Penang: Imagine a power plant furnished with bamboo patio furniture and you’ve got Penang. The Upper East Side version of the Malaysian chain restaurant is decorated no differently than its sister locations in Manhattan, Boston, Philly, and DC. As if its rusty façade weren’t unappealing enough, the inner restaurant’s copper and wood motif is downright dreary. Cocktail blends of coconut milk, tropical fruit juices, and spiced liquors are the only draw here, and they’re not cheap. Happy hour specials apply only to wine and beer, which go for $4 and $3, respectively. Penang is okay for a pre-meal cocktail, but head elsewhere for a nightcap—the bar shuts down at midnight. |
