I've made a few trips to Penny, some just for coffee (takeaway and sit down) and a few with food. Across the board, Penny is outstanding in terms of Brisbane's cafe scene.
The baristas are exceptionally skilled, and there is a selection of roasts to choose from. While I normally like my coffee black, something that isn't too hard to make, I've had a few flat whites from Penny which have been excellent. A friend of mine asked if they're able to pull a piccolo using soy milk, without the milk splitting. Despite indicating that the barista don't need to try if they haven't made one before, they produced one (after two failed attempts) by slowly adjusting the extraction to the point where they could add a shot to soy milk without producing soy cheese. Doing this despite explicitly not needing to is the sort of above and beyond that earns long-term customers.
The food is similarly stellar. The avo on sourdough may at first blush seem like a pricier version of what everyone else is doing. The flavours in Penny's version are, however, inventive and balanced to a point I haven't had elsewhere. There's a nice balance between the feta, dukkah and pomegranate where you can taste all of them without one overpowering the other.
The vegetabowl is similarly great. There's just enough of each ingredient that you can taste them, without the dish being overpowered by one note.
Penny's interior makes maximal use of the space. There are comfortably sized tables out front and inside, and some bar seating by the espresso machine. The best seats in the house, though, are out back, and include a few longer tables.
The staff at Penny are attentive, friendly and great at pulling a coffee and making food. read more