The Family
Behind the room, a name worth keeping.
Frank’s Place begins with Frank Santomenno, an Italian American who set foot in Panama in the 1960s.
A visionary and entrepreneur, he was the man who brought computers and cable television to Panama. In 1975 he founded REPROSA Treasures of Panama, driven by a passion for the arts and a wish to preserve the history of the land that had adopted him.
His grandson, Chef Robert Santomenno Wallace, honors that legacy — spirit, era, and the family art of cooking. The tribute, dedicated to his grandfather, is Frank’s Place.
The 1950s shaped Frank forever: Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood at its brightest. That era is the soul of the restaurant. An original 1953 Harley-Davidson — a treasured possession of Uncle Archie — stands on display. Photographs of the icons who defined a generation line the walls. The waitstaff wear vintage, so a guest feels they have stepped into a classic picture.
You cannot help but feel time slip, and half expect another Frank to walk through the door, perhaps singing “My Way.”
The Cuisine
An Italian table that waited for the set to wrap.
Garlic, oregano, and tomato from the kitchen. On the table, spaghetti and meatballs, a lasagna with bubbling mozzarella, or a Caesar. These plates are a feeling: Italian immigrants who crossed to the United States with family recipes. That story is the origin of Frank’s Place.
When Sinatra sang in Los Angeles, when Hollywood gathered after the show, there was always an Italian table waiting — handmade pasta, slow sauce, generous wine. Chef Robert Santomenno Wallace brought those signature recipes to Panama City and made them his own. Here, spaghetti and meatballs nod to an era when dining well was part of the show.
The cooking is not pretentious. It is the place for a weeknight or a grand occasion, and still feel at home.