Crechale's — Restaurant in Jackson

This was our first time here based on rave reviews of locals and packed parking lot whenever we drive by . . . has to be good right? Sorry but from the near-dark lighting, cramped table for three people and obviously short-handed wait staff that took forever to take an order, the visit started out on a negative. My wife wanted the stuffed crab cakes and was told they had no stuffing tonight so all the stuffed items were off the menu. I opted for spaghetti and meatballs (pretty hard to mess that up) as I am not a big seafood person and the veal was also not available. She asked what sides I wanted and offered fries or a baked potato – for spaghetti? When I said neither she said I could have a double salad which was never brought when the other person in the party said I could have his. So pay for it but don’t get it was the motto. When the food arrived, the waitress did not clear the salad plates (now empty) and simply squeezed the food amongst the dirty dishes. She said that the spaghetti was home made . . . don’t buy it. My wife looked at the meatballs and said they were frozen that had been reheated (based on shape and color) and the spaghetti was swimming in water as they had not drained it. After waiting for the waitress to return and not seeing her, I tried to eat it and got in about 3 or 4 bites. When everyone else was done, she came by and asked if I wanted a to go box. If a waitress sees a plate virtually untouched, you would think she would ask if there was something wrong. I had to call her back and point out the issue – her response was that they could drain it and that was it . . . we were done so draining it was not an option 30 minutes after it had been delivered. For $23, it had to have been the worst dish of spaghetti I had ever had even at half the price – IHOP would have been a better option. My wife’s dinner was acceptable but not anything she wanted to go back again for. Overall we found the place to be overpriced, under lit and short staffed. The owner was walking around but I guess once you place your order, he knows to avoid the table. Another local legend that time seems to have passed by . . . glad they remain busy but from someone that travels a good deal and has eaten at a number of top-notch local restaurants, Crechele’s misses the mark for us by...

They used to have great Onion Rings. These were dropped in the fryer before the grease was hot enough. They came out very greasy and not very crisp. So disappointed in because of what they used to be. They didn’t list them, but they were the first thing out of the waitress’s mouth. and I was surprised when I received the check that an order was $16.75.

I don’t think the fried shrimp were fresh or from the Gulf Coast as advertised. Seemed more like frozen farm raised. Very little taste without cocktail sauce.

Dozens of salads were sitting out unrefrigerated waiting on customers. No wonder they had a B rating from the Health Department.

My biggest complaint was how dirty the place seemed. The place is dark so it was hard to tell if the floor was dirty or if it was just booths needing repair. The glass on the display case looked as if it had not been cleaned in years. Decided against the steaks because I could not see them through the display glass. The drink dispenser next to our booth had a chrome side plate. You could tell it had been wiped because of all the swirls and wipe marks. It needed to be cleaned not wiped. The restrooms were clean, but I have seen better at deer camps. Two doors to enter and leave and no way to open either without using your previously clean hand.

Our server brought the Onion Rings out without utensils. Forgot our salads until the entree was delivered. Never asked or brought salad dressing. I guess she was assuming we wanted the Comback sauce which was on the table. I had to ask for cocktail sauce and the assortment of fresh bread was two very hard no bake rolls. She never asked or refilled our water.

20 - 30 years ago this was my favorite restaurant in Jackson. Hard to imagine a place where you had to wait inline to the almost empty restaurant this is today.

The owner did come over after the check was delivered and asked us how we enjoyed our meal. I did not have the heart to tell him. The place was so great when he took it over from his parents. It is now obvious to me that he has not done any upgrading in years and just plans on riding it to it grave which...

Fresh salad not so fresh . so dark you cant see the food . not a great start no salad dressing for unfresh salad. My mistake they do have salad dressing comeback sauce with no lid on bottle wow its definitely not a place to come back to... so dark i probably wont eat it here so i can actually see what im eating Anouther wow ... Table realy wiggly. not shure why a famous place like this is In such bad shape i still cant get over how dark it is its like sitting in a closet... I think i was supposed to get bread at the table but that might be a myth... Definitely not a place i would recommend but we will see how great or Not so great it is...god help me i need a flash light lol 21.75 is the price of the spaghetti with meatballs we will see how great it realy is....Crechales ....lost me at the door. In my own opinion its not romantic, not all that it was hyped up to be not by a long shot. It makes a person wounder if you turned the lights on in here how much dust and dirt there realy is on there walls and floors...would it be a nightmare probably lol. Gotta get it to go i would not chance eating it in the dark ...says something about the place that i never heard...