Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Midland

I am writing because I have noticed over & over the quality of the food that is being served at the Cracker Barrel location in Midland , TX is substandard in the preparation & not fit to eat. I was with a group of 3 friends who dined there last night 3-2-21. Out little waitress was great and the other waitresses who check on us for refills on tea etc were also. No problem whatsoever with the waitresses. However, there was a really “big problem” with the food we were served. My friend & I both order different versions of fried chicken from the menu. I ordered Chicken fried Chicken& my friend ordered the 4pc Southern fried chicken. The 3rd friend ordered chicken & dumplings, which was fine & she said was good. The 2 of us who ordered fried chicken received our meals and both meals were barely warm, & it wasn’t because they were left on the counter by the waitress to be served , as ,our meals were out relatively quickly. Both of us ordered mashed potatoes & green beans as sides. The mashed potatoes were “dark in color” and the texture was not fluffy like fresh mashed potatoes would be, & tasted & had the texture like they were old not from lunch, but from days ago. Green beans were barely hot. The chicken I received I’m sure was leftover from another day. The breading was so hard you could hardly bite it & the chicken was dried out like it had been left out!! My friend’s 4 pc meal was the same. There is no doubt in my mind that it was leftover from the day before & possibly not stored correctly. I ate maybe two bites of my mashed potatoes & left them because they were unfit to eat. I ate one piece of my chicken & asked for a box to take the other piece home, thinking I might warm it up. However, after my friend has been so sick, my only plan is to dump it In the garbage. We both should have had the kitchen fix us something else. We both decided not to say anything because of how nice the waitresses were.. My friend was sick all night vomiting, & we feel pretty sure it was because of the food she/we were served yesterday @about 5:30 pm. None of our meals were that inexpensive either. I paid over $23. for my meal & my friend did as well which included the meal and a glass of tea + a nice tip. Which to me is a lot for a chicken dinner. Altogether, Cracker Barrel made about $70. off of the 3 meals. Again, I have no problem with the service from the waitress, but I do from the kitchen & I want the manager to be aware of what is happening there. We have been patrons of Cracker Barrel for over 30 yrs all over Texas & in Midland since it was built. That was probably the worst meal I have ever been served anywhere in all of my 70 plus years on this planet. I should have said something last night, but didn’t much to my regrets , but after my friend has been so sick, I felt like I needed to speak up for the people who are expecting a great meal like Cracker Barrel is known for. I know it’s hard to find good help, but maybe you might need to fire some of your kitchen staff to save your...

Due to family tragedy. This year I didn't travel like I usually do for Thanksgiving. I was told that cracker barrel sells Thanksgiving food. I didn't have time to plan anything locally so I ordered 4 meals at cracker barrel, and I also attempted to order cinnamon rolls but they were out of them, I also couldn't order sweet tea. But luckily they had turkey meals. I paid about $90 plus I was dumb enough to leave a large tip because it was Thanksgiving and i felt bad for the people working. I drove to cracker barrel the following day to pick up my order I got there at 3 o'clock because pick up was at 3:15. I didn't see signs to "park here" I did go on the email and said "I'm here" but had no idea where to park. I did notice about 20+ people standing towards the back and I honestly thought these people must be waiting for some kind of black Friday thing. But there was a lady with a clipboard who told me to park and " stand where those people are at" I was like okay do you need my name? She asked my name and called it out on a walkie talkie. So I did what she said and stood in the cold with the people and I was already upset because I was under the impression I would get my food while waiting inside my car, I didn't bring a jacket. This is the only reason I left a large tip! So as I'm standing there I immediately realize that the people waiting there were frustrated, there were elderly people, a pregnant lady, and kids with their parents. By listening to conversations I learned that they had been there since 11am. There was no turkey anymore and everyone was getting their orders wrong. I saw about 7 people get their orders wrong. I ended up waiting 4 hours, and when I got my food it was cold. I did not get any turkey they substitute the turkey for ham. I was so upset waiting in the cold and not even getting what I wanted. I was even more upset that a guy that was there since 11am got his food at 5pm. They were not offering discounts or apologies. The workers were completely overwhelmed running around. As I stood there in the cold waiting I made a decision that I will never dine here again. I went online to mock order a turkey dinner plate at 6pm while I waited and I was able to add to my cart! So they didn't even fix their website and continue to allow people to order. This place needs to stop offering something they can't do. This was a horrible experience. I do not...

Cracker Barrel never disappoints, and this visit was truly five stars from start to finish! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and filled with that cozy, rustic charm that Cracker Barrel is so well known for. The old country store vibe immediately put us in a good mood, and the friendly staff made us feel right at home.

We were seated quickly, and our server was attentive, cheerful, and genuinely seemed to care about making our experience a great one. She offered excellent recommendations and kept our drinks full without us ever needing to ask — something that really made a difference.

Now, the food — absolutely fantastic! We ordered a little bit of everything, and each dish was better than the last. The crispy tender dippers were perfectly cooked — golden brown on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside, and served with delicious sauces that complemented them perfectly. The hashbrowns were crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, seasoned just right, making them a real comfort food highlight.

I also tried the Grandma’s Sampler, and it was everything I could have hoped for: fluffy pancakes, savory sausage, thick-cut bacon, perfectly cooked eggs, and a little serving of ham that was packed with flavor. It’s the perfect dish when you want a little taste of everything that makes breakfast great. And of course, no visit would be complete without Cracker Barrel’s legendary biscuits — soft, buttery, and so good they practically melt in your mouth. They tasted freshly made and paired perfectly with the warm apple butter and jam on the table.

Every bite felt like a little piece of home. It’s clear the kitchen takes pride in preparing food that’s not just filling, but also comforting and made with care.

Overall, the combination of the fantastic food, the friendly service, and the inviting, nostalgic atmosphere made for an absolutely perfect meal. Cracker Barrel has definitely earned a spot at the top of my favorite places to eat, whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I can’t wait...