10 of Erie's Can't Miss Dishes

Photos by Jessica Hunter, Samuel Peterson, and Nick Warren

Do you have a "usual" order somewhere? So do we. If you wind up finding that certain special dish, it's easy to come back to it again and again. One day, we all started talking, and realized that each of us had a few menu items that we were happy to vouch for. These certain Erie County foodstuffs are ones that we're big fans of, and think are worth sharing.

On the whole, the entire menu from each of these locations is worth celebrating. Take these as suggestions from a friend, a hot tip on what to get, and perhaps an excuse to visit somewhere you've yet to go.

(Listed in alphabetical order by location)

Where: 1201 Kitchen

What: Miso ramen

Vibe: Richly Reimagined

On the Menu as: mains.

Price: $22

One of the trademarks of Chef Dan Kern's menu is that it's updated and refreshed on a regular basis. While one really can't go wrong with anything from the contemporary Latin-Asian fusion hotspot, the ramen is a perennial presence that never disappoints. As delicious as you'll find in any top-tier specialty restaurant, their ramen features pork belly, mâyu, and onsen egg for an unforgettable, melt-in-your mouth experience. 

Where: Cloud 9 Wine Bar & Restaurant

What: Traditional Poutine

Vibe: Curiously Canadian

On the Menu as: Poutine

Price: $12

A favorite destination for special work lunches, downtown's Cloud 9 has impressively diverse selections. While we'll often order our own entrées, sharing an order of poutine — French fries with Canadian brown gravy, cheddar cheese curds, and scallions — amongst friends always proves to be a mouthwatering start to a meal there. 

Where: Federal Hill Smokehouse

What: Brisket

Vibe: Jaw-droppingly Delectable

On the Menu as: Part of a meat plate, a sandwich, or by the pound

Price: $9 (as a one meat plate with two sides)

After a recent trip to Austin, Texas one of our editors stopped in with his family to the world-famous Franklin Barbeque — often cited as one of the world's best BBQ joints, and had their brisket. Federal Hill's is better. There's a reason they've won Best Barbeque since they opened their doors, and their flagship smoked brisket makes it easy to see why. 

Where: Flip Cafe

What: The Chorizo SMASH

Vibe: Smashingly Spicy

On the Menu as: ​Breakfast​: Served All Day!

Price : $8.95

This Edinboro destination crafts a mouthwatering amalgamation of spicy chorizo sausage, zesty salsa, hash browns, and scrambled eggs bound together with a glorious helping of creamy cheddar jack cheese. Pair with Cinnamon Flips for a sweet counterpart to the savory breakfast casserole. 

Where: Jekyll & Hyde's Gastropub

What: Mac n' Cheese

Vibe: Cheesily Comforting

On the Menu as: Apps and snacks

Price: $9.50

It's simple and effective: Curlicue cavatappi pasta, slathered in smoked gouda and mascarpone, with thick bacon chunks, and green peas. A longtime staple of their outstanding selection for a good reason, they got the recipe right, balancing textures for pasta perfection. 

Where: Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

What: Yinzer

Vibe: Steely Supremacy

One the Menu as: Wieners

Price: $7

On a menu where every offering is a standout item bursting with creativity, it can be tough, albeit fun to pick what you want at Lucky Louie's. One wiener that's never steered us wrong is the Yinzer, a tribute to Pittsburgh. It's a split Smith's Andouille Sausage served open-face, topped with pierogies, kraut, French fried onions, melted cheddar cheese, chipotle seasoning, stadium mustard and sour cream. It turns out Erieites can beat Pittsburghers at their own game. 

Where: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

What: Chicken n' Waffles

Vibe: Soulfully Southern

On the Menu as: Dinner, A la Carte

Price: $15

Winner of Best Restaurant and Best Chef three and four years running, Pineapple Eddie and Chef Jean Paul probably top many discerning diner's lists. Here, he serves up two pieces of golden and crispy fried chicken, with a house-made Belgian waffle (plus maple syrup for drizzling), and the vegetable of the day, for an expert take on this Southern plate. 

Where: Shoreline Bar & Grille

What: Lump Crab Hushpuppies

Vibe: Sumptuously Savory

On the Menu as: Share

Price: $11

Located in the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront's lakeside eatery, the chefs at Shoreline have combined crab, sweet corn, jalapeño, and pepper jack cheese with citrus aioli dipping sauce for a brilliant take on an often overlooked item. One of the wonderful staff members there once made a playful claim to us, saying it was better than any local competition, and after testing out some others, that claim absolutely holds up. 

Where: The Skunk and Goat Tavern

What: Gunslinger Burger

Vibe: Drippingly Decadent

On the Menu as: Handhelds

Price: $15

Recently, we featured a rundown of some of Erie's favorite burgers, with this one essentially getting top honors. Wanting to see if it was worth the hype, we headed over to North East to see for ourselves. It certainly was, with the half-pound burger (served on a brioche bun with fried egg, cheddar, candied bacon, cotton friend onions, and roasted garlic aioli) proving to be a spot-on bullseye. 

Where: Whole Foods Co-op Cafe

What: Danger Zone Wrap

Vibe: Dangerously Delicious

On the Menu as: Wraps

Price: $9

In case you didn't know, Erie's top grocery stop for organic and health-conscious food also hosts an outstanding cafe. Our personal favorite in this zone consists of a grilled lentil walnut "burger" on a whole wheat wrap with cheddar cheese, spinach, pickles, red onions, tomatoes, BBQ sauce, and chipotle mayo. 

We're already excited for another edition of this list, in our never-ending quest to partake in our city's impressive cuisine.