Forty years ago, the author of a History of the Cayman Islands devoted all of three paragraphs to the Tourism industry. But he proved to be prophetic when he commented: “Far away from Seven Mile Beach, the Tortuga Club and Rum Point Club maintain their distinctive style of hospitality.”
Rum Point Club Restaurant does indeed have a distinctive style of hospitality, with The Wreck Bar and Grill serving lunches at picnic tables on the beach until 5pm and the casually elegant indoor dining area opening from 5pm to 10pm.
The restaurant and grill share the same stretch of sand on the northeast shore of North Sound.
Visitors to Rum Point know it takes a little while to get there, whether by road or water, so once they arrive they like to stay a while. That relaxed atmosphere, combined with sea breezes and the sound of the reef, help define the Rum Point experience.
For Taste of Cayman on 29 January, restaurant staff will recreate that experience by serving a treat from the early days - jerk pork on a bun. Of course, their more modern attraction – justly famous mudslides – will also be on offer.
Food and Beverage Manager Carol Boulton is especially looking forward to the Rum Infusion Dinner scheduled for 22 January. She says Executive Chef Stuart Mena was already perfecting his menu before Christmas, with each course either cooked with rum or infused with rum. She noted there will also be the appropriate rum libations.
For the occasion, guests from the west side of the Island will have the option of travelling to and from Rum Point across the Sound via a FREE ferry service from Safehaven Dock.
That same service is available Wednesdays through Saturdays. Red Sail Sports uses a luxurious 65-foot catamaran for the trip, which is free to restaurant diners. The vessel departs Safehaven at 6pm and returns at 10.30pm. Reservations for the catamaran service can be made by calling 526-2934 or 945-5965.
In fact, Carol recommends that people travelling by road call for reservations so that they are not disappointed if the number of guests arriving by water is unusually large. The restaurant number is 947-9412.
The Rum Point Club Restaurant is open 5pm to 10pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Staff members are happy to cater for special occasions every day of the week. “We’ve had all kinds of events at the restaurant and on the beach, including weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations,” Carol says.
The restaurant comfortably accommodates up to 90 diners at a time. For private functions, banquet service is available for up to 100 people, while buffet style suits up to 120.
Reading the Rum Point Club Restaurant dinner menu is an exercise in anticipation. Especially helpful is the Kids Menu, which means that families don’t have to wonder whether there will be something to suit their children’s tastes.
As for adult tastes - well, that’s another story. From appetisers to entrees, there must be something for virtually any palate. Starting choices include soup, several salads, a chef’s ceviche creation, scallops, crab cakes and steamed mussels.
The entrees are almost evenly balanced between land and sea. Some of the dishes combine the comforting familiar with the adventurously exotic - who wouldn’t be intrigued by guava rubbed pork tenderloin served with sweet potato hash and smoked chipotle pepper jus?
Then there’s Sea Food Hot Pot, combining lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams with shitake mushrooms in an aromatic coconut broth with steamed rice.
The menu is just one reason why Carol feels fortunate to be working at a job she loves. There are others. “The Rum Point Club is a great place with great staff and I just want everybody who comes here to enjoy it,” she says.