In T2, Olive Garden is one of only two named sit-down spots
Terminal 2 at PTY doesn’t have many true restaurants; flyers on FlyerTalk usually name just Olive Garden and Ciao Ragazzi when talking about sit-down options. Olive Garden sits airside in T2, so you’re fine once you’re past security and immigration. Expect the same US chain menu playbook: pasta, salads, soups, and breadsticks, sized for a proper meal rather than a grab-and-go snack.
Pricing runs higher than a mall Olive Garden back home, and Skytrax reviews across PTY warn about food outlets not posting prices clearly. Go in assuming airport markups on mains and soft drinks, and check the menu carefully before you order. Portions tend to be big enough that two people can split one pasta and a salad if you just need something between flights.
Quality is chain-standard: nothing more ambitious than Alfredo, marinara, and a few chicken and shrimp dishes, which matches the FlyerTalk comment that PTY offers “nothing more elegant or interesting than an Olive Garden.” If you want something predictable before a Copa long-haul out of T2, this covers it. Expect waitstaff service, so budget at least 40–60 minutes gate to gate if you’re eating a full course and still boarding on time.
Watch out for: surprise totals at checkout and slow bills during busier evening departure banks, which at PTY often hit between about 18:00 and 22:00. Ask for the check as soon as mains arrive if your flight boards within the hour, and confirm card payment works; some PTY outlets still glitch on foreign cards.
Tip: if you land in T1 and really want Olive Garden, allow at least 25–30 minutes to transfer to T2, get to the restaurant, eat fast, and walk back toward your gate; PTY’s corridors feel longer than the map suggests.