Cracker Barrel may be crumbling
Written: Apr 17 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Reasonable Restaurant Prices, fair portions, friendly, competent service, great country store, kid and family friendly
Cons: not all it's "cracked" up to be. Some selections yuck! New Management?Overpriced Country Store.
The Bottom Line: I have no recourse but to recommend since the good outweighs the bad. Ask your server's opinion. I will update this accordingly as I visit more.
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| Barbarajo's Full Review: Cracker Barrel |
One of my major pleasures that I experience when driving the Eastern Seaboard is to stop at the many Cracker Barrel restaurant's that are available. I actually dread the drive back home because the further North you go, the less CB's there are.
About a year ago, while driving home on 84 West from Connecticut en route to Queens in New York, I thought that I noticed a CB Billboard. We went by too fast however and we were getting off at the next exit so I knew I had to wait until the next return trip home from my parent's house to find out whether my eyes were playing tricks on me.
I am pleased to report that the Billboard was indeed an advertisement for a CB located in Fishkill, New York, a scant 28 miles from that point on 84 West in Connecticut.
The downside is the fact that a visit would take me far off track.
After several months of temptation, I finally decided to go the extra mile (so to speak).
We arrived at noon so there was a pretty big lunch crowd. I was a little surprised since it was mid-week. I took it as a good sign though. Most of the diners looked like retired locals, so I gathered we were in for some great Good Country Cookin'. That, by the way, is their motto.
Most meals that I had throughout the South were breakfast. I attributed the freshness and great taste to the fact that we were really in the South and likely to be near farms that provided the ingredients necessary for that Good Country Cookin'.
The wait at any of these establishments is not bad. Each has a front porch displaying a wide-variety of rockers and gliders. I found them to be pretty reasonably priced and sturdy.
The Country Store is the best place to wait. Here you can take a trip down memory lane. It is an old-fashioned candy store and reminiscent of a good old general store from yesteryear. They even sell cast iron cookware; A must for Southern Cuisine! Aside from the nostalgic items, you can select unique gifts that include hand painted poems on plaques for every family member, associate or occasion that you can think of. They are conveniently displayed on the walls outside of the restrooms thereby providing plenty of reading material in the event of a long wait. They also sell holiday items depending on the time of year, toys, dishes, country style throws, dolls, glassware, preserves, food and clothing to name a few. Complimentary gift wrapping is available. Take advantage, as most items are over-priced. For a charge, they are willing to ship your purchases. Sale items are worth checking out. My trip was just before Easter, so many Easter items were available at high prices. They did have a sale section with beautiful Christmas sweat shirts and tops that were half price. I considered buying a few Christmas gifts. Sorry to say, I did not. Well, I can always go back.
If you live near a CB or are traveling extensively near CB’s, you may want to consider renting an Audio Book. A good selection is available and they are reasonably priced. I can attest to the fact that if you are driving I-95 throughout the South, this is an option since so many CB’s exist. You can pick one up in Virginia and return it in Georgia!
Now for the meat of it all!
I can't tell you how disappointed I was with my meal. I chose a daily lunch special. For $5.79, I was given a Chicken Casserole with a choice of one vegetable. This came with scratch-made biscuits and cornbread. I chose Turnip Greens based on their description. Yes there is a description page! Kudos to the writer because he / she makes everything sound appetizing. Here is what is written about the Turnip Greens:
“We start with lean meat from slow simmered country ham hocks, then add Grade A cut leaf turnip greens and slow cook them to perfection.”
See what I mean? Doesn’t that sound irresistible? I happen to love all greens and I hated this dish. The meat was chewy and the greens were cooked to mush and extremely bitter. I like bitter but not that bitter. Too much lard was added as well.
My choice was so salt-ridden that I deemed it inedible. Fortunately, the waitress bailed me out by offering a different dish. She took one look at my face and knew something was wrong. I didn’t want to complain but I may as well have opened a saltshaker and poured it down my throat. From her prompt attention, I suspected that it was not her first heard complaint of the day.
My son was lucky enough to order Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie and it was “Deepdishious” and delicious. This selection was $6.99 and very generous. Biscuits, cornbread and a country vegetable accompanied his choice. This became my replacement. He ordered mashed potatoes as his side and they were served very cold. He was quite disappointed but we did not tell the waitress. They were real potatoes though!
I am also disappointed to report that the biscuits were terrible. My son who loves biscuits and remembers the great ones that we had at CB’s down South, took one bight and discarded his. The crust on the Chicken Pot Pie was thankfully excellent. I don’t know whether they use the same recipes at each chain so I can’t say why we had different experiences. The cornbread tasted sour and also went into the garbage.
We were not given the breakfast menu, so my review is based on the lunch and dinner menu. I hear that upon request, you can order from the breakfast menu at any given time.
To give you an idea of what is offered and the price ranges, I am now going to present a few examples from each category on that menu.
Salads and Such
11 choices of fresh made salad dressings are offered, including a fat free selection for the diet conscious.
Tossed Salad is the least expensive choice here at $1.69. Next is a House Salad for $2.99, which includes several more ingredients. From $6.49 - $6.79 you may choose such salads as Grilled Chicken, BLT, Chef and Turkey N’ Cheese to name a few.
Sandwiches and Soups
Sandwiches are served on regular or whole wheat sourdough bread that may be grilled or toasted upon request. Rye bread is also available. All sandwiches are $4.29. Add Soup for $6.59. Soup by itself may be ordered. A cup is $2.49. A Bowl is $3.99. You must ask the server for the daily selection. You have 13 Sandwiches to choose from. They include hamburger, different hams, pork, and a variety of chicken choices, BLT, Haddock, Catfish or Turkey.
In this grouping, you may also request a Bacon Cheeseburger, a grilled Reuben or Chicken Salad Platters for $6.79. Add a cup of soup for $7.19 or Vidalia Onion Rings for $7.79. Gee, I wonder what they do when Vidalia’s are out of season?
Extra’s on this side of the menu include:
A one pound basket of extra thick cuts of Vidalia Onion Rings for $5.29. A side is available for $2.99. You may want to add a baked potato for $2.29, or Real Swiss or Colby Cheese to your sandwich for 39 cents or any country vegetable for an extra $1.69.
Fancy Fixin’s
This is said to be the most popular of choices offered at all CB Restaurants.
From $6.99 for the Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie to $8.99 for Country Fried Steak or Fried Chicken, I can see why these would be the most popular. It is my understanding that all of these offerings are as good as my son’s choice. Here you will also find fish choices, roast beef, meatloaf, grilled chicken and even a sampler. All entrees are served with biscuits and cornbread. Most are accompanied by a choice of two to three country vegetables. The Grilled Chicken Tenderloin is sided with a salad and baked potato.
Country Dinner Plates
Each of these selections are $6.99 and comes with your choice of meat n’ two country vegetables. Natch, those biscuits and cornbread are given on the side.
Grilled Chicken, Hickory Smoked or Sugar Cured Ham, Beef Stew, Hamburger Steak, Catfish, Fried Chicken Tenderloin, Pork Chop and Hickory Smoked Pork Barbeque can be found here.
Doesn’t this sound scrumptious?
Homemade Chicken n’ Dumplins
“Each day we start with chicken tenderloin “the best of the breast” and our own rolled by hand, made from scratch dumplins. Both are slow simmered in our own chicken stock right in our kitchens. Served with your choice of any two country vegetables.”
If that doesn’t make your mouth water, you are not alive! And… it’s only $6.59
Lunch Specials change daily and look for attached specials. Friday is Fish Fry Day. Remember Howard Johnson’s Fish Fry?
Here are the famous Vegetables n’ Sides:
Whole Kernel Corn, Country Green Beans, Sweet Whole Baby Carrots, Pinto Beans, Apple Sauce, Turnip Greens, Cole Slaw, Fried Apples, Dumplins, Steak Fries, Macaroni and Cheese, Hashbrown Casserole, Breaded Fried Okra, Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable of the Day (changes daily) or cottage cheese.
You may choose four vegetables to make up a Country Vegetable Plate for $5.79. Make it 6 choices for $6.99. Cup of Soup or a Baked potato may be substituted for any vegetable for 99 cents. Substitute a salad for $1.29.
Now onto the Fanciest of Fixin’s
The most expensive item on the menu can be found here. Their 10 oz. Rib Eye Steak sell for a mere $13.99! It’s said to be aged for 28 days to insure tenderness. This choice is served with a salad and baked potato. For $9.99, a half- pound of sweet buttermilk-breaded fried shrimp is accompanied by hushpuppies and 3 country vegetables. Fried or Grilled Farm Raised Catfish sells for $9.29. Two Grilled Pork Chops for $9.49 sound great. You may want to sample their Sugar Cured ham Steak Dinner for only $8.79.
CB Specialties include Country Ham and Biscuits, Homemade Beef Stew, Smoked Country Sausage and Biscuits, Pinto Beans, Turnip Greens or Beans N’ Greens form $3.29 - $5.69.
All items are available for takeout and Braille and Large type menus are available. How much more convenient can they make it?
Beverages N’ Juices
Stewart’s Root Beer, Orange n’ Cream or Grape Soda are available. 16 oz. servings are $1.59. Supersize to 32 ounces for Root Beer or Diet Root Beer. Only $2.49!
How many restaurant’s that you know have Whole, Chocolate, Buttermilk, Low Fat or Skim Milk? Largest is $1.29. Juices served are orange, grapefruit, tomato and cranberry. What no pineapple? 20 oz. size for only $1.99! 8 oz is $1.59. Classic Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Lemonade and Fresh Brewed Iced Tea are available as well. One, large size is $1.49. Ask for their premium blend coffee, regular or decaffeinated, hot Darjeelling Tea or Earl Grey Decaffeinated Tea for $1.19.
A pledge of quality and authenticity is included on the menu as well as mouth watering descriptions for several of their selections.
Kids Stuff
From $1.49 to $3.79, kids may choose from one egg and meat for breakfast to the Chicken Tenderloin Platter with a side for lunch or dinner. Other choices include shrimp, burgers, macaroni and cheese and other chicken dishes to name a few. Kids can get two scoops of ice cream or a Sundae for only $1.19. Dinners include a small drink.
Desserts
I am not a dessert person but they looked great. A dessert menu is on each table. Sorry to say that aside from fruit cobblers, I don’t recall what else they had. I did however buy strawberry and black raspberry preserves from the country store. I like to use great ingredients in my baking. I was told that the brand sold in the store is the same served in the restaurant.
I took a menu home with me. It was suggested by my server because of the Cracker Barrel By Mail section offered on the back. An 800 number is made available for phone orders and I was told that you could order right at the store. I was told that you could even purchase some items at the store but there was an air of uncertainty and it was too crowded to wait for an answer. Satisfaction is guaranteed and all items include 2nd or 3rd day air shipment. Choose from a wide-variety of breakfasts ranging in price from $29.25 - $59.95. Bacon, Fried Apples, Pancakes, Coffee, syrups, hams, grits, biscuits, etc., etc., etc., are available. For an additional $10.00 - $15.00, a 10” cast iron griddle is even included! A Sunday Fixins’ Smokehouse Sampler can be shipped anywhere for $45.95. Choose from 4 different Ham Samplers from $49.95 - $79.95. All great gift ideas for loved ones far away!
Summary
Although I recently had a bad experience in Fishkill, New York, I would not hesitate to highly recommend that you try a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. I believe that the good outweighs the bad and that one bad experience for me does not preclude a return trip to try other offerings. The servers in all those that I have visited were polite, courteous, friendly and competent. All breakfasts that I had down South were fabulous. I cannot honestly give a bad review based on the sampling of a couple of their entrees from the lunch and dinner menu. As you can see by this review, they obviously have a lot to offer and make it so very convenient for their patrons. The Country Store makes any wait worthwhile. The atmosphere inside is “homey” with wooden tables and chairs. These are a tad uncomfortable. The brick and stone walls are decorated with old, nostalgic pictures and products from yesterday. A huge stone fireplace graces center stage, lending an even more “homey” and “comfy” country feeling.
They are even conscientious enough to include a warning that requesting undercooked eggs or burgers may impose an increased health risk.
So…… remember, when you are travelin’ and weary and you are lucky enough to see a Cracker Barrel, pull over, set yer feet up, rest a spell and yawl come back now, hear?
For a Cracker Barrel nearest you or for more information, visit their website at www.crackerbarrel.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Barbarajo
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Member: Barbara Jo Acosta
Reviews written: 97
Trusted by: 58 members
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