KAANDELA

Review summary

1. K

   Karl

   Tampa

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   In 900 reviews and many more visits unwritten, I have never before walked out of a restaurant mid meal. This was a bad experience that got worse as the evening progressed. First, of 5-6 choices in white wines, only one was actually available. Because I intended to pair it with the pork belly pops appetizer it seemed important to do it right. We actually don't know what wine we got because we were sampled on something not in the menu, but it was still the wrong choice when they didn't have the pops. Seriously, it's paper. Reporting your menus when you are out of everything, or at least tell us at the beginning instead of waiting until after we order. We got the Clams Papa which really needed bread to soak up the liquid. Several of them were still gritty and my wife said he's tasted fishy. Not good. Then we sat. An hour and a half after sitting down and after going to the kitchen to ask when to expect dinner they brought the steak. Compare the photo I'll upload with that of others. There's no comparison. Ours was small, grey and cooked in a pan, not appearing even near the advertised weight. There was no crust and no ember as described. There's no way that this gristley thing was prime either. At this point I decided I could not pay $100 for this junk and told them we were leaving. The chef came out, but there was nothing for him to do. I think that he was as embarrassed as he should have been to serve that mess. No, I would never return.
   

   KAANDELAResponded today

   Dear Karl, thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Kaandela. First and foremost, please accept our sincerest apologies. It deeply saddens us to know that we did not meet your expectations and, more importantly, that we did not uphold the high standards of quality, presentation, and service that define us. We regret the way your ribeye was presented, as well as your experience with the national clams, which indeed have a very distinctive flavor influenced by the Panamanian seas. While we are pleased that your bill was fully waived as a gesture of our regret, we know that no courtesy can replace the opportunity to provide you with the outstanding culinary experience that you deserved.
   

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2. J

   Jane

   Unspecified

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Loud, rushed and mediocre, over-priced food. Seafood casserole at $35 with 2 little over-cooked shrimp, 2 mussels, a few clams smaller than my pinky fingernail, a 3 in strip of octopus??? Very disappointing.
   

   KAANDELAResponded today

   Dear Jane, thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We take all comments seriously as they help us improve. We're disappointed to hear that the seafood casserole did not meet the quality you were hoping for, and we will review this dish to ensure it's up to the standard we strive for. We also regret that you felt the atmosphere was loud and rushed. We appreciate your input and hope you’ll consider giving us another chance to offer a better experience in the future.
   

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3. M

   Mario

   Miami

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Mi expectativa era más elevada, pedí una cazuela de mariscos, la comida vino tibia, un camarón semi crudo y el tamaño y cantidad de mariscos decepcionantes
   

   KAANDELAResponded today

   Querido Mario, lamentamos mucho que tu experiencia no haya cumplido con tus expectativas. Pedimos disculpas por la comida tibia y el camarón no cocido adecuadamente, ya que nos esforzamos por ofrecer platos de calidad y frescura. También tomamos en cuenta tus comentarios sobre la cantidad y el tamaño de los mariscos, y revisaremos estos detalles para mejorar. Agradecemos tu retroalimentación, que nos ayuda a seguir mejorando. Esperamos poder brindarte una experiencia más satisfactoria en el futuro.
   

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4. a

   amy

   New York City

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Very attentive staff and good quality food. The desserts were delicious
   

   KAANDELAResponded today

   Thanks so much, Amy!!!
   

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5. G

   Gijs

   Amsterdam

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Great atmosphere and a lovely setting. Good service and very nice cocktail and wine menu. Food not as refined as I hoped
   

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6. k

   kimberly

   New York City

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   Went for lunch . The service was very slow and there were a lot of empty tables . The pork belly was not available even though it’s one of their featured dishes . The lamb kebabs we ordered were burnt . The seafood casserole was good but it had one shrimp and one burnt piece of octopus . The head waiter / Manager gave 5 dollars off for the bad service. We were really excited to visit this restaurant but after visiting I can say it’s hyped up. The drinks were good .
   

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   KAANDELAResponded 4 days ago

   Dear Kimberly, we are truly sorry to read your review, and we sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced during your lunch. Your feedback has been shared with our Chef, José Eduardo Aparicio, and we deeply regret that we were unable to provide you with the top-notch service we are internationally known for, especially right before your departure for the airport. We truly value your input and are committed to making improvements. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and offer you the exceptional experience you deserve.
   

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7. c

   christine

   New York City

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on February 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   A farm to table restaurant . The food was outstanding as well as the service
   

   KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Christine, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed both the food and the service. We take great pride in our farm-to-table approach and it's wonderful to know it made such an impression. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
   

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8. S

   Steve

   VIP

   London

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on February 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Probably the best food, wine and service we had in Panama- and we’ve loved Panama! Novel ingredients brilliantly combined for some mouth watering dishes. The team are outstanding- friendly, knowledgeable and super attentive. Our family loved it so much we squeezed in two visits in our 4 days in the city. Highly recommended!
   

   KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Steve, wow, thank you so much for your incredible review! We're beyond honored to hear that you enjoyed the food, wine, and service so much—it means a lot to us, especially considering how much you've loved Panama. We're thrilled that you appreciated our unique ingredients and the team’s service. It's wonderful to know your family had such a great experience that you returned twice in your short time here! We truly appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back on your next visit!
   

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9. M

   Morgan

   Denver

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on February 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything from the taste & presentation of the food to the service & atmosphere was exceptional! We ordered the robalo sea bass curry with coconut rice, patacón salad with pork belly and the fish & papaya starter. They were all flavor explosions! Highly recommend the Kaandela Punch cocktail too. Shoutout to our server Abdiel and hostess Michelle for being so kind, warm, welcoming and helpful!
   

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   KAANDELAResponded 7 days ago

   Dear Morgan, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed everything—from the flavors and presentation of the dishes to the service and atmosphere. It's fantastic to know that the robalo sea bass curry, patacón salad, and fish & papaya starter were a hit, and we’re so glad you loved the Kaandela Punch cocktail as well! We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Abdiel and Michelle—they’ll be so happy to hear you appreciated their service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another amazing experience!
   

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10. A

    Arnaud

    London

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3

    Joli restaurant mais cuisine à revoir . Plats bien en dessous de la moyenne
    

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