It was a chilly Tuesday evening, but we were warmly greeted at the Euclid Restaurant on Route 31 in Clay. The hostess led us to a table set for four, but never removed the extra services. The Euclid has been a staple of the Clay dining scene for a very long time, but as we had not been there for over a decade, it was new to us. The décor is simple with wood paneled walls and some decorations. The bar, which occupies an open room adjacent to the restaurant, was almost empty. A party was being held in the private upstairs room, and we watched as platters were carried up the narrow stairs.
An almost overwhelmingly large menu offers everything from pizza ($10-14) and sandwiches ($4.50-8), to Italian dinners ($10-16) and steaks and chops ($9-20). Specials are offered daily, with some repeating every week ($8-21). The wine list is very reasonable, ranging from $16-25 per bottle. He chose a draft beer ($2.50) and she had a glass of Merlot ($4.50).
We started with two appetizers. She had the soup of the day, a BLT soup ($2.79) which was richly smoky with bacon and tomato bits in a creamy broth. He ordered onion rings ($4.99). There were enough to share throughout the meal, but they were obviously commercial frozen rings. Dinners were preceded by crispy fresh salads with dressing on the side.
Despite the large selection, we went with two daily specials. He had the 24oz. Prime Rib, a bargain at $20.99. The thick slab of tender boneless beef arrived a bit more cooked than medium rare and looked as if perhaps it had been reheated in the jus, but a quick cut and taste rewarded him with forkful of tender and richly marbled, pure beef taste. Two sides of the diner’s choice accompanied the dish; he chose the salad and cole slaw, which again tasted like unadulterated commercial product. Rolls were set on the table with the appetizer, but they were not warm and obviously right out of the bag.
She opted for the broiled perch for $14.95. The fish, which was served in a ramekin with a poaching sauce, proved to be a poor choice. Unfortunately, neither the overcooked fish nor the sauce had any hint of the lovely delicate fish flavor one would expect with perch. The accompanying french fries were thick and hot and the best part of the dish - though they were also not homemade.
Three pies on the menu were listed as homemade: coconut crème, chocolate crème, and apple, but we were full so we passed. Dinner with appetizers, one beer and one glass of wine came to $54.78. There are never any coupons for the Euclid, but the prices are so fair, you really don’t need one. His steak was on the high side of the menu, so a normal dinner for two should run around $40. We are sure the substandard dish was not the norm, and will certainly try the Euclid again, maybe on a Wednesday for all-you-can-eat Sauerbraten or fried chicken.
