Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Gross. It wasn’t that bad when I was a kid, but it’s so dirty now. Food is flavorless. Dining areas are just gross. Carpeted and yuck. There’s so many other better places to eat in Lancaster.

Everything you could ever want in a buffet.. cleanest place I’ve ever seen. Staff was helpful and great … prime rib was cooked perfect. Like 20 different soda. Some I’ve never even herd of … slushy machines. Endless pa Dutch treats. bread bar salad bar desert bar. Hot bar cold bar … over 200 feet of total foodie paradise

Love this place. It’s a crowded mad house yes, and it’s not gourmet food, but it has some high points for sure. Gotta try the fried chicken and the sliced to order roast pork! Also their roast turkey, chicken gravy, and corn pudding, some of my faves. Yummy! I’ve been a loyal customer for a long time and enjoy the experience every time we eat here. I see some complaining it’s expensive… I don’t think it’s expensive at all considering the number of selections and that it’s all you can eat. Not everyone gets their money’s worth I guess, but my husband and I certainly do! :)

The best thing ever is when I was there for lunch with my family and friend. Lots of food variety. It was delicious and fresh. The price was good. The service was superb and friendly. Very likely to recommend this place to other people.

this was such a fun day trip out of philly — we spent a good chunk of time wandering the humungous gift shop downstairs (if you love candles, disney collectibles, any kind of collectible really — you’ll love it)… and then we got hungry and helped ourselves to the amazing pennsylvania dutch cooking upstairs! the 200 feet long buffet line is clean, well-​stocked and serves a ton of variety.
they have rotating dinner specials depending on the day of the week, so make sure to check out their website before going. the prices are different on more popular nights too, so once again — check before you go so there aren’t any surprises.
some of my favorites were their mac and cheese, hush puppies, pulled pork, brisket, kielbasa, buttered cabbage, and banana pudding. yum!

get there early — if you arrive at peak dinner hours, you’ll encounter long lines/​wait times — dinner starts at 4 pm
check out the menu as it varies for dinner each night

***WARNING*** BRING YOUR OWN SANDPAPER TO WIPE YOUR ASS AS THE SANDPAPER IS SOFTER THAN WHAT THEY PROVIDE… SERIOUSLY***
Every stall in the male restroom was full and active if you know what I mean. That alone tells me the quality of food. They desperately need some smell management devices as I was about to die. I live about an hour away and on my way home I farted about 10 times. These were no small farts either. We’re talking BOMBS and FLAMES that were so rotten, I couldn’t stand my own fart. ***update**** 4 hours later I’m still farting. There’s so much sulphur in the air that I could light it 3 mins later.
Now that’s out the way, the food is the reason why I hit the restroom. I had high expectations as everyone I knew spoke of this place very highly. To me, the food quality was the same as old country buffet. I went on steak night and my steak was really good except 70 percent of it was fat. The stuffing or filling yuk, Mac and cheese is stouffers, mashed potatoes were instant, corn dogs were a joke, line to pay was too long, they need a more efficient sitting process. I had more to eat but clearly it wasn’t memorable. The plates were crusty and filthy. 40 bucks for 2 people is a bit high in my opinion.
OK now the good things, the gift shop is like a mall. Huge! Our waitress was good and on top of things. That’s all the positive I have
Good luck!

A buffet will always be a buffet. This was very poor quality food. The only reason I didn’t give it 1 star was because the dessert was a bit above average. The price was way to high for the quality of the food to be that low. For a 3^rd of the price go to your local college and eat the food they have.
Will not be going back.

You guys have got to be joking.
Zack and I instated a rule before we got married: no buffets. Just no.
I broke that rule, and I’m not proud of it.
While it was certainly fun to surprise my husband to a trip to Shady Maple, and it was pretty entertaining to wait in line without knowing what was behind the pearly gates, I thought the food was OUTRAGEOUSLY mediocre and it felt like I was eating in a dining hall from my college years.
We went for brunch early on a Saturday morning. Not worth the trip.

Very busy! Did I mention this was a very busy buffet? Be prepared to wait, especially during peak meal times on the weekends. and the wait could be 30+ minutes. For a family of 4 ($ 18.99 per), this will run you just a tad north of $ 95ish, tip is included in the price (check your receipt, but it’s nothing close to what you’d pay for a meal over $ 90 bucks.). They have one of the largest selections of food in any buffet I’ve ever seen. Not to mention, made to order steaks, fish, burgers, kielbasa, sausages, etc. The food in the «buffet» areas are piping hot, and it looked like they didn’t let it just sit and empty. They were constantly refilling the food bins, ensuring the food didn’t get cold or old. Again, it’s VERY busy! They have an extensive salad bar and pasta bar too. The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the dessert area. As much time and effort they keep the main food area clean and kept up, they severely lack that attention in the dessert area. The whipped cream dispenser had old, hard whipped cream sticking out of it, the ice cream dispenser had old ice cream all around it… And if you or your child has a food allergy, they don’t separate the toppings very well (peanuts next to other items. And we all know they get mixed up over time.).
Viewing the menu, their breakfast buffet prices are pretty good! $ 9.99 for adults, and if they have all the options as they had for dinner, wow… I hope to hit this place up for bfast next time!
They also have a really big gift shop there, with pretty good prices. We picked up a couple gifts after eating. And you can walk off your meal too while shopping! Lol
Bottom line, great buffet and they have tables-​a-​plenty! Priced right and it’s highly recommended by this Unilocaler!

When I was little it used to be soooo good (15 years ago). But we went in recently and I was highly disappointed. Its nothing special anymore. Now I know its not cost effective to use top top dollar stuff for buffets but I feel like they charge sooo much for such poor quality. They could do so much better.
The crab cakes are small and cardboard like in texture, all filler, maybe some crab seasoning. Not even hand formed– its so obvious that theyre frozen.
The stuffed fish is also just filler. With a bit of seafood seasoning and 1 or 2 mini bay scallops.
The fried shrimp had the most meat of all the seafood stuff and even those were all breading.
The salad bar isnt anything special either. The desserts are the best part, everything is home made.
Like I said for the price id expect it to be more gourmet than it is.
We will not be returning.

Nothing to complain about this place except I wish it was closer to me! Amazing home style food with something for everyone. I limited myself to two savory plates and two desserts plates. This is a must go destination, especially for the price. We came during lunch which I assume is off peak hours so be warned if you want to come for dinner.

The last time around at Shady Maple Smörgåsbord, the GF and I stopped by the Lancaster area to brunch on down-​home Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast eats. This time, we brought her folks out to the area to show that Pennsylvania isn’t just Philly city living. In addition to actual greenery (farms, pastures, cows, and the like), we were able to enjoy some lunch at Shady Maple. And by some lunch, I mean troughs full of it. Perfect for the belly of this pig.
You know the deal with buffets. Endless lines of including carving stations for your meats, grilled items, seafood, sides, and desserts. It still amazes me how quickly they turn around each item — you rarely find that anything has been sitting our for long. Perhaps it’s a testament to the number of people that come here on a weekend or the quality of their grub. In any case, I give you my 4+ plates on this particular visit. And no, I don’t know how it all fit. And yes, there’s a reason why there’s one common thread throughout all the non-​dessert platters (the mac was just that good!).
My first plate featured broasted chicken — a new term for me, though I can’t believe I’ve been missing this all my life. Incredibly crisp and wonderfully moist, the fried chicken was on point. The mac n cheese was nicely creamy, featuring sharp cheddar. While the shredded roast beef was tender, it could have been seasoned a bit more. But I’m nit picking here — it’s a freakin’ buffet!
Plate 2 is what I call my surf and more turf plate. I had a huge slab of sirloin, along with some moist country ham and a crisp crab cake. And yes, some more of that mac!
For plate 3, I finally realized there was brisket on offer so I obviously had to get some of that! The brisket was wonderfully tender and unctuous, cutting like butter. Along with some fried shrimp and some more of that broasted chicken and mac, I was set with my savory dishes!
Shady Maple features Turkey Hill ice cream and they typically have vanilla, cookies and cream (with real Oreo chunks!), as well as seasonal varieties like pumpkin since it’s the Fall. They’ve also got a number of other desserts from pies and cakes to an apple dumpling, which I topped with vanilla soft serve. Homemade, crusty, buttery, and filled with baked apples, this wasn’t a bad way to end a glut of a meal.
Look. Haute cuisine this is not. We’re talking about stretchy pants and gym kicks here. But that doesn’t mean the food can’t be good. Most of it is «low and slow» down-​home cooking. And you can always find me in line for that.

«Are you ready for dinner with 20,000 of your closest friends?» This is what my friend asked me as we walked in to Shady Maple Smörgåsbord. Once inside, I saw lines to pay. Once we paid, there were lines to be seated. It took about 30 minutes for us to get a table upon entry. With the lines and wait, I wondered if this was the Disneyworld of food.
Our hostess, Jeanne, was eager to tell us about the place as she showed us to our booth. She was very friendly and kept checking on me as we crossed paths. I was giddy with excitement to see birch beer at the soda fountain when I went for a beverage. And at one point, a man playing the accordion walked by our table. I was in awe of the whole place. Wait, is that an ICEE machine!!!
We were there on a Saturday night around 6pm. The cost is a bit more on Saturday, but for only $ 23 and change I think it’s an amazing deal. The cost includes a drink and you’re not supposed to tip (there’s a service fee added). What did I eat for my $ 23? Well I started with a NY strip steak and baked potato from the grill stations and a plate of assorted vegetable dishes from the never ending room of sides. I tried, at the suggestion of our hostess, a few things I hadn’t had before. Round two was a nice salad and salmon. I debated going for a third round, but thought dessert would more than fill me up. After a bowl of pudding and a rich peanut butter and chocolate cake with a glass of milk, I was more than satisfied.
Yes, the place gets crowded. But the lines go fast and the food is always plentiful. The options can be overwhelming when you see steak and salmon and catfish and beef brisket and ham and pork and sausage and crab cakes and turkey and chicken and so much more. When I consider that I got a good surf and turf dinner with sides, a full salad, dessert and endless beverages, I think I got my money’s worth. Yes, this is a magical place.

I have eaten here before and enjoyed the experience but I guess I don’t feel the need to have it again.
We went in today walked around and checked the food out and decided against it. It’s really nothing special at all and I’d rather eat at noboro or minado any day of the week.
The only thing that peeked my interest was catfish or the fried chicken, but to be honest I’d rather go to popeyes.
Do yourself a favor and drive on for real food.

Came here expecting a quaint buffet with freshly made food, and I was surprised to find a huge building with an off-​the-​strip-​Las Vegas-​style buffet.
For two people, the price came to $ 29 and change for lunch, and I was completely unimpressed with the food offerings.
They have four «grill» lines with freshly-​made hot food offerings, like roast beef, roast pork, kielbasa, hot dogs, hamburgers and omelettes, which are ok. The guy manning the roast beef station practically threw my food onto my plate, splashing little bits of beef onto the counter, and I had to do some fancy balancing when he tossed a small piece of kielbasa right after it.
The hot food lines have your typical Golden Corral offerings, low on veggies, high on gravy and cheese and everything sitting in hot warmers under heat lamps.
The drink lines are poorly laid out, and it’s a hassle to get your 6oz cup of whatever without being bumped and jostled.
The desserts are really tasty, but you have to run back through the gauntlet to get to them.
The greeter was really friendly, and helpful, but I don’t think I would ever come back or recommend this place to anyone.

Well, first of all I ate for free, since it was my birthday. So the price was right (you need to bring a paying customer with you to get the birthday deal, plus your ID).
Secondly, holy cow… there is a huge variety of food here. You are bound to find something that will be especially tasty. I really liked their gourmet raspberry bread and their roasted apple slices.
Third, it’s easy to eat too much.
I arrived with ambition at this all-​you-​can-​eat place. I came to do damage, Homer Simpson style. But I simply filled up too quick. (I should have trained harder for this day!)
And the fourth notable thing… this place is so large that it is simply interesting to see it and experience it.
The market next door is also quite a place.

This buffet place has about every American food you can think of. This place is huge. Food is fresh due to the high turn over rate.
You have to fight some crowds first to get to the food. You line up to pay, line up to get seated and then line up to the buffet lines after you get seated.
Went here on a holiday. Took about 30 minutes to get seated. $ 13 for lunch for one adult.

worth the money with every bite! this all you can eat buffet restaurant is huge and has so much seating that any wait line is fairly short. You pay before you eat at the front and then wait in a line to be seated (~20 dollars per person). No tips required here since they include a small service fee in the bill. They offer specific types of food on the grill each day so check out their website for more details!
my recommendations for tackling this monster buffet — get a plate full of all the food on the grills and a second plate of salad for first round. come back for their traditional food items (mostly ones you would see at a thanksgiving or Christmas dinner like mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, ect.). End with your third round at the dessert section — my favorite is the ice cream cake slices, shoofly pie, and turkey hill soft serve ice cream!
all the servers are really friendly and the almost all the food leaves you wanting more. check out their antique shop located a flight of stairs below the dining restaurant as well as their food market right across the street!

I’m all lost in the smörgåsbord
I can no longer eat happily
This place is soo HUGE and so packed, I actually got lost here with my first plate of food for a good half hour. My friend warned me but I kind of lost the group at the pierogies and then I was wandered from dining hall to dining hall looking for them. My friend who kind of knows me well, had the foresight to go finally look for me by the soft serve ice cream machine, where I was, of course sampling flavors waiting for my rescue.
First of all, people call this a buffet, you can’t call this a buffet, it’s a Smörgåsbord which is a buffet on some crack. I pictured a quaint little restaurant in Lancaster County, instead it’s monstrosity, basically size of casino.
As you walk in there are lines to pay and get in (approx $ 20 for dinner), while you are waiting I strongly encourage you to read over the pricing and policies. They have a very intriguing gastic bypass policy since following options for individuals who have had Gastric Bypass:
«Beverage Only» option, unlimited refills.
One VERY SMALL «carry in» container of food, no supplementing from the buffet.
One «Not Eating» option noted on the meal ticket, no sharing food from the buffet.
Not sure what that is about but there may be an interesting story behind it.
After paying you line up with your group to be seated and one of their many banquet halls. Then it’s time to hit the buffet. Be sure to remember where you sat because this place holds well over a thousand people. This was where I went wrong.
The buffet is so huge it’s divided into the east and west wing, just like the White House. Combined, there are 10 islands, four carving stations, three drink stations (best Pennsylvania Dutch birch beer ever btw), a pair of dessert stands at each end and in between there are hundreds of people to weave in and out of. The typical weekend offerings include: Marinated Chicken Breasts, Pierogies, Kielbasa, Salmon, Cajun Catfish, Pizza, New York Strip Steak, Baked Potatoes, Beef Brisket, Country Sausage, Carved Ham and Veal Patties.
I quite honestly don’t remember what I shoved in my mouth. I can tell you that the food is quality, especially the cuts of meat at the carving stations. The thing about buffets, I start seeing them as an excuse to try food combos, just cause I can. Sure, why not shove that brownie in a pita, and add whip cream, it’s a choco gryro. I remember my favorite DIY creation was french fries in a coffee mug, covered with chili, then covered with nacho cheese. You should try that, not the choco gyro though. I do remember the prime rib here was excellent. The fried chicken did not live up the standard of the Amish market back home. The pierogies were money though. Also another favorite, the Turkey Hill Soft Serve ice cream.
After the gluttony, you can burn some calories by going through their massive gift shop which is the entire bottom floor. They have everything from quilts to those hideous beach towels with cats on them you see everywhere to furniture to wind chimes to bird houses to Pennsylvania Dutch cookbooks.
My friend Amanda, who brought me here, jokes that she loves this place so much, that she wants to get married here. I hope she picks me as a bridesmaid, cause I’d be up for this buffet again, also I hope she doesn’t mind getting the Elvis quilt from the store downstairs as her gift.