Where Everybody Knows Your Name

(If You’re a Regular, That Is…)

6 Pack House of Beers

A Restaurant Review

Talk about a rebound.

I was in Erie to cover an art exhibit. But it turns out I had the wrong information, since the gallery I visited didn’t currently have a show up (Thanks, GURU!). So I asked myself what else could I cover?

My stomach bellowed: “How about a restaurant?”

I checked Google for the Erie neighborhood I’d found myself in and seen that I was only a few blocks away from 6 Pack House of Beers, which also served food. 

But make no mistake: Beer is king here!

Boasting 17 coolers, it’s a sure bet you’ll find something new you’ll like over the everyday run-of-the-mill brews. Imports, domestics, non-alcoholic and even gluten free. But sorry buds, though there’s LOTS of beers here, there’s no Budweisers as far as these eyes could see. But then again, if you’re in a place called 6 Pack House of Beers, why not try something different? 

Not surprisingly on tap there’s several exotic beers I’ve never heard of (VooDoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin, Dancing Gnome Gose, Ever Grain Fruit Vigilante), but I ordered the New Trail Crisp Amber. An inviting drink that didn’t need a fancy/scary/confusing name to promote it, I sipped and savored the ale while we awaited our meal, snapped a couple of pics for later reference and scribbled some notes about the place.

I soon began to notice that “6 Pack” seemed like a hangout place; not just some restaurant that specialized in beers. It seemed to have a friendly, familial atmosphere, where incoming customers were greeted by name and chatted with already seated customers. When people departed, though they weren’t seated with other patrons, it seemed like the 6 Pack customers knew their names and said a sincere goodbye. It reminded me of “Cheers,” the 1980’s NBC sitcom, “where everybody knows your name,” and all would yell “Norm!” to George Wendt’s chubby barfly character. 

..Anybody? Or am I dating myself with that reference?

Okay, let’s get to the food!

“Dillas?” Never heard of them. But I ordered them for our  appetizer. Listed as “cheddar and mozzarella cheese with grilled peppers, mushrooms and onions,” they were served with salsa and sour cream. The hot flavorful cheeses mixed together well with the crunchy green peppers and onions and the cool dipping condiments only served to make the snack something new and memorable.

The “6 Pack” Nachos, though another appetizer, seemed to good to turn down, so we ordered it, too. Arriving with the standard tortilla chips and melted cheese, jalapenos, diced tomatoes and onions with sour cream and salsa for dipping, the yummy serving was large enough for us to plow through most of it with still a little to take home for later. 

For my main event, I ordered a “Nightmare Sub.”  Packed with grilled olives, mushrooms, meatballs, onions, banana peppers, pepperoni and Provolone Cheese, I wondered aloud to my companion about its name. “‘Nightmare,’ really? More like a dream come true!”

And who’d of thought that a dining place that specialized in beer would have beer-related food on their menu?

Thus, my accomplice-in-munching ordered the “Yuengling Battered Cod and Fries Basket.” After all, why not eat beer, too, rather than just drink it, was her rationale.

Though we both enjoyed the hot, deep-fried cod, I thought it was a little pricey for the amount of fish we were served, but we were too hungry and too busy enjoying the atmosphere (the beer advertising paraphernalia, the several TVs and eavesdropping on the regulars’ conversations), to care that much.  

Cheers to 6 Pack House of Beers! Not only do they live up to their name, but their friendly welcoming atmosphere makes me want to come back.

Hmm, maybe one day I’ll walk in and all the patrons will  unanimously yell out, “Tony B!”

A guy can dream, can’t he? 

***Tony B.

6 Pack House of Beer is located at 847 Pittsburgh Ave., Erie. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. For more information visit 6packhob.com