Casa Panza Restaurant

12/20/09

Poor service and event management

by Morgan Mok at Citysearch

Unfortunately all this restaurant has going for it is the ambiance and that's about it. I recently went to Casa Panza for a Flamenco Puro show.

I purchased my ticket online and it was supposed to be will call, when I got there they did not have my name on the will call list and all the tables had been reserved (there was no notice about needing to reserve a table when I bought my tix) so the first half of the performance I had to sit on a stool by the door because they had oversold the event and there was no more table seating. Several other people were in the same situation. These were $30 tickets and the management made no concessions for the lack of seating/service we were given.

Some friends that ordered food before the event received very poor service from the staff and had to wait forever for their food, even after asking multiple times.

The menu has very basic Spanish/Cuban dishes which are all overpriced, all the seafood dishes except for one are $25+ . There is $4 "sharing" fee, a notice that you can only place an order over $20 if you're watching a show, etc, etc. Its crazy and obvious that once you're there for a show they are going to try and bleed as much money out of you as possible.

I much prefer Las Culebrinas (4700 W Flagler St) for an equally beautiful atmosphere and much better/well priced food. Oy Como Ayer is a much better concert/show venue.

Casa Panza is fine for a peek and a drink, but save your romantic date for a different location.

• Pros: I didn't buy any overpriced food
• Cons: rude/poor service

01/06/08

one drink, 20 minute wait!

by mbatista06 at Citysearch

I always come here with the family on cultural fridays. Which I must say I think it is the day that is the busiest. We've never ate here just have had drinks outside on little tables and chairs. Never have ate in because we always go on cultural fridays and on those days there is no room for anyone inside the restaurant! And last time I went I asked for a drink and everyone i would ask to please make it for me would put me on hold. I waited for 20 to 25 minutes until I think it was a manager I spoke with just because he happened to have been standing there. Because if I would have asked for a manager I would have probably had to wait 2 or 3 hours. The drink turned out to be horrible! I would love to eat here but I dont want to be disapointed. I love the spanish culure and I just dont want to go through a bad experience at this restaurant. It looks romantic, lights are dim. It gives you a feel you are in a cave in the mountains in Spain. I once met one of the waitresses which happened to be my friends classmate in college. Which told us it is pricey. The male waitors are really good looking and young. Would love to come here but defenately not on a cultural friday.

• Pros: appearance
• Cons: service

09/20/06

I was invisible!!!!!!!

by plee003 at Citysearch

I went there on a rainy Tuesday night with my boyfriend. Called ahead and confirm there would be a flamingo show at 8:30. There was only a couple sitting by the bar when we got there a little after 8:30. There was no show! I can understand that since the business wasnt too good that night. The waiters had been busy arranging tables, getting extra plates and utensils for the big family came in right after us. We were out enjoy the night so didnt mind a little waiting.

We had patiently waited and waitedWe had to walk out of that place when the big family AND the couple came in after them were getting their bread and drinks while we still sitting there with NOTHING.

I am sure they knew we were there because the big family was sitting so close to us that I had to ask some of them to move in order to leave.

We were more nicely and appropriately dressed than anybody else there. The only reasonable explanation we can come up with is that they just dont want us there. I guess if you dont appear to be one of them, one that can blend right in that neighborhood, they dont want you there!!!

Can't tell you anything about the food since I didn't get any... The decoration and ambiance is pretty good though...