A Comfort Food Classic That Could Use a Fresh Look…read more
After spending the day at Oktoberfest, the last thing we wanted to do was cook dinner, so we decided to stop at Cracker Barrel. We hadn't been in quite a while, and we figured, why not?
If it's been a while since you've visited, you may notice that the menu has changed. Cracker Barrel has been putting more emphasis on what I'd describe as elevated comfort food, and honestly, we were curious to see how it stacked up.
We both thought the fried chicken dinner sounded good. It comes with four pieces of chicken, three sides, and biscuits or cornbread. Since that's a lot of food, we decided to share one dinner.
We went with the fried chicken, two orders of coleslaw, and split the fried okra. Of course, we had to get the biscuits with strawberry jelly!
The restaurant wasn't particularly busy, but it did take a little while for our food to come out. Once it arrived, though, the wait was worth it.
The chicken was hot, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and had good flavor. It did have a slightly salty taste, but nothing that ruined the meal. The coleslaw was fresh, crunchy, and flavorful, and the fried okra was good as well. And those biscuits with strawberry jelly? Always a nice way to round out a Cracker Barrel meal.
I unfortunately don't remember our waitress's name, but she was very friendly and doing her best to stay on top of things, even though she was busy. Good service always deserves a shout-out.
Now, here's where I think Cracker Barrel has an opportunity.
I know the company tried to change its image and received quite a bit of backlash, eventually backing away from some of those changes. But honestly, I think the restaurant still needs a refresh.
The décor feels dark and dated, and I think a brighter, more modern look could do wonders. The food is actually pretty good, and I think the atmosphere should reflect that. Right now, the décor can give off the impression that Cracker Barrel is primarily an "old person's restaurant," and I think that could deter younger diners from giving it a try.
Change doesn't have to mean losing what made Cracker Barrel popular. Keep the comfort food, keep the hospitality, keep the biscuits and fried chicken -- but maybe give the restaurant itself a little more energy.
Wake up, America. Sometimes change is a good thing.
Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and were reminded why Cracker Barrel has been around for so long. The food delivered, the service was friendly, and sharing the fried chicken dinner gave us plenty to eat without going overboard.
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
A solid comfort-food dinner -- just waiting for the restaurant to catch up with the times.