May 19
Gone Fishing Panama Resort and Restaurant
I received the following email with the request to post.
From……: Donna
Email…..:
Url…….: www.gonefishingpanama.comHi Don,
Your website is always informative and entertaining. Thank you.I am the owner of Gone Fishing Panama Resort and Restaurant, in Boca Chica, we bumped into each other one day in the Rey shopping center. We are trying to get the word out about our weekly Sunday Brunch. Now that the road to Boca Chica is 95% complete, we thought people would like to come for a Brunch and a Swim. It’s a full gourmet Brunch with an alcoholic beverage included, for $25 per person. The menu changes weekly and it will be posted on our website soon, maybe even today!
I was wondering if you could help get the word out for us. Thanks. Donna.
If you go, tell Donna you heard about it on Chiriquí Chatter.
16 responses so far Panama Journal
Hot Dang!
I’m so excited about the thought of spending $25 for brunch that I’m beside myself.
Oops. I think my sarcasm detector just went off.
Too rico for my taste buds! That’s a U.S. price – and at one of the better restaurants……..I wish more of these folks would think of the pobre gringos and Panameños when they set their prices. Brunch is a treat but it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg (what with eggs at 11 cents a piece ).
There is a place in Hemet, California which offers full Sunday brunch with endless champagne for $12.99 per person. Sorry Donna but you are way overpriced and fuel is going up next week.
Don, Please allow me to respond.
I appreciate all of your responses and input, but this is not an egg Brunch. Here is our menu for the coming week.
Gone Fishing Panama Resort & Restaurant
Sunday Gourmet Brunch Menu
May 24, 2009
“Grilled Fare Gala”
Salmon Canape’
Eggplant Pate’
Shrimp Cerviche
Garden Salad
Grilled:
Beef in Wine Marinade
Chicken in Mustard and Garlic
Pork with Pineapple
Shrimp in wine & olive oil
Fish of the day – foil wrap
Potato & Mushroom cakes
Grilled Vegetables
Flan
Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Ice Cream Sundae
Mimosa
$25 per person + gratuity
Reservations required
Hi Donna,
The menu looks outstanding and I am sure I would love it. It appears similar to menus I have seen for the Hotel Panamonte in Boquete on special days of the year, such as Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc. The price might be even a little cheaper than the Panamonte charges for those occasions.
Your email did say that it includes swimming. Do you have a place to change for the swim and is that in your pool or in the ocean? That is information for others. I have lived in Panama for 6 years and spend as little time in the sun as I can, so the swim adds no value for me.
Analyzing my expense, for me to drive there, it would probably take 2 gallons of gas for the round trip. For a Boquetian to get there, it is at least one more gallon, maybe two. That will increase the price by $5.50 to $10.00. I think the drive time from David is about an hour. From Boquete to David is another 45 minutes.
You didn’t say if the tip was automatically added to the price or was at the discretion of the diner. I will assume a 10% tip, which is accepted in Panama. For me, taking the pensionado discount, my cost would be ($25+2.5)*.75 = $20.63 +$5.50 (gas) = $26.13 and $20.63 for each additional person that qualified for a discount.
The price for a person from David, that can’t qualify for the discount, would be $27.5 +$5.50 (gas) = $33 plus $27.50 for each additional person. I have to believe that the prices are set assuming that the majority of the reservations will be made by retirees asking for a discount or by tourists that are on vacation.
A Boquetian would add another $5.00 for gas, so their costs will increase proportionately and they will spend another 1 ½ hours, round trip, on the road.
Someone in David might compare it to the Hotel Gran Nacional Sunday buffet, which is $8.50 (based on the call I made today) and may still include a mimosa. Granted, the Gran Nacional menu is not as elegant, but usually has around 4 main entrées, several different salads, and a selection of desserts.
While I wish you the best of luck, I think you have a challenge on your hands. If it were in David, I would try it on a special occasion.
If other CC readers think my reasoning is out of line, then please comment.
My 2 cents…It all boils down to the marketplace and what the consumer is willing to spend. According to their web site, “We offer upscale accommodations with fabulous panoramic vistas and serve tasty gourmet meals in our open air terrace restaurant/bar.” Their market is the upscale tourist/vacationer who can afford to travel and is willing to pay $25/plate for a gourmet menu fare. The menu Donna posted is obviously an upscale menu and not an egg brunch.
I’ve invited some execs at my work place to come visit me in Panama when I retire. “Gone Fishing” is the kind of place (upscale accommodations) I’d recommend for some of these execs because that’s what they’d want and what they can afford.
Hi Michael. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I agree, this is an upscaled area and the menu is outstandind. I may be too pessimistic or too tight.
Don: I totally agree with your comment and consider it very objective and states clearly our reality. The David and Boquete market, even for people who can afford it, are not willing to spent $25 + gratuity + fuel – retiree discount. Of course, visitors who are willing to pay for it, will do, but how many tourists with this profile you estimate will attend to make the business get to break-even point? Donna: wish you lots of luck.
Lilia
Hi Lilia. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
If the brunch includes unlimited booze and a doggie bag, I might be interested
.
Don
We joined Gone Fishing for there Sunday Brunch last weekend and found the experience delicious and well worth while. The new chef, Andrei, is a master and the Seared Fresh Tuna was Heaven sent. Lobster Raviol, Seafood Pasta plus freshly made Sangria topped it off for me. A great turn out of wonderful and interesting folks made for an enjoyable weekend treat. We’ll be back this Sunday. Thanks Donna and Bruce
Hi Jim. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. It is great to have someone comment that has tried it out. I appreciate it.
Hi Donna,
The locals have spoken. I think your market is the US visitor and those who have been here just a short time. I’m sure your guests who are already there will enjoy it. For those of us who have been here a while (6 years here), and the current state of the economy, the pricing reminds me of one of the reasons that I moved here originally – to cut on expenses. Boca Chica itself, unless you are staying there for fishing or diving, offers very little, and quite honestly, if I did make the trip there to visit some of my Panamanian friends, I would go to one of the 2-3 little tipico places and munch out cheaply, sweat in the shade, and down a cold Balboa. I do think you have the Boca Chica market cornered on mimosas, though – I haven’t seen anyplace else there that serves them. Best of luck.
Don Ray,
How can they have a Sunday brunch for people like us living in Chiriquí if they do not fix their entrance first? You can barely enter with a 4×4 and pray it doesn’t rain meanwhile you have your meal. I went yesterday but I was afraid to enter because it was cloudy and ready to rain. Ended up in Frank place, cheap and horrible food bur safe for the car.
Paul
Hi Fisher. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.