Featured in Philly Eater, three Lancaster restaurants made the list!

1. Bube’s Brewery

Renaissance Faire enthusiasts, amateur sleuths, home brewers, and history buffs will all find something to love at this one-of-a-kind complex set in an 1800s brewery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Microbrews are made and bottled onsite, murder mystery dinners are held several nights a month, and the underground catacombs — an intriguing candlelit mix of romantic and eerie — are home to both fine-dining dinners and raucous themed feasts complete with actors outfitted in period garb. Those who prefer to only dip their toes into the weird world of Bube’s can always just grab a drink and a burger at the Bottling Works bar or find a seat in the tree-filled beer garden.

2. Horse Inn

While the bulk of Philly’s best summer produce comes from scenic Lancaster County, there aren’t all that many spots to enjoy it in situ. That’s where Horse Inn comes galloping in. Located in downtown Lancaster, the lively pub might not have the most bucolic views. But the oft-changing menu reads like a who’s who of mom-and-pop farms. It’s full of seasonal gems, like the snap peas and radish salad with local goat cheese, along with hearty custom-blend burgers and buttermilk fried chicken. Drinks-wise, the selection is decidedly democratic with everything from $2 domestic cans to expertly crafted cocktails. The venue, around since the 1920s, has a throwback vibe with a hint of speakeasy charm — fitting, considering the site was at one point an actual speakeasy.

3. Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Only Las Vegas buffets come close to matching the massive scale of this smorgasbord in rural East Earl, Pennsylvania, tucked into Lancaster County. Serving multiple busloads of folks a day, the 200 feet of edible offerings here include house-made Pennsylvania Dutch classics — like Cope’s corn, chicken and dumplings, and shoofly pie — along with a pan-American lineup of everything from smoked pork chops to oyster stew, prime rib, and kielbasa. Make a day of it with a trip to the downstairs gift shop, neighboring farmers’ market, and Amish department store.