Found -- a Florida Keys-like waterfront restaurant in Daytona Beach

November 2, 4:29 PMDaytona Beach Nightlife ExaminerDick Conklin

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Caribbean Jack's restaurant as seen from the water
Dick Conklin

After living in the Florida Keys for some 13 years, we still gravitate to waterside seafood restaurants with tiki bars, live music and long wooden docks. After landing in Daytona Beach, it didn't take us long to find one that fits the island lifestyle just right. It's called Caribbean Jack's, and while it isn't on the Atlantic, its location on the peaceful Halifax River reminds us of the tranquil waters around the Keys.

Sure enough, there's plenty of live music to complete the picture, from one-man solo guitar acts on weeknights to small bands of two or three musicians on weekend afternoons and evenings. Island music gets a lot of play here, as you'd expect, and we're willing to endure a few more Jimmy Buffett songs on the dock -- although after listening to several thousand of them in the Keys we had hoped for a reprieve! But that's OK, since after all, that's what people want to hear in a Caribbean setting.

We missed the popular Full Moon Parties that were thrown in the Keys each month, and Caribbean Jack's is the only spot we've found up here that has them. But in true "any excuse for a party" fashion, CJ's also features Ladies Night on Thursdays, NFL Ticket Sundays, and Shuttle Blastoff parties as well.

On our most recent visit, guitar man Chip Brock was entertaining the crowd, so we enjoyed dinner and entertainment at the tiki bar out back. A light breeze was blowing, the bartender and a group of regular locals were a friendly bunch, and Chip was rattling off some trivia questions about the songs he was playing. (We won a t-shirt!)

Oh yeah, the food. It's delicious and there is a nice variety of fish, cooking styles and sauces to choose from. Ahi tuna, Atlantic salmon, grouper, lobster, shrimp, crab cakes, tilipia, and of course the ubiquitous dolphin (called "mahi-mahi" up here to avoid confusion with the porpoise of the same name, a.k.a. "Flipper") were on the menu, served fried, grilled or blackened, with remoulade, creole, cajun, lobster cream, garlic wine or roasted red pepper sauce.

The next time you are in the mood for some "Keysy" food and music, there's no need to drive hundreds of miles south to find it. Just drop by Caribbean Jacks -- easily found at 721 Ballough Road, just off North Beach Street on Daytona Beach (on the mainland side of the river). On the Web, caribbeanjacks.com. Or call (386) 523-3000.