Erie Up-Close: Dining & Drinking

What’s New in Brew
Pick flowers, bring your pet and find seasonal fun at Port Farms — and now you can grab a cold one while you’re there. Check out the new Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales brewery in a historic, repurposed potato storage building. The 10-barrel brewhouse showcases craft brews that incorporate crops grown on the farm. A menu of elevated bar plates is also a nod to eat-local flavors. 

“Guests can sit, grab a beer and have a meal, adding to the overall experience at Port Farms,” says Emily Watson, who heads up marketing and sponsorships, adding that the family-friendly environment includes a children’s menu for the younger set. 

The Back Story: The brewhouse won its name from a time when the grandmother of now fourth-generation owners Jerry and Kelly Port dubbed a portion of the farmland Poverty Knob because of its gravelly, dry ground, groundhog-ravaged crops and overall lack of production. 

Sip: More than a dozen beers on tap include seasonal selections, with new releases introduced regularly. The latest: Wicked Wilson, a west-coast IPA that is bitter yet balanced. 

Taste: Nosh on the Port Farms Chip Platter of freshly made chips coated with gorgonzola and bacon crumbles, then garnished with scallions and a balsamic glaze.

Pop a Prizeworthy Cork
Rather dine with wine? Cork 1794 earned the prestigious Wine Spectator 2023 Restaurant Award of Excellence for its wine list, including a well-chosen assortment of quality producers with a thematic match to the menu in price and style. 

Do Brunch: Start off a lazy Sunday morning in style and try curated dishes like crab Benedict, short rib hash or chicken-and-bacon-laced waffles.

New at the Food Hall
Nine all-local vendors serving a diversity of dishes — from tacos to noodles and Dominican fare — offer guests lots of choice and the flexibility to sample flavors at Flagship Food Hall in downtown Erie. Here’s a taste of the hall’s fresh offerings. 

Ippa: Neapolitan-style pizzas made Old World-style mix with specialty pies such as Bourbon Chicken and Garlic Smasher. 

Taco Cabana: Find bowls, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, burritos and more with $2 tacos every Tuesday. 

CheesErie: It started as a food truck, and now it’s a food hall fave offering homemade mac-and-cheese and a selection of melty, hand-pressed paninis.