Elvi's Kitchen is the most famous restaurant on the island, started in 1974 by Elvi Staines in her family's yard — the "kitchen" of the name. The sand floor is still there, and the open-air setting under thatch roofing has expanded to include a full restaurant with good seafood, Belizean staples, and a lively atmosphere. It is the kind of place that becomes an institution because it was genuinely good first.
The menu covers all the Belizean classics — grilled lobster, conch fritters, stewed chicken with rice and beans — alongside more elaborate preparations. The prices are not budget, but the quality and the setting justify them. Reservations are recommended in high season.