A Princeton Icon That Feels Like Home
If you are cruising through Princeton, Indiana, and your stomach starts to rumble, do not skip Dick Clark's Family Restaurant. No, not that Dick Clark of American Bandstand fame, but a local one who, with his wife Edna Mae, turned a small stand into a community fixture.
From Ice Cream Stand to Southern Indiana Staple
The restaurant dates its founding to December 1946, when Richard "Dick" Clark opened an ice cream and short-order shop next to his uncle's grocery store. (Some local accounts put it at 1947.) It grew into a car-hop drive-in and then a full-service family diner. Through several renovations over the decades, the core never changed: real, homestyle meals for the community.
What to Order at Dick Clark's
The DC Burger. A double bacon cheeseburger with deep-fried bacon. It is as good as it sounds.
Fried chicken. Crispy, golden, and seasoned right.
Frog legs. A bold pick for adventurous eaters, and surprisingly good.
Bob Key Pizza. A saucy, cheesy pie with BBQ toppings, a local invention.
Milkshakes and sundaes. Made the old-fashioned way, thick and sweet.
This place does not try to be trendy. It just gets it right.
Passing the Torch
After roughly 77 years in the Clark family, Jeff Clark (Dick's son, who had run it since 1987) retired in early 2024 and sold the restaurant to Asa and Megan Deffendall. Asa is no stranger to the place; he worked there as a teenager before coming back to take the reins. Under the new owners, the name and the traditions stay put.
Plan Your Visit
Dick Clark's sits at 702 N Prince Street in Princeton and is open daily, roughly 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call ahead at (812) 385-3131 to confirm the day's hours.
While You're Exploring Southern Indiana
If you are road-tripping the region, Dick Clark's is a solid food stop. A few other places we have covered nearby:
5 Must-See Waterfalls in Indiana, including Hemlock Cliffs and Clifty Falls in the south
The Best Wineries in Indiana for a scenic follow-up
