La Strega Ristorante | Bella Vista
Panama
Recensioner
I have to say, I had pretty high expectations for this place after seeing the reviews and photos—especially the pasta in the melting cheese wheel—and given the higher prices. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to any of it. First off, they didn’t even use the cheese wheel like they show on their website and videos, which was one of the main reasons we wanted to try this place. That alone was pretty misleading. This place is way overpriced for what you get and, in my opinion, not a true Italian restaurant. The fettuccine Alfredo sat at the kitchen for 3 minutes before being brought to us and came out cold, didn’t taste fresh at all, and honestly tasted like jarred sauce. The “grilled octopus” didn’t seem grilled—more like seared in oil—and was so over-salted that it was the only thing you could taste. A little lemon would’ve gone a long way (pretty standard at most Italian or Mediterranean spots). The pizza was ok but nothing special as it even had cheap-tasting ham cut chunks on top. Service was also pretty subpar—no one really checked in, and we never got our waters refilled always having to ask. The manager who was serving us seemed like he might’ve been sick or something and was constantly clearing his throat of snot, which made the whole experience a bit uncomfortable. The overall vibe felt off too—TVs everywhere, which isn’t what you expect from a nicer Italian restaurant that charges so much. It honestly felt more like a tourist trap than anything else. All in all, I’m surprised by how many five-star reviews this place has given the quality and prices. I’m guessing 75% of them are fake. If you’re looking for real Italian food in Panama City, I’d skip this spot and go somewhere that truly cares about cooking a real quality Italian meal.
Great Italian restaurant! We loved the food and the presentation is spectacular. Angelo explained about the wines and the food. Great pairing and superb service. Highly recommended.
Oscar was a great waiter. He helped us with specials not on menu to make sure each person had a meal exactly of what they wanted. He was most gracious in being patient with a picky teenager too. We had the ribeye which was brought out and flaming sauce was added to the plate and sizzled - cooked perfectly! We also had the grilled octopus, the meatballs and fettuccine Alfredo, Cooked and put in the half wheel of cheese - it was so so good. The focaccia bread was also a must have. He was kind enough to take pictures of our family at the end too to help remember the trip To Panama. If you are looking for a great place to eat - definitely try this restaurant. Thanks Oscar - you are great at your job!!
