Picasso Restaurant — Restaurant in Panamá Oeste

My cousins came in from Canada so after we spent some time in PTY, we headed out to Coronado on our way to Boquete. Two very reliable sources both suggested Picasso Restaurant so we definitely had to try it. Well, it wasn't as easy as we thought. We decided to go for dinner so we drove out to the restaurant only to find it closed. Okay, no problem, we would come back tomorrow for breakfast. Good idea or so we thought. It was closed for breakfast the next day. Sigh. But we were undeterred. We went on our last day heading out to Boquete. What a super decision!! We got there as it just opened! I think they were surprized to see us so quickly after opening. But we were warmly greeted and seated. Coffee came quickly and it was good!! The menu is quite extensive; fit for any budget or hunger level. The prices had gone up a dollar from what we saw on the reviews but still a great price. We ordered our breakfasts. As we waited, I watched the chef (Fernando) preparing our breakfasts. You could tell he cared and he really enjoyed his job. I enjoyed watching him, it was very satisfying. Our food came out quite quickly. Everything looked absolutely delish!! There was plenty of food, that's for sure. The eggs were cooked to perfection. They had no runny white stuff but the yolks were rich and creamy. I had toast while my cousin had pancakes. He said the pancakes were some of the best he has ever eaten. We know he enjoyed them because he kept saying so. LOL. The potatoes that came with both of our breakfasts were AMAZING!! They were perfect crunchy bites of potato. We all agreed these potatoes were off the chart. Order extra!! My other cousin had yogurt and granola. It looked really appetizing! She said the yogurt was thick and creamy and the granola was super good. During our breakfasts, there were two women who were setting up some tables of wares to sell. Sort of like a mini market. We went over to see what they had. They had some artwork, handicrafts and some health products. We bought several items. I managed to see the chef, Fernando, and I told him how much we all enjoyed our breakfasts. I thanked him for such a tasty feast. I chatted to him for a bit. He learned how to cook from his grandma when he was young. Knowing that you know he is chef inside! It is who he was meant to be. I told him that. We had a hug and I thanked him again. As we were heading out, he stopped me and gave me a jar of strawberry jam. How sweet! Of him!! AND the jam was incredible. Better than my mom's!! True story!! So YOU MUST go to Picasso for any meal but breakfast will definitely not disappoint. But stop by and tell Fernando you heard about him on Google. And ask for his jam for your toast. You will be amazed. Thanks again for an awesome meal. If ever I get back there, I will return to this wonderful...

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. We tried this place 2 times since we arrived in Panama. First time was a late brunch. When we arrived there were 3 tables sat including ours. We ordered two items from the menu, a mimosa and a Bloody Mary. My mimosa came quickly, the bloody took about 20 min. My husband politely inquired with the server and she snapped back that she was busy with other tables. Let's just say that I ordered another mimosa by the time he got his bloody. Our food came and I had to grab a menu to show the server what was actually included with my meal (El Vegano) as I only received a piece of baguette, peanut butter and some fruit. This also appeared to be an inconvenience for her as well. We dined fighting the flies, food was OK, tipped 20% and chalked her attitude up to a bad day. (we worked in service, we know they happen).

Fast forward to this past Thursday night. We decided to give this place another chance for dinner. It was PACKED! They were doing trivia and then karaoke. We enjoyed the food. (Greek salad, Veggie Pizza and Poutine) and the free entertainment. Our server was very kind and was literally running around. Only issue was the smoking. I mean so much smoking, I am a former smoker and it was like being in one of those smoker areas where they force everyone outside at a sporting...

I was stunned when the tortilla wraps I ordered for lunch, after an agonizingly long wait, came encrusted with tiny bits of the aluminum foil they must have been defrosted and heated in (and why are wraps served hot in a climate where the temp rarely drops below 80⁰?) While picking off the tiny foil bits, I couldn’t help but notice the ambient music, a lobotomized cover band processing, like cheese, signature hits of Daft Punk, Amy Winehouse, Sia, Cindi Lauper and the Killers.

If you overlook the unforgivably awful food (it was my 2nd visit; I wouldn't pass such harsh judgment after just one) and inexplicably bad cover songs, you may earmark Picasso as your go-to west Panama beach cafe. It certainly looks the part. Open air, colorful decor, abundant plant greenery, whirling overhead fans, comfortable seating at cozy tables - it has the thirst-quenching vibe of an oasis in the parched desert. But looks are deceiving - it's only a mirage. Sit down and have a well-priced, well-chilled Balboa. Have another. Then leave. You won't be disappointed as long as you don't order the abominations that are served in place of real, honest food. Strictly as a bar, Picasso paints a pretty picture. As a restaurant? It's just a...