Pros
Cracker Barrel is an interesting job to take on. I work as a server at Mount Laurel NJ's Cracker Barrel and I think that this is a great place to work. Working as a server at Cracker Barrel is tough. There are high standards, lots of work to do, and sometimes rushes can be very stressful, but the experience at Cracker Barrel can be defined, in my opinion as "hard but rewarding work".
On nights I know I'm on a roll I know i can make more money than I possibly could at any other job within that same shift's time period. On bad nights, I can make closer to minimum wage, or just above.
On top of serving, we also bus tables, manage the machines behind the beverages, set up trays of food, garnish the food, roll silverware, and clean and restock our tables at the end of the night. Getting out of work a half hour to an hour late is normal, and on busy nights you can find yourself working an extra 2, and on extremely rare occasions even 3 hours past your scheduled time, especially if you're new and just handling the ropes.
Some people don't like management here, but I think its fine. There are managers here that are super friendly that make you feel welcome, and other managers that push you to do your best and grow as a server, but may be overbearing at times. Overall I think highly of management here.
The job has incredible benefits. The base pay for a Rising Star is Tipped Minimum Wage (2.13/hour) plus tips. The base pay may stink but we make lots of money from our tips and on good days can easily surpass 100$ on a good day and in about 6 hours. That's some solid money. People who work longer/double shifts can even reach 200$.
On top of the pay, we also have employee discounts, employee meals, healthcare for full time and dedicated workers, and all sorts of cool benefits. As you progress through the rank system (PAR) you earn more and more benefits as you get closer to PAR IV, which is basically a long time veteran of Cracker Barrel.
The people that work at Cracker Barrel are incredible. I have worked here for a few months now and I have made many good friends and met many people, and gotten to grow close to many of my co-workers. The people are one of a kind and genuinely interesting and the people alone make this place worthwhile.
Overall I think this job is solid. It works you hard, but it pays well, and you have REAL advancement opportunities and good benefits for all the hard work.
If you consider yourself a hard worker, do yourself a favor and apply to Cracker Barrel and reap the benefits of hard but rewarding work.
Cons
-Workload can be overbearing sometimes
-Some guests can be absolutely brutally unkind and inconsiderate
-Oftentimes will have to stay past scheduled end time
