Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Erie area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals鈥攁 French style of serving with a set menu鈥攂ecame the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Erie area using data from . Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#18. Smuggler's Wharf
- Rating: 2.9/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3 State St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood
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#17. S&S Super Buffet
- Rating: 3.0/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1960 Rotunda Drive Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese, Buffets, Sushi Bars
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#16. Cloud 9 Wine Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 25 East 10th St. Ste 1 Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, New American
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#15. Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.8/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3444 West Lake Road Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Chinese, Asian Fusion
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#14. El Amigo Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 State St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
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#13. Calamari's Squid Row
- Rating: 3.9/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1317 State St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
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#12. Oliver's Rooftop
- Rating: 3.9/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 East Front St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
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#11. The Brewerie at Union Station
- Rating: 3.9/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 123 West 14th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breweries, New American
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#10. Bistro 26
- Rating: 3.9/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3557 West 26th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean, American
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#9. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 680 Millcreek Mall Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
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#8. Mi Scuzi Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 700 Millcreek Mall Blvd. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
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#7. Colao's Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2826 Plum St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
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#6. Bay House Oyster Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6 Sassafras Pier First Floor Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
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#5. The Cork 1794
- Rating: 4.2/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 West Erie Plaza Drive Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Seafood
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#4. Tasty Bowl
- Rating: 4.3/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7400 Schultz Road Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Szechuan, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
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#3. Casablanca Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2174 West 8th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Middle Eastern, New American, Breakfast & Brunch
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#2. Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (438 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1402 West 10th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Southern, Waffles, Cocktail Bars
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#1. Bro Man's Sammiches
- Rating: 4.9/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8228 Peach St. Inside the Gulf Station Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Tacos, Burgers, Cheesesteaks
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.