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Call Sign August 2011
David Kupler (Y74), David Ballard (N28) and Alex Constantinou (N05) are Call Sign's restau-
rant reviewers. These DaC drivers and their guests visit restaurants periodically and give their
honest opinions. This month Alex Constantinou visits The Penny Black in Fulham Road...
EATING OUT WITH CALL SIGN
hearted support of the British farming industry.
butter and cream and was just totally stunning.
I had a feeling we were in for a treat when Alan
They believe that British food has a huge amount
Like most who work in legal offices, Jack want-
Fisher phoned and told me the next restaurant to
to offer a public that has grown too accustomed
ed something richer (!!!) and went for the choco-
be reviewed was The Penny Black at 212
to great food being Italian or French and they are
late fondant and toffee butter washed down with
Fulham Road SW10 and I wasn't wrong!
determined to show the world that British food
a white Russian cocktail.
The Penny Black is almost opposite Chelsea
does not just involve sausage and mash or fish
Yes, we know that reviewing restaurants is a
and Westminster hospital with plenty of parking
and chips!
tough job, but someone has to do it and if it
around, especially after 6:30. Their food is
If you hadn't already guessed, I wholehearted-
sounds as though we enjoyed The Penny Black,
described as British and in all honesty that makes
ly recommend The Penny Black! And you never
then yes, you'd be right. The food just seemed to
a welcome change. British food in England and
know, you may have a grateful passenger who is
get better and better, complemented by excellent
not sausages and mash? Whatever next!
looking for advice on where he/she can find a
service and a friendly ambiance.
The restaurant's interior was modern yet very
very good British restaurant. See below for
Whilst The Penny Black isn't cheap, the prices
comfortable and the warm and cheerful greeting
some exciting news on taxi recommenda-
are very fair for such amazing fare! Starters were
as we entered helped put us in the mood. My fel-
tions...
around £8 with mains courses varying between
low reviewer for the evening was son jack, who
The Penny Black is at 212 Fulham Road
£15 and £25 and desserts around the £6 mark. If
had just finished work at his Lincoln's Inn office
SW10. Opening hours are:
you are happy to take my word for it, then those
and was pretty hungry.
prices represent excellent value for the quality
The service from our waiter was very discreet
Tues to Sat: Lunch 12pm - 3pm, Dinner 6pm -
and quantity of the food on offer. And it makes
and knowledgeable and he helped us choose a
11pm, Sun: Lunch and dinner 12pm - 10:30pm.
a pleasant change to find a restaurant not just
wine that would complement our main courses
Bookings on 0845 838 8998, email info@thep-
serving the occasional British meal, but which
perfectly.
ennyblack.com or you can book online by going
proudly bases a complete menu on it.
to www.thepennyblack.com and clicking on
We could have started with scallops, corned
The ethos of The Penny Black Restaurant fits
reservations. The Penny Black is closed on
beef hash or some beautiful looking oysters, but
with Jan Chanter's vision of the finest British
Mondays.
after huge indecision, Jack eventually selected
cooking. It is resurrecting British classic dishes
the cider-roasted belly of pork, baked apple and
Alex Constantinou (N05)
using the highest quality ingredients with whole-
grilled radicchio while I went for the devilled
mushroom, chicken livers with cognac cream.
The Penny Black Taxi Driver's
Both were beautifully presented and plentiful.
Jack's pork was cooked to perfection and tasted
fantastic. Mine was every bit as good and as we
Incentive Scheme
chatted waiting for the main course, we couldn't
help but wonder whether that type of standard
The Penny Black Restaurant is offering a fantastic incentive scheme for all Licenced Taxi
could be maintained? Not to worry, head chef
drivers. If your passengers are looking for an excellent British restaurant, just drive them
Jan Chanter made sure that we were not to be
to The Penny Black at 212 Fulham Road. The tenth recommendation will get you a £50
disappointed. Of course, having previously
voucher towards the cost of your dining experience at the restaurant. If you decide to
worked with Jamie Oliver and Ben O'Donoghue
continue without taking the voucher, then after the next ten they will give you a further
at Monte's in Chelsea, the much-missed Atlantic
£100 to spend towards your meal (food and wine). Once twenty reservations have been
in Piccadilly and having heard of his love affair
made you will have £150 in two vouchers and the reward scheme will reset itself.
with British food, perhaps that wasn't too sur-
Just contact the restaurant directly on 0845 838 8998 and register your driver details.
prising.
Not only will you be able to look forward to a wonderful evening, you will have the sat-
Selecting was difficult with so many long-for-
isfaction of knowing that your passengers will think you are wonderful!
gotten items to choose from. There was toad-in-
the-hole, seared Tiger prawns or a rack of Welsh
lamb, but we were both blown away by the
Dial-a-Cab Credit Union
tastes and textures of both our selected main
courses. I quite fancied some fish and went for
the herbed roasted monkfish, roasted beetroot
with leaves whilst Jack went for the beef welling-
Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about variable
ton, potato and fennel bake with rocket salad. Jan
bank interest rates?
Chanter's recommendation was for the beef to be
Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or mem-
cooked medium rare and Jack wasn't about to
argue!
ber of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the Dial-a-Cab
Our waiter suggested some side dishes to
Credit Union. Any member of your family residing at your address
accompany the meals and we ended up with
duck fat chips, nutmeg mash and sautéed
also qualifies for membership!
spinach. The plates were filled with great tasting
Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for
food and ultra-fresh produce as the beef melted
over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow up
in Jack's mouth and I didn't want my beautiful-
tasting monkfish to come to an end! Not only
to 3 times your total savings...
was it just stunning in taste, there wasn't a
The cost?
glimpse of any pasta anywhere! And doesn't that
make a change.
Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.68%).
Neither Jack nor I really had room for a
Loans can be paid back early AND there is usually an annual dividend on
dessert, but then we thought of Call Sign and
your savings.
knew you would all be disappointed if we didn't
give it a go! So as it was a British food restaurant,
for me that meant biting into some gorgeous hot
The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it...?
bread and butter pudding. I'm not sure if it
Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585
helped my diet, but it certainly made my taste
buds sit up and beg for more! It oozed warm rich
