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The Clerkenwell
Rating Details »
Categories: Gastropubs, British
Neighborhood: Lower East Side49 Clinton St
(between Stanton St & Rivington St)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 614-3234
1/2 Price Happy Hour / 6.30pm-7pm
6pm - 7.30pm / Tues - Thurs
1/2 price cocktails, wine and beer!
- Nearest Transit:
-
Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
- Hours:
Tue-Wed. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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15 reviews for The Clerkenwell
(See pic)
While the food is more on the typical side, I love the laid back ambiance but upbeat music.
The All English Breakfast was nice, simple, slightly heavy sausage, a good cup of mint tea, mellow place to stop by.
The decoration was nice, very woodsy and some board games if you feel like some. The place is on the dimmer lighting side. You would feel like you just step into a different world from outside.
The Clerkenwell derives its name from a rather drab little splinter of London, wedged between the City proper and north London, down Clerkenwell I went. Oh, and it's pronounced Clark - enwell.
The reason for this focus on origins is that The Clerkenwell's chef cooked for several years in London (I had thought he was British, but on further investigation apparently not), and in style the place bids to be a British-style "gastropub." It's in the space which once contained AKA Café, where I often sat at one of the outdoor tables in the porch soaking up a night's drinking with pretty good tacos and sloppy Joe's (this was succeeded by something called Summer's, about which I know nothing).
From a short list of house cocktails, reasonably priced at $9, a refreshing blend of Lillet, gin and orange bitters - I think it was actually called a Clerkenwell. I was tempted by the Pimm's No. 1 Cup, a quintessentially British summer libation. But since it contains hardly enough of the strong stuff to furnish a gnat with an alcohol rub, you're better off buying a bottle and mixing a jug of it yourself. The wine-list, by the way, was disappointing - with the exception of the $80 Grand Tinel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which I decided was a bit too much for the occasion.
The ambience is designed to feel like a British saloon bar - and it doesn't at all - and one finds fish and chips, bangers, burger and chips, puddings; exactly the dishes which would mark out a pub in London as not being a gastropub - which have more exotic ambitions - but just a traditional boozer. I wished the mackerel with celery and raisin salad had been an appetizer, because that's a surprisingly good combination I rarely see here. You can get it on a roll in a London sandwich bar. I settled on the "English breaded goat cheese" mainly out of curiosity as to what would be English about it. Maybe the breadcrumbs are English. Anyway, just as pubs back home went through a phase of threatening diners with deep fried camembert, The Clerkenwell takes pucks of mild goat cheese, breads them, and fries them to undeniable crunchiness.
Call me traitor to my British upbringing, but I think the French idea of serving warm, mature goat cheese over salad, without the frying, is preferable. Perhaps I should have ordered the mackerel entrée as a starter, because this was a rib-sticking plate. A variety of gently pickled beets added considerable interest, but three slabs of goat cheese gets kind of samey. A plate to share, if anything.
Then I tempted fate by ordering toad-in-the-hole, and fate responded in predictable fashion. Legendary for its name, this isn't a dish which is actually much eaten in modern Britain. I saw it occasionally at school lunch. It was never a big favorite of mine, but I'd been discussing it earlier this week online and felt nostalgic. The Clerkenwell bills it as "Yorkshire" toad-in-the-hole, appropriately enough because the batter encasing the sausages is the same as the batter used in making Yorkshire pudding, essentially a popover usually served as an accompaniment to roast beef.
Like a popover, Yorkshire pudding, whether on its own account or enveloping sausages, should fluffy, with a puffy, crispy surface or rim. Perhaps it was the proportion of sausage to batter, or perhaps some other problem of execution, but this pud was wilted. The sausages were familiar - sourced from somewhere I think I'd know - sweet and sagey. But the batter beneath and around them was pasty, soggy, and only at the very outer edge could I detect any crispness. An unsuccessful dish, not aided by the mashed potatoes - which tasted fine - being served stone cold. Oh, there were some caramelized onions and gravy involved too.
The Clerkenwell, on this showing, is not going to persuade downtown New Yorkers that British pub food is bright, tasty, and a better choice than Mexican or pizza. There's a half pound burger with big fat chips (fries) for $11, though, and that might be a much safer bet than Ye Olde Pub Fayre.
As we walked inside, I spied an enormous burger at a nearby table. I had to have it. So when our server came by, I happily ordered the "1/2 pound Angus Burger," which comes standard with Swiss and caramelized onions. When it arrived, it looked just as massive.
But looks can be deceiving, my friends. Once again, I had been seduced, and then hornswoggled by the fluffy buns. Bun. I meant bun.
Let this be a life lesson, gentlemen. Sometimes things might look fat and juicy on another man's plate, but when you finally get it for yourself, it could very well turn out to be a disappointment.
Don't let it happen to you.
In addition to being smaller than originally expected, the burger was just OK. It wasn't medium rare, and it was far thinner than it should've been. I like that it comes with fries and a salad, but it was like 8 steak fries.
And be warned: the burger is $13. A $13 burger doesn't shock me really (which is sad in itself), but the entrees range between $10 and $14. I want my burger to be cheaper than the fish options; it's just a matter of principle.
After having dinner here for the 3rd time, i feel compelled to write a review of this wonderful place. Hidden away down on Clinton Street, this new English gastropub is the kind of place that Captain Jack Sparrow would relax in... The room itself feels a bit like you've gone round your grandma's house on acid, it's perfectly lit, boasts a nice board-game selection and has elevated window seats! To start we had the chicken liver mousse and the seared blue prawns followed by the pea and leek tart and the fish n chips!! Tasty.. We shared a bottle of rioja and finished with the cheese plate and a cigarette (outside, of course)
Great atmosphere, tasty food, tasty staff, pictures of Mick Jagger on the wall..... Perfect.
Had brunch there today. Loved the relaxed athmosphere and the music. Burger was phenomenal though next time I would try the English breakfast. Unlike some of the other spots in the LES this place was quiet and so was great to catch up with a friend.
I really wanted to like this place - as a Brit living in NYC, sometimes you get a yearning for some good British food. Sadly this place will confirm the misconception that British food is insipid, lazily prepared and over cooked.
Toad in the hole - soggy batter, cold mashed potatoes, over-sweet gravy and generic sausages. British sausages should a) be made from pork b) be very savory. These were, I think, made from chicken and were almost incredibly bland.
Pea and leek tart with soft poached egg - dull, small and the poached egg was hard as a rock
Cheese plate - there are some great British cheeses; little can beat a good strong Stilton and some aged Cheddar. This selection tasted as if it had recently been unwrapped after a shopping trip to Gristedes.
Sticky toffee pudding - clearly not made in the restaurant, it was just some sweet goo. And where was the custard?? Who has a steamed pudding in Britain without smothering it in custard?
This place feels like the chef/owners just don't really care.
Eh. They're definitely still getting started but their brunch menu is a full page whereas they literally only have 4 appetizers and 4 entrees for the dinner menu. Overall too, nothing was that good. I will say that it was pretty cheap though. Also, the side salad for $3 is a joke. I don't know how they make any money on that thing - probably cost them $3 just to make it. Good mashed Ps though and our waiter was nice enough.
Ditto what the other review was saying about not quite being ready though - there was a mirror on the ground next to our table. I'm guessing it will be hung shortly.
Second night, I came early by accident, pictures still being hung, cleaning and set up under way.
Good signs: Owners and staff are easy to speak to, they understand their vision and want to be good.
Malbec wine - $8 nice, big and fruity as expected
Prosecco wine - $7 - nice, sweeter than dry
Fish cake (haddock) app. - Excellent, very good portion, cake on green beans and some kind of mayo/remoulade
ENTREE - Yorkshire pudding, bangers, mash - perfectly done, medium portion not huge - I suggested adding a veg - mushy peas or seasonal veg would be perfect.
Add some seasonal items - is my only recommendation - be local - be real.
Happy Hour will follow no doubt -
brunch menu will follow - I hear - Great!
Well worth a visit - Great east side Pub!
I left full and happy - Great Oz Chef.
went to Clerkenwell to celebrate a low key dinner with friends for my 30th birthday (yikes!) and it was exactly what I wanted. the place was empty for a Thursday night, which is fine by me. it was quiet enough for all of us the hear each other and service was attentive.
the food was good all around. love the rolls to begin the meal with. almost everyone had the pork belly, which looked like all fat, but that's pork belly for you. i had fish and chips that were OK, (you can't really make an amazing fried fish) but the fries were well worth it. the dish i need to try next time is the toad in the hole. it looked really good.
i am definitely come here again.
Stumbled upon this new place in my old stomping ground and had a good time. My friend and I arrived just in time to beat the Sat night crowd, so service was great and food/drinks came out in good time. Service was also friendly (I tend to be "that customer" who asks questions about the wine and for food recommendations). I got a new addition to the menu, a pan fried fish fillet with olives and capers and some other tangy vegetable(s) - a fantastic, not heavy, flavorful entree. The Chardonnay also went really well with it. My friend got the butternut squash risotto, which I found a little bland. She seemed to like it though. Oh - great prices by the way! I'm pretty sure both entrees were under $15. I'd go back.
If you come to Clerkenwell with your friend Peter, and Peter has a few Jamesons, eventually the owners will emerge from the back room and buy everyone at the bar shots of...something. I didn't drink it. The effect was friendly-ish but the prevailing attitude brought snot-nosed Oasis fans circa 1996 to mind. I mean, pulling attitude is just dandy if it's clear WHY someone has an attitude. Unfortunately that wasn't the case here.
As soon as we sat down I should have known this would be a disappointing meal. My husband broke the chair. And you should know, he is a pretty slim guy: it was a cheap chair.
We had made a resevration and so were sat quickly but our drink orders weren't taken till the third time our waitress came to the table
"how are you doing?"
"let me get your menus"
"let me get a pen"
and it was another twenty minutes before the drinks came because she was 'slammed' at the bar. hmmm, from where i sat i saw no huge influx of customers clamoring for cocktails but who am i to judge. my fellow dinner on the hand works in the biz and said that waitress was fibbing.
my Organic lager was really great.
from the very limited menu we choose our meals. the broken chair was mended by a Yorkshire pudding for my husband. i ordered the leek and pea tart and my girlfriend ordered the pork belly.
again, the food took too long to come out of the kitchen and we were served in stages. really, is it that hard to coordinate three dishes?
but, the food was good. i loved the crust and the spout garnish. the peas were super fresh. loved the pork belly! i generally don't like that much fat to be openly displayed as a meal but it was amazing.
as i ate the delicious tart i was struck by the odd design elements. a three foot wide patch of wall had a bright blue and red wallpaper with cameos while the opposite wall has a ten foot stretch of wood wallpaper. a huge mirror hung behind me and classic exposed brick jutted out in a few spots. That will need to be fixed.
i would let this little establishment fire all its waitresses and get on its feet before i will return.
What a great little find located on Clinton street opposite WD50. The Clerkenwell has a very cool vibe. I went there one Friday when it was busy. The staff appeared friendly and relaxed. I had the walnut crusted chicken salad to start followed by the Yorkshire Toad in the hole(sausages in a yorksire).
Also, they have some bigger tables which would be great for large parties.
Overall a solid place and I'll be back again soon.
i'm not sure if i'm giving it 4 stars becuase of the food or the service, probably the service.
My boyfriend and I went for dinner, as soon as we sat down we were brought water he finished his in half a second not even a minute later, he had another water. its a very low lit romantic romantic place, and they defenitly make you feel at home. Our server didn't rush us at all, we ordered drinks and about 5 minutes after our drinks came they brought us some of the most amazing fresh bread i've ever had, after we finished that they came to take our order they give you lots of time to sit and talk, defenitly not a place i would go if I was starving and wanted to eat and get out.
The food was good, I got the burger he got fish and chips, the bun was huge I took the bottom half off. my only complaint was I asked if there was any sauce on the burger and was told no only carmelized onion and tomato, and it came with mayo making the other half of the bun un eatable, I also ordered the burger well done nad it was brought closer to medium...but the burger was amazing the meat wasnt super flavorfull but the carmelzied onions were incredible i'd probably order this again if I went back just with no mayo.
my boyfriend got the fish and chips, it defenitly needed to be salted.
overall, the staff was amazing, the ambience was romantic and pleasant, and the food was above average and beautifuly presented.
There are some kinks to work out but I think this place is going to be great. Like the first reviewer we also ate there on the second night and were surprised to find it pretty busy. I had the goat cheese and pickled beet salad which was actually pretty large, it was really good though I might consider changing the dressing to something a bit sweet so that there's more of a contrast between the salty/tart beet goat cheese combo and the fresh watercress. Nonetheless we ate the whole thing and enjoyed it. My friend had the bangers and mash which they call Toad in the Whole and she thought it was absolutely perfect. I had the fresh fried fish on crusty bread, the fish was absolutely delicious, I ended up discarding most of the bread because it wasn't really adding anything and the fish was so good on it's on own. The waitstaff was very nice and anxious to make sure we were enjoying everything. I will definitely go there again for brunch and I'd also like to try whatever they do for a summer menu which they said would be different.