Standing tall amidst the urban sprawl, Clearman's North Woods Inn in Covina isn't just another restaurant. It's a living piece of history, one of the few remaining themed restaurants defying the tides of time in the greater Los Angeles area. Since its grand opening in 1958, this local landmark has been enticing loyal patrons with its rustic charm and hearty fare. But even before North Woods Inn rooted itself in Covina, John Clearman had a vision. In 1946, he brought Steak 'n Stein to life in Pico Rivera, a vibrant testament to his culinary ambition. His driving force? A desire to create a space where family and friends could gather, savoring good food and forging lasting memories. Today, the legacy of his vision lives on – not just in Pico Rivera's enduring Steak 'n Stein, but also in the countless families who've built their own memories at Clearman's namesake restaurants. So, if you're ever cruising down Azusa Avenue and spot a building adorned with snowy peaks (a whimsical nod to its North Woods theme), don't hesitate to step inside. Beyond the facade awaits a world of warmth and delight – from the sizzling steaks and generous portions to the staff's welcoming smiles. Clearman's North Woods Inn isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience, a timeless oasis where generations come together to share laughter, stories, and a taste of something truly special. Follow me on IG @hungry_dude_usa

+6

Had a great experience for my grandma 67th Birthday last night. The atmosphere was great. The food was fresh, fast, and yummy. Our waitress was great and attentive.

+2

My family and I had a great experience at Clearman's! Our server Amore was fantastic! She was very helpful for my family and I, and made our dining experience even more enjoyable!😊

Food was excellent and the wait wasnt to long The peanuts on the floor was different . Service was also excellent.

+2

Always a pleasure to dine at northwoods inn.The grilled shrimp and the grilled scallops although had a strong fishy flavor than normal.otherwise the steaks,salads,potatoes, fries and cheese toast were spot on.

The North Woods Inn has been a classic longer than I have been around, and for good reason. The food is good and consistent. I love the house salad, cabbage salad and cheese bread, that can be a whole meal on it's own.

The great evening at Clearman's last night. Started off at the bar and then we're seated. Food was excellent and our server was amazing!

Salads, cheesy bread and steak are the best!

First time here. Our estimated wait time was 40min on a Wednesday evening but we got seated in less than 10min. Do not come near here if you have a peanut. They serve shelled peanuts as you wait and at your table. You eat them and throw the shells on the floor. My daughter loved this. I highly recommend splitting any of the steak dinners. We got the porterhouse steak 25oz ($55) and couldn't finish it between the 2 of us. If you split your meal it will be a $10 charge but you each get half a baked potato and rice. It comes with two different salads and cheese bread. The food was great. My favorite was the cheese bread. It's unlimited along with the salads. I ordered my potato with the mushroom gravey. I personally didn't like it. So I ordered sour cream and chives instead and ended up loving it. We ordered our steak medium rare. It was delicious and full of flavor. Very moist and tender too. My daughter had the kids steak 5oz ($13). She loved it. She ate it all while there. So if your kid has a big appetite might be best to order from off the adult menu instead. I don't recommend the pineapple express or the tropical punch. Both tasted really good but I didn't taste any alchohol and didn't feel anything while drinking it. Next time I'll just stick to soda. The service was good too. Our food came out quickly and our waitress was very attentive. Our total bill for a family of 3 (2 adults & 1 child) came out to $107. We found this to worth the price. We were able to take our cheese bread, salad, steak, and the rice I didn't eat home. This will be one meal between the two of us. I highly recommend coming to check this place out if you like steak. Next time we'll come back to tryou the tomahawk steak ($85)

+2

I just love this place. Since like forever. I love how it can be 100 degrees outside but you step inside and it’s a cozy winter cabin. I really only come here for the salad and bread but I will say I’ve had the small steak the last couple visits and it’s amazing.

Victor is such a great server. He is very fast and attentive to his customers. All around great waiter. Good job, Victor!

We were served by Lexie. She was very courteous and attentive. The food was yummy and our steaks were cooked perfectly.

Beautiful restaurant. We were told there was a 45 min wait but were seated shortly after we arrived. Beautiful setting for any occasion. The menu seemed very simple, but the price was definitely worth it. The food we ordered was delicious as well as the appetizers (garlic bread and salads). So good! Great atmosphere, too

+1

Short wait on New Year's Day Holiday but available seating at the bar with complimentary peanuts and a tasty selection on the cocktail menu. The Spiked Shirley is delish. Christmas decor still up and makes this New Year tradition one to keep! Halibut Lunch Special includes 2 slices of cheese bread, green and Cabbage salad, rice, pickle, and halibut. Service was friendly and prompt.

Every visit for dinner never disappoints. Staff is friendly and attentive. It's tempting to fill up on the endless cheesy garlic bread and red cabbage salad before the meal arrives. The Steak dinner and fried chicken dinner with baked potatoes and rice pilaf topped with mushroom gravy are always so satisfying and delicious.

It's all about the seafood and steaks 🥩🦀🦞 nobody does it better than Northwoods be Sure to ask your Waiter for the off menu fresh catch of the day availability. Swordfish, Shark 🦈, Salmon, and of course the Cod...back it all up with a Shrimp Cocktail to round up the meal and don't forget the Carrot Cake🥕

I've been a patron of the North Woods Inn of Covina since the late 80's, when I was in Jr. High. I went here with my parents, and now I bring my wife and my boys as well. It's a long family tradition to come here! We are so thankful for the North Woods Inn and have an incredible time for each visit. This visit was especially great! The service was wonderful, the food was as incredible as always, and the atmosphere was awesome! Thank you North Woods Inn for always being there and giving excellent service! Went to North Woods Inn again last weekend. Still great service, still great food! Still a great date place!

+6

I was curious to try this place—couldn’t resist that snow-covered roof and vintage Western vibe. Inside? Total cabin-in-a-horror-movie energy: dim lights, sawdust floors, misty air, and taxidermy animals silently judging you👀 (possibly creating the mist 😅). It’s loud, weird, and kind of Amazing. The animals didn’t come alive, but my appetite sure did. And it left full and slightly afraid.😆

I have been visiting this restaurant off and on for 30 years. First as a child with my mom and now as an adult. As a kid this place felt magical (in the early 90s) and I would hope that would be true for the current generation. Building and Accommodations: The atmosphere is unique almost western saloon but nicer with great low lighting that allows for privacy and isn't an accessibility problem. They have tables with chairs and booths. I am a bigger girl and the chairs are fine for those plus size visitors but a booth will provide more back support if that's needed. They have a waiting area inside and a big courtyard area outside with speakers to call names. It is most ADA friendly though I don't think any of the doors are automatic. The bathrooms are remodeled and newer with a men's, women's, and family restroom. The family restroom has a changing table and shows all genders. One the reasons my mother liked this place as she aged and before she passed was she felt comfortable enough to eat here with dentures. The lighting was that intimate that she had that type of privacy. I know that tip won't matter to most people but just in case you are wanting low lighting. There is a ton of parking so you shouldn't have to worry. The music is light usually on theme with the decor but usually the conversations are the noise inside. If they are sensory concerns head phones or try coming right when they open on a weekday. I have only really visited during the week due to the massive lines and crowds that exist on the weekend. They are just that popular! Food Options: The food. So everyone has their own favorite dish for me it is the cheese bread, the salads and the blackberry sundae. These are rich and hearty and will fill out your gluttonous little heart. I will be honest I usually do some dinner entre to get the unlimited bread and cheese and that entree is okay. The rice is okay. The baked potato is okay. The protein is okay. You come here for bread, salad, atmosphere and if you have found an entree you enjoy. In 30 years, I have really found one or rather my love for the cheese bread and salad is at a 100 that nothing compares in the menu. There is a trick to get your cheese bread and salad refilled before you are ready to leave so you have more for tomorrow! And of course I can't forget the peanuts. Each table gets at least 1 bowl of peanuts to eat and you can throw the shells on the floor. I hate peanuts but others have enjoyed this feature or in case of allergies. The blackberry sundae comes in a famous dish that the table can share or get your own. Sharing was fun as a kid. Service: The service is always 100% here. They take care of the tables ensuring you are topped off and happy. If it is a crowded night communication can be more infrequent and they always apologize but it is still top tier. I leave my biggest tips here due to great service. Other: They have to go options but I have never used them. They have bread you can buy and take home near the check in desk. I think you can ask for some peanuts too if you are in the waiting area and have been waiting a while. I actually don't know if they have WiFi because there is something about the place that makes you want to be present and not on your phone.

Really enjoyed EVERYTHING about this restaurant. The atmosphere was nice, food was excellent, service was superb!! Fun thing to do that I think everyone would enjoy.....is peeling peanuts and throwing the shells on the floor. I know, very minor, BUT it feels wrong to do- so, it's enjoyable

+1

They greeted us as we walked in & got seated ! The place is amazing, it takes you to another frontier wilderness cabin ! They have peanut Nuts on the table to be opened & eaten with the shells dropped to the floor ! The menu is a standing on the table shaped as a soup pot ! When ready to order , place the stand laying down ! The service is fast & the side salads of purple cabbage in a Wine vinegartte & the Blue cheese salad with their famous Cheese bread delivered warm to the table ! They have from Surf to Turf to a kid's menu ! The prices have gone up ! Steak's start at $40 ! Sandwich starts at $18 ! Enjoy this beautiful & delicious meal from time & time again !

Food was worth the wait. Definitely love to eat here when I get time. The inside looks like a western theme. I love the chicken and pato skin. I recommend the bread and the salad.

Great dining experience. The atmosphere is rustic. Portions are huge and make the price point sting a little less. You are never disappointed or left hungry when you leave. If you've lived under a rock and have not tried this establishment, then run. Don't walk and sit and enjoy a really great meal.

+6

It's been a while or not coming back here but I was Have a chance to come back and eat good steak.. Then peanuts are service so cool young and always willing to help us for refill salad... And cheese bread

+1

Food portions are huge! Great salads and bread. Have been coming for over 20+ years and it never disappoints.

The staff, food, and atmosphere were excellent. If you enjoy meat, as I do, you will likely appreciate their offerings, which are priced premium but truly are worth it. The portion sizes are generous, providing good value for the money spent.

A group of friends went to Clearman's Northwoods Inn to catch up with each other and enjoy a good meal. Most of us ordered the Cod Dinner and it didn't disappoint! The salads (purple cabbage and green salad) was plentiful and delicious! The cheese bread is amazing! And the baked potato with the cheese butter was great! The cod was cooked perfectly and we all raved about the taste...so good!

The food here is to die for. I loved the cheesy bread. It was really moist, and rich. The cheesy bread was chewy, and so delitious. Why don’t you sell your cheesy bread in stater brothers anymore? I would totally buy it. I ordered the steak plate. That was delicious too. My steak was decadent, juicy, and so delicious. Overall, my food was scrumptious, delicious and exquisite. I really loved my salad too. My salad tasted great. I loved the cheese in my salad. My cake was so delicious too. This is a great place, and I would really highly recommend this restaurant. I also loved the service. The service here is top knotch. They were really attentive to our party of 9.

Always a great time. Never had a complaint at any locations, but this is my hometown North Woods Inn. Came for a few drinks and dinner... but dinner got devoured before I could remember to take a picture.

Never a disappointment! Been coming to this location since I was a kid. Now I take my family and share the enjoyment. Prices are a bit high, however for the amount of food you recieve the service and the ambiance its all worth it!

The food portions are generous, the ambiance is unique, and the service is excellent.

Angelizm

Francesca was great! She was very generous and kept the food coming!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our cheese, bread, salad in our entrées. We will definitely be back for more!

Bill Stevens

Wow! Tes, it can be costly, but compare it to ANY other sea food /steakhouse it comes so far ahead. You are served enough food you can take the leftovers home for another night's dinner. WOW plus tge service is great. Plenty of bar selections or non bar selections for drinks. When you figure this place has been here for over 60+ years, Wow. Don't think the snow on the roof is real, it's there so everyone is able to identifies the restaurant!

Kris Wilder

We came from all over the state and Alaska too, just to experience the salads and bread again! A childhood favorite for my grown kids and will be for the grandkids too. It absolutely did not disappoint. One of the few constants in life is North Woods Inn. Thank you

E Darafeev

I’ve been visiting this location since I was a little girl, and it’s one of my favorite places to go for special occasions, or when I just need comfort food and nothing else sounds good. I visited this week for my birthday and it didn’t disappoint! The nostalgia of throwing peanut shells on the floor, the perfectly cooked medium-rare steak, the incredible salads and bread, and the general ambience here made me remember how much I love it. The servers are always knowledgeable, competent and friendly. I ordered an old-fashioned with extra cherries and it paired perfectly with my New York steak, baked potato and rice pilaf. For my birthday they asked if I wanted ice cream and I said a little bit. He brought me a perfect little portion to finish my meal. 10/10 experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Clearwoods – Delicious, Generous, and Welcoming! We recently dined at Clearwoods and had a fantastic experience! From the moment we sat down, the service was warm and attentive. While waiting, we enjoyed their peanuts and cheese bread — both were great little bites that set the tone for a wonderful meal. Chris and the other tall guy who served us were amazing. Ambiance is warm log cabin vibe. For our entrees, we ordered the Porterhouse steak and the Halibut Plate. Both dishes were generous in portion and full of flavor. The Porterhouse was cooked beautifully and rich with savory goodness, and the Halibut was tender, perfectly seasoned, and paired with delicious sides. There was so much food — excellent value for the quality and quantity. Between the great starters, hearty entrees, and inviting atmosphere, this meal really hit the mark. Highly recommend Clearwoods for anyone looking for a memorable and satisfying dining experience!

+6

Certainly worth the visit. Service was good, their salads & garlic bread were great and food in general came in quick and was certainly delicious. The drinks were good too, just wish they had dessert options- other than ice cream Loved how cozy it feels inside

+3

Went here in the weekend. It was super busy. Delicious salad and steaks. The whole family enjoyed. Service can get a bit slow during peak times, but they hire enough servers to almost not feel the rush of how many people they serve. All straks are fantastic. Never have I had a bad experience here since coming over a period of 15 years. Also try cheese toast. It's the best I've tried so far.

+2

dennis mallari

Good place to go to treat your family to a nice steak or seafood. It's pricey but you get good portion sizes for what you pay. Unlimited bread and salad, I like the red cabbage salad. The lighting inside is dim but you can still see the menu without a flashlight.

Karen Joy

Such an awesome place! Hard to find anything wrong but, just an FYI if you’re thinking of coming during the holidays, forget it. They don’t serve at the bar and I’m just a single so no need to take a table. I’ll be back to my regular once a week trip to this amazing spot next year!

Natalie

The atmosphere is so fun, kind of like Vegas.. lots of lights, drinks, very loud & chaotic.. if you have kids & worry they might be loud, this is the place for you. Peanut shells all over the floor, great customer service. The food is good a bit pricey, I got some cheese bread and it was so buttery it got pretty soggy which left an odd texture. Other than that everything was pretty good.

Carmen Salazar

This place was so good! It’s pricey but it’s totally worth it.

Karen Capo

I've been eating here for 45 years. Have never had a bad experience. The two house salads and cheese bread are to die for. Great atmosphere and great service. One salad has their famous blue cheese dressing, and the other is a red cabage salad with a vingerette dressing. The cheese bread has their own special cheese butter. These automatically come with the meal. As much as you want. You can also split meals. The servers are all very nice.

Aron Roberts (robotros)

A classic steakhouse with delicious food and large portions. They offer split plate options for $9 surcharge that is especially good value. The protein options are quality and cooked to perfection consistently. They offer a wide range of Steak and Seafood options as well as Chicken. The sides lack variety of modern steakhouse but do not disappoint baked potato, rice pilaf, a salad, and cheese toast come with the entry. The appetizers similar to the sides lack variety and consist mainly of fried foods that could be considered bar finger foods.

Mychael Esqueda

What a breath of fresh air in Covina! Feels like a hunters club, peanuts on the ground, and dim lighting. The food is wildly expensive but once you take a bite it all makes sense. The salads, cabbage, and toast are super delicious. The waiting room is a cool square space with arcade machines, a water fountain, and an arrangement of seating. I loved everything about this place.

Mimi Madrid

The food is always amazing! Sometimes we come for lunch for the bottomless green salad / red cabbage salad and bottomless clam chowder and other times we come for the steaks! Can't go wrong at any time of the day you come. For lunch we spend usually about $60ish and dinner for two usually $140ish... went for Thanksgiving and expected to spend a bit for 4, but it came out to $250! Not bad for a nice steak dinner. This Clearmans cut their own steaks, that's why the cuts are bigger and nicer here than at any of the other locations. I've been to all, and hands down, this one is the best in all areas... food, customer service and wait time. This is a must try...head the place with the snow on the roof for a great meal!

+7

Joseph Ortega

Incredible atmosphere, service and terrific food. I have eaten here off and on for the last 44 years as a treat and it's ALWAYS amazing. I've been to a few of their locations, but this one the most. Update April 2024: delicious as always. Prices are up, like everywhere, but at least it feels worth it. Specials available every now and then, by the looks of it. Update November 25, 2024: as good as ever. Dressed up for Christmas. Super cute.

+20

Emily Weeda

Been coming here since I was a kid for special events and birthdays and I couldn’t recommend it more. Just the bread and salads alone are a reason to keep coming back but add on lobster or steak and you won’t be able to stop talking about it all week. Always top notch staff, food, and atmosphere.

+1

Alicia Romero

It doesn't get better than this San Gabriel Valley staple. It's a popular restaurant for birthdays and other special occasions. Carnivores also love it. However, as herbivores (vegetarians), this is our family's go-to for a special, quality, no-frils meal with all the thrills. We went to celebrate my birthday. On a Friday night, the wait was 40 minutes for a party of two. Fortunately, the full-service bar had plenty of space and a good selection at reasonable prices. Within minutes after sitting at a table, not at the bar, a waiter approached us and told us he'd be right with us. He delivered quickly and with a bowl of the tasty, complimentary roasted peanuts. Our server was new, under training by Rick who excelled at customer service and training. He was knowledgeable in terms of the menu and provided excellent instruction to the server without being condescending. While the server brought our drinks and put them in the table, Rick politely instructed him something along the lines of, "Make sure they give them their drinks" and he placed them in front of us. After about a 20-minute wait, our table was ready. They don't seat parties unless everyone is there. We ordered fairly quickly since we get our usual: the Veggie Dinner (baked potato, rice pilaf ad veggies), served with the classic red and green cabbage salad, plus cheese bread. Our server, Austin, was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It's not uncommon to get a face of disappointment at a steakhouse when we order veggie meals. However, we didn't get that from Austin. He was pleasant from beginning to end. It was $23 for a Tito's Vodka + soda and one Knob Creek, neat. The food was cooked to perfection, perfectly seasoned and tasty. If cabbage salad doesn't sound appetizing, you have to try this salad. It's simple: cabbage with the restaurant's house-made blue cheese. It's crunchy, the right amount of tang and salty. It's perfect! Now the cheese bread levels up live no other. Unlike most cheese breads, this isn't. It's got a slight crunch without being salty with the ideal amount of cheese. Our total was $53 (two veggie meals, plus one beer). Given that we ate half of our meals, we had enough leftovers to have another meal at home. We had enough of the extras, including salad and cheese bread. After we packed up the leftovers, I asked Austin for a paper bag for the peanuts. Not only did he bring a bag, but it was half full of peanuts. What a nice touch! We were sure to tip well above the 20% mark to show our gratitude. I can't comment on the steaks, but the carnivores in the extended family praise them as much as we love our veggie meals.

+21

Server could've been more polite. Food is delicious, portions are huge. But my goodness the price is outrageous. Host weren't very polite either. It's still a cool restaurant though.

+2

listen up: my rating is not based on the food. the food is forgettable, offered in ridiculous portions. i ordered soup and got enough soup to feed an entire family and i’m not exaggerating. however, our server was incredibly funny and personable and the atmosphere? if i could rate it higher than 5 stars, i would. it’s tacky, kitschy, and unapologetic. the lighting is lurid and the floors are covered with peanut shells. this is an experience to be had, not a meal to be eaten.

Starting to come back! This was our first meal out in open dining. It was 1 year ago that I wanted to eat at Northwoods for my birthday, but everything got shut down. The food did not disappoint. It was as I remembered and the food even remained warm even though we were out on the covered patio. The bread and salad were abundantly and generously provided by our server. I can't wait to return to inside dining.

We went for lunch with my office staff and I had the sirloin burger and we all had the clam chowder. It was very thick and creamy with lots of crab! The others did steak and crab legs. The salads were very savory and delicious. The cheesy bread was so yummy! Of course we didn't have room for dessert but we will be back!

This is our go-to place to celebrate Ozzie’s birthday! Our staffer Carlos was friendly and efficient in supporting our table of seventeen celebrants. The cheese bread is iconic and there is something on the menu for everyone. The portions are three times what a normal service is… If not more! There is always a to go box for later.

+1

Visiting from Baltimore, 10/8/23 around 7:30 p.m. the environment was so cool and our server was nice. I had a major issue with my steak I ordered it medium and received it rare. I will not visit again. The manager acted like he was going me a favor by taking it off. I ended up paying for my sides and left a tip that would’ve covered the full priced meal. I have uploaded a picture of my food. I wish that I had a better experience.

It was crowded even on a weekday. The atmosphere is open and very nice. The appetizer of purple cabbage and lettuce salad could have been refilled as many times as we wanted.

+6

It was upsetting that food wasn't being served at the bar. We wanted to watch football and there are TVs where the food is served. We decided to skip watching football for a while and order steaks. The steak cooked medium rare was tasteless and chewy. In a positive note the waitress was great and never left us waiting.

+1

Came for lunch. Food was flavorful and portion appropriate for lunch, just I feel a bit overpriced for portion size. Ate at bar, bartender was excellent. 2 sandwiches, 1 beer, 1 cocktail $60.00

If you're over 50, the decor in here is very reminiscent of your childhood! That alone made it a fun visit for me! It was also beautifully decorated for Christmas. We had a great server that was very prompt with answering questions, getting our order, and then getting our food to us. I have to say, though, they do serve a ridiculous amount of food! Only come here when you haven't eaten in a couple of days! My daughter and I split the grilled salmon plate, and it was still too much food for me to finish! Salmon was slightly overcooked but adequate. For the amount of money you pay, though, I'd love to get better, more elevated sides than rice pilaf and a baked potato; but all in all, it was a fun experience for our family.

We used to live in Covina and would go here quite often years ago. This place hasn’t changed. Love the cheese bread, cabbage and blue cheese salads. They taste the same and it is great. Just had a sandwich as we were here for lunch and the pastrami was great. Great service and the place hasn’t changed….if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Love the peanuts all over the floor Visiting again and it is still just as good!!

The cheese bread and cabbage salad is amazing,but besides that the food is good, but not great. IMO, both Longhorn and Steer & Stein offer better taste for a better price. Love the classic atmosphere and visiting this landmark restaurant is a must.

We all had a good meal. Steaks were good. My kids did not like the cheesy butter but other than that they ate everything on their plates. Server suggested mixing the two salads together. That was surprisingly good. Seems like the menu is either lunch sandwich type items or dinner steaks. Overall a good experience.

The steak was cooked perfectly to my liking. Could you more seasoning but it was good. The garluc cheese bread was fire. I tried the purple salad everyone raved about, it was ok, but cabbage is not my favorite either. The atmosphere was dark but warm. Overall I enjoyed my meal and family time.

Test 1

Just a really good spot. Getting expensive, so now more of a treat that I'll take the family to once every six months. My kids love it, really really love it and that is really all that matters. Salads are top notch don't skip. Also cheese bread to die for!

This place is fun! But breaks a diet. Go hungry. Best: good food that I don't cook for myself, large portions. Feels like you just came into great grandfather's logging camp. Walk over to the tin wash bucket and grab a handful of peanuts in the shell. Eat the peanuts and drop the shells on the floor. Waiter brings a bowl of peanuts to the table along with the menus, eat and drop as before. Expect to drop $100 for dinner for two. We ordered appetizers to share, half plates and drank water, didn't spend that much. Made reservations so IDK if you'd have a wait if you don't.

Came here many years ago. Good food great service. Still has peanuts to munch on if you have to wait. Throw the shells on the floor!

Mary Singelman

It was a lovely evening hanging with dear friends. Ordered a New York steak, it was great. Wasn't fan of the potatoe. The vibe is cool and enjoyed eating the peanuts. The place is huge! Really love the bar at front where you can order drinks as wait for table. Prices are decent, seems expensive but fair for what offer and portions. The bread was the best!!!!

J Bird

Come early or make reservations, This place gets packed. Waited 10 minutes coming at 4! The food like all Clearmen's are really good for steak, Good lobster, baked potato with cheese butter with stuffing and I really enjoyed their salads and cheese toast. Service is friendly n quick

+2

This place seems to stay busy regardless of the wait time. You can eat all the free peanuts you want while waiting and throw the shells on the floor. 😂 I chose a Cadillac margarita from the bar. 😁 Made perfectly. As crowded as it was, I appreciated the line specifically for walk ups at the bar which moved swiftly. Seating took some time and it's pretty tight in there. Our meals came with 2 types of salads (blue cheese/lettuce and purple cabbage/vinegarette) and delicious cheesy garlic bread. Food portions are very generous and delicious. Although service is super friendly, it's sooo slow. Plan on being there 2+ hours for a 6-ish dinner time.

+1

Always a family favorite which is why we were so disappointed in the steaks. They were not good. Low flavor. The halibut however was great. Of coarse the salad, slaw and bread are always on point

Clearman's North Woods Inn hasn't changed much over the years. That old school log cabin ambiance remains as it was the first time I visited all those years ago. The bowls of peanuts you can shell, eat, and throw the hulls on the floor are still there too. The food also remains the same. The buttery cheesy bread, cabbage and green salads, huge baked potatoes, rice, and various steaks remain unchanged. The one thing that has changed is the price. A standard steak dinner will run you about $40. I'm not talking filet mignon or ribeye. Just a standard steak. However, they don't skimp on the portions, and you can ask for more salad and bread at anytime. That said, I'm sure you'll walk out with a full belly, fond memories, and some leftovers.

The food was fantastic with the wide selection of options, fresh and prompt! Service was a bit slow but understandable as the restaurant was full. Heater's on the patio and under Covid -19 restrictions, will defiantly spread the word!!!!

+6

I'm normally a fan of North Woods inn, but was sadly disappointed in both the service and food. Perhaps I came on a bad day. The hostess was nice and we werr seated right away. Our waiter served us some waters and took our drink order. I ordered a cherry coke which is my go to drink at Northwoods. There was too much syrup and the soda was kind of flat. Not once did our waiter ask of we wanted any refills. Our waiter did not check on us regularly and seemed to be more attentive to the tables surrounding ours. He was not attentive at all. The tables around us is receiving 5 star service and is very attentive to them, but not us. He brought out our little bread plates and flicked them on our table instead of placing them on our table. Rude! The nuts that are normally ready and waiting for you at the table were not there. We asked for them while we were waiting for our order and were told that they are only available upon request because they are having a hard time getting nuts. The side salad that comes with the meal was also a disappointment. They are using a different blue cheese dressing that tastes nothing like the original. I didn't care for it. The two pieces of garlic bread that were served with the meal were good. Served nice and hot. Normally they bring us bread while we are waiting for our meal, but perhaps that has changed as well. Now on to the main course. I ordered the open face sirloin steak sandwich rare. The meat is normally juicy and tasty, but this time it was overcooked and hard to chew. The portion is also smaller than what they normally serve. It lacked flavor and quality. I would recommend trying a different location. Maybe I came on a bad day. The lack of quality and seevice took me by surprise. Updated my review. We spoke to the Manager about our experience. He took the time to listen and apologize for the experience.

The steaks were way undercooked and tasted like they were either past expiration or not keep in proper condition. The seafood platter was greasy. Not worth your time - we spent $500 and don’t feel good.

I don't think I've rated Clearman's before and though I was raised with this place, it is most likely because I was hoping to have a wonderful experience that never came. The atmosphere at every one of their restaurants is amazing. The staff is hit-and-miss but they always seem to try hard. It's the food that I constantly have issues with and because it's such a popular place for some reason I keep giving them another chance. The last time I had their food was 3 months ago in Pasadena where they gave me fried scallops instead of grilled. They had so many issues with other people at the table and their food that I let it go. This time, they overcooked my scallops, and give me a hollow baked potato full of cheesy whipped butter. I found two bites of potato in the whole thing. My wife had steak chunks which I tried and I can't even remember the last time I had to spit food out in a restaurant. I can only assume that people drink so much when they're there that they have no idea what they're eating. The green salad doused in blue cheese is always a hit but how hard is it to get that right? The cheese bread tonight was overcooked but hey it's still cheese bread so they get some points. Had I not been with my family maybe I would have been several drinks in and not noticed or cared. But then Google just asked me for a review and to post the pics I took of our food so there it is. $42 meal for scallops and a hollow potato and the only thing I could eat was the rice. My wife complain that I hadn't been able to eat so the waiter gave me a credit for the scallops and just charged for the potato and salad. I guess that makes sense. The sad part is that I always expect this when I go there because it's happened a dozen times over the years. There must be something that draws people back other than the atmosphere.. any ideas? My boys both had successful meals which means it's a successful evening. One had the pulled pork sandwich and the other the fried chicken sandwich. Both seem to be enjoying their meal. The really hard part is that if this place was the best steak in town, I'd be going there for the $99 tomahawk, but I could never trust them enough to order a $99 plate. Until next time...

+2

Haven’t been here in over 30 years so we thought - what the heck, let’s try it. Food is loaded with fat and grease so if that’s your thing, go for it. Think blue cheese dressing soaked salad, butter soaked cheese bread, cheese-butter soaked baked potatoes, etc. That being said, beef quality is decent. As hubby says, “I have had better and I have had worse.” But you have to admire a place that has been around 30+ years and hasn’t really changed in a good way. Fun to throw peanut shells and walk on sawdust on the floor. And service is good. Again if fat is your thing, go for it. But for us, 1 nostalgic trip every 30 years is plenty.

We’ve been to this restaurant in the past and were eager to share it with my mom and sister. We grew up going to Northwoods Inn in San Gabriel and were looking forward to sharing the restaurant again with my family. They hadn’t been there for decades. We were so disappointed with the service. We had to keep asking for what we needed, our server wasn’t very attentive and I was really embarrassed we brought my mom here. Our table was so cluttered with dishes and uneaten items I had to keep moving them to the empty table behind us. It will be a long time before we come back here again if ever. :(

I've been going here all my life, but I must say, this North Woods Inn is NOT at all what it used to be. The lobster and filet mignon were good, but not as good as you'd expect for the price they charge. The restaurant has always been quite loud and known for its quaint, alpine lodge vibe. The wait staff standard, however, has plummeted. Much younger, inexperienced, and lacking the people skills that was a hallmark of North Woods in the past. I was very disappointed. When making my reservation beforehand, I was asked if this were a special occasion (anniversary or birthday), and I said yes. This was never mentioned by our waitress and completely disregarded. Will I ever eating here again? I am not sure.

Came here to celebrate a birthday, and unfortunately the server had extremely long fingernails, but we smiled and went along for the sake of the celebration, the food was subpar and tasted old , the drinks were the best part, however with the amount of money we spent, looking back it was overall a disappointment. So sad this use to be the place back in the day.

Super dark inside. Guess it hides the peanut shells on the floors. Old school steak house. Food decent. Go for the ambience and drinks. Little pricy. Bet ur grandparents would dig it here.

The food here is awful. The cheesy bread is soggy and the meat they used in their burgers and sandwiches were tasteless. For the price that this place is charging, you would think that we’d be able to get even halfway through our food. We just left it there on the plate, we didn’t even take it home. Will not be coming back

Drove 40 minutes to try this place amd knew I was in trouble the minute the soggy cheese bread and "salad" arrived at the table. To say it was a salad is being overly generous. It was some wilted lettuce with blue cheese dressing globbed on top. No tomatoes, no onions, no cucumbers, nothing. The steak was ok, but had a big piece of grissel running through it. Everything else on my plate (vegetables and pickle) looked like it had been reheated several times over. The vegetables were limp and waterlogged. The pickle looked like it had been sitting out in the elements for at least a week. It is unfathomable to me how it has a 4.5 rating.

Set up reservations with a large group. Finally got seated 40 minutes after our scheduled time. After looking at the menu for quite a while. The waiter came just to take drink orders. That took some time to arrive. Now finally we were able to place our orders. The place still has the rustic outdoor ambience. Crack you peanuts and throw the shells on the floor. The place is very dimly lit. At times it's hardtop see the menu & check. Not to mention the food on your plate. We had a steak (medium), potato & rice arrive cold. By throwing it back on the grill. It was now well and dry. Another serving was brought that no one ordered. The server tried to insist you did order this. The person said I did not because I can not eat scallops, go figure. It was a tough task to get the attention of the manager. Since he was so fixated on his tablet. He was not aware of his surroundings. Maybe things such as service, lack there of. Bland taste on the majority of servings we received. Because we went on the weekend. It surely did not have the appeal or goodness as once before. As you know prices are up and quality is down.

+6

Ambience: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Staff Friendliness: 10/10 The atmosphere was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the staff were extremely friendly — truly top-notch in every way. The salads were very good and overall I was quite satisfied with my experience. However, the meat I ordered was very tough and chewy, which was disappointing, especially considering how great everything else was. Unfortunately, the ribeye steak did not meet my expectations.

Richard Buttery

I was here as a driver for people who were gonna drink.And I spent my time mostly split between the bar and the waiting area with the large tv.I was told that I could not order any food because it was a holiday and they didn't serve food at the bar or the waiting area.So I was there for about four hours eating peanuts and drinking.Iced tea, I heard others complaining at the bar about not being able to get food either... I will say that the bartenders were very sorry but they couldn't do anything about it.I was extremely disappointed at the fact that I basically haven't ate all day and I was stuck there.Waiting for my party to give them a ride home

+6

The worst experience I have ever had at a Northwoods Inn. Went for a friends birthday and everyone's food came out cold. The steaks were cold and undercooked and the potatoes were so cold that the butter wasn't melting. Sent the food back and it came out cold again. Spoke to the manager who said he would take the meals off of our bills but only the one celebrating her birthday had her meals taken off. Everyone else only had 1drink taken off. I will never return to this location again.

My fiancee & I were celebrating a late Valentine's dinner, the food was delicious but service was not great! Disappointed & it made me look like a liar as this is my fiancees first time! I raved how awesome the service is and the food is to die for! our waiter Tim was definitely not a people person very Bland and i had to pack up our food, my fiancee noticed other waiters putting his customers food together & packed for them to take home and then he thanked them and let them know he appreciate them as we did not get that service😞😔😲 I left him a tip which i totally regret!

This was our 4th time back in two months and it was such a poor experience that I do not want to return again. It started with our booth chairs having pieces of food on them, which I had to clean off with my tissue. Our server was unpleasant from the beginning and made us feel like he was unhappy about being there. My Lumberjack 9 oz steak was dry this time and did not taste as good as the first three visits, not sure why. My partner’s pulled pork sandwich was very dry, had very little bbq sauce, and seriously lacked flavor. We also asked for a small thing of Ranch dressing and got ketchup instead, even after our server confirmed if we wanted Ranch. Clearly, his mind was elsewhere, and had been our entire visit. I just couldn’t believe how so many things could go wrong on this visit. I wanted to ask to speak with a manager but my partner did not want to draw any attention. Not sure I want to return.

My wife and I decided to have a nice dinner at Clearman's North Woods Inn - Covina. When we were shown our table by the hostess (Emily) it was located next to the kitchen door that the waiting staff enter and exit. I politely asked if my wife and I could be seated at another table because of my VA diagnosis of General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD and one of my triggers is having strangers and a lot of movement behind me. Emily said that there were no other tables available. My wife and I didn't want to cause a scene, so we decided to sit down and have dinner. As time passed, the restaurant became busier, and the customers were lining up no more than a foot away from our table waiting to be seated and causing my anxiety to increase. I finally couldn't take it anymore and asked to speak to a manager and bring to their attention that their staff should be more considerate of their customers. A manager (Trevor) came to our table, and you can already see on his face that he was bothered by the fact that he had to talk to us. He didn't introduce himself (I had to ask our waitress for his name) and asked, "what can I help you with?" I explained the situation to him and then he asked, "what do you want me to do about it?" My wife intervened during the conversation because of the attitude that Trevor was giving us and making us feel like we were bothering him. he rolled his eyes and walked away without saying anything. She felt that Trevor was giving us an attitude because of the color of our skin, because we had noticed that he was being very pleasant to the customers that were white. My wife and I having been enjoying meals at Clearman's for many years without any incidents. I am very disappointed with this latest visit. The restaurant should provide high quality service to all customers (military and civilian).

Dane Gummig

Food was barely warm. This is the 3rd time in a row that we've noticed quality of their meat isn't what it used to be. So this will be our last visit dining at a Northwoods or Clearmans restaurant. For the price you are getting a mediocre steak at best if like a steak at sizzlers for a fourth the cost. BUMMER!