Manolo Caracol
One of the finer and better known restaurants in all of Panama, Manolo Caracol provides a unique dining experience. At Manolo Caracol there is no set menu, but rather a set price per person of $30 which guarantees to fill your belly with all kinds of good food. Utilizing the freshest ingredients of the day, each night chefs prepare approximately 8 to 15 courses of delectable delights. If I remember correctly, when I went there the last time we were served:
Bread and oil and vinegar, eggplant/zucchini quiche, stewed shellfish, ceviche, salad, grilled octopus, pork tamales, swordfish, shrimp and clam soup, rabbit, fried rice, dolphin fish, and a mixed fruit, passion fruit jello and cheesecake dessert plate.
I take pride in being a human garbage disposal of food sorts, but I must sadly admit that my lady friend and I were unable to finish everything that was brought out to us on 13 rounds of plates. Manolo Caracol is located in Casco Viejo near the water, a block away from the National Theater. It has a nice, clean, comfortable setting, decent service, and a list of about eight to ten reasonably priced wines. With all the different food that you will be sampling, be prepared to spend a couple of hours at the table, and it is usually a good idea to call ahead for reservations. For something different, surprising and impressive, find time to make a dinner date at Manolo Caracol.
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counselor19 on Fri, 2nd Oct 2009 7:54 pm
I have eaten at Manolo Caracol twice in the past few months, and though the atmosphere is lively but comfortable, the prices are a little much even after you consider the “Casco Viejo” tax. Also the plates that come to the table seemed.
KELLY on Sun, 3rd Jan 2010 12:21 am
This restaurant was both good and an a disappointment. We loved the set menu with its sampling of well prepared and tasty tidbits served separately to allow a savoring of the flavor of each. However, there was no clue or description of each of the dishes or an overall menu of the selections that would be gracing your plate. We were also disappointed with the wine service since several selections were not available nor were their suggestions for wines that would best accompany the menu of the evening. Even more surprising was that prices of the wine were not noted.
This is not a place to go for anyone with a hearty appetite who will find the portions small. It does, however, provide a unique dining experience that almost everyone will find that at least one of the samples exceeded their taste expectations and left them wanting for more.
How To Explore Panama's Restaurants on Thu, 3rd Mar 2011 5:04 pm
[...] Manolo Caracol: Expensive, but not really because it is a fixed menu of $30. No surprises. Anyways, Manolo mismo (himself) is the reason you go. He is either the most loved or the most hated man in Casco Viejo, depending on who you talk to. [...]
Manolo and Me on Sun, 3rd Apr 2011 12:56 pm
[...] is the owner of Manolo Caracol. He’s a lively Spaniard whose stature and boisterousness remind me of Napoleon Bonaparte. He [...]