I’ve eaten at plenty of places across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for my first visit to The Log Inn in Haubstadt. When I pulled into that massive parking lot, I honestly thought I’d taken a wrong turn back in time.
This isn’t just another restaurant trying to serve comfort food. It’s a genuine piece of Hoosier history where Abraham Lincoln himself once stopped for a meal, and where families have been gathering around enormous platters of fried chicken and catfish for generations.
The moment you walk through those doors, you understand why folks drive hours just to sit at these tables and pass bowls of vinegar slaw and German fried potatoes until everyone’s stuffed. This place doesn’t follow modern restaurant trends or worry about Instagram-worthy presentations.
Instead, it focuses on what matters: massive portions of home-cooked food served family-style, the kind of meal that makes you loosen your belt and promise you’ll come back next month.
Historic Building Where Lincoln Actually Dined
The original log room at The Log Inn isn’t a reconstruction or a themed dining area designed to look old. It’s the actual space where Abraham Lincoln sat down for a meal back in 1844 when this place served as a stagecoach stop.
Walking into that preserved room feels like stepping through a portal, with hand-hewn logs and period details that transport you straight back to frontier Indiana.
The restaurant sits tucked away in the countryside where you’d least expect to find such a significant piece of history. Most people drive right past rural spots like this without a second glance.
But locals know better, and they’ve been protecting this treasure for generations.
The building has expanded over the years to accommodate the crowds that show up every Thursday through Sunday, but that original log structure remains the heart of everything. You can request to dine in the Lincoln room for special occasions, though you’ll need to plan ahead since it books up fast.
The worn floorboards and aged timber remind you that thousands of travelers have passed through these same doors, seeking good food and warm hospitality.
If you’re fascinated by Indiana history, consider visiting the nearby Warrick County Museum at 217 S 1st St in Boonville to learn more about the region’s heritage.
Family-Style Service That Actually Means Something
Most restaurants claim to offer family-style dining, but The Log Inn delivers the real deal. Your server doesn’t just bring individual plates to each person at the table.
Instead, they arrive with enormous platters and bowls meant for sharing, and they keep refilling them until your group waves the white flag of surrender.
When you order fried chicken or catfish, the sides come automatically in generous portions meant for passing. Bowls of mashed potatoes with rich brown gravy, tangy vinegar-based coleslaw, perfectly seasoned green beans, sweet corn, and those famous German fried potatoes all make their way to your table.
You can add extra items for just a dollar more, which feels almost criminal given the quantity they bring out.
The system works beautifully for large groups and family gatherings, which explains why retirement parties and birthday celebrations pack this place regularly. Everyone reaches across the table, serves themselves, and passes dishes to their neighbors just like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house.
No pretense, no fuss, just honest food meant for sharing.
This approach to dining creates a different atmosphere than typical restaurants. Strangers at nearby tables often strike up conversations about which sides they recommend or how many pieces of chicken they’ve managed to eat.
It’s communal in the best possible way.
Fried Catfish That Draws Crowds From Surrounding States
The catfish at The Log Inn has achieved legendary status among people who take their fried fish seriously. Coated in a perfectly seasoned breading that stays crispy without being greasy, these fillets arrive at your table hot enough that you’ll want to give them a minute to cool.
The fish itself is tender and flaky, with that fresh taste that tells you they’re not cutting corners with frozen fillets that have been sitting in a warehouse for months.
Reviewers from as far as Arkansas have mentioned making special trips just to taste this catfish again. That’s not the kind of dedication you see for mediocre food.
The preparation is straightforward, letting the quality of the fish shine through without drowning it in heavy sauces or complicated preparations that mask the natural flavor.
When you order catfish here, it comes with all those family-style sides that make the meal complete. The combination of crispy fish, creamy mashed potatoes, and tangy slaw creates the kind of flavor balance that keeps you reaching for just one more bite long after you’re technically full.
Many regulars swear by adding a little of that coleslaw syrup to their fish for an extra kick of flavor.
After your meal, you might enjoy a drive to Harmonie State Park at 3451 Harmonie State Park Rd in New Harmony for a peaceful walk to work off all that fried goodness.
Fried Chicken That Rivals Your Grandmother’s Recipe
Multiple generations of families have built traditions around The Log Inn’s fried chicken. One reviewer mentioned eating here since childhood with grandparents and now bringing their own kids to continue the tradition.
That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when a restaurant consistently delivers chicken that tastes like the best home-cooked meal you’ve ever had.
The pieces arrive at your table with a golden-brown crust that provides satisfying crunch without being tough or overly thick. Inside, the meat stays juicy and tender, seasoned just enough to enhance the natural chicken flavor without overwhelming it.
Some folks prefer the white meat, others go straight for the dark meat, but everyone agrees the quality stays consistent no matter which pieces you choose.
The chicken pairs beautifully with the brown gravy and fresh-baked biscuits that come as part of your meal. You can pile everything together on your plate or eat them separately, but either way you’ll understand why people consider this some of the best fried chicken in the Midwest.
The preparation method is straightforward and traditional, proving that sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
One word of caution: come hungry and give yourself time. The food is prepared fresh, which means you might wait longer than at fast-food joints, but that wait pays off with every bite.
German Fried Potatoes That Steal The Show
If you’ve never heard of German fried potatoes, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. These aren’t your typical french fries or hash browns.
They’re sliced potatoes fried up with onions until everything gets crispy and golden, with that perfect combination of soft interior and crunchy edges that makes you keep reaching for just one more forkful.
Several reviewers specifically call out these potatoes as a highlight of their meal, and they’re right to do so. The preparation is simple but executed perfectly, letting the natural potato flavor shine through while adding just enough seasoning to make them addictive.
Some folks call them fried potatoes, others call them American potatoes, but whatever name you use, they’re absolutely worth adding to your table for an extra dollar.
The potatoes come out in generous portions meant for sharing, served piping hot in bowls that get passed around the table. They complement both the fried chicken and catfish beautifully, and they’re substantial enough that vegetarians in your group can make a satisfying meal out of the side dishes alone.
The restaurant has earned praise for accommodating different dietary needs while still maintaining the quality that keeps people coming back.
These potatoes represent the kind of straightforward, honest cooking that defines The Log Inn’s entire approach to food: take quality ingredients, prepare them properly, and serve them hot in quantities that ensure nobody leaves hungry.
Homemade Desserts Worth Saving Room For
After you’ve worked your way through mountains of fried chicken, catfish, and all those sides, you might think there’s no possible way you could eat another bite. Then the dessert menu arrives and you remember that The Log Inn makes their pies and cakes from scratch, and suddenly you’re finding room you didn’t know existed.
The German chocolate cake shows up regularly in glowing reviews, with its layers of rich chocolate and that distinctive coconut-pecan frosting that defines this classic dessert. The carrot cake runs a close second, moist and loaded with just the right amount of spice.
Coconut cream pie has its own devoted following, as does the caramel apple nut pie that combines all those autumn flavors into one perfect slice.
Many smart diners order dessert to go, boxing up a slice or two for later when they’ve had time to digest that enormous meal. The cakes and pies hold up well for the drive home, and they make excellent next-day breakfasts, though we won’t tell anyone if you don’t.
These desserts aren’t fancy or trendy, but they’re made with care using recipes that have stood the test of time.
The reasonable prices extend to desserts too, making it easy to justify treating yourself after a meal that probably cost less than you expected given the quantity of food that arrived at your table.
Cash-Only Policy In A Digital World
In an era where most people tap their phones to pay for everything, The Log Inn, located at 12491 County Rd 200 E in Haubstadt, maintains a strict cash-or-check policy that might seem inconvenient at first. No credit cards, no debit cards, no mobile payment apps.
Just cold hard cash or a personal check, the way transactions happened back when this place first opened its doors.
Before you let this deter you, know that there’s an ATM right on the premises for folks who arrive without enough cash in their wallets. The policy actually helps keep prices reasonable since the restaurant doesn’t have to factor in credit card processing fees.
When you see how much food you get for your money, that quick trip to the ATM seems like a minor inconvenience.
This cash-only approach also fits perfectly with the restaurant’s overall philosophy of doing things the traditional way. They’re not trying to be trendy or modern.
They’re focused on serving the kind of meal your great-grandparents would recognize, in a building that has witnessed generations of Indiana history. The payment method is just one more way they stay true to their roots.
Smart diners check their wallets before making the drive out to Haubstadt, ensuring they have enough cash to cover dinner and a generous tip for servers who work hard to keep those family-style platters coming. The slight inconvenience is absolutely worth it for the experience you get in return.
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