Louisiana Guests Anxious About Cracker Barrel Menu Rumors

Whether you're heading from Shreveport to Baton Rouge for a ball game or from Lafayette to New Orleans for a concert chances are somewhere along the road you're going to get hungry. For a lot of motorists who travel I-10, I-20, and I-49 when they get hungry they look for a sign. No, not a sign from the Almighty, they are looking for a Cracker Barrel sign.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores are a consistent stop along the highway no matter where you travel. I like to think of them as Waffle Houses with a gift shop. And like the "international house of waffles" Cracker Barrel is known for home-cooked American favorites and portions that will make you want to take a nap when you're done.

I am pretty sure that almost all of us would have major anxiety issues if we found out our grandmothers were suddenly going to change their gumbo recipe after decades, right? Well, that's how a lot of Louisiana fans of Cracker Barrel are reportedly feeling ever since news of "major changes" in Cracker Barrel's menu was announced.

The menu overhaul is the largest in the 55-year history of the homestyle eatery and based on what we have learned there are going to be 20 different items added to the new menu. Let me clarify a point here, Cracker Barrel is rolling out the new menu this summer at 14 locations in Texas. Depending on what the reaction is, the chain will then roll the new items out to the rest of us around the country.

Among the Cracker Barrel favorites that are rumored to be "messed with" are the Hashbrown Casserole, the Cornbread, the Banana Pudding, and even the Chicken and Dumplings. Please note that we said "rumored" because we don't have confirmation on exactly what changes, modifications, or eliminations might be included. But the thought of the Hashbrown Casserole not being the casserole that I remember from my last visit is enough for me to seek the companionship of a support animal.

Of course, the only thing that could be worse than changing the Hashbrown Casserole at the Cracker Barrel would be the closing of my favorite locations. Unfortunately, Cracker Barrel like many restaurants has had to close some underperforming locations. The stores I go to won't be closed because they are always full. But if they change the casserole, well I might recant that position.