Los Angeles, California -
Fake Forest Cafeteria

Fake Forest Cafeteria

The decor in Clifton's is amazing. On the top floor, there are photos of the now-gone other locations, which had other themes. I can only wonder where those neon palm trees went! [Raphael, 07/04/2010]

Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria

The interior of Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria is great! Fake trees, stuffed animals, phony stone, a waterfall, a hollow tree housing a one-person sanctuary, a log cabin, and lots of other plastic plants and animal statues. There's plenty to see, too, as there are dining rooms on three floors.

There are also framed images of other now-closed Clifton's locations, like the Clifton's Pacific Seas, in the stairwell leading to the basement restrooms. I imagine that this place looks pretty much like it looked when it opened over 70 years ago. And considering that it's a cafeteria, the food's not bad at all.

Look down at your feet while entering or exiting, because the terrazzo sidewalk, which depicts LA area highlights, is really cool, too. [Dean Jeffrey, 05/30/2010]

Fake Forest Cafeteria

Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria is an old cafeteria in the middle of downtown L.A. The food is a fine reason to avoid the place, but the interior is astounding! The whole place is designed to look like a Washington forest, complete with a waterfall running through the dining area and ducks stapled(!) to the wall. It's very surreal to go from the hub-bub of the discount shopping along Broadway to this 1940's environment.

They dress it up according to the season as well, with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny making special appearances at the appropiate times. [Eric Geigle, 12/30/2005]