Caliope Steakhouse — Restaurant in Bella Vista

If I could give ZERO STARS, I would. My fiancée and I were visiting Panama over Valentines holiday. Knowing that this would be an extremely busy night for restaurants, I made a reservation with Caliope ONE MONTH prior. They emailed me a CONFIRMATION confirming our date, time, and a reference number they provided. I even called them 2 days before just to confirm again because I worry a lot having booked it from the US. They again confirmed it over the telephone with my name, phone number AND reference number they provided me with via their confirmation email. When my fiancée and I arrived at 645pm to check for our 7pm reservation, the 2 men downstairs seemed confused and did not have our names on their list. They said they had to call down the maître d’ to see what was going on. When the maître d’ came down, he simply said “No, we don’t have your reservation, Goodbye” and was beyond dismissive. The other 2 gentlemen working the door seemed to be as mortified as I was. I showed them the email THEIR restaurant sent me ONE MONTH AGO. And asked again if they can please make room for us, as it IS valentines night, we booked a month ago, and you confirmed. The maître d’ again rudely simply said “No, No we have no room for you”. I asked what the problem was again and he said “Well, what can I tell you, things happen maybe a glitch or something in our system but you are not on the list”. He was utterly rude, pretentious and condescending. At one last attempt to be sat, I then explained that we were even staying at their “sister property”, Tantalo Hotel and I am amazed that they would allow this to happen. He then asked “OH, Tantalo booked this for you?” I said no, I booked it directly through Caliope one month ago and I’m showing you the confirmation email YOUR RESTAURANT sent me” He then rolled his eyes and said “Oh well, sorry maybe a glitch, we have no room goodbye” I worked in the restaurant industry for over 15 years from NYC-Miami in the finest of places and hotels and this is truly Unacceptable on Caliope’s behalf. We ended up going down the street and were sat at “ La Fisheria Seafood” which was SO AMAZING, we even went again before leaving Panama! I’d highly recommend ANYONE/ EVERYONE visit La Fisheria Seafood while in Panama before going to Caliope’s overly pretentious, self entitled, rude,...

A good meal but not necessarily a great one. Your entrance to Caliope is via a lift in a dilapidated theatre, after your reservation has been checked on the street. All quite exciting. Service was great when I arrived but be warned that the air conditioning is very strong and a light long sleeved top & trousers are advisable.

The food was solid but, perhaps because I've been spoiled eating in London, but not revolutionary. An amuse-bouche of a garlic-drenched piece of white asparagus with an espresso cup full of creamy mushroom soup was great. Seared tuna starter, conversely, wasn't the freshest I've ever eaten. This followed by a perfectly serviceable passion fruit sorbet.

Main course, the most expensive thing on the menu, was a piece of braised beef short rib. It was perfectly cooked, but somewhat bizarrely served on a mushroom risotto. This was allegedly laced with truffles but I couldn't taste them. I couldn't help thinking that, as they weren't really going for originality in a big way, serving the beef with a little bit of posh mash and some greens would have made a lot more sense. Nothing wrong with solid gastro-pub food, and sticky risotto just want the best accompaniment, though the mushrooms were very tasty.

Dessert was a variation on the chocolate sphere melted to reveal an ice cream idea, but again, it was workmanlike and failed to dazzle.

The cocktail menu was one of the most exciting I've seen in Panama City,, and I enjoyed both of the drinks I tried. It was wonderful to see something other than mojito, daiquiri, pisco sours and pina collada on the list. But, and there is a but, they just lacked a certain element of dazzle when they arrived.

Overall a solid dining experience with great service, an attractive room, lovely tableware, a broad menu with something for everyone... It's just in London that would be a great gastro pub meal not a fine dining experience. And at $75 including tax and service, is hoped for a...

We went on a Saturday night with my mom to try a new place that my mom haven’t went before so we decided to go Caliope. We ordered Angus beef skewers, beef Wellington, Angus Piacanha and Hanger steak. First thing that they brought to the table was this cup with yellow soup, it was pretty disgusting and couldn’t even finish it. Next thing that they brought was eggplant with bread, pretty interesting combination but it was pretty good overall. Next, was the Angus beef skewers which only contained 3 skewers which was not enough since it was 4 people, the taste was ok and the presentation was over the top with unnecessary smoke and it cost 12$ meaning each skewers cost 4$. We also ordered fried dumplings with beef inside and it tasted ok and pretty overpriced. Right before they bring the steak out, they brought out a tomato paste that was sweet and sour to cleanse your palate before eating steaks. We started off with the Beef Wellington, the bread was pretty oily and soggy which which wasn’t good at all. Furthermore, the Angus Piacanha was rare inside which couldn’t be eaten at all. The only steak that was good was the Hanger steak. Overall, the staff is ok, when I asked for the wifi, they said that they will give it to me but never gave it to me, I needed the wifi to see the menu but at the end I told my brother to order for me. I’m very disappointed with the staff and they take forever to refill water, they are not that alert with the tables. The food is ok but...