Three Forks Chop House

09/11/08

This Emperor has no clothes regarless of what you read

by KennCoble at Citysearch

This restaurant was recommended by a chef friend of mine. I had also heard the buzz in the area of a new gourmet dining experience.

It was early evening and there were a few people at the bar maybe four and about two maybe three table occupied and about four wait staff. I sat a bar table and after i waited and waited and waited i finally went asked if i could get a beer. The table I was at was about 5 feet from the bar. After about 20 min. I was finally asked if I would like a menu. i had appetizers that were more expensive than ttasty or appealing. I kept and open mind and sent a note to the chef that was a friend of chef Joel and would like to try whatever he recommends. My experience is something great will come from kitchen when you let the chef do whatever he wants. The restaurant was very slow so I knew I wasn't making things complicated. What came out over 50 minutes was a tuna appetizer that tasted like at least part of it came out of a can. Something like the inside of a day old lunch truck tuna sandwich with some trendy garnish to dress it up.

I talked with a friend later that week who also had tried the three forks. he told me about his horribly poor service in again a nearly empty restaurant. The waitress was more interested in chatting it up with some guy at another table than serving my friend and his wife who had thought they had found somewhere special to spend their anniversary together. He told me about his overcooked shoe leather steak and how bad their food over all was. so bad in fact they left most of it on the plate, paid their bill and tried to leave quietly to salvage their special night. On the way out the head of the wait staff (not professional enough to call a Maitre'De) confronted him to see if everything was alright. He told him no and he didn't want to talk about it. At that point the head waiter started making excuses and became overbearing. As is obvious he ruined even their chance to move on in peace.

05/21/08

THIS PLACE ROCKS

by tkent at Citysearch

My wife and I LOVE this place!!! When we need our PRIME Red Meat Fix we head out there, we have never had a bad meal there. The cuts of beef are awsome, they do have other options - fish/chicken - but WHY? Then add to your meal the sides and you are in Chop House Bliss!!!! Lets not even go to the after dinner sweets....to DIE FOR!!!

Full bar with a huge, very nice wine selection.... great along side your steak!!!

Not up for a VERY NICE ADULT DINNER, then we stop in for lunch on the patio (with the kids), Custom Burgers, Flat Bread, and so much more (Even a big steak if you want it for lunch).

We have been going, and will continue to go to The Forks, it is a favorite Date Night place for us.

I have heard that the price can be up there, not in comparison to other Chop Houses of this level, prices are right were you would expect them to be for an over the top meal!!!!

• Pros: GREAT QUALITY FOOD - All Around
• Cons: Not in my home town, I have to dirve 20 minutes to get there

04/04/08

Don't be fooled by high prices, Three Forks is not on par with top-notch steak houses

by ezrafoodie at Citysearch

I have no problem going to pricey restaurants for good food but Three Forks Chop House does not serve the high caliber food their prices call for. I grew up in DC going to the top steak houses and nouvelle American cuisine restaurants that restaurants like Three Forks try to imitate. Some of these top restaurants in the country are priced more moderately than Three Forks. Three Forks seems to be trying to be two things at once: a high quality steakhouse and a fancy, nouvelle American restaurant. While if they focused on either one or the other, Three Forks would probably be a decent restaurant, by trying to tie the two types of restaurant into one, they fail miserably. Don't get me wrong, the steak was good and main dishes were good as well, but neither was up to par with the top steak houses or nouvelle American restaurants that Three Forks is trying to become. I have no doubt that over time Three Forks may be able to improve on both aspects of their menu , but I doubt that they will be able to step up their game enough to truly be on par with the restaurants they equate themselves to by pricing their menu so high. I am a student at the Claremont Colleges, and feel that there are much better restaurant options in Claremont and while they are not as "upscale" as Three Forks seems to be, they are a much a better value and in some cases, you may find their food better than the food at Three Forks. For those of you 5c students looking for a very upscale dining experience, don't be fooled by Three Forks' prices and please take the time to drive west into Pasadena or LA. If you are really looking for an upscale dining experience in Claremont, Three Forks does seem to be the only real option, but I would recommend cutting the scale and opting for a more casual dining experience at one of the other expensive restaurants in town.

• Pros: Steaks are of good quality. I like the ability to get steak sans sauce. Good sides.
• Cons: Over priced for quality of food. Tries to be two types of restaurants at once to its own detriment.

Editorial Review

by Contributor at Citysearch

Claremont Village steakhouse serves classic cuts of beef, upscale traditional American favorites and house-made gourmet burgers.