August 2002
Mystery
Muncher: Clede's
Luncheonette
"Clede's?"
"What?"
"Clede's."
"Cleve's?"
"No,
with a D. Clede's!"
Okay…never
heard of it. That how it started when I got this month's Muncher
assignment.
Clede's
is located at the corner of East Hanover and Montgomery. I was
expecting something different then what I got. It is like stepping
back in time to Mayberry. I was looking for Opie while I was there.
Mike asked if I needed help as I sat down with the Times (Editor's
note: Not the Downtowner?) and was presented with a menu and stainless
for my meal.
"I'm
going to have a sandwich," I replied.
"First
time here?" was Mike's answer. I would discover why later.
Glancing
over the menu, I found nothing over $10.95, with almost everything
(20 items out of 30) in the $5.50 to $6.95 range. I picked the
blackboard special of chicken cheesesteak with peppers and onions
and a diet coke. With tax it was $6.45.
Clede's
is not a very large place; it has four or five booths, a few small
tables for two and a counter that seats about six. The phone was
ringing and people were coming and going…the place is busy!
The menu states that they are open for delivery from 4 a.m. to
4 p.m. These folks get up early too!
Less
than 10 minutes after I ordered, I was looking at such a large
amount of food that I then understood why you needed a knife and
fork. The peppers and onions were cooked so the onions just glazed
over and the peppers barely got limp: perfect. The chicken and
cheese was out of this world. They must have used two entire breasts
sliced thin, mixed with the onions and peppers and grilled with
the cheese and then somehow placed inside the long roll. It spilled
over considerably.
The
associate Munchkin got a #27: turkey breast with lettuce, tomato
and mayo for $6.55. With turkey spilling over the edge of the
sandwich, you really needed the knife and fork to get started
on this before you picked it up. It came with fries that were
fresh and tasty, two pickles and cole slaw that was great.
We
also had to try the tuna, which was just the right consistency:
not too much mayo and wet enough to thoroughly enjoy. There must
have been three cans of tuna on this one sandwich.
Clede's
is one of those old time luncheonettes that any baby boomer would
love to have back as a staple in the neighborhood. Friendly people,
good food, and they know the police by first name. The only thing
Mike was missing was the double pointed soda hat. What a place!
Go there for lunch and tell Mike the Mystery Muncher sent you.
#
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Clede's
Luncheonette
147 East Hanover Street
394-1148/392-9425
