Penny Farthing — Restaurant in Coventry

We visited Penny Farthing with friends so there were four adults and four children with ages ranging from 10 down to 2 years old, for a Sunday lunch. This was at the beginning of September, so it was still quite warm, so we opted to sit outside so the kids could play on the playground. The menu was great with plenty of choice for all the kids and one of our party is a vegetarian. The food did take quite a long time to come out, which was disappointing and when it arrived, some of the meals looked a little less appetizing than we had hoped. However, for the most part, the meals were very tasty. The member of our party who was vegetarian had opted for the cauliflower tacos as her first choice was out of stock...when her dish arrived, it was basically cauliflower which had been deep fried and then put in a taco.... By the time it came around to looking at deserts (due to the length of time it took for the dinners to come out) we had been at the restaurant for over two and a half hours and it was starting to get cold, so we all went inside. We managed to find a table for all eight of us and there was a small play area suitable for the younger kids as well as a good choice of board games for the older ones. The deserts were fantastic. The staff were all helpful and friendly although the restaurant, by the time we were ready to leave, did look rather messy and grubby as they didnt seem to have enough time to clear tables. Pricewise, the menu was very reasonable so no complaints there. The only downside was that the lady who had the deep fried cauliflower was poorly when she got home.....We do not believe it was food poisoning or anything sinister like that, however....more likely the large amount of fat covering the cauliflower which she was not used to eating. All in all, though, if you're looking for a reasonably priced meal for a family and you have a little time to spare, it would be worth checking The Penny...

(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.

(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...

Earlier today, myself and a (Support Assistant) colleague of mine, visited 'The 'Penny Farthing' (As we do on a regular basis) along with a group of 'Service Users' who have varied physical and mental disabilities.

As per usual we were greeted with incredible warmth and understanding by the staff on duty, before ordering the usual meals, drinks and deserts for those in our care.

Unfortunately, on this particular occasion, steak pies were missing from the menu. This caused one of our 'Service users' to slip into a state of anxiety.

His condition is a complex one, which means that even the slightest deviation from his meal time routine, can totally alter his mindset, (Especially when he is away from the 'Comfort Zone' of his usual surroundings.)

The staff were quick to come to the aid of myself, my colleague and our increasingly distressed friend.

In no time at all, they went above and beyond the call of duty, to purchase a meat pie from a local chip shop, before plating it up to us totally free of charge.

Our concerned 'Service User' was soon tucking into his desired food as if nothing had ever happened.

In conclusion, my colleague and I were gobsmacked by the kindness shown by the staff at 'The Penny Farthing' and will never be able to thank them enough.

Take from that true story whatever you will, but it's a 5 stars PLUS...