Great food and service at this unassuming little bistro. We try to eat here any time we’re in the area. This time we had two variations on the cassoulet - mine with with hake and my wife’s with falafels - wonderful. Leek and potato soup was also perfect. Our server kept a roaring fire going which kept us warm on a February evening and added to the cozy atmosphere of the place.
James Moffatt
Booked into Blacks for my girlfriends birthday on a winter break in Cornwall. Our expectations were exceeded. The decor was stylish and cosy, we were greeted as we walked in by Sue, the owner. She seated us by the roaring fire where we ordered two amazing snowball cocktails and followed this with an amazing liver pate starter with crostinis and then a main course of lamb for my partner and pork for me with a bottle of champers. We followed this with a glass of dessert wine to accompany our festive poached pear dessert. The food was outstanding and we chatted for a while with Sue who was the perfect host. I would put Blacks at the top of our list for the next visit!
JMoff07
I booked my girlfriend and I into Blacks for my her birthday whilst on a winter break in Cornwall. It exceeded all expectations. The decor was chic, stylish and still cosy, we were greeted as we walked in by Sue, the owner. She seated us by the roaring fire where we ordered two amazing snowball cocktails and followed this with an amazing liver pate starter with crostinis and then a main course of lamb (cooked to perfection) for my partner and pork for me (also tender and delicious) with a bottle of champers. We followed this with a glass of dessert wine to accompany our poached pear dessert with a red wine festive twist. The food was outstanding Sue chatted with us for ages, she was the perfect host. I would put Blacks at the top of our list for the next visit!
Roy Sirl
Very pleasant restaurant with good food.
152Luna
Firstly I do have to say that the service was fantastic, the young girl was attentive, and also poured the wine/ offered us to try the wine. This was a real upside to the visit. Unfortunately the food was definitely subpar in comparison to this great service. The starters were pleasant, nothing mind blowing but definitely tasty, although a baked Camembert is always delicious no matter how prepared, so I wasn’t really surprised by this. However my Pork main was a real let down. The pork meat was tough and yet the fat was not crispy or melt-in-mouth, but actually quite vulgar (and the piece of meat was full of it). Large chunks of celeriac which were slightly undercooked, plain booked carrots, and three limp green beans were the vegetables presented, which was incredibly lack lustre. These, combined with the plain gravy, gave off a bit of a school dinner unfortunately. The positives of the meal were that it was presented beautifully, there was a little creamy sauce on the plate which was lovely, and the mashed potato was delicious (just a shame it was only a small spoonful on the plate). Overall, I think I would feel a lot less bitter if it wasn’t for the huge prices that this restaurant is charging, which I did resent paying after the expectation that was laid out when you see such prices in Penzance. Especially in comparison to other restaurants in the town, such as Mermaid Alley, where you really can get a mind blowing meal for less of a price.
Sarah Price
Contacted the restaurant whilst walking around Penzance looking for somewhere to eat. Although it was 8.15pm and the kitchen closes at 8.45pm, they told us they would happily serve us. We got there and were greeted by 2 lovely members of staff who were so helpful and friendly, and couldn’t do enough to help us. The food was divine and if you get the opportunity to have the crab cake, do!I would highly recommend Blacks of Chapel Street and will definitely visit next time I’m in Penzance
MrsMummy Penny
Poor experience with kids food. Was charged £14 for fried chicken and chips. Complained and was reduced to £11. Joke. Double charged for cocktail too.
859estern
Service was great.everything we ate was great.the nightly drink was very good, pinto noir was very tasty. I loved the place will go back.
JulianPeace66
After COVID, dining anywhere still feels like a real treat, fortunately, Blacks delivers on expectation. This was our first meal in Penzance, and by far the best. Lovely food (Scallops and hoggs pudding; pork with mustard mash; cheese board), nice atmosphere in the restaurant, nice wine (False Bay Chenin Blanc). We had a lovely time.
OldHookyLad
I prebooked Blacks for two of us for a Saturday evening from the consistently good Tripadvisor reviews, and we were not disappointed. The Cornish dressed crab with apple starter was delicious. The grilled mackerel fillet starter was small, but tasty. We had the main course cooked seafood platter for two which was delicious, consisting of lemon sole fillets, mackerel fillets, king prawns, scallops, mussels, and whitebait. We couldn’t manage desserts as we were full up. The service was very good. The restaurant had a nice ambience.
Really great place. One starter was out of stock but they made up for it with a delicious fish cake but the fig and beetroot starter was out of this world. We got the Fish platter to share (£80) 2 mackerel, 2 Dover sole, bowl of whitebait and a bowl of mussels, 6 prawns, 6 scallops and a bread roll each. Nicely presented but it was heavy on the protein. Wine good, service good, nice decor and clean. Staff were very attentive and were great with food allergies. Good feel to this place.
D Boon
Underwhelming food for the very steep price. (£80 platter for 2 was enough for 1 person.) Also wasn't impressed with the attitude of the staff towards another group, and that the attitude spilled over on to our table (keep your eye rolls and sighs for the back). I would not eat here again sadly, and would suggest that others avoid unless there's not any tables anywhere else in the whole of Penzance.
Solar1s
Serving small portions of food and the grey haired lady in charge of the floor not going to give you the unreserved table because she does not want to even though the place was empty. We discussed table options, she offered another but we opt to sit on the original booked table, she covers her face in exasperation as if the world has ended. What a drama queen. Not worth your money, go somewhere else where people are more accommodating and food are tastier, like the Dolphin Tavern, for example, or Mackerel Skye.
Jaysha Mooneesamy
Food was ok but quite bland. Could do with a re-think on flavour and freshness of food.Service was lovely.
Lauren Y
To say we were underwhelmed Is an understatement. We had a table booked at blacks for 20:30 we arrived at 20:20 and was told that as we had arrived early and they had a big party in there would be a slight delay in our food. We said that was fine. We ordered our drinks and our food which sounded lovely on the specials on the menu. Steak for 2, this consisted of rump and sirloin with chips, red wine jus and vine tomatoes for the cost of £60.00 my thoughts we’re the will be lovely I can’t wait. We waited that long I had finished my wine and asked for another. This was forgotten until the meal arrive and had to ask again. As I said previously we were massively underwhelmed. Having ordered if rare it came cold and cooked medium with a tiny bowl of chips. I have had better steak in whetherspoons / cooked better myself from the supermarket. When we told the waitress she said well I watched the chef get it out of the oven so it should be hot, she did offer to cook us another steak but having waited so long and lost all faith in what we were getting we declined and asked for the bill. This is by far the worst meal I have ever had and on reflection it is more like filler steak prices. They need to look at their costs this was on par with weatherspoons I would have paid more than £10.00 for this
Great food and service at this unassuming little bistro. We try to eat here any time we’re in the area. This time we had two variations on the cassoulet - mine with with hake and my wife’s with falafels - wonderful. Leek and potato soup was also perfect. Our server kept a roaring fire going which kept us warm on a February evening and added to the cozy atmosphere of the place.
Booked into Blacks for my girlfriends birthday on a winter break in Cornwall. Our expectations were exceeded. The decor was stylish and cosy, we were greeted as we walked in by Sue, the owner. She seated us by the roaring fire where we ordered two amazing snowball cocktails and followed this with an amazing liver pate starter with crostinis and then a main course of lamb for my partner and pork for me with a bottle of champers. We followed this with a glass of dessert wine to accompany our festive poached pear dessert. The food was outstanding and we chatted for a while with Sue who was the perfect host. I would put Blacks at the top of our list for the next visit!
I booked my girlfriend and I into Blacks for my her birthday whilst on a winter break in Cornwall. It exceeded all expectations. The decor was chic, stylish and still cosy, we were greeted as we walked in by Sue, the owner. She seated us by the roaring fire where we ordered two amazing snowball cocktails and followed this with an amazing liver pate starter with crostinis and then a main course of lamb (cooked to perfection) for my partner and pork for me (also tender and delicious) with a bottle of champers. We followed this with a glass of dessert wine to accompany our poached pear dessert with a red wine festive twist. The food was outstanding Sue chatted with us for ages, she was the perfect host. I would put Blacks at the top of our list for the next visit!
Very pleasant restaurant with good food.
Firstly I do have to say that the service was fantastic, the young girl was attentive, and also poured the wine/ offered us to try the wine. This was a real upside to the visit. Unfortunately the food was definitely subpar in comparison to this great service. The starters were pleasant, nothing mind blowing but definitely tasty, although a baked Camembert is always delicious no matter how prepared, so I wasn’t really surprised by this. However my Pork main was a real let down. The pork meat was tough and yet the fat was not crispy or melt-in-mouth, but actually quite vulgar (and the piece of meat was full of it). Large chunks of celeriac which were slightly undercooked, plain booked carrots, and three limp green beans were the vegetables presented, which was incredibly lack lustre. These, combined with the plain gravy, gave off a bit of a school dinner unfortunately. The positives of the meal were that it was presented beautifully, there was a little creamy sauce on the plate which was lovely, and the mashed potato was delicious (just a shame it was only a small spoonful on the plate). Overall, I think I would feel a lot less bitter if it wasn’t for the huge prices that this restaurant is charging, which I did resent paying after the expectation that was laid out when you see such prices in Penzance. Especially in comparison to other restaurants in the town, such as Mermaid Alley, where you really can get a mind blowing meal for less of a price.
Contacted the restaurant whilst walking around Penzance looking for somewhere to eat. Although it was 8.15pm and the kitchen closes at 8.45pm, they told us they would happily serve us. We got there and were greeted by 2 lovely members of staff who were so helpful and friendly, and couldn’t do enough to help us. The food was divine and if you get the opportunity to have the crab cake, do!I would highly recommend Blacks of Chapel Street and will definitely visit next time I’m in Penzance
Poor experience with kids food. Was charged £14 for fried chicken and chips. Complained and was reduced to £11. Joke. Double charged for cocktail too.
Service was great.everything we ate was great.the nightly drink was very good, pinto noir was very tasty. I loved the place will go back.
After COVID, dining anywhere still feels like a real treat, fortunately, Blacks delivers on expectation. This was our first meal in Penzance, and by far the best. Lovely food (Scallops and hoggs pudding; pork with mustard mash; cheese board), nice atmosphere in the restaurant, nice wine (False Bay Chenin Blanc). We had a lovely time.
I prebooked Blacks for two of us for a Saturday evening from the consistently good Tripadvisor reviews, and we were not disappointed. The Cornish dressed crab with apple starter was delicious. The grilled mackerel fillet starter was small, but tasty. We had the main course cooked seafood platter for two which was delicious, consisting of lemon sole fillets, mackerel fillets, king prawns, scallops, mussels, and whitebait. We couldn’t manage desserts as we were full up. The service was very good. The restaurant had a nice ambience.
Restaurantji Recommends
Really great place. One starter was out of stock but they made up for it with a delicious fish cake but the fig and beetroot starter was out of this world. We got the Fish platter to share (£80) 2 mackerel, 2 Dover sole, bowl of whitebait and a bowl of mussels, 6 prawns, 6 scallops and a bread roll each. Nicely presented but it was heavy on the protein. Wine good, service good, nice decor and clean. Staff were very attentive and were great with food allergies. Good feel to this place.
Underwhelming food for the very steep price. (£80 platter for 2 was enough for 1 person.) Also wasn't impressed with the attitude of the staff towards another group, and that the attitude spilled over on to our table (keep your eye rolls and sighs for the back). I would not eat here again sadly, and would suggest that others avoid unless there's not any tables anywhere else in the whole of Penzance.
Serving small portions of food and the grey haired lady in charge of the floor not going to give you the unreserved table because she does not want to even though the place was empty. We discussed table options, she offered another but we opt to sit on the original booked table, she covers her face in exasperation as if the world has ended. What a drama queen. Not worth your money, go somewhere else where people are more accommodating and food are tastier, like the Dolphin Tavern, for example, or Mackerel Skye.
Food was ok but quite bland. Could do with a re-think on flavour and freshness of food.Service was lovely.
To say we were underwhelmed Is an understatement. We had a table booked at blacks for 20:30 we arrived at 20:20 and was told that as we had arrived early and they had a big party in there would be a slight delay in our food. We said that was fine. We ordered our drinks and our food which sounded lovely on the specials on the menu. Steak for 2, this consisted of rump and sirloin with chips, red wine jus and vine tomatoes for the cost of £60.00 my thoughts we’re the will be lovely I can’t wait. We waited that long I had finished my wine and asked for another. This was forgotten until the meal arrive and had to ask again. As I said previously we were massively underwhelmed. Having ordered if rare it came cold and cooked medium with a tiny bowl of chips. I have had better steak in whetherspoons / cooked better myself from the supermarket. When we told the waitress she said well I watched the chef get it out of the oven so it should be hot, she did offer to cook us another steak but having waited so long and lost all faith in what we were getting we declined and asked for the bill. This is by far the worst meal I have ever had and on reflection it is more like filler steak prices. They need to look at their costs this was on par with weatherspoons I would have paid more than £10.00 for this