El Enemigo

Some Enemies Are Worth Keeping Close

El Enemigo has two different ways of winning you over. Downstairs, the atmosphere feels more intimate: dim lighting, dark wood, glasses on the table, and the sense that the night is only getting started. Upstairs, the rooftop completely changes the scene, opening dinner up to the sky and Panama City skyline. Two different settings, but with the same purpose: making dinner feel like part of the night itself rather than just a stop between plans.

It works especially well when you want dinner to come with a little mystery and a touch of romance. You can begin with a drink in a more private setting and end the evening upstairs, with music, open air, and city lights glowing beyond the table. There is no need to force the romance—the setting already does plenty of the work.

When Fire Has the Final Say

The menu quickly makes it clear why El Enemigo calls itself a steakhouse. Ribeye, skirt steak, and larger cuts such as the 32-ounce tomahawk put the grill at the center of the experience. But El Enemigo does not make the entire evening revolve around steak. Its signature tuna tartare, hamachi tiradito, grilled octopus, and ribeye tacos let you build the table little by little, sharing different flavors before the main course arrives.

Then there are the cocktails. Here, they do not feel like a simple drink on the side. They become part of that transition from dinner into the rest of the night. A cocktail may arrive while you are still enjoying the last bite, the conversation keeps going, and from the rooftop, the city begins to light up around you. And that may be when the name finally makes sense.

The enemy is not the fire from the grill, the cocktail tempting you into a second round, or even the dessert you swore you were not going to order. The real enemy is the clock reminding you that the night eventually has to end. Because at El Enemigo, sitting down for dinner is easy; finding a good reason to leave the table is the hard part.