Moonlight dinner outside under the stars in Venice.

California, not Italy, but it was still all good.

Si!Mon is a new addition to the eclectic Southern California dining scene, merging Central American and Californian culinary cultures.

Acclaimed chef José Olmedo Carles Rojas who runs  one of Panama’s most noteworthy restaurants, celebrates the global flavors of Panamanian cooking in Los Angeles.

He describes Panama as a melting pot with myriad influences including Chinese, French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean which is reflected in his food.

Si!Mon is an attractive, earthy place with terracotta touches. The restaurant is seemingly split down the middle, half inside half outside with a canopy specially made to embrace the palm trees.

The bar areas are very popular.

I sipped a French Orange wine ($18) while my dining partner tried Famosa, a flavorful Panamanian beer ($7).

Our starter was a delicious, creamy Yuca Tostada with Tuna ($16). The perfectly square, delicately crisp yuca rafts are deep-fried and topped with paper-thin slices of raw tuna, cachucha aioli, black lime, herbs, achiote oil and served with a lime wedge. It would make a fabulous pizza ($16).

The Kanpachi Ceviche with coconut leche de Tigre, crispy corn, red onion was delightful. A bit spicy for my fragile tastebuds. We scooped the delicious concoction with plantain chips ($25).

The Baked Oysters were sensational made with caramelized shallot butter, toasted coconut and a marvelous smoked achiote oil ($36).

The highlight of the meal was amazing Coconut Rice topped with crispy yuca ($5) and Afro-Caribbean scrumptious, light and flavorful Shrimp Dumplings.

The Panamanian-style dumplings bring together Chinese and Afro-Caribbean flavors. Filled with chopped shrimp, shrimp mousse, Panamanian-style sofrito, herbs and aromatics, the dumplings are served in a shrimp bisque with a coconut curry reduction and finished with burnt scallion oil.($25).

Our table mates provided a list of what not to order.

Reviews raved about the Fried Chicken Thighs. The women said it was not advisable, they tried too hard and failed. There is also something unappealing about green fried chicken as if you had leftovers and then returned from a vacation and the chicken thighs had not fared well.

Everyone was ordering the Fried Banana, but we were discouraged from ordering.

The rice and dumplings were so tantalizing that we ordered round two.

The meal was delightful and the bright flavors lingered.

We strolled backed to the car satiated and happy for the 5 minute walk.

Unfortunately, Venice on the beach is a bit rag tag and long in the tooth, but the restaurant is a tranquil haven for a lovely evening under the stars.

The guardian of the food palace does a good job of welcoming patrons and protecting the homestead in a pair of stylin’ dressy loafers.

Si!Mon 60 North Venice Boulevard Venice, California. Open Tuesday-Thursday 5-10pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm-12am. Reservations on Resy.