Craving burgers or tacos? Bro Man's restaurant opened another location in Erie

In three years, Stephen Stanbro Sr. has grown a sandwich concept food truck into two brick-and-mortar locations, most recently opening at 2614 Glenwood Park Ave. The first and other location is at 8228 Peach St.

The new location of Bro Man's Sammiches, Birria N' Burgers, formerly George's Restaurant, has a capacity of 60 in his restaurant, which is made up of 2,300 square feet of sandwich love.

"Our crowd follows us everywhere," Stanbro said. "But it's nice being in the city," so people don't have to drive all the way to upper Peach Street when they get a hankering for one of his signature sandwiches, such as the Big Smash (a burger with a secret sauce), the Reggie Deluxe (a tall cheeseburger) and the Shroom (a towering monument to beef, onions and mushrooms). He also features Quesabirria Tacos, including birria and Mexican cheese, called queso.

He said they've been so busy since opening May 10 that they had to put out on Facebook that they can't take phone calls or online orders during peak hours.

"It's been my lifelong dream to open a restaurant," Stanbro said. "I bought this and it's my baby now."

Owner puts his 'own spin' on the menu

Before he started his food truck in 2021, he worked as a general manager at Odis 12, 3702 W. 12th St. He's also worked at Texas Roadhouse and Calamari's, as well as the now-closed Damon's and Fox & Hound.

"I've always had my own ideas," he said. "I love that show 'Drive-ins & Dives.' I like to put my own spin on things. I might take things from other cultures, but I respect it. I think I do them justice."

He's talking about his wildly popular beef Birria and tacos, original recipes which hail from south of the border, but his burgers are pure Americana.

He said his burgers are fresh and never frozen, and they are loaded with creativity, such as his brisket pastrami, stacked with jalapeno poppers and raspberry barbecue on it.

A sports fan, he follows the Oklahoma Sooners, and their memorabilia and decor is everywhere in the new restaurant, along with a few Pittsburgh pieces.

Stanbro, 50, said it's been a whirlwind since he started out on his own.

"It's a blur," he said. "Everything happened so fast. We've had our ups and downs, but I enjoy challenges."

He described his Birria as a stew that originated in Jalisco, Mexico. Natives there make it with goat meat, he said, but his is beef. He said there it is considered street food.

"I'm something of a purist," he said. "I do fry the tortillas in the beef fat."

Bro Man's also has a grilled cheese sandwich fried in tallow that makes it crispy and golden.

He credits his success to his smash burger, and the menu on Peach Street will shrink to the five most popular sandwiches and tacos, but said he will be constantly changing the rest of the menu as ideas come to him.

"If it makes the menu, it was something I loved," Stanbro said. "It made me say 'Oh my God this is so good.'"

Contact Jennie Geisler at [email protected] or at 814-870-1885.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Bro Man's burger, taco, and birria restaurant opens spot in Erie