Never one to back down from an adventure, three generations of the Cetlin men headed over to the Shady Maple Smorgasbord for a Saturday lunch in Lancaster, PA. You can find a poster child for Gastric Bypass at any table! If you’ve ever been to an all-inclusive resort with a buffet, this blows it away.
We happened to pick the Pork Bonanza weekend featuring pork stomach, pulled pork, ham loaf, homemade sausage (2 kinds), pork and kraut, pork ribs… and these are the ones I could remember. In pork we trust!
Of course, the pork was just a small sampling of the rest of the buffet. There were cheeses, freshly grilled steaks, burgers, salmon filets, catfish, cheesesteaks, pizza… the food here is to die for, and if you eat enough, you probably will. You can’t leave without trying the Amish salads (love that hot bacon dressing), mac and cheese, the 12 flavors of soda (including 3 kinds of birch beer), and let’s not forget the assortment of homemade breads and rolls (don’t miss the cornbread). There are also vegetables for the health-conscious, but why waste the calories?
If there’s room, your meal wouldn’t be complete without sampling desserts. They’ve got the classic Amish Shoo-Fly Pie, apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream, a sundae bar and an assortment of what seemed like 30 other desserts. There’s also sugar-free options for those watching their weight as well as Crystal Light dispensers.
With all the food and the number of people at the feeding trough, Shady Maple was remarkably clean and well-stocked. Food was always being replenished and tables cleared quickly. Bathrooms are clean – trust me, you’ll visit them before you leave.
If you go, Shady Maple is only about 10-15 minutes off the Morgantown exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We got there at 12:30 and didn’t have a wait. When we left around 2:30, there were 2 lines of about 30 deep, so there may be a wait. Shady Maple is closed Sundays, but check their website for holiday hours and specials.
While you’re there, check out their incredible store downstairs. There’s a huge selection of everything you don’t need, but like to look at. It’s almost like a general store with a little bit of everything, plus a small takeout restaurant. None of us could move after lunch, so we didn’t go to the Farm Market. Another day, another trip! For some reason, I skipped dinner that night.
Open Monday-Saturday 5am-8pm
129 Toddy Drive (on Route 23 West coming from the Turnpike)
East Earl, PA 17519
(717) 354-8222
www.shady-maple.com
