Best Restaurants for a Romantic Dinner in Erie, Pennsylvania

The city of Erie, Pennsylvania is often seen as one too small to contain much in the means of entertainment. However, one thing that cannot be denied is the amount of great restaurants the Erie area contains. Of the numerous places to eat in Erie, many are a great place to take a significant other for a romantic and special meal. Here are just a few of the places that me and the misses love to frequent when we want a romantic night on the town.

There may be no better place in all of Erie for fine dining than the Stonehouse Inn. The first thing one notices is the atmosphere both in and outside of the establishment. The building itself is literally a stone house residing near a quiet waterfall that leads to a small pond. Inside is a fireplace which adds to the cozy feeling the Inn gives. The main dining room seats only 50 people, so the service at the Inn is impeccable. On the menu one will find such delicacies as "Braised Tuscan Lamb" and "Roasted Bistro Steak." Every item on the menu is cooked to perfection, which is why the Stonehouse Inn is arguably the best restaurant in Erie.

Another great option for a romantic meal is Paper Moon Restaurant Gallery and Jazz Club. Paper Moon is located right in the heart of downtown Erie and is the perfect place for a meal if coming from a performance at the Warner Theatre or watching the Erie Otters play hockey at the Tulio Arena. Paper Moon is known for its seafood and what it calls "Thai creations." However, it is the restaurant itself that makes it the perfect place for date night.

Much like the Stonehouse Inn, Paper Moon is a small and intimate restaurant. What makes Paper Moon different is that the restaurant has live jazz every Monday through Saturday. Something the wife and I love is to sit at a candlelit table enjoying a drink or a glass of wine while some of Erie's best musicians play softly in the background. The fact that the walls of the restaurant are adorned with original work created by some of the most talented artists in the city just add to the ambience.

The Marketplace Grill is the perfect restaurant for a romantic meal for several reasons. Only a ten minute walk from the dock at Lake Erie and right off the Bayfront Highway, Marketplace is in the perfect location no matter what time of year it is. What makes Marketplace such a great restaurant is the amount of options the menu contains, all at reasonable prices. It is very easy for two people to enjoy a great meal and drinks while spending under forty dollars. That fact alone is one of the many reasons Marketplace Grill was rated to be the number one business in all of Erie.

If one were to ask the wife and myself which restaurant is perfect for a romantic meal, we would offer a rather unexpected option. The Hibachi Japanese Steak and Sea House is our favorite place to eat for several reasons. Hibachi is only a five to ten minute drive from Presque Isle State Park and I-79, making it easy to get to. Hibachi is a traditional Japanese Steakhouse, which means that the food is prepared right at the table by tremendously skilled chefs. Actually, it is the chefs cooking the food that makes the experience special. The performance is top notch and is both comical and impressive. The highlight of the performance is the "shrimp toss," when the chef tosses a shrimp which must be caught by a patron in his or her mouth.

What makes this our favorite place to eat is the quality of food Hibachi serves. The lemon chicken found at Hibachi is the most flavorful chicken that I have ever experienced. Thinking about it alone actually makes my mouth water. Much like Marketplace Grill, Hibachi is perfect for great food at a reasonable price. While it is a different atmosphere than the other restaurants mentioned, there is no law that states a place must be serene with soft music and candlelit tables in order to be romantic. Emily (the wife) and I love to have fun in our relationship, and to us experiencing something such as this is romantic in its own way.

Whether it is a traditional romantic meal in a quiet and cozy restaurant or a loud, fun-filled experience, Erie offers many options that are perfect for a couple to enjoy a romantic night together. Any of the four above mentioned restaurants would be a great choice for a Valentine's Day meal or just a night on the town.