Shady Maple in East Earl, Pa

[Preesi]

Well, I have been going to Shady Maple for as long as I can remember....

For a year now Ive had stomach issues that turned out to be nerves and hormones (gettin old dammit) so I couldnt go to SM since before the remodel ...
Im better now.

I was jonesin for chopped cheese bread, black walnut cake, glorified rice and ham balls so I went up today after 3 years away

Went up, got my stuff, came home....



Its sad, the chopped cheese bread was sweet and no discernable cheese flavor, Glorified Rice tasted like nothing etc...

I have a feeling Im just never returning. Its a huge haul for tasteless and unmemorable food...

Plus the foyer restaurant was closed and we were starving...

Anyone else agree?

[daninpa]

My parents have been going there since the early 80s and me since the mid 90s. We usually get bakery, meats, and spices. I have noticed a decrease in quality of bakery but in my opinion the meats and spices are top-notch.

[Outlaw Star]

Personally, the smorgasboard is and always will be the main draw there. One of the best breakfasts anywhere. That alone ensures I'll continue to make the trip; the other stuff is just gravy.

[NJbound]

we too have been taking the family and friends there for many years.. We just went in November.. Everything seems up to snuff to us...

[Valley Twin]

I go about every 4-6 months on a "shady maple meat run" to stock the freezer. You can't beat their quality or prices for meats. Their turkey "italian" sausage and turkey kielbasa is the bee's knees and their steaks melt in your mouth. Deli and seafood are pretty good, but I'm not much on their bakery and can get their produce and groceries a lot closer to home. Definitely worth it for the butcher though. Making my next run this coming Monday. The freezer is looking a little empty right now!

[Jaysmom]

We were at the smorgasbord on Friday for Midnight Gladness - it was more crowded than I have ever seen due to the discounted prices but I thought the food was great as usual. I was with 7 people and there were no complaints. The new "cafeteria" in the grocery store is subpar compared to the original and the service has been awful compared to the previous one. We have complained but nothing is ever done. I go there frequently as we have immediate family a few miles from there. I am not a fan of the bakery items but my mom loves to go Saturday night after 8 when they discount them. They do have the best meats and my sister will only buy her meats from there.

[Jay from Philly]

My wife and I do a Shady Maple run every 2-3 weeks. Quite simply, we've been so spoiled we don't want to do our grocery shopping anywhere else. The meats are the best you can get outside of Groff's Meats in Elizabethtown, and the produce department is hands down the best I've ever seen.

[Preesi]

Okay, Ive tasted some stuff today and I guess it was the panic attack I had yesterday that threw my senses off, it does taste the same, I guess my preferences have changed too cause Im more into the Watergate Salad then the Glorified Rice

[CountFunkula]

From a people watching standpoint, this place can't be beat. For the good and the bad. Physical fitness isn't the strongsuit in these parts.

[Sycamore]

I live in ChesCo. I've only been to Shady Maple once, and I prefer Miller's Smorgasbord in Lancaster to SM's buffet. I don't have a lot of experience with the store.

BUT, I do highly recommend Booth's Corner's Farmer's Market in Boothwyn (Delaware County) for great, similar food choices, with more selection and better quality, IMO.

[Sycamore]

If I lived in Philadelphia, I would eat no kielbasa other than Czrew's in Port Richmond. A-****ing-mazing. And, I was polish by marriage for a long time, I know my sausage. ;0

[Preesi]

Okay I had a Shady Maple meatloaf samich on an Onion roll that was damn good!

[Jay from Philly]

Okay I had a Shady Maple meatloaf samich on an Onion roll that was damn good!

I use their meatloaf mix (pork-beef-veal) for meatballs. We were also there on Dec 23rd for Midnight Gladness. At the butcher counter they were selling big plastic bags of sirloin steaks at deep discounts. We got a pack of around 15 steaks for 38 bucks. It will take a little while to go through all those steaks but it was so worth it.

[Valley Twin]

Was there on Monday and got a 10 lb bag of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $19.99 (20 split breasts = $1 each) and a 7 lb beef tenderloin, (trimmed and sliced for me) for just under $60 among other things. Have a freezer full of meat now and am ready in case we get snowed in for 3 months!