Review: Weston's in Clifton

Three cheers for a new restaurant on Main Street!

Weston's, which was approved on April 26 by Clifton’s planning commission, opened earlier this month. Owned by Bray Wilson and Sarah Cameron, the restaurant is named after their adorable little boy. Photos of young Weston dressed in cowboy garb adorn the walls and grace the cover of the menu.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Friday, it serves lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. On the weekends, a tasty breakfast is offered as well, opening at 8 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m.. The restaurant is closed Monday.

The menu features American cuisine, well prepared by Candido Turcios, who cooked at the Heart in Hand for 27 years. Appetizers include shrimp cocktail, buffalo wings, cheese fries and tenderloin steak tips. Vegetarians (and others) will enjoy the quesadillas, the fresh mozzarella cheese sticks and especially the jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, dipped in batter and fried.

French onion soup is offered, as well as a soup of the day. The ham and bean soup is delicious, thick and seasoned to perfection.

A variety of classic sandwiches will satisfy the hungriest of appetites. Open-face turkey and roast beef sandwiches, bacon lettuce and tomato, chicken salad and chili dogs are standard fare. For picky children (like one of mine was), grilled cheese sandwiches made with white bread are the right choice.

The hamburgers and cheeseburgers are prepared with freshly ground beef. Cooked to order and served on toasted buns, they are complemented by lettuce, tomato slices, pickles and red onions. Another hot sandwich is the pulled pork barbecue, which is delicious.

French fries accompany most of the sandwiches. “Ho-hum, how boring!” you might think. Well, think again. As my granddaughter and taste-tester Tori Mandes commented, “The fries are awesome.”

Guests have a choice of salads. The House Garden Salad and the Caesar Rome Salad are great for vegetarians and people watching their weight. Weston's Steak Bite and Sarah's Spinach Salad are substantial and contain interesting ingredients like pistachio nuts, real bacon bits and tenderloin tips.

Entrees are the standards that characterize traditional American fare: Crab cakes, scallops, baked chicken breast, flounder, filet mignon and steak. In addition, steamed snow crab legs and "peel n' eat" jumbo steamed shrimp await the gourmet fish-lover. 

These healthful entrees are broiled, steamed or baked, except for the Fish & Chips. Granddaughter Tori enjoyed them immensely. I refrained with difficulty from sampling them, but thought they were the most appetizing I had ever seen.

Prices at Weston's are moderate. A lunch for two, with beverages, soup, sandwiches and a shared dessert costs approximately $25. 

The restaurant has an inviting atmosphere. It is decorated with a Western theme. The tables and chairs are new and comfortable. Red, used as an accent color, brightens the wainscoting. Even the cloth napkins are a cheery red.

The staff is terrific. Gene O. Howell, better know as Geno, is Weston's general manager. He welcomes you to the restaurant with a big smile, makes you feel right at home and keeps everything organized and moving at the right pace. The wait staff is equally cordial. Linda, who has been our server twice, is friendly, polite and efficient. 

Weston's is a welcome addition to our area. It gives value, good food and a very pleasant experience to its guests.