The Penrose Reviews

There are so many bars on the UES, many that come and go. This one I think will stay, great atmosphere, good, cold beers and very good food. Service is also very good. My wife and I came in late one night, were happily seated and served quickly, which is really nice as most late night places aren't happy for you to come in and order food. All in all, a great experience, and we will be back!

More a bar than a restaurant. THe food was pretty average at best. Lots of fried / burger type food. Not a lot of good healthy options.

My wife and I stumbled upon this nice place on second avenue. Service was fantastic as was the food. Simple menu. We started with the oyster sliders which were real good. My wife had the chicken and I had a burger. The buns they use are fantastic! We will be back.

I've been here a few times and have really enjoyed brunches at the bar. The service there is attentive and not annoying. I had once the avocado toast, and then more recently the eggs benedict. The vibe is mostly 20-40 somethings, so I was one of the older peeps for brunch. Come early, if you're going. It fills up fast, especially b/c it's a great value. I admire that they focus on seasonal, local, organic, sustainable. Should go for dinner when I'm next there.

The rustic wood and brick finished atmosphere of this pub welcomes you and draws you into the comfort of it's booths to make you feel right at home...well if your home were in modern-day Cork, Ireland. I would recommend checking it out for a leisurely brunch on the weekend as its lines are non-existent compared to how packed out it becomes in the evening hours. One can easily settle into it's charm and chat with friends for a good while without feeling rushed or pushed out to make room for other diners, and the food is quite good. I high recommend the baked eggs in tomato sauce, the avocado toast, or the breakfast burrito. My only complaint is the the lack of frills in terms of coffee selection. With brunch, I would love a nice cappuccino or latte, but The Penrose only offers the basic black or tea. A top spot for a weekend brunch in the city!

Went here for a private event on Tuesday night. Our area was in the back of the restaurant and was a pretty nice spot. I think they could have given us the whole back area. They gave us about 2/3 of it and for some reason squeezed a couple of tables in the area for other patrons. We had a bartender who took care of us. Nice selection of drinks and beers to choose from. The food we had was pretty typical bar type food.....burger and crab cake sliders and other options. That was all pretty good, nothing amazing. Overall I'd consider coming back for cocktails

Stopped by on the spur of the moment Sunday mid afternoon with a friend. At 3pm it had a good crowd. We had drinks & I had some fries - they were amazing! I'd go back again for the fries, and anything more would be icing on the cake.

I felt like I was in a college pub walking into this place. A bunch of bros drinking beer hitting on women. A little too cliche a place for me.

Frankly I had high expectations...which were not really met. Food is good, not fantastic. Service is very slow. Average prices. Cocktails so so, definitely not worth the price. The hostess is not at the entrance but rather mid way to the back of the restaurant. One waits several minutes at the door uselessly and no one bothers to tell you that you have got to walk to the back to ask to be seated. This happened to us but also to several other people Who came in later. Overall average experience

The Penrose has very cool interiors with a mix of brick walls and white butcher tiles, combined with wood tables and industrial-esque lighting. We had some of the bar snacks including the oyster sliders which were pretty good, as well as the cheese platters which was also great. The deep fried poppers and other deep fried options were not the best choices. The blood marys and the fresh lime vodka sodas were good cocktails. The overall vibe and music is very cool. A great place to hang out.

Been going to this place for years. Food is good, drinks even better with a unique beer menu. Good place to meet friends or just mingle

Went to the Penrose for the first time with a couple of friends for Saturday brunch. They were very busy, but the wait wasn't long at all! Just enough time to have a mimosa at the bar. The staff were all super friendly! Especially our waiter, Matt... he kept our coffee full, answered all of our menu questions, and really provided a delightful experience. The food was soooo good!!! Eggs and bacon, french toast sticks, avocado toast... every option was delicious. I will definitely go back next time I'm in the city!

After a stroll through Central Park, my friend and I decided we could go for a small bite. The Penrose looked good and online the menu offered a wide variety. We made our way over, and it was packed. We were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar. The service, while friendly, was extremely slow. We went from wanting a little bite to starving! It was almost 2pm and to our disappointment only the brunch menu was available. I decided on the chicken and waffles since they seem to be popular. After waiting over 40 minutes our food finally came out. The waffles and the syrup that accompanied them were bland. The chicken was extremely dry. I was starving so I ate what I could. For what I received I would say it was overpriced. Everyone else seems to enjoy, so maybe it was a fluke. I would not go back to find out.

What a cute neighborhood bar very industrial kie. If you are looking for some great martinis and beer this is the place, Bartender was awesome! Food was even better, you must order a burger, probably the best one we ever had!!! The crowd was professional and not too crowded. We got seated right away with a party of 10.

We were shopping nearby and visited based on a recommendation of three employees at the store we were in. Their was a short wait, but we sat at the bar and eventually got a drink. The bartenders were not overly attentive or fast. When we got our table my husband offered to pay, but the bartender begrudgingly said she would transfer the tab. Not sure why she gave attitude when we tried to pay before she offered. My husband had a burger and I had the avocado toast which was the perfect size for brunch and very tasty. Food was good, service was fine, but I enjoyed escaping the touristy places.

Great restaurant if you’re on the Upper East Side looking for a filling meal. The food and drinks are reasonably priced for the area. The restaurant is also close to The Met and it’s a quick walk to grab a bite to eat after a long day at the museum.

I had brunch here with two friends. The food and drinks were very good- we got the breakfast grain bowl, fried chicken & waffle, and the Penrose granola with mimosas & a blueberry bramble. We love that the restaurant is vegan and vegetarian friendly. The Penrose’s customer service is equally memorable. My coat, which I had hung on a nearby coat rack, was mistakenly taken by another customer. The AGM immediately began reviewing security footage. The bartender was so sweet and gave me a mimosa while I waited. Minutes later, they tracked down the coat! Everyone was so nice and helpful. I look forward to eating here again!

the food was just so-so. Plus we were sat in the back under vents which was very uncomfortable and made out food cold, fast.

STAY AWAY!! HORRIBLE RESTAURANT. We came in for brunch, they told us it would be "5 minutes to 25 minutes". While that sounded weird to start, we decided to wait based on all the good reviews. Huge mistake. after 25 minutes, they told us "it's going to be at least another 25...we misquoted". After AN HOUR, they tried to seat our party of 5 at a hightop that barely fit 4. There was no other seat! We walked out. Horrible experience and obnoxious hosts who have no idea what they are doing. The managers and owners of this place should be ashamed.

This place has a nice beer list, and a small menu. My son had the fried chicken sandwich and he shared a bowl of fries with my husband who had the burger. The fried chicken sandwich was really high, and my son really liked it. I had the fish and chips that also came with a tiny bit of slaw. The fish was really hot , nicely crisp but a tad greasy. We sat at the end of a common table which felt more roomy than some of the other spaces. I think there was only one server, and she kept up with the constant flow.

I was hungry and there were no tables available so we had to rely on bar food. As someone who is allergic to wheat and seafood, there wasn’t very much to eat. I went for fries and an artichoke dip. It was very tasty and the barman was attentive and provided great service. I just wish places that serve food could be a bit more mindful of people with dietary restrictions. In any case, a great vibe and service.

Stopped in this cute little spot for a quick beer and apps. Was early around 500 and not too busy. Fried Pickles good and House Fries good as well. Service terrible and slow. Our waitress awful and took 30 minutes to get beer. Other servers seemed on top of it. Took another 30 to get the bill . Otherwise astray spot!

Went here with my aunt who was in from out of town. We shared the avocado toast and the grain bowl. It was all terrific. Loved every bite. Great atmosphere although we did have to share a table with strangers. Definitely worth a visit

I stumbled upon the Penrose walking out of a doctors appointment. I had read about it some where and decided to get a quick bite to eat at 2pm. The place was busy on the terrace so I sat at the bar. I had a burger with american cheese and bacon.... It was perfectly cooked and oh so delicious. Pat LaFrieda patties are the best! The bar tender was very nice and very busy! Fries were hand cut and also perfect. I have had many burgers in town and this is one of the top 3 if you ask me! Just wait until Gigi gets her hands on one of these babies!

Had avocado toast with bacon. Very good. Nice place but busy for Sunday brunch. Noisy. We had one big booth.

I pass the Penrose frequently, a block from the 2nd Ave Q entrance on 83rd. It is a perfect spot to meet up after work for drinks and snacks. Good music, friendly atmosphere. I tell everyone, my husband and I had brunch with our wedding party there. Great place. Recently my dad passed, and when trying to decide where to celebrate his life with extended family and friends my sister and I decided on The Penrose and emailed the events manager Chaya. She helped with everything, never got tired or short with her answers. We would think of all our questions after we signed off. Chaya made recommendations, helped our ideas come to life, and made a difficult moment easy. Day of memorial: Chaya and her team created the perfect atmosphere. Our server Emma and bartender Audrey were exceptional. The guests kept telling us what great service, atmosphere and food, but repeated to us how great the servers were. We had 30 people, in the back area with tables and bar seating. Chaya helped us choose the right amount of food, and beverages. Emma kept the area clean with out being intrussive, Audrey kept us “hydrated”. We had a buffet food area - food was great!They put to go boxes out for guest to take treats home. Thanks to Chaya we were able to truly celebrate dad, she had his play list, which we provided pumped in and a slide show with his great life moments on the screen over the bar. He served in WWII, a decorated war hero, with great taste in music. They also insured the Honor Guard ceremony, presenting flag and playing of taps went off seamlessly. As I said in my first paragraph The Penrose is a great place, but on this day it was exceptional. Chaya, Emma, and Audrey turned my dads celebration of life into a warm family moment that we will remember fondly and proudly. Thank you Chaya, Emma, and Audrey! If missed names for behind the scenes peeps sorry.

Popped into this place myself for dinner . The place was very full with a energetic crowd . Asked a few others who were seated and they Raved about the food . Tried the Burger with Bacon and it was delicious and perfectly cooked medium rare . Was dying to have the Mac and Cheese with Bacon so ordered it and took half home for my doorman . Glad I tried it because it was delicious also . Can’t wait to come back with a group , so I can taste more of the food

We went twice to The Penrose when we were in NYC, and both times it was an excellent choice. There are several options of beers and other drinks. Menu with lots of options for all the tastes. We chose the mac and cheese and it was amazing, very tasty!!! I really recommend this restaurant!

If you arrive before the "young" people are on the way home fromm work then by all means go! Great pub food. The hamburger is outstanding and they make the best Manhattan in town.

I have been to this establishment twice. The drink menu is so good. I love all of the mixology drinks with infused oils and scents. The food is really good as well. The fried chicken and mac and cheese was amazing. I highly recommend this place for just a leisurely night out. Great food, drinks and atmosphere.

This restaurant is a perfectly adorable addition to the UES. The restaurant itself is very cute and intimate without being too romantic. The staff is quite friendly without being intrusive. The food and cocktails were very good. We had: Fried oyster sliders - delicious - loaded with pickles and a yummy sauce Portobello mushroom burger with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions - delicious. It was served on a multi-grain bun - healthy eating without feeling like you are missing out. Soft shelled crab sandwich- very tasty with a nice kick. El Campeon - a great cocktail - sweet with a spicy kick Itty Bitty Pretty - a tasty cocktail that was sweet but a little bland The restaurant is very loud so it is hard to have a conversation with your dining partner. Also it took a while for them to bring our check. The bathrooms were very clean

This is a super cute place with loads of delicious beers to chose from. The food is great and the portions are very generous. Its consistently good and always has a great atmosphere.

Ok for beers and snacks, service was great as the sound level. I guess they can improve the snacks and finger food menu, too small and poor. Is there a several choices of beer, enough to not get lost.

Extensive brunch menu, fantastic food, and great drink selection. Looks like a decent place for lunch or drinks as well.

Try the El Campeon. Reasonable price at a simple but cool location. Great to GP after a walk at the park.

Stopped in for Friday night happy hour with a friend recently and had a nice time. Really lively, warm atmosphere and friendly staff. It was unsurprisingly packed, but we were seated outside in under a half-hour, which was great. Our server was attentive and welcoming despite how busy it was, and the food and drinks were good all-around, if basic. Definitely more about the cocktail and beer menu than the food. Would love to see more vegetarian options in the entrees, but we were happy with what we ordered.

Why do they bother to ask how you want your burger cooked when it is sent out differently? The kitchen seems like it is too busy to send out burgers cooked to the degree that they are requested to be cooked. My request was for a medium burger which came out well done on two recent visits, including today. This will be the last visit. The waitress never came over to check to see if it was okay. The restaurant doesn't seem to care about the level of service, which, to me is reflected by the inexperienced very young waitress I had.

The food was delicious. The ambience was great. Portions were family style and generous. Adequate vegetarian choices.

We visited the Penrose for Sunday brunch, and they serve chicken and waffles! My nephew got it, and it looked really good. He had no trouble cleaning his plate. I had the smoked salmon benedict and it was delicious. The salmon had a very nice texture, and all ingredients were in proper proportions so that no one was overpowering the other. Another in our party had the salmon BLT, also no complaints. We all shared an order of the potatoes and these should not be missed. They get so crunchy they are as addictive as potato chips.

Just came here for the first time with my boyfriend for happy hour and I can't wait to go back! Bar tenders were very knowledgeable while also very nice. We didn't order any food but the menu looked great and I'll definitely be back to try some things! I am obsessed with this one drink that was on the menu. I looked online for the name but it wasn't listed so I'm guessing its new. It was a mezcal drink with habenero extract so it had a great smoky and spicy flavor to it. At $13 a drink it's a little pricey but worth it!!

Went twice to this UES bar/restaurant: Once for lunch and World Cup, and Saturday for Brunch and World Cup match. Both times treated great by bartenders. Excellent burger for lunch, and for Brunch, the Avocado toast is a must. I had chicken and waffles, which was also really good, but nothing special. 3 bars to serve everyone.

Terrific NYC pub. Excellent cocktails and craft beers. Went for brunch and eggs benedict were really good and baked eggs were terrific. Servers are very friendly. I would like to go for an evening of drinking and carrying on. Next time I visit for sure.

my wife and I went there for a Sunday brunch, we didn't have a reservation but the hostess took our number and she accommodated us at the bar, after 10 minutes we received a message the table was ready. we had waffle and fried chicken and smoked salmon and eggs, the food is really good and fresh, the restaurant has different seating areas, the decor is super cool with vintage decorations. service was friendly and accommodating. the drinks are good and properly prepared. great spot for brunch, drinks with friends

Not a place to have dinner. We arrived at 6 pm & found the inside to be quite charming with fun music. Many 30 & under couples were sitting at the entrance bar. We were seated in the back only to find another long bar and a number of tables. Great for large groups. Couples should go early evening or mid week. Won't break the bank. .Not a fine dining experience

BP's are beautiful people. It's loud but all singles, upscale but not over the top. Just well done and one of the first bars I've been to where boy/girl ratio was 50/50. There is a full menu with eclectic items like fried brussel sprouts in a hot wings sauce. Fish tacos were great. Burger done to perfection. Communal seating and good time.

This was our first stop on a night out for some light dinner and drinks. The place and it's menu aren't too full of themselves - they have a very laid back, come-and-hang out vibe to them. It was packed and we were lucky enough to score one of the front window tables. The food and drinks were good, we ordered the ham and cheese sandwich and got recommendations for drinks (I believe the Itty Bitty Pretty and a beer for the menfolk). Both very good as was the service even though the place was very busy. If you are coming from out of town and looking for a "local bar" to hang out in, you've found it. It quickly turns into a place where everyone is mingling and we met some awesome people.

Cozy place good for brunch. Burger was tasty and well cooked. They only have regular coffee (no espresso). Staff was friendly and service quick.

I always enjoy going out for food because it is a good time!! I am very broke and my parents have jobs and so they can take me out and not get into crippling debt!! I went here with my parents last night to get some food!! They both got beers and I got a cranberry juice on the rocks!! I was surprised because gave me a cup that was put in between two rocks!! That is a stupid joke just because I felt like it!! I also got some mac and cheese with bacon which came in a cast iron pan!! I enjoy fancy Mac and cheese and regular boxed Mac and cheese!! You all should come here!!

The vibe is dark, dimly lit and dressed in dark hard wood. It’s a cool place. It gets packed up front but there’s seating in the back. The food was great, we were stuff from lunch so just had grilled ham and cheeses and cocktails and it was all awesome. The bar tenders made really great cocktails. It was easy to talk when sitting in the back, good place to go with friends.

Pretty crowded for a Tuesday night. Nice neighborhood place. Great selection of craft beers. Small menu, but some nice selections. French fries were good. Mac and Cheese was just ok. Burgers were good. Not a lot of comfortable seats. Music made conversation difficult. Service was slow.

We stopped here for brunch on a Saturday around 11:30. There was a 1/2 hour wait for a table, but we were able to sit at the bar in the back and order. Worked out perfectly. I had the egg, bacon and cheese in Brioche sandwich and 2 in the party had the chirizo hash. Everything was tasty and they had a huge selection of drinks. Seemed to be a very popular spot.

Cool bar, nice people, young crowd, selection of drinks is wide, food menu a little scarse though. Live band sometimes, the place is very cool, good location, clean, pleasant atmosphere

We stopped in for a late snack and some drinks. We had the fried chicken sandwich and the artichoke dip, a draft and a cocktail. Everything was better than expected.

VERY noisy inside, would not have stayed had they not put us at a sidewalk table on a sunny afternoon, which was lovely. Staff was very attentive and professional. Food was good, not great. My son did not like his fries, but I did (and ate them lol!). It was the seating and the staff that made it a good experience.

We spent a few hours on Sunday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then walked around the city since the sun finally came out Sunday afternoon. By sheer luck, we found this little place when our group of 3 were past the point of starvation. It was the third place we stopped in as the other two had 45+minute waits. The very nice hostess explained there was no one waiting, so as soon as a table finished, we would be seated. It did take about 15 minutes so we enjoyed a drink at the cute bar in the back. My mojito was wonderful. We were there for the last hour of their Sunday Brunch. The brunch menu is limited and while I did not see anything I would normally be interested in ordering, I took a chance on their Penrose burger with Muenster cheese & fried egg. And so happy that I did. The burger & egg was prepared perfectly and it was so tasty! I managed to finish it, only b/c it was soooo good, I didn't want to leave anything. My sister loved her Avocado on toast and my brother in law enjoyed his eggs & spiced beef. Prices were very reasonable and the service was friendly and prompt. The restaurant itself is very cool...well restored with much of the original character of the building in place. The seating area is a bit cramped, but that lends to making the place very informal and friendly. Very nice way to spend a lovely hour (or two) in the city.

Fabulous breakfast. We got there at 11am and had no reservation but they found a table for us (asking us politely to ensure we could be done by 1230 as it was reserved for then). Great service. Rich dark and delicious coffee was kept filled always. My breakfast burrito came hot, lovely spiced, and with perfect scrambled potatoes. Excellent sides too. My husband loved his avocado toast with ridiculously perfect poached eggs. The salmon board and chicken and waffles were hits with the adult children. Our 1/2 of the bill with tip was about $45. Very good and we will be back. Super friendly server, too

If you need great cool vibe and a place to bring all your friends with wonderful mixology, this is the place to convince them to come to UES!

Went for a late brunch and had delicious food and mimosas. Ambiance was great and a perfect location near the met and the park!

My friends and I loved splitting a bunch of different appetizers with our drinks. This place is reasonably priced and had great service :)

This is a very happening place on the upper East side of Manhattan. Mostly young people. I think it’s more for drinks them for food but we went for food and enjoyed it very much. I had the fried chicken sandwich. It was crispy and spicy the way I like it my friend had the burger and fries and he enjoyed that.I think the biggest surprise where the onion straws! I never saw anything like them and they were delicious! Though we went for the food we came away more than pleasantly surprised with the outstanding service from Pete and Senaida. They were both incredibly friendly and helpful and made sure that we were enjoying our meal. I have lived a block away since 1982 and I had never been in this restaurant. It seems to have been here forever and always busy. Lunch and dinner. What a shame I didn’t try it before.

We had lunch at The Penrose and it was a very quite day in the restaurant part of the pub. The food was really good. We had the soup (pumpkin and seafood chowder) and shared a cheese platter. Service was super friendly and really quick. We sat in one of the booth seats which was roomy for two but I can see that this place would get really busy at night. The Bloody Mary cocktail was $8 and good. The bar tender was excellent.

No food at 1am. Understood that people come there to drink but would really be nice to have something to munch on while drinking. 😉 interiors were nice though. And there's a wide selection of drinks.

My family went to the Penrose for a very late lunch on New Year's Eve. We were fairly warned that the restaurant was closing in just over one hour to prep for NYE. I had the poached eggs with avocado toast which was delicious and my hubby and son enjoyed their burger with egg. My daughter's eggs and my eggs were cold - somehow they were able to replace my food but not my daughter's. Due to the timing, we could not get a second coffee for our "bottomless cup". I brought our issues to the attention of the manager and we were not charged for the problematic items. Overall, the experience was fair but I wouldn't rush to return.

Sat at a cute table up front for dinner and drinks! Food was great and drinks were delish (even a little cheaper than most other NYC cocktails). Vibe was lively and bar was crowded too!

My friends, who live on the upper east side suggested going to The Primrose. It’s primarily a place you might go on a date, even though we helped raise the mean age of the place by a couple of decades! To our delight, the manager, suggested a large booth facing Second Avenue, where we could attract even more senior citizens! As far as I could tell, their customers were all in their mid twenties and seemed oblivious of us. Their menu is strictly “Comfort Food”. Burgers, macaroni and cheese, grain bowls and phenomenal fries. I’m sure everything they serve is delicious. My wife and our friends loved their selection of beers and wine selection. I ordered a charred string bean salad with roasted chicken. It was s little different, since I couldn’t recall ever seeing a salad like that on a menu. It was surprisingly tasty and inspired me to try making it at home. The other thing that impressed me, is that it wasn’t so noisy so we could actually hear each other’s conversations! If you are interested in getting a table, my advice is get there before 6:00pm.

My Wife and I have been looking for a good mac and cheese venue, since our "local", Sage General Store, Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, closed at the end of their lease last year. We were greeted by Matt and shown to a table. Albeit we were given a menu, we new what we wanted. We opted for the Applewood bacon addition, to our dish. We would certainly recommend this addition. Our dish was beautifully served, piping hot in its own cast iron pan. The meal was tasty, good value and well served by Matt. We have already discussed our return, with two dishes in mind.

I have been living in a food wasteland. Spent 3 days in NYC recently. Was killing time until I could check into my Airbnb and happened upon The Penrose. I forget what they called it but it was basically a grilled BLT with Burratta cheese. Fantastic! Good selection of beers and a nice atmosphere.

Cool bar which is my brother's local as he lives around the corner. Good spot to have on your doorstep. Good crowd and buzz there

Could do better with the food. nice outdoor cafe, cozy dining room in the back. Stick to the Fish tacos and the burger. Long wait.

It's updated, fresh and laid back, with a neighborhood pub ambiance. Loved sitting up fron in the window booth. Our server was great. We had the pickle martinis....on the rock....and burgers. It's a limited menu, but what they have is excellent. Great place to meet with friends. Loved it.

Absolutely, positively will be back. This place is an absolute gem, not exactly hidden, but a perfect place to meet up with friends for a meal, especially when it's a group with picky eaters or people who don't know what they want. A friend and I were there today for brunch. Affordable, and the service from the time we walked in at the greeter's station to the table service (Eric) was exemplary. There was a minor issue with our meal, and I mean minor, it was taken care of promptly. Food was great. Prices were reasonable for the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Reservations are probably suggested, but we walked in early afternoon and got seated in a few minutes. Will definitely return and definitely recommend.

Went in with the fiancee last weekend. Very liveley crowd, definately on the trendier side. Nice full beer/whiskey/wine list. Only drawback : The seating. I'm a taller guy - 6'6'', and we were seated at this long 15ft table with one 15ft bench on each side, bolted to the ground. Getting in was no issue, being we were one of 3 couples at the table at that time. Once it filled up, and we were ready to go, I COULDN'T GET OUT! Definately very embarrassing. We got the Cheeseburger, and the Grilled Ham/Cheese, adn we shared the Mac n cheese (it was OK, honestly, wasn't thrilled with it.).

Had a quick lunch and drink here, food was delicious - recommend the soft shell crab burger. Service really friendly and attentive.

Good local vibe at this Upper East side joint. Much larger than it appears from store front. Bar to dine at, high tables, music, comfortable and chilled. Eggs Benedict and Avocado on Rye did not disappoint and exceptional if expensive fresh pressed apple juice. I will return to check evening fare!

This "local" upper east side never disappoints. The front is great for American style dining, with hip "classic radio hits" music playing n casual bar. The rear offers a different feel with large booths and mix of high tops, great micro beer bar, and picnic tables for multiple "family-style" sitting areas. The fried chicken sandwich, their penrose burger and artichoke dip were large and prepared perfectly. The 4 person jazz started playing around 9 and had us lingering after to enjoy their performance which was stellar

We went for a quite pints here last Saturday. Lovely bar we had a few drinks on the balcony and watched people coming and going. The owner is an Irish guy and he was very friendly and bought us a free drink. Would highly recommend this bar. Also had the basketball game on

This is just a straight up drinking bar with a nice vibe. The food is "bar food" but it is a great place to hang out for a couple of drinks after work. Very nice wines available by the glass. Friendly staff although a little too laid back in terms of attention. I would definitely recommend stopping here after work or before dinner someplace close. It's big so even if you are standing, you have some space

Walked a very long walk to this place just a warning! I was panting like a dog in the summer heat. We had prior reservations made for a group of 8 and we were seating in the back of the restaurant with some natural light shining above from the ceiling. Charming décor even though the portrait of this woman kept staring me down as I ate. Happy hour includes most of the drafts and wines. Ordered a Tenament’s ale and spiced beef sandwich. Pretty good but I thought the sandwich should have been spicer. Didn’t taste as spicy as I imagined it to be but still good! Definitely would suggest getting the mac and cheese, sliced Mcclure’s pickles, and chicharrones! Velvety, decadent mac and cheese. McClure’s pickles sure are spicy and lingers after eating them. Light and airy pork rines that are terribly bad for you but taste so good!

The decor in this place is great, staff are friendly and the drinks are amazing. My avocado on toast was delicious, however this place dropped a mark with my boyfriends chicken and waffles. The chicken looked like it had been fried then reheated in the oven as it had burn black bits on and was really dry.

Penrose has a nice brunch in a neighborhood with a lot of food choices. Lively atmosphere, good food and drink. Expect it to be loud, and expect a bit of a wait for brunch on weekends.

I stopped by the Penrose for a late night snack last month. Very pretty decor, with very cold beer. Friendly wait staff; good cleanliness; many folks were having a good time at 12:30 on a Tuesday night.

With good food and a cool bar scene, this place gets crowded and noisy for dinner. That's all well and good when you're with friends and looking for fun, but if you just want to sample the tasty pub grub, the best bet is to go at lunch when you can have the place to yourself.

The neighborhood vibe and excellent staff, make this our destination for breakfast/brunch. The food is excellent and exactly what is wanted for Breakfast or Brunch. Excellent Egg options and the homemade Panna Cotta with granola is unmatched anywhere. If you are looking for comfort, great food and reasonable pricing this is the place.

The brunch menu is decent. We mainly went so my husband could have chicken and waffles- which he raved about for the rest of the day. The cheese plate was good. The granola was a decent size, but personally I would have added more fruit and maybe a side of honey. Note they do not have chocolate milk or hot cocoa, but the hot cider was good with and without applejack brandy. The bloody marys were a little watery for our personal taste though. We like them more like a meal. Service was good.

So, we went there because I married a Penrose, got a taxi for about $20 from midtown. the waitress found out we had just got married and insisted we had a bottle of fizz to celebrate. When the hubby said it was free I was glad because it wasn't nice. Needless to say I was delighted with the gesture. When himself settled the bill he didn't notice we had been charged for the bottle of fizz. We only realised this when we had gotten home. It's a bit pricey but i guess that is also to do with location. It was quite noisy so if you are in a group it can be difficult to hear each other! I don't think i would be rushing back unfortunately...

Who said non-conformists only frequent dive bars and scavenge left overs in the dumpsters? I generally love to start my night on the Upper East Side and finish it on the Lower one (West Side can eat it). Anyway, Penrose is a nice place to take someone on the date. Drink menu is creative, but also they serve burgers. Dim lighting adds to the vibe. Only negative is the price and the hordes of yuppies.

We had a light and tasty lunch here before visiting the Met. The service is good and there is plenty of comfortable seating indoors or out. The menu has many interesting options. We settled on a white bean dip and a radicchio/broccolini burrata salad to share. The flavors were complex and delicious. The platings were attractive, the portions generous and the flatbread crunchy and fresh.

This bar was well decorated and had a posh vibe to it. The restaurant is a lot larger than it looks. Its decorated really nicely. Everything was delish, and they had tons of different drinks to chose from. I'd go back next visit.

I was familiar with The Penrose because that is where my sister held her wedding luncheon some years ago, a lovely little affair. After speaking with Chaya, my sister and I knew that The Penrose was where we wanted to hold a celebration of life memorial for our Dad. Chaya went above and beyond to accommodate our needs and wishes. She modified my music playlist to run seamlessly on their system and adapted my slide show to play on their TV. She arranged accommodations for Military Funeral Honors including Taps and presentation of the Flag. Chaya set us up in their back room. It was cozy and private yet spacious enough to comfortably accommodate 30 people. The layout of the room, open bar, buffet station and tables along the perimeter, made for easy access to drinks and eats and encouraged mingling. The food was abundant, nicely displayed and very tasty. The Beef Sliders, Caprese Skewers and Franks in a Blanket were favorites. Audrey manned the open bar with grace and style while Emma inconspicuously and neatly saw that our tables were cleared and cleaned and that plates, cutlery and napkins were timely replenished. In sum, I highly recommend The Penrose as a great place to hold an affair. Thank you Chaya, Emma and Audrey and everyone else who contributed to our celebration of life memorial for Dad.

Had a great time and some great drinks. The food is excellent also...I recommend the fried chicken and the burgers. Also try the Gins from Brooklyn

Great bar on the upper East side. Busy vibe, great wines, really good appertizers to share. Bar staff were really friendly and they all had beards!!

We were looking for a place for lunch after a visit to the Met and I googled and found this listed as being near by, good food, and fairly reasonably priced. It was, indeed, all of the above. One quirk of NY, which I know everyone loves except me, is Sat and Sun is brunch, not lunch...so my options were limited as to what to eat. I didn't want a burger as I wasn't feeling like I wanted that much but my boyfriend ordered one. I did have a taste and it was really really good, thumbs up. I ended up getting the avocado toast with no egg, but with bacon...there was SO much bacon, I split it with BF and even then it was too much. He ordered a side of fries too (not included with the burger...because UES brunch....) and they were delicious. All in all, it was a good meal. We were glad we trekked the few extra blocks from the museum to eat there. I do wish the music wasn't quite so loud, since there are too many hard surfaces in the 2nd room, and it made it hard to hear each other (although the mix of music was....meh.)

Definitely a bar you should go if you stay at the upper east side, nothing impressive about the food, but they have nice atmosphere with low lights and irish or country music. Service was good. Overall, I recommend it

The decor and the atmosphere are really special, it has a vintage feel about it, in a good way, and never feels contrived. I primarily chose The Penrose for their cocktails as I had heard they mixed interesting ones and it's true. So definitely try them. While I was there I looked at the food that was being served and it all looks so inviting that I decided to stay for a meal. Once again the options are fun and intriguing. I went for a salmon tartare and my friend went for fish and chips. Our plates looked very appetising but after the 4th bite it all tasted far too salty. My friend complained of the same thing. We didn't have time and didn't want to make a fuss and it could also be our palate. The staff were friendly and all looked the part, a mixture of relaxed and hipster but not in a pretentious way, the real deal. I'd definitely go again and maybe ask for less salt next time.

What's to like: great beer list, decent wine selections, limited menu with a targeted approach. Great burgers, great appetizers. Very friendly service. Lovely large geometrically accurate ice cubes in cocktails. We sat at the communal table. Never a huge fan of those, but all went well and didn't feel like we/they were eavesdropping. Never felt hurried. Can get a bit loud later on as the bar scene heats up.

We had brunch on a Sunday. We were promptly seated. We ordered drinks and appetizers. Definitely try the Mac and cheese balls, Elvis press and French toast sticks. The avocado toast was also delicious. Only thing missing is they don’t have decaf coffee!!

Stopped by at the last minute and enjoyed it. Communal tables, great beer selection, fun bar food. Nice service. Loud music. Good place for a fun night.

Top interior, top barman (knowledgeable and v pleasant), top vibes. Had a really nice time here, happened across The Penrose, not expensive, everything about it was good.

The Penrose was a pleasant surprise. Great drinks and beer on tap with tasty food to boot. Food: 9 Drink: 9 Atmos: 8 Service: 8 Value: 7 Fried Chicken sandwich was VERY good! Oyster sliders were tasty, and the bacon helps the fishiness. The Mac n Cheese is to die for....if you like bacon. It's loaded with the stuff and has a nice crust. Burger...above average, but not the standout here. Mussels surprisingly good with an awesome zesty white wine sauce and thick toast to dip.

Stopped in after a business meeting. Very comfortable solo experience. Great fish and chips, social bartender, excellent cocktail. Will recommend!

We sat outside on their patio. They have an extensive drink menu and some of the drinks are offered at reduced prices during their happy hour. We initially intended to eat there as well but the food menu is rather limited and seemed uninspired. The service was excellent

I have been here three times now. All visits were different and I enjoyed each one. The first time I went, I sat in the back with my boyfriend. It was super loud, but what do you expect?.. It's a pub. I enjoyed their fried pickles, burger, and fried chicken! Yum!.. The drinks were great, I just randomly picked a beer and what I received went perfectly with my food. The second time, I sat at the bar with my boyfriend and our bartender was surprisingly very attentive despite the huge crowd. That night, there was a private party going on in the back. I ordered the macaroni this time and was NOT disappointing. It hit the spot with a nice cold glass of randomly selected beer. My boyfriend ordered those awesome chicken wings again. Our third time going, I took a few friends with me to share this little gem on the U.E.S. by our apartment. We were seated at the long table in the middle of the pub and had great service.. AGAIN. Talk about consistency!.. The food that followed was again, awesome. We ordered the Chicken wings, fried pickles, burger, and fries. I have made this my go-to spot to relax after work. My friends have recently started taking their clients there and have had enjoyable experiences. Good job guys.. I'll see you all soon!

Beet Bloody Mary with chili infused vodka......and that's just for starters.. We went for a late lunch and were very happy to find this little gem. They close for an hour between lunch and dinner, so it can be tricky with timing around this time - we were lucky to be seated immediately. Great quick bites, great service from well-informed wait staff and bartenders.

The environment is noisy but if you look past that this restaurant very nice with really good food! It is more of a gastro pub and the staff are really friendly and service minded. I am very pleased with the visit to this restaurant, however I would not recommend it to families with small children, due to the noise level. But if you like good food and a hipp relaxed atmosphere, this is the place to go.

Had a rehearsal dinner in private room. Excellent creative food, classy bar and many choices. Wonderful hors d'oerves, great wine and beer lists!

The location is very very nice, cozy and casual. The food is good for brunch. Unfortunately the service is incredibly slow (we waited one hour for our food!), although probably the reason is that the place is pretty busy at brunch time.

Great food. Large portions..almost too much. Went for brunch and was thoroughly satisfied. Really good service! Highly recommended.

Great date spot, cozy and cute on the UES. Great for the 20-30 something crowd during happy hours and weekend nights. Food is decent as well, but I'd go for the drinks.

The penrose is an upscale version of your nyc irish pub. They are known for their great cocktails and wide variety of whiskeys, scotch and bourbon. They have a great music but there is usually no dancing. Great to meet with a group of friends here.

Start with the good, nice assortment of starters/bar food. Fun crowd and nice interior. Bad- I would suggest that you stick to beer or wine, they are not serving high end scotch. I mean I order a scotch (JWB) and soda which I drink most of the time....it was made with a low end scotch of some kind, as a one type of scotch drinker you know the difference! When I asked they said no I was mistaken it was JWB. What a joke! SHAME on them! So before I wrote this review I read some reviews in y-lp where patrons complained about the same thing.....BTW I switched to beer and enjoyed the company I was with. I hope they smarten up, there are plenty of better place to go in the city. I won't be back :)

This is an Irish-American gastropub with a good list of draft beers- Bronx pale ale and another one from Michigan were excellent. The food is American, we had a spiced beef sandwich with pickles, and a fried chicken sandwich, both of which were delicious. The barman was friendly and welcoming and gave us excellent service, and the atmosphere is that of a cosy, welcoming neighbourhood pub.

This is a fun place to go. Good atmosphere and nice menu choices. I went with a group and we were all happy with our drink selections; hot cider, pickle martini, wine. We had appetizers (calamari, cheese board) and sandwiches, all of them were good. I was disappointed when we were sat at the table right by the door but it ended up being a great location. It was a private area at the window, not cold or breezy.

Honestly, pretty disappointed about this place. Heard great things, had a good first few experiences, nothing special. Everything about it just seemed okay, standard. But then I had an encounter with a Manager, who at first said she was a Manager, but then changed to say she's one of the General Managers instead, I believe her name was Kerry? I have never been so disrespected before in a restaurant. Sometimes you wonder why people choose to work in a restaurant when they clearly don't care very much to be kind and easy going with their patrons. Sometimes guests are going to be difficult or frustrating, but for a GM to be the same way in return is just not hospitality. Extremely rude to speak to, not flexible, and illogical about everything she had to say. And then, when I asked to speak with the other GM, she refused to tell me who he was. Come here for a beer or something easy, sure. Definitely not a place for an occasion. Food is just plain meh, and the drinks can be had anywhere in the city, nothing unique here. Move on to the next option, which are now plentiful on the UES.

The Penrose is a "gastropub" on the upper east side which happens to serve a pretty good brunch. Burgers, mac & cheese and battered sausages are the normal fare for lunch and dinner, but breakfast includes tasty selections from egg sandwiches, fried chicken & waffles and complete Irish breakfast. Portions were a bit small. The service was very good but three of us were seated at a very small cafe table in the bar meant for drinks for two (the back room hadn't opened up yet). Good specialty drinks and a happy hour starting at 11:00. Give it a try.

My family and I like to explore the "local" areas of NYC; and one day on the upper east side of NYC, we came across The Penrose for lunch. This is definitely a local's restaurant and was worth the stop for lunch. Service was helpful especially since it was our first time visit. The food was quality and tasty. If /when I am back on the upper east side of NYC I would not hesitate to find The Penrose again.