If you are in Portobelo, there is not a chance that you will miss restaurant El Drake, and it is good to know there is a place like this, before you come. Portobelo is fast growing in popularity amongst the sailors. Just a day-sail from the San Blas and an hour and something by bus to Colon or Panama City . El Drake is just what you need to read the paper and drink a coffee while your clothes are washing at the Chinese store, to do Internet and drink a beer, or to have a good meal and not heat up the boat…
Restaurant Drake
It is not only a restaurant, it is also an Internet place, a bar and a spot to cool off on a hot sunny day—and that is almost every day.
They have good, fresh bread too, every day, around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
Eating
The prices are very reasonable. And the food is good. They keep their menu simple, so they can maintain the quality of what is served.
There is no problem with a vegetarian pizza, or one with “everything except this or that”. You can ask for a tailor-made pizza and they will be happy to serve it, and it will be there quickly, precise and without any extra cost. This is for everything, not only for the pizza’s.
Most of the time it is there in no-time. You order and in 10 minutes you have exactly what you asked for.
The management is French. Well, here they are….Raphael and Gaelle
The last moment. The bill.
Uncomplicated. That is the amount, and that is what you have to pay. There is nothing hidden like 15% extra for service. And they don’t expect something extra. There is no tip-jar. Life can be easy and comfortable.
Internet
The Internet connection is comfortable in speed. The working conditions are not exactly “bureau”-standard, but good enough. They don’t have WiFi at this moment, but I guess it will be a couple of months before they realise that no-cables is less-hassle. Right now you have to plug into the ethernet-network with DHCP. Price is 1$ an hour.
Good to know
The management just revived Drake from his grave a few weeks ago (March 2008). They have a professional attitude. Service is good and is included.
Drake is closed on Monday and Tuesday. For the rest of the week open for 10.00 until 21.00 unless there is a special reason.
You will be amazed about the language that is current in Drake. At least I was. It is French! Second is Spanish and incidental there is some English spoken.
Public
Very international.
- Sailors that want to Skype® and stay out of the galley for a day.
- Backpackers that arrive from Colombia/Cartagena on a sailboat, happy to be ashore again or the ones that want to go to Cartagena on a sailboat.
- Locals on a day-trip to the beach
- Europeans and Americans that have settled somewhere around Portobelo
Price comparison, or Beer economy
With a price of 1.20$US el Drake scores extremely good on the pleasant scale for a restaurant.
Hot-Dog by snail-mail
Ain’t that cute?
Disclaimer
I like the place very much, but don’t have any commercial ties or business with the managers except that I pay my bill.
