I've eatten in 3 different Famous Daves and all have had good BBQ. Good selection of sauces or if you like have your ribs dry.

You're in a strange city. Hungry for some bbq. It's the place to go.

famous dave's is great.. especially the Manhandler. ;)

I'm originally from MN, I like Famous Daves. It's a good chain and over the years, the pricing continues to rise. A couple of the Twin Cities locations even have live music, which is cool.
But, I've also lived in TX and TN; and have my favorites there, too.

Youll miss out on a great bar b que joint in atlanta then

Fat Matts rib shack

Nice...

Philosophically, I understand where you're coming from. However, just speaking for my own personal experience, I find that its usually is good practice to actually try or experience something before passing judgement.'s

Having what someone thinks is a clever or catchy name over the door is simply a businessperson's attempt to attract customers. It doesn't mean the place is bad. Also, its always fashionable to bash chain restaurants, but if you stop and think about it, a chain is simply a concept that's been proven and copied to put in multiple locations.

Famous Dave's is pretty good, but in MSN I can think of two places that are better (Bull's BBQ and Smoky Jon's). Those, of course, are not chains :)

Agreed, it would be a sin to go to Famous Dave's if in these areas. Ask a local where their favorite BBQ is before going to Dave's if in these areas.

The Chicago BBQ thread from the Chicago Forum: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308690

Just ate at Famous Dave's BBQ in Addison, IL.
Dave's is located on Lake Street (rt.20) about 1/2 mile east of 355.

I did not realize that FD was a chain restaurant, but they have about 50 locations w/half those in MN and IL.

Tried the ribs, brisket and chopped pork.

The ribs were pork spareribs, not babybacks.
The meat fell off the bone and the sauce added was very little. All in all a very enjoyable rib.

The "Texas" beef brisket was smoked very well, but was not sliced properly (slightly forgivable as a brisket is not an easy thing to slice). The slices were thick and tender but were missing a certain something I could not put my tastebuds on. Still a good brisket.

The "Georgia" Chopped pork was very mediocre and the sauce that was applied was not good.
I would recommend sauce off and apply one of the 4 sauces provided at your table.

I like sauces of any kind and at your table are four: a sweet/spicy, a "Georgia" mustard (mustard/vinegary), a devil's (too much spice taste), and a house sauce (OK). My favorites were the sweet/spicy (on the brisket) and the "Georgia" mustard on the pork. The ribs I did not add any sauce to.

My two usual sides w/BBQ is coleslaw and potato salad. The slaw was fine, but the potato salad had celery added to it, which ruins it for me.

Overall, Famous Dave's was good. Best brisket so far in Chicagoland I've had.