If this location was any closer to the incredibly busy highway artery that bustles by this faux-southern eatery it would be sitting in the middle of this 8-lane expressway. So, should you find yourself bustling about in and around Philadelphia here in this smart area of Plymouth Meeting and in need of some quick respite to stretch your legs or even ‘cast your anchor’ for a night, then this Cracker Pot joint, which shares an adjoining lot with other retail neighbors here at the Metroplex Mall, most certainly has some paved concrete, but not much more than that to offer. Unlike many of the other southern chain eateries you’ll find, this parking lot is fairly well-paved, flat and even decent-sized.
If you do decide upon this particular location, you’ll want to ‘set up shop’ on the restaurant’s western periphery, which looks more like back-up parking in the case that there’s a mad dash for those biscuits & gravy, but when we stopped by, this western area was completely vacant, making for a nice lay-up. The watch out over here is that while you may find ample space, you’ll want to take note that you are right next to Highway 476 / Veterans Memorial Highway, so you’re going to hear noise all night long; however, if you have earplugs, you should be golden.
One big advantage this drive-by 'foul fooderie' has is the fact that it is somewhat hidden from sight and on the furthest southern edge of the Metroplex Mall, keeping you away from all of the other in- and out-traffic. There’s semi-decent lighting, thick shrubbery that encircles the place as well as the restaurant itself being on an incline giving the vibe of being somewhat protected from both the elements and other traffic.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you need to load up on anything, for the most part, you can get just about anything you might be looking for here at the Metroplex Mall with shops like Best Buy, Target, Giant grocery, Lowe’s and Barnes & Noble; (2) In the event that you need ANYTHING to get better equipped for your camp outing, there’s a sweet REI less than a 3 minute drive from here; (3) In the event that you might be RV'ing with your four-legged friends, then you’ll be incredibly grateful to know that just due southwest of this location you’ll discover a nice slice of nature called Wissahickon Valley Park, which is great for birding and seeing local wildlife as well as offering up some decent bike trails and hiking paths for you and your pet to stretch your legs as well as, if you have it, kayaking and canoeing with the small creek that they have here, although the Schuylkill River due west of here is far better and more challenging; and (4) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is in your onboard mini-fridge or you simply want to try out some local fare, then you’re in great luck as nearby there’s an Uno’s Pizzeria (big nod to my hometown of Chicago), Libby’s BBQ, Andy’s Diner & Pub as well as Miller’s Ale House and Benihana.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 4
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 3
Peace & Quiet: 1
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 3
Happy Overnighting!
