Segafredo Zanetti Expresso:

This is more than a coffee cafe

Names, like outward appearances, can be deceiving in that they don’t always convey the reality of a place or situation. That is certainly the case with Segafredo Zanetti Expresso, the newly-opened coffee café hidden away at the top of the new addition of MultiPlaza Pacific Mall, across from Benihana.

Although they certainly do offer a wide variety of coffees, there is an unexpectedly varied and highly eclectic menu suitable for any appetite. Not very hungry? Try one of the several excellent Salad ($5.95-$11.95) or Antipasto ($3.95-$10.95) selections. Or you can opt for a more fulfilling Panini or Wrap ($7.95-$8.95). Or, if you are ready for a full meal, Segafredo satisfies that urge as well with a nice selection of main courses.

As usual, my review team of chefs and restaurant owners decided to try a little bit of everything... much to our delight.

Our first selection, Capaccio Parmigiano ($7.95), featured paper-thin slices of choice filet lightly flavored with lime juice and sesame oil…it was a delightful combination of prime meat texture and subtle citrus flavors, overlaid by the delicate taste and aroma of the sesame oil. Bruschetta Originale ($3.50), and Bruschetta Portobello ($5.95) were also delicious, each topping hinting at the variety of ingredients involved without any single one being allowed to dominate, as is so often the case elsewhere. The Cappesante Gratinate ($10.95) featured grilled scallops in a bechamel sauce, a truly wonderful and savory combination that left us wanting more.

The Panini and Wrap selections are varied and of the ones sampled, all were excellent. Especially outstanding were the Combo Panini ($8.50) and the Tuna or Tonno Wrap ($8.95). The Paninni Combo was stacked with quality Genoa Salami, fresh mozzarella, abruzzese and cantimpalo stacked in-between crusty slices of Panini bread, and served with a large order of crisp French fries. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the sandwich was the quality of the ingredients, made manifest by the many layered flavors. This was especially true in the Tuna Wrap as well where a generous tuna filet had been grilled, cubed and served rare with lettuce and tomato and artichoke dressing. Freshly grilled vegetables were selected to accompany this item, but you can also choose between home-made Vegetable Chips or Fried Polenta as well. As previously stated, the menu at Segafredo is eclectic….I mean, where else can you have fried polenta with a sandwich?

The Grilled Pesce ($11.95) featured a pair of perfectly grilled Corvina filets topped with a Passion Fruit sauce that perfectly complimented this delicate fish. It was an excellent selection, with the flesh grilled slightly crisp around the edges. Filling, satisfying and delicious… the trinity of a good meal.

The Filetto Segafredo ($13.95) is perhaps the best buy in Panamá; a large, thick filet mignon, wrapped in Pancetta, then grilled and topped with blue cheese butter, surrounded by a mushroom salsa and served with your choice of side-dish. The steak, cooked exactly as ordered, was rich, bursting with meat flavor, and is one of the best steaks I have had recently. The price alone is reason enough to visit Segafredo, but when combined with the excellent flavor and soul-satisfying fullness you experience with that last bite, it could easily become my steakhouse of choice.

Desserts ($5.95-$6.95) are a thumbs-up in all categories, with the outstanding choices being Cheesecake de Guayaba, the Pecan Pie that comes with an unannounced dip of rich vanilla ice cream, and a truly decadent Cake de Chocolate. My favorite, however, will not be found on the dessert menu, but on the drinks list. I ordered Hot Chocolate ($2.50) expecting just that….but what I was served was the delightful Italian version; a creamy chocolate pudding in a coffee cup that is eaten with a spoon. Needless to say, I have returned to Segafredo’s several times since my initial visit to enjoy that treat and to sit on its high terrace overlooking all the hustle and bustle of the shoppers below. A highly satisfying experience.

Segafredo’s décor is comfortably modern, reflecting its world-wide presence, and is a cool dark corner in which to relax and re-energize over one of the many specialized coffee concoctions available. But it is with their food menu that this little gem becomes a standout. Try it and you will become a regular….just like me.