, repeat the process until your reservation is confirmed by the host.
2. It’s a Group Event – Small or Large
Typically, dining inside an Amish home requires you to have a group of people. While this is standard practice for many Amish homes, many may allow smaller groups of less than 15 or even couples of two to four people. If you are confirmed to dine inside an Amish home, be assured that you will be seated at your own private table away from the group.
Shipshe Pro Tip: When you call to make your reservation, ask the owner how many people they need for the reservation on your specific day of interest. In-home Amish meals are not a typical restaurant with normal operating hours (although all of the homes the Visitors Center refers you to are certified by the health board).
3. Bring Cash
As with any Amish-owned business, you will need to bring cash with you to pay for the experience and leave a tip.
Note: Pricing varies depending on the Amish home you choose and the meal being served. Make sure to ask about the price and what meal is being served before you confirm.
Shipshe Pro Tip: ATMs can be found at the Shipshewana Visitors Center, Blue Gate Restaurant, E&S Sales, and the Davis Mercantile.
4. What to Expect when you Arrive
The experience won’t be similar to dining inside a restaurant; instead, you might be seated at banquet tables or might be seated at a separate table at the end of the room. It’s an intimate setting that allows everyone to get to know one another before the meal is served. Your hosts will greet you when you arrive. Once it’s time to begin, the host will join everyone in the dining hall to lead the group in a prayer. After the prayers, the Amish feast will begin.
5. Food, Seconds, & Dessert
Plates heaped full of homemade food will be brought out and placed on the table to be passed around family style. Family members, including children, will bring the food to each table and come back around to refill your plates and drinks.
You will not choose from a menu, as it is up to the Amish host family to decide what they will serve on the day of the meal.
Here are examples of meals you may find when you book to dine inside an Amish home:
- Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade noodles, gravy, green beans, and bread. An Amish Thresher Meal, consisting of wedding steak, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and homemade dressing. While a Haystack meal is crushed crackers, rice, ground beef, taco seasoning, lettuce, tomato, and gooey cheese sauce, you stack on your plate to make what looks like a haystack you’d see on farms.
You’ll want to leave room for seconds, as they will be passed around partly through the meal.
Of course, dessert is served last and is delicious slices of freshly made pie. Flavors range, but if you get the chance to try the Amish peanut butter, it’s a must.
If you have a dietary restriction, please let the Amish host know when you first book the reservation. Most Amish can accommodate special dietary needs, but you’ll they will need to know in advance.
Shipshe Pro Tip: Bring your stretchy pants as you’ll be served a lot of food.
6. Etiquette, Attire, & Photographs
Being respectful of your Amish hosts is important. Before you head to your meal inside their home, here are some essential things you need to know.
You will be visiting farms and homesteads, so be mindful of buggies, horses, pedestrians, and bicyclists on your drive. You’ll also be taking backroads, which may be gravel and bumpy, so take it slow and enjoy the journey.
If you have questions about Amish life, culture, and religion, feel free to ask your hosts.
- Clothing: You’ll want to dress comfortably. Casual clothing is acceptable.
- Photography: You should always ask permission before taking photos of the Amish. You are free to photograph your food, but please refrain from asking your hosts to pose for photos.
7. Hours
Amish home meals are offered for lunch and dinner throughout the week and on Saturdays. They do not offer meals on Sundays and holidays as they, like other Amish businesses in Shipshewana and LaGrange County, are closed. The Amish culture honors Sunday as a sacred day to spend time with family, go to church, and be with family.
Dining inside an Amish home is a fun opportunity to meet new people and try cuisine you’ve never experienced. Before you arrive, remember to make a reservation in advance by calling the host to confirm your booking. You may play some phone tag and leave messages back and forth, but you are not booked until the Amish host confirms your reservation.
To learn more about dining inside an Amish home, read what travel writer Brandy Gleason said about her visit.
Book your next reservation to dine inside an Amish home below.
A Taste of Shipshewana | Eden Meadow Banquets | Yoder’s Homestyle Cooking, LLC | The Carriage House
Author
Official Amish Country Visitors Center
