Clarke's on Belmont

10/16/08

Don't buy into the hype.

by tomcat710 at Citysearch

After being told to visit Clarke's by multiple people, I figured I'd give it a shot. What a mistake. There is nothing likable about this hipster staple. When my group was first being seated, we were placed next to a giant noisy speaker even though the restaurant was nearly empty. We asked to move. Thankfully, we were reseated. My waiter was some Spanish guy who barely listened to anything I had to say. I asked for a milk to be brought out with my food, and I went out of my way to specify. Of course, he brought it out first, completely disregarding my request. The pancakes I ordered were a crumbly joke and I couldn?t help but feel like the food wasn?t worth the price. When asking for my check, my waiter was too busy doing the Macarena to bring it to me. He just kept talking to his friend and singing/dancing to the radio. I was about to just leave. You shouldn?t have to fight to pay your bill.

Side note: The bathroom is beyond disgusting. There?s an awkward toilet sitting in the middle of the floor and a urinal on the side. And this is supposed to be an open bathroom for multiple people? Thank god I didn?t walk in on some shameless guy.

I think I?d choose just about any diner over this one.

• Pros: Never having to go back
• Cons: Ambience, Service, Food, Bathroom, Waitstaff

06/30/08

Friendly, fast service & great drinks

by Jessia823 at Citysearch

A diner with a full bar and a bar with a full menu, from burgers to breakfast, is hard to beat! The drinks are tasty, especially the perfect hangover-breakfast $3 Bloody Marys on Sunday or the made-from-scratch margaritas for $3 on Fridays. The bartender makes a mean Long Island Iced Tea, or try the Peach Clarke's Iced Tea.

The menu features typical diner fare, including generous omelets and skillet egg breakfasts, as well as bar & grill offerings including a few vegetarian selections. The sweet potato fries are to die for, and the Mexican Potato Soup, when offered, is amazing. The service is great, especially in the bar, where even on a Saturday night the place usually isn't overly crowded.

• Pros: great drinks, fresh coffee, milkshakes from scratch, vegetarian offerings, close to public transit, good service
• Cons: parking is difficult, especially at night

03/09/07

Slow service

by aeh5458 at Citysearch

The food here is pretty good and not too expensive, plus there is that diner feel and the 24 hour service. And you can't go wrong with the breakfast foods. I haven't had good luck with service here, but usually when we go it's with plenty of time to spare and more for the laid-back atmosphere and variety of cheap food than speedy service.