A delightful combination of colors, action, aromas and flavours, Cimboco is a modern- day mix of all fun things Caribbean, all set in intimate and fun surroundings. This Café features savory and delicious pastas, fire roasted roti, pizzas, and rustic sandwiches, homemade breads and desserts – but each day the 
Chefs offer enticing specials highlighting the best available produce and seafood ‘on Island. As this month’s Passenger Pick of the Month, we wanted to learn more about the story behind Cimboco, so recently we caught up with Manager Jill Callender.
PP: We’ve been coming to your restaurant for years now. It’s one of our favorites. We’ve heard that you don’t have a deep fryer or a microwave on the premises.
JC: Over the years it’s been exactly like that, and some guests were very surprised. But with the change and demand for fried items, we eventually bent and got ourselves a tiny fryer! The kids love our fries! We intentionally put our exhibition kitchen grill and our wood burning oven right out front, so you can see us prepare your entrees.
No one wants someone in the back nuking their meal in a microwave! We’re very proud of our food quality. Everything is made from scratch here, from the breads and soups to homemade desserts – we even make our own ice cream!
PP: And it shows! Your food is so good, and so reasonable too. Our favorite breakfast on the island is your Simply Breakfast offering.
JC: Yes, that one is hugely popular. It comes with two eggs cooked the way you want, your choice of apple wood smoked bacon or Canadian bacon, roasted potatoes, slice of toast, and an orange slice, all for just $8.95 CI.
PP: It’s so good, we order it almost every time. You always seem to have lots of customers in here, when are you the busiest?
JC: Oh, it’s craziest here on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch. So many people come. Sometimes you have to wait 20 minutes for a table on those days.
PP: We’ve not experienced your weekend brunch yet. So popular, it must be awesome. Jill, it feels like home here. Every-time we come in we’re greeted warmly, your staff recognizes us, and are always so pleasant. And during the week we’ve been able to be seated almost right away.
JC: It’s good to hear that. Yes, we have a fantastic staff. Almost all of them have been here with me for many, many years. Cimboco is like a second home!
PP: You can tell when a restaurant is really good and is a good value, when you have lots of locals as customers. We see as many or more locals than tourists here.
JC: Yes, we do have quite a large local following. Cimboco is really a chill spot… sometimes homey, sometimes boisterous, most times laid back, but never pretentious! Depending on the time of the year, the mix of locals and tourists will vary a bit. Many vacationing families have found us and come back time after time.
PP: Being so close to the Marriott and the Hampton Inn, do you see a lot of folks from those hotels?
JC: We sure do! Those hotels are just across the street, a short walk away. Lots of guests have discovered that they can enjoy delicious meals and save quite a bit of money in the process.
PP: That’s so important to families on a budget. Is that a hint of the Caribbean we hear in your speech?
JC: Yes, I’m Trinidadian by birth, and I’m Trini to the bone!
PP: So Jill, tell us how you came to Cayman.
JC: My journey to Cayman started as a teenager working at my brother’s Pastry & Pizza Shop during the weekend and holidays, and have always been involved in catering and food. I studied Hotel & Tourism Management, worked in Trinidad, Tobago, Dominica (the nature island of the Caribbean) and then New York. Now Cayman has been my home for over 18 years.
PP: So you’ve been at Cimboco for 18 years, then?
CM: Yes, back then Cimboco was very new. In fact, here is a pic of that opening crew! My first position was senior line cook, where I did all the desserts, always had an input in specials and of course worked the line on the busy nights! I’ve seen Cimboco grow from when we basically served only Pastas and Pizzas, to the introduction of breakfast, and then brunch when we were one of the very few restaurants serving brunch on the weekend.
Today I manage the day to day running of Cimboco and Chicken! Chicken!. My style of management is empowerment. It’s not the easy way, most people talk empowerment but don’t really want to be empowered cause it means you have to be accountable. But eventually most get it! We have an excellent crew here at Cimboco. Most of us have been here a long time. Its sometimes fun hanging out with the crew.
PP: Well that says a lot about the consistency we feel here at Cimboco. You, your staff, and the restaurant itself. No wonder it feels like home! Now, Cimboco is a cool, but unusual name! Tell us about it.
JC: Actually, Cimboco is the name of the first locally built, motorized sailing ship in Cayman. Her launching in May, 1927 was a great day in the history of the Cayman Islands. For twenty years, she was Cayman’s connection to the world, introducing regular travel, shipping, and parcel post, and providing the first reliable supply of staple and exotic foods, such as 
flour, sugar, fruit, and even ice! Miss Annie Huldah Bodden, of the Cayman Islands Motor Boat Company said, “Cimboco was the Islands’ Life Line” in exciting and changing times. Along with brave captains and crew, the credit for the ship’s success belongs to master shipbuilder Capt. Rayal Brazley Bodden and Dr. Roy McTaggart, both legendary contributors in the history of Cayman. This restaurant celebrates one of their great achievements.
PP: What a great connection to the history of Cayman! Most people are not aware of that.
JC: Indeed, we do have prints on our walls of the original photographs, that tell the whole story.
PP: And now you have two locations. Tell us about that.
JC: Yes, we have recently opened a new location in the Savannah area. Catering to locals and tourists who are in the eastern districts. The restaurant is located in the Country Corner plaza.
PP: Yes, we recently stopped by there on our way east. You mentioned you also manage Chicken! Chicken!, a sister restaurant. They serve delicious chicken at an incredible value. Tell us more about it.
JC: That’s right. Chicken! Chicken! is close by, just a block or so up West Bay Road from us. And we have a 
second location in Savanah next to Cimboco there. Chicken! Chicken! has been an island favorite for many years. We serve fresh Caribbean wood roasted chicken, or jerk chicken by the piece, or whole chicken, or in sandwiches, wraps or salads. Plus all the various sides and drinks. A really great meal for a great value.
PP: What a great deal! Well, Jill we just love Cimboco. An outstanding variety of healthy, delicious food, a great staff, a fun environment, and all at fair prices.
JC: Thanks! I think Cimboco is a true mélange of what being Caribbean is about. It’s not one thing, it’s the mix where you can pop in and enjoy your English Breakfast, or your Ackee & Codfish, or even an Eggs Benedict, then swing back and have a Jerk Chicken Caesar for lunch, a Trini Roti Wrap or a Quesadilla, then bring the family in and share an Eggplant Pizza (my fav) a Risotto or Whole Fried Snapper Escovitch Style. We do have a wide selection of dishes such as freshly made pastas, pizzas, soups, salads and homemade desserts. Our pizza is baked in a traditional wood burning oven, we even have gluten free crust available. You’ll also find we do a curry Conch special that is totally delightful
It sure is. So come join us at Cimboco for wonderful, delicious and fun dining from the heart of Cayman, with “New World” flavours, “Old World” value, and a good time you can count on, time and again! Open Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 9 pm and Saturday and Sunday 7 am to 9 pm.
Cimboco
The Marquee Plaza
Lawrence Blvd, near West Bay Road
32 Hirst Road, Savannah, Bodden Town
Country Corner Plaza
(345) 947-2782