Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Meridian

Every time I go in here, there's a long wait for food. We have to wait forever on refills in those tiny drinking glasses they use. They have 3 tables in the middle section side by side, so it's like you're eating with 2 other families. Cramming you up on top of other people when there are 100 empty tables in there. There's no need to crowd that many people together like that. The food quality has gone way down hill. Even the bread, I don't know what they call themselves doing to these poor "biscuits" anymore.

They harass the hell out of you in the gift shop. The last time I was in there, I was standing there by the restrooms shopping thinking my wife had paid our ticket online. She had gotten up to go to the restroom while I was still eating. I thought she had paid online. I got done eating, went and stood waiting on her to come out of the restroom and the dining room staff people are eyeballing me and coming up to me, shouting across the room SIR SIR! You forgot your ticket. Shouting at me about paying my ticket. I'm just standing there waiting and shopping. Or I was! When my wife comes out of the restroom, she informs me she started paying buy had to get up to go to the restroom so she hadn't paid it yet. No problem. I have the ticket in my hand. So we walk up to the counter to pay but the entire time they're standing up my ass. For what? I'm not trying to run out the door or anything. I'm standing in your restaurant and gift shop, trying to shop and spend more money. It'd been different if I was like running for the door or something. But I'm just shopping! So we pay, now I've got someone else trying to get me to buy Easter stuff I don't want. I got someone else all in my ear about 40% off stuff they're pushing.

I didn't buy anything I was going to buy. My wife was so irritated she didn't even want to look at anything anymore, so we paid for our food and left. They need to put these people in the kitchen getting food out and drinks filled instead of running around aggravating people to buy things.

The last time I was in there, was a to-go order. I sat in the parking lot with my car running for 45 minutes past pickup time, still had to go in and get it. They had 3 people standing around doing nothing in the gift shop area. You're not going to sell things in a gift shop harassing people to buy them. They'll buy it if it's something they like, and is good quality at an affordable price. Not because someone pestered the hell out of them the entire time.

This Meridian location is a joke. I have a pleasurable experience at any other...

Let me start by saying my favorite place to eat on long road trips is Cracker Barrel. In completing over 15 700+ mile road-trips, I've stopped at about 30+ Cracker Barrel, and I've never regretted stopping for a meal till I visited this location. For those of you who travel like me and my family, let me quickly let you know to ask for a table THAT IS NOT SERVICED BY MS SARAH. we reached at around 10 am on Sunday, was seated quickly by the hostess (I was surprised as on Sundays, theres usually at least a 30 minute wait). After being seated, we watched 5 other families of 3 or more be seated , greeted by their server, and orders taken. Around 10:15 I asked who our server and was told that it was "Ms. Sarah" and that she will be with us. Over the next 10-15 minutes, Ms Sarah (their names are written on their apron) passed us several times greeting and taking orders of pretty much every family seated around us. Finally at 10:40, I locked eyes with an older African American waitress twice and she came over and took our orders. The meal for my 6 yo came out quickly as did our drinks. Then our meals arrived around 11 am, with my wife's biscuits being way over done and her sausage patties being undercooked. My French toast and chicken was not very warm but I was super hungry and just scarfed it down. We were so upset with the service, we ate and left in under 15 minutes. What should have taken at most 45 minutes took an additional 45 minutes. After standing up, I noticed that every family around us that Ms Sarah served were Caucasian, as was Ms Sarah. The other serving staff were all African American (including the one who stepped in for Ms Sarah) and they each diligently took greeted, took orders and served both Caucasian, African American and Hispanic families. I don't want to call Ms Sarah racist outright, but I cannot for the life of me understand how she missed us several times, even when I called out to her to get her attention. While I will continue to be a patron of other cracker barrels, I will avoid this one...

Most of the staff was nice. They were some what accommodating also. I had a party of 15 people, family, come and gather to eat. We had a death in the family and came after the funeral. I called about two hours ahead of time and asked if they would be able to handle that big of a party. After several transfers, I finally spoke with a manager who said they would be able to seat us. At the time of the call I stated we would have 30 people. Just to make sure that if any extra friends or distant relatives came, they would be counted.

When we arrived they sat us in a decent location. They did split us up because a waitress didn't show up. There wasn't much guidance as to where we could sit at first. I expected a little confusion. But, a waitress came up and rudely told us " you can't sit here, we don't have a waitress for this section." Okay, no worries, where can we sit? We understand that we may not all be able to sit together. After a few minutes, we get settled in and pretty much were sat together. It was very evident that most of the staff didn't know we were coming.

After the confusion, we were tended to fairly quickly. The food was okay. Not the best I've ever had at Cracker Barrel, but, most certainly not the worst. We didn't receive refills and were rushed off pretty quick.

All in all, I chalk some of my complaints to being in high emotions from the sudden loss of our family member. The rest, I definitely think could have been a bit better. All in all, the visit was okay and everyone ate and was able to spend time together. It did seem they were short staffed, so I didn't say anything. I hope they find some people who are willing to work to help...