Talk about an Old Florida ambiance. JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe is best described as a dive, but a very nice one. The building, where they once packed locally grown celery, is part of the charm. In comparison, it makes all those shabby sheek Cracker Barrels look like so many Taj Mahals. It is far more rustic than the once extremely popular Pappy's and Jimmy's in Memphis, Tennessee, a period mansion with large strips of peeling wallpaper hanging down. The restaurant is in an old packinghouse that hasn't been updated in decades. The walls are rough hewn wood and the floor boards probably ought to be ripped up. The dining area is somewhat cramped and poorly lit. However, it wouldn't be allowed to exist if it didn't meet the city's cleanliness code. Stopping off at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe is a memorable experience with food that will lure you back for more. There is live acoustic folk, blues and bluegrass music six nights a week — Monday through Saturday. The talented artists are local. Most repeat patrons rave about the shrimp and clam chowder and the bread pudding and key lime pie and cold beer. Their clientele can best be described as an eclectic collection of locals, snowbirds, and bikers. As one patron said, "you'll never find another place quite like this anywhere." It earns a four star rating and is a place visitors dare not miss if they want to brag to friends back home about their unusual Sarasota experiences.
