I usually prefer a local diner or small breakfast spot when going out for breakfast, but the Cracker Barrel in Londonderry is very convenient for our Saturday day trips. Located just of US Route 93 at exit 4 it is a quick and easy stop when heading either north to the New
Hampshire lakes and mountains or south to Massachusetts from our home in Raymond.
I do enjoy the decor of Cracker Barrel with its rustic charm and this particular location is very nice set alongside a very picturesque pond.
As you approach the restaurant you will notice the porch area with its chairs (all available for sale) and checker boards recreating the front porch of a southern home.
As you enter the building there is a good sized gift shop area selling a variety of tourist type kitch. You will also find the rest rooms here and towards the back of the area is the hostess for the restaurant.
There is a large fireplace as the centerpiece of the restaurant which is very homey during cool winter months and antique signage and artifacts adorn all of the walls.
As you are waiting (not so patiently in Alex’s case) there is a wonderful little peg game at each table. This game was my late mother’s favorite and she always did quite well.
The orange juice is fresh squeezed and very pulpy and the hot chocolate rich and creamy.
Most of the breakfast items are fairly pedestrian. The sausage is somewhat dry and the hash browns gummy. The eggs, bacon and pancakes are standard fare.
The best part about the pancakes are the bottles of pre-warmed syrup.
Be sure to order the southern items on the menu. I lived in Florida when attending graduate school an miss some of the southern side dishes. This is one of the few places in northern New England where you can get grits, biscuits and gravy or for lunch turnip greens.
