Shado Beni Caribbean Tapas Lounge — Restaurant in South Caye Caulker

We went on a Monday night around 6:45pm and it was packed. No problem, we waited for a table. We waited for about 10-15 mins and saw people walking out but we didn’t mind it because we thought maybe they were just impatient. We asked if we could take a table someone left from and the owner basically was like “whatever go for it” we also let that slide because we were like okay maybe she’s just stressed from the rush? We sat down and ordered. They ran out of stuff already so we ordered whatever they had available. We tried the jerked chicken wings, coconut shrimp, and jerked shrimp. Now, this place is advertised as a restaurant on some places but we knew it was just a bar with small plates. We already were prepared for that aspect of it. What we were not prepared for was the 2 hour wait to get those 2 small plates. We still waited and didn’t complain but once everything arrived and we saw the portions they were way smaller than what is advertised. The grilled jerked shrimp were 6 tiny shrimp on tiny sticks with a tiny piece of pineapple for like $35. The alcoholic drinks were also expensive for the tiny cup they give you with mostly ice. The place seems overrated and very expensive for what they give you so it’s a rip off. 3 more tables were complaining and upset because of how long the wait was and how much they ended up paying for basically one bite of the dish. We ended up spending over $200BZ on those small plates and about 3 alcoholic beverages that tasted watered down and some soft drinks. There are better local places on the island that will be worth the money. We did not complain but we will not be returning and do not really recommend. The food was also not worth the hype. It just...

I celebrated my 30th birthday here and it was everything I hoped for and more. Located in beautiful Belize, this Caribbean tapas spot blends bold island flavors with creative presentation—and every bite delivered.

✨ The Highlights:

🥘 Trini Curry Goat – Tender, rich, and deeply flavorful. The goat was slow-cooked to perfection in authentic West Indian spices, and the roti on the side soaked up every bit of that curry goodness.

🥟 Samosas – Veggie option! The tomato sauce combo is definitely a great item worth trying.

🍤 Coconut Shrimp – Fried to a perfect golden crunch, the shrimp were coated in coconut flakes and paired with a fresh pineapple habanero dipping sauce that was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy.

🍌 Oxtail Tostones – Hands-down my favorite bite of the night. The crispy tostones were topped with mouthwatering slow-cooked oxtail and a bright tomato, cilantro, and lime garnish. Pure Caribbean comfort food with a twist.

🍹 Cocktails – Just like the food, the drinks here were full of tropical flair. Fruity, fun, and super refreshing.

📊 Final Verdict: Food: 9/10 Ambiance: Cozy, vibrant, and great for groups or a celebratory night out. Favorites: Oxtail Tostones & Coconut Shrimp Definitely a must-visit if you're in Belize and craving Caribbean...

We ordered 2 tapas plates for 2 people at $19/usd each. 1 of us ordered gluten free and it came with no side dish such as rice or potatoes, or GF bread…

The portions are like appetizers. We asked for a gluten free option such as rice, and they did serve us a portion, after much discussion about if they had enough rice to offer us.

The food was delicious, the menu simple but the portions for the cost were tiny and we left hungry.

After they got our order wrong we waited a very long time for the correct dish, but many other tables were served before the dish we ordered was corrected. We never received the last dish we ordered, as my friend was super upset with not receiving his dish we cancelled the order and asked for our bill.

A simple Menu usually means delicious food focused on their specialty dishes.

They really should offer plates and/or side Dishes, not just tapas For the cost. This would include side dishes such as smashed potatoes, veggies. or rice, or salad even, to be served with the small Portion main meal “tapas”.

Good food: expensive, small tapas and we left hungry after dropping more cash than we would’ve liked. (Side dish of white rice...