Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Henderson

11/5/23 UPDATE: Well, I gave it the old college try. About a year after our previous debacle of a meal I thought we'd give it another shot...

...but, I was seated immediately at 1:20pm. At 1:35pm I just gave up and walked out. I never did have someone stop by my table to take an order, tell me "I'll be right with you", nothing. And they weren't that busy.

Went to Denny's, sat at the bar, and was immediately greeted and served.

Oh, well, Cracker Barrel. This is the 3rd strike. I'm done with you.

Not very good. We were a party of 4 and visited about 6:30pm tonight. Quick summary:

One member of our party got her sandwich and fries 10 minutes before anyone else got their food. As ketchup is no longer already on the table, that member of our party asked the server for ketchup as soon as their order came (to at least go ahead and start eating her fries before they got cold). No ketchup was provided until after everyone else got their food 10 minutes later. Food portions were super small. My spouse ordered the turkey and dressing dinner. It came with a single 3"x3" piece of turkey. The sides were small as well and all of it had obviously been sitting in the window for a while and were cold/stiff. My pinto beans and Mac and cheese sides were cold. My chicken and dumplings side actually had a film over it due to how cold it was. It was obvious the 3 orders that came out 10 minutes after our companion's sandwich had been ready to bring out but simply sat for those 10 minutes instead.

At $51 this was a horrible meal and value. None of us plan on going back anytime soon

Now, with that said, we don't blame the server. It was obvious she was overworked, had too many tables, and that the place -- like everywhere it seems -- is severely understaffed.

I blame management (corporate and otherwise).

UPDATE: You'll note that my review, and several others, have a generic reply from corporate asking us to email them with more information (as if my review isn't descriptive enough). Long story short, I did email them. I got back a free dessert coupon via email. That's just insulting. I never asked for anything but if I owned the business I'd say, "Come back up and have dinner on us. We'll show you we can do better and you just had an off experience with us last time. That's not how we do business and take care of customers.". But no...a free dessert. Gee, thanks. That really makes me want to blow another $60 and have this experience all over again on the hope that things will be different...so I can get my free dessert. Poor management and guest relations....

Well, butter my biscuit, y'all! Let me tell you 'bout this little slice of Southern heaven called Cracker Barrel. Now, if you're hankering for some good ol' down-home cookin', this place is where you need to be.

From the moment you step foot on that front porch, you're greeted with the sweet melodies of chirping birds and the creak of those iconic rocking chairs. It's like being welcomed into Grandma's house, where the aromas of comfort food waft through the air, beckoning you closer.

Now, let's talk about the food, darlin'. You won't find any fancy-schmancy dishes here, but what you will find is a mouthwatering selection of Southern classics that'll make your taste buds do a little happy dance. Whether it's their crispy fried chicken that's been seasoned to perfection or their melt-in-your-mouth country ham, every bite feels like a warm embrace from Mama herself.

And let's not forget about their breakfast spread! Oh my stars, their fluffy buttermilk biscuits are a thing of beauty. Slather 'em with some creamy butter and smother 'em in rich sausage gravy, and you've got yourself a breakfast fit for a king. And don't even get me started on their golden, syrup-drenched pancakes that are as light as a feather.

Now, the ambiance, y'all—it's like stepping back in time. The rustic decor, the charming knick-knacks, and the cozy fireplaces create an atmosphere that's as comforting as a Sunday afternoon spent sippin' sweet tea on the porch swing. And don't forget to mosey on over to their gift store, where you can find all sorts of trinkets and treats to bring a little Southern flair back home.

But you know what truly sets Cracker Barrel apart? It's the hospitality, honey. The friendly smiles, the genuine warmth, and the good-hearted folks who make you feel like family. They'll take care of you, make sure your glass is never empty, and treat you like a long-lost cousin comin' home.

So, if you're yearning for a taste of Southern comfort and a heaping dose of hospitality, Cracker Barrel is the place to be. It's a little slice of Southern paradise where the food is as delicious as a sweet tea on a hot summer day, and the ambiance feels like a warm embrace from the South itself.

Y'all better believe I'll be comin' back for more. Thank you kindly, Cracker Barrel, for keepin' the Southern spirit alive, one...

I tell you what, I don't know what is going on at Cracker Barrel (Henderson, KY) but the FOOD is not good. We chose to eat there on Sunday, 4/6/25 after church and both my husband and my drinks were not quite right (Coke) lacked carbonation, sweet tea had a weird taste, both were quickly replaced by our server. Our server got our drinks out quickly even after making the switch, but our FOOD is a different story. It took SO LONG our server stopped by our table to assure us our food would be coming shortly, it didn't. When our food was FINALLY served it was probably the worst meal we've ever eaten there, and we SHOULD have asked for a manager. My adult daughter ordered chicken nuggets/mashed potatoes (no gravy) and corn. The mashed potatoes were HARD AS A BRICK and CLUMPY, just disgusting and the chicken nuggets were OVER- breaded with corn meal AND over-cooked. Our server quickly replaced the Potatoes with green beans at my daughter's request. My Grilled Lemon Pepper Trout was (for the FIRST TIME EVER) downright NASTY. Just lemon-pepper seasoning sprinkled all over it but no real grilled flavor AT ALL. My green beans/sweet carrots/sour dough bread was fine. My husband's 4 pc chicken was hot and good according to him, but his potatoes were the same clumpy mess that my daughters were even WITH gravy. His green beans were fine as well. It was a TRASH meal, and I regret I didn't take pics of that mess. Our server was great (none of this was HER fault, she doesn't cook the food) and we tipped her IN CASH accordingly, in the hope that the KITCHEN/COOK who sent that TRASH meal out to us didn't get one dime. Because of this experience we have decided to " pause" dining in or ordering take-out from the Henderson, Ky Cracker Barrel location. The food was BAD it was REALLY bad. (EDIT)Spoke with a Manager this morning 4/7/25 who comped us 3 meals for next time to keep our business. Good...