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Cracker Barrel
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- None
7 reviews for Cracker Barrel
Country breakfasts are the reason we stop by this location and it is right off the 101. Pancakes are served with hot, HQ maple syrup in those little mini bottles - usually 2 of them, so if you're judicious in syrup use then you can take the spare bottle home! Eggs and hasbrowns are normally good, and their hash brown casserole is popular, but just not something I enjoy very much personally.
Laid back atmosphere here and I love the fact that most of the servers are more mature and advanced in years. I feel at home.
Geez, given all of the happy people out there, I actually feel bad about giving a low grade, but in the interest of an honest review I am gonna be, well, honest.
I do not like this place- I have been a million times (to a few of them), I have family who just love it- but I just cringe every time I hear I will have to go.
First off, I totally get why this place is so popular, it's cheap, the food is not totally toxic and it has this comfy, old timey feel... I hear.
That being said, I just feel like all of the food is totally cheap, not in the yay a deal way, but rather, everything tastes like cheap, low quality ingredients. I went out on a limb today and ordered the veggie skillet- semi healthy I am thinking, man was I wrong! The veggies weren't fresh at all and they were damn, damn greasy. The eggs were eggs, and then it looked like someone threw a bunch of cold grated cheddar on top... eww.
On to the service- I will say that I have had a (really) few good service experiences here, but they are pretty few and far between. For some reason, I always see people walking around with the coffee, but they do that whole avoid eye contact thing and I sit around without any coffee. The servers always seem like you are the table that is gonna push them over the edge because they are hanging on by a string.
For some reason, it just never feels like a nice experience, so I will continue subtly sending my message to family by making faces anytime I hear this place on the table for the meeting spot to eat.
In CA, Cracker Barrel was associated with a block of cheese at the grocer not a restaurant with country cooking. My first tummy luvin encounter with CB was in WI a few yrs ago. Imagine my delight when I spied one in Peoria right off the 101.
Went there for dinner and ordered the sampler, which featured a little bit of everything--chicken & dumplings, a small slice of meatloaf, and a thin piece of ham with 2 sides of your choice. While we waited, we entertained ourselves with the Peg Game to determine whether our college years taught us anything of value. It confirmed that any aspirations to be a professional math-lete or economist at RAND were hopeless.
The food was delicious and did not disappoint--the chicken & dumplings had white gravy and the ham complimented the greens I ordered. Unfortunately, the meatloaf seemed a little dry and bland, despite the tomato based sauce on top. As if we didn't have enough food, the meal was also served with cornbread and biscuits. The sampler was a great way to evaluate options without committing to a single entree.
After dinner, we socialized outside on the rocking chairs with our east side friends. I engaged in a checkers challenge on the oversized board and soon became painfully aware that the low table was forcing me to mimic the posture of the hunch back of notre dame. At that point, the quaint little rocking chairs lost their appeal as I strategized my victory.
Overall we had a pleasant time & definitely recommend CB when you're in the mood for comfort food in a family style restaurant.
While I actually find this place depressing, I give it 3 stars for 2 reasons. One, my parents LOVE to take me here when I'm hangin' with them in Sun City. Or as I call it, God's Waiting Room. Two, the best cheesy hash browns. Ever. In the world. While they serve all day and all meals, I've only had breakfast. Eggs, sausage, biscuit. All just fine. But it's the cheesy hash browns y'all. Mom loves the pancakes. And dad. "Best damn cup of coffee I ever had." Ok, pops. Better than Folgers. Really? And there's kitchy like crates and wicker baskets hanging all over the place. Yikes, who dusts that crap? Before you even step foot in the restaurant you are forced to navigate "the store". Oh Jesus Mary. The store. Full of like, Holly Hobbie meets John Deere stuff. Creepy weird.
But oh, the cheesy hash browns.
OK, I'm NOT usually fond of chains (In N Out Burger being the exception) but I have to hand it to this place - they have one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten. I got the "Uncle Herschel's Favorite" with poached eggs (steamed, really, which is even better), grits, biscuits and gravy, and a nicely spiced grilled catfish fillet which had a nice crispiness on the outside but was still moist on the inside. The gravy was too much for me to handle, but I'm sure it's still good if you like such things - and the rest was happily eaten. My daughter loved her pancake and turkey sausage patty.
The food prices are astonishingly reasonable too. Of course, then they get you in the "country store" on the way in and out. I couldn't resist getting some of the sticker books and this very cute dress for my daughter - but even there, the prices weren't bad.
Besides, this area is ALL chains. Might as well go to a decent one.
Before you can have a meal at Cracker Barrel, you have to wait in their old country store for your name to be called. Genius.
This way you'll be sure to purchase something you don't need at all, like apple shaped measuring cups, poodle shaped ear muffs, a dancing bear, rock candy...the list goes on.
At least it gives you something to look at while you wait for your table, right?
Cracker Barrel definitely has an old country feel to it. The porch has cute rocking chairs for people to sit in before or after their meal and the interior is very homey.
The breakfast menu is filled with comfort foods like chicken 'n dumplings and biscuits and gravy, but I always opt for the standard scrambled eggs and potatoes. The food is pretty good and best of all, it's also pretty cheap. Just don't succumb to the trap that is their old country store. You'll regret it.
stop here on the way home. ordered a sweet tea and chicken and dumplings. very good, i would order them both again. and you gotta love the country store.