Patagonia — Restaurant in San Francisco

PATAGONA GRILL - A GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE IN PANAMA

I had the opportunity to visit the Patagonia Gill while in Panama and I have to say this is by far the best restaurant in the city for steak. I was in Panama for three weeks in December and visited this restaurant on three occasions. On my first visit I had the outside skirt and it was cooked to perfection, on my second visit I tried the rib eye, again perfection in every bite. On my final visit before leaving the city it was recommended that I try the flap meat and what a great recommendation it was. I really didn’t now what to expect from a cut of beef with a name like flap meat! I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and tenderness of this steak. I think it may have been my favorite of all three cuts that I tried.

I also have to give kudos to their homemade country bread. I discovered it went well with the chimichurri and salsa sauces that they serve as a side item for their steaks. It was an excellent paring that I am going to try and recreate at home. It is far tastier then the gourmet oil and balsamic vinegar dipping sauce that I serve alongside bread. I know these sauces are meant for the meat but believe me it is amazing on bread, besides the steaks are just perfect without it.... So give it a try!

One other comment I would like to share is the atmosphere and service we received was top notch on all three visits. The wait staff were extremely attentive from the moment we sat down. If you are a meat lover I suggest you try this place. The prices are totally in line with the dinner and service you receive, as well they have an extensive wine list to choose from.

Thanks to Andres Martinez who was a gracious host and to his wonderful staff for truly gastronomic experience. I’ll definitely be back next time I am in Panama. It may just be my first stop!

I give this restaurant a...

My experience here was a bit confounding. The restaurant itself is very cute. The staff is really friendly. I ordered the Provoleta which was a bit of a let down. Rather than being grilled, I think it was broiled, and for $11 the portion was very small. Having just spent 2 weeks in Argentina and already missing this backyard asado staple, this didn't meet that craving. When the entre arrived the waitress cleared my remaining Provoleta and bread without a word and so quick it was done before I noticed. The Medallones de pimienta was very very good. The meat itself was well seasoned and extremely tender. The pepper sauce was a bit odd with an unexpected flavor. Mustard maybe? It was odd but I'm not mad about it. Sides options of rice or french fries werent the options I was expecting but that's ok. I wasn't given a wine list and when I asked about a glass of red I was just brought a glass without any options. The bill said it was a Melbec, which is my favorite. But it was...

Ordered a 20 oz NY Sirloin (Beef Chorizo) and the waiter brought a 12 oz steak. It was under cooked (albeit I ordered well-done) and full of fat. It was so thin and skinny, it was a joke! The first couple of times I was at La Patagonia when they first opened, they use to serve big, thick and juicy steaks with no fat. Now the quality has gone down, but prices gone up.

Some local Panamanians told me they don't import Argentinian beef anymore, that is why the beef quality has gone downhill...

Service was OK, but it took 20 minutes for the waiter to bring us another loaf of bread, after the we ate the first one. Tip was added without our consent!

Best to try Brazilian steakhouses like Brazzeiro and Os Segredos, where for $34.99 USD you can get an endless amount of meats and it is cheaper than the 20 oz sirloin at...