Edward, my recommendation goes to Victoria House! Best of both worlds, beautiful resort/ambiance, easy access to town for other restaurants and activities.
debbief, you got lucky that the Belizean Shores restaurant was open. It had been closed for renos until Jan. 11 (was my understanding). Other than access to restaurants, CocoBeach is awesome, large complex (not quite complete), incredible pools, fun bar, lovely beach area, beautiful beach views, good service. The road was in good condition and so the trip to town and back wasn't too bad at all. That won't last.
The Phoenix is a fabulous/stunning resort, and certainly, I'm always in favor of access to town amenities. Unfortunately, while you may love the resort, you may not care for the beach area out front.
Ramon's still has the best beach in town, and a cool tropical ambiance going on. Possibly, you could be happy in a beachfront unit, but I don't think the units themselves are worth the dime.