The SandBox, Caye Caulker

We'd usually have breakfast at the hotel but on a few occasions, when we had nothing planned early in the morning, we decided to go out for breakfast. We ended up landing at the Sand Box Restaurant on two occasions: the breakfast menu was interesting, and we just loved having the option of eating outside underneath the palapas! Service was nice and the atmosphere in general was very relaxing. I loved my breakfast burrito: a thick tortilla filled with fried eggs, refried beans, salsa and cheese - the refried beans were especially tasty, and with a breakfast like that you're good to go swimming and snorkelling for a few hours before you get hungry again!

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The sandbox was always crowded for breakfast. There is a fair amount of seating outside as well as inside. As the name suggests, the floor of the restaurant is actually sand!
I dont know if there day we went they were busier than usual BUT the service was quite slow - not like we had anything to go do! There was another couple sitting beside us who had a snorkel trip that morning and they were very upset that their breakfast took 45 minutes to be served.
For us (and for most)....we know this is the way it is and all you can do is sit back, relax and chuckle.
And, of course, dont expect a quick feed just in time to hit the water....youre better going to the bakery for some snacks and no waiting.

Favorite Dish: These egg mc muffin things we had were very very tasty.
On the menu were the typical bacon and eggs, fruit and yogurt, etc.
The cost was $4 ea and included tea or coffee. Bigger breakfast got pricy'er...$6-8usd.
It was good though.
They do serve dinner here as well, we only ate there for breakfast.

The morning after our arrival on Caye Caulker, we were very glad to be able to sit outside at the Sand Box to enjoy our breakfast in the very pleasant tropical temperatures and atmosphere! Situated beneath the magnificent leaves of both Rubber and Almond trees, it was great to feel the soft breezes and listen to the morning bird calls as I enjoyed my breakfast Special (US$ 3.25) of two eggs (over easy), Ham, Toast, three Fry Jacks, Beans & Salsa with free Coffee while Sue had the much more sensible Fruit Plate (US$1.75) with Whole Wheat Toast and Orange Juice. We were actually served by Trenton, the owner, and he quickly filled me in on my questions regarding what sort of trees I was actually looking at!

Favorite Dish: With our various wanderings around Caye Caulker to sample other establishments, we did not make it back to the Sand Box until lunch the following day, after we had finished our snorkeling tour on the off-shore reef. Although this turned out to be a late lunch at about 2 PM, we found our new-found Canadian friends from Saskatchewan (see 'Accommodations' tip) sitting outside and joined them for the meal. Their Quesadillas looked great so we also ordered them - once again a very enjoyable meal for only US$16, including drinks and tip, after our scorching day in the water and sun!

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After doing some morning shopping in Atlanta, Georgia for last minute items, a 3-hour flight to Belize and then a short hop out to Caye Caulker, the first thing we did was to sit down in the Sand Box restaurant, next door to and part of the Trends Beachfront Hotel! I had my first Belikin beer while Sue settled for a cold glass of Chardonnay as we spoke to the owner of the two establishments. The Sand Box is quite a popular spot with both the locals and the tourist traffic, it's sandy floor (second photo) helping to provide a very relaxed atmosphere. While we were sitting here, another couple arrived from Washington, DC and we ended up having a great conversation with them - especially since the young lady had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, while I had been an equivalent Canadian CUSO volunteer in Zambia (in the year that she was born!).

Favorite Dish: Once we had settled down a bit to our new surroundings, we struck off for a walking exploration of Caye Caulker by night, taking in the sights up toward the Lazy Lizard at 'the Split'. Having satisfied ourselves with this first glimpse of this amazing little island, we returned to the Sand Box for some serious eating. Sue opted for the local Fish Fillet in Spinach Sauce with Garlic Bread & Pasta Salad (US$10) while I settled for the local favourite of Jerk Chicken with Garlic Bread & Beans/Rice (US$5.50). There was not a scrap left when we finished, with the total meal costing US$27 (with our drinks).

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Recommended for Belizian-American seafood by "Belize First"'s editor Lan Sluder. We ate outside and had some trouble with flies

Website says Open everyday from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm. Named the Sand Box because of the sand floors. Also notorious for the names of regular customers carved into the backs of the chairs. The most diverse menu on the island with daily specials - and they almost always have everything on the menu. A well-designed inside space decorated with local artifacts and a pleasant outside garden for dining.

Having everything on the menu is important, and is not always the case at these places.

Favorite Dish: Sand floor inside and patio outdoors. I seem to remember eating at a picnic table with other folks.

Good food and OK service.

Prices on the menu are in Belize $$. Divide in half to get US$$ prices. We paid US$22 for two without drinks.

The sandbox is straight up from the pier and is literally a sandbox, ie no floor, just sand. You can eat inside or out, the bar is popular with locals and a great place to hang out in the evenings. The lobster fritters are divine and the mango shakes worth the BZ$8. We lived on barbeque chicken, the pasta salad is very good. They also do cooked breakfast so if you have had a big night and could do with a fry up this is the place to come.

The Sandbox is so called due to its being set right in the sand, with no floor. We kept coming back here because the food was so good and the price was so right. Their ribs, burgers, pork chops, lobster bisque soup, and chili are all great, and they have fresh seafood everyday, too. Service is laid-back, like everywhere on the island.

It's so Belizean to see their beautiful, Mennonite-made mahogany tables and chairs sitting right in the sand, with the names of regular customers carved into the backs of the chairs! We always ate in the dimly lit interior, after spending long days in the sun and the wind, but they have outdoor seating as well.

Nice atmosphere. Perfect location for me since it was my hotel's restaurant. The sand floor was cool. There's outdoor seating available as well. They had a special one night on lobster tails. I took it.

Favorite Dish: Jerked chicken sandwich and crunchy fries. Wasn't as spicy as they said it would be, but I liked it nonetheless. Fresh squeezed lime juice is good, too.