Though Denver's first location of Cracker Barrel will no doubt be packed with excited customers for the first few months of its existence, the Central Park space is the same as every other Cracker Barrel in the country. The food is solid, basic chain diner fare with an emphasis on biscuits and gravy and sweet tea. The flavors won't blow your mind, but they won't disappoint either.
And that's the point of Cracker Barrel: It will never lead you astray and, more important, it's fun. Way more fun than another chain breakfast location without a theme, anyway.
Cracker Barrel first opened in Tennessee in the 1960s. The Southern chain opened its initial Colorado location in 1995, when outposts popped up in Colorado Springs and Northglenn; Loveland and Pueblo both have Cracker Barrels as well. Now, Denver is getting in on the fun with a new location in Central Park (formerly Stapleton) set to open on April 21.
The Cracker Barrel at 9111 East 40th Avenue has all the Cracker Barrel staples fans love, like the plethora of rocking chairs for purchase out front, the spattering of chess and checkers boards, the kitschy gift shop with surprisingly great prices, the big fireplace, the retro decor and, most important, the traditional peg game.
On a pre-opening visit, we noticed that the message on the front of the game, which sits at every table in every Cracker Barrel, has been made nicer. In the past, the game would tell people who left three or more pegs that they are "just plain dumb" and those who left four or more that they are "just plain eg-no-ra-moose" (a pronunciation of ignoramus, meaning a dumb or ignorant).
Now, the game tells those who leave three or more behind that they should try again, as there is "no reason to be embarrassed." Perhaps Cracker Barrel doesn't want kids playing the game to get upset, but we'll always prefer the snarky version to the overly sweet one.
Still, the best item on the menu at this Cracker Barrel might just be a sweet one: the cinnamon roll skillet. The dish is exactly what it sounds like, a mini cast-iron skillet full of cinnamon rolls and drenched in cream cheese icing. The shareable item hits all the right notes and is fun to eat. When the store opens on April 21, for a time it will be the only Cracker Barrel in the country serving the cinnamon roll skillet. Other locations will eventually roll out the item; for now, though, Denver has an exclusive.
The rest of the food we tried during our sneak peek on April 17 was exactly what we expected. We enjoyed the pancakes, biscuits and gravy, French toast, crispy chicken, and sausage and eggs that were part of our meal. The presentation of two sausage patties and eggs on a plate way too big for the contents made us laugh, but everything tasted good.
It's easy to imagine families with picky kids having a great time at Denver's Cracker Barrel. Each breakfast meal comes with a little pre-warmed bottle of maple syrup, too, which adds to the theme and the fun.
The highlight of any Cracker Barrel, though, is the store. Outside the dining room is an old-timey country store that sells almost any silly little item you can imagine. Displays dedicated to gardening, America, the pool, mushrooms (not the psychedelic ones), cats and old-timey candy are scattered through the shopping space.
There are also several religious books and references, as well as an entire wall of scented candles that smell amazing. Shoppers couldn't buy items during the sneak peek, so we'll definitely need to return to scoop up some of the merchandise that caught our eyes...and our noses.
Unique sodas and rare candies are some of the best things at any Cracker Barrel store, and the Denver location is no exception; it offers the famous Cheerwine soda and sheets of candy buttons. Anyone who loves a theme will enjoy the store's many curated displays.
Cracker Barrel will open on Monday, April 21, at 9111 East 40th Avenue. While you wait, enjoy more photos and a video from our trip to this Denver location:
