Head To Pennsylvania If You Want To Visit America's Largest Buffet
Visitors venture to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, located in the southeastern portion of the Keystone State, for many reasons. Many enjoy the bucolic scenery, complete with Amish horse-drawn buggies. Others come for the handcrafted heirlooms for sale. No matter your reason, there is something everyone can agree on: The food is unique and delicious, and there's no better place to sample it than at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, which doubles as America's largest buffet.
The family-owned restaurant in East Earl, Pennsylvania, started as a farm stand before expanding to 110,000 square feet of dining space in 2000. Today, it can seat up to 1,200 diners and is home to a massive gift shop. Breakfast currently begins at $13.99 per person, and you'll only pay a little more on Saturdays. This is when you can try scrapple, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast meat made from pork.
There's something for everyone at Shady Maple
If you're already excited about this iconic buffet, dinner is the meal that really showcases what the cooks at Shady Maple Smorgasbord can do. Each night of the week is dedicated to a different type of cuisine. From Seafood Night to Wing/Rib Night to Prime Rib Night, diners can choose the best time of the week to visit based on their favorite foods. If you're vegan or vegetarian, don't worry. With a 200-foot-long buffet, this restaurant offers plenty of options to accommodate your dietary preferences.
You've never had Shoo Fly Pie? Shady Maple Smorgasbord can hook you up. Or maybe you prefer apple dumplings (especially after Cracker Barrel discontinued this popular item) or whoopie pies — all popular desserts in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and all available at Shady Maple. For a real treat, the Shady Maple offers a free meal on your birthday, and you can eat all the cake you like. If you decide to visit, don't plan to go on a Sunday when the buffet is closed. Additionally, Shady Maple doesn't serve alcohol, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It could be just the perfect time to try an old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer, avoiding a hangover entirely.