72 Tavern & Grill - (Near Utica, NY)

James Jock Dinner with my daughter. She had balsamic chicken and I had chicken parm with spaghetti. I was surprised at how much water was on my plate. It really made it sloppy. The dinners didn’t seem as hot as I had expected. The brownie sundae came with a delicious and warmed brownie. The peanut butter pie was super sweet like you’d expect. Worth the $83 price? Undecided.

Christina Marie F The best Filet Mignon and Ribeye Steaks (both cooked to rare but crusty perfection, and a tasty Gorgonzola) we have ever had in our life!!! Extremely delicious and great price (I think it was $42 for an 8 ounce Filet, and $43 for a 12 ounce Ribeye). Their scallop special over risotto was tasty too! Bread was yummy- Crusty, warm, and the drizzled garlic parsley butter was a nice touch. This place is a gem. It honestly lacked for nothing… Style, elegance, immaculately clean, and superb food make this place my new favorite. I live in Rochester, which means two hours to drive but worth it. Definitely in my top 5 restaurants. Owner was a gracious host, and his team outstanding with impeccable customer service start to finish. Will definitely be back!!!

Bret Isaacs Im from Brooklyn, so I have a special place in my heart for the old school, Italian-American, garlic and oil/red sauce joints of my youth. There are plenty of restaurants that have that style of menu, but the restaurants that do it well are becoming rare. I’m adding Pennell’s to that elite list. Ambiance: We were there for a sixth-grade class reunion (don’t ask…just organize one for yourself…trust me, you’ll thank me later) where we dined in their party room in the back. Great for events. We had about 20 people. Seemed very homey in the rest of the restaurant. Food: Portions were sizable, so you’re not just ordering dinner, you’re taking home your lunch that you’re going to heat up and enjoy the next day. Everything was cooked beautifully, but the shining star was the NY Strip Steak. Staff: The thing that impressed me most though was the staff. The young woman who organized our event on the day—"Neigh-Alicia”—(of course that’s not how it’s spelled…I’m writing it phonetically) was delightful, thoughtful, responsive, and readily accommodating to our needs. Cameron and Talon (yes…as in an eagle’s claw) were so efficient, but more than that—were confident enough to interact and communicate with us directly so that their service made our event run more smoothly. And to top it all off… We were having so much fun that we were lingering too long after closing time. I have never been kicked out of an establishment so sweetly and politely. I’m dining at Pennell’s again when I’m back in this neck of the woods. You should too.

Nathan Cross Greatest Italian meal I’ve had in years. The Texas Ryder Cup boys had the best meal in years here. The food and drinks were amazing. We had many people come up to us to introduce themselves. The lounge singer, Larry(?), brought it with standards. Amazing place and owners!!

Rich S Love this place. Waitress are always friendly and on top of your refills and any extra needs. Food is always terrific. The atmosphere is excellent. 10 out of 10.

Phil Gill I had the pastrami sandwich and it was absolutely delicious! Robbie, my son, had a cheeseburger and he loved it. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. I appreciate that they are wheelchair accessible and the parking is free, though the lot is on the smaller side. Overall, a wonderful experience for both adults and kids.