Last Updated on February 23, 2025
Never a dull moment at Penelope’s
Located inside the stylish Amano Hotel in Covent Garden, Penelope’s is a restaurant and immersive dining experience serving a fusion of Israeli and Spanish food inspired by the co-founder Ariel Schiff’s youth. The vibe is very much Berlin-meets-London, so expect a strong soundtrack, an extensive drinks list, and a DJ spinning live tunes on Fridays and Saturdays. Dancing on tables may or may not be your thing, but it is more than welcome here.
I met my friend on a balmy Wednesday evening, with a sense of anticipation in the air as summer finally felt within reach. Workers spilled out from bars, clutching their drinks. Eager to do the same, our leisurely stroll picked up as excitement built and we neared our destination. We were greeted warmly by the charming ladies at reception and introduced to our attentive waiter for the evening, Raj.
Penelope exudes sophistication with a playful twist. Dim purple lighting, sultry dark colours, leather chairs, and plush blue velvet banquettes, accentuated by a sprinkling of disco balls. What immediately caught our attention though, was the well-stocked bar immediately to our left as we entered, beautifully lit to showcase an impressive array of liquors. The bartender adds to the Gatsby-esque ambience, grooving to the music with a white jacket and black lapels. Intimate booths are separated by graceful, flowing dividers that lead on to cosy tables which was where we were sat.
Despite it being a Wednesday, the restaurant was notably lively, striking the perfect balance without being overwhelming. This brings me nicely to my next point: drinks. The drinks menu at Penelope’s is truly sensational. With a plethora of gins, rums, and mezcal, as well as a carefully curated wine list, you won’t be short of choice. However, tonight was all about the cocktails and we gravitated towards the concise yet perfectly executed cocktail menu.
Struggling to choose, we spied a delightful Pisco Sour on the neighbouring table and decided to order two for ourselves. Expertly presented with a frothy egg white head and an artistic swirl of bitters on top, it tasted just as good as it looked. Refreshing and perfectly balanced, with a tantalizing blend of tartness, sweetness, silkiness, and herbaceous flavours all in one sip.
When it comes to the food, the idea, we were told, is to order dishes from both the starter and main menu, to share everything. The menu is carefully chosen, with something to suit every taste and the lovely Raj did an excellent job at explaining the less familiar ingredients.
Starting with the roasted Israeli Aubergine, we were stunned by the presentation. I’m a very visual eater and this was a work of art. The aubergine itself was expertly cooked (I often find it to be very bland when it is underdone), tender with a slight vegetal bitterness, delicately plated on top of a tahini soy dressing that paired wonderfully with a zesty pomegranate Pico de Gallo and sweet date glaze. A must-try for the vegetarians out there!
Next were the Gambas. Three plump and juicy Spanish Hoso Prawns, delicately grilled resulting in a buttery char for added smokiness. I’m sure the prawns would have been delicious as is, but we agreed that it was the combination of herbaceous chimichurri sauce drizzled on top, tangy preserved lemon and confit garlic that completed this dish.
We paused briefly to order two more Pisco Sours which, you’ll be pleased to know, were just as heavenly as the first.
When it came to mains we were encouraged to try the Israeli Style Paella (a fan favourite) and the Brill. So that we did. The Paella was a twist on the classic, consisting of Freekeh instead of rice, infused in a gorgeously rich tomato-gin sauce which, in my opinion, was good enough to be a stand alone dish. Although my friend relished the additions of succulent Octopus, squid ink and dill garnish. A sprinkling of lemon juice is key here.
The Brill looked fabulous, a very instagrammable dish with a crisp skin and expertly cooked meaty fish resting atop of Red Zhug, Monksbeard and buttery Garrafon Beans. We started to notice that just as the menu blends influences, each dish skillfully harmonizes all flavours. While each component stands out on its own, it’s the combination of flavours that is genius.
On the side, Israeli Tomato Salad. Juicy tomatoes with proper flavour, (a rarity in the UK), fresh herbs, pomegranate, onion and sliced sweet grapes, providing a wonderful contrast to the salty tomatoes. This humble dish is a true testament to high-quality ingredients and should not be overlooked. Shuk Tabbouleh came with pumpkin seeds and sour cherries, a light fresh salad, ideal for the warmer months.
Without warning we were bought two glasses of crisp, bubbly sparkling wine and a shot of tequila – a welcomed surprise indeed. It’s easy to see how one could be tempted to raise their hands in the air and dance on the tables at this point. Fortunately, we had our slightly more sensible midweek hats on and refrained from doing so.
On the dessert menu was the tantalizingly rich Chocolate Tart which mysteriously appeared on our table… Served with miso, hazelnuts and salted date ice cream this was indulgent yet nothing short of glorious.
We had an absolute blast at Penelope’s. The food was divine, the service top-notch, and the vibe was just right – lively yet laid-back, making you want to stay all night. My only regret? Not getting to experience the full-on ‘hands in the air’ weekend party. But mark my words, I’ll be back for more.
Drury House,
34-43 Russell Street
London
WC2B5HA
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