717 reviews
#5 of 41 Restaurants in Pinetop-Lakeside$$ - $$$, American, Steakhouse, Gluten free options+1 928-367-4900+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Mon
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sat
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, American, Steakhouse, Bar, Grill, Gluten free options
Does this restaurant have live music
Details
About
Get a "taste" of history at Charlie Clarks Steakhouse in beautiful Pinetop-Lakeside, located in Northeast Arizona at an elevation of 7,200 feet. Nestled away in the largest stand of Ponderosa pine trees in the United States, the atmosphere at Charlie's is one of western elegance. Since 1938, Charlie Clarks has been specializing in the finest Mesquite-Broiled Steaks and Chicken, Prime Rib and Seafood in the White Mountains.
CUISINES
American, Steakhouse, Bar, Grill
Special Diets
Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Live Music, Family style, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.0
717 reviews
Excellent
312
Very good
201
Average
100
Poor
47
Terrible
57
Smokin
Anthem1 contribution
Nov 2024 • couples
Went there for my birthday dinner on Saturday night around 5:00pm, The place was packed.
Waited at the checkin desk for a good amount of time while the greeter was on the phone.
Finally greeted us and seated us at a table in the middle of the dining room. We waited for 15 to 30 minutes for someone to come to table and acknowledge that we there. (That only happened after asking the greeter if anyone was assigned to our table)
Waitress seemed irritated that she had to wait on us, but she did try to make up for the amount of time we had waited and did a good job.
We ordered the bacon wrapped filets and loaded baked potatoes which were fantastic.
Would not recommend going there on Saturday night when it’s very crowded. In my opinion, They are not able to handle a large crowd efficiently.
Written November 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter P
Tucson67 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
The bar was packed with locals, and that is a good thing. It is a sure indicator of consistent good food and value.
We arrived just after 5:00 and there was already a 20-minute wait. I recommend going just before that if you don’t want to wait. The wait was unusually long because the outside seating was closed due to hot weather.
We found seats at a table in the bar and, when I got drinks, the bartender told me the seats in the bar are not reserved and to just take the next two available. We did.
The bartender and the locals were very friendly and gave us some recommendations. The oysters on the half shell were fresh and delicious, a real treat in the Arizona mountains.
No I seldom order prime rib out because I make a really good one and am usually disappointed with restaurant prime rib. I took a chance on the advise of my new friends and I must say it was not only better than mine, but by far the best I ever had. Looking down the bar, every dish looked great.
Definitely worth the wait, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
Thank you for writing a great review for us. It is always so great to hear you had a good experience. Thanks again for choosing us we hope to see you again!
Written August 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PJ C
Show Low113 contributions
Nov 2024 • business
The absolute best in great food, customer service, atmosphere, & an all around pleasant experience. It's such a nice place inside. You feel welcome from the time you walk in. Make sure your party is there in a timely manner, as you can't be seated until everyone is present. You can, however, sit in the bar area if you'd like. Everything our party ordered was spectacular & cooked to perfection. We even shared between each other, because we all got different menu items. My coconut shrimp had gigantic shrimp & they were delicious. We had the mussels & clams in cream sauce, as well as other varieties of appetizers & steak, ribs, quail, etc. The list goes on. We all took food home because the portions are large. I can't give a review on the drinks, as I don't drink. I don't eat steak...but my hubby says they have the best on the mountain.
Written November 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wlatka P
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • couples
We ordered our drinks, wine, appetizer & entrees at same time. We expected to get water and our drinks right away but instead we got our salad and bread followed by appetizer and then drinks. Normally one gets drinks first but waitress was new and seemed very inexperienced. After finishing our appetizer we waited 45 minutes and then our waitress came to our table and told us that she made an error in submitting our order which caused delay and that they were working on it. My husband ordered rare prime rib and received a medium to medium well piece of prime rib so he asked to speak to the manager. The floor manager apologized and said that her boss, the restaurant manager would make an adjustment on our bill for our long wait for our meal and mistakes made. When we finally received the bill to add “insult to injury” management had only gave us $7.65 discount on our $100 plus dinner. The discount was less than taxes on our meal and less than a typical 10% discount given to seniors at many restaurants. Our evening out was ruined. Their Management does not have a clue on how to take care of dissatisfied customers. We’ve been patronizing Charley Clark’s for more than 20 years during our summer vacations. We won’t be going back to Charlie Clark’s. They’ve lost a regular customer forever.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
Thank you for your review. It is regretful that you had this experience. Hopefully we have another opportunity to show you the most professional service that you should have had, and that you will receive in the future. Thanks again for the review.
Written September 2, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SamAdamsGhost
Carefree555 contributions
Oct 2024 • solo
The prime rib could have been superb. The quality of the meat was excellent. Unfortunately, the kitchen doesn't understand why customers have salt shakers at their tables. So they can put on the desired amount of salt! The kitchen killed my prime rib with an ungodly amount of salt. A paper napkin helped absorb some of it. Remove the salt from the kitchen!
Written October 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
We are very sorry to hear that you weren't pleased with your prime rib. As you can see from our reviews, it is our calling card! We do season the outside of the prime rib for cooking purposes and flavor. Hopefully you will try us again in the future! Best wishes
Written October 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert L
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • couples
Charlie Clark's is far from a hidden gem in Northern AZ, especially seeing how they have been in business since 1938! All to often these Northern AZ steakhouses over charge, but under deliver...not Charlie Clark's! All of their beef is 35 day wet aged and you can tell it when you get the house special prime rib. You can visually see how the beef has been tenderizer and the fibers broken down due to the wet aging. The meat has a very mild, but well seasoned flavor. We'll be back again the next time we're in town for a getaway.
Written November 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne W
Phoenix53 contributions
May 2021 • family
Enjoyed early bird dining- items off the regular menu at $2 reduced price. I enjoyed a top sirloin cooked to perfection with mashed potatoes. My French onion soup was a great accompaniment. A small loaf of whole wheat bread was served warm and tasted great. My spouse had the prime rib dinner. The meat was fork-tender and portion size was just right. The baked potato was great as well.
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tgibson1893
Thank you for writing a great review for us. It is always so great to hear you had a good experience. Thanks again for choosing us we hope to see you again!
Written June 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MtnManMDP
Show Low13 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
My wife and I have given Charlie Clark's more chances than they deserve hoping that something would change. Unfortunately, mediocre is the best description I can muster. The restaurant has been for sale for a long time and that fact alone could be the reason for such quality absent food. The country-club and summer visitors keep the place fairly busy, but I'm sure it's the close proximity that rates the highest for them... It surely can't be the steak quality. A bacon wrapped Filet at $32 should be pretty good but misses the mark more times then not. We're hoping new ownership happens very soon so this historical icon can get back on track.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
It is regretful that you had this experience. Normally our guests are very pleased with our food. We do hope that you will return to dine with us.
Written October 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevin H
Globe32 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
I ordered the blackened garlicky prime rib dinner. The potatoes and the salad and the bread and all that was fine, but the entree was one of the best meals I've had anywhere, ever. We also ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms and they were much better than I anticipated. Dinner was great, though my friend paid $35 a la carte for a lobster tail--no surf and turf option on the menu. The rest wasn't cheap but priced OK for the quality of the food. I will return. The service was good, including from the very busy folks trying to sit everyone.
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
Thank you for writing a great review for us. It is always so great to hear you had a good experience. Thanks again for choosing us we hope to see you again!
Written July 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DBa12020
6 contributions
Nov 2021 • family
Called requesting a simple dinner reservation and was treated horribly over the phone. My basic dining questions only irritated the rude staff member even more. You would never know I was attempting to give the restaurant business! I sympathize that labor shortages are causing challenges for many businesses but after this experience we will eat elsewhere. I have eaten at this restaurant for over 40 years. Hoping new owners (its for sale) will treat customers better. Until then, we will skip this restaurant for one that appreciates our business.
Written November 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
It is regretful that you had the experience you describe. Hopefully we have another opportunity to show you the most professional service that you should have had, and that you will receive in the future. Thanks again for the review.
Written November 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adele A
2 contributions
Dec 2020 • friends
Well, we only get here once a year, for my birthday, and I am so disappointed. We ordered drinks, got them ok. Ordered steamed clams and peel and eat shrimp for appetizers, never came. Sat there for at least 30 minutes or better, server never filled us in if there was a problem, they were bringing out our steaks as we were walking out the door, still no clue where our clams and shrimp were. We were told there was a BIG party in the back.... AND????? I am sorely upset and even using the word F. Did I not get to speak to a manager.The server, I believe, really dropped the ball on this one and, well, thanks Charlie Clark's for a crappy birthday dinner.
Written December 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tgibson1893
It is regretful that you had the experience you describe. We constantly work on improving our customers experience, and use our reviews to help do so. We appreciate you taking the time to inform us.
We sincerely hope that you will give us a second chance in the future. Warm Regards
Written December 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandra S
Phoenix6 contributions
Jun 2022 • couples
We have been here over the years with friends, family and for date nights and always enjoy the food and service. The service is excellent and they work very hard to accommodate the many people that are visiting. We love the artichokes, blistered peppers, ribs and portions are a good size for sharing. It really does feel like pinetop when visiting Charlie Clark’s! It is my must go to!
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
Thanks for the awesome review! We are happy to hear that we've continued to provide a great experience for you. We hope to see you again soon!
Written July 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barbara H
Belen4 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
The restaurant does not seat until 4:45 but you can wait in the bar or stand outside. We chose to have a drink at the bar. They have a wide selection of wine, beer, or speciality drinks. When seated, our server Stephanie could not have treated our party of eight with better service. She was personable and quick in response to our needs. We were not rushed when our delicious food came, our little party enjoyed the special peach cobbler with ice cream our birthday gal was served. We will return when we are in the area again.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tgibson1893
We appreciate you taking time to write us an excellent review. It is great to hear that we met your expectations, we hope to see you again soon!
Written June 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jean b
7 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
We hadn't been back to Pinetop in 15 years. It was so good to be able to rely on Charlie Clark's for consistently good food. Is it the best ever? No, but how do you determine the best ever?? Prime rib was cooked perfectly rare for my husband. Trout was perfect for me; not over cooked as seafood can often be. Baked potatoes, salad and bread were very satisfying for hungry traveling people. Would we go there again? Absolutely! And service was wonderful. Can't remember their names but both sisters work there and they both took care of us.
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
Thank you so much! We truly appreciate the great review. We are happy to hear that we've continued to provide a great experience for you. We hope to see you again soon.
Written October 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PFine91750
Tucson33 contributions
Jun 2022 • couples
I have come to this restaurant for over 25 years; spend every summer here. We had a hamburger in the garden and it was the worst I’ve ever had! It was so dried out we took two bites and threw them out. The bun was dry and stale. The meat was so dry you almost couldn’t bite through it. Go to McDonald’s! I never eat fast food but believe me, it would be much better and not $12 a piece. So disappointed!
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill Gibson
We regret that this was your experience. We constantly work on improving our customers' experience.
We sincerely hope that you will give us a second chance in the future. Warm Regards
Written June 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Showing results 1-15 of 713
Best moderately priced restaurants
See all
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Best nearby hotels
See all Best nearby restaurants
See all Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing