O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar

I’ve always wondered about O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar. Sure, I’ve
driven past it numerous times on the way to work, but never had an itch to
visit the establishment, figuring it was just a gourmet burger joint. Happily,
this wasn’t the case.

After we arrived, I looked online to learn more about the restaurant.
Sure enough, it’s part of a chain with 175 sites, based mostly in the South,
with the Millcreek location being the only O’Charley’s restaurant within
Pennsylvania.

Once our server, Liz, arrived, I ordered a drink. Intrigued by its name,
I got a Cotton Candy Fizz, which was a glass of Sprite with a piece of pink
cotton candy perched atop the rim. Liz explained you place the treat into the
beverage, and when it breaks down, it creates a strawberry-flavored twist on
a classic soft drink. We found it tasty and original.

Meanwhile, my Partner-In-Dine ordered a blackberry margarita that
proved plentiful and pulled no punches with its tequila, lasting the entire meal
through dessert.

As an appetizer, we began with Deviled eggs that arrived chilled, topped
with chopped pickles and a spicy sauce that made them tasty, not three-alarm-hot prohibitive.

For my entree, I ordered the Bone-in Pork Chops, two grilled juicy
chops topped with a slight sweet sauce that arrived with a baked potato and
fresh broccoli steamed just right.

My partner chose the Southern Pecan Chicken Tender Salad.
Containing dried cranberries and mandarin oranges, bits of bleu cheese,
sweetened pecans and served with balsamic vinaigrette, the tanginess of the
oranges and cranberries dueled with the salty bleu cheese, buoyed by the cool
bed of lettuce, tomatoes and the usual suspects that constitute a salad.

For dessert, we tried the Ooey Gooey Caramel Pie, a rich, chilled slice
that contained chocolate chips and pecan bits. So deliciously thick we needed a
knife to cut it, it sated our sweet tooth and served as a filling conclusion to our
O’Charley’s visit.

Ample portions, yummy cuisine, reasonably priced, O’Charley’s is a
trifecta worth betting on.
—Tony B.

O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar is located at Millcreek Marketplace, 2077
Interchange Rd, Erie, PA 16509. For more information call 814-464-2957 or
visit ocharleys.com.