Located inside Hotel AMANO Covent Garden, Penelope’s is a restaurant and immersive dining experience serving punchy plates of Israeli and Spanish fusion food. Offering a Berlin-meets-London sensibility, guests can also expect a vibrant drinks list, a killer soundtrack and live DJ performances on Fridays and Saturdays - perfect for partying the night away once you’ve had your fill from the food menu.
Overseeing the kitchen is executive chef Fez Ozalgan, who was born in London but draws on her Turkish-Cypriot heritage to create her exciting menu. She previously spent time at Jamie Oliver’s barbecue restaurant Barbecoa, as well as Hovarda, Yosma and Sucre. Here, she draws on her love for smoke and fire via a series of dishes cooked over flames on the restaurant’s mangal and josper grill.
A la carte, set and pre-theatre menus are available at Penelope’s, all of which are centred around tapas-style sharing plates. Highlights from the starters list include crab bourekas with lemon aioli, stone bass tartare with gazpacho sauce, lemon harissa and habanero peppers and roasted Israeli eggplant with pico de gallo, dates, tahini soy yoghurt and pomegranate. For main course, look out for an Israeli-style paella made with freekeh, octopus and a tomato gin sauce, and pistou stuffed courgettes with piquillo cream, ajo blanco sauce and tarragon. The star of the dessert menu is Penelope’s signature baklava cheesecake, paired with pistachio, walnuts and orange basil sorbet.
The restaurant seats up to 160 guests across raised platforms, cosy corners and spacious booths. While a long, sleek bar complete with leather brown stools would make a comfortable place to perch with one of its cocktails.
AMANO Group is a Berlin-based hotel company that currently owns 11 hotels, including eight in Berlin.