Delicious Sushi Thursday at The Ol’ Tacklebox Over-the-Water Restaurant

The Ol’ Tacklebox Restaurant (formerly Tacklebox Bar and Shark’s Bar) is one of the oldest bars in San Pedro. There have been a few different iterations, different owners, and different themes…old timers can tell you when there was an ocean pen in the deck that housed nurse sharks and even turtles!

Others can tell you when the structure washed away in 1998’s Hurricane Mitch. I can tell you about managing the spot from 2007 to 2011 and…British soldiers striping naked at midnight and jumping out the windows?

That’s one of the tamer stories.

But what has remained the same is the central location and the STUNNING views – some of the best on the island.

Since they re-opened after the pandemic (and some ownership legal wrangling) in 2022 – Chef Dan Choc has been bringing his culinary skills to this simple structure.

Dan spent many years as chef and head chef at the now almost mythical Rojo Lounge. A spot now closed but remembered so fondly by SOOOO many as the best food in the most magical location. This place was AWESOME.

Ask anyone who was here from….2005 to 2016 about Rojo. Check out this 2014 post about my day at Rojo. That was BEFORE I met my now boyfriend of 8 years, Jeff. Who was one of the founders of Rojo Bar and the chef.

That’s me!

All I need to tell you is that Dan KNOWS what he is doing. A few months ago, he started bringing his Rojo sushi skills to Ol’ Tacklebox – and is doing a Sushi Thursday. All day. He’s been sending me photos of his food (which I already know is FANTASTIC) and it was time to visit.

Parking on a busy front street…

To the beach by the Holiday Hotel.

And then out onto the Tacklebox dock. Some jet skis that may not have been used for a while…

Rustic…almost a sports bar like feel but the food is top notch. And sophisticated.

We started with one of the original Rojo recipes – the Belikin Stout braised pork belly baos. Soft homemade steamed bread, the crunch of a cucumber slice, the sweet-salty-fatty pork…it’s so good.

A look at the regular menu – they also do lots of yummy appetizers, they cook your fresh catch AND they do a “staff lunch” – if you are just looking for simple but delicious rice and beans.

I can’t WAIT to try this cheese and chaya pizza. It’s such a great combo.

The view from our table.

And Dan brought us an Alaskan Pizza to go. Jeff and I can’t get enough of that original Rojo recipe. It’s some kick-ass pizza loaded with the good stuff.

Mmmm…leftovers for a few days. Is there anything better than good cold pizza in the refrig? The very definition of “living my best life” 🙂

We were hear to try the sushi.

We asked Dan to bring us the favorite – with no cream cheese! (I do not enjoy cream cheese on my rolls…)

Yum. Avocado, Belizean summer mango, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna…it was amazing. And I forgot to take her picture! AHHH!

But here are some photos Dan has been sending me for the last few weeks to lure us in.

And then the one he sent me the day after we ate…this gorgeous looking shrimp, bacon and cheesy grits plate. I mean…come on.

For more information and to look at the daily specials, follow Ol’ Tacklebox on Facebook.

He posts when he gets a fresh fresh order of fish…and has some amazing-looking specials.

And I’ve got a busy week. I AM GETTING SWORN IN AS A BELIZEAN CITIZEN ON THURSDAY! And am working hard to learn the national anthem.

I’m super excited.

Oh yes…and…if you want to receive my monthly newsletter tomorrow – make sure to subscribe.