I am easily bored but lunch options downtown. I end up going to the same place time after time after time. One can only have so many Fuego Burritos no matter how yummy they are. The other day, I was venturing to Whole Foods for their extensive salad bar when I happened upon Clyde Common in the Ace Hotel. I knew they had been open for a while now, but didn’t realize they served lunch, which they now do. I sat at the bar and lo and behold, the bartender used to be a cashier from my New Seasons. Small city, eh? The space is very open with long family style tables. The kitchen is open style, so you can see and hear the action. The bar is rather large – obviously knowing who they are catering to later in the evening. The bar is also very well stocked I could see.

I’m not a food reviewer, so won’t try and get into the details of my lunch. Suffice it to say, I was impressed. I don’t normally order chicken for fear it will be dry, but the menu had a “grilled chicken piri piri sandwich” which intrigued me since I had no idea what piri piri was. The bartender told me it was a Portuguese sauce I think. It was excellent. The sauce accented the chicken perfectly and it was served on a light roll. I was in heaven.

The menu for lunch is 4 pages, three of those pages dedicated for wine listings and cocktails. Like I said, they know who they are catering to. The lunch options are pretty low key with salads and soups, a hamburger and vegetarian options. The prices range from $6-10. Pretty reasonable for a restaurant where one can sit and enjoy a good meal with a book. Lastly, I love the bottom of the menu that reads:

The Liquid Lunch:
Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary, Champagne & Roses: Cava with rose petal sorbet, or a Classic Plymouth gin dry martini.

mmmmm. liquid lunch….

Clyde Common
SW 10th/Stark