Shady Maple Smorgasbord

First time going there. We went around 1:00 and the line to get in was long, but moved pretty quickly. The picture of the empty lobby was taken around 2:30. The food was hot and plentiful. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful. The dining area was clean. We waddled out and went downstairs to the gift shop which was a little pricey but all gift shops are. Would recommend friends and family to try it out.

Woke up at 5am, drove 2+ hours for what I can only say are some of the most amazing American breakfast you’ll have in your life. Especially the fresh waffles. They were soft, fluffy, light and delicate, top that off with home made apple butter and you’re in food heaven. The food comes out consistently and is always fresh. 10/10 will go again!

We went on a weekend for lunch. There was a wide selection to chose from. The appetizers were mostly good, the dessert was superb. The main course was average. We tried almost all item in the appetizer and main course category (except burgers and pizzas) and 5-6 types dessert. There was a long waiting line but they had a good crowd management system so the lines kept moving. Overall I would give 3.5/5 for food. The gift shop is also in the same building and is worth a visit.

This is one of those places that you just have to visit at least once in your life. The largest buffet in America. I usually try to get there as early as possible on a weekday to avoid the massive crowds. There’s a ton of parking. The price is pretty unbeatable for a smorgasbord. The wait to get seated takes quite a while even on quiet mornings. The variety of food, desserts and drinks is absolutely unbelievable. Some of the food is just okay while some of it is very good. You just kind of have to try a little of everything. The bathrooms are very nice. The gift shop downstairs is massive. You could spend an entire day on the Shady Maple property.

We went to Shady Maple for breakfast since we heard that it has the biggest buffet in the United States of America. The place was really beyond what I expected. It was very neat and cleaning. The service was exceptional. The food quality was great. You could order different kinds of omelets, pancakes and other kinds of food or eat prepared food, baked goods and fruits. There was plenty of variety of drinks including coffee and iced tea too.

I went there for dinner and then breakfast the next morning as part of my honeymoon. Dinner was really good.The barbecue wings and the fried chicken were pretty good, and the buns were great . The fresh grilled steak was on point. Breakfast was a basic breakfast selection with a couple favorite classics, but just a lot of it but still was pretty good with the fresh omelet station. The food was very fresh.Everything was nice and clean.They truly attended to the buffet. There was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. Expect a fifteen to twenty minute wait, but when inside, it moves quickly. The gift shop was crazy big way to much to look at. Have a mixed match of different things.Look like an antique store that had just about everything in it. Definitely will be going back again with the whole family next time.

We did Thursday dinner Friday breakfast. Food was good, but definitely thought there was lot more choices. Thursday dinner had awesome wings, green beans, dressing, shrimp, noodles, and fried chicken. Breakfast had awesome cheesey hassbrowns, bacon. Cod was dry, ribs were good but sauce wasn't, meatballs had funny taste, cheese steak sandwich tasted off, breakfast sausage had funny taste. We just expected more food choices from the videos. Cashier Thursday night was awesome, she was extremely nice, helpful and lovely. Gift shop was overpriced.

Solid, simple, down to earth hearty food. They claim to be the biggest buffet in the US. In terms of seating, perhaps; in terms of selection of food, I'm not so sure. They have a long buffet line with good selections that mirror each other on opposite sides of the room. Go for the brisket, roast beef, and the apple pork sausage. Actually, any meat dish is probably delicious because the quality of meat is good (locally sourced, perhaps). Be sure to save room for desert; I liked the cobblers the best. Service is great as well; quick, friendly, and with a smile. Be prepared to wait though if you don't get here early. The line was out the door when we left at 12:40 for lunch.

Now, I'll do a dinner buffet (even though I shouldn't), but the sheer amount of food and number of food stations was a first for me. I put hot broccoli on my plate, but by the time I got the rest of the food it had cooled. The fried chicken is really good (crispy on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside), but my family wanted to argue that the steak, carved prime rib and roast beef were the stars of the show. Somehow, they've stolen my mom's Harvard beets recipe! Plenty of places to sit and enough room to walk around the tables (unlike some other places I know). Price more than fair. Drinks (slushies and milkshakes, too) are self serve, so no need to wait on a server!

Where there is quantity, the quality may slip. Kinda knew what we going getting into with a buffet that's advertised as such. Biggest buffet by square footage (with seating etc.), but the actual buffet food area is mirrored, so maybe half the variety than I expected. We visited on a Monday and opted for the breakfast into lunch deal - pay for breakfast, add on the price difference for lunch. We were able to sample pretty much the entire menu in one trip. Got there at tail end of breakfast (~9:30am) and saw a pretty long line (~12:30pm) when we left. It was my birthday the day before (Sunday) when the buffet is closed, but they honored the free birthday meal :) The breakfast buffet was definitely the way to go, and we preferred it a lot more than the lunch one. We did start lunch right after breakfast, so our tastebuds and tummy were a bit overwhelmed, but I can confidently and objectively say breakfast buffet over lunch. The fresh pancakes with toppings galore was fantastic, made to order omelets were also delicious - pretty much anything made to order was good. There were lines for these spots (and rightly so), but they move quickly. We thought the cakes/pies were lackluster. Milkshake machine was cool, but very heavy (def split a cup). Anything fried was fantastic - they know how to fry their goodies (hashbrowns, etc). Cinnamon rolls (by the griddles) were tasty, and LOVED the whoopie pies (MUST GET). Lunch was pretty much X protein doused in Y sauce, or pre-frozen items that were piping hot in the bain maries. Many Youtube videos etc where you can see all the offerings. The brisket was disappointingly on the dry side, and everything else offered was along the same sodium-heavy trend. Fried chicken was very good, and meatballs were tasty as well. Overall, definitely recommend the breakfast buffet (if you're around or it's on the way). Most of the desserts at the buffet are at the supermarket (whoopie pie!!!), so if you don't want to endure the buffet or have the time, it's worth checking out the supermarket. Definitely stop by if you're in the area, but up to you if make the trek from Philly, etc.

I was so excited to come here because of some YouTube food critics and reviews. We drove about 2 hrs to dine and shop at the local Dutch/Amish markets. We came on a weekend and the lines were long. Roughly 30-45 mins wait, so plan accordingly. The prices were decent considering most of the buffeet style restaurants have closed. The staff was nice and helpful. If you want to get seating quickly, ask for a table vs a booth. 3x faster to get seating The food looked good but I found that most of the dishes were excessively salty. Yes, they had every food option your could think of and I was surprised at how fast items were coming out. They did have specialty items being cooked, steaks, cajuan catfish, and franks and burgers. Dessert was like walking into the local bakery because that had EVERYTHING! My family really enjoyed the Pot roast, mashed potatoes and the salmon. I personally enjoyed the fried shrimp and the salad bar. So fresh and delicious. Glad we were able to check this off our list, this was a decent experience. I'll Also I don't know the guys name, but there was this vendor inside selling wooden roses. He was amazing and the roses were extremely creative, my wife loves them.

I indulged in some greasy, fried breakfast at Shady Maple with my parents on a Monday morning. We arrived at 8am, but there was already a long line and very many people there. It was also Veteran's Day, so the buffet has 50% off for all Vets. It was bustling and crowded in the buffet lines despite it being so early in the morning. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my free meal, because Shady Maple offers a free meal for the birthday diner with purchase of a meal. Mg mommy loved the omelet for breakfast, and I enjoyed the creamed chipped beef while my father enjoyed the waffles and pancakes. What a great way to celebrate my year around the sun!

I drove 70 miles in the rain because I'm fat and like buffets...I had heard about shady maple and the joy of being retired is I can take a couple of days to indulge my whims. The place is huge... I mean it should have its own zip code. Facility is very nice. Leans heavily to booths. The hostess recommended I do a trip around before getting food, I'm not an amateur but I appreciate the input. There are multiple grilling stations and serving islands. The variety of food was impressive. Mostly country cooking. My only disappointment was the fried chicken. I had high hopes but it was dry. Drink glasses are small. All staff was polite and well turned out. Food was replenished often

I love shady maple!!!! It is one of the biggest smorgasbord in the country!!! There are a ton of options here to eat such as steak, fish, burgers, hot dogs, chicken, Mac & cheese, roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes, a salad bar, a wide range of vegetables and much much more. The line to get into this place is always out the door- but it's worth the wait if you're hungry!!! My favorite thing is the steaks, roast beef, Mac & cheese, & mashed potatoes. At this restaurant you serve yourself both food and drinks. It is kind of annoying to have to fill your drinks I do wish that the waitress served drinks at least but it's ok. There is a huge store underneath the smorgasbord that has a wide variety of items such as jewelry, pillows, collectors items, and much more!

We r back! THIS PlACE IS HUGE!!! Bday dinner in Lancaster! Which if you go on your bday it's free! Long line of folks here tonight ... we got good parking (it's a big lot). It's fish night Friday.... salmon was really good tonight. Gotta give this place a try if you're near!

Shady Maple has been on my list for a while, and I was so happy to finally make the trip. So happy, that I literally woke up at 5am to get there at 9am for their breakfast. Even though breakfast service ended at 10am, I was still really surprised to see a line to enter the dining room on a random Tuesday morning. The line moves fairly quickly and you are given a ticket and directions to your table. The whole shebang is fairly well organized and each seating section has a designated server to help clear your plates. For the breakfast service, there was a designated pancake station as well as an egg station. There were also tables of classic breakfast foods including scrambled eggs and different types of sausages and patties. I was able to try scrapple, which is an Amish specialty (and a Pennsylvanian classic) made of pork scraps and cornmeal. My favorites, though, were the parmesan crusted tomatoes and the world's crispiest hash browns. Shady Maple also had an impressive fruit selection, with plump juicy blueberries and fresh melons, as well as a homemade dessert section. I tried a red velvet Whoopie pie that was simply perfection. I noticed they had a milkshake section in the back as well, and while I did not venture over, I did see many excited teens carrying a thick glass of it. Overall, I thought it was a really fun excursion, but I think Shady Maple is a great stop for a Lancaster/Amish country trip and just that. I wouldn't recommend making the trek out unless you're passing through. They do comp your meal if it's your birthday, and you do receive a little coupon book for the gift shop downstairs and the farm market outside as well!

Let me preface this by saying, i drove 2hrs to try this buffet as I heard its one of the biggest around the east coast. Hosts/servers/greeters - super friendly and helpful. They have really cool 3d art on the wall as well which is cool but overall the decor is dated. So this is a buffet - my expectations were not super high but i was looking forward more towards the amount of selections I had. Off the top for proteins they had ribeyes, brisket, hot dogs, burgers, salmon, ez peel shrimp, fried shrimp, kielbasa, meatballs, etc. I know Im missing plenty but it didn't end. They also had sides galore. Let me share my top 5 items: 1. Bbq pork - it was perfectly juicy and sweet. Some of the best I had. 2. Bbq beans - there were like 3/4 different beans and honestly was so good! 3. Fried Chicken - it was crispy and juicy. It was perfect 4. Lemon Square - the desserts were underwhelming but not this one. Creamy, tart and rich. 5. Cornbread - sweet, dense, and perfect accompaniment. Honorable mentions: wonton shrimp; meatball (a little dry but was in a nice sweet sauce) I was disappointed in the steak and brisket as they dont appear to salt or pepper them. Very bland BUT how often do you get either cut/type at your local buffet? The fact they offer it is impressive. I would go back 1000 times if it was local.

They had such a variety of everything here. We were in the area for vacation and due to tik tok and all the hype of this place, we had to check it out. I think the wow factor of it is just basically how much stuff they have to offer. The food was fresh and hot and had a wonderful selection of options for everyone. If we are in the area again, we will be back. Some of the wait staff could have been a little more friendly... but outside of that, it was a decent experience. They do charge a service fee per person. For two of us, it was about $65.

Fried Chicken + Grilled Cat Fish + apples dumplings and soft serve ice creams were my faves ! Definitely know that there WILL be a line and be ready to wait in line outside the restaurant just to get in then wait another 20-30 mins to be seated! If you went a booth- the wait could be longer and tables are faster so once you paid for your meal- there are two line options. I would say this place is like a tourist destination- rather than folks coming out here for a meal and leave. Service was great and everyone is super kind! It's a good experience. If your are visiting Lancaster ~ this is a must do!

It seems pretty redundant of me to write a review when there are already so many others. As a wheelchair user, I may have a somewhat of a unique perspective, but I do think this will be a less than glowing review on my part. Look, I know that I can't expect everything to be accessible to us shorties who can't stand, but I have always been too short to use a buffet. My arms just aren't long enough. My head is barely taller than the buffet table. I can NEVER see the signs labeling the food. Also, don't even get me started on trying to drive a chair and carry a plate of food. It's a circus act. Jeremy made and carried my plate, as well as his own. There's no traffic pattern around the buffet tables, so I was constantly dodging other diners, trying not to back over them or have them end up on my lap. It was frustrating and overwhelming. Every time Jeremy would turn to ask me if I wanted a particular item, there would suddenly be three people between us. After the first go round, I sent Jeremy back alone to get certain things that hadn't fit on my first plate, but which looked tasty or intriguing. Like Mush... which is basically polenta. It got mixed reviews at our table. I didn't like it, but several others did. Same with the scrapple, which I had been really looking forward to, but found lacking in flavor. The most lively debate centered around the sausage gravy, which I loved, but Jeremy said, tasted "like fruity pebbles." Apparently, mine also tasted completely different from a friend's serving, which he got around the switch over to lunch. I would have liked to have tried some donuts and other stuff, but the baked French toast did me in. So sweet, but exactly what I wanted. I also recommend the cheese sauce on the scrambled eggs. I wish that there had been ketchup on the table. For some reason, Jeremy could not find the very clearly labeled condiments bar. I think he was also overwhelmed by all the people. I finished my meal with my first... and last taste of shoo fly pie. It was tasteless. I couldn't even taste the molasses. It was like a big semi gloopy spoonful of gelled glue. I never wanted a glass of cold water or milk so badly in my entire life, but I couldn't reach the dispensers and Jeremy was in the middle of the Great sausage gravy debate. I wish we had gone for lunch, but breakfast was more affordable. At least now I can say I have eaten at the country's largest buffet.

Solid, simple, down to earth hearty food. They claim to be the biggest buffet in the US. In terms of seating, perhaps; in terms of selection of food, I'm not so sure. They have a long buffet line with good selections that mirror each other on opposite sides of the room. Go for the brisket, roast beef, and the apple pork sausage. Actually, any meat dish is probably delicious because the quality of meat is good (locally sourced, perhaps). Be sure to save room for desert; I liked the cobblers the best. Service is great as well; quick, friendly, and with a smile. Be prepared to wait though if you don't get here early. The line was out the door when we left at 12:40 for lunch.

Having visited Philadelphia for a cheese steak world tour, we decided to take a break and make the drive to the Shady Maple in Lancaster area. Please make the trip, it is soooooooo worth it. The breakfast is reasonably priced and the staff make your dining a great time here. Just loads of good cooked food (try the scrapple) and you'll leave ready to work hard all day! Clean restrooms here! The gift shop is huge. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

This place is great. I've been to buffets, all you can eat, etc... And wow! When you 1st arrive, it can be off putting w a line out the door, literally. But they know what they're doing, and you're ready to eat way faster than you'd think. Wife and I did a lunch, followed by a breakfast the next morning. Absolutely worth what you pay. No doubt. I'm not gonna get into the specifics of every dish, but everything we had was at worst, very good. If you're in the area and pondering if you should go, you should go! Very clean, our lunch table cleaner TU (i believe was her name) was absolutely amazing. Just a great overall experience, and the wife and I will 100% go back. Probably in early dec to be exact!

So good to be back! #1 rated USA All you can eat buffet, per so many sources it's ridiculous. They have everything you can think of. As usual ate too much, but a wonderful value. For its price, you'll be hard pressed to do better. Very friendly staff. These employees make miracles happen. What kind of foods should you try? All! Their salmon was tasty. The mashed potatoes have to be from scratch. Also I love the cherry cobbler. They have all kinds of entrees and sides. Appreciate this place a lot. I'm happy to be back now with my son, and he loved it more than Hershey Park!

This buffet was on my bucket list ever since I watched Mark Wien video on YouTube. It's the biggest buffet in Pennsylvania and it is. I was so excited to eat here, however, a bit disappointed. In my opinion, the food here is okay, though it's probably not my kind of food. It's a huge buffet with a variety of different dishes. However, I do like the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. The seafood selection is very limited. All they have are grilled salmon, fish, fried shrimp, and steak. There are many selections of desserts and soft serve. I like the fresh blackberries; they're so fresh and sweet. The service was great, and there were a lot of tables, but you still have to wait in line to be seated because there are so many people. It gets crowded during lunch and dinner time. I would recommend experiencing this if you like American food. Also, don't forget to check out their souvenir shop downstairs and the farmer's market right across the street from the buffet.

My wife calls it, "a tourist trap." They get you in for a high priced buffet then lead you to an overpriced gift shop. People were coming in by the bus load. We had a 20 minute wait, in line at 3:30 PM on a Saturday. After that, another ten minutes for a table to be found. We did request a booth, which added a little more time. All the people who served us were positive and upbeat. Have no complaints about them Five star service. Though the lady who picked up dirty dishes from our table, walked past without taking anything, unless I held the plates and glasses up for her. Food quality was hit or miss. Steaks were tasteless as were the desserts that I ate. The French fries and other fried potatoes were good quality, fresh and full of taste. Had some pot roast/roast beef. That was good enough to eat twice. Chicken was above average and perhaps better than above average. Hamburger was rare. I preferred burgers cooked a bit more. Meatball was not too tasty. Ice cream was average. Chocolate and vanilla shakes tasted good. As far as largest buffet in the US. I have my doubts. Perhaps based on the number of meals served, they are the largest. I can think of five or six Las Vegas buffets that have more variety and better quality food. You can see, by looking at the best yelp.com Las Vegas buffets list. The buffet line was deceptively long because certain serving areas were repeated leading you to believe that it was longer than it appeared to be.

Thursday evening, 3 of us dined in, located in 2nd floor, 1st floor was gift shop, went around 5pm pretty decent (?) length of line was formed and dinner was 22. Something + tax and service fee 12% pay in advance and they give us tickets We waited little more in line afterward and they escorted us to the table. Told us to flip the ticket when we are leaving Food taste was good but i didnt think there was overwhelmingly many options, drinks self service, there was grill for steak (can ask how you'd like your meat) , steak burger, cheesesteak, etc. various dessert, soft cone ice cream, water ice, tea, Coffee They frequently refilled food but some were overcooked like rib , cold,,, By the time we left around 6:30, lines was extremely long waiting to get in.... I dont know if it was worth that much But for the price, it was definitely decent food

I went on a road trip through Amish Country and decided to stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, drawn in by its 32K+ reviews on Google and YouTube. Arriving an hour before dinner, I aimed to sample both lunch and dinner offerings to save on costs. However, due to misunderstandings at the cashier, we ended up paying the dinner price anyway. Shady Maple Smorgasbord dwarfs places like Hometown Buffet (if that place still even exist), offering a vast array of food options. The expansive layout may lead you to overlook some hidden stations with hot beverages and miscellaneous items. While the food isn't exceptional, it's passable, landing somewhere between good and mediocre.

This spot is a blast. It's only like $20 for all you can eat and there's just. SO. MUCH. FOOD. The food is fresh from the Amish farms and they have so many delicious items. Items to get: Roast beef Mac and cheese Lots of veggies - they have healthy options so get them on top of the non healthy stuff! Buttered noodles Meatballs Stewed tomatoes Creamed corn Like 50000 desserts, with lots of cakes, pies, and puddings The line is always long but moves very quickly. They have TONS of tables and big ones. I've gone twice with big groups and we can always sit together. Also, it's the biggest buffet in the USA! So cool

Worth a visit. There are very clearly people who eat here all the time, because they advertise some sort of rewards program as you walk in. I couldn't imagine, frankly. The food is tasty, but it is all very rich and fried and covered in gravy and carb dense. It's about what you'd expect in an area surrounded by farm land. People who work hard can eat a heavy diet of high calorie, carb rich foods. But I live in Philadelphia, and I sit behind a desk all day, so this was an uphill climb for me. Went with a group of friends, and we had fun. We each shared a bite of various foods we didn't get on one of our trips up to the buffet. The big winners were the brisket, roast beef, and the milkshakes. Most everything else was good enough, and some of the items were either too salty or too sweet to eat. But the good thing about a buffet - just go back and get something else. Fun visit. Good food. Definitely an experience. All of that is easily worth 4*.

Yikes. Really disappointed that we believed all the hype about this place. It's a one and done. We went for dinner at 4pm on a Saturday and waited about 25 min to pay & be seated. Our cost for two adults was $68 and change. My first impression was that it seemed very messy & dirty. There was food, condiments and toppings all over the countertops and it remained that way during the length of our meal. I never saw anyone wiping anything up. Perhaps they were and the sheer volume of people prevented a consistently clean buffet area. The buffets was a mad house and difficult to access at times. I was alarmed to see a staff person lift a vacuum up and place it on a dish cart to empty the canister into the trash. Even if the cart had dirty dishes, the dirt and dust from the canister went all into the air. It was just gross and unhygienic. I was expecting fresh baked bread and sweets and perhaps it was scratch-made but the mass production just makes it average tasting. The Delmonico steak, fried shrimp, and hot dog were all tasty. Overall, the food was quickly replenished and warm. The large gift shop is filled with commercial products that can be purchased anywhere. There is a corner quilt area though.

Second time here as a love of all things all you can eat. Well oiled operation from how they time the breakfast/lunch transition on a mic to the ticket system that holds your place. Staff great. The food is overwhelming. Everything was good. Can't say anything was so memorable that I could only order that. A football field long buffet of quality and diversity over quality but I'm here for it. Even the small details like condiment station was well thought out. The desserts were the most overwhelming as your body can only handle so much dairy lol. Great spot for a variety of bites

This was my first time here since I'm vacationing in PA with my bf. Being a midwestern gal, I was super excited to try this place out because my bf will not stop raving about it so this was definitely on top of our to do list. It was a delicious buffet of Dutch PA cooking and I was all for it. Being on the experience!! My bf has family that lives pretty close to the smorgasbord so they did the brilliant thing of going there early and I'm so glad they did. Considering that when we ate there, it was the day after the Fourth of July, the line was super super long. It went out the door and wrapped around the place. The way that the smorgasbord is set up is that it's like a convention center so the actually venue is massive. When we arrived, my bf's family was already in the venue and it wasn't too much longer until we got seated. After a quick glance around, there were people from all over the U.S coming to try some yummy food and I couldn't wait! After we go seated, it was off the races. There was so much food and drinks that honestly, it was pretty overwhelming but I was told to just find out what you like and then stick to it....the caveat with that is, what do you do when you like everything?!? Geesh!! My first plate was filled with fried chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, pot roast and baked cod. All of it was delicious!!! The meat from the pot roast was decadent, fall off the bone tender and so flavorful. The gravy that it was covered in was heavenly. The mashed potatoes were light and fluffy and but so buttery. The baked cod was so yummy and tender. The fried chicken was hot and crunchy and fed my soul good! The corn was fresh and buttery. My second plate was just as good filled with salad, an Italian beef, brisket and ranch Buffalo chicken wings. The ranch Buffalo chicken wings were delicious, the salad was fresh and crunchy, the Italian beef was okay....a bit too salty for my taste and the brisket was the star of the show! Super tender and succulent. I LOVED the brisket!! Overall, this experience was a lot of fun. Their drink selection was yummy too, I was able to wash everything down with a nice glass of sasparilla and root beer. In a way, I'm glad I don't have access to their smorgasbord on a regular basis because with all the yummy food choices, it is a dangerous place for me and my tummy. The customer service was also great because they were kind and promptly picked go up our empty plates leaving us space to reload for more yummies as we ate to our hearts content. Oh side note, my bf was in heaven with their self serve icee machine. It was essentially slushy heaven with the grand choices of mountain dew, cherry and Pepsi. Can't beat that slice of childhood right there!!! After we finished eating, we went to the massive, ginormous gift shop downstairs and I bought some souvenirs. It was probably the largest gift shop I've ever seen on my life but it was just filled with Knick knacks and I loved it!!! Highly highly recommend this place if you're ever in East Earl, PA. It is definitely an experience and one I won't soon forget!!!

Always a great place to eat hundreds of delicious food items and lunch is the best bang for your buck and seniors get 10 percent off

To set the context, I'm a seventh generation Pennsylvanian and am from SE PA. I've gone here for as long as I can remember but moved away in the past few years. I brought my husband here hoping to enjoy the historically standard PA Dutch cuisine as you obviously can't get that elsewhere and I've been homesick for it. To my extreme disappointment, they have buckled to the masses pedestrian palate and it basically has become a massive Golden Corral. The only PA Dutch food item I could find was shoo fly pie and that was it. If you want to just shop here for some PA Dutch goodies downstairs from the buffet or in the supermarket, that's worth the stop but not for the food. The steak was leather and tasteless, the meatballs were dense and tasteless, seemed 75% bread according to my husband. It was everything that is wrong with American diet and it was an abomination to a foodie.

I have been waiting to review this place for a hot minute. So many people praise this place, especially those on TikTok. I don't know how many TikToks I have seen that make you want to feel as if you are going to have the time of your life when you visit here. They want to make you feel like you are going to experience something extraordinary. They want to make you feel jealous that they ventured here. Well, don't feel that way. You're not missing out on anything out of this world. Unless you factor in the whole complex which is more than just this, it really isn't that impressive. First, let's tackle something here. All those TikTok videos go on to state that it is the largest buffet in the nation. No where on their website, on in store, does it ever claim that. Fact check yourself people when you want to make some clickbait. Go to their website yourself, they claim to be the 'United States' largest smorgasbord', nowhere does it say buffet. Yes, I am aware that the two words are synonyms, but there is a difference. A buffet you stuff yourself with everything you want for the taking. Smorgasbord is tapas like with small plates. Honestly, if we really want to break it down, it is part buffet, part smorgasbord. So fact check will you. Next, I'm going to keep this in TikTok terms, what it is like in here on video and compared to in real life is like a video. What social media portrays with the upbeat music and what it really is like with the poor cover of that music. You get that nice edited sense of what you think is near perfection. What you really get, long lines in a drab setting. I am convinced that no matter what you do, when you come, there will always be a line. It does not move fast, and there will always be someone that doesn't understand the process when you finally reach the register to pay. Once you are paid, you filter into the massive dining area. Your server should ask you if you have ever been here. If not, they give you a rundown about the food/service and guide you to your seat. Overall, this part of the process is swift. Then you are off to the races. For a glorified Ponderosa, or Ryan's, there isn't much variety for any given meal. I was there for a dinner service and it wasn't that impressive. When you get to the area that the food is, it looks long and there appears to be an ongoing variety. In reality, it food portioned out that repeats itself. Kind of like someone hit copy and paste, or a mirror was put in the center and you're seeing an optical illusion. Every drink you could imagine is available from hot to cold drinks. Big selection of dessert items, I liked this, but why cut my gob in half, yes, it's a gob, not a whoopie pie. The grill section is a hit, the day I was there, they were grilling up hamburger and hot dogs, so it felt more fast food like for me. I loaded my plate a few times and made sure that I got my fill here before I called it quits. I had everything from salad to dessert. Honestly, what I had here, and the price I paid, could have equated to the exact meal being served to me elsewhere. So, yeah, don't let those TikTok videos trick you. Dependent on the meal and time you visit will dictate how your experience goes. It is a cool place to visit, but not a must on a bucket list.

What a selection of all different meats, fish and casseroles. I tried a little bit of everything that I could finish. The lasagna was my favorites. The beef dishes were okay. The desserts were outstanding, especially the crips. For under $20 you can't go wrong. This place has plenty of parking and the staff was efficient and friendly.

You've really got to experience this place. The food is spot on, the ambiance is old skool kool and you WILL find something to love with the food. Don't let the really long lines deter you! It moves real well and you are in your seat before you know it. Just go!! But be hungry !

The best buffet ever! Service was great. Wish I lived closer because I would visit monthly. There is something for everyone here! Lots of sugar free options, some gluten free options, kid friendly options. Food was hot and tons of options! It's huge and check out the gift shop! Banquet rooms as well. Tons of parking. Perfect for large groups.

I came here while visiting Pennsylvania and I had a great experience. We walk in and the line was so long I was scared for a long wait time. However, the line moved and we got seated fast. For Friday night dinner it was about $30 per person and they accepted cards. We sat in the one of the banquet hall because we had a big party. The place was huge which a big selection of everything you can think of. Steak, seafood, mac and cheese, ham, mashed potatoes, veggies, tons of desserts and a major drink selection. Everything tasted so fresh and so good. I really enjoyed the Pennsylvania dutch bier at the fountain station which was to die for. Please give this place a shot you wont be disappointed!

The food selection was amazing for the price! Don't miss the gift shop downstairs, almost as impressive as the buffet

Honestly a big let down. The "biggest" buffet is definetly in reference to the size of the dining room and has nothing to do with the actual food. There are maybe 4 unique serving stations each with like 5-10 things. It pales in comparison to some of the Chinese buffets you can get really anywhere, much less a good one. For these prices, would not recommend coming here for dinner. Money is better spent buying fried chicken and fries from a local store. Came on a Friday night around 6pm. It took about 30-40 mins to get seated. The service was pretty good. Staff were nice and cleaned up plates pretty quickly. The atmosphere definitely was nuts in there. It's too crowded for a buffet. People are jumping for food constantly. I'm amazed nobody has gotten hurt yet. For this night the food wasn't even that good. The fried chicken was solid and the brisket was pretty delicious. Everything else felt like I could've gotten forcway less and better quality. The deserts are all super sweet. I was honestly disappointed at the "size". It's all just tables of people. There's maybe 10 stations and half of them are repeats. Felt underwhelming and felt like it was just all fried foods. The cooked to go food wasn't bad but nothing to run home about neither. I honestly probably wouldn't come back for dinner again. I did hear breakfast is a good choice but idk if it's worth another visit to basically witness a black Friday fight over a buffet line...

Not really all it's cracked up to be. While it's certainly the largest buffet/smorgasbord I've ever been to, I was expecting more home style food than I found. Quite honestly, it turned out to be just another buffet restaurant, only bigger. It's hard to comment on the service because it's all self serve. The food is good and plentiful, but it doesn't really live up to the hype. Would I come back? If I was in the area, yes. I wouldn't make a special trip though.

Shady Maple is a very large smorgasbord of pretty much every form of comfort food. And it was all good. Friends brought me here for my birthday, and it was a nice experience.

Long wait to get to cashier to pay Once paid, had to wait in 2 additional lines for table. Over an hour wait Food was "so-so ". Nothing specia. Few steps above cafeteria food. Very crowded. No real organization. not worth it.

Was there last weekend for my birthday. We ate breakfast and supper. I got supper for free because it was my birthday. However although supper was delicious I preferred their breakfast. It the best breakfast buffet I've ever eaten.

So, this is just an overpriced, overrated Golden Corral. All the same exact food that tastes exactly like Golden Corral. Only difference is, you have to get your own drinks. At least, GC refills your drinks. The blonde girl, Katherine, did an excellent job of keeping table cleared of plates and trash. Unlike Golden Corral, they only honor and support our Veterans ONE day off the week. But, hey, if its your birthday, your meal is free!!! Like, hey, you lived another year, heres a free meal. Why not, a free meal for ones who risk their next birthday so you can run a business without fear of an invasion? So, that being said, I guess the only good thing is you dont have to tip. Because, all they do is take your money, and pick a table for you in their huge banquet size dining room. Like thats real hard! We won't be wasting our time and money again.

This smorgasbord outside Lancaster is an oddball attraction, a culinary anomaly that's as much a feast for the senses as it is a test of patience. Waiting in line for 25 minutes is just the ante to this bizarre banquet that feels more like a casino gamble than a dining experience. The patrons, an eclectic mix of Pennsylvania locals, add to the atmosphere, turning the whole thing into a social spectacle. It's as if the place deliberately embraces its kitsch, decking out in wall-to-wall carpeting, making you wonder if you've stepped back in time or into someone's over-ambitious living room. The food, surprisingly, stands in stark contrast to the décor. Among the sea of mediocre hotel-tray offerings, the live cooking stations shine like beacons of hope. The catfish, fresh and flaky, and the brisket, perfectly marbled and tender, elevate the experience from just edible to genuinely enjoyable. It's a reminder that amidst the overwhelming choices, there are gems to be found. This isn't just eating; it's an adventure in sifting through the average to uncover the outstanding. The freshly cooked fare rescues the meal from being a forgettable buffet to something memorably palatable. Despite its flaws, this smorgasbord transcends mere dining, morphing into a cultural expedition. It's not about the best meal you've ever had but embracing a unique slice of Americana. The whole experience, from the quirky crowd to the kitschy setting and the hidden culinary delights, makes for a memorable birthday weekend. It's the kind of place that doesn't aim for culinary excellence but hits the mark on creating an experience that sticks with you. This isn't an everyday dining destination but a once-in-a-while adventure, a cultural pit stop that's worth revisiting, if only to see if the catfish and brisket remain as unexpectedly good in a sea of the mundane.

I have been sick since I went here yesterday. The service was wonderful, and the vibe was good. The food was not it for me. I came here thinking something else but I went in open minded. It is a buffet and that usually makes me sick. The plates were gross the food was greasy. The sodas were not up to par, lemonade was not good. If you have a stronger stomach than I do, this is the place for you. For me, I could not handle it. The gift shop is enormous, but some of the "gifts" you can buy at the hallmark store or Walmart for cheaper. But the handmade wooden things were gorgeous and more worth it if you're looking for that kind of vibe in your house.

I was really impressed with the quality of food and the value. We went for breakfast and I think it was only 15.99 per adult. The place gets busy but the staff have a great process to get folks through the line and Seated. Wait was minimal. From the grill with made to order eggs, omelets and pancakes to the sweet options (donuts galore), as well as the various protein options (bacon to sausage and more) this was a top notch buffet. I hope to get back there for a dinner service. The place was huge with a great layout. It was easy to navigate. They keep the table clean. Service was amazing. The whole downstairs is a huge gift shop. We really enjoyed the visit

It was certainly a big buffet with many different varieties of food. If you are a big meat eater, this place is a must if you have a big appetite. The options for desserts and salads are great. However, I found some of the food too salty and lacked flavor. I loved their fried shrimp, smoked brisket, fried cauliflour, and shoofly pie, among many other things. But I found the pulled pork, fried chicken, and roast beef too salty. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The place was very busy and hectic. The number of people up and about at the food stations required me to have patience. With those cutting or not paying attention. But I got everything I wanted.

Went for breakfast. Very good. Place is huge. All your favourite breakfast, food and dessert. Service is good. The earlier the better.

This buffet has all the food that you can eat,it's been years and ate dinner on my birthday.

Wow! What a variety of options and made to order items. We went for breakfast and would definitely return! The store downstairs needs a whole day to explore.

There was a vast variety of delicious food that tasted like a great home cooked meal from mee maw's house. The place was packed but getting food was not a problem. It was very clean and staff was super friendly.

We've been coming for over 25 years! Can't wait to come back and have a delicious lunch or dinner ! It's definitely a destination you will not want to miss if you are in the Lancaster area. Be sure not to eat anything except breakfast so that you can sample all the wonderful food!

I was under the impression it was an Amish buffet with lots of homemade food, but it's just a glorified Golden Corral. Normal buffet food, very busy. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again but if in town would consider it if hungry.