Panama Premier Rentals

Market Restaurant

Contributed by Renee Nielsen

Market - Corners of Calle Uruguay/ Calle 47 across from the Habitante Building—269-1076 (reservations recommended)

*** (out of 4) stars

Market is a new trendy--yet laid back--restaurant located in Bella Vista. From the outside, it looks like just an upscale kind of wine or cigar bar, so it was a surprise to find out it was much more than that.

As you enter the property from the front, you will see outdoor seating available on a decent sized terrace. When entering the restaurant, the bar is located on your right as you walk into to the main dining area.

The walls there are interestingly lined with different wine and Veuve Cliquot Champagne bottles.

Our group tried numerous dishes such as the roasted rosemary chicken with polenta and chutney, the Philly Steak Sandwich, Fish and Chips, and mini hamburgers (sliders) and fries. The chicken was actually a 1/2 roasted chicken on the bone with polenta and chutney. The Philly steak was wrapped in parchment paper and served with french fries and sauce.

The Fish and Chips also has its own tangy sauce (not quite tartar sauce, but good). The mini hamburgers look like they came from the "White Castle" restaurant in the US, but tasted much better. The fries that came with it were served in an upright tin with parchment paper adding a fun touch to the meal.

Also ordered was a bottle of the house white wine for a reasonable $15.

Desserts consisted of a chocolate pavolva with fruit, a chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce and the Bailey's cake again topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate. While none of the desserts were outstanding, they will satisfy a sweet tooth or make a fine accompaniment to the cappuccinos.

The bill for the 8 of us came to and acceptable $160.00 including the 10% tip. The only downside to the restaurant was the level of noise due to the high metal ceilings. Voices tend to rise above our heads and swirl around the main dining room which made it hard to everyone at our

8 person round table. However, that won't stop us from being back and will just ask to be seated in the carpeted upstairs area for a more intimate (and quieter) experience.

Overall, the food was good and the atmosphere fun and fresh. Market has valet service available which only costs you $1.00 and that in itself here in Panama is the norm but for the rest of USA or Canada it is a true bargain!

It´s good to be home!

We just spent an amazing 3 weeks in the States visiting museums, riding the Screaming Eagle at 6 Flags (made our 5 year old son ride it...I have my fair share of guilt about that one but my husband says "it's good for him!", spending lots of time with family, loading up on new books and activities for the kiddos. 

We flew back just yesterday from St. Louis, to Dallas, to Miami, to Panama City, 2 hour drive to the beach.  The kids are now seasoned travelers and my son announced last night that his favorite song is the American Airlines song.  We arrived to Tocumen and made it through customs hassle free.  Unfortunately our car battery was dead.  We rented a car and made it home by 11pm.  Got up today to find out that my horse is sick and our other car, which has been in the shop for 3 weeks, is still not working.  I heard my husband on the phone trying to spit out a few words in Spanish until he finally just handed me the phone.  Like my spanish is so much better. 

But with all the little complications that Panama tends to throw your way to keep your day interesting, it still feels good to be home.  One day we may be ready to move back to the States, but I don't see it happening any time soon.