A Queens, New York Irish Pub Has Been Serving NYC’s Best Half-Pound Burger Since 1966

Joe Donovan bought the Clover Leaf Bar on the corner of 58th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, Queens, in 1966. He turned it into a neighborhood institution that outlasted the Irish immigration wave that built it, the COVID pandemic that nearly closed it, and 60 years of New York food trend cycles.

Sixty years later, Donovan's Pub has been named the best burger in New York City by Time Out New York, the New York Post, and the Daily News. That kind of multi-outlet consensus is rare.

For a city with one of the deepest burger scenes in the world, that's a meaningful argument. It made Only In Your State's definitive burger list.

When COVID threatened permanent closure, a GoFundMe launched by a regular raised nearly $90,000. Woodside responded and Donovan's stayed open. That's what genuine community loyalty looks like in action.

What to Order

The half-pound hamburger arrives perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, with a char that holds together to the last bite. Eighteen burger options are on the menu. The Jack, with jalapenos, pepper jack, and chipotle mayo, is the signature spicy variation.

The onion rings have their own devoted following and regularly appear in reviews separate from the burger. Traditional Irish pub fare rounds everything out: shepherd's pie, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage.

Guinness, poured correctly, is the drink. Don't order anything that comes in a can. For more on the food scene nearby, see a legendary Queens burger with serious history.

The GoFundMe That Saved a Queens Landmark

When original owner Joe Donovan decided to sell in 2012, regulars Dan Connor and a partner stepped in, buying the bar with a stated mission to 'bring the charm back.'

The walls are lined with plaques honoring neighborhood firefighters and police officers, photos of New York political figures, and accumulated history that can't be faked or purchased.

Woodside, Queens, has one of the most diverse populations of any neighborhood in the world. Donovan's Pub has served that neighborhood continuously for six decades, feeding multiple waves of new residents alongside the Irish families that originally built its customer base.

The 7 train makes Donovan's reachable from Midtown Manhattan in under 25 minutes. For anyone in the city who has not made the trip specifically for the burger, it is closer than it seems. For more of the state's dining history, see Queens restaurants that define New York food.

Plan Your Visit

Donovan's Pub is at 57-24 Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, Queens. The 7 train stops at 61st Street-Woodside, about a block away.

Hours run Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. While you're planning the trip, check out old-school New York bars still serving great burgers.