la
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laNorth roundabout
322-0094
Open daily from 10am till 10pm or whenever.
Closes at 5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
This restaurant is located on the northern outskirt of town, at the only northbound roundabout. The owner, Mr. Albino Vargas is an antique collector. The restaurant and bar is a myriad of old memorabilia, ranging from an organ to farm equipment. Albino also has a letter dated 1968, written by Belize’s then premier, the Right Hon. George Price to Albino’s father, extending his condolences on the death of a family member in the village of San Roman, Rio Hondo. George Price is considered the father of independence in Belize.
The restaurant and bar are in a thatched building, quaintly lit. The atmosphere is relaxing and quiet.
The chicken fajita is the best I have had in all Belize. The ceviche is second only to La Enramada.
Albino has a background in agriculture and is a good source of information on farming and the sugar industry.
This writer always enjoys the talk and a cigarette with Albino after dinner.
Breakfast $3.00 to $4.00. Huevos rancheros, flour tortillas, bacon, pancakes, fried jacks
Lunch $4 to $6.00 Rice and beans, chicken, beef and pork, hamburgers. A variety of different lunch specials are available daily, including some uniquely Northern Belize cuisine.
Tuesday
Chirmole Negro: A black soup seasoned with black Recado, served with chicken and boiled eggs and tortillas.
Friday
Sere: A recipe from the Garifuna of Southern Belize. This is a soup, made of fresh fish and coconut stock. Coco, cassava, yam, green plantain, ripe plantain, and fresh plate sized whole snappers are cooked in the soup. This meal is served with white rice and freshly cut Habanero peppers or fresh corn tortillas. If you are into health foods, there are very meals that can equal the nutritional content of a Sere.
Conch soup: in Belize, Conch soup is considered the natural aphrodisiac for men. This soup is similar to Sere in texture and method, except that it is made of conch. The Queen Conch is a member of the phylum Mollusca. This specie lives on the seabed and is able to move around because of its muscular foot. It is slimy. For decades, Belize was known as the largest exporter of conch. Sadly the industry is in decline, and harvesting season is limited from October 01st to June 30th.
Conch is also eaten as a ceviche.
Dinner $6.00 to $10.00. Garlic shrimp, grilled fish, chicken. Sides are fries and veggie salad.
You can always get a good Salpicon at El Establo. Salipcon is similar to a seafood ceviche except it is smoked pork cut in cubes, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and bathed with lime juice. It is also served with tortilla chips.
Sundays are big days at El Establo, since foods unique to Northern Belize are served. Two popular meals are Relleno Negro and Escabeche. The Relleno is a black soup similar to the Chirmole, but additionally cooked with a free roaming yard chicken, stuffed with ground pork.
The Escabeche is an onion soup, seasoned with Oregano and Pimienta Gorda, served with a crispy baked chicken and corn tortillas.
Please note that these local foods are naturally hot and spicy.
Albino has a wide variety of 80’s music for your listening pleasure.
Ceviches made in Orange Walk have been the best in the country so far. El Establo’s in particular has been one of my favorites. Their’s has that extra zing to the taste. It just awakens your taste buds and make them happy. Other items on the menu are quite as tasty too.