Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Denver

I'm not sure how to say this and make it make sense but here goes.

This place was OVER staffed. There were WAY too many people on the service floor and in the retail shop. I literally felt like a mouse being watched by a flock of birds. I don't mean it in a mean way, but for me it was a bit uncomfortable.

Now to the atmosphere. It wasn't super busy when we got there. Parking wasn't super bad, and the retail store was very packed with staff. There was plenty of seating but I feel there could have been a tiny bit more space between the tables.

The service and wait staff. We had two waitresses for our group of 9. Both took a half of the table and we got our drinks ordered. At this time there were about 5 or 6 tables actually dining at that time so I really couldn't understand why it took some time for drinks to come out as they had a plethora of people. Our waitresses were pleasant and had a good attitude. Still not sure why they had such a long delay for the food as the restaurant was not very busy at all.

Now to the food. We had ordered a variety of items from fish to meatloaf to fried chicken and dumplings. I do have to say I was quite unpleasantly surprised at how hard and dry and sandy the corn muffins were. Three weeks later they became raccoon food as nobody in my house would eat them. This was very out of character as I had eaten at several other Cracker Barrel's in Texas and Oklahoma and remembered how good the biscuits and corn muffins were. That was not the case here. The chicken was also described as dry. I myself went with some softer foods like meatloaf and dumplings as such. I found that my plate had a good flavor to the different entrees. They did forget my side of corn and I had to ask for it again. The biscuits really held their own, so if they ask if you want corn or biscuits, go for the biscuits.

The dessert. As everyone was rather full, we decided to get dessert to go. We wanted to order 3 different desserts, a s'mores skillet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the beignet biscuit bites. I was told that I couldn't order the s'mores skillet or the peach cobbler because it has ice cream and they wouldn't be able to send it to go. I asked why they simply couldn't put the ice cream in a separate cup and the waiter went to ask the manager if that was ok. After getting the dessert to go and having some at home, my son said that the s'mores skillet was good as was the peach cobbler. I didn't get to eat the biscut beignets until later but they were also good, probably better if they had been warm but that was on me.

Overall, I sadly was not really impressed with the way the service was running based on how long the food took to come out as slow as it was at that time of day. Again, it felt way over staffed and there were more people working then eating. I would probably eat there again just to see if anything has changed but only if I'm out...

Seated right away and waitress appeared shortly after. Ordered white cheese bites for starter, two beef campfire entrees, beans and greens, iced tea, pink lemonade and iced smores latte.

The iced smores latte - I warned my teenager it would taste like coffee and he still wanted to try it. He didn't like it (not surprised) and to me it was just ok. Tasted like a latte with some chocolate syrup, could make better at a gas station.

The cheese bites came out with everything else, I thought it would be an appetizer. I did say "to start with" but should have made clear we wanted them out first. They were cold on the inside, the cheese was still firm and the outside lukewarm. The waitress took them back right away and came back with some that weren't really hot but at least the cheese was kind of melted and had lost that "squeaky" quality when we bit into them. I wouldn't get them again but my son finished them so he enjoyed them well enough.

The beef campfire meals were SO good. Everything is tender and the sauce is delicious. Would definitely go back for those! These were 5 star entrees.

The beans had been sitting under a warmer it seemed because they had a skin on the top. They taste like slightly upgraded canned refried beans and look nothing like the picture, there were a few whole beans but mostly mush. The greens were very dried out but had a nice flavor. Had to ask for the side of chow chow relish that is supposed to come with it, more out of curiosity because I've never been and wanted to try it. No vinegar came with it as mentioned on the menu but I was already feeling like a pain and didn't ask.

The biscuits were hot and fluffy, not bad at all.

The pink lemonade was nice and tart.

The service was ok. No straw with the pink lemonade and it was just kind of plunked down as she walked by so not worth it to call after her for one. The previous straw has been used in the smores latte so couldn't be reused in a lemonade. A server wouldn't notice cold cheese bites of course but should've noticed the skin on the top of the beans and the very dry greens without the sides it was supposed to come with before it came out.

We had a ton of food left and were brought two small to go boxes that obviously wouldn't fit everything and she looked exasperated and sighed when I requested two more. My ice tea was refilled promptly and I didn't have to wait forever for food. Not great, not bad, just meh.

The shop was fun and the woman running the register was super friendly and very nice to talk to. The hostess was also very friendly and sweet.

Overall, it was only worth it for the campfire entrees and the shop. Meal was about 70ish, left 20% tip and spent about 30 in the shop. If we go back we'll skip the sides and appetizers for sure and stick with an...

I will preface this review by saying that I LOVE Cracker Barrel. I used to frequent one in a different city at least four times a month, then I moved to the Denver Metro area. The one in Thornton provided the worst food and service I have ever experienced in my life, so I was happy to see this new location open. I attempted to visit this location over the weekend, but there was no parking available anywhere, so the parking situation is terrible if it's rush breakfast/lunch hours. We were seated quickly and our waiter was attentive and kind. The new Cracker Barrel atmosphere is reminiscent of a depressed 50-year-old. I really wish they had not altered/updated their decor. The place was mostly clean, though there were crumbs on the thick table legs where we were seated. The food took a looooong time to come out considering they were not very busy in the restaurant area. The pancakes/breakfast food was very tasty, but the meatloaf fell apart and resembled mush as soon as you cut it and the brown gravy tasted like it came from a packet. I appreciated our waiter, a young person named Billy. I quickly paid for our meal and looked forward to shopping. The shopping experience was rather annoying as you are heavily watched and bothered by employees while you shop. Since I don't get to Cracker Barrel much, I typically enjoy my shopping there. However, we felt hounded as we walked around the store. Between my mother and I shopping, we were asked if we needed assistance 12+ times with people seeming to know what I was talking about, so I was obviously being watched. There were people bringing us items to consider and others who just seemed to be watching us as we shopped. It felt like it was beyond providing good customer service and more like suspicion of us as patrons. I am someone who does not like to be bothered, period, much less when I'm shopping so this did not make me happy. The merchandise selection is on the small side as this in the smallest location I have seen for a Cracker Barrel. Between the meal and purchases I spent just under $304.00 and that's on the low end for me at Cracker Barrel, so I don't like leaving somewhere feeling annoyed. I'm willing to give them another try in the future, but left annoyed by the shopping experience. Many people enjoy looking around as they shop, so perhaps have your employees not appear to be profiling and/or upselling the customers as a good...