Das Essen Haus

This place is in the middle of nowhere for starters so you probably are a local if you dine here. I'm not and was in the area visiting family and picked the spot at random because it had a cool name. The decor is quaint, but sadly the food wasn't. Lots of sandwiches, a buffet and all the basics a small town place would have sans alcohol.  The lunch  buffet was  horrid--bland over-cooked food that made Gordon Foods seem goumet. Rubber-like beef and dry over-cooked 'fried' chicken.  I ordered turkey, homemade noodles and potato salad off the menu--the turkey was fine, the noodles were overcooked and mushy but the homemade potato salad was great. Gravy smothered everything of course. The waitress was not very friendly--talking to the owner about family life the entire time we were there, never checked back to refill water glasses of coffee and was cold as ice (but friendly to another table of 'regulars'. Surreal in the respect the restaurant was planning an Ann Arbor station (WUOM-FM) in the background and we were at least 80 miles from the city. If you like new adventures and vanishing Americana and have low expectations, this place will be fine if you want to avoid a chain or diner type spot.  But if you think quaint and small town is going to mean home cooking like Mom used to make, you aren't going to get it. Kudos for being around 40 years though. Avoid unless you are a local. Three stars only for the experience of getting to visit a disappearing piece of America. One star to two for the food.

Been eating here for over a decade and the food has remained consistently good.  I usually order the buffet which in addition to fried chicken has Salisbury steak (at lunch time).  One member of our party always orders off the menu, ordering both sandwiches or breakfast items and those items have also been consistently good.  The service is good (usually) and the prices reasonable. It's a great alternative to The Barn at Sauder's nearby.  The food is better and you don't get the tour buses or long wait.