Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Georgia

Worst Cracker Barrel Ever - Avoid At ALL Costs...

The real reason Cracker Barrell is going to hell and broke is because their customer service and care is non-existent.

I went or tried to go to Cracker Barrel in Cumming GA last night because I wanted chicken and dumplings...

Here's how it actually went...

At approx 8 PM nobody was at the hostess stand and no restaurant employee greeted me or even looked at me... (however the lady in the gift shop did greet me)...

I walked into the diningroom and a middle age lady was "cleaning" a table poorly with windex and a dirty cloth...she did not look up...but said "someone will be with you in a few minutes"...

Maybe 7-10 minutes later someone asked me how many people...

I asked for both a dinner and breakfast menu...the middle age lady gruffly said they are both on one menu now...

The menus choices have shrunk significantly and the prices have gone up...

Someone finally came and took my drink order, Coffee... (no coaster and no drink on the table in 60 seconds or less which used to be mandantory)

I ask for silverware...it arrives, both the fork and the knife have dirty food residue on them

Maybe 10 minutes later my coffee arrived...it was cold...

Nobody brings me clean silverware or cares...

I ask a 3rd person for clean silverware...it eventually arrives and it's dirty too...covered in sticky goo and even larger chunks of food particles

I complained to the middle age lady, because my "server" disappeared...

My coffee was refilled, still Luke warm and watery at best...

Server finally came back to my table - I asked for the signature 4 pieces of chicken with dumplings and pinto beans...she says OK...

3 or 4 minutes later the server comes back and says "I'm sorry but the kitchen says there will be a 20 minute wait for the fried chicken...

I reply will there be a 20 minute wait for the buttermilk chicken as well...server replies "I don't know let me check with the kitchen...

Three minute later the server returns and says "There will be ABOUT a 6 minute wait for that chicken...

I say OK and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait...

20 I ask someone else (a 4th person) for a refill of coffee and more cream...it never arrives...

I disgustedly get up go to the cashier and say "I need to speak to your manager now..."

5 minutes go by -no manager...

I start to walk to the door...a non caring voice from the distance says "you wanted to speak to me..."

I repeat all of the above to the manager...I show him the disgustedly filthy silverware and say "would you eat with these utensils..."

He says "No I wouldn't"...

I say I'm not going to either...

I say this is exactly why I have not eaten here in 3 years...I gave you another chance tonight because I wanted chicken and dumpling...but you failed again, so I won't be back...

All the "manager" did was say "I'm sorry that you feel that way"...and then shrug and walk away...

That is why Cracker Barrel is failing and deserves to fail totally...

I would have given this store a -5 if the choice...

Where to start? We arrived just after 11am with 6 adults. Waited in the hostess area along with others, to put our name on the waiting list. There was no one at the hostess stand for 5-10 minutes. I asked the person at the checkout counter if there was a hostess on duty. Was assured there is someone doing the hostess duties. Finally after another 3-5 minutes a lady comes to the entrance and calls out a few names and of course those people are seated. She returns and does the exact same thing with the same results. This action causes the ones of us not moving or being acknowledged in any fashion to look questionably at each other. Before the “hostess”? Leaves again I ask how do we put our name on the waiting list? She answers me with this, “ I am working the waiting list now.” To which I respond with, “okay, that’s great but I need to add my name to the list, along with the now 10-12 other folks who have formed up behind us. In a very few minutes after this interaction we are finally seated. Apologies are made for the extended wait time. We feel it’s alright we’ll get our breakfast soon and we can get on with our day. WRONG!! THE WAITING HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN! When Mia ,our server, came to our table she was very professional, apologetic and began taking drink orders and brought them in very quick fashion. Mia came back in a few moments to take our breakfast orders of which there was nothing difficult about any of them. There was 2 build your own breakfasts, 2 mommas breakfasts, 1 grandmas sampler and 1 order of gravy and biscuits with a side of bacon. The orders were placed at approximately 12:20pm. After seeing numerous tables of people who were sat after us receiving their food, one of our party asked Mia where our food is? She told him that they (the kitchen) was “cooking one more egg.” This happened at nearly 1pm. ALMOST an hour later and the kitchen is cooking one more egg????? The manager and Mia finally bring our food to the table and place it in front of us. Making apologies all the while. A member of our party looks at his plate and touches his eggs,fried over easy, and tells everyone that everything on his plate is cold and it was. Nothing on anyone’s plate looked as if it had just been cooked. Everyone’s plate looked as though it had been sitting for quite awhile. Needless to say, I feel that there is a management issue at this location at the very least. I will not be back to this location EVER! I will not recommend anyone else to eat here either. In fact I’ll do the opposite and recommend anywhere other than...

On July 4, 2025, l visited the Cracker Barrel located at 675 Buford Highway, Cumming. Georgia (Store #0697) with my 17-year-old grandson, who is profound autistic, nonverbal, and highly sensitive to environmental stressors such as long waits. This experience was not just disappointing -it was harmful. It cannot happen again, not to us or to any other family navigating disability with dignity and respect which is protected under the (ADA) Americans with Disability Act. I have filed a formal complaint with them over this experience. Under ADA guidelines lessening wait time is a resonable accommodation. The staff chose not to invovle a manager nor allow me to explain what profound autism is. This experience was not just disappointing -it was harmful. It cannot happen again, not to us or to any other family navigating disability with dignity and respect which is protected under the (ADA) Americans with Disability Act. I have filed a formal complaint with them over this experience.

Many people with profound autism also have comorbid conditions, like epilepsy, sleep disturbances, or gastrointestinal issues. What Profound Autism Looks Like: Limited or Absent Verbal Communication May be completely non-speaking or use very few words.

May rely on alternative communication methods (e.g., picture boards, AAC devices).

Difficulty understanding or processing spoken language.

Intellectual Disability IQ often below 50–70 (varies).

Difficulty with problem-solving, learning new skills, or understanding abstract concepts.

Severe Adaptive Functioning Challenges May be unable to independently perform basic daily tasks (e.g., dressing, feeding, toileting).

Often requires full-time, lifelong care and supervision.

Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behaviors Head banging, biting, hitting, or other forms of self-harm.

May show aggression toward others when overwhelmed or unable to communicate.

Sensory Processing Difficulties Extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, textures, or smells.

May seek out or avoid certain sensory experiences in intense ways.

Repetitive or Restrictive Behaviors Intense fixation on routines or repetitive actions (e.g., hand-flapping, spinning objects).

Resistance to change can result in distress or meltdowns.

Minimal Awareness of Social Norms or Cues May not respond to name, make eye contact, or engage in reciprocal social interactions.

Lack of interest in peer relationships or joint attention.

I pray that Cracker Barrel corrects this violation of ADA...