Dining

In the Cayman Islands, you will find highly spiced cuisine that mostly contains native ingredients such as bananas, plantain, cassava, and a host of other fruits and vegetables. A variety of seafood is also available in the restaurants, which is generally eaten as an appetizer. Cayman islands have more than 300 restaurants, many of which offer excellent international cuisine, while others specialize in local dishes.

A small number of restaurants in the Cayman Islands offer the culinary delight of the island, turtle steak. There are several restaurants serving fresh conch meat and lobster. Snapper, tuna, or marlin dishes are also quite famous and they are wonderfully prepared in the Cayman-style with tomatoes, peppers, and onions.

Johnnycakes as well as spicy pepperpot are also famous in the Cayman Islands. Pepperpot is prepared from leafy spinach like callaloo, potatoes, hot peppers, and spices. You will also find the Jamaican specialty, ackee and saltfish in a lot of restaurants.

It is highly recommended that you make reservations in restaurants, mainly during weekends and peak tourist seasons. It is also advisable to check whether the menu prices are given in U.S. Dollars or Cayman Island Dollars. This can make a big difference when you get the bill. Most restaurants will include a 15% service charge in your bill. A majority of the restaurants accept credit cards.

Cayman Island restaurants are among the most expensive in the Caribbean, owing to the fact that almost everything must be shipped in. Even the moderately priced restaurants can ultimately prove to be expensive if you order for steak or lobster. If you don't want to spend too much, opt for West Indian cuisine like conch and grouper, which are usually less expensive.

The more upscale restaurants in the Cayman Islands may require men to be dressed in jackets, particularly during the peak season. It is better to avoid wearing beach attire, as not all restaurants may accept it.

A. Top Restaurants

Casa Havana

Address

Located in the Westin Casuarina Resort,

Cayman Islands

The Casa Havana Restaurant serves international cuisine in a Caribbean style and a memorable dining experience in a beautiful beachside location. This is the single AAA four Diamond rated restaurant in the Cayman Islands. The food costs about US $31 to US $60 per person. They serve only dinner and it is open from 6 pm to 10.30 pm. The credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. Some of the popular dishes offered here are South American Seabass a la George covered with Macadamia Nuts, Flageolets Bean Casserole and Mushroom Tea.

Cimboco

Address

P.O. Box 30786

Seven Mile Beach

Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands

This offers a casual cafe setting and serves excellent Caribbean cuisine, which is reasonably priced. The food normally costs under US $18 per person. The eatery serves brunch, lunch and dinner. One of the popular dishes is wood grilled pizza. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. Cimboco also accepts travelers' checks.

Hemingway's

Address

In the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman,

West Bay Rd,

Grand Cayman

Phone No.: 345/949-1234

Hemingway's is situated 3km (2miles) towards the north of George Town and is known to serve some of the best seafood on the island. Hors d'oeuvre mainly consist of a delicious coconut shrimp with a mango marmalade taste. You can also try the snapper or wahoo, grilled according to your requirement or the pistachio-crusted lamb with baby artichokes, white beans, and eggplant. Potato-crusted sea bass along with banana, light cheese, salsa, and fresh pineapple is also served here. The restaurant is open from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm. The main course costs about US $28 to US $36 and lunch US $12 to US $19. The credit cards accepted are American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa.

Smuggler's Cove

Address

North Church St.,

George Town,

Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands

Phone No.: 345/949-6003

Located at the edge of George Town, this restaurant offers some of most tempting and ingenious dishes as well as old favorites. The mesquite-grilled jerk duck offered with wild-berry sauce is extremely delicious. The grilled and highly spiced pork tenderloin is marinated with Cayman Scotch Bonnet peppers. The seared Chilean salmon filet is served in a crispy and tasty potato-and-leek shell with a dash of ginger and lemon grass. You can also go to Smuggler's Cove a little before dinnertime to taste the bartender's unique drink, a pineapple martini. It is open from Monday through Friday, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 5:30 pm to 10:30pm. Reservations are highly recommended. The main course is priced between US $23 and US $36. The credit cards accepted are American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

The Wharf

Address

West Bay Rd,

Grand Cayman

Phone No.: 345/949-2231

Situated around 3km (2 miles) towards the north of George Town, is the Wharf restaurant. One of its major attractions is its seaside show at The Ports of Call Bar. This allows visitors be a part of the traditional 9 pm feeding of the tarpon show, which are kept in a huge tank on the premises. The restaurant offers dining indoors, on an elevated veranda, as well as on a beachside terrace. Starters may include blue crab-and-shrimp salad with cucumber and mango, or the golden-fried Caribbean lobster cake with a roasted-corn taste. In the main course, you can savor the basil-and-pistachio-crusted sea bass in a rich champagne sauce or the grilled turtle-and-lobster pie served with rice and vegetables. A native specialty includes the pork tenderloin Tortuga baked between sugar cane and offered with a dark-rum sauce. It is open everyday from 6 pm to 10 pm. The rates for the main course vary between US $25 and US $50. The credit cards accepted are American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

Lighthouse at Breakers

Address

Breakers,

Grand Cayman,

Cayman Islands

Phone No.: 345/947-2047

For decades this restaurant on the calm south coast of the island, has been a local landmark and is a 25-minute drive from George Town. Here you will mostly get fresh local seafood and Italian cuisine. You can order for entrées such as portobello mushroom carpaccio with Gorgonzola, or tuna sushi rolled in sesame seeds. For the main course, you can try the tender veal chop garnished with Gorgonzola and pancetta, or a mixed seafood grill in a lemon-butter sauce. Lighthouse also serves fine pastas and the Fettuccine Mediterranean with seasonal vegetables is particularly famous. Other favorite dishes include the seafood platter for 2, penne shrimp asparagi, and bignet. This restaurant has one of the most excellent wine cellars in Grand Cayman. Prices for the main course range between US $19 to US $50. It is open daily from 11:30 am to 4 pm and from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. The credit cards accepted are American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.