Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Mobile

What is REALLY going on Cracker Barrel?? Come on guys, REALLY?? I think 3 stars is generous. I'd say it deserves about 2 1/2. I took my elderly grandmother here for the atmosphere (IKR?!?!), which did not disappoint. Aptly, she got the "Old Timer's Breakfast," and i got "Mama's Pancake Breakfast." A word of warning: If you want fluffy, delicious, homemade-style fresh buttermilk pancakes, GO TO IHOP!! You won't find them here! I don't think I've ever had a thin pancake that I could neither cut with a fork or stick a fork in before now, but CB is the home of the soon-to-be world-renowned rubberized leather pancake! Might be perfect as a toy or treat for a medium to large dog. Just make sure they're younger and have good teeth. Obviously chewing was at least as difficult as cutting and forking. Let's just say it took a minute. The flavor was good though, so not all bad. Except that I'm one of those people who likes a little pancake with my syrup. Usually it's one way or the other. People either like very little syrup or a whole lot. I personally do not enjoy pancakes dry. That's exactly what they are if not covered in syrup. They tend to soak up the syrup and the ones underneath never get enough. Now the 1.5 ounce bottle that they supply did better than I imagined, as rubber/leather doesn't soak up quite as much as hot, fluffy buttermilk pancakes. I get you're trying to save money, but the waitress should at least ask, and there should be an option to buy more for a nominal fee. Neither is the case. I don't want to feel like I'm begging to have something drug out of the waitress that she really doesn't want to give me. Also, don't run out of orange juice of that's all you order. I was thirsty and finished mine before half way through the dry stack of rubber. Eventually, the waitress felt sorry for me and offered to bring me some water... WATER!! If I'd wanted water, I'd have ordered water! No thanks. I guess if a refill of OJ was a possibility it would have made it's way to my spot way before I began planning my 911 call if I started choking on dry leather pancakes. And finally, if they bring you jelly, you get 1 little pack per person. I have in the past asked for more and received it, but why should I have to ask for something that should already be given to me, or at least offered. Of they are afraid people will eat their food, they should turn into a front-end retail store only. It's not just the waitress. She was nice and professional. She's just doing what she's been instructed to do...or NOT do. This is a classic corporate greed issue that plague's society at large, and will only get worse. Grandmother enjoyed her food. That's where most of the 2 1/2 stars come from. I guess she did. Honestly, I could have fed her week-old mac & cheese mixed with brussel sprouts and she would have probably eaten it (her mind is no longer sharp). This experience really makes me appreciate restaurants that insist on high-quality food every time and lavish you with drinks and condiments long before you need to ask. Maybe I expected to much from a large chain. I'll chalk it up to that. My fault, as any modern young person would be quick to point out if it were their restaurant. Good grief! The fireplace was...

Not a good experience today.

Upon arrival, we requested a great table.

Hostess tried to seat us next to the traffic aisle near the kitchen.

I said, "please not here, may we have a better table"?

She seated us in a cramped area, very loud folks next us.

(It was not busy) there were many nicer tables all around us.

We accepted the seating and were willing to make the best of it.

We ordered, we got our meal, of which the greens beans were mush soggy and tasted funny.

The mashed potatoes were cold.

I had to go looking for our waitress, because she never came to check on us.

I had to ask the hostess to send our waitress, because we were unhappy with our order.

When the waitress came to the table, she asked, "what's your problem?"

I let her know about the green beans and cold potatoes.

She was rude, irritated, and combative, NOT at all accommodating.

She went for the manager, when the manager arrived, the manager said, "what's wrong with your order?"

I explained again that the green beans were mush tasted funny and potatoes were cold.

She blamed me for not asking for management if I had a complaint, not the waitress.

The manager also said, "we are not in control of how the food comes out."

She was rude and irritated with me I assumed, because I was not happy with the food .

She asked, "So what do you want me to do"?

"Do you want to order something else"?

By that time, between abuse by her and the waitress.

I said, "no, not now, I just want to get out of here."

I had to ask that my meal be removed from our bill, she didn't offer.

The waitress returned with our ticket.

She slammed the bill down and gave me an extremely dirty look.

She sarcastically said, in a high pitched voice, "have a nice day"!

My husband is a Vietnam veteran who proudly served our country.

This Cracker Barrel does NOT offer military discounts, (customary 10% off the bill.)

Which is a Cracker Barrel corporate policy.

It's not the money.

It is NOT recognizing our veterans who have served our country!

And then to be disrespected and blamed for being unhappy about substandard green beans and cold potatoes.

What an insult!

Shame on the waitress and her manager, for it is you and Cracker Barrels employees that represent Cracker Barrel restaurants

Shame on Cracker Barrel for not recognizing the men that have served...

I've been eating at cracker barrel for years, and I can't believe how expensive it has become! Especially for the type of food they serve. Also seems like twice the price for half the food. One of the note able things I always loved about cracker barrel was the portions. I mean, I get it... Inflation is affecting everyone. But either raise the price or cut the portions...but not both. I pay less at some steakhouses to eat a good steak dinner than I do to eat chicken and mashed potatoes here! Another issue was that they brought my food, which was supposed to have gravy on both meat and potatoes, without it on either. Waitress said they were making more. But it was another 20 minutes before she brought it and my food had long been cold. Obviously I'm not going to eat until I get the gravy, so why not keep the food warm until then? Or for that matter, just make a fresh plate, or not run out of gravy in the first place. Everyone else also had to sit and let food get cold waiting on drink refills. And while it wasn't completely dead, I don't think I've EVER seen it this slow on a Sunday evening. Last but not least, I remember a time when servers would at least wait until you were nearly finished with your meal, offer dessert, then bring your check, and still continue checking to make sure if you needed drinks or anything else. But I recently years, it feels like being rushed out the door. Check was brought prematurely... In fact, just right after I got my gravy... No dessert was offered. And she basically quit checking on our table after that even though some who had to wait for food had not even finished eating. Still, the food is good. Even cold. It helped that the gravy was fresh and hot. And they still have the...