Kibbee Nayee Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 I love Clyde's, at least in part because I know how much attention to detail and resources are devoted to decorating each restaurant -- and also partly because the Clyde's happy hours are among the best deals in town. I had lunch with a friend at Gallery Place today, and the Babe Ruth mural inside the front door is the most spectacular eye candy of any restaurant in the DC metropolitan area (for me). Lunch today was merely OK. I was excited to order the soft shell crab, and for $16.99, it seemed like a good deal. But what arrived was a scant little crab on a spare bed of watercress salad. Everything was delicious and went together quite well, but it was a kiddie portion. Nonetheless, I will return again and again to enjoy the baseball-themed art gallery, probably at happy hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 28 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said: Lunch today was merely OK. I was excited to order the soft shell crab, and for $16.99, it seemed like a good deal. But what arrived was a scant little crab on a spare bed of watercress salad. Everything was delicious and went together quite well, but it was a kiddie portion. Nonetheless, I will return again and again to enjoy the baseball-themed art gallery, probably at happy hour. My experience over the last couple of years is that soft shell crabs are far more expensive earlier in the season (i.e. now) than later in the season. They can also come in small at this time of year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, DaveO said: My experience over the last couple of years is that soft shell crabs are far more expensive earlier in the season (i.e. now) than later in the season. They can also come in small at this time of year. That's reassuring, because I love soft shell crabs and crab cakes, so your words are reassuring. I will remain steadfast in my search for this delicacy. And Dave, I'm honored to dedicate my 2000th post to responding to you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 On 4/19/2019 at 7:07 PM, Ferris Bueller said: Exclusive: Clyde’s Restaurant Group has found a buyer by Rebecca Cooper, WBJ ..and the deal closed Link Good luck to the new LOCAL owners and well done to both the buyer and seller in keeping the news close to vest 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 1 hour ago, DaveO said: ..and the deal closed Link Good luck to the new LOCAL owners and well done to both the buyer and seller in keeping the news close to vest Your link hits a pay wall. It's Graham Holdings, who sold the Washington Post to Jeff Bezos. I think this will be a good move for Clyde's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 5 hours ago, Kibbee Nayee said: Your link hits a pay wall. It's Graham Holdings, who sold the Washington Post to Jeff Bezos. I think this will be a good move for Clyde's. Quote The D.C. restaurant group that owns local institutions including Old Ebbitt Grill, annually one of the highest-grossing restaurants in America, has a new owner. Clyde’s Restaurant Group finalized a sale to Graham Holdings Co., the new owner announced today. The Graham family, which owned and operated the Washington Post before selling it to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, runs the publicly traded company based in Arlington, Virginia. Washington Business Journal and Restaurant Business Online reported the previously-announced deal. The purchase diversifies Graham Holdings’ investment portfolio, which largely plays in the education (Kaplan), healthcare, and media spaces. The 56-year-old restaurant group owns eight locations of Clyde’s, its flagship American grill that started in Georgetown, and standbys such as the Hamilton downtown, 1789 steakhouse, and the Tombs bar. All in all, Clyde’s owns and manages 13 restaurants in the D.C. area. Old Ebbitt Grill, a D.C. classic founded in 1856, reported nearly $34 million in in 2017 according to Restaurant Business Online, landing it the No. 5 spot on the outlet’s 2018 list of the 100 highest-grossing independent restaurants. “Graham Holdings Co. is well suited to be the new steward of the Clyde’s brands in that we share the same values and dedication to the region,” Clyde’s president Tom Meyer says in a statement announcing the deal. “We are excited to join such a well-respected company and equally excited about the future.” At this point, assuming Graham Holdings are pretty hands off and allow the experts to run Clydes...its a great move as it keeps Clyde's in Well Meaning Local Hands. (I am biased toward the Graham's). On the sale of the Post to Amazon...I say thank goodness for that. Under Bezos the Post has revived itself. Another great local occurrence imho. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deangold Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Our last meal at a Clyde's group restaurant was at TOwer Oaks Lodge. The oysters were top notch is terms of flavor and freshness, so-so to good in terms of shucking quality. We also ordered a cheese plate {good, small portions of cheese, dencent selection w/horrid black raspberry imposters, an ok jam and a third accompaniment I forgot plus good bread crisps} and a god awful caesar that tasted as if it came premixed from Sysco. The bread was OK, the butter falvorless, the oyster crackers good but served in stingy portions. The clams were pretty funky but I think that is a seasonal issue rather than freshness. The beer selection had a few nice picks among the boring dross. I mean evolution #3 IPA is decent enough stuff but its been their IPA choice for years and years. I would go for oyster Hpappy Hour more if their beer selection varied more than it does. Great service. This encapsulates my experiences at Clydes et al: Oyster Bar is good, the menu moves from forgettable to memorably mediocre. No wonder they rake in the millions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jandres374 Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Clyde's in Columbia is closing after a 45 year run. "Clyde's of Columbia, The Soundry Closing for Good in mid-July amid Coronavirus Pandemic" by Jacob Calvin Meyer on baltimoresun.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 That's a long run. My guess is a combination of rising rents and covid, plus changing demographic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 14 hours ago, Pool Boy said: That's a long run. My guess is a combination of rising rents and covid, plus changing demographic. Like wrinkles are a combination of smiling and old age, plus sleeping funny. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genericeric Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 I'm sure restaurants are challenged in the current environment to offer steep discounts given the lack of volume to make up for reduced prices. That being said, one of Clyde's DC Restaurant Week 'deals' is a 6oz filet mignon (menu price $31.99), salad (menu price $9.99) and peach cobbler (menu price $8.99)... all for $55. Same set ups as the individual menu listing: 31.99+9.99+8.99=$50.97, so you're paying $4.03 MORE by ordering restaurant week. I'm not sure that's what RAMW had in mind... (ordering the double crab cake RW instead saves you $0.97) 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 13 hours ago, genericeric said: I'm sure restaurants are challenged in the current environment to offer steep discounts given the lack of volume to make up for reduced prices. That being said, one of Clyde's DC Restaurant Week 'deals' is a 6oz filet mignon (menu price $31.99), salad (menu price $9.99) and peach cobbler (menu price $8.99)... all for $55. Same set ups as the individual menu listing: 31.99+9.99+8.99=$50.97, so you're paying $4.03 MORE by ordering restaurant week. I'm not sure that's what RAMW had in mind... (ordering the double crab cake RW instead saves you $0.97) Maybe they are making up for it with smaller portions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Clyde's in various locations is one of the few businesses I've patronized in person during the pandemic. I believe I've been to all the DC ones except 1789 and Penn Quarter one. They do a fantastic job. Food is at least reasonably good (with seafood being extraordinary) and service is excellent. It seems like it will be months before I go anywhere again, so I thought I'd post this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Bueller Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Recently announced Clyde's at RTC will be closing on May 21. It appears another Reston location may be in the works, but specifics not announced yet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 16 hours ago, Ferris Bueller said: Recently announced Clyde's at RTC will be closing on May 21. It appears another Reston location may be in the works, but specifics not announced yet. I was very familiar with the people who decorated that restaurant with the horse statue, the hunting print montage across the back wall, the Georgetown Crew prints in bar, and many details that the casual customer wouldn't even notice. I own some prints from the same collection. I had many a memorable meal there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wells Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Anyone else get to the legendary Clyde's Farm Dinners on the plaza back in the 90s? I think there were 2 or 3. For $10 all the food you could eat, and we're not talking crap. It was mind-boggling. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I haven't been to a Clyde's for months, and it's usually just to grab a bite after my son's hockey games as an alternative to Buffalo Wild Wings or similar, but seeing this really bummed me out. https://bid.alexandriaauctions.com/auction/the-clydes-of-reston-collection-may-25th-2022-310/bidgallery/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 21 hours ago, Keithstg said: I haven't been to a Clyde's for months, and it's usually just to grab a bite after my son's hockey games as an alternative to Buffalo Wild Wings or similar, but seeing this really bummed me out. https://bid.alexandriaauctions.com/auction/the-clydes-of-reston-collection-may-25th-2022-310/bidgallery/ The prints that came off the walls were from Richard McCooey's collection. Richard owned F Scott's, The Tombs, and 1789 until Clyde's acquired those restaurants in the late 1980s. Richard then went to work for Clyde's as the decorator of the new restaurants. Valuable stuff here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 2 hours ago, Kibbee Nayee said: The prints that came off the walls were from Richard McCooey's collection. Richard owned F Scott's, The Tombs, and 1789 until Clyde's acquired those restaurants in the late 1980s. Richard then went to work for Clyde's as the decorator of the new restaurants. Valuable stuff here. Yes. The vanity fair prints will command solid prices, among others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 A little more on Richard McCooey here and here....his print collection was his pride and joy. He had the basement of his Georgetown townhouse lowered by a few feet to hold all the flat file cabinets that stored his massive collection of prints. I have one of those prints, a 1905 Cincinnati Reds print, as a birthday gift from him, in my baseball man cave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lion Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 Can't believe Clyde's in Reston is closing. Remember when it first opened up and you could go to the bar and no one was there. A cup of chili was great during the winter months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwt Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 enjoyed several business lunches and happy hours there. food and service always solid. sad to see it go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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