Pan & Qué? A Different Italian
Italian Festival at The River Café
The creative minds at The River Café have designed a spectacular menu with excellent choices from which to enjoy a three course dinner for a fixed price
A different Italian. That says a lot about the new place where we dined this week.
The newly renovated restaurant Pan & Que? opened last week with an enhanced menu and new décor emphasizing the young, casual character of the place.
Selections from the menu are announced on blackboards on the wall, which are integral to the place’s décor. Also, some of the dishes are described in hand writing on the beams, adding character to the décor. The restaurant’s atmosphere is very nice, welcoming; air conditioning is really appreciated in the summer months.
Some of the signature drinks are the sangria and mojito. They also have a very nice house wine. The menu, as mentioned above, includes new dishes; from the new appetizers, I chose the calamari basket, crispy battered calamari rings with an intriguing berry alioli. They are addictive! A signature appetizer at Pan & Qué? and an Italian classic is the bruscheta. Theirs is a very interesting proposal, served on home made bread, au gratin with fresh mozzarella, tomato, olives, fresh basil and olive oil.
New on the menu is also a variety of pasta dishes, from which Letty chose one of her favorites, the Alfredo Fetuccine with added shrimp. She loved it, especially because of a subtle garlic perfume that caressed her taste buds. She loved it so much that she insisted I should try it too, and let me have a bite. I completely agreed with her. The pasta was perfect, and the Alfredo sauce was creamy and delicious (I actually had more than just a bite).
I, in turn, had a pizza that had caught my eye from the very beginning. It’s the pescatore, with smoked marlin, green and black olives, red onions, capers and fresh cilantro. Pizzas at Pan & Qué? are individual size (12” ) which makes it simple since you don’t have to share; each person can choose his or her own favorite. They are also thin crust. Mine was sensational. It hit the spot.
Their coffee is also excellent. I had a red fruits cheese pie that was almost sinful, so rich and delicious. Letty had a cappuccino, to bring a wonderful dining experience to a close.
One thing that stands out at Pan & Qué? is the personalized service by the owners. It makes a difference from the moment you set foot in the restaurant.
Pan & Qué? is located on 1002 Peru St. across the street from the Iglesia del Refugio. It is open for dinner from 6 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tel. 223 0500