Shady Maple Smorgasbord
| Shady Maple Smorgasbord | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Shady Maple Smorgasbord | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1985 |
| Owner | Phil Weaver (as of 2023)[1] |
| Location | 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 17519, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°06′57″N 76°01′56″W / 40.115952°N 76.032127°W |
| Website | www |
The Shady Maple Smorgasbord is a buffet restaurant located in East Earl, Pennsylvania. It is the largest buffet in the country.[2]
History
The Shady Maple began as a farm stand run by the Martin family. The name came from its location in the shade of a large maple tree. The farm stand evolved under the next generation of family ownership into a small IGA, Inc. supermarket by 1970. A cafeteria with seating for was added to the supermarket in 1982. This was later expanded into a Smorgasbord (buffet) with 300 seats. Subsequent expansions saw it moved to its own building and seating expanded to 1,200.[3]
Food
The Shady Maple primarily serves the cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It serves three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.[2]
Facility
The buffet is 200 feet (61 m) long,[4] and together with the gift shop cover 111,000 square feet (10,300 m2)[1]
The building also includes a gift shop[2] and during elections serves as a polling place.[5]
Awards and recognition
In 2024, USA Today rated Shady Maple Smorgasbord the best buffet in the country.[6][7]
See also
References
- ^ a b Nark, Jason (22 November 2023). "Shady Maple Smorgasbord is the country's biggest buffet, feeding up to 7,000 daily diners in Lancaster County". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ a b c MACPHERSON, ADRIANNA (30 November 2024). "The Pennsylvania Restaurant That Houses The Largest Buffet In The US". mashed.com. Mashed. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Hoeffner, Joe. "The Largest Buffet In America Is Nestled In Rural Pennsylvania". The Takeout.
- ^ Petrosemolo, Art (25 August 2024). "A Closer Look at Two of America's Top-Rated Smorgasbords". lancasterfarming.com. Lancaster Farmer. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Doran, Brady (5 November 2024). "America's largest buffet is also a polling place in Pennsylvania". abc27.com. ABC 27. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ "Get your all-you-can-eat fix at the 10 best buffet restaurants in the US". usatoday.com. USA Today. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Larlham Jr., Daniel. "Two Central PA buffets voted best in the country by USA Today readers". ldnews.com. Lancaster Daily News. Retrieved 10 December 2024.