AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Restaurants that serve good local food

Alright folks now the next question. Which AC restaurants serve good local food and which serve tourist cuisine? I want to stay away from the touristy stuff so please point me in the right direction.

My favorite restaurant is Estel's Dine by the Sea in the center of town on the beach. It is not exclusively local food there will be Charlie's Cheeseburger on the menu!!
But Estel was born in San Pedro any many of her delicious dishes are local!
Also she will fix your fresh fish exactly how you want it!
But the Best is Breakfast at Estel's watching the sunrise over the blue with your bare feet in the sand! Hard to beat!
Check recent listings on this board - ie best places to eat and drink on the cheap posted by martyho!
Belize it!

[This message has been edited by margarita (edited 08-09-2000).]

Yes! I love Estel's! I have spent many a morning sitting there drinking coffee while wiggling my toes in the sand. Excellent fish and rice and beans. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Estel's also has great fresh homemade lemonaide!!!!!! I also liked the seasoning on her fried conch. YUMMMM!

All the in town restaurants offer local dishes. The upscale restaurants, offer
their own specialties. For info on the upscales, look them up on this site and it will show their menus.

Estels!!!! One of our very favorite places in SP. As much for Charlie's on going commentary and music collection as the food. Each morning that SWMBO is diving Estel's is the first for me on what Charlie refers to as my daily "Mischief and Mayhem Tour". (I used to split the mornings between there and the "SmokeHouse" across from Coconuts. Howard only lasted six months but it was the only place on the island where a Hoosier boy could get bisquits and gravy with the obligatory, standard island 2 Belikin breakfast.)

Estel's has the best fish sandwich i have ever tasted. Just be sure to wear bug spray at night because those little critters love to fly around your legs under the tables. I had the proff the next day!

Debbie - since I have consumed gallons over the years I can assure you it's fresh squeezed LIMEAIDE!! made with local limes not lemons! YUMMMM!

Margarita,
Okay....Limeaide it is. It was still wonderful!!! I must have guzzled 4 glasses at one sitting. Of course hubby was embarassed that I was headed to the bathroom so much. After a day out in the hot sun and being totally dehydrated from all the Belikin and Rum Punch consumption, it sure hit the spot! Have a soft spot for Estel anyway...... She looks so much like my mother did.

Estel's limeaide is better than gatorade for rehydration!!
Did you guys happen to notice Estel was featured in the San Pedro Sun two weeks ago?
Nice Photo too!

Sorry I missed the article. Is the San Pedro Sun on line???? Can we tap into back issues???

For some good local food try Mickeys, Rubys, Celis Deli,Papis and the street vendors every evening on Front St. Don't miss Jambel Jerk Pit. You'll have lots of great choices.

San Pedro Sun is on this site home page and yes you can search through back issues! //www.ambergriscaye.com

Also really good and quite inexpensive is ANTOJITOS SANTELMO, just south of La Margarita, on the main drag, west side of the road across from the Saeed Bamboo shop. Green, screened, and very cool all day long. Great burritos, other local specialties, super reasonably priced.

Try the carry out lunch at Moncho's next to the Palace Casino, the lobster lunch was great, with trimmings.

Off the beaten track...on middle street is a walk up stand-is a lady that has a stand between the buildings (next to the corn tortilla bakery) who has great local food ---burritos, tacos, etc. price--very low--

I fell in love with Estell's when I first visited Ambergris Caye in 1995. The food was good....the grouper sandwich was excellent. I think breakfast is also my favorite time there. It is great to sit outside with your feet in the sand and watch the water while having your morning coffee. I think the sea breeze aids in digestion too....LOL. I don't dine there often now....not because the food isn't good...it's just that with inflation...the prices have gone up a bit since my first visit there. If I were on vacation I probably wouldn't mind it...but living here I try to watch my budget....lol.
Here are a few of the local places that have good food at great prices.(Most of these Jesse mentioned earlier...we must eat at the same places Jesse...LOL)

JAMBEL JERKS is my favorite. Nice atmosphere, great fish basket and coconut curry chicken. He makes a mean pina colada too!

CANNIBALS is my lunch hangout every day. They have great baked potatoes with various toppings and good salads. The pan fried fish dinner is really great. Good prices too. They dont do dinner though. This is another good breakfast spot....on the beach too. Great waffles!

REEF RESTAURANT on middle street. Cheap...good local food. I get lobster burritos for $5 bz. You can get a whole fish fried with rice and beans for about $7 bz. Sand floor...nice staff...clean bathrooms.

CELI'S DELI on Front St. Good sandwiches! Great tamales! No burgers though.
SMOKEHOUSE at THE BOATYARD...ask anyone in town...they can direct you. The food is a little bit higher but not unreasonable. They make a great burger....and the smoked chicken is very good. Nice potato salad too! You get the added plus of sitting lagoon side here...and there is always a nice breeze. I've had very relaxing lunches here.

TACO STAND...at least that's what I call it...LOL It is next door to the Rock's grocery on Middle St. Just a little hole in the wall....painted blue...very tiny. They have good tacos and burritos there. The tacos are 3 for $1bz....you can rack up on these....

RUBY'S DELI...Front St.....good place to get breakfast...wonderful cinnamon buns....place is always busy in the AM.

CORAL BEACH DIVE SHOP....LOL....yes a dive shop....for breakfast. A little known fact amongst tourist is that they have the best Johnny Cakes I've ever eaten. For a $1.50 bz each...you get a bisquit-like bun filled with this shredded chicken mixed with a sauce. To this day I've been begging for the recipe. Put a little hot sauce on those and boy...you've got a meal. That is the poor man's Belizean breakfast....LOL



visit http://www.glentree.com

[This message has been edited by Sandshaker (edited 08-14-2000).]

Thank you for that great info sandshaker. I will surely try a couple of those places you mentioned.

Thanks to all who posted info on this topic! I will be there in Oct (11-16) and will try them out!

I enjoy Pisano's by the Sea. He is a little old fellow who would be glad ta take yo order and can slice and dice with the best of them. He specializes in Conch on the half shell.

Several years ago I saw Paisano trying to peddle a skinned sheep/goat carcass that had died of unknown causes and layed in the sun for a day... sure hope no one tried to eat it!

yeh Jesse, that was tuff! It wasn't bad after I put on abit of Marie Sharps. Next time ya see that Pisano, ask for the Rasta Racoon. Sauteed with just a reminder of sea-weed. Bon Appatit!