Limoncillo Pony Club
Calle 69 Este
Cuisines: Italian, European
About
I love this little gourmet bistro, and always find it difficult to make up my mind about what to order -- everything is so tantalizingly good. Limoncillo, or the "little lemon," is the brainchild of Clara Icaza (one of Latin America's top chefs) and restaurateur Jennifer Spector, both of whom earned their stripes in upscale Manhattan restaurants before bringing New York-style dining -- creative taste combinations, chill-out background music, an arty ambience, and high-end prices -- to Panama City. Opening in 1999 with little fanfare, Limoncillo has quietly grown in popularity with well-heeled and fashionable Panamanians. Now the restaurant is typically the first place locals recommended to foreign visitors seeking a special place to dine. The food is mostly Mediterranean and Italian, but thoroughly contemporary. Your meal starts with a basket of freshly baked bread. Order the starter Portobella Napoleon with goat cheese and pesto, or a paratha (East Indian whole wheat flatbread) with yellow pea purée, and follow it with grilled sea bass with white bean purée and a zesty lemon preserve. Or try one of their creamy risottos with jumbo prawns or the beef tenderloin stuffed with basil and chipotle. Limoncillo has only a dozen or so tables, so it's wise to make a reservation, especially on weekends. If you have to wait, order one of their well-made cocktails.
