Cracker Barrel - for real homestyle cooking

If you have never visited Cracker Barrel then you will have missed a treat. In fact, we did not find this gem until we had visited our villa in Florida several times, but when we fancy some simple ‘country cooking’ then we make a beeline for one of these restaurants. Cracker Barrel is more than a restaurant, it’s an experience. Each one contains an old country store, so not only can you get a traditional home cooked meal, but you can while away the time looking around the fascinating shop which is situated just inside the door of each of these restaurants.

Cracker Barrel is very popular, with locals as well as tourists, and you cannot book a table in advance, and at the weekends and holidays it gets pretty busy. However, the service is usually swift, and after they have taken your name you can sit outside and relax in one of their white rocking chairs on the veranda, until they call your party. There are even little rocking chairs for the children and twin rockers for those who want to relax together. There is nothing better than sitting on the veranda in the shade, reading a newspaper while you wait for your table to be prepared, knowing that someone else is going to cook the Sunday lunch – and wash it up!

But we can’t resist exploring the shop, especially at Christmas when it is an Aladdin’s cave of tree decorations, Christmas China, and novelty items, including toys and games, sweets, candles and even clothing. Look out for their delightful appliquéd cot quilts, they are really beautiful. It is one of the most family-orientated restaurants we have ever visited, but the one thing they don’t serve is alcohol, so if you want a glass of wine or a beer with your meal then this is not the place for you.

The restaurant itself looks like a real old country ranch, made of wood with a veranda running across the front of it, it looks as if it has stepped out of a western movie – you just can’t miss it. These restaurants are popping up all over the Orlando area and it must be one of the fastest growing chains in Florida. But wherever you see their sign you can be sure of quality ingredients, freshly cooked, plus a warm welcome.

When you have dragged yourself away from the shop you will be escorted to your table in the restaurant itself. Each restaurant features a huge stone fireplace, and in the winter they light a log fire. Above it you will see old sepia photographs, and maybe a deer’s head, complete with antlers, displayed on the wall. All around there are artefacts from the past, kitchen utensils, signs, photographs, advertisements, and farm implements. There is always plenty to look at as you wait for your meal.

One of the most delightful features is that they bring you hot ‘biscuits’ or corn cakes as a starter, or accompaniment to your meal. These are free with every entrée, and come with butter and a selection of jams. We particularly enjoy the biscuits, which are a little like British scones, but saltier. They come piping hot as they are made continuously throughout the day. If all this is not enough then look on the table for their little wooden peg game. Many a time we have tried to remove all but the last peg from this triangular puzzle, and now and again we succeed, and if you want to try at home then you can buy one of these popular peg games in the shop for $2.49.

The menu is wide ranging and includes a huge variety of breakfast items available all day. If you are watching the carbs then there is a special menu for you to sample. Of course there are the favourites, bacon, eggs, sausage, but as well as that there are grits with Sawmill gravy, Momma’s French Toast, Country Ham, Hashbrown Casserole (different from normal hash browns), maple pancakes with a little bottle of maple syrup, and such extras as fried apples, sourdough toast or muffins. If you are really hungry then sample their Double Meat Breakfast which includes 3 eggs cooked to order, and a full order of bacon and sausage, sliced tomatoes and toast.

Many drinks such as hot tea, iced tea, coffee and sodas come with free refills, but we like a large glass of fresh Florida orange juice. It is really delicious, and a far cry from the sort of orange juice we have to drink in the UK. The only thing we don’t like is the hot tea. Like many establishments they bring you the hot water with the tea bag on a plate beside it. By the time it gets to you it is usually off the boil, and not ideal for making a great British cuppa. It is not English Breakfast or Orange Pekoe tea either, so it does not taste as good. But the coffee is hot, and refills are free.

There are daily lunch and dinner specials, and our favourite has to be the Sunday Homestyle Chicken – two huge tender juicy breast fillets in a crispy batter that is surprisingly not greasy. We also like the Friday Fish Fry, with fillets of battered fish, accompanied by chunky fries and coleslaw, or any of their sides of vegetables. But there are many other things to choose from such as their delicious meatloaf, chicken tenderloin, trout and another favourite of ours, Farm Raised Catfish Platter.

If you still have room after all that then our tip is to try the Chocolate Cobbler. At less than $2.50 it is a delicious blend of chocolate cobbler, pecan nuts, vanilla ice cream, smothered in a fantastic chocolate sauce. Or there is fruit cobbler, or apple pie, or pecan pie. And if you are finally beaten then they will bring you a take-home box for anything you can’t eat!

Their slogan is ‘Where Comfort Meets Food’ and this is certainly true.