Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
· collected 2026-08-04 · by Peter Burke
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has faced calls from loyal customers on social media to bring back discontinued menu items, including the Sunrise Sampler breakfast platter and black-eyed peas. Josh Cooper, owner of a BBQ restaurant in Florida, claims that recreating the Sunrise Sampler costs around $25 à la carte, compared to its original price as part of the sampler platter. Fans are not just asking for specific dishes to be reinstated, but also the nostalgic atmosphere and comfort they provided. Cracker Barrel faced backlash last summer over efforts to modernize its image, including a logo redesign and restaurant makeover.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Cracker Barrel fans are calling for the return of several discontinued menu items, including the Sunrise Sampler, a breakfast platter that featured eggs, grits, fried apples, hash brown casserole, sausage, bacon, country ham, and biscuits with gravy. The item was removed from the menu, but owner Josh Cooper of Cooper's Next Level BBQ in Tallahassee, Florida claims it was a fan favorite that allowed customers to try a little bit of everything without breaking the bank. According to Cooper, recreating the same meal today requires ordering each item separately, which costs around $25, making it impractical for customers. Fans have taken to social media and online forums to call for the return of beloved classics like black-eyed peas, fried haddock, red-eye gravy, and fried chicken livers.
Written for “Cracker Barrel Foods Comeback” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article presents a sympathetic view of customers' emotional attachment to discontinued menu items, using phrases like 'passionate reactions', 'beloved classics', and 'upset patrons'. This framing implies that the readers should understand and empathize with customers' nostalgia for Cracker Barrel's old menu.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.70 for article 307 · logged 2026-08-04
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has built its reputation on serving Southern comfort food and nostalgic favorites, which may explain why some discontinued menu items continue to spark passionate reactions from loyal customers.
uncertain
items → build → customers
From black-eyed peas and fried haddock to red-eye gravy and fried chicken livers, fans have taken to social media and online forums over the years to call for the return of beloved classics.
asserted
fans → fry → classics
One breakfast favorite that still has customers talking is the Sunrise Sampler, a platter that combined eggs, grits, fried apples, hash brown casserole, sausage, bacon, country ham and biscuits with gravy.
asserted
that → have → gravy
"I noticed a while back that Cracker Barrel removed the GOAT of all breakfasts, the Sunrise Sampler, from the menu," Josh Cooper, owner of Cooper's Next Level BBQ in Tallahassee, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
asserted
Cooper → notice → Digital
"You used to get a little bit of everything without breaking the bank."
asserted
You → use → bank
Cooper said recreating the same meal today requires ordering each item separately, driving up the cost.
asserted
recreating → say → cost
"Now in order to get that same teaser touch from the Sunrise Sampler, you have to order it all à la carte, which costs around $25 for the same great meal," he said.
asserted
he → get → meal
Fox News Digital reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment.
asserted
Digital → reach → comment
While menu changes are often driven by rising ingredient costs or operational challenges, Cooper said restaurants should recognize the emotional attachment customers have to longtime favorites.
asserted
customers → drive → favorites
"The reality is that nostalgia matters and when you remove popular items without controlling the narrative or managing customers' expectations, you are bound to have upset patrons," he said.
asserted
he → matter → patrons
"Whether it's due to rising food costs, kitchen timing or any other reason, it's important to communicate with the people who put you on the map in the first place.
asserted
who → rise → place
Communication matters.
asserted
Communication → matter → ?
Cracker Barrel faced backlash last summer over efforts to modernize its image, including a short-lived logo redesign and restaurant makeover.
asserted
Barrel → face → redesign
Last week, the company announced that CEO Julie Masino would step down.
asserted
Masino → announce → ?
Rachel Love, a self-described Cracker Barrel enthusiast from Tennessee, said black-eyed peas are a side dish that she hopes will make a return.
asserted
she → describe → return
"I absolutely loved the black-eyed peas, and I'm so glad they're getting some attention," Love told Fox News Digital.
asserted
Love → love → Digital
"They were one of my favorite sides and always felt like such a classic part of the Cracker Barrel experience."
asserted
They → feel → experience
She also hopes the chain will revive its baked apple dumpling, which she described as "the perfect comfort dessert" that matched the restaurant's nostalgic atmosphere.
asserted
that → hop → atmosphere
The appeal goes beyond any single dish, Love said.
asserted
Love → go → dish
"People aren't just asking for old menu items — they're asking for the comfort and nostalgia that came with them," she said.
asserted
she → ask → them
"Sometimes bringing back one classic dish means more to loyal customers than introducing several new ones."
asserted
bringing → bring → ones
