Erie, Pennsylvania's Best Restaurants

Erie, Pennsylvania is well known as a melting pot for many different cultures, and as such has a unique culture all its own. It offers a large variety of high quality and inexpensive restaurants that could satisfy even the most refined and foreign of pallets. My favorite restaurants in Erie are as follows:

Bertrand's French Bistro

Bertrand's French Bistro, located on 18 North Park Row, offers the atmosphere of an authentic Parisian café, and makes you feel as though you're looking out at the Champ Elysees rather than Perry Square.

My Picks

If you're not going to drink alcohol or are underage, ask for an Orangina. It's a carbonated French orange drink kind of like Fanta, but ten times better.

You can't go wrong with the Escargots de Bourgogne for an appetizer. The name explains it all, of course: snails. Savory, tender and cooked in a delectable sauce, they'll have you asking for more. Come on, you know you'd try them if you were in France!

For an entrée, I'd recommend trying Carre d'Agneau Napoleon... more commonly called lamb. Many people are turned off from eating lamb because of its less than desirable smell, but I assure you that the lamb here is nothing less than exquisite.

No trip to a French restaurant would be complete without dessert, and for that I recommend the Crème Brulee. Just crack the caramelized surface and enjoy! It's extremely creamy and sweet, with a chewy, candy-like appeal.

Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub and Restaurant

Molly's (as locals call it) is an authentic Irish pub that serves traditional food as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages. It has very genuine atmosphere in a dark, homey building with high ceilings and aged wood. Molly's is a favorite among locals.

My Picks

It's an understatement to say that the Killians Cheese Fondue is delicious. It's not fondue in the traditional sense; it's served in a brown bowl with pretzel bread, apples, and grapes, and gives the appetizer a more provincial feeling. Of course the cheese is matched perfectly with the pretzel roll, but it's also delectable with the fruit.

A good meal for lunch is Big Tom's Pub Club. It packs a variety of meats, Swiss cheese, and vegetables on a gigantic sourdough bun, and comes with a side of seasoned fries.

Try Bailey's Cheesecake for dessert; you won't regret it. The thick, generously sized portion of cheesecake made with Bailey's Irish Cream is a great way to finish your visit to Molly Brannigan's.

Joe Root's Grill

This restaurant is essentially "Erie food", rather than the above two, which were foreign. Joe Root's Grill was named after a local Erie man who lived on Presque Isle, or "the peninsula" around the turn of the twentieth century. If you want a restaurant that sums up the culture of Erie, Pennsylvania, Joe Root's is it.

My Picks

For an appetizer, order the Calamari. Yes, it's a bit foreign, and eating squid might be unsettling for some, but this deep-fried, slightly rubbery selection will leave your mouth watering for dinner.

The Buffalo Chicken Salad is a light alternative to the many heavy pastas and meats served here. It comes in a large bowl with your choice of dressing, and combines the interesting tastes of spicy buffalo sauce with cool vegetables.

The Smothered Chicken is a juicy chicken breast covered in multiple kinds of cheese, mushrooms, ranch dressing, and bacon. It is savory, very seasoned, and filling. It comes with your choice of a variety of sides, including French fries, salad, and rolls.