Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Conroe

I would leave zero stars if I could. I’ve come to this location for years, but never will again.

We planned a going-away party for a beloved colleague. I and another colleague and her adult daughter arrived first. We asked for a table for twelve. An elderly hostess with silver hair and metallic green eyeshadow informed us we could not be seated until the whole party arrived. (This policy would shift several ways over the next half hour). So the three of us waited. Table after table of others were seated.

When another large contingent arrived, we were now at least 8 in number with one more still in the car; soon after, we were 11. The elderly hostess with metallic green eyeshadow informed us she would not seat us until the person in the car came in. She told another member of our party she would seat us when half arrived, and more than half were now present, but still they refused to seat us. (What’s the actual policy? The whole party? Half the party? No one can straggle behind from the car?) Elderly hostess, snippy from the start, was now worse.

Another member of our party had asked a couple of times to speak with the manager, but the elderly hostess refused to get a manager, though she herself got snippier and nastier. Because she refused my colleague’s request to get a manager, our colleague shouted toward the kitchen asking for a manager, as the elderly hostess refused to get one. She had been unpleasant from the start, but now she was nasty and belligerent. I could scarcely believe the way it unfolded - and then it got worse …

… with the appearance of the manager. The manager came out SCREAMING. No introduction, no “how may I help you?” No nothing except to get right in our colleague’s face, yelling “ARE YOU THE ONE YELLING AT ME?” My colleague was not given the opportunity to explain she shouted to request a manager because the elderly hostess had refused to get a manager despite being asked at least twice. The manager would not listen to Mrs. Potts’ concerns, spoke/shouted over her, and summarily instructed her (us) to leave. “Rude” would be a gross understatement. I am astonished someone with such an extreme lack of interpersonal skills became manager.

Before the manager came out, the elderly hostess told us we could not be seated because there were not enough servers. Our party was originally planned to be 12 people, and that many or more were seated while we waited, even after 11 of us were present. I am still puzzled how there were not enough servers to serve us, as were were told several times, yet more people than our number steadily arrived and were seated with no problem.

I won’t visit this or any other Cracker Barrel again. I understand from Mrs Potts that the GM asked her to take her review down for the sake of her and/or the stores’s reputation, but the best advice I can offer is that store employees, particularly managers, be trained in a fashion that values and respects customers (thus ensuring the store’s reputation), and that the manager on duty be trained in the art of de-escalation (or basic respect at a minimum). Instead, she poured gasoline on the fire. As we discussed outside the store what to do next, another family came out of the restaurant, spoke to a member of our party, and commented they’d noticed the hubbub and found it disgraceful. So while your staff was insulting our party, others were taking notice and very unimpressed as well.

The whole thing was shameful, insulting (we were definitely made to feel unwelcome), and resulted in all of us moving to another restaurant in The Woodlands, where we were served a stellar meal by polite, professional staff.

Much appreciation to LA MADELEINE AT MARKET STREET! Great food, great service; friendly, professional staff! ¡Gracias especialmente a la jefa, Jackie Diaz, y nuestro camarera, Ángela!

For Cracker Barrel on League Line Rd in Conroe? Zero stars. Negative five. ...

Let's back up to last Sunday. I took my boss and my hubby. The service was so-so but the food was absolutely bad! I ordered 2 eggs overeasy with hashbrown casserole, country ham and grits. The eggs were okay but were cold, hashbrowns were okay, the ham? It looked and tasted like ham jerky, uneditable and the grits????? They were brown looking and smelled and tasted like oatmeal! I asked our waitress if those were grits she said as she pushed on the bowl "no those are grits!" Humm okay, no they weren't. I had one bite of everything and had her take my plate. Never asking if the food was good or what was wrong? To send an entire plate back?? I got the bill and not only didn't the manager come over she didn't bother taking my meal off the ticket. Lesson on my end should've been learned but nope! Yesterday was my bosses birthday and she wanted to go back. Sigh.....

We arrived yesterday at 1:58pm. Wanted a bigger table but we were told the back section by the window was closed. There was one table seated when we arrived. So okay, we had to make due. We waited for 18 minutes before I finally got up and asked a manager if anyone was working our table? She said "you've not been greeted yet? (Apparently we weren't) what can I get for y'all to drink?" Finally waitress "Kora" brought our drinks. Took our order. 45 minutes later our food came. During that time we asked for more napkins, more cornbread and refills, those never came. Another table was seated 10 minutes after us and yet they had their drinks AND food before we did. Meantime I'm watching that "closed section" fill up! Hummmmm They did have a full staff and the hostess? "Kelya" she spent more time in the kitchen area on her phone or talking with the other staff than she did up front. The food!! My goodness..... Horrible! I ordered the meatloaf mashed potatoes and green beans. And asked for steak sauce because the meat was dry dry dry! It looked old. When I opened the greasy bottle it had so much yuck in it that the sauce didn't come out, a drop did and it was disgusting. Black and smelled really bad. Needless to say, I took one bite and pushed my plate away. Kora never asked if my food was okay or what was wrong, it was hard to just find her on the floor. My boss ordered the fried catfish. She ate half of one filet before I noticed she was eating RAW fish!! She took her food home and will finish cooking it there, my plate? That crap wasn't going anywhere but into the trash. Cracker barrel, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU GUYS?????? That's twice in ONE WEEK and both times you guys failed at everything!!! I'm soooooo disappointed! We love CB but after twice giving you a chance? We will NEVER visit that location...

On Saturday morning , 05/11/2024, I along with a few family members visited the Cracker Barrel Store 288 in Conroe Texas. This visit had been planned for approximately 2 weeks as a Pre- Mother’s Day outing. Prior to ordering, I had discovered that AARP was offering 22 Mother Day benefits and gifts on my AaRP membership which included a Free Barrel Bites with purchase from menu for May 9-12. I asked Server Amanda before ordering if deal would be honored for the tots hash browns barrel bites along with other menu item ordered. Server responded to just present to the cashier in order to take off for the Barrel Bites. The cashier informed that full bill was due but I presented the discount information from the app and Manager Carol came to address matter, after cashier attempted to scan in-store Cracker Barrel coupon unsuccessfully. The Manager rudely expressed that the items was not a Barrel Bite but was clearly displayed on the register and inside of the menu provided. I asked her if she would kindly instruct the server to not give misleading information and to consult management for clarity when taking orders. As the lobby grew with more customers waiting to pay. The Manager Further stated that would not accept and walked away without giving cashier any instructions nor acknowledging my request to have the charge removed from my bill of $6.99 plus tax.So the full balance was paid since Manager refused to come back to address removal of item, because I had another pending engagement. Later, that same day went back to the store and spoke with Manager Connie, much friendlier demeanor but after showing the App information, receipt and explaining earlier dining experience, and requesting refund for the Barrel Bites, also refused to acknowledge. Neither Manager referred to a written or posted policy that no outside offers or coupons are accepted. I was truly disappointed with the way my and our dining experience was handled. Another Family member also ordered a Barrel Bite as she thought would be at no charge. I Received the Corporate phone number and then I kindly left the store but expressed my unbelief of poor customer care. On Monday morning 05/13/2024, I attempted to reach Corporate office for approximately 2 hours and no live person ever answered. I also uploaded my concerns to the Guest Relations site and as of Tuesday, 05/14/2024, I have yet to receive a response via email or phone call. Incredibly disappointed with Cracker Barrel...