Clancy’s. A welcome lunch of three tarts, almost!

Clancy’s. A welcome lunch of three tarts, almost!

St Tola Tartlet

After a walk against the wind on the Youghal Eco Boardwalk, with grains of sand stinging the old facial skin, we arrived back at the Front Strand to a welcome lunch in nearby Clancy’s.

It was a lunch starring three tarts, almost. Almost, because the dessert of Creme Brûlée was the traditional and not the tart version. 

Tempura Prawns 

Chicken and galette

The St. Tola Goats Cheese Tartlet (€12.90) was the star of the show and my starter. The attractively presented tartlet was packed with the noble St Tola, beetroot and pomegranate seeds, an excellent tarty combination, further enhanced by watercress, toasted golden nuts, raspberry dust and rose hip dressing. Happy sounds across the table, as CL enjoyed her Tempura Prawns (€13.90) with sweet chilli salsa, mixed leaves, curry mayo.

Their Free Range Chicken Supreme €22.90 was an excellent example of the type, not a bite was left. It came with mashed potato, a galette (tart) of Savoy cabbage, bacon and wild mushroom, along with a creamy marsala wine sauce, a winning combination for sure.

I was looking for a good feed after the windy walk and my mains was the Roast Sirloin Of Irish Beef (€19.90). The Yorkshire Pudding wasn’t available (not that I worried too much, not my favourite at all) but I did enjoy the tender tasty beef, the creamed potato and the shared seasonal vegetables. That amazing house jús, a generous pour, played a leading role.

Beef

The Crême Brûlée was shared. The Créma Catalana (€7.90,) to give it its full title, is served with a large cinnamon flavoured cookie (a treat in itself). All in all, a big thumbs up.

What I did notice here, aside from the welcome and friendly service, was their amazing whiskey list. There must be about three dozen Irish types, including plenty from Midleton of course, and then they have bottles from all over, including Japan. We were driving to Dungarvan so had to leave them all on the shelf. Next time.

It would be a great excuse to get the train to Youghal but that service ceased decades ago. Clancy’s have some railway memorabilia around the impressive premises and as we strolled back to the car we could see the old turnable - at least its concrete circumference - where the train engines were turned around to head back to the city. 

I used that train many a time on childhood trips to the front stand, my head out the window as smoke and sparks flew by, sometimes setting fire to the vegetation on the cuttings. Choo, Choo. Well it was a different kind of chew in Clancy’s, quite an impressive one at that.