Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Casa Grande

The other day I went to Cracker Barrel at 10:00 am and got a table for 2. Before getting there, I was so excited because I hadn't had Cracker Barrel in almost 2 years. When we walked in, I saw the Cracker Barrel service policy right inside the door, which I had never noticed before. I thought the message was nice and was looking forward to a great breakfast.

We were seated and waited 15 mins until a waiter finally attended to us. We received drinks and ordered 5 minutes later. After ordering, we waited 30 minutes for our food to come out. We each ordered the build your own breakfast, which I have included pictures of.

Both meals were wrong and missing elements. One was supposed to be scrambled eggs with no cheese, chicken sausage upgrade, and hashbrown casserole. Cheese was wrongly added to the scrambled eggs. The other was egg whites, a double grilled chicken tender meat upgrade, and fried apples. The chicken tenders were missing when we received the order, and instead, they had given chicken sausage. I told the waitress I ordered the tenders and she said she'd bring them. She also said a double chicken sausage had been mistakenly charged to the iPad in addition to the double tender, and that she would fix it. Additionally, the menu states that each order comes with biscuits and gravy, but our waitress only brought one basket of biscuits.

In the pictures I attached, you can see how measly and bland these meals are. It looked like no effort was put into the presentation or flavor. We both agreed that the meal was less than satisfying, and would even go as far as to say it was worse than mediocre. I couldn't believe how small the portions were too. The plates looked massive with barely any food on them.

If someone asked me where to go to breakfast, I would say McDonald's would be better for price, portions, and flavor. Can't believe I'm even writing this right now considering McDonald's reputation in the food world.

We patiently waited for the tenders. About 10 minutes passed, and the waitress came by. She said they would be out soon. Waited 15 more minutes and she returned. As she typed on her Cracker Barrel iPad, she said she was making the tenders a priority item for the kitchen. 20 more minutes passed and she had never come back to our table.

At this point we got up and went to the register because we were tired of waiting. Looking back, we should have gone to the front 30 minutes before. After reviewing our receipt, we saw that she had not removed the incorrect charge, and also charged for both biscuit baskets even though we only received one. Also saw that the one coffee we ordered was charged as $4. That much for a cup of plain black coffee is insane. Then we waited 10 minutes for a manager to come out.

The manager removed one build your own breakfast meal and the double chicken sausage charge. We still had to pay for the one subpar and incorrect meal, and also seriously the worst restaurant service I have ever experienced in my life.

Literally felt crazy waiting for over an hour as people around us sat down, ate, and left multiple times while we waited for probably one of the most simple orders on the menu. Could not believe the manager still charged us. All she did was change the receipt and say sheepishly, "Sorry, this service was unacceptable."

The funniest part was sitting in my car after the whole thing and remembering the sign I noticed in the doorway when i first walked in (I've included a picture). It states, "we have tried our best to provide food and service in ways that uphold our traditions of genuine quality." The sign also includes a number to call if you feel they have not delivered. I don't even think it would be worth it to call that number because I fully expect an interaction with another employee who has no real regard for customers' time, money, or restaurant experience.

If possible, I would rate this...

What a difference two years can make. In early December, we took our daughter, her significant other, and one year old granddaughter (who were visiting from Nevada) to this location, specifically because our service was so good there two years prior, INSTEAD of driving into Chandler first where we were going anyway. Wow! It's like it wasn't even the same restaurant. It was mid afternoon, yet we still had to wait to be seated, but no big deal since we can always shop one of my favorite gift stores... their Old Country Store. The problems started with a snarky waiter who criticized me for asking a simple question about the ingredients in their chicken and broccoli dish. "If it had rice in it, IT WOULD SAY SO right here!" he replied in a hateful tone, while pushing his pen forcefully on my menu, with his pen marking the item. Then he told me that they could not substitute regular crispy hash browns for their soggy hash brown casserole which is NEVER hot at any location, when I'm ALWAYS allowed that substitution at every other location. When I informed him of that, he said sarcastically "Well we don't have any, so you can't get them here!" He was so unpleasant that I asked to speak to the manager. That's when the problem was escalated. It took far too long for her to come to our table, apparently because she was too busy talking to our snarky server prior to talking to us. So she too arrived with an attitude, backing up his "story" that they have no regular hash browns. I requested another server, who was very friendly, yet "unavailable". We were served a small bowl of gravy for 4 adults since we all ordered dishes that included biscuits and gravy... the size bowl they normally give you for ONE person! We waited and waited, as we kept our eyes peeled for our waitress and started eating our food while it was hot. I was in no mood to once again go searching for a server or the worthless manager, so we all made due with a miniscule amout of gravy on extremely dry biscuits. After boasting how great this location was, my husband and I were EMBARRASSED by how terrible our service was and how subpar the food ended up being. Two of us ordered our eggs over medium, but got them over hard. However, the bacon was cooked perfectly... hence, the two stars. So... we went from going out of our way to this restaurant... to NEVER will we return again!

TWO YEARS AGO (WITH 5 STARS):

We were seated promptly and the service was great. My hubby and I each ordered the Old Timer's Breakfast, served with 2 eggs, choice of bacon or sausage, hash brown casserole, grits, and All The Fixins (biscuits and gravy). Everything was served fresh and hot...and delicious! One of the best things about our visit was the Old Country Store, which has a great selection of unique gift items, like this cute little camper magnet. I could have spent a fortune there...if only...

12.9.23 Darden industries stock symbol. Cracker Crumbs the gift that keeps giving. Waitresses are dumb. You ask forbketchup they don't bring it I have to grab it off an empty table = no tip. Twice. Same waitress. train your people. No fork, no spoon, no knife are you people mentally challenged?? I always have to ask for a knife or spoon Bidenomics inflation Is not your fault to provide skimpy meals for 10 or 13 dollars. Nothing on the plate. Go to mama's Cafe downtown. YOU get a full plate and 2 meal's with left overs to take home. You go to Cracker Crumbs you leave hungry and mad because of the service. Mr. owner, train your staff. It's called meetings.

4.12.22 Darden, the joint that keeps giving..10 tables open at 9.00 a.m. and a 10 to 15 minute wait...??? GOODBYE DARDEN CRACKER CRUMBS. I PAY YOU YOU DONT PAY ME. GOODBYE EENT SOMEWHETE ELSE. SAME WAIT. DIFFERENT DAY 89% QUIT YOU DARDEN BECAUSE OF YOUR CUSTOMER INDIFFERENCE. GROW A BRAIN. NEVER AGAIN

5.3.21 Cracker Barrel always disappoints. A what? 2,3,4,10 Million dollar facility you walk in and there is a 20 minute wait???. All the tables when we parked on the east side of the building were empty that we usually sat. The place was 40% full. The snippy hostess who does not deserve to work at a dog Kennel was curt and not cordial. We walked out. Cracker B.S.

11.26.2020 Joint Horrible, FOOD COLD, 1 SLICE OF TURKEY, NO GRAVY FIRE MGT AND COOKS. LOUSY. Have waitress handle the check. I don't want to wait 10 minutes with gift buyers to check out WAIT IN LINE.. Out hotel to eat here. We ordered water but we were to get real drinks never offered by Jacqueline waitress. Turkey got 1 slice everybody else got 2 with gravy, food was dry, cold, dressing horrible next time Golden Correl 101 food choices food is hot and tasty. Again, I pointed out short comings never again. Lousy. Liquor won't save you.

Then.. 2.8.2020 8 am Casa Grande. Az Main room cold. Everyone h jackets. Are employees management all dead there? No blood? Cold in main room. Need fireplace. Really. $28.60 for breakfast for 2, not cheap dennys 17 dollars cheaper ....really

3. Main room too dark, poor lighting had to go outside to read menu...wth?

Wont be back soon, i live 2...