The Bounty of the County

by Rochelle A. Shenk | Photography by Nick Gould

July 2015

Good ‘N Plenty and its owners, the Lapp family, have been providing Lancaster County hospitality and a taste of the county’s bounty to locals and visitors alike since 1969.

“We’re still family-owned,” reports Glenn Lapp. “We now have the third and fourth generations of our family in the business.” The family’s objective hasn’t wavered over the past 45 years: “We’re in the people business; we’ve served people from all over the world,” Glenn states.

What began in a farmhouse that dates to 1871, Good ‘N Plenty has grown to provide seating for about 600 guests. Glenn says local residents often have a misconception that with such a large seating capacity, the restaurant is always packed. “That’s often the case, but there are slow times; most week nights there’s not a long wait. Everyone is welcome here – we’re not just for visitors to our area. We do have a lot of ‘regulars’ and offer a frequent diner program,” he explains.

Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and family-style dining are the hallmarks of the restaurant. Food is prepared fresh daily using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. For example, Glenn notes that in season the cucumber salad is prepared using cucumbers picked fresh from the Lapp family gardens. Ingredients for the pepper cabbage also come from a local garden. Locally grown tomatoes are also featured in the restaurant. “Our guests are interested in a farm-to-table experience,” Glenn observes. “Visitors to the area see what we grow here, and at our restaurant they get to taste it. We have a good reputation, and our food quality is consistent, both of which are important.” In addition to utilizing locally sourced ingredients, rolls, breads, desserts and ice cream are made fresh daily in the on-site bakery.

Good’ ‘N Plenty is a member of the PA Preferred Program, which, according to its website, is “a public-private partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and many companies throughout the commonwealth. The program is working with thousands of companies and stores to support and promote Pennsylvania products.” The Lapps also own and operate Bird-In-Hand Farmer’s Market, which opened in 1976.

Good ‘N Plenty’s menu has not changed very much since Christ and Dolly Lapp opened its doors 45 years ago. One of the most popular menu items is the PA Dutch Sampler, which includes fried chicken (the house specialty), meat loaf, pork-and-sauerkraut and two sides, the most popular of which are whipped potatoes with gravy and brown buttered noodles.

What has changed are the dining options. While all-you-can-eat, family-style dining is the most popular option, menu dining was added in 2009. As a result, there are separate dining rooms for each type of dining. In Glenn’s estimation, “Some people like a more traditional restaurant experience. We also realize that it’s a way to attract local residents, as well as visitors to our area. And although we’ve had menu dining for nearly six years, a lot of people still don’t know about it.”

Menu options include the homemade items for which the restaurant is known, including baked chicken pie, baked meatloaf, fried chicken and the PA Dutch Sampler. Entrées are served with two sides and dessert. Soups, salads and sandwiches are also offered, as is a weekly special.

The Lapp family also recognized the popularity of takeout, and in 2010 they launched Good ‘N Plenty 2 Go. The endeavor proved to be a winner, and the menu was expanded last year. “We know that people are busy, so we want to make it easy for families to have a homemade meal. Everything we make is available to-go, and call-aheads are encouraged,” Glenn says.

Banquets and private parties can be accommodated, and there’s also a birthday club. Should you have to wait for seating, there’s an extensive gift shop on the premises, as well as a collection of 3-D Zook paintings of local scenes. And, no visit is complete without a stroll through the bakery.

Good ‘N Plenty is located at 150 Eastbrook Road (off Route 896) in Ronks. Call 394-7111 or visit  goodnplenty.com. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday (seasonally), 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.