Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

It took forever to be seated and it was hot in there. When we did finally get seated, my hand was so over cooked that it felt like I was chewing on ham jerky. The server was not very attentive either.

Cracker Barrel used to be a go to place for consistent, home-​like food. In the last couple of years things have changed. The food now is very institutional. My wife remarked that her chicken strips today tasted exactly like what you’d get at a theme park. My fries have been so greasy as to be inedible the last few trips. The food is average, at best, to below average. They’ve lost what used to make their food so good.

I have no idea why this place is so popular that there is ever a line at the door. But it is and there is, especially Sunday mornings. The big front porch with rocking chairs give the impression that you’re in for some Southern tradition. Don’t get too excited just yet. The porch and entrance area, with its kitschy knick-​knacks, local teams’ gear, and regional décor and books etc is probably the highlight. The food is mediocre on a good day, abominable at other times so I guess it’s consistently bad. Consistency isn’t always desirable. Alas, because friends and family insist, I’m sometimes required to come here to enjoy their company. The food is pretty bland, portions are small, and it’s too expensive for what you get. It’s probably worth 1.5 stars, so I’ll be generous and bump them to 2 because that awesome fireplace really sets a good mood. The wooden chairs are uncomfortable, and unless you are really early or lucky, you can get seated in the middle of the room. I hate that. So if you want to pick up a VOLS t shirt, some old fashioned candy, and eat a bad breakfast, this is the place for you. Otherwise, I’d say to skip it and cross under the highway and go to Bob Evans or drive on down a few miles to the Olde Towne Pancake House in Jonesborough. OTPH started out shaky but has gotten much better.

Though I generally like Cracker Barrel restaurants, I was not impressed by this Johnson City location. Underneath our waitress’s sweet, Southern accent, I felt like she was either a bit frustrated with us or with her job in general. Overall, the food was fine but a few items seemed pretty cold. Both my sister-in-law’s and my eggs were chilly when they were delivered to the table. I also took my time to eat since we were talking quite a bit, and my food was cold as I got to the end.

Tony and I stopped here today to eat our breakfast. It is like any other typical Cracker Barrel… which is always good and always crowded. Our waitress was friendly and fast. The food was good. and ample.I always get way to full. and to be truthful I go for the shopping. not necessarily the food. They have some of their holiday Christmas stuff out. I buy all my christmas tree ornaments at Cracker Barrel.
I recommend to all, you won’t be disappointed.

Been a few years since eating in a Cracker Barrell but this the worst one ever. Unclean tables and chairs. The food was barely warm the gravy had been sitting so long it had a film on it. The waitress said shke would be back to refill our tea. By the time she came back we were done with lunch. The poor service was not because they were overly busy there was one other table occupied in our section.

I would like to give a 2.5 stars. First, I just want to say that I am originally from Tn, and I knew that the Johnson City area has a lack of people that are not of the Caucasian race. Ok.
So, I currently live in Boston, but a friend of mine just got a job in Johnson City and I decided to go visit. As we walked in the Cracker Barrel and proceeded to the hostess stand, both the hostess and the waitress’s smiles instantly went away. They both looked down to the ground, took a deep breath, and looked up with an obvious fake smile on their face. My friend and I both looked at each other to confirm what we just witnessed. YUP! We both just witnessed that. As the hostess’ saccharine sweet voice lead us to our table, we were both thinking about just leaving. As we walked to our table, we were obviously the thing to look at. OMG!!! THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EAT!!!
We sat down, and not a minute later, our waiter came up. HE saved us from walking out. Rodney was his name. He was soooo genuinely nice. He was attentive and smiled a real smile, and he didn’t rush us when we were trying to decide between items. He gave his input and was really a complete 180 from the two females we just encountered before.
So, I say, if you are a person of color and want to go to this CB, just be warned that you WILL be stared at, and probably get some fake smiles thrown your way from some servers and waiters.
The food tasted normal as expected.

Their breakfast is the best and also their fastest meal of the day service wise. I also enjoy their salads and, sometimes, just beans and cornbread. It’s just good old southern cooking.

The quality of the food is pretty consistent, though not the best food around. Breakfasts are the best, with the pancakes standing out among the morningtime fare. Real maple syrup takes the not-​too-​cakey flapjacks to the next level, but you can also choose from an assortment of fruit toppings or blueberry or pecan pancakes. The service is pretty fast. Biscuits are occasionally underdone and the coffee is the worst among major national restaurant chains, but if you have iced tea, you will not be disappointed. Lunch and dinner offerings also do not disappoint, especially if you grew up on southern cooking. Surprising hits are salads and desserts. Seasonal specials are always quite appealing. Good value for the money.

Something about being off a mountain highway in Tennessee made this Cracker Barrel seem more authentic and taste even better than any other.
Also, our food came in about 4 minutes.