Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Bloomington

I’ve had the pleasure of being served by Ethan, and I can confidently say he is the best server I’ve ever encountered. From the moment we were seated, he made us feel welcome and valued, and his attention to detail was extraordinary. Ethan’s knowledge of the menu is unmatched; he helped us make perfect choices, and his recommendations were spot-on. He was always so attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed without ever being intrusive. His timing was impeccable, bringing every course exactly when we were ready.

Ethan is not just professional, but incredibly personable—his warm smile and genuine demeanor made our experience so much more enjoyable. He went above and beyond to ensure we were satisfied and comfortable throughout the entire meal. He remembered our preferences from previous visits, which showed incredible memory and dedication to his customers. It’s clear that he is passionate about his work, and it reflects in the service he provides.

His enthusiasm is infectious, and he has a remarkable ability to make everyone around him feel special. His energy lights up the room, and he truly makes you feel like you are the most important guest in the restaurant. It’s rare to find someone so genuinely committed to providing outstanding service like Ethan does.

His professionalism is flawless, and his communication skills are superb. Every interaction with him felt effortless, and he always made sure we were taken care of. He was quick to accommodate any requests, and he did so with a level of kindness and grace that I can’t praise enough. The way he handled all of his tasks simultaneously was truly impressive.

Ethan’s attention to detail is second to none. He checked in at just the right moments, ensuring we were enjoying our meal and that everything was perfect. His demeanor is always calm, collected, and composed, even during busy times. There’s a rare quality in his work ethic that sets him apart from other servers—I felt like I was in the hands of someone who genuinely cares about providing an exceptional experience.

The entire meal was elevated because of his thoughtful, flawless service. Ethan’s dedication to excellence is unparalleled, and he has truly raised the bar for what great service should be. I can’t thank him enough for making our dining experience unforgettable. If you’re lucky enough to be served by Ethan, you’re in for a real treat—he is, without a doubt, the best server...

We had brunch this afternoon and overall it wasn't terrible. Our waitress, Trish, was amazing, despite being new to the restaurant and serving during the Sunday after church rush. The food, as always at Cracker Barrel, was on point. The issues that take my rating from 5 stars to 4 was with the front of the house service. When we arrived my husband put our name in and we were told that we'd have a 10-15 minute wait which we didn't mind. We window shopped the country store for 15-20 minutes and then made our way to the seating hostess. As we stood waiting, 2 families approached and were seated immediately which didn't set well with my husband. He said something to the hostess, who grabbed her boss, and they found a table for us very quickly. The next problem then was the table they brought us to, rather - under the table. Clearly the last people to sit at the table had young children given the amount of food that was on the floor under the table where I was to sit. It was so much so that I just couldn't do it - I could not bring myself to sit at a table with my feet in food and refuse. I got the manager, showed him the mess and he apologized & cleaned it up immediately. I was going to rate this location at a 3 because of the issues, but I remember seeing our waitress clearing tables which makes me think that they may have been short someone...

I placed a scheduled order to be picked up at 8:30pm curbside on Saturday, August 31st. I arrived at 8:32pm, checked in and then waited for my order. After 22 minutes I called the restaurant, where after following a ridiculous amount of prompts, the phone rang for so long it disconnected me. Twice!!. I finally got a real person to answer on my third attempt, explained that I had been waiting for now almost 30 minutes for a SCHEDULED order and was told that they would TRY and get my order out to me soon. Apparently SCHEDULED orders mean absolutely nothing to the staff. My order was brought to me 7 minutes later. I live 4 minutes from the restaurant. When I opened the containers the gravy on my husbands Chicken Fried Steak was CONGEALED and COLD!! Which means my order was sitting for quite some time and would have continued to sit if I had not made numerous attempts to contact the restaurant. I was never even offered an apology or explanation for the unacceptably long wait on my food and since they closed at 9pm, my discovery of the sub-par quality of food could not addressed immediately. I manage a restaurant in Bloomington and if any of my employees neglected food quality and customer experience in this manner, reprimands would be issued. What a waste of my...