Clifton’s Cafeteria

This is my time coming here after reading about the renovations. I went for lunch on a Sunday in July. We parked across the street parking structure and paid $ 6 and parked across the street to Cliftons. It smelled like urine which is common in DTLA. Once we entered, we were guided to line up and to take a take and pick whatever food like a cafeteria style. They serve breakfast, turkey, ham, sandwiches, desserts, soda, beer, water. My only complaint is they don’t post prices for all the items. While eating, we sat in front of a jazz band playing music which nice. It was buzzing with people eating, looking at the décor, and listening to music. The second floor has a cool bar and lots of seating and a fireplace, antiques, and stuffed animals. The third floor has some antiques and private room for large parties. Overall, the good is average but the décor is very cool to hang out at night.

This place is awesome! Weekends are great to come for breakfast and lunch. Food was great for cafeteria food with Live jazz band entertainment on Sunday’s and great views of the restaurant. Had a great time with family and will come again! What a good experience!

Cliftons! What can I say that hasn’t been said already?
First, just park across the street for $ 10.00 it’s TIGHT parking, but it’s SO close! There is also Valet for $ 10.00 too, so there’s that option.
The cafeteria is to the left as you enter, you just grab a tray and walk around and pick and choose. The prices for each item is listed and for the MEAL with meat and 2 sides was 14.00. I had the turkey dinner which was satisfying and convenient since I really planned a night of drinking!
So now you pay for your meal and take your own tray into the dining area, BUT WAIT… apparently you can huff your own tray to ANY WHERE IN THE PLACE to eat. Personally that seemed silly when I saw people with their tray wondering all the way up to the 3^rd floor. I say woof it down in main dining area and then wonder off for more fun.
Next, there are some serious steps to contend with in this place, ladies heed my warning, those super sexy SPIKE heels MIGHT be a problem, especially if you aren’t high heel capable.
The bathroom situation was a big let down. Super small on the 3^rd floor and the one in the basement was downright scary and dirty! There are also bathroom attendants, really? Do we need this in a tiny 2 stall bathroom? I dont need the extra pressure of a tip for being handed some paper towels. Call me cheap.
We started the night with drinks in the Gothic Bar. The menu looked impressive. The service was pretty slow without the area being very crowded. Bad luck of the draw I guess. The drinks weren’t awful by any means, but sadly they mostly tasted of the mixers not the spirit. There is no way I should be able to consume 5 whisky drinks and still be standing, so there ya go. But it’s not really a complaint because I WILL be back anyway!
Most of my time was spent in the room with the taxidermy. Beautiful room! A lovely dance floor and a wonderful band played! There were even some gorgeous burlesque dancers entertaining also!
After the show we headed down to the 1^st (ish) floor and danced to the dj who was playing some party 50s music. Think Chubby Checker and The Twist. Fun music that anyone can dance to.
Over all this is a GREAT place to come for the ENTIRE evening. I love a good progressive night going place to place, and you can do that here with each different bar. The music and entertainment in each area is somehow contained so it’s truly a different experience everywhere you go.
I’m REALLY looking forward to the Tiki area opening up later this year!
See you again Cliftons, I do love you!

5 stars for the atmosphere alone.
I stumble upon this place and almost didn’t go in because of the exterior and the neighborhood it’s in. Once inside, I was mesmerized by the size of it (5 stories) and the elegance and beauty of the entire building. It appears to be a major tourist attraction as there were a lot of people (mostly Europeans and South Americans) walking around with cameras in hand.
I probably spent over 1 hour exploring the place (you’re allowed to walk around up to the 3^rd floor) but didn’t get to try the food. Frankly, the food looked a tad ordinary to me but the desserts looked very appetizing. I definitely would like to come back with an empty stomach next time.

I have been here twice since the renovation and Clifton’s is different from the rest of the bar scene in downtown. At the door, I am greeted by a sassy lady bouncer who just has so much energy and loves her job. And once I walked inside, I am transported to another time. For $ 10 million worth of renovations, it’s like walking into a collector’s personal national history museum. The theme is confusing but interesting and each room has its own personality. The exterior and cafeteria retains it’s original 1930s look. First and second floor feel like the wilderness with antique wood furnitures, rocks like a cave, a taxidermic bison behind glass and a large redwood tree in the middle where a burlesque dancer performs every now and then. The third floor doesn’t fall short of the taxidermy theme but also has a live band and dance floor for people of all ages to dress up like it’s the 50s and swing dance. There was an older couple that night who stole the spotlight. They were entertaining to watch. All the bars also have a different theme as well.
I did not try the food here but my friends said it was sub par at best. But it is cafeteria food. It’s hard to find a middle ground where older generations are nostalgic for a simple cheap meal and younger crowd wants more frill than the classic Thanksgiving special.
Parking in downtown is always disaster. Lots ranges from $ 10-​$ 20. I would normally park on in the open lot by the Starbucks and EXLA since it’s well lit and gates closes late. But since I came here by myself this time, walking a block and a half was too scary. After circling the area for about 20 mins (each missed turn will set you back at least 5 mins cause there’s one way streets.), I parked across the street at the Burlington Coat Factory for $ 10. The structure is dark and isolated. The entrance is by a dark alley but there are security guards. Luckily a friend parked in the same structure as me.
Come in to enjoy the atmosphere and explore the place. Skip the food and dance the night away!

I gave it 4 stars but it’s really 3 and half. 5 stars for SEBASTIAN! Wow — was our family so lucky to have been greeted by his beautiful smile and exemplary service. We were initially greeted by the hostess (I guess that’s what you call her even though she doesn’t seat people) and we were told that there was nothing she could do for our party of 18. I tried to get a hold of them through Facebook and by phone ahead of time to ask about seating but no response. (It was MY first time here and I wasn’t sure how seating worked) Anywho, she directed me to try and find a place of my own. Ok, thanks for the help!
I head to the second floor (it’s around 11:40 on Father’s day and it’s starting to get busy but not terrible yet) and find a large table with maybe 8 chairs and another table that could hold 6. I snatch it up and approached by the impeccable Sebastian (Ladies, he’s adorable!) and asked if we were going to be using that table as it needed to be cleaned. I told him that was the plan but we have a party of 18 and not sure if we’ll fit. «Party of 18?», he asks. «I know the perfect place!». He takes us up to the 3^rd floor that was roped off. I tell him the hostess told me there was no additional seating for large groups. He tells me that’s nonsense — he’ll make it work.
Sebastian helps me put some tables together, puts some reserved signs on them (since there were only 4 of us there so far) and locates a high chair for me. Asks if we’d like to start with any drinks. He is a doll. We decline and wait for the rest of our party. They all arrive and off to get our food.
The food: sub par at best. The cafeteria is a zoo. Very unorganized with too many people going in too many places at once. Because of this, my 7 year old drops his food all over the floor. Partially his fault, partially the traffic jam. There went his turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, Mac n cheese and his spirit. No way we were waiting another 20 minutes for that food so my husband and I opted for pizza for the kids. The kids were very upset and teary-​eyed that they didn’t get what they originally wanted. It was just too crazy, kids. Sorry. We got 2 plates (mine and my husband’s), 2 slices of pizza, 3 drinks and a jello. $ 46 total. Not TOO bad. However, the food, like I said was sub par– maybe 1.5 stars at best.
Fast forward, the kids are still wiping away tears and Sebastian comes back to check on our large group– see if we need anything. We decline but my 7 year old, tears running down his face, blurts out he wants his turkey dinner because it reminds him of Thanksgiving! We all have a little chuckle and say we’re fine. We don’t need anything — he’s doing just fine with his pizza. Would you believe Sebastian comes back 5 minutes later and surprises him with some turkey for my 7 year old. You’d have thought it was Christmas day as happy tears came down his face (I’m getting misty eyed writing about it!) — the entire table about bawled their eyes out as it was such a sweet gesture. My son runs over to Sebastian to give him a big ‘ol hug and he stuffed as much turkey in his belly as it would allow.
I would go here again and again so long as Sebastian takes care of us. My son gave him a big hug as we left and Sebastian told him, «You do me a favor. Will ya? You keep being a good kid.» We will visit again for Sebastian and the fun ambiance alone.

Just visited Cliftons again. I have been wanting to go in the evening since my first visit a few months ago.
We got food from the cafeteria. I had the meatloaf dinner, with vegetables. It was a large portion size. Two people could easily split it. The meatloaf was okay — cafeteria food, what can I say.
The best areas at Cliftons are the Gothic Bar and the Monarch Bar. After we ate, we went upstairs to the Gothic Bar. On their Specialty drink menu, they had a cocktail called the Electric Squirrel or something. It was very good. The Gothic Bar is really gorgeous. And the view looking down into the restaurant is beautiful.
Then we went back to the Monarch Bar, and I had a drink called the Golden Globe. It seems that the bars each had separate drink menus with different drinks listed.
We hung out at the base of the large tree in the comfy chairs. There was DJ setting up for the evening music. But we did not stay for the DJ, maybe next time.

NOTE: This is a review for SERVICE, not the food, because, well, we left shortly after we got here due to how we were treated.
I went with my girlfriend, and while she’d gone there (upstairs) before, I hadn’t, and neither of us had been to the cafeteria portion. It was our first time here. We had an idea about how the place worked, so we decided to check it out.
We figured we’d get to the cafeteria, we perused everything, and ended up at the Carvery section. My girlfriend and I were treated VERY poorly by the Carvery personne… not just attitude, but the way we were spoken to was ridiculous. The two guys working at the carvery were nothing but rude, they made us feel stupid, and well, when we said we didn’t know exactly how it worked, they said, «well, maybe y’all need to stop acting dumb, and learn to read» and «nope, y’all didn’t read, y’all gotta go tot he back of the line now. I ain’t servin’ you no moe.»
Really dude? This is not a prison chow line. Quit acting like it. So we just tossed our trays on the counter and left. I ended up complaining to the staff about it, who were very nice, and said that they would definitely be speaking to the two guys at that station about how to treat customers.
I hear so much of this place that I don’t want to completely write it off, but I don’t think I’ll be here for a while. If I do, I’ll make sure those two aren’t working before we attempt that again.
Also, a suggestion for the staff: the line about the food choices, etc., at the carvery, is at the OUTBOUND side. For those that had no idea how this works, it might be best to have an idea of how it works, so as not to fire up the anger of the Carvery employees. Maybe they were snippy because that question gets asked a lot? Or, maybe they were just jerks.

I would really like to commend the impeccable service my fiancé and I received last night at the sold out Memorial Day event.
Turkey and meatloaf dinners were both delicious and the mac and cheese really is something to experience.
The service we received from a certain gentleman server was out of this world spectacular.
He went above and beyond to find us a table closer to the action, taking us up the back staircase, running chairs from another floor and once we moved to the middle floor for the finale, found us to ask if we’d like assistance in finding another table.
Seeing as I’m just recovering from a broken leg and am always grateful for a seat to rest my leg and alleviate swelling, it really touched my heart to get top line service like that.
Thank you Clifton’s.

Came here with a $ 25 voucher, which gives you 1 protein, 2 side dishes, 1 dessert and 1 fountain drink. It was not worth it in my opinion. However, the service was great!
The food was Southern style comfort food — pretty classic items: mash potatoes, roasted turkey, meat loaf, mac n cheese, pizzas, salad, cheesecakes, etc. Maybe because I did not grow up with traditional American dishes, this food was not memorable to me. However, my friend loved the food. He loved the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and cheesecakes.

Came here on a Friday for a late lunch after visiting the Broad museum. It wasn’t very busy, considering we came at an odd in between hour for lunch and dinner.
My boss came here as a kid and wanted to check out the new renovations they did. It’s such an interesting place that is from wall to wall, intricately detailed from the mushroom stools they have for your feet/​purse at the bar, to the fireplace that is so cleverly placed inside of the tree that spans the height of the entire 4 – 5 floor building. They have an interesting little gift shops with books that tell you which plants go well in alcoholic drinks and odd little knick-​knacks like cricket candy. It truly is a «cabinet of curiosities.»
The food is honestly not much to rave about, although I will say that the mac n cheese is amazing. I ordered from the carving station where there’s a choice of roast beef, ham, and turkey. I opted for the turkey with gravy which definitely put me into a food coma. The turkey and gravy were rather lacking in flavor but the presentation and the time/​patience that the chef/​server had and put into it was endearing.
I didn’t try the turkey pot pie, but it looked delicious. There was a variety of desserts that I just couldn’t bear to grab considering I eat with my eyes and can never actually finish my food.
Unfortunately the tiki bar is not yet ready, so we were going up the stairs and all around the building in vain.
Overall, Clifton’s is a great place to check out due to its interesting theme and grab a drink at one of their many bars.

I didn’t specifically come to Clifton’s with high epicurean expectations. It is what it is – typical cafeteria fare. Met my Boo here for a lunch date and I appreciated how I could customize my meal.
Here’s my takeaway:
1. There was a great variety of diet Boylan sodas, so I was thrilled to start with a diet cherry one.
2. Perusing and scouting the lunch options, I noted how all of the servers seemed genuinely happy to be there.
3. My Boo ordered the meatloaf with mac and cheese, but shrugged it off as okay. He really loved the chicken soup though.
4. Being dedicated to a low carb régime, it was no problem ordering a plate of two proteins (ham and turkey) and both were succulently delicious! I also had an equally yummy side of egg salad.
Would I come to Clifton’s again? Definitely just for the novelty and ambiance. Or I would put it on my radar when I’m craving a diet Boylan soda!

I was hesitant when I walked through the doors of Clifton’s, wondering if the years-​long renovation ruined the kitschy outdoorsy décor of the original. I was pleasantly surprised to see much of the original bizzaro taxidermy, gigantic trees, waterfalls and even the little sequoia shrine still there. I was pleased that the feel of the original was maintained but it felt fresh and new and no longer dingy.
The cafeteria style food is still here on the first floor; grab a tray and walk around to whichever station you want. The food at the «old» Clifton’s was average at best and I think they’ve taken it up a notch. I had just eaten elsewhere so only got a dessert (a slice of pecan pie) which was good — I enjoyed it as it had tons of pecans and wasn’t overly sweet like many pecan pies are. The other people I was with thought their food was good but not incredible. Really you come here for the unique atmosphere.
We had drinks on the second floor where there is now a cool bar. They make some tasty and stiff drinks. More taxidermy and fun furnishings (plus a gigantic tree) make this a great bar to hang out at. There’s more seating and another bar on the 3^rd floor. The 4^th floor is a tiki bar which was not yet open at the time of this review. There are historical displays about Clifton’s throughout the building along with the variety of taxidermy dioramas (buffalo, bear, lion, deer, etc.).
Interactions with several workers here was great — everyone is very amenable. We especially enjoyed our kooky-​funny cashier.
So glad they conserved this historical restaurant. Don’t expect an incredible culinary experience but do expect to have fun and enjoy yourself with the unique surroundings!

So the food IS EXTREMELY OVER PRICED. Holy moly… For 2 pancakes it’s $ 4.50. For their meat carving station, 1 protein & 2 sides it’s $ 14.50. For 1 slice of pizza, a small Cesar salad and a drink, it came out to $ 25.07!!! This place is seriously a rip off… For the price they charge I expected MUCH better quality in the food. Seriously it’s like a freaken Disney cafeteria, minus the Disney… You just get the crappy food with the inflated price.
The 2 star rating is strictly for the ambiance and the staff. Alexander who rang us up has a great attitude! I feel like the ambiance is a mix of the 1930s meets rain forest café.
I will not be returning… Ever.

The 2016 Unilocal 500, Review #147
:
ON A WALK ABOUT:
I came here for lunch with some friends. We walked over from City Hall, so I thought it would be a great experience.
ORDER UP!!!:
The meal we had was lunch and it was phenomenal. I had a plate filled with salad. Then I picked up a plate with a couple of caprese skewers on it… Next I grabbed a turkey pot pie. And ended my serpentine through their lines with a slice of apple pie and a Sprite.
It was a bit pricey and the only downfall was the pot pie. It was too runny.
REPEAT OFFENDER:
Lunch was so good that I returned for dinner. Unfortunately, the turkey was dry and the meatloaf just wasn’t to my liking. So, I handed both of those to a homeless person on the street right outside the door.
The entire setting of this place is what allows for a 4-​star rating and that is why some minor food issues didn’t drag it down to three.
THE MAGIC HAPPENS:
The third floor is where it happens… For example, last week it was a rockabilly band on Thursday night. Check the schedules as they can/​may/​will change week to week, month to month.
THE AWARD FOR BEST SET DESIGN GOES TO:
Be sure to have a good walk around this place before leaving… I do recommend this place, even if eating at Clifton’s is not within your budget, you just have to go in and have a look around. Try starting on the third floor. There’s so many little things that must have incredibly grand stories behind them. When I walk around I can hear Robin Williams whispering «Carpe diem boys, seize the day» like in Dead Poet’s Society.
Imagining the heyday, long since lost, never left my mind. There is an almost an eerie (The) Shining-​like feeling without the scare factor.
Be sure to see the fireplaces and the animal displays as well as a large cross section of a tree it’s on the first floor near the fireplace. I like how the cross section says Leif Erickson discover America and then Christopher Columbus «rediscovers» America (Noting that these are both discoveries of place that already had indigenous people). Amazing! LoL!
INDIANA JONES:
The layout makes for an intriguing adventure, be whether you are seeking a romantic corner, a well-​lit place for a large gather.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?:
I found cell/​data service to be a bit sketchy, at best, when I was deep inside the restaurant. So if having a strong connection is important, please allow me to recommend that you sit on the second floor, near the front of the building, next to the windows. There are multiple power outlets near the windows as well.

My first visit back since they renovated and reopened last fall. You’re bound to find something to eat here. Decent quality cafeteria food but definitely not at cafeteria prices. The $ 6 bowl of clam chowder was… okay and my $ 15 bourbon and cream cocktail was a letdown. But hey… you’re here for the iconic atmosphere, the «taxidermied» animals, the beautiful bar on the second floor, and the eclectic entertainment on the third level. It’s all about the ambiance and Old LA.
The staff is super friendly and there’s hardly a line for anything. Plenty of seating to eat and experience the coolness/​weirdness of DTLA. Impossible parking unless you your lucky with the meter or opt for the paid garage parking somewhere nearby.

I really like the bar aspect of this place, I can’t speak the food since I didn’t try any. Maybe next time!
I came here on a Saturday night with a friend before going to an art show, we snagged a beer and a whiskey ginger ale and then meandered around scoping the Cabela’s-esq décor and sipping our libations.
This really is a one-​of-​a-​kind watering-​hole. It feels like an old mansion with dark secrets in many ways. I’m told they have burlesque on some nights, and other performances on others. And there are taxidermic animals everywhere, and a few man-​made waterfalls.
Parking is everything you expect (nightmarish), and the service is okay, but nothing exceptional. This is a destination for those seeking an atypical ambiance, but it’s definitely not a destination for everyone.

I did not try the food. I came here for a party. This is a review for the 3^rd floor. Floor 1 is the cafeteria. Floor 2 is a bar lounge area. Floor 3 is also a bar/​lounge which has a ballroom for dancing. Burlesques shows go on during the night. Live band plays in the ballroom. The DJ was playing 80’s mix (e.g. morissey, Depeche, the cure etc.) while also mixing in some classic oldies and some new school. Stuffed animals are part of the décor. At the bar you won’t find any cervezas, just the craft beers here. I ended up drinking red wine. They do accommodate large groups. This place is something out of the norm in LA.
I would come back

Didn’t eat at the cafeteria and only sat at the monarch bar which is on the second floor.
The outside is very inviting and the inside is as well. You can’t help but look around and marvel at everything! There was this huge tree inside that went all the way up to the third floor. The red, blue, and purple lighting was also very pretty.
So we couldn’t make it to the bar upstairs, gothic bar, because weird al was in the building. We stayed at the monarch bar. There were like three bartenders there and unfortunately got a hold of the wrong one. He was plain old rude and mean. We asked for a menu said they ran out, we asked for a beer beer that was on draft he said «they ran out» and then turned away. Didn’t even make suggestions for anything. Wondered back and we said this other beer that my bf wanted and then got irritated at the fact that I still didn’t know what I wanted. I pretty much just ordered some random beer because I thought he was going to lose it. He Pretty much slammed the beer down with the change and didn’t say anything; turned around and left.
When another bartender came around, we ordered something else and he was super nice. He was happy to give suggestions and even apologized for that other guys behavior. I told him I wanted a drink with luxardo cherries and he made me a delicious cocktail.
Anyway, overall the place felt very cool to be in and I would like to check out the other bar on top.

This place is terrible. Showed up for breakfast and their eggs looked like gray brain matter. Look at my pics for proof! At one point I really thought to myself that it’ll be ok to eat those eggs. Then my instincts kicked in and I left my plate on the counter and walked out.
I’m saving you from having to talk to yourself when you finally look at the food you ordered and wonder wtf just happened? Am I really going to eat this? Good things is that you don’t have to pay for it until you reach the check out line. So if the shit looks like shit, you can bounce!
Don’t take anyone here for anything. It’s over priced cafeteria food for tourists.

Absolutely love this place on Friday & Sat. night for the swing bands at Gothic room.
Love all the bartenders down stair.
BUT, the 1 star goes to the Attitude-​Queen/​Bartender at the Cash Bar, I’m not really paying my $ to see your mean face, FYI.

This place was great! We went there to eat and have drinks to celebrate my friend’s birthday. Everything we had to eat was delicious. It helped that we were thrown down some mimosas to wash down the food.
The scenery is so cool and interesting. I loved the different floors with decorations.
Will definitely be back!
Thank you Cliftons Cafeteria!!!

Love the vibe of this place! I didn’t actually eat or drink anything here, but my fiancé got the «Velvet Goldmine» cocktail and he said it was pretty good. I loved the ambiance and can’t wait to come back! We did check out the cafeteria and the food looked pretty good.
We arrived around 9pm and the place was already pretty packed. If you’re coming with a big group, I definitely would suggest to arrive earlier than later. We were lucky enough to find a little spot next to the DJ that would accommodate our larger group.
I’d also recommend to valet park since it’s only $ 10 and all the other parking lots were at least $ 15+ and you would have to walk. The valet guy was also really nice.

We went to Clifton’s for the first time since it’s re-​opening last night and it was SO fun! We took a brief turn through the food area, but the food looked about as good as you’d expect from a place with the word «cafeteria» in it’s name. Pass. We went upstairs and had a blast. The ambience was super cool and kitschy, with perfect lighting (not too dark) and perfect noise level (energetic but not too loud to talk). Walk a few steps one way and there was standard club music, walk a few steps the other way and there was a live swing band with tons of people swing dancing. I don’t know how to swing dance but I kind of want to learn now. It was pretty fun to watch.
We paid 6 bucks to park across the street; it was well-​lit, open 24 – 7, non-​pee smelling and the attendants were pleasant. Not too shabby for DTLA.

This place is worth checking out for the ambience, which is unlike anything else you will find in LA! It’s retro, funky, woodsy, classy and kitschy all at the same time.
The original plan was dinner and a drink. We went to the bar on the second floor, saw it was crowded, so headed up to the third floor where the line was fairly short. However, there was only one bartender working on a Friday night and it took about 20 min to get our drink with only about three people ahead of us. Ordered an old fashioned — I love me some whiskey, but way too heavy on the bitters and I think he forgot the simple syrup. Bummer.
When we saw the food people were walking out of the cafeteria with, and after reading the reviews, we decided to opt out of dinner. Definitely did not look appetizing or worth the price.
That said, I could come back here just for the cool ambience and to give another bartender a try! Perhaps we came on an off night for the bar. And where else in LA can you enjoy a cocktail with a lion amongst a giant (faux) Redwood?

ALL ABOUT THE INTERIOR!
Walkin’ the street of Broadway during the «Night on Broadway» event, me and The Crew were a bit famished. Having only taken a quick looksee inside the famous Clifton’s Cafeteria while walking the streets of DTLA during CicLAvia a month’s couple earlier, I wanted to take a quick tasty of their food.
The cafeteria décor has a kitschy magical forest theme goin’ on, decorated with dioramas of wild animals, murals of Yosemite, and a hollow redwood tree with a burning fireplace, that extends through all three floors. There are several stations manned by staff, including carved meats, salads, rotisserie meats, sandwiches, desserts, drinks and more. Seat yourself tables and chairs are available for patrons to enjoy their eats. Seating was limited, crew members were scattered throughout Clifton’s.
ORDERED:
I ordered the fish and chips. It comes with thick cut fries and tarter sauce. The batter on the fish was a thick and a light golden brown. One thing about the cafeteria is, patrons have full view of their food being prepared. Having said that, both the fish and chips were frozen and tasted frozen. As hungry as I was, I couldn’t even force it down.
The furniture upstairs on the second floor is constructed of wood, bovine horns and deer or moose antlers. There is a fireplace inside of the middle trunk of a tall tree. It’s a fun destination to bring your family. Children will enjoy all the interesting items on exhibit and historic tchotchkes. They also have a treasure chest that kids can get a prize. The service was extremely slow. Crew member and I, and another gent ordered fish and chips. Although there were several fry baskets available, cook fried up each order separately, about 10 minutes per order.
The third floor, aka the peacock room, is set up for large private parties, and the restrooms are on this floor, as well.
They do have a full bar and lounge areas on multiple levels with beer, wine and creative libations. It’s a fun spot to meet for drinks.
ON A TRAY:
While Clifton’s Cafeteria is one of LA’s icons, and for some, hard to find on Broadway, where famous actors, actress, singers, and dancers sat among common people back in the day, enjoying tasty, hearty meals for a very reasonable price, me and The Crew did not find the food to be all that good.
The food was unappetizing and the service was extremely slow. Only reason we would return would be to give the interior another looksee. Sadly, all stars represent the décor.

This is one of those places you go to for ambience. I love taking out of towners or the occasional date here. This review is for the bar and not the food, although the food does look pretty tasty. (It is cafeteria style by the way, hence the name).
The façade is unassuming on the outside, tucked on a street in DTLA, some theater lights out front. Once you enter though, you’re transported somewhere very far from the bustle of downtown, and I love it. It’s fantastic. The first level you find the cafeteria with a variety of different foods. Look around, there are wonderful little details everywhere. The big tree with the plush couches and fire, the taxidermy everywhere (bears, lions, peacocks, bison etc), the wonderful gothic themed bar, the ballroom. There are great nooks and crannies for you to sit privately and have a drink and conversation. This has quickly become one of my favorite spots to go. Not to mention, the bartenders pour a stiff drink.
Definitely a must visit in DTLA.

Great place for a drink after a long day of work! Amazing to have this in the middle of downtown!

School cafeteria meets knockoff Disneyland meets… Twin Peaks? Clifton’s Cafeteria is a crazy, crazy place and I love it! It’s truly a visual feast for the eyes and must be experienced in person to really get it.
When our awesome Unilocal bud Steph H. said we needed to check it out while in DTLA this past weekend, I was unsure of what it was going to be. I was thinking it would just be a normal looking bar that happened to have a cafeteria (??) in it. Yup, I’m basically clueless when it comes to LA places. Living in OC will do that to you. :p
Anyway, not knowing what to expect, Clifton’s blew my mind. First there’s that enormous tree. Okay, I thought — CA sequoia/​redwoods theme. But then there were several chairs made almost entirely of what appeared to be steer horns. And then there’s all the bizarro taxidermy displays. I’m pretty sure the African lion on the third floor was never native to CA nor was the larger than life bison on the second floor. I dislike seeing dead animals in general, but these taxidermy displays were just so WTF weird that it was almost like art. We also squeezed into the stone chapel for a quick look. It’s tucked behind a side area so it’s hard to find but worth seeing.
Though Clifton’s was insanely crowded — not surprisingly considering it was Night on Broadway — our group managed to find an area with couches and that nutso aforementioned steer horn chair. It was nice to have a server take our drink orders since the bar was packed. Beer selection is extensive but nothing awesome. I settled for an okay Modern Times stout. Friends said their cocktails were okay to good but certainly not spectacular.
I didn’t have a chance to eat anything on this visit but plan to check out the cafeteria on my next visit. If nothing else, grab a drink and just wander. I’m sure there are at least a dozen weird things I missed that will need exploring next time.

I grew up going to Clifton’s and was so disappointed when it was shut down.
I waited until the hype calmed down for the reopening and boy was I disappointed.
While they kept a lot of the original décor and added some. The food it self was not what I remembered. For one, they do not offer the same dishes as in the past, the lines were extremely long and by the time we found a table (on the 3^rd floor) our food was cold :(. There was 8 of us and 4 of us got to sit while the other stood up and ate. We witnessed many people dropping their trays and no one ever came around to clean up.
Will not be returning.

Oh dear, guys, it aint gonna last long if you go on like this. All that investment… so much waiting for the opening… and…well the food was cold, bland and well just generally disappointing!
Please perk it up, I am rooting for you, but I wont be back any time soon!
(I will keep my eyes open on this page for someone to alert me to an improvement in the future)!

This review is for a Sunday brunch/​lunch.
Let’s start with the strongest pull of this place– the weird over-​the-​top décor. It’s hunting chic meets Los Angeles County Museum taxidermy. There’s stuff all over the place and it’s kind of neat to look at. That’s about it that’s good about this place.
The drinks are expensive, the food is bland, borderline gross in many instances, the employees hate working there and the clientele is a mixed bag of weird. Seriously, there were old people, hipsters, families on vacation… you name it.
It is literally a cafeteria, and it tastes just like your old high school cafeteria. I got the roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, and a piece of fried chicken (on a whim). The turkey was dry and gross, the mac and cheese tasted like nothing but oil– only the fried chicken was any good and it was so over salted that it was barely edible.
Do yourself a favor and skip this tourist trap.

I was lucky enough to have visited Clifton’s when I first moved out to LA way back when before it closed down and I gotta say the remodel does a really good job at maintaining the original feel of a kitschy wooded wonderland that was so (dare I say) magical. Lot of reviews here complain about the food, but Clifton’s has never been about the food, people! It’s cafeteria style (and quality) food and not meant to be a Michelin star restaurant. So if you go without that expectation, I think you’ll be okay since the #1 reason anyone should go to Clifton’s is for the nostalgia and ambience which does not disappoint. The new bar areas on the 2^nd and 3^rd floors are super cool too and do a good job of blending a mixology lounge vibe within the over all woodys lodge feel.
Btw — not for nothing, but someone on Unilocal needs to change the profile pic of Clifton’s which is currently a picture of the receipt that a Unilocaler had issue with. I’m sure that Unilocaler had a valid point with their complaint but it shouldn’t be the representative picture for any restaurant.
Update — thanks Unilocal for updating Clifton’s profile picture.

I was hanging out with some friends downtown and we decided to come here for a late lunch. I’d heard of Clifton’s but had never been, and I was excited to check it out, as I’d heard so many good things about its renovation. We arrived at around 3:30pm on a drizzly afternoon and there was no line whatsoever. We headed into the cafeteria area, gawking at all the faux forestry (faux-​restry?) around us, from the rocks to the trees to the taxidermized animals. The bf and I weren’t terribly hungry so we settled on a bowl of tomato soup, some green beans, and dollops of stuffing and mashed potatoes. Cafeteria-​style dining is perfect for wacky customized meals, don’t you agree? The selection was pretty impressive, and I must say we enjoyed the food we got quite a bit. The tomato soup was hearty and delicious, and the mashed potatoes had an intriguing tang that we surmised might have been from mixing in sour cream? Whatever the recipe, we all found our food to be quite satisfactory.
After our meal we decided to take a look around the rest of the place and it was amazing all the crazy and cool stuff we saw. We wandered up to the second floor dining area with its player piano, expansive windows looking down onto downtown streets, and a taximdermized tableau I call «The Trials of Life» where a coyote/​wolf is chasing down a goat – not sure if that’s what I want to look at while I’m eating my turkey dinner, but hey, it’s pretty cool. Then it was up to the third floor, where a swank, dimly-​lit bar could be found. A huge redwood replica soars up through all three floors, which is SO awesome. There was yet another level, but we were informed that it was for private parties only, alas. We had a really great time here; I think kids would especially love it. All I know is, I’m definitely going back.
STEPH JUDGEMENT: More for the funky-​cool ambiance than the food, but the food’s not bad.

I have a family history tied to Clifton’s, several of the recipes were developed by my grandfather back in the day, he was a lead chef. In the Los Angeles location, pictures of my Uncle even adorn the walls, which was a thrill for us to discover. I finally went with my grandmother as a trip down memory lane, my grandfather has since passed.
She was super excited to see that they have retained several of the same internal aesthetics of the café (Felt like being with Rose from the movie Titanic). The easiest way to describe the location ambience is that it feels like it should be in an amusement park (Disneyland?) because it has a ‘lose’ mountain wilderness theme. There are a variety of stuffed animals, fake trees, caves, and ornate furniture made from animal horns. I spent a good 20+ minutes just looking around, felt like a museum experience.
As for the food offerings, it’s important to note that this is a cafeteria, so you get a tray and build your meal as you see fit. Clifton’s does a nice job on desserts and meats. I highly recommend the turkey carving station, for the money it’s a generous portion. The meat and stuffing was perfectly moist. I also enjoyed their pecan pie, well done, and I know pecan pie.
Being that Clifton’s is downtown, it’s off the path for most, but is a unique treat if you happen to be in the area, or going to a Los Angeles based event. I’d definitely go again if I was in the area, fun experience you need to encounter for yourself. On the Sunday that we visited we enjoyed a live band playing between the first and second floor.

My Aunties took me here for some nostalgia. Their Grandma, my Great Grandma, used to take them here when they were little. We parked across the street and walked over to Clifton’s. A staff member in the front showed us the way to the cafeteria. At first I walked around to see what was being served. I ended up at the grill for a bison patty melt and fries. My Aunt was with me too, she originally wanted a ahi tuna sandwich from the grill, but they were out so she got the salmon instead. The service at the grill was super slow, we both waited at least fifteen minutes for our food. There were only two cooks at the grill and a lot of people who ordered their food from there. It was interesting watching them cook our food, it just took a little longer than expected. I got my patty melt first, then my Aunt got her salmon. My Aunt had to tell the cook that she didn’t want any green beans with her salmon, twice. The cook kept on telling her that she should try them and that they’re really good, but she said she didn’t like green beans. It was pretty rude of him. She ended up asking for fries as a substitute and he finally complied. Next we got some jello. I love jello and this place is pretty famous for theirs so of course I had to try it. I wanted to get a green or blue jello, but they looked kinda dirty, they just had stuff on top of them so I just took a yellow jello since they looked clean. Lastly, we got our drinks. I had filled up a coke when I first entered the place because I was super thirsty and craving a coke, but by now it was halfway empty so I refilled it. The cups here are really small, which is kinda a rip off and I don’t think you can go back for a refill once you pay for your food. There was a long line for the one cash register that was open, but then another one opened up so my Aunt and I went into the new, shorter line. For the both of us it was about $ 27 which isn’t that bad.
My other Aunt found us a seat on a little balcony, we had a nice view of the whole place. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be to be honest. I liked the décor though, it’s different than most other places with all the trees and wildlife theme. There’s lot’s of cool nooks and crannies in this place. I tried my bison patty melt first. I was kinda scared it wouldn’t be all that great because there was a review here where someone didn’t like the patty melt. I love bison meat and we eat it all the time at home. I’ve never had it in a patty melt before so I just had to try it. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium rare like I asked. The bread was toasty, there was melted stringy cheese, grilled onions and a sweet sauce. It was a really good patty melt. The fries were addicting, crispy and thin. Lastly I had the jello. It was a lot tougher than I expected. It was hard to cut it with a spoon. My Aunts said they put a lot of gelatin in it so it can stand up by itself, which makes sense. The jello tasted good, not too sweet, just a nice citrusy flavor. It wasn’t hard to chew, it had a nice bite to it, like al dente pasta. I only ate half of all my food since it was a generous portion. We got a box and saved the rest for later. My Aunts liked their salmon and soup that they got so they were also satisfied with their meals.
In between eating I did use the restroom. I looked upstairs first and then downstairs. The restroom is downstairs through a dark room with some odd, but amusing decoration. The restroom was nice, clean and bright. There are a lot of stairs here and I don’t believe they have an elevator. Not handicap accessible since the building was made a long time ago. I still think they should add an elevator though since they have so many floors.
After our meal we decided to take a look around. We went up to the second floor, past a waterfall and a huge taxidermy bison into the bar area. All the other floors were roped off. I really loved the bar area, mostly because there was a nice big fireplace inside a huge tree and a few comfortable seats. It was really cool, if we come here again we’re totally sitting by the fireplace.
Before we left my Aunt talked to a lady in the front of the restaurant. She told us they are opening a steak house on the top floor soon for dinner, which sounds a lot better than cafeteria food. The next time we come, we’re definitely going to try the new steak house. Can’t wait until it opens up.
Overall this place barely makes four stars. The service was bad, but the food was good and I loved the atmosphere of this place. It was nice stepping back in time for a bit.

Is there such a thing as culinary masochism? Because I made my way here from OC just to see if the food lived up to the insults. Unfortunately (fortunately?) for me, the cafeteria was closed when we arrived after 10 p.m.
A bartender told us grub stops being served around 9 or 10 at night. It seems an economically unwise choice not to offer at least appetizers to entice people to drink and stay till 2 a.m. Heck, a bag of hot cheetos would’ve been better than nothing.
Speaking of cheetos, which sounds like cheetah, there’s a lion behind me. Yes, a big ol’ hunk of taxidermy glory staring blankly over my shoulder as I sip on a strange-​tasting gin-​based drink called Angel’s Flight from their specialties menu.
Just as tacky in looks as the drink was in taste is the taste in décor. All three floors were awash in a reddish glow, spreading itself over a mix of antique furniture, faux foliage, and natural history museum runaways.
If you want to be transported to another time? Grab a drink at The Edison. Another place? Visit the Magic Castle. If you want the «cabinet of curiosities» experience Clifton’s seems to have been striving for with little luck, go to the Museum of Jurassic Technology.
Did I enjoy my time though? Indeed I did. Exploring the place, peeking into nooks and crannies, then settling down into one of the many empty corners on a late Tuesday night was a mini mid-​week adventure. Knowing that millions of dollars went into re-​designing this space, however, leaves one curious as to how it isn’t more…

I was getting bored of LA nightlife. Long lines, trite DJs, overcrowded bars. Same ol’ song and dance.
Then, just as I assumed I’d be dragged to another mediocre venue with overplayed mash-​ups, I waltzed into Clifton’s. The occasion was a friend’s birthday and the evening was spectacular! I’m not sure whether it was the the kooky tattooed «magician,» who made not-​so-​covert references to drugs and penises, or the jazzy rendition of Britney Spears’ «Toxic» that made me giddy. Perhaps it was the live music and spectacular (professional?) dancing…
But who cares? I was wide-​eyed in awe, as if I were discovering the wonderland of nightlife all over again. (That is until I had to wait 30 minutes to get a drink. Are bars always this crowded at 11pm?)
Clifton’s is definitely at the top of my list for entertainment on a Saturday night!

Came here on a post-​Thanksgiving Saturday afternoon. I expected the area to be packed but I guess with the USC and UCLA football game happening, the city wasn’t extremely crowded. Here was our experience on a Saturday afternoon.
Ambiance:
Parking: Garage parking and street parking. Generally garage parking is a better way to go if you plan to stay long and walk around the area. Lots are also available as well and they generally change by the time of day.
Seating:
PLENTY of seating. I beleive there are about 3 – 4 levels. Bar seating but mainly plenty of group seatings.
Feels:
* A great tourist area that wants to get a good feel of LA. Architecture is a classic and the interiors have their classy elements that reminds me a lot like Rainforest Café. No TV but there are interesting artifacts around the area to learn more about the place.
Food:
The style is cafeteria style so you basically pick and choose.
Ribs (A-​OK):
Ribs are ribs well sauced and cooked. This was like every other rib but unfortunately it did not stand out.
Thanksgiving Ham (A-​OK)
The ham was moist and the serving was plentful however once again didn’t really stand out.
Macaroni & Cheese (A-​OK)
Like my prior reviews, the mac was well cheesy. A definite upgrade from mac and cheese you make out from the box. Can’t go wrong here.
Customer Service:
Nothing really stood out. Just another grab and go. I did notify a waiter about a spill on the floor and they handled it promptly.
Overall:
3.5 stars. If you’re looking for artisan food then try their desserts. Other than that this place is more over great for the ambiance and experience as oppose to the food itself. Slightly pricey for standard food. If you’re in need of a safe bet, then this is great place but if you want venture outside your tastebuds, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
TL;DR Tips:
* If you’re there for the desserts, their bakery is in the front.

Clifton’s is good but not great. First of all, it’s HUGE. Like 3 enormous floors huge. I think it might even be too big. You purchase food in the cafeteria on the ground floor, just like an old school cafeteria. I ordered turkey, mashed potatoes and a side salad. My food was good. They have a craft cocktail bar. My drink was good but I had to wait a very very long time for it. Like 20 minutes. I ordered an Old Fashioned.
Problems:
No parking
The bar is upstairs. It was hard to carry my tray up there in high heels.
Confusing on how to order and what goes with what
It’s good for kids though, they were everywhere and probably think it’s fun.

Amazing atmosphere! Must check out the giant tree. Like something at Disneyland. Fun nooks and crannies to discover on the 2^nd floor, mainly.
3^rd floor has a very historic feel, with the interesting addition of vignettes with taxidermied animals shown in realistic outdoor settings. Huge high ceilings. Could make a great ballroom space.
Food was a bit hit or miss. Half the family stood on line forever (!) waiting on the chicken for the special. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder, which, while tasty, was more like potato chowder than any claim to clams.
I hope they are working out the kinks and these types of issues will begin to fade away. So much potential!
All the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful.

I decided to return to Clifton’s and visit the bar. So disappointing! I was at the lower level bar when one person in my group asked for something sour. The bartender told us that they didn’t have the ingredients to make any sour drink. Then she asked for an apple martini and again they were out of all apple flavoring… WTF??? As big and beautiful as the bar is, why are they so out of stock???
One star for the food and one star for the bar. I will not return!!!

When planning our trip to downtown it was to get out of the rhythm of what we experience in our hometown. Everything we chose was to stretch our minds as to what LA offered. This cafeteria was recommended to us and I was intrigued — excited to offer my kids the cafeteria food that we used to love to eat with my granddad. Little did I know what they had in store!
We were excited by the cafeteria set up, the tile floors, the food stations, the side dish options, the gorgeous desserts — brownies painted in in gold, cupcakes with glitter. It was cool to see the original juice fixtures and other originals blended with the modern. The first level feels like you are in a lodge. Trees are painted in the walls and camouflage the support beams. There are museum-​quality wild animals of all kinds throughout. We almost left without seeing the magical rest of the building.
The 2^nd floor has a long bar area that I’d love to hit up a happy hour here. There are also various sitting areas and a castle with a room that has a secret peaceful feature — you have to check it out for yourself.
The 3^rd floor was even lighter and probably for more formal events. They had beautiful sitting/​waiting areas with a dance hall that featured space for a live band. I could picture the times where dancing was more formal and feel the energy. There are so many amazing details in the cafeteria!
Our Three-​thumb review is 2 thumbs up. The food was ok. The temperature of my fried chicken was cold — though I don’t mind. Reminded me of picnicking in the woods while eating on the first floor. The kids’ pasta was fresher and made upon their request. My son — though a history buff — was a little put off by the age of the place assuming it meant that things weren’t as clean and such which is nonsense. His high hopes for his brownie and cookie crumbled as they were a bit stale from sitting around. My daughter got more into the unique qualities of the location noticing details such as the pennies and nickels in their bathroom floor! I totally fantasized about attending the NYE gala featuring Dita vin Teese and decided if not for that event — I must return to see the building in it’s full splendor at some evening event some time.
Come for the escape and the experience!
#ThreeThumbReviews

Went twice in a month. Once a few days after thanksgiving for brunch and yesterday at dinner time.
The staff– most of them great!
The food– not bad:/
The ambiance-​Kooky
I was a bit turned off by the you efficiency at the dinner time rush.
When we go there we waited in line for about 15 minutes, which is a good wait for a Saturday dinner… But I noticed the wait was due to the restaurant not being efficient. First there is usually two lines for the carvery, but for some reason there was only one line…
I went to the soup line and asked what was the soup of the day and the gal behind the counter said «beets”— I had to ask her twice. She couldn’t hear me very well and I didn’t want to ask her again as she looked annoyed when I asked her a second time. I skipped the soup line.
After making my rounds and picking up things I liked. I headed for the cashier with my 79 year old dad and it was closed (I saw her check out one person before us).
No big deal. The first two stories were closed so we had to go to the third floor. I didn’t see any signs of an elevator and my poor dad had to try and keep up with me.
Will I be back? Yes
Should there be some slight changes for efficiency— definitely!

Much ado about nothing.
After hearing I HAD to go here and see it and how amazing it was I finally was in the area (since I wasn’t going out of my way to go downtown to eat here) and was able to talk my companion into going here despite the word «cafeteria» not striking her fancy.
Traffic downtown is horrible and if you miss the entry to the parking lot across the street because you’re either on the wrong side of the road or you flat out miss the little entryway you will have to drive around looking for the next one, hint there is another one the closet corner cross street.
The place looks very cool and I’m sure it was helped along because it’s decorated for Christmas, but I couldn’t help but wonder what the «feel» of the place would be minus the overwhelming Christmas displays.
After hearing that they had an executive chef I had higher hopes than I experienced; When walking around the kitchen area there was really much less to choose from then I expected. By the time you wait in all the lines and locate a table, your food is barely warm if not cold. The roast beef was tough as hell and WELL done. The ham was ok, the sides were no better than a school lunch.
The ambience of the place is pretty cool and We were daydreaming about how cool this place could be if it were a sitdown restaurant/​club for adults. Partition off the kitchen and make it a real kitchen, leave the bottom floor for the waiting area and the upper levels for different bars.
As of now the 2 upper floors are off limits and the 3^rd floor was closed while we were there although it is fully renovated.
If you are looking for a relaxing dinner this is absolutely not the place for you to be, but if you want the experience of eating at a Disneyland style eatery at high dinner time with kids running around and eating soup kitchen food, then come enjoy the chaos.

Interesting and unique décor, but the cafeteria food is sub-​par.
Four levels of what feels like a hunters lodge with a sequoia spanning three levels, taxidermy wildlife in many of the dining rooms and antique furniture on the upper levels, and bars on the mid-​level floors. I can see this being an interesting hipster hangout as the bars are open til 2am, but the food is so bad (and overpriced) that I would really never come back.
It’s worth it to come and take a gander. And there is a space on the 3^rd level that might be interesting event space if you want to hold a small dinner for a special hunters gathering.

Disclaimer: Based on everything I had read about the food, I did not eat here despite the fact that I had been eagerly awaiting its opening and was initially very excited to eat here. I really do hope that they step up their food game, because as it is, it’s really just a shame.
I love the history of the place. There’s nowhere else like it anywhere in LA. or anywhere else for that matter. The money spent on the $ 10 million renovation is apparent throughout. This place is huge, and the redwood theme is prevalent and impressively displayed throughout. It’s definitely worth coming to see. In the bottom floor, down the steps and next to the restrooms, there is the country’s longest burning neon light (77 years!). The space is huge.
We came for a drink and to check the place out. There are a two different bars, each with their own impressive cocktail menu. The Monarch Bar on the second floor also has a large selection on beers on tap. Not cheap, but I guess someone has to pay for that renovation.
All in all I was very impressed by the space, but it’s not somewhere that I’d eat, and I’m not even sure if it’s somewhere that I’d hang out. It’s almost too big and impersonal and I didn’t love the vibe. But lots of people were there on a Friday night, so I guess it is a popular spot for some.

Para mi fue una decepción muy grande el poder ir a visitarlo nuevamente esta grandiosa cafetería que la conocí en los 80 llevé a mis hijos pequeños a comer ahí y para mí era una delicia estar en ese lugar pero qué decepción tan grande me lleve el día de ayer yo no entiendo cómo gastando tantísimo dinero en una cafetería tan famosa el personal que tienen ahora necesita mucho entrenamiento no sabe ni qué hacer cuando está cuando el lugar eso es una cosa de vamos con la comida Dios santo que pésima comida tienen ahora todo lo cambiaron ya filete de pescado ya no ponen ya el pan es diferente todo es un caos yo sentí mucho el cambio que andado yo pienso que no sólo yo me voy a quejar hasta de los postres por Dios santo que postre más horribles no se puede ni comer los país de fresa que hacían antes eran una cosa buena todo mi decepción fue tan grande y mis hijos hoy lo lleve que estaban grandes y Dios mío donde están esos dueños que gastan invierten tantísimo dinero para que la gente vaya y coma con tanta competencia eso se va a cerrar Y lo más importante no estoy mintiendo porque me ha dolido mucho el haber ido a ese lugar que yo era soltera cuando yo lo iba visitar y me decepcione tanto y mis hijos también que llo no pienso volvemos qué lástima yo pienso que si han cambiado de dueños y quisieron mejorar la comida en vez de hacer lo mejor lo hicieron al revés lo único bueno que cambiaron es que pusieron BAAR y poca decoración que le que han hecho cuando uno visitado un lugar en el cual uno iban y comía también todo era perfecto uno no esperaba uno iba se servía comía muy a gusto en ese lugar Y es muy triste

Paradigm shift: Clifton’s Cafeteria is a great bar. You hear me? Come here to drink, not eat. Capisce? Do we have an understanding? It’s for your own good, really. Drink up.
Do not come here for the food. It’s mediocre at best. It keeps the high-​school-​cafeteria tradition going strong: some things are okay, others border on inedible. Eat the food only if you must so that you’re sober enough to drive home. Follow me?
Come here for the drinks. The cocktail menu rivals some of the best in this great City of Angels. And the bartenders, at least in the Gothic Bar where we started out, rock.
Oh, and come here for the atmosphere. And the history. It’s like exploring your great-uncle’s house with all those nooks and crannies and strange objects to stare at. Lots of conversation starters if you’re in the market. Only thing is all the stairs can be problematic if you’ve had a few. Skip the heels.
Clifton’s is a great place just to hang out and catch up with friends and nurse your divine Electric Sheep (vodka, apple brandy, lemon juice, prosecco topped with a dessicated apple slice, possibly named for the original title of Blade Runner which was filmed nearby) without annoying servers interrupting you all the time. And my friend loved her Sidecar, too; order away, your wish is their command.
Drink. Drink. And eat if you must, for safety reasons only.
Parking in paid lots nearby or on the street if you’re lucky.