TL;DR: Instead of trying to recreate the next trendy atmosphere for the photo-shoots, Clancy's is something which could have existed about thirty years ago just as easily as it could nowadays. A few differences would be intact, but for the most part the perspective would remain in tact. Good food is the name of the game, as is getting that nice cup of coffee that always makes the mornings better. What makes the distinction is the interior design. A look at it from the photos as it be simplistic, but sitting within it has a relaxing vibe. Some good, homely food being served up to-order is the bow that ties the gift together.
It was that normal Sunday morning ritual, where I was more or less snoozing before my house mate sneaked into the room with the air horn app on full blast to wake this tossle-haired dork right awake. Within ten minutes at the most, I was dressed and ready to head off to what the next surprise he had in store. It was a surprise alright on the front that it was good, but also that it was a break from the norm. Right in the center of it all, around the busy eastern suburb roads, Clancy's is a little tricky to get to, and will rewards those who make the maneuver inside.
In talking about the design, this is one place that looks pretty simple and plain from a mere glance, yet even having a passing knowledge about Scandinavian design - and we are talking beyond buying IKEA furniture - would be impressed. They keep the dimensions simple in order to allow in the natural sunlight, have comfortable and low-key furniture that is surprisingly comfortable. This is all one combined room, with the kitchen in full view. In many ways, it is like going to your Nordic friend's house all the way up in the Arctic Circle.
For service, most of it is a bit basic. It is no knock against the fellows who work hard here, just think of it this way - they are fairly efficient when the order is placed (counter service) and get the food to the counter quickly. They are also fairly friendly, and truth be told, their method works well for the environment being set.
They got they want to serve, going right for the specialty item. These are breakfast sandwiches, in which bagels are also an option. Simply chose from the dozen or choices they have for fillings (all puns of classic rock songs), and what you want the fillings to be sandwiched in and that is them in a nutshell. The selection is bound to change from season to season, so stay tuned. They also have a few sweets on the counter, which go well with the tea and coffee they have on offer. It still keeps within the boundaries of keeping it all simple, and this time it is no mere idiom.
So with that being said, it is first things first and that is spearheading the drink orders. Being breakfast time, there is no drink like coffee to shake those worries and I went right for the normal order - a doppio. The beans are sourced all the way down in Sydney using Single O. This definitely rings a bell, and not from ventures down in Sydney either. It is a fairly strong blend, yet one that has something of a thinner texture and slightly fruity flavour - a little closer to wine. The coffee went down a treat, being a blend that had a different sort of distinction which contributed towards the vibe of Clancy's.
What took me a couple of minutes to figure out was that each one as the filling to a bagel, since some of them sounded odd as plain old breakfasts. After that, it wasn't too long with reading the menu that I knew what to order. Without any hesitation, a beeline was made towards "A Turn for the Works", and the garlic bagel sounded the nicest out of them all. I'm not the biggest daredevil we got going out there. Anything of the extreme sports category has me checking out pretty immediately; I don't even like to go near roller coasters - that is how bad I am. But if it is taking on some sort of food there, not much egging on has to happen. Particularly when it concerns something with the lot, and this has been the case for many years. In other words, I only had to convince myself to go for broke with their version of the lot.
Eating this sucker, it is about strategy getting the whole thing down - you can't just pick it up like a regular sandwich and chomp down willy-nilly, even with a massive mouth. Throughout this entire meal, it never came across as too much, nor did one item overpower any other. They were all perfectly aligned.
Whether this was meant to be a big breakfast or a burger with the lot, who knows? What is certain is the meal was tasty, and it will fill up most stomachs for the rest of the day. Their listing was: some pork and fennel sausage, a beef patty, crispy bacon, two fried eggs, tomato, rocket, roasted butternut pumpkin, two types of cheese - Swiss and cheddar, beetroot, and a couple of sauces in the form of barbecue and black garlic mayonnaise. Served on the side was a smattering of pretzels and a couple of cornichons.
Putting several meats on a sandwich or burger can often be a bit of overkill - with no pun intended there - since many clash more than meld together. It was a bit different this time around, mostly because of the attention given to each meat's quality. Pork sausage always manages to go down a treat, especially when it is paired and flavoured with a particular spice. Fennel has a distinct and subtle taste that goes well, and this sausage simply tasted good - that is all. The beef patty was also delicious, and had that texture like it was freshly made from ground steak rather than pre-made. Such a difference makes a huge degree of difference upon eating - also good. Plus, who can complain about some good crispy bacon? Both the butternut pumpkin and the beetroot added the combination of freshness and flavour; respectively, there was a sweetness and a distinct flavour that is exclusive to beetroot. Unlike them, the tomato and rocket were only there to give it a little bit of freshness. The eggs on it were good, soft and light as a feather. It is hard to describe how, but the way some melted cheese acts on a food item, it completely transforms into into something else - two makes it even better. Plus the sauces had it be rich and smoky, along with giving a final touch. Those two additions on the side were duly appreciated.
I have vague recollections of when they tried to bring the bagel craze Down Under so many moons ago, with the general populous not particularly being that keen. Bagels thus ended up being this elusive food that you heard of, but couldn't get so readily. Fast forward to the past few years, and everyone has wisened up about them in how to capture their essence. In this part of the world, a few years back I tried some bagels done in the Montreal style and right here it may be safe to say it is New York style - and that is not something that is thrown around. The knew the quality and the setting were important, and a meticulous approach to ensuring those is apparent from the first step through the door.
What really works about Clancy's though isn't about the bagels, but the surrounding aspects of the restaurant. I will give full credit to any eatery that finds itself in such a location: one that is easy to find, though maybe not hard to get to so swiftly, and the end result is a calm serenity in the midst of busy traffic. Many times you see the most flashy, spacious restaurants which can be nice, yet they miss an intimate magic that Clancy's knows full well about. What is sometimes needed is merely a good product where the cooks know full well what they are doing, a relaxing environment that has the atmosphere of a brief escape, and some great coffee on the side acts as the glue holding it all together.
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