Our March date night took us to Niba for the first time, a choice my wife made during her turn to pick the restaurant. Since we had no personal recommendations to go on, we walked in a bit blind, relying purely on her research.
Being located inside a hotel made arrival easy, and the valet parking was definitely the right call. Once upstairs, the first impression was strong: the restaurant is spacious, the seating is comfortable, and the floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the Pacific along Ave. Balboa creates a beautiful setting. Interestingly, while both the cuisine and staff presentation leaned Panamanian, the decor itself didn’t really reflect that identity, which felt a little unexpected.
Unfortunately, the service quickly became the weak point. Our server seemed new and unfamiliar with both the menu and wine list, which led to repeated back-and-forth on even simple questions and made the experience feel less polished than expected.
We opted for the Chef’s tasting menu - three appetizers, two mains, and dessert - hoping for a showcase of creativity. Instead, every dish landed in the “just okay” category, with nothing truly memorable. The selections felt safe, leaning toward standard local dishes rather than some of the more interesting options listed on the regular menu. Even dessert, a strawberry cheesecake, felt disconnected from the Panamanian theme, especially when options like flan or tres leches could have made a stronger impression.
At elevated price points, the combination of average food and uneven service made it hard to justify a return, particularly when a tasting menu should highlight the chef’s most imaginative work. Adding to that, the restaurant was nearly empty at 8 p.m. on a Saturday, which may say something about its dinner appeal.
Maybe it was simply an off night, but with so many stronger dining options in the city, this isn’t one we see ourselves revisiting.
