Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Melbourne

There was a time when Cracker Barrel's chicken tenders were a high point in my gastronomic adventures. Those days, however, seem to have been traded for today's lesser experience. During my recent visit to their Melbourne location, the beloved chicken tenders bore little resemblance to the familiar crispy morsels I once cherished. Instead, they were replaced by peculiar rolled-up versions of what they used to be, leaving me a bit taken aback.

Service too, seemed to have taken a plunge down memory lane, but not in the nostalgic way one might hope. As a patron from a time when service was paramount, the lack of attentive waitstaff was a glaring change. A long-forgotten tradition of waiters and waitresses persistently checking on their customers seems to have been misplaced. I found myself constantly refilling my own drink, and my to-go order somehow evaporated into thin air, forgotten or perhaps lost in the hustle.

I regret to say that my favorite establishment appears to be slipping from the pedestal it once held. The once impeccable food quality seems to be dwindling and the staff's attentiveness dissipating. The Cracker Barrel I remember, it seems, is no longer quite the same.

But it's not all a case of 'out with the old'. The restaurant still retains some of its familiar coziness and old-world charm. It remains a place where one can enjoy a quiet meal in a comfortable atmosphere. And there's a part of me that holds onto the hope that they will rediscover the passion and quality that once made them a standout.

For now, however, Cracker Barrel's Palm Bay location garners a middling three-star review. I hope that they take it as constructive criticism and work to restore the luster that once made them shine so brightly. I, for one, would be more than delighted to revise my rating upwards, should the future bring about a...

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 1175 Palm Bay Rd, Melbourne, FL 32905

2- Stars (Chain Restaurant Review)

While they've been around since 1969, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, known colloquially as Cracker Barrel exploded about 25 years or so ago and began popping up all over the country. Whether you were in Sop Choppy, FL, or French Lick, IN you always got a consistent 4-star meal. Everything on the menu seemed delicious, and you couldn't go wrong.

Apparently, things have either changed chain wide or just the one I visited on Palm Bay Rd as I did not have that experience. My waitstaff was Melissa. Melissa is a 4-star apron all the way. I kid, she was sluggish and somewhat inattentive, reminiscent of a Xenopus stuck in the mud. At first, I thought it was due to the early hour on the clock, but Melissa may be ready to throw in the towel. Even Tom Brady knew when to hang up the cleats (albeit a year late).

I ordered the Build Your Own Home Style Breakfast with Hamburger Steak (redundant?), hash brown casserole, grits, biscuits and a slice of grilled sourdough. I eased my bulk back into my chair, snapped a few pictures and waited for Melissa to return with my grub. While everything looked as it should, downright delicious, that's about where the old Cracker Barrel stopped. The saving grace here and the reason for the 2 stars is the hamburger steak and grits saved the day, but not by much. The slice of sourdough, requested grilled, was obviously toasted and burnt at that. The hash brown casserole tasted like last night's leftovers haphazardly thrown together and microwaved. I also assume the same can be said for the biscuits as Matthew Tkachuck could use them for practice (go Panthers!).

The Big Boy says, “WT heck happened here? 10 plus times of sliding quality and miserable waitstaff. Skip it until things...

Had to have my phone looked at today with AT&T store in Hammock Landings. Decided to go to Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. I haven't been there in a long, long time. I wanted Chicken and Dumplings, have not had any in years. I was greeted at the host stand by a young man named Sam H. who will also be my server. Sam was extremely pleasant and accommodating talking about specials while seating me. He took my beverage order right away and also suggested some as well. He popped right back with my beverage and gave me time to peruse the menu. I selected Chicken & Dumplings and a side of broccoli. There was a lot of chicken under the dumplings, yummm, and the broccoli was cooked perfectly with a little crunch. 2 biscuits fresh and hot followed moments later. Sam H. never hovered over me. He was attentive yet gave me plenty of time to eat. While I boxed up my left overs I asked Sam how he came to chose the hospitality industry for work. He explained his father is the GM of the Viera Cracker Barrel and helped with obtaining a job at the Palm Bay location. Sam mentioned he was 18yrs old and is attending FIT next months to take flight trainng classes in hopes to become an airline pilot. I congratulated Sam on his choice of career and explained I am in the Industry, that his customer service skills were perfect. I was so impressed with Sam. He is NOT your typical 18 yr old. He looked me in the eye when conversing. He spoke to me, not at me Sam also told me he will continue to work on weekends at Cracker Barrel while attending school. It is very apparent he was raised in the Hospitality industry and has parents who are hands on.👏🏼 He dropped my check he said I may not be here when you leave but I wish you a blessed day. Man, I love that Sam H.💙 Thank you to his mom and dad for raising a...