Spanglish brings Latin flavours to Cayman

The Caymanian Times continues its series looking at local businesses and finding out what makes them tick. This time we speak with Roger Espinal, owner of the popular Spanglish Bar & Grill.

Spanglish is a Mexican Latin cuisine restaurant with a vibrant decor and a fantastic atmosphere buzzing with energy.  It is a great spot for family and friends to visit, and has become an ideal venue for celebrating the likes of Cinco de Mayo, Honduras Independence Day and Día de los Muertos, just to mention a few. They also provide for corporate events, lunch and dinner special events.  The restaurant is own by local entrepreneurs husband and wife Roger Espinal and loany Ulloa.

Roger Espinal is no stranger to the restaurant business, having been a partner with his mother in the George Town restaurant called Latin Taste for the past 19 years. In addition, his wife has had an event and decoration shop, Party Mania, for the past seven years, so the couple know a thing or two about design and decor.

Roger said the authenticity of Mexican flavours drew him into establishing his Mexican-themed restaurant, Spanglish.

“Their people, their culture, each night in a Mexican restaurant is a fiesta.  Plus, my wife really loves Mexican food,” he confirmed.

The restaurant evolved through team work.

“My wife took care of all the restaurant decorations. The menu was inspired by our Chef Allan with inputs by me and my wife,” he said.

Roger is enthusiastic about the cuisine his restaurant produces and is delighted he has been able to appeal to both locals and visitors alike.

“The food, the margaritas, are carefully created with gastronomy, passion and love,” he said. “The decor takes you to a restaurant somewhere in Mexico. The ambience makes you feel you are on vacation. The tourists love to eat where locals eat and we can proudly say we have that.”

With authenticity a key reason for visiting Spanglish, Roger said people ought to try his establishment because they can take their diners to Mexico without boarding a plane.

Cayman is a small destination that is big on restaurants, so inevitably there are obstacles to success within the industry; however, Roger displays a positive attitude.

“There are many challenges but with good vibes and a positive staff crew we can manage it all. There is a slow season but we love our locals. They keep us afloat,” he confirmed.

Roger said there had been many obstacles along the way to creating his dream restaurant but these have been overcome.

“Learn from your past mistakes,” he advised. “And make sure you hire the right personnel to be a solid team in all areas of the service.”

With the success of Spanglish, Roger is considering expansion.

“We love new challenges and we wish to grow more in the restaurant business,” he stated.