Located within Sentosa Golf Club, Panamericana rewards you sumptuously for taking the extra effort to leave the mainland – be it by monorail, car or foot. First, there’s the unbeatable view. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a glimpse of the sea, but it’s best to dine al fresco. Grab a seat out on the verandah, or head down to the manicured lawn – both overlook glittering vistas of the South China Sea and palm trees that sway in the cool breeze.
Then, there’s the food. Panamericana’s colourful menu pulls from the 14 different countries found along the Pan-American Highway. Embark on a culinary adventure as you sink your teeth into Argentinian empanadas ($12 for two), a hearty seafood stew ($32), or lamb ($55) and other meats charred on the asador.
As the night settles, match the orange and blush hues of the sunset with an equally brilliant Aperol spritz ($20), or have a Panamericana Pilsner ($15) brewed locally by Trouble Brewing. The well-stocked bar also has an affordable Happy Hour promotion that runs every Friday, where house-pour bubbly, wine, beer, and selected cocktails go for $5 at 5pm, and increase by a dollar every hour till 9pm.
Time Out Singapore in partnership with Panamericana
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Original review by Charlene Fang on May 2 2018
Let's get one thing out of the way, it’s a schelp to get to Panamericana. For some, it may feel like a journey across the 50,000km Pan-American highway – but really it’s just Sentosa.
With its light-filled interiors and unbeatable view of the golf course and sea, planning for a weekend brunch here is ideal. However, you may miss the bulk of executive chef Matthew Woon’s farm-to-fire menu that pulls from North, Central and South America. That said, asador items are available from noon so you won't miss out too much.
For a full experience, go for dinner. The starter of ceviche ($16), snapper in coconut milk with paw paw is a no-brainer, unfortunately it’s a tad over spiced, not allowing the more delicate flavours to seep through. Thankfully, when combined with chunks of papaya and coriander leaves, the spice level is immediately tamed. The sizable British Colombia ($14) salad fares better, a bright bowl of crisp red cabbage and leeks with crunchy birdseed and sweet apple accompanies the hearty proteins perfectly. While the whole-grilled Colombian Chicken ($30) arrives looking a little bare with just a lemon half for company, the succulent, flavour-filled chicken meat and spicy-sweet charred skin compensates for its nakedness. It also explains why they encourage ordering a side (choose from five, $5 each), which in all fairness does add to the dish – the piquent chimichurri imparts a level of complexity to the chicken. The Steak ($36) served on a bed of charred spring onions, anoited with mustard seed caviar, however, needs no window dressing. The yin-yang contrast of grilled meat with savoury mustard and sweet onions is a harmonious melody on its own.
Be warned, portion size is generous so dessert may be a debate. Settle on splitting the churros ($12), five freshly-fried dough sticks that’s crisp to the bite while soft and chewy on the inside. When dipped in the accompanying dulce de leche sauce, it’s a small slice of heaven.
Panamericana’s food is just one part of its draw – there's also the view, the extensive and reasonably priced cocktail menu, and the vibe – but it's a big one and it’s good to see that they’re not just relying on the view (and captive Sentosa Cove residents) to deliver an experience worth crossing the bridge for.
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