How is the noise level rated at Penelope's?

The noise level at Penelope's is rated 6.2/10 by TheFork users.

How is the service rated at Penelope's?

The service at Penelope's is rated 8.8/10 by TheFork users.

How is the quality of the cuisine rated at Penelope's?

The quality of the food at Penelope's is rated 8.6/10 by TheFork users.

How is the atmoshpere rated at Penelope's?

The atmosphere at Penelope's is rated 8.8/10 by TheFork users.

How is the waiting time rated at Penelope's?

The waiting time at Penelope's is rated 8.6/10 by TheFork users.

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Reviews - Penelope's

Name: Penelope's
Address: Russell Street, London, WC2B, United Kingdom
Price range: £35 (Prices have been provided by the restaurant)
Rating: 8.7

Reviews

8.7
of 10

Fabulous

363 reviews

Ambience

8.8

Food

8.6

Service

8.8

Real experiences from real diners
Ratings and reviews can only be left by guests who have booked with TheFork.

How do we calculate ratings?

Maria G. • 9 reviews
11 February 2025
8/10
The food looked very nice but was a bit bland. The cheesecake was great though.
Val H. • 22 reviews
4 March 2025
10/10
A very welcoming and comfortable space with knowledgeable and helpful staff. The food was superb - all very tasty and beautifully presented. Will visit again.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Val, Thank you for your kind words! we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to Penelope's. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Merilyn B. • 1 review
12 February 2025
10/10
Excellent food, beautifully presented. Limited but very good wine selection
Gregg H. • 1 review
6 February 2025
2/10
Not what we expected wasn’t a true reflection of the restaurant suggestion inflexible , impersonal & zero atmosphere. Don’t stay for the food .
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Gregg, We are sorry to hear that our à la carte menu options did not quite meet your expectations, and that you chose not to stay. We always strive to provide a great dining experience and truly value guest feedback. We would love to hear more about your suggestions, as detailed feedback helps us improve. Please feel free to reach out to us directly via email, we’d really appreciate the opportunity to understand your thoughts better. Best, Penelope's Team
Alessandro P. • 1 review
17 January 2025
9.5/10
Amazing food and great location. I will be back
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Alessandro, Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your recent visit to Penelope's. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Tilly V. • 1 review
17 January 2025
9.5/10
Very chilled ambiance, with great food from the Pre-theatre menu!
Adam P. • 1 review
16 January 2025
5/10
Uninterested service, average food, zero atmosphere.
Lucy D. • 1 review
20 December 2024
10/10
Lovely food and great atmosphere
Goldie L. • 5 reviews
12 December 2024
10/10
Interesting and delightful fusion of cuisine! Highly recommended for food and ambience.
gonzalo z. • 1 review
12 December 2024
5.5/10
the food just wasn't that good for the price and took forever to come. the server was very nice though
Tina F. • 1 review
30 November 2024
6/10
Nice restaurant, forgot my main course but did knock money off the bill, which I appreciated, would I go again sadly no!
Michael D. • 1 review
23 November 2024
3/10
Mediocre food, awful service. Doesn’t hurt to smile every now and then!
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Michael, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that your experience wasn’t up to standard. We would really like to hear more details about what went wrong so we can address the issues and work on improving. Please feel free to reach out to us directly via email. Your input is important to us, and we hope to make things right. Best, Penelope's Team
Marcia W. • 1 review
22 November 2024
7/10
Food was ok, I wouldn’t return for the food but the service was exceptional
Ben F. • 1 review
20 November 2024
6.5/10
Disappointing service and ambiance, great food. The staff all seemed disengaged - the maitre d’ wasn’t welcoming, waiter uninterested and managers more interested in their effort vs our requirement when a bill adjustment was needed. We were expecting something like Carlotta and were disappointed.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Ben, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are glad to hear you enjoyed our cuisine, and we truly appreciate your kind words regarding the food. However, we are sorry to learn that the service and ambiance fell short of your expectations. Please accept our apologies for any lack of engagement from our team. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we will ensure it is shared with the team so we can address these areas for improvement. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with the exceptional service we strive to deliver. Best, Penelope's Team
Alessandro C. • 2 reviews
20 November 2024
9.5/10
The food is really nice. Impeccable service. A bit pricey, but you're in Covent Garden and the interiors look like a fine-dining restaurant.
Christos V. • 1 review
9 November 2024
4/10
The food was good but the service was terrible. Throughout the whole time that we were there we kept on getting reminders that we needed to leave the table at a certain time and everything felt extremely rushed. The waiter with the long hair was very rude. I would not go there again.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Christos, Thank you for your kind words about our cuisine, we are glad you enjoyed the food. However, we deeply apologize for your experience with the service. While we offer a standard 2 hour seating time and provide a reminder, we are sorry if it made you feel rushed. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will address this with our team to improve. We hope you will give us another chance to provide a better experience. Best, Penelope’s Team
Virginia V. • 1 review
2 November 2024
9/10
Great atmosphere , food is tasty, plates good size. Service can improve a lot.
Ian G. • 5 reviews
1 November 2024
10/10
Really lovely pre theatre event
Maria M. • 1 review
29 October 2024
8/10
A great choice for pre-theatre dining which was our experience. Particularly when visiting The Fortune Theatre (next door) or Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (opposite). We enjoyed a ‘large plate’ each which was the daily Shawarma special. Very tasty and competitive pricing. Efficient and friendly service.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Maria, Thank you very much for taking the time to let us know how we did. We are glad to hear you enjoyed your recent pre-theatre dinner at Penelope's! We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Sarahann C. • 29 reviews
22 October 2024
8/10
all very nice
Penelope's • Owner
Thank you very much for your review Sarahann! We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Ian B. • 1 review
26 October 2024
10/10
Needed a restaurant for after the Operation Mincemeat matinee and spotted Penelope’s. Lucky spot. Outstanding food, service and ambience.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Ian, Thank you for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear you had a good time at Penelope's. Your feedback and compliments will definitely be shared with the team. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Rupert E. • 1 review
3 October 2024
8/10
Expensive
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Rupert, Thank you very much for your review! We understand pricing is important, and we want to assure you that we regularly review our prices to stay in line with those in the Covent Garden area. We appreciate your visit and we hope to welcome you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Harry E. • 1 review
3 October 2024
4/10
Good service but good felt mediocre.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Harry, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. While we are happy to hear you were pleased with the service, we are sorry to hear the food didn’t quite hit the mark for you. We would love to understand more about what didn't meet your expectations so we can improve. Please feel free to reach out via email and we hope to make your next visit a great one! Best, Penelope's Team
Michelle K. • 1 review
18 September 2024
8/10
Service was impeccable Their gluten free options were not in fact gluten free - cooked in the same oil as gluten products so we were left with basically one safe option. We would have left and gone somewhere else but we didn’t have time
Charlene P. • 1 review
18 September 2024
9.5/10
Portions were alittle like tapas but food was great overall!
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Charlene, Thank you so much for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the food! We’ll take note of your comment on portion sizes and will continue working on providing the best balance. We hope to see you again soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Rosa M. • 1 review
14 September 2024
10/10
Lovely place, tasty food, brilliant service but prepare to pay at least £60 per head.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Rosa, Thank you for your kind words! We are very happy to hear you enjoyed the food and service. Regarding pricing, we regularly review our prices to ensure they are in line with the Covent Garden area, while maintaining the quality of the experience. However, we truly appreciate your feedback as it helps us to continually improve. We hope to welcome you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Chris T. • 9 reviews
5 September 2024
10/10
Lots of tasty small plates and great service. Dined early so not that busy. Nice atmosphere
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Chris, Thank you for your positive feedback! We are very happy to hear you had a god experience and enjoyed the food and the service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Alessandro P. • 12 reviews
29 August 2024
10/10
Excellent food Cheerful staff Suggestive venue I tested mint and fennel in the paella, which I’d say do not belong in that dish. Additionally I would lose the petals on desserts. Other than that, I had a great experience.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Alessandro, Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your recent visit to our venue. We appreciate your comments, your input is valuable and helps us improve. We're glad you had a great experience overall and hope to welcome you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Bernadette W. • 74 reviews
16 August 2024
9/10
Fantastic drinks & food, the beef short ribs were super tender. Do not miss out on the Baklava cheesecake. The place is a mix of restaurant, bar, club, which is a very interesting and lively concept. But once the music is turned up, it's no longer possible to have a conversation. We were there on a Friday night.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Bernadette, Thank you for your review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the drinks, food, and especially the beef short ribs and Baklava cheesecake. It’s great to know you appreciated our lively concept. We apologize if the music was a bit too loud on Friday night, and we’ll take your feedback into consideration to help strike the right balance between atmosphere and comfort. We hope to welcome you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Bahadir T. • 2 reviews
16 August 2024
9/10
amazing atmosphere and music
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Emin, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the music and atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another special evening! Best, Penelope's Team
Vivianne H. • 21 reviews
9 August 2024
10/10
Amazing food and setting. Music was good but a bit loud
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Vivianne, Thank you for the great feedback! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the food and setting. We appreciate your note on the music volume and will keep it in mind to ensure the best experience for everyone. Looking forward to having you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Adriana Mazza C. • 3 reviews
27 July 2024
8.5/10
nice and run
Penelope's • Owner
Hello Adriana, Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear you had a ‘nice and run’ experience. Your feedback is appreciated, and we are looking forward to welcoming you again soon! Best, Penelope’s Team
Lee L. • 10 reviews
24 July 2024
10/10
A lovely meal with great service from Raj. Felt very spoilt for my birthday and helped make it a special day
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Lee, Thank you so much for the lovely review! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal and felt spoiled on your birthday as you should! We are also thrilled to hear that Raj’s service made your special day even more memorable! We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Penelope’s Team
Myra T. • 25 reviews
6 July 2024
9/10
Food is delicious. And it is a good fusion dinning experience. Expected a bigger portion for the main course . The cheesecake is a nice mix of baklava and cheesecake. Surprisingly, the dessert is even bigger than the main course!
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Myra, Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we did. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your recent visit and our fusion dining concept. We appreciate your feedback regarding the portion sizes. We are constantly striving to improve and will certainly take your comments into consideration. We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable meal! Best, Penelope's Team
Michelle A. • 1 review
27 June 2024
4.5/10
I thought the menu was very disappointing
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Michelle, We're sorry to hear that you did not like our food menu. However, thank you for the 10/10 regarding our staff service. We appreciate your feedback! Best, Penelope's Team
Jessica B. • 1 review
18 June 2024
9/10
Nice place, good service but a bit pricey
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Jessica, Thank you very much for your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your recent visit and our service. We strive to offer a great experience and appreciate your input on the pricing. We look forward to welcoming you back at Penelope's! Best, Penelope's Team
Vasile P. • 12 reviews
13 June 2024
8/10
Went for a date. They were really welcoming and offered us a glass of Prosecco on the house. The ambience was nice but quite empty for a Thursday evening considering the size of the restaurant. Food was good, recommend the octopus paella.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Vasile, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your date night. It's wonderful to know that you liked the ambience and enjoyed our cuisine. We do our best to create a pleasant dining atmosphere, even on quieter evenings. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we hope to see you again soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Tom E. • 3 reviews
12 June 2024
9.5/10
Food was excellent, we had a number of small plates with large plates too. Service was fantastic. It’s quite dark in the restaurant itself, but has a nice vibe
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Tom, Thank you for letting us know how we did. We are very happy to hear that you had a good experience. Thank you for the compliments regarding our service and ambience vibes. We very much look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Penelope's Team
Louise B. • 21 reviews
7 June 2024
7/10
This is a very expensive restaurant. The small plates are really small, and even the big plates are pretty small, which is fine in principle if the food is excellent but I’m afraid some of it was not. We ordered several dishes but the monkfish and the prawns were not fresh and they were overcooked. The prawns were soft, with no bite whatsoever - the head just fell off, which is always a bad sign. And the monkfish had the texture of cotton wool. On the plus side the bread and humus was very nice. The white wine was not cold enough, we had to have ice in it. The service was pretty good, but it’s very dark in the restaurant and the music is too loud. I was with my extended family and it felt like we couldn’t really hear each other properly. We did ask for the music to be turned down and they did slightly turn it down but it was still too loud. I would not return or recommend - there are many restaurants nearby that charge half the price for better food.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Louise, Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize that your recent experience with us did not meet your expectations. Regarding the portion sizes and pricing, we regularly compare our prices with other restaurants in the area to ensure they align with current offerings. We're sorry to hear that you found some of our dishes not up to standard. We will certainly share your feedback with the team. We're glad you enjoyed the bread and hummus, as well as the service. We understand that the lighting and music volume affected your dining experience. We do advertise that we host DJs and create a party ambiance on weekends on all our platforms, but we apologize if this was not clear. We'll work on making this information more prominent. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve. We hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future. Best, Penelope's
Brian K. • 21 reviews
4 June 2024
10/10
Beautiful setting, easy-to-access location and delicious food. They even serve me complimentary wine. The only thing Im unhappy is the portion. My grilled monkfish which tasted perfectly fine yet it's only one bite and costs 15 pounds. Same with the paella which the portion is quite small.
Penelope's • Owner
Dear Brian, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful setting, convenient location, and delicious food. We apologize that the portion sizes did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable, and we'll certainly take it into consideration as we strive to improve our offerings. We hope to see you again soon. Best, Penelope's Team