Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Macon

The waitress was nice but not attentive at ALL. We were there at about 7:45pm on a Sunday. We didn't realize they closed at 9pm until we were actually there. My husband and I felt bad about being there so close to closing time but they assured us that it was not a problem. It was the first time we had gone to Cracker Barrel in a long time. We were going to bring the entire 8 member family on Wednesday if everything went well that night. Unfortunately, I can't say that it did. We are not complainers most of the time. First, we ordered drinks and waited a while for them. Then, after the first drink (that was gone by the time food got to the table) we had to ask for refills that we had to wait on for a bit more. There were only three other tables seated so we didn't feel like that was too busy for them. Second, when the food came to the table the waitress didn't mention the biscuits or corn muffins we were supposed to get, we had to ask someone else. She says, we're out of white gravy do you want brown gravy instead? My husband had ordered the country fried steak. He said, oh no that's the best part! He settled for brown gravy. Then he had to ask about his side, pinto beans. She says, oh we're out of pinto beans do you want anything else? He got the okra. The food was already cold by the time that got to the table. The okra was hard and cold. Looked old as well. She let me know that they were out of Italian dressing then forgot to bring the dressing I asked for anyway. I did finally get it. She proceeds to bring me my refill in a small to go cup. We felt rushed at this point. Then, my husband asks for a refill and she says, just a minute she's making it now. She comes back to the table where my husband asks again for his drink and says, it looks like she's not going to make anymore. Do you want lemonade? WOW. That's all I can say. This visit was not what it should've been. We were excited to go and we were hungry. It was disappointing. The waitress was nice and we understand that a lot of what happened wasn't any fault of her own but she could've let us know ahead of bringing the food to the table about the sides so that the food would at least have been warm, and keep up with...

First let me say: I love Cracker Barrel; I enjoy going to my local store and have always had good experiences visiting different stores while traveling. Until yesterday at the Macon Cracker Barrel, when my husband and I had an awful experience. We walked in around 8:40pm and were seated immediately. We had been driving for 12 hours and we both were thirsty and ready for a nice meal. The restaurant was not near capacity. One waitress was busy wiping down tables and clearing some dishes away. She stopped to wipe a table right next to us; did not meet our eyes or acknowledge us in any way. We sat for 15 minutes, waiting for someone to at least take our drink order. Finally, an apologetic waitress came out and said the manager had called 2 meetings. Ok. Fine. She took our full order, drinks & food (bowl of chicken & dumpling soup and salad for me, fried cod dinner for husband). It is now 9pm. We got our ice water a few minutes later. At 9:25, our apologetic waitress comes out to tell us "no fish". It took 25 minutes for her to figure that out. Husband is perturbed, says nothing for him. Waitress says don't you want the slaw & corn you ordered? No, he doesn't, not without the fried fish. OK, I'll have to take it off the bill. YES, please do. We wait another 10 minutes for my soup & salad; during this time another couple has arrived, wanting to order the cod. Their waitress apologizes, sorry no cod -- do you want catfish? WHAT?! Why didn't our waitress offer the catfish? She said " no fish". This was such a frustrating visit. My meal was very good, except the cornbread muffins were cold, and the butter was frozen and we had a hard time gettingdrink refills. The place was NOT BUSY. As we were getting ready to leave, our waitress was clearing our table already. Clearly, the staff were focused on getting out the door, and didn't care about the experience that they were hoisting onto customers. When we paid our bill at the register, the cashier asked how everything was. I told her not very good. She said she was sorry, but didn't offer to call the manager. Obviously, nobody gives a good gosh-darn at this Cracker Barrel store. Avoid it. Go anyplace else. I wish...

During my last visit there, the meal was okay but the service, not so much. The waitress took our order & someone else brought the meal out when it was ready. We ended up seeing the waitress 15 minutes into our meal when she filled my glass with water. The friend that I was having lunch with ordered a glass of tea & not once did anyone inquire about refilling his glass.

The next time we saw the waitress, she placed the check on the table & left. We sat at the table for approximately 20 to 25 minutes longer, just catching up on old times and we observed the waitress walk by on several occasions but she didn't bother checking in on us once & we eventually left the area.

As we were leaving, my friend was about to leave a tip but I stopped him simply because the service was terrible & didn't warrant a one. The only tip this young lady needs is that someone needs to teach her how to enhance her customer service skills.

There is a possibility that the young lady may or may not have felt slighted due to neither of us leaving a tip on the table. A tip is not automatic & is typically offered as a thank you for taking care of the table. If you have no personality whatsoever & do the bare minimum, you should expect nothing in return.

I know some days are more challenging than others but if you desire a gratuity, you should at least put those that patronize the establishment in the frame of mind to where they are happy to do so. I hope that was just a bad day for her & not typical behavior on her part but that still is no excuse for her service...