Cracker Barrel vs Waffle House

must be the hot waitresses.

 

IHOP priced themselves right out of the market for us. Many better and cheaper local places.

The closest Cracker Barrel is 190 miles away in Las Vegas, NV. The closest Waffle House is 300 miles away near Phoenix, AZ. We make it a point to get to each one (and Perkins, since that's my wife's maiden name) on our cross country travels each year

From what I've read, I have a lot of respect for Waffle House. They are phenomenal with their preparation and operations through disasters. Even the federal government keys on Waffle Houses to help them with planning and reaction. They are almost always able to be there when needed.

Keep It Simple And Stay Open: The Waffle House Storm Menu : The Two-Way : NPR

It may not be gourmet but it's deserving of my business.

 

Awesome cant wait till they open!!
We first started going to CB in Connecticut. years ago we came upon a bicycle accident and we took the to bicyclists to the hospital. One of the cyclists was a manager at CB, invited the whole family as a way to say thanks. Ever since when we are near one we go. I just love the comfort food and more importantly the service and atmosphere!

 

I have no facts or figures to support this singular opinion, but I think with Breakfast? For some reason people expect a "Blue Collar" value. People expect a value price, and generous portions, to a higher degree than they do with either lunch menu's or dinner menu's.

There is an independently run restaurant local to myself, which I will not name. But they specialize nearly exclusively on breakfast and a breakfast menu. They do a terrific volume of business. You have to arrive early, and be willing to wait on nearly any day. But it's success is built entirely on the foundation of Eggs, Ham, Bacon, Pancakes and Waffles, served in RIDICULOUSLY huge portion.
And I would say, they are making a profit on each meal they serve, the menu prices while not expensive, are also not cheap, you are paying for what you get. But people seem impressed by the fact that nearly any breakfast order is really about 2 1/2 breakfasts. With Pancakes the size of Compact Spare Tires, and Eggs and Bacon served in "Last Meal" proportion. Nearly everyone leaves with a filled white styrofoam container holding enough food for 2 more days of breakfast.

I'm not sure this formula would work outside of The Breakfast genre.

 

+1

I'm not a particular fan of the restaurant, but I give them highest kudos for consistently being the first restaurant to re-open or stay open at any given 'ground zero.'
I remember before communications and power (and water....and...and...) were restored in the town that I was working in post-Katrina, I was surprised to see them up and operating. I think that I remember them delivering the entire thing pre-fabbed on a couple of trucks, and depositing it on or near the site of the store that was swept away by the surge.
It's been a few (12) years since that storm but I remember being VERY impressed by it since the restaurant that preceded it had completely vanished.......slab and all.
(most of the slab was still there.....just buried.)

It's pretty humbling to try to find a site where an entire building used to be and not be able to find anything identifiable as belonging to that particular structure - especially Waffle Houses, which are distinctively colored.

 

The cheapest full breakfast item at our local IHOP is over $6.25. Almost the entire breakfast menu is $8 and up. We have quite a few local places serving full breakfasts in the $4-6 range, many including coffee.

 

I think I kind of contradict myself with my own example.
The breakfast restaurant I site, is not particularly cheap. Even if one factors in that one can eat for 2-3 meals off of one ordered meal.

It's very much a "Cheers" -Hungry Hefer-type of situation. That is a restaurant that makes it's reputation based on portion size.

But I would say...value..is still something expected at a higher degree with a breakfast menu than with a typical dinner or lunch menu.

Most of us I would say, don't really blink or balk at most restaurants at dinner items priced at $6.25, and with dinner items priced $8.00 or more. Infact most of us would consider that a very economical "dinner". But with breakfast? We expect more. We expect that $4-6 dollar range, or that gut filling "Grand Slam" bargain.

OFF TOPIC:
Kind of sad. I use to come to Prius Chat to talk about the Automotive Industry, Toyota, and/or of course Prius.
Now? I'm reduced to conversation about breakfast restaurants.
Kind of makes me want to get up early and over eat.