We were pleased. Many years ago, we rode our bikes up to Erie and driving by this place, I remembered we ate here once we arrived. So we revisited here instead of the other usual place, The Sloppy Duck. Sara's was busy but the line went fast, the gal who took our orders was friendly, and our food was ready quickly. We like the fun decor, the fountain drinks were cold, and our food was hot and good. read more

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So check it out, man. Me and my old lady, we been cruisin' our bikes all mornin' around Presque Isle, right? Beautiful, far out -- the lake, the trees, the whole scene. And after all that pedalin', man, we got the hunger. You know the one. That deep, rumbly, gotta-eat-somethin'-RIGHT-NOW kinda hunger. And then, like a vision, man -- there it is. Sara's. We seen it on the way in. Parkin' lot packed wall to wall, cars everywhere, and the joint looks like it fell straight outta 1955. Turns out the place got started back in 1980 as a little ice cream stand, and this dude named it after his mama, Sara. Aww. They got the bright red picnic tables, the striped awnings, old antique signs, an old-timey gas pump, even a whole vintage stainless steel diner car just sittin' there lookin' groovy. Penny-squishin' machine, twisty ice cream cones, the works. The vibe, man? The vibe was cookin'. Ten outta ten on the vibe, no lie. But then, man... then came the food. Duuuude. The menu didn't tell you nothin', so I'm standin' there dreamin' about a hot dog piled high with chili and cheese and all the glorious fixin's, drippin' down my arm, the whole beautiful mess. And what do they hand me? A wiener. In a bun. That's it, man. Naked. Just a little dog layin' there all alone lookin' up at me like "sorry, bro." And get this -- the bun wasn't even a hot dog bun, man. It was like a little mini sub roll. A whole hoagie situation goin' on. Now, if that dog had been loaded, right, buried under chili and cheese and onions and the whole circus, then yeah, man, you'd NEED all that bread to hold the party together. Makes sense. But there was nothin' on it! So it's just this lonely little wiener rattlin' around in a big ol' empty boat of bread like a dude who showed up to a party that got cancelled. WTF, man! What a bummer. They had a ketchup and mustard station and that was the WHOLE opera. Total buzzkill. And my wife, right? She got the burger and only made it through like a third of it 'cause it was flatter than a pancake at a steamroller convention. No taste, man. No taste at all. I dunno how this place keeps the lights on, man. Back home, folks wouldn't poke this sad little dog with a ten-foot pole, ya dig? Oh well. Live and learn, man. Live and learn. Pass the ketchup. read more

This place was so good that I'm still thinking about it years later and can't wait to come back in my next trip! read more

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There's something special about this place. It's always busy but always fast. Great for a quick lunch but don't forget the orange and vanilla twist cone. Every time I find myself in Erie I stop by! read more

Sara's - Cheese burger and hot dog - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Stopped by while passing through from NY to OH. Fast service. The chicken and onion rings were good. There are several field trips here and the staff is juggling this efficiently! read more

Great ice cream and fun experience! We stayed at the campground behind the restaurant. After a day at the state park we stopped by for ice cream. They have a small selection of flavors. They can be cones, shakes and sundaes. The ice cream was a good price and tasty. Plus they have so many fun things to explore and take pictures of. From Betty boop and the Simpsons to pictures of cars and pretend shark catches. Kids enjoyed it and it was a nice stop to relax. read more

Sara's - Peanut butter milkshake - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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Food change after 20 years of going it seems they use different vendors the hamburger are not fresh patty to me it seems it a frozen box style hamburger you get a save o lot stores or dollar general food store. Chicken tenders are so thin they use be a good portion size now there so thin it slide out your hand . Unbelievable the place went down hill. And hard to get service because everyone on the phone. It a same it was a great place to take the family. Time change I get it but quality shouldn't I rather pay more for good food than pay high price for below standard . O yea fyi ice cream seem to have more ice then cream. read more

You advertise new rolls. Fresh baked daily. I just spent $15 for three Smith hotdogs and the buns were overly big and very stale. All three of them. Hopefully you will go back to a fresh soft bun. read more

This place always delivers. It's almost an institution. Cult following of people that love this place. 3 different areas you can order at now. Food is always good and icecream is great. $80 feeds 5 and ice-cream. Not open during winters. If you come at meal time you will wait in a huge line. They have a drive thru. They have a crushed penny machine. Parking can be right. Seating not a problem unless it's rainy outside - only a little covered seating. read more

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An Erie staple and summertime favorite. Nothing beats a stop at Sara's after a long day on the peninsula in the sun. They have good chicken tenders, burgers, chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, zucchini fries and onion rings. The best thing on the menu is a peanut butter milkshake with crunch coat! Always has great vibes and quick service, even when the lines are long! read more

This used to be THE PLACE to stop in the summer. We stopped this past weekend and the food was so disgusting we didnt even eat it. The hamburgers don't even taste like a burger. In fact sheetz probably has a better tasting burger so you're better off going there. Especially for the prices Sara's is charging. We were charged for a cheese cup we didnt get. Asked for pickles and we got 3 little slivers of pickles not even enough for both burgers and the only edible thing we got. Honestly Sara's should be ashamed not only for their trash they call food but maybe hire people with personalities and better attitudes. read more

Cute little lakeside diner. We were famished after riding 10 miles on bike. The turkey burger and onion rings were pretty goood. Cohort got grilled chicken and fries. Fries were pretty hard. read more

Sara's - Outdoor seating Sally's looked closed - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Pretty good ice cream but buyer beware--they have an off-menu offer of "Extra Small" ice cream for little kids; however, it is the same cost as just getting a small ice cream with about 1/2 the size... we made this mistake with our two toddlers but caught it when we reviewed the receipt and had them increase to Small size. Poor business practice if you ask me... Otherwise good location with American fare. read more

As my wife and I were camping at Sarah's campground, we had to stop and try their diner. There were lots of people there! Almost All seating was out under the sun. We are waiting in a rather long line when we were informed that there were cash registers on the other side of the building with no line. Heading there, we put in our order of a hotdog with onions, bacon cheeseburger, curly fries, and a soda. After a relatively short wait, our meal appeared at the pick up window and our number was called. Unfortunately I did not register that the hotdog did not have the requested onions on it. I did double check the bill after the fact. My wife said the hotdog was good! I enjoyed my bacon cheeseburger, even though the patty itself was somewhat dry. This appears the institution locally where generations return for the experience. Overall, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. read more

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We come here every year and live it. Its a staple. Great ice cream, shakes and zucchini fries. I wish there were some vegan options.

What a fun place to visit! A little slice of Americana right at the beginning of Preqsue Isle State Park. We stopped for ice cream. They only have soft serve there, but we all found something we could enjoy. I got the Mexican sundae, which was so nostalgic for me because it was my grandma's favorite way to eat her ice cream. We loved taking pictures there and would definitely return! read more

I live, laugh, love Sara's!! Workers are always nice and the food is always awesome and unbelievable!!! The ambiance is nostalgic and so so friendly!! 10/10 come here thousand times more if I could!! read more

A must stop when you are near Presque Isle State Park. Located at the entrance to Presque Isle is the must stop at least once in your life gem! Family tradition - we try to go at least once a year! Now the parking lot can get BUSY but they have ample parking - plus they have a drive thru - but to experience Sara's - you have to park and go in! Now I don't eat red meat so I go for the turkey burger ... which is really good. The rest of the fam goes right for the cheeseburgers (tell them what you want on it). Now you can go without getting a shake! Peanut butter chocolate is my fav but you can not go wrong with their strawberry too! All in all - great atmosphere - good burgers and shakes! read more

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Sara's is well situated to shoot tourists in a barrel at the entrance/exit to Presque Isle State Park, but they don't let that go to their head. I actually came twice in one day - once for a post beach ice cream cone and puppy cone, and later in the day because the zucchini sticks caught my eye. I had an orange vanilla twist, which always hits the spot for me. KoraJo had a puppy cup, I asked for half sized, because they advertise 2 ice cream dollops and 2 bones, and I didn't want her to get sick. The puppy cup was served in one of those paper boats like they put fries in, ideal for dragging over the back of the seat and into her lair. At one point, she had an ice cream mustache, so I think it was a hit. I went back after our second trip out and back that day to get chicken tenders and zucchini sticks, and that's when I was really impressed. Both were hand breaded! It was so good. I'd highly recommend either one, the sticks were great with some ranch and the portion was for sure good for the price. They also manage traffic well. I can't speak for the walk up counter, but the drive through has probably 5-6 staff working the lines, and everything is well marked for coming in and out. read more

Sara's - Chicken tenders with Zucchini sticks - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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Such a charming place - filled with vintage decor and convenient if you're in Presque Isle. I'll have to say that as a first time customer, I was a bit confused as to how it all worked. There were three different places to order, the inside area is loud and it was hard to hear the cashier. I couldn't figure out what was what when we were given an order number - do we stand and wait? Find a table and listen for our order? Will it be brought to us? No idea. Fortunately, I was still getting my soda when our order number was called, so it worked out. Food- You're not going to get the smash burger straight from the grill that foodies rave about, but you will get a made-to-order burger and fresh fries. I would compare this burger to a school cafeteria burger with the fixings that you want and on a better roll. Man, I could only imagine how slammed this place would be if they joined the never-frozen smash burger craze. It's already busy, but lines would stretch for miles. read more

We had family in from Pittsburgh and Sara's was very busy. I was fine with a hotdog and fries and ice cream. Others in our group were ok with the food. But, overall we will bring our lunch from home, maybe cooking our own Smiths hotdogs and eat my wife's delicious potato salad and deviled eggs. read more

We didn't set out to find this place it just kind of happened because we were going to the lighthouse. I got the bacon cheeseburger, while Elise got the hotdog. We both got the onion rings which I'm telling you now get the onion rings and let them keep the fries. This place gives a very 70's vibe. Reminds me of a 70's style malt shop. Mostly outdoor seating but has some indoor. It is just walk up service and not table service but no kiosk crap here. They actually have wait staff at the cash register to take your order. read more

Sara's - Main entrance - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Went down for a lunch date, which this is the perfect spot in the summer especially if you take a drive around presque isle. Food is ok. Ice cream is great! Staff were all very nice. Parking can be an issue if they are busy. Had the old nostalgic feel and look to it. Definitely would recommend. read more

A bit overrated in my opinion. Came from out of town for a weekend getaway and everyone said we needed to try it. This place is definitely carried by the nostalgic 1950's vibe it gives off. Wait staff was rude and dismissive, just punching in our orders without looking at us or speaking. Fries were very bland and the footlong hot dog was very overrated, I honestly think I'd be fine if I never ate another Smith's hot dog as long as I lived. Worth it for the experience but I probably won't be back. read more

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Stopped for a late lunch while shopping in Erie with my wife Ordered 2 foot long combos 1 with fries, 1 with onion rings Stale bun Cold hotdogs Cold hard fries Burnt cold Onion rings Very disappointing Only good was the cold fountain drink read more

One of our favorite spots in Erie! Not usually an orange fan but this ice cream is unmatched. read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

YUMMY! I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich. Zesty chicken, soft bun, crispy lettuce. Food seemed to come out instantly. The sandwich was still hot when it came out. The restaurant had a disorganized '80s vibe, with jokes and memorabilia all over the walls, the decor was very entertaining. The employees had no problem taking tomatoes off my sandwich. ( I don't like tomatoes, sue me) Ordered a twist ice cream for dessert, it was absolutely divine on a hot summer day after hours of swimming and paddle boarding. The food was reasonably priced with large portions. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend it for lunch and/or dinner, Sara's is a must-visit if you are in Erie, PA. read more

This spot is definitely a popular place to visit especially in the summer. It's located near a water park so I can see everyone coming here afterwards - it's also near the beach so perfect after a day out or for bringing it for a picnic near the water. The line was long when we arrived but the line moved swiftly and our food was done pretty quick!! We ordered 2 footlongs, onion rings, curly fries and chili cheese fries. The curly fries were nice and crispy as well as the onion rings. I love onion rings with a thin batter and these were it. Hot dogs were very long on a normal hot dog bun - I wish they were the same size but still delicious. The chili cheese fries were good but were lacking toppings. For the price, I would have expected a bit more chili. In total, our meals came out to about $30. This is definitely a place to come and try at least once if you visit Erie. read more

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The food is a little overhyped but as others have said, this is must when on the Peninsula. Where they excel is their ice cream and milkshakes - especially the Chocolate Malted. The Burgers are better than their hot dogs although both tend to be on the dry side consistently. read more

When my kids were little, we used to go to Sara's every Mother's Day. They are now in their 20s and I was happy they could arrange their schedules so we could go to Presque Isle this year. We were all looking forward to onion rings and orange vanilla twist cones. We could not have been more disappointed. Everything was such low quality. We threw away half of the onion rings, the fries, and the chicken tenders. We couldn't find the yummy special sauce they used to have. We did eat all of our cones, but even those were tasteless. We will not be back. read more

This is kicking old school ice cream joint located by the lake. Service was awesome and order taker was cute. I had the orange and vanilla twist. read more

This place is so cool and is the perfect option after a long day at the beach. The old fashioned decor makes it really unique. My chicken sandwich combo was incredible with the freshest veggies. Came with curly fries that were so crisp. We got our food in no time at all after ordering. I'm gonna go back every time I go to presque isle!! read more

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Great little environment but the food has consistently gone downhill for years. We are done with Sara's. Too many times orders are unacceptable--onion rings cold, hard, and obviously overcooked, and the rolls burned. We have hoped for years that Sara's would serve hot dogs on softer, tastier rolls but always end up throwing out most of the roll. The owner needs a trip north to Ted's in Buffalo to learn how to serve hot dogs. So very disappointing. We'll still come for ice cream, but we're done with the food. read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

What an adorable spot. Very retro, gives you all the good vibes and feels. I was told by my husband that this was a must stop since he is from this area and I've never been and wanted to take me. Ice cream was delicious, ordered an orange swirl. Drive-thru service was smooth. read more

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After a day spent at the beach it is a welcomed sight to be greeted by this upon coming back to reality. Upon first glance this appears to be a roadside attraction that is meant to entertain those that are staying nearby whether it be in the condo like structure or the campgrounds to the one side. If we were to review this place on that alone, five stars. I mean who doesn't like a little distraction from life? There are cut outs where you can have your picture taken, vintage items to gaze at, and the most eye catching thing is the underutilized diner car that is nothing more than storage now. The parking lot can and most likely will be a mess when you come here. This sits right at the entrance to the state park and can be a headache to enter dependent on the traffic. Then once in the lot, be very careful, yikes. There is a ton of foot traffic with the nearby lodgings as well as a constant stream for the drive thru area. You can find a parking spot once you video game your way in here, exiting is not much better than entering just so we know. Once inside it is really fast paced. Kind of know what you want when you approach the window to order or step to the side until you decide. I already knew what I wanted when I was on my way here. I ordered a combo meal and upgraded it to include a milkshake. Once you order and pay you shuffle your way over to the pick up area. This area can be viewed as either entertaining or annoying depending on how you view the interactions with the staff. I teetered more towards the annoying portion of this. The pace here was not fast at all. The people behind the counter are your basic teens/young adults holding down a summer job and attempting to not be bored. Joking around with one another as orders are being put up and attempting to push them out. When my order was finally called the food portion was correct, but not the drink. I continued to stand at the counter. While doing so I kept getting annoyed glances from staff until one of them had the decency to ask if I needed help. I informed them that I did not receive my milkshake. It was almost a stare down as the staff were adamant that I already received it. How? I was standing there the whole time...with nothing in my hands...watching y'all talk about talk about the debauchery you got into the night before. Instead of making a new one they attempted to hand off one that was already made. Assuring me it was just made and that it was one that I ordered. Whatever, I had already waited 15 minutes. Let's talk about the food. After all that wait, it was worth the wait. I had the Smith's Footlong combo with curly fries as my side, upgraded to include a vanilla milkshake. I am a hotdog fanatic and will try one wherever I venture. They did not miss here. Having a footlong hotdog is like having two any other place. Topping it however you want to is great. There are a lot of choices that you can add yourself from the condiment stations. Put as much or as little as you like. Curly fries are always a nice touch and not something you find many places. The milkshake, a nice treat, but not worth the wait. Basically this was a novelty place to stop that filled both my stomach and need for roadside kitch. read more

Sara's - Smith's foot long combo meal upgraded with a vanilla shake. - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

We loved it there. It was like stepping into the 50's. The food was good and high quality. You had to order I. One place pickup shakes at another station and finally your food. read more

Great old school hamburger do drop in. It has that vintage vibe. Stop in for a burger fries and a milk shake. The burger was absolutely excellent too by the way ! Right at entrance to presque isle state park. Glad we stopped in. read more

Sara's - Burger & Fries - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

I had write the review before I even left the restaurant. Read company story and seemed service was top priority. Staff were very rude and nasty. They messed some minor stuff up and got attitude when I brought to their attention. Ownership should train their staff how to treat customers. Definitely not southern diner, food was mid nothing to get to excited about. read more

This place is in Erie staple. It takes a lot for me to give five stars and I'm going to break down what pushes this place up to five stars. Let's start with the food. Although I haven't had a ton of things here (despite living in Erie) I have enjoyed some of the fried food which was good. The reason I come is for the delicious ice cream. The Mexican Sundae is wonderful. It's of a decent size and they will put whipped cream and peanuts on top at your request. It's a very good. There's plenty of seating but the parking is a bit tight. I do recommend parking a bit farther away; epecially if you have a larger car. I take my work van down there and I typically park away from Sara's and closer to the pizza shop next door. The place is often super busy and somewhat hard to maneuver around when inside getting your order. Fellow patrons tend to stand in your way like brainless zombies. And what makes this a 5-star review and not a 4-star review is the fact this location is situated where the tourists are. It's a perfect location. Sarah's could gouge people on prices the prices and they don't. I bet they could charge $7.50 for a Mexican Sundae and plenty of people would pay it. Especially out of towners; but since Sara's is fair a whole lot of Erieites frequent the place. They do extreme volume because the prices are fair. They understand business which is why they have been in business for so long. I will continue to support this place and recommend it. read more

Sara's - Mexican Sundae - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

As a Sara myself, the name definitely intrigued me, what surprised me though was the pricing, being prime time real estate right at Presque Isle I figured it would be one of those places were you are paying a lot for either not quality food or not a big quantity of it, but boy was I pleasantly surprised with Sara's! We only came for ice cream which was good, but the rest of the menu and food we saw looked really good as well. Many of my party were drooling over the look and smell of the onion rings. There ice cream is limited to soft serve, but they have a good variety of choices. I opted for the peanut butter, as did most of my party, which had a strong peanut butter taste, and was very creamy. My husband got a banana milkshake and was very happy with it. At just over 3 dollars a cone for the ice cream I felt it was really reasonable, especially with how prices for everything are going up, and as mentioned I've definitely seen in the past how location can make a huge different in ice cream prices. If you are stopping by Presque Isle, save room either on the way in or the way out for some Sara's! read more