In praise of Restaurante Machu Picchu

[Judy Sacco]

This restaurant has been in Boquete for a few years, and I want to remind everybody how good it is.  They have wonderful seafood, as well as beef and chicken.  The calamari is wonderful.  Also they are open from noon until about 9 or 10, so you can go in and have a meal any time of the day - a rare thing here.  If you haven't been there in a while, or ever, check it out.

[Denese A Rodgers, CLV Boquete]

We went today based on multiple recommendations.  We shared arroz con mariscos; and it was wonderful!!!  The place was clean, friendly and nicely appointed.  I'd write more, but all that wonderful food and ambiance has me ready for a nice afternoon nap....zzzzz.

 

Denese

[Gregory Smith]

One of our favorite restaurants in Boquete and all of our meals have been excellent. I was there a few days ago. The food was excellent and priced lower than the same meal at Hotel Ladera. The accept the pensionado discount willingly and without hesitation.

[Roger Bellido]

It is not fair and legal to have two price lists.

 

[Keith Woolford]

Almost positive the '2 menu price lists' is another perpetuated myth. I wrote the original review for the Bajareque Times, didn't see any evidence of it then, and haven't since. Even though prices have increased somewhat, I'm still an occasional patron and I've always received the Jubilado discount w/o asking. (white hair pays off?) The Seafood Appetizer Platter for Two is delicious, delightfully presented and damn near a meal in itself.

 

[Phil Lawson]

Does anybody know if they are open on Mondays? We will be coming from Volcan and wanted to make sure before driving over.

[Lee Zeltzer]

All I can tell you is the chef you remember there is gone, he is working at the Ladera Hotel.

[Bonnie Williams]

Indeed he has relocated. I had the lunch special at La Ladera last Tuesday. It was a corvina in asparagus and calamari sauce and tasted just like a Machu Picchu dish. The cost was around $7, and it was delicious.

[Lee Zeltzer]

Bonnie we must have arrived after you, we were about 1:30pm.  It looked much better than it tasted. The asparagus was disintegrating from too much cooking, my fish was overcooked. It took a knife to cut the corvina, so I looked at the charcoal colored bottom. The sauce was good :) We will try it again.

[Dinah Sutton]

We have never had a bad meal at Machu Picchu..the staff has always been friendly and courteous...We have always eaten there during the dinner hour so can't speak for the lunch specials..but we would go back again without hesitation.

[Bob Wolfe]

Judy, I know that everyone has their feelings about local restaurants, and Machu Picchu comes up from time to time, and I am compelled to comment.

Yes it has been five years, but the last time I went to this restaurant, I ordered their "lunch special" of a seafood broth with allegedly some langostino in it.  At the time (I haven't been back since), nothing on the menu was priced over $7, and this was, after all, billed as a "special".  I just didn't know how special it actually was.

When it arrived, it was freezer burned and still cool in the center from microwaving.  Hey, this is a banana republic, I can live with a lot of things.  Until the check came.

I was charged $30 for this piece of crap meal, and after calmly talking with the manager about it, he refused to budge.  $30 is the bill, and by God, I had to pay it.  I explained to him at that time that I would never patronize his restaurant here or the one in Panama City ever again, and at every given opportunity, I would let people know about what he pulled that day.

Yes, it was my fault for not asking the price first, and that is probably why I was taken advantage of.  $30 for a freezer-burned, cold in the middle, lunch "special", when nothing else cost over $7.  

Shortly after that escapade, it was learned that Machu Picchu had two menus with two sets of prices - one for gringos and one for locals.  The manager explained at the time on one of the blogs that yes, he did have two menus, but gringos could pay more.  Never an apology, but I believe he did revert back to a single menu and price list.

As I said, it has been a long time, but a bad taste is a bad taste, and a blatant rip-off is a blatant rip-off.  I doubt the mentality of the management has changed.  There are some instances in which I may give a second chance, but not this one.  If it went out of business, it would tell me that perhaps this is a just world.