Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has built its reputation on serving Southern comfort food and nostalgic favorites — which may explain why some discontinued menu items continue to spark passionate reactions from loyal customers.
From black-eyed peas and fried haddock to red-eye gravy and fried chicken livers, fans have taken to social media and online forums over the years to call for the return of beloved classics.
One breakfast favorite that still has customers talking is the Sunrise Sampler. It’s a platter that combines eggs, grits, fried apples, hash brown casserole, sausage, bacon, country ham and biscuits with gravy.
“I noticed a while back that Cracker Barrel removed the GOAT of all breakfasts, the Sunrise Sampler, from the menu,” Josh Cooper, owner of Cooper’s Next Level BBQ in Tallahassee, Florida, told Fox News Digital. “You used to get a little bit of everything without breaking the bank.”
Cooper said recreating the same meal today requires ordering each item separately — driving up the cost.
“Now, in order to get that same teaser touch from the Sunrise Sampler, you have to order it all à la carte, which costs around $25 for the same great meal,” he said. “Blasphemy!”
While menu changes are often driven by rising ingredient costs or operational challenges, Cooper said restaurants should recognize the emotional attachment customers have to longtime favorites.
People are “asking for comfort and nostalgia.”
“The reality is that nostalgia matters. And when you remove popular items without controlling the narrative or managing customers’ expectations, you are bound to have upset patrons,” he said.
“Whether it’s due to rising food costs, kitchen timing or any other reason, it’s important to communicate with the people who put you on the map in the first place. Communication matters.”
Cracker Barrel faced backlash last summer over efforts to modernize its image, including a short-lived logo redesign and restaurant makeover.
Last week, the company announced that CEO Julie Masino would step down.
Rachel Love, a self-described Cracker Barrel enthusiast from Tennessee, said black-eyed peas are a side dish that she hopes will make a return.
“I absolutely loved the black-eyed peas, and I’m so glad they’re getting some attention,” Love told Fox News Digital. “They were one of my favorite sides and always felt like such a classic part of the Cracker Barrel experience.”
She also said she hopes the chain will revive its baked apple dumpling, which she described as “the perfect comfort dessert” that matched the restaurant’s nostalgic atmosphere. The appeal goes beyond any single dish, Love said.
“People aren’t just asking for old menu items — they’re asking for the comfort and nostalgia that came with them,” she said.
“Sometimes bringing back one classic dish means more to loyal customers than introducing several new ones.”
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