While this was an enjoyable meal, it underdelivered for the price. I definitely liked several bites, but it just didn't achieve the level it was going for at all for me. I don't have any huge problems with the food served, but when you are clearly presenting yourself as an exclusive, 15 seat, carefully curated chef's tasting menu ($165++ pp in an otherwise very cheap city), you have to deliver on your promises. I've been to many 1, 2, and 3 star restaurants and at the risk of sounding completely out of touch, it''s clear reading the reviews that most people are having one of their first experiences with fine dining here. Perhaps that's a good thing, but it's frustrating to me because I feel like they're being taken for a ride and "wasting" their money.
In panama, there's not a big culture around fine dining, even in the city. I was excited to see what the globally trained chef would have brought back in his travels but was ultimately very disappointed. It honestly reminded of me of Boston in the sense that there's a sort of collective delusion about what constitutes good food. It's shockingly easy to gaslight yourself into thinking it's good, only to be shocked back awake the next time you try actually good food.
Several dishes were seriously overpowered by one flavor, or just not very good/interesting. The tuna and coconut was unforgivingly acidic, I felt bad for the tuna's futile attempt at moderating it with its fat. The lobster roll, very pretty with its multicolored finger lime, tasted entirely of brioche. the short rib's crust was actually harder than a rock. The manchego cone didn't make any sense. Mistakes in consistency that you really can't have at this level. I even got burned by the dry ice show lol.
I did enjoy a good number of things! the bread in the beginning was much more appetizing than the picture. The cacio e pepe bite was quite solid. The volcanic cooked potato was surprisingly good and so was the "lost power" show that accompanied it. Palate cleanser did its job very well, and I actually really appreciated the wine paired with the short rib.
I want to stress again that I'm not saying the food was bad. It's just not anywhere near great. I want to think I just went on an off night, but the sheer number of missteps makes me think I didn't
by ragnarak54