Cracker Barrel Testing New Menu Items In Select Markets
Have you heard about Cracker Barrel testing new menu items in select markets? They’re reportedly testing 20 new items and an easier-to-navigate menu!
They say the country life is simple. Now, your Cracker Barrel experience is about to be the same…at least they hope. The restaurant chain is reportedly testing 20 new menu items and aiming to reduce its recipe complexity. Are the changes going to be enough to get you to go?
Cracker Barrel Testing New Menu Items
Like many of us, some restaurants have been struggling to get back to a sense of normalcy after the pandemic. Lately, Red Lobster has been getting a lot of attention for shutting down locations as they consider filing bankruptcy. They had to have Flavor Flav come in to help them! That’s when you know things are bad, when you have to turn to none other than Flavor Flav to save the day. Hopefully, he can come through.
However, Red Lobster isn’t the only restaurant chain who’s struggling to keep up. Restaurants are having to adapt or get left behind. Now, Cracker Barrel is doing what they can to stay alive and relevant. The current state of things has Cracker Barrel testing new menu items! According to Restaurant Dive, Cracker Barrel has launched its largest menu test in the iconic brand’s history at 14 locations in the state of Texas. Restaurant Dive reports the test includes roughly 20 new items along with a redesigned menu to make it easier for guests to navigate their menu. You can’t overwhelm people with your menu! You have to make things simple and easy on them to find something they like. If people have trouble with your menu, they aren’t as likely to be returning customers. Looking at you, Cheesecake Factory!
As a part of these tests, the restaurant will incorporate Daily Specials in the menu giving guests the opportunity to enjoy select meals on certain nights of the week, per Restaurant Dive. Some of those items include Lemon Pepper Trout n’ classic Turnip greens along with Southern BBQ Ribs and Chicken n’ Rice. There will also be specials offered daily like Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie, Green Chile Cornbread, Cinnamon Bread French Toast, and more!
Will Cracker Barrel Testing New Menu Items Bring People Back?
So, why did they pick Texas for these test sites? According to Restaurant Dive, the chain picked Texas because of the state’s diverse population which includes a broad spectrum of tastes. In a statement via Restaurant Dive, Cracker Barrel said, “As we seek to balance menu innovation and simplification, we will take a strategic approach to rolling these items out to the full system over time. We saw success with early iterations of the test, so we plan to introduce several of these items to the full system this fall including savor Chick and Rice, Pot Roast and Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie, a new take on the guest favorite Hashbrown Casserole. We believe these dishes, in particular, resonate well with guests’ seasonal preferences and speak to the type of flavors they’re craving in the fall.”
In addition to the menu changes, they’re also looking to improve design elements inside the restaurants like tables, lighting, and paint in an effort to make it look and feel more welcoming. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a Cracker Barrel. These changes could be enough to get me back in to try some new things. Do you think Cracker Barrel testing new menu items will be enough to get you back in their locations?