I've got to say that I haven't been more excited to write a review about a business than I do with…read morethis place. And this is none other than "Byler's Community Kitchen", an Amish-run supermarket/deli that is tucked in the small community of Jefferson, Ohio. Located on SR-193 and just south of SR-167 at Denmark Township, this particular place is in a very open space area surrounded by country roads, green grass in all directions, and signs (showing a horse & buggy) to let visitors know that you're in Amish Country.
After reading some of the Google reviews and studying some of the settlements where the Amish people reside, I was absolutely curious to see what their supermarket is all about. I arrived here during the morning of Thursday 9/14/2023 at around 10:30am. The parking area itself consists of a non-paved lot surrounded by a cooler that sells ice as well as a small area where you can fill up water for only $0.25, a real bargain which is way less than a travel center. Their hours of operation are also quite flexible as they're opened Monday through Friday from 8:30am-6:00pm, Saturday from 7:30am-6:00pm, and closed on Sunday.
The inside though is where the real excitement begins. Here you will find a vast amount of freshly baked bread in all varieties. In addition to the bread, they carry a huge assortment of cooking flour, sugar, honey, pasta, nuts, whole grains, coffee, jams/jellies, candies, fruits, vegetables, and other perishable snacks. They even have a very impressive refrigerated section including staple items such as eggs, milk, Amish country butter, cheeses, and cold cuts. But the real winner here are their desserts; everything that includes fresh baked fried pies, graham cracker pudding, cheesecake, and much more.
I did want to point out that they are also a full-on deli making some of the most delicious sandwiches. Although I didn't order a sandwich, a customer ahead of me did and it looks absolutely amazing with their homemade bread, a variety of fresh cold cuts, and cheeses. Not to mention, the prices are very affordable as you can get a ready-made sandwich in less than 5 minutes for only around $6. In addition to all of this, they also sell other various items including flowers, cooking utensils, and even Amish-made washcloths.
Since I was traveling from out of town, I didn't buy too much to haul on the way back home. But I did purchase some of their home-processed "Apple Butter" (for $4.50); which I might say is delicious on an English muffin, "Trail Mix Snack Bites" (for $3.08), and "Graham Cracker Pudding" (for $1.89). The pudding is absolutely heavenly as I've never eaten something so creamy & delicious. I have to say that the Amish ladies that work here were so friendly and hospitable. The Pennsylvania-Dutch accent was a little tough to understand but I still left with a thank you after visiting this place.
All in all, Byler's Community Kitchen is absolutely a must-visit if you want a true, authentic experience of a real Amish supermarket. Many Amish settlements are situated in Ohio but also in nearby Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois as well. Finally, it is great to have these people a part of our country with their traditional values and not relying on technology like the majority of us. With that said and done, I am giving the first Yelp review of "Byler's Community Kitchen" a unanimous five stars.
