I can see why this place is a must-visit in the area, but we thought the food was just okay. The atmosphere is fun, thanks to the cool decor and old diner in the back. The staff definitely hustles to quickly get orders out too. read more

Very quick service. Good burger and fries. Plenty of seating despite a busy business

Talk about a homie one stop shop. Erie's favorite seasonal late night diner. The perfect night is a Lake Erie sunset with a Sara's cone in hand... peanut butter of course. A small selection of burgers, chicken, hot dogs, and THE BEST curly fries are available. Their menu isn't the most accommodating, but it's a classic for sure. Wish this place was open year round, but that makes it all the more appreciated. I recommend this place to all of my out of town friends. Nights here never get old. read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Hamburgers, hotdogs, French Fries, onion rings, milk shakes... typical stuff. Touristy...

Very busy but very fast service, that got them the extra star. I don't get the appeal. The food and desserts were mediocre at best. It's at the entry of Presque Isle and at the entrance of a camp grounds area...I guess that's what keeps them in business, they are the closest place around. I would not go back if in Erie again, waste of our time and money. read more

Is this even allowed to be considered food? It was pure grease. Cafeteria style "restaurant" that gets way too much business. I came here with my husband and his family and luckily they didn't have any sandwiches that were vegetarian that I could eat. My hubs got a chicken sandwich, and fries and zucchini fries because he felt so bad that I couldn't eat anything here and thought I could munch on them. The chicken sandwich had absolutely nothing on it. Didn't look like chicken or anything remotely edible. The bread was a bun but it was pure white like it was dyed. I tasted the fries (they only have curly fries) and it was just grease and breading with some vague hint of starch in the middle. I didn't even bother with the zucchini fries. Do yourself a favor and pack your own lunch if you go on a day trip here. Avoid this place! read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

We stopped here on our way to Presque Isle for a walk. I had a great cheeseburger with a hot fudge milkshake. My friends had a bacon cheeseburger, peanut butter milkshake, berry milkshake and turkey burger. We all really liked our food! I was actually surprised at how good the cheeseburger was, I particularly liked the cheese they used on the burger. We also had a side of zucchini fries and fries. Those were both super good. They seem to be following the covid-19 rules well. Great service, great fun atmosphere with lots of nostalgia, plenty of outdoor tables. I really enjoyed this place, more than I expected! read more

Food is okay, atmosphere is fun, staff is hit or miss. As well as proper signage for how to order. Overall I still like coming here and I'm not gonna go below 4 stars for my recent experience. The labor shortage has given power to a lot of people who should never be allowed in the work force to begin with. Last night I was met with a couple friendly faces, today a couple jag offs. So like I said, 4 stars is fair as it's a staple of Erie and Presqe Isle read more

Perfect location at the entrance of Presque Isle State Park made it an easy stop for a late lunch after an afternoon on the beach. Fast casual setup (vs sit-down restaurant) with plenty of picnic tables. Also had a nice drive through (perhaps new since Covid). Def greasy-spoon type food, which I mean in the best way. We ordered via the drive through, and the young man taking our order was polite and helpful. I had a cheeseburger with all the fixings and my hubby had an Italian sausage sandwich. We, of course, had to try their homemade zucchini fries and onion rings, but got curly fries, and peanut butter and strawberry milkshakes just bc. And we were not disappointed! Those zucchini fries were my fav, while my hubs raved about the onion rings. Milkshakes were smooth and flavorful. Burger and sausage were moist and perfectly cooked. 5/5, delish! read more

Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Location is so cute but parking is a headache. Food was only okay. Pretty bland but well priced. Turkey burger left something to be desired. read more

Great fast food. I've always liked stopping here on my way to Presque Isle. They currently have a very complex but fast drive thru system. I always love the onion rings and the shakes - suggest a chocolate PB one. read more

Food was ok for a burger joint, price was a little steep. Like 13 dollars for a bacon cheeseburger.

Put this place on the top of your list when visiting Presque Isle! Don't let the packed parking lot scare you! I promise it's worth it!! So much fun!! If you are into taking a step back in time this is the place for you! I don't know about you but I love everything about the 50s! The cars, the music, the decor...the milkshakes! Not like I've had a milkshake in the 50s but you get my point. This place has it all! From 10+ photo ops, to the diner with the jukebox, to the beach right across the street...this place has it all! I have been coming to presque Isle for years and I never had enough time to stop at Saras and let me tell you I was missing out! The workers are extremely friendly and one even gave my daughter a special coin to go in the diner and get 3 free doughnuts! We will be returning to Sara's every year! read more

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Wow, what a busy place. You know when it's this busy there must be something good here. We went on a Saturday at lunch and the place was really hopping. There are two counters to order at. We ordered the footlong smiths dog, peanut butter milkshake, onion rings, bottled water, and pop. The bottled water is sitting in a tub or cold fridge. The pop is from one of those cool coke machines where you can do any type of soft drink with different favors. The food came up pretty quick. We sat at one of the many outside tables instead of eating inside. The footlong dog was delicious, and the onion rings were crunchy. I liked the peanut butter shake as it wasn't too strong on the peanut butter. There are bathrooms in the back as you follow the yellow brick road. Souvenir merchandise is in the old Sally's diner nearby. I noticed some funny $15 t-shirts there. read more

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Sara's has the best turtle sundae in the city. They don't skimp on the pecans or toppings and the ice cream itself is creamy and delicious. The orange/vanilla twist is also a favorite! The interior and whole vibe of the place is really cool and vintage. They have fun statues to take pictures with! I always look forward to Sara's opening. It's a real gem in this city. read more

Sara's - Interior - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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A must stop if your in the area. Food looked delicious it we went for the ice cream. The orange vanilla swirl was worth the stop ! So delicious just like a creamsicle! The prices are very reasonable too! Take time to walk around too there are a lot of cute picture opportunities to take !!! read more

Sara's - Orange Vanilla twist! - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

When I walk into Sara's.. I thought of "American" ..fun" and condiment lover's dream! It's quite a unique restaurant. Staff was very friendly and our food came fast even though the place was packed. Theres plenty of seating inside and out. I ordered the "Chicago Style Italian Beef Deluxe" and was pretty good but I could barely finish it. ($8.00 plus fries and drink) I tried the onion rings- they were ok - more "meh " But the curly fries were good. The condiment station is absolutely amazing. HEINZ products!!! YES ! I just love that. Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard, Ranch, Hot Sauce .. . and a variety of seasonings yet! I think I must of spent 10 minutes there - deciding my toppings. There was a large variety of pop (coke products) but there wasn't any fresh brewed ice tea.. The only beverage offered that wasn't carbonated was lemonade which is filled with sugar. My best friend and I took our lunch over to the beach and it was fun.. To-go orders are packed in a square cardboard box which is great!! A visit to Sara's is quite "fun". read more

Sara's - Lunch on the beach.. oh what fun ! - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Was so excited to go here after driving past it several times while going to the beach. Wow what a disappointment. The burgers taste like the a beef product with filler in it. The bun was tasteless. The fries were cold. And the onion rings and zucchini fries tasted like they had been fried in old burnt flavored oil. The only only thing that was tasty was the hot dog and strawberry shake. read more

My hamburger had no taste and was a strange spongy texture. The parking lot design was really confusing.

I love this place! A true icon of Erie, PA. I had heard people talk about Sara's but I had never been until this summer. My girlfriend and I decided to visit Erie one afternoon because we felt like traveling. Only 2 1/2 hours outside of Pittsburgh, you cant beat it! This place became one of our favorite parts about that trip! We stopped after we watched the sunset over the water on the beach in Presque Isle. The crowd was rolling in but the staff was so prepared it only took five minutes to wait in line and get our food. If the line seems long it's so worth the wait. All those people wouldn't be waiting there for nothing! We both got cheese burgers with fries and a chocolate shake to share. The burgers were cooked well and had nice flavor. The toppings bar was a really great addition. The fries were crispy and fresh. The chocolate shake was delicious. My girlfriend dislikes them usually but she loved Sara's! We both still talk about it to this day about how great it was. We opted to sit outside which I do NOT recommend unless you have bug spray on. The mosquitos are horrific. I was bit more that night than I had been my entire summer. We moved inside the screened in area but they were still pretty bad in there too. That's my only complaint about this whole place. Otherwise it is great. read more

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This place is *crowded.* Always crowded. But there's nothing more delicious than a visit to Waldameer or a beach hang or walk on Presque Isle followed by a meal at Sara's. It has a throwback '50s vibe with the counter atop a pink Cadillac. They have classic combo meals - burgers or hotdogs, curly fries or onion rings. Get one of each and share! They have serve yourself sauces and dips - lots of extra options beyond ketchup and mustard. Think mayo, ranch, fry seasonings (all Heinz products... naturally). Their homemade pickles are great too! Get those and put them on your burger! It isn't the best burger I've ever had, it's rather about the experience. It's a memory maker for sure. There's a bunch of seating - lots of picnic tables in the screened in rooms on either side of the ordering area, plus a bunch of outdoor seating. Prepare to dine community table-style because you may not be able to get a table to yourself when it's busy. The place started as an ice cream shop so you can't miss that. The counter to order ice cream is to the right of the main food counter in the room on the right. I sadly can't eat the ice cream, but my boyfriend indulged in a chocolate soft serve cone. He said it was pure nostalgia. He didn't need it after a big meal, but loved enjoying the cone on the way home. read more

Sara's - Cheeseburger and curly fries - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Tried the hot fudge sundae here. It was delicious! Our group also ordered strawberry milkshake which had real strawberries, chicken tenders were very tasty. Curly fries were quite average though, nothing special except the curls. Staff is efficient and courteous, they have seating indoors as well as outdoors. We sat outside and enjoyed our family meal! read more

It's okay. Nothing special. More irritating than anything. The best thing this place has going for it is it's right next to the peninsula. I do enjoy getting ice cream there before hitting the park. However, the service here is meh, and I'll probably only go back if it's super not busy. The other day, we went in one of those confusing drive-thru lines. We've been through them before with no issues, but this time our lane had a shack where you order which was new. Before, they were just under shaded canopies or nothing. We saw the guy out talking to customers ahead of us at their car, taking their order, then he left. By the time we got around that area, we couldn't find the guy, so we never got our order taken. If he was there somewhere hiding, he never came over to us. When we get to the pickup spot, they said too bad, go back through the drive-thru and try again. So, there was 30 minutes wasted. They didn't even mention at that point that we could order inside. We thought it was still drive-thru only. We called them about it and a manager said to come get a free gift card. Not sure how much, but we didn't go back because we were already pretty upset about getting screwed over. Not worth trying to navigate that parking lot maze. Things we're as bad pre-COVID, so don't think I'll come back until then, when there's less chance of getting ignored. read more

Onion rings are back, thank you for restoring the glorious rings!!! Best summer time fast food restaurant in Erie! read more

We stop here whenever we come to Erie. It's like the cutest little all-American restaurant right outside of Presque Isle. I probably should try other menu items but every time I go, I order a hot dog (they are Smith's hot dogs with natural casing- if that makes anyone excited like it makes me lol) with a side of curly fries (with cheese) and a drink. The food is prepared and ready quickly. The best part, IMO, is the condiment section. They have all the sauces and toppings for your burgers, hot dogs, whatever. You also have to leave room for dessert because they have orange soft serve, as well as other classic soft serve flavors. My fiancé always get the orange-vanilla twist cone. Don't judge me, but i personally do not like the orange soft serve, so I don't get it.. but people go crazy for it! Everything I've ever had from Sara's has always been so good and it tastes like summer! If you're ever in Presque Isle, do yourself a favor and stop in! read more

Sara's - Hot dogs, fries, and cheese. What more can you ask for?? - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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Perfect on your way in or out of Presque Isle Park. Fast and good for kids and adults! read more

Sara's - Grilled cheese, onion rings, foot long hot dog, curly fries, chicken tenders - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Cant go to presque isle without a trip to Sara's. Have been here several times and there is always fast service and so many things to look at! I got the fish sandwich with zucchini fries, followed by the baby vanilla cone. The baby is really an adult size small. Will be returning next summer. Make sure you take your picture with the Simpsons out front! read more

Sara's - Out front at Sara's - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Went and ordered a chicken finger meal and only got 4 chicken fingers for $10 and a milkshake that's too thick to even drink

Amazingly delicious quality cheeseburger, grilled chicken, curly fries, & ice cream!!! read more

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We came for a weekend getaway with our 3 kids and Sara's did not disappoint! The service was friendly, thorough, patient, and met all guidelines for safety. The food was delicious, large portions, and incredibly fast. We went thru the drive-thru lanes and also ordered shakes. All of our food was ready in literally 5 minutes -- we couldn't believe it. The zucchini sticks were perfectly seasoned and my cheeseburger was well-done and still juicy. Our shakes were very sweet, but still worth coming back again and making Sara's a new family tradition. Don't forget the photo ops, too! read more

Always a Erie summertime favorite! Great food from a diner atmosphere on the jewel of Erie, Pa, Presque Isle State Park. We love to get our food and / or desert and head out to one of the parking spots along the way to eat and watch the people, the birds, the bay. Love the peanut butter hot fudge sundae or milkshake. Whether you live here or are visiting, be sure to make it a stop. read more

Sara's has some of the friendliest staff and best ice cream around. The atmosphere is wonderful, the food is good American food, and the service is quick. I will be going back! I highly recommend the Orange Vanilla Twist Cone. read more

Got burgers and chicken tenders. Eh, not impressed. I'd rather go to Bro Man's. I was excited to try Sara's too.

It was a good milkshake but nothing I'd go outta my way for. However my family got peanut butter ice cream and said it was very good. Definitely will be back but not for a milkshake! read more

Summer fun! When we come to Presque Isle to ride bikes or go fishing, we always stop in for an ice cream treat. Soft serve always seems to be available in orange flavor as well as the reliable chocolate and vanilla. We can't vouch for the hot foods but they seem to sell plenty. They have such a fun environment- a throwback to the old times. read more

Don't let the full parking lot deter you! Sara's is fairly quick and quite good. The menu includes some healthier/lighter items as well as the typical burger joint food. The zucchini fries and grilled chicken sandwich were great. We also stopped back by for ice cream later in the day - not much beats a soft-serve cone. read more

Great stop at this iconic eatery. Burgers dogs and great ice cream the location is perfect. After some good fast food you can walk across the street to the beach and check out the lake. Staff was friendly and the eclectic atmosphere takes you back to a 1950s carny time. Lots of parking and their drive thru was genius during covid. read more

You can't miss Sara's on a trip to (or through) Erie, PA. No muss no fuss burgers, hot dogs, fries and the like and ethereally thick milkshakes of many varieties. Peanut butter milkshakes make the world go 'round. This place IS summer. I love the old-timey feel inside, and even though I've old been to Erie once (and Sara's twice), the whole experience was nostalgic. Staff was friendly and move through the lines quickly; seating is somewhat limited as compared to the crowds, but that's okay. All is well after a day spent exploring Presque Isle, especially when it ends with a trip to Sara's. read more

My food is never hot. Sara's has really gone downhill. The last two times my son and ate there we got sick. Diarrhea and felt like we wanted to throw up! read more

We stopped by Sara's for dinner on our first day of vacation. After our horrible hotel check-in, we decided to watch the sunset at the beach, but first, dinner at Sara's. I had planned on coming here for our trip. It looked like a cool place to dine- and it was! I ordered the cheeseburger meal with fries. Bobby ordered the Chicago style italian beef with onion rings. We enjoyed our dinner outside and he just kept saying how awesome his sandwich was. He ended up finishing half at home and talked about it even more that night. Afterwards, we grabbed ice cream from Sara's and headed to the beach for the sunset. Bobby wanted to head to Sara's the 2 other times we headed to the beach but i said we should try other places... should've listened to him though because the sandbar sucked, lol. If you're in Erie, try it out here. Its a pretty unique spot to eat. The menu isnt huge but it has your basics. It's located RIGHT outside of Presque Isle park and very easy to find. read more

Sara's - bobby enjoying ice cream with the Simpsons. - Burgers Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania