Kelso Bistro Bar & Restaurant
“If you're from panama like I am, the flavor will take you on a culinary trip back to the home country.”
“Natasha ordered everything for me creating quite the feast for us, but I took notes:
– Carimanolas.”
“Some things not to miss at Kelso:
Sorrel (Hibiscus drink) is fantastic, a little sweet, but very nice.”
Kelso Bistro Bar & Restaurant
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I didn't really expect much from this place but when I tried it, OMFG it was so good! I've never had Panamanian food before and this shop made me regret not trying it sooner.
Located in Brooklyn, this shop looks like any ordinary restaurant walking by; although it looks like nothing special, the food is extraordinary. First, let me tell you how amazing our waitress was. She was the sweetest and funniest girl ever. She told us what was good on the menu, what to eat it with, how to eat it; I think she made our overall experience that much better.
Our waitress recommended the pepper steak with yellow rice. Besides that, she brought over the hot sauce to pour over the rice and the pepper steak… I think I almost wanted to sneak the hot sauce into my purse and take it home. It's really spicy and adds so much flavor into the already amazingly flavored pepper steak. The steak is very well marinated, but it wasn't heavily marinaded. It was soft, tender, and cooked to perfection. The rice was soft, moist, and complemented the steak well. The dish also came with 2 plantains which paired well with the meat, since it added a sweet element to the meaty dish. For it being a restaurant in New York, this was definitely one of our cheaper meals. If you're spending a day in Brooklyn, I would definitely recommend this place. Don't judge a book by it's cover; it is definitely a hole in the wall that deserves more recognition.
I only came here for the lunch special and got the oxtail. Very tasty stuff here! Will have to come back another time for the full deal. This area in general is just a paradise of carribbean cuisine.
Ok my fellow yelpers….. my fellow yelpers…. I am so disappointed…. I totally went to this place becauaw of the rave reviews…..
What happened I did not have a 4 to 5 star experience at all.
Let me start by saying the owner and staff was very nice.
On a Sunday afternoon after church… I am in a very low key mood…. When I walked in we were seated however, there was a large family with children who began to play in the Resto like it was a Park… so my headache grew increasingly.
To top that off… our sweet waitress kept forgeting everything…. she forgot about our water, my coffee, and forgot to complete the kids order we placed…. but guess what she was covering the bar… her section… The resto needed more help for a Sunday and people with more experience who can multi task…
Let me get to the food…. my oxtail was dissapointing….. why? Well…. let me tell you…. with a Caribbean background I know good oxtail when I taste it…. The oxtail was below my expectation….. oxtails are supposed to be served in rich gravy like the menu said…. My oxtail was served dry… it was not served in rich gravy…. I had to ask for extra gravy.
My cousin had the pork chops…. she too was not excited….. big sigh…. as much as the people were nice I just have to keep it real….
Forgetful waitress + Meh Food + noisy background = not a good time eating my Sunday Dinner!
The crab cakes were good.
I went here a little early in the evening so there weren't many people dining it at this time so the noise level was to a minimum. Actually the customers at the restaurant seem to be related or they were good friends with the owner. She was present and very attentive. The restaurant has a good family feel and the owner makes sure of it. She comes around and checks in on everyone and she always scanning the restaurant to make sure you know she's available. Im sorry i never saw this place prior to this because i enjoy Spanish food from any island.
I ordered Pepper Steak with yellow rice and it came out in about 10-15 minutes. Everything looked freshly made and the gravy taste delicious. Knowing this is a Caribbean restaurant i took a chance in asking the owner for pepper sauce and she gave me a little silver jar.. I put a dash of it on my steak and braced myself for what i assumed to be HOT.. Before i could take a bite i already smelled the pepper in the sauce which is a sign that its good! i took a bite and sailed away into a happy place. I kept on applying the sauce all over my food and ate every single bite. There were a few pieces of steak that was overcooked.. But other than that the food was delicious and they also gave me a small garden salad that i enjoyed as well..
The owner came over and asked us how was our meal and that was my opportunity to ask about the pepper sauce. And to my surprise she said she just left a Factory in Jersey and they are going to bottle her sauce because EVERYONE loves it. Red, black, white and purple people come in and they request her famous sauce. She is the reason i will return and the fact that her food is amazing. She definitely is a reminder of a Granny or a Aunt that loves to make sure your stomach is full and you're satisfied. The portions are good enough to fill you..
Another satisfied customer. Thank you Grandma.. And i say that with respect.. She said she's everyones Grandma!
Whappin loco! I guarantee you will here this at least once at Kelso's. It's where old school Panamanians grab a drink and dine. After several visits to Panama I can say the food style remains true to its roots.
The dishes here are very good, flavorful with little heat unless you add on their signature "peppa saas". The menu is limited but offers a variety of every land and some sea animals. Limited enough to ensure your meal is out in a jiffy. Enjoy the sounds bachata while you get stuffed from this traditional Panamanian comfort food. Wheeepaaahh!
I visited Panama back in April and fell in LOVE with the food there. I visited this beautiful country with my Panamanian friends. We get back to the U.S. and I'm like "I need some Ojaldas". My friend was like I know a place in Brooklyn that has some amazing authentic Panamanian food. I responded "Brooklyn has a LOT don't get me wrong, but Panamanian food that'll bring me back to the feeling Panama gave me…I doubt Brooklyn can give me that."
She sent me the "rolling the eyes" emoji and gave me a place and time to meet her. She was trying to shut my greedy ass up!
So we get here…well I get here around 2:15pm on a Sunday (she was HELLA LATE). I don't think much of the outside look because it's nothing special. I get inside and I'm like okkkkkk I feel the vibes. Everyone's talking Spanish…EVERYONE! I'm like "wow, am I still on Franklin?" (Gentrification is CRAZY out here, I love it!) Anyway…
So I ordered their rum punch and I was trying to pace myself, that was difficult. My friend finally comes strolling in and we had some Ojaldas. Them thangs were fresh out the oil and so addictive I had 3! (My next check in on here may be at Blink Fitness, it needs to be). I don't even eat beef but ordered the oxtails and was blown away. I can't even honestly remember all the food I ate because 1. It was days ago and 2. I literally ate that shit in like 4.5 minutes. I tried the steak as well. IDC WHAT YOU SAY, I WAS IN PANAMA!
The staff is pleasant, the food is delicious, the feel is Caribbean. I'll definitely make my way back and am so excited I came here. Man.oh.man.
P.S. their Picante is HOT! Poured so much on my rice I almost fainted.
As Crown Heights "changes", it has definitely lost some of the great local flavors but Kelso, despite a facelift, has kept true to it's delicious roots. Still family run, these guys continue provide hearty portions of, what I assume, homestyle Panamanian cooking in a comfortable setting. Since the renovation, they have added a bar, TVs, a backyard seating area, and an additional bathroom. All of which I think make it just /that/ much more comfy.
So let's talk food now, cuz that's what it's all about at Kelso.
In honor of football season (which has nothing to do with Kelso, actually) I'm going to put my favorite dishes in a poorly constructed football metaphor.
The Punt: The hot sauce. I don't know why it's bright yellow and I don't care. This stuff is DELICIOUS. To me, hot sauces are often not hot enough, too vinegary, or just gross. Not at Kelso – I would dab it on anything I wanted to give a spicy kick to. Notice I said "dab" because it is quite spicy. Use sparingly…
The Football: Carimañola. These delightful football shaped goodies are a must try. They're pretty unique as one of the things you don't necessarily see when you go to any latin restaurants. It's basically like a croquette but with yucca instead of potato and the minced meat inside is spiced to perfection. I think it's $5 for 3.
The Running Back: My power dish on the menu is the stewed chicken entrée. I normally don't like chicken because so often, it's flavorless and dry but this dish is GLORIOUS! It will push through that defensive line and get you to that line of scrimmage every time*. The portions are large and at $9 for 2 large pieces of chicken, rice, plantains, and a side salad, if you're still hungry, you can get a second order and still have spent less than you would have for a beer at MetLife Stadium. Besides, check out some of the photos of this dish – look at that amazing brown gravy. Gaaaahhhh…drool.
Special Teams: Calypso Shrimp Salad. Say you're not in the mood for rice and beans with a perfectly sauced meat. Weirdo. On the menu, there's an option for salad with either shrimp or chicken. While the salad itself is not necessarily memorable (iceberg with cucumbers, olives, and some other rando veg), throw some spicy shrimp on there and bam! 2 points! Make sure you ask for the Calypso shrimp because if you get the plain ones, it will result in a technical foul.
I'm a fan!
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* you were warned that this would be poorly constructed.
Great place for food and the prices are even better. Had the fried fritters to start, chose fried dough, fried corn, and empanada, which were 3 for ($5). They came out piping out and were delicious. They were equally good. The size of each of them was huge that I couldn't finish my entrée. I had the curry chicken ($9) for entrée, it came with a salad and some plantains. The chicken and potatoes were tasty. Chicken meat was tender and easily removed from the bones. The portion size was perfect. And use some of their special hot sauce on everything and the taste is top notch. It's a very casual spot with friendly workers.