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“Penelope”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Lunch/Takeout	New American	Murray Hill	Cheap Eats	Good

uo;We should check it out.” I was incredulous. What was he talking about and how had I not heard of it?

A few days later, we were walking home from Penn Station and we found ourselves on the corner of 30th and Lex. “Here’s that place I was telling you about,” he said, pointing to a corner restaurant with a gray and blue ticker-striped awning shading a weathered old bench. We walked inside and found a breezy place with worn wooden plank flooring covered with mix ‘n match antique tables with pew benches, and walls lined in turquoise wainscoting. We weren’t planning on staying, but there’s something about the place that makes you want to sit and linger. So we headed over to the bar and ordered a few pints ($6)—a Fisherman’s Ale and Abita Light. (There’s also a Hennepin Farmhouse on tap—a Belgian style wheat beer from Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, and a great selection of bottled beers—Duvel, Turbo Dog New Orleans Brown Ale, Wolaver's Organic IPA from Vermont and Smuttynose Old Brown Dog from New Hampshire, all $5.)

From our seats at the bar, we spied a glass pastry case filled with iced cupcakes. A frosted carrot cake and a layered red velvet cake were each displayed on their own individual cake pedestals. We finished our beer and gave in to our inner cake monsters, and ordered a slice of red velvet to go. The cake was eaten on the couch, and was followed by promises to go back to Penelope very soon.

 

One morning later that week, we returned for breakfast. We brought our laptops and newspapers and found the place quiet and peaceful, with ceiling fans whirring and rich dark coffee flowing. Regulars were greeted by name. (The place has been open for four years so there are lots of them.) The menu is modest and homey and includes Mabel’s granola ($7, lots of coconut in there), pumpkin waffles dusted with powdered sugar and cranberries, omelettes, buttermilk pancakes, and the Penny Egg Sandwich, which comes piled with bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs and pesto ($6.50). Though I’d skip the pesto next time—garlic in the morning doesn’t really do me right—the sandwich is the perfect day starter, made even better with a side of their fantastic hand-cut skin on fries ($5.50). After we ate, we lingered at the table, writing for abo ... [more, click below]

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Posted: June 18, 2007

Other restaurants in Murray Hill :
+ Breakfast at The Cafe at Country   + A Voce   + Country (Upstairs)   + Darna   + Penelope   

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