Clyde's

We always tipped well when we lived in the area, and the servers noticed and always welcomed us back. We frequented Bonefish so often, they knew us by name, and often stopped by to greet us even when they weren't serving us.

 

Neil - they knew you and STILL let you in the door?!

 

Like I said ... I'm a great tipper !!

 

Scratch everything I said about Clyde's and how they know the restaurant business better than you and I.

In all my years going to restaurants and bars, I have never been denied a simple request to turn on the bar TV. Until yesterday at Broadlands. I was told that the owner does not want to disrupt the bar crowd by having the TV on. I said fine, put it on mute and put on closed captioning. The request was still denied by management.

Why put a high-def, flat screen TV in the back bar if you are only going to use it for "special occasions"? Of course, when they first opened, they would turn the TV on if you asked, which makes things more upsetting.

This is the same restaurant that has a "formal" bar, where you must wear a jacket after 4 p.m. Not surprisingly, when I looked in as I was leaving, there were ZERO patrons.

They recently opened a fourth bar outside in a little building off the patio. Nice and cozy, but not without its own controversy. Orginally, they were going to allow cigars, but then the owner decided not to. While that may be a good decision to you and I who don't smoke, the cigar smokers are now upset because they heard one thing and now the opposite is true.

Hey Clyde's, I've got two words for you -- Glory Days. Sure, it's not as upscale, but the food is great and you can actually drink a beer and watch TV in their bar. And it's coming to Asbhurn, baby.

And another thing, your bartenders hate the formal bar and are already complaining when you put them back there. (I would too if I went from making $200 a night in the smoky bar to $20 or $30 a night in the "formal" bar.)

I've heard the place cost anywhere between $7 and $25 million to build and the truth is probably in between those two figures. But regardless of the price, it's going to be awfully hard to recoup that cash when your customers get pissed (see previous posts) and start going elsewhere.

 

I have to put in my 2 cents about Clydes. First of all - the restaurant itself is beautiful inside, no doubt about that. However - I have to say that in the past, I really didn't eat that much at any Clydes because I didn't think their food was all that great. It's just OK and when we go out to eat - I expect at least as good if not better than what I cook at home. So - Yes - I'm very picky when we eat out. Also - it's expensive for what you get as well! I hope they don't get to big for their britches in Broadlands, but it sounds like they're starting to get that way from what NoVa Barfly said. There's a lot more competition now with restaurants in our area.

 

Not to discredit what NoVa posted, but it is just ONE of a few complaints out of thousands of people who eat their every week! I am not saying she has an agenda but MAYBE she prefers establishments a little less formal (e.g. OSH).

I suggest everyone go to the local restaurants WITH AN OPEN MIND and form your own opinions. As Redon1 said in another post, everyone has different tastes (and standards).

 

Maybe the Glory Days will let us smoke cigars too

I think the TV issue depends on who the mgr is at the time. I have had them turn it on, and sometimes say no, but if there is a game on they usually always turn it on.

The rumor is the formal bar may be turning informal due to the lack of patronage at the bar.

 

just a quick question and point about Glory Days. I have heard recently from a very good, but unofficial source that Glory Days pulled out of their plans for Ashburn - the Southern Walk location where Harris Teeter is going.

So maybe not Glory Days afterall...

 

Interesting, I noticed they still have the "coming soon" sign up, maybe someone on the board has info they can relay.

 

I, for one, will not go to a bar that allows cigars. That's why I never go to Kirkpatrick's. The place reeks to high heavens at 11am when they open from the leftover stink of the previous night. So...Clyde's=no cigars is a winner for me.
I've been in the "formal room" twice. No shortage of patrons when I was there.
Different strokes for different folks!

 

I agree. The cigar smokers can go outside.

We try to stick with the "formal room". No kids screaming and grinding their Cheerios & goldfish crackers into the floor. Best of all, you don't have to watch parents act like that is perfectly acceptable behavior.

 

Cigars are the worst smell ever.....cigarettes aren't much better. Wish VA would do what DC and other cities are doing by banning smoking altogether.

 

I think that is horrible, there should just be more places that allow smoking compared to not allowing smoking so there is enough for everyone. I smoke a cigar maybe twice a quarter, but to say that i should be restricted to my house in order to enjoy is just wrong.

 

I know where this thread is going now!

But I agree, NO SMOKING in public places. Why should non-smokers have to suffer the smell and MOST importantly, health concerns from someone elses smoke?!

Not only can smoking kill "you", it can kill the person next to you too!

 

I disagree - why should non-smokers be subjected to your stinky cigars? I get nauseous at the very hint of smelling them. They belong outside.

 

The comment was "no smoking in public places" All I said is there should be more smoking and non smoking bars, open up a cigar bar. To say all smoking in public should be banned I have never agreed with.

 

Why???

I would go one step further and say that tobacco should be outlawed. Unlike other "bad things" for you, tobacco has not one thing medically redeemable about it.

 

what is medically redeemable about alcohol? lets goto a no tobacco no alcohol country that will solve everything

 

JJ - tons of documented proof that a drink a day is good for most people.

Red wine is excellent for your heart.

Alcohol can be used as an antiseptic.

To name a couple