Sometimes the old ways really are the best ways. After spending months trying to convince customers that change was good, Cracker Barrel has apparently decided that maybe it wasn’t—at least not when it comes to the menu. The restaurant chain famous for rocking chairs, peg games, and plates piled high with country cooking is reversing course on some controversial menu cuts, and it’s doing so with what sounds a lot like an apology tour.
The Old Country Store is bringing back two longtime menu items, the Hamburger Steak and Eggs in the Basket nationwide, after months of customer complaints and backlash tied to last year’s rebrand.
Eggs in the Basket disappeared from menus roughly two years ago, while Hamburger Steak was also pulled at some point in recent years, and were among the most frequently requested items from customers, according to the company.
Hamburger Steak dates back to Cracker Barrel’s opening in 1969. The dish features seasoned beef topped with garlic butter sauce and served with classic sides. Eggs in the Basket, a longtime breakfast staple, consists of an egg cooked into grilled sourdough bread and served with bacon or sausage.
Both items are now part of Cracker Barrel’s Meals for Two promotion, priced at $19.99 and available all day Monday through Friday.
Course Correction for the Old Country Store
The move comes after a turbulent year for the Tennessee-based chain. A logo redesign and broader brand refresh in 2025 sparked heavy criticism from longtime customers and coincided with a sharp drop in company value.
The chain’s stock plummeted 7.2% on the day of the logo announcement in August 2025, wiping out nearly $100 million in market value, according to CBS News. At one point during trading, losses reached close to $200 million.
The damage extended beyond the logo. In September 2025, Cracker Barrel reported that same-store restaurant sales had dropped 4.7% while retail shop sales fell 8.5%. The company was forced to lower its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion, down from an earlier projection of $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion.
By December 2025, the chain posted a net loss of $24.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, a sharp reversal from a $4.8 million profit in the same period the prior year.
Cracker Barrel later paused parts of the remodel effort following the uproar.
On social media, fans have expressed relief at the return of the menu classics. “NO WAY!! I freaking love that dish!! I was so (quietly) upset when I went in several years ago and they no longer served it, ” wrote one Redditor after learning Eggs in the Basket was coming back.
Other fans are already speculating about what else might be coming back. “Its not confirmed, but our store is getting autoshipped carrot cake mix, so thats pretty exciting,” one user shared Reddit, sparking hope that more old favorites could be on the horizon.
The restaurant chain has not indicated whether additional removed items could return, but the company said it plans to continue listening to guest feedback as it adjusts its menu going forward.
Sources: Cracker Barrel, CBS News, New York Post, Fox News