If Sunday dinner is your love language, Dienner’s Country Restaurant speaks it fluently every day of the week. Tucked along Lincoln Highway in Soudersburg, this Pennsylvania Dutch favorite serves homestyle comfort that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen.
Expect a cozy buffet, gracious service, and prices that make seconds feel guilt free. Come hungry, because you will want room for pie, soft serve, and maybe a little peanut butter spread for good measure.
At a glance: location, hours, and vibe
You will find Dienner’s at 2855 Lincoln Hwy E, Soudersburg, with an easy pull in and plenty of parking. Doors open at 7 AM most days and close at 6 PM, with Friday running till 7 PM, and Sunday closed.
Inside feels warm, bright, and simple, like a church social hall with the chatter of families.
Expect a wait during prime times, but the buzzer system lets you stroll nearby shops or relax in the car. Once seated, the relaxed pace and friendly hellos set the tone for a homey meal.
The price is value driven, which makes going back for another plate feel perfectly reasonable.
Staff keep the room tidy, plates cleared fast, and coffee refilled without fuss. You will hear regulars swap pie tips with newcomers and point toward the salad and dessert bars.
It is the kind of place where strangers turn into table neighbors.
Think cafeteria style in spirit, buffet in practice, and Sunday dinner in soul. The room is smaller than big smorgasbords, yet it never skimps on comfort.
The focus is simple: good food, served kindly, at a pace that encourages lingering.
Buffet layout and flow
Dienner’s buffet is small but mighty, laid out to keep lines moving and plates hot. The main hot bar holds rotating proteins, hearty sides, and Pennsylvania Dutch staples.
A second bar shares space between salad fixings and sweet treats.
Start with soup or a simple salad to pace the meal. Then slide toward crowd favorites like fried chicken, roast beef, buttered noodles, and stuffing.
Servers gently coach first timers to try a little bit of everything and return for what you love.
Labels are clear, and the pans turn fast, so food stays fresh. Portions are easy to scoop in modest bites, which helps you sample more.
Keep an eye on the dessert section if you love pie, as popular slices can disappear at peak dinner rush.
Because the dining room is compact, refills feel close at hand and service never drifts. You will find napkins, toppings, and soft serve within quick reach.
It is an intuitive setup that makes a full buffet feel relaxed instead of chaotic.
Signature comfort dishes to try first
Begin with the fried chicken, widely praised for crisp skin and juicy meat. Pair it with roast beef and gravy for a true Sunday plate.
Add buttered noodles and mashed potatoes to round out the comfort profile.
If you visit on a pork and sauerkraut day, do not hesitate. The sweet tang wakes up the plate without overpowering.
Chicken noodle soup and chicken pot pie (the Pennsylvania Dutch slippery noodle style) deliver soothing, nostalgic richness.
Meatloaf on Mondays has its own fan base, and rotisserie chicken wins for clean flavor. Sweet potatoes with marshmallows show up like a holiday side.
Vegetables lean simple and gently seasoned, so consider salt and pepper at the table to taste.
Try a small spoon of beef tips over rice if available, then circle back for a full scoop. The goal is not excess but variety, pacing bites to savor textures and sauces.
With each pass, you will build a plate that feels like home on a weeknight.
Dessert game plan: pies, soft serve, and more
At Dienner’s, dessert is not an afterthought, it is the headline act. The strategy many locals share is to snag pie early if you see your favorite slice.
From shoofly to pumpkin custard and carrot cake, choices often rotate and sell quickly.
Balance rich plates by splitting desserts at the table. Soft serve ice cream makes a great bridge, especially with warm toppings if on offer.
If pie is your mission, consider one slice now and a second later for a sweet encore.
Some reviewers find the sweets more classic than flashy, which matches the restaurant’s homestyle spirit. Expect honest flavors, flaky crusts, and comfort over spectacle.
When in doubt, ask your server what was baked fresh that morning.
If you adore molasses notes, shoofly pie is the move. Prefer something lighter after a hearty meal, then soft serve or a simple cake slice hits the spot.
Either way, dessert adds the final touch that makes everyday dinner feel like Sunday.
What Pennsylvania Dutch means here
Pennsylvania Dutch at Dienner’s reads as humble, hearty, and rooted in community. Think farm kitchen flavors, careful but light seasoning, and recipes built to nourish.
Ingredients lean toward potatoes, noodles, roast meats, gravies, and seasonal vegetables.
Chicken pot pie uses broad noodles instead of a pastry crust, a regional hallmark. Pork and sauerkraut leans bright and comforting rather than harsh.
Ham loaf, when available, is tender, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying.
Side dishes hold a special place, like buttered noodles and stuffing that eat like centerpieces. The buffet’s restrained spice lets each ingredient speak, which some guests love and others salt to taste.
It is an approach that favors balance, warmth, and second helpings.
For dessert, classics like shoofly pie and sticky buns echo church bake sales and family tables. The overall effect is a meal that feels familiar even on your first visit.
If you are curious about tradition, this is a delicious, approachable starting point.
How to beat the wait and dine smart
Peak times at Dienner’s can bring a wait, especially Saturdays and early evenings. The buzzer system makes it easy to browse nearby gift shops or wait in your car.
Arriving earlier in the day or closer to opening helps you slip right in.
Because hours cap at 6 PM most days, plan dinner accordingly and aim ahead. Friday’s later close offers a touch more flexibility.
If you are seeing a show nearby, grab dinner a bit earlier to enjoy seconds without rushing.
Once seated, pace the buffet with small portions and repeat visits. Keep a little room for desserts that tend to run out at peak times.
Water and coffee refills are quick, so you can linger and chat between plates.
Weekday lunches feel calmer while still offering the greatest hits. If a line forms, do not worry, turnover is steady and the dining room efficient.
With just a little planning, the wait becomes part of the fun, not a hurdle.
Budget friendly value and portions
Dienner’s is known for prices that feel like a throwback without skimping on quality. Lunch buffet sits in the mid teens range, with dinner just a touch higher.
For what you get, the value rivals many larger smorgasbords in the county.
Because the buffet is focused rather than sprawling, waste stays low and freshness high. Plates invite small scoops, which lets you explore without overdoing it.
Servers keep your table tidy so you can relax and enjoy another round.
A la carte options provide affordable flexibility if you are not in a buffet mood. Sandwiches like chicken salad can be standouts, and portions are generous.
Even with coffee and dessert, the check often lands below comparable tourist stops.
If you are feeding a family, the combination of price, speed, and steady quality shines. It is the kind of place where you leave full, happy, and not worried about the bill.
That is rare, and it is a big reason people return.
Service, hospitality, and accessibility
Hospitality is part of the draw at Dienner’s, with servers who move fast and smile often. Coffee pours keep pace, and plates disappear before you need to ask.
Most visits feel genuinely cared for, like a neighbor made you dinner.
The dining room is clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate. Restrooms are stocked and tidy, and parking offers ample room.
If you have mobility concerns, the compact layout and quick assistance help a lot.
Like any busy spot, there are occasional rough edges, from a curt reply to a lukewarm side. Management appears attentive, and turnover on the buffet is steady.
When something is off, a polite ask usually brings a quick fix.
Overall, the tone is gracious and grounded. You will feel welcome whether you are a first timer or a regular.
That consistency keeps the place buzzing with multigenerational families and travelers alike.
Plan your perfect visit: itinerary and nearby stops
Make it a mini Lancaster County day. Arrive before the lunch rush, get seated quickly, and start with soup or salad.
After a peaceful first plate, stroll back for fried chicken, roast beef, and buttered noodles.
Save space for dessert, snagging your favorite pie slice when you see it. Coffee pairs well with pumpkin custard or shoofly if you like molasses notes.
Linger a bit, then step outside to browse nearby gift shops.
If you are headed to a Sight and Sound show, plan dinner early and unhurried. Friday gives you a later close, but most days wrap by 6 PM.
The relaxed timing makes conversation easy and the meal memorable.
Before leaving, note the hours for your next trip and consider a weekday lunch. With value pricing and friendly service, it becomes a reliable anchor stop.
By the second visit, you will feel like a regular who knows exactly where the pie lives.