Penelope
Iced Coffee
Sticky Bun
Nutella French Toast – Brioche, Warm Nutella Filling, Caramelized Bananas
Red Velvet
A cute place in Murray Hill that had been on my ‘to do’ list for a number of years, Penelope would prove to be a good spot for breakfast after some early morning doughnuts and although my friend with whom I’d planned to dine instead had to go to work I entered the small, cozy restaurant as a solo and was seated immediately at a small two top juxtaposing a pair of families with children that unfortunately felt the need to out-misbehave one another throughout my meal. With a menu consisting of “…the coziest of comfort foods, just like your mom used to make” but odd service policies including mandating alcohol or juice on the weekend brunch menu and upcharges without refills to simply pour the freely refilled hot coffee over ice my decision was to simply forgo the juice and pay the upcharge thus receiving a $17 plate of French Toast with a single glass of coffee, a $5 Cinnamon Bun, and a $6 slice of Red Velvet Cake to go. With service slow as a result of the small kitchen and substantial crowd once my items started to arrive I will note that while the cinnamon roll was largely mediocre and slightly overbaked both the mountain of crispy French Toast covered with Foster-Style bananas and the Red Velvet were reference standard examples – the tangy cream cheese frosting on the cake one of the best I’ve encountered, playing a perfect foil to the dense cocoa laden cake.
