Zehnders Chicken Dinners

No account of Frankenmuth is complete without a chicken dinner, and Zehnders is one of the two names that built the reputation. The restaurant grew out of a hotel and tavern that served travelers in the nineteenth century and developed its famous all-you-care-to-eat family-style format over the decades. A table is seated, and platters of golden fried chicken arrive alongside bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, buttered noodles, stuffing, vegetables, cranberry relish, bread and a relish tray, with soup and salad before and ice cream or dessert after. Servers return with refills until the table taps out, which makes the meal a fixed-price feast rather than something you order item by item. The dining rooms are large, themed with Bavarian touches and alpine murals, and the staff are used to groups of every size, from couples on a weekend away to extended families and charter bus parties. Prepare to be full, and to be told you can still have more.

Understanding the format helps. Dinner is served family style, so everyone at the table shares the same platters, and the menu usually offers chicken as the main event with alternatives such as ham, fish or roast beef for people who do not want it. Children are normally charged a reduced rate. The bread, the soup and the chicken noodle side are classic starters, and the cabbage salad and relish tray are older traditions that regulars look for.

Gluten, vegetarian and dairy-free needs can often be accommodated with notice, but this is not a place for improvisation, so speak to the staff when you arrive or call ahead. The desserts, including the ice cream and bakery items, are made on site or locally.

Timing matters more than most visitors expect. On summer weekends, school holidays and during festival weekends, waits can run well over an hour, and parties without a reservation may find the rush of walk-ins slow going. Reservations are accepted and strongly recommended for larger groups; weekday lunches and early dinners are the calmest.

Many experienced visitors choose a late afternoon seating, which pairs well with a morning of shopping and an evening stroll across the covered bridge. If you want to compare the two big names, plan for two different meals on two different days, because one full family-style dinner is plenty for a single sitting.

Zehnders is also a larger complex than just a restaurant. The grounds include a bakery, a gift shop, a fudge and sweets counter, and a separate hotel and indoor waterpark across the property, which makes it a convenient base for families who want everything within walking distance. The dining room can get loud and busy, and the ambiance is more cheerful than romantic, so it suits relatives, children and friends more than a quiet anniversary dinner.

Finish with a short walk along Main Street to settle the meal, and you will understand why the town lives off this tradition. Check current hours and any seasonal schedules with the restaurant before you visit.

A few small tactics improve the meal. Pace yourself on the first platter, because the sides are as good as the chicken and the refills keep coming. Ask for the gravy early, since it disappears fast, and save a little room for the dessert tray. If you are traveling with a large group, nominate one person to talk to the host about seating so everyone sits together.

Leftovers are usually not allowed to leave the table in the all-you-care-to-eat format, but the bakery next door sells takeaway treats, and many visitors walk out with a loaf of bread or a box of cookies for the road.