A family-owned and community serving restaurant

Paul and Shari Martell opened their restaurant, the Clarence Grille, in the spring of 1994. Since then, they’ve made it a family affair, put a twist on a Buffalo tradition and they’ve served customers from all over Western New York.

The Martells had worked in restaurants for years before deciding to open their own. They knew the ins and outs of the restaurant business and were ready to have a restaurant of their own. They decided to open their location at 10250 Main St., Clarence as this is Shari’s hometown. Having grown up in Clarence, she and Paul decided it was the best location for their business.

The Martells could nearly fall under the definition of a family operated business. Each of the Martell children, Anne, Bret, Curt and Dana have spent time working at the Clarence Grille. Not only have they all been employees of the restaurant but have also become well known to the regular customers as faces of the restaurant.

Many of the customers at the Clarence Grille have become regulars and travel from outside of the area to dine in.

“We have a great client base and our customers have always been great to us,” said Shari as she explained many of the customers have been eating there for years. “It’s like an extended family.”

The menu at the Clarence Grille ranges everywhere from ribs and steaks to wings, fish fries and hamburgers and all the meals are served for a great price. Prices go from $7 to $20 for a great American-style meal.

“We try to give you a good quality dinner for a fair price,” said Shari.

They menu even offers a variety of specialty sandwiches, one of which takes the Buffalo tradition of the beef on weck, and adds a twist. The pot roast on weck is served with thinly sliced pot roast piled onto a kimmelweck roll, or if the customer would prefer, a plain roll.

Another specialty on the menu is the Pittsburg salad. This salad can be found on many menus but nothing compares to Clarence’s best at the Clarence Grille. The Pittsburg salad starts with a mound of French fries, topped with lettuce, cheddar cheese and tomatoes, served with a tangy Riviera dressing.

Any dishes listed on the menu can either be ordered for customers who are dining in or for those who would prefer takeout.

The Clarence Grille also offers catering too. Shari said that they’ve catered parties as small as 10 people and as large as 1,000 people. You can either bring your party to the restaurant or have the food delivered to the location of your event.

The Martells and their staff can also be found each year at the Taste of Clarence. They have also been known to make generous donations to the community.

A full menu for the Clarence Grille can be found at www.clarencegrille.com. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Call 759-8917 for more information or to place your takeout order.