A plate of chicken-fried steak is a sensible place to begin at this Clayton stop: thick cubed steak, crisply fried and substantial enough that sharing it or carrying part of it home is entirely reasonable. The food arrives with the cheerful lack of restraint that road-trip comfort cooking ought to have.
The setting gives the meal a little extra mileage. Old wood details, Western art and highway-minded decoration fill the restaurant, while the outdoor area turns a simple lunch or dinner into a browse through Southwestern roadside Americana. It is casual, unpretentious and equipped for people who have been traveling, people feeding a family, and people who simply want a hearty plate.
Comfort Food With Some Serious Portion Sizes
Chicken-fried steak is one of the more talked-about orders, in part because it is an actual thick cut of cubed steak rather than a flattened, formed patty. It is the sort of entrée that can make the table pause for a second when it lands.
The burger side of the menu is equally substantial. Thick, meaty burgers come with a noticeable char and the usual full set of accompaniments, giving the place a dependable option for someone who wants a classic American lunch without much deliberation.
There is room to roam beyond those two favorites. Philly cheesesteak, steaks, catfish, fish tacos and breakfast dishes broaden the choices, useful when one person wants a burger and another has been thinking about fried fish all afternoon.
The 87 Burrito and Other Good Reasons to Linger
The signature 87 Burrito carries the restaurant’s own name in its title and arrives in the generous spirit of the rest of the menu. It is a flavorful order for a diner who would rather have a big burrito than another sandwich.
A deep-fried vegetable basket adds a particularly indulgent table-share option. Okra, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and other assorted fried bites have appeared in the mix, making it less of a polite vegetable course than a happy collection of crunchy things.
Fried catfish is available at lunch or dinner, and fish tacos can come with house-made salsa. Sides mentioned alongside the larger plates include fries, coleslaw, green beans, salad and loaded mashed potatoes. Nobody has to pretend the mashed potatoes are there solely for balance.
Breakfast, Red Beer and a Loaded Bloody Mary
Breakfast service makes this more than an afternoon roadside stop. A traveler can settle in for a morning meal before getting back on the highway, while locals have another reason to use the place beyond lunch and dinner.
For a drink with some personality, the bar serves micheladas, sometimes called red beer, along with loaded Bloody Marys. Those choices fit the relaxed, slightly mischievous tone of the room much better than a generic cocktail list would.
A Patio Built Around Roadside Curiosities
The large outdoor patio is the visual center of the place. It has plenty of seating, with covered or shaded sections for meals that stretch beyond a quick stop, and it is packed with the kind of objects that reward looking around between bites.
An old Winnebago or camper van sits among antique cars, highway signs and other bits of roadside Americana. The collection gives the patio a Stage Stop West flavor without requiring a theme-park level of seriousness. You can sit down for catfish and find yourself studying an old sign a few minutes later.
Music adds to the patio atmosphere, and cooler weather has some backup in a fire pit and freestanding propane heaters. The outdoor space is set up for lingering, not just for overflow seating.
A Useful Outdoor Option for Families and Dogs
Families have a few small advantages outside. Children can explore around the rocks, draw with chalk and inspect the signs and camper van while the grown-ups finish a meal. The objects are not merely decoration when a restless young diner needs a change of focus.
Dogs are welcome on the patio, which makes the restaurant especially handy for travelers who do not want to leave a four-legged companion behind at the end of a driving day.
Inside, the Same Easygoing Spirit
Indoor dining carries the same playful Southwestern-roadside character, with Western artwork and old wood contributing to a room that does not look assembled from a standard restaurant catalog. Choosing a table inside does not mean giving up the personality of the place.
The staff keeps the mood friendly and approachable, including when the restaurant is busy. Service has a prompt, helpful rhythm without making a casual meal feel hurried or overly formal.
Handy Details for a Clayton Stop
A large free parking lot is easy to access and has ample room, a welcome detail for travelers and groups arriving in more than one vehicle. The restaurant works naturally as a meal break for people passing through Clayton, including those making an overnight RV stop.
There is indoor seating as well as the spacious patio, so the visit does not depend on dining outside. Large, clean restrooms are another modest but genuinely useful comfort on a road-trip day.