Dine on prime rib, feast on the music scene

written by Joni Kabana | photography by Mel Barbour

Slip into a curvy red booth, order a Manhattan and let yourself slide back in time at Clyde’s Prime Rib on NE Sandy Boulevard in Portland. For more than sixty years, Clyde’s has been “the spot” for lovers of swank, funk and occasional tap dancing. The decor is a throwback to the ’50s. Think Elvis.

Known for its crowd-pleasing prime rib dinners, Clyde’s knows how to dish up old-school traditional Americana favorites such as steaks, chops and lobster. (Dean Martin would be proud.) Side dishes include the famed creamed spinach, lobster macaroni and cheese and, of course, bacon-wrapped asparagus.

The food aside, Clyde’s biggest attraction is often the musical acts it presents in the adjoining bar. From cool jazz to psychedelic funk, the lineup transports listeners back to Croon Town. Many nights, the band will let audience musicians join in, and that’s when the real fun begins. Local music schools bring their students to play improv jazz riffs and get a taste of what it feels like to play before an audience that swoons. The bar’s dance floor beckons rumba, salsa and makeshift watusi-esque moves you won’t see anywhere else in Portland.

Make reservations for dinner, and then catch the music show after. You might just see a top hat or two, so don your favorite cocktail dress or sports jacket, updo or slick back your hair and travel back through time. Or come as you are. It’s Portland, after all.