Clem's Wood-Fired BBQ

Route 220 and McFarland Road, Charlottsville, PA - (814) 360-1140

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Posted By Sherry Connor on 7/18/2009 1:09:00 PM

Clem's has moved from their Port Matilda location. They are now about 18 miles away from the old location. The best phone number to use is still 814-360-1140. I cannot find a published address (even on their menu printout) but here are the new directions: look for Exit 45 on I-99 towards Tipton/Grazierville and at the T-intersection with North Pleasant Valley Boulevard, take a right. Look for Clem's Wood-Fired BBQ on the left (about 0.3 miles).

While we waited just a few minutes for our carryout order of baby back ribs and coleslaw, we asked for their new business card, and we told them their website still says they are in Port Matilda. The friendly staff advised us they didn't have a business card but offered their menu printout instead. We were told they did not update their website information yet because they just moved to the new location a month ago and are not ready for advertising the new information.

The new Clem's location is a restaurant with lots of heavy wood tables, a bar, and a takeout counter. Outside, there is a covered wood-fired grilling area visible as you enter the ample parking lot.

We took our takeout order of ribs another hour-and-a-half down the road on our journey to visit relatives and the ribs were still hot in the foil container upon arrival. The coleslaw was just the way we like it (a light creamy dressing).

A few days later on our return trip home, we stopped back at Clem's and this time ordered the chicken leg quarters, chicken breast, baked beans, and coleslaw. It will be hard when we go back to decide between the chicken and the baby back ribs, as both are equally delicious! I quess we will have to get some of each. Both are extremely tender, fall-off-the-bone, and moist. The baked beans were superb!

The half-rack of baby back ribs is now $9.50. The chicken half is $6.50. The sides of red skin potato salad, garlic mashed potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, mac 'n' cheese, fresh-cut fries, or curly fries are $1.50 for individual servings, $2.00 for a small order, and $3.50 for large orders.

Clem's offers BBQ party packs, dinners, and combos. They also serve an assortment of appetizers (wings, onion rings, quesadillas, etc.), salads with or without meat, several BBQ sandwiches, and a brownie sundae or ice cream sundae. For kids, they also offer chicken fingers 'n' fries, hot dog 'n' fries, or mac 'n' cheese with a roll.

Scorecard

Overall: One of the Best - Worth a Trip

Baby Back Ribs (1/2 Rack)	Baked Beans - Large Order
Coleslaw - Individual Serving

Rate this place

"Clem's pulled pork sandwich is more like a pulled pork hoagie and a real bargain at $4.50."
Cliff Strutz

"Clem's well-sauced baby back ribs are some of the best you will find north of the Mason-Dixon line."
Cliff Strutz

"A close-up of Clem's baked beans; note the mixture of three different bean types."
Cliff Strutz

"From left to right: small coleslaw, large baked beans, a dinner roll ready to mop up the superb barbeque sauce, and a half-rack of fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs."
Jack Barry

"A view of the menu, side orders omitted, hanging from Clem's carport roof."
Jack Barry

"This sign says it all about their hours. I've never been there during the posted times when they weren't open. "
Sarah McCracken

"No seating is available at Clem's, though several wooden barrels act as a fine substitute for those patrons who prefer eating here over takeout."
Jack Barry