Overpriced, poor service, mediocre food...had the same response when tried to order fries in the dining room. (only bar food!) really who looks at what you're eating??? And make sure you get YOUR credit card back. They mixed ours up with someone else (yes mistakes happen) but the manager or owner I spoke to several times seemed to care less. Attitude sucks and we won't go back....too many better choices!
(1)
Lisa S.
Clarke's is a delightful place to go. We go to the dining room when guests come to town, but frequent the bar for a quick meal. Clarke's is a hidden gem in the Country Square Building at 2nd and B in Lake Oswego, the couple who owns it work very hard to prepare delightful, innovative cuisine, dine or drink at Clarke's, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
L L.
We loved happy hour at Clarke's. The food is creatively prepared and presented...it's also delicious! Can't wait to try dinner.
(5)
Richard G.
Lobster risotto and ceaser salad were excellent. The tenderloin was eh (for $35) and the braised short ribs were eh ($27). I've had better steaks. Service was great and servers were friendly and prompt. My guess is the fish is a winning entree, but its pure speculation.
(4)
Alex S.
Nice intimate setting, with the best steak I have ever eaten. Treat yourself to this place soon!
(5)
Susan C.
Incredible intimate ambience, with superb menu selections. Perfect for dinner with friends. The pork, lobster risotto and steak were the choice at our table last Saturday night. We chose the restaurant's short menu where we received house salads, dinner and dessert all for $29. Loved it all. Never rushed eventhough we spent 3 hours taking with friends we hadn't seen in years. Shh! Great neighborhood gem!
(5)
Deb M.
Oh my God is this place pretentious. We love the atmosphere. The service is good except for the fact that "Chef" is way more important than "Customer". I ordered the pasta primavera. Sent it back. Overcooked mush with rubbery asparagus ends that hadn't been shaved, and no peas, that I could make out anyway. Clearly "Chef" doesn't know how to cook vegetables. Or pasta for that matter. The fish was good though. (I overheard the next table complaining about the pork and the shepherd's pie too.) When I asked if I could order some truffle fries because I was starving and couldn't wait for another try at the pasta primavera, I was told that "Chef" doesn't allow the customers to order from the bar menu in the dining room. Huh? Apparently "Chef" is a pretentious wannabe who doesn't understand the concept of customer service. I mean we were one of three tables in the restaurant. Hey "Chef", I won't tell if you won't. I'm hungry. And considering we paid over $75.00 for 2 salads and an order of fish, (they comped the disastrous pasta dish), the least you could do is let me have some frickin' french fries! We went home and ate leftover pizza. Suffice it to say we won't be back. Let "Chef" pay the overhead with no help from "customer". (Since when did the cook become more important than the diner anyway? This guy's been watching WAY too much TV.) We left an appropriate tip. Let "Chef" pay the waitresses bills. We won't be back. Come to think of it, we've dined there four times and have never seen the same crew once. Hmmm... perhaps "Chef" is even ruder to the waitstaff than he is to the customers. If that's possible. :Q Blech!
(1)
Dwaine R.
We have been here several times and the food has always been but last night's entree was just outstanding. My wife had the cod which she has had before and enjoyed but I ordered the Salmon which came in a pasta and light cream sauce. I can't recall what they called it but wow... it was terrific. Service was excellent (it always is) Easy to get a table but we were early so I would make an appointment if you're a bit later. Wine choice is always excellent ( a little spendy)
(5)
DIane S.
Really like Clarke's - been going for probably 10 years. The razor clams are to die for when they have them! Fish dishes are always well prepared and I almost always order the special of the day because it's generally a sure hit. His presentation is what really sets this place from other restaurants - yes the food is wonderful and you can see that they take pride in what they serve just looking at how nicely it's presented. Nice wine selections and good happy hour too with some of the richest, most decadent quiche ever - and I don't usually like quiche.
(5)
LaQueanya H.
We hosted my daughter's 18th Birthday there! Laurie and Jonathan were great to work with. Most of our dealings were with Laurie! She showed great attention to detail and everything was perfectly executed! Laurie also made my daughter's b-day cake! It was a beautiful 2 tier teal & leopard tipsy turvy cake! Laurie makes cakes professionally outside of the restaurant! My daughter was very pleased how everything turned out! Perfect 18th b-day!
(5)
Patricia R.
I have been to Clark's in the past and while it was never outstanding it was always acceptable. However, when we went a couple of nights ago,our experience was not good. The host was less than enthused when we asked for a table for at 7:30. While the dining room is not large and with less than a third of the tables occupied, all the guests were seated side by side rather than spreading out to allow some privacy. We ordered a $55 bottle of wine, then asked if for an appetizer could we have fries.....chef told the server absolutely not, fries were bar food and could only be ordered in the bar. Did not want dining room occupied by customers eating bar food. Well, that is when we should have had our wine corked and left. We ordered a chicken dish, tough and dry, over cooked. Took a couple of bites and left it. We ordered a side of fresh corn, again over cooked and tough, probably left over from earlier in the week. So with a bill of almost $200 later we left with a bad taste in our mouths. Lake Oswego has many better restaurants which are more than happy to accommodate their customers and serve really good fresh food. I will not be going back to and suggest you do not.
(1)
Jason A.
Decidedly overrated and over priced. Presents as a fine dining experience but it's more akin to a retirement home dining room in clientele and food. Staff is nice but poorly trained. Very disappointing.
(3)
Kay M.
AWESOME private dining experience. We were a group of four in a private room that was lovely. Our waitress was amazing. The Alaskan halibut, prime rib, and barbecue ribs were excellent. That was only topped off by basil sorbet with peach cobbler and someone else had apricot cherry sorbet. We would definitely come here again even though it is on the expensive side it was worth it. A Riesling from Willamette Valley vineyard and a Merlot were excellent pairings. The restaurant is accessible for wheelchairs also. It is a little hard to get to the bathroom by walking through part of the kitchen area. The service was fantastic all through the meal.
(5)
Kent G.
My wife and I had a great first experience and will be back soon. Clarke's is comfortably upscale with a serene mood. With Stan Getz quietly serenading us and the lighting appropriately romantic, we settled in quickly. Following our prompt seating, our waitress took our drink orders at just the right time. A Ginger Muddled Manhattan for my lady and a Limoncello-Pomegranate Lemon-Drop for me. Both came beautifully prepared and tasty. Delicious fresh bread with good sweet-butter and a second bleu-cheese butter were delivered for us to enjoy with our drinks. Never rushed, we eventually ordered the 3-course tasting menu offered during March for Portland Dining Month for $29. We both chose the soup over the salad, a creamy butternut-squash-with-key-lime concoction drizzled with creme-fraiche. Delish. No, strike that ... Really Delish. For entrees, she had the Braised Oregon Lamb Shank (flaked off the bone) with penne pasta, Fontina cheese, medley of winter vegetables, rich white wine-rosemary sauce. Wonderful. And I can't say enough about my Lobster and Shrimp Rissoto. Very generous with the amount of shellfish, the risotto was well-prepared and struck just the right balance of flavors. We both finished with a generous portion of creme-brulee which was ok, but not great, lacking a certain, well, brulee-ishness (not burnt enough to get the bitter notes to balance the sweet); also, the creamy goodness under the burnt shell was a little too pudding-like and not sufficiently custardy. All-in-all, a wonderfully paced, delicious meal with pleasant service in an elegant-but-comfortable setting that was quiet enough to easily converse. Solid A.
(5)
J B.
Wow - enjoyed a birthday dinner out with my spouse and two friends. The environment was busy in a fun way and the food was exceptional for the second time visiting this local gem in the last year. We enjoyed sharing pate and baked goats cheese starters followed by main courses of tuna and lobster+shrimp risotto. Only challenge was they don't stay open all that late so I recommend you make any early-ish reseveration... we were having so much fun we wanted to stay a bit later. Highly recommended.
(5)
Mike A.
Great place for dinner before theater. The food and service is always excellent. My wife likes the salmon and seems to get it every time. The prices are good and the wine selections are good as well but a bit expensive.
(5)
Tim A.
My wife and I dined at Clarke's last night and had an excellent meal! The service, food, and wine were all great. I have celiac disease which means I cannot eat any kind of gluten at all, and the staff were more than accommodating and helpful when it came to navigating the menu. My pork chop was outstanding - cooked perfectly and so tender and moist. I would recommend Clarke's to anyone looking for a great meal in Lake O.
(4)
Crystal T.
We had a fantastic meal here. Portions were good, flavor was excellent. Really fun menu with care and attention to the seasons.
(5)
Chris R.
Garret the bartender is awesome. Huge selection of wine and spirits. Food is very good and deserts phenomenal. Great happy hour. We will be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Patti D.
Overpriced, poor service, mediocre food...had the same response when tried to order fries in the dining room. (only bar food!) really who looks at what you're eating??? And make sure you get YOUR credit card back. They mixed ours up with someone else (yes mistakes happen) but the manager or owner I spoke to several times seemed to care less. Attitude sucks and we won't go back....too many better choices!
(1)Lisa S.
Clarke's is a delightful place to go. We go to the dining room when guests come to town, but frequent the bar for a quick meal. Clarke's is a hidden gem in the Country Square Building at 2nd and B in Lake Oswego, the couple who owns it work very hard to prepare delightful, innovative cuisine, dine or drink at Clarke's, you won't be disappointed.
(5)L L.
We loved happy hour at Clarke's. The food is creatively prepared and presented...it's also delicious! Can't wait to try dinner.
(5)Richard G.
Lobster risotto and ceaser salad were excellent. The tenderloin was eh (for $35) and the braised short ribs were eh ($27). I've had better steaks. Service was great and servers were friendly and prompt. My guess is the fish is a winning entree, but its pure speculation.
(4)Alex S.
Nice intimate setting, with the best steak I have ever eaten. Treat yourself to this place soon!
(5)Susan C.
Incredible intimate ambience, with superb menu selections. Perfect for dinner with friends. The pork, lobster risotto and steak were the choice at our table last Saturday night. We chose the restaurant's short menu where we received house salads, dinner and dessert all for $29. Loved it all. Never rushed eventhough we spent 3 hours taking with friends we hadn't seen in years. Shh! Great neighborhood gem!
(5)Deb M.
Oh my God is this place pretentious. We love the atmosphere. The service is good except for the fact that "Chef" is way more important than "Customer". I ordered the pasta primavera. Sent it back. Overcooked mush with rubbery asparagus ends that hadn't been shaved, and no peas, that I could make out anyway. Clearly "Chef" doesn't know how to cook vegetables. Or pasta for that matter. The fish was good though. (I overheard the next table complaining about the pork and the shepherd's pie too.) When I asked if I could order some truffle fries because I was starving and couldn't wait for another try at the pasta primavera, I was told that "Chef" doesn't allow the customers to order from the bar menu in the dining room. Huh? Apparently "Chef" is a pretentious wannabe who doesn't understand the concept of customer service. I mean we were one of three tables in the restaurant. Hey "Chef", I won't tell if you won't. I'm hungry. And considering we paid over $75.00 for 2 salads and an order of fish, (they comped the disastrous pasta dish), the least you could do is let me have some frickin' french fries! We went home and ate leftover pizza. Suffice it to say we won't be back. Let "Chef" pay the overhead with no help from "customer". (Since when did the cook become more important than the diner anyway? This guy's been watching WAY too much TV.) We left an appropriate tip. Let "Chef" pay the waitresses bills. We won't be back. Come to think of it, we've dined there four times and have never seen the same crew once. Hmmm... perhaps "Chef" is even ruder to the waitstaff than he is to the customers. If that's possible. :Q Blech!
(1)Dwaine R.
We have been here several times and the food has always been but last night's entree was just outstanding. My wife had the cod which she has had before and enjoyed but I ordered the Salmon which came in a pasta and light cream sauce. I can't recall what they called it but wow... it was terrific. Service was excellent (it always is) Easy to get a table but we were early so I would make an appointment if you're a bit later. Wine choice is always excellent ( a little spendy)
(5)DIane S.
Really like Clarke's - been going for probably 10 years. The razor clams are to die for when they have them! Fish dishes are always well prepared and I almost always order the special of the day because it's generally a sure hit. His presentation is what really sets this place from other restaurants - yes the food is wonderful and you can see that they take pride in what they serve just looking at how nicely it's presented. Nice wine selections and good happy hour too with some of the richest, most decadent quiche ever - and I don't usually like quiche.
(5)LaQueanya H.
We hosted my daughter's 18th Birthday there! Laurie and Jonathan were great to work with. Most of our dealings were with Laurie! She showed great attention to detail and everything was perfectly executed! Laurie also made my daughter's b-day cake! It was a beautiful 2 tier teal & leopard tipsy turvy cake! Laurie makes cakes professionally outside of the restaurant! My daughter was very pleased how everything turned out! Perfect 18th b-day!
(5)Patricia R.
I have been to Clark's in the past and while it was never outstanding it was always acceptable. However, when we went a couple of nights ago,our experience was not good. The host was less than enthused when we asked for a table for at 7:30. While the dining room is not large and with less than a third of the tables occupied, all the guests were seated side by side rather than spreading out to allow some privacy. We ordered a $55 bottle of wine, then asked if for an appetizer could we have fries.....chef told the server absolutely not, fries were bar food and could only be ordered in the bar. Did not want dining room occupied by customers eating bar food. Well, that is when we should have had our wine corked and left. We ordered a chicken dish, tough and dry, over cooked. Took a couple of bites and left it. We ordered a side of fresh corn, again over cooked and tough, probably left over from earlier in the week. So with a bill of almost $200 later we left with a bad taste in our mouths. Lake Oswego has many better restaurants which are more than happy to accommodate their customers and serve really good fresh food. I will not be going back to and suggest you do not.
(1)Jason A.
Decidedly overrated and over priced. Presents as a fine dining experience but it's more akin to a retirement home dining room in clientele and food. Staff is nice but poorly trained. Very disappointing.
(3)Kay M.
AWESOME private dining experience. We were a group of four in a private room that was lovely. Our waitress was amazing. The Alaskan halibut, prime rib, and barbecue ribs were excellent. That was only topped off by basil sorbet with peach cobbler and someone else had apricot cherry sorbet. We would definitely come here again even though it is on the expensive side it was worth it. A Riesling from Willamette Valley vineyard and a Merlot were excellent pairings. The restaurant is accessible for wheelchairs also. It is a little hard to get to the bathroom by walking through part of the kitchen area. The service was fantastic all through the meal.
(5)Kent G.
My wife and I had a great first experience and will be back soon. Clarke's is comfortably upscale with a serene mood. With Stan Getz quietly serenading us and the lighting appropriately romantic, we settled in quickly. Following our prompt seating, our waitress took our drink orders at just the right time. A Ginger Muddled Manhattan for my lady and a Limoncello-Pomegranate Lemon-Drop for me. Both came beautifully prepared and tasty. Delicious fresh bread with good sweet-butter and a second bleu-cheese butter were delivered for us to enjoy with our drinks. Never rushed, we eventually ordered the 3-course tasting menu offered during March for Portland Dining Month for $29. We both chose the soup over the salad, a creamy butternut-squash-with-key-lime concoction drizzled with creme-fraiche. Delish. No, strike that ... Really Delish. For entrees, she had the Braised Oregon Lamb Shank (flaked off the bone) with penne pasta, Fontina cheese, medley of winter vegetables, rich white wine-rosemary sauce. Wonderful. And I can't say enough about my Lobster and Shrimp Rissoto. Very generous with the amount of shellfish, the risotto was well-prepared and struck just the right balance of flavors. We both finished with a generous portion of creme-brulee which was ok, but not great, lacking a certain, well, brulee-ishness (not burnt enough to get the bitter notes to balance the sweet); also, the creamy goodness under the burnt shell was a little too pudding-like and not sufficiently custardy. All-in-all, a wonderfully paced, delicious meal with pleasant service in an elegant-but-comfortable setting that was quiet enough to easily converse. Solid A.
(5)J B.
Wow - enjoyed a birthday dinner out with my spouse and two friends. The environment was busy in a fun way and the food was exceptional for the second time visiting this local gem in the last year. We enjoyed sharing pate and baked goats cheese starters followed by main courses of tuna and lobster+shrimp risotto. Only challenge was they don't stay open all that late so I recommend you make any early-ish reseveration... we were having so much fun we wanted to stay a bit later. Highly recommended.
(5)Mike A.
Great place for dinner before theater. The food and service is always excellent. My wife likes the salmon and seems to get it every time. The prices are good and the wine selections are good as well but a bit expensive.
(5)Tim A.
My wife and I dined at Clarke's last night and had an excellent meal! The service, food, and wine were all great. I have celiac disease which means I cannot eat any kind of gluten at all, and the staff were more than accommodating and helpful when it came to navigating the menu. My pork chop was outstanding - cooked perfectly and so tender and moist. I would recommend Clarke's to anyone looking for a great meal in Lake O.
(4)Crystal T.
We had a fantastic meal here. Portions were good, flavor was excellent. Really fun menu with care and attention to the seasons.
(5)Chris R.
Garret the bartender is awesome. Huge selection of wine and spirits. Food is very good and deserts phenomenal. Great happy hour. We will be back.
(4)Josh B.
Pretty good. The ambience is nice and the servers very nice. Wine list not quite as extensive as some are indicating. Had the pork rack - which was actually one chop. No rack. And it was dry. My wife had the short ribs which were somewhat tough and the purée was over sweet with honey. Still though it was a decent and enjoyable meal. I'd go 2-5 to 3 star range.
(3)