5 Pennsylvania Buffets That Miss The Mark & 5 That Nail Classic PA Flavor

Pennsylvania’s buffet scene offers a mixed bag of dining experiences. From sprawling smorgasbords serving authentic Dutch cuisine to lackluster spreads that leave your wallet lighter and stomach disappointed.

I’ve sampled countless PA buffets over the years and discovered which ones truly deliver homestyle goodness and which ones fall flat despite their promises.

1. Garden Buffet – Quakertown’s Flavor Flop

Bland food meets uninspired presentation at this Quakertown disappointment. Frequent visitors report lukewarm trays and seasonings so subtle they might as well be nonexistent.

The steam tables often host dried-out offerings that have clearly seen better days. Even at budget-friendly prices, customers regularly leave feeling they’ve overpaid for mediocrity.

2. East Gourmet Buffet – Bartonsville’s Culinary Letdown

Sticky floors greet you before lackluster food does at this Bartonsville establishment. Regular patrons whisper warnings about mystery meats and suspiciously recycled dishes.

The sushi section particularly raises eyebrows—fish that shouldn’t bend shouldn’t also bounce. Management seems content with maintaining rock-bottom standards while charging mid-tier prices for food that barely qualifies as edible.

3. Timbers Buffet – Wilkes-Barre’s Defunct Disaster

Before closing its doors permanently, Timbers became legendary for all the wrong reasons. I once drove 40 minutes to try their weekend spread only to find lukewarm mashed potatoes with the consistency of wallpaper paste.

Guests routinely complained about stale desserts and meat dishes that required serious jaw strength. Its closure wasn’t mourned by locals who had endured years of culinary disappointment.

4. King Buffet – Harrisburg’s Royal Letdown

Royal only in name, this Harrisburg establishment consistently underwhelms with its tired selection. Sneeze guards protect food that hardly deserves saving from contamination.

The hot section features mysterious sauces that all somehow taste identical despite different colors. Vegetables maintain an impressive ability to be simultaneously overcooked and cold—a culinary paradox that defies kitchen physics.

5. Golden Corral – York’s Quantity-Over-Quality Contender

Massive portions can’t mask flavor deficiencies at York’s outpost of this national chain. Patrons flock for the all-you-can-eat promise but leave questioning if they should have eaten any of it at all.

The chocolate fountain, a supposed highlight, often resembles a muddy waterfall surrounded by stale marshmallows and wilted fruit.

Despite its popularity, true Pennsylvania flavor remains conspicuously absent from nearly every dish.

6. Shady Maple Smorgasbord – East Earl’s Expansive Excellence

Football-field-sized dining rooms host Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine at its finest. Shady Maple earns its legendary status with made-from-scratch comfort classics that a grandmother would approve of.

I’ve watched Amish families, the ultimate authenticity judges, return repeatedly for the chicken pot pie and fresh-baked breads.

The carving stations feature succulent roasts while seasonal specials showcase local harvests, making every visit uniquely satisfying.

7. Dienner’s Country Restaurant – Lancaster’s Hidden Gem

Tourists often miss this local favorite while locals wouldn’t dream of skipping it. Their rotisserie chicken emerges golden and glistening, having been lovingly basted throughout the cooking process.

Homestyle sides don’t play second fiddle here—each vegetable dish receives the same attention as protein centerpieces.

The pepper cabbage delivers the perfect tangy crunch to complement heartier offerings, while warm bread pudding sends diners home with bellies full of comfort.

8. Hershey Farm Restaurant – Strasburg’s Bountiful Harvest

Nestled among Strasburg’s rolling farmlands, this buffet delivers countryside abundance without pretension. Their smoked meats develop flavor profiles that can only come from patience and tradition.

Last summer, I watched my city-dwelling nephew experience his first taste of real creamed chipped beef—his eyes widened with each subsequent bite.

The salad bar features pickled vegetables that would make any Pennsylvania grandmother proud to display at her church potluck.

9. Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant – Smoketown’s Family-Style Champion

Pass-the-dish dining elevates this Smoketown treasure beyond mere buffet status. Platters arrive family-style at communal tables, encouraging conversation with neighboring diners who quickly become friends.

Their chicken pot pie (the Pennsylvania Dutch version with noodles, not pastry) achieves legendary status among regulars.

Sweet-and-sour bacon dressing transforms simple lettuce into something worth fighting over, while the apple butter, made in copper kettles, deserves to be bottled and sold nationwide.

10. Yoder’s Restaurant – New Holland’s Comfort Food Paradise

Operated by a Mennonite family for generations, Yoder’s delivers authenticity without fanfare. Their roast beef practically dissolves on your tongue—the result of slow cooking and generations of know-how.

I’ve witnessed grown men get misty-eyed over their chicken and dumplings, a dish that somehow captures the essence of Pennsylvania comfort in each spoonful.

The dessert bar features pies cooling on windowsills, just like in the idealized countryside of our collective imagination.