Comments:	Clearman's Galley (AKA "The Boat") 7215 North Rosemead Blvd. San Gabriel, California 91775 Phone:  (626) 286-1484 submitted on July 23, 2009 5:10 PM EST   Enough time had elapsed for the NEW, notable landmark to be tried, having been given its time to perfect its various operating elements for those of us who have spent hours eating and drinking at the old "Boat" which was fronted on Huntington Drive just yards west of Rosemead Blvd. on the south side of the street.   The "new" location is now south of the Northwood's Inn eatery on the west side of Rosemead Blvd. next to the fire station.  The entrance however, is off the parking lot in what would appear to be the "back" of the establishment.   Entering the new facility was like going into a huge sports bar with screens viewable from every seat in the house.  The dining room was filled with long picnic like tables and picnic table benches or chairs with various condiments and napkins every couple of place settings.   Ordering food resembled a long cafeteria style line where you pushed your tray along while your food order was being processed.  The first spot had a "head man" who yelled out each order so that the respective preparers could get your food going.  The various "stations" were manned by some obviously unprepared and not too efficient types and immediately brought to mind a similar order placing "first man audible” operation that really Wows you in its accuracy and efficiency...The Hat.   I ordered the 1/2 chicken ($10.45) which includes fries, cabbage salad and 2 pieces of their featured cheese bread (one of the best!), they gave me a number and said that they will bring it to my table. After 20 minutes, I was beginning to wonder if my dinner was ever going to get to me.  Another in our party had a number before mine and she too was still waiting...so wait I did. It eventually came and was just OK at best.  I kinda recalled the "old" boat where the food was ordered and prepared and it was a low ceiling, tight quartered situation but the food was delivered as you were standing in line (and not long either) moving slowly along.   Anyway, the new Galley had its air conditioning turned down to zero and its fans-a-blowin' like a Nor'easter so that my chicken got cold instantly, the fries congealed and the cheese bread hardened before too long.  The noise level in the restaurant was so high that even though my dining companions who were sitting close in, they, (and I) could barely hear ourselves talk.  It was one of the worse social environments for any interaction spoken between humans.  I suppose as a straight sports bar, it would be fine, as they lacked not for bar services and all those flat screens!  I and my editor went outside to thaw out and gab where we didn't have to battle the elements.   One interesting side note is that one customer was seen by other patrons to be stashing fist-fulls of cutlery into a Styrofoam take home box.  I am not talking about splintery, souvenir CHOpsticks, I am talking about the stainless steal knives!   In summary, mediocre food, low prices, temperature over-chill and a "huh, whad'ya say"? noise level.  Sorry, I miss the old Boat where eating, drinking and talking seemed to happen without much fuss or muss .

Comments:

This “diner” type establishment open only between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. was anticipated to be one of the recent highlight visits mainly due to the reputation of those “fabulous, fluffy flapjacks” featured in other reviews. I was looking forward to CHOmping down on some heavenly hotcakes. 

My first impression on a weekend morning was the openness of the dining room which was not partitioned or sectioned in any way at all. Thus, conversations of different parties flowed into one another and allowed easy eavesdropping if you were interested in your neighbor’s stories or gossip.. In the middle, main part of the “family room”, tables were packed in together minimizing any privacy at all.

The use of their men’s restroom is somewhat challenging as it is a single use affair, strictly utilitarian. My advice is to watch carefully the kitchen exit door for staff to hurriedly impede your use of the restroom by suddenly moving in front of you and overstaying, thereby causing you to squirm as you wait for what seems, an eternity.

The breakfast menu was not as extensive as one would’ve thought, Barney’s Beanery and even IHOP have these creative breakfast dishes that continue to interest their patrons.

Summary comment: Sorry, this is Vin Ordinaire!