Clem's
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 387-9617
- Cross Street:
- Roebling Street
Editorial Review for Clem's – by Karen Hudes
The Scene
Williamsburg has long been approaching its nightlife saturation point, but among its old pubs, sexy lounges and factory performance spaces, one type of bar was always missing: the handsome cocktail joint. Compact little Clem's fills the niche and looks spruce with a copper-painted, pressed-tin ceiling, polished bar and corner picture windows. The room has yet to pull in a large following, but even a scattering of couples brings it alive.
The Draw
Cocktail standards (including a "Southside" Car) mix with house novelties such as the Yellow Boxer--smooth tequila brightened with Galliano, Rose's lime juice, sugar and soda--and the Straight Story, which softens rye whiskey with sweet vermouth and bitters. The selection of eight beers on tap also offers surprises: the hearty Blue Point from Long Island and the subtle, lemon-wedged Weihenstephan (est. 1040 A.D.). The solid rock-and-roll bartender will let you sample a brew and gallantly tear open your bag of Utz Party Mix before serving.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save TimePlan your whole night with our Williamsburg neighborhood guide.
Look GoodTo impress a date, get in the mood with glasses of Henry Varnay champagne and then put Stevie Wonder on the jukebox.
User Reviews for Clem's
04/11/2007 Posted by benjaminlight
Normally I've thought Clem's to be quite a nice place, one can pass away a nice spring afternoon enjoying their fairly priced drinks while seated on the sidewalk. Lately though their has been a rather boisterous, boorish fellow checking the ID's at the door. Checking ID's is no problem obviously, as no one wants to get a big fine and lose their liquor license. The guy just seems to have something to say about everything. As my party and I were enjoying a smoke outside we overheard the fellow butchering the French language while trying to wax poetic, once someone else (not in my party) corrected his grammar he decided to announce that "...thats the kind of sh*t that makes me want to k*ll more white people." Lovely ( has he already a few under his belt?). At this point it wasn't simply the white people who became uncomfortable with his uncouth commentary, pretty much everyone was caught off guard. He went on to explain how western folk are ignorant (though his accent seems to prove he himself was a product of the west). Long story short, he proceeded to call out a few girls in the crowd and make them feel utterly horrible about themselves and was rather relentless with his lowly remarks, all the while the bartender (who himself was pretty dull for the evening, you can only check your cell phone so many times in five min. also, I love The Clash as much as the next guy, but the album need not be on repeat all night) kept mum in the light of the ID checker man's ignorance. As I've said before, Clem's can be a great place to spend some time, it just seems that in the months past the quality of the staff they hire on has gone to the pits. If you don't mind the renaissance men working the place then perhaps you can still stomach it, I sure as hell can't anymore. Clem's has gone from being a good neighborhood spot to just another run-of-the-mill, boring Williamsburg bar.
Pros: outdoor seating
Cons: boorish staff
10/05/2006 Posted by giraffedrd
I have been living in Williamsburg for nearly 10 years...long before it became "cool"...and only in Clem's, which I live right next to was I treated like I didn't matter. I tip $5 per drink and still cannot get attention...Mostly from the female bartenders who I guess think women don't tip. I see poor starving artists drinking $2 beers and leaving next to nothing. A lot of people in Williamsburg have a lot of money to spend. If you are one of us, this IS NOT the place for you. Clem's...wake up...you are losing customers and a lot of cash.
Pros: close and local
Cons: serious drunks get service first
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