With a name like Caribbean Joe’s Café, it’s hard not to expect an immersive island experience. Fortunately, that’s exactly what I am greeted with when I walk through the door.
The first thing I see is color. The café is full of bright blues, yellows, greens and wood accents. There are “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” decals and palm trees painted on the walls. The addition of small metal overhangs are a nice touch, giving the restaurant an island shack kind of feel.
It’s a common theory that brighter colors can put you in a happier mood, and for the first time, I believe it. The combo of colors, cheerful staffers and Bob Marley music playing instantly transport me to an imaginary Caribbean getaway.
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Caribbean Joe’s can be described in one word: light. It applies to the color palette, the atmosphere and most importantly, the food. The menu has several salad options in addition to sandwiches and po-boys from sister restaurant Rocco’s New Orleans Style Po-boys. I ordered the grilled chicken slim sandwich with fries on the side and a fountain lemonade. Plantains, cheese fries and chips are also offered as sides.
The fries were thick-cut, cooked to perfection and free of excess grease and salt. The sandwich followed suit, with no excess grease or fat on the chicken—living up to its “slim” name. The meal was tasty and light—and well-sized, unlike the extreme portions some restaurants tend to dish out.
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Before leaving, I decide to grab a slice of tres leches cake, a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk, after a staffer tells me it’s his Puerto Rican grandmother’s famous recipe. After the first bite, I wanted to personally thank her. The cake was thick and topped with airy, mildly sweet whipped cream. It was moist, creamy and light as a feather.
Even after dessert, I didn’t feel overstuffed. I felt fulfilled. Despite being tucked away in the corner of an office building, Caribbean Joe’s presents a fantastic light lunch for those who want to soak in some island ambiance and have a satisfying meal without feeling it later.
Caribbean Joe’s Café is at 2900 Westfork Drive, Suite 130, and open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.