Behind the Reviews: How I’ll Approach Casco Viejo’s Dining Scene

Casco Viejo also known as San Felipe has become one of Panama’s most compelling dining districts. The neighborhood has changed enormously since I bought my home here in 2008, yet one thing has stayed constant: every great meal in Casco starts with character. How I review restaurants in Casco Viejo is deeply influenced by this unique blend of history and flavor.

Before publishing my first restaurant review, I wanted to explain what readers and restaurateurs can expect from this page. These won’t be copy-and-paste write-ups or sponsored listings. They’ll come from firsthand visits, photography, and genuine impressions drawn from a lifetime in hospitality one that’s taken me from kitchens in England to luxury hotels, convention centers, and restaurants in Palm Springs, Dallas, Los Angeles, and right here in Panama City.

How I review restaurants in Casco Viejo will focus on flavor, service, and authenticity not hype. I’ll look at how well each restaurant delivers on its intent, whether it’s a casual café or a fine-dining room with white-linen ambitions. My perspective comes from both sides of the plate guest and operator so the goal isn’t to critique for sport but to understand, encourage, and highlight what makes each experience worth your time.

If a restaurant has room to improve, I hope the review is taken as constructive a positive chance to grow from someone who’s spent a lifetime in this industry. I’ve been fortunate to work with chefs trained under Paul Bocuse and Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, yet I still learn something new every day. That’s the beauty of hospitality: it never stops teaching you.

This page How I review restaurants in Casco Viejo marks the start of a continuing series on Casco Viejo’s evolving dining scene — one that values substance over style and honesty over advertising. The first full review will appear soon, but for now, consider this the opening course.

Out and about with James.