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| - ***Cracker Barrel is a countrified Denny's, but the food is better than that chain and their lack of presence on the West Coast makes their Arizona location feel different and more unique than some of the other big chains you'll find there***
When I was a kid, I used to eat at Cracker Barrel a lot (Cracker Barrel is a combination of a touristy general store and a countrified restaurant focusing on big breakfasts and home-style lunches/dinners). Cracker Barrel is very popular in the Midwest and it is also a popular along-the-highway-stop in the Southeast. I remember enjoying it, but my fondness for it has decreased over the years.
Every Cracker Barrel looks the same. They have a faux rustic outdoor cabin-like exterior with a faux porch lined with rocking chairs that you can purchase. When you enter, you are immediately in a pseudo general store that offers touristy souvenirs and a lot of food items. Not really pantry items. Instead, you will find a lot of sweets like nostalgic candy, chocolates, caramels, syrups, jams, apple butters, candy sticks (15 cents per stick), Jelly Belly jelly beans, etc.
Just past the general store you will find the restaurant. The breakfast (which I believe is served all day) is a mix of your standard stuff like pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, etc. Bob Evans is a lot like Cracker Barrel and I think Bob Evans' breakfast is far superior.
I went with a dish I have always ordered--chicken and dumplings with mashed potatoes and corn niblets. The last time I had this dish was in Ohio and the dish was quite oily and bland. The dish was still on the bland side though the dumplings/sauce were less oily (there was a much creamier base).
The dumplings were a little bit too thin, but they were mostly fine and enjoyable. The chicken was a relatively small portion and it was a little dry (but not too bad). The chicken and dumplings could have definitely used a lot more seasoning (though places like Cracker Barrel tend to have to please an older clientele, who may have more sodium restrictions).
The mashed potatoes were okay. Not the creamiest or smoothest texture. Very hot. The corn was okay.
I had the hot fudge sundae for dessert and it was not that bad of a deal (it was under $3). Served in a frozen mug, the sundae consisted of two scoops of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry. The whipped cream was of the canned/aerosol variety, but the ice cream was decent. It had a good flavor and was firm and creamy. It was also not too whipped or airy (which you get at a lot of family restaurants).
The hot fudge was also good and warm.
Service was fine. It was pleasant and quick. I do not think I would classify Cracker Barrel as authentic country cuisine, but they definitely achieve a consistent look and personality with all their waitresses (no matter what state you are in).
Pricing is more than reasonable. You get a lot of food and you do not have to pay much. Most of their entrees are below $10 and desserts run about $4 and below.
You could probably do worse than Cracker Barrel on the road. Still, I think the food was pretty average at best. But if you find yourself needing to stop somewhere on the road in Arizona, you will come across a lot of chains you can find in California. Cracker Barrel is a big chain too, but their lack of presence on the West Coast at least makes this restaurant feel somewhat different and unique.
This Cracker Barrel is in a seemingly new shopping development that has a huge and free parking lot.
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