Padron — Restaurant in Pueblo Nuevo

My friends and I were so excited to try this restaurant. We were a group of ten and when we arrived, the restaurant was empty. In retrospect, that should have been a sign. Here are the details:

We all started with cocktails. None of them were good. The fruit flavors were fresh, but most of them were overly sweet and weak. Also, there was a card on the table that listed prices of teh drinks. The prices did not match up when we got our bills. The server said it was because a different tequila was used, yet they didn't ask us which tequila we wanted.

Appetizers--Two people ordered ceviche and had to send it back because it had not cured in the lime juice long enough. The texture was inconsistent. The guacamole was good.

I ordered the tortilla soup. I informed the waiter that I had a dairy allergy. Unfortunately, they did not adhere to my request of NO lactose and there was some crema in the bottom of the bowl. I got extremely sick and had to return to the hotel. I am so sad that I missed out on salsa dancing lessons that I paid for. Also, this soup was SUPER expensive for what you got. Do not order this...you will be disappointed.

Four guests ordered the fajitas. Also, this was the smallest portion I've ever seen. As others have said, this restaurant is overpriced. The meat was not seasoned at all. Two guests sent theirs back because the chicken was so pale in color. I am not sure who trained these chefs, but fajitas are well seasoned. Also, two of the plates came out sizzling and the other two were cold. The menu says they come with beans. No one got beans with their orders. When we the server where the beans were, he said that he gave them pico and that is not on the menu. Since when is pico a substitute for beans. Once he brought the beans out, it was the smallest portion ever in a cup you would serve ketchup or salsa in. Such a disappointment.

One guest got the vegetarian tacos and she really enjoyed them.

The restaurant itself is beautiful. We loved the decor and took lots of pictures before eating. Unfortunately, that is the best think Padron has to offer. I cannot imagine they will be in business long. All ten of us love Mexican food and were excited to try it in Panamá. Unfortunately, they missed the mark in a major way. Two of ten guests ended up sick after our dining experience and most others wanted to go somewhere else to eat because they were so unsatisfied.

There are so many amazing restaurants to eat at in Casco Viejo and Padron is not...

An unexpected find in a neighborhood I associate more with greasy spoon diners. The bright, modern facade invites you in and the nicely layed out tables and decorative touches are a welcome change to low ceilings and dingy lights. Two menus are available, one with good options for a 3 course $12 menu (photos provided); a menu ejecutivo for $6.50 that changes everyday, includes a fresh juice and was served with the same attention to detail as everything else. The food was tasty, healthy and the waitress was attentive and discreet. Open until 8pm, it caters mainly to office workers nearby and now to these exhausted shoppers looking to recover after a passage at...

We ordered the Padron Salad and tacos de Carnitas to go. We got our food in about 20 minutes but unfortunately we did not check the order until we arrived back at our hotel. Fortunately we stayed across the street. The ceasar salad was put on in the same bag as the tacos. Not only did they give me the wrong salad, the lettuce was hot and almost soggy. When we went back to get the Padron salad they gave us the difference in cost.

The tacos were not very flavorful.

The server explained that she mixed up the order because they were watching Panama vs Mexico...