The Best of Grand Cayman

[Natasha]

I have tried to dive Cayman twice now. My third try will be in 6 days.
I'd love to know your favorite restaurants, and must do dives.

I have heard Reef Point is a good place to eat, and you can watch the sharks being feed at 6PM daily.

Also seems a place called David's at Morritts Tortuga Club has a Monday nigth BBQ beach dinner.

Any comment on these.. and anymore hints like these, will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! You guys are the best.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Food GC Style. There are many great eats. A rundown of a few of my favorites with a few random comments on each.

CHEAP SPOTS $ - I know more of these places :
The Jerk Chicken Man (roadside food stand in Bodden Town) - probably the single best cheap eats on the island. Tragically, ;-0 he was closed down in a recent sweep cracking down on unlicensed food vendors.

Durty Reid's - a real bar in Red Bay near the big Hurley's grocery (close to G'Town). The owner is quite a character. Serves up some mean vittles. They advertise, "If we're not up to your standards then please lower yours."

Driftwood Sports Bar (on the shore, near Rum Point) - great Sunday afternoon BBQ with food by Durty Reid's. Best pool table on this end of the island.

Chicken! Chicken! (Seven Mile Beach area) Superb wood roasted chicken with island style sides. So good that they exported the idea and opened a shop in California.

Fidel Murphy's The Irish Pub in 7MB. They put out the best free munchies for a happy hour buffett on Fridays. It's where to go to catch the latest rugby match.

Pirate's Den, aka PD's Another 7MB bar (anyone noticing a pattern here?) with a good menu and room to spread out. I like the steak sandwich. Internet Access here


REASONABLE $$ :
The Naked Fish at the Seaview Hotel (between Sunset House and downtown G'Town) Does a great lunch with some nice seafood and a variety of nibbles that will get your mouth watering. And there's a dive shop on site for an easy pre or post lunch dive.

Cafe Med on 7MB. I like this spot, though you're better off taking a table inside due to traffic noise. They do salsa dancing one night each week (Thursday?)

Bella Capri on 7MB. Good Italian fare on the few times I've been there.

Gateway of India on 7MB in the same building as Bella Capri serves authentic Indian fare. The place to soothe your palate with a bit of Vindaloo. Yumm!


BUDGET STRETCHERS $$$
The Lighthouse in Breakers east of Bodden Town. Choose a calm wind night and take a table out on the deck. An excellent menu, and you really can't choose a bad dish. They offer a more affordable lunch menu.

Cecil's at Kaibo Yacht Club in the Rum Point area. My favorite spot for a truly special night out. They serve a New Orleans inspired menu, putting a creole spin on many Caribbean dishes. Save the long drive from G'Town by taking a ferry from Safehaven on 7MB. Call for ferry schedule.

Casanova Fine Italian (though I went in tshirt and shorts) Has a romantic view of Hog Sty Bay and the rest of Georgetown Harbor. Have a nice wine selection.

******************

There are many others. David's at Morritt's is good. (Since I work at Morritt's, I eat luch at David's most days). The beach BBQ is good and the beach is a great place to hang out. I tend to go up to Driftwood for the Sunday BBQ rather than hang around work Monday night.

There are several places that "feed the tarpon" since feeding sharks has been outlawed in Cayman. Some still advertise shark feedings. Not exactly a huge thrill anyway.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

The best meal I had on Grand Cayman was Ristorante Pappagallo. Fairly expensive, but worth every dollar. The wine list is extensive and quite nice. The atmosphere is great and the service was impeccable. Drew recommended this to us and I can't wait to return.

Cafe Havana at the Westin has a great Sunday brunch. As I recall, it was fairly reasonable.

Lonestar cafe on 7MB has Tex-Mex and all you can eat Fajita Night on, I believe, Thursdays.

 

[detroit diver]

I'll second Casanova's. The food there was wonderful, and reasonably priced for the island.

If you don't mind spending some cash, Hemingway's at the Hyatt was excellent, but not cheap.

 

[TedJ]

I've been going to Grand Cayman for two weeks in March for the last ten years. I like the following restaurants:

1. Calypso Grill in Morgan's Harbor

2. La Brasserie - next to the Tourist Administration downtown

3. Chicken Chicken in the pink shopping center

4. PD's for buffalo shrimp in the blue shopping center

5. Cobalt Coast for lunch, a dive and a beer find the coupon in one of the many coupon books. It's a good deal. Take the zodiac water taxi out to the main wall for $5.00.

6. Indies Suites on Wednesday night BBQ done by Durty Reid.

7. The Naked Fish for lunch at the Seaview.

If you have any other questions send me an e-mail.

Dive with Ocean Frontiers on the East End.

Ted

 

[bridgenet]

Hi Natasha,

Can't wait!!! Be there 3 days ahead of you . Kim and I ate at Casanova's last year, ask for a window table, great romantic spot for you and David. We loved it!

Now for a moment after diving, it is Lonestar. We can walk to it from our hotel. It is the walking back that gets interesting .

Best drinks/lunch... Kim will be jealous.

Ristorante Pappagallo's sounds nice. Found this link to some of the restaurants talked about:

http://www.caymanrestaurants.com/

See you there!

Kev

 

[caymaniac]

One of my favorites is "The Crow's Nest" , the last four times I've had mahimahi cayman style,mmmmmmmmmmm!!

Dive Safe,
Eat Good,
Caymaniac

P.S. Great spot to watch the sundown from.

 

[mapman]

I have to agree with Drew on Chicken Chicken, we ate lunch there almost everyday. The Naked Fish was excellent and is next door to a quaint dive motel The Seaview. Bob Sotos has a shop there and some really good shorediving can be found there. Also, when we were there the bars put on a heavy spread of finger food on either Tuesday or Wednesday night (supposedly a regular event) that was supper one night. Food wasn`t cheap there but you can find some inexpensive places to eat. Buy your divemaster a beer, they know some things and sometimes they share. Have a blast, the diving is great and the people are freindly.

 

[bridgenet]

Where abouts is Chicken Chicken? I leave for the Cayman's tomorrow afternoon, would like to give it a try. I know the center of Georgetown and the SMB hotel strip a bit... Staying at Marriott and diving with Dive Tech.

Thanks,

Kev

 

[caymancase]

Chicken Chicken is almost directly across the street from the Marriott. Definitely within walking distance. Take a left out of the Marriott parking lot and look for the pink plaza on the right. Same plaza as Divers Supply.
Don't forget the Tree House... a nice out door restaurant near downtown. Good food and not outrageous prices. Tarpon feeding at 8 PM, I think..
See you soon, Natasha! I'll give you a holler while you're on island Casey