You could say that Pineapples Restaurant is somewhat of a themed restaurant, but it’s not tacky, by far. It blends very well with the earthy feel at Ramon’s Village, the resort in which it is located. It can be very elegant, upscale and at the same time very casual as it caters to both the resort’s guests and anybody who desires to indulge in sweet decadence.
I say sweet because a lot of the restaurant’s dishes are centered around one main ingredient; you guessed it – the pineapple. The restaurant has established itself as one of the leading restaurants on the island, yet I still don’t think the local residents are aware of the goodness they are missing out on not having dined at Pineapples Restaurant.
Take for example the Pineapple Boat and Pineapple Explosion on the menu. They scream originality and sweet goodness. The Pineapple Boat is the restaurants signature dish – scrumptious oriental fried rice loaded with chunks of sweet and delicious fresh pineapple and succulent grilled shrimp served in an authentic pineapple boat, topped with crispy fried rice noodles. That is accompanied with the Pineapple Explosion which is an extraordinary mix of fresh pineapple chunks, pungent red onion, flavorful cilantro and Chef Rommy’s spicy homemade dressing.
Do I have your attention already? Yes! I thought so!!
Pineapple Explosion Salad served alone or with the Pineapple Boat (pictured on headline)
The Pineapple Explosion can be ordered as a salad on its own and, well, if pineapple is not your thing, of course there are other dishes sans the sweet tropical fruit. Take for example the Pesto Chicken Open Wontons, Tomato Bruschetta and Spicy Lettuce Wraps which I could not get enough of. Take a look – they are simply delicious.
Pesto Chicken Open Wontons
Tomato Bruschetta
Spicy Lettuce Wraps
I could strongly say that I found the tenderest meat in Belize at Pineapples. Cut and bite into the Jolly Rogger Steak and let your mouth savor the beef fillet seasoned with ground black pepper and topped with a savory onion & mushroom sauce. It’s just too good, very tender and cooked to perfection. Equally great is the Stuffed Shrimp that dares you to savor tender shrimp stuffed with ham and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon and drizzled with a flavorful garlic & ginger sweet sauce. I had heard so much of this one that I had to finally cave in – divine!
There is chicken, meatballs, fish, pasta and quite a few shrimp items on the menu to choose from. I noticed Chef Rommy adds coconut to a lot of his dishes; so it’s not only about pineapples, but keeping with local and fresh ingredients native to Belize. You can also cook at your own table at Pineapples, nowhere else allows you to do so on the island. Why would you want to cook when you are dining out, you might ask? Well, its really cool to cook on a fiery 400°C hot volcanic stone that is set at your table. Pineapples’ “On a Stone” dining can have you preparing your own steak, chicken or shrimp on a super hot volcanic stone that will cook your meal in minutes. It’s fun and very different; another unique experience only offered at Pineapples.
You get a true tropical experince at Pineapples Restaurant. The staff is excellent, very friendly and attentive. A giant Maya God head sculpture overlooks the main dining area that is very large and can cater large groups; its tall ceiling and open doors bring the outside indoors; but you can opt to dine in the fresh deck that offers a great view of the Caribbean Sea. It gets pretty romantic at night as well.
Lazy Gringo non-alcoholic tropical smoothie
Jolly Roger Steak
Stuffed Shrimp
Frozen Pineapple Cheesecake
