08.25.09
Review of The Clerkenwell, Saturday May 2009
49 Clinton & Stanton/Rivington Sts., 212-614-3234
Great for: good solid English food, a taste of home for Brit expats, late night food
I was trying very hard to qualify for the World Series of Poker through Pokerstars freerolls (obviously, I did not make it this year) but I couldn’t miss my friend L’s birthday either. I made it through round 1 quickly and was puzzled to find myself sitting alone at a table with all the chips for round 2, but figured I’d lucked into a free pass to the final round. It was also way past time to leave for dinner so I jumped into a cab. This is why I forgot my BlackBerry and had to take notes with my camera.
We were all delighted to see the eminently reasonable $28 3-course prix fixe menu including one glass of prosecco or rosé. I didn’t actually love anything on it or want dessert, so I ordered from the regular menu, but it definitely helped to keep costs down. Those Brits do love their vino! (I was staying sober until I won the tournament.)
I tried most of the savory dishes on the prix fixe menu, since there were about 16 of us and we ended up getting everything.
The chicken from this walnut chicken salad with celery leaves, Granny Smith apples and mixed lettuce was a bit bland. The greens are nice, though I’d prefer that it have no fruit. The new season asparagus with poached egg and candied lemon as well as the rocket salad with manchego, pear and pine nuts looked good and reportedly tasted good as well.
I found my main course of toad in the hole pretty good. The sausage was a bit bland and the onions were way too sweet as in the marmalade, but I liked the bready stuff and mashed potatoes a lot. I think the English Ex’s mother made it slightly better.
The butternut pumpkin risotto with basil pistou (French pesto) and parmesan would have been yummy if I liked any form of pumpkin.
Unfortunately I didn’t get to try any of the well-received burger. Looks nice, doesn’t it?
As did the pan-fried mackerel with green olives, celery and raisin.
The prosecco, rosé, Champagne and wines are reasonably priced and quite good. They were working on their late-night liquor license (probably have it by now) and are open ’til about 2am on weekends. The owner himself often helps wait tables and everyone is very nice.
It’s an unpretentious pub with decent food and a fun atmosphere. We went soon after they opened, so I expect they have worked out some of the kinks. It’s a lovely place to start the night and linger. As for me, I had to dash the minute I finished my entrée but I certainly had ample wine to drown my sorrows when I came back later.
[When I got home an hour later the tournament said I'd been sitting out too long. I tried to salvage the situation but they didn't know why I'd been alone in the first place so I was probably the victim of a computer glitch. Terribly disappointing, that and the many other times I battled impossible odds to win a round, only to be eliminated eventually. Once I had one small blind left against three other people - I trounced them all in thirty minutes. Didn't carry over to the next round.]
Rating: 6.5 / 10
My cost: $30 (no drinks)
Noise level: quite loud
Chance of walking in: it might get pretty slammed as people find out about it.
