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!