Clifton's | Visiting with Huell Howser | PBS SoCal

In 1935, Clifton’s was opened on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, and its trademark Redwood grove decor has been legendary ever since. It was the second cafeteria opened by Clifford Clinton in Los Angeles, carrying on a family restaurant tradition dating back to 1888. Like all of Clifton’s customers, Huell is greeted as a guest and learns about Clifford Clinton’s philosophy of quality food at a reasonable price.
Want to learn more? Watch more Visiting with Huell Howser at bit.ly/3GDpayz
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#HuellHowser #VisitingwithHuellHowser #Cliftons #LosAngeles #food #culture

[@jimvinespresents...8463]

Huell was the best. Loved every episode of "Visiting." He is sooooooo missed, but how lucky we are to have all these shows here on KZbin.

[@swanvargas4162]

Notice the era and timestamp of this??? Everyone is engaged and have no cellphones in their hands. Very refreshing and I truly miss this age already. Huell was an original LA icon of his time. RIP HH 💜🎩

[@habib-vq9fl]

When life was so innocent!❤

[@Jerry-ok8gj]

I miss Huell.😢

[@normacorella2250]

I want the Original Cliftons Cafeteria Back.... Bring it Back!!! 😪😪😪

[@NewChannel-yc9ix]

Damn. I'm tearing up. I used to come here with my parents in the 90s when I was a kid. I'm so happy they walked through the food. All these memories came flooding back. I remember loving their Salisbury steak for the kids meal. I got steamed spinach and mashed potatoes with gravy.

[@captlarry-3525]

Good Ol' Heull Howser. Over the years he captured and recorded a huge arrary of Californiana, most of which is now gone.. and a good deal of which was and is otherwise inaccessable. His folksy seemingly simple nature concealed a real gem of a vision, and much great work done with a small crew.

[@leecoffman2594]

Clifton's was with me all of my life. I was born in 1933 and my folks took me there when I was just a baby and I remember it so fondly. I am 76 yeras old now and I haven't been back to LA since 2005.

[@leecoffman2594]

@captain purple Yes, I am 86 years old, I miss typed. Thank you for your reply.

[@pazarcikvideos]

@@leecoffman2594 long live and be happy

[@robertchilders8698]

I'm 83 years old now and have wonderful memories of Clifton's in the 1940's? Loved the trees and water! A slice of forest in the downtown area!

[@LAFan]

Clifton’s was so good back in the day.

[@nonoyobeezewax9527]

After seeing this video I was ready to head out for LA and give this place a try. Unfortunately the cafeteria is gone and it's turned into a tiki bar and dance club. My heart hit the ground harder than a 10 ton bomb. One viewer is right...LA should have preserved this place as landmark!!!

[@fiercemakeup31]

They dropped the ball big time.

[@pedrosaucedo333]

I used to go often as a kid. It was amazing. Live band. Just dope. Man I miss it.

[@SolWaid1965]

I used to work in DTLA and, unfortunately, never went to Clifton's. I'm just now watching this video and considered going until I read what they did to this historical landmark - what?! Shame on them!!!

[@CruiseControlOne]

I must say that I'm heartbroken to see that Clifton's is no longer the place we see here on Huell's vlog. Looking back, I vividly recall seeing the entrance, the place where you would pay with the cashiers and the old-time cash registers, the mezzanine area where you would cross the bridge and be at awe at seeing the water flow underneath, be wondered by the the folks eating below, and even seeing the "mysterious" staircase to the third floor and wondering what was up there. I was so intrigued watching the forest scene and then seeing that cave from a distance. I so enjoyed seeing across my view that little cave and wondering if anyone ever ate there. As a young child, it was certainly a surreal place. It was such a wonderful experience to see the bakery just before leaving the place, but also remembering the mirrors when you first entered Clifton's as you stood in line just before you took your tray and utensils. Let's not forget that steep stairwell when you went down to go to the restroom. Memories long gone and wishing that one could go back just one more time to savor the moment.

[@corythegreat323]

I’m not gonna lie to you. Early 90s For me personally this place was more immersive than Disneyland.

[@yecats953]

What a magical place! Wish I could go there right now and have a slice of cake with our beloved Mr. Howser.

[@KasperKali]

My dad brought us here when we were kids in the 1970s 😊

[@antoniotbrc]

My dad would bring us in the 80's when we were kids

[@ConsuelaErwin]

I first went to Cliftons when I was in grammar school. I enjoyed the chicken and turkey dinners,it was a treat to go to Cliftons. So sorry that those things are gone. But what wonderful memories

[@josieperez1110]

Oh how I miss Clifton's in DTLA!!

[@mariacapetillo6465]

I met my husband while working ar Clifton's in 1991. Our son will soon turn 30 yrs old. That was the best cafeteria ever.

[@Valiantes_]

What they did to Clifftons in the last couple of years, turning it into a perverse nightclub, not upgrading the food, firing all the old crew, and remodeling to some hideous post modern look is an abomination. It's a crime by the current corrupt owners. The city of LA should have made it a landmark. This cafeteria restaurant was a shining light to the filth and seedyness of old downtown LA.

[@ElectricEliminator5]

I wholeheartedly agree with you friend

[@habib-vq9fl]

They're ruining L.A. culture. On purpose!!😡🤬🤬

[@steverogers1751]

grew up downtown in the 40's -50's. Remember Cliftons had a little chapel that we went into and closed the door. There was a scenic display of animals and forest. We pressed a button and religious music played and a prayer was spoken. Did not see it in Howsers visit..The Cliftons on Olive St was Tropical decor. On the kids "Treasure Tray lunch if you got a colored stick bottom that was inserted into the mashed potatoes as a flag you could choose a candy in the Treasure chest when we left the Cafeteria.

[@mackpines]

This place looked awesome! I love how Huell casually picks up the plates of food and then puts them back on the counter. LOL.

[@fiercemakeup31]

Robert kept setting them aside😅

[@pansa3281]

Thank you kcet channel 28, this is great California history told by huell howser 👍

[@vikkibaker6146]

What amazing memories! I grew up going to Clifton's. It was a huge treat for my mom and I to take the bus downtown for lunch at Clifton's! Such an amazing place! Sad to see it has closed.

[@fiercemakeup31]

New owner doesnt realize that the cafeteria, where you push your tray on a buffet maze and pick your food ...no one had to carry trays around till u were done. THAT WAS WHAT WORKED SO WELL. now its an overpriced hipster hangout that no one can get into. WE WANT YOU TO PUT THE CAFETERIA BACK TOGETHER!!!! DONT MESS WITH THE FORMULA!!🙄

[@veerose583]

I agree 100%. I was excited when they first reopened since it's closing only to see how much of its history was changed. This was my family's favorite place for every occasion, and our usual Saturday's lunch/dinner. So sad. I miss what Clifton's use to be.

[@carsonmell7029]

@@veerose583 Yup. It was a lot better back then.

[@mackpines]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@yairgaitangaitan2240]

When they open I went and it wasn’t the same I was mad for 2 weeks!

[@fiercemakeup31]

​@@yairgaitangaitan2240 rightfully so. Guess what is shutdown now?

[@robertclinton2608]

God Bless you Huell

[@kahlilnelson]

Agreed!

[@mikereed5786]

I love that place its like another world as a kid running around those " looking like elfs homes" and. The food was just the BEST!! so peaceful what memories i wish to return.🍕🍔🍟🍗🍖🍝🍛🍴🍤🍱🍣🍥🍙🍘🍜🍲🍢🍡🍳🍞🍩🍚🍮🍦🍨🍧🎂🍰🍪🍫🍬🍭🍯🍎🍏🍊🍋🍒🍇🍉🍓🍑🍈🍌🍐🍍🍠🍆🍅🌽🌶🥝🥑🥕🧀🍿🌭🌮🌯🥗🥞🥚🥙🥂🥖🥜🥛😄

[@yairgaitangaitan2240]

I miss Cliftons!

[@habib-vq9fl]

It's (edit- was) historic L.A.❤

[@strix.1]

Went there the weekend after I saw this episode and had a great time. It was like an original Rainforest Cafe and the food really was delicious with a HUGE selection. Thanks to Huell, I was able to experience another gem before it disappeared!! 🌲

[@ghigi5821]

I remember the third floor. A red and white dining hall

[@DavidinSLO]

In 2018 Clifton's didn't update their menu (which is fine, times change) ... they completely stopped serving food. It's now just a bar. So sad. RIP Clinton's. Nice knowing ya.

[@LeeBross-r7r]

the good is that it is still there but the bad is it is now a hipster bar. Sort of open limited hours. The last place that is like this that I'm aware of is the Tonga room in San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel. They have a lagoon with a band floating in the middle, it rains and there is a thunderstorm. Bad Chineses food but its fun.

[@frankmartinez4856]

Grandpa, took me Clifton’s. In 1963! During my Marines days I would come as much I could! Now the Tiki bar, will bring me back!

[@jasminespencer3992]

Hey KCET, thanks for posting these, could you please put the air date of the episode in the description. Was this in the late 1980s?

[@lindauribe3716]

Great food 👍

[@thekid1597]

I remember my mom taking us there when was i was a child back in the 60's ❤

[@ThisLifeisaParade]

My Mom took me here years ago...

[@Catracks3]

Shame that the new owners absolutely destroyed Clifton’s. When they remodeled for all those years, we were hoping to have our wonderful cafeteria back. What we ended up with is a hipster bar. The renovation was incredible, but for what?

[@kazadileparfait4612]

Hello Mr Huell Howser. Thank you for this visiting. I open this video just to see the reproduction garden of Gethsemane and The Upper Room in Clifton cafeteria. Because William Marrion Branham visited it in there and recommended us to visit it. but unfortunate you did n't go there in this video. please just make a video of that upper Room where the disciples received the Holy Spirit, I can see on video because I'm in Africa...

[@ocana80]

I’m having flashbacks when my godparents took me to Clifton’s. God I loved their fruit punch and their spaghetti. I miss those innocent days

[@gordoneaston6853]

Gee, they should have opened a Clifton's Cafeteria in Eastland Shopping Center in West Covina.

[@marlenetrujillo2212]

My mother was a waitress there back in the 50’s

[@ernestochaides3913]

When did this air?

[@kellymorgan1447]

& his boy Elroy!!

[@manduboyi]

Its a shame that Clifton's stopped the cafeteria style in late 2018

[@disney798]

It's still cafeteria style

[@fiercemakeup31]

@@disney798 nope

[@disney798]

@@fiercemakeup31 Yes it is, the cafeteria style hasn't changed 😊

[@LAmonk76]

Miss the original Clifton's. Last time i went was the last day the Clinton's owned the cafeteria. need the original back.

[@Tna2aT]

😢😢

[@normacorella2250]

God I miss Cliftons.... I wonder if it's still the same???

[@habib-vq9fl]

Apparently not. Reminisce it in your memories. The new Clifton's might traumatize you. Memories are better than current .

[@olganunez9999]

En el Centro de L.A. era el único lugar que nos gustaba comer. No se que pasó. Podrán ponerlo igual?

[@cliftonbowers6376]

Now I can make pies 😮

[@gregjvandyke7258]

Seems like poeple cared about their craft instead of just $. It elevates poeple and the prices reasonable

[@habib-vq9fl]

That's good ol' L.A. vibes. Now everything's pretentious/ gentrified.

[@gail3136]

Show it today

[@daveg4963]

Celso Pina in the background.

[@fiercemakeup31]

Sad that Jean got Murdered. So sad. And guess what was sold soon after? Hmmmmm

[@mariacapetillo6465]

Oh no. That is really sad.

[@habib-vq9fl]

Wonder why...

[@fiercemakeup31]

​@@habib-vq9fl💰

[@mohamadfaiz6935]

This episode was aired in 2000

[@Lawomenshoops]

That family allowed Clifton's to go to hell! The quality of food was going down hill. Most of the food was canned or already made. They sold it to a guy who restored many other old time bars and restaurants in LA. But, the new owner took forever with the renovations. I think he ran out of money. Then had to get financing or investors to finish the renovations. Then when it reopened the food was a bit more upscale but overrpiced crap. The cafeteria is now closed, and the building will be a bar! Terrible.

[@blackbasin6284]

Wow! Very depressing, but also informative. Thank you for your update. I feel very fortunate that i was last there in '06! And Iv'e been wanting to get back there ever since..Now, during the big "Covid-19" shutdowns I often wonder what the status of the cafeteria is? That's Terrible! If it's just some "hipster's" hang out. Seem's like yesterday, but when I was there last in 2006, I was pleasantly surprised that It hadn't yet reached that status. I just fell in love with this forgotten Los Angeles dream! And, by the way... The food was Amazing! And at reasonable prices. I was really hoping to return soon. Now, with all the shut downs , I fear that I may never get to re-experience lot's of great restaurants that I remember. I live in central California. I often worry and wonder what's up with "Canters" ? Thank You!

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@blackbasin6284 Canter's is struggling due to the shut down. But, they are also facing challenges. The hipsters don't go to old school delis anymore. Many old school delis have closed in LA within the past 5-10 years.

[@unrooolie]

Heck no the food was amazing till the day the closed ate there with my daughters from 2007 till 2018. The food is soulless compared to what it used to be

[@habib-vq9fl]

​@@Lawomenshoops There is still Brite Spot. Hopefully they haven't sold out either..

[@shonuff6221]

Most of them are dead...