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moonwolf_gw

Trip To Cracker Barrel

10 years ago

Hi everyone,

Have I got a story for you. I ate at Cracker Barrel today for the second time in my life (first time was many years ago for breakfast) with my one neighbor (she's in her late 60's). We went shopping in a neighboring town (same one where dad and I go to Red Lobster at), and we ate lunch there. I had the roast beef dinner with steak fries, green beans, and steamed broccoli. Absolutely delicious. I had their old-fashioned lemonade to drink. Not long after the waitress brought my biscuits and lemonade, I went to take a drink of it. Before I knew it, the mug had split in half, fell on the floor and the lemonade went all over the bottom of my shirt and onto my lap, leaving the top half of the mug in my hand with the handle still attached. The waitress and the manager were very attentive in helping me clean up and asking if I was okay. No injuries were sustained, I am happy to say. The manager even asked if I wanted some new clothes from the store but I declined. I was not upset or anything at all. It was amazing how attentive they were to me. At the end of our meal, the waitress came and said that my meal was free :).

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Comments (25)

  • 10 years ago

    Wow. I had that happen to me once before at home. I had taken a glass out of the dishwasher. It was still slightly warm I guess but not hot. I filled it with ice and poured in Iced Tea and sat it on the coffee table and was reading. I reached out and picked it up and it shattered in my hand. I was fine but now I run my glasses out of the cupboard under cool water before adding ice. I actually think it might have had a hairline crack or something.

    I am glad they were attentive. Restaurants always should be but too often aren't. Once in a while I really enjoy a Cracker Barrell meal!


  • 10 years ago

    First of all, I'm glad you're ok. That could have ended up worse!

    CB was a class act and I'm glad they took care of you. Good customer service goes a long way.

    I don't often get a chance to eat at CB, but certainly do enjoy the experience when DH and are are traveling.

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  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Glad you weren't injured as well, Anne. It is possible that it could've had a hairline crack or something similar.

    Mimipadv, yes, it could have been definitely worse!

    I am happy they were so attentive. Their food was quite good, and the service was excellent. I always enjoy going out to eat and this was the first time anything like this has happened to me. I was embarrassed first when it happened, but I think I was more in shock than anything. The waitress even said that I was glad that I was a good sport about it. No use crying over spilt lemonade ;).

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Well, I didn't expect THAT! It's those weird events that make life fun and keep you on your toes. :) Glad your food was good! I've noticed a huge difference in the food/quality of CB depending on how far north they are.

    ETA: Actually, I've only been to CB three times -- twice in VA and once in NY, so maybe I was just unlucky in NY. ;^)

  • 10 years ago

    Glad it happened AFTER you had enjoyed your meal!....and good for cracker barrel for seeing that youw ere taken care of.

  • 10 years ago

    party_music, Yes, those moments do keep life interesting. I haven't been out of this state in many years. I'm lucky if I even get out of the county, much less my own house lol.

    lindac, Actually, it happened before the main course arrived. My neighbor and I were eating our choice of bread when the mug broke. It was totally unexpected, and so was the service and concern.

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago

    So glad no damage was done to you other than being soaked in lemonade. And I bet it wasn't even as good a lemonade as you make at home.

    I enjoy eating at Cracker Barrel occasionally. They've always been so courteous and the food was good. I'm glad they treated you the way they did after the mishap which wasn't your fault. So many places wouldn't have been so considerate.

    Madonna

  • 10 years ago

    Madonna, it was actually quite good! It was more tart than my homemade lemonade, but still refreshing!

    It was a quite pleasant dining experience, otherwise. I didn't feel as full, as compared to eating at Red Lobster lol, but still everything was so good! I wouldn't mind eating there again in the (distant) future.

    Another first today was venturing into Boscov's. What an astounding department store!

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago

    Brad, it sounds like you had a good day between Cracker Barrel and Boscov's.

    We do have a Cracker Barrel in Grand Rapids and the girls always liked to go there, mostly for their store in front of the restaurant, I think. (grin) Their coffee is actually very good and when we are looking for breakfast while travelling sometimes stop there. I like their "beans and greens", and the fact that they have an extensive vegetable selection, sometimes I just get beans, vegetables and cornbread!

    I'm glad they were helpful and courteous, and that nothing worse happened than you being splashed with lemonade! (Which I'm sure is not as good as your Gram's!)

    Annie

  • 10 years ago

    Annie, it was a very good day! We also went to Wal-Mart (it's much larger than the one we have downtown), Lowe's (bought a new house plant and 4 packets of seeds-one being early Jalapenos), and Family Dollar. Cracker Barrel does have a wide variety of veggies and sides to choose from! Next time, I'll stick with the fries and beans and choose apple sauce for a little something sweeter to compliment my meal.

    I always enjoying going on shopping trips like this. Mum and I used to go to another town east of here for school shopping and just for fun when I was younger. We always liked eating in KMart's K Café. I heard it's not there anymore, sadly (the café). I miss those days.

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago

    We have a CB close by (4 minutes!) so we eat breakfast there frequently and as you say, it's good. We haven't tried lunch or dinner, I'll have to give that a try for the veggies.

    Glad they took care of you, the staff is always accommodating at my CB.

  • 10 years ago

    I'm glad it turned out well, and kudos to the staff for their concern. I used to love Cracker Barrel back when their store had things more interesting than puffy paint, but I've never set foot in one since they teamed up with Duck Dynasty.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Their problems started well before Duck Dynasty.


  • 10 years ago

    A very nice occasion that was even better because they didn't charge for his meal and that left extra money for shopping!

    Annie

  • 10 years ago

    Well said, Annie and Linda! Though I didn't buy anything afterward, it did leave money to spend for future shopping trips ;). I have a garden and house plants to tend to, plus this year's costume will be quite elaborate. Not The Snow Queen, but still quite a piece of work.

    But I digress. It was quite a pleasure to see that people can still really care.

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    There is no rant linda1992, no rant at all

    I think we are all glad that this accident didn't turn into a disaster for Brad, but instead there was a good outcome and he enjoyed time with a neighbor.


  • 10 years ago

    Agreed, momj47. It could've have been such a disaster, but thankfully, it wasn't. I am just glad that nobody else got hurt and luckily the glass didn't fly all over the place. It still was quite a mess, however.

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago

    I think spending time with your neighbor speaks volumes about your good character, Brad.


  • 10 years ago

    She's a nice lady, but can be nosy and she doesn't know how to do certain things (change batteries in a remote for example). But that day was a good day, however. She enjoys flowers and cooking as well (however, she makes this Whoopie Pie icing that is terrible-she doesn't put sugar in it). We bite our tongues, however, because I was raised to be a polite and mannerful person. I hope that didn't sound too hypocritical of me. I don't get to rant very often lol.

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago

    Brad, your sweet neighbor has a sister in MI., who's cooked for me once or twice☺



    This
    reminds me of a road trip we took some years ago. Tired of driving,
    and famished, we ended up at a Crackle Barrel . . . somewhere down
    South. They put us by a window facing the parking lot.

    As we
    finished our meal, and waited for our bill, I looked out the window as
    a crumpled twenty-dollar bill blew past the window, like a tumbleweed.

    That's the only free lunch we've ever gotten, anywhere.



    Glad everything turned out well for you at CB; you're a genuinely kind and gracious person.




    Sol

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I am also glad to hear that you were not injured, but I did not open this thread at first because I am completely unfamiliar with Cracker Barrel - they do not have restaurants in California. I did not expect the type of story that you told, but you told it very well, including the title! I first thought that a trip to cracker barrel might be about crackers. Do they sell special crackers?

  • 10 years ago

    Sol, thank you for sharing your story and thank you for the compliment! :) Our neighbor loves good food, too, and enjoys eating as well!

    Lars, they don't sell special crackers, but lots of interesting items and good food! Glad you enjoyed my story! Some people think I'm cut out to be a writer, which I do enjoy writing now and then, but lack of inspiration and writer's block often get to me. Whereas gardening and cooking keep me on my toes :).

    Brad AKA Moonwolf

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Thank you very much for your story. If I'm ever near your personal Cracker Barrel, I'd definitely want to eat there, to support that superb staff.

    I have to admit I didn't remotely like the food at the Cracker Barrel I ate at once in Virginia. The staff were fine (and I tipped accordingly) but I'm not real impressed with food that is mostly breading and not, well, really food. I LOVE okra, and totally sussed when I saw it on their menu. But. Just not when it is chopped into segments less than 1/4 inch and breaded to forever. But I'll support staff like you had! (Well, once in a while, if I'm in the area!)

    They really do like to bread up foodstuffs there, which is a total dis-interest to me.

  • 10 years ago

    Years ago there was a Cracker Barrel nearby but they're long gone. Don't even know where the closest one is located. Glad it worked out and I'll add my compliments to the staff for caring. It's really doing their job in that situation but so many don't do their job these days that it's good to see when they do and they deserve a pat on the back. One suggestion, if you haven't already, send a note to the District Manager or someone upline and tell them about the service and how happy you were with it. People in the service industry hear about when something bad happens or when someone feels slighted but they seldom get a compliment about their employees who go the extra mile. It does mean a lot to them. And sometimes the employees involved can get some sort of a bonus, reward or at least a letter in their employment file which never hurts.

    Nice of you to care about your friend there too Wolfie! I'm sure you had a great time and I'm also sure you brightened the day for several people that day.