5 Big Cracker Barrel Changes You Need to Know About This Week

Eat This Not That ^ | September 15, 2025 | Leah Groth

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

CB biscuits have never been that good - doughy and tasteless. How about bringing back actual cooked food (instead of microwaved frozen)?

[Red6]

I actually play the peg-game which seems to always categorize me as a moron or of average intelligence.

But since I’m not a modern type person with a porcelain self-image and a counselor on speed dial, it’s ok.

[BobL]

Is the bitch still there? If no, then NO THANKS.

[MayflowerMadam]

I’ve never been in one that didn’t have an enormous wood-burning fireplace. I always wanted one just like them.

[MayflowerMadam]

Yep. They’re everywhere here in TN.

[Red6]

Are they one of those kitchens where everything is basically pre made in a factory kitchen and then just reheated at the local restaurant?

[MayflowerMadam]

I wish they had hash on their breakfast menu, but they don’t, and I don’t they ever did. Grits are there. 🤮

[Paladin2]

I wuz just lookin’.

2 in Pigeon Forge ;-) .

[noiseman]

I said from the start of all this that all that Cracker Barrel needs to do to turn things around is improve the quality of their food and launch a marketing campaign to improve awareness of their brand. The last time I had breakfast at one I thought it was pretty lackluster, but I do have to say that their fried chicken, which they improved a few years ago, was some of the best I’ve ever had. Novelty or theme restaurants can’t survive if they don’t have good food. Just look at Rainforest Cafe as one example.

Cracker Barrel isn’t exactly just a theme restaurant like that, but it was the closest comparison I could think of. Cracker Barrel has a built-in following, so it was really stupid that they briefly engaged in a rebranding that was going to alienate those dedicated customers in search of new customers (woke Gen Z?) who likely never would have set foot in one anyway.

[Liz]

Cracker Barrel biscuits.

[PeaRidge]

Now, if they would cut down all the noise from the busing of used dishes I would return.

[MikelTackNailer]

Now what am I supposed to do with the lighter fluid I bought for the rainbow-painted rocking chairs? I haven’t smoked in years and that stuff’s not safe to leave around.

Seriously though, it’s the quality of the food that’s hurt Cracker Barrel the most. I see all this tiptoeing around that while they’re addressing other issues, but until that core problem is fixed the slide will continue.

[MayflowerMadam]

The food is not as tasty, and the servings are much smaller, as before. The reasons we go to CB are: (1) it’s a convenient stop when traveling, (2) the old-timey atmosphere is comfortable, and (3) when in fully self-contained RV, they welcome having you spend the night in a specified area of their parking lots. (Have heard that some don’t, but we haven’t run across one of those yet.) Also, we like the gift shop but that’s not why we go.

I know you’re in TN, as am I. When the whole rainbow rocking chairs deal was going on, I don’t recall seeing any of them in our area — Rockwood, Lenoir City, Crossville. Maybe they were there, but I can’t remember.

I’m so glad that “our” side in going all hard-ass on so many of these things now. We have sat back and just taken it for so long that everything went too far.

In many cases (not CB which started earlier) it took the death of a good young man to light a fire.