Clancy’s Top 8: The Fan-Favorite Dishes of 2025

Here at Clancy's Irish Pub on Old State, we've been serving West County for 43 years, and 2025 has been our best year yet! As we look back on twelve months of incredible meals, laughter, and countless "one more round" requests, we wanted to share the items that kept our friends and neighbors coming back for more.

Unlike most chain restaurants that rely on frozen ingredients and corporate recipes, our family owned and operated pub takes pride in preparing fresh, quality food that brings families together. After crunching the numbers (and sampling plenty of dishes and cocktails along the way), we're excited to reveal the top 8 fan-favorites that dominated our kitchen and bar in 2025.

Whether you're a longtime regular or considering your first visit, these items represent the heart of what makes Clancy's on Old State special: quality and tradition mixed with classic American fare that satisfies every appetite.

#8: Tito's Handmade Vodka

Holding down our #8 spot is Tito’s Handmade Vodka. It plays well in just about anything, but really shines in our house-made Bloody Mary. Made with Tito’s, fresh citrus, spices, and all the right mix-ins, then garnished with celery, olives, pepperoncini, and lemon & lime, it’s the ultimate weekend (or anytime) pick-me-up. Basically a meal in a glass—and a fan favorite for good reason.

#7: SPECIAL

Our weekly specials aren’t random—they’re inspired. Sometimes it’s seasonal, sometimes it’s a road trip, and sometimes it’s just something we can’t stop thinking about. In the summer, you’ll find our Summer BLTs stacked with huge, locally grown Missouri tomatoes we drive hours to pick up from the Amish. When winter rolls in, we turn to comfort food: made-from-scratch meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or Guinness beef stew served with house-made soda bread. After a trip to Kentucky for a friend’s engagement party, we came home with the idea for our “3 Little Pigs”—smoked pork, bacon, and in-house sliced ham topped with sharp cheddar and a sweet bacon-onion jam. And then there’s our Grinder—born on TikTok and now a pub favorite. You never quite know what the special will be, but you can always count on it being delicious.

#6: Guinness

Nothing says Irish pub quite like a proper pint of Guinness. Poured on nitro for that signature cascade and creamy head, it highlights rich roasted malt notes with a smooth, balanced finish. It’s a two-part pour, so give us a moment—it’s worth the wait. And while it may get extra love on St. Patrick’s Day, Guinness is a pub favorite all year round and pairs perfectly with our house-made fish and chips.

#5: Reuben

Stacked high with house-roasted, hand-sliced corned beef, our take on the deli classic starts on toasted rye from Vitale’s Bakery on the Hill and is finished with sauerkraut, melted hand-cut Swiss, and our scratch-made Thousand Island dressing. It’s familiar, comforting, and unmistakably Clancy’s.

We didn’t land here by accident. We tested countless corned beefs—different cuts, different suppliers, different processes—before settling on one we stand behind completely. Our corned beef comes from a family-owned company just outside of Chicago, and it’s the kind of relationship where we can pick up the phone and talk directly if there’s ever a question. When you go through more than 40 cases of corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day alone, you learn pretty quickly what’s worth serving. This is it—done right, every time.

#4: Frisco Melt

Every now and then, a special earns a permanent spot on the menu—and this one more than deserves it. Our Frisco Melt starts with a hand-pattied, double smash burger topped with melted Swiss and American cheeses, smothered in our house-made Frisco sauce, and served on toasted sourdough fresh from Vitale’s Bakery on the Hill.

If you loved the Frisco Melt from Steak ’n Shake back in the day, you’re going to love our take. It was inspired by that classic, reimagined the Clancy’s way—and yes, it’s every bit as killer as it sounds.

#3: Double Cheeseburger

A great double smash burger doesn’t need a lot of extras—it just needs to be done right. Ours starts with two hand-pattied quarter-pound burgers, smashed on the grill for crispy edges and juicy centers, then topped with melted cheese and served on a freshly toasted bun from Vitale’s Bakery on the Hill.

From there, make it your own. Add freshly sliced lettuce, tomato, onion, and dill pickles, or take it up a notch with bacon or a different cheese—just say the word. Hearty, satisfying, and full of flavor, this is a classic double smash burger done the Clancy’s way.

#2: Clancy's Chicken Wings

Taking the #2 spot are our chicken wings—and for good reason. Over the past year, they’ve quickly become a fan favorite. We start with jumbo wings that come in fresh, never frozen, then fry them to crispy perfection before tossing them in our house wing sauce. It’s Frank’s-based with just the right touch of sweetness, giving you that classic wing flavor with a Clancy’s twist.

They’re served with your choice of scratch-made blue cheese or our house buttermilk ranch—both perfect for dipping. Available in orders of 10, 20, or 40, they’re great for sharing… or keeping all to yourself. And yes, they’re also available for catering.

#1: Cheeseburger

There’s a reason our cheeseburger holds the #1 spot by a wide margin—it’s the one guests come back for again and again! Simple at first glance, it’s built on doing the basics the right way, every single time. We start with a fresh, half-pound, seasoned beef patty, grilled to order and topped with melted cheese, then place it on a freshly toasted bun from Vitale’s Bakery on the Hill. From there, you can keep it classic or add freshly shredded lettuce, sliced onion and tomato, or dill pickles to make it your own.

What sets our cheeseburger apart isn’t flash or gimmicks—it’s the process. Every burger served in our pub is made with fresh, never frozen 81/19 beef that’s hand-pattied, weighed on a scale for consistency, and cooked fresh for each order. There’s no freezer, no pre-made patties, and no shortcuts behind the scenes. It’s a little more work, but it’s work we believe in, because that’s the difference you can taste in every bite.

Served with your choice of fries or slaw, or upgraded with one of our other house-made sides, this is a classic cheeseburger done right. Honest, satisfying, and made the way a great pub burger should be—from the first bite to the last.

Why These Dishes Define Clancy's on Old State

Clancy’s Top 8 tells the story of who we are and how we cook. These dishes weren’t chosen by trend or tradition alone—they earned their place because our guests kept coming back for them. Each one reflects the balance we strive for every day: honoring our Irish pub roots while serving classic American comfort food that brings people together.

From a properly poured Guinness and house-roasted corned beef to burgers, wings, and weekly specials inspired by seasons and travel, these favorites are built on fresh ingredients, careful preparation, and recipes we truly believe in. As a family-owned pub, we focus on doing things the right way—choosing quality, consistency, and generosity over shortcuts.

After 43 years on Old State Road, this list isn’t just about what sells the most. It’s about the food that keeps friends, families, and neighbors gathering around our tables—and that’s something we’re proud to continue.

Ready to Try Our Fan Favorites?

f you’re hungry for some of West County’s favorite pub food, we’d love to have you. Whether you’re joining us in our cozy Ellisville pub or ordering ahead for pickup, it’s easy to enjoy the dishes our guests keep coming back for. You can explore our full menu online and place your order whenever it’s convenient.

Planning a gathering or meeting? Many of our fan favorites are available through our catering menu and are perfect for feeding a crowd. From wings and pretzel bites for parties to corned beef sandwiches for office lunches, we’re happy to bring a little Clancy’s to your event.

We’re open Monday through Friday from 11am–11pm, with our kitchen serving until 9pm, giving you plenty of time to stop in for lunch, dinner, or a relaxed evening at the pub.

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To really stay in the know, sign up for pub updates, specials, and insider info by texting CLANCYS to 1-888-423-9316.

These top dishes are more than just best sellers—they’ve been part of family dinners, date nights, business lunches, and celebrations throughout 2025. We’re excited to see what new favorites emerge in 2026, but we have a feeling these classics will always have a place at our tables.

Stop by soon and taste for yourself why these dishes earned their spot at the top. We’ll have a cold beer waiting and plenty of Irish hospitality to go around. Cheers to 2026!