Clyde's Restaurant

Quick heads up — Clyde's is actually in Waynesville, North Carolina, not Tennessee. Easy mix-up since we're so close to the state line here in the mountains.

This place is pure old-school diner vibes on South Main Street. We're talking country cooking with vegetables that actually taste like vegetables, not some fancy farm-to-table nonsense. The portions are massive and the prices are fair, which is why you'll see locals packed in here most days. Don't expect anything fancy — it's all about filling food that hits the spot.

They're closed Mondays and Tuesdays, which catches people off guard. Wednesday through Sunday they're open 11am to 8:30pm, but definitely call ahead during holidays because they shut down randomly sometimes. We learned that the hard way last July 4th week when they were closed for four straight days.

The roast beef is what keeps us coming back. That and the fact that you can feed a family of four for under 50 bucks, which is getting harder to find these days. Oh and fair warning — no reservations, so if you show up on a weekend afternoon, you might wait a bit. But honestly, watching the controlled chaos of a busy mountain diner is half the entertainment.

Take the West Waynesville exit off the bypass to get there easily. Parking's right there, and it's wheelchair accessible if that matters for your group.