Top 2020 Fine Dining Experiences
Each year I have the privilege of collecting feedback from passengers who fly to Cayman several times a year. As the flight attendant who brings them to the Island every Monday, Wednesday and Friday out of Atlanta, I’m able to get first-hand information by asking hundreds of folks which restaurant gave them the best meal and service. I secure this information from conversations, emails, slips of paper, messages through FaceBook and Instagram. When I get 7 excellent reviews from various folks that restaurant becomes a Passenger Pick. The result is this 2020 top fine dining list from their feedback. Bon Appétit!
EAST END:
Talk about a top Cayman restaurant–Tukka will not disappoint! Famous both for a fabulous Sunday Brunch and for a chance to feed Magnificent Frigates, this restaurant truly is a destination for the whole family. Chef Ron Hargrave has designed a mouthwatering menu, combining the freshest local seafood with an authentic Australian flair to create an amazing dining experience. Many passengers love his Walkabout Wednesday, an Australian themed 4-course dinner. Be really good to yourself and order Chef Ron’s famous Date & Walnut Pudding, served with warm butterscotch sauce & ice cream. Tukka is a Cayman Must! Please read more!
GEORGE TOWN:
Casanova Restaurant is a top choice among passengers who delight in the warm family atmosphere of this beachside Italian restaurant. Indoors they feel as if they have walked into an Italian piazza complete with charming Italian phrases painted on the walls. Tables outside give guests the chance to relax while watching the waves cascade over boulders. The menu of traditional pasta dishes will have you humming all the Italian songs you have ever heard! One passenger always opts for the Salmone alla scoglio—a delicious sauce goes with this dish! Visit Casanova Restaurant, and not only will you enjoy a fabulous meal, but you will gain a family!
Passengers love the lobster dishes at Lobster Pot Restaurant and Wine Bar, a longtime favorite Cayman restaurant with beautiful views of George Town Harbour. This casually elegant dining establishment offers fresh seafood and steaks along with tasty vegetarian options. Not only is the food fantastic, but the scenery will entice you to relax with a glass of wine or a cocktail as you choose a dessert for a sweet ending to your time at Lobster Pot. If Lobster Burger interests you, be there at lunch on Friday since that is the only day for the Lobster Burger! Of special note is that several of the menu items are specifically marked as gluten-free. You can read their story!
7 Mile:
One look at either the lunch or dinner menu at Agua Restaurant and Lounge, and you will understand why my passengers routinely select it as a favorite Cayman restaurant! The made-in-house semolina pasta honors the Italian cooking tradition of using the best and freshest ingredients to prepare food. Several Peruvian dishes provide guests with an opportunity to enjoy that delicious cuisine. And wild-caught seafood is always perfectly prepared in a variety of ways. A unique Sunday experience is their new “Pranzo della Nonna”—or Grandma’s Lunch, a family-style lunch that is better than any family lunch you can imagine! You can make any day or evening a celebration by dining at Agua Restaurant and Lounge in Camana Bay. Read more of their story!
Dining at Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar will make you think you’ve been magically transported from this top Grand Cayman restaurant to a fantastic local kitchen in Mexico! Sometimes at the beach, you just need to relax with guacamole and Mexican street corn, signature tacos, burritos, churros, and tequila drinks galore! All team members at Casa 43 Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar work together to provide an experience greatly appreciated by guests. They don’t take reservations, so allow time to wait, but the time will be worth it! And how about some really great news?!? Casa 43 now has a food truck at Caybrew, the Cayman Islands Brewery! Read more about the background of Casa 43!
Steak-loving passengers highly recommend Copper Falls Steakhouse. Vegetarians can eat well here, too, with a few entrée choices as well as a variety of vegetable sides. Some steak connoisseurs tell me that Copper Falls’ steaks are the best they have eaten! Each entrée includes your choice from a selection of “adult beverages”, vegetable, starch, and steak sauce—a fine dining menu that is a great value! If you enjoy hand-cut steaks that have been aged 28 days, then you must add Copper Falls Steakhouse to your itinerary! Here is more of their story!
Established in 1985 Edoardo’s has a history of focusing on fine Italian cuisine and continues to delight passengers with homemade pasta specialties, excellent wine choices, and delectable desserts. Edoardo’s is a top restaurant that obviously understands the saying, “Presentation is everything.” The food is simply beautiful! How wonderful for guests that the food is also amazingly delicious and service is impeccable! An added treat is Barolo Lounge, an outdoor patio where drinks can be enjoyed before or after your meal. Passengers love the atmosphere of both the restaurant and the lounge, a fact which causes many return trips to Edoardo’s!
Fidel Murphy’s Public House, long a favorite of passengers, has all-day breakfast options, pub classics such as Irish Stew, sandwiches, and much more! Blackened Fish Tacos rate high with many visitors. Also recommended is The Breakfast Bap, an Irish breakfast sandwich of bacon, fried egg, sausage, lettuce, tomato, and avocado—served with Breakfast Potatoes! Wow! The Monday Burger Special has fans lining up for a fabulous burger! Premier League fans can catch a match at Fidel Murphy’s. For a mini-vacation to Ireland, drop by for a brew and some stew! The Pub’s sister restaurant, The Kitchen, appeals to passengers who enjoy a great charcuterie board and a variety of meat options such as Veal Osso Buco or Certified Angus Beef Steaks aged at least 45 days. Fidel Murphy’s Irish Village restaurants make it easy to eat well with a great variety! For more details. . .
If I ask about a great Sunday brunch, passengers say, “LUCA!” Located at Caribbean Club, Luca comes to us by the same successful team that gave us Ragazzi. Sunday brunch is only the beginning of a range of menus showcasing contemporary Italian cuisine. Made-in-house fresh pasta, seafood, and meats are samples of items on Luca’s extensive menu whether you visit for lunch, appetizers, or dinner. Gluten-free options are readily available. Wine connoisseurs will appreciate the glass-encased wine cellar which holds thousands of bottles of wines and offers hundreds of varieties, some of which are available only at Luca. The view of the infinity pool and the beyond to the beach and the Caribbean Sea adds to your relaxing time in this beautiful environment.
For traditional, thin crust Italian pizza made in a true wood-burning brick oven, passengers choose Ragazzi! An Italian word used to communicate “good buddies”, Ragazzi is a natural location for family and friends to gather. Locals also enjoy the upbeat atmosphere and the consistently good food. Some passengers can’t imagine leaving the island without having a meal at Ragazzi! Because of its central location and its popularity, the conversation level can be a bit high at times, but that is what happens when “ragazzi” get together! So gather your friends and make a reservation at Ragazzi. Start off with Anitpasto Misto, and let the fun begin!
WEST BAY:
Passengers love Cracked Conch for many reasons! The views of the Caribbean Sea are stunning. Seating is available on the patio and indoors with a delightful breezy atmosphere when the shutters are opened wide! In addition, the Bubble Bar is an enjoyable spot for drinks as well as food. The lovely environment is a blend of casual and cosmopolitan. Of course, food is great, and conch holds a special place on the menu. But Short Rib Ravioli is worthy of a mention, too! Cracked Conch has its own oceanfront tiki bar, Macabuca, with a great menu. Monday nights are special at Macabuca with an all-you-can-eat Caribbean BBQ! But wait! There’s more! Also on site is Sun Divers, a dive shop offering diving and snorkeling gear for full enjoyment of the beautiful water. Passengers enjoy so much at Cracked Conch. It really is a great destination.
When passengers want a meal that includes the best local catch, they go to Catch Restaurant and Lounge in Morgan’s Harbor for a fabulous experience of dining either al fresco or inside. Always with a focus on fresh ingredients, a meal at Catch Restaurant and Lounge appeals to diners with its offerings of seafood, chicken, beef, sides—prepared by a talented team of chefs and served by an attentive staff. Choose one of the cocktails carefully described in an attractive menu. Wander to the bar and watch the mixologist create your cocktail! Then head back to your table to enjoy your meal and the view. Read more about their story!
Ristorante Pappagallo appeals to passengers who enjoy outstanding Italian cuisine with a Caribbean flair. This charming, exotic restaurant provides more than food—it gives its guest a delightful experience of dining in the midst of nature. Crossing the wooden bridge, guests enter a relaxed and simple environment. Thatched ceilings complete with large woven fans add to the ambiance. In keeping with the Italian word “pappagallo”, beautiful parrots in cages entertain children and adults in this top restaurant located on a bird sanctuary. Meals can be enjoyed indoors our outside, and a bar is available for wine, cocktails, and tropical beverages. Guests appreciate the consistently positive service from the entire team at Ristorante Pappagallo. With fabulous food and an outstanding environment, Ristorante Pappagallo is ready to delight all of your senses!