Clerys Gets a New Look and a New Menu

Longtime Back Bay pub Clerys has remade itself with a new look and new menu. Part of the Glynn Hospitality Group (Granary Tavern, Sterling’s, Central Wharf, and more), Clerys has just debuted its new look, complete with a new granite bar in the basement, refinished floors, new high-top tables and banquettes, new lighting and decor, and a renovated kitchen. Clerys is named for a Dublin department store, and outside of the restaurant, there’s a clock that is a replica of the iconic one at the store.

In remaking Clerys, a neighborhood spot that attracts plenty of sports fans, the Glynn team wanted to continue serving classic comfort food, such as wings, pizza, tater tots, and short rib grilled cheese. Those remain on the menu, while new items reflect a "return to Clerys’ Irish roots," according to executive chef Kelly Snogles, who notes that the restaurant "has been and will remain a completely scratch kitchen focused on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients."

Brian Samuels for Clerys

New menu items include bangers and mash, made with locally sourced cider-braised Irish butcher sausage; a chicken pot pie stack with buttermilk biscuits and mashed potatoes; "Irish poutine" with sharp cheddar, fried leeks, and either beef stew or chicken pot pie sauce; shepherd’s pie; Dublin chicken curry soup; meatballs "with a traditional Colcannon Irish flair"; and a calzone featuring the aforementioned cider-braised sausage with caramelized onions, cherry peppers, ranch, mozzarella, and marinara.

"As a staple of the South End for the past few generations, Clerys has undergone extensive renovations and has subsequently reestablished itself as one of the preeminent upscale Irish pub and restaurants in all of New England," says Snogles, promising a "richly-appointed, tavern-like atmosphere" along with craft beers and a "top-notch selection of Irish whiskey."

Brian Samuels for Clerys

"We've retained the old school charm Clerys has always had," says Snogles, "but what you'll find is a warm, inviting new space that feels like something new and hip, yet is comfortably familiar."

Clerys is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

Brian Samuels for Clerys

• Clerys [Official Site]
• Clerys Coverage [EBOS]