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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: DowntownMon-Sun. 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
"I grew up literally down the street from Monk's, and have been coming here since I was too short to see over the counter. For me, Monk's is…" read more »
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This place isn't trying to be anything other than it is. Yes it's kitch as fuck but completely, unintentionally authentic. This place is a genuine gem and I hope it lasts forever. The family-run business is a legendary institution and if you live in LA, it's on par with living here and not having visited Canter's. If it was good enough for Jack Kerouac*...
The food is good cafeteria food. Back when there were cafeterias. So there'll be fried chicken. Maybe a ham. Pot roast and mashed potatoes. Plus a selection of hispanic dishes.
Last time I was there, we sat behind an elderly lady with her grandson both in their Sunday best regaling how she was taken there by her grandmother. It's that kinda place.
*OK yes a different location for the trivia buffs, but a Clifton's nevertheless
ok honeymoon is over
as much as i enjoy cliftons
i don't like the direction it's going
the servers aren't exactly friendly to gringos
and the staff is far from diverse
i don't think enchiladas would be what
clifford clinton had in mind when he was around
place seriously needs to work on their prices
(i seriously doubt that "dine free unless delighted" applies
anywhere these days) i will note that they accept credit cards
and the manager is an alright guy once you get to know him
discovered this place thanks to HUELL HOWSER
wow all i'm gonna say is GO THERE it is FANTASTIC!!!!!
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OMG, where to start. There is a smell, not food-related, that slaps you silly when you walk in. Kind of a industrial cleaner plus old wet carpet plus displays-that-need-cleaning-and-now-have-unintente d- secondary-insect-life smell which is soon minimized when you glance at all that is around you. Dark, musty and brimming with Forest Finery, Clifton's ambience is incomparable to any other setting. The first two floors are of the mountain life theme, yet oddly the third floor seems kind of Colonial Traditional flavor with absolutely relation to the theme of the lower floors.
Lots of choices in salads, jello-themed items, entrees and desserts await you. Do not miss the coconut cream pie, which like the other desserts is made right on premises in Clifton's. Some of the workers have worked here for decades, they say.
Please remember to use the bathroom at home, or at Macy's, or the gas station, or perhaps a park somewhere. Women's bathroom is in the basement, and is barely adequate.
Not as cheap as you might expect, but the Clifton's experience is priceless!
I'm not going to wax poetic about the food at Clifton's. The breakfast is quite good, but if you miss the boat and end up there at lunchtime, it's fairly bland and mediocre. But it's good enough that, combined with the place itself, you'll want to come back time and time again.
I can't say enough about the interior of Clifton's Cafeteria. A genuine 1930s cafeteria with history pouring from every inch of it. It's a pure delight!
There are some disadvantages to eating at Clifton's. You'll probably have to park at a lot and walk through some fairly seedy areas to get there. And, upon leaving, you're immediately transported from a magical, nostalgic, forested wonderland back into the heart of downtown Los Angeles, but you won't regret your time spent here. I can easily while away two hours or more every time I come here. The third floor (the "red room") alone can eat up quite a bit of your time, with the historical hangings on the walls.
Wow this place is neat. I don' think I have been anywhere quite like it. For sure feels really old, as if my grand parents used to take me there as a kid though I have never been. Kind of like a moose lodge or a log ride at an amusement park.
Grab a tray and start picking things you want. There is a good variety of food to choose from and most if it has prices labeled. I just got a variety of carbs. mmmm some mac n cheese, stuffing and desert. All was delicious. The boyfriend got turkey & stuffing & pie.
We found a $3 parking lot a couple blocks away. That's probably the near best you will find.
We will for sure be back here regularly.
No, really, all the other reviewers are not kidding. If you're living in or visiting Los Angeles, you need to make time to have breakfast at least once at Clifton's. There is NOTHING LIKE IT anywhere in the United States, I promise you!
Clifton's is magical on so many levels. In the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, you would never know what awaits you by the outside. The floor mural at the entrance is incredible, but it does little to hint at what it's like to dine in an authentic, retro Disney-esque, version of the redwoods, complete with waterfall, bears, and a big full moon.
As other reviewers have pointed out, you'll want to eat in the main hall for the full effect, but definitely take a moment to check out the third floor, where they have the history of Clifton's on display. Whenever I take someone there for the first time, I usually take them to the sign that says "SORRY THIS FLOOR IS CLOSED" and talk about what's upstairs, and inevitably a friendly staff-person tells us it's ok to go upstairs. They have postcards, pictures, and ephemera from Clifton's days gone by as well as an absolutely incredible dining hall.
Also, don't be afraid to take a moment to step into the Chapel, newly reopened, and gaze upon the vista while hearing inspiring words. It's small, but if you're only coming here once, why not!
All in all, if I were to make a guide of things to see in Los Angeles, this would be very high on the list. Fabulous in so many ways, Clifton's is one of the few remaining reasons to visit Downtown Los Angeles.
This place is like stepping into a time machine and entering the 1950s and before from the decor to the food to the diners. In fact, I am convinced that many of the current diners actually ate here in the 1950s.
Walking into this place you can't imagine being in downtown Los Angeles. It feels like a mix between a hunting lodge and a truck stop restaurant somewhere along route 66 in the middle of nowhere. Animal heads abound as does a cut out of a redwood tree where you can see how insignificant we all really are. The decor definitely earns big points as it's tough to create this atmosphere -- it just happens when you're a historical landmark.
It's all cafeteria style here so when you enter you pick up a tray and utensils and start moving down the line picking the al a carte items you want. The food was actually better than I expected -- I had the cucumber salad (lots of vinegar) and the roast beef which actually was pretty good. There's definitely a large selection of food items, but you'd probably struggle if you were a vegetarian and didn't want to eat just salads and dessert. The food isn't the best I've ever had, but it's relatively inexpensive and homely.
Come here not for an experience of fine dining, but for a trip back in time and to something that you won't experience elsewhere in LA.
Step back into the 1930's. This is an old fashioned cafeteria. Awesome macaroni. Great comfort food. An indoor waterfall. There's nothing like it anywhere else in Southern California. I'd give it 5 stars if it had more for vegetarians. One thing; their pecan pie sucks. Everything else is good.
Awesome place to check out at least once if you are in LA.
Atmosphere: THE REASON YOU GO
The most interesting stuff is the seating area. It makes you feel kinda like at disneyland by splash mountain or something. It felt like the moose head would start talking any singing any minute. Waterfall, trees, and many other random things. I don't recommend eating by the poster/light boards, as it's a little on the dilapidated side. And if you want to hit the really old stuff, on the third floor it is set up like how it was made in the olden days. It's pretty fancy and you get to see historical stuff.
Food: Pretty good
It's not very expensive, and the food is pretty good for a cafeteria. But really you probably didn't go here for the food.
I asked the serving people what to get and my food was really good, so I think they are pretty honest.
Parking: Horrible
It's LA, so yeah it sucks. You can find a few $4 or $5 lots pretty close by. Make sure to read the fine print on the signs cause some say a cheaper number but it's only after a certain time.
Service:
I was actually pretty impressed with the suggestions/recommendation and they were nice to take our picture and tell us we could go up stairs to the 3rd floor even though the sign said not to go up.
The food here was pretty good and the atmosphere was incredible - somebody said it's like you're eating in Splash Mountain, that seems a bit right. It's a little sketchy, but it's cool. oh and DO NOT drive here, if you can bike or take a bus, do it. Parking is simply nonexistent unless you want to pay for one of the lots a couple blocks over.
Be aware of their prices though! I asked the lady helpin' me out if anything came with the turkey ($6.50) and she promptly listed off a few sides, all of which, don't get me wrong, were delicious - but when I went to pay they charged me for each of the sides that I thought were included? It brought to total up to $10, which barely left me with bus fair back home. oh well. Now I know, I guess, but tricky tricky! I give them two dollar signs, just because if I actually got everything I wanted to try and wasn't in a hurry it definitely would have been closer to $15.
All I can say is "wow". How awesome is this place! There's something about cafeteria's that I love yet sometimes they kinda weird me out. Did that even make sense? What I'm trying to say is Clifton's is an eclectic place. The place is designed like "Country Bear Jamboree". It's a really fun place for all ages. The food was okay. It wasn't bad at all. I had a green bean salad, cucumber salad, side of steam veggies, & horchata. My friend had roast beef and mashed potatoes with gravy. The place is pretty large and we sat on the 3rd tier on the right hand side which is a great seat. You can see everything from there. Great place for a birthday party.
Ok, so it's a bit run down, and the food's nothing spectacular, but Clifton's is the closest thing I've found to a time machine. And not a squeaky clean Stepfordesque Ruby's Diner version of a time machine, either. This is the real thing. I have NOT been able to stop thinking about this 1930's version of Chuck E Cheese since I visited two days ago.
You can read the whole story on their not so ironically retro website, but basically, Clifton's was started by a man who wanted to give people a good value for their money - even if they couldn't afford to pay during tough times. At one point, there were several locations throughout the area including a REALLY cool looking 'Pacific Seas" themed one over on Olive Street (which was torn down in the 60's to make way for...get this...a parking lot!). This current location (AKA Clifton's Brookdale) is the only remaining restaurant, and it's truly a one of a kind dining experience. Don't forget to go up to the third floor where you'll find lots of pictures, menus, and more about the history of this crazy place. I can't wait to go back!
PS...could someone please take down that godawful metal monstrosity that some lunatic put on the front of this building in the 60's?! I can only imagine what's hiding under there!
I don't mind the "ghettoness" of the place, but when the food is cold and tasteless, something is wrong.
I have served about 5 years in the military and have eaten in many mess halls. However, Clifton's cafeteria's food is worse than any mess hall food I have ever eaten. I went with two other buddies, and they also thought they got ripped off. And one more thing: THE PARKING SUCKS! I had to park a block away and pay $5 to park. I will never come back here again!
It's only has one $ but it all depends... This is seriously a cafeteria... The experience was cool because I never did the whole get a tray and sliding it along picking and choosing what I want to eat then paying for each item. That's why that $ could depend... it's about $ to $$... I loved the fact I was able to have a Thanksgiving lunch! I had a turkey leg!! Usually I have to wait to go to Disneyland for one... The thing that bothered me was the layout of the food... There wasn't any order with it... like desserts were mixed in with the salads and a section between the salads and the main course and before the drinks there were desserts... I get that they want us to have it but I guess I like order hahaha...
If you like seedy/dated looking places, this is your place...
If you like waiting in line with a tray, this is place for you...
If you like paying for each item you're going to eat, this is for you...
If you like interesting multi level seating this is the place for you...
I honestly think it's worth at least visiting once... Personally, I would visit again...
We went to this place as a tourist and to eat at the worlds oldest public cafeteria.
The food, meh. Veggie options slight, and the mac & cheese wasn't that great. *HOW HARD IS IT TO MESS UP MAC & CHEESE?*
The company I went with was great, the food, ugh. I did my tourist duty. Likely never will return to eat. But it is an LA institution.
I was so happy to randomly pass by....
Melody V & I were walking through the streets of the Fashion District looking for a place to eat and when we got to the corner of 7th & Broadway I hear Melody shriek 'OH! CLIFTON'S!' I respond 'WTHeck is Clifton's?' She continues to explain that being a yelper, I should know about Clifton's and how it's a fantastic old school cafeteria. I was really excited.
This place is great, old-wood/forest decor; a great amount of seating; and fresh fruit, breads, meats, pastries and anything you can think of.
I ordered a Turkey Sandwich, it was like the Day-After-Thanksgiving Sandwich, in other words - perfect.
Tips:
-Keep in mind that this place is a cafeteria and not a buffet. Everything is priced separately. If you stack your plates, expect to pay.
-For you tall folk: watch your head in the low ceiling staircase en route to the restroom.
After my gf read about this place in chuck bukowski book, she asked me if I knew about this place. I told her yeah I used to come here as a kid with my parents. Her parents used to come here on dates, and they where unsure if it was still open. So we checked today and indeed it was still open. I have not been to this place since I was maybe 8 years old and I am 21 now. Let me tell you it has not changed since then! This place brought back so many memories as a kid. This place is so neat and cool and the food is great. The reviews under me are correct when they say its like walking back in time eating at this place.
An LA classic. I have to admit that the food is not as consistent as I would like but it is good. I totally agree with garbanzo b. on the mac and cheese thing, it was a huge disappointment. That being said, there is something to be said about the atmosphere of this place. Such history, it is like looking at (and might just be) the prototype of Disneyland.
Three floors: on the bottom, the crowd can be a little interesting since that is where a lot of the kookie locals go to cool their heels. The second floor is what you would expect from a family restaurant. Finally, the third level has the strangest pseudo-classy dining vibe.
You don't come here for the best food ever - you come here for decent food and and fun atmosphere. Lets be honest, the food beats the hell out of Hometown buffet as family dining goes and it is a lot more interesting.
This place is frozen in time! And so were the egg prices: 75 cents / egg, and 76 cents / slice of bacon.
If i had to explain what this place like is inside, I would simply say "Splash Mountain"
I'm definitely coming here again. I can't believe they server turkey legs and dinner dishes at 6:30 in the morning.
Clifton's is pretty damn cool.
I was a little surprised at the price. I got some tilapia with rice, a piece of flan and some grapefruit, which came to 10 bucks, which was a little more than I expected.
However, the thing I really like is the lack of servers. I don't need someone to take my food to me. Let me get it myself and I can save a couple bucks. We need many more restaurants like this and I can forsee a demand for these types of places.
I think I'm going to be going to Clifton's more often. It's great to support the old establishments and they certainly have a cool ambiance.
It's been a while since I been to Clifton's Cafeteria. And, when I say, been a while it's been (begins mentally counting...) 10+ years.
This moment, upon turning the corner with Darshan R. as we wonder the streets of downtown L.A. looking for food, my memory of eating liver and onions with my late-Grandfather enters my mind. Seeing that Darshan R. has never been, I asked if he was okay with "cafeteria food."
With his okay, we enter.
Clifton's is what it is, a cafeteria. But I have not been to a cafeteria that serves brisket, a variety of fruits and salads, desserts ranging from pies, puddings, and cakes, and different sizes of dinner rolls. My 5 stars goes toward being something that exists nowhere else. Originality and keeping it old school. Go ahead Clifton, keep it real.
My carrots were salty, my zucchini was overcooked, BUT my brisket and mashed potatoes were AWESOME. Oh, and how I enjoyed my bowl of strawberries. Total: $12 - all the items were on separate plates, you know, like a cafeteria.
I can't emphasize cafeteria enough, people.
Look, the decor is absolutely old school, existing years before my first memory. There is no doubt about that! With the exception of having an ATM/Credit Card machine (there is no service charge), Clifton's does NOTHING to roll with the modern times. I am totally cool with that.
So, before you enter, consider two factors: how much are you willing to pay for each item you will put on your tray? And, are you willing to sit back in a room that existed before your great-grandparents?
If you can handle it, give it a try. It is located in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, but don't let that stop you from giving it a try.
Like everyone has said, this place is all about the atmosphere. Ambiance is basically the like a National Park/Forest which is pretty cool. If you rock a buffalo plaid jacket with some jeans and a pair of Red Wings, chances are you'll blend into the surroundings. Food is sub-par but then again, it's a cafeteria and it's ready to go so you can't really complain. All the employees are pretty helpful, even the waiters. It's open seating and there's tons of it. There was a birthday party going on when I went. If you're familiar with downtown, parking is a hassle so I recommend to come when meter parking is free and park a block or two away. Walking never hurts. Other than that, the food is good, all forms of life come into this place and it's cheap and ready to go.
Had lunch here yesterday with my old friend Jenni. Apparently this place has been around forever.
The food is prepared cafeteria-style. You pick up your tray, slide it down the line and grab what you want, just like you remember from grade school. Each item is individually priced. Deserts are up first (presumably so you don't realize your eyes are bigger than your stomach.) The selection is huge - everything from strawberry shortcake to pecan pie. Next is a large selection of salads in small plastic bowls. The bean salad was great, the marinated mushroom salad was just okay. Next was the main course - enchiladas, ribs, meatloaf and more. And finally, deserts again!
The food itself was fair-to-middlin'. About the quality you would expected from a cafeteria, but good enough for the price.
The dining room looks like a log cabin lodge from summer camp. It's got a cool multi-level design, with stuffed woodland directions and faded photos of California tourist destinations.
All in all, the experience was fun and inexpensive. I wouldn't take a date or client here if you're looking to impress, but if you're looking for a good place to grab lunch with friends downtown, this fits the bill.
so I just had to go.... Its a landmark.... Its been around forever.... Its comfort food....
ok so the Resturant does look like Bear Country Jamboree threw up all over the walls. And as I was eating I was waiting for that big fat girl bear on the swing to be lowered down onto my lap at any moment. But I couild live with that....
I also could live with the fact that there are more tables and chairs upstairs so you and your group can balance your 50lb tray up 80 steps. ( I dont know how the old people do it)
but what I couldnt deal with is how tastless the food was. nothing tasted like it was suppose to...
I mean I got pumpkin pie and it didnt taste right. I also got
Nachos -the best tatsting thing
Turkey Noodle Slop- not sure on the name but that is what i called it
mashed potatos-heaviest mashed that I have ever had
macaroni and cheese-how do you screw this up
big disapointment... I think I was even more disapointed because I was really looking forward to eating here.
It's like the Critter's Country in Disneyland in here! And with the same food quality ... it's like if you went to elementary school in Disneyland, this is exactly what and where you would eat. And it was overpriced too, for what you got. It's a few blocks from work, so we get cake here for birthdays, and the strawberry is good but the German chocolate suuuuuucckkksss.
However, it's a Los Angeles landmark and it has the authentic cafeteria stuff - walk through, take little dishes of food, put it on a tray and pay for it at the end ... which everyone should experience at least once in their lives and every once in awhile for nostalgia's sake.
Who would have thought the insides are like something you would find at Knotts Berry Farm? Super kitchy, okay food, and just as strange as you can get for Downtown LA.
YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT AT LEAST ONCE.
The food is simple, some questionable, but overall okay. There are no 'servers'. You simply grab a tray and pick and choose what you want to eat (ala 'cafeteria' style).
I had breaded turkey steak with pasta, a bit of a stale roll, soda, and a fresh slice of marble cake. Total cost was around $8.50 for my meal.
The overall experience was fun! I would recommend exploring the place, especially the third floor where you'll find a lot of history and memorialbilia of the Clfiton's chain.
It's a shame this place may close because of new owners of the building it resides in. So go at least once!
From what I heard around the workplace this place has been here forever and a day. I believe it's still family owned, and during the great depression they didn't turn away people and even gave some free plates to people.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Although this is a cafeteria, which brings the visions of high school eating areas, it really is not. It looks like something from Disneyland, it has trees and foliage inside this place which looks kind of the rainforest cafe, but set in 1920s. The cafeteria where you pick up your food looks like a regular high school cafeteria. The eating area is large, actually I'd say super large for a downtown LA restaurant, nearly 3 floors to sit in. Also, don't miss the 3rd floor area which looks like something from the Buckingham Palace filled with historic photos.
FOOD: The food is alright, large selection to satisfy anyone, but they aren't gourmet so don't expect your roast beef slice to have tiny small potatoes on the side floating in a nice gravy. I think of the food as Hometown Buffet with some style. Oh yah, the cakes and desserts are totally YUMMMAAAY, so make sure to pick up a cake or something.
PRICE: It's reasonable, expect to pay about $10-12, and the food portions are good.
I think it's worth going at least once, it's historic and it feels like going to Disneyland. Also, don't miss out on the little diorama on the 2nd floor, it's hidden on the left side as you walk down the stairs. Also, don't get the tap water, I always find the dispensers kind of old looking that I feel like it might have lead or something.
Though the grand exterior and exquisite entrance vanished long ago from this restaurant what remains inside is still a classic worth visiting. The buffet is broken up into two main aisles that offer an incredible variety of hot dishes that encompass breakfast and lunch. There is also an obscene amount of pies, quite a few desserts and plenty of side-dishes to add to the tray. While some of the ingredients are not fresh the preparation is impeccable and nothing is served dry or drowned. The prices are fantastic and the interior is a kitsch delight.
Went here for lunch because I wanted to revisit this place that I've not been to in 35 years. Yes, the interior is different and unique. The food was truly cafeteria harkening back to the days of college dorm food where the veggies are overcooked and the food is bland and salt is your best friend. The food is roughly a notch above hospital food after having triple bypass surgery.
In all honesty, it was cool to check out the decor. Food was a little pricey but I guess that's how they stay in business. I recommend for the decor and experience but not the food.
I came in today to escape the outdoor heat and was greeted with that campy, woodsy atmosphere from the days of old. A sign that warned you to "not feed the bears" was posted on one of the tree stumps, but there was also another sign that was curiously posted and said something to the effect, "45 minute maximum for eating your food". I know I'm not really quoting it verbatum, but that's the message I got.
The food is passable which is why I'm giving the 3 star rating. I had the spinach, mashed potatoes, enchilada, salad, mushroom salad, vegetable soup and strawberry shortcake. All...quite honestly, not too memorable, but you're coming here for the atmosphere and the atmosphere it does deliver!
It's just as kitschy and the food is just as mediocre as ever.
They finally changed the strawberry cake recipe. It's actually moist now, and I didn't get a headache after eating it. I loved that strawberry cake when I was a kid, but then my tastebuds developed and I became a grownup, and every time I ate that cake I'd get a headache. But I always get that cake when I'm at Clifton's. So it's good to not get those headaches anymore.
The only thing about Clifton's that I don't like too much is that the cashiers never seem to know about the specials, and they'll charge you separately for the vegetable that was supposed to be part of the special. In fact, no one there seems to know about the specials that are clearly posted for the diners to see. I don't think I've ever actually gotten a special at the special price.
But I'll always respect Clif Clinton for allowing people to pay as they're able, and not pay at all if they couldn't. And I'll always love Clifton's for feeding Ray Bradbury when he had no money.
What in the world is going on here?? There are odd decorations everywhere, and I feel like I'm in some weird cross between an old department store, a sporting goods display, and an exhibit in the museum of natural history. :/
There used to be a Clifton's Cafeteria in the Lakewood mall. I remember going there often as a child with my grandmother. To surprise her, I dragged over here, and she was scared to stand outside the building, thinking she was going to get abducted. Hahaha.
Clifton's is a total flashback in time. It's been on our list for years after we saw the Huel Howser special on the place and we finally went for lunch today. The decor would make Clifton's at home in Adventureland with the wood panelling, faux greenery and the stuffed moose observing you from the balcony above.
I think we may have overbought cause the bill came to about $30 for the two of us, but with so many items to catch our eyes, it was hard not to load up our trays. Jello is like the cornerstone of cafeteria food so we had to try two flavors- the orange with peaches in it and the red with fruit cocktail. They didn't disappoint! Then I had an enchilada and mac n cheese (don't judge, I'm 9 months pregnant) while my husband enjoyed a pork chop, mashed potatoes and corn. The food was ok overall, but we didn't go for culinary delights, we went for the total experience!!
We ended the meal with blackberry and lemon pie- both pretty tasty. The best part of Clifton's really is the people watching so get yourself a seat high up in the main atrium and enjoy the diversity of downtown Los Angeles. It really is pretty cool to have a place that brings all the cultures together like Clifton's.
I love Cafeteria food!
Even though the food is bland, and the decor is a bit strange, I enjoyed eating here. Something about eating cafeteria food in a themed restaurant at a historical downtown place is fun!
To my surprise the bill for 2 people came $30.
Don't come here if your really hungry because you'll start adding everything in sight onto your tray... That's what my boyfriend and I did... and that's why the bill came out so much. lol
Don't get to overwhelmed by the process.. once you step inside take a deep breath and follow the person in front of you..
I think everyone should visit this place at least once. But don't expect too much. After all, this is a cafeteria in downtown L.A. Come here for the experience and fun.... =)
We went right before a Last Remaining Seats screening at the Los Angeles Theater, primarily because it was close and we were running late.
I had the roast beef and mashed potatoes, which actually weren't that bad. The lady was cutting portions right as you ordered. I was actually tempted to grab a bowl of the ambrosia, but I didn't. Now I wish I had.
This interior is as cool as everyone says - a lodge with vintage pictures of different places in Los Angeles, and a waterfall inside.
Things I learned at Clifton's this weekend:
1) Everything is better when eaten in an animatronic forest. If I had gone to this place as a kid, Chuck E Cheese could have sucked it!
2) Being located next door to a storefront with a poster of a voodoo doctor, shrunken skulls hanging in the doorway, and the pungent small of patchouli actually says a lot about what you can expect here.
3) Clifton's will in no way be the best meal you ever eat, but really, if a simple plate of fried pork chop, cheesy taters and pie can't make you happy once in a while, perhaps nothing can.
4) I dare anyone to peep that third floor and not be tempted to rent it out for a total bash. Am I semi-tempted to rent out Clifton's one day for the best wedding reception spot ever? I might be lying if I said no...
5) Do places like this absolutely NEED to be preserved, not only for the history but for the fact that they feed the homeless and completely add to wonderful quirkiness of downtown? Absolutely. So please, go eat at Clifton's, cause every cheesy tater tastes a bit better when there's a century of love put into it.
over the years, cafeterias have acquired negative associations. it's odd to think that you would go out to eat at a cafeteria when the school cafeterias you grew up with served some questionable foods, and yet, the nostalgia garnered by clifton's has to be unmatched. when places (and people) age, they often get makeovers. not clifton's. i have to admire them for staying true to their identity through the years rather than bastardizing themselves into some strange frankensteinian sort of restaurant just to appeal to the masses.
if you grew up in the 60's/70s, perhaps you would be affected by what clifton's represents--childhood, family. most of the people who come here now do so for the memories they have of this place, but in its heyday, it was a popular place where you could go to get a home cooked meal fast. i never went to clifton's nor did my family go to cafeterias during that time period because my mother didn't like any food that wasn't asian. however, i do have a few fond memories when my dad (as a treat) took us to Luby's, a cafeteria chain in the south. the food of course couldn't compare to my mom's cooking, but it was exotic to me. it was "american," and the few visits represented quality time with my dad.
so when i found out about clifton's thanks to huell howser and then learned that the owners put the building up for sale, i had to go pronto. sure, there is better food to be had all over LA. the food is more like 3 stars overall depending on what you get, but the experience epitomizes comfort even for an asian woman like me.
i had the oxtails with rice, which was actually quite tasty, melt off the bones stuff. the bf's mac & cheese & fish & chips were ok. i wouldn't recommend them. the stews looked good, and if they are anything like the oxtails, i would go for that.
clifton's is probably one of the few places that serves carved up turkey breast from a big turkey almost year round. the people working there are friendly, and if you can, check out the "museum" and dining room upstairs. during the great depression, clifton's fed millions of people locally who were out of work and only charged a penny. you couldn't say that about most businesses these days. i hope all the historical paraphernalia are preserved. it seems like such an interesting part of los angeles history.
I was introduced to Clifton's during a LA Conservancy Tour (highly recommend all of their tours). Once the tour was over, we decided that we had to go here for lunch.
It's been ages since I ate at a cafeteria.....
As a previous reviewer posted, the history and nostalgia is awesome, but the food.... not so much.
It was all fine.... the price point was a bit high for the quality and can quickly add up if you're not careful...... we all decided that the desserts were by far the best part .....
It's certainly worth checking out .... it's certainly worth a visit if you're downtown..... people should head downtown more often and support places like this!!
For 70 or so years Clifton's Brookdale has been serving downtown LA denizens cafeteria style food in it's mountain cabin themed restaurant. They even guarantee you'll love it or refund your meal. No really, they ask you to "return anything that is not satisfactory, while they are still in the cafeteria; we will replace the item or make a refund of the purchase price or compliment the entire meal."
While there were a few hit and misses, we didn't actually bother to return anything. Mainly because after all the food, we couldn't move. Yeah, I overdid it a bit. But hey, how often do you get to file through rows of food, pile on side dish after side dish, desserts, and main courses onto a plastic tray without any immediate recourse?
Their is plethora of food, no not piñatas, but everything from chilled salads, fajitas, nachos, veggies, a ton of desserts, and entrees that included a delicious beef brisket, turkey legs, spare ribs, enchiladas, baked cod, and a very odd salmon dish. The customers are just as eclectic as the mix of food. Skid row residents, trendy loft dwellers, east side tattoo artists, garment workers, tourists, and even a preacher dressed in a colorful LED lighted suit.
The decor is cabin kitschy, with fake trees and a wall-sized mural of a redwood forest scene painted by muralist Einar Petersen setting the stage as you enter. A moose head now sits where a piano player once entertained dining families, a deer head overlooks the staircase up to the second floor's tiny chapel, and fishing bears frolic just below a flowing waterfall.
The third floor is reminds me of an old 40's parlor and is set up for larger parties, birthdays and such. Plus overflow for days like on thanksgiving when they serve over 3000 people.
How is the food? Well, things were mostly miss, a couple of hits on the table. It's classic Americana though. My veggies were a bland bowl of steamed zucchini, coleslaw was crunchy and oozing with a tasty mayonnaise, mac and cheese forgettable, mashed potatoes were thick and chalkly, but the brisket was marbled with fat, and the meat cooked to perfection. Finally for dessert, the electric red strawberry shortcake. Oozing with bright red gelatin, there was something very afoul here and just the one bite sat in my stomach very unpleasantly. The meal wasn't as cheap as I had anticipated. All those items quickly added up to $18 with a drink.
Some things never change and this is one of them. When I walked in today I felt like I was six with my gran all over again.
The woodsy theme always felt like Disneyland to me as a kid and I can't say that's changed after all these years. In fact, unlike Disneyland it hasn't lost any of it's charm for me. The thing about Clifton's is that it's exactly what it appears to be. You don't need to worry about seeing the guy underneath the character suit or what things look like in the light of day. It's a really cool old cafeteria downtown just as it was back in the day. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The food is about what you'd expect for a cafeteria and the prices don't seem to have caught up with inflation, but I'd say the bakery is really where it's at. The macaroons are about the size of a toddler's fist and they're chewy and delicious. This is the only place in town I've seem them made with that much honey and it gives them a wonderful golden color, sticky texture and (not too sugary) sweetness. The perfect accompaniment to a good ol' cuppa Joe, which they also do well here.
Aside from feeling good about giving your business to a long time institution you're also supporting community. Clifton's is a pillar in these parts, not only for the history but the good work they do. Back in the day, they used to have a 'pay what you can' policy. After all these years, they still feed the homeless every week. That's worth buying a macaroon for.
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