J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe, 987 S Packinghouse Road, Sarasota, 941-371-9358

Having lived and dined in Sarasota for the better part of 20 years, I relish the opportunity to try new restaurants. Sometimes the new restaurant is merely new to me, which is always fun—it’s like discovering a secret door in your living room that you never knew was there. In the case of J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Café, that secret door leads to live music, authentic Cuban food and specials as affordable as they are tasty. J.R. is the Chef Owner and he’s the real deal. Trained at Johnson & Wales and raised in Miami and Sarasota by a family in the restaurant business, he is serious about food, but that’s about the only thing he takes seriously. J.R. has a booming laugh and he’s full of fun stories but he’s quick to point out that the enchilada sauce on my giant burrito is made from scratch as is ginger sauce on the Mahi Tacos and the exceptionally popular coleslaw. The atmosphere is casual and inclusive and the bands that frequent this local favorite are extremely talented. You have to know that J.R.’s is there in order to find it, and I, for one, am happy to finally be in the know. 

J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe, 987 S Packinghouse Road, Sarasota, 941-371-9358