11 Cracker Barrel Problems No One Is Talking About Enough

Cracker Barrel has long been a beloved American restaurant. The chain is reinventing itself to boost sales, but hidden problems persist.

If your budget is too tight to go out to eat more, you may wonder why these issues aren't a priority for the chain—especially since they could stand in the way of Cracker Barrel's comeback.

Here are 11 Cracker Barrel problems they should probably be paying closer attention to.

Cracker Barrel restaurants are large and can accommodate many hungry families without issue—unless they're understaffed.

Many travelers report only coming across a small handful of servers when they visit the eatery, and even those who work there complain about this problem. Understaffed restaurants usually have long waits, especially at peak times. For servers, it's even worse.

Stepping into a Cracker Barrel may feel like stepping back in time—and not in a good way. Often, the decor is stifling and unconducive to a pleasant meal experience.

Cracker Barrel is in the process of updating its old decor with a more modern look, as many patrons feel the original decor doesn't cut it anymore. 

However, many customers are disappointed in the restaurant's revamp.

They don't like the loss of Americana, the new paint color, or the perceived abandonment of Cracker Barrel's roots in favor of a cookie-cutter corporate look.

Poor food quality is a trend that reflects the current drive of corporate-owned eateries to lower costs and pinch pennies. Unfortunately, Cracker Barrel seems entrenched in it, and customers complain that its meal standards have gone downhill.

Visitors report various issues with their dishes—from alleged microwaved pre-cooked meatloaf portions and baked potatoes to greasy and grisly roast beef and supposed cheaper cuts of meat.

Cracker Barrel's wait times are also a common source of complaints from patrons. This issue likely stems from chronic understaffing.

Since the restaurant has always aimed to feed hungry travelers, long wait times are unlikely to encourage repeat visits, especially if the food hardly attracts rave reviews.

In recent years, Cracker Barrel has admitted it was out of touch with current customers' needs and demands and tried to address the problem.

Changing the menu has been among its efforts to realign. Unfortunately, not everyone likes it. Many visitors disparage the new menu items as akin to an IHOP menu.

Besides new menu items being hit-and-miss, fan favorites don't get much love from Cracker Barrel. Customers often complain about surreptitious changes to much-loved items like the country ham and hashbrown casserole, which leave them reeling.

To make things worse, the restaurant has also reportedly reduced the number of the sides it offers with some fan-favorite meals.

Sides aren't the only items on the menu subject to "shrinkflation." Customers also complain about how small some portions are, especially on the breakfast menu.

Items like the french toast, which used to consist of several thick slices of Texas toast, are supposedly now downsized to "barely" two slices. Needless to say, patrons are far from happy.

Unsurprisingly, once consumers started complaining about Cracker Barrel's recent changes, they turned their sights to the competition.

Places like Waffle House and even Denny's are cheaper than Cracker Barrel while delivering the same—if not better—value.

To lure in customers, Cracker Barrel has its famous country store, selling anything from t-shirts to pancake syrup. It may be useful for those on a road trip looking to buy essentials before dinner.

However, other customers complain about being held "hostage" in this tourist trap. They feel like Cracker Barrel expects them to shell out money on merchandise while waiting to be seated.

Cracker Barrel struggles between its traditional appeal to customers over 55 and its need for new blood—younger consumers who can ensure it remains viable.

As such, the restaurant is caught between a rock and a hard place. It will likely become even more irrelevant if it further alienates its traditional base. On the other hand, it will have no future if it offers no incentive to younger patrons.

What could be worse than a mediocre experience? Dirty plates and glasses. While some customers still appreciate Cracker Barrel's menu and enjoy eating there, they're unimpressed by alleged haphazard hygiene.

Patrons report inconsistent standards that are theorized to be either the result of poor training or faulty old washing equipment.

Cracker Barrel remains a favorite for comfort food, but growing complaints about wait times, value, and menu changes show there are issues it needs to address.

If you want to keep more cash in your wallet, you may want to give Cracker Barrel a pass until it completes its revamp, or as you hunt around for better deals at similar establishments, to ensure you'll actually like what you're paying for.