This was the last place I remember enjoying a meal so much that I wish I could go back again and again. It was back in 2022 and the last time my sister brother and I were together to enjoy a meal out with our mother as a family. I am craving those Nachos and the carefully prepared fish with Julian vegetables and the amazing sweet and sour lemony sauce. read more

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Parking is very limited, there's only street parking. We went for $1 oysters and we called ahead and they said they had plenty. When we arrived (we live down the street so we were there in 13 mins). We ordered 1 dozen and they said there's only 7 left... so we just took the rest. The ouster was good, clean and no dirt. The burger and fries was good but the Arepa Avocado Lover was very one dimensional. It was just a cheesy mess. The drinks were good and strong. Lastly, the empanadas were delicious! The server was kind of attentive. We sat in the bar area and there was only one other couple at the bar, and she paid more attention to them. Not sure if they probably knew each other? But she was really nice and helpful throughout the experience read more

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After the epic failure of a meal earlier in the day, I had to find something to remedy the taste buds. As I began to drive back towards Boston, I searched for possible options along the way that were recommended restaurant stops for their food quality. This Colombian restaurant popped up on the list and immediately beckoned a slight detour to visit. As New England states are so tiny compared to the West Coast, it wasn't long before I exited the freeway and parked along the street outside Panela. While the restaurant had a large space (noticed later there was a dance floor) and an almost equally large bar area, there were only a couple patrons that day - nursing their beers and quietly chatting. Service was fast and prompt and menus were on the table before I even sat down. Water showed up shortly before I was given a little more time to peruse the menu. It was an interesting menu and well thought out. I had no idea what to order so I just followed my gut on what I felt like gorging on (and was glad I did). I won't go much into dissecting each dish. But I can tell you that the flavors were balanced and pleasant. Each bite beckoned more until the plate was empty. I couldn't stop myself. I had to keep going on everything disappeared from the table. It's one of those times that you're not claiming a dish to be perfect in whatever culinary pedigree BUT that it's so balanced in flavor that your palate is tickled in all forms. It was a tongue-gasmic moment and immediately remedied the most boring meal on earth that I just had earlier today. PS. Researched the background of the restaurant later on. Now everything makes sense. I applaud your need to create and represent. Cheers. read more

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Panela is on a side street in downtown Lowell and definitely looks like a hot spot for dancing with the way the setup is (bar tables on the perimeter and an enclosed bar in the center). We came in for lunch and I ordered the avocado shrimp arepa while the SO ordered a desayuno with chorizo and queso. The meals were simple but really delicious -- I had no complaints about the arepa -- filled to the brim with avocado and plump shrimps. Service was quick and attentive and staff were friendly. Quiet on a Saturday morning so wasn't sure if they were open but all was well! read more

Panela - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Amazing and delicious restaurant. I will be coming back for certain. Place was clean and food was tremendous.

Great food Great drinks love the espresso martini Plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the time together read more

I've been meaning to check out Panela for awhile, and so glad I did! I did takeout & had the beef empanadas & the arepa avocado lover, and both were delicious. The empanadas had a great crisp and smooth filling, and the arepa itself was delicious w/the avocado & pickled onions. I did have pork belly as my protein on the arepa, and the meat was quite tough/difficult to chew, although also very tasty. Maybe it was just this recent batch, but I would definitely check Panela out again to try something else. So, more like a 4.5 here. :) The service was also very kind, and that is also always worth coming back and supporting a great local biz in town. Recommend! read more

This restaurant has been on my list for a few years now and so glad husband and I finally had dinner here a few weeks back! The food was amazing. It seems like they have made a few changes to the menu and have added some vegan/vegetarian options and it worked great for me. Their menu has so many GlutenFree options and I love them for that!!!! The service was amazing. Ana was our server and she was fantastic! We sat outside and were worried if we will be forgotten and will have spotty service, just as is the case at many restaurants. But Ana was super prompt and made sure to check on us, at the same time giving us sufficient space. She is the sweetest! The inside was more of a bar/casual vibe, but if the weather is good, I highly recommend sitting outside. Here is the rundown of the food we ordered- **Tostones on the house were very tasty and perfectly crunchy. **Vegan Empanadas - 5/5 they were really good, did not have cheese which made them light and the crust was so flaky and crispy in-spite of being gluten free. The sauce that is served with them is soooo good! **Carimanolas - Yuca balls stuffed with cheese - were 3/5 for me. Taste wise they were 5/5 but I could only take a few bites, they were too rich and heavy for my taste. **Black Bean Plantain Veggie Burger- was AMAZING. the taste was so different, something I had never eaten before. I forget the name, but I ordered it with an Arepa, which made it gluten free. 5/5 **Bone in pork chop, mashed creole potatoes and sautéed veggies- 5/5. I dont eat meat but my husband thought the pork chop was very flavorful and well prepared. The creole potatoes were so flavorful and so were the sautéed veggies. **Beans- got a side of beans and they were packed with some great flavors. 5/5 **Sweet plantain - got a side and it was again so good, cooked to perfection. **Merengón - the dessert was the least favorite part of my meal. It had a weird after taste and was not fresh at all. Very underwhelming in terms of taste and definitely overpriced. Also, they have a parking lot next door, so no worries about finding parking, although there seemed to be good amount of street parking in the area as well. Overall a great meal and I cannot wait to go here again!!!! read more

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Guys. This food was amazing. The little arrepitas appetizer was my absolute favorite- but the empanadas were also perfect. We loved them!!! But the arrepitas - please don't change them from the menu!!!!! I've just never had any base made with sweet plantain and it was phenomenal. Barely sweet and mostly savory. So good. Thinking about making the 30 minute drive to eat that again next weekend . We sat outside, it's a lovely little casual spot downtown. But the food is off the charts good. Usually authentic Latino food is hearty but sort of lifeless or feels so heavy after. Their stuff was bright and a really good mix of textures and balance of flavors. LOVED IT. So happy this place exists. You can tell their kitchen knows what they're doing and has creativity. Our server was super sweet. Great experience. Adding it to my list of Lowell Favorites!!!! Thanks, Panela! read more

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The food was horrible! The chicken wasn't even cooked and the bartender serves soda.....the red sangria was clear as day and she asked if I wanted to add a shot of wine.... Wtf... the chicken wings were bloody to the bone...the ranch dressing was sour cream and mayonnaise... we asked for oysters and they said they didn't have any needless to say our waitress said they did. She was EXCELLENT......they brought out the rice bowl.....and we looked at it and that was the end...... the owner came out and allowed us to walk away and not pay a dime! Praise God cause I wanted to flip shit!!! So thankful for her.... Yall got to do better. read more

Fast / friendly service. Our waitress was so sweet and attentive. I think the portions were generous or on point for the price, and the ingredients were fresh. Loved the fluffy fries and the crispy empanadas!! The tables and bathrooms were clean & they were also deep-cleaning the kitchen. I think the best part was that the music/TVs weren't too loud, so I could have a pleasant conversation with the people at my table. read more

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Went there last month , one of the best food experiences I've had in lowell , it felt like it was in a different league , definitely recommend this place read more

I placed an order for takeout on a Tuesday, and apparently they weren't fully open so not all the menu choices were available, including what I really wanted. This made me a little skeptical, but lo and behold, I'm currently eating one of the best lunches I've had in recent memory (Bandeja Paisa). read more

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. Very good friends of mine highly recommended this place several months ago. Took my wife for a late Valentine's Day dinner and it did not disappoint. Service and food were amazing. Everything was MUY BEUNO but the highlight for us was the BARCA DE PLATANO. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

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This place sucks honestly . I've been to lots of Colombian food places and my boyfriend is Colombian so I know what to expect and how things should look and taste . There portions are super small and sloppy for the most part . Some of the people who work here have the worst attitude ! But the burgers here put them To shame those are NOT Colombian styled burgers . Not only that they keep leaving out condiments . Like tomatoes etc who wants a dry ass burger? Cause if so come here . Charge a arm and a leg for tiny ass portions and then the quality of the food be dry read more

Ana, our server knew the menu extremely well which was important to meet my allergy needs! I never get fried GF food so this place was a treat. Empanadas ( beef potato) came out piping hot and were accompanied by delicious sauce, as well as fried plantain patty. Had the ravioli, companion thought sauce was rich but delicious, they were even good plain w hadalgo sauce! Food is flavorful! Service outstanding! Blackberry Margarita was so good, not too sweet! Just be prepared everything is fried! Bring your gallbladder in full force! Yummy coffee chew imported from Colombia was the cherry on top! Sat next to mother Mary mural- decor is simple but food makes up for it! Bar feel near UMASS Lowell! read more

Great small place. I was visiting the area on business and found this corner spot while searching the area. Decided to try it out and was not disappointed but the place only had a few people in it and mostly at the bar area. Food was good and service. read more

Panela - BANDEJA Paisa - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Stopped in here for a little lunch. The hamburger was excellent service was great. The empanadas were so so.

Tostadas with delectable salsa complimentary as you wait for your meal - CHECK. Cute little kids menu of Real Food and also chicken fingers for your terrible four year old - CHECK. Affordable prices and nice filling portions - CHECK. Tons of gluten free and vegetarian options - CHECK. SO. MUCH. FLAVOR. - CHECK! This place is in a little side street, looks like a hole in the wall, and it is just the type of place that feels like you're welcomed there for the family meal that is somehow fine dining. The food is sublime. Filled with flavor, so elevated, beautiful presentation. When we lost one of our favorite Colombian/Latin places in Lowell a few years ago to a fire, we were truly saddened, and honestly we haven't had anything that came close to it until we tried Panela, which has really gone and far surpassed it in terms of creativity. They definitely have plenty of classic foods like empanadas and different bakery items, but the chef's artistry and love for cooking is apparent in all the different specials and magical arepas they have on board. For a small-menu place it has so many options and so many new things to try each week, it seems. Run, don't walk, guys. read more

Great food! Great service. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I'm looking forward to going back.

Great food and great service !! A must try if in Lowell and it's worth the trip trust me !! read more

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This place is the bomb! The food is so delicious it brings me back to what I remember from visiting my home country, Colombia. The empanadas are a must. I'm from out of town, and next time I come back to Lowell I'll be eating lunch and dinner here. Please ask for Celia. She's fantastic and her warm smile only makes the outing that much more special. If you like Salsa Dancing, come here too. read more

I wanted to check out Panela on my birthday and so happy we did. We had the beef and potato empanadas and the Carimanolas (yucca balls stuffed with cheese). Everything was fresh and flavorful, you can tell that they put so much love into each dish! For my main, I had the plantain crostini, which was more like hearty baked plantains with a perfectly prepared steak. My family ordered the bandeja paisa (rice, beans, chorizo, pork belly, egg, avocado, arepa, steak, and plantains) and the seafood rice in coconut and it was all great. Looking forward to coming back!! read more

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Love this place if I'm craving Colombian food! I almost always get their arepa avocado lover (with shrimp and pork belly) is to die for, highly recommend. Also their drinks are amazing -- passion fruit margarita and spicy margarita are my go-to's read more

Panela - Passionfruit margaritas - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Panela is aMUST! This was our 3rd time here and the food and vibe is exactly what I needed every time! I'm from Miami and missed the culture and food until I came upon this place. Derly greeted us at the door with the most genuine smile and her service was top notch, always checking in without being overbearing. The food was fresh and seasoned well. The margarita wasn't that watered down, sour mix stuff, it was fresh and you could taste the don julio. We will definitely be back! read more

Panela - Rice bowl with chicken. And the surf and turf arepa - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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New favorite place? probably! We've been here a few times, and are always amazed by how delicious everything is. The food is delicious and perfectly seasoned and the service is always so pleasant and lovely. Their avocado lovers arepa is amazing, so are the ribs with that delicious green sauce and the cucumber mango salad was so tasty! It's refreshing and light and I can't wait to have it again. By the way, you can't leave without having a dessert in this place, no matter how full you are. read more

Just got takeout here for the first time and I was very disappointed... that we hadn't tried this place sooner! Absolutely wonderful food and very knowledgeable about gluten sensitivity as well which is important because my wife has a severe allergy. We tried several of the breads and appetizers and shared 2 entrees among 4 of us in order to get a feel for some of the different things they offer and honestly everything we tried was great. I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Food is absolutely delicious! Our server, Cely was great and provided spot-on suggestions. My daughter and I have food allergies and this restaurant provided so many options without sacrificing flavor. I highly recommend Panela! read more

Panela - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Got takeout over the weekend. Food was flavorful - I just feel like the portions I got were extremely small for what I paid. I did contact the restaurant after and they did say that the rib meal does come with 4 ribs - which is what I got. I noticed the sandwich I got did not come with anything on the side - so I ordered fries. Small portion, very soggy. Sandwich was good, flavor of ribs was good - just wish there was more! read more

Panela - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Doesn't look like much when you walk past but when you walk in, you feel right at home. I've come here only a handful of times and every time the staff is friendly and the service is prompt. The food is amazingly fresh and makes you feel like you are eating your grandmothers cooking! read more

Panela - Rice Bowl GLUTEN FREE Empanadas GLUTEN FREE June shine - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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We really like the food, the friendly atmosphere and service. Salsa on Thursday night. read more

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This place is exactly what you want when you are trying Colombian cuisine. It's not fancy looking but the food is exceptionally fresh and the spices are so spot on! The Panela chicken sandwich was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten! The bollo camaron y coco was such a joyful surprise. The food really was very good. If you are curious what good Colombian food is, this is the place for you to go! Also the vegetarian empinadas had such incredible textures. read more

The food and ambiance are very enjoyable with traditional Colombian dishes...I have also been to the Latin dance classes that are held twice a month...unfortunately the male dance instructor is extremely rude and his dance technique is not very good. read more

First time here. Took the waiter,s suggestion and it was all very good. As far as cocktails I asked for a caipirinha and they didn't know it, but they made a wonderful one. Only complaint was that the staff were a bit on the slow side, despite it being a slow night. Definitely try this place!! We will return. read more

Came here a few times good food service and drinks. Will continue to go. They just updated there menu lot of new good items read more

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The Plantain and Boronia cups are amazing! Wish I had a pic of the empanadas but I devoured them in 3 mins Somebody kiss the chef please!! read more

Panela - The Plantain and Boronia are amazing wish I had a pic of the empanadas but I devoured them in 3 mins ! Somebody kiss the chef please! - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Tasty and authentic. Wish there was a complementary something while waiting on the food to arrive. Just too salty for our palates. Unfortunately! read more

My absolute favorite place in Lowell. Everything on the menu is delicious, but the almojabana (cheese breads) are OUTSTANDING. Like nothing else you've eaten, I promise! The owners and staff are so friendly, it feels like you're a special guest no matter who you are. I love this place dearly! read more

Terrific little place. I hope it's here forever!!! Professional chef sister and her brother is front of house. Really real Columbian. Had the Colombian lemonade. Wow. Delicious. Sweetened with sugar cane. Never had anything with sugar cane. No comparion to anything sweetened I've had before. I'd the bunuelos which ate steamed cheese bread. Really chewy with a hint of sweet. Also had the fried cheese bread. Different texture, still amazing I ordered the fish and shrimp which is fried and came on a bed of rice. The coconut batter is really light. My son had the Paise which us a huge plate of food because he eats a lot!!! It has sausage, steak, pork belly, rice, avocado, beans and fried bread. My sin was a little taken aback by the pork belly fat, lol. But it was crispy without being hard and very tasty. We were offered a bit of spicy sauce which had some Chili's and what looked like fresh salsa. Not too spicy but really good flavor. I think I found an new favorite here in Lowell. The bridge construction should be over in a few weeks. Definitely worth the trip! read more

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Such terrific food! A blend of authentic Colombian food with a contemporary twist. You will not be disappointed. If you're looking to indulge your taste buds to the texture and flavors of Latin cuisine, Panela is the place to go too. It has my Colombian parent's seal of approval. read more

Panela - Especial del día. Septiembre 2019. - Colombian Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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