Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in San Antonio

We took my niece and nephew to Cracker Barrel for their first time (they are 19 and 13). There was a wait of approximately 30 minutes, which was okay because there's the store to browse! They, of course, found myriad items to amuse and Aunty and Uncle spoiled them by purchasing most of what they wanted as we were going to a movie later.

Once we were sat down, we expected there would be a wait before we were waited on. And we were right. We were at the table more than 10 minutes before Abraham came over and took our drink order. Since we had all this time to review the menu, we were also ready to place our order. So, we gave Abraham our drink order, appetizer order and entree orders. Abraham told us he would be back in a moment. It was more than 10 minutes later before we got our drinks, which shouldn't have taken that long, even if it was busy.

Abraham is very pleasant. He's a fun personality. But he needs training on getting the orders complete. While the breakfast dishes were complete, he did NOT bring out the lunch entrees completely. Nor did he come back to check on our drinks (water, sodas, hot chocolate, chocolate milk, etc). The entrees were missing the side salad and dressing and the biscuits. The gravy came out somewhere in between the entree's and the biscuits, which we had to ask for. He brought the bill before he brought all of the order!! We had to remind him of the items we were missing. I also asked for a refill of my soda. We would have left the table a lot earlier had he brought that out to us. Instead, I had to go up to the waiter's station and ask for my drink in a to go cup. I also explained we would have left the table earlier had we received everything in a timely fashion (we had to ask for to-go boxes for the salad that came after the check arrived). Sloppy service.

We don't mind the minor mess ups, but when you see your server chatting away with the other servers for more than 5 minutes, while we are waiting for little things like the rest of the order and drink refills, it gets a little annoying. I would think training would go a long way to improve the service there. As a former waitress who had more than 20 tables in a busy restaurant in a coastal destination, I know how difficult it can be to get it right or fast. And although I worked well with my co-workers, my customers were my priority. A little more attention to detail or to the customers would have gone a long way to making our stay a more enjoyable one.

After using the restroom, I did have to let someone know that the ladies' room was short on toilet paper (2 of the stalls had none and a 3rd one had enough for maybe one more customer). As there was a line to the ladies' room and we could have used the 2 stalls that were missing toilet paper, I thought I'd stop at the greeters station to let the employees know of the need. The Hostesses who were showing people to their tables just gave me a dirty look (they were just standing there talking to each other), rolled their eyes and said someone would see to it. As I was leaving at that point, I didn't see if anyone did.

I wish I would have gotten the names of the cashiers. They were polite, helpful, asked good questions and made sure the perishable items we purchased were wrapped well to withstand travel.

There are always fun things to look at and purchase and reminisce over when...

The experience was disappointing, when we first arrived, we were told it would be a 25-to-30-minute wait. It was a long wait for a slow day. Anyhow we get called to be seated, and it took the waitress about 5 minutes to greet and get our drink order. After 10 minutes she brought our drinks took our food order. I ordered the French Toast cream cheese filling which came with eggs, hashbrowns and bacon, however I asked for a side slice sugar ham. My son ordered the steak and eggs and hashbrown casserole. While other tables received their commentary basket of biscuits, we wouldn't get ours, we tried to grab Mrs. Faith (our waitress) attention for several minutes and when we got our basket it came with butter and a to go cup saucer with an apple cinnamon jam, I asked the waitress if there was any regular jam and she said she could check in the back, but that she didn't think there was any. My son and I looked at each other and said its fine, yet did she not notice other tables were receiving their baskets with jam and butter, she delivered a basket with jam and butter to the table next to us. Anyhow, our food finally comes out after about 45 minutes, my plate look like scraps were tossed unto the plate. The French toast alright however cold and came with two cold slices of bacon and a very small thin portion of hash browns spread on the plate to make it seem like a lot and a small slice of ham (like the size of two slices of bacon put together) and no eggs (again looked like I was given scraps). My son's plate came out ok. The waitress asked if we needed anything else, I mentioned my eggs are missing and my son asked for A-1 sauce. My son never got the A-1 sauce, so he did not enjoy it left most of the steak there, I tried to wait for my eggs to eat, yet my food was getting colder so I began to eat. My eggs came out after 25 minutes, we told Mrs. Faith was already done and asked to bring the check. Before we paid $57 and change, I was trying to make a complaint to the manager about how disappointed we were, yet he rudely cut me off saying well you should come to me about it saying something else as he walked away. He came back and says she didn't charge the eggs and replied with that is not what I am saying, I am asking for a discount of the check being that it was unsatisfying, he gave me an attitude look and walked off, gave me back the check of $50. and change I gave up and went to go pay (I almost left without paying, because the food was awful and the service was bad) people go out to eat because they are either celebrating a birthday, new job position, or just because their son invited them out and expect to have if not the best experience but a good one. I paid the check with debit card, still left the waitress a tip and we left discussing the experience. We've gone on weekends when it is super busy, and received better...

Update: 12/8/23 +(*) Great Customer Service , LOVE the shopping area always fun unique items I wish I could buy everything lol -(**) should have gone to another I didn't realize I had not updated in awhile Today my wife and I drove a hour in town to have a good meal before she went to work we where so disappointed I ordered the Tips, Tender, shrimp plate and the tips where SOOOO Hard OVER COOKED AND little TINY LITTLE pieces I ordered this before a week ago at another location and I understand it's tips but the there like 1 inch tiny pieces it was ridiculous we are not the type to complain so we just say we will not come back to this location. My wife ordered a breakfast plate , with tips as well I felt so bad she was so upset with how HARD and tiny tiny this was it's like the normal size tip cut in to 4 pieces (Either there being cheap or chef stealing) (Blue plate) was this visit I attached a picture I didn't take a picture of her plate she was just so mad she just wanted to hurry up and go.

2018 (5 Star) My 1st time to a Cracker Barrel , Kept seeing Commercials on tv Turkey fried steak Style Plate Looked Yummy. But I Got - The Chicken fried Steak it was a 10 ! Omg it was scrumchishes ! NOT Over Breaded the Steak was Thick and GOOD portion. And 3 SIDES!!!! I was SHOCKED but I Like Mac and Cheese but every one doesn't make it Good but I Took the Chance ! Got DOUBLE Mac yes I'm a Fatty 🤣🤣🤣😋 And Fries. The Frys I'll give them a 7 they where kinda Cold and chewy like they where done before what ever they where waiting for .... And some frys had potato skin I actually don't like the skin on potatoes but I lathered each 1 with the Gravy it was edable 😂 & Double Mac (F.Y.I) NEXT Time will be TRIPLE Mac it was to DIE FOR !!! If I could Give You 10 STARS For that Mac I would ! It was SO Tasty, Creamy,Perfect amount of Cheesyness ! You MUST Try that at the Very LEAST ! Sweet Tea was Perfect NOT Over sweet I personally think the Sweetness was good enough tea I give the tea 7 1/2 Taste. FREE Biscuits and Corn Bread , Budda & Jelly. Biscuits where not warm But then Again we came in about 45min before closing . But they did taste Home made Nice and Fluffy I give them a 9 , 10 if warm.. Okay the Corn BREAD was Not like a corn bread I make from those 2 for $1 sweet Corn Breads . Cracker Barrel corn bread taste so Good down to a science 🤣🤗 I Loved them Nice Tasty Crust on outside but yummy tasty inside I Give them a 10 Not warm Still GOOD . But my wife Gives Biscuits 10 and corn muffins 9. Customer service 10 for sure from entering down to the waiter . & The Gift Store Great Prices !!! Beautiful unique Gifts . I will be doing my Christmas ...