If you'd rather walk in than book ahead, Cafe Karibo at 27 North 3rd Street doesn't take reservations at all, and it explains why on its site: about 60 percent of the seating is outdoors, so capacity rises and falls with the weather. At peak times the host texts you when your table opens up, and you can wait over a drink at its sister business next door, Duck Pinz. The whole party has to be there before you can request a table.
The menu is eclectic in the plain sense of the word. At lunch and dinner you'll find the Karibo Burger, a house veggie burger the restaurant calls famous, a blackened grouper sandwich with tropical fruit salsa, spicy Thai noodles, and duck carnitas tacos. Larger plates include shrimp and grits with bacon and onion gravy, chili prawns over coconut basmati rice, lomo saltado, and bourbon-glazed ribs. Desserts are made from scratch daily, among them a strawberry layer cake from a family recipe and a ginger snap key lime pie.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, when a brunch menu runs alongside lunch. Happy hour is Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Groups of up to 20 can be split across tables, larger groups need to email the general manager at least a week ahead, and an upstairs event space hosts private parties of 25 or more.
Timoti's Seafood Shak is a few doors down the block, and Arte Pizza is a block farther north on 3rd. For a rehearsal dinner upstairs, booking support can handle the back-and-forth with the events team.