Caribbean Grill opens its restaurant at 2135 South Neil Street in Champaign at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30th.
I had the pleasure of stopping by for a media preview, and it’s beautiful. Though fast-casual dining, the dining room doesn’t feel cheap or as if an afterthought. The stunning centerpiece of the cozy space is the wall of reclaimed wood — it’s incredibly contemporary in design, eco-friendly, and absolutely gorgeous.
The menu will feature the staples of the food truck menu, plus daily specials (menu below). There are some new additions, especially for our vegan and vegetarian friends (check out the jerk portobello and the candied yams).
Owner Mike Harden and his team build the space from the ground up (it was just an empty room when he took over the space), and has clearly spent time considering each element of the restaurant and the menu; this care and attention does not go unnoticed by the diner (well, at least this diner).
The food truck will still be in operation, but is closed the week of May 29th to ensure an efficient launch of the storefront. The food truck will be up and running the first week of June.
There will be a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30th. The restaurant will open after the ceremony.
Here’s the info:
What: Caribbean Grill Restaurant
Where: 2135 South Neil Street, Champaign (near Biaggi’s and Le Peep and Natural Gourmet) There’s plenty of parking!
When: Opens Tuesday, May 30th. Regular hours Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Why: Because it’s delicious, duh.
Photos of the restaurant by Jessica Hammie and Patrick Earl Hammie. Photos of the food by Rebecca Wells.