Description
This Lower East Side gastropub keeps it really casual with a list of tried-and-true British and American comfort food classics. The name is actually a reference to the Clerkenwell section of London, home to the world's supposedly first-ever gastropub. Here upscale American fare like a burger made with beef sourced from meat master Pat LaFreida are served alongside British pub grub like fish and chips made with sustainable cod from Maine and Toad in the Hole (pan-fried sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding with mashed potatoes and gravy). You'll find a variety of hard-to-find British beers on tap, plus a few beers from other European countries and a couple of American craft brews. Despite its pubby origins, The Clerkenwell has a relatively airy and bright décor, with white walls, flower-filled vases and antique mirrors housed in a room with pressed-tin ceilings and reclaimed wooden furniture. During brunch, come in for the giant Full English Breakfast, consisting of sausage, bacon, two fried eggs, baked beans, tomatoes and mushrooms.—Keith Wagstaff
