Restaurante Le Bistrot — Restaurant in Bella Vista

We had just landed from Bocas del Toro, dropped our bags off at our hotel and went to the nearest restaurant that I found pretty good reviews about. Luckily we were able to find one within a few feet of our hotel.

We started with two appetizers, Chicharrón de Cerdo (Pork Rind) and Coquille St. Jacques. The chicharrón was tasty and came with pickled red onions on top to even out the flavor of the pork rind. The coquille is typically made with scallops, but they did not have any available so it was prepared with shrimp and langoustines instead. It was creamy and delicious! It was served surrounded by mashed potatoes.

For our entrees we ordered Ceviche Mixto, Fish of the Day and Filet Mignon. All the entrees were good! The fish filet can be ordered with your choice of 14 sauces. We chose Le Bistrot sauce, a creamy white wine based sauce with shrimp. I do wanna say, though, the filet mignon I was served was a petite filet mignon. I questioned our server on this and he said that's what a filet mignon is to them. After a few more restaurants, we found this to be a true statement. With that said, I think that distinction should be made on the menu so peole know what to expect. Especially tourists who will be surprised being served a petite, without it being described as such, as I did. The temperature was spot on and the mushroom sauce it came with paired well. The ceviche was tasty!

For dessert I had Tres Leches. Besides the usual 3 types of milk that comes on tres leches, this one also came with Baileys Irish Cream. You could not miss it actually. For people that don't like a strong liqueur flavor, I do not recommend it. For me, it was fine and I enjoyed it. By the way, I believe you can order it without Baileys.

All in all, we had a great experience, our server was top notch and would recommend this...

You can’t go wrong with seafood at this French-style gem in the heart of Panama City. Le Bistrot combines elegance, comfort, and incredible flavors in every dish. The atmosphere is warm and inviting — perfect for a romantic dinner, a night out with friends, or simply treating yourself to great food and wine.

The cocktails are perfectly mixed, the wine selection is extensive, and the live music adds the perfect touch of charm to the evening. Every plate that comes out of the kitchen is beautifully presented and full of flavor. Standout dishes include the paella, croquetas, and escargot — each one prepared with care and authenticity.

The service is excellent — attentive without being intrusive — and the comfortable seating makes it easy to relax and enjoy the entire experience. Le Bistrot truly delivers a top-notch dining experience that captures the best of French cuisine with a local twist. A must-visit for anyone who loves great food, great wine, and...

I've been wanting to come here for a long time as I heard it was good. I was mainly disappointed becuase the name would suggest something of a French influence of which there was none.

Even though this was my first time here I couldn't help thinking how familiar this place is. The reason which I figured out later, is because it is almost exactly like Siete Mares in El Cangrejo where I have eaten several times. They also have the same owners I learned, and that is of course why everything was so similar. I don't understand opening two restaurantes with 90+% the same menu and calling it something different. Had I known this ahead of time I wouldn't have spent $150 to try something new, as there is nothing new here.

The food like Siete Mares is good, as is the service and ambiance. But overall its just okay and I...