The Culinary Sleeper in Boquete; Amigos!
Posted by Lee on August 4, 2008
I was going to write about Organica, a new Health food store in Boquete but instead of healthy I decided to write about decadent and succulent.
I think most of the local foods are healthy, the vegetables are too well sprayed and I am not sure if they wash clean. Still my focus today is a place that is well known as a Bar and one I have criticized in the past as a place to eat hamburgers if you like hockey pucks; Amigos.
Something has changed in Amigos, it is not the chef, Robinson was here before, it is not the regular menu. It is the management of Mark, Jennifer and Mary and their care for providing a fine meal.
If you come to Amigos for breakfast after about 9:30 am you have some of the best options on any breakfast menu in Boquete plus a bottomless coffee cup. The Eggs Boquete are worth a try, think a local twist on Eggs Benedict.
For lunch there is the regular menu of burgers (currently the best in town), excellent wings with various flavors, now without wing tips ( thank you Jennifer). For HOT try the Jerk Wings, hotter by far than the Buffalo Wings. You can also check behind the bar for the Panamanian Executive menu, always a soup, salad, rice and meat, chicken or something unique for $2.50.
If you come for dinner check out the blackboard for real proof Robinson is a master in the kitchen. Whether is seared Ginger Tuna, Prawns, Baby Back ribs, Red Snapper or something else. The food is excellent, the portions enthusiastic and the experience one you would not expect in the bar atmosphere.
I spend a lot of time in Amigos and I hear a lot of feedback on the food. It is almost all positive, morning, noon or night so unlike previous reviews I recommend giving Amigos a try. Be sure you have time to relax the food is not fast food and emerges slowly from the kitchen.
Footnote: Ambiance is absolute pub, tavern bar with three different eating areas. Outside, the best when the sky is not falling. The front room busy, noisy but dry and the newly furnished back room which is slowly developing atmosphere.
Service: The kitchen is slow but the wait staff is the friendliest in town. Miriam, Lorena, Mary and Edy. If you visit regularly expect them to remember you, your name and what you like to drink.
Comments
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I agree. Robinson was a chef on a cruise ship and prior to the new management and ownership was not given the proper food items to work with. Now he has them and the meals he produces are outstanding, particularly the black board items that are the specials of the day. Try his food and the ambiance of Amigos and you will not be disappointed. Amigos is a good place to go if you want to meet English speaking people as that is where they hang out.
Jim I agree with all you are saying but in addition to the Expat community Amigos has a loyal local following so the demographics are wonderfully mixed.
We visited from Pennsylvana in Nov 07 and went to Amigo’s when we were in Boquete, and we loved the atmosphere and the friendly people. We know Mark & Jennifer and I am sure they are doing wonderful things with the place. Jennifer is an excellent cook with many culinary skills. We wish them the best and can’t wait to visit again to see all the new improvements and try the new menu.
When did this remarkable changeover in management occur?
I enjoy your reviews. I’m coming to Boquete this Friday, after a night in David. I have been going to David every three months from Uvita de Osa, Costa Rica for a few years now, mostly to get my passport stamped in and out, can’t say I’ve enjoyed it much. I look forward with mucho gusto coming to Boquete. The first place I will hit is Amigo’s to see what’s up there and soak up some suds and local/expat ambiance. Thanks for the info. I’ll be the lost-looking, grey-haired, kinda over-weight Gringo walking in sometime before noon.