What has happened to Famous Dave's?

My teen age son has a part time job at a FD's here in NJ. It seems to be very well run, and he likes working there. How they treat their hourly workers counts for something in my book. We occasionally eat there, and although I'm not big on chains, I've had much much worse BBQ at some non chain BBQ joints (and, of course, much much better BBQ at some too). Business is down quite a bit since they first opened a few years ago, but that's moslty due to the fact that the novelty has worn off. The food is still pretty good.

And to whoever said the music is terrible, Tell me another family restaurant that has Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds on the canned soundtrack. You go Dave!

Yeah Ken, It could be K C and the Sunshine Band !!

I ate at the Famous Dave's in Columbia, MD maybe 7-8 years ago and I was not impressed at all. However, I ate at the one in Colorado Springs earlier this year and what I had, the pork barbecue ssndwich, was not bad at all. I am moving back to the Colorado Springs area later this year and I am glad that there is at least one place I can find some decent barbecue.

Al, I think it's time for somebody to move this over with the "chain" restaurant threads. The majority of the responses certainly indicate it's nothing to write home about for most RF-ers.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

quote:

Originally posted by ken8038


And to whoever said the music is terrible, Tell me another family restaurant that has Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds on the canned soundtrack. You go Dave!

Yeah, I like Country & Western music just fine (although my wife doesn't), but when it rattles the ice cubes in my tea glass, I think it's a bit loud . . . which, to me, makes it obnoxious.

quote:

Originally posted by BunglingBill

quote:

Originally posted by ken8038


And to whoever said the music is terrible, Tell me another family restaurant that has Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds on the canned soundtrack. You go Dave!

Yeah, I like Country & Western music just fine (although my wife doesn't), but when it rattles the ice cubes in my tea glass, I think it's a bit loud . . . which, to me, makes it obnoxious.

Many places are guilty of playing the music too loud, my only visit to a PF Chang's made decide I didn't want exposure to obnoxious loud music again. Of course, the food was pretty awful too but that's where my MIL wanted to go.

They just put the first Famous Dave's in the Pittsburgh area in a few months ago and I went there for lunch today. I did like the Wilbur Beans, but everything else was well below average. And the schtick of "Famous This" and "Famous That" got old immediately. I most likely won't be back.

There is one Famous Dave's here in Las Vegas, located at 1951 N Rainbow Blvd. I noticed it was open within the last week.

And one is under construction near me in Owings Mills, MD

In 2006 there was a Famous Dave's in Roswell Georgia

signman,
There's a new BBQ place going in on 140 on the SB side just past the Stubby's pizza joint before you get to the light at 91. It will be opening soon.

That sounds like Finksburg area, am I correct?

yea, that is Finksburg.

I've been looking for some info on that place, but I haven't found anything.

That place is on my way home from work, so I'm hoping it will good.

Please give a shout when it opens. Thanks

Per the recording on the bigger sign for Smoker's BBQ, they hope to be open mid-August, but it doesn't look like they'll be taking any business from Stubby's for several weeks.

Sign says they'll be open at 6:00 am and it looks like they'll have a drive-thru.

Thanks,

Kevin

Smoker's BBQ
410-861-8675