Clarke’s
720 Clark St, Evanston, IL, 60201
Clarke’s Menu
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Appetizers
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Daily Soups
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Salads
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Burgers
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Entrees
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Sandwiches
Healthy Meal suggestions for Clarke’s
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Appetizers
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Daily Soups
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Salads
-
Burgers
-
Entrees
-
Sandwiches
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Address :
720 Clark St
Evanston, IL, 60201 - Phone (847) 864-1610
- Website https://www.clarkesdiner.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Sarah J.
Worst service ever. It's so slow, and after they seat you it's hard to find a waiter to place your order. They also recently changed their hours to close at 3pm, which sucks because I usually like to eat Clarke's late at night. The food is also going downhill. I used to love this place, but recently the food has just been meh. The waffles are okay, but for only one waffle it's about $7, which is way too much for what you get. However, their classic French toast is such a great find. It's thick and fluffy, and some of the best that I've had. The apple pancake is also pretty good, but it takes over 40 minutes to make, and I don't think it's worth the wait. I've had good experiences with all of this food in the past, but recently they haven't been tasting as good. Also, their credit card system has been down for the past few weeks, so they're only accepting cash, which is a slight inconvenience.
(3)B S.
Ordered a hamburger and fries , potato skins and chicken wrap. Waited 10 minutes to find a seat, even though half the place was empty! Waited another FORTY MINUTES, Still no food or waitress! Another waitress said, "oh didn't they tell you they forgot your order?" Demanded I talked to manager, food came out in another 10 minutes minus the potato skins! Finally got the potato skins, and I attached a picture, they were so overcooked the outside were like rocks! Do yourself a favor and go to Burger King 2 doors away, much faster and better tasting and better service! Never again even with Groupon!
(1)Alex R.
Against better judgement, I decided to order delivery from this place. The potatoes that came with the sandwich were completely overcooked and not even seasoned. When I say not seasoned, I mean, they didn't bother to even put salt and in the mush that was supposed to be crispy potatoes. The sandwich was completely sub par and tasteless. How bad do you have to be to mess up a sandwich and potatoes. If you're thinking about delivery from here, don't do it. Just don't.
(1)Christine H.
Breakfast food at almost all hours of the day. In addition, this place serves the best skillet eggs I've ever had in my entire life. Every skillet eggs I've ordered here is exceptional. I've never tried the burgers, and the pancakes/waffles are only okay. The service here is a little slower than I expected from a brunch place, however the meals are definitely worth the wait.
(4)Ted H.
This place is pretty great! The service was fast, drinks were always kept full, and the food came out very quickly. The Clarke's burger was a perfect example of a fresh made diner burger. Classic toppings and a perfectly cooked medium patty.
(4)Steve T.
The food is good but the service - breakfast on the weekends is consistently slow. I suggest you tip the wait staff up front to motivate them - and you might want bring your own coffee.
(3)Andrea T.
Waited for 45 minutes for the food and finally walked out. Nobody apologized and nobody cared. The worst service I've experienced in a long while.
(1)Eric T.
I really like Clarke's, I think it adds a bit of college-town feel to Northwestern. The place is basically a diner and they serve everything on the menu at all hours they are open. Pretty big space and good for groups and they open late! Portions are huge and I like the customization options for burgers and the omelets. I usually get the burgers and they are bomb-diggity and so filling. You can get a fried egg with it no extra charge. You can choose what bread you want on it, although I always opt for the pretzel bun and a choice between sweet potato fries, normal fries, and waffle fries! On this occasion, I ordered an omelet since I came here for breakfast. I was getting work done because they had free wifi and it's not a bad place to work. Not too crowded in the late mornings. The portions are big, I should really reiterate that. I got an egg white chicken fajita omelet with fresh fruit and pancakes. The egg white option is 1 extra dollar and so is the fresh fruit. I was surprised about the extra cost for fruit, but there was a good selection on the fruit. Great place if you're really hungry!
(4)Leah D.
Very tasty, fresh and hot! I had Standard breakfast with scrambled eggs, potatoes and pancakes, my husband had eggs Benedict and my daughter had BLT. All great food and excellent service! Cute and quaint diner close to northwestern university. And serves breakfast all day long
(5)Felix C.
We've been coming to this Clarke's locations for over 20 years and over the past 5 years the service has deteriorated. It's taken longer to get our food than it did to get a table and there hasn't been any explanation about the delay. We've been waiting for over 30 minutes for our food.
(2)Ieshia C.
This place sucked....balls! Will never go back. The waiter sucked. Food sucked. Everything sucked. Irritated I even bought a groupon for this place. Not sure about the Lincoln Park location but the Evanston location is SUPER WHACK!
(1)Yuki Z.
This place is going down. :( I've been to this place a lot during my freshman year, as it was a great place for late night pancakes. I still remember those fun times. Didn't get a chance to visit much recently, but went back last Thursday. Very disappointed. Have to say, after the renovation, the place looks brand new, but the service was not that good. He was nice, but he took the wrong order. The big and health was cooked in oil rather than water; we asked for no cheese but they skull have cheese in it. Very disappointing. Overall the skillet was okay. Pancakes were still good! Not a very pleasing experience.
(3)Rebecca Q.
Terrible service, we waited for 50 minutes just for pancakes and omelettes to arrive.
(1)Erin R.
Love getting my shake when it's still in it's metal container from being mixed, delish!
(4)Zack B.
This is the best meal in evanston. I've never been to a diner more comfortable. Carlos is the best waiter I've ever had.
(5)Darren J.
Poor customer service. Waited 15 mins to put in an order for coffee , 5 min wait to even be noticed to be seated. It was like I was invisible the whole time.
(1)Kevin P.
Usually, either a terrible experience or phenomenal meal inspire me to write a Yelp review. Today was an example of the former. I ended up at Clarke's because the Korean restaurant next door was closed over Labor Day weekend. We settled to go to Clarke's. The lady that seated us was our server, but we wouldn't find that out for a solid twelve minutes, and only after another waiter went to go get her. We had to repeat a bunch of stuff while she took our order, and she also forgot a few items when we were eventually served. My wife got their strawberry banana french toast and liked it. I got a buffalo chicken wrap that was missing half the ingredients listed on the menu. My kids got mini burgers and a turkey sandwich. My daughter said there were hard bits in her burger. My other daughter didn't want to eat the turkey sandwich and said it was gross (this sandwich consisted of a slice of cheese, a few dark slices of turkey, and overtoasted bread. Some other dining highlights included listening to the staff engage in loud, personal discussion about who was working which shifts. I feel like I really got to know the staff without it even being my choice. I also enjoyed the male waiter playing around on his phone in a booth instead of working. You would think customers would mind, but as it turned out some of the people eating there were employees. In the end I had to go up to pay since we were not willing to wait any longer for a check. For such a simple menu their service sucks and you wait way too long for everything. I highly recommend this place if you are 18-22, broke, and a college student. If you have any semblance of standards for a meal, Evanston has much more to offer. Don't make the mistake I did! PS for Clarke's- the name of the server on our receipt was Claudia.
(1)J. M.
Great diner near Northwestern University. Great service; plentiful breakfast choices served with delicious toast (Turano bakery!).
(4)Keanan G.
Excellent coffee, delicious eggs, potatoes and pancakes. Most crowded during Sunday brunch, expect a 15-20 minute wait. Least crowded during weekdays, no wait, barely anyone else in restaurant. Cozy booths, some loud noises from kitchen. Lots of options on the menu, breakfast and lunch specials. Lots of tvs. I've been twice and each time ordered the two eggs scrambled with potatoes, pancakes and coffee. Wouldn't hesitate to try anything else, though. Prices could be lower.
(5)Jane W.
Clarke's... it's an odd place because I really can't see anything particularly special about the food/ambiance/decor/service here. But I always find myself coming back. And I think it's because there's nothing like oversized portions for a decent price (yay for poor college students), and having to hobble back to my apartment after eating enough for two people. I usually go with their savory dishes, like their skillet eggs or omelettes. One of my favorites is the South of the Border skillet eggs. And I love how most of their savory dishes comes with a side of pancakes.. so when you get sick of salty, you can switch over to the sweet. Or vice versa.
(4)Amy C.
My husband and I love coming to brunch here. The food is yummy and has a great college town atmosphere. Only downside is how slow service is on Saturdays and Sundays when they are really busy.
(4)michael w.
We stopped in after 10pm on a Thursday for a small bite. Small, cozy, and pink neon grabs your attention from the street. Seated and service was fast and friendly. We split a mushroom swiss burger with sweet potato fries. Shared the room with some other late nighters, mixed crowd of college and older. No reason not to come back, rock solid diner option.
(3)Yumiko M.
I've been dying to write this review. CLARKES IS SO OVERRATED!!!!! Portions sizes are too big and its too expensive. Your doing it wrong if your going to Clarkes when you could be going to GOLDEN OLYMPIC diner around the corner. Golden Olympic is the shit. Cheap and OG diner food.
(1)Tricia D.
Clarke's brings back memories of college. And now, based on this latest visit, it will bring me memories of a loooonnggg wait (think 15-20 minutes for a waitress to even appear to take your order), sticky, cramped tables, and canned mushrooms (blech).
(1)Z S.
This place ruined the night for me and a group of my friends. We arrived to the restaurant at 10:30 pm, where we were not greeted by a waiter or waitress. We found seats squeezed in the corner of the restaurant. Our first interaction with a waiter did not come until 10:45, when he came over a little clumsily, ready to take our order, then dashing off somewhere else before we could say a word. He came back 10 minutes later and proceeded to forget our simple order multiple times. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. Our food would arrive in pieces nearly TWO HOURS after we had placed our initial order. I find it hard to believe that omelet skillets take that long to make. Many tables left before they got their food because of the long wait. To make it worse, other tables who arrived after us and ordered after us got their food and paid their checks before we even saw our own meals. The waiter only came over once or twice in the long wait, and when he did and we voiced our complaints, he responded with ill-placed humor and no certain indication of when our food would be ready. It was right after a football game, but the place was not at full capacity and would soon lose many people, so no excuses. It's a great diner in a great location, but the service and unnecessarily-long wait puts this place on my personal black list. Disregarding all of that, the food was pretty good (my order was messed up to nobody's surprise) but largely flavorless. On one side of my dish, the potatoes were very plain and greasy; on the other, the pancakes were fluffy and very, very sweet. I love the food, but I am really upset at the haphazard service. We were ultimately given a 30% discount on our meal, but even that could not repair the terrible experience we had tonight.
(1)Bethany A.
I've been to this place three times before today and I've had decent experiences each time. Food is pretty solid and it's a nice place to go when it's midnight and you want some breakfast. I will mention that Le Peep's omelets taste fresher and their pancakes are not as dense and unfinishable as Clarke's. I came here on 12 a.m. on a Friday night (on a night when they're listed to close at 2 a.m.) and the waiter at the cashier told me that they had just closed early for the night because service was so slow that day. I was trying to get some dinner for my roomie who was sick and slept through dining hall hours and I told him that very politely. He was taking the checks of three people so I figured the chef had just wiped down maybe 15-20 minutes ago. The waiter said he would go ask the chef to see if he would take one last order but was obviously reluctant doing so because "the chef is a mean guy." He came out later after a minute and told me the chef is tired (but it was a slow day!) and doesn't want to cook anymore. I called ahead half an hour before going and no one picked up at the restaurant so I had NO idea they were closing early, and overall that was just bad service. I won't be returning unless I have to and I will not be recommending this place to anyone. Bottom line, don't expect too much from this place, especially service-wise.
(2)Yuanjia Z.
This is a relatively quiet place in Evanston, where you can go and grab some breakfast food. I particularly like their chicken coup but I guess they changed their menu and it may not be there anymore? The service there was pretty meh i would say. They were not particularly quick and the waitresses didn't seem to be very interested in us. Maybe they are just tired of college kids. lol
(3)Jenny K.
As a Northwestern student, Clarke's is the go-to place for a lazy sunday brunch or a late-night grub. They sell everything from delicious buttermilk pancakes to a Mexicana burger with onions, jalapenos, Jack cheese topped with homemade salsa and guacamole. I'm usually not a fan of diners, but I've tried variety of entrees from Clarke's breakfast, lunch and dinner selections and haven't been disappointed yet. The only bad experience I had was when my friends and I came for a late night dinner on a low-staff night and ended up waiting about 2 hours for our food before leaving. I also agree with the other yelpers that the place could use some good cleaning.
(3)Jeff H.
A staple of Evanston, it's an obvious choice for college students wanting a good breakfast but not wanting to travel far.
(3)Susan C.
I love this place! They offer an unbelievable lunch special: for $5.99 you get choice of sandwich with either chips or soup, and a refillable fountain drink. Today we both got the tuna salad sandwich. It came on the most amazing wheat bread and the tuna was so thick, it was falling out of the bread. The soup, tomato, is not your traditional tomato....it almost looks like a chili ~ all soups are homemade and daytime parking is plentiful (street). The only thing negative I have to say is that the place needs a good cleaning. I looked up and saw that the vent is very dirty. Also, it could use a paint job & complete sprucing..... If you are in the area, stop in and enjoy!
(4)Tian Y.
For everything I can get at Clarke's I'd probably just get better elsewhere. After my last experience where bf and I ate the worst burgers of our lives here, we probably will never come back here ever again. In fact, will probably go next door to BK. Previously, due to its proximity to campus, this was an occasionally frequented spot for comfort food. But the place always smells like it's been cleaned with an old, moldy mop - like cleaner with a hint of mold, neither of which are pleasant smells for a dining establishment, let alone combined. Their breakfast food selection is pretty comprehensive, though nothing spectacularly delicious or homey and comforting. The portions are generous but if the food's not good, why go? If I'm craving breakfast foods, there are much better restaurants within a couple of blocks. If I'm in the area, there's other foods to eat. For late night, BK is probably more dependable.
(1)Taylor T.
I love Clarke's breakfast food and will come here at any hour if I want eggs or pancakes and don't feel like cooking them myself; the omelets are really good and I honestly don't need to eat anything else for the rest of the day if I have brunch there. The servers are all really nice, but sometimes when it gets busy you have to snag their attention (which is understandable). They have great bussers who keep everything clean, as soon as it needs to be cleaned, which I can't say about all diners.
(4)Chris C.
Totally solid diner food and nice collegiate atmosphere. I recommend the pancakes in particular and really any of the breakfast food in general. Nice place to visit before or after a walk around the Northwestern campus. And not a bad place to study or work. As long as it's not packed (and it's hardly ever packed) they're nice about keeping your coffee mug full and just letting you do your thing.
(4)Kerri P.
Monday to Friday 6am - 12pm 5-dollar breakfast deals with bottomless coffee. Didn't even find out about it until a friend passed this little secret along. Just ask for the 5-dollar menu! You can never really go wrong with skillets or omlets at Clarke's.
(4)Pierre T.
As I write this, we have been sitting at the table for an hour and a half with no food and limited attention from our server. Other tables whose orders were taken after ours have gotten their food and even paid their checks. When I confronted the server about our dire situation, instead of being apologetic he attempted to pass on the blame to the kitchen and make humor out of the situation. How long does it actually take to make skillet eggs?! Seriously, I could have taken the train across town, eaten some delicious skillet eggs, and made it back to Evanston before we would even get our food here.
(1)Alison K.
Great brunch place. I had the corned beef hash skillet with pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice.
(5)Lilly G.
The atmosphere is cute, the service is good, but the food is average. Don't get delivery the food takes a very long time and is usually cold/ soggy. I still order and go to Clarke's because overall I like it and I know what to expect. I've never had any real problems like a mixed up order or rude waiter. Would recommend but don't have high expectations.
(3)Beth R.
I was familiar with Clarke's from their Belmont location, which was down the street from my first big-girl job after college. After chronic disappointments from the breakfast + Evanston equation, I was hopeful that Clarke's would pull through. If the four stars above haven't ruined the surprise, go ahead and read on. I couldn't decide between my two standbys: spinach omelet and blueberry pancakes, so I got both. They let me order the omelet and sneak the blueberry pancakes in instead of regular pancakes as one of my sides. That's the type of kindness that you don't forget, or at least the type you document in a review to remind yourself about later. Anyway, the omelet was 1) huge and 2) a close relative of the kind at Walker Bros. That is to say, baked. The pancakes were good but came with butter packets instead of real butter pats. In addition to a side of pancakes, my omelet came with what are called "Northshore potatoes." I will assume that this moniker is a coincidence and not a commentary on people from the North Shore being identical, white and square. At any rate, i liked them and thought they were cute. My lady friend, who is Polish, opted for the Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam. She insisted that I try some, and that jam really made up for the time she insisted that I try vodka all night. I am beginning to trust her again. Logistically, the dining is casual, comfortable but close. My friend and I stealthily moved some of our table accessories to the next table to free up some room on ours. The service is fine, and there was no wait at 10:30 on a summer Saturday. I imagine it's much busier when NU's in session. This is probably where I will spend my Evanston breakfast dollars in the future. Keep it up, Clarke's.
(4)Mary B.
Breakfast egg white omelet was very good. Stopped there today and was in and out in a respectable time. Don't know what it is like on the weekends but a lot of resturants can ruin an egg white omelet with veggies.....very healthy and not drenched in oil.
(4)Alex R.
Quality food (I recommend the cinnamon bun pancakes!) and good service and cinnamon bun pancakes (did I mention try were good). That's all that needs to be said.
(4)Elizabeth C.
Really pleasant and reasonably priced experience aside from the dirty restaurant, hair in my potatoes and waitress noshing playing with her food in the kitchen across from my table.
(1)Susie J.
I came here after a rough Friday night, hoping to get the morning after diner experience. The food was not amazing, but it was good for what I was trying to accomplish. I had the Denver skillet eggs with a side of pancakes. The eggs were pretty good, with good sized portions and a hearty taste, but the pancakes were rubbery. Overall, I don't love it here, but I can definitely see myself returning.
(3)David R.
I'm not a semi-regular like I was in the late 90s and early 00s, but I've visited this Clarke's location twice in the last year, and I'm convinced that they have the best breakfast in Evanston. In fact, I am willing to aver that their "Yee-Haw!" (aka Denver) omelet plus steak fries (Northshore potatoes are weak, yo) and English muffin is one of the best breakfasts anywhere. The service is likely to be hit or miss. Based on the sum of my previous experiences, I would have declared it subpar; based on my last visit alone, I would have said "atrocious." But thankfully, yesterday's server K.T. single-handedly redeemed my estimation of their service potential. So...order the Yee-Haw!, swap out the Northshore potatoes for steak fries, and ask to sit in K.T.'s section. Stay in that sweet spot and you can't go wrong.
(4)U.M. S.
Yes, the service sucks and the waitresses obviously know it and work by the philosophy of "minimum wage equals minimum effort." But service aside the food is pretty decent and the portions are great. I recommend the burgers whereas the boyfriend recommends their waffles. Oh! And their milkshakes are delicious!
(4)Helen S.
My roommate and I came here to watch my friend go on a food binge. He was super hungry, and I don't know what he was thinking because he got a pizza, and then also ordered an omelet (which came with a side of potatoes AND pancakes). I think he also got a slice of cheesecake for dessert or something like that. Anyways, we ended up helping him eat his food because we felt bad watching the poor kid struggle :( The food is just okay, but I really like how they serve their full menu even at 11PM
(3)Emily F.
I feel torn over Clarke's. I love diners and breakfast places and there was some to love about this place and other things that could really be improved on. Food was pretty good - I loved the pancakes on the side and its definitely an enormous portion of food you get with the breakfast items. My two complaints - the omelet was awful. It looked amazingly fluffy so I thought it would be delish, but they must add something to make it fluffy because the egg had little to no flavor and a very, very strange texture. It was so strange! The service is lacking. I don't want to complain too much because it has that mom and pop feel to it which I love... but asking me how everything is and me being able to find you if I need something is really important. Our server was missing for over 20 mins and we really wanted the check, so kind of annoying. I'll definitely go back and try a different breakfast item since the majority of the meal was fine.
(3)Donna S.
This place is not well maintained. Very run down. Don't go there when it rains. The window was leaking in the ceiling but the owner doesn't want to fix it. The hash browns are just boiled potatoes.
(1)Jennifer L.
I've only had the pleasure of visiting Clarke's Diner on one occasion, and overall it was a pleasant but not overwhelmingly amazing experience. I had the Hollywood Skillet (if memory serves me correctly?) with a side of pancakes, all of which was pretty darn good. Had to slather on a good bit of hot sauce though, but that's just how I like it. Gotta spice things up a bit! I loved that the skillet was chocked full of veggies and feta cheese. Pretty much had me sold on that alone. Feta is ALWAYS betta'. I like that Clarke's has a cool, vintage coffee shop/diner vibe, and doesn't try to pass itself off as something it's not. No real big frills, just simple and clean diner ambiance. Nuttin' fancy shmancy. It has good and relatively quick service. And seeing as its on the Northwestern campus, I have no doubt it's a huge hit with the college crowd. If I were in the area again around the breakfast/brunch hour, I wouldn't mind hitting up Clarke's for a second go around to see what other tasty delectables they have to offer.
(3)Gspot H.
Order the 'le big meaty pita" (madonnas favorite)
(4)Dan K.
Place is a great affordable bfast. For all u students go during the week and asked for the shortened menu - great deal on bfast and lunch specials. The people who work there are great as well. An evanston classic
(5)Christine K.
Clarke's is better than Denny's and IHop without a doubt, but the quality of the food isn't exactly stellar. I'm not a big fan of peasant potatoes, so I never end up finishing the skillet dishes. Again, Clarke's doesn't have the best food, but if you're looking for a hearty meal while catching up with your friend, then Clarke's would be the place in Evanston. One thing that I do enjoy from Clarke's is the freshly squeezed OJ. For those healthy eaters, Clarke's has an egg-white veggie omelet option, so that may be a plus.
(3)John K.
I know I have two favorite experiences at Clarkes: Getting their Charlie Brown Sundaes late night (good mother of god just uttering those words makes me want to go there right now and order much to the chagrin of the fat) and reading my favorite book while eating a Micromini for breakfast in the morning. Obviously, this is not Pierrot Gourmet of the Peninsula Hotel, but there's something good about being able to have experiences like the above and not have to pay much AT ALL... One thing they could work on however, is make the potato hash for the micromini less saltier and less smushier...Ill leave that project up to their cooks.
(4)Peien L.
Came here with some old college buddies for Sunday breakfast (we just beat out the brunch rush for family weekend). Definitely brought back happy memories of Saturday night dinners in college when most of us would still order breakfast food, even at 8PM. Their pancakes and syrup are still fluffy and scrumptious, and their egg skillets border on way too much food. Add a mug of their bottomless Kona coffee, and you can't get much better for breakfast (Walker Brothers in Wilmette gives Clarke's a run for their money though). Their Mexican food is also surprisingly good. In a year when Merle's went bust and Al's Italian beef got replaced, I'm glad to see an Evanston institution is still standing =)
(4)Greg L.
My crew rolled into this joint late in the morning after a night of serious liver exercising. We wanted breakfast like nothing else. Clarke's delivered. I ordered a simple egg and potatoes. Someone had the corned beef hash. Everybody was very happy. They even allow substituting of pancakes for toast, which is awesome. I will go back here each time I am in Evanston. Good food, good times, friendly folk.
(4)Crissy I.
Clarke's is a cute little local diner right on the edge of Evanston's campus. I'm a huge diner fan, so when they beckon - I'm there. I visited for breakfast on a weekday morning, and the place was pretty empty. I got one of those cute window tables overlooking the street so I was able to enjoy some people watching during my meal. The place has a bit of shabby feel to it and has definitely seen better days, but to me, that's part of its charm. Like all diners, the menu is huge, with basically every kind of breakfast, lunch, or dinner item you can imagine. I never miss an opportunity to have breakfast, and when I saw their extensive pancake menu (favorite breakfast ever!), I knew what I had to have. After seeing it on other menus, I've been curious about the baked apple pancake, so I decided to give it a try here after the waitress recommended it. I ordered the small version ($6.99) and I'm so glad I did because I was barely able to finish that one - I would have hated to see the normal one. This baby was gigantic, and can best be described as an explosion of apples, brown sugar, and pancake all crisped up in a super sweet package. Honestly, I have a huge sweet tooth and even I would say that the apple pancake would be better shared or eaten as a dessert, it was that sweet and rich. Don't get me wrong, I ate every bite and loved it, but yeah - sweet city. Nom! Service was pretty unremarkable, but that's pretty typical for diners. It took awhile to get my order, but I think the apple pancake just takes a lot of time to cook, so I can't really fault them for that. Meh. Clearly, this is not a place you come for the service anyway - you're in a diner, duh. A solid choice for food near Northwestern's campus, with reasonable prices and a casual atmosphere.
(4)Leo S.
This was one of the first Evanston restaurants I've been to, so it has a place in my heart. It seems to be a NU staple. The food is good, but not good enough for the price. The omelets and potatoes are actually delicious and come in good portions. Service is also only ok. I recommend it for breakfast, but only because I have not been to any other places.
(3)Shradha A.
Can't believe this place isn't at all what it used to be - the nachos were totally not macho and they charge extra for any ingredients like onions!!! They never ever used to! The french toast came out cold and as if it was prepared and reheated. The quesadilla was very okay too. I miss the Clarke's of yore - the one where I spent a good bit of my college years! :=(
(3)Jacob A.
Great breakfast place for a reasonable price. Get the egg skillets, they're delicious!
(5)Aubrey T.
Not a great value. A lot of food, but nothing special. $9.99 for decent omelet, good toast, and spoiled fruit. Head 2 miles north to Walker Pancake House... exponentially better.
(2)Rowena L.
The food is good, your average diner menu. Their key advantage is being open late night...but that also means late at night the wait can be crazy.The portions are huge, and I always get some sort of omelet, which comes with potatoes and pancakes. The milkshake is a dud though.
(3)Ryan G. S.
The food here is inexplicably mediocre. It's the sort of place you go to once, then swear you'll never to go again. And then, months or maybe years later, you go back, having forgotten your last experience. And, of course, you are summarily underwhelmed, and the cycle starts over. But there is a photo of a guy on the menu who must be my doppelganger.
(1)andrew z.
I don't know why we didn't try this place sooner. Maybe because it looks rundown, maybe because of bad Yelp reviews. I don't know, but I think it is a shame. Sometimes we are hungry for pancakes after 2pm, and Clarke's would have satisfied that hunger just fine! The food is fairly typical diner food -- burgers, eggs, fries, and pancakes, etc. But this is a plus, not a minus. As much as I like fancy, expensive food, I grew up with diners all around me, and sometimes I am just in a mood for chicken fingers and a cola. This is a great place for comfort foods.
(4)Sarah M.
I like diner food. My issue is with the customer service. We went here under the assumption that our coupon from the Entertainment book would be a great way to save a few bucks. Turns out that they decided the coupon could only be used at five pm, when the coupon clearly states valid anytime. I will never go here again.
(1)Julie C.
Awful. I feel like the food comes pre-packaged and frozen. I asked for a hot dog once and it took an hour for the waiter to tell me they ran out. The only thing I like here are the milk shakes and they're barely passable.
(2)Daphne L.
I was hoping for a 5-star for my 200th review, but, sadly it's not to be. Every time I go to Clarke's I'm reminded why there are such huge gaps of time in between visits..it's just not that good. I'm a big fan of diners and diner-food but Clarke's doesn't have it. The service is always off; no one is rude, but, they never get anything quite right. And then there's the food. The food is mediocre and WAY overpriced. It's a shame, too, since my office is right across the street, which could have made it the perfect lunch spot. I was there for lunch today with a friend, and, ordered the BLT and the skinny fries. Skinny fries, you say? Yes, because they serve steak fries (dislike) and sweet potato fries. I prefer the skinny fries, so that's what I order when I'm there. My friend ordered the tuna melt with sweet potato fries and an iced tea. She immediately sent her iced tea back because it tasted "skunky," which is never a good adjective for iced tea. They initially brought out my BLT with steak fries, and no mayo. I don't know about everyone else, but, am I wrong in assuming that my BLT would come with mayo? On the side, at least? And since we both ordered sandwiches (at the same time, no less) shouldn't they have arrived at the same time? So, the waiter takes my plate away to replace the fries, and a few minutes later he brings my friend her sandwich, and I wait. Wait some more. And more. More waiting. I finally had to ask if my BLT was ever coming back. When it does come out and I took a bite I realized it had no mayo, so I had to ask for that. Sigh. The omelets are just okay but don't have a good egg-to-filling ratio. The chicken salad sandwich is one of the grossest things I've ever tasted, and that's saying a lot. I love chicken salad but this stuff is awful. It's sweet, and I don't mean sweet like they use Miracle Whip. It tastes like they add a cup of sugar to the recipe. Gah, it's so gross. If I want good diner food for lunch, I'll walk the few extra blocks and go to Golden Olympic.
(2)Jennifer O.
South of the Border skillet and pancakes - AWESOME. My husband and I always head over to Clarke's when we both have a morning off. We've been going to all Clarke's locations since we met 9 years ago. The Evanston location is the best one in terms of food and service. The staff greets and accommodates, the food comes out quickly, and they don't dawdle on giving your check.
(5)David S.
This place doesn't even deserve an honorable review. I was there twice, once when I got stranded in Evanston and once when I was there for a week to photograph a wedding. The first time I can barely remember, but the impression I had was not positive. The second visit was worse. I was excited when I walked in and the menu had the caption "Oh my, you should eat!" on it. But that was the extent of anything positive I can say about this place. The food expensive and terrible. The service was awful; so awful, in fact, that we could have slipped out un-noticed and not even paid. Don't waste your time or money at this horrible place -- unless you have no other options -- but when you're in Evanston, you do.
(1)Kile K.
Love the food and have always had a great experience here. The place does smell, though.
(4)Taryn T.
When I saw that Clarke's of Evanston had a three-star average on Yelp, I became very indignant and vowed to write a solid four-star review gushing about my many positive dining experiences here while I was an undergrad at NU. Then I thought about the actual meals and realized, "Uh, crap. They're right." Clarke's isn't memorable because of the food - it's satisfying comfort food that gets the job done - but because of the situations that led me there time and time again. Waking up late on lazy Sundays with my roommate... "Let's go to Clarke's!" Meeting my "big sis" for the first time when I joined my sorority... "Let's go to Clarke's!" Giving one of my best friends from high school a tour of Evanston... "Let's go to Clarke's!" This place is a comfy, friendly standby for NU students. And while the brunch isn't as satisfying as Dixie Kitchen's or Le Peep's, the memories of sliding into a booth at Clarke's, feeling hungover and wearing your pajama bottoms and rehashing the events of last night while you inhale some scrambled eggs, are what make this place great.
(3)M R.
This place has been constantly decreasing in quality over the past few years. Poor service and food quality is very low for the price. Worst dinner is Evanston for sure.
(2)Melissa F.
Dear Clarke's, I have been visiting you a lot since I am a lazy Northwestern student. I still give you three stars because your service is still "meh." But I cannot stay away from your skillets once I set foot inside your door. Especially your South of the Border Skillet. It's greasy and has an unnecessary amount of potatoes, but it is synonymous with "eating my feelings." I refuse to bump you up to four stars, but I cannot refuse your greasy skillets anymore. I'm back on campus, and I once again realize how much I've missed them. Good job...ish. Fondly? Melissa
(3)George O.
Really, three stars average? I would have considered giving it two stars, except that it's not even up to "Meh, I've experienced better" standards. EVERYTHING else in Evanston is better. The food is a 2.5. Pancakes are no better than at IHOP - tough and overmixed. Not so bad that syrup doesn't fix that, but that doesn't earn them any points. Chili looked like tomato sauce, smelled like tomato sauce, and tasted like canned tomato sauce. Yummy. Corned beef hash was pathetic on meat to potato ratio, and was cooked to crispy. Corned beef hash should be meaty and soft, with enough chew to stand up to the yolky goodness oozing over it. This was just...sad. The real problem here is the management, though. The booth we sat at was covered in sticky, and the seats were covered in crumbs. Service is slow. We didn't get asked if we would like anything to drink. They were out of both coke and root beer. We had to ask for things like syrup. Waiters don't come back very often. They rarely even get in range of where you can flag them down. Our check took forever to get. These are all basic things that any well-run restaurant will take care of. Seriously, I will take any other place in Evanston.
(1)Christabel D.
The food is fine for the sort of late night diner fare that is offered, but my experience from last night has taken it off my list of places to eat late at. We ordered the chicken tenders and they came out literally raw, with the insides looking like an uncooked thanksgiving turkey. When we asked the server to please take them back and exchange them for some that were cooked through, he proceeded to tell us that the "chickens were down" and that we should pick something else from the menu. We were a little confused, but we decided to go for the pita chips and spinach dip instead. The rest of the meal was ok, and the waffle fries that we also ordered were pretty good, but when it came time for the bill to arrive, we noticed that we were charged for the substitute chips and dip. Considering that the raw chicken could have made us very ill, we did not feel that we should have been charged for the pita, which we brought up to the server. He kept arguing with us, saying that we were wrong and that he would not remove the charge and that "it was not fair". After a few minutes of arguing he finally relented, but the raw food and the poor customer service are reasons that I will not be returning.
(1)Yanyao N.
A few years back when I was in college, my roommate and I would go here every Sunday morning for brunch. He would get the tuna melt and I would get the meat and cheese omelet. Delicious. We would even deal with the 15-30 minute wait. Fast forward to this year and this place is never busy anymore. The service is awkward at times and the food quality is pretty atrocious. Their tomato soup (which I used to love) is now served barely warm. On another occasion, a sandwich I ordered came out so over-salted that I had to send it back. I think that was the first time I have ever sent anything back to a kitchen. If you're craving food from here, I'd recommend going to the one on Belmont. They actually do get customers and their food is much better prepared.
(1)Monica Y.
I'm really surprised at the not so great reviews on here but my experience at Clarke's was fantastic. I had the regular waffles with maple syrup and cheese north shore potatoes and both were delicious especially the waffles. We got our coffee and pitchers with lemon water refilled very quickly without asking. It was kinda loud in there but the northwestern game was on so it was to be expected.
(5)Annie S.
I grew up eating here in high school, brings back a lot of great memories :) I love the menu because you can get anything basically anything you want and the food is pretty good. I love their potato skin app, buckwheat panckes and their chicken stir-fry. I think they have great fries! What I don't like are their north shore potatoes. I don't know, there's something about it that I can't stand. Maybe not enough flavor? No idea... The prices are reasonable and I usually would spend about $10 total. This place is very busy since Northwestern is right here so it's filled with college kids. But when I'm home, I try to visit this place.
(4)Ju L.
Boy, I used to love it here. Highlights are the skillet eggs (SO MUCH FOOD), lowlights are the Eggs Florentine (soggy and bland) and the nachos, which are just about the worst nachos I've ever had. Burgers are meh. Corned beef hash is better at Le Peep because they crazy oversalt it here, but sometimes there's just no point in resisting. The Kona coffee is decent. Waitstaff generally attentive. Location perfect for lazy nights. Also, it was great that it was open late (2am on weekends)! Eventually I settled into getting the "Un Uno One" (one egg, a heap of potatoes, toast) and switching out the toast for pancakes, which sometimes they let you do for free. A hefty meal for under $4; unheard of! Notice my past tense, though? Since the redecoration a few months ago (they took out the glass wall shared with JK Sweets next door and added a flatscreen TV...), Clarke's has been a disappointment. Not only has it lost some of its '50s kitsch-appeal because of the updated decor, they also raised their prices on basically everything. $10 for skillet eggs now? What? Maybe this is just me growing out of typical "college" life (of which Clarke's is a staple for many Northwestern kids). Either way. It was always fun to come here with friends and chow down in a comfy booth seat, but the mediocre food isn't worth the price anymore. If you have access to a car, get yourself to Walker Bros and enjoy some unspeakably amazing breakfast for the same price!
(3)Elizabeth F.
Not impressed. Not at all. I had chicken noodle soup and it was really salty. Like really salty. I had a half turkey sandwich that was not bad. My husband had a chicken salad sandwich and he was not impressed. I tasted his sandwich and it was sweet. Yuck. Service was good. I will not be back to Clarke's.
(2)Patricia K.
There just is something comforting about diners like this that have survived the influx of trendy, chain-like restaurants that have taken over the breakfast industry. My experience at Clarke's is exactly what I would expect from a place like this. It has all your basics menu options - nothing particularly revolutionary. However, sometimes you just want some eggs cooked the same way they were twenty years ago. Sometimes you don't want to have to read lengthy descriptions of the executive chef's latest creation just to make a selection. And that is exactly what Clarke's gives you. The simple classics and a few extras, that you can rely on. My only real complaint is that the service wasn't as attentive as it should have been. There are not many tables but for some reason, our server was frequently missing. It wasn't terrible and eventually we'd be able to track him down for whatever we needed. But I just kind of think that in a small place such as that, a missing server sticks out.
(3)Jessie L.
giving them an extra star for their der swedish pancakes. yummmy
(3)Jeremy N.
Just what you want in a classic long-hours diner, plus a youthful atmosphere. Prices are fine, and breakfast portions are probably too generous--come hungry.
(4)Andrew H.
Very underwhelming. Usually enjoy better food but this outing deserves a 1-star rating. I patronized Clarke's with my favorite girl around 10pm tonight. Given the lack of other food options in Evanston after 10pm, Clarke's really corners the market of college students trying to enjoy cheap late-night food. The service was sub-par, not unlike other visits here. It took quite some time between being seated and our waiter coming over, and again between check and accepting my debit card. The waiter is friendly yet uninterested, all at the same time. The food. I ordered the classic skillet with sausage...I don't usually like to be that guy, but I had to send it back when the sausage was cold. The sausage lacked any charring or skillet characteristics, leaving me the impression that it is simply heated up in a microwave(?) or something fast-food like. The potatoes underneath were overdone and inconsistent, some so burned that it became too laborious for me to finish. My favorite girl ordered the Hollywood omelette which was supposed to include avocados. Unfortunately, no avocado could be found. Compared to the mushrooms and tomatoes, avocados are more expensive, so it's understandable in some aspects. Her potatoes were also very unsatisfactory for the same reasons. She even complained that the omelette was too circular, but I think at that point, she was just fed up for other reasons. Will we ever come back here? Probably. Will we ever willingly come back here if other food options are available? Never have and never will.
(1)Kevin L.
After countless visits at any and all hour(s) of the day or night, I can only conclude that Clarke's is just one of those unbeatable standbys. I can't remember the last time that I was here and didn't order their Tuna Meltdown. Served on an enormous split English muffin, loaded with two mounds of basic, serviceable tuna salad, then covered in gooey melted cheese of my choice and two strips of crispy bacon, it's quite impossible to go wrong with ordering this dish. When paired up with Clarke's simple Northshore potatoes, this is a breakfast/brunch meal from my fondest memories... and perhaps the very reason I continue to have an abiding adoration for brunching. On game days, I highly recommend rolling in before 0900 hours, because anytime after that will net you excessively long wait times.
(4)Andrew K.
The food was mediocre at best. The place was empty but the service was slow. The manager was awkward. This place always looks busy, but it's on a strip of restaurants that are all pretty lousy. It's almost all students, and I suspect they benefit from student turnover. The menu and vibe look so good, and I wanted so badly for it to be good. I hadn't been there in a few years, and it all came back to me as we ate.
(1)Katie Y.
If you go here make sure you sit in the front of the restaurant because they pretty much forget about you if you sit in the back. You have to go find someone for just about everything. Cream, coffee, water, napkins, a fork, the bill, you name it! As for the food the breakfast food does taste good no doubt about that, but the last time I was there, there was a dead bug floating in my coffee. The waitress just kind of shrugged mumbled sorry and got me a new cup of coffee, not that I risked drinking it. I wish I could give a better review because I do like the food but with the sanitary issues and bad service I just can't. Katie
(2)Lindsay A.
I love Clarke's. I've eaten at the Belmont location many times during trips to Chicago over the years. I even put up with the surly/not-that-great service because I enjoy the food so much. I expected much of the same from the Evanston location when I had occasion to eat there recently, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the same food I know and love, but with even better service. Astronomically better service, in fact. On this most recent visit, I ordered my old Clarke's standby, the California Turkey Burger with sweet potato fries. It was as good as always. If you're in the mood for breakfast, I recommend the French toast; it's some of the best I've ever had. The other great thing about Clarke's is that the prices are low, especially compared to other dining establishments in the Chicago area. I can always count on Clarke's for a filling, delicious and inexpensive meal.
(5)Allison S.
The best thing about clarkes is that they are open until 12! Its overlooked that this is a late night place in evanston, and I think they definitely have the best omlettes (way better than le peep). Basic, ok food, but their egg white omlettes are good a fluffy. The service is always pretty prompt, and they have a diverse menu if you need to grab a bite to eat! If you need to eat after 10 go here, also I think its the best breakfast in the area.
(3)Jesse N.
Love the food. Compliments all around. I can order about anything and like it. Takes forever to get the check though :(
(3)Stephanie L.
This place was a hungover, Sunday morning staple for me as a Northwestern student and I was never disappointed. The food is always good and it's a cozy place to re-hash the previous week with some good friends. When it's warm enough I always sit outside. I almost always get an omelet with potatoes and it's yuuuuuuuummmmyyyyy! But sometimes I'd change it up and I was always happy with the food. It's not gourmet but it gets the job done! They've re-decorated since I was living in Evanston and now it looks more like a Clarke's. I always go back when I visit and it takes me back to my good ol' college years.
(4)Laila C.
ewks! 3 egg omelet with WAY too much egg and barely any cheese. Potatoes that are TOO big and no flavors AND soggy. If you're craving breakfast at 1am, it means you'd be better off crawling into bed and sleeping off the impending hangover rather than filling up on more unnecessary calories!
(1)Lai X.
I actually really enjoy their omelets, very light and fluffy, different than any other omelets that I've had. Altough the egg-white omelet can be a hit or miss sometimes. When they are made well, they are perfectly tasty and presents a healthy alternative to the regular omelet, but sometimes they come undercooked with liquid whites and oil oozing out...yuck! Overall, acceptable food with decent portion and price.
(3)Sandeep P.
I've been here a few times in the past year, most recently this morning. I'd really like to come to Clarke's more often, what with its above-average food and pleasant atmosphere, but man, these prices are whack! I only ate about $12 of a meal (which was too high for how little food I got....a waffle and a hot chocolate), while a friend of mine managed to eat $22 by himself. The bacon, which he and another friend claimed was the most delicious(ly fatty) bacon they've ever had cost each of them $4.50. For FOUR slices of bacon. Insane. The service was also a mixed bag. Our waiter was quite nice and mostly diligent with our orders, but there were a few problems. She forgot to bring a drink out, which was OK with the timing of the food, but she then billed us for it! Also, I had to ask multiple times to get silverware, water, and basic necessities that a server should be paying attention to. As others have said, you will find hungover Northwestern students at Clarke's. And for good reason- it's probably the most convenient sitdown breakfast restaurant there is (and being able to have breakfast-for-dinner is kinda enjoyable too). It's just a shame that the devil's in the details.
(3)Gabriel O.
This has became my wife and I's favorite weekend breakfast spot. Every weekend it's Chorizo Skillets, eggs over easy with pancakes!!! Friendly service and great atmosphere, more of the North Western college feel. Definitely would recommend it to everybody.
(5)Maria H.
One of my friends goes to Northwestern and she said the food was great here and we decided to meet there for lunch! The food was pretty good but the waitstaff was awful!!! They were nice at the beginning while I was waiting there for my friend to arrive (probably because I didn't have them do anything). Once my friend arrived we ordered pretty quickly because she had another class to run to! Well we gave our order she had the Chicken Finger Appetizer and I had the half Tuna Sandwich and Cream of Tomato soup and we decided to share and order of Waffle Fries. Now some people know how to listen to the person while they are taking the order and remember and some people just shouldn't be doing it! This particular guy shouldn't have! He wasn't paying attention whatsover! First of all he had to come back to me to ask me what kind of bread for the sandwich then he comes back with our order and he places down a plate of steak fries instead of the waffle. So I motioned him back and I told him about the mistake he rolls his eyes, picks the plate up and takes it back and then he yells back while still in the kitchen and says I screwed up on the order! So a few minutes came and went and finally we got our Waffle Fries! Was it off the bill? Nope! Was there an apology for screwing up???? NOPE!!! Oh and there Cream of Tomato Soup is off!! It's like thicker then thick and it just wasn't appetizing! Willing to go back and try there breakfast but I think that I would choose a different place in Evanston a few times before going back!
(3)Jonathan Z.
As a fan of diners and breakfast for dinner I was excited to go to Clarke's. It was super busy, but as it is right across the street from Northwestern I would have assumed that would be okay. I was WRONG. We were barely acknowledge by the older gentleman, who seemed to be some sort of host, as we entered and stood there in his line of vision for about 2 mins. Not even a nod, he just kept chatting with people at the tables. We then sat down and asked for water, but only received one glass with the pitcher. We requested another and after not receiving it from the waiter for about 10 mins, we flagged down a very sweet busboy who was probably the only competent employee. We finally ordered our food (the order was taken in a very brisk and perfunctory manner). We then waited what seemed like an eternity and received our food. Mine was burnt to a crisp. I sat and stared at it and the host asked if it was okay, noticed it was burnt, and offered to have it remade. At that point I just wanted to get out of there (and I HATE wasting food) so I just ate it. The unburned food we were served ranged from bland to average. I would strongly recommend that Clarke's in Evanston reevaluate their floorplan (it is way to crowded and needs to be more open), but more importantly they should start with a new staff (keep the busboy!) and ask the cooks from the Clarke's on Lincoln Ave near Depaul for some tips. Only then will I consider eating there again.
(1)Marion P.
Three and a half, maybe. Another one of those places that I just wish I could love, because the location is sweet, the menu extensive, and the 50s theme goes well with everything. But then the food is just so severely mediocre. It's all a bit bland: The caesar dressing tastes like it's from the can, the veggie chili is watered (or tomatoed?) down, the fries taste like cardboard, their cold veggie sandwich could use some hummus between the cucumbers and the plain bread, and it just generally lacks some spice/love/sauce. We do keep returning regardless, trying new dishes and certainly never leaving hungry!, but it's never spectacular. Also, well-meaning but slightly overattentive waiters (yes, I'm still eating this, no, nothing else please, yes, everything's fine, yes, it's great, thanks, yes, thank you, no, thank you, just the check please).
(3)Kristina K.
I used to like this place in college... what was I thinking. The food and service is only okay. At least the food is consistent, but the service left more to be desired. Go someone else... like a greek/jewish diner in Skokie/Niles.
(2)Emma O.
I never understand why, when friends are discussing a place to eat, the decision always ends up to be Clarke's. People tell me they like the food or the convenience since it's open late, but I argue that there is nothing convenient about this restaurant. I think menu leaves much to be desired, the food is terribly overpriced ($4 for an incredibly small milkshake, $5 for a plate of sweet potato fries, $5 for some steak fries with cheddar melted on top, plus $1.50 for extra cheese), and the service is awful. I've had so many poor experiences at Clarke's, now when my friend agree to meet there, I sit with my water and eat something later at a different restaurant.
(1)Ann Y.
We've ordered in from Clarke's 3 times and the food can be described as surprisingly terrible. We have finally learned our lesson and will never go back despite the fact that we live right next door and that they're open late. The first time, we tried the chicken salad sandwich, and almost had to spit it out after the first bite. The chicken salad was so sweet, and I'm not talking just a tinge of sweetness, but sugary/splenda sweet. It was completely gross so we took it back and the waitress told us that it must be because the kitchen just started using a low-calorie mayo. Right.. We replaced it by ordering a $10 club sandwich instead, which was dry and flavorless. Fail #1. Fail #2: The chicken burrito. For some odd reason that I will never understand, the burrito was filled with only chicken, cheese, and chopped tomatoes (no, not salsa or pico de gallo, just large chunks of tomato), and the rice, beans, guac, and sour cream were served on the side. Last time I checked rice and beans usually end up inside the burrito, but on closer inspection of the menu, this is how the burrito was described. So I concluded that we should not have assumed that they made burritos the normal way and made a mental note to pay more attention to the descriptions next time. Lastly, the poorly wrapped "burrito" lasted 2 bites before falling apart. The 3rd and final attempt: Starving at 1am, we ordered nachos, thinking that it would be hard to mess up nachos, right? SO WRONG. There was a heaping pile of chips and a bunch of lettuce (lettuce on nachos?) and tomatoes, but where was the cheese?? After digging through the entire container, I found 4 chips with cheese on them. Seriously?? Even the nachos are terrible? FAIL #3. Maybe their breakfast food is better but I highly doubt it because their not-breakfast food is truly so terrible that it saddens me to think about it.
(1)Taylor M.
A diner that will stand by you. It is the place to go when I visit Evanston. You can have breakfast or lunch or dinner there. The sweet potato fries are amazing.
(5)April B.
After partying way to hard in the city and staying the night to see the IA / Northwestern game, we needed some food. We walked in here, and liked what we saw. The service was pretty poor- we had to wait a long time (the restaurant was pretty slow at the time) and the servers had the personality of my shoe. (Was it because we were wearing Iowa gear?) HOWEVER- We ordered the Mexican-style Scramble (don't remember the actual name) and the Cinnamon Roll pancakes. We split both in half and shared. The Scramble was AMAZING. The pancakes were pretty good- I loved the concept and the flavor, but the cake itself was a little tough, and not your standard fluffy pancake. (I had to use a knife to cut them- shouldn't have to do that) But the scramble definitely made our hangovers subside.
(4)Jenna C.
About 3 years ago, Clarke's used to be a really fantastic place. The food was tasty. The service was impeccable. There were decanters of water on the table. The tomato soup was delicious. The sandwiches were never soggy. The giant chocolate ice cream dessert was beyond reproach. I went back on Saturday because the line was too long at Le Peep and I wanted something a little more special than the Golden O. Next time, I'll skip my diner-hopping butt down to the Golden O. The service was lackluster, and the food was soggy and bad. The price point was the same as much nicer brunch spots in Evanston. Didn't stay long enough to try dessert. The nerdy guy on the menu looks like my 4th grade gym teacher.
(2)Nafeesah A.
My boyfriend and I ate dinner here tonight and what transpired after the meal would make anyone want to hit up IHOP or Denny's before they patronize Clarke's ever again. The meal my guy and me had came out to 33.46, but it was when we were about to leave that the waitress had the audacity to stop me and my boyfriend in the door to ask for a tip. I was like WTF I just paid the check and you're now asking for a tip. I am writing the management to complain about this because what the waitress did was not only tacky, but highly unprofessional. What made this waitress think that its mandatory for them to tip? Customers are not obligated to tip and that it's a courtesy for customers to tip their servers. This waitress obviously was new to the job and wasnt aware that customers don't have to tip and the service was nothing to write home about. Not to mention the receipt that was given to me estimating the tab had the date stamped March 30th, 2000 at 3:24am and the receipt from when I paid for the meal was stamped January 31, 2010....they seriously need to get their program in order when it comes to accurate billing. They also need to look at the layout of the restaurant and consider remodeling to be in ADA compliance since someone who's wheelchair bound can't access the washroom since you have to go downstairs to the rear of the restaurant. I have gotten better service than what I got on this visit.
(2)Jims L.
Every time I go back to this place after months of avoiding it, I think of the possibility that I might try a good new dish.. But I think that the only thing good at Clarke's is their quesadillas - it's a big dish and it tastes decent. I've tried the tacos, skillets, sandwiches, soups - everything else to me is average or even less than. It's open later than other places, and it can be cozy - a couple pluses about this place. But this time I promised myself that I really will never consider Clarke's and hope that I get yummy food, only to be disappointed, again.
(2)Tuco W.
Very good and original burgers. Love it there. Go there for lunch all the time. Hate to find it this late.
(5)Jess S.
Three stars because its always loud as f*ck and groups of obnoxious overachievers always get seated by me and cause a scene. But what should I expect right? I will come here for the food (good times) but its definitely not a positive "dining experience." (And service is iffy.)
(3)Sarah B.
This was my go-to place in undergrad. Every time I go here I get the same thing (after perusing the menu for five minutes, of course) - Kung Fu Chicken (on a delicious pita with homemade teriyaki sauce) with tomato soup and sweet potato fries. Every time I come here it is delicious. Their skillets are also great.
(4)Ryan L.
This place seems okay. I absolutely hate Evanston and everything it stands for, but I was up there and was hungry. Cue: Clark's. The service was slow, but drink refills were aplenty, so I was fine. I was told to order the southwest BBQ chicken salad. Being a veggie, I ordered it without chicken, and actually it was pretty good. BBQ and ranch together at last...who would have thought? You win this time, Evanston.
(4)Dee W.
This place was open until 2am yesterday (Saturday night) hence my late night visit - figured that it'd be healthier than Burger King's review. It's usually open until Midnight throughout the week. Anyway, food is pretty average and decent here. They've got good skillets and omelettes. Last night, I was craving some steak and eggs and it came out exactly how I wanted it - which is nice. Service was pretty friendly and quick about the orders. It wasn't too packed or crowded for 1am on a Saturday/Sunday night.
(3)Colleen Y.
I'll always remember this place as "The Last Brunch." I recently had my last meal there with a friend who is joining the Peace Corps. But what a brunch it was! Their skillets are fantabulous. I got the Santa Fe (had to as a New Mexican) and it was a bowl of southwestern love from the chorizo to the jack cheese and jalepenos. The waitress was super cute, even though she did mess up our order a bit -- she rectified it. Prices legit too and such a neat family spot.
(4)Kate S.
Their omelettes are amazing, and their tomato soup is really good (it's not just liquidy like Campbell's, it's thick and filling!) It's not overpriced, but it is overcrowded more often than not (they do have a backroom that allows extra seating). It's cheap, which is great for a college student like me. Since they are open late (midnight during the week and I believe 2am on Friday/Saturday) it's definitely a place that allows for stumbling drunk college students to hit up on their way back from bars.
(3)Eric V.
Went here after a movie at Century Theaters, and there was something moving on my omelet. Unless I'm literally starving to death and my name is Bear Grylls, I'm never coming back here...ever...period.
(1)Joshua N.
For some reason the Clarke's in Evanston is much worse than the one on Belmont. The Belmont Clarke's would be getting a three star from me. I love diner food usually. Not here. No redeeming qualities. I hate to say it, but the 24 hour BK next door is a way better choice.
(1)Julia R.
Nothing beats the tuna meltdown. I've only gone for late lunches so I haven't experienced any overcrowding or loudness. Service has always been pretty decent.
(4)Natasha M.
Nothing to write home about. The portions are big, but it is definitely too expensive for such bland food. The taste was ok, not bad. Good news that it opens late. People here are friendly and the ambiance was chill and pretty much like a 60s diner place. I had a burger brunch here, and it was about $11, just the burger, no drink, no tips. I am pretty neutral about this place. It's my last resort when there is nothing else open late night and the fridge is empty. However, I gotta give credit for the cheese Nacho, good sour cream and guacamole dip. Much better than a lot of Tex-Mex diners and Mexican restaurants. If you are an NU student and your looking for food at midnight, JK Sweet is closed and you don't want to eat BK lounge, then you should go here.
(2)Ann Y.
Been going here for years. It is kind of my stop if I want late night food witha relatively diverse menu. Here is the breakdown. You can't go wrong with the quesidillas. They are super good. In addition, the sandwhiches (chicken salad, tuna, grilled cheese, etc) are all decent. The pancakes though are nasty with the exception of the baked blueberry which is one of my favorite things on the menu. Good mikshakes. Service honestly is hit or miss, but for the most part has been consistently slow. It's nothing special but a good place to go if you are in the area or looking for late night goodness.
(3)JL S.
Clarkes has always had bad service. When we saw it was under new management, we got excited and decided to try it again. The same people were working and after 30 minutes of getting no service except for water, we walked out. My husband and I will never go there again and we will never tell anyone to try it.
(1)Dave Y.
i much prefer this place to le peep's. it's just less formal and more comfortable, closer to campus, and the food is about the same, that is to say, good and decently priced
(4)Andrew T.
Not a bad breakfast option. The eggs are very fluffy and buttery. The wheat toast is thick and very hearty. I believe there is a 10% wildcard discount as well. A little cramped, space wise if you sit up front.
(3)Oscar M.
Clarke's was my favorite place. When my brother's wife went to Northwestern, right after I went to U of I, we would all go there for breakfast - those were happy days. Clarke's recently remodeled their space and installed a flat panel TV on the wall - it's terrible. I love technology but it does not belong in certain places. Why did you have to change Clarke's? Why couldn't you be as constant as the northern star?
(1)Marion J.
I am being nice and giving 3 stars cause we have only been once. The food choice did not really appeal to me because while there was A LOT of choice there was nothing special...the good old standards and pricing was a little more expensive that i was expecting. Mostly service was good and fast, food was just decent, but i was really upset I realized that the waitress us has tricked us into getting an "extra".. when ordering our burger she asked whether we wanted fries or fruits. Got fruits. I got charged extra for that, was not told. I did not make a fuss, but we will NOT be back. I dont like that type of sneaking in some silly extra without letting the customer know.,..but that is just my own opinion : )
(3)Anna H.
Clarke's is a decent spot for brunch - they have a large menu with salads, soups, breakfast favorites, sandwiches, and huge desserts. Their soups and pancakes are yummy, but their omelets are flavorless (they need to put salt in the egg mixture!!). I like the kitschy decor, and the service is usually pretty attentive. Prices are fair, and with their large portions, you'll never leave hungry.
(3)Paul C.
A slightly beter than average diner in downtown Evanston. I love the breakfasts here and used to go there frequently when I lived in Evanston. Now that I'm in Chicago I haven't been down there in a while. I guess it's not good enough to travel to, but good enough to eat if you happen to be down there.
(3)Stanley T.
Good for breakfast type food in Evanston, but the prices are getting pretty high so it's no longer a good value like it was a few years back.
(3)Chris M.
This is definitely a breakfast place. Been there many times for breakfast and left feeling full. Not the same for dinner. Food has always been good though and love the sweet potato fries!
(4)Irene J.
i went for sunday brunch with a friend. we got a table fairly quickly, which i hear is abnormal at clarke's. maybe it was because we just missed the big brunch crowd. overall, they had good breakfast food. the pancakes weren't bad but nothing to gush over. i had a skillet and can't remember the name. it wasn't fantastic or awful--just good breakfast food~ we did go on halloween, and the costumes the servers/busboys were wearing were a bit unsettling to look at while eating. otherwise, just a nice, bubbling breakfast joint in evanston~
(4)Ann G.
A cute little diner.. All I wanted was a tasty, quick, comforting breakfast foods at 11am and that's exactly what I got! I'm new to the area and will definitely be back.
(4)Drennen M.
This place has everything - mexican, pizza, American, and plenty of veg options for the herbivores. Service can be a little interesting - I just went there last night and instead of a meal with Northshore Potatoes and a side of broccoli, my dad recieved a meal with two plates of broccoli. It was good broccoli, though I've never been there when they haven't gotten some part of the order wrong. The sweet potato fries, however, are delicious.
(3)Kate P.
Clarke's is an NU student staple. I think the service here sucks, but you don't really walk into Clarke's expecting 5-star service. Their food is priced for the student budget and is consistently decent, but not great. I try not to think about the fact that my friend said she once them pour her half-eaten soup back into the pot.
(3)Jonathan K.
this is a cozy little space. a nice spot to come with a group of friends to catch up. its like a denny's, but cozier, and u dont have grouchy old ladies as servers. pancakes werent great, but its open late.
(3)Beth D.
I've been there several times for breakfast and haven't been disappointed. Great place to take the paper on Sunday morning and relax with coffee and good food. First time I got a ham and cheese omelet and it was great! I had half of my meal left for another day. The second time I got the apple pancake. Oh Dear Lord. Think Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. Amazing. Huge puffed pancake that looks like it came right out of the skillet. Filled with apples and the most perfect texture of pancake. Big enough for two people with enough to take home. It takes half an hour to bake, but is SO worth it.
(4)Kat W.
I don't know who claimed authority, but the restaurant apparently had the best fries. I have had tons of fries in my life, but this place does not even compare to real fries. On that account, I would give a one star, but since their food is decent overall, i'd say it's average. Just like the one on Belmont in Chitown.
(3)Kim S.
I ate at Clarke's for the first time this afternoon. It was a cute place with a lot of options on the menu. The spinach quesadillas I ordered came with a side of lettuce that had not been washed. Looking at it one could see the dirt/sand on the chopped leaves. I mentioned it to our waiter and he asked if I wanted lettuce to replace it. I wasn't in the mood for more lettuce after the grittiness of the first bite, so I declined. I am not planning on returning.
(1)Rob C.
a diner restaurant open late for NU students--they'll put up with the poor service and crowdedness. i've stuck with the breakfast food.
(3)Patrick W.
The food is always pretty decent; I've never been disappointed. The service can be pretty efficient, but you're a lucky ducky if you've received good service consistently. Lots of problems when three of us went here a few nights ago. A salad came out without dressing; fortunately I spotted our waitress in the kitchen because we were seated near the entry. No water refills, because we didn't see much of her... she was sitting outside smoking with a coworker while we waited for little things like the aforementioned refills, having our table cleared, the check... it was pretty sad. And business was very slow- if she didn't want to be there, she should have just stayed home. With so many better dining options nearby, I'm not sure we'll be back for anything but breakfast. I'm not even sure why we went this night... it was kind of a compromise because we couldn't decide and were tired of wandering.
(3)