Pot Roast News

Cracker Barrel tests new menu re-do at only 5 Dallas-Fort Worth locations

Cracker Barrel pot roast casserole with biscuits.

Cracker Barrel

Southern-themed restaurant chain Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has unveiled a menu overhaul — its largest ever — and is testing the new menu for a limited time, only in Texas, at 14 locations across the state.

The new menu is part of of a strategic transformation initiated in May, to revive the chain's fortunes.

Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee, as a restaurant-gift store combo, specializing in homestyle food, plus retail products — everything from rocking chairs to pancake mix to kids' games.

They do affordable homestyle food, a cuisine that is increasingly hard to find; but according to a release, they've been struggling with sales and traffic since the pandemic, with a 4 percent decline in traffic for the second quarter ending January 26.

Their plan: a brand overhaul including this new test menu, alongside other initiatives like store remodels and digital technology, with a goal stated by CEO Julie Felss-Masino to modernize and refresh the Cracker Barrel brand without losing its signature homestyle charm.

The 20-menu item test, which includes green chile cornbread and banana pudding, began in February at a singular store, and is currently being served at 14 Texas Cracker Barrel locations, available now through August 5.

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's PieCracker Barrel

Highlights of the new menu include:

Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's Pie: a slow-simmered pot roast served with onions, celery, carrots, peas, and mashed potatoes topped with a griddled hashbrown casserole crust and sour cream. The item is served with a choice of buttermilk biscuits or cornbread muffins.
Green Chile Cornbread: cheesy green chile cornbread drizzled with honey and topped with whipped butter
Chicken n' Dumplin Soup: homestyle “dumplins” served with shredded chicken, celery, carrots, and onions in broth
Cinnamon Bread French Toast: griddled cinnamon streusel bread topped with cinnamon and cream cheese icing, served with two eggs and a choice of bacon or sausage
Banana Pudding: layered with vanilla wafers, whipped cream, and caramel sauce

They've also updated their selection of daily specials, rotating menu classics like Lemon Pepper Trout n’ Classic Turnip Greens with new Southern BBQ Ribs and savory Chicken n' Rice.

"For nearly 55 years, guests have known and loved us for our authentic, homestyle cooking, and that's not going away, we've only added more flavor and crave to the menu and made it easier to navigate," says Senior VP of Operations, Cammie Spillyards-Schaefer. "We're excited for the Texas community to be the first to experience some of our new culinary innovations like premium, savory Chicken n' Rice and Green Chile Cornbread and we look forward to gaining valuable feedback, from both our guests and employees on the test."

The only locations you can try them are as follows:

Allen, 1323 Central Expressway N.
Arlington, 4300 South Bowen Rd., I-20 & Bowen Rd.
Arlington, 1251 North Watson Rd., SR 360 & Brown Blvd/Ave K
Benbrook, 8010 SW Loop 820, I-20 & Winscott
Weatherford, 132 East I-20, I-20 & Hwy 51
Houston, 18151 Katy Freeway, I-10 & Barker-Cypress Rd.
Houston, 14765 N. Freeway, I-45 & Airtex
Kingwood, 24400 Eastex Fwy, US Hwy. 59 & North Park
Cypress, US 290 & Mueschke Rd., 27040 NW Fwy
Abilene, 1602 Hwy 351, I-20 & State Hwy. 351
Amarillo, T2323 I-40 East, I-40 & Quarterhorse Dr.
Lubbock, 5018 Milwaukee Ave, Hwy. 82 & Milwaukee Extension
Midland, 3108 N Loop 250 West, Loop 250 & Wadley Ave.
Wichita Falls, 2400 Sierra Dr, I-44 & Sierra Dr.

Given that they're previewing the menu at such a limited number of locations, and only in Texas, it seems like it's essential for every Texan to try them. They're putting this in our hands. We could be single-handedly saving this company's life.

The company and its affiliates operate approximately 660 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations in 44 states and also own the fast-casual Maple Street Biscuit Company, which they acquired at an unfortunately non-propitious time: October 2019, on the very eve of the pandemic.

Irish Pub News

Beloved downtown Dallas Crafty Irishman pub expands to Victory Park

Kennedy's Irish Pub

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A favorite Irish pub in downtown Dallas is expanding: The Crafty Irishman, which opened in downtown a decade ago, will open a spinoff location in nearby Victory Park at 2401 Victory Park Ln. #190, in the former Dibs on Victory space.

According to a release, it'll open in the next few months.

“Victory Park has been on our radar for many years,” says The Crafty Irishman founder Alan Kearney. “It’s a community in itself, with a great mix of residential, retail, and office. We will absolutely be geared for the games at Victory Park. Sports play a huge role in any pub back in Dublin, and that same energy will be part of what we do here.”

The new location will be larger than the downtown original and will feature a second-floor patio deck. It has been designed with the same characteristics and atmosphere as a great metropolitan city-center pub, the kind you would find in the heart of Dublin.

The menu will feature The Crafty Irishman’s staples such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and Scotch eggs, along with hundreds of whiskeys and a wide selection of European and local beers.

While the food may be the same, the vibe will not, Kearney says.

“This isn’t a copy and paste version of our downtown pub,” he say. “Every community is different and has its own personality. But one thing that never changes is our commitment to genuine hospitality, great food, and that warm, authentic Irish feel.”

Kearney is a native of Ireland who has emerged as a leading figure in Dallas' Irish pub scene, particularly in highly urban areas such as downtown and Bishop Arts-adjacent, with concepts that include Patrick Kennedy's Irish Pub, also in downtown Dallas and The Playwright Irish Pub located in Dallas' Arts District. He was the first to open an Irish pub in North Oak Cliff with Cannon's Irish Pub, which he opened in the cool Cannon's Village building in 2019.

He's shown a knack for being able to find an audience in locations that prior operators were not, such as the One Arts Plaza space where The Playwright is located — a space that saw a number businesses come and go before he came along.

The Victory Park location will offer lunch, dinner, happy hour, and late-night food, providing guests with a full-day dining and social experience. Validated parking and valet service will be available directly beside the pub.

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