The Hungry Horse will still be with us!

[KathyV]

Grand Cayman markets itself as the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean" but you'd never guess that from their airport food venues, and that doesn't seem likely to change.

I don't know if they will have any competition, but the Hungry Horse (Island Taste) has been awarded concession spots in the newly remodeled airport, see below.

But I'm still planning to take the free shuttle to the George Town Yacht Club on GCM days!

Airport notifies bid winners of concessions contracts | Cayman Compass

Airport notifies bid winners of concessions contracts

By Brent Fuller -

June 3, 2018

Successful bidders for concessions facilities at Owen Roberts International Airport were notified Saturday via letters from the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, the Cayman Compass has learned.

The letters, dated June 2, requested that successful applicants – selling everything from souvenirs, to jewelry, to alcohol – enter into lease agreements with the authority in the next two weeks, if they wish to provide services at the revamped terminal at Grand Cayman’s airport.

The new airport departures terminal is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year…

…According to information provided to the Cayman Compass, the successful bidders included Tortuga Rum Company, Island Companies, Jacques Scott, Kirk Freeport and Island Taste (including the Hungry Horse restaurant).

It was understood those five companies received a collective total of 10 of the available concessions spaces at the new departures terminal…

...Ken Thompson, owner of Island Taste, said he was glad to know that Hungry Horse – serving airport users for more than 50 years – could continue to operate under the new lease arrangements...

 

[caydiver]

Actually if there are quite a few of us who have always loved their fish sandwich. Burgers and American fare are blah but that's pretty normal at any airport. There is never going to be enough clientele to put in a "proper" restaurant and with the shuttle to the GTYC who would want to? Most people here are very happy with the news

 

[Doctorfish]

Meh,
Lousy food high prices.

There would certainly be enough traffic through the GC airport to support a decent restaurant.

 

[KathyV]

Meh,
Lousy food high prices.

There would certainly be enough traffic through the GC airport to support a decent restaurant.

I've spent too much money and too many hours in the unappealing atmosphere of the Hungry Horse and would not be sorry to see it replaced by a better option.

But I heard my favorite HH story from a Cayman divemaster. She said that a guy brought his girlfriend to Cayman for vacation and he had a big, romantic plan to propose to her on the beach - in the moonlight under the starry sky, with the sound of the waves in the background. He bought a big, beautiful engagement ring for the event - but then he chickened out at the last minute and didn't propose.

They were in the airport preparing to leave the island (still not engaged) when the Cayman Airport Security found the ring among his possessions and had questions about where he had gotten it. He was trying to quietly explain without letting his girlfriend know what was going on - while she was getting more and more agitated about the delay and couldn't understand why they were questioning him. Luckily he found the receipt for the ring so they let him go, but then he had to explain what was going on to his girlfriend.

He wound up proposing to her in the sterile, unromantic atmosphere of the Hungry Horse in the departure lounge - but she said "yes"! I hope that they lived happily ever after and came back to Cayman for their Honeymoon or Anniversary!

So yeah, the Hungry Horse has seen a lot of life and history over the years, but I still wouldn't miss it if it were gone!

 

[caydiver]

"There would certainly be enough traffic through the GC airport to support a decent restaurant."

There is not that much traffic on weekdays.. Also there is very little traffic September/October/November until Thanksgiving. No one coming into stay in Grand Cayman is going to sit around and eat (they want to get to their condos/hotels). People going out unless their flight is delayed often have breakfast or lunch before they hit the airport. Residents are not going to use the restaurant and with the free shuttle to the GTYC and it being only minutes away, I wouldn't want to be the owner of the nice restaurant trying to pay the bills in the quiet times. If you haven't tried GTYC yet I definitely recommend it. We go with friends who have been visiting (and family) regularly after they check in. It is a lovely setting outside and for people travelling especially back to colder climates who don't want to sit out in the sun in "real" clothes baking before starting their journey, the inside is really nice as well and the bar area is a great spot to end a wonderful trip.

 

[KathyV]

"There would certainly be enough traffic through the GC airport to support a decent restaurant."

There is not that much traffic on weekdays.. Also there is very little traffic September/October/November until Thanksgiving. No one coming into stay in Grand Cayman is going to sit around and eat (they want to get to their condos/hotels). People going out unless their flight is delayed often have breakfast or lunch before they hit the airport. Residents are not going to use the restaurant and with the free shuttle to the GTYC and it being only minutes away, I wouldn't want to be the owner of the nice restaurant trying to pay the bills in the quiet times. If you haven't tried GTYC yet I definitely recommend it. We go with friends who have been visiting (and family) regularly after they check in. It is a lovely setting outside and for people travelling especially back to colder climates who don't want to sit out in the sun in "real" clothes baking before starting their journey, the inside is really nice as well and the bar area is a great spot to end a wonderful trip.

Well, there has certainly been enough business year round to support the Hungry Horse in two airport locations for ages. And I believe that the GTYC shuttle only runs on Saturday/Sunday - so the HH has a captive audience on weekdays.

I'm not talking about "high cuisine and fine dining" and I accept that airport prices will always be high because the venues have to pay big rent for their locations. I am just hoping for a nicer atmosphere and some better food options to make it a more pleasant end to a vacation or during interisland transport.

Everyone has their own tastes, but we are not all fans of the famous HH fish sandwich, and I do not find the rubbery hamburgers or grey hotdogs very appealing, either.

Oh well, let's hope that they will surprise us with a nicer décor and a better food offerings when they open in their new airport locations!

 

[Doctorfish]

Agree completely with KathyV. There were 418,403 air arrivals to the Cayman Islands in 2017.

That, to me, would be a pretty reasonable number of potential customers for a restaurant.

 

[KathyV]

Agree completely with KathyV. There were 418,403 air arrivals to the Cayman Islands in 2017.

That, to me, would be a pretty reasonable number of potential customers for a restaurant.

Amen to that!

 

[Damselfish]

I've had worse airport food than the HH, but they could do much better. If they did more people might eat there instead of looking for alternatives (particularly repeat visitors who have learned.)

 

[caydiver]

FYI the shuttle runs everyday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the present time. Depending on demand this might change.