New restaurant in Sacred Heart is not just for club members. What's on the menu

A new Puerto Rican restaurant is open in Erie, but you have to work a little to find it.

Benny's Paninis is tucked into the kitchen in the Sacred Heart Ushers Club, 716 W. 26th St., where Benny and Yarelis DeJesus are excited to try out their dream of owning a restaurant.

"I have been cooking since I was 13," said Benny DeJesus. "All my friends said I should open a restaurant. So here I am."

The restaurant opened July 12.

It's not DeJesus' only gig right now. He's also in commercial maintenance, working at several big box stores such as Home Depot and Tractor Supply.

"I'm not 20 anymore," he said with a laugh, adding that he's 51. "I am hoping that the restaurant will work."

He said his wife, Yarelis DeJesus, who is doing the cooking while he's at work, is thrilled.

"She is so happy," he said. "We've wanted to do this for a long time."

Hours and specialties

He said while they are located inside the Ushers Club, they are open to the public for dine-in, take-out and delivery. They're open seven days a week: Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturdays noon to midnight; and Sundays noon to 8 p.m.

He said their specialties are Puerto Rican dishes, but they also have popular subs and paninis, as well as shimp and chicken dishes, including his favorite, Chicken Guisado.

"Puerto Rican food is not spicy," he said. "It can be spicy if you want, but generally no."

The entrees come with choice of rice and beans as well as a side of fried plantains.

He said his mother taught him to cook when she had four younger children after him, including twins.

"She trained me by yelling from the couch," he said with a laugh. "Benny, do this. Benny add that. Somebody had to cook."

For a full menu, visit doordash.com.

Contact Jennie Geisler at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: New restaurant Benny's Paninis serves Puerto Rican classics, subs