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Cracker Barrel

March 5, 2006 by Feisty Foodie 4 Comments

Various locations
website

I have to say that I’ve been to Cracker Barrel (various locations) more than a few times since the first time I’d heard of it through my sister years ago.  I adore the country store with its old fashioned candy displays, the yummy smells, and the adorable stuff decorating the walls- think TGIFriday’s with one theme: old fashioned- and I just love the food.  It’s always fairly inexpensive and always yummy. 

The homemade buttermilk biscuits and corn bread that come with every meal; this is so good but normally I can only eat a bite or two since I'm so stuffed from my mealNormally I get the chicken fried chicken, which, if you know me at all, you know is unusual right there.  I don’t like ordering white meat (chicken) in restaurants because they inevitably overcook it and it’s really dry.  They do it just right here, perfectly tender and yummy with this fantastic white gravy.  And with each entree comes three sides… so it’s perfect. 

However, this time around was the first time I’d been here on a Friday, so I opted for the Friday fish fry, their Friday special. 

A little background: occasionally, I crave fried fish bad.  I’ll order it in various restaurants and inevitably wind up disappointed; too greasy, too much breading, too flavorless, too …. soggy… just… not good.  I don’t even know what I’m measuring these against, I just know that once upon a time, I had fantastic fried fish. 

I was not disappointed at Cracker Barrel.  I can genuinely say, for $7.69 (with cole slaw and fries, of course), this is the best fish-n-chips I’ve had in my memory, ever.  (Barring what I make myself) It was that good.  Perfectly crispy, not too much breading, in fact hardly any at all, just the right amount; a thin layer, really, with a thick and yummy tartar sauce.  They also loaded me up so I was munching for quite a while, the fries were good, and the cole slaw was pretty darn good, too! 

My darling, despite my calm statement “I wouldn’t order steak at a place like this, sweety” decided to order the rib eye and was actually really pleased with his steak.  I mean, it was $12.99, with three sides (he opted for the baby carrots- my baby does love his baby carrots- mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese), and cooked to his liking.  What more could you ask for? 

We also opted, since I wanted more veggies, to get the veggie combo platter, with hash brown casserole (shredded potatoes baked with yummy cheese), baby carrots (I told you he loves ’em!), corn, and fried apples (his choice since he swore he’d never seen nor eaten that before).  At $5.99, I thought that was a pretty good deal. 

Honestly this place won’t win any Michelin stars but it’s solidly good, consistent at every location, and a nice break from eating junk fast food when you’re on road trips since I find them mostly along major highways on my road trips.  It’s super inexpensive, and it’s always fun browsing in the country store while you’re there.  The service tends to be good, with the occasional crappy server but mostly I’ve had nice older women who always call you things like “sugar” and “honey”. 

Yvo says: Next time you’re on a road trip and happen to pass one, go on and try it.  I actually generally MapQuest out my trip and find a Cracker Barrel or two along the way so I know I’ll have something yummy and healthy in my belly for my trip.  Consistent quality and inexpensive- is there any better combination?

I forgot to mention the best part.  I ordered root beer for both of us and they give you it in a bottle- Stewart’s, one of the best root beers around- and give you a really frosty mug.  It’s awesome.  It’s how root beer should always be served

Filed Under: American, Restaurants

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Comments

  1. mickey says

    February 11, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    i must say i LOVE cracker barrel. i have never had a bad experience there. my favorite is the fried chicken tenderloins with the biscuits (not a fan of the corn bread cause i like it sweet) and fried apples and steak fries. cant beat the price and its always just perfect.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    June 24, 2009 at 1:08 am

    We always look for a Cracker Barrel whenever we travel. This is the first time I had their fish fry (probably the first time we were there on a Friday because I think I would have ordered it before). It was the best I've had. I really, really like their tartar sauce too, any idea how they make it? I knew about them serving Stewart's root beer so that too was always a reason for us to return.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2009 at 7:47 am

    I have been looking for Cracker Barrel's recipe for tartar sauce for years. It's sweeter than most tartar sauce and it's the best! I even asked for it once when I was having that wonderful fried catfish at Cracker Barrel, but had no luck. If anyone out there has it, please post it! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Sandra says

    October 26, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    I agree with you about everything in this article. Have you tried Cracker Barrel’s Sunday Honestyle Chicken dinner? If you think that the chicken friend chicken is good you will not believe it when you try this. It is hands down the best friend chicken I have had. I am not sure how they make it even better than the everyday chicken friend chicken, but the Homestyle chicken is even more buttery and juicy and the batter is light and crisp with a texture that turns from crunchy to a melty. If a fried batter could be described as light and airy this is it. I can’t believe I waited so long to try it after years of visiting Cracker Barrel restaurants while on the road!

    Reply

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