Stopped in on a Friday evening at about 3:15 pm. It was not busy at all. We were seated quickly. It appears as if the patio is being remodeled. We had a nice view is the tower during dinner. I ordered the Perch with Cole slaw and fries while my wife ordered the grilled Arctic Char with garlic mashed potatoes with the vegetable of the day (zucchini and squash). Prices were about what we expected (mine $30 and hers was the same). The food was good and served pretty quickly. I would have liked the coffee to be stronger, but I recognize I have very high standards when it comes to coffee. read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Back of Smugglers' Wharf menu - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

Shirley was fantastic! You could tell she was busy but she consistently checked in and helped us out when my husband did not like his plate (the French dip) The Shellfish Carbonara was outstanding!!!! We are on a trip from California to New Hampshire and stopped in town to see the lake. We wanted some seafood so we came here because we walked by and the atmosphere was great. Highly highly recommend! read more

The servers were nice and attentive, the restaurant itself is definitely due for renovations and a deep cleaning and dusting. It's old and run down and needs upgrades especially in the bathroom. The door in the restroom couldn't even close and it blocked the sink. I had to stand on the side of the sink to wash my hands. Then the blower to dry my hands was very weak ( they need a new one) and there were no paper towels available to dry my hands, so I had to allow them to air dry until I got to the table and used napkins. This place is like a catch of the day, sea to take kind of place. Which I would expect being located on the bay. But the seafood was flavorless. The table had fried calamari, and although it wasn't chewy, it wasn't seasoned with anything so it was like cheating crispy air. The other food was pretty flavorless as well, which seems to be a trend in Erie, PA. I had a burger, the burger wasn't anything to be desired. Definitely lacked flavor and seasoning. The fries were good fried pretty good but had no salt. The veggies on my burger however were fresh and had a good crunch. The fish was a bit under fried for my liking, I sent back and they fried another piece without a problem, but it still could have been fried longer. The chocolate cake was ok not too sweet however, it was a bit dense. I probably wouldn't come back here. read more

See all

The location on the water is likely what keeps people coming back. We were there on a Thursday night and it was packed. The interior decor is definitely outdated and needs some upgrades. The server was nice but you can tell that they are short staffed, as she was not as attentive to drink refills/clearing as she could have been. I had the scallops which were pretty good. The Old Bay potatoes were nothing special. My husband had crab cakes and he said they were sub par and not worth the price. Not terrible but there are better places. read more

Great ambiance, fast service, food so-so, good variety of seafood. Lobster roll, walleye, and scallops were excellent! An overabundance of peppers in the veggie mix and the potato salad has a tiny zing to it. read more

After walking past this restaurant for over 10 years, some friends we were entertaining in Erie suggested we stop- so we did and it was a wonderful experience. The ambience is second to none. The grape vines provide a nice break from the sun, but you're still afforded views of the bay and tower. Service was polite and professional, but also very personable. Drinks were tasty, but didn't seem very strong. Food was served without delay and as ordered. I have only had lobster rolls in ocean towns and this one stood it's own against those. A little over seasoned for my taste and I could've done without the celery. Very chicken salad feel. But the lobster was tasty and the roll was great. read more

See all

Smugglers' Wharf GOOD: Food quality, service and atmosphere BAD: Price heavy on sides and starters I loved my experience at Smuggler's Wharf. The food was delicious, the service fast and friendly and the location is pristine. The bay views make the already cozy interior even better. It loses a star because they really put the squeeze on when it comes to simple things like french fries. Fries are cheap to make and a customer favorite. Your options are 9.00 starter or additional 5.00 when you pay for a sandwich - hard pass. It worked out because the potato salad they offer free is bonkers good. The other thing I didn't like is they charge 9 for a cup (ouch) then 10 for a bowl of soup. I ordered the bowl - very tiny little thing. My two cents, get a nice glass of wine (if that's your jam) and a quality entree. Iam going back for the carbonara very soon. read more

See all

Pleasant little stop before touring the Bicentennial Tower - great seafood selection here. Got the blackened snapper (I believe that was a daily special) which was seasoned just right and had a nice crispy outer texture (yet was flaky and not dry) . The Portobello mushrooms had wonderful flavor too. The garlic mashed potatoes were ok. Woman serving us was very nice; service was tad slow but looked like she was the only one serving before we got in. Great view and location too. I'd eat here again. read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Portobello mushrooms, garlicky potatoes and blackened snapper - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

the location is beautiful but that's about where the good stops. my family and I ate here during our vacation. It was pretty expensive which would have been fine except the food wasn't good and portion sizes were more like those for side dishes or appetizer. The main course salads were the size of a basic side salad and if you wanted chicken it was an extra $5 on top of the price of the salad itself. Which again wouldn't have been bad if it hadn't been the size of a side salad. The bourbon pecan crusted chicken was okay but the bourbon was to strong almost like they poured straight alcohol over the chicken instead of a sauce and again portions were small. I left hungry and having eaten a meal I could have had somewhere else for either half the price or where I would have gotten e food that I felt full. the server was also not very attentive and was not very nice. read more

Only stopped for some drinks. We had one in left. Bartender needs to check the recipe book, bad bourbon old fashion/ 50% water. And made a mudslide in blender w ice like a frozen margarita.... Watered down not creamy. If blender use ice cream or serve on rocks. Did not stay for food. Also wanted local beer keg kicked no backup. Nice location, only reason for 2 stars. read more

I really wanted to like this place because the outside patio was beautiful. But the food was microwaved, tough and tasteless. The service was awful. My waiter came once and never saw him again until he was smoking around the back corner. Dont waste your money!!! read more

This is a great location that sadly needs a better menu and better recipes or cooks. We got 3 appetizers and a salad. 1 app, the coconut shrimp, was good. The calamari was overcooked, the mussels were floating in a bath of grease. The salad was just bad. For $15 that's unacceptable. Iceberg lettuce in big chunks, canned pineapple, no protein (thats extra). The dressing was supposed to be a ginger dressing. It had a slight taste of ginger and was milky. $75 for those 4 items and 1 bottle of beer. At that location they should be packed, but we were 1 of 2 couples there at 7:30 on a Wed night. Truly wish they would make big changes there! read more

We sat at the bar and were greeted by a nice bartender. Service was excellent! The menu was much more expensive than anticipated but luckily we weren't very hungry. I ordered the perch sandwich ($20) which came with a side of potato salad and a pickle spear. My wife ordered a cup of she crab soup. While waiting, we got a chance to take in the atmosphere. It was very run down and dirty. The ceiling was loaded with debris you wouldn't want if it fell in your meal! The view was nice and the new canopy, once completed, will be much nicer than the old rundown one that preceded it. The soup was good, although very rich. The perch sandwich underwhelmed. The bottom bun was soggy from the pickle. I found it flavorless and bland. Even after I removed the bun, same effect. We won't be back. read more

Shirley is always attentive, helpful, & friendly. Smuggler's participates in the Erie Fine Dining Group. The proprietor doesn't "punch your dining card" in gratitude for patronage between Sept and March- a win-win for patrons and the business. Best perch dinner in the area, in our opinions. read more

See all

we t on a weekday will be busier on the weekend good service but the restroom was small lol was going out the man comming in smashed the open so hard it hit my head read more

it was too hot and the food was greasy. The put us in the su. Y wi Dow and the air conditioner was not on or near us. We couldn't wait to leave . The prices where to high the the quality of food. A slice of cake 10 dollars . read more

Amazing food!! We tried the Lobster roll, Artic Char (fresh catch), and She Crab soup! Everything was absolutely delicious and our waitress, "Emily" gets a 10/10 for service, friendliness and tourist tips. We dug into our food so fast that I forgot to snap pictures. This place is fantastic!! read more

We were visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and took a day trip to Erie. After swimming for a couple of hours we decided to look for a place to have lunch. We stumbled upon Smugglers Wharf, it is right on the water and had a beautiful view. Of course, one of my twins wanted to sit inside and the other outside. A quick mention of a fish tank inside made Both twins want to sit inside. They have multiple fish tanks that definitely entertained my boys. We arrived after the lunch rush so most people were leaving. The boys ordered grilled cheese and my husband ordered muscles ( HUGE PORTION) , scallops and clam chowder everything was delicious! I had the lobster roll which was divine! The cocktails were fantastic! The service was fabulous and so personal. The waitress took time to chat with us about the twins and lake Erie in general. If you are in Erie I highly recommend checking with place out! Bonus my 4 yeat old twins tried the muscles and LOVED THEM. read more

The steak was dry but moist. Really had no flavor. The tomato basil rice was crunchy. The mash potatoes didn't care for. Service was good read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Filet rice, mash potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

We had a delicious dinner here last night. I enjoyed the perch dinner and my husband had a chicken sandwich. Key lime pie finished a perfect meal. Our server was friendly and attentive. Even though the place was busy, our food came out quickly. It is in an excellent location, across from the water. read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Fried Great Lakes Yellow Perch - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

In my opinion, a staple Erie spot! Their charming nautical themed location on the water has beautiful outdoor seating and is a great place to sit on an Erie summer evening. We started with the mussels, which were tasty! The white wine sauce came mostly on the side for dipping, which was new to me, but still good flavor. I also had the Caribbean breeze salad with chicken, and it was a great summer dish! The chicken was a generous portion and the fruit in the salad was great - it came with a ginger dressing that tied all the flavors together well. For dessert, I ended up splitting a raspberry chocolate cheesecake and a chocolate chocolate cake - both might have been the stars of the meal! The chocolate cake was rich with layers of chocolate, and the cheesecake was light with great raspberry flavor. Loved them both! Service was friendly if a little rushed at times - but we were a big group. read more

See all

Get the she-crab soup! Then, for a little treat, get the calamari and pair it with the sauce and she-crab soup! This place has the outdoor ambience for a perfect waterside lunch - the seating area is covered with vines and foliage to block out the sun and let in the breeze. Service was lovely and timely. I've been there several times and forgot to review. It's a go-to. read more

Great atmosphere, beautiful scenery on the water, but awful food and warm white wine served in a plastic cup. #overrated

Fun little place with a beach/island feel. Lobster roll a little pricey at $25 but good. My wife had the burger and it was good not great. Will come back when visiting for the ambience read more

See all

You'll be fine, so long as they like you. Waited at a table over 20 min with NO attention. No drinks, no nothing. Then verbally assaulted by mng when inquired. "When we are this busy I don't care." and... "I noticed you when you walked in, and we don't like your type." was the response I received. read more

Prices were ridiculous. Had to send back a chicken sandwich that tasted weird. Never refilled our drinks. Ran out of hamburgers. Had to reorder something else. The shrimp wasn't very hot. Wasn't a good dining experience for us. read more

Great food--everyone enjoyed their meals. The server was friendly and helpful, though a little stretched thin so a little slower than we would have liked. Sitting under the greenery near the water was lovely--my daughter is still talking about how pretty it was. Would definitely return. read more

Smuggler's Wharf - View from my outside seat - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

The outside ambiance appeared to be a vibe. There was a wait and my party was very hungry so we opted to eat at the bar. The service was horrible. The waitress visibly did not want to wait on my party. She also did not check on us at all after collecting our orders and bringing our food. The food was bland and left much to be desired. Limited seafood options. The catch of the day has the option to be cooked blackened, grilled, or fried, but the other fish options do not offer this substitute. read more

See all

7/30/22 I chose this place for lunch over the others because being on a diet, they had more food options that I could eat (instead of rum runners) and pricing wasn't too much either (like Oliver's). Atmosphere: Cute outdoor seating area with the vines. Pretty busy, but we were seated right away for a Saturday lunch. Staff was nice, our server was mostly attentive... took a while for her to come back after asking for something. I'm assuming she was just busy. Mains: Filet mignon 5/10. My favorite cut of meat usually. Sadly, USDA choice kinda sucks. Not as tender as a more expensive brand, obviously. Ordered medium rare. It came rarer than rare (blue). I sent it back, as I should have... when it came back a second time, it was medium rare. Before/After photos have been added to my review. Once I was finally able to eat it, the meat had absolutely no flavor at all, I added salt (I never add salt to my food after it's done cooking, I usually only cook with salt to enhance flavors). Lobster Roll 8/10. Kyles rating (I also tried a small bite and I did not like it). He says it was good, little sweet, but the lobster was slightly over cooked. Sides: There's only 3 options, for those who are on low carb/no carb/low sugar diets: coleslaw, portabellas, or veggie of the day (unless it's carrots).. they were out of the portabellas, which I really wanted. Or a side salad but sadly, if you wanted to sub one of the sides for a salad, you're not able to. You have to choose your two sides and then pay an extra 5.95 for the side salad. House salad 8/10. How do you mess up a salad you ask? No cheese. And I had to cut the head of lettuce up myself. It came as literally a 1/4 head of iceberg. See the photo. I chose the smugglers oregano as my dressing, hoping it would be like a Greek dressing. It was very similar. It was a sweeter vinegar base with oregano and possibly other seasonings too. The dressing was phenomenal. I think the salad was my favorite part of my entire meal. Coleslaw 7/10. Not bad, but not a fan by itself. This would probably be amazing on a pulled pork sandwich. Vegetable of the day: broccoli 8/10. Cooked perfectly, soft. Needed a little bit more butter and I added salt as well. Potato salad 7/10. Not bad. There's some flavor in there that's slightly strange. Like maybe it's the brand or type of mustard, or the amount. I'm not sure. I only tried a bite since I'm on the keto diet, but I would eat more if I could. It was just mediocre food. I personally would not care to eat here a second time. read more

See all

Horrible food with subpar service. Extremely overpriced for food that's worse than McDonalds and I don't even eat fast food. Sandwiches come with near raw buns not toasted just thrown together like a cafeteria. Fish is not great quality either. read more

Large menu from seafood to burgers. Service was amazing. On the water with great outdoor seating. Classic place with a sailing vibe.

If I could rate at zero stars I would. A total rip off joint. $7 for a cheap starter salad with unappetizing, peroxide flavored unripe tomatoes. Ugh! How can a restaurant not get fresh tasting tomatoes this time of the year? Our miserable crotchety waitress offered nothing more than the worst of the worst ever customer service; she was totally inattentive, and beyond rude. She displayed an equally reprehensible attitude when she brought our main course to the table; it wasn't even what I ordered! I ordered halibut and she brought tuna. She then proceeded to argue with me about it. I was so fed up I just wanted to leave. I ended up paying $21 for two sodas and two subpar salads. The nice finishing touch is when I asked for a pen to sign my slip and our waitress slammed a pen down on the counter. The miserable battle-ax should be fired. Avoid this overpriced smelly poophole establishment at all costs, it's nothing more than a tourist trap restaurant. read more

Food: decent food, followed other reviewers advice and stayed with basics. Had a burger which was very good as was the accompanying potato salad. Cheesecake also very good. Service: Excellent, prompt, friendly, attentive Ambiance: Sat outside, overlooking the bay and Bicentennial Tower. Very relaxing read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Outdoor patio setting. - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Everything was great- service, food and atmosphere! We will be back the next time we are in town. read more

The food was fantastic. Calamari and Sea Scallops were just wonderful. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere is great! Casual dining with really good food. Beautiful views. I really enjoyed this place! read more

Went to dinner with friends while at the convention center. When you walk inside, you could be on the shore of Lake Erie or some little coastal mom and pop place! I got the fried perch and chips which was amazing. The fish was so light and flakey with a crispy beer battered coating. My colleague got the blackened walleye with mashed potatoes all was cooked perfectly! The young lady waiting on us gave us great advice when choosing our dishes. Our glasses never sat empty. read more

Really good local place for seafood and drinks. The clam strips were good as was the blackened swordfish. We ate at the bar and the service was great. You should go there. read more

Clean space good food fast service time. great servers outdoor and indoor seating. Right by the water

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful! However, the pricing is not what is advertised online. When we came, we noticed the price difference and decided to stay because of the environment and was hopeful for great food. When we got our salads, they were the size of a typical 'side salad' with tiny portions of chicken. Overall, the pricing and portions are extremely misleading. read more

Smuggler's Wharf has been on my "try" list for some time. I typically use the Erie Fine Dining Card, which can't be used from May-September here. We finally had a chance to go at the beginning of October. I ordered the shellfish carbonara and my partner ordered the perch dinner with fries and mushrooms for his sides. His personal preference is less breading on the fish, but I thought it was quite good. The mushrooms were good as well. The pasta was so-so. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. The chunks of lobster were quite small and there wasn't many scallops. If I go back I'll probably try something different. The salad, roll, and fries all seemed extremely generic - like something you'd get at a hospital. Overall, I think the decor and the menu could use a bit of a facelift. I imagine I'll return, but only with the Fine Dining Card (buy one entree, get one free). read more

Smuggler's Wharf - Fried Great Lakes Yellow Perch - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all