In this city, restaurants come and go faster than you can say "sustainable locavore burger." And even though there are great new additions to the culinary landscape popping up every week, you've gotta give kudos to anyone who can stick it out for over a year. With that in mind, we bring you Still Got It, our tribute to establishments that continue to serve mouthwatering meals and drinks long after the buzz has faded—or if the lingering hype is still justified.
Murray Hill is not exactly rife with adorable little eateries, provided you do not happen to find Blockhead's gang of frat drunks particularly charming. But Penelope, which opened on Lexington Ave in 2003, offers an antidote to the area's chains, Irish pubs and creepy hookup bars, serving up tasty laid back grub in a sweet little setting.
Penelope's aesthetic is modeled after a country cafe, with a faux white-picket fence at the entryway for good measure, and wooden, oft-packed candlelit tables and booths sit in front of a lovely small bar. Brunch is usually the main draw here, though waits can climb up to over an hour, with an $18 prix fixe deal (complete with a boozy drink of your choice) boasting dishes like Punkin' Pancakes, Nutella french toast and Salmon Wrapped Poached Eggs. You can also purchase chorizo egg sandwiches, omelets and the like a la carte, and most of the dishes are available weekday mornings for breakfast, too.
If you prefer a shorter wait, skip the line and dine here on a weekday evening. The salmon burger ($15) is particularly good, made with a fresh salmon patty sandwiched between two fluffy brioche buns. Fresh salads like Penny Cobb ($15), a curried chicken salad ($13) and the chopped, adorably named When Veggie Met Sally ($13) are also very popular.
And then there's the comfort food: of note, the decadent, baked Sweet Peas Mac & Cheese ($14) comes with white truffle and fontina, and the hearty Ellie’s Spinach Pie ($14) is made from a Greek family recipe. Murray Hill ain't so bad...almost.
Penelope is located at 159 Lexington Avenue between 29th and 30th Streets in Kips Bay/Murray Hill (212-481-3800, penelopenyc.com).
