Clyde's of Georgetown

The Experience

Clyde’s has been on M Street since 1963 — which makes it older than most of the people who eat there and more embedded in Georgetown’s social fabric than almost anything else on the strip. The interior is comfortable and handsome in a well-worn way: exposed brick, old wood, a serious bar program, and a menu that doesn’t try to be clever. It’s reliably good American food served in a room that makes everyone feel at home.

The crowd is genuinely mixed in a way that’s unusual for Georgetown: Georgetown University students and their visiting parents, longtime neighborhood residents, tourists who read it was an institution and wanted to see for themselves. On weekend mornings, the brunch crowd comes early.

The bar is worth knowing in its own right — the cocktail program is solid, the beer list is well-curated, and happy hour on weekdays is one of M Street’s better values.

The Value Proposition

Clyde’s occupies a specific and useful position in Georgetown’s dining landscape: it’s the place you can confidently book for any group composition and any occasion that doesn’t require ceremony. Visiting parents, a birthday dinner for twelve, a first date where you want to take the pressure off, an after-work drink that might become dinner — Clyde’s handles all of these without adjustment.

The kitchen is consistent and the room is comfortable. That’s worth more than it sounds.

Know Before You Go

Large groups should call ahead. The restaurant can accommodate parties, but weekend evenings without a reservation can mean a wait. Brunch is popular — arrive early or expect to wait on weekend mornings. Parking in the M Street garage nearby is your best bet; street parking is nearly impossible on weekends.