Cathay House Chinese Food West 7th Street Erie PA

Ad from 1959 GenTel phonebook on left; photo on right by Chester Wasielewski ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

The Cathay House was one of the few places to get Chinese food in Erie, Pennsylvania in the late fifties. The restaurant was located at 12 West 7th St. and was open seven days a week. You could dine in or order a take-out meal. Chow Mein was a house specialty. This building was torn down to make way for the new Erie City Hall.

Top Erie Restaurants and Taverns 1962 pt.1

1962 list of Erie, PA Restaurants and Taverns

Here's a list of restaurants and taverns in Erie, PA from the 1962 Atkinson's Erie City Directory. Which restaurant did your family eat at? What was your favorite item on the menu?
Which restaurants served Italian food? Where could you get the best burger? How about the best fish? Which places were college hangouts?

How many restaurants and taverns are still in business from this list? (Barbato's, Coney Island.) The Den at 832 Peach Street is long gone, but you can still buy the Den Sauce.

Here is a link the Top Erie Restaurants and Taverns from 1962- Part Two, which includes Ember's to Lucky Strike.

Here is a list of the Top Erie Restaurants and Taverns in 1962, Part Three which spans from Ma's Place to Russ' Dinor.

And finally, the Top Erie Restaurants and Taverns in 1962, Part Four list which runs from St. Vincent's to Zamie's.

This one should really take you back, an ad from Chuck and Ginny's, which opened in 1961.

Enjoy more fun facts about life in Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie

Top 7 Restaurants in Erie, PA in 1956

This ad from the Erie Playhouse production of "King of Hearts" from January of 1956 shows seven of the top restaurants in Erie, Pennsylvania. The list includes:

• Riccardo's "We specialize in steaks, chops and spaghetti"
• The Den- was located at 832 Peach St., you can still buy 'The Den' sauce
• Kontis Restaurant "Handsome Italian prints and excellent service of better foods in a quiet atmosphere"
• Angelotti's was located at 502 West 17th Street
• Hotel Lawrence was located at 10th and Peach
• Cathay House was located at 12 West 7th St. "Delicious Chinese food served with dignity in quiet surroundings"
• Barnacle Bill's was located at 3122 West Lake Road "A Bill-o-fare of unusual dishes made from the finest food obtainable.

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, PA at Old Time Erie