Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in San Marcos

UPDATED FOR 3 FEB 2024:

Stopped here for dinner on the way back from a conference in Waco. Got seated immediately. Had a new server who was learning the ropes. Very friendly. Forgot to ask a couple of things, but chalked that up to being new and learning what to ask/not to ask. Food came out quickly, was correct, and all tasted very good. We definitely noticed how the portion sizes have shrunken massively in this environment of restaurants cutting costs to maintain pricing. Very sad what you get these days compared to just a few years ago for the same price. Overall recommended, though, as this is one of the better Cracker Barrels we've been to in our experience of many. Original review: This was our best experience at a Cracker Barrel in the last 2 years. Compared to challenges faced in ones we ate at in Temple, San Antonio, Katy, and Monroe, LA, it was night and day. All the staff was extremely friendly. We were seated immediately by the friendly greeter. Our outstanding server (Linleigh) was at our table within the first two minutes, brought us biscuits/cornbread mix before we even asked, constantly checked up on us, and was extremely friendly throughout. She and the entire staff were all over the place, taking care of customers, cleaning quickly, and just in general making it happen like a well-oiled machine. Clearly the kitchen team was on it, too, as we got our food very quickly--quicker than just about any restaurant experience we've had lately, including nearby Zaxby's where we had lunch earlier in the day. Bottom line: Management and the team at this location are doing it right, COVID or no COVID. Thanks for showing us again what it means to have...

One of my worst restaurant experiences I have had. The restaurant was dirty, as in I felt more comfortable in the restroom than the table area. Cobwebs were all in the lattice room dividers between the tables. We sat down and we waited 15 minutes before anyone ever came to our table after being seated. The waiter took our drink orders and we had already had plenty of time to decide on what we wanted to eat. Had to stop him from leaving to let him know we wanted to go ahead and order. Never brought out any bread. Brought out iced tea with no ice. We waited 20 more minutes and he came out and said he had misplaced our order and had to retake it. All the other waiters and waitress had an iPad or something similar to place orders directly to kitchen, but our waiter had a big chief tablet to write on????? What the heck. Not really but an order type book . Tables that had sat down way after us were getting there food and we were still waiting. Finally got our food 50 minutes into being seated. When we got our food it looked like stuff left over from lunch that was rewarmed for us. My wife and I never had anyone come over and talk to us about the extended wait or misshapen with the order. We got up and left after a few bites of trying to eat, but just couldn't. Worst Cracker Barrel ever. Hopefully a Covid-19 hiring issue, understanding restaurants are having a hard time hiring good help, bit I think for a Cracker Barrel we can do better guys and gals.

Well, 3 years and we tried it again. I think I’m done with you Cracker Barrel. Food taste like reheated food from yesterday, I couldn’t even cut my chicken with the knife I had. It was like it was reheated in a skillet and it just crisped the bottom to where it wouldn’t cut. Greens were old , never...

We joined the wait list online and expected to wait for 30 to 40 minutes. We get to the store check in, and wait and ended up waiting an additional 35 minutes to be seated. What is the purpose of joining a wait list then having to wait an additional 35 minutes at the store? The table (4-topper)was situated in front of the entrance and because I have military PTSD, I asked to be moved to another table. (4-topper) and was told no, it belongs to someone else. I asked what the difference was between the tables expect for the locations. Again, I was told no by the seating girl. Then I requested to speak with the manager. She changed her tune and said we could take the other table. After getting seated, we were promptly greeted by our server and we asked for menus, which she brought. She stepped away for a minute and when she returned, I asked if they had waffles and she said no, and apologized. She stepped away and never returned. We waited and additional 22 minutes and I finally walked up to the manager to ask to get our server to take our order. Finally, she saw me speaking to her manager she came to our table then proceeded to laughingly say, “I forgot to take your order.” So, far, I have been at this store for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and have not received our food and have asked for napkins three times and have not received any.. And, on top of this, the table next to us, who were seated immediately after us never received their food, so they left, this store is bad, and really needs an overhaul Freon...