Restaurants in Belize
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A
Habaneros
Caulker’s ‘hottest’ restaurant, named for the habanero chili, is located in a brightly painted clapboard house in the center of town. Here chefs prepare gourmet international food, combining fresh seafood, meat and vegetables with insanely delicious sauces and flavors. Wash it down with a fine wine or a jug of sangria. Sit in the funky bar and sip a fruity cocktail or enjoy the buzz and eat by candlelight at the tables on the verandah. Reservations are recommended.
reviewed
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Hanna’s Restaurant
Hanna’s is the most popular spot in town, any time of day. Go for fresh-squeezed juices, hearty omelettes and homemade yogurt at breakfast; rice and beans or filling sandwiches for lunch; or Hanna’s delectable spicy ginger rum shrimp for an unbeatable dinner. Indian dishes and other meatless options cater to vegetarians.
reviewed
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B
Bamboo Grill
Arguably the best location on the island, this casually cool bar and grill sits right on the beach, with swings hanging from the rafters and tables set up in the sand. Besides the Cajun specialties, you can feast on a huge seafood burrito or a delectable grilled fish sandwich, washed down with a fruit smoothie.
reviewed
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C
Sumathi Indian Restaurant
Belize City’s best Indian restaurant provides a huge range of flavorsome curries, tandooris and biryanis (spicy rice and meat-or-vegetable dishes), with plenty of vegetarian options, all in generous quantities. Bollywood films on the TV intensify the mood. It does meals to go if you prefer.
reviewed
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D
Stonegrill Restaurant
At this thatched poolside restaurant at the Radisson hotel you get to grill your own meal – steak, fajitas, shrimp, chicken satay and the like – on super-hot volcanic stones. It’s fun, tasty and free of added fat.
reviewed
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Wish Willy’s Bar & Grill
This funky place is named for a scaly tailed iguana. On the back side of the island, it’s a great place to watch the sunset, whether you’re sipping a Belikin beer or feasting on the day’s BBQ special.
reviewed
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Earth Runnins’
Earth Runnins’ Every now and then, you come across a restaurant run by someone for whom food preparation is a matter of ‘artistry’ first and ‘business’ second. Earth Runnins’ is such a place. At this restaurant, a party of four can order four separate dishes, which, though nutritionally similar in composition (meat or fish, starch, vegetable), are completely different in presentation, texture and flavor; each one offers something worth raving about. The decor is also fabulous, with mahogany furniture and walls painted in rich earth tones, and there’s a fine bar where you can have a few ice-cold Belikins while waiting for your meal.
reviewed
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Marian’s Bayview Restaurant
A 3rd-floor outdoor eatery with an amazing view over the Gulf of Honduras, this place is worth visiting for the ambience alone. But add to the mix excellent East Indian cuisine dished up by Marian and her husband Hubert, and some of the wickedest homemade hot sauce south of the Rio Grande (you can bring a bottle home for BZ$5; watch out, it’s a slow burn!), and you’ve got one of the best little restaurants in Punta Gorda. Very popular with locals, visitors and Peace Corps recruits alike.
reviewed
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E
Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill
This unlikely spot – Canadian run – has surprisingly delicious food and good prices. And not just pub grub (although that’s good, too); you won’t be disappointed by lasagna, burritos, seafood specials and salads. Service is nonchalant, at best. If you don’t like the multiple TVs blaring sports interviews into the atmosphere, take a seat out front and enjoy the breeze off the ocean.
reviewed
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Il Tempio
Multicultural is the first word that comes to mind with this place, built to resemble a cross between a Mexican hacienda and a Maya pyramid, with a set of antique redwood Chinese doors thrown in for good measure. Inside, however, the food is strictly Italian, served by the Roman owner Stefano Parisse. Prices are steep for the area, but meals are expertly prepared. It doesn’t get more eclectic than this.
reviewed
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Amor Y Café
There’s no contest about the most popular breakfast spot on the island. It’s always busy, but you won’t have to wait long for a table on the shaded porch overlooking Front St. Take your pick from fresh-squeezed juices, scrambled eggs or homemade yogurt topped with fruit, but don’t miss out on the fresh-brewed coffee. If you have to pack a lunch, sandwiches are available to go.
reviewed
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Don Corleone
One of Caulker’s unexpected gems, Don Corleone is Dutch owned and Italian flavored. Decor is sophisticated and the service impeccable. Whatever you order lives up to management’s promise to make you a meal you can’t refuse, be it one of the gorgeous salads, a pasta with an aromatic sauce or a more substantial fish or meat main. Finish off with an excellent strong espresso.
reviewed
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Café Sol
The menu at Café Sol is eclectic, with Greek salad wraps, pineapple ginger chicken and Thai noodle shrimp salad, making it a delightfully delicious place to eat. But the cafe also enjoys an easygoing coffee shop atmosphere, with artwork on the walls and plush sofas in the corner, so you might be just as inclined to order coffee and dessert or a fruit smoothie while you read and relax.
reviewed
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I
Martha’s Kitchen
Martha’s receives all-round rave reviews, not only for its well-appointed rooms, but also for the diverse and delectable menu. Highlights run the gamut, from tasty pizza and delicious fish burritos, to juicy steaks and vegetarian kebabs. Take a seat inside the wood-accented dining room or outside on the foliage-fronted terrace, but don’t be surprised if you have to wait.
reviewed
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Femi’s Coffee Shop
Femi’s is a coffee shop and so much more. By all means, come here for your morning dose of caffeine – perhaps in the form of fresh-brewed Belizean coffee or a frozen coffee mocha. Come in the afternoon for a fruit smoothie or an energy shake. And if you need a shot of something extra, take your pick from the vast menu of frozen fruity cocktails. Prime waterfront spot!
reviewed
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J
Nerie’s II Restaurant
Nerie’s offers most imaginable accompaniments to rice and beans, including curried lamb, stewed cow foot, lobster, gibnut and deer. You can start things off with a choice of soups, including chicken, escabeche (with chicken, lime and onions), chirmole (with chicken and a chili-chocolate sauce) or (again!) cow foot, and round it off with cassava pudding.
reviewed
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Big Daddy’s
You’ll get hearty, low-priced meals and friendly service here. At breakfast, fry-jacks (lightly fried pancake slices), eggs, bacon, sausage and a fresh juice are under BZ$8. Lunch is served cafeteria-style from 11am until the food is gone. Rice-and-beans and vegetable-and-rice dishes are the stock in trade, and the view over Haulover Creek from the upper deck is free.
reviewed
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Purple Space Monkey
This place is garish, done up in wild shades of hot pink, lemony yellows and key lime greens. But what do you expect from a place called Purple Space Monkey? Free internet, good cuisine (Belizean and Western) and a decent book-swap library. Portions aren’t huge, but they’ll refill your coffee mug (if you ask nicely). Be warned: Wednesday night is karaoke night.
reviewed
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Happy Lobster
The lobster at this Caulker institution is actually not that happy. But you will be after eating big plates of fresh fish, spiced up with Creole flavoring or sweetened with coconut. The place has plenty of vegetarian options, as well as a popular breakfast menu. The front porch is a pleasant place to catch the breeze off the ocean and watch the activity on Front St.
reviewed
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Hode’s Place
Locals love this rambling place north of the center. A large terrace restaurant opening onto a citrus orchard and kids’ playground, it’s a popular spot for families (a jukebox and games room also help). Friendly service and satisfying food – from burritos and fajitas to steaks, seafood and rice and beans – complete the successful recipe.
reviewed
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Rasta Pasta Rainforest Café
No longer located on the beach, Rasta Pasta is still serving up its extensive menu of seafood, veggie dishes, desserts and fruity cocktails. The always affable service is a highlight, as is the home-brewed ginger beer, a delectable concoction that cures all stomach woes. Note that – despite the name – there are not many pasta dishes on the menu.
reviewed
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Rainbow Grill & Bar
Perched on a deck over the turquoise waters, this local favorite is evidence of Caulker’s agreeable temperatures. By day, nibble on vegetarian plates, burgers, quesadillas, burritos and sandwiches. At night fancier fare includes fish, shrimp, conch and lobster cooked how you like it, from simple lemon with butter to Jamaican jerk or oriental style.
reviewed
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Glenda’s Café
Glenda’s serves traditional Belizean food in a clapboard house on the island’s west side. It has the best cheap breakfasts in town, from cinnamon rolls and orange juice to full breakfasts of eggs, bacon or ham, bread and coffee. Burritos, tacos, sandwiches and chicken with rice and beans are offered for lunch. Get there early for breakfast.
reviewed
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Amore Mio
Who can resist homemade pizza and pasta dishes made by a real Italian chef? On an inviting terrace overlooking Market Sq, Amore Mio’s husband-wife team – Fabio and Simonetta – serves up crispy-crust pies and pasta al dente. Wash it down with a swig of vino rosso and you might forget you are in Central America.
reviewed
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Agave
This new super-suave place has a prime location on Front St, with a wide porch overlooking the traffic. The sophisticated menu has a selection of seafood dishes that blends Caribbean and Mediterranean influences, utilizing fresh fruits and local spices. Service can be a bit slow – all the more time to savor the flavors and enjoy the view.
reviewed
