Caymanian dishes have many of the same ingredients you'll find throughout the Caribbean, except one dish—turtle stew. Supplied to local restaurants by the Turtle Farm, turtle stew is a local delicacy.
Delicious, fresh seafood is always available. Try a serving of lobster or fish complemented by breadfruit, yams, cassava, rice and peas, and other West Indian side dishes. Conch, also a local favorite, is served marinated, stewed or frittered. Finish your meal with a slice of rum cake or of one of the island's local heavy cakes, made from yam, pumpkin or cassava. Most restaurants serve imported wine and champagne, as well as beer. Stingray Beer is the only beer brewed locally. Do try a cocktail made with one of the many Cayman Islands Tortuga Rum flavors.
Your dining options depend on where you are in the Cayman Islands. Be prepared for a limited selection of restaurants on the two smaller islands. On Cayman Brac, Captain's Table is the best on the island, featuring a diverse menu ranging from pastas and salads to steaks and hamburgers. There's also a fun bar outside to hang out at before or after dinner. Just down the road are the two main hotels on the island, Divi Tiara Beach and Brac Reef. These also have outdoor bars and are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Five minutes away is Aunt Sha's restaurant, where the menu of local dishes changes daily. On the north side, check out La Esperanza restaurant in the Watering Place district for local dishes and jerk chicken in the evening. On Little Cayman, the hotel eateries and The Hungry Iguana by the airport are the only choices in town, serving informal buffet-style meals featuring North American and theme-night food.
But Grand Cayman—the tourism center—is one of the best places to eat in the Caribbean. The restaurants and snack bars offer everything from elegant fine dining to fast food, so there's something for every budget. You can also reduce your food expenditures by cooking for yourself if you're staying in a condominium. Grocery stores are all well-stocked, and you can always buy fresh fish from local anglers at the waterfront in George Town or in the groceries' fresh seafood sections.
