The historic neighborhood of Violetville, nestled in Southwest Baltimore, is a community built on a foundation of long-standing family roots, tree-lined residential streets, and a unique blend of urban connection and small-town warmth. Known for its well-kept mid-century rowhouses, historic turn-of-the-century farmhouses, and a proud tradition of close-knit neighbors, this welcoming corner of the city has just embraced a grounding culinary destination that honors old-world craftsmanship. The Violetville Amish Homestead Kitchen has officially opened its doors, delivering hearty, scratch-made comfort foods, slow-simmered staples, and legendary country hospitality straight to local metropolitan tables.
Stepping inside the transformed storefront provides an immediate, peaceful contrast to the fast-paced energy of the city. The expansive dining space is beautifully designed with hand-planed timber beams, custom-built solid oak dining tables, handwritten chalkboard menus, and heavy wooden shelves lined with colorful, hand-packed preserves. The incredible aroma of fresh-churned dairy, slow-roasting meats, and warm yeast rolls immediately signals to guests that everything here is made the old-fashioned way.
The Backstory: From Valley Pastures to Southwest Baltimore
The foundation of the Violetville Amish Homestead Kitchen rests on a multi-generational family legacy originating in the fertile agricultural valleys of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. For decades, the Hostetler and Yoder families operated a highly respected cooperative dairy and a traditional, wood-fired brick smokehouse, passing down timeless food preservation, curing, and baking techniques from one generation to the next.
The inspiration to establish a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in Baltimore was born after several family members spent seasons traveling through Maryland to supply fresh produce, hand-woven baskets, and custom woodwork to regional community markets. They quickly fell in love with Violetville’s unique charm, its residents’ deep respect for neighborhood heritage, and the genuine community hospitality found on every street corner. Recognizing that local families craved a dependable, sit-down destination for authentic, northern-style farmstead cooking and family-style gatherings, the families decided to plant permanent roots right in the neighborhood.
Bringing the massive kitchen to life was a true labor of love involving skilled community craftsmen. Over the course of several months, builders worked tirelessly to construct the restaurant, utilizing traditional hand-pegged joinery and locally sourced rough-sawn timber to create a stunning architectural space built to last for generations. The completed venue stands as a beautiful living bridge between historic agricultural traditions and the welcoming Violetville community.
Fan Favorites: What to Order
The Violetville Amish Homestead Kitchen operates entirely without modern shortcuts, prioritizing small-batch preparation, premium pasture-raised ingredients, and recipes that have been closely guarded for over a century. From hearty, slow-cooked family feasts to decadent morning pastries, these signature items are absolute crowd-pleasing favorites:
- The Traditional Amish Broasted Chicken: Hand-breaded in a proprietary blend of mild seasonings and flash-fried using a specialized high-pressure method, this legendary chicken emerges incredibly crispy on the outside while remaining remarkably tender and juicy on the inside.
- Slow-Simmered Beef Noodles: Thick, hand-rolled egg noodles are slow-cooked in a rich, velvety bone-broth gravy, served over a generous bed of creamy, skin-on mashed potatoes.
- Brown-Butter Mashed Potatoes: Real Yukon Gold potatoes are whipped daily with fresh-churned farm butter and heavy cream, finished with a signature drizzle of deeply browned butter that adds an unforgettable, nutty richness.
- Copper-Kettle Apple Butter & Hot Biscuits: Prepared fresh in the bakery all day long, these massive, flaky buttermilk biscuits are served warm alongside bowls of velvety, twelve-hour slow-simmered apple butter.
- Pillow-Soft Glazed Cinnamon Rolls: Baked fresh from scratch every single morning, these massive pastries are layered with rich cinnamon brown sugar and smothered in a cascading vanilla bean glaze.
Every dinner entrée is accompanied by a complimentary family-style “fixings” tray, featuring house-made sweet bread-and-butter pickles, creamy coleslaw, and fresh-baked potato bread.
Plan Your Visit
Whether you are bringing the entire extended family together for a comforting Sunday dinner, gathering with friends for a hearty weekday lunch, or simply stopping by to grab a box of warm pastries from the bakery counter, the Violetville Amish Homestead Kitchen welcomes you with unmatched hospitality, timeless surroundings, and exceptionally generous portions.
Location:
Violetville Amish Homestead Kitchen
3507 Wilkens Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21229