Arnone's have been around Erie for longer than I have. You can find many of their products on local grocer's shelves. Now it's making its mark as a full-service, liquor-licensed restaurant. This place has a huge dining room with large windows taht open to 18th street, which just happens to be near their yummy Bakery). The seating is nice, as you're not sitting on top of the diners next to you. Tables are set wide apart from each other, making this a great meeting place for a business lunch or private luncheon with friends.
The menu has everything from soups to panini to entrees, specialty pastas and homemade desserts. The menu features Italian wording for their menu items (i.e. insalata for salad) The wedding soup had a nice zing to it -- chock-full of all the good stuff. Jumping to the specialty pizza, the roasted red peppers with asiago, mozzarella, and herbs was a winner. The pesce (fish) -- mussels in tomato sauce -- was good, made with wine and garlic. Being that Arnone's is an Italian restaurant, the bar is set high for their pasta dishes and thankfully, they meet it plus some. The homemade manicotti is particularly refined -- the crepes are delicate and light. The portions are sizable, so lunch makes for a take-half-home or make-it-the-meal-of-the-day.
The prices hit the pocket book for a hometown restaurant. Pastas start at $9 for a full portion, $7 $2 for a half order. They then jump as high as $16 for carne, pollo, and pesce. There is nothing under $6.50 in the way of salad or appetizers. Panini are more in line, ranging from $6 to 7 a sandwich, served with a side of pasta. If savings are on your mind, the personal pizza is the best bet, starting at $3. Watch because each additional topping is $0.50. A cup of soup will set you back $2.50 and a glass of Pepsi (one free refill only) $1.79.
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