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Clarke's Charcoal Broiler
Categories: Restaurants Hot Dogs Restaurants Burgers Hot Dogs, Burgers [Edit]
615 W El Camino RealMountain View, CA 94040
(650) 967-0851
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
313 reviews for Clarke's Charcoal Broiler
Review Highlights
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"The condiment bar means you can hook yourself up right." In 59 reviews -
"I also recommend their garlic and sweet potato fries." In 16 reviews -
"Be sure to get the onion rings as well." In 35 reviews
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313 reviews in English
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Review from Denis S.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have passed this place half a million times and finally decided to stop in. Since they're clearly known for burgers, I got the SF Burger and a zucchini side. The SF burger came with Swiss cheese and a sourdough bun.
As others have mentioned, they have an awesome condiments and fixings bar. A great variety of fresh vibrant vegetables and plenty of sauces, think Fudruckers bit less corporate.
The burger was pretty tasty. My only major complaint was the meat to bread ratio. The burger patty was really thin, and the bun was enormous. I seriously had a quarter of the bun left when I finished with the meat. However, the meat was juicy and perfectly cooked and the bun did hold up well with all that juice. No complaints when it came to the zucchini either.
I usually wouldn't do this, but next time it might be worth getting a double to help the ratio. -
Review from Chris Y.
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Clarke's is a really old-school place with a good variety of tasty burgers. Ambiance is next to zero, but maybe that actually adds to the ambiance? Going for the classic burger-stand look, where it's a throwback to the old days? None of this modern newfangled computerized-wifis to detract from the burger experience at Clarke's.
My burger was tasty, but not particularly inspiring in any way. My chocolate milkshake was only so-so, but the sweet potato fries were actually quite good, even though I am not usually a fan of those in general.
This can definitely be a good place to hit up for some late night food while bar-hopping on Castro Street! -
Review from Jeff K.
Covelo, CA
4/29/2012
I used to live close to Clarke's for a number of years, but had only eaten there once a long time ago. My last memory of Clare's was an overpriced, extremely average burger. So, when a few of my friends suggested Clarke's for dinner, I was pretty hesitant.
Upon walking into Clarke's you are faced with a fairly large menu featuring everything from ribs to chicken to burgers. I ordered a 1/3 lb burger with smoked cheddar cheese and a sourdough bun. And of course, an ice cold root beer. My burger was ready 10 minutes later, and I was pretty happy to see an extremely fresh looking condiment bar with iceberg, relish, mayo, onion, pickles, etc. I loaded up my burger with everything, and sat down to watch the Giants game.
I cant even describe how delicious this burger was. The smoked cheddar, sourdough bun, crisp tomatoes, ice berg lettuce, high quality ground beef, it all came together to form one of the top 3 burgers I have ever eaten (yes, I have eaten burgers far and wide, and often). The only downside to this place is the price. I paid $11 for a burger and a soda. Even if my burger had come with fries (which it did not) that would be on the high side. Don't get me wrong the burger is certainly worth the price, but unfortunately I cant quite afford to come here to often. -
Review from Chris E.
Mountain View, CA
5/23/2012
It's a little pricey, but I definitely enjoyed the ambiance (or lack thereof) and the quality of the food. I had the double burger (2/3 lb), fries, and a beer for around $20, which is a little on the high side, but the quality of the meat and the distinct charbroiled flavor did not disappoint.
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Review from Oliver D.
5/20/2012
I go here nearly every time I visit the Bay Area and am always impressed by the deliciousness of the burgers and the charming atmosphere. This place is well reviewed already so there isn't much to add; however, I am somewhat surprised at the low ranking considering the banners which describe a long history of winning customer satisfaction awards in the area. Next time I am in I will try to remember to photograph one such banner.
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Review from Andy T.
San Jose, CA
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
after growing up and seeing high school sports focus weekly host a team or show here i finally got a chance to try it. i'd say what wowed me here was the condiment bar burgers are a good size to price ratio but quality wasn't up to par for my taste buds i'd say red robin taste better but i would give another shot if i'[m in the area
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Review from E M.
Mountain View, CA
4/19/2012
I was a bit hesitant after reading the reviews but was pleasantly surprised.
Food: 1/2 ribs/ 1/2 chicken, fries and coleslaw: All very good, nothing extraordinary, but definitely worth a try. Coleslaw is a bit on the sweet side, mayo based. Fries were very tasty.
Smokey cheddar burger: Ok, nothing too special on it's own, but I bet a specialty burger, or dressing the burger up a little bit with the excellent fixin's bar would have been a good idea. Unfortunately, there was a DB dad causing a scene restricting access for about 5 minutes...Oh well.
Food was ready quickly and both inside and out offered a nice place to sit and talk with a couple friends.
I'll be back again. -
Review from Brian W.
San Jose, CA
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
A good burger a classic old burger joint great fried foods. I was not happy with the milkshakes I hope they inprove the quility of them but the burgers are great
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Review from Philip L.
1/18/2012
Wish i wouldve gone to in n out down the street instead. Basic hamburger costs 7.5 incl tax, couldve gotten a double double and fries for a few bucks less. And wouldve been more full
Burger tastes fine...charcoal aroma, good meat quality, tender patty - but had smokey burps afterward. Nothing wrong with the food here, just pricey -
Review from robert k.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sadly I'll echo a lot of the other reviews.. This place seems to be outdated, overrated, and very expensive. $60 to feed the family. Granted, we ordered a lot of stuff to sample the menu, but some of the items are just way overpriced.
$6 for a milkshake that is artificially flavored and not very good at all.. Definitely not made with real ice cream.
$9 for a burger with mushrooms and american cheese on a generic, ungrilled bun..
The "rib sandwhich" looked like a McRib. Processed stuff with a flavorless BBQ sauce.
Fries were definitely manufactured, although I did like the "potato gems" (thick cut fries) but for $4, not worth it.
It was worth a shot, but I'd avoid it if I were you. Yes, the charcoal broiler is unique in these times.. And it does add flavor to something that is often times killed with griddles and such.. But in the end, not really worth the money we spent. Should've been half the price. -
Review from Peter N.
FOOD: the ribs and fries are excellent! They have an extremely diverse menu and nice condiment bar. This is a great alternative to fast food places.
SERVICE: is minimal, since it's a counter place, but they are friendly and helpful with suggestions.
AMBIANCE: is basic, old-school, but good in a mom & pop way. They have their own parking lot.
VALUE: is pretty good. -
Review from Jenny M.
Mountain View, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
My family and I tried Clarke's based on Yelp reviews and a friend's recommendation. I was really surprised to find that we did not like it much at all. First of all, the prices are ridiculously high. We could have gone over to a fancy burger place like The Counter in Palo Alto and not paid more for a similar order. For three people our order came out to over $60, and we didn't even order the most expensive items on the menu. The burgers are okay, but not special. The fries and onion rings are similarly forgettable. If the food was really good and the prices were lower, I wouldn't mind the old and dingy building and sticky tables, but I really walked away feeling robbed and disappointed. I don't think that I will go back. It's not worth the money nor the calories.
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Review from Erik A.
Stroudsburg, PA
2/17/2012
Smells good right when you enter the door and you will not be disappointed once you get your order. This place beats stopping by a fast food restaurant any time if you are ready to plunge into a tasty treat you know if not that healthy for you!
I'll be stopping by if I am ever in the area again. -
Review from Matthew C.
Campbell, CA
1/5/2012
Clarke's isn't *bad*, but it's way too expensive for what you get. They use frozen, industrial patties like everybody else, but you pay an arm and a leg for lunch. The fries are good (not great), the burgers are OK, the condiment bar is fantastic, the "feel" of the place is "old fashioned burger joint".
If I could get a full meal here (burger, fries, drink, tax, tip) for $8 or so, this would be a 3* place. As it is, I'd rather eat at In N Out.
Slider's burgers in San Jose on W San Carlos is much better (and their fried chicken is to die for as well). -
Review from Allen C.
Milpitas, CA
3/23/2012 1 photo
Busy Friday night. Good jumbo dog and cute the way they cut it. Monterey Jack cheese burger was a little dry. Sweet potato fries were just ok.
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Review from Terry D.
Amity, OR
3/24/2012
I moved to Oregon in 2003. and I STILL dream and drool over a Clarke's Burger. The condiment bar was AmAZing. If you like beef, don't miss this place... Juicy, drippy, lick yer fingers good. Fries too.
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Review from Thea S.
Peninsula, CA
3/22/2012
GREAT baby back pork ribs!!!!
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Review from Golda R.
11/4/2011
This place is your classic American burger & hot dog joint. They also serve breakfast on the weekends before 2pm. They have a plethora of burgers to choose from and if you feel like a hot dog, they have several to choose from.
Whenever I go in I either order the 1/4lb hot dog or the turkey burger with sweet potato fries on the side. I actually love coming here just for their sweet potato fries, but my husband loves their burgers. Its a win win for us.
I don't think there's any other restaurant other then "The Counter" that serves sweet potato fries. Plus, it so much cheaper coming here. -
Review from Raymond L.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
My coworkers and I come here a bunch for lunch, and it's been a tradition to take a new employee/intern here for a welcome lunch as well.
Word of warning: It DOES get busy for lunch, but it is well worth it. Juicy, well flavored burgers in an assortment of styles.
All burgers come with tomatoes unless stated otherwise. No complaints here.
Bonus points to the condiments bar as well! it's rare to find a burger joint with one around here. And the large outdoor patio seating.
This place doesn't disappoint. -
Review from Kim H.
San Jose, CA
10/3/2011
They don't mess around. This is my favorite place to get a burger. The outdoor patio is perfect on a nice day. You can never seem to understand any other name that's being announced over the loudspeaker, but somehow you always know when yours has been called.
The only downside to this place can be the wait. But hey... good things come to those that wait. -
Review from Tim H.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/8/2011
I like this Burger joint, now it is pricey but real good, the place is clean open and they have outdoor seating. I really like the condiment bar, they have a lot to choose from. That's a plus, you cant get that from the usual suspects.
If you plan on having lunch get there a little early, specially on the weekends! They have a wide variety of burger choices, and some named burgers for local sports teams & players. Veggie burgers, hot dogs and breakfast. haven't been there for breakfast but will when I'm near there that early.
I say when in need of a real good burger fix check them out! -
Review from Ashley S.
Hayward, CA
10/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is pretty good. We order from here for special occasions at work, love the onion rings, sweet potato fries were decent (could be crispier), but the staff is always very helpful and friendly.
The burgers are decent, shakes are yummy, and the condiment bar is..interesting. It's unfortunate that the bar is right in front of the counter, so people trying to get ketchup for their fries have a kind of hard time getting through the line of people.
Bottom line: the food is great & they have outdoor seating so you're not stuck in stuffy restaurant. -
Review from Sunny W.
9/1/2011
Not my kind of place for when I want a burger.
This establishment has been here for a long time and it looks it. The burger just didn't taste great to me. -
Review from Dr D.
Mountain View, CA
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lots of burger places, which to choose? Great atmosphere here, especially in the afternoon with the nice Mountain View sunshine pouring down on the outside seating areas (with umbrellas for shade). A cool breeze and a nice burger & draft beer -- nice.
The condiment bar is win. Everything you'd typically want a burger, pepperoncini, jalapeno, garlic hot sauce, etc.
The "SF Burger" was great. -
Review from Sarah h.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Greasy cheap speedy burgers and thick milkshakes. Condiment bar. Vinyl seats and gritty customers (total local spot). I owe this place a huge thank you for pre-empting a hangover I was sure to have suffered from had I not eaten here pre-event.
Do not expect health food. Do expect a big greasy burger with ample flavor. -
Review from Kris W.
San Jose, CA
12/5/2011
Over rated burgers, kind of expensive. Not bad or anything, but there are signs indicating awards and 'best of',etc. Five Guys is much better, In and Out is better. All 4 in my party agreed there was no reason to visit again since we passed several other hamburger places on the way.
I like the chargrilled taste, but the bun and fries are nothing special. You will find the same at many restaurants. Condiment bar is ok.
For burger and fries without drink it was $8.55 with tax. With drink it was $10.12. -
Review from will s.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/3/2011
this place is simply over rated. I can't seem to comprehend how people praise this place so highly.
I had the spicy hot link, girlfriend had the cheeseburger, as well as my kid did.
spicy hot link was decent at best, for 7$ definitely would never do it again.
girlfriend didn't think to highly of the burger, and neither did I. it was 3 stars at best, and for it bring over priced, you could drop another star off.
my little boy didnt even like his burger, and thats his crack.
the "gem spuds" or whatever they were, were 4$. cut a potato in 1/8s and serve it with a ramican of sour cream, and that's suppose to be worth 4$?
27.00 was our total for all of our food.
the staff was pretty apathetic and boring. I'm trying to figure out why I'm not giving it 1 star, may be because my hot link was decent at best.
I will not be coming back here. -
Review from Angela P.
Burlingame, CA
7/9/2011
My friends love this place and claim it's the best in town. it's an old fashioned burger stop and fun. There is a toppings bar and the burgers are reasonably priced at about $6.00. But fries and sides are ordered separately. I like Clark's but after an order of fries or side, the cost of a burger is about the same at The Counter or Peninsula Creamery..and those establishments offer more ambiance and betting seating areas. Clarke's is basically the equivalent of someone's outdoor covered patio.
I do recommend you try Clarke's. It's quick and high quality every time. The charcoal broiled flavor is yummy! And it's not a juicy drippy burger, but a delicious lean beef burger. -
Review from Bryan F.
Pacifica, CA
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I liked this place. My first time here. Its an old hole in the wall burger joint. When I first seen the burgers they did not look that impressive, then I noticed the condiment bar. Awesome stuff in there. So I ended getting a burger after all. Got a sf burger which is sauteed mushrooms with cheese on a sourdough roll. I was pleasantly surprised. So tasty. I got there a lil after 12 noon so it was busy. Food took a lil over 20 min tho. Which is not a huge problem, just a lil long for 2 burgers and 1 order of fries.
My girlfriend even put stuff on her burger which she never does. That's how good the condiment bar is. If I ever crave a great burger id say go here and enjoy. Ill be back! -
Review from Jer N.
Bear Valley, CA
11/9/2011
Used to be my favorite, still one of the best and "The Best" Burger in Mt. View.
--Jerr -
Review from Elisa L.
Hayward, CA
2/6/2012
Their Garlic fries are amazing.
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Review from Roche C.
Union City, CA
9/17/2011
I'm honestly not sure how people can not like the burgers here at Clarke's. I have only been here once but since then I think of Clarke's everytime i have a craving for a nice juicy burger. It's not close to home, otherwise i'd probably be 20 lbs heavier.
You can expect a long wait for your order and this initially ticked me off. But when I took my first bite of that juicy burger, I realized a burger like that deserved to be waited on. Hell, I would've waited outside in 100 degree weather for a burger like that.
The toppings bar was nice and had all the necessary burger toppings: onions, lettuce, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc. I also had to wait another 5 minutes for the jalapenos to be refilled.
Now, if they cut down on the wait time by half then they would be getting 5 stars! -
Review from Erica S.
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's been years since I last ate at Clarke's in Cupertino which is now gone, but was in the area so I stopped here for lunch. Had the Swiss Burger and my husband had the Lunch Special of Clarke Hamburger with Fries. The special is a good deal for $6.70. Same price as my Swiss Burger.
I like the DIY toppings. There's mayo, lettuce, red onions, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and my fave...pepperoncinis. The burger was good, but I would have preferred a better tasting bun. It was a plain white sesame bun and they only toasted the inside. Maybe if it was warm on the outside, I would have enjoyed it more as I'm not a huge fan of cold buns. -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
5/24/2011
I'm torn on Clarke's. On the one hand, what everyone goes here for - the burgers - are only mediocre and not cooked to any specification other than well done, or maybe medium well. On the other hand, their Louisiana hot sausage on a French roll is so good I crave it.
There are also garlic fries but the garlic makes them way too soggy. Regular fries are better. If you're only judging Clarke's based on burgers and fries, 5 Guys (my nemesis) is better at this point. But then there's my dreamy wonderfully spicy Louisiana link. 2 stars (burgers/fries) + 5 stars (Louisiana deliciousness) = 4 stars.
You add or take home all the condiments you want from their condiment bar. They offer other mustard in addition to French's which is a big deal to me. Oddly, the tomatoes are separate from the other condiments. "Rustic" doesn't even begin to describe the benches and tables which barely make you feel like you're sitting inside. But it doesn't really matter once you sink your teeth into one of those dogs.Listed in: I'll Have that Mountain View…
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Review from Local S.
Mountain View, CA
8/3/2011
Venerable and rather good example of the old-fashioned INDEPENDENT neighborhood US fast-food grill. They used to be everywhere, before the ascendance of dominant chains (which I can even remember). Clarke's is a charcoal broiler, like the name says (offers one or two BBQ-related menu items in the long menu, but I've never heard anyone call it a BBQ except a review here that didn't seem to get it.)
This review reflects about 20 visits to Clarke's in the past ten years, latest a month ago.
Clarke's has a few unusual strengths:
1. Extensive CONDIMENTS bar for customizing your order; containers available by request to take condiments home, for take-out orders.
2. Grilled SAUSAGES, not just burgers (and the burger menu itself is huge and includes turkey and vegetarian versions). Sausages are cooked split lengthwise, served on toasted French rolls, and come with tomato slices unless you ask otherwise. Try the Louisiana Hot (not for the over-delicate palate!) or the Polish sausage.
3. BREAKFAST on weekends. Lavish traditional American breakfasts ("your restaurant breakfasts are bigger than what we eat for dinner," European co-workers used to tell me) with hashed browned potatoes and lots of egg dishes. But weekends only. -
Review from Ron S.
Manteca, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
What's the big deal?
You call this BBQ? Just because a resturant has BBQ sauce and ribs doesn't make it a BBQ Place.
I ordered the Rib Sandwich and it looked just like the McDonalds McRib are you kidding me? I thought this was a BBQ place.
Just because you charge $17 for a slab of ribs doesn't make it a real BBQ place
Pass this place up. Wont be back. -
Review from Andrew G.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/4/2011
Yay! I'm a fan.
I like this place a lot. Great atmosphere and good food. Love sitting outside on hot day eating a juicy burger. I've been coming here since high school. 14 years of goodness. That's how you know a place is good... it's been around for a long time and everyone loves it. -
Review from Steven L.
San Jose, CA
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here several times for lunch. Love burgers and fries and used to live nearby. Really want to like this place but would leave disappointed every time.
Burgers are overcooked, mediocre and expensive for what it is. Place is a little bit of a dump. They don't even ask you how you want your burger cooked. Another thing that annoys me is they charge $1 (or more?) to grill the onions. That's a disgrace. Been to a hundred burger joints and never paid extra for grilled onions.
Also the service isn't so great either. -
Review from Molly N.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/18/2011
I don't understand the hype. This place is overrated! The burgers are just okay. The service is not good, the setting is pretty low quality, and the food is generally too expensive for the quantity and quality. I'll stick to Jake's/The Garret/Oasis for American food in the area.
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Review from April W.
Mountain View, CA
7/2/2011
I always leave Clarke's feeling full and satisfied (though sometimes too full--be careful).
There are so many combinations of toppings for your burger (nice ones too, like sauteed onions, guacamole, etc), and they're pretty much all delicious. I also love the polish sausage, which can also be topped however you want. There are also tons of sauces in the help-yourself topping area, like garlic and pepper hot sauce, barbecue sauce, awesome stuff like that. The garlic fries and sweet potato fries make an excellent addition to whatever you order.
There are an impressive number of malts and shakes as well--oreo, wild cherry, mocha, which can be combined to your heart's content (at 50 cents per additional flavor).
Something that surprised me is that they have wine, which comes in a classy plastic cup of course, for your enjoyment. :P
Breakfast on the weekends is definitely worth trying, though it ends at 2pm, so it's not also feasible to get there in time. The French toast is perfectly done, better in my opinion than some of the more upscale places (FJL, I'm looking at you). I can also, as of today, recommend the cinnamon roll. It's $2.50 and enormous and delicious. The ham is the best meat side for breakfast in my opinion (as opposed to either type of breakfast sausage). The Los Altos omelette (or is it Los Gatos? can't remember) is also good, but it comes with Hollandaise sauce (not my fave), though perhaps I could get them to skip that; I'll try that sometime.
It's kind of cramped in the ordering area, and as you can tell from the outside, it's a little dive-y. The ambience isn't the best; the layout encourages close seating with other parties (long booths). The outside eating area is nice on a pretty day if you manage to get a seat (it's sometimes pretty crowded).
I don't want to go here all the time, but when I'm in the mood for heavy greasy stuff and don't mind dropping a little extra (the toppings and sides add up) on a very casual experience, this is the place.
