lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ (pics)

Today I went to Famous Dave's BBQ. It's about 15 miles west of Atlantic City, in Mays Landing area.


I go here once in a great while when I get burnt out on pizza and cheesesteaks. I would'nt go to a place like Famous Dave's when I'm traveling, cause I can get it right here in my hometown area.

I found the food is okay to real good depending on what you order.
I was set to order a brisket sandwich when I noticed my favorite cut of meat, (which some of you know already!) a "sizzling 16 ounce bone-in ribeye". It was a steal at $21.99.

This was a very exciting looking piece of meat, and it was very flavorful and well marbled (real good for Famous Dave's, wow)
I enjoyed it almost as much as ribeyes that I've paid twice as much for. I enjoyed the corn muffin, the fries , and the corn on the cob.
Nice accompiaments.

Plus I added a salad for $2.99. It had a lot of good things in it, like homemade croutons.

I love the decor in there , which made me feel like I was in a Minnesota fishing lodge in the wintertime. They even had the fireplace going.

I decided to take out a brisket sandwich, so this way I would not miss out on anything! When I am faced with a choice like that, I often say "Why not have both?!?"
This brisket was not as good to me as I remembered from my 2 other visits. There were some pieces mixed in that were too veiny, and a funny reddish color. Did not have that "made fresh this morning" kind of taste. A few tastes of it was about it for me, as I'll probably end up throwing the rest out. Not the worst BBQ, but not even CLOSE to the great brisket that Billyboy showed off in his latest pics. I've had it at Hill Country, in NYC, and it was just the way I like it! (see Billyboy's fabulous Hill Country BBQ trip report) (and great pic!)

Famous Dave's is located in a typical big box retailer shopping center.

The 2 best things they have going for them is their decor, and their friendly service. (from the host that seats you to your server, it's very pleasant).

I wish I had the kind of NYC dining choices that Billyboy has everyday. (I would eat/take out from somewhere new almost every day) Occasionally, I resort to going somewhere like Famous Dave's, as I've just about run out of new places to try here in my AC area.
Luckily , I travel often enough, (even if it's just up to North Jersey) so I still get plenty of variety...

Ellen,

We have several Famous Dave's in Minnesota. They started here. There is a really great one not too far from our house. It looks like a classic northwoods roadhouse. They are nice enough but I have found two better BBQ places I would rather go to but I may give them a try soon just for variety. I once owned their stock and felt obligated to support them along with the coupons for free meals I got with the annual reports. I was a sucker for the ticker name, DAVE.

Ellen, I had no idea Famous Dave's was so far reaching. I thought maybe they were just a midwest/upper midwest thing. That rib eye looks quite tasty!

Our daughter left Kansas City at the age of 18 for college in Minneapolis. When she got homesick she would go to the Famous Dave's in Calhoun Square in Uptown, Minneapolis. She knew it wasn't comparable to KC BBQ, but she liked the ambiance and service and happy hour prices. She has some good freshman year memories of Famous Dave's.

C'mon now, let's have some pictures from the local McDonald's or Pizza Hut too :-)

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

C'mon now, let's have some pictures from the local McDonald's or Pizza Hut too :-)

Gee, thanks a lot...

I can't make it up to NYC or down to Florida EVERY weekend for my days off! But Lord knows, I try...(much better food)
I've lived in Los Angeles right before moving back here in 2003.
I rarely ate at a chain there; new experiences every day...lots of good burger joints.. that was my favorite city to live in, food wise.. miss it... I try to get out there a few times a year, and cruise around aimlessly on the freeways, and eat real good tacos and burgers.

I guess you are being sarcastic, but I am not into putting up pics of places like McDonald's or Pizza Hut, as those are widespread chains. And sorry, but I really don't do Pizza Hut. (Occasionally, I do patronize a regional or local chain, and do appreciate hearing from others that may have pics from those places. I espescially love learning about places I am unfamiliar with yet...)

For instance, Davidd, is Sydney's still operating in the Minneapolis area? I had a good peanut butter and jelly pizza there once. I remember them being like a Cheesecake Factory (slightly upscale) atmosphere.

Ellen, I love your reports and your pictures, but pictures of a chain just do not do an thing for me. Sorry.

Thanks for the props, Ellen!! Love the pics and report. I went to a Famous Dave's in Utah a while back and liked it a lot. I remember those ridged fries and the corn on the cob.

Just giving you a hard time, Ellen - I have been a longtime defender of (some) fast food as roadfood, but I personally lump Famous Dave's together with applebee's, mcdonalds, arby's. pizza hut, and the like :-)

I'll stop busting your hump now :-)

Geez Ellen, I can't believe you passed up a Chuck E Cheese's for Famous Dave's Nice report and pic's, thanks.

If Ellen sees a chain as being viable, I am interested to learn about it.

Thanks, Ellen, for the report.

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641


For instance, Davidd, is Sydney's still operating in the Minneapolis area? I had a good peanut butter and jelly pizza there once. I remember them being like a Cheesecake Factory (slightly upscale) atmosphere.

Ellen, Sydney's had five locations in the Twin Cities including one right across the road from the Famous Dave's I mentioned on Highway 7 in Minnetonka. They are all closed now. Christo's, the Greek Restaurant on Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis took over the Minnetonka Sydney's site. I guess they are becoming a mini local chain.

Ellen, don't let them give you a hard time. At least Famous Dave was started by one guy, Dave Anderson who started on his own with one store, no corporate big bucks for a backing. Nice pics and nice report! You sure get around!

We stop at our local Famous Daves for lunch now and then. The rib tip dinner for $8 is not a bad deal. Plus plus it is close to many of the shopping stops and medical offices we visit when we go out...Saving both time and gas. Convenience is part of the meal-time equation some of the time when we go "out". Add to that Famous Dave's runs bargain coupons in several local "Ad-Flyers", so often the lunch is a "Two-fer". The BBQ is not the Moonlite...but it isn't bad either.

We have a Famous Dave's at Legends in KCK, but since Arthur Bryan's is down the street, I have bnever eaten there.

Famous Dave's is now targeting Southern California. They've opened at the Pike in Long Beach (a touristy area) and in Simi Valley. Haven't tried them but I see they are doing a lot of advertising.

I was the specialty food buyer for the market in Kohler, Wi-the big resort.I carried Famous Daves BBQ sauce long before the restaurant appeared in Wisconsin.Thanks for the report Ellen, as as I have eaten there since-I enjoyed the rib tips, but not much else.Maybe I ordered the wrong thing!

They may very well be following in the footsteps of Corky's, Smokey Bones, etc.

Ellen hit them on a good day -- something that happened to me once or twice at bot Corky's franchises and SB's ...

(Last time at each, both sucked.)

Your the final word for me Ellen! Nice post!!!
Joe

Thanks for such a wide variety of interesting comments, everyone...

I don't mind a little "ribbing" from you, T.J Jackson... as I realize I might be slumming it a bit reporting on a chain place. I just figured I would put this trip report up for the heck of it, and see where it lead!

Hey, John A, the funny thing is that I was in that Chuck E Cheeses with my nephew a few weeks back. And, boy am I glad that we ate at another pizza joint first, cause Chucky's pizza looked awful!
(it had that frozen pizza look)( even worse than Cici's)

Well, like Kland01 said, it's nice to know it was started up singlehandedly by one man, Dave Anderson..
built from scratch..

Wow, I can't believe they are going into the Southern California market too, now...
as there are a lot of decent rib places there already.. (non-chain places, and small chain places , like Lucille's , which only has about 5 locations, (including Vegas now) I like Lucilles for the beef ribs and and atmosphere, although I don't LOVE them. One of them is right there in that big box Long Beach Town Center. (down the street from the Hawaiian Gardens Casino!) Huge places, though, they are like a TGIFridays in size. Then you've got other small chains like the Wood Ranch BBQ. Then all those Woody's type of places. Where is the Pike section in Long Beach, Ed Sails? (is that part of the downtown/Pine Ave/Queen Mary section. I know I like the Belmont Shore area. That Hof's Hut (small chain) is pretty good for burgers and rotisserie chicken.

I agree with you, wheregregeats, gotta hit Famous Dave's on a good day... (cause while I liked my steak, I did'nt care as much for the brisket, compared to the other time I had it.

I like how the Famous Dave's shares a shopping center with three clothing stores that cater to big women: Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug Plus and Catherine's Plus Sizes

Wow, Ellen, you know the area well. Let me know the next time you're in SoCal and we can get together for some serious eats!
Ed

The founder is an Ojibwe Native American, who was the head of the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2004 to 2005. I just Wiki'd it, but knew that before, anyway.

That was a nice little trip report. I've eaten at the one in Cherry Hill on Route 70 three times. I don't eat there anymore. I just stopped liking it after the second time. I ate there a third time as a favor to my daughter. My second job is directly behind that location, and every so often they've got this smell of beans going overnight that makes me nauseous! It's a relief to leave the area ASAP and smell the aroma from the Melitta roasting headquarters down the road apiece; you just don't know!

Half-decent BBQ is extremely difficult and maybe even impossible to find in South Jersey anymore.

Miss talking to you, El!! Much love to you, and have a great time down there! Wish I was there!

quote:

Originally posted by harriet1954

The founder is an Ojibwe Native American, who was the head of the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2004 to 2005. I just Wiki'd it, but knew that before, anyway.

That was a nice little trip report. I've eaten at the one in Cherry Hill on Route 70 three times. I don't eat there anymore. I just stopped liking it after the second time. I ate there a third time as a favor to my daughter. My second job is directly behind that location, and every so often they've got this smell of beans going overnight that makes me nauseous! It's a relief to leave the area ASAP and smell the aroma from the Melitta roasting headquarters down the road apiece; you just don't know!

Half-decent BBQ is extremely difficult and maybe even impossible to find in South Jersey anymore.

Miss talking to you, El!! Much love to you, and have a great time down there! Wish I was there!

I'm with you Harriet. I am Native American and really admire Dave Anderson for what he has done. Everyone thinks it so easy to bash him for expanding but nobody gave hime anything, he did this all on his own.

Although Famous Dave's is not the best, it works for me. I like their rib tips. I have never had any gripes with their chain.

I had my first visit with them in Minneapolis which I believe may be their first location just south of St. Paul.

The one in Knoxville, TN is not great but it works.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I have to wonder at what point will the decorating motif of crap on the walls fade away. Between Cracker Barrel, Ruby Tuesdays, Applebeas and apparently also Dave's, you'd think people would have grown tired of old gas signs, sleds and other "antiques".

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

I have to wonder at what point will the decorating motif of crap on the walls fade away. Between Cracker Barrel, Ruby Tuesdays, Applebeas and apparently also Dave's, you'd think people would have grown tired of old gas signs, sleds and other "antiques".

Mrs QFan and I used to speculate in our RF travels whether there was a great big barn of a store somewhere "out there" that you could go to get all this bric a brac stuff that the restaurant chains like to use. In other words, depending on your desired theme, you could walk down the old advertising sign aisle, the country store/Nashville music aisle, the beer & brewery stuff aisle, the Chinese/Japanese/Asian stuff aisle, etc, etc. We've kept looking for it, but we just haven't found it yet. All this stuff has gotta come from somewhere.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

Qfan,
Some August, take a ride along the "World's Longest Yard Sale" From the Ohio River down US 127 thru Kentucky, Tennessee, and into Alabama. You will see hundreds of trucks, vans, and motor homes mixed in with the bargain-seekers from all over the USA shopping for just the stuff you decribed! I am sure there are less organized bargain 'barns all over the country doing much the same thing.

I recall seeing pickups pulling trailer loads of rusty old farm junk from the midwest to SoCal for people to stick in their front yard as "Pioneer" Decoration!

I think the antiques and memorabilia are really cool when they are related to the restaurant in some way. Maybe it's autographed photos of politicians who've eaten at the restaurant. What I don't care for is when it is just random junk with no sense of purpose or belonging.

quote:

Originally posted by QFan

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

I have to wonder at what point will the decorating motif of crap on the walls fade away. Between Cracker Barrel, Ruby Tuesdays, Applebeas and apparently also Dave's, you'd think people would have grown tired of old gas signs, sleds and other "antiques".

Mrs QFan and I used to speculate in our RF travels whether there was a great big barn of a store somewhere "out there" that you could go to get all this bric a brac stuff that the restaurant chains like to use. In other words, depending on your desired theme, you could walk down the old advertising sign aisle, the country store/Nashville music aisle, the beer & brewery stuff aisle, the Chinese/Japanese/Asian stuff aisle, etc, etc. We've kept looking for it, but we just haven't found it yet. All this stuff has gotta come from somewhere.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

I saw a show once-cannot remember the title-sorry. It might have been "The Secret Life Of" or a similar type show. It was about a gentleman who created a business selling all these things to resturants. He brought the host of the show into his huge warehouse that had everything you could imagine.

Nicolem