Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Asheville

We go quite often as a family. And have had a few bad visits, but nothing was ever offered to be changed other than wait on fresh item to fix their mistake. They made great efforts to please us and always checked to see the food was to our liking. However, This last Saturday the place was bumping. We got there at 6:30, called back about 6:45-6:50. Shorthanded staff it seemed. Our waiter was being stretched all over the place, too many tables maybe. Several "sorry I'll get that right out" then 3 food mess ups right away. Out of steamed broccoli I wanted too. Our partial order sat waiting on one meat we were told 20 minutes later about, the roast beef ordered was out. They waited before they brought any of the food until it was done.. The fixed meat dish was to be a medium hamburger steak. Not even a trace of pink and tough. Very well done. Rest of food barely warm at all by now. Refills finally came, waiter ran through apologizing several times - seemed huge miscommunication with kitchen and lack of help. Had to ask several times for more biscuits. And still food slowly came. 2 Loaded potatoes were last to be brought. Lukewarm with melted cheese only, one had a tiny bit of sour cream too. They'd sat rather than come out when ready. My husband complained because it seemed there was something wrong with each meal. 2/5 of us just said nothing. It was 8pm when the potatoes came out. Others were still ordering, but that was closing time. We asked to speak to manager and explained. I was AMAZED! They took care of the entire meal! We were trying to just not act as if it were fine, it wasn't. So we spoke up. They listened. Everyone was kind, the waiter, busy as he was kept us informed. And the manager couldn't have been more kind. I expected maybe a 10%off, or the meal with the meat and potato issue taken off. They're food is wonderful 98% of the time. And the service is up there close almost always.

I posted all this to say - my worst visit ever there, was resolved and immediately made to feel everything was fine, they were sorry, it was a very busy night there and because of the friendly, laid back atmosphere - and the generosity once we'd tried to fix the mistakes - our night wasn't at all ruined. Happy full bellies. We tipped well, and recommend and shall return to this Arden...

We have eaten here several times before, as we regularly stay at the Courtyard Asheville Airport directly next door and have been pleased and satisfied. However, the experience on Friday, January the 3rd was less than ideal.

My bacon was delivered undercooked, and the server who delivered it commented that she thought it was as well, especially compared to the other two orders in our party with bacon. Then, when I cut into my two fried eggs, they were both runny on the inside, which I stated thrice when placing my order that they be cooked completely through, and my hash brown casserole was cold.

The waiter and waitressing staff were evidently overworked, as there were not enough employees to run the tables efficiently, so the wait time was long even though not many customers were actually present. Even the seating hostess seemed overwhelmed and frazzled. Our waiter, Richard, was a good waiter and tried hard to serve all his different parties. The waiter mentioned they had rec'd a new cook--so, Cracker Barrel, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere.

However, by the time I finally received all three of my food items together and cooked properly, my party members had already finished their food, and the manager, I believe "Jessica" was her name, argued with me regarding taking off just my breakfast entry, not the others in my party when that is simply good business. I wonder how she would have felt if the shoe had been on her foot, and if she eaten her food after her party had already eaten theirs, and had to send her food back thrice with what should have occurred on the first try. Hmmm... something smells rotten in Denmark ...

The working manager reluctantly (and with an attitude) took my entry cost off--however, what she fails to understand is business 101, and that is, if you handle mistakes on your part graciously and try to make things right with the customer, then you have a return customer for life. Think CFA.

With the many restaurants in the area near the Asheville airport hotel, we will "not" be walking next door to sample Cracker Barrel cuisine anytime in the future. Adios, Jessica, and with the way your employees are understaffed and overworked, they also might be saying "adios"...

If I could give them zero stars, I would. This is the absolute worst experience I've ever had at a Cracker Barrel. The hostess wasn't friendly when she approached the hostess stand after we waited for her. Our server, Shanna, was rude from the very beginning. Her attitude from the very start was terrible. She slammed cups and plates on the table. She was very short with us. Our food was pretty poor quality. My bacon looked like it had been sitting somewhere dying for quite awhile and someone over-seasoned my husband's dish. When a manager - I did not get her name - came to our table to ask how things were, I let her know the bacon was terrible as was the service. She offered new bacon, but by that point I was almost finished with the rest of my meal. She did remove the drinks from our bill. She was the nicest person in the entire restaurant. Shanna NEVER came to our table to check on us. When my husband was finished eating and she came to our table to pick up his dishes, she said "I'm sorry you didn't like the food!" in the most trite, condescending tone I've ever heard. We wanted to try the new lattes, but she never took the time to ask if we wanted anything else. As I was speaking to the manager at the end (letting him know about the atrocious service) the hostess (whose apron said OMalley) went to Shanna and clearly let her know we were complaining about her. Shanna walked by numerous times "smirking" at us. Shanna clearly needs to find a new line of work because she obviously can't handle food service with...