Shady Maple Smorgasbord - East Earl, Pennsylvania

N. A.

First time here so there was a lot to take in. Atmosphere is a 5 star because the place is HUGE (very spacious) and decorated with historical 3D paintings as well as beautiful grandfather clock and large cuckoo clock. Bathrooms are good sized and have an all-in-one dispenser (soap, water, and dryer).

Cashier was friendly and gave us some advice which we followed, telling our hostess it's our first time. We requested a side room rather than being out in the open and she accommodated us. But later, I heard another hostess seating another party and realized our hostess didn't do a good job orienting us. She never told us when the grills were closing (which at that point wasn't that long)

The food was very good. Not the best buffet (Yukai Buffet, VA Beach is my all-time favorite) but there's plenty of food and good variety. Our party of 4 went to fill our plates and everyone came back with different items.

It was like being on a cruise ship, discovering where X food is. Desserts were scrumptious and the ice cream selection was good too (they have milkshakes!).

It can be overwhelming because of the number of people who are getting food at the same time.

It was good enough that we've decided we'll come back again even though it's a bit of a drive to get there. We went for my birthday, the birthday person is free. I recommend doing that for your first time. Bring your ID or birth certificate to get the free meal and birthday coupon book (see picture)

Cave A.

This was our first time here but will not be our last. Such a large selection of wonderful food. I loved the smokey brisket sliced to order. I also liked the zero sugar soda and pies available. We really loved all the 3D sculpted dioramas. Very nice. They also had wooden carved roses 🌹 of various colors on sale in the lobby.

Lee K.

We had one of the best breakfasts of our lives here, it was simply fantastic. The food was consistently freshly stocked and abundant. The home fries are addictive and the extra thick milkshakes hit the spot. There’s also a gigantic gift shop downstairs that is jam packed with cool stuff. I will say that some of the employees didn’t seem to be too enthused to be at work, but it was a minor quibble. We still thoroughly enjoyed our first time visit. We’ll be back!

James T.

We go here every year for my wife’s birthday. Food is better than decent. It is a buffet, the steak was a little raw the first time and the server looked at my son and said you don’t have to eat that. It is a little bit wrong just asked for it to be medium next time. Because my children are taught, they need to eat everything on their plate. But overall very good experience they did not have the ice cream cake like they normally do on the dessert bar. And the store downstairs is actually pretty decent and prices aren’t that awful. My kids actually found some rare hot wheels. So very good experience we’ll go again. It’s a little bit over 100 bucks for five people that’s including two children.

Drew E.

No room for improvement, Best Buffet I've ever witnessed.. Just kidding, there are some slight improvements that they could implement but you get so much food and value for what you pay for it's such a small part of the experience. High quality Ingredients, High Quality People and service!, and So so SO many options. Great for a guy like me training for competitive eating. Breakfast is the best deal in my opinion if you're on a budget and can't afford their steak or seafood nights. Have been 2 times already and going a third time tomorrow. There has never been a better buffet in my existence in my 32 years of life. A+!

Sayd S.

ITS AMAZING the food is delicious and fresh been here a couple times and not a single time was I disappointed. Also the service here is on point very kind and patient staff 😊. They have options for everyone vegan, meat lover, or seafood. It’s a long drive out there but worth every minute the hardest part of the whole journey is driving back with a super full stomach. Thank you shady maple staff🍁 for all your hard work.

Dorn R.

I’ve been going to Shady Maple (129 Toddy Drive, East Earl, PA) for forty plus years and have thoroughly loved the experience. Over the years I have turned many friends on to the down home PA Dutch home style cuisine with super comfort food fare. In the beginning the place was so small that it was nothing to stand in line for two plus hours; and it was worth the wait. As a matter of fact, if you weren’t inside by Eight pm, you were out of luck. If you were lucky enough to make it inside, you were allowed to eat until full regardless of the time of day. Each day of the week has a main feature such as “Steak Night”, “Seafood Night”, “Prime Rib Night”, and more.
Unfortunately, it changed hands and as a result, the quality level has gone down and seems to be more processed than home style.
Don’t get me wrong, I will return, but probably not for the next breakfast “deal”!
My favorite choice is Prime Rib Night; I’ve personally consumed five perfectly prepared cuts at one setting, remember, it’s all you can eat; ranked as the largest buffet in the land (USA)! Went back for the March Senior lunch special and it was wonderful good as they say in PA Dutch territory! cheesesteaks, angus burgers, and some amazing brisket! Plenty of other tasty treats were available as well. My wife ordered me to update this review telling my followers that Shady Maple once again has my heartfelt recommendation! See you there!

Massimo

Shady Maple is a massive place with a lot to offer. The food is great quality, but the selection is surprisingly limited for how big it is. The staff are super friendly, and the place is well-staffed, so everything runs smoothly. The decor is really nice and makes the whole space feel welcoming, and the big gift shop is a fun spot to browse after your meal. It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for a good meal and a unique experience.