Great PA Dutch cooking can be found all over the Lancaster area on Route 30, Route 896 and Route 722. ZINN'S DINER on Rt. 272, Denver is locally famous, and the GOOD 'N PLENTY RESTAURANT Rt. 896, Smoketown, is a giant family style tourist trap. It's now expanded to accommodate bus loads of tourists, so take that for what its worth. The food is very typical of the area and of good quality. You buy a ticket (currently $15.95 per adult) to sit down "family style" and eat as much as your poor overloaded stomach can handle.
If you want something a little more "down home" try the Amish Barn on Route 896 just north of Route 30. A smaller menu but just as authentic, you can buy a normal meal at decent prices. Their salad bar is stocked full of the various salads and cold dishes that make me think of PA dutch cooking: chow-chow, potato salad, pickled red beet eggs, carrot salads and cottage cheese and apple butter. The dining room is a lovely open wood paneled room with big tables and the staff is friendly. Highly recommended, and the gift shop upstairs has all the "dutchie" crafts and treats you could ever want. PS: They had a nice selection of cook books.
Both a high quality department store and restaurant, DONECKERS
on N. State St. in Ephrata is a favorite. My mother goes there once a year with "the girls" for shopping and afternoon tea. I would make reservations.
If you are in the Kutztown area, make sure you stop at BOWER'S HOTEL
on Bowers Rd. in, yes, Bowers PA. Its loud and casual, with a lively bar that has live music. Get "Bowerized' on one of their oversized cocktails.
My first introduction to real German cuisine and a perennial favorite is the ALPENHOF RESTAURANT on Morgantown Rd. in Reading. Last time I was there the sauerbraten was excellent.