Clyde's in Walpole has Thrived on Delicious Menu, Staff Friendliness for 16 Years

Stacey White is the general manager at Clyde’s Roadhouse Bar & Grille, and has been there for 16 years.

“My brother owns the restaurant, and a couple of years into it I was looking to make a change and he was in need of a manager,” she said. “Before that I was in contract food catering, but he’s owned it since its inception.”

White, the sister of owner Scott White, said her brother started the business in 1995. Since she started working with him, she said she’s seen a lot of changes.

“We have a lot of regulars, not only at the bar but also in the diner,” she said. “I’ve seen infants come in with their parents and then they grow up and start working here. I think that’s what makes us successful, the friendliness of our staff. Our people are a big part of it.”

White said the restaurant initially started as a barbeque place, but has also changed gears.

“We consider ourselves an all American fare restaurant,” she said. “We have kept the barbeque part of the menu, and I think a lot of people recognize us as a barbeque place, but we’re more than that at this point.”

She said one of the things that makes Clyde’s unique in the area is their burgers.

“Our burgers are hand-packed and not preformed,” she said. “And you can still get a rare burger or rare steak tips. A lot of places won’t do that anymore.”

She added they have an extremely wide variety of items on the menu, of which she said the selection of ribs is one of the most popular.

“We have a smoker in the back, so we do three different types of ribs,” she said. “Beef, baby back and pork; people come for each type. We’re the only place around that does beef ribs. They’re not my thing personally, but a lot of people come in here for them and they say they’re the best.”

White said one of the items they’re famous for is the "Two Pound Burger Challenge."

“It’s been something people hear about and they’re just enthralled by it,” she said.

The challenge is a two pound burger, with all the fixings of chili, lettuce tomatoes, onions, cheese served on a roll with french fries. She said each competitor has 30 minutes to eat the whole thing, which if they do is a free meal.

“If you can do it you go on the wall of fame,” she said, pointing to a small poster board. “If you can’t, you go on the wall of shame. It really made us recognizable, and it was the reason the Phantom Gourmet came here. We get a lot of recognition for it and we sell a lot of them.”

White said being so close to the home field of the New England Patriots has seen some familiar faces.

“Over the years we’ve seen our fair share of Pats players come in here frequently,” she said.

She added Drew Bledsoe and Tedy Bruschi used to come in all the time.

White said the restaurant donates to muscular dystrophy fundraisers and youth softball and hockey over the years.

“We’ve done our fair share of things like that,” she said.

Clyde’s is located at 642 Providence Highway in Walpole and is open 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.