Review Il Pianista – Boquete
Posted by Lee on April 24, 2007
I was reading the Bajareque Times and saw the “just have a few days in Boquete” article by Dee Harris. Dee recommended Il Pianista and I realized that we had never been there. A planned dinner at Hibiscus went astray, they were closed for a private party so we embarked on the excursion up the Palo Alto loop to find Il Pianista accompanied by friends who have enjoyed the Sicilian cuisine there in the past.
This is the only sign for this remote restaurant near the Princess Jana finca.
The intrepid reviewers less the photographer, preparing to order from the only three available menus. With menus being scarce I photographed one.
The menus were nice but the view out the window from our table was better. The location and slate walled restaurant interior are among the best in Boquete.
We started with an Antipasto
It was loaded with Serrano ham, cheeses, peppers, pepperoni, with a separate plate of tomatoes and peppers. It was excellent and brought back memories of dining in Rome.
Jennifer ordered Trucha al forno con tomate y hongos fresca, Trout with tomatoes and fresh mushrooms. Imagine her shock when this appeared in front of her.
In addition to all of the above her fish was was buried in spinach and shrimp and she was transported to a place of extreme culinary happiness.
Bob. Maria and tried a Pizza grande with Hongos and Pepperoni.
The toppings were wonderful and fresh, the crust not typical of New York or Panama but what I remember eating in Rome. A crust almost cracker like, brittle and flakey, it was a bit of a surprise, not bad just different.
In all a wonderful meal. People dinning next to us ordered Calzones and when they arrived they realized one would be very sufficient for two people and the one large pizza was certainly adequate for three after the antipasto. What is not listed on the menu are beverage prices, wine is $3.50 a glass and made up a significant part of an excellent dining experience.
Comments
7 Responses to “Review Il Pianista – Boquete”Leave a comment, and if you'd like your own picture to show up next to your comments, go get a gravatar!
Hola Lee,
As I have told you and Jennifer ( as we have met serendipitously)..your site is one that- I _would have written and Photographed..if I had the self-discipline and the talent.. You consistently observe and comment on
what amazes,pleases,saddens,and enlivens me.
Gracias por Todo!!
Erin Ross
different comment…Lee I am telling each friend I know (poco a poco)….here to look at your site..It is very worthwhile.
I’d like to ask you why there are no negative comments here??
I so like the positive remarks!!
In other places negativity is common.
I find relief here….why is it that way here on your site and not elsewhere??
Thanks for contributing,
Erin Ross
I tried to go on a Monday and Tuesday evening in October 2007, but they were closed. Hope it was just their day off.
Can someone send me a phone to make a reservation, since I’m going nesxt week and wish to reserve for Friday August 1, my phone in Panama is 3016505, cellular 66163927
Thanks
This place was recommended to me, however, it seems that the owner does not stand kids. We were two couples with our family (5 kids from 5 to 12 years old) and from the time we entered, the owner gave us a bad look and an angry face. They set the table for us, and since we did not fit, we ask to take one table out and that the kids will sit in one table and the parents in another one. The Italian owner just said no, to take off! He was not going to serve us period. I understand that it happened to another family with kids. The hostess, I believe is his wife tried to keep us in, but we left because the guy is the one cooking and we most probably were going to get bad food.
Even if the food is great, the owner is a sad man!
Luis, sorry for your experience. Perhaps the guy had a bad day and would not have supported anything that day. Anyway I know he has several nice children on his own and, yes, his wife serves the dishes.
And no, you were not going to have bad food. He is a great cook and even has his own italian style crusty bread. I can’t stand the usual panamenian bread which all tastes like hamburger rolls. I had wonderful spaghetti allo scoglio and was very glad I found this restaurant.
Forget about all the other “Italian” restaurants in Boquete! The pizza there tastes like deep frozen and just heated, the “mozzarella” on it is some synthetic stuff that has nothing to do with real mozzarella and some guy from New York with italian ancesters even dares to call his stuff “original italian” but he seems to put ketchup in his tomato sauce and does not even speak italian. I even tried a lasagna in one “Italian” restaurant where I had been greeted by a real Italian, but the lasagna was without besciamella and had the same synthetic and not well molded “mozzarella” on it. In Italy I would leave this stuff on the table and go away.
So for me it’s very clear: if some day I cannot live without a good italian meal, The Pianista is my only choice in Boquete.
We have enjoyed not only the setting but the always great food on numerous visits! Don’t miss it in Boquete.