The northern cayes and atolls - The Rough Guide to Belize - page 100

Wash it all down with strong coffee and fresh juices. Mains
Bz$12-16. Daily 6am-5pm.
El Fogón Off Tarpon St, just north of the airstrip T 206
2121; map p.95. This casual, thatched-roof restaurant is
one of the few on the caye where traditional Belizean
cuisine is cooked over an actual “fire hearth” (in Creole,
“fyah haat”). Try any number of local delicacies, including
gibnut (a type of nocturnal rodent - much better than it
sounds) and cow foot soup. Mains Bz$10-20. Mon-Sat
11.30am-3pm & 6.30-9pm.
Jambel's Jerk Pit Barrier Reef Drive, at the Seabreeze
Suites; map p.95. Feast on Jamaican-Belizean cuisine
(hence the name - Jam-Bel), including jerk pork and
chicken and curry seafood. Come by for Wednesday's all-
you-can-eat buffet (5-9pm) with live reggae. Hours vary,
but usually daily 7am-11am, noon-3pm & 6-9pm.
My Secret Deli Caribeña St T 226 3223; map p.95. It's
not a secret anymore - and once you've had a taste, you'll
understand why. Join the locals who queue up at lunch for
the home-made Belizean fare, from aromatic conch soup to
stew chicken (mains start at Bz$8). Hours vary, but
usually daily 7am-10am & noon-3pm.
Red Ginger Barrier Reef Drive, in The Phoenix T 226
4623, W redgingerbelize.com; map p.95. Sophisticated
restaurant with fresh, flavourful tropical cuisine, like
cashew-crusted snook fillet (Bz$48) to honey-chipotle
glazed braised beef short ribs (Bz$48). Cocktails (Bz$15)
are equally tasty - try the watermelon martini or basil
mojito . Wed-Sun 7.30-10.30am, 11.30am-2.30pm &
6-9.30pm.
Wild Mango's 42 Barrier Reef Drive T 226 2859; map
p.95. Owned by locally renowned chef Amy Knox (who
has several times been voted Belize's best chef ) and
featuring an innovative menu of Caribbean-Latin cuisine
(mains Bz$20-45), from bacon-wrapped shrimp to fresh
grouper, as well as sinfully good desserts. Mon-Sat
noon-9pm.

SAN PEDRO
★

Blue Water Grill At the Sunbreeze Hotel
T 226 3347, W bluewatergrillbelize.com; map p.95.
Island local Kelly and her husband Mukul run one of
the best restaurants in town. The wonderfully
imaginative dishes match the gorgeous setting, on a
low-key stretch of beach where you can contemplate the
Caribbean from your table. While rooted in Belize, the
menu spans the world, and includes spiced calamari
with pickled ginger (Bz$21), grilled lobster tail with
coriander-whipped mashed potatoes and passionfruit-
pineapple soy sauce (Bz$55), seared snapper with
jalapeño chicken sausage (Bz$52), hefty lasagne
(Bz$32) and crisp pizzas (Bz$22-30), including one
topped with jerk chicken. It's also one of the few spots
on the island that serves top-notch sushi; come by for
sushi night (Tues & Thurs). Unusually for Belize, there's a
quality

3

wine list too. Daily 7-10.30am,

11.30am-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm.
Caliente On the beach at the Spindrift Hotel T 226
2170, W calientebelize.com; map p.95. Settle into a
beachfront table and feast on tasty Mexican-Belizean food,
from ginger-rum shrimp (Bz$36) to Jalisco chicken (Bz$32)
spiked with chilli chipotle to fat burritos (starting at
Bz$25). Tues-Sun 11am-9.30pm.
Caprice Barrier Reef Drive, just south of the centre, in
the Holiday Hotel T 226 2014, W sanpedroholiday
.com; map p.95. Formerly Celi's Restaurant , the waterfront
Caprice serves a creative menu, including blackened
grouper with mango salsa, shrimp quesadillas and pork
sliders; mains Bz$25-40. Top off the meal with fresh
tropical cocktails, like margaritas and daiquiris. Daily
11am-2pm & 5.30-9pm.
Caramba! Restaurant 20 Pescador Drive T 226 4321,
W carambabelize.com; map p.95. The flavourful
Mexican-influenced menu is matched by the potent
cocktails and convivial, come-one-come-all atmosphere.
Try the shrimp quesadillas (Bz$22) and other seafood
specialities, like the Creole whole fish (Bz$28), sautéed
with bell peppers and local seasonings. 11am-10pm;
closed Wed.
Elvi's Kitchen Pescador Drive T 226 2176,
W elviskitchen.com; map p.95. A San Pedro institution,
Elvi's started out as a “humble burger stand”, and now has
an expanded menu that includes top-notch seafood,
chicken and steaks (mains Bz$25-45). Friday is Maya
Buffet night, which features live music. Mon-Sat
10am-11pm.
Estel's Dine by the Sea On the beach, at the end of
Buccaneer St T 226 2019, W ambergriscaye.com
/estels; map p.95. One of the most popular spots on the
island for breakfast - and for good reason. Fill up on fry
jacks, huevos rancheros heaped with beans and omelettes
filled with everything from lobster to bacon and cheese.

SOUTH OF SAN PEDRO
Casa Picasso Stingray St, near the lagoon side of
island T 226 4443, W casapicassobelize.com; map
p.93. Dine on creative tapas and mains in an “arty” setting
(hence the name) of contemporary paintings and a
courtyard strung with twinkling lights. Kick off the meal
with ginger-sesame conch (Bz$24) and the lobster mac
and cheese (Bz$32) - which is as good as it sounds -
followed by banana leaf-wrapped fish fillet (Bz$46) and
chocolate and vanilla pork short ribs, dusted with cocoa
and served with a vanilla risotto (Bz$45). Tues-Sat
5.30pm-11pm (or until last diner leaves); last
reservation 9pm.
Hidden Treasure Sartsoon St, south of the Banana
Beach Resort T 226 4111, W hiddentreasurebelize
.com; map p.93. Enjoy fine Belizean cuisine, from