Clementine’s Steak House — Restaurant in Carpinteria

I know a lot of people rave about this place so we went. I was very disappointed. It seems like a nice place but I felt like I was in someone living room while their child was doing homework at the table and another coloring. Children took their work into the kitchen and showed people. The person who waited on us was very old, and that is fine but every single time I attempted to call the person over to the table for something I was ignored. The table next to us was so loud I was unable to talk at my own table. I am allergic to dust and began sneezing. Finally I was able to take an allergy pill. Thankfully I had a water in my purse. All dinners come with desert and instead of letting my son pick his own desert she felt he would like the Chocolate pie. We took it home with us as my son didn't like it and I felt I would get a talking to if I left it behind. lol. Just how I felt. I did taste the pie and it was awful. It was like it was in the fridge for far too long and it tasted store bought. I thought they were known for their homemade pies - Guess not. The food was so-so. I didn't like my chicken. My son liked it however as he likes fried. I do not like fried and this chicken was so greasy. I am not sure if we will go back as there are too many other good restaurants to choose from. Heck, I ordered coffee and no matter how many times I tried to get her attention or ANYONE else for that matter - I never got a refill. Some things are better left in the past - this one is one of those things......

A star for the adorable restaurant and one for the service. I can only say that the fresh bread and butter was good. The clam chowder tasted like something out of a can but not even that good, how can it be so gelatinous? And tasteless. It was the worst I've ever had in my life. The salad certainly looked pretty but the vinaigrette was too vinegary and not very flavorful. I didn't like the super salty steak tips in mushroom gravy, it was much too much like a beef stew. All you could taste was super salty beef broth. The rice pilaf was salty too, the waitress said that the cook soaks it in chicken broth before cooking. The carrots were fine, good slightly sweet flavor. The waitress was kind enough to replace my steak tips with a New York steak when I asked her and even that wasn't good. Such a super thin weird very crisp layer on the outside starkly contrasted by a soft and tasteless inside. It was not like a normal steak. The pie had a VERY thin overcooked flakey crust and the apples were okay. It was a $40 dinner that tasted like hospital food. I wanted so much to like it but it was like food your Grandma who can't cook made in the 50's. Sadly, we'll...

We walked in from the backdoor and felt as if we were on vacation somewhere special! An inviting homey, atmosphere that you’d find in a non-touristy European village. Not staged, it was very real… 40 plus years in business! From the friendly, welcoming smiles on diners as well as staff, to the Insta-worthy housemade pies on the front counter. The waitstaff instantly felt like family. When did you last feel cared for in a restaurant? Mmmm fresh bread, soup and salad were excellent, perfect prime rib, a platter of fried chicken (!!!) with a sweet surprise side of berry compote, and I wish I asked how they made those baked potatoes! Crazy delicious! (Can you flash fry a whole potato??) We enjoyed dark beer, white wine and those pies!!! Thankfully pie was included with dinner, but with the wonderful problem of way too much food, we asked for our dessert to go. We have enough leftovers for at least two more meals, but we savored every bite of pie at home a couple hours later. And their whipped cream? Again I’ll have to ask how they made it so special! Mmmmm enjoyed every moment, every bite, and didn’t take a single...