Ciao Bella Pizza (San Francisco)

When this place first opened...and while the owner was in the kitchen (familiar story here unfortunately)...it was one of the best pizzas in Panama. I'm sorry to say, but the last few visits have shown a marked change in quality to the pizzas...not so much care taken...this is a real shame. It's not cheap...I mean $35 for two takeout pizzas...and I have to go and get them...but when the quality goes downhill you start to question what you are doing buying them. I don't think they have done a very good job on redecorating the place...its bigger yes...but its like a very bright canteen and any minute you expect Ronald McDonald to come round and give the kids balloons...not my cup of tea. They started incredibly successfully...then expanded...then opened another restaurant...but the quality has gone downhill. I also noted that a few months back they changed the oven from a proper electric manually operated pizza oven to a conveyor belt type machine...has this had something to do with quality too?...I perceive it has. Come on guys...get back to where you started, or you're only going to reap short term gains and go the way of so many of the other fashionable restaurants here in Panama. Namaste.

Having been here several more times since my first visit, and after they expanded the restaurant to cope with demand, I feel the need (peer pressure from Dave) to write an update. For a fresh, tasty "homemade" pizza that is LOADED with ingredients this is the best in Panama. I tried the "focaccia delicioza" (think that's the correct spelling) and I added "cherry tomatoes and sweetcorn" to the standard "bacon, Italian sausage, onion, cream cheese and mozarella"...I am drooling writing this...my buddy had a "half and half"...half "focaccia delicioza" and half "carbonara". One time I visited, the owner tried to help me decide which one to have (and trust me this will be your biggest problem too) so he said "do you like salmon?"...and I nodded, but didn't want a whole pizza in it...so he did me one slice(!!!!) of my pizza with salmon and goats cheese. I didn't like it, but was super impressed with him doing it. I believe they've sorted the earlier gripe I had about the AC...though the lighting is pretty stadium bright. None of this matters...awesome pizza! Happy Dave? :)

This is a tough category for me as there are other good places to get pizza. I will keep it short...because we are not discussing haute cuisine here. Great, freshly made, hand tossed base. Good sauce (though sometimes a little watery). Excellent menu choices with a great deal of options. The middle size option holds itself together and stays crispy to the centre...unlike the largest option which goes soggy in the centre...and the middle one is plenty big enough even for a big appetite. Service is 'ok'...but the owners add a great personal touch and always remember you which gives it a nicer feel. The lighting is bright and you may play the game of 'lets find the table not in direct fire of the AC'. Overall a good proper Italian pizza made with fresh ingredients and delivered piping hot to your table...what more could you want?

Excelente ambiente, una variedad infinitas de pizzas hechas a leña. El mesero muy atento, sirven rápido. Ambiente: agradable para pasarla en familia.

Excelente opción de pizza. Buen servicio. La pizza grande es bastante para 3 hambrientos ! La pizza de salmón es mi Preferida.