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Quality Restaurants

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janetsf
  8/25/2014 22:51 EST

wondering what people's thoughts are on the often short lived restaurants in PTY and Coronado?

panamama
  8/26/2014 09:59 EST

in those areas.. if there is a high volume of tourists i would think that it must be a combination of bad service and bad quality of good. Panama certainly is not known for its customer service.

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pollokeeper
  8/26/2014 11:05 EST

I would think that any restaurant that was short lived in PTY or Coronado was short lived because the food either sucked or the prices were too high, or a combination of both. Panama has some of the worst restaurant food offered on the planet.

panamajames
  8/26/2014 12:48 EST

Eating in a restaurant here, is sometimes cheaper than buying food and using energy to prepare it, as well as the dishes afterwards. I am a regular restaurant visitor. I attend the restaurants with the best prices for the best food. I try all the new restaurants. If they don't have great food with great prices, I don't go back, or I won't tell people about them. We have a rotisserie chicken place with a most amazing sauce served with it, that I rave about. There is all you can eat rib night. There is a fabulous pizza place. There is a place with Egyptian style appetizers, there is the typico type places where you can get a fresh decent hot meal for for a few dollars. Many people who start restaurants, have great ideas. Follow through, and staffing can be a problem. As panamama said, customer service is noticeably absent. There is a lot of money to be made running a restaurant, and many locals try to open one. Few succeed long term. With the right ingredients, a Panama restaurant can survive the slow season as well as the high season. Long term commitment is another problem here. There are restaurants that are opening up their third location, while others cannot get the first one off the ground. I think an English Style Fish and Chip shop would do amazingly well here, with the abundance of fish, and potatoes, and catholics.

llseldon
  8/26/2014 14:08 EST

Here is my list of: My favorite places to eat in Panama City:
Balboa Yacht Club, Amador beside Country Inn & Suites & FGI Fridays on the Panama Canal (typical Panama food +), great for sunset drink, week end live live music with local groups.
Calle Uruguay has many good restaurants, clubs and bars, it is like the “South Beach“ of the city. Located one block east of Frederico Boyd & south of Calle 50.
Vegetarian Restaurants in Panama City.
Costa Azul Restaurant (typical Panama food +), on side street from Via España between the Continental Hotel & the Marriott Hotel, Banking District
Jimmy’s Parrillada Restaurant (typical Panama food +), two locations Banking District & San Francisco, see: http://www.parrilladajimmy.com/
Lung Fung (Chinese) Restaurant, Betania area, Vía Simón Bolívar (Transístmica) and Calle 62 C. Oeste
Manolo’s Cafes, several in the city, Via Veneto (this one has the best prices), Via Argentina, etc.
Martin Fierro (Argentine cruise), El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel
see: http://panama.mydestinationinfo.com/en/parrillada-martin-fierro
Me gusta Comida Vegetariana is off via España on the side street between the Continental Hotel & Marriott Hotel (across the street from Restaurant Costa Azul on the “rounded“ corner).
Mi Ranchito (typical Panama food +), on the first island on the Amador Causeway, see: http://www.restaurantemiranchito.com/en/home.html
Napoli Italian Restaurant, original off Avenida de Martes near the old Canal Zone & the new one south of Via España on a side street in Obarrio
Niko’s Cafes (buffet-cafeteria style), all over Panama City & Balboa, see:
http://www.nikoscafe.com/
Pomodoro Restaurant Italian cuisine in a bohemian cafe atmosphere, located on the left side of the entrance to the Las Vegas Hotel lobby on Via Veneto see:
http://lasvegaspanama.com/en/restaurant
Rincon Aleman, Germany Restaurant, one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Tinajas Restaurant, see: http://www.1985.com/restaurant_rincon_aleman.html
Rincon Suizo, Swiss Restaurant, El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel, see:
http://www.1985.com/restaurant_rincon_suizo.html
Rino’s Italian & International cuisine, Banking District, Ave Federico Boyd & Calle 49.
Tinajas Restaurant, (typical Panama food with typical Panama dance shows most nights), one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Rincon Aleman Restaurant, see:
http://www.tinajaspanama.com/en/about-us
Wine Bar, on the right side of the entrance to Las Vegas Hotel lobby offers pizzas, great wines and other Italian menu items along with live music of local groups. See:
http://lasvegaspanama.com/en/restaurant

U.S. Chain restaurant:
TGI Fridays, Bennigan’s, Hooters + many U.S. chain fast foods: KFC, McDonalds, Subway, etc.
Outside of Panama City:

Coronado Area Restaurants:
Cholo’s Mexican Restaurant – Cholo’s for Mexican & Caribbean.
La Ruina – A very affordable restaurant offering excellent food and many fish and seafood selections. Turn into Gorgona from the Pan American highway and follow the signs to the Playa Serena or Bahia condominiums. Before reaching either of the complexes you will come to an intersection and La Ruina is on the right hand corner.
Picasso Bar and Restaurant – Excellent pizza restaurant that is branching out into new types of food including Thai,. Go into Coronado, turning at Ave Roberto Eisenmann (where the Super 99 and El Rey grocery stores are) and go past the security booth going into Coronado. Picasso’s is on the left corner where the sign for the Coronado Golf club is. Every Wednesday Picasso’s has a Happy Hour in the bar from 4 – 6 pm and it is a great place to meet people. Most people arrive around 5:30.
Gourmet Pizza – located a few blocks from the Coronado Bay. Turn into Coronado from the Pan American highway where the El Rey and Super 99 grocery stores are located and follow through into Coronado, going through the security gate. The restaurant is just after Picasso’s on the right hand side. Near the Coronado Bay Resort.
La Luna Rosa – Reasonably priced, good pizza and pasta restaurant just two blocks away from the Coronado Bay Resort. Turn into Coronado from the Pan American highway where the El Rey and Super 99 grocery stores are located and follow through into Coronado, going through the security gate. The restaurant is just before the Coronado Bay Resort on the right hand side.
El Paraiso – While a little further away, El Paraiso has a good selection of foods and it also has a couple of theme nights. If you are looking to meet people, Friday nights feature Salsa Friday from 7 pm on. Drive past San Carlos about 4 km and turn right on the road leading to El Valle. El Paraiso is located 3 km past the turn off on the left hand side of the road. There is lots of parking available in their parking lot.
Trattoria Italiana – Voted the best place for pizza in Coronado according to www.playacommunity.com. The restaurant also has other pasta options available. Trattoria Italiana is located on the right hand side of Ave Roberto Eisenmann (the turn off the highway where the Super 99 and El Rey are located), behind Todo al Carbon on the way into Coronado, just before the San Fernando Clinic.
El Rincon de Chef – Varied menu including chicken, steaks, pasta, and seafood. Located in Coronado on the right hand side of Avenida Roberto Eiseinmann (the turn off the Pan American highway where the Super 99 and El Rey are located), the restaurant is about 4 or 5 blocks south of the Pan American highway.

Los Camisones, Pan American highway (typical Panama food +), 1.5 hour drive west of Panama City or about 15 kilometers past the entrance to El Valle, KM 104, north side of the Pan American highway, look for a small sign, it’s easy to miss. The restaurant is on short one lane road up a hill. You will miss the sign on the Pan American highway if you are not alert looking for it. See http://loscamisones.com/

Panama2017
  8/26/2014 14:15 EST

I am a foodie at heart so I naturally seek out good food wherever I go. There are a half dozen wonderful restaurants in Cosco Vieja and El Cangrejo that have some of the best food I've had with the exception of France. Two of these are fixed price and fixed selection with chef's daily menu. You walk into the restaurant and they immediately begin serving your first (of many) course. Every new course is a surprise worth waiting for. I have also been disappointed with a few restaurants in PC, but overall I have had some good experiences where I will return again and again.

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Panama2017
  8/26/2014 14:26 EST

Ilseldon - the only restaurant I have visited on your list is Mi Ranchita and it was great! I love that they offer a calamari appetizer with "tentacles only"! The whole snapper was mouthwateringly yummy and the view of the bay was perfect.

jonoyakker
  8/27/2014 09:50 EST

I think that there are restaurants everywhere that are short lived...?

splainin
  8/27/2014 15:24 EST

Panama has good and bad restaurants, like everywhere, with good service and bad service, like everywhere. Check it out for yourself by copying and pasting this link in your browser. Don't listen to ridiculous comments like " Panama has some of the worst restaurants on the planet."
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g294480-Panama_City_Panama_Province.html

janetsf
  8/27/2014 15:39 EST

Thanks. I understand the resto biz in the states where we own a high end catering company (my chef and partner hail from The French Laundry though we are by no means food snobs!) but Panama seems to have real issues supporting a higher end resto. Looking into opportunities there as a longer term semi retirement play.

janetsf
  8/27/2014 16:11 EST

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. I understand the restaurant business as my French Laundry trained chef and partner own a high end catering company in SF (though we are not food snobs!) but are looking at resto opportunities in Panama as part of a long term semi-retirement plan.

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splainin
  8/27/2014 16:42 EST

Find out who the "rabiblancos" are, where they live and what they like. Then target them.

GlamBabe
  8/27/2014 16:43 EST

What on earth are you talking about?

janetsf
  8/27/2014 16:46 EST

dont know what the meaning of that word is and didnt find on google... pls explain :)

Panama2017
  8/27/2014 16:51 EST

Um, what is a rabiblancos?

GlamBabe
  8/27/2014 17:05 EST

No, it isn't. And the assumption that every expat has money is just ignorant.

janetsf
  8/27/2014 17:11 EST

okay, well i'm sincerely looking for good advice/comments/thoughts/recommendations.

not everyone is willing or wanting to pay good money for world class food but hoping there is a critical mass for that.

in any case, there are other concepts to explore.

does anyone do restaurant pop ups there? coming to PTY in a few weeks but then perhaps again in January to do a pop up. would need to get the word out, get a place for it (ideally in casco) and fill up the reservation books :).

would be a 6-8 course paired tasting menu. have to seek out good product when we are in town next month and will bring some items with us in january truffles, caviar. etc. unless we can reasonably source there.

tx everyone!

Panama2017
  8/27/2014 17:12 EST

I did a Google search too, but wasn't able to make the leap to being derogatory towards rich expats. Wow. Really?

Panama2017
  8/27/2014 17:18 EST

Ah, I see it now. I should have searched for the Urban Dictionary. It refers to Panama's white elite. First of all, there are many non-white elites in PC including Panamanians and Venezuelans and others. I find it curious that folks on this forum automatically assume that everyone on it is white.

GlamBabe
  8/27/2014 17:49 EST

I didn't. Expats come in every color. Not to mention since it is Latin America those of us from North America are no more American then anyone from Latin America. We are all technically "American". Just from different parts. All of the generalizations and assumptions are just that. Pretty meaningless in the end. Get to know people for the individuals they are.

Panama2017
  8/27/2014 18:03 EST

GlamBabe, you are right. I shouldn't lump everyone on this forum into the same category.

janetsf
  8/27/2014 18:03 EST

Not sure why my replies aren't all showing up!

splainin
  8/27/2014 19:07 EST

The term "rabiblancos' is used when referring to extremely wealthy Panamanians. Only Panamanians.

GlamBabe
  8/27/2014 23:49 EST

That sounds lovely and something we would be likely to try. I love chef tasting menus where you go on an adventure with them, it's amazing the cuisines and interpretations you're able to experience.

janetsf
  8/29/2014 00:13 EST

Thanks for all the recommendations!

janetsf
  8/29/2014 00:17 EST

And yes that is exactly what I mean re: a pop up! A temp resto with a prix fix menu et al. Will keep everyone posted!

Do they use eventbrite or another event ticket selling app in panama?

Thx everyone!

ExploreLife
  9/20/2014 21:45 EST

Thanks so much for this list.

We have spent the last 2 weeks in Panama and used this as a guide with wonderful, tasty results.

Tinajas was tonight. the Corvina de tinjas con langastinos was amazing.

Thanks again

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