I went here for food only one time. It will be the last time. The chili dogs were horrible. I get that Smith's are the best hot dogs in town, and the dogs themselves were fine, but the chili was terrible, the worst i've ever tasted (i ended up throwing one of my two dogs in the trash), and I was a bit put off that the bun was 3X the size of the hot dog. On the other hand, the ice cream is fantastic, and the Orange Twist is my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, every time I come here, my cone is in some way shape or form broken, chipped or cracked, without fail. Do they throw the boxes around before opening them? It's unacceptable.... I hate to give such a low rating, but it is my average between the fantastic ice cream and the horrible food. I won't even be back to give any other menu items a try aside from the ice cream.... why would I need to, when the best food in Erie is just a few feet away at Stevo's Pizza? read more

What a fun place! Great burger, yummy orange vanilla shake, and zucchini fries! Fast service too.. Although the place was packed! read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Stopped there but didn't eat dinner there. Wife and kids had the orange and vanilla twist ice cream that they all enjoyed. Prices were lower than expected. Was planning on stopping for dinner but they didn't have vegetarian options. Only fries and zucchini. No biggie, so we stopped back for dessert. read more

7Excellent burgers and onion rings. Its an Erie landmark! We come here all the time in the warm month's. Their turkey burgers are to die for. read more

Sara's - Jeff and Homer - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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Sara's is an Erie classic !! Don't leave without stopping for a burger and some ice cream insider tip.... you need the pickles and the spicy ranch. You're welcome read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

We stopped in around 1pm on a Monday during summer and the place was popping. It has a 50s theme with interesting decor throughout the restaurant. Their menu is pretty basic with burgers, hot dogs, fries, and ice cream treats. We got a couple hot dogs and a Turkey burger with zucchini fries on the side. Service was quick with the food coming out as soon as we ordered. The food left something to be desired. It was salty, especially the zucchini fries, and I expected the hot dog to be juicier than it was. They had an open toppings bar with a lot of different cut vegetables and sauces for your burgers and dogs. We also tried their peanut butter shake and swirl ice cream. Both were a nice treat for a hot day. I would return, but would rather try some other restaurants in the area first. read more

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Always recommend Sara's to visitors to our gem city Erie Pennsylvania. Sara's is iconic to those who live in this area. My favorite is the turkey burger with their homemade relish, zucchini planks, and assorted drinks. They serve soft serve ice cream which is a favorite with the orange and vanilla Creamsicle twist, chocolate, and of course they're delicious All orange sherbet. Highly recommend to visit Sarris on the peninsula. read more

This place is doing simple food right. Burgers, dogs and chicken sandwiches. We went for a day of kayaking at beautiful Presque Isle and loved it so much we went for lunch and got the excellent burger with soft pretzel like bun. We came back in the way out for dinner and got chicken sandwiches. Everything was fresh and delicious and all the employees, mostly young high school and college ages were very professional and seemed like hard workers. Kudos to the staff. A very charming place with a 50's kind of feel since it has been around for a while I think. And don't miss the orange and cream ice cream cone. Amazing!! As was the banana milkshake! Thanks making our trip to Presque even better with your great food and experience Sara's! read more

My family and I ate here this past weekend for dinner and it was a huge let down. We had heard they were famous for Hot Dogs so we ordered a few chili dogs. First of all the chili looked tasted and smelled like dog food. It was definitely old chili. I took one bite and the Hot Dog was rubbery and the bun was stale. We also ordered 2 baskets of fries and both were cold and flavorless. I also bit into a raw potato while eating some of the fries. One of my family members ordered the perch basket and at first it actually looked decent until they took a bite and the fish was rubbery and also flavorless. Another of my family members ordered the chicken tenders and they were soggy and looked/tasted microwaved. Quite frankly everything tasted microwaved and old. I guess this place is an acquired taste because the locals seem to love it. If you're looking for good food, I do not recommend Sara's. read more

Order a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. I didn't know I was getting the one cooked this morning. Burger was cold the cheese was tasteless and the bun even seemed like it was toasted sometime today but not when I ordered. Let's not speak of the service. (Slides door open) help you, takes card, over priced, (shuts door) it was myself my wife and our four kids so our bill was over $50. The fries they gave us were probably the worst I've ever had. When you turn into the part just keep going it's not worth it here. read more

We had the Italian Hoagie and one of the burgers plus onion rings and a hot fudge shake. Everything was SUPER tasty but the onion rings weren't hot when they came out. The setting of the restaurant is very family friendly and the decor is old diner style. State park is 50 yards away so you can grab some food and head right over to a pretty beach on Lake Erie. Had to give it four stars because of the onion rings and also the restrooms could use some tlc. Other than that, we plan on coming back when we are in the area. read more

Sara's - SUPER YUMMY FOOD! - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

BEWARE: the money that is placed in the tip-jars DOES NOT go to the hard working employees. It goes to a "general fund" to pay for the meals of the employees that work a full 8-hr shift (which isnt many)... Tip the employee DIRECTLY... do not use the tip jars. read more

I was in Erie Pa with my family for a vacation mainly centered around visiting and spending time in Presque Isle. While entering ( and leaving ) you can't help but notice Sara's as it's right at the entrance to the peninsula. Also you can't help but notice that after the late morning time the parking lot always seems to have vehicles in it....and not just one or two but many, always a good sign of a quality place. On our second day visiting Presque Isle as we were leaving around 5:30 pm we made the choice to visit Sara's. The first thing I noticed is that we almost didn't have anywhere to park. The parking lot was full to capacity and as it's a small lot it was very hard to navigate. But we persevered as we were dying to try out their food, eventually a spot opened up and we parked up and entered the building. Very cool atmosphere with some cool decor both inside and out ( The Simpsons sitting outside is a very nice touch ). It's counter service but there is plenty of seating, especially if you walk around, we placed our order and took out order number and waited. Within a short time our food was ready. My family enjoyed their food very much and I sampled my daughters cheeseburger and it was as succulent as I imagined it would be. I ordered the footlong hotdog and was disappointed. The dog itself had a weird taste and I was left underwhelmed. However I seemed to be the only one as the rest of my family enjoyed their meal. Then we ordered ice-cream and dinner was redeemed for me. My wife loved her soft-serve and I ordered the hot fudge milkshake and it was as good as it sounds. Overall Sara's is an Erie institution and somewhere you have to visit. Just be prepared to be patient with the parking situation. And also be confident in your driving skills leaving if you're making a left as it's quite a hairy exit from the parking lot !!! read more

The atmosphere is fun and very touristy which is nice...it looks very cute and welcoming. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and received a turkey burger, they were more than happy to exchange it for what I ordered however it was literally a piece of chicken on a bun, no toppings or anything and nowhere did it say to specify, and normally places have a sandwich that comes with some standard toppings, but whatever, the chicken itself was alright. Also ordered a peanut butter milkshake and that was delicious!! The others I was with weren't overly thrilled with their food either. read more

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Great ice cream and milkshakes. The zucchini fries are perfectly battered and fried. Good stop after a day in Presque Isle.

First time in Erie. Went to Sara's for dinner with my boyfriend and 2 picky kids. Everyone loved their food. Great service. Friendly. Quick. And the decor was so cool. Visually it was perfection. I loved all the old signs!!! 10 out of 10 recommend!! read more

It's a Novelty place - that's it. It's not clean. Sorry, but the managers missed the mark...

Orange-vanilla twist is so good. The sundaes are ridiculously delicious (and huge). I recommend this place.

Always amazing! I love it here. The orange vanilla twist is my fav! Absolutely great service

Typical fried food from a vacation summer joint. Frozen burgers, frozen chicken fingers, frozen fries. We were all starving after a day at the beach so it hit the spot and everyone got something they would eat (2 kids included) I got the perch basket, and it was meh. The highlight of my meal was the zucchini sticks. SUPER delicious and worth the meal itself. We also got 3 different flavor milkshakes and they all came out the same color, which was hysterical because one was chocolate and one was vanilla. I wouldn't eat there again, but the ambiance is cute and it served its purpose. read more

5 stars for Sara's ! ! ! We were at Presque Isle today . We have eaten at Sara's before . Last summer I think . Never stopped before because we did not think the food would be good . How wrong we were . We were not sure what to expect today because of the COVID-19 pandemic and having to be careful eating out . We were surprised when we pulled into their carefully planned and thought out ordering line . We knew we wanted the bacon cheese burger from our last visit . There staff was out doors and helpfully up to our car with very little wait time . We ordered the bacon cheese burger combo with zucchini fries . I was going to settle for vanilla milk shake until I heard they had peanut butter shake and that quickly changed my mind . The order took only a few minutes and then right on to the pickup window . Great burger great fries great milkshake . Never had to get out of the car the speed and efficiency of the stop was amazing . Drove into Presque Isle found a table along the water near end of parking area . Food was fantastic to say the least best burger ever at fast food stop of course my partner was selected bye a male redwing black bird ! This bird let him know he was looking for food buzzed an hovered the table several times until my partner gave in and flipped the bird a bit of bread from his bun . My partner gave into him a second time . The entire feeding event was delightful . The food very good the well thought out order and pickup thing was perfect can not say enough how pleased we were with Sara's their food their their staff and the service especially during these trying times getting used to eating out again carefully and sensibly and it was fun sharing with that male redwing black bird . Of course Sara's does have out os doors seating but it was just a tad too close for comfort first time round and we would never have met that fun redwing black bird out along the waters edge . He hovers just a bit up the road from Sara's at the end of the parking area along the waters edge in the trees just above your table not too far from the dumpster near the park bench table . What a fun day out ! Thanks Sara's thanks Presque isle ! ! ! read more

In these crazy covid times kudos to Sara's for the set up they have outside to keep lines moving.

Get the Orange - Vanilla twist !! Had a Black Raspberry milkshake and it was The Bomb! This place doesn't even need a review :-) Entrance of Presque Isle hit them up on the way in or out. Classic drive in theme with great food. Condiment Lovers' Paradise with a fixins bar and flavored dust for your fries. read more

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We stopped to grab a bite to eat after a day at Waldameer Park. It is a fast paced burger stand. If you've never been there it is definitely chaotic because there is 5 or 6 lines to order from and people everywhere. Once you navigate through and find a spot to sit the food is very good. It is somewhere we would do again. read more

You can't go wrong! Delicious food, sizeable portions, exceptional staff. Seasonal place which makes sense. Always crowded, which speaks to the quality of service and food. A must if you're in the area. read more

Sara's - Zucchini fries! Excellent addition to the menu. - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Why is this place so popular? Chicken sandwich pink and cold on the inside. Onion rings were broken and very greasy. The burger has a lot of filler. Don't ask for TO GO because they don't have containers. Why is this place so popular? read more

I've been going to Sara's for many years and never had a bad experience. During the warm summer months, expect it to be crowded. Like sardines in a can crowded. The food is great for the occasion. Hotdogs, hamburgers, curly fries, onion rings, and best of all...ice cream. Their peanut butter milkshakes are to die for. The tables are always clean and the staff is always friendly. Garbages are never over flowing. This place is kept up nice. read more

My favorite part of cruising the peninsula in erie..Sara's footlong hotdogs n zucchini fries. Love to sit outside enjoy the day.always clean. Diner atmosphere. Great location at the beginning and end of the 17 mile trek of the peninsula. And a stone throw from waldameer amusement park . read more

Been by the restaurant hundreds of times Finally stopped in for sumtin to eat The food was definitely worth the price I'll be eating here more often read more

I shall start this review by saying that I have been enjoying the orange and vanilla twist cone for approximately 20 years. A giant, yummy cone - available right on Presque Isle. Actually, it's one of the only things available on the isle. Nonetheless, still a good ice cream cone. I rate Sara's summer only joint 4 stars only because of the ice cream, and the convenient location with expanded outdoor seating. Food is average diner/grill fare - burgers, chicken sandwich's, fries, onion rings, etc. read more

So so cute and nostalgic. Excellent ice cream for a great price. Perfect for the end of a long day at the beach

This is my absolute favourite place to eat in Erie- hands down! When I'm in Erie, I go to Sara's for Smith's hot dogs, turkey burgers, curly fries, and the BEST onion rings on earth! And, if there's still room after that, I usually have an vanilla/orange sherbet twist ice cream cone. Dairy Queen- you can't compare to Sara's - sorry! Don't forget: this place is only open in the summer so it will most likely be busy. If you go, look around at all the 50's nostalgia, but sit outside for more space. Also, expect there to be many little kids running around, spilling their ice cream, and making a mess. Not to mention, there might be a bumblebee who thinks your milkshake tastes great... If you don't want that experience, go through the drive-thru, and park on the peninsula for a view of Presque Isle Bay instead... Either way, you won't be dissappointed! :D read more

This is such a fun, casual place to get lunch or dinner... or ice cream! It isn't far out of the park at all so it's easy. I'd like to see vegan or vegetarian offerings, though. I bring my main dish lately and just get the sides and drinks ‍ read more

Overhyped. It's a weekly visit spot for us after volleyball. The food here is not good at all. Chicken sandwich's chicken is little rubber-ish and the beef patties are plain. But, I do love their orange vanilla swirl. Really sad that people are hyped about this place; however the business is booming; I might be wrong. read more

This place is cute- set up like an old diner with lots of neat things to look at. And the service is fast. But, very crowded. Food was so so. Zucchini fries were really tasty, turkey burgers were like really dry, frozen burgers that had been defrosted. I like that they have different sauce options that are unique to their store like the basil pesto which was really tasty, and the fry seasonings were pretty cool too. Overall I'd probably recommend it for a quick milkshake or snack of fries, but maybe not for a meal. read more

1 word : Gangsta Best burger and fries with Basil Mayo mind you Dont forget the milkshake read more

If you have ever been to the Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA then you have either been to or driven by Sara's. This is a true summertime Erie experience and going here makes me happy every single time. Eating at Sara's is a total Americana experience. After you get thru the hellish parking experience, everything gets better from then on. Outside the main entrance, they have full size statues of the whole Simpsons family. There's a hilarious sign under Homer's lifeguard chair that says "no swimming during Homer's napping." After posing for a few pictures, you'll step in and find two inside areas. The food options are exactly the same but there's always a shorter line on the outside order area than the inside one. If it's your first time here, I recommend ordering inside. The walls are adorned with everything from the 60s along with a big neon sign that simply says "Eat at Saras." The counter staff is friendly and is mostly high-schoolers working at a summer job. Everything on the menu is good here. You can get a delicious cheeseburger, a char-grilled hot dog, or a huge pile of onion rings. You're not going to find anything healthy but seriously you are at a 60s style diner so what else can you expect?!? After filling up your belly with food, you must get a desert and there's nothing better here than a Orange-Vanilla soft serve swirl. The Orange Swirl is da bomb as it is the most perfect soft serve orange flavored ice cream that you'll ever eat. You get a huge portion of it for just $3! There's really no place like Sara's anywhere. They have the most delicious american comfort food and the most amazing soft serve ice cream. The staff is super-friendly and the whole place has a really nice beach vibe to it. DO NOT leave Erie without going to Sara's but remember they're only open during the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day. read more

Great place to grab a very decent hot dog after the island. You're greeted by a man size hot dog at the entrance with classic diner decaur. Regular or footlong.. They have their own fresh house made onion rings which were delicious. The hot dog itself has a unique casing in which has a crunch sound as you bite on it... quality good and the bun is soft & fresh. There's a rather large fixings bar with everything from chopped onions to vinegar for the fries. Large float and ice cream variety... I'm gonna check it out and git' mahself some now... These are the days people, these are the days. read more

Sara's is delicious! If you live in Erie, you know not to go without a coupon, as the prices are a bit on the high side for burgers/hot dogs. The onion rings are the best I've had so far in Erie. With the redesign of space (which provides a lot more space!), it makes Sara's a more enjoyable place to eat then previous years. The only downfall is that other customers can be rude and cut people off with parking and when using the drive-thru window. read more

Sara's is an infamous spot you must go to in Erie. Conveniently located on your way down to Presque Isle State Park the old fashioned eatery takes visitors back in time while they enjoy a classic summer treat. The main menu offers customers Erie's famous Smith hot dogs, burgers, fries, onion rings-etc. I would say that my MAIN attraction to Sara's is their ice cream and milkshakes. You are in for a treat regardless of what sweet you order, but I highly recommend their orange and vanilla twist (think creamsicles) or their peanut butter milkshake! They are THE summer essentials of Erie. read more