I have been to Clarke's before and it has been ok, but this particular time was horrendous. No problems getting a table. The start of the ordeal was the waiter who finally came to the table after ten minutes. Since I has plenty of time to look over the menu ordering was also not a problem. The quality of the food was like my 9 year old niece was in the kitchen cooking. Over cooked sweet potato fries but somehow they were cold. The grilled sandwich was burnt on the outside but tasty on the inside. Like a marshmallow that catches fire on your stick while you try and toast it over a log fire. I would have preferred the marshmallow over the sandwich. At no point did the waiter come over to ask how things were and I had to track the manager down to ask for a check. I won't be going back.
(1)
Shirese L.
I really liked this place. I was famished when I arrived around noon on a very hot day. At that point I had eaten no breakfast and had walked 5 1/2 miles. I ordered the turkey burger and sweet potato fries. It was good (not toe curling). The burger could've used a little more seasoning other than salt, and the sweet potatoes could have had a bit more wow factor. They were simply fried. So, the food was more of a three star than four star. What won me over was the huge portion sizes (took other half home for dinner) and the nice waitress.
(4)
Anjee J.
Sorry, but this place really is shitty. I never ate here again after I had their idea of a "pizza". Yuck. You can get better, and cheaper, diner food from a random hole in the wall.
(1)
Amanda S.
you know those establishments that serve food that just tastes better when you're drunk? this is one of those places. i've been going to clarke's for over six years now, and each time i go, i'm not disappointed, but i'm not blown away, either. more than anything, it really just reminds me of being in high school and thinking i was TCFS while i crunched on my nachos and downed my milkshake and my friends smoked cigarettes. i went there today for brunch and yeah..still the same, consistent a-ok food and service. go late at night when you're tipsy. the food will miraculously taste better and you won't care as much about it being overpriced when you're watching your friends act a fool.
(3)
Colleen S.
OK so it's a diner. So just lower your standards right ok? It'll help with the anger. My reasoning behind my 3 stars is the quality of the food and the service. Ok given that it's a diner, the service is allowed to suck a little. But the service here sucks more than it should. I get the feeling whoever runs the staff doesn't make the experience of working there very pleasent. They all seem to hate it there. I've never left this place saying wow that was really good diner food. And diner food can somtimes be the best food around! This place fails. I've had (in no particular order): wet bread, cold coffee, dirty filty water glass with shit floating in it, bugs in my lettuce, burnt fries. I decided along time agoto never go back to this place but for some reason, people I know like this place and want to "meet up" there and so I get roped into eating here all over again.
(3)
Drew S.
It's a 24 hour hour diner that can also serve beer until 4 I think. That's really all you need to know- you'll get your guilty pleasure greasy food here any time of day without dropping a huge chunk of change and you'll like it. The menu had a kind of cutesy 50's theme going which gives the place some character. It seems to be the future battleground of guys with giant belt buckles and ironic facial hair and dudes in baseball caps and hollister shirts. Several older local drunks will mostly get caught up in the crossfire.
(3)
Nicole C.
So once I ate at Clarke's, within 10 minutes of leaving, I kind of felt like my insides wanted to be all over the sidewalk. If it wasn't for that Starbuck's on the corner, they would have been. Oh the horror. I wanted to love this place... but uh... Food poisoning anyone? Sorry Starbucks, I never liked you anyway, but I do kind of feel for whatever sorry worker had to clean up the mess.
(1)
Mz. M.
Don't make the mistake of dining at Clarke's during a shift change! My roommate and I went there a few weeks ago after the L.A.T.E ride. It was about 6:30 AM and the place was empty. "SWEET," I thought. I couldn't have been more wrong. We waited for half an hour for eggs, toast, and hashbrowns while the servers and cooks chatted and counted their tips. Needless to say, when the food came out I was livid! Plus, it was cold! I barked for the check while the waiter apologized. They had the audacity to charge me. I left no tip and as I walked out, the waiter came after me with the pancakes!?!?!?! WTF!That was the worst service I've ever received at Clarkes, The place was also filthy! I will never go back there.
(1)
Sharlene K.
I hate this place. Having attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I've been here many more times than I wish I have been dragged. At any given hour or day, someone from my school is eating there tragically enough. This diner is in Boystown and they let their stuff get away with the worst homophobic insults and derogatory treatment to their patrons. I've seen some foul stuff go on that's just made me get up and leave without paying. For instance, the bartender at the bar side of the joint was drunkenly getting on with some other patrons, and decides it'd be great to put on some Indigo Girls and talk loudly about d*kyes and specifically the girls in the bar at the time. When the girls leave as a result of the harassment, the bartender and his friends cheered and he actually moons the girls. Yeah, great idea guys. Did you look around the neighborhood you're in? Then you have the sub-par food. The stale steak fries, and overpriced everything. I have forgone food many a night when school groups have decided to meet here than support this institution.
(1)
bridget l.
Oh clarkes, thank you for always being open for me to barely remember ordering that spinach and artichoke dip, as me and 5 other 1/2 in the bag girls stop in after the bar closes. Thank you also for having multiple bathrooms.
(4)
Mintie J.
You know what... I've had it with this place. Let me give you a little bit of background. I'm a white girl, gainfully employed, living in the neighborhood. I like to "act locally", which means, I patronize my local establishments hoping it will somehow change the world. Clarke's was one of these spots... until tonite. Clarke's was always a joke. Horrible service, mediocre prices, crappy food... but we're drunk when we go there, right? Not necessarily. During a recent spat of "salad days" Clarke's was a standard for me. I know the service was frickin horrible, but the prices were cheap, and I could wrap the food up for lunch tomorrow. And seriously, sometimes the experience was unforgivable... Tonite I experienced the worst possible of scenarios... and it has driven me away. I walked in after a night at Berlin [as I'm sure many drunken patrons do]. Sat down with my white female roommate and perused the menu. I noticed, at the table next to us was a guy I recognized from the neighborhood... Black. Gay. Congenial, but I didn't personally know him. He had been seated before us. I don't know how long before us, but before us nonetheless. Our waitress [who has effed up our orders on several occasions] took our order [and effed it up]. We were served and we ate. After we were looking for the waitress to get our check, I looked over and realized the two BLACK, GAY, very quiet guys who were sitting next to us had not been served yet. I asked them "have you even been waited on yet?" and they replied "no"... after a bit of discussion, they insisted on staying and said "we just want a couple tacos". I informed our waitress that in addition to the service being horrible, and the food being crummy, I would not stand for racism, and would not be returning to their restaurant. I used to claim that they had the best "ranch" dressing in town... but at this point I don't care. I boycotted the Belmont/Clark Dunkin Donuts for not allowing punks to go there, back when punks were punks... and haven't darkened the door of that place in 21 years... I can hold as long a moratorium on Clarke's. So, I implore you... don't go to Clarke's on Belmont. The service is horrible.. food is mediocre and they are racist!!
(1)
Jef B.
I hate to give this less than 2 stars because it's often the only convenient 24 hour place open to get something to eat. Yes the service sucks and the food is mediocre by any standard. But, they're open when many other restaurants are not. And they have to deal with crazy street people and many other weirdos that other restaurants would bounce out the door if they could. The lack of 24 hour eateries in Chicago is one of the blase things about this city. My Indian friends from Bombay are always amazed at how early stores and restaurants shut down in Chicago. In Bombay they generally stay open as long as there are customers. You would think there would be more available for the club crowd, but probably Lord Daley has enacted ordinances that make staying open late difficult.
(2)
Lette G.
This place makes great food. Waitstaff is kinda slow so be patient. It is worth the wait.
(4)
Rodge R.
It was our first night in Chicago. We took the red line, and cabs to various bars; Celtic Crossings, Estelles, Dannys, and The Empty Bottle. At the end of a long and great first night, these boys needed to eat. Enter Clarke's. Another cool thing about Chicago is that their late night diners also have a full bar. Why not have another PBR with your late night snack, right? I'm a late night breakfast person so I ordered scrambled eggs with corned beef hash. D. ordered pancakes and Jay had some sort of potato skins with cheese and chives. We also shared an basket of buffalo wings. My order: Good. Nothing to scream about. The corned beef hash was a little burnt on the edges which gave it this really awesome homemade taste. The scrambled eggs were right between the point of being runny and hard...which means they were perfect. D.'s pancakes: Bleh. He said they were ai'ight. Pancakes schmancakes. Jay's potato cheese things: He said they blowed. Our buffalo wangs: Perfect. I'm a fan of baked buffalo/hot wings with a little bit of batter smothered with sauce. In hindsight these were some of the better wings I had during my visit. And yes, they were better than the wings over at BW3 in my opinion. Maybe we just had good diner karma, but the service was attentive and good for a late night diner. I'd probably keep this mind the next time I'm out late in Chicago. The LOWDOWN Chicagoland Style! Minus 1 and a half stars for the mediocre potato cheese things. Minus 1 star for half-way decent pancakes. Plus 1 star for the delicious corned beef hash. Plus 1 and a half stars for the surprisingly good buffalo wings. (2.5 stars)
(3)
Anna E.
I'm afraid my first experience at Clarke's was quite disappointing. I went early enough in the day to warrant ordering eggs, something that is very difficult to do badly. I ordered the Mushroom omlette with a side of crispy bacon. The omlette was almost $10, so I was expecting a really great omlette. Instead, what I got was a brownish, rubbery, and very un-egglike mound with overcooked mushrooms. I ate about four bites and gave up. The swiss cheese was all relegated to the very middle, so most of the omlette was a mixture of overcooked eggs and soggy mushrooms. The bacon, on the other hand, was decent bacon- four slices of pretty crispy bacon, nothing extraordinary, but not bad either... until I received the bill and realized that each individual slice of bacon had cost more than a dollar apiece. I understand that there is really incredible bacon out there that may warrant that price. This bacon was not it. I do have to say that the service was very good- friendly and attentive, hence two stars instead of one. I guess I would try dinner there in the future- who knows, maybe it was an off day, and I'm always willing to give places a second chance.
(2)
tokill a.
Adequate for a greasy breakfast after a night of Drinking. That said, I wouldn't go back unless I was starving/staggering from the night before as I was...
(2)
Lindsay N.
Decentish food... But that damn bar is attached directly onto the resutarant and there's always some jackass, or jackasses, standing in the door way smoking. And I'm sorry, but most look homeless. Disguesting. I'm pretty sure that breaks a few health codes.
(1)
Meow P.
I used to go to this place ALL the time when I was in high school and home from college during the summer. Heck, being a minor, it was the only 24-hour place I could hang out at with my friends after a day of punking it up on the north side. I used to pretend that I was a regular and that I really liked the place, but let's face, the food isn't that great. Seriously, it kind of sucks sometimes. I usually just stuck to breakfast food or a plain ol' cheeseburger because everything else on the menu has the tendency to really blow. There are a couple of things that Clarke's does excel at: chocolate chip pancakes and milkshakes. Let's start with the cc pancakes. To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure if the actual pancakes are really that good because they're disguised by 3/4 of a bag of Nestle chocolate chips gradually melting atop the cakes in a pool of pads of whipped butter and whipped cream---WAY satisfying after a sweaty night at the Fireside Bowl. The shakes are perfect diner-quality milkshakes--right down to the whipped cream and a cherry. Pair a plate of Clarke's cc pancakes along with a chocolate shake and you'll be set for the weekend. Some things that blow at Clarke's: the beer chili. This was a special once when I was there. Gross. It was more like beer soup. I'd like to know what stoners were in the back kitchen that passed around the j and came up with this soup du jour. Maybe they didn't even make it. I seriously think that some hungover hippi in the back hurled up a night's worth of Old Styles and a chili dog from Flash Taco and served it as the special. Also, since I've grown up a little, I've realized how phony-boloney all the 'hipsters' in Clarke's really are. That's right, cool-looking waitress, I'm talking to YOU. I don't care IF you have cool glasses frames! I can tell that you don't have any lenses in them! Who are YOU kidding?
(2)
Adrian W.
The food was overly greasy and the wait staff is hit n miss, but it's typically about who else is in the booth with you that makes Clarke's more enjoyable than what it really is. Yes they allow to stay until it gets busy. Yes it is a nice place to people watch. Randomly, an unknown, purple lipped Barack Obama asked my table for a Marlboro Red and I gave him mine. Or a man that looks 99.9% of Mr Obama. Come here with a good booth crowd and it'll be four stars. Come here with a friend to east some poor quality food and it'll be bordering on one star. Come here to people watch, well, five stars.
(3)
Mike S.
This place is just OK overall. No complaints about the food (it's hard to mess up pancakes and waffles) but as others have noticed the service is... glacial. Also, be warned that the lock in the men's bathroom is broken. It looks like part of the door was eaten by a small animal so there's no way to secure it. It's one of those with a urinal and a toilet and the toilet is pretty far away from the door so that can be problematic. If forced to use the toilet, probably best to talk to yourself constantly in a loud voice or cough often so nobody comes in.
(3)
alicia g.
The service is always terrible, the wait is always unnecessarily long, and the food has made a major decline since 2001 when I would eat there every weekend after going to shows at the old Bottom Lounge (R.I.P.) The last time I went there (hungover) I ordered the pancakes and they were so cold and disgusting I actually barfed. Sorry to paint such a vulgar picture, but this place is such a bummer. I miss the old Clarke's.
(1)
Rocky B.
It was a toss up between one and two stars for Clarkes but in the end I gave it two...the second one being for the people watching. This is definitley the place to come to for some good people watching...especially on Halloween. Service can be slow and sometimes almost non existent. Food...eh, I've had much better diner food. Burgers aren't all that great, the BLT's are just okay...fries are pretty tasty tho. All and all there are quite a few other diners in the area that I would rather give my business to and will. Skip it.
(1)
Ann Y.
This was a review I wrote on another site for here in 2007. I have not been back since: I went here on a Wed. with a group of friends. My husband and I showed up a few minutes late, and waited 45 minutes before a server named Bria or Brianne appeared, and that was only after asking for one. She came to our table and just had a horrible attitude. We asked if she could do a seperate check. She stated that she could not if we were at the same table because she would loose money because she would get a smaller tip. Last time I checked, tips are not something to be expected but earned. I really didn't understand this as to my knowledge they don't have any group tip policy here, and we all were going to be charged for our meals. I actually tip more when there I with a smaller group. When she went to take my husbands order, she decided to go off again about how she couldn't do seperate checks for about 10 minutes, even though we were fine with it. My husband kindly asked her to stop, she then said my husband was being rude and told him to leave. We didn't leave because I had ordered food. After about 40 minutes we didn't think the food was going to arrive, so we were about to leave, and then the food arived- totally wrong order, and totally cold food. My soup came with my sandwhich instead of before. This is not the first time we have had bad service or messed up orders with no appologies There are so many other restaraunts in the area worthy of my business. They really need to clean up there act. This was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. The Clarke's in Evanston is actually ok, so this is not reflective of them.
(1)
Angelo P.
I'd much rather go to a run down greasy spoon diner...the food is typically much better at those places.
(2)
Meg Z.
Most of my love for Clarkes comes from going there after shows or at 3am in high school; so either while underage, drunk, or both. Those are really the only ways that Clarke's could be considered good, but as far as 24-hour options, its not the worst! The food is just standard diner fare, no better or worse than most places. The booths are big enough to fit five of your other drunk friends, which is what makes this place fun. Plus, the people-watching here cannot be beat. The waitstaff isn't particularly attentive or helpful, but the busboys are so your water/coffee/soda never goes empty.
(3)
Michelle S.
Whoah people are rough on this place. C'mon now....24-hour diner when all you need is substance to stop your head from spinning so you can fall somewhat flat into a drool-filled drunk coma somewhere near your actual bed. It ain't that bad. The vegetarian options are ok, and they are especially ok when it is 3am and your fridge got nothin but some rotted oj and shriveled up ice-cubes in the freezer. I'm not sure if this is a "go-to" place for a regular meal, but I think it is PUrrFect for the wee hours. They have an enormous menu that proves to be difficult to navigate in drunken states, but they will bring ya something if you just say, "egg". The ambiance and decor are like a run-down Denny's off a rural highway. Ahhh...a 24-hour diner in Chicago is a BeaUtiFUL thing.
(3)
Michelle L.
I was here on a Sunday (2nd visit) for breakfast with some friends and our breakfast took a total of 2 hours?!? We were quickly seated in the back of the restaurant and given water by our server...and from that point forward, our server was pretty much non-existent. I had to flag her down for our check 30 minutes after they cleared our table. There was a line of people waited to be seated. The food is decent and typical diner prices and portions. Not my first stop for Sunday brunch....
(3)
Donna S.
delicious fresh squeezed oj, and everytime i go i try to make myself order something different, but i cant...the big healthy omlett is to die for..they use a great combo of veggies. the also have REAL english muffins! love this place.
(5)
Kevin H.
High prices and mediocre food. Screwing up the order and check wrong was just par for the course.
(1)
Rich T.
Food wasn't great, service was lacking and the soundsystem was BLASTING at noon for saturday brunch. Might appeal to me if I was in Undergrad again, but this place just didn't float my boat...nor any one's in my party.
(2)
Nick H.
There are three reasons this is not a one-star diner. Number one, the first time I ever went, Rob Zombie was there. Number two, the baked German apple pancake is delicious. Number three, If you go in at about 1:30am, you get a front row seat to the post-last call mayhem that ensues. Complaints about service are warranted on some occasions. They do have good servers here. They are rare but not extinct. This place is almost always busy, so I guess they have an excuse for being slow with things. Then again, I have an excuse for not tipping appropriately. I should also probably mention that I found a finger nail in my baked German. I guess it was their way of telling me my business was no longer appreciated.
(2)
Dallas F.
As far as diners go, Clark's is mediocre. I have had good experiences and bad experiences. My most recent was bad however. My friend and I ordered cheese fries and pink lemondades. For some reason the wait for our drinks was about ten minutes, but we were feeling exceptionally patient and waited for our food. That took an additional 25 minutes...for french fries. I don't know maybe they were picking the potatoes from the field, but that was a long time to wait. Other than that my experiences here have been "ok".
(3)
Zach T.
Nothing like being one of 138... Anyway, I had the bacon cheeseburger. It was a bit light on the meat, but it did the job. The service is attentive at dinnertime, and the waitress looked like an Irish Nicole Richie. All told, burger (with fries) plus drink, tax, and tip ran me $11.
(3)
Kristina S.
No thank you Clarke's. I'll find a ride to the GayHop, thank you very much. I patronize Berlin on a monthly basis and could never understand why everyone was driving all the way to IHOP/GayHop on Halsted/Broadway instead of just walking under the L tracks to Clarke's. Now I know why. A friend and I patronized Clarke's after Prince Night at Berlin back in October. We were seated and then ignored for roughly 20 minutes. The place was empty so there was no excuse there. Our food arrived 30 minutes after that, and then our waiter went MIA. The food was cold and substandard. How hard must you work to screw up scrambled eggs? Seriously? After we finished our meal our waiter was once again MIA and we had to hunt him down to ask for the check. Granted, GayHop can be a hot mess of drunken fools at 4 am, but at least the food is good and hot and doesn't take an hour to get to the table.
(1)
mike f.
im givin it four stars all you people that rated it less than 3 stars i dont think you know what the hell your talking about. I went in there before goin out with a friend for the 1st time and the food was pretty good i thought the prices were average for the area. Try the place out once and if u dont liek it dont go back but i have a feeling u will be back
(4)
Jared L.
The potatoes were reheated. The bacon was left under the heat lamps. And they forgot the cheese on my eggs. The milkshake was dece.
(2)
Cris J.
There isn't much I can say about Clarke's that hasn't already been said. But I can recount the expierence that to this day is the reason I refuse to return. A year or two ago I had chosen to make some horrible decisions (see my review of Berlin) going to Clarke's being the climax of said night. I was hungry but not in the mood for their faux mom and pop B.S., so I opted for a fruit salad. Being allergic to grapefruit of course I inquired as to wether or not grapefruit would be present in said salad. The waiter (who was a douche anyway) looked confused (either he was trying to remember what was in the can that they scooped the fruit salad out of or he was trying to remember if he told his trick 1AM or 2AM) and finally blurted no, no grapefruit. He didn't seem to sure so I asked if he was, sure that is. Of course this got his bitchiness to alarming levels and he informed that AGAIN yes there is no grapefruit in the fruit salad. I'm sure you can see where this is going. Yet some how the grapefruit ended up near the bottom of the bowl and I ate one. Thanks Clarke's!!!
(1)
Dave S.
My blood pressure rarely rises when i dine out. It is very rare that i have such a bad experience that I am going to write a place off forever. I am very close to writing this place off forever after my dinner last night. 1) We waited 14 minutes without being acknowledged by anyone. I understand that the place was busy and I expected the wait to be a little longer. At least acknowledge us for God's sake. 2) I ordered coffee and once again I waited way too long for it. I was seriously thinking about going in back and pouring my own. 3) Lara ordered the honey mustard chicken sandwich. What she received was a plain old chicken sandwich 4) We had a coupon for up to $6 dollars off. I go to give her the coupon and she tells me to come back tomorrow? WHAT? HUH? I don't want to come back tomorrow. Now I don't want to come back ever again. I guess she could not use our coupon because there was no manager there?
(1)
Nick F.
Have always been a fan of clarke's for breakfast. Fast and friendly service! Love the chocolate chip pancakes!
(5)
Emily C.
Good because it is open late, the menu selection leaves a little to be desired - but they do have vegetarian late night options so you can't fault them for the long waits to get a table - or can you. You can when the waitstaff is unfriendly, which is seldom. Plus if you sit near the window you get a good view of the TV Prostitute and hear what she's yelling about.
(4)
Leigh Ann J.
Every time I waited for the train to my boyfriends place I would look over and see the fabulous old fashioned sign hanging from Clarke's restaurant and think, "Oh my, it looks like a little diner from the '40s that Rita Hayworth or Frank Sinatra might eat at. I so wanna go!" So one night me and my boyfriend went here for a late night dinner. Let me tell you, it was so good. The menu is cutesy with old black and white pictures and they have a huge selection. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and milkshake and it was super yummy. The restaurant was clean and our waitress was really friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kristin C.
First things first, I love Clarke's food. They do comfort food really well and I have never met a grilled cheese or omelet here that I did not like. Though not my favorite location, this spot on Belmont does serve up some deeee-licious grub (hence those three stars up there). The service here is pretty bad. Last time I went, our waiter sat in a booth the whole time and stared into space at god-knows-what for god-knows-how long. He seemed less than enthused to fetch my chicken fingers and root beer float. When I asked for honey mustard, I think someone in the kitchen literally mixed together some mustard and honey in a dish. It was beat-nasty. As for the bathroom here, don't get me started. It rivals The Hoagie Hut as one of the worst restrooms in the city. I would rather pee in the alley than in that filthy toilet bowl. EW!
(3)
Mary C.
I had some time one morning before class to have a sit down breakfast. I chose Clarke's due to it's location and convenience. When I walked in the place was practically empty. The food was good, but it took forever for them to bring it out and I thought I could have made it better at home! I was very disappointed, and the meal ended up costing me like $7 when all I really got was a couple of eggs and some toast.
(2)
Lauren B.
If you're interested in sub-par food, no management or security on duty late night, homeless people coming in and asking for food and even having your food/table spit on by one of them, eat at Clarke's. We literally had a man come up to our table, ask for a fry and then after hearing "no" spit on our food. The tables around us were appalled, but the waitstaff just handed us our bill. We had to pay for food we couldn't even eat! I have even contacted Clarke's about this and have still not received a refund. I will NEVER step foot in this place again!
(1)
Brandon S.
I wanted it to be better, but even drunk off my ass, I could tell this place wasn't quite cutting it. The food was quite forgettable (especially the hashbrowns, which is tragic because I love hash browns) and the ambiance was kind of sketchy. I mean, at 3 am, what was I expecting, right? But for a place that's open 24 hours a day, I would hope that means they've got something good 24 hours a day. But if drunken, ever-so-easy-to-please Brandon isn't appeased, that's a bit of a let down.
(2)
Shawn J.
I pretty much go here for after hours food and coffee. All though I think they have a decent breakfast as I have been a few times sober. Usually a happening place at night and can sometimes end up in a short wait for a table. Food is decent and the staff is young and friendly.
(3)
Jabber W.
My goodness, you should find somewhere else to eat! Eating at Clarkes starts with one of two ways: 1: You are so drunk, that not eating would result in death. 2: Your friend (a typical Belmont resident drags you in) I can't imagine eating here intoxicated. Having off duty police officers (since when do diners need bouncers??) glare at me for entire meal isn't my cup of tea. The best part of the evening was when the waiter, presented us a bill with an automatic 20% mandatory tip added. This was the same waiter who: 1: didn't fill our water glasses 2: forgot to bring us coffee 3: got our order wrong. 4: was rushing people out to fill more seats. 5: served us dirty silverware Hey kids, I've worked in food service for a long time. Tips are for good service, which you won't find here.
(1)
Cathy H.
In a word: ick. Here's my exhaustive list of pros about this place: It's close by and it's open 24 hours. The end. And here's my exhaustive list of cons: the food is bad, all bad. The sweet potato fries are bad. The steak is okay, but mostly bad. The pancakes are okay, but have nothing on Orange, Melrose, the Original Pancake House, and numerous other places (pretty much, everywhere else). The prices are okay, but not good. The service is slow (they once seated me behind a plant--A PLANT!--and then forgot about me. I had to flag them down, chase them down, follow them around, etc., JUST TO PAY). The interior is nothing to write home about (unless, I guess, I want to write home and say that the interior is boring and outdated). Oh, I guess it's clean. That's a plus, right? Save yourself the heartache, walk a few blocks, burn some calories in the process, and earn yourself a delicious, filling, well-serviced, open-24-hours meal at the Melrose on Broadway.
(2)
Christiana S.
I hate this place. Passionately. The service is awful, the food is substandard, the clientele is obnoxious. Who cares if it's open 24 hours? Still, I'd let my friends drag me in here every so often, until my (brand-spanking-new-just-bought-it-that-day reasonably expensive Kenneth Cole) purse was stolen while I was sitting in one of the window booths. I had set it down on the ledge in the window next to me, and since this place has a policy of seating homeless people (which, I'm sorry to say, is just gross), a fellow 'patron' reached over and grabbed it without me noticing, and walked out. When I told the manager that my purse had been stolen, he was all like, "Yeah, I thought it was weird that that guy left in such a huge hurry. Oh well..... wouldn't be the first time that's happened here." Seriously. And to make matters worse, my digital camera had been in my purse. While I have to take some of the responsibility for what happened (placing my purse in plain view wasn't such a great idea), I'd like to note that I have lived in this city for my ENTIRE life and this was the first time that anything like this had happened to me. For as gentrified as this area is, it's still not very safe. Take my advice and avoid at all costs.
(1)
Annie S.
Good diner food.... a HUGE menu so almost everyone will be able to find something they like. I haven't been to Clarke's for a long time but that's because I don't live close to one. I like the fries and have HUGE portions. I really don't like their breakfast potatoes, not like hash browns =(
(3)
Kate W.
This place is open 24 hours, that should tell you from the get go that there will be young, drunk people there. That being said, the food's not nearly as bad as one would expect from a 24 hours joint that caters to drunk coeds. Sandwiches are usually good, as are any breakfast foods (they're hard to mess up) but I wouldn't really eat much else there. The servers are nice if you're nice to them, but not exceptionally fast. But when you fries at 2am, Clarke's is the place to go!
(4)
Agnes P.
Came here on a whim one day. Very dingy and the server looked like he wanted nothing to do with you. OK prices with a pretty good portion of food. Nothing special about it. This place needs a scrub down and teach the waiters some common courtesy.
(2)
Jen A.
The pancakes are fabulous. As is their corned beef hash. The waffles are pretty amazing, too. What can I say? I'm a breakfast food junkie. I couldn't care less that this place is open for 24 hours, or that they serve booze, or what sort of people come in...the breakfast is all that matters. And if I can get yummy pancakes at any hour of the night? Well, that's just happy. Clarke's also has sweet potato fries. Heaven!
(4)
shawny w.
I can't tell you how horrible Clarkes on belmont is. Actually I can. First off lets start off with the roaches. Yes roaches. Me and my friends went there one night sitting there kinda drunk when two roaches went running past my friends head. She was too drunk to notice but me and my other friend were so grossed out we cancelled our orders and refused to touch anything. We told the staff about it but they thought we were trying to get out of paying the bill! Oh the staff. They can be the worst people ever. They obviously hate working there and it shows. They are slow, do not take the orders correctly and one time this waitress tried to stiff us on change. We had gone there one night after a party so everyone was pretty drunk but not that drunk to notice our waitress didnt bring us any change after paid our bill. (which was like a 20 since everyone else paid with cards) When we noticed she didnt bring us our change we tried to get her attention but she ignored us! She even stood back at the kitchen pointing at us and laughing. I finally got up and demanded the money back, she acted all surprised and thought it was the tip. Even though she saw her tip on the table. She had to have been pissed when she ended up with like a dollar after that. One morning I ended up at clarkes because my friend from out of town was leaving that day and wanted breakfast at like 6 and it was the only place open. Since I wasnt drunk I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad because it was sunday morning and empty. But clarkes proved me wrong again. The staff got our orders wrong, some of the food was cold and the staff was mostly on their phones or talking to each other. A group of people before us demanded their money back b/c the food they order to go was prepared wrong and cold.. and there were only like 10 people in the whole diner. The food is not good at all. They act like they don't know what seasoning is. It's ok to use salt and pepper in your food you know. I can go on and on about how much this place sucks. The only good thing about this place is watching the drunktards come in and out on the weekends other than that, I much prefer giving my money to other diners or heck Ihop.
(1)
Kim W.
it goes to show that a prime and convenient location will always excuse awful service and awful food.
(2)
Lindsay S.
I met my boyfriend one night at Clarke's after work.. the location is great bc it is located so close to the L.... that's the only great thing. It was not busy and there was plenty of seating. After we sat down, NO one helped us, and we had our menus down and were making it pretty obvious that after fifteen minutes we would like to order... but the waiter just kept walking past us, not walking around because he was busy but walking to go chat with the bus boy and other staff. It is just bad service not to say at least something and it makes me as the patron feel awkward... When he decided to come to take out order he was nice enough, but that couldn't save our experience especially after the food came... I got a bloody mary and the mexicana burger... the drink was whatever and the burger was disgusting and probably from a freezer. After the cook de-thawed the meat, they slapped on cheese and jalapenos and let it sit under the heat lamp for a while bc the cheese was hard again. The food was awful, the service was bad, and I will not go back there.
(1)
Sara B.
I would love to write a full review of this place as I have eaten here a few times. However, the memory of the sour milk received (on more then one visit) and whatever that is they try and pass off as a "pizza" makes my stomach flip several times so this is all you get.
(1)
Betsy J.
The main reason I give it 4 instead of 3 stars is because they serve sweet potatoes fries, and they're quite good. I like this place a lot because I've never had to wait for a table (but I've seldom gone for brunch, I usually go for dinner) and I love that I can get an omelet, pancakes, and fries (which I change out for the sweet potato ones of course) in the same meal so I don't have to choose between getting a pancake meal or an omelet meal. Sometimes the service is slow, it seems a little over priced, and none of the food I've tried is phenomenal- but it's a great place to sit and relax and chat it up with some good diner food.
(4)
Patty K.
If you recognize Clarke's for what it is--a diner with cheap food--you will not be disappointed. Coming in here expecting first-class service is going to leave you disappointed. But who cares when you can get breakfast at anytime of the day/night? The food is always great. You get tons of it and you can really get anything that you want. They also serve Cheesecake Factory cheesecake and who doesn't love that? The eggs are delicious which is the true mark of a great diner. Silver-dollar pancakes are also great. If you want something a little less greasy go for the caesar salad! Great fun place to come for breakfast in the morning or late at night!
(4)
Bill M.
This cafe has fairly standard fare, but it is open all the time so it is perfect if you are recovering from a round of carousing or tattooing. Check out the menu selections including omelets, pancakes, waffles and sandwiches. Look for the sign with the wholesome lady depicted on it.
(3)
Melissa R.
Clarke's. Oh, Clarke's. By no means are you exceptional but when I've had a bit too much to drink, you're my best friend in the whole world. It's nearly impossible for me to say no to a 24-hour diner. They serve your run-of-the-mill stuff, nothing to completely rock your world but it gets the job done. I usually stick to the same few things each time and that usually hits the spot.
(3)
A W.
Back in the day when Bottom Lounge was still across the street, I would come over here and enjoy a sandwich, soup, salad, whatever. Sometimes dessert. It isn't that Clarke's is really great or anything, but it has a lot of memories, which might be what Clarke's is all about. I miss it!
(3)
S C.
Clarke's is okay. The main reason to come to Clarke's is for the late-night peoplewatching; it's a generous mix of refugees from the gay bars, high-school sorta-punks who got tired of hanging out in front of Dunkin' Donuts, and other miscellaneous people trying to prevent a hangover. The food is... not-great. The burgers are decent, i suppose, but not necessarily worth $8, the fries are just typical steak-fries, and the northshore potatoes CAN be good, but often there's one or two overcooked pieces in them that make you think you'll break a tooth. However: Clarke's doesn't have meatloaf, and I am suspicious of any diner that doesn't serve meatloaf. That's simply un-American.
(2)
Chris A.
I have advice for those considering Clarke's.... If you are looking at it to save a few bucks.... DOWNGRADE to Mcdonalds because the scary food you will get there is actually better than this garbage. If you can afford to pay just a little bit more, try Ann Sather or Nookies. This place is rotten to the core. Tepid, rude service and food that is simply not good. Case in point, I decided to order some nachos for a "junk food" fix. Those 5.99 nachos were nearly identical to taco bells... it even had the SAME revolting cheese sauce on it. Do you see why I mention fast food above? Would you normally pay 6 bucks for a tray of fast food nachos? I'd rather spend my money on something of higher caliber. Oh, and their 3.99 Caesar salad? watery lettuce, a "dash" of parmeson, and some dressing on the side... they spare the croutons, probably all those carbs they're trying to help us save on. Clarke's hoardes their business from Belmont Red line convenience, 24 hour desperation, and a young crowd of visiors who sees the pseudo "young trendy city" environment in it. There will always be the location and "ambiance" that keeps this dump afloat, unfortunately. Don't give them your money.. either downscale and still get "ok" junk food, or put a few more bucks in and eat really good food if your going to eat out in lakeview.
(1)
Mary H.
JUST REMEMBER: It's for slow afternoons, empty Sunday mornings, after-show pick-me-ups, long long long conversations. I like to think the waitresses dissappear because they want to give me my space and time to chill-the-hell out. The people-watching is amazing here. You'll always see a punk or a hipster or a mom or a tranny or someone with a weird accent lurking around. Some of the food is greasy but it is not wretching stomach-ache food like the nearby Golden Nugget *shudder* My reccomendation is the cobb salad. They actually put about 2 billion different types of veggies in there and it is bottomless. Soup is amazing. Alcohol in the cider/hot chocolate is amazing. Pick the right meal and it could have hardly any grease in it. I kid you not. Bottom line: An unpretentious, kitchy place for slow eaters with nowhere to go. Excellence.
(4)
erin s.
I went to this place a lot when it was actually a throw-back diner. It was a great place for really late night binges and coffee but not for much else. Recently (I'm not sure when) they replaced a lot of the kitsch with strips of what appears to be creatively-used tongue and groove oak flooring. And it looks terrible. And with the food still subpar and the servers forgetting you're there most of the time, I advise you to skip it unless it's 4am and you're jonesing for a waffle.
(3)
Monika J.
My husband and I like to try new diners every time we go out for breakfast. We had been wanting to try Clarke's for a long time. So this past Sunday we go there and we were so disappointed. The service was so horrible the server was drunk and took forever to get us little things as sugar I had to go looking for him. To my amazement saw him eating with two of his friends who were visiting. I being vegetarian found ham in my skillet that I ordered my husband had stressed on making sure there is no meat but oh no there was piece of ham or shall I say hams. Once again I had to hunt our server ugh!!! He never came to collect the payment either so we walked around he didn't see us I had to pay at the counter. Other servers had to go look for him again as they couldn't swipe my card as we were on his side. No one even apologized or stayed to collect our signed copy. The most horrible service in town.
(1)
Niki C.
We went here the other night cuz we were sick of our usual meals of sandwiches &/or pizza. Mistake. Our waitress walked in front of us with our menus, tossed them down on a table, & kept walking to the back of the restaurant. I stopped at the table where she had thrown the menus & had to ask, "Uh ... So am I to take it that this is our table?" It was only after I asked it a second time (& much louder as she was all the way to the back by then), that she turned around & said, "Yeah" in a "Well, duh!" tone. Should've taken that as a sign. We pretty much knew what we wanted right away, so we ordered when she came to get our drink order. The bf asked that his milk come out with the order. "So you want it when your food comes out?" she reiterated. "Yes," he confirmed. Wanna take a guess when he got his milk? Then, she delivered all of my bf's food a full five minutes before I got mine. Luckily, I told him just to go ahead & start eating otherwise, it'd've been cold by the time he waited for me to get mine. My Eggs Florentine came on a small skillet-shaped plate, which is not condusive to cutting an English Muffin. The eggs were undercooked. So were the North Shore potatoes --- they were hard & starchy & tasted like they were browned slightly & then stuck in a microwave for ten seconds tops, just to let the cheese on top melt to create the illusion of being cooked. I was not impressed. Not impressed in the slightest.
(2)
Sara B.
I give it three stars because I've never really had the food sober. However, I have had the ginormous brownie sundae many times and NOT under the influence of alcohol. It's fantastic and yummy and ooh, I have a sugar-high just thinking about it. I don't know if it's so good because it's so big or what, but I love it. :)
(3)
Amy F.
It's been a while since I've been here, but from what I remember it's not as awful as it sounds from the reviews. the "atmosphere" IS kind of depressing. wierd, half dark half flourescent lighting. but I love sweet potatoes.
(3)
PJ K.
I'm easy. Really. Only once in my life have I sent food back at a restaurant, and that was at a friggin Dunkin Donuts. I tip. (I've got way too many servers among my family and friends to do the passive-agressive thing where you don't complain and then stiff the waiter because the food was no good.) So I hope it says something when I say that the service at Clarke's was so bad that this was the one (1) occasion in my entire life that I've stormed out of a restaurant without paying. We gave Captain Mousse, our waiter, more than enough chances to make it right. He forgot our appetizer order, then he forgot we existed, then he forgot half of our entrees, then he forgot we existed again, then while I went looking for him, or a manager, or any sort of exit from Casual Dining Purgatory, he managed to come back to the table (still without half our food) and got defensive and attitudinal when my lovely dining companion politely suggested he get on the stick. The only thing that keeps this worthless excuse for a restaurant from dying the unmourned death it richly deserves is its fortuitous location on the Belmont strip near the L and the fact that it's open 24/7. There are better places to get diner food in every neighborhood on the North Side, and there are better places open late night or 24 hours, especially in Lake View. And all of them have food that's just as good (if not significantly better) than Clarke's bland predictable nothingness. And all of them are staffed by hardworking professional servers who take actual pride in their work.
(1)
Mark P.
My girlfriend and I headed over to Clarke's and I can honestly say, I didn't expect much. My expectations were correct. I ordered a simple grilled cheese. After 25 minutes of waiting, it was finally served and once I attempted to eat it, I could smell fish coming from the sandwich. It clearly smelled like it was cooked on, or right next to seafood. Upon complaining, the waiter said that's impossible because there is no seafood on the menu. I searched the entire menu and found 3 seafood dishes. The grilled cheese was not replaced, rather it was "zapped" in the microwave (the plate was extremely warm and cheese was oozing out of the bread). Again, I complained. At this point, I asked for a manager. They told me there was no manager on duty. I then asked who was in charge, and the waiter told me he was. He further explained he was in charge of just his section. So basically, no one was working as management. I told him I just want to not be charged for the sandwich and he said no because I had taken a bite of it already! He then brought another waitress over to try to explain to me that they could not refund me, and after I disagreed, she ran away all pissed off. To make this story come to an end, I left not eating anything. I was lied to about there being no seafood on the menu and that there was management there, neither being true. The waiter then had the nerve to tell me since I was so unhappy, I shouldn't come back. I would LOVE to speak to the management of Clarke's who amazingly, are never available day or night when you call. If anyone has information about who they are, please message me. The waiter's name is Eddie (Edy) and the girl waitress who came over had red-orange hair and her name is Nicole. I am from New York and I have been to many diners and have never experienced the rudeness, ignorance, and just overall lack of courtesy and customer could ask for. A credit card dispute has been filed since I was forced to pay. Stay far away from this hell hole.
(1)
Jess S.
It's 1 o'clock in the morning, it's cold and raining and the bar thing didn't work out as planned, so we're hungry. What to do? Answer: get off the red line at Belmont and there has to be something there that's open. That's how my wife and I ended up at Clarke's. So, considering the circumstances, I can't complain too much. The place was dark and grimy looking and feeling, but the food was hot and greasy. Pretty much hit the spot at that moment. I had the patty melt, which was pretty tasty. The meat seemed of a better quality than fast food, but nothing special either. The bread was tasty and crisp while adding that proper bit of sourdough tanginess. My wife was pleased with the burger she ordered. The fries were also nothing special in terms of taste, but they were thick cut, piping hot and otherwise sufficient. The service was fine until our waitress got a little overwhelmed by a large group that came in towards the end of our stay. We had to wait far too long for the check, but we probably could have flagged her down a little faster if need be. I think the place is a little too pricey for what you get. Together, I think my wife and spent about $24 after tax and tip. Closer to $20 seems like where this place should fit in. All in all, for 24-hour diner food, I can't really complain. I won't be back regularly I'm sure, but it's also nice to know it's here when it's needed.
(3)
Rebecca H.
My husband really wanted to keep drinking and I really wanted greasy food. A place that serves both without all the jerks trying to get laid yelling in the background! The food is typical diner-esque. There's really nothing special, although I ordered a salad and was really impressed with how fresh the greens were for midnight on a Friday. The food is probably only a 2 star, but you don't come here in the middle of the night for the culinary masterpiece. You come here because you want something greasy and hot (and perhaps more to drink). The drinks were strong and our wait staff served us promptly, then let us alone to eat/drink (I hate waiters that ask me every 30 seconds how I am doing). They also have a patio, which would make this place pretty good for the morning after your night of partying instead.
(4)
Ram J.
For what it is, it's great. Clarke's isn't supposed to be a French accent dining experience. It's a place that serves sausage links (and additional booze) to drunks and weird people. Sure, some of these people are crazy and will wear headphones attached to a pile of leaves rubberbanded together. Others might believe that if they shower, Satan will give them cancer. Many of the people try to fool those wishing to know what their sex is. There's been a dozen times I've gotten the raised eyebrows from a woman on the other side of this place only to realize I was temporarily being turned gay. Jokes on me! Anyways, the bar section isn't so nice. It has ripped up booths and the lights are these little "Fire In The Sky" beacons that hover directly in your view of eye contact. The food? Not bad. Some of it is rather good! I must admit this place has some of the best hash browns I've ever had. The cheese sticks and sweat potato fries are also a treat. You'd think a place like this would have amazing coffee. Well, you're wrong. For some reason this joint can't make a cup of joe to save it's life. It is always an unusually thick sludge that requires a half cup of sugar to be put into your stomach. For a 24 hour diner located in this area, you really can't ask for more...and I don't. It beats Hollywood Grill and IHOP.
(4)
Bruno A.
The perfect restaurant for the neighborhood and the clientele it brings in. When I first moved to the city I was close by and went there more than anywhere else. It was comfortable, familiar and the food was adequate. Now I'm kicking myself for not going out to look for all the cool, different eateries that are all over the city. It's a fifties style diner, serving everything from chicken fingers to soup and salad and burger. They have a good milkshake, which is a must for me when it comes to diners but nothing spectacular. Points go for it not trying to be the faux fifties diners that too many places try to be. There isn't neon everywhere, portraits of Elvis or Marilyn or that Nighthawks painting. It's open all night, which is another plus. A lot of 24 hour places have shit food. Clarke's doesn't. Not spectactular but not shit either. That's about covers it for this place.
(3)
Nathan W.
Clarke's is suitable after a long night out where your tastebuds have lost complete contact with your nerve endings. Sure, it's a diner that also serves alcohol. Sure, the menu has plenty of vegetarian options. What we have here is a diner in a high traffic area that looks good on paper. The least favorable experince I've had there was when I ordered some sort of cheesy chicken sandwich expecting something nice and savory. What I got was a chicken breast with no flavor at all, rubbery and overcooked, with a small slice of cheddar between two pieces of sandwhich bread. Their sweet potato fries are also overrated in my opinion.
(2)
Sara L.
This place is dirty and the service sucks. They are not clean, just look at the staff. They also feed the pigeons outside and I think they have mice. I found hair in my food and a dirty dish. It is gross to go here, they have been closed down before by the city. Yuk its not worth it!!!!!
(1)
Brian L.
A little overpriced, and the food isn't phenomenal, but they're open late and serve whatever it is you're hungry for- breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, burritos, entrees, and beyond. Bottom line, when it's late on the weekend and you're hungry for something other than Burger King, it gets the job done- but in my opinion it's nothing to write home about.
(3)
Deb B.
if i could, i'd give it a 3.5 rating. i am visiting from out of town and i needed a place to eat a large breakfast before i treked downtown. having been disappointed with Ann Sather's, i saw Clarke's and thought it would be my next try. their coffee was very bland, but in a clean cup (something i didn't get at Ann Sather's). i ordered their eggs benedict, and found it came with tons of their famous potatoes. i've never had three eggs when i've ordered eggs benedict. found that rather interesting. the sauce wasn't the best hollandaise i've ever had, but then again - back home in SF, we have a great eggs benedict place i am spoiled from. their potates were good, but whatever their secret recipe is, it's a bit salty. if i needed to return (but won't since i'm leaving Chicago tomorrow), i'd pick this place over Ann Sather's in a heartbeat.
(4)
Jack L.
After a particularly horrible night in Boystown, which I won't go into. I was walking back to my car and found that the City's Finest had blocked off the section of the street where my car was parked. So I decided to duck into Clark's for a bite to eat while I waited for the commotion to die down. Even though it was very lively I was seated promptly and served fresh brewed coffee while I pa rosed the menu. I ordered the Egg's Benedict, probably not the best choice for after bar night food but I was in the mood. I have to say they were some of the best Egg's Benedict I've had in a long time. The eggs were perfectly cooked the Hollandaise was right on. Every thing was fresh. and I didn't have to ask to have my coffee refilled. All in all a great experience for a late night breakfast.
(5)
Jessica S.
Chain diner, open 24 hours, only this one has a bar. I haven't ordered an alcoholic beverage here, I really only eat here when it's late and we're in the area and usually someone else in the party suggests it. It's OK, but nothing to write home about (which is why it took me so long to review this place).
(3)
Rudy S.
OK, it's not like you're gonna get the best eggs benedict in the world here, but that's not why you come here. Good food, short distance from the Vic and other bars/clubs. they have a full bar, and dance music playing at night. you almost forget that you're in a restaurant.
(4)
Ms T.
This place is totally great.... When you are blind drunk off your ass and don't care/notice what you are putting in your mouth because you just don't wanna puke. And that is the only reason why its still around even after it's "redecoration". Drunks are just too drunk to care where their drunk dollar goes.
(1)
Jody C.
I love Clarkes food. The menu has a lot of choices and its the perfect cure for a late night. Its a little hard to stand in line after that long night out, but the food's worth it. However, the service at this location is the worst! Possibly the worst in the city. Our waitress got everything wrong and took about an hour to finally get it right and get us our food. We didn't get a single refill during this whole ordeal. Dont use the bathroom!
(2)
Patrick B.
Food is okay. Servers can sometimes be rude. Although who could blame them with the crowd that comes out at night. Being a 24/7 restaurant right off the Belmont redline stop can attract the drunkest crowd on Friday/Saturday nights. I've seen someone throw up on the floor at this restaurant on at least two separate occasions. If you're in desperate need of food late at night. Clarke's will be fine. Otherwise, it's somewhat overpriced and does deliver on the goods on a normal outing.
(3)
Kristen F.
Me: "I'm drunk. Let's eat. Where can we eat?" Friends: "Clarkes is open. It's right off Belmont." Me: "Will it kill me?" Friends: "The alcohol in your stomach will kill the bacteria before it gets to your intestines, so you're probably safe." Clarkes equals drunk food, so drunk you keep yelling "IT COULD BE COLDER" to random windows in Irving Park on a Thursday. That is how drunk you need to be to eat at Clarkes and not throw up. Plus? The Burrito I ate was really good, but then again I was drunk and the Soda didn't taste like pee, but then again I was drunk so I can't be certain. Minus? The Carrot Cake didn't have cream cheese frosting but then again I was drunk so it could have been slathered in butter and I might not have noticed. Come drunk or don't come at all, seriously.
(2)
Lauren C.
24 hours. Whenever your hungry....Clarkes will be there! The coffee here is delicious. What else do I really like from Clarkes? -the chicken fingers -their omelets -their bloody mary's
(5)
Caitlin O.
Your service is usually kind of on the poopy side, though I've never suffered the BAD service that some of the people mention here. No one's ever been rude to me, though there have been times when it's taken a while to get something done. On the other hand, your food has been consistently pretty decent for me! A good grilled cheese sandwich (yes, there are bad ones), a good burger, decent enough fries, good pancakes, good eggs... yeah, I like you, ESPECIALLY since you're 24 hours. Good shakes, good onion rings. If you don't want Mexican food or kinda crappy hotdogs (Weiner's Circle, I'm looking at you) this is the place I'd choose. At the very least, guys, it's better than G-Nugs. C'mon.
(3)
Kathleen C.
Good, greasy breakfast. I love ordering scrambled eggs and just chillin in a comfy booth. Usually hungover and hardly able to do anything but wait for my eggs. They serve breakfast all day without a complaint. I love places like that. And I really don't think they have bad service. They can tell I am not feeling well and only came for eggs so they stay outta my way and just wait for my food!
(3)
Ebru Y.
Popped in here one night while hopelessly looking for decent food after watching a Blue Man Group performance at the Briar Theatre. Obviously we did have options but it was one of those nights when the temperature was 1F so we hurried in to Clarke's. I knew when I walked in exactly what we were getting into, especially after seeing dead-looking/high waiters who could seriously care less about being there. They look like they are in a different dimension.Then our waiter came to take our order, I was in the mood for salad so that's what I ordered. When I saw a HUGE salad walking to our table, I thought it was for someone else. This thing was humongous! It should be illegal to make this huge of portions, really! The buffalo sauce was way too spicy for my taste buds and I do eat spicy food. I couldn't eat it and just didn't enjoy it. Lettuce felt dead and bland, sauce was spicy and red onions were really bitter. My hubby didn't seem to mind because he downed half the salad in matter of minutes. I then went ahead and ordered chocolate chip pancakes which were also bland. It felt like they were prepared either in advance or in a hurry. Something just didn't taste right. Not sure if I want to come back to Clarke's? Maybe when nothing else in the entire city is open at 4 am, but wait that's why there is IHOP which I actually enjoy!
(2)
Sarah F.
I love a good diner! Their fare is classic, greasy-spoon fare, that's better than the average diner. The omlettes are fantastic there! You can also get a cheap mimosa or bellini that's yummy! When I go for a lunch or dinner, I particularly enjoy the Zydeco chicken or California Turkey Burger with Sweet Potato fries. The service is SO-SO, but hey, it's a diner!
(4)
Tito C.
Staying across the street and being drunk on our last nite in Chi we decided to come here. I got a veggie burger I think. I dont know if it was good but I know I didnt eat much. My girl too. We started arguing about something only to make up spoon all nite. 5 stars for the spoon 2 stars for this place...
(2)
John D.
2 star food at 4 star prices. Way overpriced for what you get in quality meaning you eat here when desperate at 3:45am. Go to Pick me up cafe for a treat of an experience 1 block away with late hours also.
(1)
Steve M.
I got up early today and took the redline a stop south to Clarkes for breakfast. I ordered my usual the gyro omelet with jalapenos and a couple cups of coffee. It wasn't really packed and my waitress came and checked on me just as I was finishing my coffee. I wasn't rushed and was able to read my paper and enjoy my breakfast/lunch as it was 11 am. The omelet is consistently good and I've never had a problem with the service. and its amore relaxed atmosphere than Ann Sathers across the street. I've never been here for any other meal besides breakfast so I could not comment on that selection.
(3)
Laura I.
I'm giving it four stars because I have such fond memories of various people and me coming here, cramming into the booths for some good diner food and ending up cracking ourselves up every time. And while this place reminds me of my younger days, even when I go there now, it doesn't give me anything less than what I felt when I went in there during those earlier years. I'm still a big fan of their shakes and their bee-ell-tee ain't so bad either. Thanks for nostalgia, memories and being open 24 hours a day, Clarke's!
(4)
Kelly M.
Pros: Close to my house Open 24 hours Good hashbrowns Cons: Bad bad bad service. They are slow to seat you, slow to take your order, slow to fill your drinks, slow to bring your food, slow with the check. The food generally sucks. A drunk friend once told me he really enjoyed his steak and eggs but he was eating more ketchup than anything else. It is fun to sit and people watch here if you have the time to kill.
(2)
Job E.
Three stars just for being open late. Not a high service place, but late at night I can't ask for more then a warm omlette and hot chocolate.
(3)
Isa B.
Very mediocre. The service was slow; we waited close to 10 minutes before someone came to offer drinks and that was after I asked them to. The pancakes were cold, the over-medium eggs were sunny side up, which I had to give away to my husband (he eats everything), and to make it worse, the coffee sucked -more like brownish water. The potatoes were decent though. At the end, the waitress charged 20% tip automatically, I was too tired to argue but I'm not going back there.
(2)
Spencer Y.
Well, the space that used to host Clarke's on Belmont has reopened as 'The Belmont' so I had to check it out. The interior has been remodeled and looks very nice and clean, extremely modern. Bright and spacious, unobtrusive flat screen tvs and low key modern music playing. New staff, new cooks and new owner. The menu is smaller but has retained the egg skillets and other dishes that Clarke's was known for, along with a number of new offerings. The food is prepared better and tastes much more fresh and 'lighter' .... and it's still good.
(4)
Meena A.
HATERS GONNA HATE HATE HATE - I'm just gonna order a burger with side. Burger and fries were beyond. Especially for the price point. Service was prompt and friendly. Only drawback: no beer.
(4)
Dave K.
Totally came in on a whim (like I usually do and more often than not, it's a great choice). I ordered a burger and fries against my training and diet. And it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WORTH IT!!!! Combined with the fact it was at my table in less than 5 minutes blew my mind!!! The server says they're famous for their burgers and I see why. I got a mushroom burger, and it was "drool-licious", to say the least. I may have uttered a few words in what could be construed as a new language was I muttered about the deliciousness of this burger. It's so close to the Belmont L stop, get a window seat and you can watch the trains come and go. The ONLY drawback that I have is their water is served chilled, and in an old wine bottle, BUT the water is tap water, if that's an issue for anyone sensitive to hard or soft water... Still, the food was delicious!!!
(4)
Liz A.
If this was review was for service alone, the rating would be one star. It started it out decent but when we finished our meals the server asked if we want dessert and we said we'd think about for a few minutes. She literally never came back to our table. We joked she was maybe on break but then we actually saw her leave as she passed by our window outside. I caught the attention of another server and she then took care of us. The food is your typical diner food, not great but not bad. I had a bacon and cheese omelette with pancakes. Omelette was dry but the pancakes were good. I finished off my meal with a delicious chocolate milkshake, weird combo I know, but it was just what I wanted. I'd go back because it wasn't very expensive and it was a good place to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite some time.
(3)
Emma K.
This place hit the spot for a late New Years Eve's brunch since we wanted breakfast food and every place we tried seem to have a super long wait. However, I don't think it's a place I would come out of my way to go back to. The service was definitely not the best. We had to remind our waitress a few times for things, but I didn't hold it against anyone as I couldn't imagine working the early shift the night after New Years. The food was pretty solid. My boyfriend and I each got a breakfast sandwich. They were out of bagels, but their English Muffins were really good (and huge!). The breakfast potatoes were yummy as well. Overall this place just didn't seem to be the cleanest. The booth wasn't wiped down well when we sat down, and there was a large rip in the booth that was attempted to be patched back together with duck tape. It wouldn't be on the top of my list of places to return, but if you're in the area and craving some breakfast food (and Ann Sather's has a wait of about 3 hours per usual), this place might tide you over.
(3)
Lauren L.
Well this was a last resort for brunch because wherever we were going to go was packed. TAKE NOTE: based on the service, friendly-ness, cleanliness, and overall atmosphere, this place would be a 2. There were none of those things but the other food was OK. Not the best and not the worst. HOWEVER I had the magical honor of enjoying the most amazing plate of pancakes my mouth has ever experienced.... Come, take a journey... So I'm perusing the menu, thinking I just going to get my go-to over easy eggs, toast, bacon and hash browns, classic, but the menu is so large I have to read it all over. Also, I am sick of myself eating the same crap all the time... take an adventure Lauren, an adventuuuuuuureeeeee. I get to the pancakes page and woah, there's a lert of cherces (lot of choices), lots of potential pancakes. And I'm more of a waffle kind of gal so not usually interested. But one flavor in particular catches my eye... Cinnamon Bun Pancakes. I'm sorry, what was that? Pure bliss on a plate? Yes, I want that. We probably waited an hour and we were starving but when those plates rolled out, I think the whole diner was checking my p'cakes out. Three massive p'cakes with cinnamon swirled in the middle and glazed with white gooey icing.. nirvana. I took one small bite of this savory meal and almost pulled a "When Harry Met Sally" right there at the table. It was that incroyable. And the other couple we were eating with was so jealous, so jelly. My husband was incredibly happy because he knew I wasn't going to be able to finish them all and the rest would be his. Muhaha Moral:The restaurant sucks BUT GET THE FUGGIN' CINNAMON PANCAKES!!!!!!
(4)
Tony F.
The waitress was nice. The place seemed dirty and poorly lit. The overpriced apple juice was warm. Bad, bad, bad. I will not be back.
(2)
Ben B.
Clarke's is unpretentious diner food. You wouldn't take your date here, but if your date was going really well, you could end up cuddling in a booth here after the bars shut down. Unfortunately, some of the booth seats are ripped. But that's part of the charm? I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich with buffalo sauce. The breast had a lot of connective tissue goin' on, so I wasn't a fan of that. Also, the sauce just sort of dribbled everywhere. It didn't adhere to the breast. The steak fries were fairly tasty once I threw salt on 'em. On a return trip, I ordered the buffalo chicken burger and loved it. So... yay! Clarke's is run down and tired-looking, but so's your mom and she's a pretty good cook. Places like this are a necessary part of any neighborhood.
(2)
Regan H.
I ordered a fruit cup from here, and the grapes were MOLDY. I will not be ordering from here again. I called and the girl who answered the phone said " there's no manager here so there's nothing we can do " what kind of service is that? I suggest trying a different diner with a better review.
(1)
Mallory S.
I honestly wish I could give this place zero stars. I took my out-of-town friends in here for lunch today and had the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. When we first walked in the hostess was so hungover and rude. She sat us down with no smile, no greeting and was obviously annoyed to be at work. She was a tall blonde and rude to other guests as well. Our server Elisa was nice at first. We ordered two chocolate milks and a coke to drink. She quickly brought over the two chocolate milks and asked me at least 3 times if I had a coke or diet coke. It took her over 15 minutes to bring me my drink after we had to ask her for it when we got our food. She responded rudely when we asked her by saying, "Yup, getting that too" while rolling her eyes. I didn't know getting a drink was so difficult when there was 5 tables in the whole restaurant. When we got our food, my friend's omelet had clearly been sitting under the heater for a long time and was hard and disgusting. Elisa never once came over to ask how we were doing and was nowhere to be found when we were finished with our meal for over 20 minutes. My friend finally asked the hostess for our bill who was rude once again and tried splitting it up on her own, which obviously failed. When we asked her for a manager, she let out a huge sigh and said up and slammed her hands against the railing. She got the manager, some guy who barely said two words to us and even his look on his face when he saw the omelet was unbelievable. He never apologized for how we were treated and made us pay for everything. The least he could have done was remove the inedible omelet and pay for it. I have never received such bad service in my life. I worked in the restaurant industry for 8 years and if anyone ever showed up hungover in clothes from the night before they were sent home. The staff was so unprofessional and I will never step foot in here again. I would advise everyone to stay clear of this place.
(1)
Juliana R.
I've been coming to this location since I was in high school and I don't know what's up with this place now. The last couple times service has been pretty bad, we've had the same server and she just always seems afraid and you can't hear a thing she says! Very awkward. I love that it's 24 hrs and the food is always decent.
(2)
Amy S.
I love this place for late late late night diner food! Not sure if I would come for a regular breakfast, but it is very satisfying at 3am. I always went with the gyros, which are served to perfection: warm pita, savory lamb, and the perfect cucumber sauce, with a side of fries. I think all my lack of hangovers were due to this meal when I lived in Lakeview, so thank you Clarke's! You know how to make a girl happy.
(4)
Ehow C.
I'm so confused by you, Clarke's. Are you a Mexican restaurant? A breakfast diner? The tortilla chips with salsa tell me one thing, your vast breakfast menu (compared to the dinky Mexican section) tells me another. Granted, you feel and appear like a diner, so I should just consider that. I'll ignore the chips and salsa, and order a Southwest skillet instead. If I were really drunk, I'd eat the whole platter, but being sober, it was really, really heavy. I'm the type of guy who eats everything off his plate, but I couldn't even get halfway there. The pancakes were nice and fluffy, though. I guess I can only recommend this place if you're inebriated and need something to soak up those alcohol molecules. Otherwise, stay awayyy.
(2)
Cam M.
Meh. I went on Sunday around noon. The place was busy, and since we opted to sleep in-wanted breakfast still. Wait time/staffing We had a surprisingly short wait to be seated despite the crowd. However, it seemed like they were quite understaffed. We waited a while (10-15mins) to have our order taken, took a while to get coffee/water, food arrived pretty quick though. So, this is where the 2 start comes in. Food Good diner food. It definitely wasn't the worst that I have ever had, but wasn't the best either. We both had omelets with coffee and toast. I'm not a morning person, and even with the best of company, I need caffeine before I can be functional. I liked the omelet quite a bit-I got the meat and cheese w/cheddar & bacon. Toast was good, the potato stuff was good too. 3 stars for that. Staff Everyone was friendly. Our waitress apologized for the wait, said that they had people call in sick, etc. So, that let me cut them slack with the speed of service...if I wanted uber-fast food, I wouldn't go to a diner. I'd go to the bagel place down the street. So, good for them. 3.5 stars Overall, It seemed like a local version of a Denny's. Where if you go sober, you go for the vibe, and good enough food at a nice price...if you go intoxicated, you go because it is greasy/diner food that is open and won't kick your drunk ass out.
(3)
Patrick H.
I have been enjoying this quirky little diner for around 6 years now and I just love it. The food and service are quite enjoyable. Try the Greek Salad.
(4)
August B.
here's my story...went in ordered an omlet. server "do you want the special instead?" "what's the difference?" "five dollars" Same exact thing for half price, weird, not bad too. Lot's of food for that price. Hey the seats are torn, bathrooms suck, ambiance suck, and food is just okay, but their morning breakfast specials can't be beat. Five dollars, an omelet, 2 pancakes, something else, tea or coffee....
(3)
Miles D.
It says 'Please wait to be seated', how long do they want you to wait? I made eye contact with two servers and was ignored. After five minutes I just sat down and waited another ten minutes before even being spoken too. Waiters walked by me several times within that ten minutes and I made eye contact with them each time. Will not be back and will sway friends/acquaintances to pass this place up and go elsewhere.
(1)
Dan G.
I wish I could give this place a 2.7. It doesn't deserve a 2 or a 3. Bang for your buck this place will satisfy the hungry, the drunk, and the broke. It is a good deal. Really you can't beat the soup and salad combo. It is the biggest salad you have ever seen paired with a soup you could drown in. The quality of the food is okay. Though a soup and salad are easy. As for burgers, breakfast, and other diner specialties the food can be hit or miss. One day the burgers may be good, the next, not so much. Same with the breakfast, last time I had it the pancakes were half cooked and the sausage tasted old. But it cost me like 5 bucks. I would take it over fast food anytime. The service is just as hit or miss. So, I guess that wraps it up to this Yelper, Clarke's is hit or miss and cheap.
(3)
Jelena Z.
Okay, so the food here isn't what I'd call good. Rather, it's underwhelming. But, at 4am, I'd say most of it does just fine! The evidence: Mozzarella cheese sticks: I thought these were 'unmessable'? Apparently not. Potato skins: my friend loved these. And they're massive! Hot dog: A definite 'no' according to my cousin. And she isn't picky. Steak fries: Ugh. Quesadilla: Not bad. And the guac is actually fresh. Hot chocolate: Essential for warming up in here. It's chilly! So why the 3 stars? Our 19-year-old Irish server. So crush-worthy, SO sweet. Can we get him to-go, please?
(3)
Layla A.
The service on the bar side is lacking. I used the women's washroom- one stall was missing a lock, the other wouldn't close properly? Good food, though.
(3)
Emily T.
I'm going to go ahead and chime in with a Clarke's review. A friend and I came in last night after a show at The Vic. It wasn't too late, and wasn't too crowded. We sat down and I ordered the BLT. Server: "What kind of cheese would you like on that?" Me: "Ummm.. a BLT normally doesn't have cheese." Server: "Oh. Right." Me: "What are the Northshore potatoes?" Server: "Um, well, they're kind of... um... minced potatoes" She clearly had no idea. My friend ordered a monte cristo. The food came, and the waitress set them on the table without saying a word, and walked off. Nothing. No, "Enjoy your meal!" No, "Can I get you anything else?" Nothing. The next time I saw her, I did ask for light mayo. Light. I got 2 packets of regular mayo. On top of all of this, we were both non-plussed with our sandwiches. We both left over half our plates. We hastily paid, left our inexperienced, space cadet of a server a 10% tip, which I thought was generous, and left. It's too bad- this place was much better in my memory. I love diners, but I won't be back to this one anytime soon. If ever.
(1)
Al D.
Can't believe I'm reviewing Clarke's, but a recent group dinner there provided fodder for this review. I remember coming here when this place was still "cool" to go to after concerts and ball games when I was in high school - a decade ago. Now, like another reviewer said, it should be called Barf's instead of Clarke's. The food is ridiculous. It's not even good "drunk" food. Every dish seems to make heavy use of those awful "Northshore Potatoes," including mine - the honey mustard chicken sandwich. One thin slice (not piece, slice) of "grilled" chicken, huge chunks of lettuce, tomato and onion on a pita, with a pound or more of under-cooked, under-seasoned Northshore Potatoes for only $12.95. A restaurant's food has to be really disgusting for me not to finish my dinner, as was the case here. The other people in my group had greasy dinners that all came out on the cold side. Nobody really enjoyed the food, and definitely not the annoyed servers. As for the place itself, it's now starting to look really worn-out. The disclaimers on the wall about paying before leaving made me laugh; apparently walk-outs are common here. However, it's right under the El and in the middle of a bustling neighborhood with tourists and new people moving in every day who've never been to Clarke's before....doubtful anything's going to improve here.
(1)
Annie D.
When you are half in the bag (or maybe all in the bag) at 3 a.m. and you are still underwhelmed by your food, there's something amiss. The jig is up, Clarke's. I've been here quite a few times over the years. My checklist of happy restaurant experience basically includes two things: food and service. This place has neither, unless you count terribly blah food and a few crabby servers who probably have to deal with a lot of idiots, but doesn't excuse them from being rude to those of us who aren't peeing under our booths or throwing salt shakers. There are always exceptions to the mediocrity, of course (like their fresh OJ), but I haven't experienced many here. Looking at their menu online now, it says chicken tenders are $5.99, which is weird because I am positive that I was charged $9 for an order of chicken tenders last year (no fries, just chicken that wasn't all that good). Is this the late night tax or something? I don't know. Hopefully they just lowered their prices, because $9 was robbery. Some of the positives are... they are open 24/7, serve booze, are convenient to the Belmont stop. And that's pretty much it.
(2)
Christina K.
Don't waste your time here. The service is poor, the food is bland and overpriced, and the restaurant itself is dirty.
(1)
Don H.
New Years Day. What a night to pick to visit Clarke's. But, here we are. It's a madhouse outside. Like the end of the world or something. Hooting and hollering. But it's a perfect time to get some food and we wanted to be close to the Red Line. Clarke's is it. It's been FOREVER since I've been to this location. We used to go here quite a bit, but I haven't been since the expansion. It does leave quite a bit more room in the main dining room, but it was understandably super-crowded, too. I would typically get a breakfast, but this time I wanted a taco salad. Most taco salads come with very seasoned meats and are over salted. This one was the exact opposite: the seemingly-fresh vegetables and loose meat lacked flavor. I had to dump on a cup of hot sauce to get it to taste alright. If you're here for the food, you'll love the people watching. We did. I wish I had a camera for everyone who walked in the door. Everyone had a story on their face. And what I love about this place is the diversity of people: all ages, all manner of dress, drunkenness. It's perfect for that. ;)
(3)
Gayle S.
Today was my first and last time at Clarke's. I understand that it was a busy Sunday morning and I was dining alone (because I work a few blocks over and came in before my shift) but just because I'm by myself doesn't mean I should get sucky service. First I was led to my booth and told I'd have to wait for a menu because all the other customers had them all. Ok that's fine, like I said, I understand that it was busy. Then I had 2 girls switching off being my waitress both seemed very annoyed that I was asking questions even though it was my first time there. I ordered a skillet wanting my eggs scrambled and it came out sunny side up and runny. They just didn't care. I still ate it because I don't like to return food (and have a very reasonable fear of angry waitstaff spitting in my food) but I only tipped 10% because I had such a terrible experience when I usually do 25 to 30. I could understand their annoyance if I was rude to them but I was nothing but polite and kind and that kind of service was unacceptable. Like I said this is my last time ever coming in this place ever again.
(1)
Tessa G.
Cool, Clarke's. I like this place and eat here because I've been here before, it's affordable, and I love the diner atmosphere after a day of scoping around the shops in the area. It just feels right. I always stay super basic here and get a grilled cheese or chicken fingers and some soup or a fruit bowl. The appetizers are pretty rad and the fries are alright. They have a pretty decent sized menu, typical American-fare. There are a few gems in here, you just have to order the right thing! This is typical diner food, the staff is nice, and they play some pretty damn good tunes every time I'm in here. Plus my really good friend was the first person who took me here, so each time it's kind of like "Aw..." So yeah, if you've got $15 in your pocket, you can eat pretty generously here. If you're in this area, check it out and don't expect a 5 star lunch or dinner.
(3)
Drew B.
Clarke's is just like any typical diner, only this one is full of a few more gays and trannies than most are used to. The food is what you would expect, nothing too exciting and the entrees come out semi-fresh and luke-warm. But hey, when it's 4am and you're looking for something to soak up all that vodka in your stomach, it tastes pretty damn good. This is no place to bring a date or to experience new cuisine. Ever. It's strictly good for 4am feasting only.
(2)
Jonathan H.
Worst service I've ever experienced in my life for lack luster food. Seriously waited 30 minutes for a coffee refill. Do yourself a favor and go down the street to Ann Sather!
(1)
Jennie T.
I came here once, and I'm never coming here again (not of my own accord, anyway). The food is horribly disgusting. I don't care if it's 4am in the morning and we had just stumbled out of Berlin's. It is too disgusting for words. I had the chicken noodle soup, and I really hated it. It tasted like they just threw the ingredients together at the last minute. The soup was very bland. It did not taste like a chicken noodle soup. Where's the chicken broth? I tasted only the vegetables. My friends ordered some wings and a pizza. I tried both. They were all disgusting. I know some people excuse 24-hour diners but disgusting food is not acceptable to me, no matter what the circumstances (unless I become a pauper because you know, beggars can't be choosers).
(1)
Justine M.
Friend and I both got a salad and they were HUGE. it was around $8-10 per salad. Salad didn't have enough ingrediants. I got a greek salad and after a mere few bites, I had nothing left except lettuce. Service is pretty slow. We asked the waitress to include tip on our card and she didn't do that. She charged one card more than the other. She ddin't even ask us if we wanted separate checks. $6 for a cheesecake factory cheesecake. wtf.
(2)
Jason M.
I recently stopped in for an apple pancake and wow was I disappointed. It had some wafer thin apple slices lining the bottom, only about a third as much total apples as before. The gooey cinnamon glaze was absent. A large part of the edge was burned and inedible. It was early Sunday morning and the place was a ghost town. What happened Clarke's? I know fresh produce isn't cheap but taking all the quality out of a dish is a terrible move. It's hard to justify going back after that.
(2)
Rick R.
I came in pretty late to this all-night-diner and it was right in the middle of a pretty massive summer storm, so the place was packed. I was seated pretty quickly and my server, Derek, came over right away and took my order; he was very polite and apologetic when he mentioned that he had to take my card and hold it (he clarified nothing would be charged until after I was done eating, and only IF I decided to use that card, meaning I could pay cash if I wanted to). He explained it's because they've had lots of people eating and then skipping out w/o paying. I thought it was unusual, but I understand the policy, and he's only doing his job. I ordered the Broccolicious Omelette with cheddar cheese and the steak fries, and pancakes. I already had coffee and water, so I was good to go for the time being. He returned with my order VERY quickly, which was surprising, because again, the place was packed. I was very impressed, to say the least. The omelette was perfect! It had the right consistency, firm without being stiff, and not runny at all. The cheddar cheese was very tasty, and the broccoli was fresh and cooked just right, with the perfect amount of crunchiness to it. The steak fries was not greasy at all, and very well cooked. I was in heaven. This meal is great, and again, it was very late and I was starving, so it really hit the spot. Derek checked on me several times, which was nice. Even though he checked, he didn't refill my water glass until I asked him to, although my coffee was refilled regularly by one of the young ladies walking around with the coffee pot. No big deal, again, packed place, and he was running around taking care of lots of people. Not complaining at all. I asked him for a little to-go box for my pancakes because I was stuffed after eating the omelette and fries (which were so big I couldn't finish them!) and he brought it over right away, and I asked for my check, which he produced right away. I did pay with cash, and he promptly gave me my credit card back and took care of the payment very quickly. I'm generally a good tipper, so I tipped him generously. He really deserved it; he was working really hard. I had the pancakes the next day for breakfast. They were delicious! I know some people here have had bad experiences at Clarke's, but I had a wonderful meal with very quick and courteous service, and I would definitely return. The one thing that made me cringe every so often was how LOUD some of the patrons were, actually screaming and laughing (REALLY screaming) and no one from the diner actually asked them to tone it down. Maybe that's the usual crowd and they tolerate it, or maybe I'm just used to quieter places. Regardless, I will definitely return and recommend this place to my friends. Thanks, Clarke's, you made me a very happy man!
(4)
David R.
I have a dim memory of eating a barbecue chicken pizza and really liking it. I have a slightly less dim memory of stealing a couple bites of chicken tenders, and those were also good (plus the sauce). I was really craving a taco, but when asked which I should order--the pizza or the tacos--the bartendress immediately replied, "Pizza." So I'm glad that we asked. I ate the whole thing! I'm pretty sure that I had a beer here, but I can't remember what kind or how many. I really want to know what kind of beer selection they have.
(3)
Bess A.
Stopped in for breakfast for dinner. Ordered 2 eggs scrambled with hash browns and 2 pancakes. Got 2 cold eggs over easy with cold beige hash browns and 2 dead weight cakes. All bland and dull. Won't be going back. Ever.
(1)
Candice W.
They say that people who give one star ratings are simply disgruntled. HELLLLL yes I am. Terrible food, terrible BOOTHs, terrible bathroom, terrible service, terrible waitress. First off, I know my food. The portions were SMALL and overcooked. Being a plus size woman I'm not always comfortable where I sit and have learned to adjust. NOT HERE. It was lumpy and I had to settle with putting my knee on the seat to the side. I was sitting diagonal almost the whole time. To be honest. I don't REMEMBER how the food tasted, I was so focused on the fact that I was uncomfortable. I was in a bad mood and probably not exactly "polite" to the waitress, but she was RUDE and snippy. I went there during the night, and it was only her working. She may have been tired, but it doesn't mean she can be rude. So, I had to unload. The toilet paper was almost completely out! Good thing I noticed in advance, because WOAH MAMA, I had to conserve. Never again.
(1)
Kenneth Y.
The environment is pretty interesting late at night especially during the weekends. Other than a chance to see a familiar face and getting late night drunk food this place is pretty par. I noticed the service wasn't too bad for a late night diner which gives them a little upside but not anything to go raving about. I do like the take home cases. You can always notice someone coming from Clarke's because of their slightly unique to-go foil cases which I thought was pretty cool. Definitely a good ice breaker if you see someone carrying one of the cases on the L. Clarke's is a safe bet for a consistently decent place to get your lat night food. Although the service is mediocre, I could see why people rave about this place. I see it as a good vibes/ entertaining area to see something interesting that you can talk about at the dining table for the most part on the weekends.
(3)
Sabrina C.
Overpriced diner food. Ordered that egg white omelette and the waitress neglected to give me hash browns. Which is okay because I wanted to get out of Clarke's ASAP. She just got a worse tip because I was bored of my food. This place is fine if you are drunk.
(2)
Elizabeth W.
I think this place has gone downhill since they expanded. Why, in my day, they didn't serve mixed drinks, and the service was faster! We walked to school barefoot through the snow! etc. etc. Seriously, though, I don't go here very much anymore because I hate waiting fifteen minutes for a table, ten minutes for the server to show up, twenty-five minutes for an order of potatoes, ten minutes for a refill, and however long for the check. I really got spoiled by the awesome staff that was there six or seven years ago. It isn't really the fault of the people who work there, all the time--as a former waitress I know there's no good way to work eight tables at once. Being understaffed is a management issue. Maybe it's changed since I was there last, a few months ago, but for now, I only go back for the North Shore potatoes since Pick Me Up is a quick walk away and almost never has a line to be seated. Funny story: several years ago I was sitting by the window and saw a huge rat outside. I thought it was a dog at first, and it looked like it was trying to steal a bicycle.
(2)
Broc J.
First i'd like to say NEVER eat here..they have cockroaches ! i'm not talking about the bug, I'm talking about the overly hipster wait staff. I have never had bad service like I have had at Clarke's. I arrived here one day with my roommate, it was late and we were hungry. i understand that this place gets a lot of crazy people but we were two average joes who wanted to grab a bite to eat. We were greeted by our server Ivy, who right off the bat had an attitude. My roommate proceeded to ask her what kind of root beer they serve to which she replied "The kind that you drink". STRIKE ONE. We placed our orders and I ordered a steak quesadilla with a side of french fries. Ivy disappeared for twenty minutes, our drinks went un refilled and when she returned she brought me back a steak burrito. STRIKE TWO. Ivy then proceeded to go into the kitchen to fix the mess she made and returned twenty minutes later with no food in hand. At this point it's laughable and we tell her that we don't want the food anymore and that we'd like to speak to a manager. She then rolls her eyes and tells us that she will have to pay for the food ! I'm a server myself, and YOU NEVER SAY THAT TO A TABLE. Bitch, you fucked up not us. STRIKE THREE. As there was no manager on duty ( i still find that hard to believe) I had to call the next morning to complain. The manager seemed as if he didn't care his wait staff were incompetent and I told him that I was not trying to get anything free just letting him know his establishment sucks. Please, if you are in the neighborhood just walk past this place. The food is mediocre at best and the wait staff should all be fired and go back to working at American Apparel
(1)
Chanele B.
The only reason I could ever imagine going here was if it was the middle of the night. Having gone twice in the daytime, I can safely say that with an Ann Sather's across the street and a variety of everything you could want within walking distance (if you hate Ann and NEED diner food, go to Stella's on Broadway and Barry), Clarke's during the day is just simply a mistake. The food is simply not good (the bacon is particularly horrible), and the service is worse than the food. We had to pretend we were walking out to even get them to come and take our money. Add that during my two - and only two - visits, we had dirty coffee mugs both times. Dirty as in dried pieces of food on them. Stay classy, Clarke's.
(2)
Erik O.
Very basic. It's what you can expect from a 24hour restaurant. I ordered the San Diego club sandwich and my girl got the cheeseburger. My sandwich was o.k. as there was a single sliver of meat on it, and her cheeseburger was o.k. as it was very dry and not much cheese. Both of our meals were also lukewarm, and seemed like they were sitting out for a while. This place is nothing to write home about. The place is clean, and it's in a great location, so that's a plus. The server was extremely friendly and very attentive, but the food was just so plain. I will not be coming here again.
(2)
Ken E.
Wanted to grab a quick bite and stopped in because it was right across the street from my Hotel. Bad decision on my part. The food was blah even for a diner. The place was not clean. The service if you can call it that SUCKED! Would not recommend it or ever go back.
(1)
Scott N.
The Micro Mini breakfast is great. Two eggs and 1/2 meat. It comes with choice of pancakes, toast or english muffin. Oh... a side of potatoes comes with it, too. For a guy that is eating paleo, two eggs with a side of meat is perfect. I asked for no potatoes and no toast... and I get a side of fruit. I was a little annoyed that I got an up charge for the fruit replacement (I gave up pancakes or toast or english muffin AND the potatoes) and I had to pay .99 more for fruit? I think if I'm giving up a carb choice AND potatoes I should get fruit as a free substitute). Alas, that's not how it worked out, but the service was good and attentive. It's breakfast food and it's good. We have only been here for breakfast so can't comment beyond. We came here two days in a row for breakfast. It's not extraordinary, but it's quite good. If you stay at City Suites, like we do, and you want something beefier than the continental breakfast served up daily,which is great perk!, walk across the street to Clarke's for a nice breakfast.
(3)
Nichole F.
We went here before a show at the Vic. We git a perfect table for people watching in front. I ordered waffles with strawberries and whip cream and sausage and my husband got a patty melt. The waffle and sausage were great. I enjoyed it so much. The patty melt was just okay. I consider myself to be a patty melt expert so I know a good one when I taste it! The service was just okay. Our waitress kind of forgot about us. I would still come here again.
(3)
Kristy B.
Came here with a friend a few months back. We had spent some time hanging around Lakeview and it was nearly 10:00pm. I don't really have too much to say about this place. Nothing really stood out to me in a good or bad way. It was just okay. I remember our server was pretty friendly and quick. Very attentive as well. We ordered breakfast meals (I got eggs and bacon while my friend ordered pancakes). We saw that there were some desserts on the menu, so we asked about them. There were only one or two dessert options available at that time of night, and they both sounded unappealing. So we opted for just keeping our breakfast meals. The food was alright, but I wasn't a huge fan of their bacon. Which is sad to say, because I love bacon. But I just wasn't feeling it. My friend enjoyed his pancakes, but I felt that my meal was pretty sub-par. "Meh" is all I have to say about this place. I may come back here after a night of drinking or if I am really craving some eggs on the double. But other than that, there are better diners in Lakeview.
(3)
Aron H.
This place used to be descent. I am pretty sure they changed their ownership. The menu is not the same, the service is slow and they served me a breakfast which seemed to have been heated up. The coffee is just terrible. I hope the other place with the same in Evanston has not suffered the same. Not to be unfair the waitress I had was very nice. Though I guess she couldn't help with the food.
(1)
Dustin B.
Been here twice before and was perplexed on how terrible the service was. I understand that they are a 24 hour diner in a very drunken part of town but that would never excuse the treatment me and my friends received there. Our server was disrespectful and uncaring, our food was as basic as they come. You can do far better than this my friends.
(1)
Jon C.
I've walked by Clarke's many times over the years, but I've never stopped. Needing a place for breakfast on Saturday, a friend wanted to go here, so the introduction to Clarke's was made. This place isn't fancy. Nooooo siiiirr. You want fancy, go somewhere else. The booth we sat at had been patched up by duct tape more than a few times, and the flooring and decor was somewhat outdated. Still.. sometimes these are the best places to eat. I took a recommendation and tried the farmer's skillet. My error was going for the organic egg whites rather than the real eggs. The veggies were delicious, but the egg whites really took away from the dish. Honestly, this dish could have easily fed 2 people, and I had to stop about halfway through because I was stuffed. Clarke's is the type of diner that's been around for ages and I'm sure does a great late night business after the bars close. The place wasn't busy at all when we arrived, and the service was great for us. Food came out fast, coffee was always hot and filled to the top of the cups, and the check came out promptly. Three stars because of the decor and the need to do some freshening up inside, but the food was solid.
(3)
Richard C.
I'm officially done. Five years ago Clarke's was wonderful. But now it has sunk to low levels of service. In the past few months I've visited or ordered online (via Grubhub) from Clarke's at least four times. First time was online - and the order was wrong. Okay, I'll give them another chance. Went in to eat, and the order was wrong again - AFTER it took over an hour to arrive. "This can't be the Clarke's I knew from when I first lived in the city, can it? Maybe it was just bad luck. I'll try again." Ordered via Grubhub again. Two hours later no food. Called and was hung up on with a rude: "Sorry, we don't want anything." As if I was a telemarketer. What? Called again - same result. Ended up leaving my apartment and walking down the street to hear them say: "Oops, sorry. Your order was stuck in the printer and no one noticed." No one noticed a half-printed order in the printer for two hours. Okay. Cancelled my order and walked down to Al's Beef because I didn't want to wait another hour for food. Last night, after two months of not ordering from Clarke's -- I ordered again and the food arrived correctly! Unfortunately, the food arrived late and it was cold. Whatever. I'm done.
(1)
Mark S.
I've only ever been here pretty late after a night out, but even in such a state when I think that pretty much everything tastes amazing, Clarke's still leaves a lot to be desired. It is a typical diner that serves typical diner food, but somehow all of the flavor seems to be sucked out of everything I've ever ordered here. I've never been truly satisfied with anything that I've eaten here. On the other hand though, I've always received great service here. This continues to amaze me because I can only imagine the drunk antics the staff must put up with on an almost nightly basis.
(2)
Anicia P.
They're out of French toast and turkey sausage. I'm irritated and I've been waiting 10 minutes for a waffle since that's the only thing available that I can eat. Finally get the waffle with cold syrup. The waffle is undercooked and gross.
(2)
Sophie B.
Ordered a lemonade, california omelette and cinnamon roll pancakes. Both the omelette and pancakes were awesome and I had leftovers for the next day. On the downside, the lemonade tasted very weird and not like lemonade. I really like how they leave a carafe of water out for you to serve yourself. Our waiter wasn't the most attentive but our food came out fairly quickly. I would go here again.
(4)
Dylan B.
Been here about 10 times tops, a few of those times while intoxicated and late at night. From my experiences I have come to the following conclusion: Food is overpriced for poor quality and unorganized inventory (they are always running out of something..) If you don't mind crappy service from an employee that clearly doesn't want to be there and then getting charged an AUTOMATIC GRATUITY (yes, even if you have under 6 people!) then this is your diner. Each time I've been here there has been one consistency: BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. The only reason I have even come back to this dump can only be attributed to the insistence of drunk, incoherent friends. Save yourself the trip and visit a restaurant that will be worth it in quality and service.
(2)
Maria K.
We ate here because we were hungry and it was directly across from our hotel. I try to look at reviews first, but we didn't this time because were just really hungry and wanted to get to downtown and didn't want to waste time researching. Turns out we wasted a lot of time anyway... My husband loved his burger and the sweet potato fries were good. I ordered mac-n-cheese for my kids and it was the awful boxed kind. That is a huge pet peeve of mine at restaurants. Mac n cheese was listed as an appetizer, so I ordered it thinking it would be decent. I did not expect it to come out like that. My mistake, thinking that ordering mac n cheese off the appetizer menu would be more than a 69 cent box of crap. We waited a really long time for our food. in fact, I'm positive I saw the waiter come out with our food...turn around and go back...and then come back about 10 minutes later. I'm thinking they forgot something so they put our food back under the warmer until it was taken care of and then brought it out again. That would explain why chicken wrap was soaked in juice underneath. It was just sitting there...waiting. We are not picky people and we were really underwhelmed. I'm sure there are much better options in Chicago and I regret that I didn't do better research to avoid this place.
(1)
Eva T.
This restaurant discriminates against gay and trans people. They "reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" but somehow, this only ever ends up being totally sober gay and trans people. They're in the middle of Boystown. Seriously? Yelp deleted my first review stating this and I'm posting another one. BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT. Yelp, go ahead and delete this one if you want. I'll keep posting new ones! Byeeeee!
(1)
RoscoeVchic K.
I frequent Clarke's often for breakfast on Sundays, as they can accommodate a large group. There are usually 5-8 of us and no reservation needed. The staff are really nice, and usually our food arrives pretty quick. The food isn't the greatest, pretty average greasy diner options. They do however have a very large menu with lots of selections. The atmosphere is a bit funky and the place could certainly use a deep clean, fresh paint and a spruce up. Overall good experience every time and I would recommend this place for an inexpensive breakfast.
(3)
Ramone B.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one sooner..but anyway here goes: After a night of partying it up in boyztown, everyone was hungry and in need of food so Clarke's was the spot. My younger brother was home from Los Angeles and Clarkes was one of his staples when he was in college. It was only right that we stop in. The waitress was super friendly. In fact I loved her. I originally wanted a gyro, but when she informed me that the meat didn't come off of a spit I quickly nixed that s*** and went for her recommendation- The Irish Burger. The Irish Burger has scallions, waffles fries, bacon, and cheddar cheese on a beef patty. I have to admit that sounded super fattening, and so good!!! I was too ready to have my big gurl moment #LaneBryant The waitress also informed me that The Irish burger had won an award to which I was more pleased because I knew I was in for a treat. Boy was I let down. That damn burger didn't taste like much. I was prepared for something better than or equal to sex, and what I got was a premature ejaculation! Can I say that in my review??! #TriedIt All of those ingredients going on in my burger and it was BLAND as all get out! I did have some of my brothers quesadilla. It was okay as well. My brother and my friend were going on about how great the food was, and it was just typical average diner food. Those B****es were still clearly feeling their liquor. I know I will be back at Clarke's in the future. With it being so close to Boyztown, and being open 24/7 it's a good place to put some food in your stomach before or after a night of fun.
(3)
Jenna C.
Really good food, REALLY terrible service. My wife and I come here occasionally and the food has always been good but service is always bad. Last time we had a girl who had absolutely no personality. She came to our table, didn't introduce herself, had hickeys all over her neck and never came to check on us. I had to find another server to bring me something I asked her for twice. That was the one and only time I ever gave someone a bad tip. I tip even for poor service, but that was just so bad I would've preferred to just walk to the kitchen and get my own stuff. Would order for pick up because the food is worth it, but would never dine in again.
(2)
Lila M.
Clarke's used to be a favorite when I was in high school, so it's sad to say this place has seen an impressive decline in quality. Breakfast sandwich: had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Dry eggs. Untoasted English muffin. Microwaved sausage patty. Potatoes: halfway cooked and totally bland. Plain. White. UNDERCOOKED. Potatoes. I notice something that's not a potato in my potatoes. In fact...it looked a whole hell of a lot like a rat turd. I picked up the little turd and squished it between my fingers. Sure as f*** squishes like a rat turd. And then, I smelled it. Sure as f*** smells like a f**king rat turd, too. I threw the food out before getting barfing-and-shi*ting-at-the-same-time food poisoning. There was f**king rat shi* in my food. I tremble when recalling this experience. They made me smell rat shit. Terrible. 0.0001/10. Too bad, since it used to be a great place. Really surprising how bad it's gotten. Must be new management?
(1)
Chris T.
How do you get a job here? Obviously you don't have to be good at anything to be an employee of Clarke's. First of all, my order was wrong. There was no cheese or sauce on my sandwich. They gave me the crumb straggles of french fries from the bottom of the freezer bag that have been fried a couple of times over from sitting in the deep fryer basket. Chicken wings were straight up cold and completely dry. Lemonade was warm and watered down. 9pm on a Thursday, approximately 3 tables in the whole house and my waitress (Jenny) does everything to avoid my table when we were finished and just wanted our check. She was outside smoking. She was wiping down every table in the joint. She was straight up hiding in the back and fiddling with her phone. When she does show up at our table, she immediately tosses a handful of used napkins from another table into the plate of my dining partner who was going to ask for a take home box. She and her manager made a big deal out of making change for me, I even offered to pay with a card if it was that big of a deal but I guess heavily sighing and eye rolling was more important. To top it all off, I use the restroom before leaving and there are RAT FECES on the floor in a stall. I didn't leave a tip. I'm truly sorry if you're living off your tips and trying t make it in this world, but you should at least TRY at your job. Do yourself a favor and walk the extra distance to any place but Clarke's for food.
(1)
Ken O.
I recently was in the Central Lakeview neighborhood, so I thought I'd check out this restaurant that has been there for decades. I had stopped in there about 12:30pm; the place was pretty much empty. Out of this large restaurant, only five tables were being used, I thought I came on an off day. The restaurant needs a little updating. The menu is pretty decent with breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Basically, something for everyone. The server gave me a few minutes to review the menu. I finally decided on the BLT with fries and coke to drink. After placing my order, I had checked into Yelp and started to read the reviews. With all of the reviews, I knew I would be able to give a honest review. After a little longer expected time, my meal finally arrived. That was the last time I saw the server. The first thing I noticed was the mushy tomatoes between the lettuce and bacon. The sandwich as a little dry since there wasn't any mayo on it or a side cup of it on the plate. I had then tasted the steak fries. Even adding salt, the fries were still bland. I'm glad ketchup helped to cover up the blandness. I had eaten about three-fourths of this meal before I had pushed it aside. The server came out of nowhere; I wonder where she was hiding?? Gave me the bill and left. Luckily, I had enough cash with me and I left. On the way home, I noticed that horrible film of bad food in my mouth. I couldn't wait until I got home to brush my teeth. Maybe, the only time to visit this place is after a night of drinking. I am no rush to return to this restaurant. Sorry.
(2)
Cat P.
They exercise their right to refuse service to any customer. You would think this means disruptive people on drugs, a crazy person with a weapon, perhaps a naked man jiggling his package at your table....but no. To Clark's this means the gay community and their allies. Move along, it's a crappy place anyway!
(1)
Derrick B.
Waffle House is better than this place. There, I said it. I walked in and the place smelled like a combination between glass cleaner and a retirement home. My food was cold and had zero flavor. Tons of better places in the area.
(1)
Jackie N.
Great for a drunk late night eat but that's about where it ends for me. Their pancakes are delicious--probably some of the best I've ever had. I've also gotten a skillet which is pretty good. Definitely your classic diner, but if you're looking for brunch places there are far better places to eat.
(3)
Joey S.
We loved the menu! Everything on the menu ends in "y" (clever menu). Our server checked-in with us a friendly amount. Their pancakes were delicious!
(5)
TIM W.
I have lived in Chicago about 12 years. my partner and I seldom go out to eat but when we do it's always a pleasure to be served a meal by a genuinely nice and friendly wait staff that is who we found at Clark's on Belmont her name is Rebecca she made our experience a true delight if you happen to stop in ask for Rebecca
(5)
Lance P.
Don't support this or any of Clarke's locations...they have recently posted a sign saying they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone...from what I've witnessed and heard from others is that this is being used to refuse service to gay people. They are in BOYSTOWN?!
(1)
Daniel Z.
Great for late night munchies! The crew here has a ton of heart, and with all of the crap they have to put up with, I think they do very well. Get the lincoln Park burger with a fried egg and seasoned fries!
(5)
Emmanuel V.
I have been here a bunch of times. Perfect hangover place. They always give you a bunch of water. The food portions are very generous, we always struggle to finish our food. Coffee is great. Service depends on how busy it is but it is good.
(5)
Jenny V.
we were super excited when we saw drink specials, but they aren't allow to serve it in the diner part? we came Thursday before Lolla, so naturally it was bumpin. We waiting a while for our food, but omg it was worth it. I got some skillet with chorizo and it was so good, and it was a huge portion, i brought more than 2/3 of it home with me
(3)
J R.
I use to frequent Clark's, but over the past few years everything from food to service has gone down hill. This past weekend was the cherry on top, they will never see me again. It's a shame.
(1)
Lia V.
I don't think I've ever been here sober therefore I usually order something greasy paired with greasy fries - which is always good when you're drunk. In the summer they have the Irish girls working which is always fun. I like to hear their stories. My cousin adores their sweet potato fries (again... always drunk) It's a crappy diner for drunks and it works for me. If I had a Waffle House nearby I would be there, but there isn't one... so I go to Clarke's.
(3)
Serena N.
We went to the bar for a few drinks during the Blackhawks playoff game against Detroit. Great beer specials. $3 for a Corona bottle. You can't beat that. The bartender was friendly and quick with the service. They also put the play by play for the sports game which is nice. Nice spot for a beer and a game.
(4)
Ronald H.
"Everyone hates this particular Clarke's..." ...but it's often the only port in a storm. HORRIBLE service, bland, food, dirty, dingy, (did I mention HORRIBLE service?). The place is literally falling apart. I mean, I get it- this particular Clarkes' location is in a drunken, awful, demanding party corridor. However, when you come in at 2 on a Saturday afternoon and get a bad attitude, slow, inattentive, indifferent service, AND get up-charged without being informed for a substitution that is FREE at every other Clarke's in the city. I told the manager I was not told of the up-charge, and he just shrugged. You ALWAYS tell a customer they will be up-charged. I will NEVER come to this place again. I'd rather stay hungry. There is ONE good waitress on Monday nights. She's really awesome. Why? Because she actually CARES about her customers. However, she should get a job somewhere else, or they should clone 20 of her and have them ALL work at this Clarke's and MAYBE it will redeem itself.
(1)
Alex M.
This wasn't a last resort choice for brunch, but it felt like one. The staff wasn't welcoming, our waitress was slow and we pretty much only saw her when she took our order (after we had to ask another waitress to get her) and when she dropped off the food. She never topped off our coffee or checked if we needed anything further after getting our food. We both got skillets-- if I pay $10 for a skillet, I don't expect Kraft singles as the cheese. Overall, I won't be back unless I'm either extremely drunk or hungover. I'll give it 2 stars instead of 1 only because our food did come out relatively fast. Not to mention while we were sitting here, a man and his wife got up, talked to the manager, and left [even] after receiving their food because they were dissatisfied.
(2)
Sharon S.
I realize this diner is not meant to be fancy smancy, I like coming here for my Denver skillet with a side of pancakes, but could you please remodel your bathrooms!!
(3)
Rebecca B.
Sorry, Clarke's, but I just can't do better than 2 stars. As often as I end up here, you'd think I'd go for at least 3, but...well...I just can't. Yes, you are open 24 hours, and that is always awesome for this night owl. I also love that you are awesome about splitting checks for tables. And, of course, you offer some great people watching opportunities. These are the reasons you got that second star. Sadly, that is where my praise for you ends. Your food is bland. I mean really bland. The amount of salt, pepper, hot sauce, and/or ketchup that I have to put on my food to make it taste like something is somewhat astonishing. I've had too many over cooked eggs, almost raw pancakes, and burned pieces of toast. You even managed to screw up bacon, if that was bacon I was eating...I'm still not entirely sure. Bacon is the candy of meats. You should treat it with the respect it deserves. And what you claim is real maple syrup...yeah...that is the cheap fake stuff. You're not fooling this girl. You could also learn a thing or two about service. Every single time I've visited, it takes forever to a.) get a table, b.) have someone take my order and c.) get my plate of food. I shouldn't have to wait so long for a table, especially when I can clearly see how many are open and clearly see a minimum of three employees standing around doing nothing. Oh, and forget about drink refills. They just aren't going to happen. In fact, I think there must be a vortex located somewhere around the beverage station, because if I ask for a refill, then I never see my server again.
(2)
Richard S.
There is nothing like having a delicious burger at midnight the first night of being in Chicago!!! Would defiantly recommend this place and am planning on coming here every time I visit!
(5)
Yvonne B.
We was some crazy girls when we walked into Clarke's recently. In fact, there's been a story every time we've ended up at Clarke's. It's just got that nostalgia for us, and that's a good thing. But that aside, it's not that great. I mean, there are some places just across the street that are aces better... But maybe aren't open 24 hours or maybe have an inconvenient wait. Clarke's is okay for what it is. It's open all the time (God bless those employees!) and it doesn't have a reputation that garners any kind of wait for a table. That's why we end up there. The food isn't special. The service isn't special. It's not that clean. It's a diner. Take it for what it is.
(2)
Ralph B.
"I would rather have battery acid tossed in my eye holes than drink what they call coffee." This is a review of a late-night breakfast that took place at 1:3O a.m. on Tuesday, December 1O. Does that mean I should cut them some slack? No, they are the ones who advertise their eats 24/7. So here goes. Ugh, the sign I've never liked: Please wait to be seated. That makes sense if a restaurant is crowded, but this place was feeding four tables. The waitress came out, very nice young lady, and told me to sit anywhere, I started sitting down at a four-top at the very front of the restaurant so I could people watch on Belmont. What she meant to say, she explained, was to sit anywhere in the back third. I guess it's because she was the only one working and preferred not to have to work the entire place. Okay, no problem. Folks in the diner business should always serve great coffee. It covers a multitude of sins and makes the world right for people like me. It wasn't because it was old and burned, I can drink that, nor was it because it was 3.2 degrees above luke warm. It was a bad case of ordering coffee on the cheap. I'm not a coffee snob, but this stuff was trash. Folgers on its worse day is better than what I had. I would rather have battery acid tossed in my eyeholes that drink what they call coffee. Everything else was good. Well, almost everything. I had the Mediterranean omelet. It was outstanding. Not sure how an omelet is baked, but it was really quite good. It came with hash-browns. Normally, nothing much to write about, but theirs were really good. Not greasy at all and a great flavor, some coming from a hint of green onions mixed in. The omelet comes with toast or pancakes. I love pancakes more than life itself. I saved them for last. Mistake. PanCAKES, mean they are a bit fluffy. They always grow taller as they are browned on both sides. Holy Toledo Bruce Jenner. He could have tossed them as discuses in the Olympics. Flat. Tasteless. White flour and water. Odd Job from OO7 could cut a man's head off at the neck with those things. 196Os stoners could have played Frisbee. Okay, enough drama. A mighty good omelet and great hash browns sandwiched by the worst coffee on the planet and pancakes that need a little buttermilk and egg in the mix. Cost: $17 with a tip and another $3.OO for the busboy. I always tip busboys more than waiters at diners because they do five times the work. So, worth a trip? Yes. Memorable? Yes, but in the wrong way. Would I go there again? Heck yes because I love diners and nothing can keep me away.
(2)
Ryan A.
Sat in a booth within eyesight (and earshot) of 4 servers and a host who argued about "who's gonna take table 13?" I don't wanna take it...I took the last 3 tables." "Sorry for the hassle," sez me and left.
(1)
Angie K.
I know this isn't the fanciest place in the city but it's open at all times and has a crazy variety of food on the menu to choose from. People-watching is also interesting regardless of the time of day. In the warmer months, their outdoor seating area is pretty cute and I would definitely suggest to soak up the sun that way. I've been here both for breakfast and dinner, sober and not sober and have always had a good time. I had a healthy breakfast option that had egg whites, veggies and fruit and it was a huge portion for the price. Another time, I came after drinking (a lot) and had a veggie burger. It was pretty good and even came with sweet potato fries. The service is alright. I've never had to wait for a table and the food comes out pretty quickly. The only thing is that the bar area looks a little cheesy and the drinks are pretty weak. I know this isn't the place to go drinking, and I get that. Having a wide variety of food options and quick, cheap food is always a plus in my book.
(4)
Dave R.
I once liked It here but I don't know what Happened, it went down hill. I took 4 of my friends there that never been and bragged about it and the food was horrible. We ordered soups to start thinking it might warm us up from the cold weather, but the soup came out slightly warm. We ordered 3 different soups and they all were the same temperature. The broccoli cheddar which is normally my favorite tasted bad. All 5 people at my table agreed because I asked if it was just me. Then we ordered steak nachos and wings to start. The nachos barely had any cheese them and the wings were cold and so tiny. My chicken wrap was alright but my fries were cold as well. I was disappoint because I noticed they changed and took some things off the menu as well. The skillets were alright but you really can't go wrong with them. The service from the server was ok he was really nice but seemed to be the only one serving all the tables so I don't blame him cause it wasn't his fault. The 2 other works which I would assume one a bus boy and one a manager never even looked at us. I even tipped the server extra on top of the auto grat that he added onto the bill even though I shouldnt have because of the bad food, but it's not his fault. Get it together Clarke's people like hot and good quality food.
(1)
Luis P.
An entertainer from out-of-town was going to eat after a night in Boy's Town and was refused service. When asked why, she was told because they were gay. When they started to record it on their phone, he would not repeat it. But he guarded the door and told them they are not welcome. This video has been posted to their FB page and should be able to be seen on posts from other users. I will never go to this diner and the word should be spread of their refusal of service.
(1)
Francesca B.
Silver Dollars and Mediterranean Omlette, good deal!
(3)
Shaina K.
I like this bar. For the most part. I only go on Wednesdays, when they have 25c wings and $5 bud pitchers (I don't think it gets much cheaper than that in the city!) The service is so-so (as they cater to their friends and regulars), but the wings are good and the beer is cold. Cannot complain. I haven't tried anything else on the menu, 25c wings keep me stuffed and happy!
(4)
Earl G.
When it's 3am are you really that picky when it comes to food? Clarke's is pretty damm good for late night eats. They're 24-7 so yeah, they're open pretty late and a popular destination given all the surrounding bars. The menu is pretty long with your typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner diner fare. Our waiter was Ukrainian and I asked him if they had any Ukrainian food. The one thing that's kinda weird about Clarke's but actually smart is that before you get seated, they collect your credit card, just so people don't dine and dash. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/jlUe… ) *Grass fed, free range Elk Burger - $13. Don't see this everyday. Pretty damm tasty. Pretty lean, beefier than turkey, reminded me of buffalo. Wasn't gamey like venison at all. Only if they had elk steak. The crisp sweet potato fries and strawberry shake washed down my furry four legged friend nicely that I didn't have a hangover the next day. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/jlUe… )
(3)
Frank C.
What can I say? It's a traditional diner. They have cheap, edible food, and okay service. If you're in the need for a quick bite any time of the day, Clarke's is there to serve.
(3)
Ivana D.
I used to come here all the time in college. It was easy, open 24 hours and not over priced. The staff is friendlier in the morning than at night. However, they have an insanely wide variety of options to choose from on the menu, even if you're a vegetarian, you're covered. I think I'd mostly come back for nostalgic reasons.
(3)
Shane G.
At first I thought this was an episode of "What Would You Do?", but then it became very clear that queer individuals, especially those who are trans or gender non-conforming, were indeed being discriminated against in a part of town that is supposed to be queer-friendly. I will no longer give my business to Clarke's.
(1)
Kevin Michael C.
Yes, it's midnight. Yes, most of us are drunk. It's no excuse for poached eggs that are really hardboiled, a "medium" hamburger that's blacker (and crunchier) than asphalt, and French fries that are cold in the center. Gross! The server was both adorable, and professional. No need (except for good food) was unmet.
(1)
Bobby O.
I have not been here in a while and will not be back for even longer. Aside from it being open late, the food is just ok. I had corned beef hash and eggs and the hash was too dry. The decor needs updating and a good cleaning. The place has no restaurant fung shway was misaligned.
(2)
Derek S.
This place is amazing!!! Elisa was the best ever she gave us some great options to choose from! I have come here 12 times and never received such great service! She even toot the time to talk about or menue idea for the "hangover" / "breakfast" burger. She was diligent and let the cook know about his great work! Defiantly coming back!
(5)
Racquel D.
I've been here twice, and I like it. It's one of those "Open 24 Hours" kind of places, which is cool if you're out and about at random times. Service was fairly alright. First time I was here, I came with my friends for breakfast. They give you a lot, I think, for a pretty cheap price. They have a cool looking OJ machine. And the place smells great because of all the fresh OJ. And they infuse their ice water with lemon at the bottom of the carafes. Pretty smart. And the other time I tried this place was just last night. Our waiter seemed new, so he was sorta sheepish. Very nice nonetheless. I just ordered the mozzarella sticks, and it was just enough to fill me up. Their menu is pretty jam-packed. I'd come back here to try their pancakes and burgers. On the other side of the restaurant is their bar area. I didn't venture off to that side, so I can't really attest to that. Good location since it's right off the Belmont stop.
(4)
Ally B.
Great food, great service, great times, open 24 hours, right off the red line, a staple of Chicago nightlife. What more could you ask for? Everyone I know that comes here would definitely say the same about Clarke's. Thanks to Dan for the great service!!
(5)
Kylie S.
This is your standard diner fare and it makes me happy. So many brunch places in Chicago are crazy busy on the weekends (and two-hour waits first thing in the morning are not my thing).Clarke's has a 70s look to it, but the food is good and the servers are nice + you almost always get right in with no wait. Parking on the street is possible, but you might have to drive around a bit. It's a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Belmont brown line stop. Bathrooms are atrocious -- so just hold it. Otherwise, enjoy!
(3)
Russell G.
Server very sweet. Breakfast, not so much. Pancakes ok, egg white omelet not.
(2)
Joshua M.
I've been here a million times and somehow have never written a review. This Clarke's location is actually two places... The Clarke's diner and the "Clarke's After Dark" bar area next door. The "After Dark" place is pretty good. It's a standard grab-a-beer-and-go-somewhere-else sort of place. The diner's got some good breakfast, but the service is terrible. I once had a server who didn't know what a basted egg was. It's no wonder they've started requiring to hold a credit card after dark to eat a meal. Their "walkout" problem is directly proportional to the shitty service. That famous viral Internet photo of "Waited 30 minutes, got no service" written in ketchup on a diner table was from Clarke's. I used to hear stories about customers and employees having sex in the bathrooms. I used to hear horror stories about the kitchen. I once got to the dining room and saw that the sugar shakers had had their caps removed and been inverted on every single table. No doubt a display of "if your servers aren't in the dining room long enough for me to do this, your service sucks." As the other people have said, Clarke's is the best option when it's 4AM and you're wasted. Any other time is just torture.
(1)
Jevita N.
Been here a couple of times. Its nothing fancy just a diner on Belmont. The crowd can be live either due to the customers or you happen to be there when next door is having karaoke. All I have ever gotten from here was a burger. They are really good. They offer several different types of patty's from veggie, turkey, beef and more. I've always enjoyed my experience here.
(4)
Sneha P.
Decent diner, good service, and right by the red line. A good drunken stop on a late night. The menu is pretty extensive; we tried the gyros. They were ok, about what I expected for a diner. The pita (if you can call it that) was kinda tough, the meat was decent, and the fries were good. I'd go back for another late night stop!
(3)
June W.
Reliable diner fare, in fact we're going there tomorrow night. Prompt, friendly service, and reliable tasty food and plenty of it. What's not to like? Great place to grab a quick bite after work, since it's right across Belmont from the Belmont train station.
(4)
Jonathan R.
I love late-night food spots and Clarke's is a staple if you're in the area. The portions are big, the food is cheap but very tasty and it's open late! I've always had good service there - even late at night - but I have to imagine that if you get a rowdy crowd in there, service may suffer a bit. The feel of the place is like an old-school ,wood-paneled diner from your grandma's era. This is not a date place. But it's a great place to make one last post-bar memory and not go home hungry.
(4)
Patrick F.
Went for breakfast here this morning, the food was fairly average. They had a pretty extensive menu and generous portions but the service wasn't that great. I did like the fact that they offer pancakes on the side with omelets in addition to toast.
(3)
Adam R.
The food is cold and the service is horrible. The sausage is not normal breakfast sausage and they do not have biscuits and gravy. WTF. I will be taking the extra effort and going to IHOP.
(1)
Kamari P.
Shocked to see bad things said about this place, I guess it's judged differently based on what you're looking for. I know for me 2 years running this place has been the mandatory night cap after enjoying the nightlife in the area. It's open 24 hours, makes a pretty good burger and gets the food out quick. Love it.
(4)
Stevie G.
A wise man once told me you can tell a lot about a restaurant by how clean their bathroom is. Well finding vomit all over the urinal, 3 empty drink glasses and people doing the dirty deed in bathroom stalls (yes, sex.) is not something I was looking forward to finding. The waiters run around like headless chickens and the food is comparably to your local Denny's...unless you live around the area and this is your Denny's. If that's the case, I am so so sorry.
(1)
Jeff H.
I've been a server for close to 5 years now at a comparable restaurant, so I'm generally pretty lenient when it comes to problems with service since I understand that stuff happens. Servers get swamped, kitchen could be slow on making the food, or one of many other things could have possibly happened. I went there late on a Monday night with a couple when the restaurant was not that busy. The server took a long time to reach our table and even longer to get our drinks after we ordered them. The food took so long to come out that I began wondering if they had even remembered we were in the restaurant. The server never checked up on us after bringing the drinks, so we sat there for close to an hour without any word on the status of our order. When we finally got our food, I wasn't too happy with the quality. My burger was dry and bland, while the fries were limp and soggy. The server did not come back by the table after dropping off the food, so after we finished, we sat around for close to half an hour before we even saw our server in the dining room. I had to go up to our server to request our check. As a server I hate when customers get out of their booth and walk up to me for something, but I guess that's because I actually check up on my tables and do my job. The server could have been busy with something else, but at about 2 hours after we walked in the door, my fellow server friends and I were done making excuses for her. We left a 20% tip still, cause working in the industry, we can't bring ourselves to tip poorly for bad service, but we haven't gone back since. When we're in the area every Monday night and we're looking for a place to eat, one of us always winds up saying "not Clarke's. I don't have another 2 hours to kill."
(1)
Stephanie W.
I don't often write bad Yelp reviews, but I seriously had the worst breakfast at Clarke's this morning. My hashbrowns were not browned at all. I ordered over medium eggs and they came out with solid yolks and burned egg whites. I had to send my pancakes back because they were mostly raw and inedible, and when they brought new ones, they were exactly the same. My server asked me to settle the bill right after ordering because his shift was almost over, which I understand, but I left him a $4 tip on an $11 meal, because I feel bad for people working graveyards. But $15 for a meal I couldn't even eat is ridiculous. Even their coffee was watered down and lukewarm. I've had some underwhelming experiences at this place, but nothing that I wouldn't come back for out of convenience. Never again. I would rather wait until the Pick Me Up or Nookie's opens and get a decent breakfast. I almost wish I could give them zero stars.
(1)
Chris T.
You only come here when you're drunk. And you'll usually see some craziness going on here in the late hours. There's no single menu option I can recommend as I'm usually hazy when I'm here, but it's all basic diner food, can't really go wrong with any of it.
(3)
Kristina M.
So I've been in here a couple times and only sat in the bar side. Every time that I've came in, I've had a good experience. It is a great place to go in you want a couple of drinks and an appetizer. The bartenders always seem like they want to enjoy their job, which makes me more relaxed and enjoy it more.
(4)
Anne M.
A friend and I stopped by Clarke's over the weekend when our first choice fell through (closed due to remodeling.. arrgh!). We'd both never been to Clarke's, but I see it on my daily commute, and have always been interested in checking it out, so, we did. Clarke's is a basic diner restaurant. Booths + tables. Brightly lit - not trying to be sexy, just trying to be a diner. Hamburgers + sandwiches. BUT - the menu does not stop there. Oh no - it goes on and on and on. Want mexican? Soup or salad? Breakfast? A shit load of breakfast? A shit load of hamburgers? Sandwiches, and full dinner entrees that come with soup, salad + potato. This menu runs the gamut of food choices - and it's all served 24/7. Anytime I see a menu like this, I have to think - they're trying to cover too many bases... We both went with burgers and played it safe. I chose the turkey burger with steak fries. This was an okay burger - but it had a flavor to it that I didn't care for - I believe it had scallions in it, and other little diced veggies like red/green pepper and maybe more. I would have preferred a less seasoned burger. It came with sprouts (loved that surprise), lettuce, tomato, pickle slices and a ton of red onion. The fries were big, but bland. Our server was attentive, yet left us alone to really take our time and talk. It was nice to not feel rushed or pressured to leave once we were finished eating. And, the diner was quiet enough to actually be able to talk and not have to shout, which was nice. It may not be trendy, but this was a fine spot for a simple, budget-friendly meal.
(3)
scott s.
Word To The Wise, I have only been here really drunk & really hungover. With that said, if you want to gorge your self full of amazing shitty greasy food go here Make sure to get the Classic. WHY?? because you a giant skillet of hash browns, bacon, onions, eggs, pancakes, toast...
(5)
Christina M.
AH! I'm so mad still! I came to Clarkes Halloween night. Like one am ish. Eleanor was our server. I'm sorry but she was on another level. Our soup came with our dinner.... Doesn't soup come first? How am I supposed to eat everything at the same time!? I asked her why I didn't get my soup earlier and she said she thought we would want the soup with our meal.... ::crickets:; WHAT!? why would I want that? And why not ask? I order the SAME THING EVERYTIME I go and I am very specific. She got my whole order wrong, I even asked for a beer and didn't get it. It was awkward annoying and bleh!! Our food was WARM not hot.... the soup was WARM not hot... the teriyaki sauce was cold and chunky gelatin....BLEH Come on it wasn't busy....all I ask for is good service. We still tipped great because I don't believe in the karma but by no means does that mean the service was exceptional.... Sorry me thinks not. There was a guy in a Halloween costume that looked like a speedo! By no means am I trying to be a hater but I'm sorry love I don't want your junk all in my face while I'm trying to eat a meal. Who's managing this place!?!? It was like a free for all
(1)
Karissa R.
This review is the result of an order through GrubHub. The food was fine - but the service is horrible. The estimated delivery time was 1 hour. At 20 minutes late, I called the restaurant and they told me that GrubHub was actually delivering the food and it was their fault because they came to pick it up late - and for anyone who has never ordered GrubHub before, they make it very clear they are not a delivery service. So that was lie #1. He also told me the delivery guy had left 10 minutes prior to me calling, so he should be arriving any minute. It was then another 40 minutes before my food showed up. On a side note - GrubHub was very apologetic and awarded me some free grub for my troubles - YAY GRUBHUB!
(1)
Erin C.
First time I've ever been compelled to write a review on yelp, but good God... WORST Bloody Mary I have ever had - It literally was tomato juice and ice. Sent it back and asked them to make it spicier... came back as a glass of tomato juice swirling in pepper. What. The. Fuck. Clarke's.
(2)
Stephanie H.
It's in the 'hood so I stopped in for breakfast today. Service is really really slow. The flourescent lights were blinking and the decor is a cross between 50s kitsch and downright embarrassing. I will say, my Big and Healthly omelet and toast was really really good. I wouldn't suggest anyone go out of their way to eat here by any stretch of the imagination, but it's better than that overrated Ann Sather's across the street.
(3)
Emy F.
We will never come here again, even if we're starved and all of the other places are closed, we'll just wait to eat a can of green beans. That may sound drastic, but poor service when there are no other tables on top of stale food with MOLD is not acceptable. We popped in for a quick lunch and came out with food with mold all over it. What's the health department's phone number?
(1)
Greg L.
Brunch. It's seriously insane almost everywhere in town. You usually end up waiting 50 minutes to be tucked in a corner. Granted the food is good. But Clarke's is good brunch too! It's a pretty standard menu with all the breakfast regulars plus some fancy skillets. The best part is that you might not have any wait at all. Plus you can stay all day for lunch and a bar.
(4)
Manda F.
I have only had their pancakes here, but I LOVE it. I had the Cinnamon Bun pancakes, and they are well worth the wait. They warn you to allow for some time, I believe 30 min.) for the pancakes. I've been to their other locations, and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)
Jen S.
The last three times I've found myself at Clarke's, I found myself leaving saying I will never go there again (at least not the Belmont location). Once again, I ended up there last night and it was just really gross. The server was rude, the bathrooms were filthy and massive flies were covering the toilets and I now apparently have food poisoning. This time I mean it: never again.
(1)
Jessica K.
I want so badly to like it here. Their menu is kitsch ad fun! They have great options! Their breakfasts cure hangovers, even though you can slipt one with like three people because they're so huge! But if you go here sober, well...it's kinda disappointing. Unless you're going there for a plate of waffle fries. Then you're in heaven. Most of the food is standard diner, right, but there's an occasion "wtf?" that will occur when your food actually arrives. Take for example, the Turkey Burger. The Turkey Burger is simply listed as a Turkey Burger. With lettuce and tomato and such. On a Bun. Totes normal. When it comes to you, though, it's a turkey patty with various bell peppers and onions mixed in. There is avocado and a nest of bean sprouts on top. I take no issue with the avocado or the bean sprouts. But if you're mixing peppers and onions into your burger, and you don't say so on the menu, you can't expect people to not be like "what is this?" when you bring it out. I hate peppers. Hate them. Though, my boyfriend, who does not hate peppers and had a bite of my burger, still said it was pretty gross and ate everything else on the table to get the taste of the Turkey burger out of his mouth. I won't stop going to Clarke's, because their Grilled Cheese is pretty good, but just consider this a PSA: if there's something you're seriously just against being in your food, and you want to go to Clarke's, VERIFY that is is DEFINITELY not going to be in your food. The more you knoooooow.
(2)
Richard D.
Bad service and even worse food.
(1)
Victoria B.
I've been coming here for years and the food and the service just seems to be getting worse and worse. The food used to be good once upon a time. They need to change the management and probably renovate. I'm still surprised this place is still open but that's probably only due to the fact that they make most of there money off of burly neanderthals in the bar just like most of Wrigleyville and that they have other locations.
(1)
Marco C.
Tip: If a restaurant generally has bad reviews, it's probably best to just avoid it. Food: Took for ever to get and was cold. Waiter: Bad attitude and horrible customer service. Oh, and what was the deal with having to pay your food before you get it or give them your credit card to hold?!? Follow everybody's advice and just avoid this location!
(1)
Amie C.
Dear Clarke's- You're a diner. I have certain expectations of a diner. One of them is delicious grilled cheese and soup. My grilled cheese was severely lacking. What? I don't know, but it was lacking. Chicken noodle soup was ok. My experience with you may have been colored by the annoying person I was with so I'll give you a try again but you have a lot to live up to to be compared to my favorite diner that is much closer to my house. I'm not a name dropper but it rhymes with smelrose smafè. Haha
(2)
Ebs B.
What?! It's what time? You're hungry because you've been down the street living it up? And now you want to go somewhere to get something to eat, anything...well, darn it, the only place open that's kind of decent is this place called Clarke's and by-gosh, let's go. Friday night was my first time here and it probably won't be my last considering I go out in the area quite a bit. The food was not that fantastic, but come on, it's a 24 hour diner that caters to those of us who forgot to eat before we drank. My spinach artichoke dip was ice cold, but the server did go microwave it for me, so... It's okay, not great. It is what it is. For breakfast all day, sandwiches, and appetizers, all in the middle of a fun night, Clarke's does it for me...
(3)
Jean C.
It's been years since I've been here. I recall coming back frequently so the food must have been at least decent. However, BEST POTATO SKINS EVARRRR! It's just a diner so don't expect to take your first date there.
(4)
Todd S.
This was perhaps the worst breakfast we have ever eaten as a couple. After paying $9 for a basic omelet that looked like cardboard, we questioned why we ventured out at all.
(1)
Rebecca H.
It's diner food, what do you expect?
(2)
Stephanie S.
Hollywood salad. So good. Don't even bother with the dressing, it doesn't need it. I'm still dreaming about it.
(5)
Amanda E.
I am a fan of their bloody Mary's. I'm not sure but they used to be cheap on Sunday, didn't check if they still do that on my recent visit. The service here usually sucks. Have to wait a long time for your server, and can never find them. I do love their skillets can't say I ever had a bda one. My hubby had the blueberry waffle and said the blueberries weren't fresh. That is unfortunate. I will probably go again, but on a Sunday and will be disappointed if the bloody Mary isn't cheap.
(3)
Christina R.
I am obsessed with this clarkes - in particular, their server Megan. She is so sweet, so attentive, and makes coming here an absolute joy. I have spent many a late night here studying and feel so lucky to have found this place. Come here and ask for Megan!
(5)
Angela G.
Meh. That's the best I can do. My girlfriend and I decided to have lunch here. I had a Caesar salad with chicken and the individual cheese pizza. My friend had a house salad with honey mustard dressing and the meat lovers pizza. My salad was delicious, although I didn't have the Caesar dressing. (had the house dressing) The pizza was something else. My friend had one bite of her pizza and said she didn't like it. I asked her what was wrong. The sausage is terrible she said. I didn't taste it but it looked like it was breakfast sausage chopped up. The cheese pizza was OK but it let something to be desired. I also didn't like the fact that he (waiter) took away my tea before I finished. I probably would give them another try. I would definitely try something else on the menu.
(3)
Amber E.
The ice cream sundae we ordered was very good, and the fresh squeezed orange juice they were making smelled sooo good, but the fact that it took nearly half an hour to have our simple order taken sort of killed the experience. The fact that it was good and right across from our hotel made it worth the stop, but we couldn't help but be annoyed that, with only half a dozen people in the entire place at midnight, it took so long to be tended to. The man that was bussing tables however, was great, he was refilling our water before it even got empty and was smiling and friendly every time he approached. We really appreciated that since our waitress couldn't be bothered to do the same. I would still go back and try again, but if the wait was long again, it would be the last time.
(3)
Adam A.
Clarke's is a solid diner with solid diner food. It's great for late night (24hr) dining. The servers are all super nice but I find that they aren't really knowledgeable or consistent when it comes to specials or side items. The vegetarian chili is amazing and a bowl will totally fill you up. This also applies for the homemade chicken noodle and tomato soups. The salads are nothing to me messed with as they are huge. The buffalo chicken salad is my favorite. Fresh squeezed orange juice and cocktails from the bar make this a great breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner/drunk dining spot.
(4)
Karen T.
24 hour diner in Chicago. Close to boystown...makes for interesting 4-5am trips. If it's not crowded, it's great, the service is fine and food is decent. if not, well then, it turns into a shitshow. PS: Their sweet potato fries are bomb. especially for drunk munchies. Definitely beats the 7-11 across from Roscoe's. You know what I'm talking about. (:
(3)
Carolynne M.
I didn't mind this place. I liked our server and really enjoyed my tomato rice soup along with my grilled cheese sandwich. Its just a basic, cheapy diner. BUT. There is a new section where it looks like they took over the space next door and we were seated there. I hated this space with the heat of a thousand suns. It was remodeled in an extremely ugly way with some walls purplish grey and others light blue. Lighting was bad and the entire back of the room (where we sat) was dim even during a bright, sunny day. The wood trim was this glossy pale blonde colour and there was this weird thing on the wall that looked like strips of wood framing a beer tap handle. Awful. I will try to forgive a lot of mistakes in restaurant decor, especially in a diner setting, but this was too much. It is so bad that if we went back and they tried to put us over there a second time, I would leave. It was bad SOBER, I cant imagine how much worse it would be if I were drunk. Seriously. Clarke's for chrissake if you are listening, I will help you fix up that side FOR FREE. This is an experienced interior designer talking. Dear lord, dont put any more people through that. Do you have a sudden upsurge with inebriated people vomiting everywhere? Yeah, its probably from that room.
(3)
Adam M.
I've been here four times and I think I've finally learned my lesson. Each time I kept thinking that the service had to improve. There was no way it could always be that bad. Wellllll I was wrong. It would be impossible to summerize the poor quality of this place without this review turning into a novel. I suggest reading most of the one and two star reviews to get a good consensus. Awful wait staff, average food, too expensive for the quality of said food, and a lot of issues getting exactly what you ordered to be given to you correctly. Only good thing about my experience was the cute waitress the last time I was there who (surprisingly from the others working) seemed legitimately sorry for the long wait times, long food arrival, etc. Super apologetic the entire time. She'll be gone soon I'm sure.
(1)
Maryann M.
Really, I enjoy the food at Clarke's. I enjoy meeting friends there for a bite to eat for lunch, or a late night meet-up for coffee and desserts. My favorite late night munch? Reese's Sweet Nuttin' Cheesecake and a Hot Cocoa (whipped cream, please!) Also, who can complain about 24/7 breakfast? Not me! Service has been a common complaint though. My experience has gone both ways. The first time I ever went to Clarke's, and had an uninterested, disengaged server who took a very long time to take orders and pick up the bill. The second time I went, the waitress was kind, cracked jokes with us, and was quick on her feet. Times after that, I had a back and forth of service, some good, some less than great. The last time I went was the best. One of the waitresses chatted with me while I waited for a friend, and when my friend arrived, our server was very friendly, checked on us multiple times, refilling drinks, carrying light conversation, and was quick with delivering and taking up our bill. My overall vote? Four stars. Thank you to all of the servers who have been friendly to my company.
(4)
Misha S.
Horrible service, crappy food and way too expensive. I feel like this place is just one of those "serve them whatever, they're probably drunk anyways" places. The server was extremely rude and wouldn't even answer our questions about ingredients used in a few of the dishes. I understand that he might not think that's part of his job, but I work at a lousy fast-food sandwich shop and I spend more time with customer's than this guy did. He flat out said "nothing here is vegetarian or vegan" after we already ordered and walked away, never even speaking to us again, even after bring us our vegetarian chili and salad. Nothing is vegetarian? I'm not sure he even knew what vegetarian meant. I was so uncomfortable with the server's attitude after that I found it hard to eat. Either way, it was all very disappointing. I only went here with a friend because it was past midnight and we were looking for a bite to eat. From now on I'll know never to return to waste money on horrible food and horrible service. Sorry Clarke's, but you're just a junky diner.
(1)
Justin H.
Horrible service, horrible food (but the portions are large) lame atmosphere. Stay away! Don't you hate it when servers tell you they can't split a check? WTF? Why? Is it really that difficult. "I would have to void your order and start over" Okay, well do that. I usually wouldn't yelp or complain, but my co-worker and I need to keep our receipts for our expense reports. Sure, we should have said something up front, but this is 2009, learn how to use the computer. Seriously, FOOD BLOWS!
(1)
Gina R.
Decent diner fair, made much better with intoxication. Totally satisfying as long as you stick to the normal diner stuff. Tacos? No no. Grilled cheese, burger, shake, fries? Yes yes. You have been warned! And fyi there are a ton of 24 hour places in this neighborhood. Lots of people like Pick Me Up and Melrose, though Clarke's is probably (by a narrow margin) my favorite out of the bunch.
(3)
Kevin D.
Its open 24 hours so its a great place to go for late night munchies when you're drunk, but the food is pretty bad and somewhat expensive
(2)
Matt K.
Up until last Friday, I had not had Clarke's in quite some time. There is a reason for this: The only time Clarke's is good is when you're drunk. Hell, even then it's not very good. The last time I was there, we walked (read: crawled) in at around 5:30 in the morning. I got a spinach omelette. It came with pancakes, but a hungry koala ate them before I got a chance. The omelette was gross. I barely finished it, and I only made it as far as I did because I was starving. Also, everyone who got coffee came to the conclusion that they had slipped us decaf because it was so weak and crappy. Boo. The next morning I woke up to that omelette plotting its revenge. As I sat in bed wondering if I really wanted to go destroy someone else's bathroom, I decided I would not be returning.
(2)
Courtney M.
It's open at all hours and you can get breakfast whenever. OK by me!
(3)
George R.
THE PROS: - Open late night... which can be good after a long evening out when the bars and clubs have closed. - A few large booths... that can seat a group of 6 people. - Location on Belmont right next to an L station... making it convenient to take public transportation (Red/Brown/Purple Line - Belmont stop). - You won't be bothered by your wait person... giving you plenty of time to chat with friends and you won't feel rushed to finish your meal. THE CONS: - Open late night... which can attract a louder crowd after they leave the bars and clubs. - A few large booths that can seat a group of 6 people... but they won't ring up separate checks to pay for your meal. - Location on Belmont right next to an L station... which means there will always be a flow of patrons and the service doesn't have to live up to a standard to keep attracting customers. - You won't be bothered by your wait person... and you may have to wait a long time for them to take your order and bring your food. Seriously, it wasn't all that bad. Some friends and I stopped in for a quick snack after a night out on the town, so I wasn't looking for anything special or the best service in the book. When I needed something l flagged down my wait person and got what I needed. Just roll with the punches.
(2)
Steve H.
Lets get one things straight...Clarkes is not the best late night diner in Chicago. And it doesn't try to be. It's located just off the Belmont L stop and is the staple diner for any drunkard like myself looking for food at 4am. I've found myself here many a night after numerous swigs of whiskey. I find the food to be a little expensive for the quality. Not that its bad, it certainly does the trick. It's just not to d My favorite part of the Clarkes is the overall experience. The people, the booze, the staff...it all comes together at Clarkes and makes for a definitive late night experience.
(3)
Johnny B.
Three friends and I came here one night at 3 in the morning after a very heavy day of boozing. We were looking for some greasy fair to soak up some of the alcohol in a hopeful preemptive strike on the next day's hangover. Unfortunately all I can comment on are the booths. They were nice, but not good enough to overcome the 20 MINUTES WHEN NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGED US! The tables around us had sporadic service throughout the wait, but the servers did not seem to be particularly busy. They weren't running around haphazardly, but simply looked like normal diner staff. Except they never once looked, said, or even coughed in our direction. We waved. We tried to ask for help. Nothing. I'd love to admit we were being drunk assholes, and thats why we never were addressed by a member of the staff, but we were some of the quieter folks in Clarkes. Not worth it when I can wait in line at any of the hot dog stands or burrito places where I know someone will at least be forced to take my order.
(1)
Nick S.
Clarke's has multiple locations and I've lived by 2 of them. So it's kind of hard to avoid stopping in. I enjoy diners in the wee hours of the night, and that's probably the only time I ever go into them. They have a large menu, but I don't think anything is really amazing. I actually don't think I've ordered anything more than once aside from milkshakes. Good skillets, decent burgers (except for the one time I went and my burger tasted "less than fresh") The salads are ENORMOUS but also come drenched in dressing. (ask for it on the side). Really friendly wait-staff.
(3)
Kristina K.
Food is consistent. You're looking for a place that's open late and will offer consistent, warm and large portioned food. I stress the food is consistent, because the waitstaff if not. Don't sit by the door in the winter, or expect to wear your coat when you eat. Be nice to the staff, they are under lots of stress and trying to take care of the drunks and people with hangovers. The bathrooms are... meh! I barfed in there once, but not because of the food. The food is a-okay diner food, but nothing to write home about. This is my favorite location of the bunch.
(3)
Isaac H.
I used to go here at least twice a week. Smoke up, coffee, friends, and ruckus 'til sunrise. But ever since the smoking ban, the new renovations, and fresh crop of waiters/waitresses - it's been anything but worth my time for a 24 hour diner. Admittedly, a select few staff veterans improve my experience there, and the food is consistent for a diner in this area. But I rarely see the veteran staff (those who know what they're doing and stop by more than twice), and I only order what has always been good for me, a Clark Burger. So I couldn't say my opinions are a fair assessment, but I gotta say. Clark's just isn't what it used to be, and not the rehabbed bar area(what used to be the smoking area) nor a handful more of flat screens on the ceiling corners will save them. I've been in and out for the past few years, and lately - it's been significantly less. There's definitely better diners out there in the area. It's the worth the walk in my opinion.
(2)
Mara A.
I've been here numerous times and every time had good food. Also, every time i've been here, have had bad service. Rude and slow. They have gotten my order wrong a few times as well. The music is too loud and before the whole "no smoking" law happened, you couldn't breathe for the life of you. Although they have many bads, the 3 stars are for the good food. Good quesadillas, veggies burgers, spinach dip. Affordable and tasty.
(3)
Neil A.
This place is what it is. It's about as good as you're going to get for a 24 hour joint; I haven't had any major issues going here. It's about the quality of a Golden Nugget, which isn't saying much. If you want food, they won't disappoint. If you say, "Hey I would like this edible morsel of beef or eggs or whatever", that's what they will give you. The less complicated, the better. Most people stumble in looking for just that because they're wasted. That's my main reason. I think the cooks are aware of this and so they don't try very hard. The Irish girl is nice tho. My buddy Shane once tried to impress her with his false Irish brogue. I think he failed. :)
(3)
Jennifer K.
I have eaten here quite a few times, and I always get the same thing - the Zorba Omelette (feta, spinach, tomatoes, onions) with a slice of American cheese on top. It is always excellent, which is why I always get it. The service here sucks. Plain and simple. But the meals that I've had here have always been very tasty. If you are in the hood and need a place to grab a bite (and crappy service isn't an issue for you ) give Clarke's a try.
(3)
Brandie T.
P'tui! I so did not want to write a bad review - I'm sorry, I cannot help it. I'm also sorry I didn't read the reviews before I went! I hadn't planned that far ahead.... I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop on the way to the EL stop. I should have just gone to the EL stop. It would have left me more fulfilled! It started out 'fun' enough - I love old clip art, and this place is full of it - the Christmas decorations are copious and nicely done, the menu, also full of fun old clip art -- that's where the 'romance' ended for me... I ordered the "Chicken Cordeon Bleu - chicken, cheese, bacon ...and BBQ sauce? really? well, I tried it anyway It was under the 'entree' heading, but it's actually a sandwich. It wasn't horrible - but nothing to get all a twitter about either. Certainly NOT worth the $9.99 they charge for it. It came with either salad or Soup - I love tomato soup - and since it was one of the choices, I took that. add the little crackers that come with it - took one bite -- BLEH! I know they CALLED it tomato soup -- it LOOKED like tomato soup, but what ever it was they brought me, was NOT tomato soup. The steak fries were mealy and disgusting...The Cherry Coke? flat. Oh well, I will chalk it up to 'lesson learned'
(1)
Yeye P.
I just needed to mention that last night, around 3:30 in the morning, everyone in the restaurant was singing along to "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes, as loud as possible! It was pretty awesome. Oh, and my spinach and feta egg white omelet with fries and pancakes was pretty good too.
(3)
Azad N.
Went here for dinner the other night and was pretty disappointed. First of all, The booths are ripped up and have huge pieces of duct tape trying to hold them together...not a welcoming sight. But moreover, we were sitting down for almost 15 minutes before someone arrived to take our order. I was so frustrated, especially because so many people on the staff were walking by our table and just trying to appear busy. Finally, someone came to take our order. He was a nice guy but not really apologetic about our having had to wait for so long. He took our order and while we waited for our food to arrive, we saw some folks who appeared incredibly irritated because their food was taking a long time to come out. Luckily, our food came quickly but it was mediocre. The patty melt is more like a burger on sliced bread rather than a bun and the waffle fries were cold...I almost wonder if they were Ore Ida's frozen waffle fries. Overall, a very unpleasant experience. I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone except as a very last resort.
(2)
Dani C.
The food is sub-par. basically no vegetarian options unless you want breakfast. coffee is bad from what i remember. they DO have good chocolate chip pancakes though. really, if you're going to go here, trek the extra few blocks and go to the melrose instead! it's well worth the walk!
(1)
Carl H.
My friends and I go here often. Now, the question is why. The service goes from mediocre to awful. It's kinda pricey for the type of food. It's often crowded. The men's room is generally in various states of disrepair. Is the only reason we go here because it's near other things we like and it open forever and a half? Wait, that's right. Because when the food's good, it's GOOD. Especially the breakfast, whether we're talking egg-based combinations or delicious pancakes and waffles.
(3)
Samantha L.
My story begins like any story on a Saturday night might go. Went to a bar with the boyfriend, drank a bunch of drinks, left said bar and decided to get some late night eats. Except I am sorry to say that this story does not have a happy ending. Where to begin? We were at a bar in the neighborhood and since neither of us ate dinner I pulled out my phone and searched for 24 hour restaurants in the area. One of the first places I see is Clarke's and I exclaim "Oh gosh! That place is so good, I haven't been there since high school but I remember it being awesome!" So wrong, so so wrong. We go there, get a table, and review the menu. At this point we think that we have hit the jackpot considering the following; it was really busy at 2am (which I would assume meant it was worth it), the menu had EVERYTHING on it - breakfast food, mexican, burgers, sandwiches, awesome selection, and to top it all off they serve BOOZE! Woo hoo! The boyfriend was very pleased. I sat extra high in my booth patting myself on the back for rediscovering Clarke's. At that point I thought, "Wow, this could be a new regular place for us to come to!" So wrong, so so wrong. The waitress took a while to take our order, but it was busy so we didn't care. The thing is that she barely checked on us the whole time. The food took a while, and our appetizer and meals came out at the same time. We ordered jalapeno poppers, a tuna melt, and he had some sort of mexican omelet thing. The poppers were kind of cold and burnt, how is this even possible? They definitely came out of a box, probably tgi friday's that you get at the grocery store. My tuna melt was OK, but it had bacon on it which tasted really funny so I had to take it off. I love bacon, who the f*** ever takes bacon OFF of something. It hurt me to do it, it really did. I don't even know what to tell you about his chillaquile omelet puke thing. It looked like someone took a can of Alpo dog food, poured it in a skillet, and put scrambled eggs on top of it. He was a little drunk and even he wouldn't finish it. He didn't complain about it much, he took it like a man, but he looked sad when he was eating it and just said "it's not that great." It made me a little sad, it really did. Watching him eat it made me feel nauseous, it was truly that bad! And to top it all off my fries were cold. Are you serious?! I hate when places do that, especially since they were so busy, you know that they are constantly making fries, it just plain pisses me off. To break it down, Clarke's was good once upon a time, it's not good anymore. The concept is good, execution is terrible, and it is bad enough that you know that the manager and owner don't give a damn. This place has 290 reviews and a 2.5 star rating, and it's a diner! How pathetic is that?! I will never go here again, ever. The food sucks plain and simple.
(1)
Alison M.
Looking for a quick dinner on Saturday I wandered into Clarke's at about 7pm. My friend and I stood with a group of three people who had come in before us. Clarke's wasn't very busy, but it still took awhile for the hostess to come to the front to seat us. She asked them how many people were in the party in front of us, seated them, walked away, and never came back. We waited about ten minutes, and left. Seriously Clarke's, it's not 2am, you can't treat people like that yet.
(2)
Jorge V.
I will never ever go back to this dump ever again. Just went in today around 10:30 pm. Place had around 6 full tables and that about it. Me and my friends waited 5 minutes before a server even noticed we were waiting siting to sit down. Handed the menus and left. Next me and my friend had to sit there for 10 minutes before our server even came back to us. Other servers walking us and none of them seem to care that we were there waiting to order . I Order a turkey burger, and my best friend had a gyro sandwich. She specially told him only lettuce and the sauce. The food I got was quiet disgusting. Their turkey burger is a joke it's more of a veggi patty then anything. When I asked a server what kind of burger it was he looked at me as if I was stupid and said its what you order a turkey and he walked away. My friend got tomatoes, onions and no lettuce on her sandwich yet she told him what she wanted. I sat their disappointed and pissed off and ate the sweet potato fries, I couldn't even return the burger because our server disappear and didn't even. Other to check on us. A different server gave us our check, but yet they don't seem to care or acknowledge the fact the I left a whole burger on a plate. I will never be going back to this place it truly is a joke. Maybe other food is good but I will definitely will not try it. Service is also a joke and horrible.
(1)
Chaviva G.
On a hot, gross summer day a year and a half ago I went to this establishment with the boy I was trying to get back into my life. We sat outside, sweating, and consumed burgers and fries. I don't remember much about the food from that outing, I remember being nervous and miserable in the heat. We went back again after I'd moved here and we'd reconciled, but even then, I don't remember the food. So now -- without said boy in my life -- I went there for dinner tonight. I now recall why the food is absolutely unworthy of memory ... not because of my ridiculous loves me loves me not memories, but because it's just ... mediocre. Maybe not even mediocre. It's just there. There's no criteria in my book to even notch it up to. The service is horrible. I left tonight without getting my bill, leaving enough on the table to cover the meal. The water tasted funny and the staff were too caught up in their own comings and goings to seat people -- leave that to the busboy! So aside from some fun decorations, this place is worth skipping. The food is overpriced for what it is in most instances (except maybe the burger), but the fries come overcooked and aside from fresh produce, there's not much going on here. So skip it. Leave your memories in the booth and run for the hills! Or a decent burger joint or diner.
(1)
Diana H.
I used to stop in here for lunch when I lived up on Belmont. Definitely unhealthy fare. Not the cleanest establishment. Service tends to be sucky. But I must give Clarke's three stars due to their tomato soup! I don't know what the &#@ they put in that stuff (although I highly suspect it is NOT any kind of tomato product), but I find it absolutely orgasmic! Uh-oh. Am I telling you more about myself than you need to know? I hope not. Well, in any case, that's some wicked good soup! Yum!
(3)
Veronicka L.
There's not much new I can say that hasn't already been said . . . Poor service, mediocre food, overpriced, they love to squeeze large parties into small booths, etc. I'll eat here in the Summer as it is the only place around with outdoor seating. And what is up with the bathroom? Why is there a lock on the outside? Do they plan on holding me hostage?
(2)
Kiarash Z.
I arrived at Clarkes with three friends after a night of dancing at Neo. We were seated after five minutes, then spent another 20 minutes waiting for service. One of my friends became fed up and left. Another went to find a server. He found one, who told him he couldn't help us and that our designated server was gossiping around the corner. So my friend ran around the corner and found her. She was, indeed, gabbing instead of serving us. When our server finally got to our table, she SAT DOWN to get our orders. Satirically, we asked, "So how's it going?" "Ohhh, y'know, working at Clarkes," she said with disgust. I wanted to leave. The coffee was godawful. The silver dollar pancakes were a joke. The barbecue pizza and steak fries weren't bad. I won't be going back.
(1)
Chris S.
The Clarke's of old, was a "what you see is what you get" sort of place. Kind of clean, food was kind of good, but you really went there to people watch. I spent a lot of time here battling depression, drinking coffee and mocking hipsters. But that was a long time ago and I've found better dives. When did I start losing interest in Clarke's? I think the downfall was when they started remodeling. Then they started serving beer. Then dumb dude-bros. started stumbling in saying wonderfully awful things like "oh, dude! They serve beer here!" It's a shame, because I got know a lot of the wait staff and they were pretty nice kids. Now it's over priced and the days of watching Trannies argue over the who is going to pay the bill and watching various crazies interact with each other are long gone. Avoid this place on weekends late at night at all costs.
(2)
Linda C.
This was the worst diner experience I've ever had. Our group of 5 started with the spinach artichoke dip with pita. After waiting a good 15 minutes before it arrived the dip was bland and tasteless. A few of my friends complained a funky smell....In addition to the bland dip, we ordered 3 different burgers which were VERY dry. I had the count of monte cristo. The bread was very greasy and had a sweet cinnamony taste which I did not enjoy. The meat was suppose to be Boars Head brand but was extremely salty. I strongly doubt they used Boars Head. Don't order the Kraft Mac n Cheese b/c it's a total rip off. For $1.99 I could drown in the stuff at home. The best part of the meal were the sweet potato fries. So the food was mediocre at best but the service was nonexistent. Had to waive down the waitress a couple of times for a refill on our water carafe. When we got the bill there was an automatic 18% gratuity added to the bill. For such crappy service I would not have given them a penny. Wish I read the reviews here before we went.
(1)
Tom F.
I've been racking my brain, trying to come up with something interesting to say about this place. Sorry, I've got nothing. The food is okay, I guess (except for the potatoes that accompany the breakfast dishes, which are kind of nasty). The service ranges from competent to rude. The clientele, at times, is somewhat questionable. The best I can say is that if you are on Belmont at 4 a.m. and are starving to death, Clarke's will do the job. Not my finest review. But Clarke's didn't give me much to work with.
(2)
Katelyn C.
One star for our waitress who was flustered with three tables. At the same time I can't blame her, it was about nine am on a Saturday and as I looked around I noticed every customer looked hungover; even more than myself. The food is yummy but the prices are a little higher than they should be. A blt should never be more than six or seven dollars; unless if someone is freshly cutting my Bacon off a pig or churning my mayonnaise. I really don't get all the hype about this place, but ill admit they do have good hangover food, for those of us who like the grease to keep last nights liquor down.
(3)
Mihir P.
It'll work after a concert - it's a 1/2 block from the Vic Theatre. The tomato soup is tomato sauce. Thick cheesy nasty tomato sauce. Burger is edible. Fries are steak fries - so fat and mushy. Service is nice but our waitress had many tables so a tad spotty.
(2)
Dean K.
I was walking to Melrose but it started to rain, so I ran in to Clarke's to give it another shot. This time, it was really good. The potatoes were great (unlike last time) and the eggs were perfectly poached. Plus, they have really good diner coffee. Hopefully, the first time I went was just an "off day" for them.
(4)
Nicole L.
I really used to enjoy Clarke's, the festive spirit everyday filled this restaurant along with customers. Now with the great help of Yelp! I've been finding much better restaurants than the traditional ones I'm used to. Clarke's not to long ago was under new management and since the change the glamour of Clarke's rapidly diminished. The staff is uniformed with no crazy hair colors or visible tattoo's. The music isn't blasting along with the smoking banned, it just seemed to be plain. The food is over priced and taste horrible. Intoxication would be a must to even settle for the new Clarke's. Thanks but no thanks.
(2)
Susan F.
I ate here awhile ago and thought I'd put in my two cents. After work a couple of co-workers and myself stopped inside for a good little cheap dinner. Their menu is pretty awesome-hence the 2 stars. Typical diner, right by the EL The service, however, was TERRIBLE It took the waitress 15 minutes to come say hi to us and give us water. Keep in mind there were about 8 people in the place, including us. The first waitress told us she was not in charge of our table and that "someone else" would take care of us. 15 minutes later, in a very open spaced diner, someone came over to help us. Bathroom was pretty gross, BUT the buffalo chicken salad wasn't too shabby!! Cool beans.
(1)
Justin H.
Diner of Lakeview Your food and shakes make me twitch Just don't start to bitch
(4)
Bridgette K.
So this was the place to come after every tattoo the food is decent the cookie desert is good. The appitizers are good. Great after a night out don't know where to head to this is your spot. Service is a hit or miss the servers can sometimes be ignorant but hey who wants to be working at 2am?
(3)
shaina v.
This is my favorite of the Clarke's. Mostly because of the ambiance. I'm partial to the blueberry waffle. I also like the two egg combo. The tomato soup is great. The sweet potato fries are also good. I like that its open all the time. The service is slow most of the time and the waiter usually seems annoyed. Seems to be the place to find semi-punk teenagers if you are in to that sort of thing. I go here when I want to eat breakfast food in the middle of the night and don't want to spend a lot of money. If you are willing to wait for them, the apple baked pancakes are good.
(3)
Gina Kathleen G.
Always a big fan of Clarke's. I enjoy it best before bar close when nobody is around. The servers are always really nice and fun. I like the atmosphere with singing employees. I suppose I pretty much always order the same thing but it's always tasty. They also have Atmosphere on the jukebox and they have some good-lookin' folks there!
(4)
Roman T.
Are there good reasons for eating here? I suppose if there had been a horrible war and this was the only place still serving food. Other than that? Not so much. Every time I have been there I keep hoping that it will improve, yet it never does. Most recently, It took me almost an hour to get a simple tuna melt. Of course, it wouldn't have been nearly as long if I had simply decided to keep the first one they brought me, where the cheese was burned on half. Not just melted, burned to a black crisp. Add in the fact that it took 15 minutes to get seated despite the place being only half full and it all added up to an hour long meal that should have taken 1/3 the time. Save your time and money and go somewhere else.
(1)
Jamie R.
something must be wrong with me. yes, the service is bad, the decor is terrible, 90% of the people are belligerently drunk, the public bathroom is practically inside the kitchen, people will steal anything not stuck to you...but they have the best post-drinking grub in the city. just request a seat away from the front window or you'll get a front row seat to a tranny row peepshow while you eat your eggs...i mean...unless you're into that.
(4)
Katarina X.
Hmmm... seems a bit like rating a McDonald's, but there you have it, Here I go: Like any McD's or loathesome fast-food entity you have got to keep it simple: If you order a cheeseburger medium-well and the server rolls her eyes- so what? (S)He's likely just envious at not being able to function at the inebriated level you are; Oh yeah, 'cause if you are here, you are likely deeply loaded, toasted, WASTED, looking to sober up on some sloppy, greasy plates of deep-fried goodness. So on the quasi-bar-food scale I give it two stars. The extra one arrives because I saw the band Franz Ferdinand carousing here- i don't entirely understand it, as Alex is supposed to be a true gourmand and food critic/writer... but hey, good looking, intelligent, really well-dressed rock stars? At a place where I can actually afford to send them drinks? What's there not to like? Wait, I know, the fella who saw Rob Zombie at a booth here. How i envy you... All in all, a fitting way to envy a night of revelry!
(3)
Jonathan C.
I used to frequent this place prior to going to shows at the Bottom Lounge (RIP) across the street. Food was never anything to write home about. Average at its best. Interior is a bit older and run down. Service is hit or miss. Parking is not so good in this neighborhood.
(2)
D K.
Typical diner fare for the most part, which is fine. I've only been here once, but the one typical thing I ordered - that they tried to do in a sort of an atypical way - missed. Huge chunks of carrots in a veggie quesadilla just don't quite work. However, the fresh-squeezed OJ is a must - if there are two of you, share a liter!
(3)
Steve R.
Absolutely nothing outstanding about it at all. There are way way WAY better greasy spoons to go to in Chicago. The food was so-so, the service ok, the ambiance identical to a Dennys or any such place. If you're already nearby and hammered this'll do the trick but I'd never go out of my way to eat here. The kooky 50s style sign makes me want to vomit blood.
(2)
Melissa B.
Awful. Just awful. Terrible service, blah food. Yes, it's open 24 hours, but walk a little further and go to Melrose Diner instead.
(1)
Ross B.
The first time you visit Chicago, Clarke's really seems like the real deal. "I'll eat here every day!" you exclaim on the way back to your hotel. By the fifth time, you notice that you're sharing a booth with a suburban runaway hustler in an AFI hoodie, and your broccoli omelet is full of tarantulas.
(1)
Ryan M.
HUGE portions, a bit on the pricey side, but great omelettes. I had the "Yee-Haw" (Western Omelette) and it was quite good.
(4)
Lesley S.
Standard food, pretty much like any other diner in Chicago. Only difference I saw is that you can get alcohol here. Pretty nice when you want a bloody mary with your brunch on Saturday morning. Seemed to be full of people recovering from hangovers.
(3)
Katie R.
actually a little pricey for diner food. i've never had a GOOD meal or had GOOD service here. in fact, it's made two of my friends sick before. i have a tough stomach, but i can see where that could happen.
(2)
Ali A.
This place has a soft spot in my heart because this place is one of the reasons I want to move to Chicago so much. The people that frequent Clarke's are cool and eclectic. The food selection is huge and the hours are amazing because no one likes to sleep in Chicago or at least I didn't. Thanks for the memories.
(5)
Jeni Z.
I've been in there countless times. I used to go there all the time. Why? 2 reasons: the quesadillas and the potato skins. I don't go there anymore. Why? 2 reasons: one is that I saw a roach in the bathroom and the other is that one night I went there with my fiance and a friend after drinking. My fiance went to the washroom and never came out. So my friend and I checked the washrooms. Nothing. We leave, search the area, still can't find my fiance. We go back to Clarke's and my friend went into the kitchen, into the downstairs, and looked for my fiance in their damn freezers. NO ONE STOPPED HIM. No one even asked who he was or what he was doing. All of the employees pretty much ignored him. It ended up that my fiance went into an employees only washroom and fell asleep in there. Again, none of the employees questioned it. Granted these stories are a couple years old so the staff might be different, but... I doubt much else is. Oh, and a waiter I once had said that the reason they stopped having you pay by the front is because the cash register that they had there was stolen. Supposedly a man went in and told an employee that he was there to pick up the cash register for repairs and walked off with it. Not sure if it was true, but that's what the guy said. Folks, if it's late and you're hungry, there's a good little Mexican restaurant, there's Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, The Melrose on Broadway... you've got options! Phillies Best is open until Midnight. And if it's breakfast, for Christ sakes go to Ann Sathers or walk the few blocks to Julius Meinl on Addison and Southport! THERE'S HOPE!
(2)
Keely B.
1950's themed diner. Decent quality diner food. The chicken salad is quite good, and you can get it on a pita. I also recommend the Chocolate Decadence cake. The service sucks, but it's open 24 hours, and won't strap you for cash. They also don't care if you sit there for hours drinking coffee, so if you're looking to catch up with someone, it's not a bad place to be. Plus, it's across the street from the red line, so it's convenient.
(3)
Elena D.
It has that easily accessible glossy diner appeal that makes college students on an erratic schedule happy and full. The menu's pretty standard. The 9" pizza is bland. Nachos are good, and if you're in the mood for breakfast, go for the pancakes. They have the standard vegetarian burger option, and there's a smoking section (the others are second hand smoking sections, ha ha). If you're going to go to Clarke's at 4:30 in the morning, try to be under the influence of something-the wait staff usually are, and so are the other customers-helps to be on the same page. Service at any time of the day tends to suck. Once when a friend and I were there, our waiter just sat down next to a table of loud inebriated females, and I had to flag him down to get the check. She actually apologized to him for me, can you believe it? Some people! Do not attempt Clarke's under the impression that you are in a safe, polite area, the sort where people say "Oh, I'm sorry" when they bump into you on the street. This is fuckin' Lakeview. Gentrification be damned; if you're gonna act like a prima donna and wear your bling all conspicuous, don't go whining about how uncouth people are when they filch it. You done been told.
(4)
Rebekah K.
Clarke's Category: Restaurants I once got a huge piece of red yarn in my coffee. Huge. How do huge pieces of red yarn get in coffee? They gave me the coffee free. This place is pretty much disgusting. Sometimes I am shocked it is still open! Once one of the cooks was openly yelling at the waitresses for improperly filling the salad dressing bins in a way that was a health hazard (they kept topping the old dressing without cleaning out the bins) and all the waitresses got together and called him a jerk off. He probably got fired for trying to keep customers from deadly bacteria. I used to go here because it was convenient, and 24 hours (I am a night owl who lived off Belmont at the time) but then decided Hollywood Grill or A Golden Nugget are worth the extra effort to avoid this bad service (there was one good waiter; he was bald and had a self sticker on his ticket pad holder, never saw him anymore after a while. Maybe he was good enough to get a real job), and terrible, bland food. If I am barely standing drunk, and it is 4 am, and I am still thinking "Wow, this food sucks." It is BAD. I have probably eaten most items on the menu, and pretty much only found the turkey burger somewhat palatable. Why two stars? It is fun to order shots with your (horrible) Omelet, and the people watching does not get a whole lot better.
(2)
Jessica Y.
Far inferior to the Clarke's on Lincoln. Bad service, bland food, but cheap prices. This place is in desperate need of remodeling (i.e. the ripped booth seats and washed out 70's colors) - Oh why did I go here when I wasn't drunk...
(2)
Susan M.
3 stars for their heavenly chocolate shake i can remember slurping on about ~~ oh.. 5 years ago at midnight. never tried anything else tho.
(3)
Kate G.
One star for getting a table outside within 5 minutes of walking in on a busy Sunday morning. Another star for really good, fluffy English muffins. But that is it. The food is pretty standard breakfast: eggs, tators, etc. We were barely noticed the entire time, and despite asking several times we were left with no water/coffee for a majority of the time. I have heard this place can be a good hangover breakfast, but that cannot happen if you do not provide people with some hydration! Seemed like this service was happening across the patio.
(2)
Nicole K.
Well, the food was alright, nothing amazing by any stretch of the imagination. The problem I had was the service. I've been here twice. Once late at night after work, and the meal was fine, but the whole time we had two waiters that kept competing for our table and we either didn't get something or we got double...it was strange. The next time I was there, I was REALLY disappointed. I was moving in close by, so I was hoping to make this my go-to eatery, but NO WAY now! The girl we had as our waitress was in training, but I swear she spoke very little english. When she took our order, she screwed up all of the drinks and two of the meals. Okay, fine, it happens. We waited the extra time for our meals to be CORRECT. When the check came, NOTHING was comped for, not the messed up drinks OR the wrong meals. We told them that was unusual since one of us had to eat alone and we all had something go wrong that we should be comped for at least one of the meals or given a cupon for something in the future, they flat out refused. After service and food that bad, I will never go back! Unless you're drunk and don't care, it's definately NOT WORTH IT!
(2)
Rick V.
I still have fond memories of this place from back when it was the Melrose. Their prices have gone up but the service has gone down... I didn't notice until I was adding sugar and cream to my coffee that there were no utensils for stirring on the table and it took 10 minutes to get them. Then my fork had a big piece of dried something-or-other wedged between the tines. The toast was fine, but the omelet seemed undercooked and the potatoes overcooked. I suppose I should have gone with my first impulse and just ordered dessert.
(3)
Kris A.
Just not that good. It is a fun and convenient place to meet up, but I've had terrible service there when it gets busy. And, as I said, the food is not worth the $5-10 you pay for it.
(2)
Caroline C.
Subpar eggs and sausage not to mention cherry pie. How can a place mess up such simple things? Only good thing? You can still smoke inside.
(1)
Hannah D.
Any place that's willing to give a gal drunk off her ass some free bread to soak up the possible debauchery gets at least 4 stars from me.
(4)
Kathryn M.
I'm giving 3 stars because (1) it satisfies my need for grease at the end of a long night out and (2) it's fairly decent food. I mean, come on, it's a diner. Service isn't going to be perfect, the food isn't going to be perfect, but for what it is, it's not bad. Although, I'm a little nervous after reading some reviews about the automatic tips. Do they do that all the time? Because if so, my servers have been getting 40% tips...oops! I guess at the time of night that I usually visit this place, I'm not really in the right frame of mind to pay such close attention to the check. But I will from now on! And oh! The North Shore potatoes are amazing.
(3)
Sarah F.
This is one of the best late night diners I have found. Who would think that you could find a really high quality salad at 3 am.
slurping down one strawberry milkshake and an order of fries and i'm pretty sure i've caught the clap here. sanitation is not on their list of to-dos. honestly, if weight loss is your main goal, i'd suggest making this haunt a dietary priority. i used to throw common sense to the wind and let laziness or the cold defeat me and consume a random, seemingly delectable menu item only to suffer from some 18th century brand of cholera. thrice! the rotten cherry on top is that you will be allowed 30 - 40 mins to consider "is this really what I want to do?" before a waiter acknowledges you. the scene-y eye candy was my only reason for returning, but eventually i traded that all in for a hearty, clean good meals and the occasional hipster at Golden Nugget or Deluxe Diner.
(1)
Justin R.
I don't know why people go here... I think it's just the 'hip' place to go or something. Their food is pretty bland in my opinion.
(2)
Cali M.
It is okay for 24 hours! But I wouldn't go there during the day when much better places are open.
(3)
Natalie B.
This place is best after a long night out. The food serves it purposes and is far from bad, but it isn't on my radar when deciding where to eat a regular weekend breakfast.
(3)
Kristen D.
Great salads here. This place is open 24 hours and serves delcious food. Anyone can find something they want here. A nice outdoor seating area too, with lots of good people watching.
(4)
A.S. V.
It's no longer the famous Melrose, but Clarke's has retained the same ambience and tradition for being open all night long. This makes for some of the most entertaining post-party/concert/dancing dining you can find north of the Hollywood Grill -- punks, transsexual sex workers, dealers, teenagers, you'll find them all here at 4 in the morning. Aside from that, their breakfast is a pretty good deal, as most everything comes with a side of pancakes. It sometimes can seem a little greasy, but overall the quality has been reliable over the years.
(4)
Doug S.
Good food. Good price. The breakfast is delicious and the tomato soup is phenomenal. The draw-back is the volume of customers, but what do you expect at 3 in the morning? It is nice if you can get a table outside in the summer.
(4)
John S.
Was excited to live right down the street from this place, and then incredibly dissapointed when I discovered how much it sucked. The only time we ever got half decent service was the first time, some emo boy served us. Second time we went, it took 15 minutes to bring the check, 15 minutes to pick up my card, and 15 minutes to return my card. Totally unacceptable. The waiter looked really cracked out. No tip, and it takes ALOT for me not to tip. Third time we went during the winter, they opened the back door right next to our table. When we asked if they could please close it, they said it had to remain open for "fire code" reasons, it was completely freezing so we moved a few tables away and never saw our waitress again until I found her and asked for a check. The waitress took our order, and thats it. The busboy brought the food out, refilled our drinks, and helped move our table. No tip again. Final time we went, we were seated, and no one came to take our order for 10 minutes, so we left and haven't come back since. Don't get get me wrong, I've never had bad food here, but just because you have decent food doesnt mean you can have piss poor service. The whole "we're too cool to have good service" doesn't cut it for me.
(1)
Kit K.
Okay, I loved this place about a year ago, I was here at least two nights a week. Now, the thing about me is I'm from a city where nothings open 24 hours... I mean nothing. Our 7-11 closes at nine, and I'm not even kidding. Plus, you can't smoke anywhere. Not w/in 25 feet of doorways/vents... I've been approached by a cop who told me to "put it out or move along" when I stopped in front of a bookstore to tie my shoe. And I love breakfast. So, fresh off the boat, wander into this place: 24 hour. Kitch. Smoking. Breakfast. Hog heaven. Upon further introspection, the food is far too expensive for its own good (flavor's okay, it lacks... texture.), service is alright if you're hanging around for a couple hours nursing your cup of coffee, and more often than not the jukebox sucks. You'd think nostalgia diners would play oldies... or at least something before 1982. That being said, if I'm in the area, wanting coffee and a seat, and hungry... they do make awesome tomato soup, a couple bucks for a cup.
(2)
bill s.
The food is good for a coffee restaurant, and it's open twenty four hours. The waiters and waitresses are friendly. I'm not too happy with the men's washroom facilities, also they should be open to anyone off the street since washrooms are so scarce on Belmont and Clark.
(4)
Andrew M.
If somehow you've made it past the closing hours of Taco and Burrito Palace and Weiner Circle (i.e. it's 5:30 in the morning) and you're starving, Clarks will save your day. It's open 24 hours and it's got delicious food. I don't mean to frame it as a "late night" place because people go there for lunch too and it's pretty good. Actually, I don't think they liked that reputation so they added a "Clarks after Dark" room located just next to the restaurant itself. The hot chocolate is EXCELLENT, but be prepared to sit next to some zombie-like creatures with multiple piercings and pink hair. Hey, they gotta eat too!
(3)
Natalie S.
If you have the time, get a German pancake. They take about 25 minutes, but they're SO yum. When I was a poor college student I loved Clarkes for their egg dishes. If you order two eggs scrambled you get your choice of toast or pancakes (mmm, pancakes) and a big pile of hashbrowns. Most diners have scrambled eggs in a bucket as opposed to cracking two actual eggs, so you get way more than two eggs and it's like, $3. You can't beat it.
(3)
Caitlin S.
When I think of Clarke's I think of drunk food. It's a slightly-worse than average diner, nothing special, but sometimes you just need pancakes late, late at night when it's probably not safe to try cooking for yourself. The food is mediocre: it's really hard to mess up pancakes, but I am told the burgers are just alright.
(2)
Em B.
A lot of college student *LoVe* this place, but I pretty much loathe it. It attracts ironic co-eds and green high school students bussed in from the suburbs for a day of thrifting. I abhor eight dollar pancakes unless they're stuffed with gold or served by Mark Consuelos, so sorry Clarke's, but you're kind of on my shit list. Literally. If you're stopped up down there (down in the dumps, as I like to say), order anything off the menu; even a salad, and you'll be moving just fine within a few hours. Who needs Activia? Oh, but you'll be doubled over in pain, and your face will break out from the ring of grease around your mouth.
(1)
steve c.
i ahve a different experience everytime I go. Everything that needed to be said has been. Its a 24 hour hit or miss service with ok food.
(4)
Misi P.
College-y after hours joint...certainly nothing special but the entertainment is priceless as while our emo waiter took our order, some guy walked by him and smacked the hell out of his ass.....Blushing something fierce, the waiter covered his mouth for a few minutes trying to save face before he got gully enough to take our order. I stuck to fried cheese and water, which is pretty hard to screw up. Not my most ideal after hours place, but it would do in a pinch.
(3)
Alexandra T.
It is one of those places you only go in the middle of the night. Greasy spoon, huge portions, open 24 hours; which is good and bad. They get three stars for a reallllly nice waiter and for having feta cheese.
(3)
Kristin L.
The only really good thing I can say about Clarkes is that it's open 24 hours. The food is ok most of the time, but nothing I've tried has really blown me away. The last time (and I think it will be my last time, ever) I went, the table was covered in a layer of sticky stuff and crumbs, which transfered to the tops of our water cups, because nobody cared to wipe off the table before setting it up. The artichoke dip was served cold, as in, out of the fridge - nobody bothered trying to heat it. The service is usually a bit lacking, but I guess they're going for the authentic, "our servers don't really care about you" diner attitude. If there was nowhere else to eat in the entire city, I'd go to Clarkes, but I try to avoid it if I can.
(2)
Andrew S.
I love this place at night... don't bother during the day though. The patty melt was phenominal and with the sweet potato fries... top class late night eats... service is minimal, and bad, but on purpose I think.
(4)
Gen S.
The horrible service kills it for me every time.
(1)
Rich S.
Wanted to place a carry out order but was told it would take along time because they were busy. Ended up sitting down and placing an order to go, which took forever. This place needs to reevaluate the way it does business!!!!
(1)
M M.
I've been here a couple times in the past few years and it's basically low-end diner food, in my mind. Fries aren't very good- which, if you're a diner, your fries HAVE to be good. The service is prompt, however. I have heard that it's a great place to go late night and the location is very convenient. I would go to Melrose and Clark's on Broadway before heading here.
(2)
C. S.
Sorry but I love Clarkes, though I admit it's a little scary. Specifically what scares me is the hole in the wall near the floor in the women's bathroom, sort of covered by loose tiles. I'm not *sure* it was an actual rat I saw poking its head out at me as I sat there last time I used the john at Clarkes, but I could have sworn it was. Maybe it was wind blowing some sort of loose wall debris briefly in my direction, who knows. It was freaky enough to make me emit a little shriek and finish up and get back to my table post haste. Why I love the place in spite of questionable bathroom orifices has to do with many tipsy memories of early morning post-club-hours breakfasts as well as my relative comfort when I go there these days now that I'm old and boring. I can go there alone and sit and eat or have a drink in the bar without feeling conspicuous or awkward. The food I've had there and the service I've experienced have been consistently good, bearing in mind that it's a diner and I don't expect anything beyond OK diner food. I like the location, the hours, the liquor license, and the anonymity. It's a little bit of a dump. But it's a cool dump. They do really need to fix that hole in the ladies' john.
(4)
Jenn S.
eating at clarkes...bad idea living above clarkes. ..even worse idea.
(1)
Sara K.
I suppose if you are the night-owl type then Clarkes is probably your best bet. Instead of getting a meal I would prefer to get a plate of nachos and a shake to myself. I don't care for their greasy burgers or plain steak fries. I also wouldn't recommend going to Clarkes with a large group of teenage college students who don't carry cash. Our already grumpy waitress didn't like having to charge several credit cards and still coming up about $6 short. And yeah, the servers can be quite forgetful, so if you want an extra glass or a bottle of ketchup then be prepared to grab it off another table.
(3)
Ashley M.
why is everyone hating on Clarke's? it's open late, it's got pretty great (well, pretty good) food, neat atmosphere, etc. awesome fries, awesome milkshakes, awesome spinach-artichoke dip. i guess some of the other stuff is hit or miss, but hey, Clarke's is sort of everyone's go-to late-night snack spot.
(4)
Alexandra B.
This is definitely not a gourmet restaurant, it's a simple little diner. It's got decent food at a good price and it's always open which is helpful since most places in the area close pretty early. Plus they serve breakfast 24 hours! How can you go wrong with that?
(5)
Nina G.
Just curious...does this restaurant attract the spillover from the "Punkin Donuts" just down the street? Sure sounds like it!
(1)
Martin V.
The food here is passable, as many reviews say. However, if you find yourself concerned over how a business is run, then avoid this place. It's horrible. Backstory: I went with some friends recently for a quick dinner. One of my friends ordered a veggie omlet. Only, she asked for no carrots and with swiss cheese. It arrived no different than the menu said. She's particular, so she sent it back. It arrived the second time without carrots, but still no cheese. Again, she's particular, and didn't want to eat it. We didn't have time for a third try, so she sent it back and said she didn't want anything. This is where things got interesting. Our waiter claimed he couldn't remove it from the check because there was no Manager on duty. What?! This was confirmed when someone else from the table went over to the other side and innocently asked the bartender if there was a Manager there. Both the waiter and the bartender said the same thing, 'There's only a Manager from 7am - 4pm.' This is a 24hr place. So again, what?! Going further, the waiter said if we didn't pay for this omlette, he would have to. That makes sense if you carry around your own bank and cash out the sales money you owe to the restaurant, keeping the rest as tip money - and can't void anything. However, it's also illegal to make a server pay out of pocket for mistakes like this. Without a Manager around to void items, I'm sure this happens often. Servers don't speak-up, because they need the job, and the owners don't have to pay for any mistakes, normal or otherwise. It's a good deal for the owner, and a crappy deal for the waitstaff. This place sucks.
(1)
Sarah D.
Some of the dishes are a bit overpriced, and service can be slow as shhhhhhhh, but the foodage is worth it in the end. I've never had a bad meal in this joint, and the sweet potato fries are killer. Plus, I'm a sucker for anything accessible by the #22 bus.
(4)
Olivia R.
I don't really enjoy the food at Clarkes during the day, but it's one of my favorite late night spots! I usually just end up getting fries when we come here late night and they are really good! It gets pretty crowded, but that usually makes for a fun atmosphere.
(3)
Audra S.
This is my favorite place to grab a hangover bite to eat any day of the week. They have everything from breakfast to burritos and drinks to boot! Our waitress was kind enough to suggest we have a little Kahlua with our chocolate milk, and boy, was she right! Great omlettes, great service, great chocolate milk.
(4)
Jessica T.
Went here for breakfast. Coffee was awful. Service was awful. I asked for wheat toast, waitress brought me rye. She took 20 minutes to bring us our bill. Food was ok- for two of us it was almost $30 with tip- we'll take our $30 elsewhere from now on.
(2)
G G.
Open 24hrs, you can get great food any time. Weekend nights can bring a long wait though-esp for larger parties.
(4)
Dee W.
Great late night dining and great place to grab lunch while you're taking a break from shopping in the Belmont area, as well. Great service with friendly waitstaff.
(4)
Marian L.
Great place to eat with friends and located in the middle of boystown where all the shopping's at! So after you stuff yourself, walk down to Belmont and Clark and start shopping!!! Food is very good and service is quick. Sit inside or outside - it's totally up to you!
(4)
Liliana S.
The shakes are great but the food is mediocre. Good location and there is always entertainment in there at all hours throughout the day. I didnt care for their hash browns or potatoes,whatever, they were a little overcooked and really had no flavor. The benefit is that its open 24 hours a day so if you are hungry at 6:00 am get your cravings here.
(3)
Karen L.
I think the selling point for Clarke's is really the fact that it's open 24 hours. Us hungry insomniac college kids need somewhere to go, eh? On weekends you can expect a full house at 1:00 AM. The food is typical diner fair; breakfasts, sandwiches, little things to nibble on... Nothing on the menu is amazing, but it's good enough generally. I used to be a big fan of the Swedish pancakes, but they no longer serve them with lingonberries and that makes it altogether bland. They do have decent cheese sticks, quesadillas, and chicken cordon bleu. They also make milkshakes you can actually suck through a straw! WOW! The servers are a mixed bunch: sometimes you will get courteous ones, sometimes forgetful ones, and one server I've had was downright rude. But hey, like I said, it's a matter of convenience. Clarke's is fairly low priced and open all the time, so might as well drop by after a late night study session.
(3)
James S.
The thing I like best about this place is that they serve breakfast all day. I love breakfast, who doesn't, if McDonald's served breakfast all day I would pitch a tent in the middle of that restaurant and call it the Big Breakfast Reservation. Anyhow, I went here one day starving it was about 3pm and craving an omelet. The service was very slow. Usually when I stop looking at the menu and place it in front of me its a clear sign that I'm ready to order. Well I guess in this establishment you have to stake a big red flag in the middle of your table to get someones attention. The omelet was good, veggies and chicken. It was a pretty good omelet, I don't think it was worth $12 but good, probably $7 good. The fastest thing to come was the bill, it was like she Taxi Drivered it out of her sleeve. In short I'm glad I tried it because I would always see it from the train but have no plans to return.
(2)
Wade M.
Legendary all-night diner that's been feeding the hipsters, rockers, suicide girls, gay leather dudes, and other fringe friendlies of Belmontland for years. Coming here after hours is always fun, due to the ambiance and the people, but the food? Ehhh. Kind of sucks. Also, it's way too expensive considering that the food is crappy. But if you go in knowing that, it doesn't really matter.
(3)
Jason S.
I've been here, I think, three times already, all within two days. The wait staff is pretty cool and they have really good food. Only downside is there are no free refills, which bites the big ones since I drink like an Irish guy in a bar. And I'm part Irish, so no complaints.
(4)
Kat W.
decent food, open late, but that's about it. i.e. an average diner.
(3)
Julia B.
When I lived by Belmont we stopped in Clarkes Diner late at night. The food is not anything to write home about, but the milk shakes are awesome! This place is busy all the time even at 4 am on a Sunday.
(3)
Stephanie M.
Great place to stop by after clubbing. The food is good most of the time. They offer the regular late nite fare such as burgers and fries, omelettes, chicken noodle soup (the noodles were too mushy and ouch did I bite into another bay leaf?), and sandwiches. Service is pretty quick and no-frills. I like to people watch here too because of the good and very eclectic crowd.
(3)
One T.
The best part about this restaurant is that it's open 24 hours. The other best part is the food. Aside from the vegetarian chili, it's all pretty good (I'm not sure on the meat dishes though). And the price isn't bad either.
(4)
Jermaine H.
Judging by the HORRIBLE reviews they have already received over the course of the year, I guess I don't really have much to add; but of course, I'm going to anyway! After a recent night on the town, a colleague and I stopped into Clarke's for a bite to eat and was very disappointed with the service, to say the least. Our server's name was JAMIE and she was horrible. While waiting on our food, we notice she had an issue with another table nearby...and judging from the conversation, they were very displeased with her with respect to their bill. I ordered a Gyro with french fries and my buddy ordered a Charlie Brown Sundae. After waiting almost 30 minutes for our food, she finally rushed it out and then darted away again. After taking a few bites, I noticed that my food was COLD; very disappointing after waiting, what seemed like, forever in the restaurant world. Not to mention, does it really take that long to make a sundae?! I wouldn't have mind the wait if the place was actually packed and buzzing with business. But it was somewhere around 4:30 in the morning and a few scattered tables throughout. I finally hailed the waiter and told her very politely that my food was cold. She grabbed by plate and gave me a frustrating expression and said she'd heat it up while darting off again. But before I could mention that I wouldn't recommend re-heating french fries and a gyro that has tomatoes and sour cream on top, she was already passing through the kitchen. She finally returned with my meal, freshly REHEATED from the microwave or something...and I couldn't believe it. She did apologize, I will admit... but because I was pretty hungry and my buddy seemed to be enjoying his sundae, I sucked it up and nibbled around at my meal anyway. Our bill came to $24.27 and was not worth a penny of it...AT ALL!! Naturally, because I am in the industry and because I'm a genuinely nice guy, I still decided to tip her well. She was young and running around with her head cut off...in a seemingly empty restaurant; very disappointing and I will definitely NOT BE RETURNING or recommending them to anyone, for that matter. I think the next time I'm in Lakeview and want a quick bite to eat, I'lI head over to one of the other late night diners. But this time, I'll be sure to check out their Yelp reviews first!!! I am under the assumption that because this is a heavily gay area and because this is a place to settle down at after going out, the service is expected to be mediocre; as if customers wouldn't mind...or notice or something. I don't care that this place isn't located downtown, but genuine service is service! These guys should really learn and implement that during their employee trainings; if they even have any. Best of luck, Clarke's. I really HOPE you guys get it together; You're loosing a lot of business...if you haven't noticed!!!
(1)
Hillary L.
During the snowpocalypse, some friends and I decided to venture out and grab some dinner - most places weren't open but we all gave the OK to breakfast food. The server kept pushing us to buy more drinks throughout the meal even though we kept saying no. After asking two times, you should get it that we don't feel like buying drinks at your diner. Some people were satisfied with their meal while others weren't. I wasn't that hungry so I just ordered a small stack of pancakes, which were typical, nothing special but also very inexpensive. I could see the attraction in coming here late at night after you've had a few too many, but I wouldn't stop here purposefully again. At least half of the tables were full of other groups clearly hoping to get some food after the storm.
(2)
David H.
Bathroom was dirty with no bath tissue & no paper towels. I distrust food establishments with hole-in-wall bathrooms ! Food mediocre....waitstaff ok....but waited forever to pay. Probably great late nights after the bars and a few drinks.... Sober and daylight? Not so much
(2)
Erin H.
Clarke's to me is just a typical diner with ample food options. I ordered a simple breakfast "Two/Dos/Deux" which was just two eggs, potatoes, and toast. I'm pretty sure I added a side of bacon to that, because what is breakfast in a diner without bacon? It was simple, it's hard to screw up eggs but the service was quite mediocre. We were in a hurry to eat a quick breakfast before heading to a Cub's game and they weren't terribly busy, but we did have a short wait before being greeted and seated. It took our waitress quite a significant amount of time to come back to our table and take our order, and even more time to serve us our food, which I'll admit, could have been a bit warmer. I really couldn't complain about this place, cheap breakfast, standard diner, not-so-friendly-but-not-rude waitress, and plenty of orange juice. Works for me.
(3)
Jessica Y.
A couple friends had recommended Clarke's to me and I supposed I just had to give it a try based on their word, even though the restaurant didn't look too appetizing from the outside (I know, don't judge a book by its cover!) and the menu didn't look anything out of the ordinary to me. But it was fairly busy and in a great location/area, so I thought, why not?! I stuck to my usual safe bet of ordering an omlette and it did nothing to impress. It was edible and service wasn't bad either. Other than that, I've been to many other brunch locations that will statisfy my craving for some great omlettes, french toast or other creative dish! But if you're starving and need a quick fix, Clarke's is just the ticket!
(3)
Elizabeth F.
Clarke's food is just A-OK. The first time our waitress was not attentive but I got hot meal. The second time our waiter was funny and friendly, but my meal was barely warm. I guess you cannot have it all in Clarke's. I would come here again if I was in the neighbourhood and everything else is closed.
(3)
CJ S.
I have mixed feelings about this place. The food and portion size is good, but the service at times lacks finesse. Clacks has two sides; one side is just your normal diner, the other a diner with a full bar if you want to order a drink with your meal. or They also have an outdoor seating area for the summer time which is great. I've been to clacks a few times with a great outcome, but my rating is a average of all the times I've been there. The most recent time I've gone there was the worst. I went with friends and because of the area being close to boystown and the events that go on at night, I though things would get a little crazy like in the past but everything was okay. However, after having such great meals and meeting some colorful people we paid up. Our waitress was HORRIBLE, the whole time we were there. she messed up our orders and wouldn't come to our table as much as others. I just put that on the fact that she was working the bar as well. However, when she did get around to my friends and I, she had this tone in her voice that made us think she didn't want us there. When I ordered she had nerve to tell me I didn't need all that I was ordering. I know what I like, and how I like it, she needed a gym membership but did i say anything? So at the end of it all we pay up, and being a person who is custom to making tips, I know how important tips are; that' s how you get most of your money. However, I ran out of cash for the tip, Bank of america was right at the corner and I needed more cash anyway wasn't going to pay the $2 to use the atm there when I didn't have to. I thought I could run down to BOA and come back and give her the tip even though I didn't think she earned it. Furthermore, upon leaving a friend overheard her call us some black bitches and other choice words because she flew over to our table to pickup a tip that wasn't there after we got up. Everyone who knows me or has ever gone out with me knows I tip very well, so it was her loss and it's sad that people like her work there making clarks a place to stay away from. Good for food, stay clear of little fat umpa lumpa bartenders
(3)
Thomas O.
Never again. The restaurant is filthy. The food is not cooked to order or fresh. There was what looked like mold on our pancakes. Thinking that that was absurd, we ate them anyway. My wife and I were both sick by the time we made it home.
(1)
Sara I.
No thank you. Came here on a Saturday morning with some friends for breakfast and was embarrassed to be showing them this place out of every where else in Lakeview (they were visiting). Service was pretty terrible considering we got our food before our drinks. We all had pancakes and they weren't house-made and kinda tasted rubbery... not exaggerating, McDonald's hot cakes have more fluff. Has some eggs too that just looked sloppy and were not tasty. Anyway, if you're in the area, Chicago Bagel Authority across the street is way better and a LOT faster.
(1)
Jenna S.
When I was a kid coming into the city for concerts, this place was great! But then I moved here and realized that there are thousands more restaurants that are way better. The food is good but it's a bit overpriced. Sometimes the serving staff can be grumpy and irritable, which sucks since their job is to serve you food. I'd say this place is OK, but nothing more than that. If you want simple food, go to another diner (Hollywood, White Palace, etc).
(3)
Madeline H.
Come on now, be honest. We have all found ourselves at Clarke's at four in the morning after a long night drinking, stuffing our faces with sweet potato fries and spinach artichoke dip. Perhaps you were at a show at the Vic, or a Cubs game, or maybe you just frequent Big Sh*tty, excuse me, Big City Tap. For whatever the reason, we have all been there. Why? Because Clarke's is pretty damn good drunk food and it is right there at the Belmont stop. Its 1950s glowing sign is just beckoning us to stumble away from the L tracks and into one of their hideous sea foam green or salmon pink booths. Not to say I ever regret doing this, I'm just saying it is a fact of life, Clarke's exists for the night owls and hipsters (though it is not nearly as hipsterific as Pick Me Up these days). Personally, I like Clarke's. Sure the service can be slow, and the food isn't worth the price, but I don't care. I like being able to sit with my friends for an hour, hour and a half, two hours and drink coffee while munching on some pretty decent burgers and fries. Their sandwiches aren't bad, the sweet potato fries are delicious, as is the spinach artichoke dip (can you tell that anecdote at the beginning was really just a personal story?) and the Charlie Brown Sundae is a must if you are looking for the king of all ice cream treats in Lakeview. I know you're not supposed to judge places based on their appearance, but at Clarke's its kinda true that you get exactly what you expect you'd get walking in the door. And you know what? I don't think that's a bad thing.
(3)
r s.
Went here on a Tuesday at 9am and were were the only ones there. I ordered coffee and choc chip pancakes. The waitress disapears for a while comes back and says they were out of choc chips. I order then the regular pancakes. She disapears then brings me my coffee. She dumps the pancakes at the table and leaves to the kitchen. When she finally comes into the dining room I flag her down. Can I have some syrup for the pancakes? She goes to kitchen. Returns. And says they're out. WTF???! Why not check when I order the mf pancakes or fck when you're supposed to bring it out??!! I'd never ordered it if she said they were out at the beginning! I was starving and ate some of the dryads and by now cold pancakes. Might I add the dumb bitch never refilled my coffee and I had to flag her just to get the check?
(1)
Katy G.
Eh, it was alright for what we were looking for--a quick late night bite after a show. But it was loud and the ceiling fans provided a not-so-nice strobe light effect, so it didn't really have that let's-start-to-wind-down feel I was hoping for. But they must be doing something right considering how busy it was, so mine is probably not a very popular opinion among its customers.
(2)
Jessica K.
I fell in love with this place when some friends and I made our first trek downtown by ourselves in high school. Ever since, it's been a solid, go-to comfort spot. I have never had a bad service experience here. The servers take the late night throngs of drunks and rude hipsters in graceful stride and are always friendly and thorough. The menu has the right amount of humor without being stupid. I have never had anything on the menu that wasn't delicious and perfect. I crave their tomato soup in my sleep. Try the Northshore potatoes. If a 24hr. diner that serves booze is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
(5)
Abhay S.
So it's been a good 5-6 years since I'd last been to Clarke's. The place has changed quite a bit in those 5+ years. The restaurant now has a little fancier wooden tables and there is Clarke's After Dark that is next door that appears to serve alcohol and probably the night crew. The prices have also increased a few bucks outside what I think is a good value for the location. I realize it's now 2010 and things cost more money, but I think Clarke's is a bit pricier than other similar places. I ordered the Mexicana omlet which was an omlet with onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and a few other things. It also came with some hot sauce and sour cream. Overall, the food didn't taste all that exciting - don't know what it was, but this was one of the spicier omlets on the menu and it wasn't all that spicy. The service was excellent - our waitress was super friendly and attentive. She gets 5*'s from me. Overall, the food quality outweighs the service here - I don't think I'd return if I was in the area.
(2)
Anjelika R.
Been going to Clarke's for years including those years when it was a Melrose WAY back in the 90s. The dining room decor is kitschy and the recently remodeled bar is gorgeous. They have just redone their menu to include various burgers that gives you a choice of fries. The sandwiches are great and the breakfasts are to die for. I love the fact that they have a egg white omelette on the menu and it is one of my favorite items there. If you have any room after dinner and you have at least three people in your party, take on the Charlie Brown Sundae. Hot tea drinkers will also find a lovely selection of teas to choose from. Service is okay. Depends on who's there. Most of the time it is okay, but every now and again we will get one of the waitresses who seems more interested in chatting up the kitchen staff than taking care of her tables. Tends to get a little crazy after concerts at the Vic and closing time at local bars. If you can handle loud drunken patrons at 2AM then you'll be a-okay. If you are one of these loud drunken patrons at 2AM even better. I'm not sure if they are seating folks in the bar anymore, but if they are wait for a table in the dining room. In my experience there's a tendency for the wait staff to forget about the folks in the bar.
(4)
Erica S.
I appreciate that you are open 24 hours; I appreciate that you serve breakfast food; I appreciate that you are around the corner from my house; I appreciate that your servings are huge; I appreciate that you will soak up the liquor that is carefully sitting in my stomach, waiting to disrupt my body's activities for the day. What I don't appreciate is that you are kind of expensive, your pancakes are tough, and your sides of meat are ridiculously priced. Your service is also a little iffy, though our waitress was nice. Kind of ridic, you know? I do recall going here with Meg Z. and others in high school really late at night, so I guess you get one nostalgia star.
(3)
Amanda C.
I have been to Clarke's twice and both times my experience was OK but less than great for the people I was with. I went at 11 on a Sunday and ordered Mexican food. I really think this is the way to go here, but it's hard to decide with the huge variety on their menu. Everything else seems to turn out weird and/or bland. I also got a Bloody Mary which to my pleasant surprise was only $3 on Sundays. It was spicy but lacked depth of flavor, and came with a pickle. There was no wait when we arrived, but last time I went the line was out the door so it's hit or miss. Their fresh-squeezed orange juice is good and they give you a shot of it to try when you sit down. Don't order the soups here. The creamy tomato actually should be named "carrot chunk" and the chicken noodle is green. The service was friendly but slow. This is a once a year spot for convenience for me.
(2)
Samantha K.
Best 24 hour diner in Chicago. Notorious even. I've been to both locations- Lincoln & Belmont, and of course (I think this goes without saying), the loc on Belmont/Clark is wicked awesome. Belmont/Clark area is such a hoppin' area that is alive and rich with colorful folks of all types and sizes: transvests, drunk girls, and much in between at 2am even on a Wednesday. You can feel the energy even from the deepest, seediest ally way. The food is incredible and wide ranging. Best place to hang out in the middle of the night or just for break/lunch. The red line stop is right there (one stop away from my pad, whoop), and parking is actually not too bad.
(5)
Anni G.
Don't waste your time - I went here when I needed a late-night fix before I discovered the Pick Me Up and Nookie's were far better. The food here is mediocre at its best, bordering on just plain bad. The atmosphere just feels... greasy, as if it's wiped down but not cleaned. The wait staff is fairly friendly, but not especially responsive. Be ready for a long wait.
(1)
Angelica E.
So I dont frequent this side of town very often to party but when I do my friends and I always grab a bite to eat here. The food is pretty descent and the service is always ok. Its open 24 hours so you see anything and everybody in here! I wouldnt go out my way to come to this place but if your ever in the lakeview area and need to grab food after your drunken adventures....Clarke's it is!
(3)
Brandon V.
Clarke's is your typical diner. It's nice for that late-night food craving (or for after-bar eating), but I wouldn't go out of my way to get to it otherwise. As many other reviewers have mentioned, it's a bit pricey for the kind of food and atmosphere you're getting here, and the service I've had here has never ranked over "average" in the slightest. Still, it will suffice in a pinch.
(3)
Quinn K.
Nothing too exciting here. They just opened a new location in my neighborhood. It has a weird vibe like someone set up shop in an old consignment shop. I went there late one night and there was an old man on his computer singing loudly in a really awkward voice sitting right behind me. Could be good or bad depending on your mood. The food is blah. It isn't terrible but it isn't good. If you're drunk it tastes better. I did go there once at 2 am and the food came out piping hot so that was a bonus. Don't make it a point to go there I'd say but hit it up once if you need some late night eats to tame the spins and swirlies.
(2)
A W.
I'm sure many people have written about satisfying the odd hunger that comes after drinking into the wee hours of the night, but I have actually been here pre-drunk crowd. And. . *gasp*. . . during the daytime. So, I can offer a sober recollection of this establishment. I will say, most people know going in here that cleanliness is not top priority here. Food preparation is safe (I believe) but you'll want to wet a napkin to wipe down your utensils before eating and double-check your cups before drinking. No, you should really trust me on this. Oh yea, one time I took to shaking a bottle of ketchup before use and the cap was not all the way on. Imagine the outcome as you will. Um, so, you might want to check all lids/caps which I'm happy I did on my last visit as the salt lid was not fully screwed on. Not sure if Clarke's has some type of royal jester, or unfunny poltergeist, that goes about the restaurant loosening these things, but you have been warned. Yes, you're wondering why I come here then, right? Cause their skillets are really yummy. It's an abundance of food all brought to you neatly in a skillet with either a side of ginormo english muffin or pancakes. All for like $10. And it's yummy!! I've had four of the skillets and had The Classic this last time which was two fluffy scrambled egg (that's how order them; fluffy), muenster cheese, and chopped slab of bacon on a mattress of northshore potatoes. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnn.................. The ginormo english muffin comes with a decent butter and strawberry spread (my fave). Oooh and when you order hot tea, they bring out a tea chest/box to you to pick your teas and your own little teapot of hot water. They have English Breakfast. I was delighted by that! This place may be a little dirty, and some odd paranormal entity is loosening caps/lids, but it's a diner in every sense of the word. The food is good diner food and the atmosphere can range from extremely laid back to lively depending on what time of day you come. Pick your poison (that would be time of day) and get some grub.
(3)
Joanne W.
Oh sweet patty melt... you nourished me after a night of NYE over induldgance. The melt was cheesey & crisp. The fries were steak cut. The meal was solid. The service was spot on. It also happened to be my birthday and I was hooked up with a Charlie Brown sundae. It was freakin delicious. A taco shell loaded with vanilla ice cream, brownie, chocolate sauce, whip cream and cherries. Fresh off theYelp's Biggest Loser contest, I dove in with two spoons. Mmm...sweet calories...I missed you. Clarke's on Belmont was the perfect end to a perfect night.
(4)
Gina H.
DOWNGRADE after my last trip to Clarke's on Belmont. I hate to do this - but the last time visiting I had a awful burger...and who messes up burgers!? When I'm going to eat poorly, it better be damn good....sorry Clarke's.
(2)
P S.
I can't recommend the After Dark part of Clarke's more than I can recommend, say, your dad's buddy's garage since the bathroom is probably out of soap and paper towels there too. The food is for folks who have come from or are looking for other food and are probably hoping that the last quarter of the game is on tv (and it is). Truly, it's a stopover. They have beer. That's worth two stars I guess.
(2)
Brian K.
So after a lovely Friday evening filled with viewings of Degrassi and Jersey Shore, playing some Rock Band, and drinking Four Lokos, breakfast food was a must on a lovely Saturday morning. Patrick T, Erica S, and I enjoyed a meal at Clarkes last Saturday. I ordered the Popeyes skillet with spinach and over easy eggs. It was good. I had pancakes on the side that were kinda tough. I mean overall it was just ok.
(2)
Azad A.
Stopped in here for dinner the other day only to be met with poor service. My party was waiting for a solid 15 minutes before anyone thought to come to our table to check in and take our order. In the meantime, we saw numerous servers walking around not doing much or seemingly trying to avoid servicing our table. A waiter finally arrived to take our order and was very nice but not sincerely apologetic for the delay. He took our order and sent it in. While we waited for food to arrive, we saw other customers who were growingly increasingly annoyed because their food was taking a very long time to arrive. Luckily, our food came quickly but it was very mediocre. We all ordered burgers which were so-so. The fries were totally cold and seemed like frozen ore-ida fries. Overall, a very unpleasant experience. I wouldn't recommend this joint to anyone except as a last resort.
(2)
Alex L.
Great breakfast place, large choice, decent coffee, really cranck you up for a shopping day in Chicago or repairs you after a crazy night out.
(3)
Kyle W.
Not good. And very old fashioned decor to go with unhappy workers!
(2)
Allan M.
Yet another place in the category of 'staples of my youth' I'm reviewing. And to paraphrase the words of that a friend of mine once said jokingly, "All roads lead to Clarke's." Won't deny either I had a lotta interesting memories going here post-shows, back when I was first starting to heavily attend music concerts in nearby venues, a la Metro. (not to mention even occasionally see musicians, post-concert, eating here) However today, I'm afraid the quoted saying that my friend said above is no longer true. (and with Michael's North being the only worser 24/7 diner than Clarke's) Anyway, only good things about this 24/7 diner I like are the people-watching(IMHO, the best aspect about here), and the pancakes they have here(my fav of those being their Swedish pancakes, though it doesn't beat those of other Swedish restaurants). Nearly forgot about the sweet potato fries being decent, too, until I skimmed and noticed that on another review. Most food I've had beyond that wasn't anything special. Service usually was hit or miss, though I've interesting servers here once in a while. Bathrooms were always somewhere on the dirty side. Don't like that since they added the bar on the side of this place, that only the women's bathroom got renovated, and that the men's bathroom remains the same dirty one I remember from years ago. I don't hate this place, but probably if I'd known years ago about Pick Me Up Cafe, I probably would've gone there instead all those years ago. And too bad that's about the only 24/7 competition in the very immediate vicinity that Clarke's has.
(2)
Emeutier T.
So, after an evening of pounding the pavement looking for Christmas deals that would make my penny pinching father soil his undergarments, my friend and I went to this place on her insistance that the food was a good buy for the portions and the general sense of fullness that she's felt here before. I told her if I didn't like it I was going to punch her; she would not like where I was going to punch her. The type of "show me on the doll" kind of punch.... Well, it's 15F out and we step into the oblong rectangular setting for this shuddap and eat kitsche theme they got going. But we are two cold and hungry kids. Where does our waiter decide to sit us? By the door with the fairly noticeable draft. ||sigh|| I sit down and unwrap myself, defetterring myself from the bulky clothes that made me feel like I was five again and in my Kirby-esque snow suit ready to fall over. And, forgive me Ms. Supinski -my 6th Grade English teacher- for starting a sentence with and, but we were seated far away from any of the other patrons. Like, did we smell? But moving on, just like the other reviewers noted; the service is slow after the inital menu/water/greeting appearance. We decided on splitting a well-crafted burger with what turned out to be a huge serving of sweet potato fries. For the appetizer we got the "Macho Nachos." In between hydrating and finishing a carafe of water a piece -- I had to get up on my own and get the carafes -- no one looked to see if we needed anything. Maybe if you hadn't sat us in the "Siberia - party of two" area of the restaurant we could have flagged you guys down to say, "Hey, we'd like a refill on the soooddie pop, thanks!" So, we finally get our food, the wait was not that long. The burger was exquisite for $10 bucks, as it should be! The meat was tender, not too greasy, and the cheese was layered on there just right so as not to draw too much attention away from the sack of protein in between the very cool, very tasty pretzel bun! Good job, on the burger. The Sprite was good too. The "Macho Nachos" were good in that they present a good alternative for those veg-heads. By themselves they lack the full textures and smells to be considered nachos by real Mexicans. I should know. But that is another tale for another day. Beans would have been nice. The lettuce was crisp and looking, I dunno, julienne (sp?). The guacamole was a little on the sparse side and the salsa was a few scales above Pace - NEW YORK CITY!? - . Overall, a good, cheap option, relatively speaking for this menu, but I kinda wish I'd ordered the onion rings. Nice filler complement to the burger my friend and I split. I haven't tried the other menu options, but apparently burgers are the way to go here. I would have gotten a little testy about the water carafes and drinks, but hey it's X-mas and I speak with my tip. Yep. Nice place, good food, slow service. Someone give 'em a kick in the pants, please. My friend did not get punched, by the way.
(3)
Emily L.
I went here for Sunday brunch with friends and really enjoyed it. The wait for a table kinda sucked, and service was so-so, but I thought the food was worth it. It probably also helped that brunch at Stella's the day before was extremely disappointing. I got the Zorba omelet - three eggs, onion, tomato, spinach, and feta. The omelets come with steak fries or Northshore potatoes, and English muffin, toast, or pancakes. I got the pancakes (they're like dessert, you know?) and subbed fruit for potatoes for a dollar extra. The omelet and pancakes were absolutely delicious. Instead of fruit, I was accidentally given Northshore potatoes, and they were undercooked, but the three other people at my table said their potatoes were fine. In short: long wait, spotty service... but good food.
(4)
Stacey A.
Know how hard it is to find Swedish Pancakes in this city? Hell, do you even know what they are? They're crepes, dusted with powdered sugar and served with lingonberries, which are a bizarre little Swedish berry that manages to be tart AND sweet at the same time. And they're a pain in the ass to find in this city as every brunch place has some fucked up omelette or pancake option, but nothing like this. Clarke's, of all places, has Swedish Pancakes and does a lovely job of them.
(4)
Earliana M.
Ambience and bathrooms aside lol....best flippin pancakes for the price!
(3)
S K.
Breakfast is great, the skillets and pancakes. Just had the vegetarian chili tonight and it was basically tomato sauce soup with breadsticks. I would probably only stick with the breakfast.
(3)
Paul A.
Visited: 10/03/10 1030A I hate to start off a review like this, but Clarke's was not my first choice for this breakfast. It was two days into my recovery of a procedure I had, and my friend said, "Lets go to Ann Sather's..." - when I looked at the time he suggested this, I basically rolled my eyes and said, "Yeah right, like we will get into there at this late morning time." And I was right - no way of getting there -- so we did Clarke's instead. At first, I was a little worried as they did not have credit card logos on the doors and had ATMs in the establishment - I really do NOT do places that are cash only - I'm digital, baby! Luckily, we were able to get squeezed in. Seemed quite busy for a Sunday morning. The service was fine - and they kept my water glass full as well as the decanter they left on the table - a godsend, really so you don't have to chase down someone to get refills on water. The food came fairly quickly - it was filling and very reasonable. Had the YEE HAW Omlette that came with pancakes and a side of fruit if you desired. Overall, a good little place if you're in the mood for diner food.
(3)
Judy D.
Service is 4 stars, food is 2 stars. The $10+ hamburgers are frozen pre-formed patties. 'nuf said.
(2)
Elisabeth C.
I saw Amy Winehouse in here eating breakfast with her now husband some time ago. I saw Amy Winehouse actually EAT. (Unlike that time I was in Hard Rock Cafe while I was living in London and saw Victoria Beckham not eat her lettuce and piece of dried up plain chicken breast). I am, however, deeply saddened that they removed the booths in the smoking section, though. I don't even smoke, but I loved the privacy of those booths- you could drink coffee and chat and not have a million people walking past you. Those days are gone. The food is greasy and really bad for you, but if you're here at 3am after drinking for the last six hours, you'll hardly notice.
(3)
Tim Z.
Pretty good breakfast food, kinda expensive though I liked how all 14329453245720934 television screens were dedicated to the Blackhawks v. Flyers game = plenty of drunk guys.
(3)
Andy J.
Clarke's is right off of the Belmont stop on the Red and Brown Lines, and was a popular place to visit back in the day. I usually get only two items there: their American Burger and the Monte Cristo. The monte cristo is very good and their fries are delicious and is a fun place to stop at whenever you're in the area with a group. However, every time I am here, there is a wait for a table and the service is slow. I think it would be in the best interest for the restaurant to have more chefs in the kitchen and another person waiting tables during busy hours to speed up the service. So if this place isn't too busy- check this place out!
(3)
Brian E.
More like Barfe's. You might find a hair in your food, you might find a piece of plastic in your water...but you'll definitely find terrible service and crappy food. I live a block away and drink heavily on the weekends, but I still can't bring myself to go in anymore.
(1)
JJ Z.
The food is good when they get your order correct. However, that happens...sporadically at best. 10 time out of 10, one of us orders a skillet. 9 times out of 10, they bring us the omlet instead and we have to send it back. Today I ordered an omlet with egg whites and easy on the cheddar - I asked for 1/2 as much as they usually put in. So instead I got extra cheese, and it wasn't cheddar...it was the nasty neon orange cheese whiz that looks like melted crayon. I give it 2 stars - 1 star for the potatoes and 1 for the jumbo English muffins. You can do better.
(2)
kevin k.
Food is OK. a little generic but it is good enough . Service is pretty bad though. Been here 3 times and the waitstaff/bartenders just do not want to be bothered with things such as service. Not even a thank you.
(2)
Dan M.
This place is your classic diner. Burgers, 24-hour breakfast, milkshakes and coffee, Clarke's has got it all. I really don't know what else to say. I went on a Saturday night so it was pretty crowded, with a ridiculous amount of people crammed inside this relatively small place. Server was nice, took our orders (we were a pretty big group, sooo...) and we got our food pretty quickly. The food was good. Ordered the Mexicana burger. Comes with guac, which is not exactly fresh but still delicious. The burger was a bit on the overcooked side, but it wasn't terrible and surprised me with how tasty and filling it was. I recommend it if you want some good ol' diner food. The prices are a bit high for something that's a-ok, but that's my two-cents.
(3)
Mandi G.
Standard diner fare. City's BEST people watching. (That "she" is a "he")
(4)
Ang R.
Look, this isn't great food. But it's perfectly able to satisfy cravings for things like BLTs, and Tuna Melts. I'm not looking for a gourmet tuna melt, and I didn't find one. But it was tasty, and if I want another, I'd go back. The staff is a little indifferent (but who really cares? you get food, and you eat it) and the place is a little grimy (but you deal with that in diners ALL THE TIME anyway), and the prices aren't exactly low (but it's Lakeview, for god's sake). You know, don't make it a destination. Use it to fulfill its purpose, which is to provide you with basic diner foods like tuna melts and omelets.
(3)
James E.
Welcome to the world of flavorless. I've been a burger fan for many years and this place almost made me want to throw in the towel. Let's start with my order. I ordered the Spanish burger or something in reference to Spanish/Hispanic culture reason be, it was suppose to offer the most spice and flavor. It was supposedly filled with jalapenos, cheese, the basic ingredients and all on a pretzel bun. You can't mess up something like this, the ingredients are loaded with flavor, right? I forgot to mention it came with steak fries. For $10, I thought I was getting my sinful burger on! I thought why not join the devil and get the spinach and artichoke dip also!? $25+ tip, I felt like I was getting a carry out deal of a lifetime..... (Jeopardy music). This burger was the driest, blandest, cheesy-less, and topped off with fries that would keep anybodies blood pressure down (not a bit of taste) flavorless creation ever. The bun was soft but created a dry clay because the burger patty was dry. I order my burger medium well, that leaves enough room for juice. The dip was this soupy goop with spinach in it which was also flavorless. The chips were at least slightly salted but not enough to make for the bland flavor of everything else. Let's rewind just a bit. I was recommended this burger by the waitress. I'm not a complete jerk but she was of Mexican heritage and said that if I liked spice this was the way to go. She should know, right? I have plenty of Mexican friends or just great brown blooded friends (Ha, true minority bonding lol) that cook their food with crazy flavor not to mention authentic restaurants. My point in saying this is, she was very polite but if she was thinking this was spicy lol, because she said she like spicy food because "she is Mexican," somebody check her bloodline. I think she is a "Blandican," from the land of tasteless food. Love all, I truly do but had to point out that this was a recommendation. One good point was that they had very polite staff. I guess if I would change anything I would dine-in there and probably help cook the food myself. My money would pay the dishwasher so I could eat without dealing with the clean up. Sooooooo glad I got that off my chest.
(2)
Ben E.
Just say no. Really. Clarke's on Belmont has lousy, insanely overpriced food and drinks, abysmal service, and still gets constant business. I don't care if it's 4 a.m. and you're just "really really hungry and oh my god food!!!" or whatever else is going on, just keep walking. Don't spend your money on a business that makes essentially zero effort. The last (and I do mean last, ever) time I was there, the restaurant was practically empty and yet it still took a ludicrously long time to get menus, have a server take our order...you get the idea. When my friend and I had the gall to order another round of drinks from the bar, our server just disappeared on us for 15 minutes or so, only to return to chat with some other employees, with no drinks in sight. At that point, we just left the money for what we owed and walked out.
(1)
Kathie S.
Nice outdoor eating area but that won't bring me back. The food was poor to fair. Burgers tasted like they were bought in the frozen section of Sams's Club as were the fries. I had the spinach artichoke burger, I'm 99% sure there wasn't any artichokes and it was tasteless. Neat area but won't go back.
(1)
Robert A.
Not bad. Open all night. Diner food on one side, reasonably priced beer on the other. no real complaints
(3)
Joe B.
Compared to the Lincoln Ave. Clarke's, this location is a little dingier, a little more cramped, and just a little more...Belmont. Like a sponge, Clarke's absorbs the people around it, most notably the people who've just evacuated the bars during the wee hours. From what I remember, that didn't seem to affect the service or the food. If the time is right (post-midnight), I'd go back.
(3)
Gilbert R.
The overall best benefit of this place is that it's one 24 hours. The food is not something that makes you want to come here solely based on that. It's diner food and I've only felt comfortable with breakfast items on starters for the most part. Went crazy one time and had a pizza, won't order one again. The bar next door is kinda funny. Still not sure where it plays into the restaurant.
(3)
Colleen C.
Note: For drunken food, this place will do JUST fine. If you are not completely obliterated, you may want to seek food and beverage elsewhere. I mean, yeah at Ed Debevic's and Dick's Last Resort...the rude waiters are funny because, after all, they are acting and are SUPPOSED to come off that way. At Clarke's? Just bitchy, angry, surly beeyotches. Slapping your food down, acting like they got better shit to do. Well excuse me? Last time I checked I was effing paying for this meal, and paying for you to bring it 4 steps from that nasty kitchen back there, so atleast fake a smile. I've gotten up to get my own refills of diet coke because some waste of skin waitress was just sitting at a table smoking a cig and chatting with a friend. FOR REAL? Get out. Maybe back in college this would suffice. But now? Sorry. Clarke's you suck a big greasy, undercooked omlette. Quit hiring people with personality disorders. Extra star for big pancakes and a newish bathroom.
(3)
Fritzie H.
Oh Clarke's...how I wish things between us would've never changed but like most things in life they did and I can't say I'm sorry for leaving you a drunken, slutty mess. Like most, I've had my good and bad times here. When I think about it though, most of the good weren't because of the service but because of the people I was there with. The bottom line is that thier wait staff is horrible. The food is sub-par and the utensils? Don't even get me started on how dirty they are. Why do I come back? Nostalgia, but over the years I see myself here less and less. One time, like most times here, I had bad service and there was a hair in my turkey burger so guess what? I didn't leave a tip. My waitress walked up to the table we had just vacated and lifted every plate and napkin to look for a nonexistent tip. She then followed us outside and gave us hell over it. She said I gave you my undivided attention and you didn't leave me anything? Her attention was far from acceptable and everytime we needed something we had to ask the busboy so guess who was handed a tip? She then went on to say that we should go to a fast food joints so we wouldn't have a chance to stiff the waitress. hahaha Note taken.
(2)
Bruce Alan B.
We like this place. Its not fancy, but it is very Lakeview. It gets a mixed crowd, is not too expensive, and I have always had good, friendly wait staff help here. I cannot say that for a lot of mid-range sit down restaurants in Lakeview.
(4)
Jessica D.
Okay. So Clarke's gets major points for being on a cool side of town, having a vegetarian friendly menu, and being a fun place to hang. On the other hand, with a cool side of town comes annoyingly drunk folk, overpriced food, stressed out servers, and music loud enough you can't talk over it. Eh. It is what it is. Clarke's is a good place to grab a bit when I'm on the other side of town late at night, which appears to be fairly often. The food is hit or miss. I had the nachos two days apart and one day it was awesome, the other it sucked. They ran out of guac and forgot to put the veggie chili on it, etc., etc. so I think it depends on the night. Clarke's is about on par for the area, but prices are cheaper in Ukrainian Village at night. Oh well, maybe I should stop partying in Boystown, then, right?
(2)
Nada R.
I would prefer to eat butts out of the ashtray in front of Berlin than ever set foot in this overpriced, pain in the ass, waste of time again. The "bar" attached is extra hilarious. Sit there for 15 minutes and have no one acknowledge you; just stare at the bottles. You'll love it too.
(1)
Chris P.
Our experience deserves 5 stars for one reason: Mary the bartender. She did a great job and really got to know the customers while still performing her duties. Our favorite reason to go!
(5)
Fleming B.
When I was in college, this was the go-to place. Everyone would hop on the red line, hop off at Belmont, see a show at the Metro and then walk over to drown their sleepiness in boozy milkshakes and giant omelets. Back then? I wasn't impressed. I didn't understand that they had other things than breakfast food. I was just pissed that they kept carding me when all I wanted was Kahlua mixed with ice cream. Also, I'm obsessed with eggs benedict, and theirs is a sad excuse for one. Now, I know. I know how tricksy it is to find good diner food in Lakeview in the middle of the afternoon that isn't drenched in oil or accompanied by 3-day old fries. I know how difficult it is to go to a Lakeview diner and not feel like you're going to stick to the floor or seats because it's so filthy. I understand that they're not awful - they're A-OK. More specifically, I met their tuna melt. Their delicious tuna melt. It's open-faced, it's on an english muffin, and it has BACON. BACON on a tuna melt? LIKE A DREAM. What's that? You can also get fresh sweet potato fries with it? Case closed, this place does not suck. Other non-breakfast excellent choices: Grilled Cheese/Tomato Soup combo. Quesadillas (shocking, right?). Greek Salad. Now, Clarke's still isn't excellent by any means. However, I will now happily go here, and sometimes suggest it. Just stay away from their eggs benedict and veer towards their tuna melt. And don't be pissed off when they card you, college kids. In a few years, you can have all the boozy milkshakes you want.
(3)
Lindsay A.
I first set foot in here about eight years ago. I haven't been in here in about 3 years, and the reviews I'm reading here make me wonder whether I should bother coming in next time I'm in town (or just go to the Evanston location, which I recently visited and found to be superior to what I recall the Belmont location being). That being said, my go-to dishes at Clarke's are the California Turkey Burger with sweet potato fries or the French toast, depending on the time of day and my mood. The only thing that keeps this place from getting a better rating is the service. I've almost never had even decent service here -- the service is surly and slow here, whether it's breakfast time, the middle of the day or the wee hours of the night. Oh, and don't even think about asking them to split a check. Just bring cash; it's much easier that way.
(3)
Andrew B.
I have to give this place props for being open 24x7 and serving food from across the world, but I think this is the heart of their problem. It's difficult to serve Asian, Mexican, burgers, breakfast, and salads all in the same restaurant and have it ALL taste good. Maybe it was just the sandwich I ordered (Count of Monte Cristo), but my table-mates were not beaming with satisfaction either. I expected the sandwich to be buttery and smooth, but it was served greasy and slimy. I was only able to muscle down 1/3 of it and had to eat all of the fries to get my fill. I also ordered a chocolate milk, which hit the spot. The service was average. Our waitress was nice enough to let us sample the chicken salad before we ordered. It was good and mayo'ey just like momma makes. Therefore the chicken salad wrap would be my recommendation for anyone who heads to Clarke's.
(1)
April B.
I ate here many times until I saw a buss boy use a towel to wipe up a mess on the floor. He then used the exact same towel to wipe down a table. Gross Save yourself the nasty and go to either Nookies on Halsted or Melrose on Broadway
(2)
Amy S.
My favorite late night place/diner ever. I often order skillets and have to take most of it home because they give you so much. The service is not great. For example, went there this past Saturday around bar closing time. My friend ordered a gyro omelet. The waitress did not write down our orders. Result: my friend did not get his gyro omelet but rather something else that relatively sounded like 'gyro omelet' I guess. I don't care if a waitress/waiter doesn't write down my order, but I do mind if they don't bring me the correct order. I do love Clarke's because they deal with drink people who are rude and leave crappy tips. I have gone there in such a state and basically fell asleep at the table...teeheee
(3)
Pattie S.
I've been coming to Clarke's since I moved to the Chicago area in 2007. To be honest, most of the food is just, 'meh'. I've had better of everything that they make here. Better pancakes, better nachos, better burgers, better tacos ect. ect.. Though, I do love their water. Go figure. However, even though the food is average, I still enjoy it. It's a good place to go after drinking, it's a good place to go for a quick bite to eat. You get the point. Even though I'm giving the food such an average rating, I'm a fan of it because I've had so many good experiences here. Plus it's open 24 hours, so that doesn't hurt. And the wait staff are usually pretty good. I've never had any problems. Although, I do have one complaint about this place, but it's not even relevant anymore. When Illinois had the state wide smoking ban, Clarke's jumped the gun and started the smoking ban like 3 days early. I wanted to savor my last days of smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee in-doors at restaurants, but Clarke's took that away from me. =( Anyway, to review, Clarke's is cool, but there's so many better options to go on Belmont, unless it's like 3 am, but even then, you can find a shitty Mexican place with good tacos.
(3)
Andrea C.
seriously? dont waste your time. i was drawn in by the kitschy sign outside and its proximity to the red line train stop, but i wish i hadnt even gone in. -terrible terrible service. it took forever for us to be seated and our server was rude. once we were seated, we were ignored for at least 15 minutes before a server came to ask us for our drink orders -food was mediocre and over priced. really average breakfast fare for too much money. -our drinks were never refilled despite many requests. clarkes, im over you and i wont be returning. sassy waiters and crappy food=not.
(1)
Arlene A.
You know how Sam I am didn't like green eggs and ham? Well I'm not a big fan of the brown baked eggs served at Clarke's. Having to peel back the over cooked skin from my omelette was not the most pleasant way to begin my meal, but service is pretty on the spot, so I might come back for a burger.
(2)
John M.
I love that they are 24 hours, but the prices are a bit high. I had the greek gyro omelette and it was super good. I had enough to take home and I'm a big eater. Chocolate Chip pancakes were devoured by my tiny cousin. She loved them. Love it and great service, but just don't like the price considering it's a diner.
(4)
Rachel L.
Can I give it zero stars? No? Okay one then.. but you're getting off easy Clarke's. It was terrible. The service was ridiculous. We were sat and then forgotten about. We had to ask the host for a server and still no one came for a while. I ordered pancakes which were dry but edible but resulted in projectile vomiting a few hours later and moderate nausea for the next two days. Will I go back to Clarke's? No, never. No matter how drunk and hungry I get.. I would rather make the trip to Diner Grill on Irving Park. Super Slinga'!!
(1)
Claire M.
Haha. Not surprised to read most of these reviews. HOWEVER... I used to live like, less than a block from this place (in the building above Walgreens back when it was actually apartments) and tended to congregate way more than is healthy at Clarke's. The service is pretty hit or miss. I've never had a horrible experience there because I never expected much and I was with friends most of the time anyway and didn't care how long it took to get my food. I love the chocolate chip pancakes and uh, what is it... the cheesy chicken? It's served on an english muffin. Quite tasty. What's with the other room they added though? I moved to Los Angeles right around the time when that thing came to fruition, not really sure what it's about... Oh and I remember my friends being there one night when Rob Zombie was there. Apparently he liked it so much that he came back the next night and stayed for hours. Or so they say... I was back in the old 'hood last May and couldn't believe how much it changed in the 3 years since I left. Good to see Clarke's was still there. The Bottom Lounge not so much apparently.
(4)
Damian C.
I have tried quite a few things on the menu, and have never been disappointed with any of my selections. I will give a special shout out to the Cajun Chicken pita sandwich and steak fries... it's great! however... The service is close to awful. If the place is super busy, or if there is hardly anyone in there (like 7PM last night), it seems that our waitress disappears somewhere, never to be seen until it's time for the check. I don't think any waitress I've had has ever come back to ask if everything was ok.
(3)
Adam S.
My fiance loves their food, but this is the worst service in Chicago. It's seems that they feel they have the great location so you'll just have to suffer through the worst service in the city. A few tips: 1) The second you sit down start waving your arms frantically and screaming and you might see a waitress within 10 min. 2) If you ask for diet coke you'll get diet rite. Even if you specifically ask to not get diet rite. Because your waitress doesn't care. 3) Ask the busboys for anything you want, they care. I tend to tip them directly as they deserve it. 4) If you have a special request for your order, keep it to yourself. Telling your waitress will only bring you rejection. Because they don't care. Did I mention that already? 5) Be ready to tell your waitress everything you will want for your entire visit the first time she comes by, it might be the last time you see her. Until she runs by to throw the check down. This is not a review based on one bad experience, I don't do those. In fact this is the first 1 star review I have ever given. I have been here many, many times and it is always terrible service. The food is good but the service is down right insulting. The best advice: Go to a place where they appreciate your business.
(1)
Dan C.
An apparent Chicago mainstay...for some reason. The menu was cute and I appreciated the retro decor and 50's styling. However, the food was average and overpriced. Additionally, table was sticky and the booth I was sitting in had seismic reactions whenever the person sitting behind me moved. Add a dose of slow service, and you get yourself 2 stars. There's better options in this area. Seriously.
(2)
Roz K.
Came here due to a recommendation from a friend and here's my two cents: Food-wise, it's nothing earth shattering. My friend and I ordered sandwiches here and while the sandwiches have pretty good/fresh ingredients, they're missing something that would make them awesome (missing some condiments, anyone?). They make some decent fries (definitely taste like real potatoes and has good consistency) and their chicken noodle soup is pretty cool for the fact they use real pieces of chicken and plenty of carrots (note: broth is pretty sweet). The waitress we had didn't speak good English, but she certainly brought in our food fast... or maybe it was because it was 9 PM on a Saturday and we were sitting next to the kitchen. I guess there's really nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. It's admittedly a huge pain in the backside to look for parking in that area though I suppose the place is worth a try.
(3)
Jessica K.
Out of the Three Clarke's I've been two (Evanston ,Lincoln Park ) this one has the worst service. I don't think any time I've ever been here I've had a good experience with the staff. That aside, food is good. Big big portions worth their price. I like Clarke's because of their "One egg" special. It's Egg (scrambled or fried), toast and potatoes for $2.99. If you like your southern style corn beef hash.. you know, all greesy, unhealthy and oh so good.. they have it here :) In my college days we used to come to Clarkes for birthday dinners. It's open late and they have this AMAZING Charlie Brown brownie Sunday that makes even the biggest chocolate lover cry tears of joy. Oh, and I like their pancakes too. Good pancakes = good diner. For the best service check out the Clarkes in Lincoln Park. Evanston is good too but it's usually packed and takes forever to get seated.
(3)
Mel G.
Overpriced food that tastes bad when you're drunk? No thank you. I've never seen a salad so dripping with Caesar dressing in my life and then you throw cold chicken on top of it? And then don't ask when I literally don't eat a single bite of it. Yeah, that's 10 bucks I won't get back for nothing. Bad food+bad service, I think the only reason to go here is the water pitchers they leave on the table. But thanks, I've got a faucet at home that works just fine.
(1)
Mei J.
You could do much worse at 3am (after a night of drinking), but you could easily do MUCH better at 3pm where there are other options open. This is not the best place for brunch, lunch or even dinner (at those times there are better options open and within walking distance). But as a late night option to help absorb the alcohol- Clarke's hits the spot.
(2)
Val B.
Good God, why didn't I read the reviews before coming here? I last visited this place in 2001, and at that time, I remember it being cozy with good music and all sorts of pie. Now it's a strangely-lit dump with sub par diner food and only one shitty pie (Cherry tonight). Blech. I had a horrible time hearing the people I was with because of the crappy loud music. Definitely won't be back.
(2)
Trinidad F.
After helping some friends move we were starving and checked out Clarke's. As soon as we were seated they asked about drinks. I ordered hot tea. When the waiter came back he brought a pot of hot water and a big wooden box. I'm like "ok"? Opened the box and found tons of tea bags. LOL. Different flavors and such. I thought it was funny. I was freezing and the tea wasn't helping because it got cold pretty quickly. I realized the fan was on too high and was blowing cold air. We asked the waiter if he could turn them off. He was so kind and said "sure". Ok so after laughing at my giant tea box and almost freezing my butt off I decided on what I wanted to eat. I ordered a veggie burger with swiss cheese and veggie chili. Everyone else ordered breakfast...meh. I don't like breakfast food. I get my chili first. I was ok. Very thick and paste-like. tons and tons of beans. Next was my burger. It was pretty sweet. Big and stuffed with veggies as well and fries on the side. Nice. Onions, tomato, lettuce, and extra mustard on a wheat bun. Just veggie burger love. I liked this lil diner. Great place to just talk and eat food at a reasonable price.
(3)
G T.
My first time here. It was early afternoon there were only three tables in the restaurant. Old school fixings in here, tapped up booths, rotting away ceiling tiles. The mentality is like "if it ain't broke don't fix it" I Liked the menu selection. The burger with Swiss grilled onions and mushrooms were delicious and the sweet potato fries were the bomb and a generous portion as well. The Holiday decorations were hanging too low! I am a taller guy who had to duck under them as we walked to our table! My gf likes Malt vinegar with her steak fries. If they don't have it she settles for balsamic or red wine vinegar the waitress claimed they had none of that. I think it was a language issue on our servers part.
(3)
Shakeia T.
I've been going to Clarke's since my undergrad days at Loyola. It was the first all night diner I'd ever been to. Originally, I was entertained with the crowd that goes here late night. You can never can tell who/what you're going to see. The food was always pretty decent considering how late it was. Fast forward about 6 years, I still go Clarke's, but not as often. The service has changed a lot. They now serve liquor, which I thought was gonna be awesome. Well, my friend and I went here and she ordered a Tanqueray & tonic, and the waitress, instead of telling her they were out of tonic, she made the decision on her own to substitute orange juice. My friend was NOT happy. She didn't even touch the drink. Needless to say, we didn't pay it. The service has gotten a bit iffy these days. I still love the music and the food is still pretty good. I will however keep going here because I can count on them being open. :)
(3)
Mr. H.
Clarke's back in late 90s early 2000s was awesome. Punk music, awesome wait staff and cheap food. Great place to go when bottom lounge was there. New management took over, foods inconsistent, waitstaff is cold, I miss my old hangout...
(2)
Aaron S.
Clarke's is one of those places that so many Chicagoans know about that any review one could write would also be found in another review because so many people have been here and I'm certain that my review will likely look like a mixed-up amalgam of several other reviews you've probably already read. That in mind, Clarke's On Belmont is summed up in one word: "Average." I'm only in my mid-twenties and have only lived in Chicago for about 7 years, but Clarke's just keeps reappearing in my memories. The strange part is that the memories are never about Clarke's itself - just about the events that happened there or before/after being there. Clarke's just always happens to be in the right place at the right time, because I've never thought, "I want to go to Clarke's," but somehow I keep ending up there. The decor is an average compilation of every cheesy diner (but this one knows it's a cheesy diner so it pokes fun at itself, which makes it cheesier). The food wants to be tasty "greasy spoon" kind of food, but it never really makes it there. I think of "greasy spoon" as something not classy or clean but it satisfies you better than a four-course fancy-schmancy dinner ever could. This food is just - average. A lot of the time, it feels like they're just not trying. The waitstaff really give off that air. You can sometimes be standing at the "Please wait to be seated" sign for several minutes before someone takes notice and takes you to a seat. It's then a while longer before they'll take your order, and about a 50-50 chance that they'll even get it right. Sometimes even when you're lucky and they get something right, they'll somehow screw it up later. The last time I was there, they forgot the cheese on my date's cheese fries and while they managed to get us both our Diet Cokes, somehow at the refill point, they decided we'd wanted Cherry Cokes, because that's what we were brought. The buns on the burgers really aren't great. A normal restaurant would do SOMETHING to them - toast them, grill them, at the very least, warm them. These tasted like they were freshly grabbed from a not-so-fresh bag o' buns and had burger ingredients slapped on 'em. The fries? Good fries don't feel like they're filled with bland potato-ish mush. That usually happens when they're not cooked properly, or long enough, or made from poor-quality ingredients. I think it's obvious we weren't served "good fries". The price? We shelled out $8 for an appetizer of chicken tenders and what we got were four small chicken strips that tasted like they were microwaved and bought bulk at a very-discount grocery store. It's sad when you can drop about $40 for two people to eat - and you're both hungry again about 20 minutes after leaving. Still, we keep winding up back here. Drunken after a night of clubbing. Going on a first date. Randomly stopping for a meal after shopping The Alley. Celebrating an anniversary. Clarke's happens to be at the right place at the right time, and while it never deserves to be remembered for its food or service or prices or decor - it still will wind up in your memories. But if you try to think about it, you'll probably come up with that same one word: "Average."
(2)
Morenike K.
Do I really need to repeat all the bad things that were said before me?
(1)
Amy H.
This food is only edible if you're drunk. The service is horrible. The people watching is excellent. That's all that I have to say about Clarkes.
(2)
Chris N.
I won't lie. I'm a fan. In high school this WAS THE PLACE. Now since they redid the "bar" side or whatever this place kind of sucks. The wait staff have all turned from cool hipster chicks to nasty weird people. You'll usually wait for awhile and they raised the prices a bunch despite not making the food any better or the service. That being said there are a few things here that are THE BOMB. Sweet Potato Fries. Frikkin good. It's late at night and you want some sweet potato fries, this is the place to be. The Baked Apple. This thing is ridiculous. I'm not making this up it's basically a huge baked apple pancake type creation with huge chunks of cinnamon apple goodness that is the size of a small tire (well thinner but that big around) and it's SO FRIGGIN good. You'll have to wait awhile to get it but it's worth the wait (they even tell you in the menu it take like 30 minutes to make or something). So don't discount this place just yet. +1 on the people watching. Get a seat in a booth by the windows by the front door. You see the BEST stuff there late at night.
(3)
Neil O.
I really want to like Clarke's on Belmont. I really do. I love a good diner and the whole diner experience. Since it's very close to my house, I have dined here often. I actually waited to write this review, hoping any of the poorer experiences were simply on accident. Not so much. The food is adequate and the portions are big. Notice I said adequate. Nothing special. I'd rather smaller portions and better tasting food. The service is slightly less than adequate, as on multiple occasions I have been seated and then waited more than 10 minutes before anyone even comes over to ask if we want water. The prices are decent, but when the service and food is sub-par, what's the point? Especially when there are far tastier options (i.e. Ann Sather) right down the street. So in conclusion, one star for food portions, one star for the fact that they're open late-late-late, so if you've been out drinking and want to close out the evening with food, Clarke's on Belmont is always open.
(2)
fox a.
This horrible place gave me the worst food poisoning of my life. Actually, the ONLY food poisoning of my life. When I called and spoke to the manager she didn't seem surprised. "Yeah, the FDA recalled the veggie burgers, but said they were OK on Thursday, so we put them back." WTF. ever.
(1)
Mandy S.
Fitness Omelette. Nuf said. I want one right now. I'm a heath nut, what can I say?? The service can be a bit lame, but more often than not, it's ok. Overall, I dig it!
(4)
Kmberly B.
There's something to be said about a place that makes a killer tuna melt AND has sweet potato fries. =) The food is good, but at 3am it's seems brilliant! I love that Clarke's is open 24 hours and is conveniently located just West of boys town which was close enough for me to walk to. There is a front restaurant room and a side bar/restaurant room. It's full service on either side, but the service is not good. For some reason empty or slow it seems to always take forever, but I always go back.
(3)
Beth P.
Clarke's for late-night hunger pain removal. Clarke's for skillet breakfasts. Clarke's for omelette breakfasts. Clarke's for a small, scary bathroom with a broken lock. Clarke's for drunken somethings, because you're desperate to not go home yet. Clarke's for nothing else.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Peter W.
I have been to Clarke's before and it has been ok, but this particular time was horrendous. No problems getting a table. The start of the ordeal was the waiter who finally came to the table after ten minutes. Since I has plenty of time to look over the menu ordering was also not a problem. The quality of the food was like my 9 year old niece was in the kitchen cooking. Over cooked sweet potato fries but somehow they were cold. The grilled sandwich was burnt on the outside but tasty on the inside. Like a marshmallow that catches fire on your stick while you try and toast it over a log fire. I would have preferred the marshmallow over the sandwich. At no point did the waiter come over to ask how things were and I had to track the manager down to ask for a check. I won't be going back.
(1)Shirese L.
I really liked this place. I was famished when I arrived around noon on a very hot day. At that point I had eaten no breakfast and had walked 5 1/2 miles. I ordered the turkey burger and sweet potato fries. It was good (not toe curling). The burger could've used a little more seasoning other than salt, and the sweet potatoes could have had a bit more wow factor. They were simply fried. So, the food was more of a three star than four star. What won me over was the huge portion sizes (took other half home for dinner) and the nice waitress.
(4)Anjee J.
Sorry, but this place really is shitty. I never ate here again after I had their idea of a "pizza". Yuck. You can get better, and cheaper, diner food from a random hole in the wall.
(1)Amanda S.
you know those establishments that serve food that just tastes better when you're drunk? this is one of those places. i've been going to clarke's for over six years now, and each time i go, i'm not disappointed, but i'm not blown away, either. more than anything, it really just reminds me of being in high school and thinking i was TCFS while i crunched on my nachos and downed my milkshake and my friends smoked cigarettes. i went there today for brunch and yeah..still the same, consistent a-ok food and service. go late at night when you're tipsy. the food will miraculously taste better and you won't care as much about it being overpriced when you're watching your friends act a fool.
(3)Colleen S.
OK so it's a diner. So just lower your standards right ok? It'll help with the anger. My reasoning behind my 3 stars is the quality of the food and the service. Ok given that it's a diner, the service is allowed to suck a little. But the service here sucks more than it should. I get the feeling whoever runs the staff doesn't make the experience of working there very pleasent. They all seem to hate it there. I've never left this place saying wow that was really good diner food. And diner food can somtimes be the best food around! This place fails. I've had (in no particular order): wet bread, cold coffee, dirty filty water glass with shit floating in it, bugs in my lettuce, burnt fries. I decided along time agoto never go back to this place but for some reason, people I know like this place and want to "meet up" there and so I get roped into eating here all over again.
(3)Drew S.
It's a 24 hour hour diner that can also serve beer until 4 I think. That's really all you need to know- you'll get your guilty pleasure greasy food here any time of day without dropping a huge chunk of change and you'll like it. The menu had a kind of cutesy 50's theme going which gives the place some character. It seems to be the future battleground of guys with giant belt buckles and ironic facial hair and dudes in baseball caps and hollister shirts. Several older local drunks will mostly get caught up in the crossfire.
(3)Nicole C.
So once I ate at Clarke's, within 10 minutes of leaving, I kind of felt like my insides wanted to be all over the sidewalk. If it wasn't for that Starbuck's on the corner, they would have been. Oh the horror. I wanted to love this place... but uh... Food poisoning anyone? Sorry Starbucks, I never liked you anyway, but I do kind of feel for whatever sorry worker had to clean up the mess.
(1)Mz. M.
Don't make the mistake of dining at Clarke's during a shift change! My roommate and I went there a few weeks ago after the L.A.T.E ride. It was about 6:30 AM and the place was empty. "SWEET," I thought. I couldn't have been more wrong. We waited for half an hour for eggs, toast, and hashbrowns while the servers and cooks chatted and counted their tips. Needless to say, when the food came out I was livid! Plus, it was cold! I barked for the check while the waiter apologized. They had the audacity to charge me. I left no tip and as I walked out, the waiter came after me with the pancakes!?!?!?! WTF!That was the worst service I've ever received at Clarkes, The place was also filthy! I will never go back there.
(1)Sharlene K.
I hate this place. Having attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I've been here many more times than I wish I have been dragged. At any given hour or day, someone from my school is eating there tragically enough. This diner is in Boystown and they let their stuff get away with the worst homophobic insults and derogatory treatment to their patrons. I've seen some foul stuff go on that's just made me get up and leave without paying. For instance, the bartender at the bar side of the joint was drunkenly getting on with some other patrons, and decides it'd be great to put on some Indigo Girls and talk loudly about d*kyes and specifically the girls in the bar at the time. When the girls leave as a result of the harassment, the bartender and his friends cheered and he actually moons the girls. Yeah, great idea guys. Did you look around the neighborhood you're in? Then you have the sub-par food. The stale steak fries, and overpriced everything. I have forgone food many a night when school groups have decided to meet here than support this institution.
(1)bridget l.
Oh clarkes, thank you for always being open for me to barely remember ordering that spinach and artichoke dip, as me and 5 other 1/2 in the bag girls stop in after the bar closes. Thank you also for having multiple bathrooms.
(4)Mintie J.
You know what... I've had it with this place. Let me give you a little bit of background. I'm a white girl, gainfully employed, living in the neighborhood. I like to "act locally", which means, I patronize my local establishments hoping it will somehow change the world. Clarke's was one of these spots... until tonite. Clarke's was always a joke. Horrible service, mediocre prices, crappy food... but we're drunk when we go there, right? Not necessarily. During a recent spat of "salad days" Clarke's was a standard for me. I know the service was frickin horrible, but the prices were cheap, and I could wrap the food up for lunch tomorrow. And seriously, sometimes the experience was unforgivable... Tonite I experienced the worst possible of scenarios... and it has driven me away. I walked in after a night at Berlin [as I'm sure many drunken patrons do]. Sat down with my white female roommate and perused the menu. I noticed, at the table next to us was a guy I recognized from the neighborhood... Black. Gay. Congenial, but I didn't personally know him. He had been seated before us. I don't know how long before us, but before us nonetheless. Our waitress [who has effed up our orders on several occasions] took our order [and effed it up]. We were served and we ate. After we were looking for the waitress to get our check, I looked over and realized the two BLACK, GAY, very quiet guys who were sitting next to us had not been served yet. I asked them "have you even been waited on yet?" and they replied "no"... after a bit of discussion, they insisted on staying and said "we just want a couple tacos". I informed our waitress that in addition to the service being horrible, and the food being crummy, I would not stand for racism, and would not be returning to their restaurant. I used to claim that they had the best "ranch" dressing in town... but at this point I don't care. I boycotted the Belmont/Clark Dunkin Donuts for not allowing punks to go there, back when punks were punks... and haven't darkened the door of that place in 21 years... I can hold as long a moratorium on Clarke's. So, I implore you... don't go to Clarke's on Belmont. The service is horrible.. food is mediocre and they are racist!!
(1)Jef B.
I hate to give this less than 2 stars because it's often the only convenient 24 hour place open to get something to eat. Yes the service sucks and the food is mediocre by any standard. But, they're open when many other restaurants are not. And they have to deal with crazy street people and many other weirdos that other restaurants would bounce out the door if they could. The lack of 24 hour eateries in Chicago is one of the blase things about this city. My Indian friends from Bombay are always amazed at how early stores and restaurants shut down in Chicago. In Bombay they generally stay open as long as there are customers. You would think there would be more available for the club crowd, but probably Lord Daley has enacted ordinances that make staying open late difficult.
(2)Lette G.
This place makes great food. Waitstaff is kinda slow so be patient. It is worth the wait.
(4)Rodge R.
It was our first night in Chicago. We took the red line, and cabs to various bars; Celtic Crossings, Estelles, Dannys, and The Empty Bottle. At the end of a long and great first night, these boys needed to eat. Enter Clarke's. Another cool thing about Chicago is that their late night diners also have a full bar. Why not have another PBR with your late night snack, right? I'm a late night breakfast person so I ordered scrambled eggs with corned beef hash. D. ordered pancakes and Jay had some sort of potato skins with cheese and chives. We also shared an basket of buffalo wings. My order: Good. Nothing to scream about. The corned beef hash was a little burnt on the edges which gave it this really awesome homemade taste. The scrambled eggs were right between the point of being runny and hard...which means they were perfect. D.'s pancakes: Bleh. He said they were ai'ight. Pancakes schmancakes. Jay's potato cheese things: He said they blowed. Our buffalo wangs: Perfect. I'm a fan of baked buffalo/hot wings with a little bit of batter smothered with sauce. In hindsight these were some of the better wings I had during my visit. And yes, they were better than the wings over at BW3 in my opinion. Maybe we just had good diner karma, but the service was attentive and good for a late night diner. I'd probably keep this mind the next time I'm out late in Chicago. The LOWDOWN Chicagoland Style! Minus 1 and a half stars for the mediocre potato cheese things. Minus 1 star for half-way decent pancakes. Plus 1 star for the delicious corned beef hash. Plus 1 and a half stars for the surprisingly good buffalo wings. (2.5 stars)
(3)Anna E.
I'm afraid my first experience at Clarke's was quite disappointing. I went early enough in the day to warrant ordering eggs, something that is very difficult to do badly. I ordered the Mushroom omlette with a side of crispy bacon. The omlette was almost $10, so I was expecting a really great omlette. Instead, what I got was a brownish, rubbery, and very un-egglike mound with overcooked mushrooms. I ate about four bites and gave up. The swiss cheese was all relegated to the very middle, so most of the omlette was a mixture of overcooked eggs and soggy mushrooms. The bacon, on the other hand, was decent bacon- four slices of pretty crispy bacon, nothing extraordinary, but not bad either... until I received the bill and realized that each individual slice of bacon had cost more than a dollar apiece. I understand that there is really incredible bacon out there that may warrant that price. This bacon was not it. I do have to say that the service was very good- friendly and attentive, hence two stars instead of one. I guess I would try dinner there in the future- who knows, maybe it was an off day, and I'm always willing to give places a second chance.
(2)tokill a.
Adequate for a greasy breakfast after a night of Drinking. That said, I wouldn't go back unless I was starving/staggering from the night before as I was...
(2)Lindsay N.
Decentish food... But that damn bar is attached directly onto the resutarant and there's always some jackass, or jackasses, standing in the door way smoking. And I'm sorry, but most look homeless. Disguesting. I'm pretty sure that breaks a few health codes.
(1)Meow P.
I used to go to this place ALL the time when I was in high school and home from college during the summer. Heck, being a minor, it was the only 24-hour place I could hang out at with my friends after a day of punking it up on the north side. I used to pretend that I was a regular and that I really liked the place, but let's face, the food isn't that great. Seriously, it kind of sucks sometimes. I usually just stuck to breakfast food or a plain ol' cheeseburger because everything else on the menu has the tendency to really blow. There are a couple of things that Clarke's does excel at: chocolate chip pancakes and milkshakes. Let's start with the cc pancakes. To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure if the actual pancakes are really that good because they're disguised by 3/4 of a bag of Nestle chocolate chips gradually melting atop the cakes in a pool of pads of whipped butter and whipped cream---WAY satisfying after a sweaty night at the Fireside Bowl. The shakes are perfect diner-quality milkshakes--right down to the whipped cream and a cherry. Pair a plate of Clarke's cc pancakes along with a chocolate shake and you'll be set for the weekend. Some things that blow at Clarke's: the beer chili. This was a special once when I was there. Gross. It was more like beer soup. I'd like to know what stoners were in the back kitchen that passed around the j and came up with this soup du jour. Maybe they didn't even make it. I seriously think that some hungover hippi in the back hurled up a night's worth of Old Styles and a chili dog from Flash Taco and served it as the special. Also, since I've grown up a little, I've realized how phony-boloney all the 'hipsters' in Clarke's really are. That's right, cool-looking waitress, I'm talking to YOU. I don't care IF you have cool glasses frames! I can tell that you don't have any lenses in them! Who are YOU kidding?
(2)Adrian W.
The food was overly greasy and the wait staff is hit n miss, but it's typically about who else is in the booth with you that makes Clarke's more enjoyable than what it really is. Yes they allow to stay until it gets busy. Yes it is a nice place to people watch. Randomly, an unknown, purple lipped Barack Obama asked my table for a Marlboro Red and I gave him mine. Or a man that looks 99.9% of Mr Obama. Come here with a good booth crowd and it'll be four stars. Come here with a friend to east some poor quality food and it'll be bordering on one star. Come here to people watch, well, five stars.
(3)Mike S.
This place is just OK overall. No complaints about the food (it's hard to mess up pancakes and waffles) but as others have noticed the service is... glacial. Also, be warned that the lock in the men's bathroom is broken. It looks like part of the door was eaten by a small animal so there's no way to secure it. It's one of those with a urinal and a toilet and the toilet is pretty far away from the door so that can be problematic. If forced to use the toilet, probably best to talk to yourself constantly in a loud voice or cough often so nobody comes in.
(3)alicia g.
The service is always terrible, the wait is always unnecessarily long, and the food has made a major decline since 2001 when I would eat there every weekend after going to shows at the old Bottom Lounge (R.I.P.) The last time I went there (hungover) I ordered the pancakes and they were so cold and disgusting I actually barfed. Sorry to paint such a vulgar picture, but this place is such a bummer. I miss the old Clarke's.
(1)Rocky B.
It was a toss up between one and two stars for Clarkes but in the end I gave it two...the second one being for the people watching. This is definitley the place to come to for some good people watching...especially on Halloween. Service can be slow and sometimes almost non existent. Food...eh, I've had much better diner food. Burgers aren't all that great, the BLT's are just okay...fries are pretty tasty tho. All and all there are quite a few other diners in the area that I would rather give my business to and will. Skip it.
(1)Ann Y.
This was a review I wrote on another site for here in 2007. I have not been back since: I went here on a Wed. with a group of friends. My husband and I showed up a few minutes late, and waited 45 minutes before a server named Bria or Brianne appeared, and that was only after asking for one. She came to our table and just had a horrible attitude. We asked if she could do a seperate check. She stated that she could not if we were at the same table because she would loose money because she would get a smaller tip. Last time I checked, tips are not something to be expected but earned. I really didn't understand this as to my knowledge they don't have any group tip policy here, and we all were going to be charged for our meals. I actually tip more when there I with a smaller group. When she went to take my husbands order, she decided to go off again about how she couldn't do seperate checks for about 10 minutes, even though we were fine with it. My husband kindly asked her to stop, she then said my husband was being rude and told him to leave. We didn't leave because I had ordered food. After about 40 minutes we didn't think the food was going to arrive, so we were about to leave, and then the food arived- totally wrong order, and totally cold food. My soup came with my sandwhich instead of before. This is not the first time we have had bad service or messed up orders with no appologies There are so many other restaraunts in the area worthy of my business. They really need to clean up there act. This was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. The Clarke's in Evanston is actually ok, so this is not reflective of them.
(1)Angelo P.
I'd much rather go to a run down greasy spoon diner...the food is typically much better at those places.
(2)Meg Z.
Most of my love for Clarkes comes from going there after shows or at 3am in high school; so either while underage, drunk, or both. Those are really the only ways that Clarke's could be considered good, but as far as 24-hour options, its not the worst! The food is just standard diner fare, no better or worse than most places. The booths are big enough to fit five of your other drunk friends, which is what makes this place fun. Plus, the people-watching here cannot be beat. The waitstaff isn't particularly attentive or helpful, but the busboys are so your water/coffee/soda never goes empty.
(3)Michelle S.
Whoah people are rough on this place. C'mon now....24-hour diner when all you need is substance to stop your head from spinning so you can fall somewhat flat into a drool-filled drunk coma somewhere near your actual bed. It ain't that bad. The vegetarian options are ok, and they are especially ok when it is 3am and your fridge got nothin but some rotted oj and shriveled up ice-cubes in the freezer. I'm not sure if this is a "go-to" place for a regular meal, but I think it is PUrrFect for the wee hours. They have an enormous menu that proves to be difficult to navigate in drunken states, but they will bring ya something if you just say, "egg". The ambiance and decor are like a run-down Denny's off a rural highway. Ahhh...a 24-hour diner in Chicago is a BeaUtiFUL thing.
(3)Michelle L.
I was here on a Sunday (2nd visit) for breakfast with some friends and our breakfast took a total of 2 hours?!? We were quickly seated in the back of the restaurant and given water by our server...and from that point forward, our server was pretty much non-existent. I had to flag her down for our check 30 minutes after they cleared our table. There was a line of people waited to be seated. The food is decent and typical diner prices and portions. Not my first stop for Sunday brunch....
(3)Donna S.
delicious fresh squeezed oj, and everytime i go i try to make myself order something different, but i cant...the big healthy omlett is to die for..they use a great combo of veggies. the also have REAL english muffins! love this place.
(5)Kevin H.
High prices and mediocre food. Screwing up the order and check wrong was just par for the course.
(1)Rich T.
Food wasn't great, service was lacking and the soundsystem was BLASTING at noon for saturday brunch. Might appeal to me if I was in Undergrad again, but this place just didn't float my boat...nor any one's in my party.
(2)Nick H.
There are three reasons this is not a one-star diner. Number one, the first time I ever went, Rob Zombie was there. Number two, the baked German apple pancake is delicious. Number three, If you go in at about 1:30am, you get a front row seat to the post-last call mayhem that ensues. Complaints about service are warranted on some occasions. They do have good servers here. They are rare but not extinct. This place is almost always busy, so I guess they have an excuse for being slow with things. Then again, I have an excuse for not tipping appropriately. I should also probably mention that I found a finger nail in my baked German. I guess it was their way of telling me my business was no longer appreciated.
(2)Dallas F.
As far as diners go, Clark's is mediocre. I have had good experiences and bad experiences. My most recent was bad however. My friend and I ordered cheese fries and pink lemondades. For some reason the wait for our drinks was about ten minutes, but we were feeling exceptionally patient and waited for our food. That took an additional 25 minutes...for french fries. I don't know maybe they were picking the potatoes from the field, but that was a long time to wait. Other than that my experiences here have been "ok".
(3)Zach T.
Nothing like being one of 138... Anyway, I had the bacon cheeseburger. It was a bit light on the meat, but it did the job. The service is attentive at dinnertime, and the waitress looked like an Irish Nicole Richie. All told, burger (with fries) plus drink, tax, and tip ran me $11.
(3)Kristina S.
No thank you Clarke's. I'll find a ride to the GayHop, thank you very much. I patronize Berlin on a monthly basis and could never understand why everyone was driving all the way to IHOP/GayHop on Halsted/Broadway instead of just walking under the L tracks to Clarke's. Now I know why. A friend and I patronized Clarke's after Prince Night at Berlin back in October. We were seated and then ignored for roughly 20 minutes. The place was empty so there was no excuse there. Our food arrived 30 minutes after that, and then our waiter went MIA. The food was cold and substandard. How hard must you work to screw up scrambled eggs? Seriously? After we finished our meal our waiter was once again MIA and we had to hunt him down to ask for the check. Granted, GayHop can be a hot mess of drunken fools at 4 am, but at least the food is good and hot and doesn't take an hour to get to the table.
(1)mike f.
im givin it four stars all you people that rated it less than 3 stars i dont think you know what the hell your talking about. I went in there before goin out with a friend for the 1st time and the food was pretty good i thought the prices were average for the area. Try the place out once and if u dont liek it dont go back but i have a feeling u will be back
(4)Jared L.
The potatoes were reheated. The bacon was left under the heat lamps. And they forgot the cheese on my eggs. The milkshake was dece.
(2)Cris J.
There isn't much I can say about Clarke's that hasn't already been said. But I can recount the expierence that to this day is the reason I refuse to return. A year or two ago I had chosen to make some horrible decisions (see my review of Berlin) going to Clarke's being the climax of said night. I was hungry but not in the mood for their faux mom and pop B.S., so I opted for a fruit salad. Being allergic to grapefruit of course I inquired as to wether or not grapefruit would be present in said salad. The waiter (who was a douche anyway) looked confused (either he was trying to remember what was in the can that they scooped the fruit salad out of or he was trying to remember if he told his trick 1AM or 2AM) and finally blurted no, no grapefruit. He didn't seem to sure so I asked if he was, sure that is. Of course this got his bitchiness to alarming levels and he informed that AGAIN yes there is no grapefruit in the fruit salad. I'm sure you can see where this is going. Yet some how the grapefruit ended up near the bottom of the bowl and I ate one. Thanks Clarke's!!!
(1)Dave S.
My blood pressure rarely rises when i dine out. It is very rare that i have such a bad experience that I am going to write a place off forever. I am very close to writing this place off forever after my dinner last night. 1) We waited 14 minutes without being acknowledged by anyone. I understand that the place was busy and I expected the wait to be a little longer. At least acknowledge us for God's sake. 2) I ordered coffee and once again I waited way too long for it. I was seriously thinking about going in back and pouring my own. 3) Lara ordered the honey mustard chicken sandwich. What she received was a plain old chicken sandwich 4) We had a coupon for up to $6 dollars off. I go to give her the coupon and she tells me to come back tomorrow? WHAT? HUH? I don't want to come back tomorrow. Now I don't want to come back ever again. I guess she could not use our coupon because there was no manager there?
(1)Nick F.
Have always been a fan of clarke's for breakfast. Fast and friendly service! Love the chocolate chip pancakes!
(5)Emily C.
Good because it is open late, the menu selection leaves a little to be desired - but they do have vegetarian late night options so you can't fault them for the long waits to get a table - or can you. You can when the waitstaff is unfriendly, which is seldom. Plus if you sit near the window you get a good view of the TV Prostitute and hear what she's yelling about.
(4)Leigh Ann J.
Every time I waited for the train to my boyfriends place I would look over and see the fabulous old fashioned sign hanging from Clarke's restaurant and think, "Oh my, it looks like a little diner from the '40s that Rita Hayworth or Frank Sinatra might eat at. I so wanna go!" So one night me and my boyfriend went here for a late night dinner. Let me tell you, it was so good. The menu is cutesy with old black and white pictures and they have a huge selection. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and milkshake and it was super yummy. The restaurant was clean and our waitress was really friendly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Kristin C.
First things first, I love Clarke's food. They do comfort food really well and I have never met a grilled cheese or omelet here that I did not like. Though not my favorite location, this spot on Belmont does serve up some deeee-licious grub (hence those three stars up there). The service here is pretty bad. Last time I went, our waiter sat in a booth the whole time and stared into space at god-knows-what for god-knows-how long. He seemed less than enthused to fetch my chicken fingers and root beer float. When I asked for honey mustard, I think someone in the kitchen literally mixed together some mustard and honey in a dish. It was beat-nasty. As for the bathroom here, don't get me started. It rivals The Hoagie Hut as one of the worst restrooms in the city. I would rather pee in the alley than in that filthy toilet bowl. EW!
(3)Mary C.
I had some time one morning before class to have a sit down breakfast. I chose Clarke's due to it's location and convenience. When I walked in the place was practically empty. The food was good, but it took forever for them to bring it out and I thought I could have made it better at home! I was very disappointed, and the meal ended up costing me like $7 when all I really got was a couple of eggs and some toast.
(2)Lauren B.
If you're interested in sub-par food, no management or security on duty late night, homeless people coming in and asking for food and even having your food/table spit on by one of them, eat at Clarke's. We literally had a man come up to our table, ask for a fry and then after hearing "no" spit on our food. The tables around us were appalled, but the waitstaff just handed us our bill. We had to pay for food we couldn't even eat! I have even contacted Clarke's about this and have still not received a refund. I will NEVER step foot in this place again!
(1)Brandon S.
I wanted it to be better, but even drunk off my ass, I could tell this place wasn't quite cutting it. The food was quite forgettable (especially the hashbrowns, which is tragic because I love hash browns) and the ambiance was kind of sketchy. I mean, at 3 am, what was I expecting, right? But for a place that's open 24 hours a day, I would hope that means they've got something good 24 hours a day. But if drunken, ever-so-easy-to-please Brandon isn't appeased, that's a bit of a let down.
(2)Shawn J.
I pretty much go here for after hours food and coffee. All though I think they have a decent breakfast as I have been a few times sober. Usually a happening place at night and can sometimes end up in a short wait for a table. Food is decent and the staff is young and friendly.
(3)Jabber W.
My goodness, you should find somewhere else to eat! Eating at Clarkes starts with one of two ways: 1: You are so drunk, that not eating would result in death. 2: Your friend (a typical Belmont resident drags you in) I can't imagine eating here intoxicated. Having off duty police officers (since when do diners need bouncers??) glare at me for entire meal isn't my cup of tea. The best part of the evening was when the waiter, presented us a bill with an automatic 20% mandatory tip added. This was the same waiter who: 1: didn't fill our water glasses 2: forgot to bring us coffee 3: got our order wrong. 4: was rushing people out to fill more seats. 5: served us dirty silverware Hey kids, I've worked in food service for a long time. Tips are for good service, which you won't find here.
(1)Cathy H.
In a word: ick. Here's my exhaustive list of pros about this place: It's close by and it's open 24 hours. The end. And here's my exhaustive list of cons: the food is bad, all bad. The sweet potato fries are bad. The steak is okay, but mostly bad. The pancakes are okay, but have nothing on Orange, Melrose, the Original Pancake House, and numerous other places (pretty much, everywhere else). The prices are okay, but not good. The service is slow (they once seated me behind a plant--A PLANT!--and then forgot about me. I had to flag them down, chase them down, follow them around, etc., JUST TO PAY). The interior is nothing to write home about (unless, I guess, I want to write home and say that the interior is boring and outdated). Oh, I guess it's clean. That's a plus, right? Save yourself the heartache, walk a few blocks, burn some calories in the process, and earn yourself a delicious, filling, well-serviced, open-24-hours meal at the Melrose on Broadway.
(2)Christiana S.
I hate this place. Passionately. The service is awful, the food is substandard, the clientele is obnoxious. Who cares if it's open 24 hours? Still, I'd let my friends drag me in here every so often, until my (brand-spanking-new-just-bought-it-that-day reasonably expensive Kenneth Cole) purse was stolen while I was sitting in one of the window booths. I had set it down on the ledge in the window next to me, and since this place has a policy of seating homeless people (which, I'm sorry to say, is just gross), a fellow 'patron' reached over and grabbed it without me noticing, and walked out. When I told the manager that my purse had been stolen, he was all like, "Yeah, I thought it was weird that that guy left in such a huge hurry. Oh well..... wouldn't be the first time that's happened here." Seriously. And to make matters worse, my digital camera had been in my purse. While I have to take some of the responsibility for what happened (placing my purse in plain view wasn't such a great idea), I'd like to note that I have lived in this city for my ENTIRE life and this was the first time that anything like this had happened to me. For as gentrified as this area is, it's still not very safe. Take my advice and avoid at all costs.
(1)Annie S.
Good diner food.... a HUGE menu so almost everyone will be able to find something they like. I haven't been to Clarke's for a long time but that's because I don't live close to one. I like the fries and have HUGE portions. I really don't like their breakfast potatoes, not like hash browns =(
(3)Kate W.
This place is open 24 hours, that should tell you from the get go that there will be young, drunk people there. That being said, the food's not nearly as bad as one would expect from a 24 hours joint that caters to drunk coeds. Sandwiches are usually good, as are any breakfast foods (they're hard to mess up) but I wouldn't really eat much else there. The servers are nice if you're nice to them, but not exceptionally fast. But when you fries at 2am, Clarke's is the place to go!
(4)Agnes P.
Came here on a whim one day. Very dingy and the server looked like he wanted nothing to do with you. OK prices with a pretty good portion of food. Nothing special about it. This place needs a scrub down and teach the waiters some common courtesy.
(2)Jen A.
The pancakes are fabulous. As is their corned beef hash. The waffles are pretty amazing, too. What can I say? I'm a breakfast food junkie. I couldn't care less that this place is open for 24 hours, or that they serve booze, or what sort of people come in...the breakfast is all that matters. And if I can get yummy pancakes at any hour of the night? Well, that's just happy. Clarke's also has sweet potato fries. Heaven!
(4)shawny w.
I can't tell you how horrible Clarkes on belmont is. Actually I can. First off lets start off with the roaches. Yes roaches. Me and my friends went there one night sitting there kinda drunk when two roaches went running past my friends head. She was too drunk to notice but me and my other friend were so grossed out we cancelled our orders and refused to touch anything. We told the staff about it but they thought we were trying to get out of paying the bill! Oh the staff. They can be the worst people ever. They obviously hate working there and it shows. They are slow, do not take the orders correctly and one time this waitress tried to stiff us on change. We had gone there one night after a party so everyone was pretty drunk but not that drunk to notice our waitress didnt bring us any change after paid our bill. (which was like a 20 since everyone else paid with cards) When we noticed she didnt bring us our change we tried to get her attention but she ignored us! She even stood back at the kitchen pointing at us and laughing. I finally got up and demanded the money back, she acted all surprised and thought it was the tip. Even though she saw her tip on the table. She had to have been pissed when she ended up with like a dollar after that. One morning I ended up at clarkes because my friend from out of town was leaving that day and wanted breakfast at like 6 and it was the only place open. Since I wasnt drunk I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad because it was sunday morning and empty. But clarkes proved me wrong again. The staff got our orders wrong, some of the food was cold and the staff was mostly on their phones or talking to each other. A group of people before us demanded their money back b/c the food they order to go was prepared wrong and cold.. and there were only like 10 people in the whole diner. The food is not good at all. They act like they don't know what seasoning is. It's ok to use salt and pepper in your food you know. I can go on and on about how much this place sucks. The only good thing about this place is watching the drunktards come in and out on the weekends other than that, I much prefer giving my money to other diners or heck Ihop.
(1)Kim W.
it goes to show that a prime and convenient location will always excuse awful service and awful food.
(2)Lindsay S.
I met my boyfriend one night at Clarke's after work.. the location is great bc it is located so close to the L.... that's the only great thing. It was not busy and there was plenty of seating. After we sat down, NO one helped us, and we had our menus down and were making it pretty obvious that after fifteen minutes we would like to order... but the waiter just kept walking past us, not walking around because he was busy but walking to go chat with the bus boy and other staff. It is just bad service not to say at least something and it makes me as the patron feel awkward... When he decided to come to take out order he was nice enough, but that couldn't save our experience especially after the food came... I got a bloody mary and the mexicana burger... the drink was whatever and the burger was disgusting and probably from a freezer. After the cook de-thawed the meat, they slapped on cheese and jalapenos and let it sit under the heat lamp for a while bc the cheese was hard again. The food was awful, the service was bad, and I will not go back there.
(1)Sara B.
I would love to write a full review of this place as I have eaten here a few times. However, the memory of the sour milk received (on more then one visit) and whatever that is they try and pass off as a "pizza" makes my stomach flip several times so this is all you get.
(1)Betsy J.
The main reason I give it 4 instead of 3 stars is because they serve sweet potatoes fries, and they're quite good. I like this place a lot because I've never had to wait for a table (but I've seldom gone for brunch, I usually go for dinner) and I love that I can get an omelet, pancakes, and fries (which I change out for the sweet potato ones of course) in the same meal so I don't have to choose between getting a pancake meal or an omelet meal. Sometimes the service is slow, it seems a little over priced, and none of the food I've tried is phenomenal- but it's a great place to sit and relax and chat it up with some good diner food.
(4)Patty K.
If you recognize Clarke's for what it is--a diner with cheap food--you will not be disappointed. Coming in here expecting first-class service is going to leave you disappointed. But who cares when you can get breakfast at anytime of the day/night? The food is always great. You get tons of it and you can really get anything that you want. They also serve Cheesecake Factory cheesecake and who doesn't love that? The eggs are delicious which is the true mark of a great diner. Silver-dollar pancakes are also great. If you want something a little less greasy go for the caesar salad! Great fun place to come for breakfast in the morning or late at night!
(4)Bill M.
This cafe has fairly standard fare, but it is open all the time so it is perfect if you are recovering from a round of carousing or tattooing. Check out the menu selections including omelets, pancakes, waffles and sandwiches. Look for the sign with the wholesome lady depicted on it.
(3)Melissa R.
Clarke's. Oh, Clarke's. By no means are you exceptional but when I've had a bit too much to drink, you're my best friend in the whole world. It's nearly impossible for me to say no to a 24-hour diner. They serve your run-of-the-mill stuff, nothing to completely rock your world but it gets the job done. I usually stick to the same few things each time and that usually hits the spot.
(3)A W.
Back in the day when Bottom Lounge was still across the street, I would come over here and enjoy a sandwich, soup, salad, whatever. Sometimes dessert. It isn't that Clarke's is really great or anything, but it has a lot of memories, which might be what Clarke's is all about. I miss it!
(3)S C.
Clarke's is okay. The main reason to come to Clarke's is for the late-night peoplewatching; it's a generous mix of refugees from the gay bars, high-school sorta-punks who got tired of hanging out in front of Dunkin' Donuts, and other miscellaneous people trying to prevent a hangover. The food is... not-great. The burgers are decent, i suppose, but not necessarily worth $8, the fries are just typical steak-fries, and the northshore potatoes CAN be good, but often there's one or two overcooked pieces in them that make you think you'll break a tooth. However: Clarke's doesn't have meatloaf, and I am suspicious of any diner that doesn't serve meatloaf. That's simply un-American.
(2)Chris A.
I have advice for those considering Clarke's.... If you are looking at it to save a few bucks.... DOWNGRADE to Mcdonalds because the scary food you will get there is actually better than this garbage. If you can afford to pay just a little bit more, try Ann Sather or Nookies. This place is rotten to the core. Tepid, rude service and food that is simply not good. Case in point, I decided to order some nachos for a "junk food" fix. Those 5.99 nachos were nearly identical to taco bells... it even had the SAME revolting cheese sauce on it. Do you see why I mention fast food above? Would you normally pay 6 bucks for a tray of fast food nachos? I'd rather spend my money on something of higher caliber. Oh, and their 3.99 Caesar salad? watery lettuce, a "dash" of parmeson, and some dressing on the side... they spare the croutons, probably all those carbs they're trying to help us save on. Clarke's hoardes their business from Belmont Red line convenience, 24 hour desperation, and a young crowd of visiors who sees the pseudo "young trendy city" environment in it. There will always be the location and "ambiance" that keeps this dump afloat, unfortunately. Don't give them your money.. either downscale and still get "ok" junk food, or put a few more bucks in and eat really good food if your going to eat out in lakeview.
(1)Mary H.
JUST REMEMBER: It's for slow afternoons, empty Sunday mornings, after-show pick-me-ups, long long long conversations. I like to think the waitresses dissappear because they want to give me my space and time to chill-the-hell out. The people-watching is amazing here. You'll always see a punk or a hipster or a mom or a tranny or someone with a weird accent lurking around. Some of the food is greasy but it is not wretching stomach-ache food like the nearby Golden Nugget *shudder* My reccomendation is the cobb salad. They actually put about 2 billion different types of veggies in there and it is bottomless. Soup is amazing. Alcohol in the cider/hot chocolate is amazing. Pick the right meal and it could have hardly any grease in it. I kid you not. Bottom line: An unpretentious, kitchy place for slow eaters with nowhere to go. Excellence.
(4)erin s.
I went to this place a lot when it was actually a throw-back diner. It was a great place for really late night binges and coffee but not for much else. Recently (I'm not sure when) they replaced a lot of the kitsch with strips of what appears to be creatively-used tongue and groove oak flooring. And it looks terrible. And with the food still subpar and the servers forgetting you're there most of the time, I advise you to skip it unless it's 4am and you're jonesing for a waffle.
(3)Monika J.
My husband and I like to try new diners every time we go out for breakfast. We had been wanting to try Clarke's for a long time. So this past Sunday we go there and we were so disappointed. The service was so horrible the server was drunk and took forever to get us little things as sugar I had to go looking for him. To my amazement saw him eating with two of his friends who were visiting. I being vegetarian found ham in my skillet that I ordered my husband had stressed on making sure there is no meat but oh no there was piece of ham or shall I say hams. Once again I had to hunt our server ugh!!! He never came to collect the payment either so we walked around he didn't see us I had to pay at the counter. Other servers had to go look for him again as they couldn't swipe my card as we were on his side. No one even apologized or stayed to collect our signed copy. The most horrible service in town.
(1)Niki C.
We went here the other night cuz we were sick of our usual meals of sandwiches &/or pizza. Mistake. Our waitress walked in front of us with our menus, tossed them down on a table, & kept walking to the back of the restaurant. I stopped at the table where she had thrown the menus & had to ask, "Uh ... So am I to take it that this is our table?" It was only after I asked it a second time (& much louder as she was all the way to the back by then), that she turned around & said, "Yeah" in a "Well, duh!" tone. Should've taken that as a sign. We pretty much knew what we wanted right away, so we ordered when she came to get our drink order. The bf asked that his milk come out with the order. "So you want it when your food comes out?" she reiterated. "Yes," he confirmed. Wanna take a guess when he got his milk? Then, she delivered all of my bf's food a full five minutes before I got mine. Luckily, I told him just to go ahead & start eating otherwise, it'd've been cold by the time he waited for me to get mine. My Eggs Florentine came on a small skillet-shaped plate, which is not condusive to cutting an English Muffin. The eggs were undercooked. So were the North Shore potatoes --- they were hard & starchy & tasted like they were browned slightly & then stuck in a microwave for ten seconds tops, just to let the cheese on top melt to create the illusion of being cooked. I was not impressed. Not impressed in the slightest.
(2)Sara B.
I give it three stars because I've never really had the food sober. However, I have had the ginormous brownie sundae many times and NOT under the influence of alcohol. It's fantastic and yummy and ooh, I have a sugar-high just thinking about it. I don't know if it's so good because it's so big or what, but I love it. :)
(3)Amy F.
It's been a while since I've been here, but from what I remember it's not as awful as it sounds from the reviews. the "atmosphere" IS kind of depressing. wierd, half dark half flourescent lighting. but I love sweet potatoes.
(3)PJ K.
I'm easy. Really. Only once in my life have I sent food back at a restaurant, and that was at a friggin Dunkin Donuts. I tip. (I've got way too many servers among my family and friends to do the passive-agressive thing where you don't complain and then stiff the waiter because the food was no good.) So I hope it says something when I say that the service at Clarke's was so bad that this was the one (1) occasion in my entire life that I've stormed out of a restaurant without paying. We gave Captain Mousse, our waiter, more than enough chances to make it right. He forgot our appetizer order, then he forgot we existed, then he forgot half of our entrees, then he forgot we existed again, then while I went looking for him, or a manager, or any sort of exit from Casual Dining Purgatory, he managed to come back to the table (still without half our food) and got defensive and attitudinal when my lovely dining companion politely suggested he get on the stick. The only thing that keeps this worthless excuse for a restaurant from dying the unmourned death it richly deserves is its fortuitous location on the Belmont strip near the L and the fact that it's open 24/7. There are better places to get diner food in every neighborhood on the North Side, and there are better places open late night or 24 hours, especially in Lake View. And all of them have food that's just as good (if not significantly better) than Clarke's bland predictable nothingness. And all of them are staffed by hardworking professional servers who take actual pride in their work.
(1)Mark P.
My girlfriend and I headed over to Clarke's and I can honestly say, I didn't expect much. My expectations were correct. I ordered a simple grilled cheese. After 25 minutes of waiting, it was finally served and once I attempted to eat it, I could smell fish coming from the sandwich. It clearly smelled like it was cooked on, or right next to seafood. Upon complaining, the waiter said that's impossible because there is no seafood on the menu. I searched the entire menu and found 3 seafood dishes. The grilled cheese was not replaced, rather it was "zapped" in the microwave (the plate was extremely warm and cheese was oozing out of the bread). Again, I complained. At this point, I asked for a manager. They told me there was no manager on duty. I then asked who was in charge, and the waiter told me he was. He further explained he was in charge of just his section. So basically, no one was working as management. I told him I just want to not be charged for the sandwich and he said no because I had taken a bite of it already! He then brought another waitress over to try to explain to me that they could not refund me, and after I disagreed, she ran away all pissed off. To make this story come to an end, I left not eating anything. I was lied to about there being no seafood on the menu and that there was management there, neither being true. The waiter then had the nerve to tell me since I was so unhappy, I shouldn't come back. I would LOVE to speak to the management of Clarke's who amazingly, are never available day or night when you call. If anyone has information about who they are, please message me. The waiter's name is Eddie (Edy) and the girl waitress who came over had red-orange hair and her name is Nicole. I am from New York and I have been to many diners and have never experienced the rudeness, ignorance, and just overall lack of courtesy and customer could ask for. A credit card dispute has been filed since I was forced to pay. Stay far away from this hell hole.
(1)Jess S.
It's 1 o'clock in the morning, it's cold and raining and the bar thing didn't work out as planned, so we're hungry. What to do? Answer: get off the red line at Belmont and there has to be something there that's open. That's how my wife and I ended up at Clarke's. So, considering the circumstances, I can't complain too much. The place was dark and grimy looking and feeling, but the food was hot and greasy. Pretty much hit the spot at that moment. I had the patty melt, which was pretty tasty. The meat seemed of a better quality than fast food, but nothing special either. The bread was tasty and crisp while adding that proper bit of sourdough tanginess. My wife was pleased with the burger she ordered. The fries were also nothing special in terms of taste, but they were thick cut, piping hot and otherwise sufficient. The service was fine until our waitress got a little overwhelmed by a large group that came in towards the end of our stay. We had to wait far too long for the check, but we probably could have flagged her down a little faster if need be. I think the place is a little too pricey for what you get. Together, I think my wife and spent about $24 after tax and tip. Closer to $20 seems like where this place should fit in. All in all, for 24-hour diner food, I can't really complain. I won't be back regularly I'm sure, but it's also nice to know it's here when it's needed.
(3)Rebecca H.
My husband really wanted to keep drinking and I really wanted greasy food. A place that serves both without all the jerks trying to get laid yelling in the background! The food is typical diner-esque. There's really nothing special, although I ordered a salad and was really impressed with how fresh the greens were for midnight on a Friday. The food is probably only a 2 star, but you don't come here in the middle of the night for the culinary masterpiece. You come here because you want something greasy and hot (and perhaps more to drink). The drinks were strong and our wait staff served us promptly, then let us alone to eat/drink (I hate waiters that ask me every 30 seconds how I am doing). They also have a patio, which would make this place pretty good for the morning after your night of partying instead.
(4)Ram J.
For what it is, it's great. Clarke's isn't supposed to be a French accent dining experience. It's a place that serves sausage links (and additional booze) to drunks and weird people. Sure, some of these people are crazy and will wear headphones attached to a pile of leaves rubberbanded together. Others might believe that if they shower, Satan will give them cancer. Many of the people try to fool those wishing to know what their sex is. There's been a dozen times I've gotten the raised eyebrows from a woman on the other side of this place only to realize I was temporarily being turned gay. Jokes on me! Anyways, the bar section isn't so nice. It has ripped up booths and the lights are these little "Fire In The Sky" beacons that hover directly in your view of eye contact. The food? Not bad. Some of it is rather good! I must admit this place has some of the best hash browns I've ever had. The cheese sticks and sweat potato fries are also a treat. You'd think a place like this would have amazing coffee. Well, you're wrong. For some reason this joint can't make a cup of joe to save it's life. It is always an unusually thick sludge that requires a half cup of sugar to be put into your stomach. For a 24 hour diner located in this area, you really can't ask for more...and I don't. It beats Hollywood Grill and IHOP.
(4)Bruno A.
The perfect restaurant for the neighborhood and the clientele it brings in. When I first moved to the city I was close by and went there more than anywhere else. It was comfortable, familiar and the food was adequate. Now I'm kicking myself for not going out to look for all the cool, different eateries that are all over the city. It's a fifties style diner, serving everything from chicken fingers to soup and salad and burger. They have a good milkshake, which is a must for me when it comes to diners but nothing spectacular. Points go for it not trying to be the faux fifties diners that too many places try to be. There isn't neon everywhere, portraits of Elvis or Marilyn or that Nighthawks painting. It's open all night, which is another plus. A lot of 24 hour places have shit food. Clarke's doesn't. Not spectactular but not shit either. That's about covers it for this place.
(3)Nathan W.
Clarke's is suitable after a long night out where your tastebuds have lost complete contact with your nerve endings. Sure, it's a diner that also serves alcohol. Sure, the menu has plenty of vegetarian options. What we have here is a diner in a high traffic area that looks good on paper. The least favorable experince I've had there was when I ordered some sort of cheesy chicken sandwich expecting something nice and savory. What I got was a chicken breast with no flavor at all, rubbery and overcooked, with a small slice of cheddar between two pieces of sandwhich bread. Their sweet potato fries are also overrated in my opinion.
(2)Sara L.
This place is dirty and the service sucks. They are not clean, just look at the staff. They also feed the pigeons outside and I think they have mice. I found hair in my food and a dirty dish. It is gross to go here, they have been closed down before by the city. Yuk its not worth it!!!!!
(1)Brian L.
A little overpriced, and the food isn't phenomenal, but they're open late and serve whatever it is you're hungry for- breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, burritos, entrees, and beyond. Bottom line, when it's late on the weekend and you're hungry for something other than Burger King, it gets the job done- but in my opinion it's nothing to write home about.
(3)Deb B.
if i could, i'd give it a 3.5 rating. i am visiting from out of town and i needed a place to eat a large breakfast before i treked downtown. having been disappointed with Ann Sather's, i saw Clarke's and thought it would be my next try. their coffee was very bland, but in a clean cup (something i didn't get at Ann Sather's). i ordered their eggs benedict, and found it came with tons of their famous potatoes. i've never had three eggs when i've ordered eggs benedict. found that rather interesting. the sauce wasn't the best hollandaise i've ever had, but then again - back home in SF, we have a great eggs benedict place i am spoiled from. their potates were good, but whatever their secret recipe is, it's a bit salty. if i needed to return (but won't since i'm leaving Chicago tomorrow), i'd pick this place over Ann Sather's in a heartbeat.
(4)Jack L.
After a particularly horrible night in Boystown, which I won't go into. I was walking back to my car and found that the City's Finest had blocked off the section of the street where my car was parked. So I decided to duck into Clark's for a bite to eat while I waited for the commotion to die down. Even though it was very lively I was seated promptly and served fresh brewed coffee while I pa rosed the menu. I ordered the Egg's Benedict, probably not the best choice for after bar night food but I was in the mood. I have to say they were some of the best Egg's Benedict I've had in a long time. The eggs were perfectly cooked the Hollandaise was right on. Every thing was fresh. and I didn't have to ask to have my coffee refilled. All in all a great experience for a late night breakfast.
(5)Jessica S.
Chain diner, open 24 hours, only this one has a bar. I haven't ordered an alcoholic beverage here, I really only eat here when it's late and we're in the area and usually someone else in the party suggests it. It's OK, but nothing to write home about (which is why it took me so long to review this place).
(3)Rudy S.
OK, it's not like you're gonna get the best eggs benedict in the world here, but that's not why you come here. Good food, short distance from the Vic and other bars/clubs. they have a full bar, and dance music playing at night. you almost forget that you're in a restaurant.
(4)Ms T.
This place is totally great.... When you are blind drunk off your ass and don't care/notice what you are putting in your mouth because you just don't wanna puke. And that is the only reason why its still around even after it's "redecoration". Drunks are just too drunk to care where their drunk dollar goes.
(1)Jody C.
I love Clarkes food. The menu has a lot of choices and its the perfect cure for a late night. Its a little hard to stand in line after that long night out, but the food's worth it. However, the service at this location is the worst! Possibly the worst in the city. Our waitress got everything wrong and took about an hour to finally get it right and get us our food. We didn't get a single refill during this whole ordeal. Dont use the bathroom!
(2)Patrick B.
Food is okay. Servers can sometimes be rude. Although who could blame them with the crowd that comes out at night. Being a 24/7 restaurant right off the Belmont redline stop can attract the drunkest crowd on Friday/Saturday nights. I've seen someone throw up on the floor at this restaurant on at least two separate occasions. If you're in desperate need of food late at night. Clarke's will be fine. Otherwise, it's somewhat overpriced and does deliver on the goods on a normal outing.
(3)Kristen F.
Me: "I'm drunk. Let's eat. Where can we eat?" Friends: "Clarkes is open. It's right off Belmont." Me: "Will it kill me?" Friends: "The alcohol in your stomach will kill the bacteria before it gets to your intestines, so you're probably safe." Clarkes equals drunk food, so drunk you keep yelling "IT COULD BE COLDER" to random windows in Irving Park on a Thursday. That is how drunk you need to be to eat at Clarkes and not throw up. Plus? The Burrito I ate was really good, but then again I was drunk and the Soda didn't taste like pee, but then again I was drunk so I can't be certain. Minus? The Carrot Cake didn't have cream cheese frosting but then again I was drunk so it could have been slathered in butter and I might not have noticed. Come drunk or don't come at all, seriously.
(2)Lauren C.
24 hours. Whenever your hungry....Clarkes will be there! The coffee here is delicious. What else do I really like from Clarkes? -the chicken fingers -their omelets -their bloody mary's
(5)Caitlin O.
Your service is usually kind of on the poopy side, though I've never suffered the BAD service that some of the people mention here. No one's ever been rude to me, though there have been times when it's taken a while to get something done. On the other hand, your food has been consistently pretty decent for me! A good grilled cheese sandwich (yes, there are bad ones), a good burger, decent enough fries, good pancakes, good eggs... yeah, I like you, ESPECIALLY since you're 24 hours. Good shakes, good onion rings. If you don't want Mexican food or kinda crappy hotdogs (Weiner's Circle, I'm looking at you) this is the place I'd choose. At the very least, guys, it's better than G-Nugs. C'mon.
(3)Kathleen C.
Good, greasy breakfast. I love ordering scrambled eggs and just chillin in a comfy booth. Usually hungover and hardly able to do anything but wait for my eggs. They serve breakfast all day without a complaint. I love places like that. And I really don't think they have bad service. They can tell I am not feeling well and only came for eggs so they stay outta my way and just wait for my food!
(3)Ebru Y.
Popped in here one night while hopelessly looking for decent food after watching a Blue Man Group performance at the Briar Theatre. Obviously we did have options but it was one of those nights when the temperature was 1F so we hurried in to Clarke's. I knew when I walked in exactly what we were getting into, especially after seeing dead-looking/high waiters who could seriously care less about being there. They look like they are in a different dimension.Then our waiter came to take our order, I was in the mood for salad so that's what I ordered. When I saw a HUGE salad walking to our table, I thought it was for someone else. This thing was humongous! It should be illegal to make this huge of portions, really! The buffalo sauce was way too spicy for my taste buds and I do eat spicy food. I couldn't eat it and just didn't enjoy it. Lettuce felt dead and bland, sauce was spicy and red onions were really bitter. My hubby didn't seem to mind because he downed half the salad in matter of minutes. I then went ahead and ordered chocolate chip pancakes which were also bland. It felt like they were prepared either in advance or in a hurry. Something just didn't taste right. Not sure if I want to come back to Clarke's? Maybe when nothing else in the entire city is open at 4 am, but wait that's why there is IHOP which I actually enjoy!
(2)Sarah F.
I love a good diner! Their fare is classic, greasy-spoon fare, that's better than the average diner. The omlettes are fantastic there! You can also get a cheap mimosa or bellini that's yummy! When I go for a lunch or dinner, I particularly enjoy the Zydeco chicken or California Turkey Burger with Sweet Potato fries. The service is SO-SO, but hey, it's a diner!
(4)Tito C.
Staying across the street and being drunk on our last nite in Chi we decided to come here. I got a veggie burger I think. I dont know if it was good but I know I didnt eat much. My girl too. We started arguing about something only to make up spoon all nite. 5 stars for the spoon 2 stars for this place...
(2)John D.
2 star food at 4 star prices. Way overpriced for what you get in quality meaning you eat here when desperate at 3:45am. Go to Pick me up cafe for a treat of an experience 1 block away with late hours also.
(1)Steve M.
I got up early today and took the redline a stop south to Clarkes for breakfast. I ordered my usual the gyro omelet with jalapenos and a couple cups of coffee. It wasn't really packed and my waitress came and checked on me just as I was finishing my coffee. I wasn't rushed and was able to read my paper and enjoy my breakfast/lunch as it was 11 am. The omelet is consistently good and I've never had a problem with the service. and its amore relaxed atmosphere than Ann Sathers across the street. I've never been here for any other meal besides breakfast so I could not comment on that selection.
(3)Laura I.
I'm giving it four stars because I have such fond memories of various people and me coming here, cramming into the booths for some good diner food and ending up cracking ourselves up every time. And while this place reminds me of my younger days, even when I go there now, it doesn't give me anything less than what I felt when I went in there during those earlier years. I'm still a big fan of their shakes and their bee-ell-tee ain't so bad either. Thanks for nostalgia, memories and being open 24 hours a day, Clarke's!
(4)Kelly M.
Pros: Close to my house Open 24 hours Good hashbrowns Cons: Bad bad bad service. They are slow to seat you, slow to take your order, slow to fill your drinks, slow to bring your food, slow with the check. The food generally sucks. A drunk friend once told me he really enjoyed his steak and eggs but he was eating more ketchup than anything else. It is fun to sit and people watch here if you have the time to kill.
(2)Job E.
Three stars just for being open late. Not a high service place, but late at night I can't ask for more then a warm omlette and hot chocolate.
(3)Isa B.
Very mediocre. The service was slow; we waited close to 10 minutes before someone came to offer drinks and that was after I asked them to. The pancakes were cold, the over-medium eggs were sunny side up, which I had to give away to my husband (he eats everything), and to make it worse, the coffee sucked -more like brownish water. The potatoes were decent though. At the end, the waitress charged 20% tip automatically, I was too tired to argue but I'm not going back there.
(2)Spencer Y.
Well, the space that used to host Clarke's on Belmont has reopened as 'The Belmont' so I had to check it out. The interior has been remodeled and looks very nice and clean, extremely modern. Bright and spacious, unobtrusive flat screen tvs and low key modern music playing. New staff, new cooks and new owner. The menu is smaller but has retained the egg skillets and other dishes that Clarke's was known for, along with a number of new offerings. The food is prepared better and tastes much more fresh and 'lighter' .... and it's still good.
(4)Meena A.
HATERS GONNA HATE HATE HATE - I'm just gonna order a burger with side. Burger and fries were beyond. Especially for the price point. Service was prompt and friendly. Only drawback: no beer.
(4)Dave K.
Totally came in on a whim (like I usually do and more often than not, it's a great choice). I ordered a burger and fries against my training and diet. And it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WORTH IT!!!! Combined with the fact it was at my table in less than 5 minutes blew my mind!!! The server says they're famous for their burgers and I see why. I got a mushroom burger, and it was "drool-licious", to say the least. I may have uttered a few words in what could be construed as a new language was I muttered about the deliciousness of this burger. It's so close to the Belmont L stop, get a window seat and you can watch the trains come and go. The ONLY drawback that I have is their water is served chilled, and in an old wine bottle, BUT the water is tap water, if that's an issue for anyone sensitive to hard or soft water... Still, the food was delicious!!!
(4)Liz A.
If this was review was for service alone, the rating would be one star. It started it out decent but when we finished our meals the server asked if we want dessert and we said we'd think about for a few minutes. She literally never came back to our table. We joked she was maybe on break but then we actually saw her leave as she passed by our window outside. I caught the attention of another server and she then took care of us. The food is your typical diner food, not great but not bad. I had a bacon and cheese omelette with pancakes. Omelette was dry but the pancakes were good. I finished off my meal with a delicious chocolate milkshake, weird combo I know, but it was just what I wanted. I'd go back because it wasn't very expensive and it was a good place to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite some time.
(3)Emma K.
This place hit the spot for a late New Years Eve's brunch since we wanted breakfast food and every place we tried seem to have a super long wait. However, I don't think it's a place I would come out of my way to go back to. The service was definitely not the best. We had to remind our waitress a few times for things, but I didn't hold it against anyone as I couldn't imagine working the early shift the night after New Years. The food was pretty solid. My boyfriend and I each got a breakfast sandwich. They were out of bagels, but their English Muffins were really good (and huge!). The breakfast potatoes were yummy as well. Overall this place just didn't seem to be the cleanest. The booth wasn't wiped down well when we sat down, and there was a large rip in the booth that was attempted to be patched back together with duck tape. It wouldn't be on the top of my list of places to return, but if you're in the area and craving some breakfast food (and Ann Sather's has a wait of about 3 hours per usual), this place might tide you over.
(3)Lauren L.
Well this was a last resort for brunch because wherever we were going to go was packed. TAKE NOTE: based on the service, friendly-ness, cleanliness, and overall atmosphere, this place would be a 2. There were none of those things but the other food was OK. Not the best and not the worst. HOWEVER I had the magical honor of enjoying the most amazing plate of pancakes my mouth has ever experienced.... Come, take a journey... So I'm perusing the menu, thinking I just going to get my go-to over easy eggs, toast, bacon and hash browns, classic, but the menu is so large I have to read it all over. Also, I am sick of myself eating the same crap all the time... take an adventure Lauren, an adventuuuuuuureeeeee. I get to the pancakes page and woah, there's a lert of cherces (lot of choices), lots of potential pancakes. And I'm more of a waffle kind of gal so not usually interested. But one flavor in particular catches my eye... Cinnamon Bun Pancakes. I'm sorry, what was that? Pure bliss on a plate? Yes, I want that. We probably waited an hour and we were starving but when those plates rolled out, I think the whole diner was checking my p'cakes out. Three massive p'cakes with cinnamon swirled in the middle and glazed with white gooey icing.. nirvana. I took one small bite of this savory meal and almost pulled a "When Harry Met Sally" right there at the table. It was that incroyable. And the other couple we were eating with was so jealous, so jelly. My husband was incredibly happy because he knew I wasn't going to be able to finish them all and the rest would be his. Muhaha Moral:The restaurant sucks BUT GET THE FUGGIN' CINNAMON PANCAKES!!!!!!
(4)Tony F.
The waitress was nice. The place seemed dirty and poorly lit. The overpriced apple juice was warm. Bad, bad, bad. I will not be back.
(2)Ben B.
Clarke's is unpretentious diner food. You wouldn't take your date here, but if your date was going really well, you could end up cuddling in a booth here after the bars shut down. Unfortunately, some of the booth seats are ripped. But that's part of the charm? I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich with buffalo sauce. The breast had a lot of connective tissue goin' on, so I wasn't a fan of that. Also, the sauce just sort of dribbled everywhere. It didn't adhere to the breast. The steak fries were fairly tasty once I threw salt on 'em. On a return trip, I ordered the buffalo chicken burger and loved it. So... yay! Clarke's is run down and tired-looking, but so's your mom and she's a pretty good cook. Places like this are a necessary part of any neighborhood.
(2)Regan H.
I ordered a fruit cup from here, and the grapes were MOLDY. I will not be ordering from here again. I called and the girl who answered the phone said " there's no manager here so there's nothing we can do " what kind of service is that? I suggest trying a different diner with a better review.
(1)Mallory S.
I honestly wish I could give this place zero stars. I took my out-of-town friends in here for lunch today and had the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. When we first walked in the hostess was so hungover and rude. She sat us down with no smile, no greeting and was obviously annoyed to be at work. She was a tall blonde and rude to other guests as well. Our server Elisa was nice at first. We ordered two chocolate milks and a coke to drink. She quickly brought over the two chocolate milks and asked me at least 3 times if I had a coke or diet coke. It took her over 15 minutes to bring me my drink after we had to ask her for it when we got our food. She responded rudely when we asked her by saying, "Yup, getting that too" while rolling her eyes. I didn't know getting a drink was so difficult when there was 5 tables in the whole restaurant. When we got our food, my friend's omelet had clearly been sitting under the heater for a long time and was hard and disgusting. Elisa never once came over to ask how we were doing and was nowhere to be found when we were finished with our meal for over 20 minutes. My friend finally asked the hostess for our bill who was rude once again and tried splitting it up on her own, which obviously failed. When we asked her for a manager, she let out a huge sigh and said up and slammed her hands against the railing. She got the manager, some guy who barely said two words to us and even his look on his face when he saw the omelet was unbelievable. He never apologized for how we were treated and made us pay for everything. The least he could have done was remove the inedible omelet and pay for it. I have never received such bad service in my life. I worked in the restaurant industry for 8 years and if anyone ever showed up hungover in clothes from the night before they were sent home. The staff was so unprofessional and I will never step foot in here again. I would advise everyone to stay clear of this place.
(1)Juliana R.
I've been coming to this location since I was in high school and I don't know what's up with this place now. The last couple times service has been pretty bad, we've had the same server and she just always seems afraid and you can't hear a thing she says! Very awkward. I love that it's 24 hrs and the food is always decent.
(2)Amy S.
I love this place for late late late night diner food! Not sure if I would come for a regular breakfast, but it is very satisfying at 3am. I always went with the gyros, which are served to perfection: warm pita, savory lamb, and the perfect cucumber sauce, with a side of fries. I think all my lack of hangovers were due to this meal when I lived in Lakeview, so thank you Clarke's! You know how to make a girl happy.
(4)Ehow C.
I'm so confused by you, Clarke's. Are you a Mexican restaurant? A breakfast diner? The tortilla chips with salsa tell me one thing, your vast breakfast menu (compared to the dinky Mexican section) tells me another. Granted, you feel and appear like a diner, so I should just consider that. I'll ignore the chips and salsa, and order a Southwest skillet instead. If I were really drunk, I'd eat the whole platter, but being sober, it was really, really heavy. I'm the type of guy who eats everything off his plate, but I couldn't even get halfway there. The pancakes were nice and fluffy, though. I guess I can only recommend this place if you're inebriated and need something to soak up those alcohol molecules. Otherwise, stay awayyy.
(2)Cam M.
Meh. I went on Sunday around noon. The place was busy, and since we opted to sleep in-wanted breakfast still. Wait time/staffing We had a surprisingly short wait to be seated despite the crowd. However, it seemed like they were quite understaffed. We waited a while (10-15mins) to have our order taken, took a while to get coffee/water, food arrived pretty quick though. So, this is where the 2 start comes in. Food Good diner food. It definitely wasn't the worst that I have ever had, but wasn't the best either. We both had omelets with coffee and toast. I'm not a morning person, and even with the best of company, I need caffeine before I can be functional. I liked the omelet quite a bit-I got the meat and cheese w/cheddar & bacon. Toast was good, the potato stuff was good too. 3 stars for that. Staff Everyone was friendly. Our waitress apologized for the wait, said that they had people call in sick, etc. So, that let me cut them slack with the speed of service...if I wanted uber-fast food, I wouldn't go to a diner. I'd go to the bagel place down the street. So, good for them. 3.5 stars Overall, It seemed like a local version of a Denny's. Where if you go sober, you go for the vibe, and good enough food at a nice price...if you go intoxicated, you go because it is greasy/diner food that is open and won't kick your drunk ass out.
(3)Patrick H.
I have been enjoying this quirky little diner for around 6 years now and I just love it. The food and service are quite enjoyable. Try the Greek Salad.
(4)August B.
here's my story...went in ordered an omlet. server "do you want the special instead?" "what's the difference?" "five dollars" Same exact thing for half price, weird, not bad too. Lot's of food for that price. Hey the seats are torn, bathrooms suck, ambiance suck, and food is just okay, but their morning breakfast specials can't be beat. Five dollars, an omelet, 2 pancakes, something else, tea or coffee....
(3)Miles D.
It says 'Please wait to be seated', how long do they want you to wait? I made eye contact with two servers and was ignored. After five minutes I just sat down and waited another ten minutes before even being spoken too. Waiters walked by me several times within that ten minutes and I made eye contact with them each time. Will not be back and will sway friends/acquaintances to pass this place up and go elsewhere.
(1)Dan G.
I wish I could give this place a 2.7. It doesn't deserve a 2 or a 3. Bang for your buck this place will satisfy the hungry, the drunk, and the broke. It is a good deal. Really you can't beat the soup and salad combo. It is the biggest salad you have ever seen paired with a soup you could drown in. The quality of the food is okay. Though a soup and salad are easy. As for burgers, breakfast, and other diner specialties the food can be hit or miss. One day the burgers may be good, the next, not so much. Same with the breakfast, last time I had it the pancakes were half cooked and the sausage tasted old. But it cost me like 5 bucks. I would take it over fast food anytime. The service is just as hit or miss. So, I guess that wraps it up to this Yelper, Clarke's is hit or miss and cheap.
(3)Jelena Z.
Okay, so the food here isn't what I'd call good. Rather, it's underwhelming. But, at 4am, I'd say most of it does just fine! The evidence: Mozzarella cheese sticks: I thought these were 'unmessable'? Apparently not. Potato skins: my friend loved these. And they're massive! Hot dog: A definite 'no' according to my cousin. And she isn't picky. Steak fries: Ugh. Quesadilla: Not bad. And the guac is actually fresh. Hot chocolate: Essential for warming up in here. It's chilly! So why the 3 stars? Our 19-year-old Irish server. So crush-worthy, SO sweet. Can we get him to-go, please?
(3)Layla A.
The service on the bar side is lacking. I used the women's washroom- one stall was missing a lock, the other wouldn't close properly? Good food, though.
(3)Emily T.
I'm going to go ahead and chime in with a Clarke's review. A friend and I came in last night after a show at The Vic. It wasn't too late, and wasn't too crowded. We sat down and I ordered the BLT. Server: "What kind of cheese would you like on that?" Me: "Ummm.. a BLT normally doesn't have cheese." Server: "Oh. Right." Me: "What are the Northshore potatoes?" Server: "Um, well, they're kind of... um... minced potatoes" She clearly had no idea. My friend ordered a monte cristo. The food came, and the waitress set them on the table without saying a word, and walked off. Nothing. No, "Enjoy your meal!" No, "Can I get you anything else?" Nothing. The next time I saw her, I did ask for light mayo. Light. I got 2 packets of regular mayo. On top of all of this, we were both non-plussed with our sandwiches. We both left over half our plates. We hastily paid, left our inexperienced, space cadet of a server a 10% tip, which I thought was generous, and left. It's too bad- this place was much better in my memory. I love diners, but I won't be back to this one anytime soon. If ever.
(1)Al D.
Can't believe I'm reviewing Clarke's, but a recent group dinner there provided fodder for this review. I remember coming here when this place was still "cool" to go to after concerts and ball games when I was in high school - a decade ago. Now, like another reviewer said, it should be called Barf's instead of Clarke's. The food is ridiculous. It's not even good "drunk" food. Every dish seems to make heavy use of those awful "Northshore Potatoes," including mine - the honey mustard chicken sandwich. One thin slice (not piece, slice) of "grilled" chicken, huge chunks of lettuce, tomato and onion on a pita, with a pound or more of under-cooked, under-seasoned Northshore Potatoes for only $12.95. A restaurant's food has to be really disgusting for me not to finish my dinner, as was the case here. The other people in my group had greasy dinners that all came out on the cold side. Nobody really enjoyed the food, and definitely not the annoyed servers. As for the place itself, it's now starting to look really worn-out. The disclaimers on the wall about paying before leaving made me laugh; apparently walk-outs are common here. However, it's right under the El and in the middle of a bustling neighborhood with tourists and new people moving in every day who've never been to Clarke's before....doubtful anything's going to improve here.
(1)Annie D.
When you are half in the bag (or maybe all in the bag) at 3 a.m. and you are still underwhelmed by your food, there's something amiss. The jig is up, Clarke's. I've been here quite a few times over the years. My checklist of happy restaurant experience basically includes two things: food and service. This place has neither, unless you count terribly blah food and a few crabby servers who probably have to deal with a lot of idiots, but doesn't excuse them from being rude to those of us who aren't peeing under our booths or throwing salt shakers. There are always exceptions to the mediocrity, of course (like their fresh OJ), but I haven't experienced many here. Looking at their menu online now, it says chicken tenders are $5.99, which is weird because I am positive that I was charged $9 for an order of chicken tenders last year (no fries, just chicken that wasn't all that good). Is this the late night tax or something? I don't know. Hopefully they just lowered their prices, because $9 was robbery. Some of the positives are... they are open 24/7, serve booze, are convenient to the Belmont stop. And that's pretty much it.
(2)Christina K.
Don't waste your time here. The service is poor, the food is bland and overpriced, and the restaurant itself is dirty.
(1)Don H.
New Years Day. What a night to pick to visit Clarke's. But, here we are. It's a madhouse outside. Like the end of the world or something. Hooting and hollering. But it's a perfect time to get some food and we wanted to be close to the Red Line. Clarke's is it. It's been FOREVER since I've been to this location. We used to go here quite a bit, but I haven't been since the expansion. It does leave quite a bit more room in the main dining room, but it was understandably super-crowded, too. I would typically get a breakfast, but this time I wanted a taco salad. Most taco salads come with very seasoned meats and are over salted. This one was the exact opposite: the seemingly-fresh vegetables and loose meat lacked flavor. I had to dump on a cup of hot sauce to get it to taste alright. If you're here for the food, you'll love the people watching. We did. I wish I had a camera for everyone who walked in the door. Everyone had a story on their face. And what I love about this place is the diversity of people: all ages, all manner of dress, drunkenness. It's perfect for that. ;)
(3)Gayle S.
Today was my first and last time at Clarke's. I understand that it was a busy Sunday morning and I was dining alone (because I work a few blocks over and came in before my shift) but just because I'm by myself doesn't mean I should get sucky service. First I was led to my booth and told I'd have to wait for a menu because all the other customers had them all. Ok that's fine, like I said, I understand that it was busy. Then I had 2 girls switching off being my waitress both seemed very annoyed that I was asking questions even though it was my first time there. I ordered a skillet wanting my eggs scrambled and it came out sunny side up and runny. They just didn't care. I still ate it because I don't like to return food (and have a very reasonable fear of angry waitstaff spitting in my food) but I only tipped 10% because I had such a terrible experience when I usually do 25 to 30. I could understand their annoyance if I was rude to them but I was nothing but polite and kind and that kind of service was unacceptable. Like I said this is my last time ever coming in this place ever again.
(1)Tessa G.
Cool, Clarke's. I like this place and eat here because I've been here before, it's affordable, and I love the diner atmosphere after a day of scoping around the shops in the area. It just feels right. I always stay super basic here and get a grilled cheese or chicken fingers and some soup or a fruit bowl. The appetizers are pretty rad and the fries are alright. They have a pretty decent sized menu, typical American-fare. There are a few gems in here, you just have to order the right thing! This is typical diner food, the staff is nice, and they play some pretty damn good tunes every time I'm in here. Plus my really good friend was the first person who took me here, so each time it's kind of like "Aw..." So yeah, if you've got $15 in your pocket, you can eat pretty generously here. If you're in this area, check it out and don't expect a 5 star lunch or dinner.
(3)Drew B.
Clarke's is just like any typical diner, only this one is full of a few more gays and trannies than most are used to. The food is what you would expect, nothing too exciting and the entrees come out semi-fresh and luke-warm. But hey, when it's 4am and you're looking for something to soak up all that vodka in your stomach, it tastes pretty damn good. This is no place to bring a date or to experience new cuisine. Ever. It's strictly good for 4am feasting only.
(2)Jonathan H.
Worst service I've ever experienced in my life for lack luster food. Seriously waited 30 minutes for a coffee refill. Do yourself a favor and go down the street to Ann Sather!
(1)Jennie T.
I came here once, and I'm never coming here again (not of my own accord, anyway). The food is horribly disgusting. I don't care if it's 4am in the morning and we had just stumbled out of Berlin's. It is too disgusting for words. I had the chicken noodle soup, and I really hated it. It tasted like they just threw the ingredients together at the last minute. The soup was very bland. It did not taste like a chicken noodle soup. Where's the chicken broth? I tasted only the vegetables. My friends ordered some wings and a pizza. I tried both. They were all disgusting. I know some people excuse 24-hour diners but disgusting food is not acceptable to me, no matter what the circumstances (unless I become a pauper because you know, beggars can't be choosers).
(1)Justine M.
Friend and I both got a salad and they were HUGE. it was around $8-10 per salad. Salad didn't have enough ingrediants. I got a greek salad and after a mere few bites, I had nothing left except lettuce. Service is pretty slow. We asked the waitress to include tip on our card and she didn't do that. She charged one card more than the other. She ddin't even ask us if we wanted separate checks. $6 for a cheesecake factory cheesecake. wtf.
(2)Jason M.
I recently stopped in for an apple pancake and wow was I disappointed. It had some wafer thin apple slices lining the bottom, only about a third as much total apples as before. The gooey cinnamon glaze was absent. A large part of the edge was burned and inedible. It was early Sunday morning and the place was a ghost town. What happened Clarke's? I know fresh produce isn't cheap but taking all the quality out of a dish is a terrible move. It's hard to justify going back after that.
(2)Rick R.
I came in pretty late to this all-night-diner and it was right in the middle of a pretty massive summer storm, so the place was packed. I was seated pretty quickly and my server, Derek, came over right away and took my order; he was very polite and apologetic when he mentioned that he had to take my card and hold it (he clarified nothing would be charged until after I was done eating, and only IF I decided to use that card, meaning I could pay cash if I wanted to). He explained it's because they've had lots of people eating and then skipping out w/o paying. I thought it was unusual, but I understand the policy, and he's only doing his job. I ordered the Broccolicious Omelette with cheddar cheese and the steak fries, and pancakes. I already had coffee and water, so I was good to go for the time being. He returned with my order VERY quickly, which was surprising, because again, the place was packed. I was very impressed, to say the least. The omelette was perfect! It had the right consistency, firm without being stiff, and not runny at all. The cheddar cheese was very tasty, and the broccoli was fresh and cooked just right, with the perfect amount of crunchiness to it. The steak fries was not greasy at all, and very well cooked. I was in heaven. This meal is great, and again, it was very late and I was starving, so it really hit the spot. Derek checked on me several times, which was nice. Even though he checked, he didn't refill my water glass until I asked him to, although my coffee was refilled regularly by one of the young ladies walking around with the coffee pot. No big deal, again, packed place, and he was running around taking care of lots of people. Not complaining at all. I asked him for a little to-go box for my pancakes because I was stuffed after eating the omelette and fries (which were so big I couldn't finish them!) and he brought it over right away, and I asked for my check, which he produced right away. I did pay with cash, and he promptly gave me my credit card back and took care of the payment very quickly. I'm generally a good tipper, so I tipped him generously. He really deserved it; he was working really hard. I had the pancakes the next day for breakfast. They were delicious! I know some people here have had bad experiences at Clarke's, but I had a wonderful meal with very quick and courteous service, and I would definitely return. The one thing that made me cringe every so often was how LOUD some of the patrons were, actually screaming and laughing (REALLY screaming) and no one from the diner actually asked them to tone it down. Maybe that's the usual crowd and they tolerate it, or maybe I'm just used to quieter places. Regardless, I will definitely return and recommend this place to my friends. Thanks, Clarke's, you made me a very happy man!
(4)David R.
I have a dim memory of eating a barbecue chicken pizza and really liking it. I have a slightly less dim memory of stealing a couple bites of chicken tenders, and those were also good (plus the sauce). I was really craving a taco, but when asked which I should order--the pizza or the tacos--the bartendress immediately replied, "Pizza." So I'm glad that we asked. I ate the whole thing! I'm pretty sure that I had a beer here, but I can't remember what kind or how many. I really want to know what kind of beer selection they have.
(3)Bess A.
Stopped in for breakfast for dinner. Ordered 2 eggs scrambled with hash browns and 2 pancakes. Got 2 cold eggs over easy with cold beige hash browns and 2 dead weight cakes. All bland and dull. Won't be going back. Ever.
(1)Candice W.
They say that people who give one star ratings are simply disgruntled. HELLLLL yes I am. Terrible food, terrible BOOTHs, terrible bathroom, terrible service, terrible waitress. First off, I know my food. The portions were SMALL and overcooked. Being a plus size woman I'm not always comfortable where I sit and have learned to adjust. NOT HERE. It was lumpy and I had to settle with putting my knee on the seat to the side. I was sitting diagonal almost the whole time. To be honest. I don't REMEMBER how the food tasted, I was so focused on the fact that I was uncomfortable. I was in a bad mood and probably not exactly "polite" to the waitress, but she was RUDE and snippy. I went there during the night, and it was only her working. She may have been tired, but it doesn't mean she can be rude. So, I had to unload. The toilet paper was almost completely out! Good thing I noticed in advance, because WOAH MAMA, I had to conserve. Never again.
(1)Kenneth Y.
The environment is pretty interesting late at night especially during the weekends. Other than a chance to see a familiar face and getting late night drunk food this place is pretty par. I noticed the service wasn't too bad for a late night diner which gives them a little upside but not anything to go raving about. I do like the take home cases. You can always notice someone coming from Clarke's because of their slightly unique to-go foil cases which I thought was pretty cool. Definitely a good ice breaker if you see someone carrying one of the cases on the L. Clarke's is a safe bet for a consistently decent place to get your lat night food. Although the service is mediocre, I could see why people rave about this place. I see it as a good vibes/ entertaining area to see something interesting that you can talk about at the dining table for the most part on the weekends.
(3)Sabrina C.
Overpriced diner food. Ordered that egg white omelette and the waitress neglected to give me hash browns. Which is okay because I wanted to get out of Clarke's ASAP. She just got a worse tip because I was bored of my food. This place is fine if you are drunk.
(2)Elizabeth W.
I think this place has gone downhill since they expanded. Why, in my day, they didn't serve mixed drinks, and the service was faster! We walked to school barefoot through the snow! etc. etc. Seriously, though, I don't go here very much anymore because I hate waiting fifteen minutes for a table, ten minutes for the server to show up, twenty-five minutes for an order of potatoes, ten minutes for a refill, and however long for the check. I really got spoiled by the awesome staff that was there six or seven years ago. It isn't really the fault of the people who work there, all the time--as a former waitress I know there's no good way to work eight tables at once. Being understaffed is a management issue. Maybe it's changed since I was there last, a few months ago, but for now, I only go back for the North Shore potatoes since Pick Me Up is a quick walk away and almost never has a line to be seated. Funny story: several years ago I was sitting by the window and saw a huge rat outside. I thought it was a dog at first, and it looked like it was trying to steal a bicycle.
(2)Broc J.
First i'd like to say NEVER eat here..they have cockroaches ! i'm not talking about the bug, I'm talking about the overly hipster wait staff. I have never had bad service like I have had at Clarke's. I arrived here one day with my roommate, it was late and we were hungry. i understand that this place gets a lot of crazy people but we were two average joes who wanted to grab a bite to eat. We were greeted by our server Ivy, who right off the bat had an attitude. My roommate proceeded to ask her what kind of root beer they serve to which she replied "The kind that you drink". STRIKE ONE. We placed our orders and I ordered a steak quesadilla with a side of french fries. Ivy disappeared for twenty minutes, our drinks went un refilled and when she returned she brought me back a steak burrito. STRIKE TWO. Ivy then proceeded to go into the kitchen to fix the mess she made and returned twenty minutes later with no food in hand. At this point it's laughable and we tell her that we don't want the food anymore and that we'd like to speak to a manager. She then rolls her eyes and tells us that she will have to pay for the food ! I'm a server myself, and YOU NEVER SAY THAT TO A TABLE. Bitch, you fucked up not us. STRIKE THREE. As there was no manager on duty ( i still find that hard to believe) I had to call the next morning to complain. The manager seemed as if he didn't care his wait staff were incompetent and I told him that I was not trying to get anything free just letting him know his establishment sucks. Please, if you are in the neighborhood just walk past this place. The food is mediocre at best and the wait staff should all be fired and go back to working at American Apparel
(1)Chanele B.
The only reason I could ever imagine going here was if it was the middle of the night. Having gone twice in the daytime, I can safely say that with an Ann Sather's across the street and a variety of everything you could want within walking distance (if you hate Ann and NEED diner food, go to Stella's on Broadway and Barry), Clarke's during the day is just simply a mistake. The food is simply not good (the bacon is particularly horrible), and the service is worse than the food. We had to pretend we were walking out to even get them to come and take our money. Add that during my two - and only two - visits, we had dirty coffee mugs both times. Dirty as in dried pieces of food on them. Stay classy, Clarke's.
(2)Erik O.
Very basic. It's what you can expect from a 24hour restaurant. I ordered the San Diego club sandwich and my girl got the cheeseburger. My sandwich was o.k. as there was a single sliver of meat on it, and her cheeseburger was o.k. as it was very dry and not much cheese. Both of our meals were also lukewarm, and seemed like they were sitting out for a while. This place is nothing to write home about. The place is clean, and it's in a great location, so that's a plus. The server was extremely friendly and very attentive, but the food was just so plain. I will not be coming here again.
(2)Ken E.
Wanted to grab a quick bite and stopped in because it was right across the street from my Hotel. Bad decision on my part. The food was blah even for a diner. The place was not clean. The service if you can call it that SUCKED! Would not recommend it or ever go back.
(1)Scott N.
The Micro Mini breakfast is great. Two eggs and 1/2 meat. It comes with choice of pancakes, toast or english muffin. Oh... a side of potatoes comes with it, too. For a guy that is eating paleo, two eggs with a side of meat is perfect. I asked for no potatoes and no toast... and I get a side of fruit. I was a little annoyed that I got an up charge for the fruit replacement (I gave up pancakes or toast or english muffin AND the potatoes) and I had to pay .99 more for fruit? I think if I'm giving up a carb choice AND potatoes I should get fruit as a free substitute). Alas, that's not how it worked out, but the service was good and attentive. It's breakfast food and it's good. We have only been here for breakfast so can't comment beyond. We came here two days in a row for breakfast. It's not extraordinary, but it's quite good. If you stay at City Suites, like we do, and you want something beefier than the continental breakfast served up daily,which is great perk!, walk across the street to Clarke's for a nice breakfast.
(3)Nichole F.
We went here before a show at the Vic. We git a perfect table for people watching in front. I ordered waffles with strawberries and whip cream and sausage and my husband got a patty melt. The waffle and sausage were great. I enjoyed it so much. The patty melt was just okay. I consider myself to be a patty melt expert so I know a good one when I taste it! The service was just okay. Our waitress kind of forgot about us. I would still come here again.
(3)Kristy B.
Came here with a friend a few months back. We had spent some time hanging around Lakeview and it was nearly 10:00pm. I don't really have too much to say about this place. Nothing really stood out to me in a good or bad way. It was just okay. I remember our server was pretty friendly and quick. Very attentive as well. We ordered breakfast meals (I got eggs and bacon while my friend ordered pancakes). We saw that there were some desserts on the menu, so we asked about them. There were only one or two dessert options available at that time of night, and they both sounded unappealing. So we opted for just keeping our breakfast meals. The food was alright, but I wasn't a huge fan of their bacon. Which is sad to say, because I love bacon. But I just wasn't feeling it. My friend enjoyed his pancakes, but I felt that my meal was pretty sub-par. "Meh" is all I have to say about this place. I may come back here after a night of drinking or if I am really craving some eggs on the double. But other than that, there are better diners in Lakeview.
(3)Aron H.
This place used to be descent. I am pretty sure they changed their ownership. The menu is not the same, the service is slow and they served me a breakfast which seemed to have been heated up. The coffee is just terrible. I hope the other place with the same in Evanston has not suffered the same. Not to be unfair the waitress I had was very nice. Though I guess she couldn't help with the food.
(1)Dustin B.
Been here twice before and was perplexed on how terrible the service was. I understand that they are a 24 hour diner in a very drunken part of town but that would never excuse the treatment me and my friends received there. Our server was disrespectful and uncaring, our food was as basic as they come. You can do far better than this my friends.
(1)Jon C.
I've walked by Clarke's many times over the years, but I've never stopped. Needing a place for breakfast on Saturday, a friend wanted to go here, so the introduction to Clarke's was made. This place isn't fancy. Nooooo siiiirr. You want fancy, go somewhere else. The booth we sat at had been patched up by duct tape more than a few times, and the flooring and decor was somewhat outdated. Still.. sometimes these are the best places to eat. I took a recommendation and tried the farmer's skillet. My error was going for the organic egg whites rather than the real eggs. The veggies were delicious, but the egg whites really took away from the dish. Honestly, this dish could have easily fed 2 people, and I had to stop about halfway through because I was stuffed. Clarke's is the type of diner that's been around for ages and I'm sure does a great late night business after the bars close. The place wasn't busy at all when we arrived, and the service was great for us. Food came out fast, coffee was always hot and filled to the top of the cups, and the check came out promptly. Three stars because of the decor and the need to do some freshening up inside, but the food was solid.
(3)Richard C.
I'm officially done. Five years ago Clarke's was wonderful. But now it has sunk to low levels of service. In the past few months I've visited or ordered online (via Grubhub) from Clarke's at least four times. First time was online - and the order was wrong. Okay, I'll give them another chance. Went in to eat, and the order was wrong again - AFTER it took over an hour to arrive. "This can't be the Clarke's I knew from when I first lived in the city, can it? Maybe it was just bad luck. I'll try again." Ordered via Grubhub again. Two hours later no food. Called and was hung up on with a rude: "Sorry, we don't want anything." As if I was a telemarketer. What? Called again - same result. Ended up leaving my apartment and walking down the street to hear them say: "Oops, sorry. Your order was stuck in the printer and no one noticed." No one noticed a half-printed order in the printer for two hours. Okay. Cancelled my order and walked down to Al's Beef because I didn't want to wait another hour for food. Last night, after two months of not ordering from Clarke's -- I ordered again and the food arrived correctly! Unfortunately, the food arrived late and it was cold. Whatever. I'm done.
(1)Mark S.
I've only ever been here pretty late after a night out, but even in such a state when I think that pretty much everything tastes amazing, Clarke's still leaves a lot to be desired. It is a typical diner that serves typical diner food, but somehow all of the flavor seems to be sucked out of everything I've ever ordered here. I've never been truly satisfied with anything that I've eaten here. On the other hand though, I've always received great service here. This continues to amaze me because I can only imagine the drunk antics the staff must put up with on an almost nightly basis.
(2)Anicia P.
They're out of French toast and turkey sausage. I'm irritated and I've been waiting 10 minutes for a waffle since that's the only thing available that I can eat. Finally get the waffle with cold syrup. The waffle is undercooked and gross.
(2)Sophie B.
Ordered a lemonade, california omelette and cinnamon roll pancakes. Both the omelette and pancakes were awesome and I had leftovers for the next day. On the downside, the lemonade tasted very weird and not like lemonade. I really like how they leave a carafe of water out for you to serve yourself. Our waiter wasn't the most attentive but our food came out fairly quickly. I would go here again.
(4)Dylan B.
Been here about 10 times tops, a few of those times while intoxicated and late at night. From my experiences I have come to the following conclusion: Food is overpriced for poor quality and unorganized inventory (they are always running out of something..) If you don't mind crappy service from an employee that clearly doesn't want to be there and then getting charged an AUTOMATIC GRATUITY (yes, even if you have under 6 people!) then this is your diner. Each time I've been here there has been one consistency: BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. The only reason I have even come back to this dump can only be attributed to the insistence of drunk, incoherent friends. Save yourself the trip and visit a restaurant that will be worth it in quality and service.
(2)Maria K.
We ate here because we were hungry and it was directly across from our hotel. I try to look at reviews first, but we didn't this time because were just really hungry and wanted to get to downtown and didn't want to waste time researching. Turns out we wasted a lot of time anyway... My husband loved his burger and the sweet potato fries were good. I ordered mac-n-cheese for my kids and it was the awful boxed kind. That is a huge pet peeve of mine at restaurants. Mac n cheese was listed as an appetizer, so I ordered it thinking it would be decent. I did not expect it to come out like that. My mistake, thinking that ordering mac n cheese off the appetizer menu would be more than a 69 cent box of crap. We waited a really long time for our food. in fact, I'm positive I saw the waiter come out with our food...turn around and go back...and then come back about 10 minutes later. I'm thinking they forgot something so they put our food back under the warmer until it was taken care of and then brought it out again. That would explain why chicken wrap was soaked in juice underneath. It was just sitting there...waiting. We are not picky people and we were really underwhelmed. I'm sure there are much better options in Chicago and I regret that I didn't do better research to avoid this place.
(1)Eva T.
This restaurant discriminates against gay and trans people. They "reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" but somehow, this only ever ends up being totally sober gay and trans people. They're in the middle of Boystown. Seriously? Yelp deleted my first review stating this and I'm posting another one. BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT. Yelp, go ahead and delete this one if you want. I'll keep posting new ones! Byeeeee!
(1)RoscoeVchic K.
I frequent Clarke's often for breakfast on Sundays, as they can accommodate a large group. There are usually 5-8 of us and no reservation needed. The staff are really nice, and usually our food arrives pretty quick. The food isn't the greatest, pretty average greasy diner options. They do however have a very large menu with lots of selections. The atmosphere is a bit funky and the place could certainly use a deep clean, fresh paint and a spruce up. Overall good experience every time and I would recommend this place for an inexpensive breakfast.
(3)Ramone B.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one sooner..but anyway here goes: After a night of partying it up in boyztown, everyone was hungry and in need of food so Clarke's was the spot. My younger brother was home from Los Angeles and Clarkes was one of his staples when he was in college. It was only right that we stop in. The waitress was super friendly. In fact I loved her. I originally wanted a gyro, but when she informed me that the meat didn't come off of a spit I quickly nixed that s*** and went for her recommendation- The Irish Burger. The Irish Burger has scallions, waffles fries, bacon, and cheddar cheese on a beef patty. I have to admit that sounded super fattening, and so good!!! I was too ready to have my big gurl moment #LaneBryant The waitress also informed me that The Irish burger had won an award to which I was more pleased because I knew I was in for a treat. Boy was I let down. That damn burger didn't taste like much. I was prepared for something better than or equal to sex, and what I got was a premature ejaculation! Can I say that in my review??! #TriedIt All of those ingredients going on in my burger and it was BLAND as all get out! I did have some of my brothers quesadilla. It was okay as well. My brother and my friend were going on about how great the food was, and it was just typical average diner food. Those B****es were still clearly feeling their liquor. I know I will be back at Clarke's in the future. With it being so close to Boyztown, and being open 24/7 it's a good place to put some food in your stomach before or after a night of fun.
(3)Jenna C.
Really good food, REALLY terrible service. My wife and I come here occasionally and the food has always been good but service is always bad. Last time we had a girl who had absolutely no personality. She came to our table, didn't introduce herself, had hickeys all over her neck and never came to check on us. I had to find another server to bring me something I asked her for twice. That was the one and only time I ever gave someone a bad tip. I tip even for poor service, but that was just so bad I would've preferred to just walk to the kitchen and get my own stuff. Would order for pick up because the food is worth it, but would never dine in again.
(2)Lila M.
Clarke's used to be a favorite when I was in high school, so it's sad to say this place has seen an impressive decline in quality. Breakfast sandwich: had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Dry eggs. Untoasted English muffin. Microwaved sausage patty. Potatoes: halfway cooked and totally bland. Plain. White. UNDERCOOKED. Potatoes. I notice something that's not a potato in my potatoes. In fact...it looked a whole hell of a lot like a rat turd. I picked up the little turd and squished it between my fingers. Sure as f*** squishes like a rat turd. And then, I smelled it. Sure as f*** smells like a f**king rat turd, too. I threw the food out before getting barfing-and-shi*ting-at-the-same-time food poisoning. There was f**king rat shi* in my food. I tremble when recalling this experience. They made me smell rat shit. Terrible. 0.0001/10. Too bad, since it used to be a great place. Really surprising how bad it's gotten. Must be new management?
(1)Chris T.
How do you get a job here? Obviously you don't have to be good at anything to be an employee of Clarke's. First of all, my order was wrong. There was no cheese or sauce on my sandwich. They gave me the crumb straggles of french fries from the bottom of the freezer bag that have been fried a couple of times over from sitting in the deep fryer basket. Chicken wings were straight up cold and completely dry. Lemonade was warm and watered down. 9pm on a Thursday, approximately 3 tables in the whole house and my waitress (Jenny) does everything to avoid my table when we were finished and just wanted our check. She was outside smoking. She was wiping down every table in the joint. She was straight up hiding in the back and fiddling with her phone. When she does show up at our table, she immediately tosses a handful of used napkins from another table into the plate of my dining partner who was going to ask for a take home box. She and her manager made a big deal out of making change for me, I even offered to pay with a card if it was that big of a deal but I guess heavily sighing and eye rolling was more important. To top it all off, I use the restroom before leaving and there are RAT FECES on the floor in a stall. I didn't leave a tip. I'm truly sorry if you're living off your tips and trying t make it in this world, but you should at least TRY at your job. Do yourself a favor and walk the extra distance to any place but Clarke's for food.
(1)Ken O.
I recently was in the Central Lakeview neighborhood, so I thought I'd check out this restaurant that has been there for decades. I had stopped in there about 12:30pm; the place was pretty much empty. Out of this large restaurant, only five tables were being used, I thought I came on an off day. The restaurant needs a little updating. The menu is pretty decent with breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Basically, something for everyone. The server gave me a few minutes to review the menu. I finally decided on the BLT with fries and coke to drink. After placing my order, I had checked into Yelp and started to read the reviews. With all of the reviews, I knew I would be able to give a honest review. After a little longer expected time, my meal finally arrived. That was the last time I saw the server. The first thing I noticed was the mushy tomatoes between the lettuce and bacon. The sandwich as a little dry since there wasn't any mayo on it or a side cup of it on the plate. I had then tasted the steak fries. Even adding salt, the fries were still bland. I'm glad ketchup helped to cover up the blandness. I had eaten about three-fourths of this meal before I had pushed it aside. The server came out of nowhere; I wonder where she was hiding?? Gave me the bill and left. Luckily, I had enough cash with me and I left. On the way home, I noticed that horrible film of bad food in my mouth. I couldn't wait until I got home to brush my teeth. Maybe, the only time to visit this place is after a night of drinking. I am no rush to return to this restaurant. Sorry.
(2)Cat P.
They exercise their right to refuse service to any customer. You would think this means disruptive people on drugs, a crazy person with a weapon, perhaps a naked man jiggling his package at your table....but no. To Clark's this means the gay community and their allies. Move along, it's a crappy place anyway!
(1)Derrick B.
Waffle House is better than this place. There, I said it. I walked in and the place smelled like a combination between glass cleaner and a retirement home. My food was cold and had zero flavor. Tons of better places in the area.
(1)Jackie N.
Great for a drunk late night eat but that's about where it ends for me. Their pancakes are delicious--probably some of the best I've ever had. I've also gotten a skillet which is pretty good. Definitely your classic diner, but if you're looking for brunch places there are far better places to eat.
(3)Joey S.
We loved the menu! Everything on the menu ends in "y" (clever menu). Our server checked-in with us a friendly amount. Their pancakes were delicious!
(5)TIM W.
I have lived in Chicago about 12 years. my partner and I seldom go out to eat but when we do it's always a pleasure to be served a meal by a genuinely nice and friendly wait staff that is who we found at Clark's on Belmont her name is Rebecca she made our experience a true delight if you happen to stop in ask for Rebecca
(5)Lance P.
Don't support this or any of Clarke's locations...they have recently posted a sign saying they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone...from what I've witnessed and heard from others is that this is being used to refuse service to gay people. They are in BOYSTOWN?!
(1)Daniel Z.
Great for late night munchies! The crew here has a ton of heart, and with all of the crap they have to put up with, I think they do very well. Get the lincoln Park burger with a fried egg and seasoned fries!
(5)Emmanuel V.
I have been here a bunch of times. Perfect hangover place. They always give you a bunch of water. The food portions are very generous, we always struggle to finish our food. Coffee is great. Service depends on how busy it is but it is good.
(5)Jenny V.
we were super excited when we saw drink specials, but they aren't allow to serve it in the diner part? we came Thursday before Lolla, so naturally it was bumpin. We waiting a while for our food, but omg it was worth it. I got some skillet with chorizo and it was so good, and it was a huge portion, i brought more than 2/3 of it home with me
(3)J R.
I use to frequent Clark's, but over the past few years everything from food to service has gone down hill. This past weekend was the cherry on top, they will never see me again. It's a shame.
(1)Lia V.
I don't think I've ever been here sober therefore I usually order something greasy paired with greasy fries - which is always good when you're drunk. In the summer they have the Irish girls working which is always fun. I like to hear their stories. My cousin adores their sweet potato fries (again... always drunk) It's a crappy diner for drunks and it works for me. If I had a Waffle House nearby I would be there, but there isn't one... so I go to Clarke's.
(3)Serena N.
We went to the bar for a few drinks during the Blackhawks playoff game against Detroit. Great beer specials. $3 for a Corona bottle. You can't beat that. The bartender was friendly and quick with the service. They also put the play by play for the sports game which is nice. Nice spot for a beer and a game.
(4)Ronald H.
"Everyone hates this particular Clarke's..." ...but it's often the only port in a storm. HORRIBLE service, bland, food, dirty, dingy, (did I mention HORRIBLE service?). The place is literally falling apart. I mean, I get it- this particular Clarkes' location is in a drunken, awful, demanding party corridor. However, when you come in at 2 on a Saturday afternoon and get a bad attitude, slow, inattentive, indifferent service, AND get up-charged without being informed for a substitution that is FREE at every other Clarke's in the city. I told the manager I was not told of the up-charge, and he just shrugged. You ALWAYS tell a customer they will be up-charged. I will NEVER come to this place again. I'd rather stay hungry. There is ONE good waitress on Monday nights. She's really awesome. Why? Because she actually CARES about her customers. However, she should get a job somewhere else, or they should clone 20 of her and have them ALL work at this Clarke's and MAYBE it will redeem itself.
(1)Alex M.
This wasn't a last resort choice for brunch, but it felt like one. The staff wasn't welcoming, our waitress was slow and we pretty much only saw her when she took our order (after we had to ask another waitress to get her) and when she dropped off the food. She never topped off our coffee or checked if we needed anything further after getting our food. We both got skillets-- if I pay $10 for a skillet, I don't expect Kraft singles as the cheese. Overall, I won't be back unless I'm either extremely drunk or hungover. I'll give it 2 stars instead of 1 only because our food did come out relatively fast. Not to mention while we were sitting here, a man and his wife got up, talked to the manager, and left [even] after receiving their food because they were dissatisfied.
(2)Sharon S.
I realize this diner is not meant to be fancy smancy, I like coming here for my Denver skillet with a side of pancakes, but could you please remodel your bathrooms!!
(3)Rebecca B.
Sorry, Clarke's, but I just can't do better than 2 stars. As often as I end up here, you'd think I'd go for at least 3, but...well...I just can't. Yes, you are open 24 hours, and that is always awesome for this night owl. I also love that you are awesome about splitting checks for tables. And, of course, you offer some great people watching opportunities. These are the reasons you got that second star. Sadly, that is where my praise for you ends. Your food is bland. I mean really bland. The amount of salt, pepper, hot sauce, and/or ketchup that I have to put on my food to make it taste like something is somewhat astonishing. I've had too many over cooked eggs, almost raw pancakes, and burned pieces of toast. You even managed to screw up bacon, if that was bacon I was eating...I'm still not entirely sure. Bacon is the candy of meats. You should treat it with the respect it deserves. And what you claim is real maple syrup...yeah...that is the cheap fake stuff. You're not fooling this girl. You could also learn a thing or two about service. Every single time I've visited, it takes forever to a.) get a table, b.) have someone take my order and c.) get my plate of food. I shouldn't have to wait so long for a table, especially when I can clearly see how many are open and clearly see a minimum of three employees standing around doing nothing. Oh, and forget about drink refills. They just aren't going to happen. In fact, I think there must be a vortex located somewhere around the beverage station, because if I ask for a refill, then I never see my server again.
(2)Richard S.
There is nothing like having a delicious burger at midnight the first night of being in Chicago!!! Would defiantly recommend this place and am planning on coming here every time I visit!
(5)Yvonne B.
We was some crazy girls when we walked into Clarke's recently. In fact, there's been a story every time we've ended up at Clarke's. It's just got that nostalgia for us, and that's a good thing. But that aside, it's not that great. I mean, there are some places just across the street that are aces better... But maybe aren't open 24 hours or maybe have an inconvenient wait. Clarke's is okay for what it is. It's open all the time (God bless those employees!) and it doesn't have a reputation that garners any kind of wait for a table. That's why we end up there. The food isn't special. The service isn't special. It's not that clean. It's a diner. Take it for what it is.
(2)Ralph B.
"I would rather have battery acid tossed in my eye holes than drink what they call coffee." This is a review of a late-night breakfast that took place at 1:3O a.m. on Tuesday, December 1O. Does that mean I should cut them some slack? No, they are the ones who advertise their eats 24/7. So here goes. Ugh, the sign I've never liked: Please wait to be seated. That makes sense if a restaurant is crowded, but this place was feeding four tables. The waitress came out, very nice young lady, and told me to sit anywhere, I started sitting down at a four-top at the very front of the restaurant so I could people watch on Belmont. What she meant to say, she explained, was to sit anywhere in the back third. I guess it's because she was the only one working and preferred not to have to work the entire place. Okay, no problem. Folks in the diner business should always serve great coffee. It covers a multitude of sins and makes the world right for people like me. It wasn't because it was old and burned, I can drink that, nor was it because it was 3.2 degrees above luke warm. It was a bad case of ordering coffee on the cheap. I'm not a coffee snob, but this stuff was trash. Folgers on its worse day is better than what I had. I would rather have battery acid tossed in my eyeholes that drink what they call coffee. Everything else was good. Well, almost everything. I had the Mediterranean omelet. It was outstanding. Not sure how an omelet is baked, but it was really quite good. It came with hash-browns. Normally, nothing much to write about, but theirs were really good. Not greasy at all and a great flavor, some coming from a hint of green onions mixed in. The omelet comes with toast or pancakes. I love pancakes more than life itself. I saved them for last. Mistake. PanCAKES, mean they are a bit fluffy. They always grow taller as they are browned on both sides. Holy Toledo Bruce Jenner. He could have tossed them as discuses in the Olympics. Flat. Tasteless. White flour and water. Odd Job from OO7 could cut a man's head off at the neck with those things. 196Os stoners could have played Frisbee. Okay, enough drama. A mighty good omelet and great hash browns sandwiched by the worst coffee on the planet and pancakes that need a little buttermilk and egg in the mix. Cost: $17 with a tip and another $3.OO for the busboy. I always tip busboys more than waiters at diners because they do five times the work. So, worth a trip? Yes. Memorable? Yes, but in the wrong way. Would I go there again? Heck yes because I love diners and nothing can keep me away.
(2)Ryan A.
Sat in a booth within eyesight (and earshot) of 4 servers and a host who argued about "who's gonna take table 13?" I don't wanna take it...I took the last 3 tables." "Sorry for the hassle," sez me and left.
(1)Angie K.
I know this isn't the fanciest place in the city but it's open at all times and has a crazy variety of food on the menu to choose from. People-watching is also interesting regardless of the time of day. In the warmer months, their outdoor seating area is pretty cute and I would definitely suggest to soak up the sun that way. I've been here both for breakfast and dinner, sober and not sober and have always had a good time. I had a healthy breakfast option that had egg whites, veggies and fruit and it was a huge portion for the price. Another time, I came after drinking (a lot) and had a veggie burger. It was pretty good and even came with sweet potato fries. The service is alright. I've never had to wait for a table and the food comes out pretty quickly. The only thing is that the bar area looks a little cheesy and the drinks are pretty weak. I know this isn't the place to go drinking, and I get that. Having a wide variety of food options and quick, cheap food is always a plus in my book.
(4)Dave R.
I once liked It here but I don't know what Happened, it went down hill. I took 4 of my friends there that never been and bragged about it and the food was horrible. We ordered soups to start thinking it might warm us up from the cold weather, but the soup came out slightly warm. We ordered 3 different soups and they all were the same temperature. The broccoli cheddar which is normally my favorite tasted bad. All 5 people at my table agreed because I asked if it was just me. Then we ordered steak nachos and wings to start. The nachos barely had any cheese them and the wings were cold and so tiny. My chicken wrap was alright but my fries were cold as well. I was disappoint because I noticed they changed and took some things off the menu as well. The skillets were alright but you really can't go wrong with them. The service from the server was ok he was really nice but seemed to be the only one serving all the tables so I don't blame him cause it wasn't his fault. The 2 other works which I would assume one a bus boy and one a manager never even looked at us. I even tipped the server extra on top of the auto grat that he added onto the bill even though I shouldnt have because of the bad food, but it's not his fault. Get it together Clarke's people like hot and good quality food.
(1)Luis P.
An entertainer from out-of-town was going to eat after a night in Boy's Town and was refused service. When asked why, she was told because they were gay. When they started to record it on their phone, he would not repeat it. But he guarded the door and told them they are not welcome. This video has been posted to their FB page and should be able to be seen on posts from other users. I will never go to this diner and the word should be spread of their refusal of service.
(1)Francesca B.
Silver Dollars and Mediterranean Omlette, good deal!
(3)Shaina K.
I like this bar. For the most part. I only go on Wednesdays, when they have 25c wings and $5 bud pitchers (I don't think it gets much cheaper than that in the city!) The service is so-so (as they cater to their friends and regulars), but the wings are good and the beer is cold. Cannot complain. I haven't tried anything else on the menu, 25c wings keep me stuffed and happy!
(4)Earl G.
When it's 3am are you really that picky when it comes to food? Clarke's is pretty damm good for late night eats. They're 24-7 so yeah, they're open pretty late and a popular destination given all the surrounding bars. The menu is pretty long with your typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner diner fare. Our waiter was Ukrainian and I asked him if they had any Ukrainian food. The one thing that's kinda weird about Clarke's but actually smart is that before you get seated, they collect your credit card, just so people don't dine and dash. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/jlUe… ) *Grass fed, free range Elk Burger - $13. Don't see this everyday. Pretty damm tasty. Pretty lean, beefier than turkey, reminded me of buffalo. Wasn't gamey like venison at all. Only if they had elk steak. The crisp sweet potato fries and strawberry shake washed down my furry four legged friend nicely that I didn't have a hangover the next day. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/jlUe… )
(3)Frank C.
What can I say? It's a traditional diner. They have cheap, edible food, and okay service. If you're in the need for a quick bite any time of the day, Clarke's is there to serve.
(3)Ivana D.
I used to come here all the time in college. It was easy, open 24 hours and not over priced. The staff is friendlier in the morning than at night. However, they have an insanely wide variety of options to choose from on the menu, even if you're a vegetarian, you're covered. I think I'd mostly come back for nostalgic reasons.
(3)Shane G.
At first I thought this was an episode of "What Would You Do?", but then it became very clear that queer individuals, especially those who are trans or gender non-conforming, were indeed being discriminated against in a part of town that is supposed to be queer-friendly. I will no longer give my business to Clarke's.
(1)Kevin Michael C.
Yes, it's midnight. Yes, most of us are drunk. It's no excuse for poached eggs that are really hardboiled, a "medium" hamburger that's blacker (and crunchier) than asphalt, and French fries that are cold in the center. Gross! The server was both adorable, and professional. No need (except for good food) was unmet.
(1)Bobby O.
I have not been here in a while and will not be back for even longer. Aside from it being open late, the food is just ok. I had corned beef hash and eggs and the hash was too dry. The decor needs updating and a good cleaning. The place has no restaurant fung shway was misaligned.
(2)Derek S.
This place is amazing!!! Elisa was the best ever she gave us some great options to choose from! I have come here 12 times and never received such great service! She even toot the time to talk about or menue idea for the "hangover" / "breakfast" burger. She was diligent and let the cook know about his great work! Defiantly coming back!
(5)Racquel D.
I've been here twice, and I like it. It's one of those "Open 24 Hours" kind of places, which is cool if you're out and about at random times. Service was fairly alright. First time I was here, I came with my friends for breakfast. They give you a lot, I think, for a pretty cheap price. They have a cool looking OJ machine. And the place smells great because of all the fresh OJ. And they infuse their ice water with lemon at the bottom of the carafes. Pretty smart. And the other time I tried this place was just last night. Our waiter seemed new, so he was sorta sheepish. Very nice nonetheless. I just ordered the mozzarella sticks, and it was just enough to fill me up. Their menu is pretty jam-packed. I'd come back here to try their pancakes and burgers. On the other side of the restaurant is their bar area. I didn't venture off to that side, so I can't really attest to that. Good location since it's right off the Belmont stop.
(4)Ally B.
Great food, great service, great times, open 24 hours, right off the red line, a staple of Chicago nightlife. What more could you ask for? Everyone I know that comes here would definitely say the same about Clarke's. Thanks to Dan for the great service!!
(5)Kylie S.
This is your standard diner fare and it makes me happy. So many brunch places in Chicago are crazy busy on the weekends (and two-hour waits first thing in the morning are not my thing).Clarke's has a 70s look to it, but the food is good and the servers are nice + you almost always get right in with no wait. Parking on the street is possible, but you might have to drive around a bit. It's a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Belmont brown line stop. Bathrooms are atrocious -- so just hold it. Otherwise, enjoy!
(3)Russell G.
Server very sweet. Breakfast, not so much. Pancakes ok, egg white omelet not.
(2)Joshua M.
I've been here a million times and somehow have never written a review. This Clarke's location is actually two places... The Clarke's diner and the "Clarke's After Dark" bar area next door. The "After Dark" place is pretty good. It's a standard grab-a-beer-and-go-somewhere-else sort of place. The diner's got some good breakfast, but the service is terrible. I once had a server who didn't know what a basted egg was. It's no wonder they've started requiring to hold a credit card after dark to eat a meal. Their "walkout" problem is directly proportional to the shitty service. That famous viral Internet photo of "Waited 30 minutes, got no service" written in ketchup on a diner table was from Clarke's. I used to hear stories about customers and employees having sex in the bathrooms. I used to hear horror stories about the kitchen. I once got to the dining room and saw that the sugar shakers had had their caps removed and been inverted on every single table. No doubt a display of "if your servers aren't in the dining room long enough for me to do this, your service sucks." As the other people have said, Clarke's is the best option when it's 4AM and you're wasted. Any other time is just torture.
(1)Jevita N.
Been here a couple of times. Its nothing fancy just a diner on Belmont. The crowd can be live either due to the customers or you happen to be there when next door is having karaoke. All I have ever gotten from here was a burger. They are really good. They offer several different types of patty's from veggie, turkey, beef and more. I've always enjoyed my experience here.
(4)Sneha P.
Decent diner, good service, and right by the red line. A good drunken stop on a late night. The menu is pretty extensive; we tried the gyros. They were ok, about what I expected for a diner. The pita (if you can call it that) was kinda tough, the meat was decent, and the fries were good. I'd go back for another late night stop!
(3)June W.
Reliable diner fare, in fact we're going there tomorrow night. Prompt, friendly service, and reliable tasty food and plenty of it. What's not to like? Great place to grab a quick bite after work, since it's right across Belmont from the Belmont train station.
(4)Jonathan R.
I love late-night food spots and Clarke's is a staple if you're in the area. The portions are big, the food is cheap but very tasty and it's open late! I've always had good service there - even late at night - but I have to imagine that if you get a rowdy crowd in there, service may suffer a bit. The feel of the place is like an old-school ,wood-paneled diner from your grandma's era. This is not a date place. But it's a great place to make one last post-bar memory and not go home hungry.
(4)Patrick F.
Went for breakfast here this morning, the food was fairly average. They had a pretty extensive menu and generous portions but the service wasn't that great. I did like the fact that they offer pancakes on the side with omelets in addition to toast.
(3)Adam R.
The food is cold and the service is horrible. The sausage is not normal breakfast sausage and they do not have biscuits and gravy. WTF. I will be taking the extra effort and going to IHOP.
(1)Kamari P.
Shocked to see bad things said about this place, I guess it's judged differently based on what you're looking for. I know for me 2 years running this place has been the mandatory night cap after enjoying the nightlife in the area. It's open 24 hours, makes a pretty good burger and gets the food out quick. Love it.
(4)Stevie G.
A wise man once told me you can tell a lot about a restaurant by how clean their bathroom is. Well finding vomit all over the urinal, 3 empty drink glasses and people doing the dirty deed in bathroom stalls (yes, sex.) is not something I was looking forward to finding. The waiters run around like headless chickens and the food is comparably to your local Denny's...unless you live around the area and this is your Denny's. If that's the case, I am so so sorry.
(1)Jeff H.
I've been a server for close to 5 years now at a comparable restaurant, so I'm generally pretty lenient when it comes to problems with service since I understand that stuff happens. Servers get swamped, kitchen could be slow on making the food, or one of many other things could have possibly happened. I went there late on a Monday night with a couple when the restaurant was not that busy. The server took a long time to reach our table and even longer to get our drinks after we ordered them. The food took so long to come out that I began wondering if they had even remembered we were in the restaurant. The server never checked up on us after bringing the drinks, so we sat there for close to an hour without any word on the status of our order. When we finally got our food, I wasn't too happy with the quality. My burger was dry and bland, while the fries were limp and soggy. The server did not come back by the table after dropping off the food, so after we finished, we sat around for close to half an hour before we even saw our server in the dining room. I had to go up to our server to request our check. As a server I hate when customers get out of their booth and walk up to me for something, but I guess that's because I actually check up on my tables and do my job. The server could have been busy with something else, but at about 2 hours after we walked in the door, my fellow server friends and I were done making excuses for her. We left a 20% tip still, cause working in the industry, we can't bring ourselves to tip poorly for bad service, but we haven't gone back since. When we're in the area every Monday night and we're looking for a place to eat, one of us always winds up saying "not Clarke's. I don't have another 2 hours to kill."
(1)Stephanie W.
I don't often write bad Yelp reviews, but I seriously had the worst breakfast at Clarke's this morning. My hashbrowns were not browned at all. I ordered over medium eggs and they came out with solid yolks and burned egg whites. I had to send my pancakes back because they were mostly raw and inedible, and when they brought new ones, they were exactly the same. My server asked me to settle the bill right after ordering because his shift was almost over, which I understand, but I left him a $4 tip on an $11 meal, because I feel bad for people working graveyards. But $15 for a meal I couldn't even eat is ridiculous. Even their coffee was watered down and lukewarm. I've had some underwhelming experiences at this place, but nothing that I wouldn't come back for out of convenience. Never again. I would rather wait until the Pick Me Up or Nookie's opens and get a decent breakfast. I almost wish I could give them zero stars.
(1)Chris T.
You only come here when you're drunk. And you'll usually see some craziness going on here in the late hours. There's no single menu option I can recommend as I'm usually hazy when I'm here, but it's all basic diner food, can't really go wrong with any of it.
(3)Kristina M.
So I've been in here a couple times and only sat in the bar side. Every time that I've came in, I've had a good experience. It is a great place to go in you want a couple of drinks and an appetizer. The bartenders always seem like they want to enjoy their job, which makes me more relaxed and enjoy it more.
(4)Anne M.
A friend and I stopped by Clarke's over the weekend when our first choice fell through (closed due to remodeling.. arrgh!). We'd both never been to Clarke's, but I see it on my daily commute, and have always been interested in checking it out, so, we did. Clarke's is a basic diner restaurant. Booths + tables. Brightly lit - not trying to be sexy, just trying to be a diner. Hamburgers + sandwiches. BUT - the menu does not stop there. Oh no - it goes on and on and on. Want mexican? Soup or salad? Breakfast? A shit load of breakfast? A shit load of hamburgers? Sandwiches, and full dinner entrees that come with soup, salad + potato. This menu runs the gamut of food choices - and it's all served 24/7. Anytime I see a menu like this, I have to think - they're trying to cover too many bases... We both went with burgers and played it safe. I chose the turkey burger with steak fries. This was an okay burger - but it had a flavor to it that I didn't care for - I believe it had scallions in it, and other little diced veggies like red/green pepper and maybe more. I would have preferred a less seasoned burger. It came with sprouts (loved that surprise), lettuce, tomato, pickle slices and a ton of red onion. The fries were big, but bland. Our server was attentive, yet left us alone to really take our time and talk. It was nice to not feel rushed or pressured to leave once we were finished eating. And, the diner was quiet enough to actually be able to talk and not have to shout, which was nice. It may not be trendy, but this was a fine spot for a simple, budget-friendly meal.
(3)scott s.
Word To The Wise, I have only been here really drunk & really hungover. With that said, if you want to gorge your self full of amazing shitty greasy food go here Make sure to get the Classic. WHY?? because you a giant skillet of hash browns, bacon, onions, eggs, pancakes, toast...
(5)Christina M.
AH! I'm so mad still! I came to Clarkes Halloween night. Like one am ish. Eleanor was our server. I'm sorry but she was on another level. Our soup came with our dinner.... Doesn't soup come first? How am I supposed to eat everything at the same time!? I asked her why I didn't get my soup earlier and she said she thought we would want the soup with our meal.... ::crickets:; WHAT!? why would I want that? And why not ask? I order the SAME THING EVERYTIME I go and I am very specific. She got my whole order wrong, I even asked for a beer and didn't get it. It was awkward annoying and bleh!! Our food was WARM not hot.... the soup was WARM not hot... the teriyaki sauce was cold and chunky gelatin....BLEH Come on it wasn't busy....all I ask for is good service. We still tipped great because I don't believe in the karma but by no means does that mean the service was exceptional.... Sorry me thinks not. There was a guy in a Halloween costume that looked like a speedo! By no means am I trying to be a hater but I'm sorry love I don't want your junk all in my face while I'm trying to eat a meal. Who's managing this place!?!? It was like a free for all
(1)Karissa R.
This review is the result of an order through GrubHub. The food was fine - but the service is horrible. The estimated delivery time was 1 hour. At 20 minutes late, I called the restaurant and they told me that GrubHub was actually delivering the food and it was their fault because they came to pick it up late - and for anyone who has never ordered GrubHub before, they make it very clear they are not a delivery service. So that was lie #1. He also told me the delivery guy had left 10 minutes prior to me calling, so he should be arriving any minute. It was then another 40 minutes before my food showed up. On a side note - GrubHub was very apologetic and awarded me some free grub for my troubles - YAY GRUBHUB!
(1)Erin C.
First time I've ever been compelled to write a review on yelp, but good God... WORST Bloody Mary I have ever had - It literally was tomato juice and ice. Sent it back and asked them to make it spicier... came back as a glass of tomato juice swirling in pepper. What. The. Fuck. Clarke's.
(2)Stephanie H.
It's in the 'hood so I stopped in for breakfast today. Service is really really slow. The flourescent lights were blinking and the decor is a cross between 50s kitsch and downright embarrassing. I will say, my Big and Healthly omelet and toast was really really good. I wouldn't suggest anyone go out of their way to eat here by any stretch of the imagination, but it's better than that overrated Ann Sather's across the street.
(3)Emy F.
We will never come here again, even if we're starved and all of the other places are closed, we'll just wait to eat a can of green beans. That may sound drastic, but poor service when there are no other tables on top of stale food with MOLD is not acceptable. We popped in for a quick lunch and came out with food with mold all over it. What's the health department's phone number?
(1)Greg L.
Brunch. It's seriously insane almost everywhere in town. You usually end up waiting 50 minutes to be tucked in a corner. Granted the food is good. But Clarke's is good brunch too! It's a pretty standard menu with all the breakfast regulars plus some fancy skillets. The best part is that you might not have any wait at all. Plus you can stay all day for lunch and a bar.
(4)Manda F.
I have only had their pancakes here, but I LOVE it. I had the Cinnamon Bun pancakes, and they are well worth the wait. They warn you to allow for some time, I believe 30 min.) for the pancakes. I've been to their other locations, and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)Jen S.
The last three times I've found myself at Clarke's, I found myself leaving saying I will never go there again (at least not the Belmont location). Once again, I ended up there last night and it was just really gross. The server was rude, the bathrooms were filthy and massive flies were covering the toilets and I now apparently have food poisoning. This time I mean it: never again.
(1)Jessica K.
I want so badly to like it here. Their menu is kitsch ad fun! They have great options! Their breakfasts cure hangovers, even though you can slipt one with like three people because they're so huge! But if you go here sober, well...it's kinda disappointing. Unless you're going there for a plate of waffle fries. Then you're in heaven. Most of the food is standard diner, right, but there's an occasion "wtf?" that will occur when your food actually arrives. Take for example, the Turkey Burger. The Turkey Burger is simply listed as a Turkey Burger. With lettuce and tomato and such. On a Bun. Totes normal. When it comes to you, though, it's a turkey patty with various bell peppers and onions mixed in. There is avocado and a nest of bean sprouts on top. I take no issue with the avocado or the bean sprouts. But if you're mixing peppers and onions into your burger, and you don't say so on the menu, you can't expect people to not be like "what is this?" when you bring it out. I hate peppers. Hate them. Though, my boyfriend, who does not hate peppers and had a bite of my burger, still said it was pretty gross and ate everything else on the table to get the taste of the Turkey burger out of his mouth. I won't stop going to Clarke's, because their Grilled Cheese is pretty good, but just consider this a PSA: if there's something you're seriously just against being in your food, and you want to go to Clarke's, VERIFY that is is DEFINITELY not going to be in your food. The more you knoooooow.
(2)Richard D.
Bad service and even worse food.
(1)Victoria B.
I've been coming here for years and the food and the service just seems to be getting worse and worse. The food used to be good once upon a time. They need to change the management and probably renovate. I'm still surprised this place is still open but that's probably only due to the fact that they make most of there money off of burly neanderthals in the bar just like most of Wrigleyville and that they have other locations.
(1)Marco C.
Tip: If a restaurant generally has bad reviews, it's probably best to just avoid it. Food: Took for ever to get and was cold. Waiter: Bad attitude and horrible customer service. Oh, and what was the deal with having to pay your food before you get it or give them your credit card to hold?!? Follow everybody's advice and just avoid this location!
(1)Amie C.
Dear Clarke's- You're a diner. I have certain expectations of a diner. One of them is delicious grilled cheese and soup. My grilled cheese was severely lacking. What? I don't know, but it was lacking. Chicken noodle soup was ok. My experience with you may have been colored by the annoying person I was with so I'll give you a try again but you have a lot to live up to to be compared to my favorite diner that is much closer to my house. I'm not a name dropper but it rhymes with smelrose smafè. Haha
(2)Ebs B.
What?! It's what time? You're hungry because you've been down the street living it up? And now you want to go somewhere to get something to eat, anything...well, darn it, the only place open that's kind of decent is this place called Clarke's and by-gosh, let's go. Friday night was my first time here and it probably won't be my last considering I go out in the area quite a bit. The food was not that fantastic, but come on, it's a 24 hour diner that caters to those of us who forgot to eat before we drank. My spinach artichoke dip was ice cold, but the server did go microwave it for me, so... It's okay, not great. It is what it is. For breakfast all day, sandwiches, and appetizers, all in the middle of a fun night, Clarke's does it for me...
(3)Jean C.
It's been years since I've been here. I recall coming back frequently so the food must have been at least decent. However, BEST POTATO SKINS EVARRRR! It's just a diner so don't expect to take your first date there.
(4)Todd S.
This was perhaps the worst breakfast we have ever eaten as a couple. After paying $9 for a basic omelet that looked like cardboard, we questioned why we ventured out at all.
(1)Rebecca H.
It's diner food, what do you expect?
(2)Stephanie S.
Hollywood salad. So good. Don't even bother with the dressing, it doesn't need it. I'm still dreaming about it.
(5)Amanda E.
I am a fan of their bloody Mary's. I'm not sure but they used to be cheap on Sunday, didn't check if they still do that on my recent visit. The service here usually sucks. Have to wait a long time for your server, and can never find them. I do love their skillets can't say I ever had a bda one. My hubby had the blueberry waffle and said the blueberries weren't fresh. That is unfortunate. I will probably go again, but on a Sunday and will be disappointed if the bloody Mary isn't cheap.
(3)Christina R.
I am obsessed with this clarkes - in particular, their server Megan. She is so sweet, so attentive, and makes coming here an absolute joy. I have spent many a late night here studying and feel so lucky to have found this place. Come here and ask for Megan!
(5)Angela G.
Meh. That's the best I can do. My girlfriend and I decided to have lunch here. I had a Caesar salad with chicken and the individual cheese pizza. My friend had a house salad with honey mustard dressing and the meat lovers pizza. My salad was delicious, although I didn't have the Caesar dressing. (had the house dressing) The pizza was something else. My friend had one bite of her pizza and said she didn't like it. I asked her what was wrong. The sausage is terrible she said. I didn't taste it but it looked like it was breakfast sausage chopped up. The cheese pizza was OK but it let something to be desired. I also didn't like the fact that he (waiter) took away my tea before I finished. I probably would give them another try. I would definitely try something else on the menu.
(3)Amber E.
The ice cream sundae we ordered was very good, and the fresh squeezed orange juice they were making smelled sooo good, but the fact that it took nearly half an hour to have our simple order taken sort of killed the experience. The fact that it was good and right across from our hotel made it worth the stop, but we couldn't help but be annoyed that, with only half a dozen people in the entire place at midnight, it took so long to be tended to. The man that was bussing tables however, was great, he was refilling our water before it even got empty and was smiling and friendly every time he approached. We really appreciated that since our waitress couldn't be bothered to do the same. I would still go back and try again, but if the wait was long again, it would be the last time.
(3)Adam A.
Clarke's is a solid diner with solid diner food. It's great for late night (24hr) dining. The servers are all super nice but I find that they aren't really knowledgeable or consistent when it comes to specials or side items. The vegetarian chili is amazing and a bowl will totally fill you up. This also applies for the homemade chicken noodle and tomato soups. The salads are nothing to me messed with as they are huge. The buffalo chicken salad is my favorite. Fresh squeezed orange juice and cocktails from the bar make this a great breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner/drunk dining spot.
(4)Karen T.
24 hour diner in Chicago. Close to boystown...makes for interesting 4-5am trips. If it's not crowded, it's great, the service is fine and food is decent. if not, well then, it turns into a shitshow. PS: Their sweet potato fries are bomb. especially for drunk munchies. Definitely beats the 7-11 across from Roscoe's. You know what I'm talking about. (:
(3)Carolynne M.
I didn't mind this place. I liked our server and really enjoyed my tomato rice soup along with my grilled cheese sandwich. Its just a basic, cheapy diner. BUT. There is a new section where it looks like they took over the space next door and we were seated there. I hated this space with the heat of a thousand suns. It was remodeled in an extremely ugly way with some walls purplish grey and others light blue. Lighting was bad and the entire back of the room (where we sat) was dim even during a bright, sunny day. The wood trim was this glossy pale blonde colour and there was this weird thing on the wall that looked like strips of wood framing a beer tap handle. Awful. I will try to forgive a lot of mistakes in restaurant decor, especially in a diner setting, but this was too much. It is so bad that if we went back and they tried to put us over there a second time, I would leave. It was bad SOBER, I cant imagine how much worse it would be if I were drunk. Seriously. Clarke's for chrissake if you are listening, I will help you fix up that side FOR FREE. This is an experienced interior designer talking. Dear lord, dont put any more people through that. Do you have a sudden upsurge with inebriated people vomiting everywhere? Yeah, its probably from that room.
(3)Adam M.
I've been here four times and I think I've finally learned my lesson. Each time I kept thinking that the service had to improve. There was no way it could always be that bad. Wellllll I was wrong. It would be impossible to summerize the poor quality of this place without this review turning into a novel. I suggest reading most of the one and two star reviews to get a good consensus. Awful wait staff, average food, too expensive for the quality of said food, and a lot of issues getting exactly what you ordered to be given to you correctly. Only good thing about my experience was the cute waitress the last time I was there who (surprisingly from the others working) seemed legitimately sorry for the long wait times, long food arrival, etc. Super apologetic the entire time. She'll be gone soon I'm sure.
(1)Maryann M.
Really, I enjoy the food at Clarke's. I enjoy meeting friends there for a bite to eat for lunch, or a late night meet-up for coffee and desserts. My favorite late night munch? Reese's Sweet Nuttin' Cheesecake and a Hot Cocoa (whipped cream, please!) Also, who can complain about 24/7 breakfast? Not me! Service has been a common complaint though. My experience has gone both ways. The first time I ever went to Clarke's, and had an uninterested, disengaged server who took a very long time to take orders and pick up the bill. The second time I went, the waitress was kind, cracked jokes with us, and was quick on her feet. Times after that, I had a back and forth of service, some good, some less than great. The last time I went was the best. One of the waitresses chatted with me while I waited for a friend, and when my friend arrived, our server was very friendly, checked on us multiple times, refilling drinks, carrying light conversation, and was quick with delivering and taking up our bill. My overall vote? Four stars. Thank you to all of the servers who have been friendly to my company.
(4)Misha S.
Horrible service, crappy food and way too expensive. I feel like this place is just one of those "serve them whatever, they're probably drunk anyways" places. The server was extremely rude and wouldn't even answer our questions about ingredients used in a few of the dishes. I understand that he might not think that's part of his job, but I work at a lousy fast-food sandwich shop and I spend more time with customer's than this guy did. He flat out said "nothing here is vegetarian or vegan" after we already ordered and walked away, never even speaking to us again, even after bring us our vegetarian chili and salad. Nothing is vegetarian? I'm not sure he even knew what vegetarian meant. I was so uncomfortable with the server's attitude after that I found it hard to eat. Either way, it was all very disappointing. I only went here with a friend because it was past midnight and we were looking for a bite to eat. From now on I'll know never to return to waste money on horrible food and horrible service. Sorry Clarke's, but you're just a junky diner.
(1)Justin H.
Horrible service, horrible food (but the portions are large) lame atmosphere. Stay away! Don't you hate it when servers tell you they can't split a check? WTF? Why? Is it really that difficult. "I would have to void your order and start over" Okay, well do that. I usually wouldn't yelp or complain, but my co-worker and I need to keep our receipts for our expense reports. Sure, we should have said something up front, but this is 2009, learn how to use the computer. Seriously, FOOD BLOWS!
(1)Gina R.
Decent diner fair, made much better with intoxication. Totally satisfying as long as you stick to the normal diner stuff. Tacos? No no. Grilled cheese, burger, shake, fries? Yes yes. You have been warned! And fyi there are a ton of 24 hour places in this neighborhood. Lots of people like Pick Me Up and Melrose, though Clarke's is probably (by a narrow margin) my favorite out of the bunch.
(3)Kevin D.
Its open 24 hours so its a great place to go for late night munchies when you're drunk, but the food is pretty bad and somewhat expensive
(2)Matt K.
Up until last Friday, I had not had Clarke's in quite some time. There is a reason for this: The only time Clarke's is good is when you're drunk. Hell, even then it's not very good. The last time I was there, we walked (read: crawled) in at around 5:30 in the morning. I got a spinach omelette. It came with pancakes, but a hungry koala ate them before I got a chance. The omelette was gross. I barely finished it, and I only made it as far as I did because I was starving. Also, everyone who got coffee came to the conclusion that they had slipped us decaf because it was so weak and crappy. Boo. The next morning I woke up to that omelette plotting its revenge. As I sat in bed wondering if I really wanted to go destroy someone else's bathroom, I decided I would not be returning.
(2)Courtney M.
It's open at all hours and you can get breakfast whenever. OK by me!
(3)George R.
THE PROS: - Open late night... which can be good after a long evening out when the bars and clubs have closed. - A few large booths... that can seat a group of 6 people. - Location on Belmont right next to an L station... making it convenient to take public transportation (Red/Brown/Purple Line - Belmont stop). - You won't be bothered by your wait person... giving you plenty of time to chat with friends and you won't feel rushed to finish your meal. THE CONS: - Open late night... which can attract a louder crowd after they leave the bars and clubs. - A few large booths that can seat a group of 6 people... but they won't ring up separate checks to pay for your meal. - Location on Belmont right next to an L station... which means there will always be a flow of patrons and the service doesn't have to live up to a standard to keep attracting customers. - You won't be bothered by your wait person... and you may have to wait a long time for them to take your order and bring your food. Seriously, it wasn't all that bad. Some friends and I stopped in for a quick snack after a night out on the town, so I wasn't looking for anything special or the best service in the book. When I needed something l flagged down my wait person and got what I needed. Just roll with the punches.
(2)Steve H.
Lets get one things straight...Clarkes is not the best late night diner in Chicago. And it doesn't try to be. It's located just off the Belmont L stop and is the staple diner for any drunkard like myself looking for food at 4am. I've found myself here many a night after numerous swigs of whiskey. I find the food to be a little expensive for the quality. Not that its bad, it certainly does the trick. It's just not to d My favorite part of the Clarkes is the overall experience. The people, the booze, the staff...it all comes together at Clarkes and makes for a definitive late night experience.
(3)Johnny B.
Three friends and I came here one night at 3 in the morning after a very heavy day of boozing. We were looking for some greasy fair to soak up some of the alcohol in a hopeful preemptive strike on the next day's hangover. Unfortunately all I can comment on are the booths. They were nice, but not good enough to overcome the 20 MINUTES WHEN NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGED US! The tables around us had sporadic service throughout the wait, but the servers did not seem to be particularly busy. They weren't running around haphazardly, but simply looked like normal diner staff. Except they never once looked, said, or even coughed in our direction. We waved. We tried to ask for help. Nothing. I'd love to admit we were being drunk assholes, and thats why we never were addressed by a member of the staff, but we were some of the quieter folks in Clarkes. Not worth it when I can wait in line at any of the hot dog stands or burrito places where I know someone will at least be forced to take my order.
(1)Nick S.
Clarke's has multiple locations and I've lived by 2 of them. So it's kind of hard to avoid stopping in. I enjoy diners in the wee hours of the night, and that's probably the only time I ever go into them. They have a large menu, but I don't think anything is really amazing. I actually don't think I've ordered anything more than once aside from milkshakes. Good skillets, decent burgers (except for the one time I went and my burger tasted "less than fresh") The salads are ENORMOUS but also come drenched in dressing. (ask for it on the side). Really friendly wait-staff.
(3)Kristina K.
Food is consistent. You're looking for a place that's open late and will offer consistent, warm and large portioned food. I stress the food is consistent, because the waitstaff if not. Don't sit by the door in the winter, or expect to wear your coat when you eat. Be nice to the staff, they are under lots of stress and trying to take care of the drunks and people with hangovers. The bathrooms are... meh! I barfed in there once, but not because of the food. The food is a-okay diner food, but nothing to write home about. This is my favorite location of the bunch.
(3)Isaac H.
I used to go here at least twice a week. Smoke up, coffee, friends, and ruckus 'til sunrise. But ever since the smoking ban, the new renovations, and fresh crop of waiters/waitresses - it's been anything but worth my time for a 24 hour diner. Admittedly, a select few staff veterans improve my experience there, and the food is consistent for a diner in this area. But I rarely see the veteran staff (those who know what they're doing and stop by more than twice), and I only order what has always been good for me, a Clark Burger. So I couldn't say my opinions are a fair assessment, but I gotta say. Clark's just isn't what it used to be, and not the rehabbed bar area(what used to be the smoking area) nor a handful more of flat screens on the ceiling corners will save them. I've been in and out for the past few years, and lately - it's been significantly less. There's definitely better diners out there in the area. It's the worth the walk in my opinion.
(2)Mara A.
I've been here numerous times and every time had good food. Also, every time i've been here, have had bad service. Rude and slow. They have gotten my order wrong a few times as well. The music is too loud and before the whole "no smoking" law happened, you couldn't breathe for the life of you. Although they have many bads, the 3 stars are for the good food. Good quesadillas, veggies burgers, spinach dip. Affordable and tasty.
(3)Neil A.
This place is what it is. It's about as good as you're going to get for a 24 hour joint; I haven't had any major issues going here. It's about the quality of a Golden Nugget, which isn't saying much. If you want food, they won't disappoint. If you say, "Hey I would like this edible morsel of beef or eggs or whatever", that's what they will give you. The less complicated, the better. Most people stumble in looking for just that because they're wasted. That's my main reason. I think the cooks are aware of this and so they don't try very hard. The Irish girl is nice tho. My buddy Shane once tried to impress her with his false Irish brogue. I think he failed. :)
(3)Jennifer K.
I have eaten here quite a few times, and I always get the same thing - the Zorba Omelette (feta, spinach, tomatoes, onions) with a slice of American cheese on top. It is always excellent, which is why I always get it. The service here sucks. Plain and simple. But the meals that I've had here have always been very tasty. If you are in the hood and need a place to grab a bite (and crappy service isn't an issue for you ) give Clarke's a try.
(3)Brandie T.
P'tui! I so did not want to write a bad review - I'm sorry, I cannot help it. I'm also sorry I didn't read the reviews before I went! I hadn't planned that far ahead.... I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop on the way to the EL stop. I should have just gone to the EL stop. It would have left me more fulfilled! It started out 'fun' enough - I love old clip art, and this place is full of it - the Christmas decorations are copious and nicely done, the menu, also full of fun old clip art -- that's where the 'romance' ended for me... I ordered the "Chicken Cordeon Bleu - chicken, cheese, bacon ...and BBQ sauce? really? well, I tried it anyway It was under the 'entree' heading, but it's actually a sandwich. It wasn't horrible - but nothing to get all a twitter about either. Certainly NOT worth the $9.99 they charge for it. It came with either salad or Soup - I love tomato soup - and since it was one of the choices, I took that. add the little crackers that come with it - took one bite -- BLEH! I know they CALLED it tomato soup -- it LOOKED like tomato soup, but what ever it was they brought me, was NOT tomato soup. The steak fries were mealy and disgusting...The Cherry Coke? flat. Oh well, I will chalk it up to 'lesson learned'
(1)Yeye P.
I just needed to mention that last night, around 3:30 in the morning, everyone in the restaurant was singing along to "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes, as loud as possible! It was pretty awesome. Oh, and my spinach and feta egg white omelet with fries and pancakes was pretty good too.
(3)Azad N.
Went here for dinner the other night and was pretty disappointed. First of all, The booths are ripped up and have huge pieces of duct tape trying to hold them together...not a welcoming sight. But moreover, we were sitting down for almost 15 minutes before someone arrived to take our order. I was so frustrated, especially because so many people on the staff were walking by our table and just trying to appear busy. Finally, someone came to take our order. He was a nice guy but not really apologetic about our having had to wait for so long. He took our order and while we waited for our food to arrive, we saw some folks who appeared incredibly irritated because their food was taking a long time to come out. Luckily, our food came quickly but it was mediocre. The patty melt is more like a burger on sliced bread rather than a bun and the waffle fries were cold...I almost wonder if they were Ore Ida's frozen waffle fries. Overall, a very unpleasant experience. I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone except as a very last resort.
(2)Dani C.
The food is sub-par. basically no vegetarian options unless you want breakfast. coffee is bad from what i remember. they DO have good chocolate chip pancakes though. really, if you're going to go here, trek the extra few blocks and go to the melrose instead! it's well worth the walk!
(1)Carl H.
My friends and I go here often. Now, the question is why. The service goes from mediocre to awful. It's kinda pricey for the type of food. It's often crowded. The men's room is generally in various states of disrepair. Is the only reason we go here because it's near other things we like and it open forever and a half? Wait, that's right. Because when the food's good, it's GOOD. Especially the breakfast, whether we're talking egg-based combinations or delicious pancakes and waffles.
(3)Samantha L.
My story begins like any story on a Saturday night might go. Went to a bar with the boyfriend, drank a bunch of drinks, left said bar and decided to get some late night eats. Except I am sorry to say that this story does not have a happy ending. Where to begin? We were at a bar in the neighborhood and since neither of us ate dinner I pulled out my phone and searched for 24 hour restaurants in the area. One of the first places I see is Clarke's and I exclaim "Oh gosh! That place is so good, I haven't been there since high school but I remember it being awesome!" So wrong, so so wrong. We go there, get a table, and review the menu. At this point we think that we have hit the jackpot considering the following; it was really busy at 2am (which I would assume meant it was worth it), the menu had EVERYTHING on it - breakfast food, mexican, burgers, sandwiches, awesome selection, and to top it all off they serve BOOZE! Woo hoo! The boyfriend was very pleased. I sat extra high in my booth patting myself on the back for rediscovering Clarke's. At that point I thought, "Wow, this could be a new regular place for us to come to!" So wrong, so so wrong. The waitress took a while to take our order, but it was busy so we didn't care. The thing is that she barely checked on us the whole time. The food took a while, and our appetizer and meals came out at the same time. We ordered jalapeno poppers, a tuna melt, and he had some sort of mexican omelet thing. The poppers were kind of cold and burnt, how is this even possible? They definitely came out of a box, probably tgi friday's that you get at the grocery store. My tuna melt was OK, but it had bacon on it which tasted really funny so I had to take it off. I love bacon, who the f*** ever takes bacon OFF of something. It hurt me to do it, it really did. I don't even know what to tell you about his chillaquile omelet puke thing. It looked like someone took a can of Alpo dog food, poured it in a skillet, and put scrambled eggs on top of it. He was a little drunk and even he wouldn't finish it. He didn't complain about it much, he took it like a man, but he looked sad when he was eating it and just said "it's not that great." It made me a little sad, it really did. Watching him eat it made me feel nauseous, it was truly that bad! And to top it all off my fries were cold. Are you serious?! I hate when places do that, especially since they were so busy, you know that they are constantly making fries, it just plain pisses me off. To break it down, Clarke's was good once upon a time, it's not good anymore. The concept is good, execution is terrible, and it is bad enough that you know that the manager and owner don't give a damn. This place has 290 reviews and a 2.5 star rating, and it's a diner! How pathetic is that?! I will never go here again, ever. The food sucks plain and simple.
(1)Alison M.
Looking for a quick dinner on Saturday I wandered into Clarke's at about 7pm. My friend and I stood with a group of three people who had come in before us. Clarke's wasn't very busy, but it still took awhile for the hostess to come to the front to seat us. She asked them how many people were in the party in front of us, seated them, walked away, and never came back. We waited about ten minutes, and left. Seriously Clarke's, it's not 2am, you can't treat people like that yet.
(2)Jorge V.
I will never ever go back to this dump ever again. Just went in today around 10:30 pm. Place had around 6 full tables and that about it. Me and my friends waited 5 minutes before a server even noticed we were waiting siting to sit down. Handed the menus and left. Next me and my friend had to sit there for 10 minutes before our server even came back to us. Other servers walking us and none of them seem to care that we were there waiting to order . I Order a turkey burger, and my best friend had a gyro sandwich. She specially told him only lettuce and the sauce. The food I got was quiet disgusting. Their turkey burger is a joke it's more of a veggi patty then anything. When I asked a server what kind of burger it was he looked at me as if I was stupid and said its what you order a turkey and he walked away. My friend got tomatoes, onions and no lettuce on her sandwich yet she told him what she wanted. I sat their disappointed and pissed off and ate the sweet potato fries, I couldn't even return the burger because our server disappear and didn't even. Other to check on us. A different server gave us our check, but yet they don't seem to care or acknowledge the fact the I left a whole burger on a plate. I will never be going back to this place it truly is a joke. Maybe other food is good but I will definitely will not try it. Service is also a joke and horrible.
(1)Chaviva G.
On a hot, gross summer day a year and a half ago I went to this establishment with the boy I was trying to get back into my life. We sat outside, sweating, and consumed burgers and fries. I don't remember much about the food from that outing, I remember being nervous and miserable in the heat. We went back again after I'd moved here and we'd reconciled, but even then, I don't remember the food. So now -- without said boy in my life -- I went there for dinner tonight. I now recall why the food is absolutely unworthy of memory ... not because of my ridiculous loves me loves me not memories, but because it's just ... mediocre. Maybe not even mediocre. It's just there. There's no criteria in my book to even notch it up to. The service is horrible. I left tonight without getting my bill, leaving enough on the table to cover the meal. The water tasted funny and the staff were too caught up in their own comings and goings to seat people -- leave that to the busboy! So aside from some fun decorations, this place is worth skipping. The food is overpriced for what it is in most instances (except maybe the burger), but the fries come overcooked and aside from fresh produce, there's not much going on here. So skip it. Leave your memories in the booth and run for the hills! Or a decent burger joint or diner.
(1)Diana H.
I used to stop in here for lunch when I lived up on Belmont. Definitely unhealthy fare. Not the cleanest establishment. Service tends to be sucky. But I must give Clarke's three stars due to their tomato soup! I don't know what the &#@ they put in that stuff (although I highly suspect it is NOT any kind of tomato product), but I find it absolutely orgasmic! Uh-oh. Am I telling you more about myself than you need to know? I hope not. Well, in any case, that's some wicked good soup! Yum!
(3)Veronicka L.
There's not much new I can say that hasn't already been said . . . Poor service, mediocre food, overpriced, they love to squeeze large parties into small booths, etc. I'll eat here in the Summer as it is the only place around with outdoor seating. And what is up with the bathroom? Why is there a lock on the outside? Do they plan on holding me hostage?
(2)Kiarash Z.
I arrived at Clarkes with three friends after a night of dancing at Neo. We were seated after five minutes, then spent another 20 minutes waiting for service. One of my friends became fed up and left. Another went to find a server. He found one, who told him he couldn't help us and that our designated server was gossiping around the corner. So my friend ran around the corner and found her. She was, indeed, gabbing instead of serving us. When our server finally got to our table, she SAT DOWN to get our orders. Satirically, we asked, "So how's it going?" "Ohhh, y'know, working at Clarkes," she said with disgust. I wanted to leave. The coffee was godawful. The silver dollar pancakes were a joke. The barbecue pizza and steak fries weren't bad. I won't be going back.
(1)Chris S.
The Clarke's of old, was a "what you see is what you get" sort of place. Kind of clean, food was kind of good, but you really went there to people watch. I spent a lot of time here battling depression, drinking coffee and mocking hipsters. But that was a long time ago and I've found better dives. When did I start losing interest in Clarke's? I think the downfall was when they started remodeling. Then they started serving beer. Then dumb dude-bros. started stumbling in saying wonderfully awful things like "oh, dude! They serve beer here!" It's a shame, because I got know a lot of the wait staff and they were pretty nice kids. Now it's over priced and the days of watching Trannies argue over the who is going to pay the bill and watching various crazies interact with each other are long gone. Avoid this place on weekends late at night at all costs.
(2)Linda C.
This was the worst diner experience I've ever had. Our group of 5 started with the spinach artichoke dip with pita. After waiting a good 15 minutes before it arrived the dip was bland and tasteless. A few of my friends complained a funky smell....In addition to the bland dip, we ordered 3 different burgers which were VERY dry. I had the count of monte cristo. The bread was very greasy and had a sweet cinnamony taste which I did not enjoy. The meat was suppose to be Boars Head brand but was extremely salty. I strongly doubt they used Boars Head. Don't order the Kraft Mac n Cheese b/c it's a total rip off. For $1.99 I could drown in the stuff at home. The best part of the meal were the sweet potato fries. So the food was mediocre at best but the service was nonexistent. Had to waive down the waitress a couple of times for a refill on our water carafe. When we got the bill there was an automatic 18% gratuity added to the bill. For such crappy service I would not have given them a penny. Wish I read the reviews here before we went.
(1)Tom F.
I've been racking my brain, trying to come up with something interesting to say about this place. Sorry, I've got nothing. The food is okay, I guess (except for the potatoes that accompany the breakfast dishes, which are kind of nasty). The service ranges from competent to rude. The clientele, at times, is somewhat questionable. The best I can say is that if you are on Belmont at 4 a.m. and are starving to death, Clarke's will do the job. Not my finest review. But Clarke's didn't give me much to work with.
(2)Katelyn C.
One star for our waitress who was flustered with three tables. At the same time I can't blame her, it was about nine am on a Saturday and as I looked around I noticed every customer looked hungover; even more than myself. The food is yummy but the prices are a little higher than they should be. A blt should never be more than six or seven dollars; unless if someone is freshly cutting my Bacon off a pig or churning my mayonnaise. I really don't get all the hype about this place, but ill admit they do have good hangover food, for those of us who like the grease to keep last nights liquor down.
(3)Mihir P.
It'll work after a concert - it's a 1/2 block from the Vic Theatre. The tomato soup is tomato sauce. Thick cheesy nasty tomato sauce. Burger is edible. Fries are steak fries - so fat and mushy. Service is nice but our waitress had many tables so a tad spotty.
(2)Dean K.
I was walking to Melrose but it started to rain, so I ran in to Clarke's to give it another shot. This time, it was really good. The potatoes were great (unlike last time) and the eggs were perfectly poached. Plus, they have really good diner coffee. Hopefully, the first time I went was just an "off day" for them.
(4)Nicole L.
I really used to enjoy Clarke's, the festive spirit everyday filled this restaurant along with customers. Now with the great help of Yelp! I've been finding much better restaurants than the traditional ones I'm used to. Clarke's not to long ago was under new management and since the change the glamour of Clarke's rapidly diminished. The staff is uniformed with no crazy hair colors or visible tattoo's. The music isn't blasting along with the smoking banned, it just seemed to be plain. The food is over priced and taste horrible. Intoxication would be a must to even settle for the new Clarke's. Thanks but no thanks.
(2)Susan F.
I ate here awhile ago and thought I'd put in my two cents. After work a couple of co-workers and myself stopped inside for a good little cheap dinner. Their menu is pretty awesome-hence the 2 stars. Typical diner, right by the EL The service, however, was TERRIBLE It took the waitress 15 minutes to come say hi to us and give us water. Keep in mind there were about 8 people in the place, including us. The first waitress told us she was not in charge of our table and that "someone else" would take care of us. 15 minutes later, in a very open spaced diner, someone came over to help us. Bathroom was pretty gross, BUT the buffalo chicken salad wasn't too shabby!! Cool beans.
(1)Justin H.
Diner of Lakeview Your food and shakes make me twitch Just don't start to bitch
(4)Bridgette K.
So this was the place to come after every tattoo the food is decent the cookie desert is good. The appitizers are good. Great after a night out don't know where to head to this is your spot. Service is a hit or miss the servers can sometimes be ignorant but hey who wants to be working at 2am?
(3)shaina v.
This is my favorite of the Clarke's. Mostly because of the ambiance. I'm partial to the blueberry waffle. I also like the two egg combo. The tomato soup is great. The sweet potato fries are also good. I like that its open all the time. The service is slow most of the time and the waiter usually seems annoyed. Seems to be the place to find semi-punk teenagers if you are in to that sort of thing. I go here when I want to eat breakfast food in the middle of the night and don't want to spend a lot of money. If you are willing to wait for them, the apple baked pancakes are good.
(3)Gina Kathleen G.
Always a big fan of Clarke's. I enjoy it best before bar close when nobody is around. The servers are always really nice and fun. I like the atmosphere with singing employees. I suppose I pretty much always order the same thing but it's always tasty. They also have Atmosphere on the jukebox and they have some good-lookin' folks there!
(4)Roman T.
Are there good reasons for eating here? I suppose if there had been a horrible war and this was the only place still serving food. Other than that? Not so much. Every time I have been there I keep hoping that it will improve, yet it never does. Most recently, It took me almost an hour to get a simple tuna melt. Of course, it wouldn't have been nearly as long if I had simply decided to keep the first one they brought me, where the cheese was burned on half. Not just melted, burned to a black crisp. Add in the fact that it took 15 minutes to get seated despite the place being only half full and it all added up to an hour long meal that should have taken 1/3 the time. Save your time and money and go somewhere else.
(1)Jamie R.
something must be wrong with me. yes, the service is bad, the decor is terrible, 90% of the people are belligerently drunk, the public bathroom is practically inside the kitchen, people will steal anything not stuck to you...but they have the best post-drinking grub in the city. just request a seat away from the front window or you'll get a front row seat to a tranny row peepshow while you eat your eggs...i mean...unless you're into that.
(4)Katarina X.
Hmmm... seems a bit like rating a McDonald's, but there you have it, Here I go: Like any McD's or loathesome fast-food entity you have got to keep it simple: If you order a cheeseburger medium-well and the server rolls her eyes- so what? (S)He's likely just envious at not being able to function at the inebriated level you are; Oh yeah, 'cause if you are here, you are likely deeply loaded, toasted, WASTED, looking to sober up on some sloppy, greasy plates of deep-fried goodness. So on the quasi-bar-food scale I give it two stars. The extra one arrives because I saw the band Franz Ferdinand carousing here- i don't entirely understand it, as Alex is supposed to be a true gourmand and food critic/writer... but hey, good looking, intelligent, really well-dressed rock stars? At a place where I can actually afford to send them drinks? What's there not to like? Wait, I know, the fella who saw Rob Zombie at a booth here. How i envy you... All in all, a fitting way to envy a night of revelry!
(3)Jonathan C.
I used to frequent this place prior to going to shows at the Bottom Lounge (RIP) across the street. Food was never anything to write home about. Average at its best. Interior is a bit older and run down. Service is hit or miss. Parking is not so good in this neighborhood.
(2)D K.
Typical diner fare for the most part, which is fine. I've only been here once, but the one typical thing I ordered - that they tried to do in a sort of an atypical way - missed. Huge chunks of carrots in a veggie quesadilla just don't quite work. However, the fresh-squeezed OJ is a must - if there are two of you, share a liter!
(3)Steve R.
Absolutely nothing outstanding about it at all. There are way way WAY better greasy spoons to go to in Chicago. The food was so-so, the service ok, the ambiance identical to a Dennys or any such place. If you're already nearby and hammered this'll do the trick but I'd never go out of my way to eat here. The kooky 50s style sign makes me want to vomit blood.
(2)Melissa B.
Awful. Just awful. Terrible service, blah food. Yes, it's open 24 hours, but walk a little further and go to Melrose Diner instead.
(1)Ross B.
The first time you visit Chicago, Clarke's really seems like the real deal. "I'll eat here every day!" you exclaim on the way back to your hotel. By the fifth time, you notice that you're sharing a booth with a suburban runaway hustler in an AFI hoodie, and your broccoli omelet is full of tarantulas.
(1)Ryan M.
HUGE portions, a bit on the pricey side, but great omelettes. I had the "Yee-Haw" (Western Omelette) and it was quite good.
(4)Lesley S.
Standard food, pretty much like any other diner in Chicago. Only difference I saw is that you can get alcohol here. Pretty nice when you want a bloody mary with your brunch on Saturday morning. Seemed to be full of people recovering from hangovers.
(3)Katie R.
actually a little pricey for diner food. i've never had a GOOD meal or had GOOD service here. in fact, it's made two of my friends sick before. i have a tough stomach, but i can see where that could happen.
(2)Ali A.
This place has a soft spot in my heart because this place is one of the reasons I want to move to Chicago so much. The people that frequent Clarke's are cool and eclectic. The food selection is huge and the hours are amazing because no one likes to sleep in Chicago or at least I didn't. Thanks for the memories.
(5)Jeni Z.
I've been in there countless times. I used to go there all the time. Why? 2 reasons: the quesadillas and the potato skins. I don't go there anymore. Why? 2 reasons: one is that I saw a roach in the bathroom and the other is that one night I went there with my fiance and a friend after drinking. My fiance went to the washroom and never came out. So my friend and I checked the washrooms. Nothing. We leave, search the area, still can't find my fiance. We go back to Clarke's and my friend went into the kitchen, into the downstairs, and looked for my fiance in their damn freezers. NO ONE STOPPED HIM. No one even asked who he was or what he was doing. All of the employees pretty much ignored him. It ended up that my fiance went into an employees only washroom and fell asleep in there. Again, none of the employees questioned it. Granted these stories are a couple years old so the staff might be different, but... I doubt much else is. Oh, and a waiter I once had said that the reason they stopped having you pay by the front is because the cash register that they had there was stolen. Supposedly a man went in and told an employee that he was there to pick up the cash register for repairs and walked off with it. Not sure if it was true, but that's what the guy said. Folks, if it's late and you're hungry, there's a good little Mexican restaurant, there's Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, The Melrose on Broadway... you've got options! Phillies Best is open until Midnight. And if it's breakfast, for Christ sakes go to Ann Sathers or walk the few blocks to Julius Meinl on Addison and Southport! THERE'S HOPE!
(2)Keely B.
1950's themed diner. Decent quality diner food. The chicken salad is quite good, and you can get it on a pita. I also recommend the Chocolate Decadence cake. The service sucks, but it's open 24 hours, and won't strap you for cash. They also don't care if you sit there for hours drinking coffee, so if you're looking to catch up with someone, it's not a bad place to be. Plus, it's across the street from the red line, so it's convenient.
(3)Elena D.
It has that easily accessible glossy diner appeal that makes college students on an erratic schedule happy and full. The menu's pretty standard. The 9" pizza is bland. Nachos are good, and if you're in the mood for breakfast, go for the pancakes. They have the standard vegetarian burger option, and there's a smoking section (the others are second hand smoking sections, ha ha). If you're going to go to Clarke's at 4:30 in the morning, try to be under the influence of something-the wait staff usually are, and so are the other customers-helps to be on the same page. Service at any time of the day tends to suck. Once when a friend and I were there, our waiter just sat down next to a table of loud inebriated females, and I had to flag him down to get the check. She actually apologized to him for me, can you believe it? Some people! Do not attempt Clarke's under the impression that you are in a safe, polite area, the sort where people say "Oh, I'm sorry" when they bump into you on the street. This is fuckin' Lakeview. Gentrification be damned; if you're gonna act like a prima donna and wear your bling all conspicuous, don't go whining about how uncouth people are when they filch it. You done been told.
(4)Rebekah K.
Clarke's Category: Restaurants I once got a huge piece of red yarn in my coffee. Huge. How do huge pieces of red yarn get in coffee? They gave me the coffee free. This place is pretty much disgusting. Sometimes I am shocked it is still open! Once one of the cooks was openly yelling at the waitresses for improperly filling the salad dressing bins in a way that was a health hazard (they kept topping the old dressing without cleaning out the bins) and all the waitresses got together and called him a jerk off. He probably got fired for trying to keep customers from deadly bacteria. I used to go here because it was convenient, and 24 hours (I am a night owl who lived off Belmont at the time) but then decided Hollywood Grill or A Golden Nugget are worth the extra effort to avoid this bad service (there was one good waiter; he was bald and had a self sticker on his ticket pad holder, never saw him anymore after a while. Maybe he was good enough to get a real job), and terrible, bland food. If I am barely standing drunk, and it is 4 am, and I am still thinking "Wow, this food sucks." It is BAD. I have probably eaten most items on the menu, and pretty much only found the turkey burger somewhat palatable. Why two stars? It is fun to order shots with your (horrible) Omelet, and the people watching does not get a whole lot better.
(2)Jessica Y.
Far inferior to the Clarke's on Lincoln. Bad service, bland food, but cheap prices. This place is in desperate need of remodeling (i.e. the ripped booth seats and washed out 70's colors) - Oh why did I go here when I wasn't drunk...
(2)Susan M.
3 stars for their heavenly chocolate shake i can remember slurping on about ~~ oh.. 5 years ago at midnight. never tried anything else tho.
(3)Kate G.
One star for getting a table outside within 5 minutes of walking in on a busy Sunday morning. Another star for really good, fluffy English muffins. But that is it. The food is pretty standard breakfast: eggs, tators, etc. We were barely noticed the entire time, and despite asking several times we were left with no water/coffee for a majority of the time. I have heard this place can be a good hangover breakfast, but that cannot happen if you do not provide people with some hydration! Seemed like this service was happening across the patio.
(2)Nicole K.
Well, the food was alright, nothing amazing by any stretch of the imagination. The problem I had was the service. I've been here twice. Once late at night after work, and the meal was fine, but the whole time we had two waiters that kept competing for our table and we either didn't get something or we got double...it was strange. The next time I was there, I was REALLY disappointed. I was moving in close by, so I was hoping to make this my go-to eatery, but NO WAY now! The girl we had as our waitress was in training, but I swear she spoke very little english. When she took our order, she screwed up all of the drinks and two of the meals. Okay, fine, it happens. We waited the extra time for our meals to be CORRECT. When the check came, NOTHING was comped for, not the messed up drinks OR the wrong meals. We told them that was unusual since one of us had to eat alone and we all had something go wrong that we should be comped for at least one of the meals or given a cupon for something in the future, they flat out refused. After service and food that bad, I will never go back! Unless you're drunk and don't care, it's definately NOT WORTH IT!
(2)Rick V.
I still have fond memories of this place from back when it was the Melrose. Their prices have gone up but the service has gone down... I didn't notice until I was adding sugar and cream to my coffee that there were no utensils for stirring on the table and it took 10 minutes to get them. Then my fork had a big piece of dried something-or-other wedged between the tines. The toast was fine, but the omelet seemed undercooked and the potatoes overcooked. I suppose I should have gone with my first impulse and just ordered dessert.
(3)Kris A.
Just not that good. It is a fun and convenient place to meet up, but I've had terrible service there when it gets busy. And, as I said, the food is not worth the $5-10 you pay for it.
(2)Caroline C.
Subpar eggs and sausage not to mention cherry pie. How can a place mess up such simple things? Only good thing? You can still smoke inside.
(1)Hannah D.
Any place that's willing to give a gal drunk off her ass some free bread to soak up the possible debauchery gets at least 4 stars from me.
(4)Kathryn M.
I'm giving 3 stars because (1) it satisfies my need for grease at the end of a long night out and (2) it's fairly decent food. I mean, come on, it's a diner. Service isn't going to be perfect, the food isn't going to be perfect, but for what it is, it's not bad. Although, I'm a little nervous after reading some reviews about the automatic tips. Do they do that all the time? Because if so, my servers have been getting 40% tips...oops! I guess at the time of night that I usually visit this place, I'm not really in the right frame of mind to pay such close attention to the check. But I will from now on! And oh! The North Shore potatoes are amazing.
(3)Sarah F.
This is one of the best late night diners I have found. Who would think that you could find a really high quality salad at 3 am.
(4)Charlé W.
slurping down one strawberry milkshake and an order of fries and i'm pretty sure i've caught the clap here. sanitation is not on their list of to-dos. honestly, if weight loss is your main goal, i'd suggest making this haunt a dietary priority. i used to throw common sense to the wind and let laziness or the cold defeat me and consume a random, seemingly delectable menu item only to suffer from some 18th century brand of cholera. thrice! the rotten cherry on top is that you will be allowed 30 - 40 mins to consider "is this really what I want to do?" before a waiter acknowledges you. the scene-y eye candy was my only reason for returning, but eventually i traded that all in for a hearty, clean good meals and the occasional hipster at Golden Nugget or Deluxe Diner.
(1)Justin R.
I don't know why people go here... I think it's just the 'hip' place to go or something. Their food is pretty bland in my opinion.
(2)Cali M.
It is okay for 24 hours! But I wouldn't go there during the day when much better places are open.
(3)Natalie B.
This place is best after a long night out. The food serves it purposes and is far from bad, but it isn't on my radar when deciding where to eat a regular weekend breakfast.
(3)Kristen D.
Great salads here. This place is open 24 hours and serves delcious food. Anyone can find something they want here. A nice outdoor seating area too, with lots of good people watching.
(4)A.S. V.
It's no longer the famous Melrose, but Clarke's has retained the same ambience and tradition for being open all night long. This makes for some of the most entertaining post-party/concert/dancing dining you can find north of the Hollywood Grill -- punks, transsexual sex workers, dealers, teenagers, you'll find them all here at 4 in the morning. Aside from that, their breakfast is a pretty good deal, as most everything comes with a side of pancakes. It sometimes can seem a little greasy, but overall the quality has been reliable over the years.
(4)Doug S.
Good food. Good price. The breakfast is delicious and the tomato soup is phenomenal. The draw-back is the volume of customers, but what do you expect at 3 in the morning? It is nice if you can get a table outside in the summer.
(4)John S.
Was excited to live right down the street from this place, and then incredibly dissapointed when I discovered how much it sucked. The only time we ever got half decent service was the first time, some emo boy served us. Second time we went, it took 15 minutes to bring the check, 15 minutes to pick up my card, and 15 minutes to return my card. Totally unacceptable. The waiter looked really cracked out. No tip, and it takes ALOT for me not to tip. Third time we went during the winter, they opened the back door right next to our table. When we asked if they could please close it, they said it had to remain open for "fire code" reasons, it was completely freezing so we moved a few tables away and never saw our waitress again until I found her and asked for a check. The waitress took our order, and thats it. The busboy brought the food out, refilled our drinks, and helped move our table. No tip again. Final time we went, we were seated, and no one came to take our order for 10 minutes, so we left and haven't come back since. Don't get get me wrong, I've never had bad food here, but just because you have decent food doesnt mean you can have piss poor service. The whole "we're too cool to have good service" doesn't cut it for me.
(1)Kit K.
Okay, I loved this place about a year ago, I was here at least two nights a week. Now, the thing about me is I'm from a city where nothings open 24 hours... I mean nothing. Our 7-11 closes at nine, and I'm not even kidding. Plus, you can't smoke anywhere. Not w/in 25 feet of doorways/vents... I've been approached by a cop who told me to "put it out or move along" when I stopped in front of a bookstore to tie my shoe. And I love breakfast. So, fresh off the boat, wander into this place: 24 hour. Kitch. Smoking. Breakfast. Hog heaven. Upon further introspection, the food is far too expensive for its own good (flavor's okay, it lacks... texture.), service is alright if you're hanging around for a couple hours nursing your cup of coffee, and more often than not the jukebox sucks. You'd think nostalgia diners would play oldies... or at least something before 1982. That being said, if I'm in the area, wanting coffee and a seat, and hungry... they do make awesome tomato soup, a couple bucks for a cup.
(2)bill s.
The food is good for a coffee restaurant, and it's open twenty four hours. The waiters and waitresses are friendly. I'm not too happy with the men's washroom facilities, also they should be open to anyone off the street since washrooms are so scarce on Belmont and Clark.
(4)Andrew M.
If somehow you've made it past the closing hours of Taco and Burrito Palace and Weiner Circle (i.e. it's 5:30 in the morning) and you're starving, Clarks will save your day. It's open 24 hours and it's got delicious food. I don't mean to frame it as a "late night" place because people go there for lunch too and it's pretty good. Actually, I don't think they liked that reputation so they added a "Clarks after Dark" room located just next to the restaurant itself. The hot chocolate is EXCELLENT, but be prepared to sit next to some zombie-like creatures with multiple piercings and pink hair. Hey, they gotta eat too!
(3)Natalie S.
If you have the time, get a German pancake. They take about 25 minutes, but they're SO yum. When I was a poor college student I loved Clarkes for their egg dishes. If you order two eggs scrambled you get your choice of toast or pancakes (mmm, pancakes) and a big pile of hashbrowns. Most diners have scrambled eggs in a bucket as opposed to cracking two actual eggs, so you get way more than two eggs and it's like, $3. You can't beat it.
(3)Caitlin S.
When I think of Clarke's I think of drunk food. It's a slightly-worse than average diner, nothing special, but sometimes you just need pancakes late, late at night when it's probably not safe to try cooking for yourself. The food is mediocre: it's really hard to mess up pancakes, but I am told the burgers are just alright.
(2)Em B.
A lot of college student *LoVe* this place, but I pretty much loathe it. It attracts ironic co-eds and green high school students bussed in from the suburbs for a day of thrifting. I abhor eight dollar pancakes unless they're stuffed with gold or served by Mark Consuelos, so sorry Clarke's, but you're kind of on my shit list. Literally. If you're stopped up down there (down in the dumps, as I like to say), order anything off the menu; even a salad, and you'll be moving just fine within a few hours. Who needs Activia? Oh, but you'll be doubled over in pain, and your face will break out from the ring of grease around your mouth.
(1)steve c.
i ahve a different experience everytime I go. Everything that needed to be said has been. Its a 24 hour hit or miss service with ok food.
(4)Misi P.
College-y after hours joint...certainly nothing special but the entertainment is priceless as while our emo waiter took our order, some guy walked by him and smacked the hell out of his ass.....Blushing something fierce, the waiter covered his mouth for a few minutes trying to save face before he got gully enough to take our order. I stuck to fried cheese and water, which is pretty hard to screw up. Not my most ideal after hours place, but it would do in a pinch.
(3)Alexandra T.
It is one of those places you only go in the middle of the night. Greasy spoon, huge portions, open 24 hours; which is good and bad. They get three stars for a reallllly nice waiter and for having feta cheese.
(3)Kristin L.
The only really good thing I can say about Clarkes is that it's open 24 hours. The food is ok most of the time, but nothing I've tried has really blown me away. The last time (and I think it will be my last time, ever) I went, the table was covered in a layer of sticky stuff and crumbs, which transfered to the tops of our water cups, because nobody cared to wipe off the table before setting it up. The artichoke dip was served cold, as in, out of the fridge - nobody bothered trying to heat it. The service is usually a bit lacking, but I guess they're going for the authentic, "our servers don't really care about you" diner attitude. If there was nowhere else to eat in the entire city, I'd go to Clarkes, but I try to avoid it if I can.
(2)Andrew S.
I love this place at night... don't bother during the day though. The patty melt was phenominal and with the sweet potato fries... top class late night eats... service is minimal, and bad, but on purpose I think.
(4)Gen S.
The horrible service kills it for me every time.
(1)Rich S.
Wanted to place a carry out order but was told it would take along time because they were busy. Ended up sitting down and placing an order to go, which took forever. This place needs to reevaluate the way it does business!!!!
(1)M M.
I've been here a couple times in the past few years and it's basically low-end diner food, in my mind. Fries aren't very good- which, if you're a diner, your fries HAVE to be good. The service is prompt, however. I have heard that it's a great place to go late night and the location is very convenient. I would go to Melrose and Clark's on Broadway before heading here.
(2)C. S.
Sorry but I love Clarkes, though I admit it's a little scary. Specifically what scares me is the hole in the wall near the floor in the women's bathroom, sort of covered by loose tiles. I'm not *sure* it was an actual rat I saw poking its head out at me as I sat there last time I used the john at Clarkes, but I could have sworn it was. Maybe it was wind blowing some sort of loose wall debris briefly in my direction, who knows. It was freaky enough to make me emit a little shriek and finish up and get back to my table post haste. Why I love the place in spite of questionable bathroom orifices has to do with many tipsy memories of early morning post-club-hours breakfasts as well as my relative comfort when I go there these days now that I'm old and boring. I can go there alone and sit and eat or have a drink in the bar without feeling conspicuous or awkward. The food I've had there and the service I've experienced have been consistently good, bearing in mind that it's a diner and I don't expect anything beyond OK diner food. I like the location, the hours, the liquor license, and the anonymity. It's a little bit of a dump. But it's a cool dump. They do really need to fix that hole in the ladies' john.
(4)Jenn S.
eating at clarkes...bad idea living above clarkes. ..even worse idea.
(1)Sara K.
I suppose if you are the night-owl type then Clarkes is probably your best bet. Instead of getting a meal I would prefer to get a plate of nachos and a shake to myself. I don't care for their greasy burgers or plain steak fries. I also wouldn't recommend going to Clarkes with a large group of teenage college students who don't carry cash. Our already grumpy waitress didn't like having to charge several credit cards and still coming up about $6 short. And yeah, the servers can be quite forgetful, so if you want an extra glass or a bottle of ketchup then be prepared to grab it off another table.
(3)Ashley M.
why is everyone hating on Clarke's? it's open late, it's got pretty great (well, pretty good) food, neat atmosphere, etc. awesome fries, awesome milkshakes, awesome spinach-artichoke dip. i guess some of the other stuff is hit or miss, but hey, Clarke's is sort of everyone's go-to late-night snack spot.
(4)Alexandra B.
This is definitely not a gourmet restaurant, it's a simple little diner. It's got decent food at a good price and it's always open which is helpful since most places in the area close pretty early. Plus they serve breakfast 24 hours! How can you go wrong with that?
(5)Nina G.
Just curious...does this restaurant attract the spillover from the "Punkin Donuts" just down the street? Sure sounds like it!
(1)Martin V.
The food here is passable, as many reviews say. However, if you find yourself concerned over how a business is run, then avoid this place. It's horrible. Backstory: I went with some friends recently for a quick dinner. One of my friends ordered a veggie omlet. Only, she asked for no carrots and with swiss cheese. It arrived no different than the menu said. She's particular, so she sent it back. It arrived the second time without carrots, but still no cheese. Again, she's particular, and didn't want to eat it. We didn't have time for a third try, so she sent it back and said she didn't want anything. This is where things got interesting. Our waiter claimed he couldn't remove it from the check because there was no Manager on duty. What?! This was confirmed when someone else from the table went over to the other side and innocently asked the bartender if there was a Manager there. Both the waiter and the bartender said the same thing, 'There's only a Manager from 7am - 4pm.' This is a 24hr place. So again, what?! Going further, the waiter said if we didn't pay for this omlette, he would have to. That makes sense if you carry around your own bank and cash out the sales money you owe to the restaurant, keeping the rest as tip money - and can't void anything. However, it's also illegal to make a server pay out of pocket for mistakes like this. Without a Manager around to void items, I'm sure this happens often. Servers don't speak-up, because they need the job, and the owners don't have to pay for any mistakes, normal or otherwise. It's a good deal for the owner, and a crappy deal for the waitstaff. This place sucks.
(1)Sarah D.
Some of the dishes are a bit overpriced, and service can be slow as shhhhhhhh, but the foodage is worth it in the end. I've never had a bad meal in this joint, and the sweet potato fries are killer. Plus, I'm a sucker for anything accessible by the #22 bus.
(4)Olivia R.
I don't really enjoy the food at Clarkes during the day, but it's one of my favorite late night spots! I usually just end up getting fries when we come here late night and they are really good! It gets pretty crowded, but that usually makes for a fun atmosphere.
(3)Audra S.
This is my favorite place to grab a hangover bite to eat any day of the week. They have everything from breakfast to burritos and drinks to boot! Our waitress was kind enough to suggest we have a little Kahlua with our chocolate milk, and boy, was she right! Great omlettes, great service, great chocolate milk.
(4)Jessica T.
Went here for breakfast. Coffee was awful. Service was awful. I asked for wheat toast, waitress brought me rye. She took 20 minutes to bring us our bill. Food was ok- for two of us it was almost $30 with tip- we'll take our $30 elsewhere from now on.
(2)G G.
Open 24hrs, you can get great food any time. Weekend nights can bring a long wait though-esp for larger parties.
(4)Dee W.
Great late night dining and great place to grab lunch while you're taking a break from shopping in the Belmont area, as well. Great service with friendly waitstaff.
(4)Marian L.
Great place to eat with friends and located in the middle of boystown where all the shopping's at! So after you stuff yourself, walk down to Belmont and Clark and start shopping!!! Food is very good and service is quick. Sit inside or outside - it's totally up to you!
(4)Liliana S.
The shakes are great but the food is mediocre. Good location and there is always entertainment in there at all hours throughout the day. I didnt care for their hash browns or potatoes,whatever, they were a little overcooked and really had no flavor. The benefit is that its open 24 hours a day so if you are hungry at 6:00 am get your cravings here.
(3)Karen L.
I think the selling point for Clarke's is really the fact that it's open 24 hours. Us hungry insomniac college kids need somewhere to go, eh? On weekends you can expect a full house at 1:00 AM. The food is typical diner fair; breakfasts, sandwiches, little things to nibble on... Nothing on the menu is amazing, but it's good enough generally. I used to be a big fan of the Swedish pancakes, but they no longer serve them with lingonberries and that makes it altogether bland. They do have decent cheese sticks, quesadillas, and chicken cordon bleu. They also make milkshakes you can actually suck through a straw! WOW! The servers are a mixed bunch: sometimes you will get courteous ones, sometimes forgetful ones, and one server I've had was downright rude. But hey, like I said, it's a matter of convenience. Clarke's is fairly low priced and open all the time, so might as well drop by after a late night study session.
(3)James S.
The thing I like best about this place is that they serve breakfast all day. I love breakfast, who doesn't, if McDonald's served breakfast all day I would pitch a tent in the middle of that restaurant and call it the Big Breakfast Reservation. Anyhow, I went here one day starving it was about 3pm and craving an omelet. The service was very slow. Usually when I stop looking at the menu and place it in front of me its a clear sign that I'm ready to order. Well I guess in this establishment you have to stake a big red flag in the middle of your table to get someones attention. The omelet was good, veggies and chicken. It was a pretty good omelet, I don't think it was worth $12 but good, probably $7 good. The fastest thing to come was the bill, it was like she Taxi Drivered it out of her sleeve. In short I'm glad I tried it because I would always see it from the train but have no plans to return.
(2)Wade M.
Legendary all-night diner that's been feeding the hipsters, rockers, suicide girls, gay leather dudes, and other fringe friendlies of Belmontland for years. Coming here after hours is always fun, due to the ambiance and the people, but the food? Ehhh. Kind of sucks. Also, it's way too expensive considering that the food is crappy. But if you go in knowing that, it doesn't really matter.
(3)Jason S.
I've been here, I think, three times already, all within two days. The wait staff is pretty cool and they have really good food. Only downside is there are no free refills, which bites the big ones since I drink like an Irish guy in a bar. And I'm part Irish, so no complaints.
(4)Kat W.
decent food, open late, but that's about it. i.e. an average diner.
(3)Julia B.
When I lived by Belmont we stopped in Clarkes Diner late at night. The food is not anything to write home about, but the milk shakes are awesome! This place is busy all the time even at 4 am on a Sunday.
(3)Stephanie M.
Great place to stop by after clubbing. The food is good most of the time. They offer the regular late nite fare such as burgers and fries, omelettes, chicken noodle soup (the noodles were too mushy and ouch did I bite into another bay leaf?), and sandwiches. Service is pretty quick and no-frills. I like to people watch here too because of the good and very eclectic crowd.
(3)One T.
The best part about this restaurant is that it's open 24 hours. The other best part is the food. Aside from the vegetarian chili, it's all pretty good (I'm not sure on the meat dishes though). And the price isn't bad either.
(4)Jermaine H.
Judging by the HORRIBLE reviews they have already received over the course of the year, I guess I don't really have much to add; but of course, I'm going to anyway! After a recent night on the town, a colleague and I stopped into Clarke's for a bite to eat and was very disappointed with the service, to say the least. Our server's name was JAMIE and she was horrible. While waiting on our food, we notice she had an issue with another table nearby...and judging from the conversation, they were very displeased with her with respect to their bill. I ordered a Gyro with french fries and my buddy ordered a Charlie Brown Sundae. After waiting almost 30 minutes for our food, she finally rushed it out and then darted away again. After taking a few bites, I noticed that my food was COLD; very disappointing after waiting, what seemed like, forever in the restaurant world. Not to mention, does it really take that long to make a sundae?! I wouldn't have mind the wait if the place was actually packed and buzzing with business. But it was somewhere around 4:30 in the morning and a few scattered tables throughout. I finally hailed the waiter and told her very politely that my food was cold. She grabbed by plate and gave me a frustrating expression and said she'd heat it up while darting off again. But before I could mention that I wouldn't recommend re-heating french fries and a gyro that has tomatoes and sour cream on top, she was already passing through the kitchen. She finally returned with my meal, freshly REHEATED from the microwave or something...and I couldn't believe it. She did apologize, I will admit... but because I was pretty hungry and my buddy seemed to be enjoying his sundae, I sucked it up and nibbled around at my meal anyway. Our bill came to $24.27 and was not worth a penny of it...AT ALL!! Naturally, because I am in the industry and because I'm a genuinely nice guy, I still decided to tip her well. She was young and running around with her head cut off...in a seemingly empty restaurant; very disappointing and I will definitely NOT BE RETURNING or recommending them to anyone, for that matter. I think the next time I'm in Lakeview and want a quick bite to eat, I'lI head over to one of the other late night diners. But this time, I'll be sure to check out their Yelp reviews first!!! I am under the assumption that because this is a heavily gay area and because this is a place to settle down at after going out, the service is expected to be mediocre; as if customers wouldn't mind...or notice or something. I don't care that this place isn't located downtown, but genuine service is service! These guys should really learn and implement that during their employee trainings; if they even have any. Best of luck, Clarke's. I really HOPE you guys get it together; You're loosing a lot of business...if you haven't noticed!!!
(1)Hillary L.
During the snowpocalypse, some friends and I decided to venture out and grab some dinner - most places weren't open but we all gave the OK to breakfast food. The server kept pushing us to buy more drinks throughout the meal even though we kept saying no. After asking two times, you should get it that we don't feel like buying drinks at your diner. Some people were satisfied with their meal while others weren't. I wasn't that hungry so I just ordered a small stack of pancakes, which were typical, nothing special but also very inexpensive. I could see the attraction in coming here late at night after you've had a few too many, but I wouldn't stop here purposefully again. At least half of the tables were full of other groups clearly hoping to get some food after the storm.
(2)David H.
Bathroom was dirty with no bath tissue & no paper towels. I distrust food establishments with hole-in-wall bathrooms ! Food mediocre....waitstaff ok....but waited forever to pay. Probably great late nights after the bars and a few drinks.... Sober and daylight? Not so much
(2)Erin H.
Clarke's to me is just a typical diner with ample food options. I ordered a simple breakfast "Two/Dos/Deux" which was just two eggs, potatoes, and toast. I'm pretty sure I added a side of bacon to that, because what is breakfast in a diner without bacon? It was simple, it's hard to screw up eggs but the service was quite mediocre. We were in a hurry to eat a quick breakfast before heading to a Cub's game and they weren't terribly busy, but we did have a short wait before being greeted and seated. It took our waitress quite a significant amount of time to come back to our table and take our order, and even more time to serve us our food, which I'll admit, could have been a bit warmer. I really couldn't complain about this place, cheap breakfast, standard diner, not-so-friendly-but-not-rude waitress, and plenty of orange juice. Works for me.
(3)Jessica Y.
A couple friends had recommended Clarke's to me and I supposed I just had to give it a try based on their word, even though the restaurant didn't look too appetizing from the outside (I know, don't judge a book by its cover!) and the menu didn't look anything out of the ordinary to me. But it was fairly busy and in a great location/area, so I thought, why not?! I stuck to my usual safe bet of ordering an omlette and it did nothing to impress. It was edible and service wasn't bad either. Other than that, I've been to many other brunch locations that will statisfy my craving for some great omlettes, french toast or other creative dish! But if you're starving and need a quick fix, Clarke's is just the ticket!
(3)Elizabeth F.
Clarke's food is just A-OK. The first time our waitress was not attentive but I got hot meal. The second time our waiter was funny and friendly, but my meal was barely warm. I guess you cannot have it all in Clarke's. I would come here again if I was in the neighbourhood and everything else is closed.
(3)CJ S.
I have mixed feelings about this place. The food and portion size is good, but the service at times lacks finesse. Clacks has two sides; one side is just your normal diner, the other a diner with a full bar if you want to order a drink with your meal. or They also have an outdoor seating area for the summer time which is great. I've been to clacks a few times with a great outcome, but my rating is a average of all the times I've been there. The most recent time I've gone there was the worst. I went with friends and because of the area being close to boystown and the events that go on at night, I though things would get a little crazy like in the past but everything was okay. However, after having such great meals and meeting some colorful people we paid up. Our waitress was HORRIBLE, the whole time we were there. she messed up our orders and wouldn't come to our table as much as others. I just put that on the fact that she was working the bar as well. However, when she did get around to my friends and I, she had this tone in her voice that made us think she didn't want us there. When I ordered she had nerve to tell me I didn't need all that I was ordering. I know what I like, and how I like it, she needed a gym membership but did i say anything? So at the end of it all we pay up, and being a person who is custom to making tips, I know how important tips are; that' s how you get most of your money. However, I ran out of cash for the tip, Bank of america was right at the corner and I needed more cash anyway wasn't going to pay the $2 to use the atm there when I didn't have to. I thought I could run down to BOA and come back and give her the tip even though I didn't think she earned it. Furthermore, upon leaving a friend overheard her call us some black bitches and other choice words because she flew over to our table to pickup a tip that wasn't there after we got up. Everyone who knows me or has ever gone out with me knows I tip very well, so it was her loss and it's sad that people like her work there making clarks a place to stay away from. Good for food, stay clear of little fat umpa lumpa bartenders
(3)Thomas O.
Never again. The restaurant is filthy. The food is not cooked to order or fresh. There was what looked like mold on our pancakes. Thinking that that was absurd, we ate them anyway. My wife and I were both sick by the time we made it home.
(1)Sara I.
No thank you. Came here on a Saturday morning with some friends for breakfast and was embarrassed to be showing them this place out of every where else in Lakeview (they were visiting). Service was pretty terrible considering we got our food before our drinks. We all had pancakes and they weren't house-made and kinda tasted rubbery... not exaggerating, McDonald's hot cakes have more fluff. Has some eggs too that just looked sloppy and were not tasty. Anyway, if you're in the area, Chicago Bagel Authority across the street is way better and a LOT faster.
(1)Jenna S.
When I was a kid coming into the city for concerts, this place was great! But then I moved here and realized that there are thousands more restaurants that are way better. The food is good but it's a bit overpriced. Sometimes the serving staff can be grumpy and irritable, which sucks since their job is to serve you food. I'd say this place is OK, but nothing more than that. If you want simple food, go to another diner (Hollywood, White Palace, etc).
(3)Madeline H.
Come on now, be honest. We have all found ourselves at Clarke's at four in the morning after a long night drinking, stuffing our faces with sweet potato fries and spinach artichoke dip. Perhaps you were at a show at the Vic, or a Cubs game, or maybe you just frequent Big Sh*tty, excuse me, Big City Tap. For whatever the reason, we have all been there. Why? Because Clarke's is pretty damn good drunk food and it is right there at the Belmont stop. Its 1950s glowing sign is just beckoning us to stumble away from the L tracks and into one of their hideous sea foam green or salmon pink booths. Not to say I ever regret doing this, I'm just saying it is a fact of life, Clarke's exists for the night owls and hipsters (though it is not nearly as hipsterific as Pick Me Up these days). Personally, I like Clarke's. Sure the service can be slow, and the food isn't worth the price, but I don't care. I like being able to sit with my friends for an hour, hour and a half, two hours and drink coffee while munching on some pretty decent burgers and fries. Their sandwiches aren't bad, the sweet potato fries are delicious, as is the spinach artichoke dip (can you tell that anecdote at the beginning was really just a personal story?) and the Charlie Brown Sundae is a must if you are looking for the king of all ice cream treats in Lakeview. I know you're not supposed to judge places based on their appearance, but at Clarke's its kinda true that you get exactly what you expect you'd get walking in the door. And you know what? I don't think that's a bad thing.
(3)r s.
Went here on a Tuesday at 9am and were were the only ones there. I ordered coffee and choc chip pancakes. The waitress disapears for a while comes back and says they were out of choc chips. I order then the regular pancakes. She disapears then brings me my coffee. She dumps the pancakes at the table and leaves to the kitchen. When she finally comes into the dining room I flag her down. Can I have some syrup for the pancakes? She goes to kitchen. Returns. And says they're out. WTF???! Why not check when I order the mf pancakes or fck when you're supposed to bring it out??!! I'd never ordered it if she said they were out at the beginning! I was starving and ate some of the dryads and by now cold pancakes. Might I add the dumb bitch never refilled my coffee and I had to flag her just to get the check?
(1)Katy G.
Eh, it was alright for what we were looking for--a quick late night bite after a show. But it was loud and the ceiling fans provided a not-so-nice strobe light effect, so it didn't really have that let's-start-to-wind-down feel I was hoping for. But they must be doing something right considering how busy it was, so mine is probably not a very popular opinion among its customers.
(2)Jessica K.
I fell in love with this place when some friends and I made our first trek downtown by ourselves in high school. Ever since, it's been a solid, go-to comfort spot. I have never had a bad service experience here. The servers take the late night throngs of drunks and rude hipsters in graceful stride and are always friendly and thorough. The menu has the right amount of humor without being stupid. I have never had anything on the menu that wasn't delicious and perfect. I crave their tomato soup in my sleep. Try the Northshore potatoes. If a 24hr. diner that serves booze is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
(5)Abhay S.
So it's been a good 5-6 years since I'd last been to Clarke's. The place has changed quite a bit in those 5+ years. The restaurant now has a little fancier wooden tables and there is Clarke's After Dark that is next door that appears to serve alcohol and probably the night crew. The prices have also increased a few bucks outside what I think is a good value for the location. I realize it's now 2010 and things cost more money, but I think Clarke's is a bit pricier than other similar places. I ordered the Mexicana omlet which was an omlet with onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and a few other things. It also came with some hot sauce and sour cream. Overall, the food didn't taste all that exciting - don't know what it was, but this was one of the spicier omlets on the menu and it wasn't all that spicy. The service was excellent - our waitress was super friendly and attentive. She gets 5*'s from me. Overall, the food quality outweighs the service here - I don't think I'd return if I was in the area.
(2)Anjelika R.
Been going to Clarke's for years including those years when it was a Melrose WAY back in the 90s. The dining room decor is kitschy and the recently remodeled bar is gorgeous. They have just redone their menu to include various burgers that gives you a choice of fries. The sandwiches are great and the breakfasts are to die for. I love the fact that they have a egg white omelette on the menu and it is one of my favorite items there. If you have any room after dinner and you have at least three people in your party, take on the Charlie Brown Sundae. Hot tea drinkers will also find a lovely selection of teas to choose from. Service is okay. Depends on who's there. Most of the time it is okay, but every now and again we will get one of the waitresses who seems more interested in chatting up the kitchen staff than taking care of her tables. Tends to get a little crazy after concerts at the Vic and closing time at local bars. If you can handle loud drunken patrons at 2AM then you'll be a-okay. If you are one of these loud drunken patrons at 2AM even better. I'm not sure if they are seating folks in the bar anymore, but if they are wait for a table in the dining room. In my experience there's a tendency for the wait staff to forget about the folks in the bar.
(4)Erica S.
I appreciate that you are open 24 hours; I appreciate that you serve breakfast food; I appreciate that you are around the corner from my house; I appreciate that your servings are huge; I appreciate that you will soak up the liquor that is carefully sitting in my stomach, waiting to disrupt my body's activities for the day. What I don't appreciate is that you are kind of expensive, your pancakes are tough, and your sides of meat are ridiculously priced. Your service is also a little iffy, though our waitress was nice. Kind of ridic, you know? I do recall going here with Meg Z. and others in high school really late at night, so I guess you get one nostalgia star.
(3)Amanda C.
I have been to Clarke's twice and both times my experience was OK but less than great for the people I was with. I went at 11 on a Sunday and ordered Mexican food. I really think this is the way to go here, but it's hard to decide with the huge variety on their menu. Everything else seems to turn out weird and/or bland. I also got a Bloody Mary which to my pleasant surprise was only $3 on Sundays. It was spicy but lacked depth of flavor, and came with a pickle. There was no wait when we arrived, but last time I went the line was out the door so it's hit or miss. Their fresh-squeezed orange juice is good and they give you a shot of it to try when you sit down. Don't order the soups here. The creamy tomato actually should be named "carrot chunk" and the chicken noodle is green. The service was friendly but slow. This is a once a year spot for convenience for me.
(2)Samantha K.
Best 24 hour diner in Chicago. Notorious even. I've been to both locations- Lincoln & Belmont, and of course (I think this goes without saying), the loc on Belmont/Clark is wicked awesome. Belmont/Clark area is such a hoppin' area that is alive and rich with colorful folks of all types and sizes: transvests, drunk girls, and much in between at 2am even on a Wednesday. You can feel the energy even from the deepest, seediest ally way. The food is incredible and wide ranging. Best place to hang out in the middle of the night or just for break/lunch. The red line stop is right there (one stop away from my pad, whoop), and parking is actually not too bad.
(5)Anni G.
Don't waste your time - I went here when I needed a late-night fix before I discovered the Pick Me Up and Nookie's were far better. The food here is mediocre at its best, bordering on just plain bad. The atmosphere just feels... greasy, as if it's wiped down but not cleaned. The wait staff is fairly friendly, but not especially responsive. Be ready for a long wait.
(1)Angelica E.
So I dont frequent this side of town very often to party but when I do my friends and I always grab a bite to eat here. The food is pretty descent and the service is always ok. Its open 24 hours so you see anything and everybody in here! I wouldnt go out my way to come to this place but if your ever in the lakeview area and need to grab food after your drunken adventures....Clarke's it is!
(3)Brandon V.
Clarke's is your typical diner. It's nice for that late-night food craving (or for after-bar eating), but I wouldn't go out of my way to get to it otherwise. As many other reviewers have mentioned, it's a bit pricey for the kind of food and atmosphere you're getting here, and the service I've had here has never ranked over "average" in the slightest. Still, it will suffice in a pinch.
(3)Quinn K.
Nothing too exciting here. They just opened a new location in my neighborhood. It has a weird vibe like someone set up shop in an old consignment shop. I went there late one night and there was an old man on his computer singing loudly in a really awkward voice sitting right behind me. Could be good or bad depending on your mood. The food is blah. It isn't terrible but it isn't good. If you're drunk it tastes better. I did go there once at 2 am and the food came out piping hot so that was a bonus. Don't make it a point to go there I'd say but hit it up once if you need some late night eats to tame the spins and swirlies.
(2)A W.
I'm sure many people have written about satisfying the odd hunger that comes after drinking into the wee hours of the night, but I have actually been here pre-drunk crowd. And. . *gasp*. . . during the daytime. So, I can offer a sober recollection of this establishment. I will say, most people know going in here that cleanliness is not top priority here. Food preparation is safe (I believe) but you'll want to wet a napkin to wipe down your utensils before eating and double-check your cups before drinking. No, you should really trust me on this. Oh yea, one time I took to shaking a bottle of ketchup before use and the cap was not all the way on. Imagine the outcome as you will. Um, so, you might want to check all lids/caps which I'm happy I did on my last visit as the salt lid was not fully screwed on. Not sure if Clarke's has some type of royal jester, or unfunny poltergeist, that goes about the restaurant loosening these things, but you have been warned. Yes, you're wondering why I come here then, right? Cause their skillets are really yummy. It's an abundance of food all brought to you neatly in a skillet with either a side of ginormo english muffin or pancakes. All for like $10. And it's yummy!! I've had four of the skillets and had The Classic this last time which was two fluffy scrambled egg (that's how order them; fluffy), muenster cheese, and chopped slab of bacon on a mattress of northshore potatoes. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnn.................. The ginormo english muffin comes with a decent butter and strawberry spread (my fave). Oooh and when you order hot tea, they bring out a tea chest/box to you to pick your teas and your own little teapot of hot water. They have English Breakfast. I was delighted by that! This place may be a little dirty, and some odd paranormal entity is loosening caps/lids, but it's a diner in every sense of the word. The food is good diner food and the atmosphere can range from extremely laid back to lively depending on what time of day you come. Pick your poison (that would be time of day) and get some grub.
(3)Joanne W.
Oh sweet patty melt... you nourished me after a night of NYE over induldgance. The melt was cheesey & crisp. The fries were steak cut. The meal was solid. The service was spot on. It also happened to be my birthday and I was hooked up with a Charlie Brown sundae. It was freakin delicious. A taco shell loaded with vanilla ice cream, brownie, chocolate sauce, whip cream and cherries. Fresh off theYelp's Biggest Loser contest, I dove in with two spoons. Mmm...sweet calories...I missed you. Clarke's on Belmont was the perfect end to a perfect night.
(4)Gina H.
DOWNGRADE after my last trip to Clarke's on Belmont. I hate to do this - but the last time visiting I had a awful burger...and who messes up burgers!? When I'm going to eat poorly, it better be damn good....sorry Clarke's.
(2)P S.
I can't recommend the After Dark part of Clarke's more than I can recommend, say, your dad's buddy's garage since the bathroom is probably out of soap and paper towels there too. The food is for folks who have come from or are looking for other food and are probably hoping that the last quarter of the game is on tv (and it is). Truly, it's a stopover. They have beer. That's worth two stars I guess.
(2)Brian K.
So after a lovely Friday evening filled with viewings of Degrassi and Jersey Shore, playing some Rock Band, and drinking Four Lokos, breakfast food was a must on a lovely Saturday morning. Patrick T, Erica S, and I enjoyed a meal at Clarkes last Saturday. I ordered the Popeyes skillet with spinach and over easy eggs. It was good. I had pancakes on the side that were kinda tough. I mean overall it was just ok.
(2)Azad A.
Stopped in here for dinner the other day only to be met with poor service. My party was waiting for a solid 15 minutes before anyone thought to come to our table to check in and take our order. In the meantime, we saw numerous servers walking around not doing much or seemingly trying to avoid servicing our table. A waiter finally arrived to take our order and was very nice but not sincerely apologetic for the delay. He took our order and sent it in. While we waited for food to arrive, we saw other customers who were growingly increasingly annoyed because their food was taking a very long time to arrive. Luckily, our food came quickly but it was very mediocre. We all ordered burgers which were so-so. The fries were totally cold and seemed like frozen ore-ida fries. Overall, a very unpleasant experience. I wouldn't recommend this joint to anyone except as a last resort.
(2)Alex L.
Great breakfast place, large choice, decent coffee, really cranck you up for a shopping day in Chicago or repairs you after a crazy night out.
(3)Kyle W.
Not good. And very old fashioned decor to go with unhappy workers!
(2)Allan M.
Yet another place in the category of 'staples of my youth' I'm reviewing. And to paraphrase the words of that a friend of mine once said jokingly, "All roads lead to Clarke's." Won't deny either I had a lotta interesting memories going here post-shows, back when I was first starting to heavily attend music concerts in nearby venues, a la Metro. (not to mention even occasionally see musicians, post-concert, eating here) However today, I'm afraid the quoted saying that my friend said above is no longer true. (and with Michael's North being the only worser 24/7 diner than Clarke's) Anyway, only good things about this 24/7 diner I like are the people-watching(IMHO, the best aspect about here), and the pancakes they have here(my fav of those being their Swedish pancakes, though it doesn't beat those of other Swedish restaurants). Nearly forgot about the sweet potato fries being decent, too, until I skimmed and noticed that on another review. Most food I've had beyond that wasn't anything special. Service usually was hit or miss, though I've interesting servers here once in a while. Bathrooms were always somewhere on the dirty side. Don't like that since they added the bar on the side of this place, that only the women's bathroom got renovated, and that the men's bathroom remains the same dirty one I remember from years ago. I don't hate this place, but probably if I'd known years ago about Pick Me Up Cafe, I probably would've gone there instead all those years ago. And too bad that's about the only 24/7 competition in the very immediate vicinity that Clarke's has.
(2)Emeutier T.
So, after an evening of pounding the pavement looking for Christmas deals that would make my penny pinching father soil his undergarments, my friend and I went to this place on her insistance that the food was a good buy for the portions and the general sense of fullness that she's felt here before. I told her if I didn't like it I was going to punch her; she would not like where I was going to punch her. The type of "show me on the doll" kind of punch.... Well, it's 15F out and we step into the oblong rectangular setting for this shuddap and eat kitsche theme they got going. But we are two cold and hungry kids. Where does our waiter decide to sit us? By the door with the fairly noticeable draft. ||sigh|| I sit down and unwrap myself, defetterring myself from the bulky clothes that made me feel like I was five again and in my Kirby-esque snow suit ready to fall over. And, forgive me Ms. Supinski -my 6th Grade English teacher- for starting a sentence with and, but we were seated far away from any of the other patrons. Like, did we smell? But moving on, just like the other reviewers noted; the service is slow after the inital menu/water/greeting appearance. We decided on splitting a well-crafted burger with what turned out to be a huge serving of sweet potato fries. For the appetizer we got the "Macho Nachos." In between hydrating and finishing a carafe of water a piece -- I had to get up on my own and get the carafes -- no one looked to see if we needed anything. Maybe if you hadn't sat us in the "Siberia - party of two" area of the restaurant we could have flagged you guys down to say, "Hey, we'd like a refill on the soooddie pop, thanks!" So, we finally get our food, the wait was not that long. The burger was exquisite for $10 bucks, as it should be! The meat was tender, not too greasy, and the cheese was layered on there just right so as not to draw too much attention away from the sack of protein in between the very cool, very tasty pretzel bun! Good job, on the burger. The Sprite was good too. The "Macho Nachos" were good in that they present a good alternative for those veg-heads. By themselves they lack the full textures and smells to be considered nachos by real Mexicans. I should know. But that is another tale for another day. Beans would have been nice. The lettuce was crisp and looking, I dunno, julienne (sp?). The guacamole was a little on the sparse side and the salsa was a few scales above Pace - NEW YORK CITY!? - . Overall, a good, cheap option, relatively speaking for this menu, but I kinda wish I'd ordered the onion rings. Nice filler complement to the burger my friend and I split. I haven't tried the other menu options, but apparently burgers are the way to go here. I would have gotten a little testy about the water carafes and drinks, but hey it's X-mas and I speak with my tip. Yep. Nice place, good food, slow service. Someone give 'em a kick in the pants, please. My friend did not get punched, by the way.
(3)Emily L.
I went here for Sunday brunch with friends and really enjoyed it. The wait for a table kinda sucked, and service was so-so, but I thought the food was worth it. It probably also helped that brunch at Stella's the day before was extremely disappointing. I got the Zorba omelet - three eggs, onion, tomato, spinach, and feta. The omelets come with steak fries or Northshore potatoes, and English muffin, toast, or pancakes. I got the pancakes (they're like dessert, you know?) and subbed fruit for potatoes for a dollar extra. The omelet and pancakes were absolutely delicious. Instead of fruit, I was accidentally given Northshore potatoes, and they were undercooked, but the three other people at my table said their potatoes were fine. In short: long wait, spotty service... but good food.
(4)Stacey A.
Know how hard it is to find Swedish Pancakes in this city? Hell, do you even know what they are? They're crepes, dusted with powdered sugar and served with lingonberries, which are a bizarre little Swedish berry that manages to be tart AND sweet at the same time. And they're a pain in the ass to find in this city as every brunch place has some fucked up omelette or pancake option, but nothing like this. Clarke's, of all places, has Swedish Pancakes and does a lovely job of them.
(4)Earliana M.
Ambience and bathrooms aside lol....best flippin pancakes for the price!
(3)S K.
Breakfast is great, the skillets and pancakes. Just had the vegetarian chili tonight and it was basically tomato sauce soup with breadsticks. I would probably only stick with the breakfast.
(3)Paul A.
Visited: 10/03/10 1030A I hate to start off a review like this, but Clarke's was not my first choice for this breakfast. It was two days into my recovery of a procedure I had, and my friend said, "Lets go to Ann Sather's..." - when I looked at the time he suggested this, I basically rolled my eyes and said, "Yeah right, like we will get into there at this late morning time." And I was right - no way of getting there -- so we did Clarke's instead. At first, I was a little worried as they did not have credit card logos on the doors and had ATMs in the establishment - I really do NOT do places that are cash only - I'm digital, baby! Luckily, we were able to get squeezed in. Seemed quite busy for a Sunday morning. The service was fine - and they kept my water glass full as well as the decanter they left on the table - a godsend, really so you don't have to chase down someone to get refills on water. The food came fairly quickly - it was filling and very reasonable. Had the YEE HAW Omlette that came with pancakes and a side of fruit if you desired. Overall, a good little place if you're in the mood for diner food.
(3)Judy D.
Service is 4 stars, food is 2 stars. The $10+ hamburgers are frozen pre-formed patties. 'nuf said.
(2)Elisabeth C.
I saw Amy Winehouse in here eating breakfast with her now husband some time ago. I saw Amy Winehouse actually EAT. (Unlike that time I was in Hard Rock Cafe while I was living in London and saw Victoria Beckham not eat her lettuce and piece of dried up plain chicken breast). I am, however, deeply saddened that they removed the booths in the smoking section, though. I don't even smoke, but I loved the privacy of those booths- you could drink coffee and chat and not have a million people walking past you. Those days are gone. The food is greasy and really bad for you, but if you're here at 3am after drinking for the last six hours, you'll hardly notice.
(3)Tim Z.
Pretty good breakfast food, kinda expensive though I liked how all 14329453245720934 television screens were dedicated to the Blackhawks v. Flyers game = plenty of drunk guys.
(3)Andy J.
Clarke's is right off of the Belmont stop on the Red and Brown Lines, and was a popular place to visit back in the day. I usually get only two items there: their American Burger and the Monte Cristo. The monte cristo is very good and their fries are delicious and is a fun place to stop at whenever you're in the area with a group. However, every time I am here, there is a wait for a table and the service is slow. I think it would be in the best interest for the restaurant to have more chefs in the kitchen and another person waiting tables during busy hours to speed up the service. So if this place isn't too busy- check this place out!
(3)Brian E.
More like Barfe's. You might find a hair in your food, you might find a piece of plastic in your water...but you'll definitely find terrible service and crappy food. I live a block away and drink heavily on the weekends, but I still can't bring myself to go in anymore.
(1)JJ Z.
The food is good when they get your order correct. However, that happens...sporadically at best. 10 time out of 10, one of us orders a skillet. 9 times out of 10, they bring us the omlet instead and we have to send it back. Today I ordered an omlet with egg whites and easy on the cheddar - I asked for 1/2 as much as they usually put in. So instead I got extra cheese, and it wasn't cheddar...it was the nasty neon orange cheese whiz that looks like melted crayon. I give it 2 stars - 1 star for the potatoes and 1 for the jumbo English muffins. You can do better.
(2)kevin k.
Food is OK. a little generic but it is good enough . Service is pretty bad though. Been here 3 times and the waitstaff/bartenders just do not want to be bothered with things such as service. Not even a thank you.
(2)Dan M.
This place is your classic diner. Burgers, 24-hour breakfast, milkshakes and coffee, Clarke's has got it all. I really don't know what else to say. I went on a Saturday night so it was pretty crowded, with a ridiculous amount of people crammed inside this relatively small place. Server was nice, took our orders (we were a pretty big group, sooo...) and we got our food pretty quickly. The food was good. Ordered the Mexicana burger. Comes with guac, which is not exactly fresh but still delicious. The burger was a bit on the overcooked side, but it wasn't terrible and surprised me with how tasty and filling it was. I recommend it if you want some good ol' diner food. The prices are a bit high for something that's a-ok, but that's my two-cents.
(3)Mandi G.
Standard diner fare. City's BEST people watching. (That "she" is a "he")
(4)Ang R.
Look, this isn't great food. But it's perfectly able to satisfy cravings for things like BLTs, and Tuna Melts. I'm not looking for a gourmet tuna melt, and I didn't find one. But it was tasty, and if I want another, I'd go back. The staff is a little indifferent (but who really cares? you get food, and you eat it) and the place is a little grimy (but you deal with that in diners ALL THE TIME anyway), and the prices aren't exactly low (but it's Lakeview, for god's sake). You know, don't make it a destination. Use it to fulfill its purpose, which is to provide you with basic diner foods like tuna melts and omelets.
(3)James E.
Welcome to the world of flavorless. I've been a burger fan for many years and this place almost made me want to throw in the towel. Let's start with my order. I ordered the Spanish burger or something in reference to Spanish/Hispanic culture reason be, it was suppose to offer the most spice and flavor. It was supposedly filled with jalapenos, cheese, the basic ingredients and all on a pretzel bun. You can't mess up something like this, the ingredients are loaded with flavor, right? I forgot to mention it came with steak fries. For $10, I thought I was getting my sinful burger on! I thought why not join the devil and get the spinach and artichoke dip also!? $25+ tip, I felt like I was getting a carry out deal of a lifetime..... (Jeopardy music). This burger was the driest, blandest, cheesy-less, and topped off with fries that would keep anybodies blood pressure down (not a bit of taste) flavorless creation ever. The bun was soft but created a dry clay because the burger patty was dry. I order my burger medium well, that leaves enough room for juice. The dip was this soupy goop with spinach in it which was also flavorless. The chips were at least slightly salted but not enough to make for the bland flavor of everything else. Let's rewind just a bit. I was recommended this burger by the waitress. I'm not a complete jerk but she was of Mexican heritage and said that if I liked spice this was the way to go. She should know, right? I have plenty of Mexican friends or just great brown blooded friends (Ha, true minority bonding lol) that cook their food with crazy flavor not to mention authentic restaurants. My point in saying this is, she was very polite but if she was thinking this was spicy lol, because she said she like spicy food because "she is Mexican," somebody check her bloodline. I think she is a "Blandican," from the land of tasteless food. Love all, I truly do but had to point out that this was a recommendation. One good point was that they had very polite staff. I guess if I would change anything I would dine-in there and probably help cook the food myself. My money would pay the dishwasher so I could eat without dealing with the clean up. Sooooooo glad I got that off my chest.
(2)Ben E.
Just say no. Really. Clarke's on Belmont has lousy, insanely overpriced food and drinks, abysmal service, and still gets constant business. I don't care if it's 4 a.m. and you're just "really really hungry and oh my god food!!!" or whatever else is going on, just keep walking. Don't spend your money on a business that makes essentially zero effort. The last (and I do mean last, ever) time I was there, the restaurant was practically empty and yet it still took a ludicrously long time to get menus, have a server take our order...you get the idea. When my friend and I had the gall to order another round of drinks from the bar, our server just disappeared on us for 15 minutes or so, only to return to chat with some other employees, with no drinks in sight. At that point, we just left the money for what we owed and walked out.
(1)Kathie S.
Nice outdoor eating area but that won't bring me back. The food was poor to fair. Burgers tasted like they were bought in the frozen section of Sams's Club as were the fries. I had the spinach artichoke burger, I'm 99% sure there wasn't any artichokes and it was tasteless. Neat area but won't go back.
(1)Robert A.
Not bad. Open all night. Diner food on one side, reasonably priced beer on the other. no real complaints
(3)Joe B.
Compared to the Lincoln Ave. Clarke's, this location is a little dingier, a little more cramped, and just a little more...Belmont. Like a sponge, Clarke's absorbs the people around it, most notably the people who've just evacuated the bars during the wee hours. From what I remember, that didn't seem to affect the service or the food. If the time is right (post-midnight), I'd go back.
(3)Gilbert R.
The overall best benefit of this place is that it's one 24 hours. The food is not something that makes you want to come here solely based on that. It's diner food and I've only felt comfortable with breakfast items on starters for the most part. Went crazy one time and had a pizza, won't order one again. The bar next door is kinda funny. Still not sure where it plays into the restaurant.
(3)Colleen C.
Note: For drunken food, this place will do JUST fine. If you are not completely obliterated, you may want to seek food and beverage elsewhere. I mean, yeah at Ed Debevic's and Dick's Last Resort...the rude waiters are funny because, after all, they are acting and are SUPPOSED to come off that way. At Clarke's? Just bitchy, angry, surly beeyotches. Slapping your food down, acting like they got better shit to do. Well excuse me? Last time I checked I was effing paying for this meal, and paying for you to bring it 4 steps from that nasty kitchen back there, so atleast fake a smile. I've gotten up to get my own refills of diet coke because some waste of skin waitress was just sitting at a table smoking a cig and chatting with a friend. FOR REAL? Get out. Maybe back in college this would suffice. But now? Sorry. Clarke's you suck a big greasy, undercooked omlette. Quit hiring people with personality disorders. Extra star for big pancakes and a newish bathroom.
(3)Fritzie H.
Oh Clarke's...how I wish things between us would've never changed but like most things in life they did and I can't say I'm sorry for leaving you a drunken, slutty mess. Like most, I've had my good and bad times here. When I think about it though, most of the good weren't because of the service but because of the people I was there with. The bottom line is that thier wait staff is horrible. The food is sub-par and the utensils? Don't even get me started on how dirty they are. Why do I come back? Nostalgia, but over the years I see myself here less and less. One time, like most times here, I had bad service and there was a hair in my turkey burger so guess what? I didn't leave a tip. My waitress walked up to the table we had just vacated and lifted every plate and napkin to look for a nonexistent tip. She then followed us outside and gave us hell over it. She said I gave you my undivided attention and you didn't leave me anything? Her attention was far from acceptable and everytime we needed something we had to ask the busboy so guess who was handed a tip? She then went on to say that we should go to a fast food joints so we wouldn't have a chance to stiff the waitress. hahaha Note taken.
(2)Bruce Alan B.
We like this place. Its not fancy, but it is very Lakeview. It gets a mixed crowd, is not too expensive, and I have always had good, friendly wait staff help here. I cannot say that for a lot of mid-range sit down restaurants in Lakeview.
(4)Jessica D.
Okay. So Clarke's gets major points for being on a cool side of town, having a vegetarian friendly menu, and being a fun place to hang. On the other hand, with a cool side of town comes annoyingly drunk folk, overpriced food, stressed out servers, and music loud enough you can't talk over it. Eh. It is what it is. Clarke's is a good place to grab a bit when I'm on the other side of town late at night, which appears to be fairly often. The food is hit or miss. I had the nachos two days apart and one day it was awesome, the other it sucked. They ran out of guac and forgot to put the veggie chili on it, etc., etc. so I think it depends on the night. Clarke's is about on par for the area, but prices are cheaper in Ukrainian Village at night. Oh well, maybe I should stop partying in Boystown, then, right?
(2)Nada R.
I would prefer to eat butts out of the ashtray in front of Berlin than ever set foot in this overpriced, pain in the ass, waste of time again. The "bar" attached is extra hilarious. Sit there for 15 minutes and have no one acknowledge you; just stare at the bottles. You'll love it too.
(1)Chris P.
Our experience deserves 5 stars for one reason: Mary the bartender. She did a great job and really got to know the customers while still performing her duties. Our favorite reason to go!
(5)Fleming B.
When I was in college, this was the go-to place. Everyone would hop on the red line, hop off at Belmont, see a show at the Metro and then walk over to drown their sleepiness in boozy milkshakes and giant omelets. Back then? I wasn't impressed. I didn't understand that they had other things than breakfast food. I was just pissed that they kept carding me when all I wanted was Kahlua mixed with ice cream. Also, I'm obsessed with eggs benedict, and theirs is a sad excuse for one. Now, I know. I know how tricksy it is to find good diner food in Lakeview in the middle of the afternoon that isn't drenched in oil or accompanied by 3-day old fries. I know how difficult it is to go to a Lakeview diner and not feel like you're going to stick to the floor or seats because it's so filthy. I understand that they're not awful - they're A-OK. More specifically, I met their tuna melt. Their delicious tuna melt. It's open-faced, it's on an english muffin, and it has BACON. BACON on a tuna melt? LIKE A DREAM. What's that? You can also get fresh sweet potato fries with it? Case closed, this place does not suck. Other non-breakfast excellent choices: Grilled Cheese/Tomato Soup combo. Quesadillas (shocking, right?). Greek Salad. Now, Clarke's still isn't excellent by any means. However, I will now happily go here, and sometimes suggest it. Just stay away from their eggs benedict and veer towards their tuna melt. And don't be pissed off when they card you, college kids. In a few years, you can have all the boozy milkshakes you want.
(3)Lindsay A.
I first set foot in here about eight years ago. I haven't been in here in about 3 years, and the reviews I'm reading here make me wonder whether I should bother coming in next time I'm in town (or just go to the Evanston location, which I recently visited and found to be superior to what I recall the Belmont location being). That being said, my go-to dishes at Clarke's are the California Turkey Burger with sweet potato fries or the French toast, depending on the time of day and my mood. The only thing that keeps this place from getting a better rating is the service. I've almost never had even decent service here -- the service is surly and slow here, whether it's breakfast time, the middle of the day or the wee hours of the night. Oh, and don't even think about asking them to split a check. Just bring cash; it's much easier that way.
(3)Andrew B.
I have to give this place props for being open 24x7 and serving food from across the world, but I think this is the heart of their problem. It's difficult to serve Asian, Mexican, burgers, breakfast, and salads all in the same restaurant and have it ALL taste good. Maybe it was just the sandwich I ordered (Count of Monte Cristo), but my table-mates were not beaming with satisfaction either. I expected the sandwich to be buttery and smooth, but it was served greasy and slimy. I was only able to muscle down 1/3 of it and had to eat all of the fries to get my fill. I also ordered a chocolate milk, which hit the spot. The service was average. Our waitress was nice enough to let us sample the chicken salad before we ordered. It was good and mayo'ey just like momma makes. Therefore the chicken salad wrap would be my recommendation for anyone who heads to Clarke's.
(1)April B.
I ate here many times until I saw a buss boy use a towel to wipe up a mess on the floor. He then used the exact same towel to wipe down a table. Gross Save yourself the nasty and go to either Nookies on Halsted or Melrose on Broadway
(2)Amy S.
My favorite late night place/diner ever. I often order skillets and have to take most of it home because they give you so much. The service is not great. For example, went there this past Saturday around bar closing time. My friend ordered a gyro omelet. The waitress did not write down our orders. Result: my friend did not get his gyro omelet but rather something else that relatively sounded like 'gyro omelet' I guess. I don't care if a waitress/waiter doesn't write down my order, but I do mind if they don't bring me the correct order. I do love Clarke's because they deal with drink people who are rude and leave crappy tips. I have gone there in such a state and basically fell asleep at the table...teeheee
(3)Pattie S.
I've been coming to Clarke's since I moved to the Chicago area in 2007. To be honest, most of the food is just, 'meh'. I've had better of everything that they make here. Better pancakes, better nachos, better burgers, better tacos ect. ect.. Though, I do love their water. Go figure. However, even though the food is average, I still enjoy it. It's a good place to go after drinking, it's a good place to go for a quick bite to eat. You get the point. Even though I'm giving the food such an average rating, I'm a fan of it because I've had so many good experiences here. Plus it's open 24 hours, so that doesn't hurt. And the wait staff are usually pretty good. I've never had any problems. Although, I do have one complaint about this place, but it's not even relevant anymore. When Illinois had the state wide smoking ban, Clarke's jumped the gun and started the smoking ban like 3 days early. I wanted to savor my last days of smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee in-doors at restaurants, but Clarke's took that away from me. =( Anyway, to review, Clarke's is cool, but there's so many better options to go on Belmont, unless it's like 3 am, but even then, you can find a shitty Mexican place with good tacos.
(3)Andrea C.
seriously? dont waste your time. i was drawn in by the kitschy sign outside and its proximity to the red line train stop, but i wish i hadnt even gone in. -terrible terrible service. it took forever for us to be seated and our server was rude. once we were seated, we were ignored for at least 15 minutes before a server came to ask us for our drink orders -food was mediocre and over priced. really average breakfast fare for too much money. -our drinks were never refilled despite many requests. clarkes, im over you and i wont be returning. sassy waiters and crappy food=not.
(1)Arlene A.
You know how Sam I am didn't like green eggs and ham? Well I'm not a big fan of the brown baked eggs served at Clarke's. Having to peel back the over cooked skin from my omelette was not the most pleasant way to begin my meal, but service is pretty on the spot, so I might come back for a burger.
(2)John M.
I love that they are 24 hours, but the prices are a bit high. I had the greek gyro omelette and it was super good. I had enough to take home and I'm a big eater. Chocolate Chip pancakes were devoured by my tiny cousin. She loved them. Love it and great service, but just don't like the price considering it's a diner.
(4)Rachel L.
Can I give it zero stars? No? Okay one then.. but you're getting off easy Clarke's. It was terrible. The service was ridiculous. We were sat and then forgotten about. We had to ask the host for a server and still no one came for a while. I ordered pancakes which were dry but edible but resulted in projectile vomiting a few hours later and moderate nausea for the next two days. Will I go back to Clarke's? No, never. No matter how drunk and hungry I get.. I would rather make the trip to Diner Grill on Irving Park. Super Slinga'!!
(1)Claire M.
Haha. Not surprised to read most of these reviews. HOWEVER... I used to live like, less than a block from this place (in the building above Walgreens back when it was actually apartments) and tended to congregate way more than is healthy at Clarke's. The service is pretty hit or miss. I've never had a horrible experience there because I never expected much and I was with friends most of the time anyway and didn't care how long it took to get my food. I love the chocolate chip pancakes and uh, what is it... the cheesy chicken? It's served on an english muffin. Quite tasty. What's with the other room they added though? I moved to Los Angeles right around the time when that thing came to fruition, not really sure what it's about... Oh and I remember my friends being there one night when Rob Zombie was there. Apparently he liked it so much that he came back the next night and stayed for hours. Or so they say... I was back in the old 'hood last May and couldn't believe how much it changed in the 3 years since I left. Good to see Clarke's was still there. The Bottom Lounge not so much apparently.
(4)Damian C.
I have tried quite a few things on the menu, and have never been disappointed with any of my selections. I will give a special shout out to the Cajun Chicken pita sandwich and steak fries... it's great! however... The service is close to awful. If the place is super busy, or if there is hardly anyone in there (like 7PM last night), it seems that our waitress disappears somewhere, never to be seen until it's time for the check. I don't think any waitress I've had has ever come back to ask if everything was ok.
(3)Adam S.
My fiance loves their food, but this is the worst service in Chicago. It's seems that they feel they have the great location so you'll just have to suffer through the worst service in the city. A few tips: 1) The second you sit down start waving your arms frantically and screaming and you might see a waitress within 10 min. 2) If you ask for diet coke you'll get diet rite. Even if you specifically ask to not get diet rite. Because your waitress doesn't care. 3) Ask the busboys for anything you want, they care. I tend to tip them directly as they deserve it. 4) If you have a special request for your order, keep it to yourself. Telling your waitress will only bring you rejection. Because they don't care. Did I mention that already? 5) Be ready to tell your waitress everything you will want for your entire visit the first time she comes by, it might be the last time you see her. Until she runs by to throw the check down. This is not a review based on one bad experience, I don't do those. In fact this is the first 1 star review I have ever given. I have been here many, many times and it is always terrible service. The food is good but the service is down right insulting. The best advice: Go to a place where they appreciate your business.
(1)Dan C.
An apparent Chicago mainstay...for some reason. The menu was cute and I appreciated the retro decor and 50's styling. However, the food was average and overpriced. Additionally, table was sticky and the booth I was sitting in had seismic reactions whenever the person sitting behind me moved. Add a dose of slow service, and you get yourself 2 stars. There's better options in this area. Seriously.
(2)Roz K.
Came here due to a recommendation from a friend and here's my two cents: Food-wise, it's nothing earth shattering. My friend and I ordered sandwiches here and while the sandwiches have pretty good/fresh ingredients, they're missing something that would make them awesome (missing some condiments, anyone?). They make some decent fries (definitely taste like real potatoes and has good consistency) and their chicken noodle soup is pretty cool for the fact they use real pieces of chicken and plenty of carrots (note: broth is pretty sweet). The waitress we had didn't speak good English, but she certainly brought in our food fast... or maybe it was because it was 9 PM on a Saturday and we were sitting next to the kitchen. I guess there's really nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. It's admittedly a huge pain in the backside to look for parking in that area though I suppose the place is worth a try.
(3)Jessica K.
Out of the Three Clarke's I've been two (Evanston ,Lincoln Park ) this one has the worst service. I don't think any time I've ever been here I've had a good experience with the staff. That aside, food is good. Big big portions worth their price. I like Clarke's because of their "One egg" special. It's Egg (scrambled or fried), toast and potatoes for $2.99. If you like your southern style corn beef hash.. you know, all greesy, unhealthy and oh so good.. they have it here :) In my college days we used to come to Clarkes for birthday dinners. It's open late and they have this AMAZING Charlie Brown brownie Sunday that makes even the biggest chocolate lover cry tears of joy. Oh, and I like their pancakes too. Good pancakes = good diner. For the best service check out the Clarkes in Lincoln Park. Evanston is good too but it's usually packed and takes forever to get seated.
(3)Mel G.
Overpriced food that tastes bad when you're drunk? No thank you. I've never seen a salad so dripping with Caesar dressing in my life and then you throw cold chicken on top of it? And then don't ask when I literally don't eat a single bite of it. Yeah, that's 10 bucks I won't get back for nothing. Bad food+bad service, I think the only reason to go here is the water pitchers they leave on the table. But thanks, I've got a faucet at home that works just fine.
(1)Mei J.
You could do much worse at 3am (after a night of drinking), but you could easily do MUCH better at 3pm where there are other options open. This is not the best place for brunch, lunch or even dinner (at those times there are better options open and within walking distance). But as a late night option to help absorb the alcohol- Clarke's hits the spot.
(2)Val B.
Good God, why didn't I read the reviews before coming here? I last visited this place in 2001, and at that time, I remember it being cozy with good music and all sorts of pie. Now it's a strangely-lit dump with sub par diner food and only one shitty pie (Cherry tonight). Blech. I had a horrible time hearing the people I was with because of the crappy loud music. Definitely won't be back.
(2)Trinidad F.
After helping some friends move we were starving and checked out Clarke's. As soon as we were seated they asked about drinks. I ordered hot tea. When the waiter came back he brought a pot of hot water and a big wooden box. I'm like "ok"? Opened the box and found tons of tea bags. LOL. Different flavors and such. I thought it was funny. I was freezing and the tea wasn't helping because it got cold pretty quickly. I realized the fan was on too high and was blowing cold air. We asked the waiter if he could turn them off. He was so kind and said "sure". Ok so after laughing at my giant tea box and almost freezing my butt off I decided on what I wanted to eat. I ordered a veggie burger with swiss cheese and veggie chili. Everyone else ordered breakfast...meh. I don't like breakfast food. I get my chili first. I was ok. Very thick and paste-like. tons and tons of beans. Next was my burger. It was pretty sweet. Big and stuffed with veggies as well and fries on the side. Nice. Onions, tomato, lettuce, and extra mustard on a wheat bun. Just veggie burger love. I liked this lil diner. Great place to just talk and eat food at a reasonable price.
(3)G T.
My first time here. It was early afternoon there were only three tables in the restaurant. Old school fixings in here, tapped up booths, rotting away ceiling tiles. The mentality is like "if it ain't broke don't fix it" I Liked the menu selection. The burger with Swiss grilled onions and mushrooms were delicious and the sweet potato fries were the bomb and a generous portion as well. The Holiday decorations were hanging too low! I am a taller guy who had to duck under them as we walked to our table! My gf likes Malt vinegar with her steak fries. If they don't have it she settles for balsamic or red wine vinegar the waitress claimed they had none of that. I think it was a language issue on our servers part.
(3)Shakeia T.
I've been going to Clarke's since my undergrad days at Loyola. It was the first all night diner I'd ever been to. Originally, I was entertained with the crowd that goes here late night. You can never can tell who/what you're going to see. The food was always pretty decent considering how late it was. Fast forward about 6 years, I still go Clarke's, but not as often. The service has changed a lot. They now serve liquor, which I thought was gonna be awesome. Well, my friend and I went here and she ordered a Tanqueray & tonic, and the waitress, instead of telling her they were out of tonic, she made the decision on her own to substitute orange juice. My friend was NOT happy. She didn't even touch the drink. Needless to say, we didn't pay it. The service has gotten a bit iffy these days. I still love the music and the food is still pretty good. I will however keep going here because I can count on them being open. :)
(3)Mr. H.
Clarke's back in late 90s early 2000s was awesome. Punk music, awesome wait staff and cheap food. Great place to go when bottom lounge was there. New management took over, foods inconsistent, waitstaff is cold, I miss my old hangout...
(2)Aaron S.
Clarke's is one of those places that so many Chicagoans know about that any review one could write would also be found in another review because so many people have been here and I'm certain that my review will likely look like a mixed-up amalgam of several other reviews you've probably already read. That in mind, Clarke's On Belmont is summed up in one word: "Average." I'm only in my mid-twenties and have only lived in Chicago for about 7 years, but Clarke's just keeps reappearing in my memories. The strange part is that the memories are never about Clarke's itself - just about the events that happened there or before/after being there. Clarke's just always happens to be in the right place at the right time, because I've never thought, "I want to go to Clarke's," but somehow I keep ending up there. The decor is an average compilation of every cheesy diner (but this one knows it's a cheesy diner so it pokes fun at itself, which makes it cheesier). The food wants to be tasty "greasy spoon" kind of food, but it never really makes it there. I think of "greasy spoon" as something not classy or clean but it satisfies you better than a four-course fancy-schmancy dinner ever could. This food is just - average. A lot of the time, it feels like they're just not trying. The waitstaff really give off that air. You can sometimes be standing at the "Please wait to be seated" sign for several minutes before someone takes notice and takes you to a seat. It's then a while longer before they'll take your order, and about a 50-50 chance that they'll even get it right. Sometimes even when you're lucky and they get something right, they'll somehow screw it up later. The last time I was there, they forgot the cheese on my date's cheese fries and while they managed to get us both our Diet Cokes, somehow at the refill point, they decided we'd wanted Cherry Cokes, because that's what we were brought. The buns on the burgers really aren't great. A normal restaurant would do SOMETHING to them - toast them, grill them, at the very least, warm them. These tasted like they were freshly grabbed from a not-so-fresh bag o' buns and had burger ingredients slapped on 'em. The fries? Good fries don't feel like they're filled with bland potato-ish mush. That usually happens when they're not cooked properly, or long enough, or made from poor-quality ingredients. I think it's obvious we weren't served "good fries". The price? We shelled out $8 for an appetizer of chicken tenders and what we got were four small chicken strips that tasted like they were microwaved and bought bulk at a very-discount grocery store. It's sad when you can drop about $40 for two people to eat - and you're both hungry again about 20 minutes after leaving. Still, we keep winding up back here. Drunken after a night of clubbing. Going on a first date. Randomly stopping for a meal after shopping The Alley. Celebrating an anniversary. Clarke's happens to be at the right place at the right time, and while it never deserves to be remembered for its food or service or prices or decor - it still will wind up in your memories. But if you try to think about it, you'll probably come up with that same one word: "Average."
(2)Morenike K.
Do I really need to repeat all the bad things that were said before me?
(1)Amy H.
This food is only edible if you're drunk. The service is horrible. The people watching is excellent. That's all that I have to say about Clarkes.
(2)Chris N.
I won't lie. I'm a fan. In high school this WAS THE PLACE. Now since they redid the "bar" side or whatever this place kind of sucks. The wait staff have all turned from cool hipster chicks to nasty weird people. You'll usually wait for awhile and they raised the prices a bunch despite not making the food any better or the service. That being said there are a few things here that are THE BOMB. Sweet Potato Fries. Frikkin good. It's late at night and you want some sweet potato fries, this is the place to be. The Baked Apple. This thing is ridiculous. I'm not making this up it's basically a huge baked apple pancake type creation with huge chunks of cinnamon apple goodness that is the size of a small tire (well thinner but that big around) and it's SO FRIGGIN good. You'll have to wait awhile to get it but it's worth the wait (they even tell you in the menu it take like 30 minutes to make or something). So don't discount this place just yet. +1 on the people watching. Get a seat in a booth by the windows by the front door. You see the BEST stuff there late at night.
(3)Neil O.
I really want to like Clarke's on Belmont. I really do. I love a good diner and the whole diner experience. Since it's very close to my house, I have dined here often. I actually waited to write this review, hoping any of the poorer experiences were simply on accident. Not so much. The food is adequate and the portions are big. Notice I said adequate. Nothing special. I'd rather smaller portions and better tasting food. The service is slightly less than adequate, as on multiple occasions I have been seated and then waited more than 10 minutes before anyone even comes over to ask if we want water. The prices are decent, but when the service and food is sub-par, what's the point? Especially when there are far tastier options (i.e. Ann Sather) right down the street. So in conclusion, one star for food portions, one star for the fact that they're open late-late-late, so if you've been out drinking and want to close out the evening with food, Clarke's on Belmont is always open.
(2)fox a.
This horrible place gave me the worst food poisoning of my life. Actually, the ONLY food poisoning of my life. When I called and spoke to the manager she didn't seem surprised. "Yeah, the FDA recalled the veggie burgers, but said they were OK on Thursday, so we put them back." WTF. ever.
(1)Mandy S.
Fitness Omelette. Nuf said. I want one right now. I'm a heath nut, what can I say?? The service can be a bit lame, but more often than not, it's ok. Overall, I dig it!
(4)Kmberly B.
There's something to be said about a place that makes a killer tuna melt AND has sweet potato fries. =) The food is good, but at 3am it's seems brilliant! I love that Clarke's is open 24 hours and is conveniently located just West of boys town which was close enough for me to walk to. There is a front restaurant room and a side bar/restaurant room. It's full service on either side, but the service is not good. For some reason empty or slow it seems to always take forever, but I always go back.
(3)Beth P.
Clarke's for late-night hunger pain removal. Clarke's for skillet breakfasts. Clarke's for omelette breakfasts. Clarke's for a small, scary bathroom with a broken lock. Clarke's for drunken somethings, because you're desperate to not go home yet. Clarke's for nothing else.
(2)