Congaree & Penn has quietly pulled back the curtain on The Roost, a new covered outdoor dining space tucked into its working farm just outside Jacksonville. The al-fresco setup began serving in mid-June while the farm's signature quonset hut undergoes a major renovation, keeping the dining program humming with seasonal lunches and dinners alongside the existing food truck and farm store.
As reported by the Jacksonville Business Journal, The Roost will handle farm lunches and dinners by reservation, while the property continues to operate its food truck and farm store stocked with baked goods, fresh eggs and local honey. The outlet notes that the renovation of the quonset hut prompted the team to shift more regular service to the new covered patio, a move that lets the farm keep its dining and event calendar intact while construction is underway.
Menu, Reservations And Hours
According to Congaree & Penn's website, The Roost serves an all-day menu built around ingredients from the farm and nearby purveyors, with current offerings that include pimento cheese, farmhouse frites, little-neck clams and a farmhouse burger. The site lists an Opening Day of Friday, June 19, and notes that lunch and dinner reservations are available on Resy on a 30-day rolling basis. Walk-in bar seating is first-come, first-served, and the venue is fully covered so guests stay protected from the elements even when Florida weather does its thing.
A Working Farm's Next Chapter
Congaree & Penn has built a reputation as a 12-mile-out farm-to-table destination with orchards, animals, a cidery and events that pull diners out of the city, according to The Infatuation. That sprawling setup helps explain why the operators are leaning into expanded outdoor dining while the quonset hut is under construction. With so much activity already happening outside, shifting more service to The Roost lets guests keep the full on-site farm experience without skipping a season. For Jacksonville diners, the new space adds one more excuse for day trips and special-occasion meals beyond downtown.
Events And Private Bookings
The Roost also pulls double duty as a private event venue with seating for roughly 80 and standing room for about 100, and Congaree & Penn lists add-on options like wagon rides and overnight stays for groups that want the full farm treatment. The farm notes that food and beverages will continue to be provided by its culinary team while the hut renovation is in progress. For now, reservations remain the safest bet for snagging a table or locking in the space for a farm dinner.
