La Tapa del Coco

Made another visit to La Tapa after very busy days for both my wife and I. We were both tired, hungry and looking to have a good meal in a pleasant environment, which meant that this restaurant rose straight to the top of our list. Of course, we made our Degusta reservation and we were warmly welcomed when we arrived. and seated right away. Love the vibe at this place - always playing Caribbean style music, the servers wear AfroCariibean headgear, comfortable seating, with great food and service. My wife ordered the One Pot Colonese - can't miss with this selection. Everything was clearly made fresh and served hot and tasty. I ordered the Costillas Afrotaki (Afrotaki Spareribs) - my first time trying this dish and it was a delight. The grilled ribs were done to perfection with an African style rub and served with a sweet Teriyaki sauce. I had it with the coconut rice and peas, which, along with a couple of Tiny Winey beers, made for a perfect pairing. Our son had his usual, chicken fingers and french fries, which he fully enjoyed. To finish it all off, we shared a special chocolate cake desert, called "Close your eyes good". This was our first time trying it and it was a definite hit amongst the 3 of us. A great cap to an enjoyable evening at this fun restaurant. I highly recommend this place for anyone that enjoys food with flavor in a cozy setting with relaxing ambiance. You just can't go wrong at La Tapa!

Pedimos las bolitas de bacalao, estuvieron buenas. Adicional pulpo en salsa de coco debo decir que le textura del pulpo casi que se derretía en la boca, simplemente delicioso. Oportunidad de mejora: no dar platos plásticos con la entrada y preguntar al cliente si desean usar carrizo, adoptemos conciencia en hábitos de consumo.

Went for out for a Friday night family dinner to tryout their BurgerWeek offering. Parking was a challenge because the place was packed, with a line of people waiting for a table outside. The best way to ensure that you can get a table is to make a reservation, which, fortunately, I did thru Degusta. We got seated pretty quickly, ordered our Burgers (chicken fingers for the little guy) and enjoyed the lively ambiance while we waited for our food. Service is timely and friendly - our food was delivered in a reasonable amount of time and was well worth the wait! Their Journey Burger was UNBELIEVABLE!! With a unique blend of Antillean flavors in a burger, this is a special treat and one that should be on the menu regularly going forward. I almost forgot - for an appetizer, we had the plantain tarts and beef pattys (2 of each) - very tasty and the perfect started for our palate to prepare for our burger delight! For us, this is a restaurant that never disappoints. With their cozy ambiance, friendly staff, simple menu and amazing dishes, you cannot go wrong at La Tapa if you feel for some Panamanian - Caribbean flavor.

Wednesday night dinner decision after a long day - we went with La Tapa del Coco. We like the limited, high quality menu that they offer of Pan-Caribbean dishes in a comfortable setting. On this night we both wanted to try something new - dishes that are all off the menu. I had the Pork Ribs with Coconut Rice, wifey had the Curry Shrimp with Patacones and the 4 yr old has his usual Chicken Wings with Patacones. I have to say, the Pork Ribs were simply AMAZING!!! They are served boneless, so you are getting pure pork meat, that was bbqed to perfection. Succulent, moist, well seasoned and full of flavor, this was perfectly married with the coconut rice and with fried ripe plantain. The influences of Jamaica are all over this dish and Chef Isaac outdid himself with this dish. The Curry Shrimp was excellent - good portion of shrimp served in a tasty curry sauce that is not too strong, but with a little kick to it. This pairs really well with patacones and is another winner. Our son's dish consistently delivers - very good portions of well prepared wings served with fresh patacones. We've not had a bad meal there ever, however, this particular night was absolutely the best. Washed the meal down with a Tiny Winey Saril beer - perfect!! If you are interested in trying out good Caribbean food in a fun, island setting (reggae music is always playing in the background there), you HAVE to check out this spot.

Deliciosa comida estilo caribeña / panameña! Excelente ambiente con un DJ poniendo música tropical, excelente para pasar un rato con amigos. El servicio es de primera calidad. Muy recomendable!