Calamari's Squid Row

Just to be completely honest the set up isn't to my liking, the seats aren't very comfortable and very small so if your plus size or just have a mom bod it's very tight in-between the table and a small cushion. Food was okay but I would definitely do better at home. The day my family and I went the server was very sweet but she seemed to be the only server which made it difficult to get her attention at times. The atmosphere was very dim.. which doesn't suit a family atmosphere. So overall the experience was 2 or 3 being completely honest.

Calamari’s was the perfect place to host our daughter’s baptism celebration. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcomed and taken care of, ensuring everything ran smoothly and stress-free. Their attention to detail and genuine hospitality truly stood out. The food was exceptional—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every dish was a hit, and our guests couldn’t stop complimenting the quality and presentation. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it ideal for such a special family occasion. Thank you to the entire team at Calamari’s (especially Jenna and Alistar) for helping us celebrate such an important milestone. We are incredibly grateful and highly recommend Calamari’s for any special event or gathering.

This was a lovely spot. I went here on a work lunch shortly after they opened at 11. It got busy pretty quickly but I don’t think there was any wait. Ellen was the sweetest and most attentive server I’ve had in a while. She checked on us, noticed when our drinks were low and offered recommendations. I had the Cuban and fries and it was delicious.

First visit. I loved the experience. The staff were all friendly and helpful. A little loud inside but not to much to handle. More than Fair prices for the service and quality.

We usually enjoy stopping at Calamari's when we're in town, and their Boom Boom Shrimp Grinder is our go-to order. On this visit, we both ordered the grinder, but my first bite felt off -- something was missing. Sure enough, when I lifted the bun, the most important part was missing: the boom boom sauce. It took a few minutes to get our server's attention, but once we mentioned it, she quickly brought sides of the sauce for us. After adding it ourselves, the sandwich tasted the way it should, though the bread was a bit dry since the sauce wasn't baked in. I'll also note that we typically visit for lunch, but this trip was later in the evening. The vibe was very different -- louder crowd, mostly college kids, and slower service due to how busy it was. We'll probably stick to lunch visits going forward, since that's when we've had the best experience.

A great and cozy place to have a drink, lunch or dinner in Erie PA. I love how friendly and kind the staff is here every time I visit. They treat you like family! Nice burgers and a great variety of beers and drinks. I also had a great time during St Patrick's day. Atmosphere is nice and warm and prices are very reasonable too!

Omg. This is a Diamond in the Ruff, The Food is probably the best I've had in a while. The Waitress Erin is so personable and such a Sweetheart. The Manager was just awesome. Will definitely come back. Worth the drive from Ohio.

Gumbo is awesome! Strangely the Calamari was a little below average. I had a Cajun chicken flatbread pizza that was pretty good. Beer selection looked great

We usually enjoy stopping at Calamari's when we're in town, and their Boom Boom Shrimp Grinder is our go-to order. On this visit, we both ordered the grinder, but my first bite felt off -- something was missing. Sure enough, when I lifted the bun, the most important part was missing: the boom boom sauce. It took a few minutes to get our server's attention, but once we mentioned it, she quickly brought sides of the sauce for us. After adding it ourselves, the sandwich tasted the way it should, though the bread was a bit dry since the sauce wasn't baked in. I'll also note that we typically visit for lunch, but this trip was later in the evening. The vibe was very different -- louder crowd, mostly college kids, and slower service due to how busy it was. We'll probably stick to lunch visits going forward, since that's when we've had the best experience.

6/22/25 Ate List: Chicken Cordon Bleu Wrap - 7.4 Grew up in Erie and I feel like this spot is a like "not so hidden" underdog sort of gem. Whenever I've been here, it's never packed. But each time when im leaving we say, "yeah that was the right move." It's a little further from the Bayfront but it's a lot better than some of the options that are closer. The vibe here is great. So glad that this place has withstood so much turnover nearby. Food is consistently great. Lunch, dinner, even brunch is SOLID. This time, I did the Chicken Cordon Bleu Wrap with tots. Could've just been a silly assumption, did not expect the wrap to be toasted. Now this was on a 100 degree day, so wouldve personally preferred it to be cold this day but all good. Tots are dependable and great too. Wish I received a larger potion though. Was kind of surprise it wasn't like filling the plate and was more a scattered handful. Love this spot though. Great experience, great staff, will absolutely stop back in.

We were seated right away. There is a bar/restaurant on one side and what appeared to be a nightclub on the other. It was busy but the service was very good. The atmosphere was casual. The food was GOOD. I had the Cobb salad and added salmon. My husband had the chicken corleone. Tasty.

A great restaurant located in Downton Erie! The staff is always friendly. The menu seems to change fairly often, but I've never ordered something that I didn't like. There's a large dining room, a good sized bar and a really big outdoor patio. They also have large banquet rooms for large gatherings and private events. I've had quite a few different meals here and enjoyed them all. The turkey on focaccia is a solid choice. My current favorite is the Boom Boom Shrimp Grinder. Absolutely delicious.

It's fine if you just want a cheap bite but you get what you pay for. Food is pretty bland and it's pretty dirty in there. The waiters were nice. Just eeeh.

Food was delicious but the drinks were terrible... pomegranate paloma just tasted like cheap tequila on ice and it was undrinkable. however every dish we had was great! I had the state street salad with Bang Bang shrimp and it was delicious. Service was OK. And we sat at the outdoor patio which was very nice!.

Food was fantastic. Fish tacos and prime rib melt were great. Started with a cup of chicken tortilla soup that was very good. We also had a cup of gumbo which was also very good. Quick service. Great outdoor ambiance. I would highly recommend. Many things on menu I'd like to try

It was pretty good. The calamari was actually really good. Don't believe the one star haters. I ate it and never got sick.

Was a recommendation from our hotel. We arrived and waited a bit to be seated but once we were seated, our service was excellent! We sat in the upper area of the bar that was quiet and in view of several televisions with various channels displayed. Our food was delicious. And the side of fruit was incredible fresh!! Thank you for a wonderful experience as we pass through.

The service was amazing, food came out very quick and drinks were always full. Food was amazing and very big portions. The crowd felt very homelike and welcoming. Overall a very nice place for a good, inexpensive dinner, or a beer at the bar.

I love sitting outside while the weather permits. They have a lil side enclosed Ally to sit outside. Taylor our server was awesome. One thing I dislike is a server asking " would you like salad or soup"? Makes it sound like it comes with the meal, great way to up the bill but please say"for a small upcharge would you like to add...". I'll own I didn't pay attention when I ordered if it came with or not. Ordered the calamari for appetizer... delicious. Cooked perfect and the sauces was delish as well. Shrimp tacos.. pretty tasty. Protein bowl was good as well. Definitely go back again!!!

Recommended by our hotel, this place was perfect, casual atmosphere, good food, great service . The menu has a lot of variety it it was all pretty good, fish, pasta, burgers, flat breads, apps and drinks. All served with a smile.

During our last night in Erie, PA as part of a "workcation" with the family, we wanted to find a place with outdoor seating, good food, and drinks. Calamari's did not disappoint, and had a really cool outdoor patio - I called ahead because of limited COVID seating which I recommend. We got an order of its namesake - the Calamari and it was delicious tender and crispy! I could probably eat a large order as a meal - great portions too. For my main meal, my eyes immediately gravitated to the Filet and Croissant melt, if you put fancy meat and cheese on a croissant how can you not say no. The meal was delicious and all the prices were fair, and they had a huge drink list both beer, wine, and cocktails. If you're looking for a cool ambiance, delicious food, and a variety of drinks, I would definitely recommend Calamari's Squid Row!

My family and I dined at Calamari's outside patio for dinner. A perfect place to eat outside, even though they are also open for dine-in as well. We started off with drinks and I ordered a Vodka & Soda. I was delighted to be served a large, tall glass that was plenty strong. As someone that lives in the city, I found the price to be extremely reasonable. We had to start off with a large order of Calamari, I mean that's what the place is called! It came out hot and fresh, fried very lightly. It was paired with both cocktail and thai chili sauce. As we placed entree orders the server asked if we wanted our tots or fries with "Kranch" seasoning. At first I wasn't sure what it was (I was familiar with Heinz combining ranch and ketchup to make a Kranch sauce) but the server said it was a go-to and must get. I wasn't disappointed, it turned out to be a cajun/ranch spice and it really made my fries pop. Also well seasoned was the fried Catfish I had to go with my exotically seasoned fries. Overall we all had a great dinner!

I've eaten here dozens of times and have never had a bad reaction at all . Food is delicious from steaks to hamburgers to chicken I must congratulate the staff for a job well done Why go any where else

The second I walked in the hostess was extremely rude to me and my party. The ambiance is nice and I like the outdoor seating but the food is eh and the service is eh to mediocre. Not a fan and probably will never come back but it wasn't a horrible experience. Just watch out for the hostess she's kinda rude.

11.1.24 Party of 5 sat in room across from bar. Do not sit in this area. It is loud. Making the meal not enjoyable. There was a party going on in the room. Calamari's should not sit customers in the same room a party is going on. It was very very loud. My ears are still ringing. When asked to move another table was told they would talk to the bar tender about noise. I swear that made it worse. There's a make shift divider in the room. So much fun going on at that party I thought several times it was going to fall on us. Once we were served, which took a long time , our food was cold. Two entrees ... steak and mahi mahi. Two sandwiches. And a pizza. The pizza was hot. Steak not tender. Dessert oozy gooey cake. This is a cake like brownie. Which is a generous size. One end completely burnt. Food is pricey and cold Ambiance poor Server was nice. Go in summer when there's room to sit outside. Never ever sit in the same room as a party next to you. Shame on calamari's serving additional people in that room. If there was no room in the bar area or I had to wait for a table I would have been fine with that. Long wait for food, cold food, and extremely loud noise of party. Giving two stars instead of 1. Outdoor seating in the past has been good. Bar seating fair. Party side should not even be an option.

Loved the atmosphere, server was awesome. We went with the calamari and grinders. There is an outdoor patio but we ate inside by the bar. Calamari is served with a sweet, spicy sauce, yum! We had the spicy shrimp and the roast beef grinders (where I come from, called subs!) Definitely worth the stop

Ordered the chicken tortilla soup and grown up grilled cheese for lunch . Soup was delicious. Grilled cheese had crispy bread, flavorful cheese , bacon, and tomatoes . Perfect flavor combos

Service was rotten! Ambiance was in an empty cold side room with bright lights. Food never came to the table for 40 minutes, we got up and left. Went a place right down the street called the Plymouth Tavern. Very good food and pleasant staff.

I was always recommended Calamari's during my short time in Erie and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to grab some! I got a takeout order after work since I was actually in the area. Of course, I got the calamari that I was always recommended. It's unfortunate it's not normal times nowadays and one can't really enjoy the full dining experience. Regardless, the calamari was delicious with the perfect crunch and the dipping sauces adding a perfect kick of flavor. I think I got a larger portion and that was plenty and definitely something to share amongst friends or maybe 1 or 2 other people in your home. Now, I want some good calamari since it's hard to come across good calamari here haha Street metered parking is available right outside, although when I went, none of the meters were working so maybe it's like that for some time now? If you're in the area, definitely drop by.

Absolutely amazing food and service If you come to Erie you must try this place first!!!! Don't waste your time with the other restaurants you will walk away hungry and disappointed.... Very clean and our waitress was wonderful!!! Just wish we had found this place sooner

Good food and good service, everything was hot and fresh and my brunch burger was on point! Cocktail menu could use a little work

food continues to be reliably good. beers are cold, the bar is stocked. they have great hours. not necessarily a romantic place but the patio is nice. love calamari for lunch, events and after work drinks and apps

This place was recommended by my friend as she worked there and I'm glad we stopped in! We were with her and felt like I was treated like royalty in this fun local bar/diner. You definitely should get their early on a Saturday as we got there at 6 and it was already slammed and people needed to make reservations for a table, but we sat at the bar and didn't mind. The food and salad portions were MASSIVE! And will fill you up no problem. Excited to go back when I'm not on a diet and try the greasy pub food

Very cool spot, with wonderful outdoor seating. I can see this being a hang of I lived here. Calamari was super tasty, Guinness pour was spot on, grilled chicken with Swiss, roasted red peppers, & mushrooms were tasty. Pretty big brunch menu on Sunday. Will return for sure.

Our second visit to this restaurant in about a year or so. They still have a great looking patio area, however, even at 4:45pm on a Monday we were unable to get a table outside. Apparently it pays to be a big party & not a party of two. They had several big tables available & the place wasn't too busy inside at all, but they told us they only had large tables outdoors which was disappointing because it was a nice day & quite early for dinner. We ended up at a booth by the bar & we were in & out in an hour or less. The calamari was again quite good, and the large platter is a HUGE portion, enough for 4. It was a tad greasier than last time. They give you marinara & sweet Thai chili sauce for dipping. They have 4 pages of beers, ciders & hard seltzer's in addition to their draughts on tap. My beer was ok, a juicy hazy IPA from Cincinnati, but didn't seem that fresh or cold & they don't use chilled pint glasses. We each got salads this time, which were fine but not stellar. My steak Caesar salad was cooked to my liking but the salad was kinda boring. My husband had the Cobb, also fine, but nothing outstanding. So I'll stick with 4 stars this time, service was fine, food good but not that exciting & lots of alcohol choices...I think maybe the sandwiches are better than their salads? They also don't have happy hour anymore since Covid.

The smell was so strong that I went in the door and look around then back out it. There is no way i could has sit down to eat and enjoyed the area with that smell. I know my seafood and been to many, this one knocked me back out the door.

Saw a bad review ,yet already had plans to meet with friends there. Had great memories of late nights there in my much younger days. We were seated easily and after ordering got our drinks first, then the meals, and the server was friendly and the order came quickly. And as i looked around the room, i could see smiles and laughter thru out the place. Highly recommend Calamari's to everyone. I know, I can't wait to go back there.

Best seafood gumbo in Erie. Love every meal I've had there. Friendly staff, prompt service, good prices.

Came here for lunch while in the area for work with two of my colleagues. It's a bit of a strange name, but the food was good. I ordered a cobb salad with steak and ranch dressing. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, and chilled so it didn't make the vegetables wilt. The lettuce and cucumber was very fresh and tasted great. Hard to mess up the rest of the salad though. The service was very friendly and efficient. Definitely worth coming here

So, ordered Calamari take out. It was so good we decided the next day it must taste even better sitting down in the restaurant. I was right. The calamari was scrumptious. Because of Covid we wanted to sit outside and it was a lovely night to do so. It's a gorgeous area to dine al fresco. So, I'm a girl that eats her dessert first. The Tennessee Pecan Pie didn't disappoint.. The Tennessee Pecan pie was so big and decadent with ice cream atop I had no room for my entree. I didn't care for so much batter on the Thai spiced cauliflower. The wings looked tasty and succulent. The swordfish was super fresh but the best part of my meal was when Chubbs, the Host bragged about how good his collards were. I told him they couldn't possibly be better than my moms, especially him being northern and of the Caucasian persuasion, lol. He dared me to try and my, oh, my! They tasted better than my Mama's! (I pray she doesn't have a Yelp! account to see this). And the bowl of Gumbo had chunks of fresh shrimp and okra in a nice File' broth. Ooohhh wee! I gay-run-tee!!! . Everyone was so nice and accommodating that if we're ever in the Erie area again it'll be our first stop.

Very friendly staff and great food! We called ahead and they had a table waiting for Us.

The service was timely, friendly and great. The food was delicious. I ordered calamari for the appetizer and sirloin steak for the main course. The steak was so good. The calamari was nothing but ordinary. No expected from a place named after this dish. This fact cost them one star in my review

Went to squid row to sit outside on a nice evening. Asked for a table of four and the hostess just shook his head. When asked what was wrong, he forcefully said, "nope". We asked what that meant, he rudely said they were booked all night and to go elsewhere. So we took our business elsewhere and encourage you too.

Fantastic! I can't wait to go back when we visit Erie this summer. Everything was fantastic. Atmosphere, drinks, food and service. We started out with the Spinach Artichoke Dip. They give you warm pitas to dip. Then I ordered an Asian salad with boom boom shrimp. Probably one of the best salads I've ever had. Great beer selection!!!

I love this place. Every time I come to Erie I try to stop here for some amazing calamari. This past time I also ordered the Thai chili cauliflower bites and, while i'm not 100% convinced they were cauliflower (they tasted more like cheese bites) they were delicious. I ordered the State Street Salad with boom boom shrimp and it was great! Be prepared to be completely stuffed after the salad, it was so big I wasn't able to finish it. Great service, good drinks and great atmosphere.

Saw this driving by today and thought we'd try it. First impression walking in was not too good. Looked more like a bar, nothing fancy. We ordered 3 appetizers to split, and were pleasantly surprised. The calamari was the best I've had in a while. The bruschetta and shrimp were both reasonably good too and the prices are great. I'll try something off the main menu next time.

I ordered a burger to go and when I got home. I found wax paper in my burger not just one piece, but two pieces. I was going to let it go but I had to call after the second piece. I asked for a well done burger and got a pink burger. The burger was still mooing at me. So I called to talk to the manager and the manger was extremely unprofessional. He told me he didn't have time for me and my compliant. He told me I should call the following day which is okay, but he hung up on me before I could reply to what he said.

Seriously, this was the best service, the patio was a blast and had fun live music. Allison worked her tail off to accommodate our large group. She ran in and out, she was kind, quick, friendly, and everything a server should be. With so many negative experiences here in Erie restaurant/service wise, this was so refreshing and it was exactly what I would hope for on a Sunday Funday! We are in town from Kansas City and this is on spot we would come back to! We ordered a sampling of apps and they were all delicious. Overall this restaurant/bar was top notch and we were so happy we gave it a go!

Good bar/restaurant down on State Street. We enjoyed our big dish of calamari (what else!) ($14) for starters. Wings ($9.50), Caesar with salmon ($12), and salmon plate ($16) were all generous and tasty. Our cosmopolitan ($6) was just right. A few 12 ounce drafts ($2 each) hit the spot. My Manhattan was served on the rocks and didn't have bitters. The 2nd Manhattan was served up by request, but was too small, and still needed bitters! Rather than make a 3rd mistake, I asked our server what the bartenders liked to make (obviously not Manhattans!). Martinis! I had a good one ($5.50) made with Tanqueray (extra $1.00). Lesson: Avoid the Manhattan and go with the bartenders' long suit.

It took us an hour to get hour food when the restaurant was not very busy. Food was cold and they got our order wrong. The one star is for the very nice waitress. Fries were also stale.

1. a variety of delicious selections & daily specials 2 . welcoming environment, inside or outside 3 . friendly staff: to our waitress , (way to go cece) you were fantastic! if ya'll have not given it a try , please do so!

Love this! Just came in yesterday with my Grandma and grabbed a little lunch special. We got to sit outside and it was just beautiful! The lunch special is super rad! It's your choice of TWO: soup, salad, & half sandwich, for $7! Gram and I both got that, I grabbed a blood orange hefe, and it was $20! Bam. Filling portions, too! Can't beat it y'all!

This was one of my first post COVID dining experiences, and with our kids who still do not have vaccines. We sat outside and it was just beyond lovely. The space wasn't crowded, service was efficient and friendly, and the food tasted great. I loved the State Street salad with chicken. Others enjoyed the pretzels, the spinach dip, the burgers, prime rib sandwich and French dip. We haven't been to Erie in a while but absolutely will return here on our next trip. Loved it!

Great food, friendly service, nice outdoor seating in warm weather. The artichoke spinach dip and tortilla soup are the best

This was our first visit to Erie and we were looking for something good for a late lunch. We came here as they had a nice outdoor seating area which permitted pets. The staff was really friendly and accommodating. We got a few dishes such as the calamari, the wings and a burger. The food was decent but I enjoyed the atmosphere more as well the staff bring water for my dog.

Ok, the name is strange, and it looks like a common bar, not that there is anything wrong with that, but... Red Mamaba, aka Sean Brown, is an outstanding bartender. True professional. Friendly and efficient and handled a large crowd with grace and ease. Food was well above average. Salad had a great homemade ranch. Large enough for two to share and the dressing was perfectly balanced, and served on the side. We had the bang bang shrimp to start. Served on a large bed of greens, the shrimp were peeled and cleaned (probably bought, but great quality, and I hope they correct me if wrong) and crispy and perfectly seasoned. Winner. We, crazily, went for chicken parmigiana. Just in the mood. It was tender, lightly seasoned, excellent sauce, and nice amount of cheese. Really good, and crazy good price. Could have used some garlic bread, but thta is nit picking. Great beer selection. Great wines too - the house red blend was excellent with the chicken. Friendly clientele and staff. Overlook the name, and stop by. Solid place!!!

Allison waited on me during lunch today, and it was the worst customer service I've ever experienced. After throwing my card at me she proceeded to tell me to "not bother tipping her". I will not be returning.