Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Indianapolis

I am typing this review with a clear head, & a calm heart...

This was hands down the worst experience I have EVER had at any restaurant (casual/fast/fine)

When my family arrived, we were told there would be a 20-minute wait. No problem at all. We're very patient. Unfortunately for us, though, that's when the horrendous service began.

The two female hosts who were in over their heads couldn't find seating for us for over 40 minutes. Again, our family is very patient, but slowly, that patience began to dwindle. The manager approached the two hosts & said, "You know we've had multiple tables in the back open for a while now." This came as a shock to these two and myself mainly because they both went to check for tables multiple times. Again, they were in over their head. It's very strenuous seating people.

Next, after we were seated, I informed the server that came to our two booths that we would be ready to put our order in since we had ample time to browse the menu while waiting in que. I was given the response of, "I will take your drink order first."...okay, as if we haven't waited long enough already, I'll politely play along.

After our server returned with our drinks, we were finally allowed to put in our order. After we were met with a very rude, "What can I get you?" (Believe me, I understand tone of voice) we all proceeded to give our order.

Now the cook time didn't take forever, but the skillet of cinnamon rolls that came out were completely burned, my steak was cold, & I kid you not we waited 20+ minutes for refils on our chocolate milk. By the time our server came out with 2 cartons of chocolate milk, I was already telling the manager that they needed to cancel those and remove them from my bill. The real kicker is we had been waiting even long for the first refill that we asked for that never came.

I know what you're thinking, "Oh, they must have been busy, or super understaffed...

Y'all, I've been in customer service/hospitality my ENTIRE life. They had multiple servers standing around with their backs to the wall, watching paint dry.

Let me put this into perspective before you think I am just some ungrateful customer who has no patience or understanding for people in the service industry.

My family and I are headed back from an 8 day road trip down to Florida. We stopped in at a Chili's in Florida, & at this time, they only had 2 servers on and 1 cook. We were informed that they were short staffed after we asked to be sat on the other side of the restaurant because it fit our family of 6 better. They let us know they were short staffed so it might take longer for service to make it over by us. I reassured them that it wouldn't be an issue at all.

When our server came to the table, we were ready to order our drinks & food. This makes their life so much easier, it gets us our food faster, & it allows the space we were in to be opened up and re seated in a timely manner. This is something that our server & this locations management team fail to understand.

Now our food came out fast, hot, & fresh. I commended the server on the speed, & I said they must be staffed up in the kitchen, she informed me there was only 1 cook, but the manager hopped on the line to help out...Again something I didn't see here.

Now this isn't going to sit well with many of you, & I promise you it's the first time I have ever been forced to do this. My principles couldn't allow me to do anything else.

We were handed our $76 bill, and my wife asked me what I would like to leave for a tip... I responded with, "What they earned." $0.00

Now our bill at Chili's was $75...I left a $50 tip. We had the best service you could ask for, especially when you take into consideration their staffing situation.

I religiously tip 25-30%, & 15% no matter what. I don't want to hear, "well you don't know what that person's going through." Blah blah, your problems get left at that door before you walk in. I am still in awe at how horrible our experience was here from start to finish. The management...

My husband and I have been at Cracker Barrel often, and this particular Cracker Barrel the most. However tonight was especially stellar. First of all the cashier closest to the door greeted us as we walked, and there was just something extra welcoming about it. I just wanted to walk over to him and have a friendly conversation for no reason at all, other than to be...well...friendly.

Then when we were seated our waiter, Roc, immediately made a comment about my t-shirt. I'm a huge fan of Howl's Moving Castle and other geeky things, and I was wearing a shirt representing this. So, immediately I knew I was already going to be happy with him being our waiter for the night.

My husband and I both ordered the seasonal Sugar Plum Tea, and when he claimed he wasn't sure they had any currently. I made sure to stress that I hoped they did, but I would be happy with a Dr. Pepper if not. He came back and brought out large to go cups full of the Sugar Plum Tea, and told me he made it himself!

My husband ordered the two entrée Classic Sampler, and I ordered my normal which is the Chicken Fried Chicken. I will say that there was a slip up, and I ended up with the fried apples instead of the dumplings. But I wasn't bothered by this at all; the supper crowd was just starting to roll in, so I'm sure it was just an unintentional slip up. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't that big of a deal and Roc corrected it right away.

Also, when we ordered our meals I made an off hand comment about how when it came to the biscuits I was probably just going to dunk them in my mashed potatoes and gravy. I'm not the kind of person to make things harder for anyone, but Roc was thoughtful enough to bring the gravy on the side. (I might order it this way from here on out, to be honest, but then again I might refrain just because I don't like making things more difficult for people, as I already stated before.)

I need to also add that the chicken was the best chicken I ever had from there. I wouldn't say it has ever been bad, but this time it was exceptionally succulent. Cooked to absolute perfection! (I wish I had taken pictures of it, but I didn't think of it at the time.)

I need to also add that I noticed how much Roc was doing aside from waiting on his tables. He bussed the booth closest to us. Stoked the fire and added more firewood. I don't think I ever saw him just standing still.

Before we left he got a pitcher of more Sugar Plum Tea and topped off our drinks.

When we left we checked out with the same cashier that greeted us when we walked in the door. He also pointed out my shirt, and if it weren't for the fact they were busy I would have just wanted to gab for a minute. (Unfortunately, I didn't think to look...

TLDR: Grumpy old lady is rude.

I walked in yesterday for pick up and a man from the kitchen came out cheerfully BOH: ‘Did ya order take out?’ Me:‘Sure did.. the roast beef’ BOH: ‘oh yours is comin up next!’ With a smile 2 mins later… BOH: ‘James!’ Walks out again hands me my bag Me: ‘thank you’ sets bag on counter to make sure there are utensils cause I don’t have any in my hotel room.

Grump:’What do YOU need?!’ Me: matter of fact ‘I could use some utensils to eat my food with please’ Grump: bends over to the drawer, silently hand me utensils Me: ‘thank you’

I don’t waste my time returning negative energy.

Today I walked in and see my food on the shelf already and grump standing guard. Decide I stand off to the side because she has a line of people who already ate and are checking out between her and another person. I don’t quite understand why she isn’t acknowledging me and the other person also standing there clearly waiting for something. Still standing there. I get there’s a line.. there are two of you. The objective isn’t to make people wait it’s to keep moving back and forth helping everyone. Stop ignoring us.

I went over to the host stand cause I see the two of them aren’t busy. I say I see my food up on the shelf and I wanna grab it. With smiles they said yeah just go over there.. I replied and get it? They said yeah.

I went over and picked up my bag and drink. I stepped aside to the cart with the battery tote and set my bag down to once again make sure there’s utensils.

Grumpy final decides it’s time to interact. G: what are you doing Me: the hostess said I could come get this, you were busy G: that’s not how this works Me:ok sorry I spoke to hostess and she said I should just come over here… it’s fine you were busy. G: that’s not right Me: may I please have utensils G:silently drops them in bag while looking the other way. Me: thank you.

What’s her deal? I get she’s busy and can’t get to me that’s ok.. it’s ok that I ordered food and see my food and would like my food. It’s ok if hostess shouldn’t have said that or maybe could have walked over to help. The other cashier was helping the line you could helped us waiting for takeout. But YOU all didn’t do that stuff. Don’t punish me I ordered food walked in gave you the chance to do what you gotta do. You showed me you don’t gotta help me so I made sure I could help myself.

Why are you coming at me? You want me to fix it? Give me 12 minutes and your full attention…I’ll stop by tomorrow and teach you how to help everyone in the building at the same time.

First tip.. Once someone walks through the front door they do not get ignored. Great them,...