Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Middlesborough

Crapper Barrell is my new name for this location. I’ve been to multiple locations many many times and this one by far was the worst experience I have ever had. It was so bad I will never return. We had 5 in our party and the Granny Smith mimosa was very good but that was it. Maybe it was a bad night but it was bad enough to permanently turn me away. All meals were not cooked well missing items and tasted like they were leftover from days before. My 2 adult children ordered the same buffalo chicken Mac and cheese. This is a meal ordered multiple times before. They got filmy crusty Mac and cheese and chicken strips slathered in chillli powder. There was no sauce onion or tomato. They had to ask for this and make the meal themselves. (Later the manager says it’s baked Mac n cheese like that was a reason for it being different Fri. The multiple other times). My breakfast meal had paper eggs and my son thought they were tortillas. I had asked for bacon but received 1 bacon 1 ham chunk and 1 sausage. They were all 3 crispy and cold and tasted like they were from 2 days ago. My mom got ham and pinto beans and thought something was wrong with her taste buds because the beans were so bad. She had everyone taste them and we all spit them out. They were bland and flavorless like they were watered down. Given the experience I asked to speak to a manager. She did not talk to us or apologize she came out in a Karen bitter mood with eggs that actually looked more like eggs and when others at the table mentioned issues with their food she goes well you want a new side. She sucked beyond belief and needs fired. I do have a picture of the eggs and meat. The topper was I believe the cook and other manager (just guessing who they were) came out of the kitchen and were staring at us from back of the room and talking. No apology or attempt to make it right. I never received my bill and gave up and checked out asking them to look up the billl so I could pay and get the hell out of crapper barrel. This was a horrible worst...

Just for reference, there are 180 1 star reviews on this Cracker Barrel,didn't count 2and 3 star, how do they rate 4.1 on website ? Ate here 4 times in the past 2 months.Three visits food was brought to table, waitress said will bring bread when it's out of oven. 2 times bread arrived after we finished eating. 1 time it wasn't never brought to the table,when waitress brought check,she said oh I forgot your bread. That brings me to the visit on May 29th 2025. Ordered food, told waitress I wanted biscuits, she said ok,will put your order in. When she brought the food, I ask about bread, she said,oh we don't have any. I ask why,she said we have been busy with graduations,I ask why she didn't tell us up front when we ordered. Must have hit a nerve, she said , DON'T BLAME ME. I explained to her that I wasn't blaming her just asking why I am paying $16 for a pot roast and $3.39 for a 8oz coke, I ask if they would adjust the bill for no bread, she turned and walked away, magically within less than 1 minute she reappeared with a basket with 4 biscuits, jelly and butter. Not to start a conspiracy theory,but since covid 19 left, portions at Cracker Barrel have gotten smaller, prices have gone up. Is this thing with no bread and $3.39 for a coke is got me thinking SHRINKFLATION has struck Cracker Barrel. I looked in dining area and I saw 22 people drinking water,2 people with tea and my spouse and me had cokes. So you see Cracker Barrel when I can buy a can Coke 12 oz for $1, I know your fountain drinks are half ice and half soft drink, so if the 22 people were buying your Soft drinks and tea at maybe $1.50, wouldn't it be more profit than 80 % of your customers drinking water,you still have to furnish ice a glass, a straw all for free and then...

💭Great food as always. We always love Cracker barrel! Our first time at this location since moving back home to TN. Never came to the Middlesboro location before. Our only complaint & typically we never really complain but the waitress was really slow & forgot like everything. It was just my husband and I we both had the exact same order (French toast, hash browns, him bacon, me sausage & a side of toast, 2 coffees, a ton of sugar & cream & he had an orange juice.) Here's what happened. Took her 15min to get to the table. By time she arrived we told her we'd make it easy & gave her out drink & food order. We thought maybe she was new, who knows. Took another 10min for coffee & she forgot the sugar we asked for & cream. After so long my husband had to ask at the kitchen. It was fine again we thought maybe she was newer.

🥓Food- When she brought out food she never brought the toast, hash browns were not extra crispy like we asked & NO SILVERWARE. so we were sitting there trying to flag her down & she was oblivious. Finally as out food was pretty much cold, she came over & we asked for silverware, coffee refills, sugar, cream, our toast oh and she forgot my husband's orange juice and she acted like we were demanding or something. Oh and she never brought any biscuits which is totally fine with me but my husband likes them.

⭐My conclusion is this: overall we didn't complain because it takes a lot and it's not how we are. We never know what someone else is going through. However, it doesn't change our overall view of Cracker barrel in general. They have great food, good prices and that was the only time we've ever had not so great service in all times and states we've visited. We also love the store & the staff were all very...