Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar
by Frances Daniel
Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar has, in 8 short years, become a Cayman Islands institution and one of THE must-visit restaurants if you live here and or when you visit. We recently chatted with owners Lloyd Brown and Michael “Max” Hillier about Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar.
PP: We’ve known you guys a while, but refresh our memory. How did the two of you decide to open a Mexican restaurant on Cayman?
Owners: We have been friends for a long time and when given the opportunity to take over the unique space we currently occupy and have occupied since 2015, we saw a gap in the Cayman food scene and knew this location needed something unique – an authentic Mexican restaurant experience with enough variables to satisfy everyone’s palates.
PP: What makes Casa 43 so popular among both residents and tourists? It isn’t easy to attract both sets of guests!
Owners: It is most certainly the 3 key ingredients for restaurant success.
Creating an experience that transports you to the actual look and feel of the destination.
- Staff that welcomes you into the restaurant as if they were welcoming you into their own living room and then providing you service that shows you they care and appreciate you choosing us!!!
And food that represents our authentic Mex-Mex dishes! We focus on FLAVOUR and AUTHENTICITY and use ingredients that you would find on the streets of Mexico, especially rubs, mole, certain cheeses, and chilies. I mean many of our tacos are as you might find on the streets of any regional Mexican city with careful attention to balance, tastes of Mexico, and authenticity.
PP: Passengers share that you don’t take reservations, so they sometimes have to wait a while to get in – how do you keep them coming?
OWNERS: The challenge in having such an authentic Mexican restaurant and Tequila Bar is that space is a premium, much like the tiny places where you get the best food, tequilas and margaritas in Mexico. We did try reservations early on; however, it just never worked for our space and style. We believe that when you do things the right way and don’t skimp on ingredients and quality, this hard work is recognized by the guests and, therefore, they want to have this experience. In the fickle world of restaurant profit margins, 
many owners lose focus on the CUSTOMER and concentrate on profits. We have always operated customer first, profits second and so we provide the 3 things above. Then, while people are waiting to get in, we try and get them started with the experience to come. We keep them updated on timings and this helps show we care and are anxious to make sure they get to have our experience. All of this makes them feel that this IS THE PLACE to be!
PP: Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar is certainly a specific name! What’s the story behind the name?
Owners: Well, we wanted to create a “welcome to our kitchen” vibe so “Mi casa es su casa” jumped to mind and “Casa” stuck. “Naming a restaurant for success” research told us that adding a number to your name creates an elevated customer expectation of a good restaurant and our street address is 43 Canal Point Road! We also learned that there were no dedicated Tequila Bars in the Caribbean and so made a decision to curate a wide selection of tequilas and mezcals to have the first one of its kind in the Caribbean. We believe it’s still the only one at this level of curation!!! So – Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila bar – it is!
PP: It’s a great name because there is no doubt about the food experience that guests will have here! About that food experience—we’re hearing a lot about Taco Tuesdays. Tell us about that.
Owners: Chefs are creative creatures and when you are fortunate to be loved by so many visitors, locals, and residents alike, our Chefs’ passion and energies become solely focused on producing our varied menu and keeping it consistent and fresh. We wanted to give them an opportunity to bring out their Michelin 
Star inner Chefs, AND we wanted to give our guests a chance to try unique, creative and tasty taco combinations!!! This is obviously a lot more work but, unlike the traditional 2-for-1 specials offered by others, we ELEVATE your taco experience on Tuesdays and have to say that this has become a real THING for our guests!!! I mean every Tuesday you get, in addition to our 13 signature tacos (all very different I might add), 3 Chef, Owner, or Customer inspired creations to tantalize your tastebuds and IMAGINATION!!!!!
PP: Wow! A “taco experience” sounds fantastic! Passengers also talk positively about your Tequila collection. Is it true that you have the largest collection of Tequila on island. Just how many kinds do you have?
Owners: We are really proud of this and would say that, to our knowledge, we absolutely do have the largest collection with somewhere over 100 plus choices of tequilas and about 30 plus mezcals right now and some super rare choices you can only find here.
PP: So I’m wondering—what is the most ordered margarita?
Owners: Our signature margarita is the Casa 43 Marg and it has become the most-ordered beverage in our restaurant! Made with 2 oz (normally 1.5 oz in other places) freshly squeezed lime juice and our homemade simple syrup and lime salt rim using the premium, Herradura tequila, which helps make this possibly one of the best you will ever drink!
PP: It sounds like any margarita fan will be very happy with the Casa 43 Marg! We’d like to switch topics now and hear about the desserts that are offered here. Max, please give us the delicious details!
Owners: We have stayed as authentic as possible with CHURROS and a creative and fun ice cream-filled churro basket which is a huge hit with our own Abuelita’s chocolate and cajeta sauce. We also offer a homemade tres leches cake, Mexi chocolate muffin, a Khalua creme brûlée, and our one-of-a-kind FRIED ICE CREAM – Yum!
PP: I’m not sure that I could choose only one of those desserts! You have a great team of chefs at Casa 43. We know that Lloyd is a great partner with invaluable experience. How about giving us a description of your chefs in the kitchen.
Owners: Our chefs bring influences from all over Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Latin America with a specialization in regional Mexican dishes. Our Head Chef 
Julio is from Puerto Rico and has worked in the US operating and developing Mexican restaurants, sports stadium restaurants, and private Chef services, and is a true creator of balanced and unique taste combinations, with a passion for the regional flavors of Mexico. Yousuff has been with us for over 6 years now and has become our second in command. His attention to consistency and flavour is something that contributes to the customer’s trust in our restaurant. Liberia, Emmanuel, and David are from Mexico and together bring that powerful authenticity that people have grown to enjoy! June, Senthil, Manuel, and Uly have also been with us for 5 plus years and this, again, helps the consistency of the food we deliver to our customers. Ace is new to us but not new to Cayman and has been a great addition to the team!!!
PP: What a fabulous team! With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, what is the team looking to do at Casa 43?
Owners: We are so grateful that BECAUSE we do things so authentically and transport you to a little piece of Mexico we simply keep doing that for you, just at a much busier and more staffed level. Many people have to do a lot to entice you to choose them. However, we have already done all that and so we look forward to sharing 
this day with you all, IF you are looking for authentic, delicious and FUN FUN FUN!!!
PP: It’s amazing that over the last 8 years, Passengers have consistently given excellent reports about their experiences at Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar. It’s no wonder that you are our Pick of the Month and a year-round favorite of so many!
Well, friends, we hope that you have enjoyed our visit with the owners of Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar. You can check out the menu online before you even leave your home! Notice that they clearly mark which items include seafood and which are gluten-free and/or vegetarian. Their hours are listed on their website, but you might want to remember that Happy Hour happens Monday through Saturday from 2:30 until 6 PM!
Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar
43 Canal Point Drive
(345) 949-4343