Sweet Tutz Restaurant: A New Favorite on Back Street, San Pedro

Yesterday I felt like a total rube…like someone who had just landed in Belize…but let me back up for a bit…

Minutes before “lunch time” (local lunch in San Pedro is a pretty strict 11:45am to 1pm), I went into Sweet Tutz Restaurant on Back Street, San Pedro. It’s a locally owned family spot that I’m really loving these days. Jeff and I were there a few weeks back for simple and really really great meal.

They’ve been in business for 2+ years and it’s the kind of place that feels welcoming right away. Simple, hearty Belizean food, great, attentive staff, big portions, and some of my favorite soups on the island. It also does Breakfast all Day – and I LOVE that.

I went in to chat with the owners to write a proper blog post. To ask them how long they have been in business, where they are from and what their most popular dishes are. And that’s what left me feeling like a newbie.

Most popular: Belizean Dumplings. Huh? Maybe it’s a restaurant specific thing. I immediately thought of chinese dumplings…but I found out I was very wrong.

How have I been a student of Belizean culture and an enthusiastic eater around the country for 18 years and never heard of this!?!?!?!?

Let me show you my pictures and what I learned at Sweet Tutz.

If you are lucky, you can score this primo table by the window.

Yum.

The owners Serjio (who also have a property management business – with a very cute logo) and Adrian.

Neither was born in San Pedro but they have been here for over 20 years. I’d met Adrian at Pupuseria Salvadoreno where he worked for 11 years and at Iguana Juan’s Restaurant (which is now closed)

Serjio is from the Cayo District and has 15 brothers and sisters! Adrian is from the village of Paraiso outside of Corozal. Adrian’s mom is the chef and man can she cook!

They are serving the conch soup everyday and they have a GREAT soup rotation. Eschebeche, relleno – Belize classics and favorites.

I’m going for the relleno next…though I love Chilmole too. THE EGG in the soup is so surprisingly delicious.

I love love love breakfast all day. Sometimes you just want pancakes or fry jacks at 1pm.

I took a seat at the bar and waited for my dumplings.

I was not picturing it at all. Black beans and coconut? Meat and a tomato salsa?

And then it arrived. A BIG bowl filled with what looked like a coconutty chili. I love both those things.

And it was like a creamy tasty chili but underneath it was packed with plump, thick noodles. Almost like German spaetzle. SO these are the dumplings!

So delicious so hearty so filling I mean SOOOOOOOO filling, I could only finish half the bowl.

I did my best and then stumbled out into the bright light of a gorgeous day.

Must. Get. Home. Or. Find. A. Hammock.

And then I sent pictures and a description of the dumplings to Jeff and he responded with an uncharacteristic: OMG.

We will be back very very soon.

Get over to Sweet Tutz for this dish. Or for the soup or for both. Tell me what you love there because…I posted about this last night on Instagram and got back so many comments like: “Our family loves this place” and “this is my go-to spot when I’m down there”.

I also asked some of my local friends if they knew about Belizean dumplings – still clinging to the idea that maybe it wasn’t ME who didn’t know…maybe they were just a Sweet Tutz special. But no…they are a beloved dish on the mainland…seemingly in the North – Corozal and Orange Walk in particular. Some told me they eat them with beans and coconut only, someone else told me his family cooks they will pumpkin flowers…

Sigh…sometimes I’m late to the party. But I made it…and that’s what counts.

Addition info: They do live music – often a mariachi band – on Friday nights, more music – usually a keyboardist, on Saturday and karaoke on Sunday.

They are called Sweet Tutz after “sweet tooth” because they have an extensive local dessert menu and originally, they were going to focus on desserts only.