Home Style Caribbean Cooking at Celi’s Restaurant

Ms. Celi McCorkle, a Belizean pioneer in the tourism industry, opened one of the first hotels in San Pedro Town in the 1965, The San Pedro Holiday Hotel, which opened the gates to tourism in our beautiful island of San Pedro. Back then, the hotel’s restaurant only catered to its guests, giving our visitors a true taste of Belize. But since the 1980’s Celi’s Restaurant has been open to the public and has established itself as an exemplary restaurant amongst the many on the island.

With a cordial invitation by Ms. McCorkle, the staff of Ambergris Today had the opportunity to taste the great home-made cooking styles and authentic Belizean cuisine offered at Celi’s Restaurant.

Celi’s Restaurant is located on the beach side of Holiday Hotel. The restaurant hasn’t changed one bit since its inception and the service and food just keep getting better. At Celi’s you have the choice of dining indoors within a screened porch, sandy floor with tables decorated with local flowers or dine outdoors at the deck of Holiday Hotel while enjoying the magnificent views of the beach, sea and sun.

At Celi’s Restaurant you get to savor true Belizean and Caribbean Cuisine that will have you licking your fingers and coming back for more. If you don’t believe me just take a look at what the staff of Ambergris Today had to eat for lunch:

Chicken and Shrimp Fajitas – soft, warm home-made flour tortillas served with guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and delicious chicken and shrimps.

Rice & Beans with Stew Chicken (Typical Belizean Dish) – delicious rice and beans served with stew chicken (chicken stewed with local spices and recado), potato salsa or coleslaw and fried plantains.

Hangover’s Special Burger – definitely not your regular burger! This is a double meat burger with all the trimmings including cheese, avocado and tasty jalapeños.

Grilled Lobster – succulent lobster tails (seasonal) grilled and served with your choice of rice and beans, stir-fried rice, potato salad or coleslaw.

Shrimp Tostadas – an item on the daily menu’s served especially on Saturdays was a must for us. Succulent shrimps served on fried corn tortilla.

These are only a few of the great dishes available at Celi’s Restaurant. Other delicious items on their menu include Mexican Platers (Quesadillas, Burritos and Tacos), Burgers, Sandwiches, fried or grilled fish, sautéed lobster and grilled conch all to die for.

Celi’s Restaurant offers daily lunch specials which include Conch Fritters on Mondays, Salbutes on Tuesdays, (Restaurant closed on Wednesdays), Spaghetti with meat sauce on Thursdays, Cajun Fish served with rice and beans on Fridays, Shrimp Tostadas on Saturdays and Escabeche on Sundays.

And let us not forget one of San Pedro’s finest and popular bar – The Hangover Sports Bar. The staff of AT got to enjoy lunch with delicious drinks made only at the Hangover Sports Bar. Our drinks for the day included Haiwaiin Bay Breeze, Frozen Cojito (coconut mojito) and a colorful red & blue drink named September Cocktail which was made of ½ Strawberry Daiquiri and ½ Blue Margarita. Boy, were they delicious! Perfect drinks to enjoy on a hot sunny day at the beachfront of the Famous San Pedro Holiday Hotel.

It is without a doubt that for true home-style cooking and fine dining by the sea, Celi’s Restaurant is the place to eat! Come on over to Celi’s Restaurant and enjoy the comfort of the laid back atmosphere and five star food and when you get there do not forget to tell them that Ambergris Today sent you!

For more Ambergris Today Restaurant Reviews Click Here

Photography by Jose Luis Zapata Photography

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Comments

October 20, 2011 - 16:37

I love the hospitality at Celi's. Liza is a marvellous greeter and the girls atrending to tables are super friendly and accommodating. Don't ask about the bar tenders. Thumbs up to Celi's.

October 12, 2011 - 00:54

holiday hotel really has great food! and like the article stated it all tastes home-made, my favs are the rice and beans with fried fish abd the shrimp tostadas! but everything is excellent!!!!

October 7, 2011 - 02:57

my favorite feed there...is.....shrimps fetucini....in alfredo sauce....[with xtra carribean breeze]

it may just be the best on the island [i advise , give the chef gal a long ...long... hug.....i do...]