Grand Cayman Dining | Grand Cayman Villas & Condos

1-2BR VILLAS

DINING CHOICES FOR VILLA GUESTS
Hiring a Cook, Chef or Caterer- A real treat for the person in your group who usually gets stuck preparing the meals is hiring someone on a special night to cook a dinner for your family while at your villa. Like many things, this can be done simply or more elegantly. I have a Caymanian lady who cooks just about every week at one of my homes for my guests and I have never heard anything but praise for her. She shops for the food, arrives about 4PM, cooks, serves, clears and cleans and then leaves by about 8:30PM. Her meals are typically "Cayman Style" fish with lobster meat, plantains, rice & beans, salad and a key lime pie. She can also prepare a more simpler dish for finicky children (spaghetti usually works). I also recommend a local caterer ( Mise En Place) who does most of my weddings at the Castle (click the photo above). In addition to catering weddings, they also do large family dinners, beach BBQs and events at our villas. Click for a list of their services & menus. This is always a much higher level of service (than simply a cook) with wait-staff as well. Because this is more expensive, it may only be truly appreciated by adult parties who want to enjoy their food and wine at leisure and not have to get behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car on a unfamiliar island and drive on the left-hand side of the road as well!
I. LOCAL CHOICES. In the East End of the island just a mile & a half south of Portofinos is Vivine's Kitchen, which is a casual island style home-cooked meal prepared by Vivine Watler. Lunch only, except Wednesday night she has a seafood buffet. Just south of the Castle in east end (across the street from Ocean Frontiers) is a new place called Arlaine's. She prepares lunch daily and is open in the evening for both eat-in or carry-out. Menus is typically fast food.
II. NEARBY RESTAURANTS (you will need to drive a little). Portofino's Restaurant- Located just one mile south of Morritts in the east end, this oceanfront restaurant is very versatile and charming. The menu is both Caribbean and Italian, and if you wanted something made to order--they will try most anything for you as well. They are also keenly aware of food allergies (we know personally), so don't hesitate to speak up. The manager (Shakur) and some of the staff are Indian, so if you have a craving for an Indian dish, just call the day before so that he can put it together for you. Portofino's offers both indoor and outdoor seating and has a decent wine list as well. The Sunday brunch (11:30 - 3PM) is a favorite for our guests staying at Northside and East End villas for planning the rest of their week over a great lunch/drinks with the warm ocean breeze. Shakur can also arrange for catering or take out as well 947-2700.
Kaibo Yacht Club- (www.kaibo.ky )Near Rum Point, the Kaibo Yacht club & Marina is a great venue for dining and for entertaining the kids. The quiet cove that the marina is located in has a small swimming dock (see in photo above) and the dock is a great place to see fish swim by. The menu is varied--from casual wraps and sandwiches downstairs; to themed menus on different days of the week upstairs in the more formal restaurant overlooking the marina.. The Kaibo also celebrates Mardi Gras each Spring (specifically Ash Wednesday) with a huge beach party. The bar has a few satellite TVs as well as some of the coldest beer on the island (they make their own ice for the beer coolers). The Kaibo is also the dock where you catch the Red Sail Catamaran for stingray city and is a great place to have a lunch afterwards. Volleyball net, dock and lounge chaises on premises. Lastly, Cayman Kayaks runs their kayak tours from the Kaibo Beach. The manager (Daniel) is a great host 947-9975 and can arrange private dinners, wedding receptions and other celebrations as well. Watch for the "Full Moon Cookout" in Spring 2007!
Rum Point Club- This (public welcome) beach club is the #1 place to hang during the day (except Sundays-too crowded). They have a great outdoor grill with waiters and picnic tables, lounge chaises and hammocks. Super bar as well as a gift-shop & clean showers/bathrooms. The larger evening restaurant on the property appears like it may reopen this spring, which will offer villa guests another choice for fine dining. Snorkel & Dive boats leave from their pier, as well as private charters. The Bar/Grill open at 11AM each day-- Professionally managed, so it is very well run, clean and cared for. Also is handicapped accessible. The (fine dining) restaurant is rumored to reopen this spring.
Lighthouse Restaurant- The Lighthouse is the best restaurant east of Georgetown. This is a 4 star restaurant with uniformed wait-staff, an excellent wine list and superb menu. Also Caribbean and Italian, the Lighthouse has a wonderful new bar/lounge and an oceanfront screened dining porch. You can listen to the waves break on the rocks below while enjoying some of the finest food on the island. For a special dinner, "Captain G" (Giuseppe) also has his "port room" which is an air conditioned (wine cellar themed) private dining room with a large round table that can seat 10-16 people. A dinner in the Captain's port room is a true memory, and you would need reservations for this experience. I would always suggest reservations for the Lighthouse to be certain that a table is available. 947-2047. Located in Breakers- which is on the way to town. It is just west of the main North/South road bisecting the island. Now open on Mondays too!
Over The Edge- On the way to Rum Point on Northside, just after the awkward left-hand turn in Old Man Bay on the northcoast; there is a small green (oceanfront) restaurant called "Over the Edge". It is part bar and part restaurant, and has great seating over the water on their dock..which is a great place for kids for dinner. The fish, stingrays and sometimes octopus swim right up at dinner time, attracted by large lights the french owner shines in the water. No reservations required for this casual place..less expensive too. They also cook breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Roland's Garden- Roland is a former restaurant chef who runs an outdoor (campy) "cafe" at his house in the Cottage District, on the Southeast coast of the island between the Lighthouse and east end. Not well-marked- but you will see about 10 tables in the trees behind an anchor chain fence along the road--about 1.5 miles East of the Frank Sound road intersection at the bottom of the island. He is right across the street from the pastel-colored homes on the seaside called "Seacliffs". You arrive at his place where you are greeted by his dog (Alex), Roland tells you about dinner tonight, if you decide to stay for his 5 course dinner (bring your own beer/wine in a cooler) you will be pleasantly surprised...after dinner you pay him what you feel the meal was worth. No menu, no bill. It sounds hokey, but true. I have eaten with Roland many times. I seem to average about US$40/person (cash only) and he is very happy with that. His food is plentiful and very good. You MUST make a reservation at least a day or two in advance (I would suggest before you leave for the island) 926-7670. That is Roland in the middle of the photo on left. In summer, bring a can of bug spray- just in case there is no breeze.
Royal Reef Restaurant (Castro's Hideaway) - In addition to the inside restaurant of this time-share resort (next to Morritts), they have a great beach bar called Castro's. It is oceanfront and serves great drinks, light fare and is a gathering place for tourists in the east end. No reservation necessary. The inside restaurant also serves dinner and they have "The Barefoot Man" sing/perform each Tuesday & Thursday at a dinner show (about $40/person) (reservations required 947-3100)
Driftwood Village Sports Bar- I include this Sports Bar because they have a GREAT Sunday afternoon BBQ with ribs, chicken and shrimp. 3-7PM on Sundays only..The driftwood is on the way to Rum Point on the oceanside. Great watering hole with a pool table and 6 satellite TV's. The food is from Durty Reid's restaurant which is in Red Bay near Hurleys grocery store--if you gets hungry for their ribs on the way to town one day. 947-9015
Vivine's Kitchen- In the East End; Miss Vivine's house is the backdrop for her charming restaurant on the water in East End. Cool breezes rustle the sea grape trees around you, large sea birds dive into the water fishing for sprats right in front of you and though it is rustic the place is truly a delight. The food is as authentic Caymanian as it comes and her ingredients - fresh fish, conch, whelks, lobster and turtle are all sourced locally. 947-7435 (Lunch and Dinner Daily)
Morritts Restaurant (David's) - On the northeast tip of the island, Morritts timeshare resort has a couple of restaurants, the largest being "David's". Many people eat there--especially for breakfast on this side of the island. There is some nightly entertainment there, but call to be certain when/what. Lammie's show is pretty funny.
Various Local Jerk Chicken/Pork Stands: There are a number of roadside vendors of Jerk Chicken, Pork, Fish, etc. around the island. I like the two in Boddentown the best-- Chester Watler's Fish Fry and Wood's Grilled Chicken. There are a few others scattered in the East End..all are fine and are inspected by the government. I would stay away from people serving food out of their cars-- The best rotisserie chicken on the island is at Chicken! Chicken! in a pink shopping strip mall on 7Mile Beach just south of the Hyatt and north of Wendy's. Great place to eat on the day of departure (they open at 11AM).
III. Restaurants on the west of the island (7 Mile Beach): I don't eat much on the west side of the island, but when I do; these are the restaurants I enjoy going to: Bamboo (in the Hyatt)- This is a great (eclectic) sushi bar with awesome music & food. After dinner you can walk on their beach or sit down around their pool on a padded lounge chaise. Their food ranks in the top 5 restaurants for 7MB for me. The Hyatt also has some cute shops for window-shopping afterward too. View of ocean/pool. Great bar next door at Hemmingway's too. Calypso Grill - Is my absolute favorite restaurant on the whole island. It is a long trip from the East End, but worth it actually. It is built on a dock in Morgan's Harbour at the top of 7 Mile beach. The menu is very large and they have just about anything you could possibly want .Open Tues - Sun; Lunch & Dinner. 949-3948. Reservations strongly suggested. Castaways Grill- Located a little closer to you in Grand Harbour (Right behind Hurleys Grocery Store) is a new restaurant that makes fresh pasta meals and oven-fired pizzas, as well as other elegant fare. There is an outdoor covered patio for al fresco dining, as well as an adjacent ("Davey Jones Locker")sports bar/restaurant (best on the island) for the big game. It is closer by-- and if you are running to the grocery or liquor store for something anyway-- this is a great choice. Also on the property is the world famous "Black Pearl" skateboard park and a wave machine for surfing! Other very good restaurants I have been to.. The Wharf Grand Old House Thai Orchid Ragazzi's Pappagallos Eduardo's see www.caymanrestaurants.com for more choices