One Of The Oldest Pennsylvania Dutch Restaurants In The State Has Served Homestyle Comfort Foods Since 1929

Buffet dining is fairly common in the U.S., but there’s buffet dining, and then there are Pennsylvania Dutch buffets. Also referred to as smorgasbords or Amish buffets, they’re something of a phenomenon in South Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania. They’re a tradition in places like Lancaster County, and truthfully, Pennsylvania Dutch buffets are worth a trip to Amish country because they offer so much more than your typical all-you-can-eat setup. One of them, Miller’s Smorgasbord, has been serving food for the past 97 years. 

Miller’s Smorgasbord got its start in 1929, when Enos Miller opened a service station on Lincoln Highway East while his wife Anna served home-cooked meals to its customers. Through word of mouth, people began seeking out her Pennsylvania Dutch meals (her specialty was chicken and waffles) and soon, the dining room took over the space once occupied by the repair shop. Two of the Millers’ longtime employees, Beatrice and Thomas Strauss, took over the business in 1948 and continued to expand Miller’s Smorgasbord, while expanding their hospitality group. It may not be the largest buffet in the U.S., but as the oldest smorgasbord in the state, Miller’s Smorgasbord is known for its hearty, traditional, made-from-scratch comfort food and its welcoming atmosphere.

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Eat yourself full is Miller’s Smorgasbord’s slogan

In 1957, Miller’s introduced its famous “seven sweets and seven sours” bar that features dishes like pickled beets, apple butter,  and mustard-glazed ham balls. Miller’s Smorgasbord also features a soup and salad bar, chicken pot pie, mac and cheese, a carving station with a variety of meats, and sides like mashed potatoes and vegetables. The dessert counter includes a variety of pies served à la mode and a wall of cheesecake. Miller’s is known for its Amish baked goods, like raisin bread, whoopie pies, and sticky buns.

Miller’s can get crowded, so reservations are recommended. The lobby has been decorated in homage to Miller’s early days: The walls are lined with black-and-white photos of the restaurant, and there’s even a vintage gas pump and an old Model T. The full-service bar is available, as well as plenty of space to wait and a souvenir shop called Anna’s Gifts & Sundries. Once inside, visitors will find a spacious dining room filled with tables and chairs and all of the various hot and cold buffet counters in the center of the room. On a busy day, Miller’s can serve up to 1,700 people, and it’s one of the few area buffets that is open seven days a week. Dining options include the full buffet for $31.99, a soup, salad, and bread buffet for $20.99, and holiday buffets for Easter ($55), Mother’s Day ($55), and Thanksgiving ($65).

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.