Cracker Barrel Old Country Store — Restaurant in South Bradenton

I'll start off by saying I have been to Cracker Barrel a million times and even worked at 2 different locations for a total of 3 years. My fiance on the other hand has never been here. When we sit I asked for bread immediately like I always do for an "app" we ate it no issues. I ordered a strawberry mimosa that was $6.29 I figured for the price it was going to be a decent size. The cup was barley halfway full and she have me the rest of the little bottle of champagne and when I poured it in it became a little over halfway full. We then ordered... I got chicken and dumplings with three sides of two sides of fries, one loaded and one not, and fried apples. My fiance got a burger and fries lol. Our food came out pretty fast and this one other server and another guy behind her brought our food out. She gives us everything talked to us for a second was supper sweet. Then I hear the guy go "she already has bread" I turned around and said "yes sir I asked for extra with the meal" he just looked at me and smiled.....then I looked down and saw that I barley had enough chicken and dumplings so cover the plate bowl thing they had it in. Whatever I have three sides so I'll deal with it... I then start eating my loaded fries which I found had little peices of chicken tenders in. I got mad and saw a manager and asked to speak with him. I told him all of the above of what I am telling you. He apologized about the chicken tenders and took it off the bill....and then gave my fiancee and I desert on the house. I definitely appreciated the gesture and will never turn down free food, however I wss supper full and just ate the ice cream and saved the brownie. I get the bill and the charged us $1 for extra bread and 50 cents for apple butter that a got. Now I'm not complaining about the price but you should tell someone when you are adding something to the bill when it costs extra. Our waitress was terrible and I spoke to her maybe 4 times. Very lazy and laxed and had a "when am I going home" attitude. The other lady that brought us our food was great we saw her many times and ended up getting things from her because our server was hiding. The food was...

Over all I love this place, but the last time my daughter and I went, our food came out so fast I knew it couldn't be good. I ordered the homestyle fried chicken. There was nothing homestyle about it. It was like chicken dried up jerky. I was not impressed at all. My three pieces were all the same. Two of the three, the wing and the drum were so dried up, I couldn't even successfully get actual meat off of the bones, only the "breading" which had been under a warming light or in a premature controlled area for way to long. I also ordered a side salad and mac&cheese. The salad was ok, and my daughter ate the macaroni and cheese. She said it was delicious. After my experience with the chicken jerky I didn't want much of anything else. The service was friendly. I then noticed a double charge in my account hours later and reached out to the store , unaware that they were already closed. The general manager still answered the phone and very politely explained why it may show up as two charges and the next steps I would need to take if in fact one was not adjusted. He was very informative, It was very easy to understand, and he was 100% right about the adjustments. This was the first time for me that the food was so terrible. So I would probably go back, hopefully it was just one bad experience, with the...

Stepping into Cracker Barrel, not only are you hit with the cozy, nostalgia-infused atmosphere that feels like your grandma’s living room, but also with a historical treasure – none other than John Howard Lynch’s 1895 diploma from Irwin High School. Positioned perfectly between old country store knick-knacks and antique farm tools, this diploma adds a quaint touch of educational heritage right in Pennsylvania, where Lynch's family has deep roots.

The dining experience? Classic Cracker Barrel with a side of historical charm! As always, the chicken fried steak holds up to its legendary status. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and smothered in that hearty, home-style gravy. Pair it with the buttery mashed potatoes and sweet corn, and you've got yourself a meal that’ll make you feel part of the Lynch family reunion. Oh, and don’t skip the biscuits – they're fluffy enough to be mistaken for clouds from the Pennsylvanian sky!

And while you’re soaking in the vintage vibes and digging into your plate, just imagine: maybe John Howard Lynch, a farmer turned history enhancer, once sat down at his own table pondering over crops the way we ponder over which pie to pick. If only those walls could talk, they’d probably remind you to save room...