Moved to the area a decade ago and kept hearing about Clifford's. Finally decided to give it a shot and unfortunately came away very underwhelmed by our entrees. Pork loin was drowned in brown gravy. The consistency was almost too tender. My wife got the cod and it too was uninspired. Both our meals came with a side of sliced steamed carrots-again, underwhelming. It wasn't all bad. The potato leek soup was pretty good-great comfort food ona cold rainy night. The rolls and breads were amazing. We went for our anniversary and they sent out a complimentary peach cobbler for dessert. The ambiance was nice and the staff very warm and welcoming. It was nice to be blue to bring our own bottle of wine with us. Appetizer, soup, salad, entreees, complimentary dessert, coffee, and tip: $100. read more

Awesome restaurant, amazing food!! Nice staff! I will definitely try to go again. We had wanted to go for years and finally made it. May not be the easiest place to find but definitely worth it! read more

Cliffords is my favorite place to dine and I have been going for every special occasion for many years. You will never be disappointed.

The service was great very welcoming and so friendly. The food is just amazing on another level I can't honestly say how much my family and I enjoyed it from the complimentary bread to the most delicious dessert!! One of the best places ever!!!! read more

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This restaurant has more items off the menu than on it. The waitress or hostess will reel them off for five minutes. By the time they have described ten or so they all start to blend together and I can't remember them. So I ordered off the menu. The oral description of the menu specials never mentioned prices. Sure I could have asked but there was so many of them. Also it makes me out to appear a cheapskate just because I factor price in ordering. So I ordered baked cod off the menu. My wife ordered the special cod. Her special was stuffed with artichokes and had a sauce on it. Otherwise it was the same fish. Mine was 24.95 and my wife's was 40.95. So be warned the off menu items might be very expensive. The food was good though not extraordinary. We especially liked the rolls. I wish Clifford's would reconsider giving a menu without prices. I think it is a bit dishonest. read more

Had a wonderful meal. One of the best establishment I have had the pleasure of visiting. Best food in the greater Pittsburgh area. Great staff. No TVs blearing. Leave the cellphone in your car and bring your best bottle of wine. Can't wait to go back. read more

I'm going to tell you a secret- one that when you discover it, you too will keep it. It's about a little place far away where you would never expect some of the best food you've ever had. It's a magical place where everything is made from scratch (even the butter), and nothing will dissappoint. If you can find it- and get a reservation- then you too will only share the secret of Clifford's Restaurant to your closest confidants. After a meandering drive North of Pittsburgh through Evans City's back roads, we found Clifford's- an unassuming exterior surrounded by farmland, and inside a white drab with ancient portraits adorning the walls and music that does not match the scene. From the moment you enter, you feel welcomed by the Clifford's family- the mom is the hostess, the chef the son, and our waitress was warm, friendly, and very attentive. It's intimate and you might feel cramped by the closeness of the tables, but I saw it more as being welcomed into a family home where they are sharing their hospitality in their setting. The food was amazing- everything cooked to order from local ingredients. The bread is handmade and comes with whipped butter that is out of this world. You also get a plate of freshly baked rolls with each course, and they were hot and delicious. We started with the artichoke dip, a creamy hot dip with toasted bread, and asian spring rolls that were crispy and served with a refreshing peanut sauce. We got the dinner salad with beet dressing- delicious, but very red, so watch your shirt. I had the rack of lamb with scalloped potatoes, and I was surprised at how big the lamb portion was. Usually, there isn't much meat on a lamb rib, but these were meaty and seasoned perfectly. The scalloped potatoes were also amazing, as was the stewed tomatoes that were sweet and fresh. My wife had the crab stuffed cod with sweet potatoes, and this too was amazing. Frankly, everything we put in our mouths was perfect in our opinion, including the slice of Italian cake with cheese cake filling thart our waitress brought us at no charge. Make sure you bring a bottle of wine, as Clifford's is BYOB. The waitress brought out the proper classes and opened our wine with no corking fee. read more

I think there are too many 5 Star zealots critiquing this place. When you pay $50 for a meal, you want to be impressed and you want to be able to say, "wow this is really good." This was the case at Clifford's, but not as much anymore. You can use the finest ingredients, but it all comes down execution. I mean, splitting a single grape tomato in a salad, $50 doesn't cover more than one? Only one example, but you get the point. Clifford's is still a recommendable place, but be prepared and pay attention, when they pitch the daily specials, because there are a myriad of them. Also, be forewarned that the specials tend to go for a higher price than the permanent menu items and they don't address the prices when they articulate the specials. read more

Clifford's has been one of our favorite restaurants for several years. I would best describe what they do as high end comfort food. It's a homey, European inspired, small family owned restaurant located in the countryside north of Evans City, PA - use a GPS! Reservations are required since they are only open on weekends with a very small number of tables. Bring your wine because they are BYOB. The menu changes seasonally and there are several specials your server will recite at the table. Honestly its rare when we order actual menu items because the specials sound so delicious and we've always been delighted with our selections. Everything is super fresh and their seafood has been a particular highlight for me. Their crab cakes are amazing - they must use a mold to get them on the plate because there is no filler in them, just large lumps of super fresh crab seasoned to perfection. Whether you order seafood, beef, pork, veal, lamb, etc. you will enjoy a high end dining experience with depth of flavor few restaurants can match. It's simple, comfort food elevated to a whole other level. read more

This is a place that we go to for special occasions because it is a bit pricey. The food is excellent though and you can tell the chef takes his time to make sure the food your served is close to perfection! read more

Lovvveee this place! It's our favorite place to go for special occasions! MUST make a reservation. Food is ALWAYS Great! It's a true family restraunt, the mom seats you, the daughter-in-law is one of the waitresses,(both women are very knowledgable about the dishes and menu) an the son is the head chef! Fresh warm baked rolls, pretzel rolls as well, I love the cucumber dressing! You'll love this place too! read more

Wow. The amazing bread made me want to fill up on bread. The food is marvelous and the out of the way location makes it a hidden gem. Worth the price and just as good as anything in the upscale price range on the Vegas Strip. BTW- the beet dressing is wonderful. Reservation required. BYOB. You can make meal requests when you make that reservation, but I trust the chef. I want what he's serving! read more

We had heard about this place and couldn't wait to try it. Bring your wallet! I should have asked the price, my fault, but my wife and I both chose a daily special of stuffed pork chop thinking it would be at the lower end of their pricey memo. The food was good, although it was more stuffing than pork chop. The waitress was adequate but always in a hurry and gave us only the minimum service. We shared one desert and had water to drink and our bill was $87. 82. Leaving a $17 tip we walked out of there with a $104.82 charge on our card. By far, the most expensive pork chop ever. We just weren't prepared for that so be warned before you go and bring your wallet. read more

Went here for anniversary a while back based on recommendation. It was definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. Very quaint place, excellent service and provided special dessert for anniversary. BYOB was nice so we brought special bottle.of wine for special occasion. It is not cheap, but if you want an excellent experience with personal service it is well worth the price. Highly recommend. read more

This is a truly a unique dining experience for Western Pennysylvania. I mean they make their own butter, and its delicious. If you are coming from Route 8 you will enjoy the countryside views, just be careful not to miss any turns. The food is delicious and plentiful. They place is own by an Austrian family and they truly make you feel at home. The beauty of the menu is if you dont see something you like just ask them if they can make it for you. My wife wanted crab cakes but they were not on the menu and they said they can make whatever we wanted as long as they had the ingredients. Yes, it is pricey but its a special occasion type restaurant so once a year or every few years is how often i make it there. Have an adventure and give it a shot. read more

This is the second time I've been here. Just amazing food. No matter what you order, it will be great. Had spring rolls, french onion soup, and crab cakes. One course was better than the next. Make reservations early as the restaurant is small and fills up quickly. read more

Clifford's was recommended to me by a colleague at work when my wife and I were new to the area and looking for a nice place to eat. We loved it! It has since become our restaurant of choice for anniversaries, valentines days, mothers days, graduations, and many more. The atmosphere is great. The food is excellent. The prices are reasonable, and the byob policy is a welcome feature that gives you the opportunity to pick out a bottle before dinner. Highly recommended! But, book well in advance of your special day. read more

This is the perfect place for a special occasion. The atmosphere is super cozy and quaint with a very personable feel. My husband and I come here for our anniversary each year, but it's the only time. The hostess knows her stuff! She can shoot off a 15 minute spiel in 1 minute flat. She knows the entire menu and special by heart, afterall the chef is her son. You receive a variety of bread with butter, and it's great. If you're faint of heart this is not the place for you because a heart attack will surely ensue once you take a peek at the menu. Like I said...special occasion. They don't serve alcohol, but you will be surrounded by yuppies with their BYOB of the finest wine. You won't see any maddog 2020, Wild IrishRose, or Boon's farm wine here..nope. You can tell the chef strives for perfection in his food, and he is very successful at it. The food is phenomenal no matter what you order. Sometimes it's good to live a little, and this is the place to do it! read more

We have been here twice and it is terrific! Their menu selections are great but they also have specials that are just wonderful. They offer BYOB and are very accommodating. Great place for special occasions. Definitely need reservations. read more

We had our first outing to Clifford's this past Saturday to celebrate the birthday of a good friend. For those who have never been, Clifford's is a charming restaurant. It exhibits the class and rustic elegance of a 19th century inn restaurant. The daily menu is very solid, but a bit basic by design. Where Clifford's excels is their special menu, both appetizers and entrees. The chef decides daily what will be served and they are very accommodating with requests. If you are in a mood for venison or game, its a great choice, but call ahead to make sure what is on the menu for the day. The portions are generous and there should be plenty leftover to take home for lunch or a snack the next day. Clifford's bake their own bread and it is divine. The restaurant is BYOB, but they are well stocked with glasses and happy to open anything you bring. Our evening was lovely and very enjoyable. We will definitely be making a return trip. The service was a bit slow the evening we were there, but they had just seated a large party and, as this is a family run operation, they more than made up for it with charm and generosity. read more

Owed my cousin a payback dinner. His wife wanted to go to Clifford's because of their reputation. Had to wait a month h for a reservation. Lovely restaurant decorated with antique pictures. A bit noisy but tolerable. Food was average at best. No seasoning on ANYTHING. Ordered Oslo Bucca which was very tender but arrived DRY. No sauce! Tiny fork to eat the marrow was a nice touch. We only had 3 entrees as my wife has had gastric bypass surgery and only eats appetizers but the check still came to $225.00!!! Remember this is WITHOUT a bar tab!! Cliffords is BYOB! If you are looking for a vastly overpriced mediocre meal, this is your place. Otherwise, I would recommend the River Room at the Grand Concourse for twice the meal at half the money. read more

Quite possably the best restaurant in western Pennsylvania. A family run eatery that does most everything well. Friendly staff, nice decor, but most of all fabulous food. Our go to place for special occasions. read more

My husband and I were so excited to try this restaurant because we had heard great things. Unfortunately, we did not have a great dinner . The raclette was recommended as an appetizer and we were excited to try . It came out with The raclette cheese was almost completely stuck to the bottom and was pretty oily . Salads were good with homemade dressings and the bread was good as well . My husband ordered the strip steak medium rare and I ordered the filet-medium with grilled shrimp. My entree came out cooked to my liking , maybe a little medium well , but it was fine. My husband came out well done . We told the waitress when she came around and she agreed and we sent it back . The next steak that was brought out was raw ! Barely cooked . At this point we were frustrated and not going to send back another steak . My husband ate some of it and brought it home. 2 Desserts were sent out next . We didn't get choose them. They were alright . Nothing spectacular. We wanted to love this place. They are BYOB and close to home . I have know idea why the chef had a tough time cooking a strip steak medium rare. Hopefully he figure it out sooner than later. read more

We have been going to Clifford's since they first opened. We eat out several time a week and have been to some of the finest places western Pa has to offer. Clifford's is without a doubt at the top of the list. The staff is very friendly and the food is second to none. It is a small dining area and you must bring your own bottle ( it's a dry township) but don't let that stop you. The food is worth the trip. We had family from Seattle and Florida come for Christmas and the all just raved about their meals. You know when someone from Seattle that remarked " these are the best crab cake I have ever had" they must be good! read more

Tremendous, all the way around!!! Stop reading reviews and just make a reservation, as it will be a very wise decision.

So overrated and overpriced! I got the chicken piccata, and Cheesecake Factory is better. Got the pepperoni rolls as an appetizer and they were just ok. Really disappointed. read more

My husband surprised me with this lovely restaurant for our anniversary. Probably the best place he has ever taken me. Food was fantastic and the family yet upscale vibe of the restaurant made our date a success. We will be back read more

We were Clifford's for a birthday club and the food was delicious I had called back again

I don't really see what's the big deal about this place. The food is good but not spectacular. It is interesting and fresh, which should always be the case in any decent establishment. The preparation seemed fine but not particularly seasoned and lacking in richness of flavor. I had the roasted duck breast which was kind of boring. The mushroom sauce was runny and bland. The scalloped potatoes were also runny and bland. The salad of fresh mixed greens was good but pretty standard fare although the beet vinaigrette dressing was exceptional. All the hype over the rolls is true, kind of like waiting for mom to take the cookies out of the oven so you can grab them while they are warm. Even so the rolls we were served were very simple white dinner rolls, delicious but boring. The service was pleasant but not efficient and the pricing a bit high. The chef could benefit greatly from a trip to New Orleans. read more

This place is simply awesome. Every dinner has exceeded our expectations. The stewed tomatoes that come with most meals are incredible. Our favorite appetizer is the potatoes with pickles and cheese. Yes, you read that right. Just try them. You won't be disappointed. BYOB is a nice bonus too. I prefer beer over wine and always bring a small cooler with a few good beers. Be sure to make reservations a few weeks in advance. We make a point to go there at least once or twice a year...without kids! Also plan two hours from start to finish. read more

What's wrong with this? The evening began with a lengthy recital of non-descriptive specials, no prices indicated. Being a chef for the past forty years, I assumed the cost would be within the parameters of competitive restaurants. The food was very good, but no better than 90% of other fine dining restaurants. Service was extremely slow with a forty-five to fifty minute wait between courses. The hard wooden chairs provided no relief. The raspberry cobbler was outstanding, the chocolate cake laced with almond extract strange. Overall, not a bad experience. The issue was the cost. $48.95 for 5-6 oz. of veal Romano. The owner said it was 8 oz., but I know better. Nevertheless, the cost on this item is about 20%, meaning you're paying $1.00 for every .20 worth of food. An appetizer, a slice of polenta tart with a few grilled vegetables was $18.95, about a 10% cost. I pay a lot of money to dine at fine restaurants and I often CHOOSE to pad my bill by ordering alcohol. If you don't serve alcohol, Clifford's is BYOB, don't try to make up your loss of profit by exorbitantly padding my food bill. If this is necessary to keep the place afloat, at least print the prices or verbally include them in the litany of specials most of which are repeated weekly. An intended omission which is suspect. When questioned, the owner said " If you don't like our prices, I presume you will not return." An obvious assumption but a rather negative response when confronted with a guest's displeasure. If you are tolerant of such business reasoning, go and enjoy. I would prefer to dine at Rico's, Scoglio's, the Carlton or Joseph Tambellini's, to name a few, where the same fare is served in a timely manner at half the cost. read more

This restaurant is truly a jewel of the north,we had a spectacular dinner Sunday evening. Capital Grille, Elements, Nine on Nine have nothing on this little restaurant except it is less expensive and sports an accommodating Chef,they will merge entree choices,and if you have gluten allergy,the chef is very knowledgable, call ahead and they will even provide outstanding gluten free breads,in addition to a large selection of gluten free prepared foods. The appetizers here are generous and some of the Best You will find anywhere. Lastly, feel free to bring your best wine to compliment your meal. We closed out our evening with a bottle of ice wine,to which our waitress (without request) provided Swiss dark chocolate pieces. Par Excellent beginning to end. read more

Another great meal at Cliffords. The service was very good and the meal and bread were superb! Seems to be getting a little pricey but its always busy and you must make a reservation so the demand is their and the quality is top notch. I was a little surprised when I ordered the pierogi appetizer. It was not on the menu but the waitress included it in the long list of specials. I would not think that a fine dining place like Cliffords would serve pierogies but apparently the owners mother makes them and my wife loves good pirogies so we ordered them. Just plain potato pierogies but they were very good. A normal size order that you would usually pay 6-8 dollars for. We got the bill and they were $21.50!! Since it was Cliffords I could maybe understand 10-12 dollars. But $21.50 for a small order of pierogies!! Maybe if they were stuffed with lobster!! When you add tip and tax I paid $27 for good old blue collar pierogies! There is no such thing as gourmet pierogies so don't price them like they are!! read more

My wife and I (from Honolulu, Hi) were visiting friends and looking for a nice place to have dinner. I searched the Internet and had read good things about Cliffords. I mentioned Cliffords to our friends who are locals, born and raised there. They said they heard great things, but had never been. We decided to go and made a reservation about 2 months ahead of time. Good thing. This is a very small Restaurant and has limited seating. It's a family run business, and that atmosphere continues all the way to the guests. The Mom greeted us, sat us and proceeded to go through the nightly specials. You really feel like you are family dinning at a relatives house here. The specials out numbered the items on the regular menu. Both the specials and the regular menu offered an array of delicious dishes. We started with flat bread and some other apps, I wish I could remember. The salads were very good. The home made dressings were very good. For entrees I had a Veal chop, my wife had sea bass, and our friends had rack of lamb, and fresh Ahi Sashimi. Living in Hawaii surrounded by fresh fish, I was overly impressed with the quality of the Ahi at Cliffords. It was very fresh, and of very good quality. The best thing about this place is there is NO corkage fee. We ended up drinking 3 bottles of wine and closing the place down. Great food, great wine, and great company. I would be a regular if it wasn't 5000 miles away. Our local friends are huge fans and will be going back very soon. I should've have written this sooner. I would have been able to provide better details. Anyway, go to Clifford's. You won't be disappointed. It's a fantastic place! Aloha! read more

This place is amazing. It is a one room restaurant about the size of 25 x25 ft room. The menu is very small and doesn't offer a lot. However what it does offer is amazing. Once you get settled the owner, the mother, comes and says what they are offering for that night and what isn't on the menu (which is a lot). Since its a small restaurant they make what you order when you order it so they will always customize it for your likings. For instance I didn't want potatoes with my crab cakes (another creation after the appetizer crab cakes looked delicious) so the waitress offered fresh asparagus. The crab cakes were amazing, they usually just offer crab cakes for appetizers, but I asked if I could have it for dinner. Sure enough Chef Jesse did the trick. The rolls they offer are amazing. As soon as you sit down they put the rolls in the oven so they are fresh and warm. Its a slow meal and only take your orders right before. Right after they serve the rolls they ask for your appetizer. Then once your done with your appeitizer they ask for your order for the entree. If you are in the area you must come here. Reservations I believe are required because it takes a month in advance to find a place. read more

This restaurant is one you would want to save for that special occasion because it is as good as it gets! The brothers who own the restaurant go out of their way to make you have a spectacular foodie experience. It is nestled in the country and looks like a little french restaurant you would find in Europe. Very small and you must have reservations. The rack of lamb is one of their specialties. Again very romantic and intimate. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for. I always look forward to dinner at Cliffords. The dress is upscale casual. Men, you don't have to wear a suit and tie, but if you want to you would not feel overdressed. read more

I had heard about this restaurant from a friend who raved about it. I knew going in that it was an expensive but the quality was suppose to be incredible. I realize that it's not fare to judge a restaurant on one visit but I must say that the quality didn't match the high cost and the expectation that goes along with such a fine restaurant. The family ambiance was very nice and the service was average for this class of restaurant. Not once did the server offer to fill our wine glasses. My guest and I had pork chops and lamb. I didn't realize it until I got the bill but $46 for lamb was way too much given that it didn't have much seasoning. One would expect to pay no more than $28. I definitely prefer Bravo's for a fraction of the price. The vegetables were huge chunks of tomato and squash which were bland at best. Neither my date nor I touched it. Having the option of asparagus and/or brocoli is expected with a $100 meal for two. We bought two specials only to find the prices were off the chart expensive for the area. The swedish potato appetizer was $14.95 and it was nothing that special and one wouldn't expect to pay no more than $7 for a potato appetizer. The last straw and the reason I felt compelled to write this review was when I returned home only to find a dead stink bug next to the tomato with the leftovers. On a positive note, the bread was made that day and it was exquisite along with the salad. The serving sizes were much larger that what you'd expect to find anywhere. It's great that they uncork your wine and provide glasses and no extra charge. The ambiance is nice and it's certainly more off the beaten path of any restaurant which does give it charm. Everyone that works at this family restaurant is very nice. I want this restaurant to succeed, and only hope that they make the necessary changes to ensure the experience is a pleasant one the next time I feel compelled to give them another chance. I can only speculate that you're safer to order off of the menu because you'll know what you're getting for the price. The fact that the specials are greater in number than the items on the menu would indicate that this restaurant's modus operandi appears to be deceptive about their prices. They know that many won't ask for prices when the volume of specials are rattled off in what seams like 5 minutes. I'd certainly recommend calling ahead and getting the price of everything before you go so you can save the embarrassment in front of your guests. I frequent many fine restaurants and know this restaurant definitely has potential and I will be more than happy to change this review assuming they care enough to make the necessary changes. read more

Clifford's is by far the best place to eat in the greater Pittsburgh Area. I have been to most of the trendy restaurants around and while there are many great places nothing compares to Clifford's. My wife and I use it as our celebration restaurant and every time we bring friends they are amazed at how fresh and well prepared the food is. You will not find a better meal. read more

My wife and I have been hear twice, great meals both times. So many original specials to choose from and there appetizers are excellent. Love the rack of lamb, but the fish is excellent as well. The service is so friendly and we love the small dining room, has a NYC atmosphere with the tables crammed together. It is fine dining so we only go on special occasions, but love the fact it is BYOB. Bring the Captain and they will provide the coke. Thanks Cliffords!!! read more

This is a restaurant that every restaurant aspires to be the food is amazing the staff is the most gracious and accommodating. I immediately felt very welcomed there and that they were happy to see me. Every time I eat there I think the food gets better and better. I would recommend reservations if you're trying to go there on the weekend as they are very busy. read more