Growing up my family used to vacation every summer in Lancaster and it will always be a very special place to me. Can't say I have many fond old memories of different restaurants, as the resort we stayed at (then Host Farm) included all meals. The food was amazing there at least.

A couple of years ago I went back (it's a much farther trip now that I live in New England), and boy did we make up for restaurant variety. So I had to pop on to suggest a place that was AMAZING and IMHO puts all the other touristy Amish buffets/family dinners to shame. It's called Dienner's on Rt. 30/Lincoln Hwy. It is directly in front of Dutch Haven, the place with the big windmill and the best Shoo Fly Pies.

It's run by Mennonites, the prices are sooooo dirt cheap it is was almost unbelievable, and unlike most of the other places this food wasn't just plentiful, it was absolutely delicious. But as for plentiful the choices were amazing. There were full hot tables just for entrees, one for veggies and salad, fresh soups, breads and several dessert areas. The desserts were especially out of this world. Very telling (and generally the sign of an excellent restaurant) were how many locals there were in such a touristy area. That's how we found it--a local recommended it highly.

By comparison, earlier in the week we had eaten at Good 'n Plenty, and while it was plenty, I found the food to be very limited in choices, relatively mediocre, we were served and treated like cattle and they grossly overcharged for the privledge. The friend I was on vacation with seldom complains and she couldn't wait to leave. I do not mind paying top dollar for fine dining, but felt we were simply paying tourist trap prices. Conversly, Dienner's is all about the food...it's a simple building with simple decor, no pricey gift shop, and the only head coverings etc you will see here are on fellow dinners, not fake costumes. My only complaint about Dienner's is that we didn't find it earlier in the trip, though not sure my waistline could have taken it!

For a couple more quick glutany suggestions (and boy is Lancaster the place to go to find endless food!), the Sunday Brunch we had at the Eden Best Western resort was excellent! I had heard good things about one at the Willow Tree, but we were staying at the Eden this trip, went here out of laziness and it was fabulous. Speaking of the Eden in a local paper we spotted a half off coupon for their prime rib buffet so tried it one night and was surprised at how good that was too (and silly cheap with the coupon too lol). We had a few lower than mediocre meals at the Eden (mostly breakfast and one cheaper dinner) so want to be clear I'm only recommending the brunch and Arthur's.

Anyway wish I saw this earlier when folks were deciding where to go, but thought I'd post my 2 cents now so hopefully it won't be too late for anyone else.