Buffet restaurant in Pennsylvania
The Shady Maple Smorgasbord is a buffet restaurant located in East Earl, Pennsylvania. It is the largest buffet in the country.
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.
Food.
The Shady Maple primarily serves the cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It serves three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Facility.
The buffet is 200 feet long.
The building also includes a gift shop and during elections serves as a polling place.
Awards and recognition.
In 2024 US News rated Shady Maple Smorgasbord the best buffet in the country.
References.
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