If you are just after Beer and don't mind lackluster service this is the place for you.
The age old problem of poor customer service is nothing new to restaurants in The Dalles, it stems from a long history of Inbreeding. Â It does rank higher then taco Tom's RiverFap and Zims Old Country Buffet.
Stopped in for a couple of brews on our way to Hood River. They have a good selection of microbrews, but don't have any of their own.
They served up a cup of the WORST beer cheese soup ever. When the waitress came over to check on us, she looked at the soup and said "way too salty, huh?" She then explained that it was made the day before and they kept adding to it to water down the saltiness. They were successful in watering it down, but the saltiness was over-powering. I don't know why they didn't just throw it out and start over again. I would never expect to be soup they knew was bad!
Enjoyed this local brew pub.  My friend and I thought this was a brewery but they  were a brew pub that sold but did not make beer.  Ample street parking.  They offer lots of happy hour lunch specials that are excellent portion sized.  You could share a meal.  The chicken wings were tasty and used Frank's Red Hot sauce.  The fries were tasty too.  Did not eat a main dish as we were just tiding over the hunger pangs.  The drive was scenic and I saw honest to goodness real camels in a field on the side of the road...What the....!!
Review Source:Ginormous burgers, good tap selection. Would get another star if the outdoor seating area had some shade from the sun; otherwise just a group of lonely picnic tables that everyone inside (at the crowded tables) looks out at wistfully.
A good dining or casual beer location if you don't want upscale or chain and are hanging out in The Dalles. Live music some evenings but we weren't able to stick around for it.
We all needed a break after being cooped up in the car for a couple of hours so we stopped in The Dalles and tried out Clock Tower Ales. We ordered a few beers, enjoyed some sunshine on the patio and attempted to guess what deodorant each of us was wearing as everyone was pretty ripe after a couple of hours on the road.
Nothing to complain about here, the beer was cold, the service was fast, and the conversation was enlightening. While i doubt I'll ever cross paths again with The Dalles, I'm glad we were able to spend a few minutes at Clock Tower.
I like sit up at the bar it gives you a feel how the bartender and staff getting a drink - work together. Â Today, I was not going to see that. Â As I occasionally travel through the area, but usually stop in Hood River - but I decided to try something else.
I was totally unimpressed with this guy (the bartender) - I enjoy a surly bartender in a dive bar but those skills (do not fly in a place like this). Â So I walked up to the bar - after a few minutes a waitress come up offers me a menu. Â He was not even surly, if any excuse can be made for his behavior is maybe he wanted to be anywhere but there. Â First, I did not feel a like beer and I saw they had a few whiskeys. Â He got a simple drink wrong and I said that is cool but I just wanted a "shot" and a glass of water. Â He did not even say sorry - he just had this stupid little grin on his face (then turned his back) and said do you want anything to eat. Â I thought okay I should of had a beer at a beer place (I'd let him pass but I thought even the surliest of bartenders can handle a shot of whiskey) and then I started looking forwarded to my meal.
Then after my order - he just disappeared (did not say hey I got go, need anything or so-and-so will help you), 5 minutes later - 2 guys come in with their growlers and several staff wonder we here is. Â After several minutes of them waiting up there - a gal whom it appears does not normal work behind help the guys with the beer. Â It appears, this guy did not tell any the coworkers as I could tell he was taking a break, changing a keg, or whatever. Â They just started doing his job and helped two other groups of customers as I waited for my food. Â I could tell the gal was taking over for him because she asked her manager (or a senior employee) could she start ring in the orders on his machine. Â
After about 25 minutes, she then noticed some food sitting up in the kitchen and asked hey did you have a salad. Â The food was pretty terrible, - my guess is it had been sitting around for a few minutes but the does not explain all the lack of quality, the chicken was rubber, and the salad was not good - with old/sub-par ingredients. Â I should read more of the fellow yelper's reviews. Â
Overall she was not bad and covered this guy's ass - plus I think she wanted to chat it with the guys with the growlers which is cool (they could not make up their mind and they were having fun) but I never saw him again and hopefully he just quit. Â But they probably would not be that lucky. Â The bartender and food was terrible and I could not wait to leave, so I asked her for my bill and I cashed out. Â
I'm not in the area very often, and but usually I'd give a place second chance. Â
On the positive - It is a cool old building and some of the staff still seemed good. Â Maybe the only way to return - is to sit on their patio with some beers & friends. Â But I'd avoid the food and I'll probably not be coming back here even with the nice selection of beer.
I feel it is a love-hate relationship with Clock Tower. I love some (I mean two) of the bartenders and the rest are closer to the other end of the spectrum suggesting either superior first class service or getting dragged behind the bus service. The beer selection is impressive and the staff isn't stingy providing samples to make sure you find exactly what you like. Be warned this place does NOT have hard-A, you have to go to Rivertap for that unless it is a special event.
Kudos for the awesome new patio including picnic tables and fire lamps. You will often find some decent bands playing on the weekends including Sunday.
The beer is reasonably priced given the selection but if you're hungry I'd hold off or consume your calories via a pint. Besides sweet potatoe fries the food hasn't been something to rave about and the prices leave you disappointed in the end. I hear they have some new cooks in the kitchen but I haven't gotten the courage to brave my taste buds or pocket book to try anything else out.
Update June 2012 -- I finally tried some more food. For a late night munchie the sweet potatoe fries were some of the best I've ever had and the ice cream brownie was plate licking good.
nothing to write home about... Â very ordinary bar with an decent beer selection, but the staff is not helpful at all, you are in Oregon and you don't have a flight of beers???? Â Really??? Â they will do one for you, but rest assured they will let you know it was a bother..... Â unimpressed....
Review Source:Found myself back at Clock Tower. Â Gave it another star b/c the smell went away and the outdoor seating is nice. Â
Food was still terrible. Â Friends and I shared the nachos. Â It was more like chips and cheese. Â Cheese was not melted. Â Beans were on only one side of the dish. Â We all decided our homemade nachos are better.
Go if you're only having beers and you can score a seat outside on a nice day.
I will admit, I was pretty excited about this place when it first opened but was disappointed. Â Luckily, they remodeled and that has made all of the difference! Â The food is much better, the atmosphere feels more like a brew pub and there's live music in the back. Â Don't sweat the early reviews. It's now a great place and they fill growlers.
Review Source:I was in The Dalles a couple of weeks ago, and I had a great time at this place! Â They have about 30 different beers on tap, and most of them are great beers from pretty small breweries. Â My wife was happy that they had some mainstream beers and wine available as well. Â I had some nachos, which were really good, especially because they kept the kitchen open a bit later than usual to make sure we got some food. Â The people working there are really nice, and the interior is quite nice as well. Â Some good music was playing, but it was not too loud, so we were still able to talk without having to yell. Â I think that this is the nicest pub in the Dalles, and I will definitely go back when I am in The Dalles again.
Review Source:Clock Tower Ales is by far the best pub in the entire Gorge! Â Owned by Mark and Chelsea Powell (both locals with long family roots in The Dalles), this is the premier place to sit back, relax with a glass of your favorite beer or wine, and enjoy the comforts of a great traditional pub.
First, you can't ignore the reason to go in the first place which is the incredible beer and wine selection. Â Where else can you find over 20 premium beers from the northwest on tap, and they vary from Pilsners to Stouts and everything in between?! Â My favorite is the Black Cherry Stout Cream... incredible! Â New beers are being added all the time, plus they are very affordable (under $5 for a 20 oz. beer) and served "no head". Â Local wines, ciders, and root beers are also available. Â
While Clock Tower is known for their ales their food selection is really good as well. Â I recommend their burgers and sandwiches, and be sure to ask the waitstaff for beer/cider/wine pairing selections with your food. Â The menu has a wide selection of appetizers, main dishes, lighter foods, etc. and even though you are in a "pub" you are getting restaurant quality food. Â
The decor and ambiance is really fun and chill... you can sit at the extensive bar, lounge in comfortable couches and at tables throughout the place, or even sit outside on picnic benches (weather permitting) . Â The restaurant also has meeting areas, WiFi, and a projector and screen is also available.
I went back & forth on whether or not to give this place a 2 or a 3.
The pros:
FANTASTIC beer list.
The cons:
The food was so awful, that one bite into my pizza, I found myself wishing I had a Totinos party pizza instead.
The service was rather indifferent.
The food. GAH!
BUT - since they are called Clock Tower Ales & not Clock Tower really good foods, I decided that the beer list wins over the crap food any day.
I might stop by again if I were in town, but I definitely wouldn't stop in to eat.
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