I solved my Cracker Barrel problem years ago. I don't eat there

[Botany]

Once was enough.

[underpants]

1. I invented something there

“The Cracker Barrel Challenge” which is trying to get three distinctly different colors of food on your plate. It’s not easy to do. There are lots of brown into beige items that normally aren’t that color.

[peacebuzzard]

2. white on white

that white gravy on mashed potatoes
with an extra bowl of white gravy on the side
and white biscuits with more white gravy
you can always get some other veggies to go along with it.
When I did road trips, it was a place to at least use maybe a clean bathroom; and try to figure out something to eat, but the atmosphere was not my cup of tea.

I try to avoid road trips as much as possible and opt for the airport instead.

[Rver]

3. seems like 20 years ago my wife and I

tried the new one in our town. I guess we weren't impressed enough to go back or try another one on our travels.
My .02

[hlthe2b]

4. One may not believe me, but I've never eaten at one--driven by/lived by many but for whatever reason...

I just haven't (although I've visited my share of the ubiquitous Waffle House and some cafe style/old country store restaurants that somewhat resembled them in various areas of the country.

So, I'm staying out of this debate.

[Harker]

11. I believe you. I'm not sure I've ever seen one.

[paleotn]

5. Food culture I suppose. What you're use to. Cracker Barrel attempts to mass produces a cuisine I was born to....

And generally do an adequate job of it. Pales compared to some regional mom and pop's who really know what the hell they're doing. But I hold my complaints....such as saw mill gravy that's been sitting around so long it's taken on the constancy of plaster...because mass producing magic for the masses is difficult at best.

My mom's holiday breakfasts were light years ahead of anything Cracker Barrel can do.....fluffy scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, country ham or sausage or bacon, and to die for red eye gravy on scratch biscuits that seem to float in the air. Topped off with peach or strawberry jam from the prior summer....Mom's little jars of sunshine....on what biscuits were left.

My diet the last 30 years is vastly lower in salt and fat than my ancestors, but occasionally I still need a "fix." Cracker Barrel fills that need to a degree. Better than nothing. Neither me or my wife have ever been able to completely replicate our mother's magic. Even with the same cast iron skillets who's origin is lost in the distant past.

[Botany]

9. Sounds like your mom made a tasty breakfast

Red eyed gravy and biscuits and the rest 👌

[milestogo]

6. They have nothing for vegetarians.

So I don't go there either.

[Sneederbunk]

7. Of all my problems, Cracker Barrel is not one of them.

[Wonder Why]

8. I patronize the "calendar places". Read about them in the book "Blue Highways" a lifetime

ago. Blue Highways are the back roads that are blue on maps. Remember printed maps?

In any case, the calendar places are those local small local restaurants that have one or more calendars on the wall. The more calendars, the better the place per the author.

Ever since then, we actively seek out local, non-chain restaurants even if we have to take the freeway but usually we take those blue highways as we prefer roads where you can turn around if there is a backup, the scenery consists of more than big trucks, speeding gas-guzzling pickups and other cars, and one can see life.

Places like Joe's Cafe, Mary's Eats, Howard's Drive-In Burgers, minority owned places and other local sounding names. We avoid going to chains, especially fast food ones as they are only good for a pit stop, not a place to eat.

[Paladin]

10. Works for me. Plenty of superior places available. (nt)

[Emile]

12. Seriously, the last one we went to had cobwebs hanging

off all their signs and crap hanging on the walls and ceiling. Filthy

[Angleae]

13. I really don't have the option to go there.

As I live in the Seattle area and the closest one is in Idaho.

[Botany]

14. You will be OK

[debm55]

15. I ate there once on a tour bus to NYC. I remember eating pancakes. But they really weren't special. I never went again.

If I want pancakes, I make at home.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Once Was Enough, Indeed

Of course, that didn't stop us, because my parents liked that place for a while.
One Easter, our whole family, and my wife's went there.
A disaster.
We got our huge table nearly 40 minutes late. Took 15 minutes to begin taking orders. Took 15 minutes to get the order straight. 25 minutes to get our food.
Yes, an hour & 35 minutes in that joint before we got food.
I told my parents they had to pick somewhere else, because we would never eat there again.
I think that was our 4th & last trip to that dump.
Worse yet, their menu is nothing my wife & I would go out to eat. A rotten experience.

[Rizen]

17. Why's everyone talking about the Cracker Barrel?

This is the second place I've seen it mentioned.

[Nittersing]

18. They changed their logo and maga went crazy. nt