Well Greg, we already ate pizza out in Amish Country, so why not Chinese food too? Yes, I was scared. A Chinese and Sushi buffet in Pennsylvania? Even in my home state I am sometimes skeptical, and we’re a lot closer to the ocean than Lancaster. Once again, I took one for the team. I put my life on the line so that I would have a different kind of experience to blog about. I truly believed that if I left the Manor Buffet without food poisoning, it would be a victory no matter how good or bad it was. As it turns out, I was totally wrong in all my assumptions. Dead wrong. This place was actually good, almost on par with the sushi buffet that I used to frequent near my hometown in New Jersey which recently closed.

It is actually sketchy from the outside. Located in a shopping complex next to an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. The windows that blare across the front of the restaurant were dark. A dimly lit red sign reads “Manor Buffet” and there is a sign for the entrance. I almost wanted to turn around and walk away, but we proceeded further. But then as you walk into the actual restaurant itself, it will take your breath away. It’s beautiful. Simply beautiful. There are chandeliers, the quality is super-clean, and the walls themselves surrounding the buffet area are built to look like the facades of houses. If you have ever been to a Wegman’s, it looked something like that. There were at least four separate dining rooms that I could count. It was pretty empty considering the amount of food and the price ($14.95), but it was a Monday night and I assume that tourists haven’t found this place yet either.

So how was the food? Shockingly good. This was not fine cuisine by any means, and some of the temperatures could have been a bit hotter. But it was fresh. Nothing tasted funny or off. There was a sushi bar with a decent selection of sushi and sashimi, a raw bar with shrimp, clams, and oysters, and a salad bar. Hot islands included two or three for typical Chinese takeout classics and one for the un-adventurous American. Every kind of seafood, meat, and poultry was available in plentiful numbers. They have a hibachi grill where you can select meat and vegetables from a separate island and give it to them to cook, and even something I’ve never seen at a Chinese buffet: a carving station. Available to cut yourself was a hunk of steak, prime rib, large pieces of salmon, roast chicken, and even smoked sausage.

I was not crazy about the steak (it had become tough due to being kept warm at the carving station after they removed it from the grill), but everything else was more than competent. The sushi was not fishy, and the other dishes weren’t greasy at all. Like I said, it was just surprising because the Pennsylvania heartland is not noted for its ethnic food. To cap off your meal was a large selection of desserts. There was a fridge full of cake slices, and a whole cabinet full of shelves of cookies (literally every kind you can imagine), machines for chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt and ice cream with a toppings station, and also a row of fresh fruit slices. I am going to give Manor Buffet a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The food was good and the price more than fair. The service was also attentive in filling up drinks and removing dirty plates. For tourists looking for a bang for their buck, definitely give this place a shot.

This review was already posted here. Manor Buffet is located at 2090 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.