The Southern California Restaurant Historical Society is holding a Salute to Cafeterias this Saturday at Clifton's Cafeteria (648 S. Broadway) in Downtown Los Angeles at 10 AM. I've never had breakfast at Clifton's before, just numerous lunches and dinners. Mmmmm....green jello. When I was a kid there was a branch of Clifton's in the Century City Shopping Mall, right behind my high school. We used to go there after school for tapioca pudding. The Century City Clifton's architecture fit in with the 1960's design of the Mall. It was sleek, orange, gold and modern. The Brookdale Clifton's interior is really different!

vintage photos, courtesy of Clifton's

I've spent a lot of time at this "mountain" hideaway in the center of downtown L.A. The interior is a wooded fantasy with fake redwood trees, flowers, animals and birds. Here's the description from Clifton's website:

"As a youth, owner, Clifford Clinton spent his summers in the Santa Cruz mountains among the coastal redwoods, not far from the famous Brookdale Lodge. This mountain feeling was the theme Clifford wanted for his new location. Working with rock sculptor Francois Scotti, Clifford created a 20 foot waterfall cascading into a quiet stream that meanders through the dining room. Redwood trees were used to conceal steel columns and a renowned L.A. muralist, Einar Petersen, created a life size forest on canvas covering one wall. A Little Chapel (click link to hear "The Parable of the Redwoods") perched high amongst the crags fulfilled Clifford's desire to feed the soul as well as the body of depression weary Angelinos."

I personally like sitting in the mezzanine area. It makes me feel like I'm sitting in a treehouse, among the fake leaves, looking down at all the other "campers" getting their grub. Hardly anyone every eats on the THIRD level. The last time I was up there, it was decorated in a San Francisco 1890's motif, with flocked red wallpaper, bentwood chairs and lots of white filigree wrought iron....divine!

The special guests tomorrow are D.J. Waldie (Author: "Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir") on postwar dining in the suburb of Lakewood, Charles Perry (L.A. Times Food Writer and President, Culinary Historians of Southern California) on the origin the first cafeterias in Los Angeles, Chris Nichols (Los Angeles Magazine editor and author of "The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister") on the architect McAllister and his midcentury restaurants.; ALSO speaking will be special guest Robert Clinton, third generation owner of Clifton's Cafeteria.

Beautiful Terrazo Entrance on Broadway

I'm sure it will be a wonderful and delicious morning. I hope to see you there! Have a marvelous Memorial Day Weekend.....wooo hoooo...it's summer!
ADDENDUM: Yes, looking at your comments, I agree. Parking at Clifton's can be a bit of a challenge. We've usually been there for an early dinner....there's always meter parking available. We might have to park a few blocks south of the Cafeteria, or find a cheaper parking lot a few blocks away. Of course, the best possible answer would be to take the bus. I'm thinking, since this event starts at 10 am, street parking should be available. Well, we'll leave a little early, just in case. See you there!