Bienvenido a Clancy's Cantina. Translated from Spanish, it means welcome to Clancy's Cantina.
Clancy’s Cantina in New Smyrna Beach, in the Indian River Shaping Village on the beachside, is a favorite for patrons -- young and old alike after Matt Clancy brought a great brand of Mexican recipes up from Texas back in the early 1980s.
The result is a great menu of really tasty Mexican treats. My favorites include the “Border Patrol” beef burrito, the beef fajitas and the fried mushrooms. They also make some great burgers using English muffins instead of buns. My favorite is the Baja Burger which features guacamole and lettuce and tomato salad with sour cream.
Ken Phillips, former New Smyrna Beach High School vice principal, and his wife, Wanda, are among the regulars who happen to like the steak there.
One additional feature of Clancy’s is the music of Tommy Brown every Thursday night. Tommy specializes in music from the 1950s and '60s.
Quite often some of the audience will come up and sing with Tommy. Architect Bobby Howard has been known to get up and yodel despite pleas from the audience not to.
Some of the high school grads from the '50s and '60s can often be seen having an informal get together.
The price is right; the food is great and the waiters and waitresses are fast efficient and pleasant. This explains why Clancy’s draws such a crowd.
Clancy's Cantina fancies itself as featuring a Mexican motif with authentic fabrics adorning counters, with amber wood tables and hanging plants. This family friendly restaurant has a festive ambiance. They offer entertainment with satellite TV and on weekends, there is live music by well-known musicians in the area. The bar features domestic and imported beers, wines and liquors. The entertainment includes live music and satellite TV.
"The cooking by the Incas, Mayans and Aztecs handed down through the centuries and mixed with the recipes of the Spanish and French makes for an exciting adventure into the kitchens of Mexico," Clancy's Web site proclaims, and who would argue with that? "We Clancy's with years of experience in the culinary art from "South of the Border" are privileged to bring you samplings of these exciting dishes."
Of course, it all starts with those crispy fresh tortilla chips and the salsa. And the main courses are all less than $20. You can't beat that.
FAST FACTS: Clancy'sCantina is open seven days a week; Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Family-owned and operated since 1983 by Matt Clancy and Margaret Michelbrink. Located at 743 3rd Ave. (beachside) in the Indian River Shopping Village, NSB. Telephone: (386) 428-4500.