Cracker Barrel: An Old Country Store and Restaurant All in One

When driving along an interstate, freeway or highway chances are you've driven by Cracker Barrel, a chain of family restaurants with an old country or general type store from days gone by. More than likely you've seen the parking lot full to capacity, including tour buses that stop with loads of passengers.

At some locations you'll find a number of rocking chairs outside you can sit on while they call out your name for an available table. If you can handle the mass crowd at times inside their country store you will find items you thought were no longer available. It's a fun experience for the whole family to eat and shop at Cracker Barrel. Get to know more about their beginnings and what they have to offer.

The History of Cracker Barrel

Driving cross-country you oftentimes pass through small towns for food and maybe some shopping. Some of these restaurants serve incredible home cooked meals in the Southern tradition. In the late 1960s in Lebanon, Tennessee someone had an idea to have a restaurant and country store all in one. This was at a time fast food restaurants were popping up everywhere.

In order not to combat with fast foods they would have a restaurant serving nourishing and delicious home style cooking for travelers passing through Lebanon. On September 19, 1969 the first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store was opened for business. When you order cornbread it came from a family recipe made with real cornmeal, not some store brand mix.

Here you could get turnip greens, biscuits and gravy, to name a few of the meals served. Word got around and soon people were lining up at the restaurant. It's been that way ever since with Cracker Barrels across the country.

An Old Country General Store

Dan Evins, the creator and founder of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store wanted to create a store where people could buy things that reminded them of their small home towns. They are reminiscent of the general stores you see on TV with the old-fashioned candies, pot-bellied stove and where people came to congregate.

You can find clothing, handmade crafts, CDs by country music artists, greeting cards, candles, old-fashioned games and of course their signature rocking chairs. The best part of all is their incredible assortment of candies from decades past. You can't get these candies anywhere else or they're hard to find. It's hard to resist not buying anything before you sit down for a meal or right after it.

American Home-Style Cooking Menu

The best part about Cracker Barrel is their Southern-style home cooked meals you can get from their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. For breakfast there are the Wild Maine Blueberry Pancakes, Hickory Smoked Country Ham, Grits, Buttermilk Biscuits with Sawmill Gravy and many more items just to whet your appetite.

For the Lunch and Dinner menus come try the customer favorites: Meatloaf, Chicken n' Dumplins and Roast Beef with plenty of country fresh vegetables to choose from. You can take advantage of their daily specials and other specials offered. The problem with these dishes they are always sold-out when I ordered them. One of my favorite desserts is their Strawberry Shortcake. Be sure to try their Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake.

You may not live close to a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store since they are not located near shopping centers, strip malls or in neighborhoods. If you can make an effort to do something different for a meal why not make the trip to your local Cracker Barrel? It will be unlike any dining experience you've ever had.

SOURCES:

Personal Experience

About Us - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant, Cracker Barrel.com