Anonymous wrote:I mean, their parking lots are always full but the food is objectively gross. Or is it merely convenient? They have a larger menu in places that may not have restaurants with lots of options. Do people say "oh, I could get on some Cracker Barrel right now."

You’re premise that it’s “objectively gross” is wrong. It’s dependable, decent comfort food, that shouldn’t be eaten every day.

Anonymous wrote:Not a fan. Don’t like the southern style, and even the people watching is sad. My yankee (not fat) parents like to make a special trip for the southern biscuits and gravy every few months though! We did not grow up with that food (like a pp, I didn’t know of white gravy until I moved to the. Dc area).

So glad you made the point that your parents aren’t fat.

Anonymous wrote:We made the mistake of stopping at one while traveling. My 2 observations:

Most people there weighed over 300 pounds
Most of their menu was swimming in salt and fat

I will never step foot in one again, and it's become a running gag in our family because of how gross it is.

You sound like a fun person!

My grandparents did. They never met a mass market chain restaurant they didn't like in their old age. I think it brought them comfort to know what to expect.

Hash brown casserole- yum

We rarely go to Cracker Barrel, but I always enjoy it when we do. I love the chicken fried steak, turnip greens, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, green beans. I grew up in the rural south and it reminds me of food from back home.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Better advice NEVER get the wet burrito from anywhere during a road trip!

Anonymous wrote:It's no Bob Evans but their chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, pork-n-beans and fried apples is a top 10 guilty pleasure for me. I still check their menu to see if they brought back the peanut butter pie.

If you don't like the southern-style meat + 3 you should not go to Cracker Barrel.

Ruthies All Day in Arlington does “meat plus three” and the food is bland and has odd textures. The food at Cracker Barrell is better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, their parking lots are always full but the food is objectively gross. Or is it merely convenient? They have a larger menu in places that may not have restaurants with lots of options. Do people say "oh, I could get on some Cracker Barrel right now."

No, OP. Crackers Barrel only exists so you can make threads about it on DCUM and let everyone know how evolved your tastes are. No one likes it.

OP here. Snark is obviously expected.

DP here. You might call that response snark, I'd call it sarcastically calling you out on your own snark. Calling Cracker Barrel "objectively gross" and actually asking if people really LIKE Cracker Barrel is arrogant and snarky in itself.

My DH loves it on road trips and he’s otherwise a real food snob. I like the fried okra.

The WP food critic loves Cracker Barrel. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2017/12/12/which-is-better-applebees-or-cracker-barrel-our-critic-ranks-americas-most-popular-chains/

Hard to say it’s objectively gross. The best dishes are fried okra biscuits and fried catfish.

The only thing I can somewhat stomach there are a few breakfast items. I've also had a side salad that was fine.

My family members LOVE that place, though. My mom can spend an hour looking at the junk in there before AND after eating. All of my kids love it too, so I've failed big time there. Kidding, but you know, it is convenient during a roadtrip.

The bathrooms are always clean. The wait is never too long. And getting to walk around a bit beforehand to stretch out the legs is nice.

If you ever have friends or family visiting from overseas, take them there. It's a fun place for them to really experience the American sized portions.

My office had coworkers in pre-pandemic from eastern Europe and we took them there while on a road trip to a conference. They got a kick out of the store part and couldn't get over the portion sizes.

I like them! I have yet to eat something I didn't enjoy.

I have a slight preference for almost anyplace that does all day breakfast because at least you can get eggs which are a pretty healthy protein and pretty hard to ruin provided they are cooked to order. I don’t eat cheap meat or precooked eggs so fast food on the road can be tough unless there is something like a chop’t or Panera. (Recently discovered the Dunkin’ avocado toast, which is a major win for fast food).

Their biscuits are delicious and the potato casserole thing that comes with eggs is delicious if appalling bad for you.

I do like southern food but thinks theirs is not great. I’ll waste that calories for good southern food but this doesn’t seem worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Stopping for pancakes during a road trip is the best. And that little peg game is pretty fun.

Best pancakes on the road is IHOP.