Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Rockford Township

BEST CRACKER BARREL I HAVE EVER VISITED!!!!! I've been to Cracker Barrels all over the country and this one is so good that they should train all the other stores because they are amazing. I visited at 3:30pm on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Here are some things that really impressed me: *The young lady who seated me was incredibly kind, cheerful, attentive, and efficient. I wish I could remember her name, but she is a role model for all employees. Despite having a disability (she limped, had a problem with one hand,, etc.), she was so much more efficient than what I've experienced at both the Gurnee and Naperville stores. She truly seems to care about the customers. I noticed she also pitched in tidying up things when no clients needed seating. *My server, Kathy K, was the best one I've had at any Cracker Barrel. She treated me so kindly and I never felt rushed. She came by often enough for me to get what I needed, but not so much that she felt like a pest. She even brought a drink refill without me even asking. At Gurnee at Naperville I usually have to do all sorts of contortions to get what I need, but Kathy did such a great job that I could truly relax and enjoy my meal. *The food was extremely well prepared and came quickly. My catfish came piping hot and crispy but did not sit in a pool if grease. (At the other Cracker Barrels it usually arrives barely warm.) The mashed potatoes were an appropriate proportion and very fresh, and hot. My carrots were nicely cooked but not water logged like they tend to be at other stores. *I noticed the manager was actually helping and working/pitching in. I did get to talk to him and complemented how nice the restaurant looked and how his staff was fantastic. I really appreciated his response because he told me he has an awesome staff and will pass on my comments. He is a great leader because he's a servant leader and gives others credit. Interestingly enough, the last time I was at the Gurnee store I watched that manager just stand next to the fireplace for a full hour just watching her employees and looking like she was waiting for someone to mess up. Despite the fact that it was very busy, the Gurnee manager never once lifted a finger to help her employees. *The restaurant looks fantastic...clean, pictures straight on the walls, outside area was well kept. I love how well run this Cracker Barrel is and will be returning and telling all my...

I have been to our local CB restaurant in Rockford, IL 2 times in the last month. Both times, I ordered the same thing… biscuits and gravy with sausage patties and a side of their signature hash brown casserole. Both times, very disappointed with the texture of the potatoes, which were hard. The first time, I told the waiter that I was not happy with the potatoes, he was apologetic and offered a substitution. I chose fried apples. No explanation was offered as to why the potatoes were hard except that they were training new kitchen staff and they probably didn’t bake the casserole long enough. The second time, I told the waitress that the potatoes were not cooked enough and that this happened the last time I dined with them. She was apologetic and asked if I wanted a substitution and I said yes, I will have fried apples and I wanted to speak with the manager. The manager brought the fried apples out and apologized that my meal was not meeting my standards. I told her that the potatoes are not thoroughly cooked and she went on to explain that they changed the recipe…that the potatoes used now are dehydrated and must be soaked in water before adding to the mixture. I asked the manager why would Cracker Barrel mess with a tried and true “signature” item that customers have come to expect? I was met with an empty stare and a response that I was not the only customer who has complained. This is just the latest in changes. Within the last 2-3 years… they switched to coarse grits instead of traditional smooth grits. Portion sizes have gotten smaller. Biscuits and cornbread muffins are no longer offered. Apple butter is no longer free to use on biscuits. And yet, prices are higher with less for your money. The only thing going for your restaurants, is customer service… that is, as long as the manager is on top of things. And in our travels, even customer service is waning. Is it time for Cracker Barrel to say goodbye? If they don’t stop making all of these changes and bring back the tried and true menu items, we will think twice before stopping in. And I bet others feel the same way. Cracker Barrel, you are moving onto the list of places that are fading away if you don’t reboot to the traditional, tried and true recipes that you became famous for and the accompaniments you became known...

I love this restaurant, I wish the menu would become bigger exploring more southern dinners, inflation sucks the portions have shrunk in size, the prices have gone way up, not the restaurants fault, this economy is *, if a city doesn't have a cracker barrel that city is reduced in popularity by a minimum of 30% at least there's absolutely no excuse for a city to not have a cracker barrel, unless they are intentionally trying to be lame, if I travel i always look for a cracker barrel because it's gauranteed good food every time, if it wasn't for cracker barrel I probably wouldn't like your city as much, and is a main reason why I even visit an area. If you don't like cracker barrel * you, you ain't right in the head something is wrong with ya, definitely needs better appetizers but still it's cracker barrel it's pretty hard to make something that's perfect more perfect ya know what I mean it's just not an easy thing to do. Ile tell ya though if cracker barrel teamed up with waffle house, that'd be like a monopoly on the entire restaurant market, ited be a K.O. to all surrounding businesses let's be real, they already have to hide thier restaurants in difficult areas to find as it is to somewhat be fair on everyone else cus they steal all the customers from everyone else the only competition they have is like a Texas roadhouse, but if cracker barrel didn't have to hide their restaurants we know who would win. It's Cracker Barrel. You don't need pictures of the food when you think of cracker barrel , you can practically smell and taste the food without even looking at it, do yourself a favor and stop kidding around about debating whether cracker barrel is a good place to eat or not, and just go eat thier I mean cmon, are you silly ? It's cracker barrel dude people don't question the food quality of the cracker barrel they just go thier they sit in there recliner at home and an apparition of a log fire appears in front of them with an elderly sweetheart serving them some southern food and you know its calling you, happens all the time, it's the cracker barrel you don't need a review of the cracker barrel what you need to do is go to the...