A Return Visit Reveals Restaurant Reality

Just months after opening their doors, Amanda and Bill Whitson welcome back Valley Today host, Janet Michael, and SBA Virginia District Director, Carl Knoblock to share the unvarnished truth about launching Clem's Kitchen at Middletown's historic Wayside Inn. While the couple anticipated challenges, the reality of restaurant ownership has delivered surprises at every turn. Nevertheless, their commitment to quality, community, and scratch-made comfort food keeps them moving forward. Click here to listen to the September conversation.

The Best-Laid Plans Meet Reality

Originally, the Whitsons planned a cautious rollout—breakfast service only, with dinner introduced gradually over several months. However, customer demand quickly rewrote that script. Within just one week of opening in September, they expanded to full dinner service. "It's definitely not what we thought," Amanda admits, though she emphasizes the fun amid the exhaustion. This rapid expansion tested their team immediately, yet it also validated their concept faster than expected.

Staffing: The Universal Challenge

Throughout the conversation, both Amanda and Bill identify staffing as their biggest ongoing challenge. Unlike Amanda's early days working at the Wayside Inn for Leo Bernstein, today's workforce operates with different expectations and motivations. Consequently, the couple has built their culture around a simple principle: everyone does everything. Bill proudly notes that he washes more dishes than anyone else, not because he must, but because it frees his team to focus on food preparation and guest service. Meanwhile, Amanda reinforces this philosophy during every interview, making it clear that hierarchies don't exist at Clem's Kitchen—only teamwork.

Furthermore, the Whitsons recognize that attracting quality staff requires competitive wages. They deliberately pay above minimum wage, understanding that employees who can cover their bills become invested team members. This strategy has paid dividends, creating a staff that genuinely cares about guest experiences rather than simply collecting paychecks.

The Social Media Tightrope

In addition to staffing challenges, the couple navigates the precarious world of online reviews. As Carl observes, one negative review can significantly impact a new restaurant, and responding requires finesse that's difficult to muster when you're "in the weeds" with cooking and service. Therefore, Amanda and Bill's decision to open slowly—despite the eventual rapid expansion—gave them crucial time to train their team thoroughly before facing the unforgiving court of public opinion.

Scratch-Made with a Twist

What sets Clem's Kitchen apart, however, isn't just their operational philosophy—it's the food itself. Amanda, who describes herself as someone who "doesn't measure anything," creates dishes that honor classic comfort food while adding unexpected elements. For instance, her twice-baked potatoes feature a crispy tater-tot exterior that Janet still raves about. Similarly, the restaurant's fresh-baked biscuits—which disappeared in just 28 minutes during a recent sausage gravy contest—come with house-made flavored butters and preserves that change regularly.

Moreover, the couple prioritizes sourcing raw ingredients over pre-processed products, despite the additional labor involved. Bill emphasizes that while it's easy to source food, finding quality raw product proves much harder. Nevertheless, guests can taste the difference between hand-cut vegetables and frozen alternatives, making the extra effort worthwhile.

A Menu That Evolves

Initially unplanned, Clem's Kitchen now changes its dinner menu monthly—a practice that emerged from necessity but has become a strategic advantage. This rotation keeps regular customers engaged while allowing Amanda creative freedom to experiment. At the same time, certain favorites remain constant: burgers, wings, and the popular roasted chicken ensure that creatures of habit can always find something familiar. Additionally, the monthly changes help manage food costs, especially when catering events require specific ingredients that can then appear on the restaurant menu.

Events: The Economic Engine

Speaking of catering, Bill candidly acknowledges that special events "kept us afloat" during January's slow season. The couple brought their established catering clientele from their food truck, and now these clients enjoy the full-service venue with its bar and multiple event spaces. From corporate gatherings to weddings, these events provide crucial revenue that allows the restaurant to maintain quality ingredients and competitive wages during slower periods. In fact, Bill notes that in today's restaurant landscape, "you gotta do two, three things at once" to remain profitable.

Building Community, Not Just Serving Food

Beyond the business metrics, Amanda and Bill focus relentlessly on creating genuine connections. Bill regularly sits with guests, sharing coffee and conversation regardless of whether he knows them personally. Amanda has introduced personal touches like allowing regular customers to have designated coffee mugs and accepting family heirloom salt and pepper shakers from neighbors who eat there weekly. These gestures transform transactions into relationships.

As Carl astutely observes, "Nine times out of ten, people come back for the relationship versus coming back for the food." This philosophy drives everything at Clem's Kitchen, from the warm greeting guests receive upon entering to the tableside chocolate milk service that makes children feel special.

Looking Ahead: Spring and Beyond

Looking forward, the Whitsons plan to leverage the four-acre property more fully. They're launching Friday night live music, opening their expansive patio (which adds 40% more seating capacity), and actively pursuing a farmer's market partnership. Additionally, they're exploring ways to highlight the Wayside Inn's historical significance, particularly as Virginia celebrates its 250th anniversary. Carl enthusiastically suggests that local economic development could help showcase this pre-Civil War landmark as a destination for history-focused tourism.

Furthermore, Amanda dreams of eventually adding a small retail shop where guests could purchase house-made sauces, pickles, and Tricia's celebrated desserts—particularly that coconut cake that has customers asking to take whole cakes home.

The Superpower of Execution

When asked about their approach, Bill identifies their "superpower" simply: "We figure it out." While they acknowledge that preparation reveals blind spots, their ability to execute under pressure has carried them through every unexpected challenge. From the rapid dinner expansion to managing a 400-biscuit order that disappeared in under half an hour, the couple consistently delivers.

Yet beneath this execution-focused mindset lies something deeper. As one longtime community member told Bill while shaking his hand: "It's back. Nice job. It's back." After years of the Wayside Inn lacking its heartbeat, Clem's Kitchen has restored what was missing—not through financial investment alone, but through genuine care, quality ingredients, and unwavering commitment to community.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, Amanda and Bill Whitson aren't just running a restaurant—they're rebuilding a community gathering place. While the work exhausts them and challenges emerge daily, their focus remains clear: create experiences that make guests feel welcomed, valued, and eager to return. In an industry where many cut corners to maximize profits, Clem's Kitchen takes the opposite approach, betting that quality, authenticity, and human connection will sustain them through the difficult early years and beyond.

As spring approaches and the patio opens, Middletown's historic Wayside Inn stands ready to reclaim its place as the heart of the community—one scratch-made meal, one warm greeting, and one genuine relationship at a time.