Highly Recommended 14 Dinner Restaurants Near Erie, Pennsylvania

Patrick John Nice bar near Mercyhurst University. Crowd trends younger. The food is solid and the servers are attentive. The happy drink specials are also enticing. The place gets very loud sometimes which can be difficult for conversations. I had a salad which was well prepared and came out quickly. The steak wrap was also a popular choice at my table. Overall, a decent place for food and drinks.

Doug W I had never been into downtown Erie before so this was a nice introduction! (I will get back here in the SUMMER...and the DAYLIGHT!!!) What a delightful and comfortable re-claimed building housing a welcoming and friendly staff. They were delightful and helpful in helping me choose beer and food which perfectly matched my tastes and desires!!! Thanks to Michael for being a perfect host and representative of this organization. The menu is varied and appealing and I scored big time (at Michaels suggestion) with the locally-brewed JOHN RUSSELL ME & JULIO beer and the TURKEY AVACADO sandwich. BOTH DELICIOUS!!!! I look forward to returning.

Etta Love this place! Even though it’s a chain, they still have great food! And service here was outstanding! We had the Woman bartender as our server and I was very impressed with her! Just enough chit chat and knowledge to make us feel at home!

Evan Lau No words. This franchise makes the best American food. Prices are great and environmentally quiet. Still underrated. Steak tips, pork chops, spasagna, and grilled salmon were amazing as usual. And of course, their signature croissants. Can’t forget about those. Even though this place is two hours where I’m from, definitely worth the drive to Erie for Cheddar’s. Also, it’s my first time going to a Cheddar’s outside of Florida.

Gloria We had lunch at Shoreline and dined outside. It was peaceful, relaxing and just a great time. Steps away from the lake on the bayfront. The sun was shining and the water views were beautiful. Our charming and friendly waitress made chit chat with us. She recommended drinks to try and she encouraged me to try the fish tacos made with blackened walleye. I am so glad that I took her advice. They were delicious. This was my first time trying walleye. It was sweet, meaty and cooked perfectly. My Mom had the shrimp and grits that she really enjoyed, too. Id love to visit here again.

Marco Tenaglia Delicious food and fast friendly service! Our server Liv was a pleasure to have as our server. We will make Smokey Bones a regular place to go from now on.

Robert S Placed a to go order for my family while we were all at Splash Lagoon, food was done quickly, tasted great (havent had QS&L for awhile since most of the locations have closed near me), and the order was accurate and fairly priced.

Photographer_with_Cats I’m so glad this place was recommended to me. It will become a staple during my work trips to Erie. I had the Chicken and Biscuits, which was awesome. Also had a side of very good onion rings. I can’t wait to come back and try the Ghoulish and the giant Pretzel which I saw others enjoying. I bet the fried veggie basket is awesome too from the taste of the onion rings. 5 stars. A+++

Sue Hampp We stopped at the hotel to spend the night on a road trip. We had been driving all day and we were hungry. It was getting late and the hotel restaurant was right there off the lobby with a lovely patio for outside dining. They were kind enough to seat us and serve us when it was very close to closing time. Our server, Basil could not have been any nicer; The entire staff was welcoming even though it was the end of their shifts and they probably wanted to clean up and go home. No one rushed us. The food was delicious (roast chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables), The Wagu meatballs appetizer was yummy, too! We enjoyed drinks and took in the beautiful waterfront view. They were also reasonably priced. Great experience!

Vicky Pirozzoli 10/3/25: We were going to eat elsewhere, but Smuggler’s Wharf caught our eye! So unique looking! I loved all the ivy growing all over the building and terrace. We weren’t disappointed with this restaurant. The hostess seated us immediately. Our waitress, Shel, was pleasant and professional. Great selections on the menu and so many gluten free options! I ordered the Caribbean Breeze salad with Smoked Salmon added ( very delicious and such a light meal!) and my husband got the All American Burger (a little messy but tasted good) and the Chocolate Chocolate Seduction (cake) for dessert (rich flavor!) We were so happy to find this beautiful restaurant! Definitely recommend.

Glenn Chichester Recently we had a Celebration of Life gathering for my sister-in-law . We reserved the rear dining area for about 60 guests. The party planner, Ashlee, was excellent in suggesting food options . Our server, Nikki , was incredibly attentive to guests needs . Our family and friend gathering at the Plymouth exceeded our expectations. My sister in-law loved the Plymouth ,we wanted to share our good byes at her happy place. We highly recommend the Plymouth and their staff .

Dave Recce Went to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill to celebrate fathers day! The staff was great and I was able to get seated right away in the bar area. The bar area had plenty of seating with a variety of tables, booths, and bar seats. My server was Isabella. She was great, I got very prompt service and she was very knowledgeable about the menu options. Several additional staff members, including management came by my table to make sure that I was well taken care of during my visit. I was even presented a Fathers Day $10 gift card for a future visit. The meal was amazing, I enjoyed a salad, the prime rib, mushrooms, and broccoli Everything was expertly prepared. There are many menu items available for everyone. I will definitely be back on my next visit to Erie.

Bowling Jeremy Everybodys ever been here loves this place. Its got an amazing selection of absolutely creative and delicious hot dogs. While I am not a drinker there is an incredibly large selection of alcoholic beverages here as well. Its a wonderful place to have a hot dog and a brew. There is indoor and outdoor seating available as well. And what I like is if you are sitting outside they actually keep condiments and plasticware outside so you dont have to come all the way back indoors if you dont want to.

David Blumberg Very tasty!! Got Chimi/Enchilada combo chicken and both were very good. Large portion and cheap. Friendly staff and was quick!!!!