Cracker Barrel Has a New Spring Menu—Here’s a Food Editor’s Ranking (and Photos) of the Top Items

• What Is It? classic lemonade mixed with seasonal strawberry and peach purée
• Price: $4

It's no wonder this drink is a returning favorite: "I took the drink’s opaqueness as a good sign, assuming the lemonade was mixed with real fruit. After tasting, I was confident that it was," Pire says, noting that the strawberry notes are much stronger than the peach. "Overall, the bev leaned sweet, despite pulpy bits of lemon giving it extra acidity and an authentic mouthfeel."

• What Is It? Roasted cremini mushrooms, spinach, peppers, onions, diced tomatoes and Pepperjack cheese cover three scrambled eggs, served with two sides and buttermilk biscuits
• Price: $12.49

Full disclosure: This meal is typically served with classic scrambled eggs, but you can order it as an egg white scramble—and I highly recommend it. It creates a mellow base for the earthy roasted mushrooms, wilted spinach and peppers and onions. It's worth asking for a little hot sauce to sprinkle across the top, but overall, it's a veggie-forward, filling meal—especially when paired with Cracker Barrel's iconic hash brown casserole and fried apples. (Though you could also keep things on the virtuous side and choose fresh fruit and sliced tomatoes instead.)

• What Is It? Country bread soaked in vanilla custard and layered with cheesecake filling, then topped with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar. It's served with strawberry syrup and breakfast sausage or bacon (Impossible sausage is available too)
• Price: $6 to $12.49, depending on portion

Is it breakfast or dessert? That's the question this over-the-top take on French Toast asks of you, and the answer is entirely your call. (Can't it be both, honestly?) It's rich and comforting, with dense layers of bread and strong, strawberries-and-cream notes. The fresh berries keep the dish from weighing you down, but still, I recommend splitting it with someone, unless you plan on taking a long nap after your meal...because that's all you'll want to do afterward.

Pro Tip: If you order one of the other breakfast options, you can add this as a $6 Take Home Meal. Sure, you won't get the side of bacon or sausage, but it's a solid portion at a fraction of the price, and it reheats wonderfully.

• What Is It? Three scrambled eggs topped with bacon, sugar ham, peppers, onions and Colby cheese, then drizzled with sweet & spicy maple syrup, diced tomatoes and green onions. Served with two sides and buttermilk biscuits
• Price: $14.49

When you're craving a little bit of everything, this is the breakfast to order. Like the Garden Scramble, you can substitute egg whites for the classic scrambled eggs, but I like the yolky addition in this mix. While the maple syrup is advertised as "sweet and spicy," I didn't really get the spicy notes here. The syrup is actually pretty subtle; I noticed more of the sweetness from the sugar ham. That, combined with thick-cut bacon, offered a smoky note as well—a nice foil to the savory peppers, onions and cheese. It's decadent, but c'mon, this is Cracker Barrel. It's what you come here for.

• What Is It? Seasoned, grilled salmon fillet topped with grilled shrimp and Creole sauce. Served over rice with your choice of two or three classic sides, as well as buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins
• Price: $18.99 to $20.49, depending on number of sides

I'm not a seafood person, so I'm shocked to give this the top spot, but here we are. It barely edged out the Farmhouse Scramble, but I was very impressed by the smoky seasoning on this flaky, ultra-tender salmon. It wasn't fishy at all, and the zesty Creole sauce livened up the mild rice pilaf. The shrimp was plump and juicy, with a lighter take on that same, chipotle-forward smoky seasoning, and the portions were so hearty you could easily split this meal. (Or, if it's a bit too much, you can order the smoky salmon sans shrimp, or have it served atop a salad.)

I recommend pairing the combo with collard greens or green beans and baby carrots. Oh, and ask for a side of chow chow, their pickled vegetable relish; it adds a nice tanginess that cuts through the smoky flavor.