Cracker Barrel

We ate at Cracker Barrel tonight. We had not eaten there in a while. Now I remember why. It was not very good. I had the sampler. Chicken and dumplings- doughy and very bland, Meatloaf- cold, Country ham- good but a very small portion. Corn bread was good. I had 3 sides. Hashbrown casserole was ok, Fried apples were good, greens were by far the best part of the meal. The service was good. We got the food very quickly. Maybe too quick. I won't go back anytime soon. It must be popular because it was very busy.

I like Cracker Barrel, actually. Sure, it's a chain, but there are plenty of times when I've been driving, wanting something to eat and having the choice of Cracker Barrel or McDonald's/Burger King/Wendy's etc. I'd much rather eat at Cracker Barrel than the typical fast food restaurant, quite honestly. I think their chicken fried chicken is delicious.

When I go to Cracker Barrel, I always get breakfast food no matter what time of day. I've tried their lunch and dinner menu and wasn't impressed at all, but they always do breakfast stuff well.

I know Cracker Barrel isn't really good, but in the Northeast it's pretty much the only place to get greens or anything resembling lots of Southern dishes such as CFS, catfish, country ham, etc. It is reasonable and decent and different from the Ruby Tuesday/Applebees/Fridays etc. that would be alternatives. I just wish they'd serve blackeyed peas, although I do like the pintos.

Also those I've been to are near outlet malls. My Mom loves the fried apples, but she really loves outlet malls.

quote:

Originally posted by roadrash

I like Cracker Barrel, actually. Sure, it's a chain, but there are plenty of times when I've been driving, wanting something to eat and having the choice of Cracker Barrel or McDonald's/Burger King/Wendy's etc. I'd much rather eat at Cracker Barrel than the typical fast food restaurant, quite honestly. I think their chicken fried chicken is delicious.

I agree. We usually stop at Cracker Barrel when we're driving on the interstate to a vacation destination and simply want to get from point A to point B. It's right there off the exit and is convenient and better than the fast food joints that are clustered there with it. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but it does come in handy.

Andrea

I'm not a big fan of Cracker Barrel, but I agree with others that it is an easy stop when traveling. My kids LOVE the place, and I appreciate that we can all get some sort of mildly satisfying mediocre glop to tide us over until the next stop. The service has always been outstanding, and the kids like the little peg games and puzzles that they have on the tables. I guess I'm saying that the chain serves a purpose. I'd never go there for a nice meal out, but it's a good pitstop on the road if there's nothing better around. How's that for faint praise?!

I would love to know the political stuff as well!

All that and the foods not very good.

We have always called them the Crapper Barrel.

They must be doing something right, the one's I go past usually have people lined up waiting to get in. Notice I said go past, I was in one ten years ago.

John

Hello All,
When I lived in Tuscaloosa, Al., we'd travel back to Virginia for summer break and at Christmas. We always
stopped over for the night in Sweetwater, Tn. (love that place). Next to the hotel where we stayed was a
Cracker Barrel. We tried it a few times and I hated it. They offered dishes like my momma made, but didn't taste like hers. Maybe I wasn't hungry enough.
I see them located along the interestates in the south, and they all seem busy. Fast Food Home-Cooking with little flavour. But perhaps not all places are same in taste and quality.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

quote:

Originally posted by MandalayVA

When I go to Cracker Barrel, I always get breakfast food no matter what time of day. I've tried their lunch and dinner menu and wasn't impressed at all, but they always do breakfast stuff well.

quote:

Originally posted by MandalayVA

When I go to Cracker Barrel, I always get breakfast food no matter what time of day. I've tried their lunch and dinner menu and wasn't impressed at all, but they always do breakfast stuff well.

AGREED!

The loction in Newport, TN is very good but the Ryan's just down the road is fantastic. I eat there once every six weeks and the manager knows me by name. They specially cook my steaks even though I order the buffet.

The Waffle House across the street is one of the best in the South. Ah choices, decisions and other things.

Well, I actually like it, but then again I'm only 18 and have never had a taste for quality food...but anyway it's better then some places. My mom and I usually go there after shopping or local festivals in Kansas City. It's either that or Red Lobster (cheese and herb biscuts are addictive). I've always had a good plate to eat there so I don't really complain...

I do get fustrated at the pegged game though...it's possessed I tell you!

In the Chicago area, you have to go to Gurnee, IL or Joliet, IL or even Elgin, IL for a Cracker Barrel location.

Any plans for Cracker Barrel to expand to Southern and Central California?

Well, my wife likes the beef stew there, and it's the only place within at least 120 miles where I can get a veggie plate of any sort-- and I am a sucker for old-style, overcooked southern veggies. Granted, the pinto beans are so tasteless that even Tabasco can't revive them, but their hash brown casserole (stretching the definition of "vegetable" existentially) is actually one of the better factory food products I've eaten lately.

quote:

Originally posted by BT

Why would you eat there? The only excuse I can think of is that there's literally no other place to eat. That or you either really like bad food (in which case, what are you doing on Roadfood?) or you want to support bigots.

I eat there because my wife and children like the place.

It is one of the few places where my kids like the vegetables.

I've certainly had better meals, but I do not find the food to be bad.

So there you go.

Can't speak for others in the chain, but the Alexandria, Louisiana restaurant has really gone downhill on both food and service. It can take as long as an hour to be seated and have your order taken (with no crowd or lines, and plenty of empty tables), the recipes have been changed (NOT for the better) on several items, and the selection has been cut to the bone on sides to things that hold better over time. We don't go there any more.

We tried one in Virginia on our way back from Williamsburg a few years back and it was okay. I enjoy looking at the merchandise in their "stores". I can't say the food was very memorable, but it wasn't a disaster.

We visited one in Plymouth Meeting, PA (near the turnpike) last year and we were not impressed with that location at all. I think it had recently opened and it showed. Service was slow and the food was barely lukewarm. That visit was a disaster. Love the rocking chairs, though!

quote:

Originally posted by MandalayVA

When I go to Cracker Barrel, I always get breakfast food no matter what time of day. I've tried their lunch and dinner menu and wasn't impressed at all, but they always do breakfast stuff well.

I couldn't agree more. I don't care for other meals but have had a pretty good breakfast there.
I don't like to frequent the place, because there are many other choices, but I also have to be fair to the other half of the decision making team.
Sometimes, you just got to suck it up.

My kids love Cracker Barrel and my son loves to type it into "points of interest" on our GPS and have us head to one when we're travelling. My wife and I don't mind because the kids love looking around, the food is ok(and Cheap),the breakfasts are good...and I love looking at the items of nostalgia in the dining room. Not a bad place when you're travelling!!!!

I love Cracker Barrel! I've never had a bad meal at any that I've been to. Their bisquits are the best!

I do appreciate the breakfast (especially Uncle Herchel's special) and the Beans & greens combo at Cracker Barrell.

We enjoy the breakfasts there, too. Lunch and dinner, not so much.

Cracker barrel is ok. I prefer just a diner, but when driving on highways with limited food it's not that bad of a stop to sit down and eat. I just hate how they have the store in the front of the restaurant bombarding you with all that stuff you don't need. It just feels like I'm walking through a dollar store to get to where I want to eat. Rainforest cafe has the same thing and that annoys me too. I just want to eat I don't want to buy all this other stuff

I've never been bombarded with anything and no one has ever forced me to buy anything. I walk in the door, go to the entrance to the dining room, and wait to be seated. I am amazed at how many people seem to have been forced to browse in the store area. Maybe I'm just lucky that I've never been chosen.

The point is being made that you have to walk through a maze of mostly tacky stuff in order to get to the hostess station.

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

The point is being made that you have to walk through a maze of mostly tacky stuff in order to get to the hostess station.

Thank you Greymo. I didn't articulate my point well enough, but you hit it dead on.

It's called The Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Old Country Store. If you're offended that they have a store in the front, so be it. They started out with this business concept and it's worked for them. I just don't get the acrimony.

No one is being harsh. Many people, when going out to eat, want to just go into a restaurant and have a hostess seat them. They do not wish to shop or weave in and out of aisles of merchandise. To each his own!