A woman standing in front of a restaurant entrance.

Shirley’s Restaurant

May 9, 2023|pwsadmin|

Shirley, You’re Not Joking…

Blink and you’ll miss it. Miss it and you’re regret it. That is, if you like a quiet dining experience with a retro 1950’s feel.

That’s what I always say about Shirley’s Restaurant located on Old French Road, Erie.

So, how’d I hear of it? Thank Google Maps or Waze or some directional app that’s on my phone. I was taking my father to the Erie VA Medical Center and headed up Old French Road, where I spotted what looked like a restaurant in a nondescript plaza. Hungry while heading home, we decided to give the place a try.

A smallish restaurant bedecked with tiny tables, black-and-blue naugahyde booths, its walls are painted a warm, sunny yellow. Yet upon its far wall is where Shirley’s lives up to its moniker: A who’s who of famous Shirleys. Large photos of Shirley Jones, Shirley Temple, Shirley MacLaine, Cindy Williams (Huh? Oh, yeah, from Laverne & Shirley), even Leslie Nielsen near the cash register (C’mon¦figure it out¦). No doubt serving as a fun brain teaser and conversation piece, but for those of us who still read, what, no Shirley Jackson? Upon my original visit, I asked our waitress what’s up with the photo gallery and was told that the original owner’s name.

The menu is basic (Tuna Melt, BLT, Club, Grilled Cheese, etc.) as was explained by the server I had this time. The current owner, she said, just wanted to keep things simple. Too bad for me though: I was really craving dessert or something exotic, a chocolate milkshake, which they don’t serve.

I decided to try the restaurant’s namesake sandwich, the Shirley Burger, (Sorry, no pics!) a breakfast/lunch concoction of cheese, hash browns, bacon, egg and a thick hamburger patty. While I’m not a fan of runny eggs, somehow all the ingredients, along with ketchup, gelled together for a yummy sandwich.

My companion had a Swiss Patty Melt, a grilled beef burger with grilled onions, Swiss cheese on grilled rye bread. Served with homemade chicken noodle soup and the large dill pickle spear and washed down with a glass of raspberry iced tea, it made for an all-around tasty meal.

Cool décor, quiet setting, tasty American cuisine, Shirley’s is worth discovering but heads up: don’t plan a visit too late: Shirley’s closes at 2 p.m.

*** The Lunch Lady

Shirley’s Restaurant is located at 5924 Old French Rd, Erie. For more information, call 814-315-1059.