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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I really have no reason to give this place less than 5 stars. It's really cheap, local, and authentic, and it has actually gotten better over the years, rather than declining as so many other things in Erie have appeared to do. As a little kid we used to beg our parents to let us go and get orange sherbet, and thankfully that hasn't changed. The food here is nothing to write home about but it's not bad, just not exciting...typical diner-type food. Every person that visits here should get a orange sherbet / vanilla twist. I'm sure it exists elsewhere, but I've never seen it. It's the only time I ever get soft serve, and it's that good. read more

Every time we go to Presque Isle we see this restaurant. We decided to actually try it. It looks cute. It is very throw back to the 50's. It's totally cute. There is tons of seating which is also nice. It's rare for my husband and I to order the same thing but for that meal we did-bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings. It didn't take long for our food to be ready. Then you "dressed" your food the way you want it with condiments along with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. there are three places to do that which helps the line to keep moving. Soda is also self serve. Our burgers looked good and the onion rings looked great. We dressed our burgers and say down to eat. The onion rings are the only reason i can give even 2 stars. They were lightly coated, lightly crispy and the serving is BIG. We went to eat our burgers and my husbands was almost raw. I traded him burgers since mine was over done and dry. The buns are good but the bread to meat ratio was way off. It was too much bread for the burger patty. The cheese wasn't even slightly melted. My husband ate half of the over done burger and couldn't eat anymore. Even with condiments it was still very dry. I took two bites of the undercooked burger and waved the white flag. I don't mind rare but this was truly raw. YUCK! We are a few more onion rings and headed out. I think it's safe to say that we won't be back. read more

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I used to live near Erie ('97 - '00) and was back in the area last weekend. Sara's is bigger and better! :) Oh and.... Orange/Vanilla twist - 'nuff said read more

This place brings back so many memories when I visit back home! Their food is not as good as I remember it when I was a kid but it is cheaply priced so that makes up for it. I come here for the orange sherbet/vanilla ice cream! So good! The slushies are to die for! Location is great but it gets busy in the summertime. Parking lot gets crazy when busy too! Seating is hard to come by in the busiest of months in the summer but you have the lake across the street. Get your food to go and sit on the beach enjoying the views! Love coming home and reminiscing about memories here! I always make a visit here when I am in town! read more

We got lunch here one day while leaving the island and it was alright. I felt it was priced well for myself my wife and my daughter to eat there but the food was "meh". I had the Italian beef which was good but definitely thing special and I got the onion rings. I have to say, they advertise their onion rings as homemade but maybe they should buy them from a vendor. They were slimy and greasy and generally lacked any set of taste worth enjoying. My wife had shot dog which was...a hot dog...so nothing special there but hard to mess up. The fries were good. I will say, the ice cream is great. We enjoyed it quite a bit. Maybe I had high expectations but I left a little dissatisfied. read more

Family loved zucchini fries when tried them for the first time,ice creams and milkshakes are top class.

I can see the attraction -- burgers and fries to carry into a gorgeous state park. The fries are very good, the burgers are meh, nothing special. I should give them zero stars for wasting that gorgeous silk city diner space, though. It should be more than just a part of the ambiance. Put that place to work! read more

First time experiencing the magic of Erie's soft serve ice cream, and what a place to have it. I was advised to order the orange and vanilla swirl. It was fantastic, tasted just like a creamsicle! And it was the perfect post carnival treat. read more

I have had only one thing at Sara's: orange vanilla twist sherbert/frozen yogurt cone. Yes, they have other things (fries, burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes), but quite frankly, my agenda consists of only one thing at Sara's, and that's the orange vanilla twist cone. For those of you with a slightly smaller ice cream appetite, they do serve a child's size, or you can get it in a cup rather than cone. For less than $3, this is an awesome treat. A trip to Presque Isle doesn't seem complete without a visit. I just started going to Erie a few years ago and was a little discouraged by the lack of excitement on the Isle itself. Sara's makes up for this in its own little way. You could get wild and crazy and order a side of fries to dip in your orange vanilla twist cone ... go ahead, I dare you. read more

I was born and raised in Erie, Pa moved far far away many years ago and I only visit in the summer and this place is one reason why, Im not sure if its their killer onion rings, footlong SMITH hot dogs or the blueberry milkshakes but I honestly eat lunch here everyday when i'm in Erie. if you like grilled food or picnic style cuisine this place is perfect. Quick, Cheap and right on the peninsula.. If your driving threw northwestern pennsylvania in the summer get off on I-79 follow it till it ends and hit this place up.. *side note this was the first place I was ever employed way back when I was 15 I did two summer tours. and the owner Sean was the nicest dude and worked everyday in the kitchen and as far as I know he still does, even though this place is a cash cow and he could just sit back, Its a passion for him and thats one reason why there so successful or at least thats what I think... read more

A great spot for a ice cream cone with the family before or after a day at the beach, throwback retro feel with a great vibe.

Fun looking and nice place for everyone. The only thing I don't recommend is the burgers. They taste like school cafeteria food. They really need to get real meat burgers. Foods not cheap either. read more

This place is so cute! And the space is also pretty big. We took a quick trip to Erie (first time!) to see Presque Isle and hadn't really planned out what to eat. On the way to the beach, we saw Sara's so figure it was worth a try as it was also on the way out. The line was long, but we only waited a few minutes. The girls at the counter keep the line moving pretty quickly. It's a regular burger joint with milkshakes and fries and the theme is a throwback to the 1950's. I couldn't believe how quickly we got our food too. This place really keeps it moving. I had a Smith's hot dog and curly fries (awesome!!). Some of my friends had the onion rings and they really enjoyed them. The ice cream cones that people were coming out with were massive in size. Sara's is only open from April 1st to September 30th, but they are definitely worth a stop. If I lived in Erie, I'd probably eat here once a week when open. There's a little screened in section for indoor eating, but really really limited so it's mostly outdoor which is perfect on a beautiful summer day. read more

Good fast food. Cool motif and throw back appeal and right near the beach. A nice old fashion fast food joint :-)

Cheap, local, tasty, and fast... this is a fabulous spot for some traditional American summer fare like hot dogs, burgers, shakes, and fries. Highly recommend the orange vanilla twist soft serve cone... felt like a kid again! read more

This is a great place to grab a bite to eat either on your way in or out of Presque Isle State Park. Classic grille type restaurant with burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, ice cold Coca Cola, milkshakes, ice cream and much more. Lots of seating outside to eat and watch the sunset over Lake Erie. I'm an Erie native who now lives in Chicago so I have to give their italian beef sandwich a D grade. Come to Chicago for the authentic stuff! I stop here every time I'm home visiting and hope to continue coming here many more times. read more

This restaurant sells hotdogs, burgers, fries, onion rings, salads, chicken tenders, ice cream, milkshakes, and sodas. The food tasted fine but was nothing special. read more

Location location location. Nestled right at the entrance to the state park, Sara's is a great place to grab a drive in style bite. The fun old style atmosphere and decor alone is half the draw. I ordered the Bacon/Kraut/Chili dog with curly fries and was not disappointed. They had quick, friendly service and the prices are very reasonable, especially for a tourist area. There is a serve yourself toppings bar with a good variety of sauces (which I used for my curly fries). read more

The place was very busy but had quick service. Twice I asked for bacon on my hamburger, no bacon. It had the tiniest piece of lettuce on it. The burger wasn't that good, didn't taste like 100% beef. No flavor. The onion rings were too thick and hard, should've been cooked longer. Again, no flavor at all. The hamburger roll just tasted like white bread. The portions were good for the price though. read more

This a great place to stop if you are visiting Presque Isle State Park. We ordered cheeseburgers, curly fries and milkshakes. Food was really good and served super fast. There is lots of outdoor seating at picnic tables and a few tables inside. We used a coupon on their website (even though it was expired) to get a free cheeseburger. Our bill was $17. Definitely get a milkshake or save room for ice cream! The restaurant has lots of character! read more

It's great to see this place grow and improve every year. Neat clean vibe that's retro and great for a family. a little too busy during peak season peak times but it's always quick. read more

An okay place near Presgue Isle that is probably best for its convenient location at the entrance of the park. The whole arrangement is somewhat of a classic diner atmosphere, and it got pretty active around the evening, probably when people were all preparing to go home. While it was crowded, seats became available all the time, and lines moved quickly (orders didn't take too long either). I personally found their food pretty average, no better or worse than other burgers or hot dogs I've had. You get to put as many toppings as you wish for both. The onion rings were a bit too greasy and fried for me. The orange twist is apparently one of their specialties--it was pretty tasty and sweet, although I think their regular size is a bit too big to be sensible. read more

I just don't understand the hype the food is bland to say the least. The chicken tenders are literally Tyson No flavor no crunch you could get better just going to the grocery store. The onion rings are soggy with lackluster breading. The fries are okay but nothing to write home about for sure. What really grinds my gears though is that the coke was flat. If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have even left a review but it really pushed me over the edge. The only reason I'm even giving you 3 stars is because your staff really out preforms the food. read more

Nothing says summertime in Erie like a milkshake from Sara's.

Directly outside the entrance to Presque Isle State park is a very touristy/beachy little Restaurant called Sara's. At first glance you can tell this appears to be a fun place to stop, but the food was surprisingly really good. On our visit we had the Half Chicago style Italian Beef sandwich with a side of fries and a drink. Both meals were really good, and a great price to boot. Overall this is a really good place to stop while exploring the beautiful State Park. read more

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Only good because it's on the Peninsula. Nothing special nor unique here ... save the location. Obviously a FAR better choice than a chain restaurant ... but the food is not all that hot. read more

This is a highly popular throw-back to the 1950s at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park. Hamburgers, hot dogs, milk shakes, soft ice cream with picnic table seating. Food is just as advertised -- unfussy and fairly priced. Relive your youth or experience what the older generation(s) loved in a less stressful era. It won't win any gourmet awards, but it's fun. read more

Since Sarah is opened many many years ago I have never Been disappointed myself or my customers who I have sent they're all raved about the food the service and the atmosphere if you're in Erie during the summer months this is the place to be on Presque Isle state park at the entrance read more

From what I was told, this is an Erie institution. I was traveling on business and was told that I needed to check it out. Good burger with great curly fires. The guy I was with had a Turkey burger and thought it was pretty good. Plentiful outdoor seating makes this a good place to go on a nice day, which works well since it is only open in the summer. If I came back to Erie, I would go back. read more

An icon in our city. Great Burgers and chicken sandwiches and awesome ice cream cones and milkshakes! And if people don't know about the little bakery side car do yourself a favor, drop in there for a treat and the super cool atmosphere! read more