Ian M.
Yelp
I like Clyde's. My wife and I lived in Washington, DC, for years, just inside the line separating the city from Maryland. We have a place there now, because of my elderly father, just a few blocks away from Clyde's, outside the line on the Maryland side.
I am partial to the crab cakes. They would pass muster in neighboring Baltimore, the capital for this dish, in the generous, fat chunks of meat blended with a modicum of filler if any at all (there must be something to bind it). They have a cream of crab soup too. That is delicious with the perfect balance between rich and light. I have had the mussels and the raw oysters and the Rockefeller version. I've enjoyed the burger and the Reuben back when I was consuming more meat, the steak salad as well. Although these are all conventional, they are prepare to the utmost standard for each dish: they could be considered archetypal.
My earlier posting mentioned the decor. It has not changed over the years thought it still looks good, so the comment is not a ding but an extolment: it's like a button down shirt that you had in college that is still suitable. The designer must like automobiles and trains. They have models. They also have posters and memorabilia related to racing.
The servers are considerate. Once we had an inordinate wait for a cheese plate. The manager comped us. Some customer seated near us made a snide remark to the effect we had gotten away with something, one of those gratuitous comments from a stranger that makes me think ill of people. The restaurant treats its clientele well. That is what is important to me and likely others.
I am updating my review because I am doing that systematically with my older writing here. As Mario Puzo said if The Godfather novel, he would have written it better if he had known so many people would be reading it. I have three facts to mention in addition. First, they are open late. I know of few if any better sit down restaurants that keep such hours. That is very useful. Second, they have live music downstairs. The list of acts indicates only Friday and Saturday. It was raucous and sounded fun, even from the brief exposure as we walked by upstairs. Third, they have outdoor seating and allow dogs. That is just what we are looking for. My wife immediately said we should come back more often.
That is an endorsement.