In the heart of Pennsylvania, the smorgasbord represents a culinary celebration. Beyond traditional buffets, the smorgasbord invites diners to indulge in a vibrant array of flavors, a lasting experience that makes patrons feel like they are a part of something bigger.
Today’s smorgasbord invokes a sense of community, harkening back to its origins as a popular Swedish tradition. Adapted by the Pennsylvania Dutch community, this buffet-style feast features everything from hearty meats and savory sides to delectable desserts, all served in a mix of generous and sample-size portions. Family and friends gather, mingling, sampling delicious foods, and creating cherished memories.
In this guide, we’ll explore the origins of the smorgasbord, its signature dishes, and tips for making the most of this unique dining experience. Whether you are a seasoned foodie or a curious traveler, we invite you to join us on a delicious journey through one of Pennsylvania’s most beloved culinary delights.
The High-Society Origins of Smorgasbords
The history of the smorgasbord can be traced back to Sweden, sometime around the 16th century. The literal translation of “Smörgåsbord” is “Butter Goose Table.” Smörgås translates to ‘bread and butter’ and Bord translates to ‘table.’
It is thought to have derived from high-society gatherings, where a room was typically set aside featuring aquavit – a popular spirit of the time – and a spread of small plate items such as cured fish (herring was a popular offering), meatballs, bread, butter, potatoes, and other items for guests to enjoy leading up to the main meal.
What does Shady Maple Smorgasbord serve?
At Shady Maple, our Smorgasbord attracts guests from across the country, and the world, to enjoy both breakfast and lunch sessions. We are open six days per week, closed only on Sunday. Breakfast begins at 7 am each morning and switches over to lunch around 11:30. At 4 pm, the menu shifts once more, making way for our dinner spread.
For visitors who want to enjoy the best of both worlds, we offer an option for our visitors to pay the difference between the cost of breakfast and lunch and stay through breakfast and into lunch to try out a wider variety of our authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food options.
What’s on the breakfast menu?
Start your morning off the right way with made-to-order eggs, omelets, and pancakes. Then, help yourself to breakfast classics like sausage, ham, scrapple, bacon, French toast, mush, puddings, oatmeal, waffles, biscuits, fruit, cereal, baked goods, beverages, and more.
What’s on the lunch menu?
Make the most of your midday meal. Our lunch menu features grilled shrimp, smoked beef brisket, and other favorites from the grill. To round out your meal, we also serve 46 Salad Bar items, 6 homemade breads & rolls, 4 soups, 6 kinds of cheese, 8 types of meat, 14 vegetables, 10 cold desserts, 4 hot desserts, 8 pies, 6 cakes, a sundae bar, and a variety of beverages.
What’s on the dinner menu?
Our dinner menu includes many of the same menu items as our lunchtime menu features, with the addition of featured nights like Steak Night on Mondays, Seafood Night on Tuesdays, and Prime Rib Night on Wednesdays. Guests also have access to the same variety of additional menu items featured at lunchtime.
Over time, the smorgasbord evolved from its traditional role as a pre-meal event to grabbing the spotlight as the main meal. Today, at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the largest smorgasbord in the United States, we feature 200 feet of authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and baking – welcoming all to come dine and join the fun.
Differences Between Smorgasbords and Buffets
The terms Smorgasbord and Buffet are often used interchangeably to describe restaurants where diners can pay a flat fee and pile up their plates repeatedly until they’ve had their fill. While similar in some ways, there are some significant differences to note. Let’s look at two key elements that separate these popular all-you-can-eat dining concepts.
Experience vs. Everyday Meal
For an everyday meal, a buffet is your best choice. Buffets are more about getting the best value, the most food, and enjoying a quick, hearty meal. Smorgasbords focus more on the experience. Families, friends, and colleagues get together and take their time, savoring each bite, sampling new foods, and catching up on life.
Regional Themes vs. Typical Selection
Buffets typically serve a variety of food without any sort of theme beyond filling your belly and going home full and happy. Smorgasbords, however, are often themed around regional culinary and baking trends. At Shady Maple, we introduce new items from time to time, but through the years we have stayed true to our Pennsylvania Dutch roots, offering a delightful variety of regional foods and baked goods.
Experience the Smorgasbord Fun
Smorgasbords are about appreciating food, culture, and being in the moment. If you have never experienced a smorgasbord, you are in for a treat – literally and figuratively.
Come for the food, stay for hours and soak in the memories you create with your friends and family. You may even meet some strangers who turn into friends.
