Seniors have stopped eating at Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden

[Kamaji]

Seniors have stopped eating at Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden — and it’s not clear when they’ll come back

By Lisa Fickenscher
Published Sep. 22, 2023

Retirees have lost their appetite for Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden since the pandemic — and it’s not clear when they’ll come back, according to the chains’ top brass.

No amount of biscuits and gravy or unlimited pasta refills seems to be enough to entice the 65-and-older crowd as they continue to pinch pennies amid high inflation and duck the coronavirus, according to Rick Cardenas, chief executive of Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden.

“I do believe that they were a little bit more spooked on the COVID side,” Cardenas told analysts on a Thursday conference call. “We’d love to see them come back more frequently.”

Indeed, seniors are heading to the budget-friendly pasta chain less often than they had before the pandemic, added chief financial officer Raj Vennam on a conference call on Thursday with Wall Street analysts.

He pointed to a “slight decline” in their numbers from the previous quarter. Olive Garden’s restaurants are hoping to lure customers in the coming weeks as it reintroduces its wildly popular Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion on Sept. 25 through Nov. 19 at a price of $13.99.

Last year, Olive Garden staged the promotion at the first time since the pandemic at the same price — up from $10.99 in 2019. Adding unlimited meat toppings now costs an extra $4.99.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/09/22/seniors-have-cut-back-on-dinners-at-cracker-barrel-olive-garden/

[Wingnut]

I guess the freeper money dried up for the O G.

[Bigun]

I guess the freeper money dried up for the O G.

 

[libertybele]

We don't have a Cracker Barrel near us, but occasionally we'll either dine in at Olive Garden or do take out. We enjoy it.  Not the best Italian around here, but we think it's affordable and tasty.

[LadyLiberty]

We only eat out locally on special occasions -- birthday, anniversary, valentines -- or when we are out of town. I cook. I guarantee you that when we do eat out, it won't be at Olive Garden or Cracker Barrel. I already have the restaurant picked out for my November birthday, a steakhouse. They have a senior menu and it will be the first time I'm qualified to order from that menu.

[catfish1957]

I guess the freeper money dried up for the O G.

 

[Gefn]

Maybe because you can cook most of the meals at these restaurants at home?

I've never eaten at a Cracker Barrel but I know people who have and like it.

As for Italian, I would rather go to a mom and pop Italian restaurant a mile or so from me, I think their food is yummy.

[LMAO]

We don't have a Cracker Barrel near us, but occasionally we'll either dine in at Olive Garden or do take out. We enjoy it.  Not the best Italian around here, but we think it's affordable and tasty.

My sister lives in Orlando, Florida and one year she took us to a place called IL Pecatore and it was fantastic

Are you familiar with that restaurant?

[Bigun]

Maybe because you can cook most of the meals at these restaurants at home?

I've never eaten at a Cracker Barrel but I know people who have and like it.

As for Italian, I would rather go to a mom and pop Italian restaurant a mile or so from me, I think their food is yummy.

I'll take a mom and pop over ANY chain every time @Gefn

[roamer_1]

As for Italian, I would rather go to a mom and pop Italian restaurant a mile or so from me, I think their food is yummy.

Out here in the hinterland, we can't just go to an authentic Italian restaurant. The closest thing I have is the Spaghetti Factory over in Spokane Wa... Outside of pizza joints, anyway... And none of that is what you would consider authentic, I am sure.

[catfish1957]

Just my $.02, but I always found Cracker Barrel's fried foods, lacking......   kind of like maybe they don't change their grease often enough.
And Olive Garden?.....    The El Cheapo in me just didn't care for paying $15 for a meal that is basically noodles.   And that was $15 over a decade ago.

[roamer_1]

We only eat out locally on special occasions -- birthday, anniversary, valentines -- or when we are out of town. I cook. I guarantee you that when we do eat out, it won't be at Olive Garden or Cracker Barrel. I already have the restaurant picked out for my November birthday, a steakhouse. They have a senior menu and it will be the first time I'm qualified to order from that menu.

Back east my family used to like to get together after church. They would descend upon a particular diner... And in the end, the diner shut down and became a private gathering for their Sunday lunch crowd...

I went back there and asked for brown gravy on hash browns with my breakfast and found out that's an oddity, but very well received... They have for years now offered a 'western breakfast' which is my exact order...

Such a great relationship with my family, them folks and their restaurant...

Nothing like that out here... We are known by name all over in this valley, but don't go out like that (weekly). Maybe once a year.

[Cyber Liberty]

I guess the freeper money dried up for the O G.

The several times we had lunch with JimRob, we ate at Cracker Barrel.   

[DCPatriot]

Just my $.02, but I always found Cracker Barrel's fried foods, lacking......   kind of like maybe they don't change their grease often enough.
And Olive Garden?.....    The El Cheapo in me just didn't care for paying $15 for a meal that is basically noodles.   And that was $15 over a decade ago.

@catfish1957

Never have been inside of a Cracker Barrel restaurant in my entire 77 years!

BTW...love that commercial about some investment company...ends with the guy behind the counter telling him, "That'll be 16.95!"

...and he says, "Oh...I'm just paying for MY salad!"   

[roamer_1]

Never have been inside of a Cracker Barrel restaurant in my entire 77 years!

I've never even SEEN one. Or an Olive Garden, for that matter...

[Bigun]

The several times we had lunch with JimRob, we ate at Cracker Barrel.   

When he visited Texas, it was always a BBQ joint.

[DCPatriot]

I've never even SEEN one. Or an Olive Garden, for that matter...

LOL!  That just tells us you've been living in a cave.

It's no wonder you've developed the rigid POV.

Of course, I just went out this morning to remind me why I don't go out anymore! 

[Wingnut]

The several times we had lunch with JimRob, we ate at Cracker Barrel.   

Begs the question...who paid?

[roamer_1]

LOL!  That just tells us you've been living in a cave.
It's no wonder you've developed the rigid POV.

Nothing like that... I just don't think they're anywhere in the PACNW region. Last I was down off the mountain they weren't between here and Kansas City either.

[libertybele]

My sister lives in Orlando, Florida and one year she took us to a place called IL Pecatore and it was fantastic

Are you familiar with that restaurant?

No. I live way south of Orlando and haven't been up that way in years.

There is a little Italian Mom & Pop restaurant here called Maria's.  Excellent food, a little pricey, so we go there on special occasions. 

[GtHawk]

We only eat out locally on special occasions -- birthday, anniversary, valentines -- or when we are out of town. I cook. I guarantee you that when we do eat out, it won't be at Olive Garden or Cracker Barrel. I already have the restaurant picked out for my November birthday, a steakhouse. They have a senior menu and it will be the first time I'm qualified to order from that menu.

Well God Bless you! I went gray early and along with that I found that businesses were just automatically giving me senior discounts, at first I fought it...then I just embraced it

[libertybele]

I'll take a mom and pop over ANY chain every time @Gefn

Absolutely!  We have a great Mom & Pop bb'que restaurant dedicated to 9/11 and first responders.  It is excellent.  We have one other Mom & Pop that has various selections of fish and steaks,  Sunday brunch that is also excellent, they are somewhat pricey so we go there for special occasions.

Chain restaurants are for when I'm tired of cooking or we both just want to get out for a bit. I mostly cook, which I enjoy, but baking is what I love.

[mystery-ak]

The Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden in my area are always packed...especially with seniors.

Whenever I get the urge for pancakes, eggs and bacon we head to CB where you can order off the breakfast menu all day...and at a reasonable price.

We have a mom and pop Italian rest. right down the street so ordering from there is more convenient but not necessarily cheap than driving to OG.....which to be honest I make better lasagna and spaghetti sauce..

I must say that CB and OG prices are basically the same as any restaurant around here.

[Bigun]

Absolutely!  We have a great Mom & Pop bb'que restaurant dedicated to 9/11 and first responders.  It is excellent.  We have one other Mom & Pop that has various selections of fish and steaks,  Sunday brunch that is also excellent, they are somewhat pricey so we go there for special occasions.

Chain restaurants are for when I'm tired of cooking or we both just want to get out for a bit. I mostly cook, which I enjoy, but baking is what I love.

Mom and pops have total control over everything they serve all the time. Chains, at least in my experience, are hit and miss at best. I tend to avoid the chains.

We had a mom-and-pop BBQ joint here that was world class until the opened stores in two more locations. The quality has declined markedly.

[Gefn]

I'll take a mom and pop over ANY chain every time @Gefn

I don't mind chains @Bigun

I just like supporting small businesses if I can and the food or items are better.

And the service too. IMHO.

[Smokin Joe]

LOL!  That just tells us you've been living in a cave.

It's no wonder you've developed the rigid POV.

Of course, I just went out this morning to remind me why I don't go out anymore! 

Well, there is an Olive Garden in the same State I am, but it's 250 miles away.

Needless to say, I haven't visited.

I have had much better luck with local diners and truck-stop type cafes than chains anyway. Franchises may have that baked in sameness that lots of folks find comfortable, and some times the local 'greasy spoon' is a disappointment, but as a rule they either serve reasonably good food or don't last long.

[mountaineer]

Sad to say I used to cook at an OG. They were concerned with quality control, but it all depends on the manager of the individual locations. Some are more preoccupied with controlling food costs than putting out tasty dishes.

We decided to eat out this Monday - probably will visit a locally-owned Greek restaurant.

[roamer_1]

I have had much better luck with local diners and truck-stop type cafes than chains anyway. Franchises may have that baked in sameness that lots of folks find comfortable, and some times the local 'greasy spoon' is a disappointment, but as a rule they either serve reasonably good food or don't last long.

That's right. Diners, rib joints, cafes, and truck stops... All right up my alley. 

[libertybele]

Sad to say I used to cook at an OG. They were concerned with quality control, but it all depends on the manager of the individual locations. Some are more preoccupied with controlling food costs than putting out tasty dishes.

We decided to eat out this Monday - probably will visit a locally-owned Greek restaurant.

Our local Olive Garden was one of the first restaurants to offer 'curbside' during the pandemic. They opened up as soon as they were allowed and still offer curbside and orders are usually ready within a half hour. Their portions are pretty large and I think the quality is decent and pretty tasty; lots of meat with the sauces and lots of salad and breadsticks.  Usually they give us enough for a second meal for the both of us. For a chain restaurant, I really can't complain.

Enjoy your Greek restaurant -- we don't have one around here.   

[mountaineer]

I haven't eaten at many OGs (not even when I worked there), but believe the food quality is fairly consistent from restaurant to restaurant. My Cracker Barrel experience is even more limited - can think of only one visit at least 10 years ago, and can't recall what I had. Nevertheless, restaurants around here seem pretty busy, post-Covid. Their big problem is getting kitchen help, as no one wants to work.

[Bigun]

Sad to say I used to cook at an OG. They were concerned with quality control, but it all depends on the manager of the individual locations. Some are more preoccupied with controlling food costs than putting out tasty dishes.

We decided to eat out this Monday - probably will visit a locally-owned Greek restaurant.

  and for reasons unknown the management at our local OG changes very frequently making visits there like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.

[libertybele]

and for reasons unknown the management at our local OG changes very frequently making visits there like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.

 

[GtHawk]

Sad to say I used to cook at an OG. They were concerned with quality control, but it all depends on the manager of the individual locations. Some are more preoccupied with controlling food costs than putting out tasty dishes.

We decided to eat out this Monday - probably will visit a locally-owned Greek restaurant.

There was a time I was going to bail on MickeyD's and one of the employers I interviewed with was OG. It was an eye opener, the hours they wanted a manager to work were more than the high hours I was already earning, plus it would have been an income drop...BUT they said the potential wage was much higher with bonuses. Yeah I had no trouble envisioning what it would take in cuts to food costs and labor to even get a shot at a bonus. I took a pass on their offer

[mystery-ak]

Years ago when my boys were 10-12 years old we went to Springfield to the OG there...my son doesn't like tomato sauce so he ordered spaghetti with just butter..after a few bites he spits out a mouthful of spaghetti into his napkin...and there was a broken part of the metal draining pot...I noticed our server and motioned for him to come over and said...*I need to see the manager*...he asked why and I showed him the hunk of metal my son almost choked on....the manager was very apologetic..I could have made a scene but no harm was done..he sent us all a slice of tiramisu which I love and no one else does so I took home 3 slices of tiramisu for myself.

[Cyber Liberty]

Begs the question...who paid?

I can't recall. 

[Bigun]

I can't recall.

LOL!

 

[berdie]

We only eat out locally on special occasions -- birthday, anniversary, valentines -- or when we are out of town. I cook. I guarantee you that when we do eat out, it won't be at Olive Garden or Cracker Barrel. I already have the restaurant picked out for my November birthday, a steakhouse. They have a senior menu and it will be the first time I'm qualified to order from that menu.

Happy early Birthday! @ladylibery Next month is mine, and it is one of the BDs that the first number changes on.

Much like you, my choice of restaurants is the local steakhouse. I can't wait. When I worked, I ate out for lunch (my main meal) every day. Now I cook every day so it will be a treat. Although it still amazes me how the prices have gone up.