Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Erie by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's 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 at the 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—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's 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 to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Erie using data from Yelp. 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#15. LBV Steakhouse
- Rating: 2.7/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 8199 Perry Hwy Presque Isle Downs Casino Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Lounges, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Smuggler's Wharf
- Rating: 2.9/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3 State St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.8/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3444 West Lake Road Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cloud 9 Wine Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 25 East 10th St. Ste 1 Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. El Amigo Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 State St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Bistro 26
- Rating: 3.9/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3557 West 26th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mediterranean, American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Brewerie at Union Station
- Rating: 3.9/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 123 West 14th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breweries, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Oliver's Rooftop
- Rating: 4.0/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 East Front St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Colao's Ristorante
- Rating: 4.1/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2826 Plum St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Mi Scuzi Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.1/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2641 Myrtle St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Bay House Oyster Bar & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6 Sassafras Pier Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Cork 1794
- Rating: 4.2/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 West Erie Plaza Drive Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Tasty Bowl
- Rating: 4.3/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7400 Schultz Road Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Szechuan, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1402 West 10th St. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Southern, Waffles, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Sneaky Pete's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6116 Swanville Road Erie, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, Spanish, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
