Southern Restaurants near California

“This is going to be lengthy so don't read if not interested in a Birthday Party review. I contacted Guest Relations on Thursday, confirming in Person on Friday, confirmed Catering on a Saturday, & had the physical Ten years Young B-Day party 🥳 on Monday 24Nov25. The Store Manager must have seen the panic on my face. Inclement weather in bound, Solomons park not feasible for a party. Last minute moving in doors, strict budget. Mom wants to thank all kiddos that arrive with a $5/6 dollar thank you gift 💝 from the CB store. Manger so personable & helpful, the kind Gentleman's name is Khari/Kari? I walked through what I believed a group of TEN ravenous energetic boys plus parents would need. The Holiday Berry punch tea (Adults table) was delicious, want to use as a base for cocktails 🍹 at some point. Pitcher of Lemonade for the kids. Platter of sliders X2. No problem with me bringing in cupcakes 🧁 with candles, budget saver. IN THE MOMENT, added a tray of Crispy Dippers. Three of the B-Day boys friends, don't like burgers 🍔. So much chicken on the tray, everyone got two pieces. We were the back corner of the restaurant. A table for gifts & logistical setup. A kids table, a two tables consisted of the Parent Table. Napkins, cups, plates, goodies bags, balloons, coats dump. We brought table wears for Birthday theme & easier recycling ♻️, wasn't going to have some poor soul washing what this ravenous crowd put away other than pitchers of drink. Long table made of three he personally pushed together. We have never had more than two guests show at any previous party 🎉 because of close proximity to travel holiday. We had ten sitting at the tables with the Birthday boy. Also room for platters & cupcakes, out of reach until time to plate & share. When my lighter failed to ignite, manager let me borrow bic from fireplace. Also handed me a cup with an inch of water. When the candles kept re igniting... Into the cup they went, he obviously has done this before. Unbeknownst to Mom/Dad older siblings had swapped B-Day candles for trick candles. While kids were playing with bouncy blow up balloons awaiting arrival of last guest (I was stalling for time) several cups were knocked over. Mya B our Hostess/Server didn't miss a beat... extra napkins at the ready. Didn't know at the time but Happy Birthday 🎊 Napkins shred like confetti 🎉 when wet. When amped up on B-Day Sugar, she placed pitchers of water front & end of table so the wolf pack could detox. All told, food/Drinks, was $80!! This included location, staging, prep time, hearding cats to rest room. Male head unknown to me, Female Head immaculate. Also the hour plus it took for Ten Boys to pick under $7 toy. The apologies continued to flow. All staff helpful, kind, understanding, consummate professionals. I need to return as every visible trace we tried to remove of our being there a ketchup got swept up into the carry out boxes. Catering came with lids which were stackable perfection for leftovers. This Veteran Momma with a port and an MBC diagnosis knows that birthdays are precious, not guaranteed, & fleeting. So thank you 🙏🏽 to the army of everyone that made this possible. Even the dinner guests on the other side of the restaurant were so thoughtful to wish him Birthday Blessings 🗽🕊️⚓️🎗️This will be an Inside Out, core memory I will forever cherish. Thank you 🥹 to Cracker Barrel for returning us to a little bit of everyday normalcy & an exceptional gathering. 🫰🫶🏽👩🏼‍🦲❤️‍🩹“

“We have been a weekly regular at the Front Porch for some time now. We have always had good food and good service. The place has changed ownership in the last year which is fine. There's always growing pains just like any other business. But we have noticed major changes in the menu. Like everyone else we have enjoyed many items on the menu and have, or I should say had our favorites. We visited again today like we always do and was disappointed to see the latest menu changes. Most everything we have enjoyed and looked forward to having has since been taken off the menu. It started changing last year when the new owners took over. Little by little things have been removed that we liked. The new menu is a fraction of what was available in the past. Its nice to add new things to the menu, but without removing favorites. Not sure how we feel about committing our weekly outing in the future for food that is not our first choice. We don't want to go to a place and eat, just because thats all they have. Just saying.“