Old Packinghouse Cafe - Sarasota

The Packinghouse is a great “old Florida” restaurant and music venue. It is the place where we are all welcome. We discovered it about twelve years ago. It is the kind of place where you can go on the date night, have a really great meal, a few beers, listen to some really great music and get the door for under $50 dollars. Your menu has a wide range of elements that I am sure to please any pallet. Besides, they have one of the best burgers if not the best on the sun bench.

We did a quick internet search for a good Cuban sandwich in Sarasota and came across this place. When we arrived, the neighborhood seemed a bit run-down, and the restaurant had a rough exterior, but I decided we had to give it a try. I went in first for a quick look, and it felt just like a classic local dive bar. I waved my family in—my two kids in tow—and the owner, J.R., seemed a bit skeptical of me sitting alone at a table meant for six while wearing my Detroit Tigers shirt! Once everyone was seated, J.R. came over and joked about how nice I was to let some strangers join me at my table. It was all in good fun! The staff and other customers made us feel right at home. Our waitress, Heidi from Toledo, was fantastic—very personable and accommodating to our kids’ needs. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were generous for the price! My wife and I really enjoyed the Cuban sandwiches. Our plates were clean (as noted by Heidi), and we left feeling satisfied. I highly recommend this local gem and hope to return in the future! Great job, J.R. and Heidi! Greetings from your holiday guests from Detroit!

The Packinghouse is one of the rare old Florida gems that still exists. I really enjoy the vintage decor, the live music, and most importantly, the food, which is consistently excellent. It's just a fantastic, fun place to be!

Best black catfish and black beans and rice. Beer was cold and music was good too!

This was our first time dining here since it reopened. On Friday evening, the restaurant was bustling with every table occupied. The Florida Mountain Men were playing fantastic music, and there was a generous amount of delicious food. We had a wonderful evening!