Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in Sanford

UPDATE: 2-25-2022 It has been a year since stepping foot back in this excuse for a restaurant. After the service (or lack of) last night, I don't believe we will be returning here...3 strikes you are out. We went there for supper last night and the host left us standing at the podium while he went and cleaned tables. We could see there were tables that were empty and ready to have someone seated but he chose to wipe off tables leaving us standing there for over 10 minutes. I wish I could give a negative star rating because that is what they deserve.

UPDATE: Ate breakfast here again 1-15-2021 and had the worst service I have EVER had at a restaurant. We placed our order and 20 minutes later it arrived to our table....COLD. The only thing that was warm was the gravy and the apples. In the picture you will see what was supposed to be 2 eggs and a small strip of bacon. We went ahead and ate the food rather than wait another 20 minutes and I must add, they WERE NOT busy. We asked for a refill on our coffee...you guessed it, COLD. That was the last straw and I said something to the waitress and asked for a manager. She took our cups back and sent out what I call a "yes girl" because all she did was say "yes sir" to everything I said. Our replacement coffee arrived 15 minutes later when we were almost done eating and talking with another manager. This manager covered our bill and we had a free breakfast but I feel people need to know of the poor service.

We have eaten breakfast here many times on a Saturday morning. The service has always been great and fast and this breakfast trip was no exception. We had the Sunrise Sampler which gives a sample of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, grits, hash browns, biscuit, gravy, and fried apples. Is your mouth watering yet? The only thing I wish the Sampler had is pancakes. But then again, I don't know if I would have the room for them as I was stuffed...

This is going to be a long one. I went with my parents and 1 of my kids for a late lunch. Around 2pm. Maybe 4 or 5 other tables were sat. So definitely not busy for a cracker barrel. By parents order the cheese fries. They come out cold the cheese wasn't even melted. They bring out a 2nd batch still horrible, and the ranch tasted as if it was spoiled. They bring us our basket of biscuits. When I asked for the biscuits I mentioned we wanted apple butter, butter and blackberry jam/preserve (can't remember which) well for the 4 of us They gave 5 biscuits, 3 little butters grape and strawberry jelly. We asked an additional 3 (not exaggerating) times for our items until we finally got them. Food comes out. My dad and I ordered the pork chops. They were boneless THIN cut. I'm sorry, but for 14 bucks, that's ridiculous. These things were so thin, small, and overcooked, not even the cold gravy help when it came time to swallow. I ordered the turnip greens. When I ordered them, I went ahead and asked the waitress to bring hot pepper vinegar with them. This also took an additional 2 more times of asking before I got it. And now for the worst part. My parents both ordered pinto beans. They came out looking horribly dried out and old. Well, my mom took a bite and began to chew when all of a sudden she spits her food out. A big piece of plastic was in her beans. We were all so disgusted and disappointed. I have never had such bad service, food, or experience at a cracker barrel. They sure have...

The last several times we have been to here, the food has not been good. The service has been as good as always. I don't know if there is a difference between going in the day because we usually go at night. On 12/12/22, my DIL's steak was rubbery, her baked potato had an off taste so she couldn't even eat her meal. I got my usual chicken and dumplings. I've noticed they do not come with the wonderful thick broth/gravy anymore. If there is any, it is clumped to the dumplings. The chicken had such an off putting taste that I could not eat it. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper glue and the fried apples were mush. I have been to many Cracker Barrels and so far this is the only one that has disappointed us. The manager did take our meals off the ticket, but she never came back and told us that she was going to do anything, just said she would go in the back and check on it. Check on what? 15 minutes later the waitress came to give us our check, and we told her we were still waiting on the manager to come back. She looked at the check and said, "oh, it looks like she took the two meals off". Never saw the manager again, never offered an apology, just said I'll check on it. To top off the evening, the ladies restroom was trashed and nasty. This was 7:30 on a Tuesday night and one section of the restaurant was shut off because there were so few people there. Sadly, I don't think we will be going to...