Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in San Antonio

I grew up going to Cracker Barrel with my mom and I LOVED the food so much, it felt home cooked. I haven’t been there in years, so I decided to go on a mini-spree with my boyfriend. We went to 3 different Cracker Barrels over the last couple of weeks to try a bunch of different things.

They microwave lunch and dinner items now, except for maybe the barrel bites and sides.. maybe still the mashed potatoes (they didn’t taste very good). The lunch and dinner come out like 5 minutes after you order… there is no way they cook any of it.

The breakfast (my last trip) takes awhile, which was a pleasant surprise. I am only going to eat breakfast there from now on.

Visit 1: 98 Ne Hwy,410, San Antonio, TX 78216 Fried pickles Country fried steak, mashed potatoes, coleslaw Country fried steak, friesx2 Coca Cola cake

Visit 2: 11030 I-10, San Antonio, TX 78230 Classics Sampler: Meatloaf, chicken dumplings, fried chicken, fries Chicken tenders, fries, green beans Cornbread and biscuits

Visit 3: 6330 N Interstate 35, San Antonio, TX 78218 Grandmas Pancake sampler: bacon, sausage patty, country ham, scrambled eggs, 2 pancakes Mommas French Toast: bacon, scrambled eggs, 8 halves of french toast Side of biscuits

———

Excellent: Fried pickles (best barrel bite)

Bacon, eggs (a little plain, but good)

Anything bread related seems to be a good choice: biscuits (very small now), cornbread, pancakes, french toast (wow the french toast!)

The fries are pretty good, crisp outside and soft inside, but they’re a little plain. I added black pepper and salt to them.

Coleslaw if you like a mayonnaise version

Coca cola cake is super soft and very delicious

———

Decent:

Hashbrow casserole. It was very cheesy in a good way.

Green beans are a little bland but okay

The meatloaf isn’t bad if you like a little bit of green peppers/onions. It’s moist and looks pleasant. Definitely microwaved, but meatloaf would take forever to cook.

The country fried steak is “meh.” I’m pretty sure that they microwaved it, too. There is no crisp to the batter.

The white country gravy. Nothing outstanding or bad.

The chicken dumplings need seasoning, badly. I would skip it, but it isn’t awful. Add some black pepper to it if you want to try it. Definitely microwaved. There were cold spots in it.

———

Skip: The breakfast sausage patty that I got was weird. There was definitely something wrong with it. My boyfriend said it might have been badly freezer burnt. Neither one of us wanted it after 1 bite.

Chicken strips. I understand microwaving certain long-to-cook things, but they microwaved even my chicken strips! There was no mistaking the disappointing rubbery texture of the breading. I didn’t eat all of them, and I didn’t take them home.

The fried chicken was as microwaved as the tenders. Disappointing.

Mashed potatoes. I love mashed potatoes, but I couldn’t...

HORRIBLE SERVICE.. HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT.. My husband took me here for dinner it wasn’t just at all got sat right away at 8:05pm server came right away to get drink order but then everything went down hill took 10 mins to get drinks then sweet tea was way to sweet tasted like straight sugar water not enjoyable at all placed our order at 8:15 didn’t see server again till he got another table next to us like 20 mins later stopped him and asked about appetizer we had ordered he said let me go check like 5 mins later he brings them out I asked him to please bring the plates out as they come up and please don’t let the food sit in the window like 10 minutes later he brings mine and my granddaughters plates out but my husband’s wasn’t ready he leaves again I go to eat my food but my plate is ice cold meatloaf looked cold I wait to see him again but no luck after 10 mins my husband’s food isn’t out and I’m still sitting there with cold food I finally get up and take my plate to the service area door way trying to get anyone’s attention a lady asks to help me I tell her my plate is cold do they have a microwave I already waited 45 mins don’t want to wait for it to be remade she takes my plate I guess puts it in the microwave comes to the table and says the manager will bring it right out and ask about my husband’s food she looks and says let me go check on that like 5 mins later the manager comes with my plate drops the plate off and does say anything else just walks away yes it’s hot steaming hot but not sure if they were being funny with how long the microwaved it but it was way to long food was hot but now burnt and hard my husband’s food finally came out I didn’t eat sat with the plate in front off my while everyone else finished their food we sat and sat server or manager never came back by at all finally asked someone else for a box server finally comes out I hand him my plate telling it not edible he takes the plate and has it removed from the check manager never came to say anything . Needless to say I won’t be back paid $50 for dinner and didn’t...

Arrived and ordered meal which was sold out and I understand but hence I tried to order from a advertisement tent on table and was told they didn't have it..THEN REMOVE ALL THE ADVERSIZEMENT TENTS FROM THE TABLES, ONLY SHARE LI.ITED MENU! we waited over 45 min for our meal just to recieve overpriced chicken. Waitress was very overwhelmed, refills sparse no napkins and when I went to speak to a manager, NOT ABOUT SERVICE FROM WAITRESS..but the wait just to get over cooked chicken and also mentioning trying to order from table tent advertisements he had a really snarky attitude until I brought his attitude to his attention where he proceeded to inform me all his staff was o reworked and that the store had sold over $75000 in meals still his staff was tired. I totally understand however this is NOT MY PROBLEM. Shut the restraunt down if the staff is too tired and food can not be provided in a timely fashion and be edible when served. It was at this moment we decided we would never provide business to Cracker Barrel again. The food quality and service had previously started to decline and we had come back a couple of times and noticed everything was improving but seems that the service is starting to decline again especially when most people hope to have a decent meal after the holidays just to get crappy service. I do want to say that the manager Shawn came to the table and apologized removed my plate asked if he could replace ...I was totally already disgusted at the treatment we recieved so I told him I didn't want anything. He came back with a discounted for meal and gave us $30 off but I feel 1st impressions are the most important. It leaves a memory that will forever be ingrained in my mind so although the discount was appreciated the damage has been done. I hope that Crackle Barrel treats thier employees better than what was presented as overly worked, tired , aggravated workers who are un able to service in a decent and...