Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Cookeville

My wife and I eat a lot at the Cookeville Cracker Barrel. But the last time we ate there our waitress has tattoos all over her arms, neck and upper chest. She had several nose and ear piercings. The days of service workers looking respectable and decent are long past. I did not leave a tip for her. So why? It can be said she has a "right" to self expression, a right to voice her opinion. However while she is working she represents Cracker Barrel, not herself. I recall the days when companies had uniforms and dress codes and conduct codes. Today, because someone has the "right" they can dress as they want to represent the company they work for. Cover up the tattoos with clothing, remove the nose rings and a few of the ear rings. Companies need to consider, a service employee is the face of their company to the public. I have now opted to stop tipping anyone in the service industry that feels their personal rights exceeds the company they work for or the public they wait on. When I have to pay almost $60 for a meal for me and my wife I don't want to see a waiter or waitress covered in tattoos of skulls or pot or demons. I don't want to see "I'm gay and proud" shirt buttons at eye level or a LGBTQ colors on a shirt. A nose ring on the person leaning over my food. When employees rights exceed the greater good, then let them find a place they are comfortable working. In recent years I have been shocked by the disregard for the customer and the way some service workers are showing up dressed. If you want to be gay, fine don't put your beliefs in my lunch, if you want to have tattoos and piercings fine, but on your personal time. No more tipping when my waiter looks...

Poorly managed. I feel for all the employees who were forced to work Thanksgiving after being threatened with termination. I was floored when I heard this was happening. Any decent restaurant that chooses to remain open on holidays like Thanksgiving should incentivize those who want to work. Maybe offer them a big bonus for working the holiday. After all, if it’s truly about serving the customer and not making one extra day of profit, wouldn’t you want to give to your employees so gracious for taking time away from their own families to serve your own interests? For some of your employees, that shift will likely be at the same time their own families are gathering. In fact, it might be their only gathering, period. Taking folks away from that is wrong on so many levels. Hot headed managers serving corporate greed being handed down from executives in Lebanon need to understand this and stand up for their staff. There are some wonderful folks working here, but this location will no longer be getting my business as long as management keeps treating their hard-working employees like easily discarded pawns. I have many connections throughout the region and will definitely be very vocal in encouraging anyone looking for employment to go elsewhere. And for those currently working here, it would definitely be worth looking into other job opportunities. There are many other restaurants in Cookeville where you can make much more money doing the exact same job — and they actually have the decency to close on holidays like Thanksgiving....

I placed an online order today around 2:15 after checking out at Kroger. We went straight to Cracker Barrel from Kroger and checked in when we arrived. At 2:52 I called inside and let them know I was outside and had been out there for awhile. The girl said it would be right out. A few mins later a girl comes to the car and says that the chicken is cooking and has about 10 more mins but it will be right out. At 317 I get out go inside and speak to a lady at the register. She asks over the radio the status of my order. She waits a few mins, then notifies a guy working in the store. He walks back to the kitchen, comes back and states the food is ready but they are about to bag it up. He says to give them 5-10 mins. There's approximately 4-5 people working in the gift shop with 4 of them doing nothing. About 10 mins later a lady comes out and asked if Im so and so and asks if I have ever had their chocolate cake. I said no and she said we'll we had to cook fresh chicken so Im going to give you 2 pieces of cake with your order but at least your food will be fresh. Im hot at this point. Another maybe 5 mins goes by and a lady walks out with "my fresh hot chicken and free cake". Keep in mind that I have $150 worth of groceries in my car. It's 338 when I get in my car. I live 2.5 miles away. About 7 mins. Tell me why I get home to eat and EVERY SINGLE ITEM in my whole order is luke warm at best. I didn't even have fresh chicken. But hey I spent my hard earned money and got 2 free...