A Flavorful Adventure with a Few Bumps

After a recent trip to Costa Rica, where I stayed at the Hilton Andes resort and enjoyed their South American small plates concept, I was excited to hear about La Licor Panamericana offering something similar. Naturally, I had to check it out.

First Impressions: Inviting and Thoughtful Design

Walking in, the restaurant makes a great first impression. The backlit bar is beautifully designed, giving a warm nod to Latin American culture without leaning too hard into any one country’s aesthetic. It’s vibrant but not overwhelming—a balance many places try to strike but don’t always nail.

Service was equally welcoming. The restaurant is run by three people (who I assume are the owners), and they did a great job of greeting guests, making sure we felt comfortable, and letting us choose our seats since we arrived on the earlier side. No rushing, no awkward hovering—just an easy, relaxed start to the evening.

The Cocktails: Mostly a Win

First up, drinks. I ordered a savory green pepper cocktail, and it was fantastic—spicy but balanced, with just enough acidity to keep things interesting. It had warmth without feeling like a dare, which I appreciated.

For round two, I went with a papaya-based drink, which was equally well done—refreshing, not overly sweet, and easy to sip. My friend, on the other hand, got a cocktail topped with champagne foam, which sounded lovely in theory but was a bit too thick and gelatinous in reality. Instead of seamlessly blending into the drink, it sat on top like an uninvited guest. A thinner layer could work, but as it was, the first half of the drink was mostly foam with very little actual cocktail.

The Food: Mostly Hits, One Miss

We ordered a selection of small plates, including: ✅ Pork Rinds (Chicharrón) – These were delicious—crispy pieces of pork belly with just the right amount of crunch. The squeeze of lime brightened them up beautifully, but they were missing a dipping sauce. A chimichurri or something herby and a little salty would have taken them from good to unforgettable. I ended up using their homemade hot sauce, which worked fine but felt more like a workaround than a true pairing.

✅ Beef Skewers – Juicy, well-seasoned, and exactly what you’d want.

✅ Jicama Salad (w/ Grilled Chicken) – Crisp, fresh, bright, and well-balanced. The dressing had just the right amount of acidity, and the salad wasn’t overdressed—always a win.

❌ Fried Chicken – Unfortunately, this one fell flat. It lacked seasoning, so it didn’t have that deep, flavorful bite you hope for. The breading also didn’t hold up, sliding right off the moment you cut into it. It felt like it needed a longer brine and a little more attention to texture.

The Atmosphere: A Few Adjustments Would Help

• The lighting started off a little bright, but once they dimmed it, it went too far in the other direction. There’s a sweet spot between “daylight” and “where did my fork go?” and they just missed it.
• The music fit the vibe but was a bit too loud, especially once the space filled up. Since there aren’t a lot of soft surfaces to absorb sound, the noise bounced around, making conversation a little tricky at times. A small volume adjustment would do wonders.

Final Thought: Slightly Bigger Plates, Please

Since this is a small plates concept, everything is meant to be shared. But the individual plates they give you? A little too small. They weren’t quite big enough to comfortably hold different items, so it felt a bit cramped. Slightly larger oval plates would make sharing much smoother.

Verdict:

✅ Great flavors, thoughtful service, and well-crafted cocktails (minus the foam situation). ❌ Fried chicken needs improvement, and small tweaks to lighting, sound, and plate size would enhance the experience.

Would I go back? Yes, but I’ll be skipping the fried chicken and hoping they’ve adjusted the lights just a touch.