The story begins in 1938, when Assunta “Nona” Serafini (1898–1984), a bold, kind, generous, spunky, and hardworking woman from Foggia, Italy, opened a small Italian restaurant in Erie, Pennsylvania, alongside her husband, Eduardo Serafini (1897–1962), originally from Acuto, Italy. With nothing more than their family recipes, determination, and a deep love for hospitality, they grew to create a space where the Erie community could gather around hearty food and warm conversation. Nona’s and Eduardo's business, Serafini’s Cafe, quickly became a beloved neighborhood favorite, famous for her homemade sauce, pasta, hand-rolled meatballs, and her welcoming spirit that made every guest feel like family.

    The original location at 1714 W 12th St on the F street corridor which no longer exists, it is now where Lincoln and I-79 meet, it was very modest, but it didn’t take long for the Serafini name to gain a reputation for quality, tradition, generosity, and consistency. The family then expanded their carryout service to offer dine-in seating and built an addition onto their building for a bigger kitchen and a dining room, this space remained thriving at that original location for 37 years, with generations of Serafini’s running it. The business was always family run and eventually passed down to their son, Anthony “Tony” Serafini (1922-1987), who proudly continued what his parents started until he was no longer able to in the mid 60’s due to health reasons, he stayed a familiar face in the restaurant until his passing in 1987. Under Tony’s leadership, the restaurant expanded its menu, evolved with the times, and deepened its connection to the community. The Serafini’s weren’t just serving meals, they were building a dining institution in Erie.  With Robert, “Bob” Serafini (1945-2024) taking over when his father, Tony, had health issues in the mid 60’s. Bob quickly filled the role and became a familiar face to many locals, he was a natural, it was in his blood. Known affectionately as the “Meatball King,” Bob was passionate about sharing the family’s culinary heritage. He contributed recipes to local newspapers, appeared in cooking segments on TV, and kept the essence of Serafini’s alive both in the kitchen and beyond. His love for food, family, and people embodied everything the family stood for.

    In 1979, the family was forced to move after the I-79 expansion demolished their lives as they knew it. They designed, built, and moved into a new location most Erieites are familiar with today at 2642 W 12th Street. This much larger space reflected its undeniable popularity, and for years it remained one of Erie’s most celebrated Italian restaurants. The Serafini family remained hands on as owner operators, always. Then in 1987 when Tony passed, his wife Gladys Serafini, son, Eddie Serafini, and son-in-law, Eric Miller, took the reins to protect the brand, and ensure the food always lived up to its name.

    In 1995, after 57 years of family ownership, the restaurant was sold to new operators and completely out of the Serafini family. Though no longer owned or operated by the Serafini family, the restaurant continued to bear the Serafini name, a testament to its powerful legacy. It stayed open for 25 more years, continuing to serve generations of Erie families, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its permanent closure in 2020.

    For a while, there was uncertainty about what would happen to the Serafini legacy. Would the original recipes be lost? Would the family name fade from Erie’s culinary landscape and history? The answer, proudly, is no. Behind the scenes, the family kept the spirit alive. The original Serafini recipes were preserved, refined, and passed down through generations. With input from various family members—including seasoned new generations of chefs in the family, alongside Bob Serafini, and Eddie Serafini, the recipes were protected like heirlooms. Each sauce and every meatball were tested and prepared with the same passion that launched the restaurant nearly a century ago.

    Now, that legacy enters a new chapter in 2025. Amanda Serafini, great-granddaughter of Assunta "Nona" Serafini, daughter of Bob Serafini, AKA “The Meatball King,” and her husband, Opie Hughes, are proud and honored to carry the torch with the opening of Serafini’s Trattoria in downtown Erie. Fueled by their love of family, food, and storytelling, Amanda and Opie are reintroducing the Serafini experience and recipes to a new generation—one that respects the past while welcoming the future. They began by launching a small-batch sauce and meatball business in 2024, calling it “The Serafini Family,” out of a ghost kitchen.

    And now, with Serafini’s Trattoria, they’re creating a fresh, modern restaurant rooted in nearly a century of tradition. From the menu to the team culture, everything is designed to reflect the care, passion, and authenticity that has always defined the Serafini name. The Legacy is being carried on and the traditions that began in 1938 in a small kitchen filled with hope, pasta, and passion, are all alive and well.

   Welcome to Serafini’s Trattoria. We can’t wait to serve you!