s/o do people really LIKE Cracker Barrel?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the day. It's either Cracker Barrel or Golden Corral for us. Not like we're doing all fancy with Applebee's every week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can you say “objectively gross” about food when food and taste are subjective?

This.

I like it quite a lot, for what it is. IMO, it's one of the best chain restaurants at that price point, which may be faint praise, but...

The only way it's "objectively gross" is if you consider those kinds of foods to be "gross" no matter who makes them-- biscuits and white gravy, hash browns and so on. Or if you have a very specific universal complaint, like, "Everything is twice as salty as it should be" or "their meat quality is horribly subpar" or something. That's not objective, per se, but it's at least more encompassing than simply thinking they do what they do badly, in many ways, and that's somehow obvious.

You can personally find it gross for any number of reasons, of course. But making a more blanket statement not only requires more evidence, it requires a sort of... guiding principle, like the ones I listed above. Do you have one, OP?

[Anonymous]

My parents like it.

[Anonymous]

What do you expect OP? Majority of people are middle class, eat canned soup and go to basic restaurants when out.

If you find yourself there you must get either breakfast or something covered in gravy (chicken fried chicken/steak, biscuits). If you stray you will be disappointed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love their chicken and dumplings, turnip greens, and sweet potato casserole.

You have to like southern food. It’s ok if you don’t. Don’t go there to order a burger or a salad.

This. You have to order something they are good at making. Whenever we stop at greasy spoon places on road trips my DH will order something like the wet burrito. NEVER get the wet burrito if you aren’t at Mexican restaurant

[Anonymous]

OP here.

I think Cracker Barrels are sort of fun. I like the store even though I would never buy anything there and I do like porches and the chairs. Great for road trips. I also grew up poor in the Midwest so it still has a lingering "fun times" aspect to it.

But, the food. It has twice as much sugar as comparative places. The cuts of meat are often somehow shriveled looking or dry. The vegetables are usually swimming in something and are not fresh. The sides are gloppy.

I have not, however, tried some of the things the PPs have listed. I don't recall the pancakes or the chicken and dumplings. Perhaps CB has signature items it does well!

[Anonymous]

It’s heavy, carb-y food. If you don’t eat that type of food, yes, it is objectively gross.

It’s good for what it is.

[Anonymous]

It's cheap, it's cute inside and there are fun things to look at and they have very good pancakes. Nobody's eating there for 5 star gourmet health food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I think Cracker Barrels are sort of fun. I like the store even though I would never buy anything there and I do like porches and the chairs. Great for road trips. I also grew up poor in the Midwest so it still has a lingering "fun times" aspect to it.

But, the food. It has twice as much sugar as comparative places. The cuts of meat are often somehow shriveled looking or dry. The vegetables are usually swimming in something and are not fresh. The sides are gloppy.

I have not, however, tried some of the things the PPs have listed. I don't recall the pancakes or the chicken and dumplings. Perhaps CB has signature items it does well!

Okay, I'm glad you're at least not as closed-minded as "objectively gross" made you seem?

I don't know about the sugar. I wouldn't expect "fresh" vegetables there or at too many southern/soul/county restaurants below a certain price point (or with a spin, like they're vegan or something). And I just mean, collard greens made traditionally can be excellent and sophisticated, but they're "swimming in something" by design. They're not "fresh" if fresh is a euphemism for raw, steamed, grilled, roasted or lightly sauteed. Most southern/country veggies, even when well-prepared tend towards the braised or deep fried. Don't get like the corn or steamed carrots or broccoli. If you want those things, go elsewhere.

Some of the things you're saying ("gloppy") are just... basically going to be the case to some extent for any dine-in type chain at this price point with few exceptions. Applebee's, Friday's, etc. etc. etc. Or rather, true of many of the dishes.

The things to order at Cracker Barrel IMO-- with the caveat that I haven't had it in years d/t living in DC and minimal traveling EXCEPT for getting their breakfast to eat with my grandmother recently--

Fried chicken/chicken-fried steak
Chicken'n'dumplin's
Breakfast food, pretty much all of it-- I'm not sure if I thought the ham was any good, but fine sausage, bacon, etc. and all the other stuff
Beans, turnip greens, any form of potato, biscuits
I can't remember if I like their mac n cheese or okra

That's what you go for-- southern/country food, not salads or sandwiches or "fresh" things IMO

[Anonymous]

It’s something to get on a road trip and heavy breakfast food you don’t get every day. Yeah, your post made me crave it. I’ve never had a bad meal there. Bad for you but good tasting.

[Anonymous]

Cracker Barrel reminds me of roads trips! I love it once every few years. My favorite is the vegetable plate which is basically carby delicious sides with some green beans or collard greens thrown in.

[Anonymous]

YES

[Anonymous]

I maybe eat it once every other month (DS4 DS loves their pancakes), but I’ve always enjoyed it. We really only go for breakfast and their pancakes and biscuits are killer! It’s a great place for a certain type of meal craving. Haters gonna hate though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I think Cracker Barrels are sort of fun. I like the store even though I would never buy anything there and I do like porches and the chairs. Great for road trips. I also grew up poor in the Midwest so it still has a lingering "fun times" aspect to it.

But, the food. It has twice as much sugar as comparative places. The cuts of meat are often somehow shriveled looking or dry. The vegetables are usually swimming in something and are not fresh. The sides are gloppy.

I have not, however, tried some of the things the PPs have listed. I don't recall the pancakes or the chicken and dumplings. Perhaps CB has signature items it does well!

Why would you never buy something from the store? It is a great place to let kids pick out a stupid treat or get some vintage candy or something.

That said, I'm the pp who's husband likes their biscuits and gravy and I basically agree with what you are saying about the food. Which is why I'd never order something like that from CB. Even a side salad there is wilted and unappetizing. But breakfast is always decent. They can scramble eggs and cook up hash browns as good as anyone else. I think the fried chicken is pretty good and my kids like the mac and cheese. The fruit bowl isn't perfect but its acceptable. You just have to go in knowing what you're going into and ordering accordingly. Personally I'd take Silver Diner over CB any day of the week though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually like their pancakes. And I'm a foodie. But I am also a sucker for greasy-spoon diner food as a comfort thing.

Same. I really like Cracker Barrel and I am a professionally trained chef. My dad, a foodie himself, also loves Cracker Barrel. When we travel down south, we always make sure to get there at least once.