The Old Jailhouse

The Old Jailhouse in Sanford, with friends Virginie and Sisi, and it was such a great experience! I was impressed by the unique atmosphere--the building itself has so much character, with its historic charm blending perfectly with a modern, laid-back vibe. The food was outstanding. I started with the Jailhouse Nachos, which were piled high with all the right toppings and had just the perfect amount of spice. For my main, I had the Shrimp and Grits, which was packed with flavor, and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. Everything was fresh, well-seasoned, and nicely plated .The drink selection was also impressive, with a great range of craft beers, cocktails, and wines to complement the meal. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, which really enhanced the experience.What really stood out was the overall vibe of the place--it had a great energy, with live music and delicious food. Whether you're there for a meal or just to grab a drink and relax, The Old Jailhouse is definitely a spot I'll return to.Highly recommend it for anyone in the Sanford area looking for great food, a fun scene, and a memorable time!

Cute pricey little unique resturant with many impressive tasty dishesCall for reservations Service was exceptional History is darkFood was very good

The Old Jailhouse is located in the heart of downtown Sanford, just steps away from the river, as well as other shops and restaurants. My boyfriend and I reserved a spot for 6pm and were seated right away. For starters, we had the pork belly as well as pretzels and beer cheese. Both were delicious! For entrees, we chose the chicken gnocchi (10/10 amazing) and the salmon, which was good but lacked in flavor. You can see in the photo that the sauce was minimum. I'm not sure I would order that dish again. But the chicken gnocchi was top notch. The interior of the restaurant was obviously amazing as it was converted from an old jailhouse. They did a great job of incorporating parts of the old jail house, as well as modern decor. Now, let's focus on the service. Our waitress Catina was very kind and great at her job. The food came fast. My only complaint about the service is that we were seated right next to the computer where servers put in orders. If I had scooted back, we would have been rubbing arms. This was awkward as it felt like every time we started talking, they were listening in, even though they weren't and were just doing their job. Tons of other seats were open during our time there so I'm unsure why we had to be seated there. Make sure to make a reservation as this is a busy place and local favorite.

Not what I expected. Really like the vibe. The fish and chips were excellent. The burger was okay. Our waitress was awesome although I missed hearing all of the specials. She was very attentive and made great drink recommendations. Will definitely go back!

Love the decor here. The hostess was a little short but our server was super friendly and helpful. We split the beet salad which was so good and light and flavorful. Got the chicken with beans base. It was so delicious. I can't resist a butternut squash and the one here is perfect. This is my third time here and the food is always a hit. Will be back for sure.

I visited the Old Jailhouse in August and have been itching to go back ever since! Unfortunately while looking at their menu to remember the names of the items we tried I found out they no longer have any vegetarian entrées on the menu, so I had to bump one star off the review for that. The mushroom gnocchi was phenomenal, so I can't believe it was removed!The star of the meal for us was the potato croquettes, which are stuffed with goat cheese and truffle aioli. As long as those are still on the menu, I'll probably come back and grab a seat at the bar just to have them again! The creme brulee was also great, as were the drinks. The only thing that I probably wouldn't get again were the mashed potatoes. There was nothing wrong with them, but everything else was so packed with flavor that they faded to the background.When we visited, we sat at a table out front of the restaurant (on the sidewalk) because we had our dog with us. The staff was very friendly and attentive despite us sitting out front (sometimes I find "out of sight, out of mind" to be too true). When I went inside to use the restroom, I thought the ambience inside was great, and the place was packed -- shocking because I barely saw anyone coming or going! If we go back, we'll definitely leave the pup at home to sit inside. I just hope they add at least one yummy vegetarian option to the menu so we can have a full dinner again!

Second time here forgot to write a review on the first visit. This was an actual Jail back in the day, they kept thy concept in the decor, from what I remember some of the structure is still the same. Their Cocktails are delicious, I've tried the Old Fashioned and the one in my photos, the waitress recommended it, it's on the sweet side so be warned. The Pork Belly Appetizer is really good, Crispy and tender at the same time, the slaw gives a little kick.The Gnocci and Chicken is really good, my friend and I shared it and was just enough, lots of flavor, great choice.

A very nice restaurant with an interesting menu and very attentive wait staff. We enjoyed all of our dishes- except the Steak Mac. The steak was overcooked and tough, it was way over sauced and extremely salty. The Focaccia was delicious. We would definitely return. Be sure to make reservations. On the night we visited it was very busy.

We made reservations, last time we couldn't get in because we didn't have one. We had a group of 6 and got our own cell back towards the bathroom. The whole vibe is amazing. The food was all so delicious. Croquettes and orzo were fabulous. Our server was perfect. This was a special night and was a perfect experience. I can't wait to go back.

Attended a large family function at the Old Jailhouse tonight and I was blown away by the overall experience. I'm not usually one to leave reviews but must give credit where credit is due. Ryan, Kyle & Kat did a great job with our group & deserve all of the recognition. Food was excellent and restaurant ambience is superb. Thanks for a great night and a great experience. Will return.