Penelope…. Homestyle cooking at it’s best

You feel right at home when you walk in for a meal at Penelope. The décor is reminiscent of your grandma’s old kitchen and dining room; and the food is no different. The menu is somewhat limited, but I’m confident there is something for everyone. This past Saturday was my second time going there for brunch, and I have ordered the same thing twice. It was almost impossible to justify ordering something different than the Nutella French toast so I conceded and the sweet and savory dish made the decision for me. There is a brunch price-fix ($14) which includes you choice of coffee/tea, juice or an apple cider mimosa. Penelope is very popular for brunch so you have to get there early to avoid waiting in a very long line. I would suggest any time before 10:00AM should ensure you a spot with a reasonable wait. My dining partner and I decided to get a coffee at the local coffee shop and sit on the bench outside of Penelope while we waited. Arrive after 10am, and you could be taking the risk of waiting on Lexington Avenue for close to an hour.

Nutella French toast

Three slices of French toast filled with chocolate hazelnut filling, topped with powered sugar, and accompanied by a plentiful side of fresh fruit… what gets better than that? With Italian sesame seeded bread as the base for this dish, it had no flaws. The bread was soft and fluffy and savory without the chocolate. It alone would have been a solid French toast offering. This French toast however was filled with an unforgettable chocolate filling which drizzled out with each bite. My palate was overwhelmed with delight at the savory French toast flavors that were balanced with the sweet hazel nutty chocolate. The powered sugar was a nice touch adding some extra sweetness. I sparingly used the maple syrup on the table, as to not overpower the toast with syrupy flavors. I was also very impressed with the overflowing side of fresh berries and honeydew.

Salmon Wrapped Poached Eggs

The Salmon poached eggs were soft and runny… in a good way! They came served over a large piece of black seeded bread that alone would’ve been delicious. The eggs were topped with a generous portion of salty but not too salty smoked salmon and drizzled sparingly with a “green goddess” dressing that complimented all of the tastes and flavors throughout the dish. If you like eggs and nova—this is definitely the dish for you. It was served with a side salad which was boring consisting of simply lettuce and cranberries. Although the dressing was nice, if you can substitute sides, I would.

We also ordered a side of chicken apple sausage, which usually is a favorite of mine, but unfortunately, the portion was very small and just wasn’t that great. All in all, Penelope is a great brunch place which you should add to your cycle, especially if you live in the area. The service has been consistently great each time, the food always comes out promptly and I never feel rushed by the servers.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	8.5		10
Service	8.5		10
Ambiance	8.5		10
Bang for the Buck	7.5		10
Overall	8.5		10
	41.5		50

Penelope ($$)
American (Traditional), Desserts & Bakeries
159 Lexington Ave (At 30th St) New York 10016

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaId=6&restaurantId=6198