Erie Local Spotlight 2022: Pineapple Eddie's Southern Bistro

Do you have a list in your phone of restaurants you want to try? Well Pineapple Eddie's has been on my bucket list for a long time. I am so happy to report it has officially been checked off! Last night, my gal pal Alex and I grabbed dinner and drinks at Pineapple Eddie's.

The restaurant is on the west side of Erie in a neighborhood. Even in the dead of winter, it was charming. Upon entering, the dining room was dimly lit. We were seated in a corner right next to the window. It was chilly at first, but Island Girl cocktail quickly helped warm me up. My drink was a sweet, pink rum beverage with hibiscus juice, lime and soda. Alex ordered the Pineapple Eddie Martini. She described it as a tart citrus drink.

The menu offered a variety of southern style chicken and pasta dishes, as well as burgers. To start, I ordered beef empanadas. The empanadas were crispy on the outside and bursting with flavor. They appetizer arrived along with the complimentary mini cornbread muffins drizzled in honey. 

For the main course, I opted for the Jerk Chicken. I was a little nervous about the level of spice since the menu did warn this dish was spicy. I truly downplayed in my mind just how spicy it would be. This chicken was cooked to perfection, holy pants and shirts it was SPICY. I had literal tears from the heat. The picture below says it all. Thank you Alex for capturing this moment. 

Alex opted for a more tame flavor profile. The Chicken & Waffles were so delicious. The chicken was perfectly crispy and so juicy. The waffle was light and airy. Dipped into maple syrup and voila! Magic.

Even after all that amazing food, I had room for dessert. The dessert menu had a lot of options. I decided on a slice of red velvet cake after the server recommended it. The thick layers of cream cheese frosting in between three layers of cake was well balanced. Not too rich or sweet, but just right. The frosting definitely help to take the edge of the spiciness lingering from the Jerk Chicken. Overall, it was a great meal and I am really looking forward to exploring more of the menu very soon.

Have you been to Pineapple Eddie's? What do you recommend?