The Thousands

It wasn’t Clarence ‘The Big Man’ Clemons‘ cameo in season eight of Diff’rent Strokes that got him naming rights at restaurateur Jermemy Prus’ new wine ‘n’ dine, Clarences. Nor was it his seminal role in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. What did cement his name above the door was his position as tenor saxist in Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street band.

Just like ‘The Boss’ needed Clemons to become a bona fide rock god, Jez has Momas and Sal (the guys behind The Manor and Highs & Lows) in his brass section. Their inconspicuous bottle-lined façade gives way to a dining area made up of sleek, dark tables and booths that step down to a matching bar and pretty L-shaped courtyard (I’m not exactly a feng shui barometer, but I’m fairly sure this would read ‘great’). After candlelit aperitifs and potted rabbit on toast, Prus personally selected an exquisite Spanish red to complement the char-grilled beef fillet in port sauce. And the saxophone flourish? Being able to step outside for a moonlit nightcap.

Don’t let Clarences’ Arnold Drummond stature fool you – it’s destined to be ‘The Big Man’ of Beaufort St.