Sampling the Local Dishes in Some Beautiful Penonome Restaurants, Panama

One of the best part of visiting a foreign country is meeting with the local people/residents and learning about their daily lives.

My husband and I could have joined any tour groups in our travels and go for sight seeing locally. However, we prefer to learn about the cultures and lives through real personal interactions with the local people.

The short term mission team has been very frugal, cooking and eating all our meals at the church house since our arrival in Panama. This afternoon, we wanted to try some local dishes so we could learn about the local cuisine of Panama.

Lily, again, volunteered graciously to be our guide and took us to a place where we could sample some Panamanian dishes.

She took us to the Icacos Restaurant, a place on the outskirt of Penonome, about a 10-15 minute drive from town.

The Icacos Restaurant. Penonome, Panama

It is a spacious and nice restaurant located in a natural setting.

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Since we got to the restaurant after the normal lunch hour, we were the only patrons there.

The setting was calm and relaxing and the waiting staff was very courteous and patient with us.

The price of food was very reasonable in North American standard though it might have been a little pricey for the average local people. Each dish was around U.S. $ 8.00 - $15.00.  

We could usually find fresh seafood dishes offered in local restaurants and in family meals where we were invited to part take with local families.  

 We enjoyed the opportunity of trying some local dishes and tasting food of another culture.

A grand entrance greets guests to the restaurant

Enjoying some delicious local food!

English was  not spoken at this restaurant. I was glad that I could order some food and drinks for myself with my very limited Spanish! Not bad for a person who could hardly speak a word two years ago.

Another very nice restaurant we went to in Penonome was the Gastronomia Restaurante ,  a spacious and elegant restaurant decorated with an equestrian theme.

There were many unique and beautiful sculptures placed throughout the entire property of the restaurant.










 We went there in the evening after waiting for our friends to close up their store.

Equestrian themed decorations and furniture abound at the restaurant

Many small dining room setting for small private dinners

The dining rooms were beautifully decorated with many private areas for small group dinner gatherings. I could not remember the names of the dishes ordered by our friends. 

Many Panamanian dishes contain a lot of seafood and they were fresh and delicious! The best we have ever tasted.








W're grateful that we had the opportunity to share some nice time with our friends in Penonome, Panama and tasted some great local food at a splendid restaurant!

R.T.
Penonome, Panama