(updated review after second visit experience, two weeks later)
I visited Penny Farthing again and Ian, the general manager was there to bring us to our table. This time I ordered the Ribs and Chicken set and my wife ordered Sunday Roast. The food was fantastic. The meat fell off the rib, the tangy-ness of the chicken wing was just nice and the Southern fried chicken fillet was flavourful. The Sunday roast…you can’t go wrong with it…very nice.
One thing I would like to mention is one the staff upon noticing us trying to get a we-fie, offered to take a photo of the whole family. Really made our days. Thank you for the kind gesture.
Enjoyed this time round.
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(First visit experience)
Overall, it was a pleasant visit. The atmophere was good. My kids enjoy playing at the playground within the pub. The reason I'm giving 3 stars (though partially my mistake) are:
(i) I made my order at the counter. I ordered Steak Americano and was given Sirloin Upgrade without me realising it. I only realised it when I went back to check my receipt wondering why I was charged £2.00 more.
(ii) The food arrived as I was attending my kids at the playground, so my wife was not fully aware what was in the Steak Americano. When I started eating, I also didn't realise things were missing from my order till I finished my food. That's when I realised why my steak was so plain. My Steak Americano DID NOT have topping with crispy bacon, melted Mozzarella & Cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce. It's just a plain steak. Felt a bit overpay for not getting what I wanted. :(
We came here to escape a beige meal at Alton Towers. We had a really good meal with friendly service. Gladly altered spice of dish on request and served all dishes as we asked to help with hungry kids.
The portions were a good size with accurate descriptions of flavour.
Certainly worth a visit.
Not authentic Kerala food nor value for money
Over time, I’ve come to feel that Kayal doesn’t quite deliver authentic Kerala cuisine. The dishes tend to be a milder, less vibrant version of what you’d typically find back home. I understand the need to cater to a broader customer base, but many restaurants manage to retain authenticity while offering varying spice levels.
If I were bringing someone here for an introduction to Kerala food, I’d definitely say not to judge the cuisine based solely on this experience. True Kerala food is far more bold, rich, and celebratory in flavour. Unfortunately, some of the dishes here just feel quite bland.
That said, the customer service and ambience are lovely, no complaints there. But as someone from Kerala, I can’t say I’m impressed with the food. Also almost all the dishes are way over priced.