-At first the music playing while we ate was just annoyingly loud soft jazz, but then it changed and played Lovely Day which is my second-favorite Bill Withers song and just pretty much perfect, and after that it played a really great cover of Miss You.. Our Dress Code is enforced after 9pm in all areas as specified below. If you have a favorite location, special occasion or specific desires, we encourage you to reserve seating to optimize your Adventure! We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. -Right inside the doors is a little two-wheel cart and a chalkboard sign. It was a place where everybody could meet, a place that fueled artistic passions. I tried sitting in the horn chair; it was comfortable but surprisingly springy. I would absolutely love to make those. Follow her @Jenn_Harris_. And you had all these different centersplaces like Century City and parts of Santa Monica and Beverly Hills were booming. Cliftons Brookdale is the largest cafeteria in the world. There was a pair of little kid sunglasses, pink with flowers, lying on a table in the gift shop area. The last trip was when he was 10 or 11 years old, and he saw so much starvationmothers trying to feed their children by giving them roots or mud to fill them up. Clifton's Brookdale still stands today. Left, the Brookdales original facade was revealed during renovations in 2012. In fact, Meierans crew discovered a neon light sealed within the walls, likely powered continuously since 1935. (1924) Original Pantry Cafe, downtown L.A. (1959) Dinahs Family Restaurant, Culver City. It came with a choice of sides; I asked the guy serving them which were his favorites and learned that this was his first day working at Cliftons and so he had no real opinion. Dress Code We are dedicated to a resurgence of old world style and sense of romance that once dominated Los Angeles Nightlife. -We walked up a broad wooden staircase to the third floor, which might be the most glamorous, elegant place Ive ever been. Clifton's Cafeteria648 South BroadwayLos Angeles, CA. What I Ate: Meatloaf, roasted vegetables, stuffing, a fruit cup, a bite of David (my husband)s jello. Using his customer base as a huge insider network, Clinton tipped the jury off to L.A.s widespread corruption, demanding a thorough investigation. Oh, may mine be a friendly door/May all who cross the threshold oer When IS this place going to reopen? I purchased a couple drinks for $20.00 dollars. Featured were fountain soft drinks and classic American fare such as roast beef, brisket, meatloaf, and turkey, with a wide assortment of traditional sides. From the bottom level it looks like a castle tower, but it turned out to be the Stone Chapel. Theres a sign next to it that says, Please Read Before Entering The menu at Clifton s Cafeteria features a mixture of salads, soups, fresh breads, hot entr es, vegetables, desserts and kid friendly fare. -The first floor has a large eating area, lots of long tables and chairs, with rock walls, pillars like tree trunks, rock archways and a big rock fireplace, a meandering waterfall coming down from the second floor, and forest murals on the walls that arent rock. Great article, Cliftons must have inspired many restaurants during his time. Menu at Clifton's Cafeteria, Los Angeles - Restaurant Guru Clifton's Cafeteria Broadway. Most shocking is to see how hard he fought corruption, unlike the clintons of today. The 1960 renovation was when they covered the old faade, and tore out a lot of the interior elements, explains Meieran. -In the gift shop, next to a display of books, there is a hole in the stone wall, down by the floor, maybe two feet high. Cliftons also hosted the Mar-Fash-Sho Modeling School an annual charity fashion revue where guests can see the newest casual and formal wear presented by black models. It really began with much more extensive, high-quality, eclectic fair. A fishing bear, animated animals, and a moose head also adorned the restaurant. many thanks for making our experience great. Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing, 648 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014-1807, United States, parking area is St Vincent Jewelry Center Parking. There were lots of protected houses of prostitution, gambling, and other things that were clearly against the law, but many of the police were being paid off to just wink at that., There had already been fantasy architecture, but Cliftons took it to a new level.. It fell to Earth in Venezuela and is part of the owners vast collection of stuff, which is I guess is reason enough to install it near your bartender. Your handy guide on where to eat from the editors at Eater LA, Follow Eater editors each week as they share their favorite dishes around town, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Clifton's Cafeteria Presented in Its Completed Glory, Sign up for the Some doors have hearts it seems to me/They open so invitingly City: Los Angeles, 4206 Fountain AveCA 90029, Mexican dishes, Extras, SIDES, Non alcoholic drinks, Drinks, City: Los Angeles, 506 South Grand Ave.CA 90071, Non-Smoking, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Beer, City: Los Angeles, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suites A160 A260CA 90015, "we felt honestly like a celebrity. During the war & there was no sugar on the table. Clifford Clinton was a Christian in the true sense of the word. Only eating and drinking is too ordinary for you?! 8. (Latch Door from Inside to Prevent Disturbance) You may also contact us at (213) 613-0000 between the hours of 9am and 7pm, Monday through Saturday with any questions or comments! Developer Andrew Meieran bought the cafeteria in 2010 and spent the next five years and $10 million renovating it. It's cafeteria food!!! LOVED this, Sarah have shared it :~) xoxoxo, Thanks for sharing this !!! Casual clothing is the name of the game at Clifton's Cafeteria, where suits and ties won't be spotted for miles. David (my husband) and I sat down in large, cushy arm chairs and considered never leaving. Three young hipster girls sat on the couch with their trays balanced on their knees, eating with chopsticks. Soon after the first Cliftons opened, customers began referring to it as the Cafeteria of the Golden Rule., Having grown up in a family of strong Christian faith, Clinton was taken on family missionary trips to China, and was profoundly affected by the poverty he witnessed. 5. I have a rose cut glass window that came out of the Cliftons restaurant in West Covina. :). Instead, he filed a minority complaint to the grand jury and established the Citizens Independent Vice Investigating Committee (CIVIC). Frankly, too expensive but all with it because Clifton's is nostalgic! 10 Things to Know About Clifton's Cafeteria, Opening Tuesday Downtown As for the menu, Meieran calls it a contemporized version of classic cafeteria fare. In addition to standard comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, Meieran wants the broad nature of his cafeterias menu to reflect the eclectic cultures that make up Los Angeles, ranging from Chinese food to Mexican dishes. A postcard image of the Cliftons Brookdale interior, circa 1940s. I understand wanting to eat by the fire, but I still think it would have been much easier for them to just sit at a table. View the menu, check prices, find on the map, see photos and ratings. It was all exactly as good as you would expect from a place with cafeteria in its name, or maybe even a little better. One of the drinks is called Field of Gold, and involves blended whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites and absinthe. A real meteorite, found in Venezuela, is on display inside the Gothic bar of the newly reopened Clifton's cafeteria. I am 55 but like to cook the old fashion way. Cliftons forested dining room, left, was inspired by the grand hall at the Brookdale Lodge in Brookdale, California, where Clinton spent time as a boy. I have left messages repeatedly. Clifton's Cafeteria Presented in Its Completed Glory - Eater LA I would stand in line all night long to purchase one!! Los Angeles, California Restaurant menu, map for Clifton's Cafeteria located in 90014, Los Angeles CA, 648 S Broadway. Clifford Clinton never turned away anyone who was hungry despite their lack of money, and during the Depression he gave away many a free meal to his cafeteria's guests. No other restaurant on Earth could do that. Besides their forested main dining hall, the Brookdale also included a tiny, two-seat chapel for spiritual reflecting plusa separate top floor with a more traditional, red-and-white interior. Olive Street, (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 8. Main Menu Hearty Soups Two Soups Are Featured Daily Navy Bean Clam Chowder Turkey Rice Split Pea Cream of Broccoli Savory Salads A Large Variety Of Salads Are Prepared And Served Fresh Daily Salad Sampler Your choice of four small salads on one large plate Fresh Breads A Large Selection Of Fresh Baked Breads Are Yours To Choose Inside the Reborn Clifton's Cafeteria in Downtown - Eater LA On this Website, you will find the complete menu of Cliftons Cafeteria. And on the third floor theres another bar, which will be open in the evenings. He went to Caltech in the late 30s to develop this food product using a derivative from soybeans, says Don. Jack Kerouac visited the location and wrote of it in his novel On the Road. My plate of braised short ribs with real mashed (NOT whipped) potatoes and green beans was as good as Id ever eaten, and everyone else was pleased as well. About 5 yrs. Apparently I was misinformed, and it was actually closed much more recently than I thought. 648 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA Wonho Frank Lee Wonho Frank Lee All Clifton's Cafeteria Coverage [ELA] Foursquare Clifton's Republic 648 South Broadway, , CA 90014 (213) 627-1673. At Clifton's Republic, clients may order nicely cooked chili, meatloaf and chicken pies. The music was from the twenties or thirties; some guy warbling about a pretty girl in a boat. Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria | Los Angeles Conservancy There had already been fantasy architecture, but Cliftons took it to a new level. Disneyland, the pinnacle of fantasy environments, wouldnt open for another two decades. Despite being blocked from all major news outlets, he found a small radio station that would broadcast CIVICs findings four times a day. Clifton's was the meeting place 7 days a week. Clifton's Republic. What Sort of Ghost Id Expect to Find if I Believed in Ghosts Which I do Not: A guy who was so down on his luck it seemed like his luck would never turn around; he was slouched against a lamppost wondering how he was going to get a job if he couldnt think straight from hunger when a man passed by and told him he looked like he could use a good meal, and suggested Cliftons Cafeteria, where you could eat free if you didnt have the nickel for a plate of food. Whatever Happy!!! Cliftons Cafeteria 648 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 9001 For your car, there is also park spots available. We were on our Honeymoon! When I can't have big adventures, I try to make small ones. It still has the similar motto, "Dine Free Unless Delighted", and boasts 600 seats over three floors making it the largest cafeteria in the world, in addition to the oldest cafeteria in the Los Angeles area. February 13th, 2014, On a decrepit block of Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, hidden behind a dilapidated, aging faade,lies the ghost of a palatial dining hall filled with towering redwoods and a gurgling stream. Proceed to the restaurant's website Upload menu. Its this wonderful link to old L.A., he says. His restaurants had a "Pay what you wish" policy and even at at least one of his restaurants had this slogan up in neon outside advertising this feature of the cafeteria. Photos: Historic Clifton's Cafeteria through the Decades Though the restaurant has undergone alterations every few decades over the last 80 years, many interior elements remain virtually unchanged. But the quality was commensurate with 25-cent coffee. The third floor is all old Hollywood glamour, with another bar and a large room with a bandstand. This restaurant has not yet been claimed. Fresh sliced turkey and ham is served to a customer inside the newly reopened Cliftons cafeteria. Literally the worst drinks in all the landand I love me a good dive bar so my standards are in the gutter. EXPERIENCES | VENUES | MARKETPLACE | EVENT INQUIRIES (213) 613-0000 | Hello@TheNeverlands.com The guy ate at Cliftons every day for twenty years, free for the first months, and then the nickel special for a couple months after that, and eventually paying extra to cover the meals of other guys who looked hungry. The line forms inside Cliftons cafeteria. A taxidermy black bear estimated to be 70 to 90 years old is on display inside Cliftons cafeteria on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. Things quickly went from bad to worse. He sings at car shows, and now that Cliftons has reopened, hell be there most days. Clifton's Republic - Los Angeles, CA - Yelp There was quite the gangster element coming in from the east and becoming more established, says Don. You can also reach out to them through their website. It is truly, breathtakingly, wonderful. Eventually, one of the Caveterias regular patrons offered Clinton the chance to open a location in his building at 648 South Broadway. Follow us on Twitter @AmyScattergood and @Jenn_Harris_, Alma, Ari Taymors lauded DTLA restaurant, is closing, After 18 years, Sal Marino to close his Italian restaurant Il Grano, At Howlin Rays, get the Nashville hot chicken and pimento mac salad. True to his nature, Clinton performed a detailed inquiry that revealed huge misappropriations, resulting in the dismissal of the hospital director. A recent view of the Brookdale interior, including a neon cross on the roof of its small chapel. -David (my husband) got a quinoa salad. There was a May Company as well at Eastland Mall. See Promotional Terms. Please enter a valid email and try again. 90014, Clifton's Pacific Seas The Cliftons Cafeteria in this West Covina, California, shopping center featured Googie-style signage. Menu 7.9/ 10 458 ratings "three-story tall tree in the middle of the space" (2 Tips) "Awesome Mac & Cheese !" (3 Tips) "Any cocktail you can dream" (5 Tips) "available at the bakery ." (3 Tips) See what your friends are saying about Clifton's Republic. Details Telephone: (213) 627-1673 visit website Social Media Dining Category Restaurant Amenities Full Bar Hours Suggested Parking Street Parking To add or make changes to an existing business listing, please contact marketing@downtownla.com Clifton's Republic 648 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014 CLIFTON'S REPUBLIC, Los Angeles - Downtown - Menu, Prices & Restaurant At its peak, the cafeteria, which was opened in 1935 by Clifford Clinton, served 15,000 diners a day. I was Of course they may also have just been a bunch of women who happened to be wearing hats that happened to be red. Owner - Clifford Clinton . Cliftons also hosted the semi-annual Manual Arts Journalism banquet that featured black journalists. Burrata Grilled asparagus topped with fine Burrata, Italian chorizo, extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest and petite basil GF Hamachi Crudo Clifton's aqua chiliceviche style fresh mix of cucumber, jalapeno, lime, cilantro and sea salt. One of the Angels of Los Angeles. It was very peaceful and quiet. -The ladies room in the basement is amazing, with old-fashioned wallpaper covered in butterflies and birds. Photo courtesy Jesse Monsour. Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection. ", Appetizers*, Soups*, Salads, Salad, Desserts*, City: Los Angeles, 727 N BroadwayCA 90012. Any help would be appreciated. By 1935, he opened a second Clifton's at 648 South Broadway. I cant wait! Originally created as a come-one, come-all experience for anyone who wanted an affordable (or even free) bite to eat, it's a little more updated for 2015, with a profit-geared operation that still encourages diners to donate to Midnight Mission or another outreach group that works in Downtown. The flashy dcor at Cliftons Pacific Seas restaurant included neon palms. A late-1940s postcard shows the waterfall-facade of Clintons Pacific Seas restaurant with its iconic signage. Customize this page. Im new to California . -In the cafeteria there is a big metal contraption with dispensers for milk and faded paper labels; nonfat milk and low fat milk and chocolate milk. -We decided to sit upstairs on the second floor, right near the big redwood tree with the fireplace inside it. for about two seconds to be cynical and jaded but it didnt work out. Food Service Value Atmosphere Mentioned in The Best DTLA Bars for a Night Out By Thrillist Los Angeles By DameTraveler Hidden Gems in Los Angeles You Don't Want to Miss By PopSugar Location and contact 648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014-1807 Downtown Website Email +1 213-613-0000 Improve this listing Menu GOTHIC BAR The Two Rays That was more than 80 years ago though. So glad to hear that its reopened! The rest of the concepts, which range a fine dining restaurant, tiki lounge (using artifacts from Bahooka), and basement bar, are still on the way. I first thought of this when one of my favorite blogs. He went to China as a missionary and witnessed severe poverty and despair. -Next to the rock fireplace, standing up against the wall, is a huge slice of redwood tree. It was mysterious and enchanting; never to be forgotten. Im looking for the name of a cafeteria that was in Santa Monica, CA around 1980-85. This took place February 14. Main Menu. That sound you hear, through the noise of the crowds and the music in the background, is water. And as traffic got worse, it was harder to get here, and of course, they took out the bloody transit system. If you have Accessibility questions or needs please contact our team at Hello@TheNeverlands.com. That was never the goal. Working with local doctors and pharmacists, the company created a fully paid medical plan for its staff. Once dad was on the grand jury, he had a badge and credentials to push for change. Los Angeles, California Probably not the same pot, but who knows. -We walked around the second floor; away from the bar there are a lot more tables, and the top of the stone water fall that goes down to the second floor, and benches that remind me of the Pinocchio area of Disneyland. It is immense and amazing. It felt like a movie set for a totally unbelievable movie. The lines, of course, were insane this morning, but thats to be expected on opening day. -In between the doors is a very, very old painted pillar that says Florists Wedding-Funeral-Design $1.00 and up. Which I assume means this building had a florist before it was Cliftons? For the last few years, the space has been hidden behind black wooden barricades, workers going in and out, while Meieran brought in, among many other things, a giant faux redwood assembled in pieces in San Diego, it took over a year to build and a whole taxidermied army of forest animals. Photo courtesy Chris Jepsen. My grandmother took mej there on the RedCar from Pasadena. A couple were very small, and those didnt really have themes. Left, a lighted menu board displays standard Brookdale fare, and right, the buildings exterior as it looked post-1960. It was the least-obnoxious screen Ive ever seen in a bar. In 1931, during the Great Depression, a man named Clifford Clinton, due to his conflicts with his business partners, gave up his ownership in what had originally been his father's cafeteria business in San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles. Fare The restaurants had been cafeteria style with each dish sold on a pay-per-item basis. I hope to visit the new Cliftons some day. There is a grand piano and a bar near the redwood, and sitting areas with chairs and sofas in semi-circles, and lots of tables and chairs like on the first floor. When a piece of L.A. history disappears, it's often lost forever, but in some rare cases, that history is only hidden, preserved by accident for later generations to rediscover. By the late 1940s, Don had taken over the Cliftons business with his brother, Edmond, and his sister, Jean, and they continued expanding their cafeteria empire to 11 different locations in Southern California area. -When you go inside you turn right to walk to the cafeteria entrance. Like the aforementioned Lodge, Clifton's Brookdale also had a stream running through the dining room, plus a twenty foot waterfall. ", "We pray our humble service be measured, not by Gold, but by the Golden Rule.". The ghost of Ray Bradbury. There is Jell-O, in many colors-- in little jam cups, on top of cheesecake, plain on plates. The restaurant had suffered from changing times and demographics, and from years of deferred maintenance. The Clintons were true missionaries, in that they wanted to show by deed and example, and did a fantastic job with it, says Meieran. (1967) Scarantinos Italian Inn, Glendale, (1975) Roscoes Chicken & Waffles, Hollywood, (1958) Astro Family Restaurant, Los Angeles, (1965) Tony Bella Vista Restaurant, Burbank, (1975) Moffetts Chicken Pie Shoppe, Arcadia. Well done, Mr. Oatman-Stanford! Even as Cliftons was succeeding via the familys idealistic efforts, the city of Los Angeles was awash with corruption, particularly following the election of Mayor Frank Shaw in 1933. It always worked out.. Clifton's Cafeteria Taylor Made Culture Clifton's | Los Angeles Conservancy The Brookdales colorful terrazzo sidewalk. This story was great. -In front of the fireplace that is inside the redwood tree is a long couch. I've had to send back multiple drinks and you'd be hard pressed to give me a drink I don't finish. You stated you had all the recipes. Clifton's Cafeteria - Menu - Los Angeles - Yelp It is easy to imagine how it influenced Walt Disney when he was thinking about his theme park. Back on line at Clifton's Cafeteria - CBS News It was during the height of the Great Depression when we came to Los Angeles from Berkeley, explains Don Clinton, Clifford Clintons son. Raymonds car after the bombing. After winning his war against the Shaw regime, Clinton began working with Dr. Henry Borsook, a biochemist at Caltech, to create a cheap meal supplement to fight hunger.