Famous Daves BBQ
 

I know that there is really great bbq food in the South, but I'm up here in the Northeast where there is none, until I found a Famous Daves. The food is was great, even though it is a chain. I was wondering if anyone ever went to one of these restaurants, and what they thought of it. :-)

Happy Eating and Flying

Deltajfk

Having lived in Kansas City for a number of years, my view of bbq is a bit spoiled. Famous Dave's is one of the better bbq chains, but nothing like what you can get at the good bbq joints in KC, Memphis or in many parts of Texas. If you're in the mood for BBQ, I'd recommend a MR that includes stops in KC, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, etc :D

Also, Famous Dave's was always a reasonable choice for me when traveling, until I came down with a terrible case of food poising from one of their restaurants. It put me out of commission for almost a week. After that and the response I received from the management, I won't even step foot in any of their locations.

Famous Dave's is far better than Smokey Bones. It'll do in a pinch when visiting a smaller northern city if there's no real local cuisine in the area and I have a taste for BBQ.

Food poising sucks, doesn't it.

But I know real BBQ is in the middle of the country, but their is no other bbq food places around here. Its like when people go to the Olive Garden, or a chinese chain. Why would I go to one of those when I have Little Italy, and China Town. The same implies here, why would you go to Famous Daves, when you have real bbq

First tried Famous Dave's in Nebraska over the summer, and then had it again back home in New Jersey. Obviously its a chain, but for a chain I find it consistently above average. I was excited a thread about famous dave's on the front page of flyertalk!

I ate at one in Omaha, didn't realize it was a chain. Loved it and about made myself sick testing the different sauces.

I'll perhaps go to Famous Dave's instead of having no Q at all, but to
claim that it's good is a bit of a stretch. And it's not much for value,
either.

Talk about ball$, Smokey Bones opened a shop in Memphis, on outer Winchester (the road that goes from the River, right under MEM, and on out to Germantown & Collierville).

That's like opening a Red Lobster in Maine -- wait, they tried that. Closed the store (at least, the one near my parents' home) soon after. DUH!

The smoked salmon spread served with grilled toasts is really good...

But anyone who attended the fabulous MCI-BBQ-DOO April 7-9 will see through any corporate BBQ-BS in a heartbeat after Oklahoma Joe's, Bryant's, Gates, or Jack Stack's!

Watch for MCI-BBQ-DOO II if you want REAL BBQ!

MWP

I feel your pain. Since my business partner lives on the upper west side, I spend a fair amount of time in NYC. So far I've only found a couple of BBQ places I'd even return to. Have you tried Dinosaur BBQ? It's located on 131st between 12th Ave and Broadway. The other BBQ joint that was okay is Daisy May's on the west side.

If you do go to Dinosaur, try the chicken, brisket or pulled pork. Stay away from the ribs :td: From my limited experience, ribs are a definite no go in NYC. Ribs can be tricky to do properly and I've yet to see them prepared well in the northeast.

Good luck on your BBQ adventure :D

Okay....

It has now been established that Famous Daves is a chain and it can't beat some of the really authentic spots in the Midwest or South.

Well...duh!!!!

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I'd have to say that these folks try hard and offer a pretty respectable product. No, its not the pinnacle of barbecue perfection, but as chain operations go, they're absolutely above average. I agree with the position that they easily beat Smokey Bones.

At minimum, Famous Daves is a welcome addition to a lot of "Barbecue-challenged" locations in the Upper Midwest and elsewhere.

My understanding is that Dave Anderson, the founder, is of Native American heritage and has never forgotten his roots....giving freely of his time and money to deal with problems and disadvantaged individuals in the Native American community.

As for encountering problems. For me its happened only once in a couple dozen visits at various locations. I had an issue about four years ago with a surly shift manager in Minneapolis. I wrote a letter to Corp. HQ and got a profuse apology along with several gift certificates

Thank you very much :)
I ought to try it out.
But most of the bbq places in the city have so much salt on their food, its disgusting

The Devils Spit sauce is quite good. I've never had a bad meal at Famous Dave's. As others have said it does not compared to BBQ in KC or Texas, but hits the spot in places with no other BBQ alternative.

I did not know that! ^ ^ ^ ^

I will have to stop in more often. There are a couple of outlets near me. All of my meals there have been good--not bad, not great.

I avoid any restaurant with words in the restuarant name such as Famous, Fabulous, Fantastic, Magic, Honest, Fat, Simply etc.

MisterNice

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.