Tillie’s is one of the only places in the popular 7-Mile Beach area where you can dine on the beach. Serving up an array of predominantly fresh seafood, Tillies has a reputation for great drinks and food. Was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
A beautiful light lunch looking out into the Caribbean on a bright day
Casual drinks with friends; day, night or to see the sunset
Intimate candlelight dinners
Ambience & Décor
Set in a very “colonial era” looking, white, multi-storey hotel called Palm Heights, Tillie’s is set in the heart of the social hub of 7-Mile Beach and has the Caribbean Sea right on its backdoor. The light-coloured white-and-cream décor matches the historical 1920’s theme – right down to the waiters wearing tan-coloured trousers and waistcoats, with white shirts and bowties. I loved the look as this was what I imagined posh hotels in the Caribbean would look like. The demure ambience was appropriate for such as place frequented by affluent hotel guests and cultured locals. The only time it was livelier is during Sunday brunch, when the crowd was younger.
Service
The service can be hit and miss here. I come here enough that I get served well but my other friends have complained over the lack of service and the proficiency of service. This was a let-down to the classy vibe Tillie’s is going for.
Food
I have had variable brunch experiences at Tillie’s where the food has ranged from amazing (beef wellington and French Toast) to awful (lobster mac & cheese). However, for sit down dinner, the a la carte menu was delightful, albeit pricey. The Burger and Lobster night at Tillie’s on a Thursday is the one. Succulent, juicy, and delicious Tillies Prime Steak Burger (prime steak blend, cheese, secret sauce, caramelized onions, pickles) accompanied with perfectly-cooked lobster tails (see below) and accompaniments of Cajun fries that are so flavourful they made my mouth sing, and a Caesar salad that was not an afterthought – also yummy.
I love Baked Alaska and the Tillie’s iteration was heavenly (see below) – It was the abundance of the passionfruit curd and Caribbean twist of a rum flambé that made it special. Other notable delights on the dinner menu include the Chicken Liver Mousse and Mushrooms Fondue. They say the best things in life are free, and the complimentary bread at the start of each dinner was to die for – hands down the best bread on island. I am keen to try their forte of seafood dishes and their authentic take on the Caribbean goat curry, but this means I always have reasons to come back. I would love to give Tillie’s an A+, with the food and the views alone, but the variable service and the expensive prices does mean it is a solid A rating.
Photos of Tillie's and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A
Final comment: There are few better all-round places in Cayman than Tillie’s
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