The decoration and the station is cool. I do think this place has the potential to become a great attraction in the Lansing area. The two stars go to the train station itself and the lighting. However, I think this place does need a serious total makeover. I could smell a muddy and dusty scent when we first stepped in the building. I saw dust piled up on the cabinet next to our table......The food.....I just think they can definitely do way better for the price they charge. My pasta was soaked in excessive amount of olive oil, minced garlic (tasted plain), few slices of mushroom (not fresh) and tomatoes. Cajun spice does not save the frozen shrimp. Meh....... The clam chowder tasted ok but I thought I ate large amount of corn starch......Tasted like it is straight out of a can.........The french fries and grilled pork chop were alright. Please people.
Review Source:This place is such a joke.
As mentioned in previous reviews, the building and decor are gorgeous. This is really the only reason I'm giving this place any stars. The rest of my experience was awful.
First of all, our server basically ignored us the entire time. We sat around for about 10 minutes waiting to order until we had to ask another server if they could let her know we were ready... and she STILL didn't come! A man I assume was a supervisor of some sort approached our table to take our order. Soon after, our original server came around just to top off our waters.
I ordered a half-order of tortellini. Apparently to Clara's, a "half-order" means 8 tortellini (yes, I counted). Also, they have the nerve to charge $11 for this pathetic excuse for a meal. They honestly expect you to be willing to pay $1.70 (after tax and tip) for EACH tortellini... which were obviously frozen and didn't even contain chicken as the menu had advertised.
It was very difficult to not throw a fit at this point. When I had tried to explain my disappointment in the dish presented, the server just said, "Would you like the full order instead?" You have got to be kidding me.
Unless you really enjoy overpriced garbage from GFS and horrendous service, don't bother with this place. You can do a LOT better.
Love the look-
This charming, historic train depot-turned-restaurant is all about the atmosphere. I absolutely adore dining here at night and especially during the holidays. There are pluses to sitting in every nook and cranny. I love sitting upstairs simply for the ability to climb the grand staircase and look out over the rest of the interior. I love sitting downstairs near the fireplace to keep warm. And I love sitting in the refurbished train car for its privacy and its ability to transport me to another time.
Dinner's decent-
The menu is ginormous and mostly American. In the end, some customers appreciate the variety, while others might think that it would be better if it was more focused because it's a bit overwhelming. I've sampled a little of everything from each section over the years, but have concluded, now as an adult, that the food is not terrible yet not standout. And the lunch portion sizes are a bit too small. The price is right and the quality of the ingredients are satisfactory based on this factor. I've ordered the Michigan Chicken Cherry salad and French Onion soup more than once and have not been disappointed.
This place has gone completely downhill. The historic building is interesting, maybe worth checking out over just a drink. But the service and the food were so bad that we thought we might be on candid camera. First the waitress tried to serve us drinks with coffee grounds in all of them. Then she took 15 minutes to bring back new ones, and then promptly disappeared without taking our order. We were all convinced she was on meth. She couldn't get away from us faster. I thought it was something about us, then I heard her tell another table, "are you guys gonna talk all night or give me your order."
But then the food came and it was disgusting. I felt depressed that we had come there to celebrate a big deal for my brother in law, and then got such shitty food. The french fries were ok, but the tuna salad had gone bad, yet was still served. Clearly it had sat out in the heat for too long. The black bean soup was under cooked. The bruschetta appetizer was abhorrent. Basically stale bread, with chopped canned tomatoes mixed with capers and melted (not fresh) mozzarella cheese on top. So gross. Even the plain ice cream sundae was gross. We'd have been better off stopping at McDonalds.
The tables were sticky from long accrued grime. The whole place smelled of mold. It was just plain gross.
It's such a shame that Clara's has come to this. I'd say the place would be better off if someone bought the property and remodeled it, but the mold damage is so bad, I fear it will be condemned and torn down.
Unless you have money to throw away, do not go here to eat. And for goodness sakes, don't come here to celebrate something or you will just be depressed and disappointed.
On the bright side, we didn't have to pay for the bad tuna, but we did end up wasting a half an hour waiting for the free dessert we got to make up for the bad sandwich, which did end up giving me diarrhea.
Clara's has a great location inside the old train depot and has some seating inside an old train car. If you can get past the musty smell of the dining room the french fries are great. We lowered our expectations when we saw the 7 page menu. Â We stayed safe and ordered simple things. The chicken sandwich I had was ok. Â I also noticed our waitress pinch another waitress which seemed unprofessional. Â After finishing lunch I wasn't surprised we were one of two tables there for lunch. I wouldn't go back. This place is begging for Robert Irvine.
Review Source:I know Clara's has been getting a bad rap for the food but seriously its a hit or miss which is really too bad. I had the fish quesadilla and it was phenomenal and this was during dinner. I agree the brunch buffet isnt wow but try going for dinner sometime. Its romantic and the ambience is very sweet. Feels like xmas everyday minus the tacky.
Review Source:The stars are for location and decor only. The food was bland and low-quality. Everyone seems to be obsessed with this place and I'm unsure why. Maybe it's nostalgia for native Mid-Michiganians who went here as kids?
I got a large burrito and everything on it tasted like it came from a can. The menu is huge and aside from The Cheesecake Factory, that has never been a good sign for a restaurant. My husband ordered some sort of really boring chicken with pineapple over rice. Not very good and it was over priced, for sure.
MSU students should go to this place once to say they've been there and look at interesting decorations but the dining experience is less than stellar and definitely not special.
I get a kick out of restaurants converted from old time-y places like Clara's which still has the look and train car of a station from years past. Â As you walk inside, the large, two story open dining room is covered with antique paintings and intricate woodwork. Â We came with a large group on Sunday and tried the brunch, which was a bit pricey for my taste. Â I understand the $16.95 for the prime rib, but as I indulged in the other less costly dishes (like the cheesy potatoes which were addictively good), I feel my money could have been better spent elsewhere. Â There is a made to order omelette station, but when I requested an egg white omelette, I was told they were out. Â It certainly was no Julia Child all yellow omelette either, as I believe he forgot about the burner upon which my omelette turned an extra crispy dark brown. Â The rest of the buffet was pretty standard, and although there was a good variety of items, nothing really stood out except for the cheesy potatoes. Â The dessert table was decadent, although the uncomfortably warm restaurant led to melty frostings and cakes. Â There was a tasty orange cake and one of my faves - turtle cheesecake. Â Service was okay, we had to flag our server down several times for refills on coffee, cream and sugar. Â Cool atmosphere, average food.
Review Source:Clara's has an awesomely extensive menu but a terrible salad bar. I guess I should have known better, but went for lunch and ordered soup and salad bar. The wilted iceberg lettuce and about 4 toppings were so not worth the outrageous $9 they charge for it. Everything else my party ordered was awesome, so I would still recommend the place, just don't get the salad bar!
Review Source:Very cool restaurant! An old train station converted into a restaurant is a great idea. We ate in an old boxcar. It was nice and quiet when we went. There were 2 pages of alcohol drinks, ribs, soups, pastas, burgers, calzones, shrimp, salads, even quiches. Â Waitress was a sweetheart and right on top of things too. Food was really good, ill go again. Neat atmosphere!
Review Source:I love brunch, and was very excited to go here and try it out. My fiance and I did this in place of a Valentine's Day dinner once, and we were really disappointed. We were seated near a door, so I could barely take my jacket off the whole time we were there (in retrospect, I should have asked to move, but we did get one of the only open tables, so I didn't want to push my luck).
The food was just really not that good. Except for the mere quantity of food, there was nothing here at brunch that I couldn't make on my own (and it would probably taste better when I did so). I was pretty excited for the dessert table, but everything there was pretty mediocre.
The one good thing was that the service was very good. At buffets, it's very easy for service to disappear, but our waiter was back very frequently to provide drink refills and remove extra plates.
I want to love this place. The location is great and the building is really a cool setting, but I won't be back anytime soon unless I hear the food gets better or they lower their prices quite a bit.
The restaurant is in a refurbished train station a block from the Michigan capitol building on the main avenue so it has a very nice "cool" factor in that respect. I brought a few friends out of town here for lunch today and they (and I) really dug the two story dining room and early 1900's style decor (all in good condition). Â The foods is ok i guess, basic American food but nothing to really rave about. The menu is really big and they have a ton of choices so anyone can find something they like. I'm not to sure on the freshness of the food though because In my experience places with big menus tend use a lot frozen food in order to be able to offer such a large selection. I used to work at a similar chain so trust me on that one. The wait staff is nice and the wait was decent so all and all I think I liked it. It's also a bar after hours so its a cool place to grab a drink.
Review Source:The only reason Clara's gets 3 stars is for the cool location (and that accounts for 2 out of the 3 stars). Â Like most of the reviewers have said, the food is just mediocre. Â I wouldn't go all out ordering an expensive meal here. Â If I ever went again, I'd just go to get loaded and share an appetizer or something with someone.
I don't understand why the owner(s)/management would not want to capitalize on the allure / interest of the location by improving the food. Â I agree with the reviewer who said they should look into scaling down the menu and focus on quality instead of quantity. Â Unless you really know what you want, it can take awhile to narrow things down. Â I think our server was a little annoyed with me because she wanted to take our group's order ASAP and I wasn't ready due to scanning the vast selection.
It was cool to sit up on the 2nd level where you have a bird's eye view of the joint though.
While many people agree that Clara's has a great concept going for it, I can't say that I've ever had a great meal there. I don't think that the huge menu is working in Clara's favor. It always takes me forever to decide what to get and then it is disappointing. I think Clara's needs to take the time to revamp their menu, narrow it down to a handful of tried-and-true favorite, and focus on quality. If the food is good, people will pay for it.
Review Source:This review is strictly for the Sunday Brunch spread, as I have never eaten off the regular menu at any other time.
Clara's is a unique place that's fun to frequent for Brunch with large groups who don't mind spending a bit more than the average Sunday breakfast. The interior decor and set-up is half the big draw to visit... I love all the clocks and eating upstairs! The seats are very roomy and comfy. ADVICE: Come really, really early... like, the second they open. Once this place gets busy, it can get kind of annoying waiting for hot waffles or omelets.
On that note, the food gets cold fast. Try scooping your food from the very bottom of the trays to get the hottest available. My favorite part about the brunch is the hot wings and the egg souffle.
I would definitely recommend Clara's, especially for those who have guests from out of town and are looking for something other than the traditional IHOP for breakfast/brunch. Just be prepared for the bill.
Sometimes it can be a little on the pricey side, but great for business or a romantic lunch/dinner with the spouse. The wife and I always go on the weekend for the Prime Rib, and it has to be the best Prime Rib I've had in the area. Great atmosphere with a side of history right downtown Lansing!
Review Source:Great concept and great idea.  The food was WAY over-priced.  My  salad was bagged croutons, under-ripe tomatoes and iceberg lettuce and some run of the mill dressing.  The food was terrible.  The service was good and I felt a little embarrassed for them having to serve such below average food while dressed in attire fit for a much better restaurant.  I won't return.
Review Source:Was taken to lunch here while on business. In simple words, it is a nice restaurant that is capitalizing on its location in an historic train depot with an attached train car. The atmosphere was very nice and I enjoyed eating in the train car, it was quieter and a more intimate setting. The service was good, prompt, attentive, and friendly. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre.
I ordered the chipotle chicken pasta and a cup of the french onion soup, a great soup standard which to measure a restaurant. The pasta dish was flavorful and spicy, the way I like it. However, at the bottom of the dish was about a 1/4 inch of grease and oil. The onion soup was bland and scalding. I am happy to have had the chance of dining at the depot, but the food was really unimpressive.
My host told me that this place is really designed to attract tourists, and I have to agree that the quality of food is on par with tourist trap restaurants. However, if you want to check out the depot/train or just want to say you have been there, it is worth giving them one attempt.
We visited Clara's for brunch on Sunday & enjoyed the decor of the old train depot. It looks like a great place to have a themed event.
The brunch was a bit pricey despite the fact there were many options as well ad a carving station. I may be swayed by the fact we paid more for juices than the brunch for one person since there are no refills on those, but I just didn't think the food+atmosphere was THAT good to merit that price.
We may try it again for a special occasion, or if visitors are in town but it wouldn't be a regular brunch spot...
Say what you will about the food quality - I think if you are in the Lansing area you need to check this place out. The menu is enormous! Seriously, something for everyone. The BLT at this place is fantastic, great bacon & rosemary bread. Â And it's in a train station and all so that is pretty amusing. We had great service so no complaints there. It's not fancy, or gourmet but it is worth checking out.
Review Source:The hostess was about as friendly as a sack of rocks. Â I don't think she said a single word to us. Â When we first arrived she attempted to seat us under the balcony. Bad idea. Â It's cramped and has low ceilings making it too loud to hear the person next to you. Â So we asked to be moved and reluctantly she did so. Â
I like to have fish on friday nights, so I ordered the fish and chips. Â Now, I know you can't expect miracles with cod, but this was just awful. Â It had the consistency of battered mucus. Â It was completely saturated in oil. Â I chased down one piece with my beer, but couldn't stomach the second. Â At least the fries and cole slaw were about average. Â
I won't go back, even if it is in a old train station and have guests in need of a gimmick restaurant.
I came here twice when I lived in the area during college. Â One time was for a birthday brunch and the food was delicious. Â The second time was for just a regular meal and I enjoyed the place. Â I do love how the place is decorated and the old train car where part of the dining area is located. Â It's worth trying out once and enjoying the atomosphere and food.
Review Source:The problem with Clara's is that it's such an awesome concept but has gone so downhill in terms of food quality and service.
The decor is unparalleled. Â And I really, really appreciate the rehabilitation of the gorgeous train station. Â IMO, the "train car" dining aspect is cheesy as all get out (and there's more than enough restaurant seating without it), but c'est la vie. Â However, every time the hostess tries to swerve us into the Dining Car, I unleash an unholy "NOOO OMG NOT THAT TACKY DINING CAR!!!!" in protest and make her seat us in the beautiful train station of my childhood. Â The train car is hella tacky. Â For reals. Â Maybe good for the kiddies, but if you ever come here, please explicitly ask to NOT be seated in the silly car.
Clara's is all about atmosphere. Â I have brought friends from out of town here multiple times, and sometimes been outright embarrassed by the service and food. Â As a kid, I remember Clara's was the benchmark of Downtown Lansing dining: the Father's Day brunch was always THE Father's Day brunch for Lansingites.
Soggy, cruddy food. Â Even the regular Sunday buffet has gone downhill.
Clara's: you're an important part of the downtown Lansing cityscape. Â With Sparrow expanding, with Oldsmobile Park, and with the new Stadium Lofts development, I thought you might step it up a bit. Â But more and more you've become more blase.
Kick up the pace, please. Â Your decor is gorgeous. Â Just bring back that service and culinary quality I so fondly remember from about 10 years ago.
I haven't had a good meal here yet. Last time, I stuck with a plain cheeseburger - after all, who can mess up a cheeseburger? Six antacid tablets later, I can tell you who. Poor quality meat, a bun soggy with butter, and chewy fries made for a sad meal. However, my five-year-old nephew loved the train carriage (especially when a real train went barrelling by our window) and his grandparents loved the incredibly outdated menu. Hawaiian Chicken Dinner, anyone? This is a basic family restaurant, with plenty of choice on the bible-thick menu and the attraction of the railway theme for children. So go to Clara's for the experience, and definitely not for the food.
Review Source:Seems like a good place to take out-of-town guests. Clara's is in a renovated Train Station right off Michigan Avenue. The building is gorgeous - you can even eat in an attached train coach. Very stylish.
Despite these accommodations, the faire isn't gourmet by any means. You get great salads, sandwiches, and entrees for a modest price. My wife loved her French Dip sammy, and their fried chips (something I look for) were also quite good. A lunch will cost about $20-25 for two.
edit: Went back and wasn't as impressed. Really, they need to update their menu. The place is almost too grandiose for the menu, so everything feels just a little out of place.
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