JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe got it’s roots in 1999 serving great food to the locals with reasonable prices and soon a great following ensued. Then came the live music and there was no looking back.
Located in East Sarasota, JR’s Old Packinghouse has survived a major fire, an international pandemic and we owe it all to our family followers…the patrons who come back week after week for the coldest beer, full bar and best value in tasty burgers, scrumptious cuban food and informal gathering. You have our commitment to continue the timeless commitment to quality, outstanding service and a friendly atmosphere.
Quirky local haunt supplying American tavern grub & Cuban options, plus live music on a small stage.
Charles Burns
This is a great place to visit and it gives you a taste of old Florida. They have live music here and more than enough table service that makes sure that you have what you need.
The food was great even though I just tried the cheeseburger it was one of the best in town. It’s a great place to hang out and chit chat with friends. Definitely something to experience here in good old Sarasota
… moreBrian Berndt
So this place is different. Very small but wow, Service was great, all of the folks working were great. Seems like chaos but they work every thing out well. Owner or manager was super cool and even did a shot of Angel’s Envy with us when I said we were from KY. Cuban sandwich, burgers were top notch. Only regret was not getting onion rings instead of fries. The 999 island sauce was great as well!
… moreMatt F
The food was very good. There were four at our table and all of us enjoyed our meals. The Cuban sandwich was excellent! Nice menu and plenty of options. I forget our servers name, but she and all staff were very nice.
We went to see a band which was great, but it is pretty tight quarters inside. Had a great time!
… moreSarah Metcalf
Walking into JR’s Old Packhouse I half-expected a bar, but the place had much more to offer. We were greeted right away and told we could sit wherever we liked — there’s plenty of seating on the right side. We both ordered the Ropa Vieja with black beans and rice, and the food came out quickly and piping hot. The band Great Revival was playing live, which made the meal even more enjoyable. The whole spot felt friendly and relaxed; staff were attentive and other customers were welcoming, which made for a great evening. Highly recommend if you’re in the area — we’ll definitely be returning!
… moreSherry Albro (SherryLee)
5 stars on the food, in fairness to everyone this is my ‘go-to’ place for a real homemade style hamburger & fries.
I’ve personally not had anything else on their menu. I’ve heard the Cuban sandwich is a 5 also.
Everything I’ve seen come out of their lil kitchen has looked delicious. But 5 stars .. the staff always friendly, the owner always making his rounds, saying hi and helping the staff.
Atmosphere, eclectic is the first word that comes to mind, paper towels, not napkins.. remember it is what they call it; an Old Packing House made into a café! Enjoy your visit ans thanks for supporting small, locally owned businesses.
… morePaul Bruno
Small eclectic venue with genuine south Florida menu popular with locals. Generous portions and reasonable prices. Live music during the evenings.
… morePhil
Great lunch here today!
This is an old Florida kind of joint.
Food was very good. Way too big portions and pretty tasty! Could have used an increase it temperature but otherwise ok.
Beer was cold!
This is a great place.
… moreEdward Mathews
Had the Wings (buffalo says mild but it had a kick which I loved)
Thai spice is a great mild flavor for someone who wants something like honey BBQ with a new twist.
Service was attentive , quick, fun , and clean.
Onion rings are amazing and a HUGE serving size!
… moreKathy
Absolutely not the best burger in town as advertised. It’s a shame people hire Cooks that don’t know what doneness to cook a burger. Mine came out medium well when I asked for medium rare. Waitress she said yeah he doesn’t do so well on the burgers, our gal cooks em better. hmmmm ok. I thought I’d go for the recommendation of chips and salsa as a side dish with the burger and it was horrible. Chips were stale and the salsa was basically crushed tomatoes that had been sitting out in the open air for days. No seasoning whatsoever. Husband had the burger with BBQ pork on top, he was disappointed that he didn’t read the ingredients which was basically half of a piece of Cuban loaf. Way too much bread. Tried the wings too. However they were just barely cooked, almost chewy. The skin was like you had to pull it off. The music was great, although it was blaring. It’s a very hippie vibe. will not be back The food did not equal the high price.
… moreDominic Firrincieli
One of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. I was drawn to this place by their claim of the best burger in Sarasota and the other reviews on Google. I love a good burger and thankfully JR’s didn’t disappoint. I went with the Colossal burger including grilled mushrooms, onions and bacon. Absolutely delicious! The burger was big and the bun large enough to match with all of the ingredients. The 999 sauce was really good and not just some thousand island -1. The quality of the bacon on the burger was great and stood out. French fries and coleslaw were really good to match. The place definitely had a “joint” feel to it with live music and simple interior. If you’re a fan of diners, drive ins and dives this place could be a DDD. I just ordered pickup and the bartender was super friendly with the order ready when I arrived. No online ordering, car side to go, pick up cubby holes or anything fancy. Just old school call ahead they’ll have really good food ready! They claim to have a great cuban sandwich and I’ll definitely be back to try it. The parking lot is unpaved and a little bumpy. Don’t wash the car before coming.
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