Famous Dave's

I'm curious as to just how famous Dave is.

Who here has heard of Famous Dave's before? Who here has eatten there? What is the overall opinion. Myself? It's the only real place to get good bar b que in my area. I know I quite enjoy it, especially when they're not as busy because I get more!

I always get a two meat combo. Usually I get rib tips & georgia chopped pork. I can't say much is bad there; it's a pretty decent chain.

Also-- What does anyone know about this Dave? They have a kind of award case when you enter, so I'm curious as to that collection in context to the massive BBQ competitors around the states.

Dave Anderson, a Native American, is presently a potentate in the Interior Dept., Bureau of Indian Affairs. Here's a bio link: http://www.famousdaves.com/biograph.cfm There are more links that will take you to his BBQ awards.

There are many threads about his restaurants on these pages, plus just as many opinions.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6270

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2227

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6270&SearchTerms=famous,dave's

I love his rib tips but I'm not as enamoured of every other item. Reading these posts one thing seemed clear; all locations do not seem to have the same standards. Get the right person placed in charge of a location and have them train and supervise the employees and you, the diner, should have a great experience.

I've been to Famous Dave's here in Knoxville, TN a few times and have never been disapointed. I must have given my e mail and b-day dates for my family early on because I get a free meal coupon about 2 weeks before each one.

Have not been to Famous Dave's before. Glad to hear you think it's fairly respectable because they're opening up a new outlet here in Ft Myers. Mr and Mrs QFan are always on the lookout for a new and different version of how to do que--even if it is a chain.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

Two thumbs down in my experience, you couldn't pay me to eat there again.

i have eaten at Famous Daves 3-4 times, and find it pretty average..The rib tips were not that good and I really didnt care for the ribs.However, I always use Famous Daves BBQ sauce when I am making anything calling for sauce...go figure!

We have a Famous Dave's located near us in the Yorktown Mall in Lombard, Illinois. We went with groups of 4 - 10 on three ocasions. The larger groups coupled with three visits allowed us to try virtually every item on the menu. We were more disappointed with each visit and have stopped going altogether. The food was avergae to poor, often dried out from sitting. The service was poor on all three visits and could be directly attributable to poor or no management. Tables were left uncleared for most of our meals resulting in table waits due to lack of clean tables. There are so many good places, why put up with this stuff.

I would suggest that if you run into a bad meal...or as described by CHI-TOWN-DINER, a series of bad meals, go to the website and describe what happened to the Corporate management. Here in Louisville, we have two restaurants (Famous Dave's). Both seem to hold up the quality of the chain. However we visited one on the North side of Cincinnati last year. It was horrible! Dirty, Cold Food, Terrible Service. The manager of one of the Louisville stores was talking to me during a recent visit...He said that several people complained to the Headquarters about the Cincinnati Store and the Franchise owner had faced 'severe pressure' to improve the place. We haven't been back there since, but It sounded like the Leadership was taking complaints seriously.

I rate the food a 5 or 6 on a 10 scale. We use it for a close to home, quick take-out. I do like the Rib-Tips and sweet corn muffins.

I have visited Famous Dave's several times. Some are good and some are bad. If you have a bad experience, visit their web site and complain. They will respond with a gift certificate which is generally more than you paid.

I am like Al, Their rib tips are very good.

In Knoxville we have very poor choices for BBQ. Famous Daves will serve pretty good if nothing else is available.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I haven't yet visited any of the local Boston-area locations (I think there are now 3 of them), but I've eaten-in and taken-out from the New Brunswick, NJ location.

The ribs weren't bad, but they were far from the best I've ever had. I recall the pulled pork was pretty good, but a bit fatty. I also remember enjoying the sauces being offered. I don't recall any problems w/ cleanliness, service or luke-warm food.

Overall, if I needed a "fix" for some 'que, I wouldn't hesitate to go there, if there was nothing better around.

John

Famous Dave's is OK, nothing special in this market (Kansas City). It is better than Tony Roma's, which couldn't even stay in business here.

Keith

There aren't any in San Antonio yet,and while we have a Tony roma's here,I haven't tried it yet.
I'm surprised that Knoxville doesn't have any good BBQ places.I guess the area just isn't noted for it's "Q".

I tried a couple ribs in Philly, they were handing them out for free at the Eagles game. Not bad. Not great, not bad. Ribs.

Tom

There's a Famous Dave's in Sioux City, Iowa. We stop overnight there a couple of times a year and look forward to getting takeout after our 10-hour drive and heading back to the hotel. I've had better BBQ in Memphis and Texas, but where I live Tony Romas is the standard to meet for BBQ, so Famous Dave's is pretty good by comparison.

Sioux City? How is that the stopping point from anywhere? You live in Northern Canada? Not being a smart a**, well maybe a little, but we need to find you a better resting spot!

One just opened in Braintree, MA. I've been twice. The first time, I took my 15-year-old son. It was a slow time (about 2-2:30 in the afternoon, on a weekday) and we loved it. We got the BBQ platter for 2. Everything was delicious (It contained ribs, chicken, brisket, corn on the cob (this wasn't that good, but it almost never is in a restaurant, especially a chain), corn muffins, coleslaw, and beans (which we replaced with "drunken apples") and I forget what else, if anything) and it was served on a trash can lid. Quite the novelty, but it was really good for Yankee territory.

The next time, it was my husband, our 9-year-old daughter, and me on a Saturday night. We were very disappointed. We ordered the platter again, and it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. The food had clearly been reheated, and they had left a few things off, which we had to ask for. My daughter ordered a kid's ribs dinner, which consisted of 2 ribs which had little or no meat on them, and one side (she picked the corn muffin). The kid's meal was outrageously overpriced, considering she got so little (we ended up giving her some of ours, which was fine, because the platter had plenty once the waiter finally brought us the whole thing).

My conclusion: Good, but inconsistently so. I will go again, but early in the day. (I promised my son I'd treat him to lunch there when he has his 1/2 days of school - and it's just the two of us).

Chuckling at Theedge's comment. Yeah, I know, but the distance is about right, 530 miles, for a good day's drive in winter driving conditions. I-29 can get a little icy. You got the Canada part right, but not the north. Now, that's cold up there! We're about 60 miles from the border.

We have a Famous Dave's here in Lincoln, NE. We have been eating their food for about 3 years and I like their ribs, cole slaw and bread pudding. And I like their chili.

There's a couple of Famous Dave's here in Richmond. The one near my home is decent--I usually get the rib tips and fries which is meant as an appetizer but is more than enough food for me, and the quality is consistent.

quote:

Originally posted by QFan

Have not been to Famous Dave's before. Glad to hear you think it's fairly respectable because they're opening up a new outlet here in Ft Myers. Mr and Mrs QFan are always on the lookout for a new and different version of how to do que--even if it is a chain.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

I've been a fan of Sonny's for close to 30 years now. When we moved to Rochester NY in '84, good BBQ was rare. We pick up Sonny's sauces whenever we visit Ft. Myers or Atlanta and cook our own, but it's not quite the same.

Then Dinosaur opened here in '98, and life was better. Good food, but a much different atmosphere.

Dave's opened here last year. A lot of my friends go there (me too!) and I've never heard anything but good about it. The Dave's in Ft. Myers wasn't finished yet when we visited in July, but we'll stop the next time we're down there.

Have you ever been to Mel's Diner? Oddly enough, we have one here. Good food, decent service, plus pictures of the original Bonita Springs location.

By the way: if you're a big eater (or a take-homer) try the two meat platter at Dave's and order rib tips for both of the meats. Good food and lots of it!

Enjoy your meal - or as my Spanish-speaking friends say: Buen provecho!

Mike

They are in the final stages of building one of these places in our town. I have scoured the web for reviews on FD's and have read more bad than good about the place... the worst reviews were about the service with the most common description of the food being "mediocre". I guess I'll still try it for myself and see. More people than not rave over In N Out too, and I can't stand the place so we'll see.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

They are in the final stages of building one of these places in our town. I have scoured the web for reviews on FD's and have read more bad than good about the place... the worst reviews were about the service with the most common description of the food being "mediocre". I guess I'll still try it for myself and see. More people than not rave over In N Out too, and I can't stand the place so we'll see.

I think it depends where you are at, my local area is not known for BBQ so there is nothing to compare to. I think it's pretty good but I've never had ribs there, always the chopped pork or brisket sandwich. The nephews seem to enjoyed the ribs and like getting the Feast. I also support Dave's charitable work.

Jaybomb - The ribs are good. When the kitchen is "on," I would say "pretty good." Out of maybe a half-dozen trips there total, I would say only once would I rate them "fair." I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. - Rusty

I am curious as to why this topic has not been moved to the fast foods and chains forum. It IS a chain and should not be treated any differently than the others.

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

I am curious as to why this topic has not been moved to the fast foods and chains forum. It IS a chain and should not be treated any differently than the others.

Because TJ hasn't complained about it yet!

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

Two thumbs down in my experience, you couldn't pay me to eat there again.

I ditto that! They do a poor imitation of anything BBQ. Just another Cookie Cutter Chain with generic food.

quote:

Originally posted by SurrealGourmet

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

I am curious as to why this topic has not been moved to the fast foods and chains forum. It IS a chain and should not be treated any differently than the others.

Because TJ hasn't complained about it yet!

I do not think that is the reason. For some reason, this has been overlooked and it is unfortunate. Rules are rules!

Greymo, over in the "chicken" area, half of the threads are about chains.

They're OK, but can't hold a candle to Red, Hot & Blue in my area (northern VA)

gcw,

You don't have to wait until Sioux City, we have one in Fargo too. That way you only have to wait 4 hours instead of 7 or 8 (depending on how heavy your foot is!)

Darcy