Clifton Mill-Historic
75 Water St, Clifton, OH, 45316
Clifton Mill-Historic Menu
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Burgers
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Address :
75 Water St
Clifton, OH, 45316 - Phone (937) 767-5501
- Website https://cliftonmill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Beth H.
Yay, they have vegan-friendly things! It's an accident, though. There are three kinds of vegan-friendly pancakes on the menu. I get the cornmeal and they are amazing! And huge. If you eat both, the menu claims you get a third free (or did the last time I was there.) I only eat half the stack. I realize this is a Historic Location and all, but in my head, I always think the inside is a bit like a Cracker Barrel. There's a little sort of "general store" before the seating area. I guess that sort of thing was around before CB popularized it, though. They also sell the cornmeal and mixes for their pancakes there, if you're inclined to make your own. I bought a bag last time but haven't made them yet. The waitresses are always nice but the women who cash you out at the register always seem to be harried, like they have something spectacular they need to be doing and you, YOU are preventing them from doing it. Perhaps they are the magic that make the wheel turn. The views from the windows are lovely, especially if the wheel is turning and it isn't freezing. I haven't seen it when the leaves change, but I bet it's the best time to go. Admittedly, there do seem to be more older folks here than younger people, but it's a cool place. Last time I saw clog dancers. You do have to wander kind of far out to get to it but for cornmeal pancakes that last two days, it's probably worth it.
(4)Ben E.
Clifton Mill is definitely overblown in terms of quality of the food and the customer service. I watched some senior citizens have their gift certificates rejected on questionable grounds on Father's Day. Apparently they sell gift certificates which do not display expiration dates, yet they quit honoring for senior citizens on holidays. I'm not used to seeing that level of poor customer service in any place really, and it's just a dumb way to run business. Why do it? As far as the food is concerned, it's the bare minimum. Bacon, toast, eggs, hamburgers, reuben sandwiches.. There is not a single thing really that's special or above the minimum when it comes to these dishes. They're bland, the minimum, definitely nothing exciting here. No one is getting elated about the food quality in Clifton Mill. Nothing. And it could DEFINITELY be priced more appropriately, in this light. The only reason for coming to Clifton Mill is for the Christmas lights and to enjoy the historic mill ambiance, which admittedly is fun. If the restaurant would change its management and hire some remotely decent cooks, this could be a good restaurant and give customers what they want, rather than treat them like strangers with cash.
(1)Craig P.
Beautiful scenery, windows need washed. Bean soup was canned beans put into chicken broth. Will return but won't get soup.
(3)Megan R.
Great for thick, cake like pancakes and home style cooking. Guaranteed leftovers. Genuine country-esk atmosphere with extremely polite service. Recommend their vanilla iced coffee with whip, it is better than Starbucks every day of the week.
(5)Kyle Y.
Our first time here. We stopped in on our way to Cedarville College. The food was very good in the portions were large. The pancakes would feed three people. I had the Buffalo burger. It was very good. .
(4)J Alan S.
First trip to Clifton Mill Restaurant (CMR) this fall was near perfect .. This time an extremely long wait for service .. lazy incompetent staff and food that was so far below average that I was embarrassed for them .. I feel I totally wasted 3 hours of my life and could have had a better breakfast at Bob Evans. That my dear friends is completely unacceptable! I ordered a simple country staple .. "Sausage Gravy & Biscuit" with a side of their famous bacon (WHICH IS WHY WE WENT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE). What I received was gummy, gloopy gravy that was not only under seasoned, but so incredibly pasty that wallpaper hangers should be lining up to beg them for their recipe to use as glue. The biscuits .. my Grandma Snyder is turning over in her grave .. blasphemous is the only word that comes to mind. So damp and dense they almost oozed. Now the reason we went there .. their famous smoked bacon .. This was the kicker .. not only over charred .. it literally went to dust when you bit down on it. Seriously?? You advertise "famous" bacon .. more like infamous. The only flavor profile was charcoal and I'm completely serious. Two slices of bacon for $2.99 and they were beyond burnt! My partner-in-crime ordered "Waffles" and recieved in her words .. "a rubbery mess that was hard to cut and tasteless .. but at least the syrup was warmed." She also ordered a side of "Infamous" bacon. Hers matched mine as well. BURNT to the max! I'm not saying I won't return to CMR, I am saying, however, I doubt I will ever eat there again. Great historic building, fantastic scenery and this last trip .. LOUSY FOOD!
(1)Lynn B.
I happened to run across Clifton Mill (thank you, Yelp!) during Calvin's Challenge. Three of us had breakfast and agreed it was well worth the drive from Springfield. Service and food were excellent and we will definitely return! This is what Cracker Barrel would like to be! And I bought buckwheat ground on site to enjoy in the meantime
(5)Laura J.
Been here a couple of times and enjoyed it both times. Once was in the summer, and once was at Christmas time. The lights were spectacular when we were there at Christmas time, and it really is a quaint locale with a beautiful view. I don't remember the food being exceptionally great or anything (to be honest, I don't even remember what I ordered either time), but I certainly don't remember it being bad, either. It's a great place to grab a bite to eat before or after hiking along Clifton Gorge -- it just seems to top off a nice day in the area, and I wouldn't hesitate to go again. Next time, I'll try to remember what I ate.
(4)Tom G.
I'm sorry, but I guess I don't get the attraction of the Mill. Perhaps as an historic place, in a beautiful, bucolic setting. But for the prices the food was just not very good. We had dinner there, as part of a pre-wedding family dinner, and could chose either from the breakfast or dinner menu (but, oddly, not the lunch menu). My wife had the "steak" with mashed potatoes, and I had the "steak" sandwich, with fries. Good gravy, what kind of steak was that? A cube steak? Minute steak? Mine looked like an oblong hamburger, but with less taste, and came topped with melted cheese of some kind, french fried onions, which seemed OK, and lettuce and tomato on a hoagie roll. No sauce (I should have put mayo or perhaps A-1 on it to get some flavor out of it). The best I can say is it wasn't gristly. My wife ordered her steak "medium rare." Ha Ha Ha. Joke was on her, as she had pretty much the same "steak" that was on my sandwich. Dry, slightly dense, cube-steak. Her mashed potatoes were so dry that no amount of butter, or several of those small tubs of half'-and-half, could spruce up. Perhaps we should have ordered off the breakfast menu, as several folks sounded pretty pleased with their chicken and waffles or other breakfast dishes. The prices were way too high for the quality of food. Waffle House is higher quality that this. There's a little country store attached, which seemed quaint. I had no idea there was a mill, a gorge, a covered bridge, or anything. It would have been nice to have known that as it would have made the "restaurant" experience perhaps more palatable. Parking is on the street (no lot to speak of) parallel parked. Service was very attentive, and they did serve wine.
(1)Jim W.
A fine place to take out-of-staters for a Sunday breakfast. Beautiful setting. But coffee was not very good. The omlets are plentiful, but the pancakes are more for show (huge), but really not all that tasty. No amount of butter and syrup can moisten them up. The other breakfasts are good, but you'd think a mill that grinds its own flour, and where they sell pancake mixes, would actually have good pancakes.
(2)D S.
We went for brunch on our latest trip to Yellow Springs. The restaurant is very cute and the view of the water and the wheel is a big plus. Our server was great but the food took some time to get to us. The pancakes are huge and the food is good.
(4)Andrew F.
10 months out of the year, the mill is a great quiet little place to get enormous pancakes, but come Christmas thongs change drastically! Millon's of lights adorn the mill and gorge to form quite a sight! Being a local it was a fun little attraction to do once, but it is a bit expensive and if you ask me, it wouldn't be worth the long drive people seem to make. Maybe a good place to pop the question or visit If you're already in the area, but no necessarily worth a long trek. If you are in the area, make the short drive to Cedarville, the two small coffee shops in town serve tastey coffee drinks and delicious food! There's also a gas station, Dollar General, and a cute little ice cream shop! Overall it's kinda touristy and gimmicky. Might not be worth the longer drive, bit of your in the area. Might be a fun evening!
(3)Al H.
Clifton Mill is one of those places that is much more of an experience than the label of "restaurant" suggests. Set on the side of a beautiful gorge in the blip of a town that is Clifton, the mill is a throwback to the early days of Ohio as a predominantly agricultural state. This is echoed in the decor and menu of the mill with items like "Farmers Mush" or the "Farmers omelette" featured throughout. What makes the Mill an experience is being able to sit at a turn-of-the-century farm table and look out through the old paned windows at the driving waterfalls that fuel the river rushing through the gorge below. What makes it an awesome experience is the delicious food and drink you're enjoying while you take in these views. Pro tip: Christmas at Clifton Mill is one of the can't miss experiences in Ohio. They deck out the entire grounds in a bazillion lights and have cool diorama-type displays all over. It's truly a special event.
(4)Brittany L.
The mill is owned by a family and still grinds grain using hydropower. Inside the mill is a restaurant and gift shop. The flour for the pancakes and breads is ground in that very mill. The restaurant and gift shop are open year-round. The restaurant is open year-round. At Christmas though is when the magic really happens...the mill is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights. We went with the family when we were kids, for dates in high school and college, and with the family again as 5 grown-ups. There's a miniature village, a huge Santa Claus collection, a display of antique toys, and a display of The Ohio State University playing football complete with The Best Damn Band in the Land doing Script Ohio. There's a covered bridge that does a light show in time to music (it's pretty darn cool!). Definitely worth the price of admission and a drive to Dayton area to make some holiday memories with your family.
(5)Rachelle N.
Gourmet pancakes are not worth the extra money. Bacon was pretty fantastic though! I would recommend they pay more attention to quality over quantity when making a suggestion to this restaurant.
(2)Caz O.
My review is for the "The Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill" only. I haven't been to the restaurant part of the mill in a very long time. I have been coming to Clifton Mill for the Holidays for probably over 25 years. To me it is better than going to the Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo. The zoo is just way too crowded and there's too much trudging. Generally speaking, when Christmas Lights are up, it's cold outside. I don't want to be outside for hours! Clifton Mill is small enough where you can see everything at a leisurely pace in about an hour! Just make sure you watch the light show, which I believe is once or twice every hour! It gives me goosebumps every time. This is one of the only holiday traditions my husband and I have where it's just the two of us! We always have a great time! What there is to see: More lights than you could ever imagine possible. Lining the banks of the gorge, the mill and the covered bridge! An outdoor miniature village. The miniature village has recreations of many of Clifton's historic buildings plus a 1950s diner, a light parade going down the main street and two trains that go around the village and across a covered bridge on the mill race stream. On the outskirts of the village there is a drive-in movie theatre that shows old film clips, a frozen pond with ice skaters, a football game in progress and a country fair with moving bumper cars and Ferris wheel. Santa in his workshop. There is a little cottage with windows where you can peek into the window and watch Santa as he's making toys for all the "good little girls and boys". Every 20 minutes or so, he will go up the chimney and wave and ho-ho-ho to everyone for a few minutes. It's very cool, I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever when I was a kid! There's not really anything like it anywhere else that I know of! Then around the back of the cottage, you can walk through a little "museum" area with all sorts of vintage toys dating back probably 100 years! The Santa Claus Museum. It houses the private collection of the Satariano family which has taken nearly 40 years to amass. There are over 3000 examples of Santa Claus on display dating from as far back as 1850. Some are mechanical, some are toys, some are advertising items, some are weird, some are elegant, some are rustic, all are interesting! There is a little snack/gift shop area where you can get hot cocoa and snacks. Parking is very close, we always go really early and end up parking right by the entrance, so I've never had problems with parking. But I think aside from the lot area, there is public street parking up and down the roads. I would really recommend coming and checking this place out at least once in your lifetime. And if you can swing it, come after a fresh snow. It's utterly amazing!
(5)Jessica B.
After a disappointing first attempt to dine in at the famed Historic Clifton Mills Restaurant where just a week or two prior we drove in from out of town only to find them freshly closed early for the day, we are happy to report to you, dear Yelpers and Yelpees, that the Clifton Mills breakfast experience was well worth the wait! Their picturesque immaculately cozy dining room overlooking the gorge was positively enchanting, mesmerizing even, but adding to that was their cheerful and intuitive staff who more than accommodated my hungry 5 year old after overhearing him talking about how hungry he was on the way in, without a word from me to prompt it! It was all of the goodness within their hearts. They had food out within minutes of us arriving, just for him. Aww! We got to order in peace since he was so busy chowing with great enthusiasm! He had just had his first sleepover and had been too over excited to eat the prior day's offered dinner or even breakfast at his friend's home, despite his Mother's sweet hospitality. He was indeed quite ravenous! Our breakfasts were even more amazing than the photos we viewed here before arriving. The food was fairy tale huge, and the pecan smoked bacon was the best bacon either myself or my Husband had ever had in our lives. The pancakes were gigantic, fluffy yet dense and chewy, a little dense for my tastes but still most entirely enjoyable! My only suggestion is what a joy of perfection it would be if they were to offer REAL Maple Syrup for their glorious pancakes! I offer that gently of course, as even with fake syrup, their charm far far surpassed any perceived room for even the minutest of improvement. Sigh! I'm in love! The patrons next to us said the buckwheat pancakes were delicious, too. I'll have to try them one of these days! They looked incredible. The bread they use for their toast looked homemade, and while they don't make it themselves they do get it from a local bakery, whom might I say, as a fellow scratch bread baker, did a fantastic job making their bread! I could taste the perfectly aged yeast in the bread, it was ambrosial. Lovely! Their eggs left room for improvement, but again, let me just say the charm this place oozes is more than enough to intoxicate the senses into believing anything that comes from within is made of finery! The prices were very reasonable, the gift shop was quite enjoyable (so long as I wasn't being a clumsy ox and knocking things over, phew!) and the area around the Mill is truly beckoning those who dine here to tread the paths and take in the breathtaking beauty that surrounds this utopia of charm and nature. Lastly, I absolutely adore their dinnerware! There is simply no finer way to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee than in a cup and saucer as whimsically beautiful as theirs. Thank you Clifton Mills for an unforgettable morning. I'll be back!
(5)Valerie W.
You CAN'T live within an hour or so of this gem and NOT go see the Christmas lights!! The amount of work and creativity that goes into this display is just amazing, and it's worth the $10 entry fee to see the lights, model train displays, Santa's workshop, etc. at least once!! A pre or post-holiday visit (the lights are up Thanksgiving through Jan. 1) will turn your Scroogy frown upside down (Worked for me!!) Take a kid or three to really enjoy seeing it through their eyes!! Get there early, as parking might be tricky. Come to the Mill for a more relaxed weekend breakfast... (fall and spring are GORGEOUS.... You can always work off your HUGE breakfast with a hike at nearby Clifton Gorge) Worth the trip!!
(4)Kelly Y.
I have been coming to Clifton Mill for a few years. It is not exactly close to where I lived, but it was always worth the drive. The scenery surrounding the restaurant, the mill and the restaurant itself is what earned this place 4 stars from me (see my picture). If you are lucky enough to get one of the tables that overlooks the Clifton Gorge and the creek that runs through it. It can make for a very romantic meal. Even if you do not get one of those tables, you can still go out to the covered porch and sit on the rocking chairs and enjoy the sounds of the creek and watermill. Afterwards, be sure to walk over to see the little wood cabin and covered bridge (!). Since I love the day time views here, I've only had the breakfast and lunch items here. (I do believe the revamped dinner menu is a bit more fancy and exciting.) The breakfast and lunch are not too memorable. The pancakes are indeed HUGE. They really did put the words "pan" and "cake" to good use. One pancake is more than 1/2 inch thick and 10 inches across. The burgers and sandwiches are quite standard and nothing to write about. Service is friendly and adequate. But the view itself is enough to keep me coming back.
(4)Caleb M.
Such a family friendly place. The lights during Christmas are much fun. The gorge also is a cool place for explorations. I love the breakfast food too. Just a great morning atmosphere. Lots of fun to me had. I guarantee you will want to come back with the family.
(4)K G.
Loved the food and location setting. Great view. The staff was also very friendly. We took 4 kids under 4. Perfect for taking kids. Was very kid friendly. Definitely recommend. Prices a little high but so worth it
(5)Tonya R.
Coffee was good. Most places it is pretty watery tasting once you add cream, but theirs wasn't like that. The bacon was AMAZING!!!! Scrambled eggs turned out great. You know how they can be a bit slimy in restaurants, but not the case here. I agree with previous reviews about having to cut the pancake with a knife. You shouldn't have to do that. I won't be ordering them again. To tough, way to much baking soda taste and to thick for my liking. My waitress wasn't the most friendly, but based on the coffee, bacon and eggs I will go back to try the french toast. It was a nice place to just relax and enjoy my morning.
(3)Hawaiian O.
They may have a great breakfast but their lunch is terrible. Ordered the locally raised buffalo burger cooked medium and received a well done piece of leather. I am not one to send back food for fear of what i will receive in return. Another member of my party had the chicken and waffles and commented, " I can't believe I have to pay for this garbage." I should have stuck with breakfast, but it was lunchtime so I wanted lunch cuisine. IF I ever return it will be for breakfast ONLY, but it is a rather long drive. Unable to comment on the famous light show, hopefully it surpasses their lunch/dinner cuisine.
(1)Michael M.
Group of friends waited one hour for table. Waited another hour for food. Pancakes tough as leather, sausage burned, and eggs and service cold. Coffee like water and bathroom not so nice.
(1)Kiarash Z.
When I discovered I would be working Christmas and the night of my beloved's birthday, I knew I had only one night -- a Tuesday night -- to cram in all the magic of the holidays and a little romance. Clifton Mill saved Christmas. I picked her up, told her to dress warmly and guided my pickup down dark, snowy roads. She had no idea where we were going. When we finally rounded the bend, the whole site was glowing with Christmas lights. She loved it. The grounds didn't take long to cover, and there wasn't much to see, but families were bustling with cheer and the lights show was fun. I would suggest adding a few food vendors and restrooms. The lines were a bit lengthy. And the $8 cover was a bit steep. I'd like to return in the spring, summer and fall.
(3)Bob G.
It is an accomplishment to cook skillet size, thick pancakes throughout, without burning them, but I wonder why do it? The pancakes end up quite tough and rubbery. I found one third of each of my two pancakes plenty, so there was a good deal of waste. My wife found the corned beef hash odd. The beef was chopped, not ground, and onion was likewise chopped into potatoes, with very little cooking. The flavors did not meld at all. The restaurant and grounds are charming, the service was friendly, and we did not regret making the trip from Springfield. It must be wonderful at Christmas with all the lights, but I really think more attention to the cooking is needed.
(2)Formicas F.
Great place to eat for breakfast- their buckwheat pancakes and blueberry syrup are delish! They have a working water wheel and the bridge lights up at night. A quaint country spot with a nice view of the river.
(3)Shelly V.
My son had never been to Clifton Mill, and looking for cheap things to do over Spring Break, I decided to take him there for breakfast. We had a great table overlooking to gorge and grist mill. We were one of two tables in the restaurant. I ordered a Reuben with a cup of Vegetable Soup, and Michael ordered the Banana Walnut Pancakes. My soup was slow in coming, and rest came very soon after, too soon. The soup was not good. It was V-8 juice and frozen mixed veggies. They need to start over on that one. The Reuben was decent, although I the corned beef was chopped up in small pieces instead of being in slices...weird. Also, whatever oily substance they use to grill with has a very artificial flavor. Much less could have been used. Michael's pancakes were incredible! They were huge, measuring about 10" in diameter. The order consisted of two of these bad boys. They had big chunks of banana and walnut, and the flavor was spot on. The definite star of the meal was the pancakes. The service was friendly but slow. More of a breakfast place than lunch, which explains why they serve their breakfast all day.
(3)Yan K.
Wonderful, hearty breakfasts in obscene, deadly proportions. The flour-based options (enormous pancakes, biscuits) are too dry, but everything else is delicious. Service is slow but worth it. Nice views of the river gorge.
(4)