Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Flagstaff

Before I start, it should be mentioned that by far, the main dish that I always order when visiting a cracker barrel - regardless of the situation - is their famous chicken and dumplings. The continuity of the flavor and texture is comparable to McDonald's and their name to fame burger. As far as restaurants go, this dish spreads across Oklahoma, Arizona and California as a dish that tastes similar regardless of where you are purchasing it, and I believe that that is very important - at least to me! During this visit, we were in Flagstaff purchasing a Christmas tree, late, I know, but it had to be done before the week ended. We only had one hour to get lunch, so we considered a drive-thru restaurant, but instead finally opted for eating in at this cracker barrel location, and boy... I'm glad we did. It should go without saying, the chicken and dumplings were off the hook, absolutely phenomenal! The steamed vegetables that I chose as my sides were delicious and perfectly cooked. The carrots, green beans, broccoli -- everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked beautifully! My food partner at the time had the loaded potato, which was paired with a grilled cheese sandwich. Sadly, I cannot vouch for their grilled cheese sandwich because regardless of how crispy the bread was on the outside the cheese inside was unmelted and cold, two very big no-no's in my book. The potato was good, loaded heavily, which is always nice. Our drinks were tasty, and the server was a very nice person. we asked her what the wait time the food was being expedited, and she guaranteed 10 to 15 minutes, and the cooks followed suit. The only complaint that I will be having during this visit, is that the bread was horrible. We tried both the cornbread and the buttermilk biscuits, and they were ridiculously dry and tasteless, which was surprising! Every other time I've had any of their bread, it's been delicious, warm, and the texture has been really good. It must have been an old batch or an overcooked batch, regardless of what it was, it shouldn't have happened... But at the time, I did not complain to the waitress, only because we did not have the aloted time. Cracker barrel still remains one of my favorite comfort food restaurants regardless, I'm pretty sure this was just a one-time mishap. Thank you to the Flagstaff team at...

To be honest the service has kind of been going downhill there for a hot minute. Yesterday was just dumb. I usually go in when there are very few people and yesterday was no exception. I asked for a breakfast menu, and table facing the fireplace. A favorite experience there. Up walks this person who seemed like seating me was the last thing they wanted to do, including exasperated sigh upon walking up to me. There were a couple tables to choose from. I asked for a specific one because it was clean, had a better view of the fire place than the one I was sat at. My view was obscured by a family of 4. The table right next to me was clean and ready and about the same size. Would have been fine. The other one I spied would have been great and again I was told no. The person told me that they were going on some sort of schedule and that they wanted to save that for a group (plenty of other group sized tables around me). It was the same size as the table I was sat at. I didn't see a reason for it. 15 minutes later someone else sits there and didn't seem to be interested in the view. another 5 and someone takes the seat right next to me. All in all, there was no need for them to argue over where I sat as it all seemed so arbitrary. And the more I questioned it, the more they got irritated. I wasn't being rude or the like, they just seemed like they didn't want to be seating me in the first place and made sure I knew with this insistent adherence to their arbitrary pattern. Given a lunch menu after I asked for a breakfast one. No biggie, I walked up and grabbed a breakfast one. angry look for doing so from the person who sat me down originally. From that point on every time they looked at me, they had a look on their face like I said something wrong. So, the food was great. Every bite. They goofed on part of it but immediately made right on it and the waitress was AWESOME! But...my dear friends...if there are several tables of the same size that are clean and someone comes in and asks for one...just sit them there. The aesthetic is 50% of the experience and I love coming there. This has been a growing problem. Maybe just talk to the folks there about how they can sublimate...

I am disappointed to have to leave this review. Our table of 8 (two biracial families with 4 adults, 4 kids) were told that our kids could not play with a second golf tee game because only one was allowed per table. After pointing out that the table behind us had THREE games being unused, the waitress went as far as to proudly take the game off the empty table and bring it to the back so our kids could not use it.

After removing the game, she proceeded to speak with another worker out in the open about us, laughing and making a mockery of the situation while looking directly at our table.

I approached the second worker to ask if we could have another game—I also told her how our families felt like the waitress took the game so we would not “steal” it off the empty table. She said she would speak with the worker and get us a new game. She left and never came back to our side of the restaurant.

I eventually asked our waitress for a second game for the kids and without thinking twice she grabbed one off an empty table. The two people from our group who were declined the extra game were black. I was given a second game board without thought.

As my husband was returning from the bathroom, the girls were gathered at the front desk talking about how I talked to one of them “as if I thought they were going to do something about it.”

Between that and the waitstaff peeking out from the kitchen to giggle and look at our table, we felt extremely disrespected and uncomfortable.

Our waitress told us that the reason for our food taking so long (well over an hour) was because the kitchen was backed up, even though people around us were receiving their food. Our food came out not warm, burnt, and the gravy had coagulated on one of the meals. All 4 adults did not feel comfortable eating the food we were given after the behavior of the waitresses and their actions peeking out of the kitchen to giggle at our table and making comments to the staff in the back.

We spoke with a manager who offered to comp the meal and give us food to go. We declined.

Literally wasted 1.5+ hours of our time waiting for food and didn’t feel comfortable eating it.

It’s 2022– come on, Cracker...