The Russian Mule, a smaller restaurant located in Claryville, has a very warm and welcoming environment. I visited the restaurant on a Saturday with my mom and it was definitely one of their busier days, most likely because there was live music.

The waitresses were all very sweet and helpful, and even some who weren’t our waitress came by to ask if we needed anything.

For our meals, I ordered the Margherita Flatbread and my mom got the French Dip Sandwich, which we both loved. The restaurant doesn’t have a ton of options menu-wise, but every item they have is great. For dessert, I got a Chocolate Chip Cookie Lava Cake which was amazing – it wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too much. I was able to eat the whole thing, even after eating my dinner.

The staff loved having quick conversations with us about random things going on, which made the whole experience feel a lot more personal. Also, our food came very quickly, considering the quality of it, which was a little surprising. But I have no complaints. They have both outside and inside seating options which is nice, but we went on a colder night and sat inside.

The Russian Mule Brewery is a good place to go if you want to sit down and have a nice dinner with your family or some friends. I’ve been to the Russian Mule before and I would highly recommend getting some of the appetizers, because they are also excellent. They also produce their own ales and IPAs, which you can have with dinner or buy to take home with you. Though the restaurant has a bar, which is obviously only for adults, the dining room is available for any and all ages, which makes this a good family restaurant. They are only open Thursday through Sunday, but it’s worth a trip for the wonderful experience. Overall, I would rate the restaurant a nine-out-of-ten stars.

The Russian Mule Brewery is at 1465 Denning Rd. in Claryville. View their menu and hours at russianmulebrewery.com.