Thursday, January 14, 2010

The West Austn: Newest little bar has big following





The latest addition to the Beaufort Street strip, Clarence's is a little bar that's garnered a big following since its appearance last month.

"We wanted to keep things low-key," says co-owner Jeremy Prus, a former sommelier at Leederville's Duende and good buddy of the Cantina 663 boys up the road.

"We didn't have a big opening or anything, we just unlocked the front doors when were were ready. There's not even a proper sign out the front."

Prus says Clarence's is the culmination of two years of hard work and, thanks to his passion for a good drop, he plans to operate it as a small wine bar with old and new-world influences.

The menu reflects this, with light food designed to be shared. It ranges from chips and steak burgers downstairs to more delicate fare such as potted rabbit and cured salmon upstairs.