Belize » Dining in Belize City

With the world's second-largest coral reef running along its coastline, Belize whips up some of the Caribbean's tastiest seafood. Belizean chefs have learned to prepare fish for a lighter northern palate (not everything's deep fried), and at their best dishes like grilled red snapper in a papaya-pineapple sauce, shrimp coated with coconut, or blackened shark steak squirted with fresh lime can be sublime. Meals are washed down with delicious fresh-squeezed juices, like lime, watermelon, and mango. However, you may decide that the national drink of Belize is orange Fanta or Belikin beer.

The best restaurants are usually in hotels and resorts and bear comparison with good, though not first-class, eateries in North America or Europe. Ambergris Caye is Belize's fine dining center with several excellent restaurants, such as Capricorn, Casa Picasso, and Blue Water Grill. An increasing number of restaurants are carrying substantial wine lists, although the import taxes are high, so you may pay more than you'd like.