Love the sauce choices. Like all the naughty food. Dislike the "Famous" schtick they do. Hate the lack of healthier options. Our "Famous Server" was pretty terrible; Forgot several things, got several items wrong on our order, we had to send things back... but the food was decent. NOT the best BBQ in town, but better than Mickey Rays (blech!). Buffalo wings are in fact NOT true "buffalo" sauce. It's more of a hybrid BBQ-Buffalo. Not impressive. If you aren't into healthy and want some southern fried naughtiness and Texas toast, and lots of options... this could be your place!
(2)
Mike S.
Famous Daves, a place we have eaten at dozens of times, the service tonight was poor. No chips, no water refills. Disappointment.
(3)
Jon M.
I use to love Famous Dave's,but over the last few years they have really went down hill. I'm going to start by saying the customer service has always been great and the BBQ sauce is decent. That's were it ends though. There Ultimate BBQ burger use to be one of the best burgers in town. The last two times I tried it,it was dry and burnt. This last time I got it home I opened the container and the BBQ pork still had about a four inch long connective fat tissue on it,that was put on top of my burger. Think of tripe and that's what it looked like. I don't mind a little fat in my meat,but when you don't even take the time to shred or cut the meat and you leave that junk on, that's just gross. To top that off the burger was burnt. My second complaint is the prices for the amount of food you get. I spent ten dollars on burnt ends and there was barely any in the to go box. There was more fried onions then burnt ends. I ordered a double boneless wings and it had around twenty wings in it. It cost me 20 bucks. I got more wings during happy hour for six bucks. Basically I'm saying if your going to famous dave's go during happy hour,but if your going because you want good BBQ go somewhere else. There's much better to be had elsewhere. Hopefully they will get it together,because it use to be a pretty great place to go. I'm very torn between giving them a one star or a two star. On one hand the burger deserves a one star,but the customer service that i have had the last two times I have been there deserves credit. So I'm going to give them two stars because the staff was so friendly and hope they get the food back on track.
(2)
Mark N.
This was the 2nd time we went, lat time the place was packed and while the food was good it wasn't "amazing." This time around there was hardly anybody there so we got a lot of attention from our server. We had a "meal for two" so the overall price was very good. The St Louis ribs were excellent, brisket flavorful, corn bread was sweet and slightly crispy on the edges...so just right! In fact the whole meal was great. More than enough for even me (a voracious appetite) so we had leftovers. The atmosphere is awesome too, very much like a hunter's cottage. Better than Dickies for sure. Overall an excellent value and the food is better now than when they first opened.
(4)
Bill M.
So many places in the area are closing, I feel for Famous Dave's trying to compete with all the new places around. On the plus side, it wasn't very busy and the service was good. We hadn't eaten here in a while and found some new items. We tried these rib bite things that were very good and nicely seasoned. Our food was cooked great for us, we like things well done; though it was all still tender and moist. I'm glad we stopped in.
(3)
Jalene W.
Horrible Customer service ! Came in and were seated ( p.s. our Veteran son in a wheelchair was with us). Two waitresses walked by our table multiple times with not even an acknowledgment let alone get us drinks. 15 minutes later a new family came in , were seated AND got chips to nibble on ( WE didn't even get ) and still no acknowledgement of our presence . We kept trying to get the waitresses attention to no avail. We walked out . Felt like we were purposely ignored ! We will NEVER EVER go back and will let the community know not to either !
(1)
Tom K.
Have you ever went over to Famous Dave's to eat And the food just ain't no good? The macaroni's soggy, the veggies mushed, And the chicken tastes like wood With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat
(1)
Carrie C.
Went on a date night to Famous Dave's. We were happy when we got there because for a Saturday night it was not busy. We were seated right away and then the waiting began. Our server took about 10 minutes to come over. I would not complain except the restaurant was virtually empty and there were servers standing around the restaurant. When our server did come over she was polite. The drinks and food did come much quicker after that. I was, however, a little irritated that thr table behind us got prompt service from the same server and we did not. Something was off about the pork. Overall was disappointed in the service and food. This was the second time we have eaten here and the service was not great either time.
(1)
Bruce T.
We recently bought a house in Eagle and our real estate agent gave us a gift certificate to Famous Dave's as a "thank you". I like good barbecue, but my son is the real connoisseur and is known far and wide for his own cooking. Anyway, we were looking forward to a good dinner. Well, I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't that good, either. I guess if McDonalds did barbecue, Famous Dave's style food is what I would expect. My son wasn't nearly as impressed. I don't see any reason to return.
(2)
Molly G.
We went to Famous Daves last night and hi dee ho cowboy, it was delicious! I was skeptical because of the average of 3 stars but I have to say, we all loved our meals. The ribs were fantastic (the rub was incredible) and so was the chopped pork. The coleslaw and corn was delicious too. I've had barbecue all over the country and this really stacked up. I'll be back.
(5)
Jon B.
Great BBQ. Friendly and effective staff. Enjoyed the Ribs. Loved it for a chain restaurant. The choices in sauces were a great addition. Look forward to going back.
(4)
Michelle C.
I'm going to start off saying that I have been to famous Dave's twice before and enjoyed both visits. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and thought we would celebrate and BBQ sounded good so..... The atmosphere was off tonight. Someone kept changing the station in the middle of the songs it would vary between pop, country and older pop. It was annoying but nothing too painful. We ordered the nachos which were the best part of the entire meal. Our food came and it was just really gross. My husbands food looked like it had been sitting around for awhile and his bread was mushy. My food looked good but by my second bite all I could taste was BBQ sauce, that peppery taste not flavor. I tried my very small portion of mashed potatoes and they tasted like boxed potatoes with garlic salt. I'm done and starting to get irritated that we paid $20 a piece for this meal. What tipped me over the edge was the waitress . She was young and sweet but really inexperienced. She couldn't give us any real tips on what to order and would just be wandering around the djinn groom. She held our bill in her hand while she chatted with some other people for over 5 minutes. So now I'm nauseous from the over abundance of pepper sauce, broke and irritated.
(2)
Rachel Z.
My husband received such a gross burger there... looked like a hockey puck. Had them re do it and it still felt and looked like a hockey puck. Service can be good. Food can be good.
(3)
Jerry M.
Ok, perhaps Dave's isn't the 'authentic' type BBQ you might have in mind, but really, they do have a great selection and serve up great tasting food. I have never been dissapointed in any of the Dave's I have ever visited, and the few times I've been here, the service and food has always been good. Like a lot of chains, I've been to Dave's in several states, and the quality has always been the same. I have to say that's a good thing for them, as one expects a certain quality to be as good, if not better, than the last one. I only hope that Dave's maintain's the quality that they serve now as they will 10 years from now, unlike a certain Italian chain I used to love that has someting to do with an olive. I have to commend the manager for having his crew always being very friendly and accomodating. My wife and I will definately make a point to come back and visit when we can. One thing else we noticed was that, even though we were sitting in the corner of the bar area near a speaker, it was much quieter than a restaurant we vistied a few nights before.
(4)
Victoria P.
I enjoy Famous Dave's for several reasons: the service is always great! The wait staff and bar staff are happy to serve, as well as knowledgeable about their menus. The food is delivered promptly and with a smile. The food is incredible, their sauce options and variety on the menu always keep me interested and intrigued to try something new. My favorite aspect though is the healthy options they have, and the willingness that they go through to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for, and the availability and ease of substitutions to fit the dietary requests.
(5)
Erin W.
This was our first experience at the Meridian location, and unfortunately it will be our last. We have eaten at the Portland, Oregon locations several times and we always had fabulous service and food. Sadly, this was not the case at the Meridian location. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Thursday evening. The hostess was very friendly. She asked if we preferred to be seated in the dining room or the lounge. Since we were on a date, without our children we chose the lounge. After being seated we waited more than 15 minutes and nobody came to our table. Several servers were standing at the bar and made eye contact with us, but still nobody came over. Eventually, since we had children that were with a babysitter and we had to get home, we left. The same hostess that had seated us watched us walk out the door without saying a word. Later in the evening my husband called to inform the manager of our experience. The most unfortunate thing is the manager "Famous" Wes absolutely did not care. He did not apologize or invite us back. He did not say he would give the staff any feedback. He gave some excuse about them changing shifts. I have spent several years working in the restaurant industry, and in every establishment I have worked in you do not ignore customers. If there is going to be some delay in service, you inform your customer. If you notice a table has been left unattended, you go figure out who is supposed to be taking care of that table! Also, if I were the manager in such an establishment I would want to make sure I corrected the problem. After all, the customer is who insures you get a paycheck! Wes...you my friend need a lesson in customer service! We will not be back.
(1)
Luis M.
Awesome food!!! It was a good time. There was four in our party and everyone of us were excited to come back again.
(5)
Jim G.
Came back because I got a bogo coupon. Won't go back. The brisket was cold and dry. I had to complain to get some fresh meat served to me. That time was pretty good. But I hate to complain just to get what I pay for. Won't go back. Goodwood BBQ is much much better.
(2)
Sandy L.
Very disappointed, Went there for my Birthday dinner and The food was awful! Our burgers were under cooked and we got 8 french fries! We asked what the deal was and the waitress said they had to cut back and now everything is being weighed before it leaves the kitchen!!! Seriously??? It must cost a lot for soda too because we couldn't find the waitress for refills! She finally brought us some chips and it was a tiny bowl for 5 people! We spent a lot of money for dinner and left hungry and disgusted :(
(1)
Theresa F.
Our large group ate here last night. The service we received was excellent. Our server was Alicia. She was a kick in the pants! The food was good but the service made it worth the trip.
(5)
John W.
The staff was nice but thats about the only good thing i have to say about this place. I use there B.B.Q. sauce at home and its good but there meats are way over cooked the baby back ribs where burnt and nasty food. The food was over priced. I wont be back or reccommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Wendy B.
Went for lunch because since we moved here 2 years ago and miss our pulled pork joint in Seattle so much we are trying to find its replacement. Famous Dave's is not it. I ordered coffee and the waiter asked if I wanted cream, sure, I don't usually but thought it might be nice, I got non dairy creamer with hydrogenated oil listed in it, cheap was my first thought. Mom and I ordered 2 chopped pork sandwiches I got a side of Mac and cheese and she got potato salad. When the order came her potato salad was cole slaw and both our first few bites of pork were so salty I could taste nothing but salt, yuck. Once I got through a few bites it was ok but nothing special. Mac and cheese and cole slaw just mediocre and not worth the price. There was no one to greet us when we got there so we had no idea if it was seat yourself or maybe serve yourself. The waiter was nice once he showed up to seat us and the manager gave us a first time packet with a bottle of famous sauce and take out menu. I read the ingredients on the label and the first ingredient...high fructose corn syrup...oh joy I thought since I had tried the sauce on my pork, thought I could water down the salt. This is not a restaurant that cares about its ingredients and appears to make things as cheaply as possible. I gave it a two star because of the staff...mom and I decided we would not go hear again...curiosity over this place is over. My question is what makes them so famous? Maybe the decor or nice fire place.
(2)
Matt D.
Pricey, not very big portions, and meat is fatty. Best thing was the sauce.
(1)
Kate J.
The brisket was way fatty and the food came out too quick. You could tell it was microwaved. Pretty expensive for what you get.
(1)
Phillip D.
This is an update to my previous reviews of Famous Dave's BBQ. Its been 3 or 4 years since my wife and I have visited Famous Dave's. They have improved a lot. In my previous review, I noted a very incompetent wait staff. I am happy to say that now, the wait staff seems pleasant and knowledgable. Our waitress called herself Famous Joe. My wife and I responded with; "What are you famous for and is your name really Joe?" She thought for a few seconds about this. She did say that her name was Joe, but said that she was not sure why she was famous. I didn't ask, but my assumption is that all of the wait staff are referring to themselves as famous. I though it kind of cute. Corny but cute! Famous Dave's looks like a log cabin. A rustic look like I really approve of. It gives the restaurant a nice rustic Texan look. We noticed the same bottles of BBQ sauce on the table along with a paper towel holder similar to GoodWood. We looked at the menu, which looked all new. I was happy to see that they now had a couple new bbq sauces. The 1st one is a mango sauce that was rated as hotter than they Devils Spit. The 2nd is their hottest and is a Habanero bbq sauce. I asked the waitress why these 2 new sauces were not on the table. She said that the Habanero one was way to hot and had to be kept in back. The other is a sauce that they make in house. The waitress was nice enough to offer to bring be out samples. The mango sauce was very good. It had a very nice balance of heat and sweetness from the mango. If she had offered, I would have bought some to take home. The Habanero sauce was pretty hot, but I didn't think it was that bad. I prefer flavor in my sauce, so I stuck with the Mango BBQ sauce. I highly recommend it. I have ordered the Devils Spit Burger several times to go. In my opinion, its the best burger in town. My only complaint about the burger is they use sweet pickles, which I really dislike. This time, I decided to try the brisket again. The last time I tried it, it was fatty. For anyone that has read my reviews, I prefer my meat lean with no fat at all. I asked the waitress about this and she assured me that it would be lea. My wife ordered the Rib Tips. When it came out, I was pleasantly surprised. The brisket was lean and tender. It had a mild smoke flavor and was dark in color throughout. The brisket had a good flavor, but I prefer a more smokey flavor in my brisket. If I were to compare their brisket to GoodWood, Im not sure which would win. I would have to go back here several more times in order to compare. The best thing about GoodWood is their consistency. its too early to tell is Famous Daves can meet or exceed this. The steak fries was flavorless and bland. I left most all of them sitting on the plate. The brisket was sliced and served over a piece of bread. I think it had been toasted, but by the time I got it, it was a soggy mess. Texas Toast would be a better choice served on the side and not under the meat. Along with my brisket, came the same bad attempt at corn bread that I had in years past from famous Dave's. Their version of Corn Bread is more like a very very sweet cake that you would have for desert. My wife's rib tips were just ok. They did not have a good smokey flavor either. We might return some day. I do enjoy the hamburgers.
(3)
Les M.
Our first trip to Famous Dave's was a delight. I love the "Devil's Spit" BBQ sauce. The food was just awesome and the selection of sides was very good. There was something for everyone. Our group of 12 ( 6 adults and 6 kids) ordered two rib platters, salads, and the large Garbage Can Lid Feast. You get an unlimited platter of home made BBQ chips. The chicken, ribs, and pulled pork were good but everyone went for the beef brisket served with the Trash Can Lid so we ordered another platter of beef brisket. Should have ordered two more because it went fast! Don't pass this BBQ up!! If I were to find anything to complain about, and I'm really thinking hard here, is that the salad didn't come with any tomatoes. They have a glutten free and kids menu. We'll be back.
(5)
Chris H.
The best ribs I've had in town! Juicy, tender, with a great dry rub and a half dozen bbq sauces to choose from. Their steak fell short, but the mashed red potatoes and fries were good. If you are in the mood for ribs they are top notch. Wednesday night is family night and they have discounts for kids and their mascot running around.
(4)
Jeannie M.
I've eaten here about 15 times since they opened. I love it! Course I don't eat BBQ... but hubby does and he always leaves satified. His favorite sauce 'Rich and Sassy' we even have at home. I always get the chicken fingers and between that and the sides of fried apples, corn bread, corn on the cob and cole slaw, I'm always too stuffed to get dessert. The waiters are very friendly. Make sure to go around 6pm if you don't want a long wait...
(5)
Jonathan D.
Famous Dave's is a chain and is nothing special. I would say, like most the other reviewers have, the STAFF was the high point of my experience. The place was packed while I was there and my food took about 3 minutes (half a beer) to get to me. Needless to say it came too fast and was cold and not impressive. I did enjoy all the sauces they provide to mask the taste of the below par food. I enjoyed mixing and matching their BBQ sauces. While some have said Famous Dave's is expensive, IT IS, but not comparatively. Try and enjoy a meal at one of the rib shacks, either in meridian or eagle and you will spend way more than you would have at Famous Dave's.
(2)
Mary A.
We were here recently because of a craving for barbecued ribs. We tried both the St. Louis and babybacks which were both tender and flavorful and not too spicy. The sides of coleslaw, macaroni, and potato salad were also good. One person in our party ordered the chopped pork which I sampled and I would probably order that when I come back here again. The side dishes of coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad also were very good. Our server was very pleasant and helpful as well and very efficient. We decided to share a piece of pecan pie and key lime pie but the manager informed us that both pies did not turn out well and we were offered complimentary desserts of bread pudding and a brownie sundae. We weren't disappointed--they were both delicious!
(4)
Adam G.
I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwhich. It was delicious, very greasy but I am bad so I like that. Really enjoyed the server telling us about the sauces, My only complaint was the small portion sizes for the sides of Mac and Cheese otherwise it was enoyable. They also gave us a very nice bottle of BBQ sauce before we left which I thought was really courtesy. And the sauce really is yummy.
(4)
Mark B.
I live this place!!!! I went there for my birthday last year and they came out with three snowball sized scoops of ice cream with chocolate syrup. It is a little pricey but I think the food makes up for it. Devils spit BBQ sauce= goodness. Ive been to the omaha location and a montana location. I think the boise location has better service and for jonathan d hot food. Their burger are delicious especially dave's favorite burger. Dave's rocks!
(5)
Ben W.
I'm usually not a fan of BBQ at chain restaurants but this was actually pretty good. They have a nice selection of BBQ sauces and have a huge sampler platter that is great for groups. There are definitely better BBQ places in the valley but for a chain restaurant this is pretty good.
(4)
Steve M.
Over priced mediocre food. The atmosphere was very "chainy" as I expected. The servers were very friendly. Its a shame they are wasted on this mediocre establishment. Specifically, the meats were either not of good quality or not prepared properly. Either way it was a disappointment. The sides were not a welcome addition to the entre in that they were just plain bland. Don't waste your time...there are better options. In fact, I can't recall ever having worse BBQ than I had at infamous dave's.
(1)
Katie J.
The food here is good but the service is HORRIBLE. Sat in the Bar area on a Wednesday night. DOn't know our server's name receipt just says Bar Pm B. First my husband ordered a beer and the waitress checked his ID...well honey you looked at it you might have noticed too it was his birthday today. Major fail up front. Then it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. The food was good but he was asked if he wanted another drink when his food came and he did...well finally she remembered AFTER he was done eating. She was MIA for over 10 minutes at one point and she was the only server around. Finally when we were done eating and had been done for about 10 minutes we finally went up to the bar and paid and left. She got a big fat 0 for a tip and I really hopes she learned from it. The tables around us were very upset too. One table asked for Ranch dressing before their food even came and she did not get it for over 20 minutes. What a scatter brain she was!
(1)
Jenny W.
If you want some good ole BBQ then you owe it to yourself to try this place out. They have been known to fill you up and send ya home with leftovers. If you are dining in for the first time the staff is very helpful in making suggestions and recommendations. Along with touring you through the variety of BBQ sauces. I had heard good things from friends and family who have eaten there so I tried it out. Glad I did. Its a hopin' place with lots of stuff on the walls the keep you visually entertained while you wait for your food, which usually is less than 15 minutes. I keep it on my rotation for good food and good service.
(5)
Mark T.
I tried it again because I need another BBQ restaurant. The food was worse this time. I had a lunch 2 meat platter with ribs and brisket. I got two scrawny end ribs which were way overcooked with little meat on them. The 3 small pieces of brisket were tender, but the texture was like bologna. I've never seen anything like it. Both ribs and brisket tasted like charcoal cooked meat with liquid smoke rubbed on the outside. There was no smoke ring, and there was no smell of wood smoke inside the building or outside. The potato salad was very good. The corn on the cob was waterlogged. Skip this place if you have taste buds..
(1)
Bill G.
We waited for the "new" opening jitters to settle down. Should not have bothered to wait. Great service, small portions, VERY SMALL, barbeque was anything but different. Expensive ! Spent just over $40 for three for lunch, on food that was skimpy and in NO WAY anything special. Lots of hype, very busy menu, lots of flashy decorations. Too bad they don't have better food!
(1)
Django C.
love this place, good bbq, great staff, and love the kitchy kind of retro camping theme.
(5)
Phillip D.
This is an update to my previous reviews of Famous Dave's BBQ. Its been 3 or 4 years since my wife and I have visited Famous Dave's. They have improved a lot. In my previous review, I noted a very incompetent wait staff. I am happy to say that now, the wait staff seems pleasant and knowledgable. Our waitress called herself Famous Joe. My wife and I responded with; "What are you famous for and is your name really Joe?" She thought for a few seconds about this. She did say that her name was Joe, but said that she was not sure why she was famous. I didn't ask, but my assumption is that all of the wait staff are referring to themselves as famous. I though it kind of cute. Corny but cute! Famous Dave's looks like a log cabin. A rustic look like I really approve of. It gives the restaurant a nice rustic Texan look. We noticed the same bottles of BBQ sauce on the table along with a paper towel holder similar to GoodWood. We looked at the menu, which looked all new. I was happy to see that they now had a couple new bbq sauces. The 1st one is a mango sauce that was rated as hotter than they Devils Spit. The 2nd is their hottest and is a Habanero bbq sauce. I asked the waitress why these 2 new sauces were not on the table. She said that the Habanero one was way to hot and had to be kept in back. The other is a sauce that they make in house. The waitress was nice enough to offer to bring be out samples. The mango sauce was very good. It had a very nice balance of heat and sweetness from the mango. If she had offered, I would have bought some to take home. The Habanero sauce was pretty hot, but I didn't think it was that bad. I prefer flavor in my sauce, so I stuck with the Mango BBQ sauce. I highly recommend it. I have ordered the Devils Spit Burger several times to go. In my opinion, its the best burger in town. My only complaint about the burger is they use sweet pickles, which I really dislike. This time, I decided to try the brisket again. The last time I tried it, it was fatty. For anyone that has read my reviews, I prefer my meat lean with no fat at all. I asked the waitress about this and she assured me that it would be lea. My wife ordered the Rib Tips. When it came out, I was pleasantly surprised. The brisket was lean and tender. It had a mild smoke flavor and was dark in color throughout. The brisket had a good flavor, but I prefer a more smokey flavor in my brisket. If I were to compare their brisket to GoodWood, Im not sure which would win. I would have to go back here several more times in order to compare. The best thing about GoodWood is their consistency. its too early to tell is Famous Daves can meet or exceed this. The steak fries was flavorless and bland. I left most all of them sitting on the plate. The brisket was sliced and served over a piece of bread. I think it had been toasted, but by the time I got it, it was a soggy mess. Texas Toast would be a better choice served on the side and not under the meat. Along with my brisket, came the same bad attempt at corn bread that I had in years past from famous Dave's. Their version of Corn Bread is more like a very very sweet cake that you would have for desert. My wife's rib tips were just ok. They did not have a good smokey flavor either. We might return some day. I do enjoy the hamburgers.
(3)
Megs H.
Love the sauce choices. Like all the naughty food. Dislike the "Famous" schtick they do. Hate the lack of healthier options. Our "Famous Server" was pretty terrible; Forgot several things, got several items wrong on our order, we had to send things back... but the food was decent. NOT the best BBQ in town, but better than Mickey Rays (blech!). Buffalo wings are in fact NOT true "buffalo" sauce. It's more of a hybrid BBQ-Buffalo. Not impressive. If you aren't into healthy and want some southern fried naughtiness and Texas toast, and lots of options... this could be your place!
(2)
Mike S.
Famous Daves, a place we have eaten at dozens of times, the service tonight was poor. No chips, no water refills. Disappointment.
(3)
Carrie C.
Went on a date night to Famous Dave's. We were happy when we got there because for a Saturday night it was not busy. We were seated right away and then the waiting began. Our server took about 10 minutes to come over. I would not complain except the restaurant was virtually empty and there were servers standing around the restaurant. When our server did come over she was polite. The drinks and food did come much quicker after that. I was, however, a little irritated that thr table behind us got prompt service from the same server and we did not. Something was off about the pork. Overall was disappointed in the service and food. This was the second time we have eaten here and the service was not great either time.
(1)
Bill M.
So many places in the area are closing, I feel for Famous Dave's trying to compete with all the new places around. On the plus side, it wasn't very busy and the service was good. We hadn't eaten here in a while and found some new items. We tried these rib bite things that were very good and nicely seasoned. Our food was cooked great for us, we like things well done; though it was all still tender and moist. I'm glad we stopped in.
(3)
Jon M.
I use to love Famous Dave's,but over the last few years they have really went down hill. I'm going to start by saying the customer service has always been great and the BBQ sauce is decent. That's were it ends though. There Ultimate BBQ burger use to be one of the best burgers in town. The last two times I tried it,it was dry and burnt. This last time I got it home I opened the container and the BBQ pork still had about a four inch long connective fat tissue on it,that was put on top of my burger. Think of tripe and that's what it looked like. I don't mind a little fat in my meat,but when you don't even take the time to shred or cut the meat and you leave that junk on, that's just gross. To top that off the burger was burnt. My second complaint is the prices for the amount of food you get. I spent ten dollars on burnt ends and there was barely any in the to go box. There was more fried onions then burnt ends. I ordered a double boneless wings and it had around twenty wings in it. It cost me 20 bucks. I got more wings during happy hour for six bucks. Basically I'm saying if your going to famous dave's go during happy hour,but if your going because you want good BBQ go somewhere else. There's much better to be had elsewhere. Hopefully they will get it together,because it use to be a pretty great place to go. I'm very torn between giving them a one star or a two star. On one hand the burger deserves a one star,but the customer service that i have had the last two times I have been there deserves credit. So I'm going to give them two stars because the staff was so friendly and hope they get the food back on track.
(2)
Jalene W.
Horrible Customer service ! Came in and were seated ( p.s. our Veteran son in a wheelchair was with us). Two waitresses walked by our table multiple times with not even an acknowledgment let alone get us drinks. 15 minutes later a new family came in , were seated AND got chips to nibble on ( WE didn't even get ) and still no acknowledgement of our presence . We kept trying to get the waitresses attention to no avail. We walked out . Felt like we were purposely ignored ! We will NEVER EVER go back and will let the community know not to either !
(1)
Tom K.
Have you ever went over to Famous Dave's to eat And the food just ain't no good? The macaroni's soggy, the veggies mushed, And the chicken tastes like wood With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat
(1)
Mark N.
This was the 2nd time we went, lat time the place was packed and while the food was good it wasn't "amazing." This time around there was hardly anybody there so we got a lot of attention from our server. We had a "meal for two" so the overall price was very good. The St Louis ribs were excellent, brisket flavorful, corn bread was sweet and slightly crispy on the edges...so just right! In fact the whole meal was great. More than enough for even me (a voracious appetite) so we had leftovers. The atmosphere is awesome too, very much like a hunter's cottage. Better than Dickies for sure. Overall an excellent value and the food is better now than when they first opened.
(4)
Bruce T.
We recently bought a house in Eagle and our real estate agent gave us a gift certificate to Famous Dave's as a "thank you". I like good barbecue, but my son is the real connoisseur and is known far and wide for his own cooking. Anyway, we were looking forward to a good dinner. Well, I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't that good, either. I guess if McDonalds did barbecue, Famous Dave's style food is what I would expect. My son wasn't nearly as impressed. I don't see any reason to return.
(2)
Molly G.
We went to Famous Daves last night and hi dee ho cowboy, it was delicious! I was skeptical because of the average of 3 stars but I have to say, we all loved our meals. The ribs were fantastic (the rub was incredible) and so was the chopped pork. The coleslaw and corn was delicious too. I've had barbecue all over the country and this really stacked up. I'll be back.
(5)
Jon B.
Great BBQ. Friendly and effective staff. Enjoyed the Ribs. Loved it for a chain restaurant. The choices in sauces were a great addition. Look forward to going back.
(4)
Jonathan D.
Famous Dave's is a chain and is nothing special. I would say, like most the other reviewers have, the STAFF was the high point of my experience. The place was packed while I was there and my food took about 3 minutes (half a beer) to get to me. Needless to say it came too fast and was cold and not impressive. I did enjoy all the sauces they provide to mask the taste of the below par food. I enjoyed mixing and matching their BBQ sauces. While some have said Famous Dave's is expensive, IT IS, but not comparatively. Try and enjoy a meal at one of the rib shacks, either in meridian or eagle and you will spend way more than you would have at Famous Dave's.
(2)
Michelle C.
I'm going to start off saying that I have been to famous Dave's twice before and enjoyed both visits. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and thought we would celebrate and BBQ sounded good so..... The atmosphere was off tonight. Someone kept changing the station in the middle of the songs it would vary between pop, country and older pop. It was annoying but nothing too painful. We ordered the nachos which were the best part of the entire meal. Our food came and it was just really gross. My husbands food looked like it had been sitting around for awhile and his bread was mushy. My food looked good but by my second bite all I could taste was BBQ sauce, that peppery taste not flavor. I tried my very small portion of mashed potatoes and they tasted like boxed potatoes with garlic salt. I'm done and starting to get irritated that we paid $20 a piece for this meal. What tipped me over the edge was the waitress . She was young and sweet but really inexperienced. She couldn't give us any real tips on what to order and would just be wandering around the djinn groom. She held our bill in her hand while she chatted with some other people for over 5 minutes. So now I'm nauseous from the over abundance of pepper sauce, broke and irritated.
(2)
Rachel Z.
My husband received such a gross burger there... looked like a hockey puck. Had them re do it and it still felt and looked like a hockey puck. Service can be good. Food can be good.
(3)
Jerry M.
Ok, perhaps Dave's isn't the 'authentic' type BBQ you might have in mind, but really, they do have a great selection and serve up great tasting food. I have never been dissapointed in any of the Dave's I have ever visited, and the few times I've been here, the service and food has always been good. Like a lot of chains, I've been to Dave's in several states, and the quality has always been the same. I have to say that's a good thing for them, as one expects a certain quality to be as good, if not better, than the last one. I only hope that Dave's maintain's the quality that they serve now as they will 10 years from now, unlike a certain Italian chain I used to love that has someting to do with an olive. I have to commend the manager for having his crew always being very friendly and accomodating. My wife and I will definately make a point to come back and visit when we can. One thing else we noticed was that, even though we were sitting in the corner of the bar area near a speaker, it was much quieter than a restaurant we vistied a few nights before.
(4)
Theresa F.
Our large group ate here last night. The service we received was excellent. Our server was Alicia. She was a kick in the pants! The food was good but the service made it worth the trip.
(5)
John W.
The staff was nice but thats about the only good thing i have to say about this place. I use there B.B.Q. sauce at home and its good but there meats are way over cooked the baby back ribs where burnt and nasty food. The food was over priced. I wont be back or reccommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Erin W.
This was our first experience at the Meridian location, and unfortunately it will be our last. We have eaten at the Portland, Oregon locations several times and we always had fabulous service and food. Sadly, this was not the case at the Meridian location. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Thursday evening. The hostess was very friendly. She asked if we preferred to be seated in the dining room or the lounge. Since we were on a date, without our children we chose the lounge. After being seated we waited more than 15 minutes and nobody came to our table. Several servers were standing at the bar and made eye contact with us, but still nobody came over. Eventually, since we had children that were with a babysitter and we had to get home, we left. The same hostess that had seated us watched us walk out the door without saying a word. Later in the evening my husband called to inform the manager of our experience. The most unfortunate thing is the manager "Famous" Wes absolutely did not care. He did not apologize or invite us back. He did not say he would give the staff any feedback. He gave some excuse about them changing shifts. I have spent several years working in the restaurant industry, and in every establishment I have worked in you do not ignore customers. If there is going to be some delay in service, you inform your customer. If you notice a table has been left unattended, you go figure out who is supposed to be taking care of that table! Also, if I were the manager in such an establishment I would want to make sure I corrected the problem. After all, the customer is who insures you get a paycheck! Wes...you my friend need a lesson in customer service! We will not be back.
(1)
Luis M.
Awesome food!!! It was a good time. There was four in our party and everyone of us were excited to come back again.
(5)
Jim G.
Came back because I got a bogo coupon. Won't go back. The brisket was cold and dry. I had to complain to get some fresh meat served to me. That time was pretty good. But I hate to complain just to get what I pay for. Won't go back. Goodwood BBQ is much much better.
(2)
Victoria P.
I enjoy Famous Dave's for several reasons: the service is always great! The wait staff and bar staff are happy to serve, as well as knowledgeable about their menus. The food is delivered promptly and with a smile. The food is incredible, their sauce options and variety on the menu always keep me interested and intrigued to try something new. My favorite aspect though is the healthy options they have, and the willingness that they go through to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for, and the availability and ease of substitutions to fit the dietary requests.
(5)
Sandy L.
Very disappointed, Went there for my Birthday dinner and The food was awful! Our burgers were under cooked and we got 8 french fries! We asked what the deal was and the waitress said they had to cut back and now everything is being weighed before it leaves the kitchen!!! Seriously??? It must cost a lot for soda too because we couldn't find the waitress for refills! She finally brought us some chips and it was a tiny bowl for 5 people! We spent a lot of money for dinner and left hungry and disgusted :(
(1)
Wendy B.
Went for lunch because since we moved here 2 years ago and miss our pulled pork joint in Seattle so much we are trying to find its replacement. Famous Dave's is not it. I ordered coffee and the waiter asked if I wanted cream, sure, I don't usually but thought it might be nice, I got non dairy creamer with hydrogenated oil listed in it, cheap was my first thought. Mom and I ordered 2 chopped pork sandwiches I got a side of Mac and cheese and she got potato salad. When the order came her potato salad was cole slaw and both our first few bites of pork were so salty I could taste nothing but salt, yuck. Once I got through a few bites it was ok but nothing special. Mac and cheese and cole slaw just mediocre and not worth the price. There was no one to greet us when we got there so we had no idea if it was seat yourself or maybe serve yourself. The waiter was nice once he showed up to seat us and the manager gave us a first time packet with a bottle of famous sauce and take out menu. I read the ingredients on the label and the first ingredient...high fructose corn syrup...oh joy I thought since I had tried the sauce on my pork, thought I could water down the salt. This is not a restaurant that cares about its ingredients and appears to make things as cheaply as possible. I gave it a two star because of the staff...mom and I decided we would not go hear again...curiosity over this place is over. My question is what makes them so famous? Maybe the decor or nice fire place.
(2)
Matt D.
Pricey, not very big portions, and meat is fatty. Best thing was the sauce.
(1)
Kate J.
The brisket was way fatty and the food came out too quick. You could tell it was microwaved. Pretty expensive for what you get.
(1)
Les M.
Our first trip to Famous Dave's was a delight. I love the "Devil's Spit" BBQ sauce. The food was just awesome and the selection of sides was very good. There was something for everyone. Our group of 12 ( 6 adults and 6 kids) ordered two rib platters, salads, and the large Garbage Can Lid Feast. You get an unlimited platter of home made BBQ chips. The chicken, ribs, and pulled pork were good but everyone went for the beef brisket served with the Trash Can Lid so we ordered another platter of beef brisket. Should have ordered two more because it went fast! Don't pass this BBQ up!! If I were to find anything to complain about, and I'm really thinking hard here, is that the salad didn't come with any tomatoes. They have a glutten free and kids menu. We'll be back.
(5)
Chris H.
The best ribs I've had in town! Juicy, tender, with a great dry rub and a half dozen bbq sauces to choose from. Their steak fell short, but the mashed red potatoes and fries were good. If you are in the mood for ribs they are top notch. Wednesday night is family night and they have discounts for kids and their mascot running around.
(4)
Jeannie M.
I've eaten here about 15 times since they opened. I love it! Course I don't eat BBQ... but hubby does and he always leaves satified. His favorite sauce 'Rich and Sassy' we even have at home. I always get the chicken fingers and between that and the sides of fried apples, corn bread, corn on the cob and cole slaw, I'm always too stuffed to get dessert. The waiters are very friendly. Make sure to go around 6pm if you don't want a long wait...
(5)
Mary A.
We were here recently because of a craving for barbecued ribs. We tried both the St. Louis and babybacks which were both tender and flavorful and not too spicy. The sides of coleslaw, macaroni, and potato salad were also good. One person in our party ordered the chopped pork which I sampled and I would probably order that when I come back here again. The side dishes of coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad also were very good. Our server was very pleasant and helpful as well and very efficient. We decided to share a piece of pecan pie and key lime pie but the manager informed us that both pies did not turn out well and we were offered complimentary desserts of bread pudding and a brownie sundae. We weren't disappointed--they were both delicious!
(4)
Adam G.
I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwhich. It was delicious, very greasy but I am bad so I like that. Really enjoyed the server telling us about the sauces, My only complaint was the small portion sizes for the sides of Mac and Cheese otherwise it was enoyable. They also gave us a very nice bottle of BBQ sauce before we left which I thought was really courtesy. And the sauce really is yummy.
(4)
Mark B.
I live this place!!!! I went there for my birthday last year and they came out with three snowball sized scoops of ice cream with chocolate syrup. It is a little pricey but I think the food makes up for it. Devils spit BBQ sauce= goodness. Ive been to the omaha location and a montana location. I think the boise location has better service and for jonathan d hot food. Their burger are delicious especially dave's favorite burger. Dave's rocks!
(5)
Ben W.
I'm usually not a fan of BBQ at chain restaurants but this was actually pretty good. They have a nice selection of BBQ sauces and have a huge sampler platter that is great for groups. There are definitely better BBQ places in the valley but for a chain restaurant this is pretty good.
(4)
Steve M.
Over priced mediocre food. The atmosphere was very "chainy" as I expected. The servers were very friendly. Its a shame they are wasted on this mediocre establishment. Specifically, the meats were either not of good quality or not prepared properly. Either way it was a disappointment. The sides were not a welcome addition to the entre in that they were just plain bland. Don't waste your time...there are better options. In fact, I can't recall ever having worse BBQ than I had at infamous dave's.
(1)
Bill G.
We waited for the "new" opening jitters to settle down. Should not have bothered to wait. Great service, small portions, VERY SMALL, barbeque was anything but different. Expensive ! Spent just over $40 for three for lunch, on food that was skimpy and in NO WAY anything special. Lots of hype, very busy menu, lots of flashy decorations. Too bad they don't have better food!
(1)
Django C.
love this place, good bbq, great staff, and love the kitchy kind of retro camping theme.
(5)
Katie J.
The food here is good but the service is HORRIBLE. Sat in the Bar area on a Wednesday night. DOn't know our server's name receipt just says Bar Pm B. First my husband ordered a beer and the waitress checked his ID...well honey you looked at it you might have noticed too it was his birthday today. Major fail up front. Then it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. The food was good but he was asked if he wanted another drink when his food came and he did...well finally she remembered AFTER he was done eating. She was MIA for over 10 minutes at one point and she was the only server around. Finally when we were done eating and had been done for about 10 minutes we finally went up to the bar and paid and left. She got a big fat 0 for a tip and I really hopes she learned from it. The tables around us were very upset too. One table asked for Ranch dressing before their food even came and she did not get it for over 20 minutes. What a scatter brain she was!
(1)
Jenny W.
If you want some good ole BBQ then you owe it to yourself to try this place out. They have been known to fill you up and send ya home with leftovers. If you are dining in for the first time the staff is very helpful in making suggestions and recommendations. Along with touring you through the variety of BBQ sauces. I had heard good things from friends and family who have eaten there so I tried it out. Glad I did. Its a hopin' place with lots of stuff on the walls the keep you visually entertained while you wait for your food, which usually is less than 15 minutes. I keep it on my rotation for good food and good service.
(5)
Mark T.
I tried it again because I need another BBQ restaurant. The food was worse this time. I had a lunch 2 meat platter with ribs and brisket. I got two scrawny end ribs which were way overcooked with little meat on them. The 3 small pieces of brisket were tender, but the texture was like bologna. I've never seen anything like it. Both ribs and brisket tasted like charcoal cooked meat with liquid smoke rubbed on the outside. There was no smoke ring, and there was no smell of wood smoke inside the building or outside. The potato salad was very good. The corn on the cob was waterlogged. Skip this place if you have taste buds..
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Megs H.
Love the sauce choices. Like all the naughty food. Dislike the "Famous" schtick they do. Hate the lack of healthier options. Our "Famous Server" was pretty terrible; Forgot several things, got several items wrong on our order, we had to send things back... but the food was decent. NOT the best BBQ in town, but better than Mickey Rays (blech!). Buffalo wings are in fact NOT true "buffalo" sauce. It's more of a hybrid BBQ-Buffalo. Not impressive. If you aren't into healthy and want some southern fried naughtiness and Texas toast, and lots of options... this could be your place!
(2)Mike S.
Famous Daves, a place we have eaten at dozens of times, the service tonight was poor. No chips, no water refills. Disappointment.
(3)Jon M.
I use to love Famous Dave's,but over the last few years they have really went down hill. I'm going to start by saying the customer service has always been great and the BBQ sauce is decent. That's were it ends though. There Ultimate BBQ burger use to be one of the best burgers in town. The last two times I tried it,it was dry and burnt. This last time I got it home I opened the container and the BBQ pork still had about a four inch long connective fat tissue on it,that was put on top of my burger. Think of tripe and that's what it looked like. I don't mind a little fat in my meat,but when you don't even take the time to shred or cut the meat and you leave that junk on, that's just gross. To top that off the burger was burnt. My second complaint is the prices for the amount of food you get. I spent ten dollars on burnt ends and there was barely any in the to go box. There was more fried onions then burnt ends. I ordered a double boneless wings and it had around twenty wings in it. It cost me 20 bucks. I got more wings during happy hour for six bucks. Basically I'm saying if your going to famous dave's go during happy hour,but if your going because you want good BBQ go somewhere else. There's much better to be had elsewhere. Hopefully they will get it together,because it use to be a pretty great place to go. I'm very torn between giving them a one star or a two star. On one hand the burger deserves a one star,but the customer service that i have had the last two times I have been there deserves credit. So I'm going to give them two stars because the staff was so friendly and hope they get the food back on track.
(2)Mark N.
This was the 2nd time we went, lat time the place was packed and while the food was good it wasn't "amazing." This time around there was hardly anybody there so we got a lot of attention from our server. We had a "meal for two" so the overall price was very good. The St Louis ribs were excellent, brisket flavorful, corn bread was sweet and slightly crispy on the edges...so just right! In fact the whole meal was great. More than enough for even me (a voracious appetite) so we had leftovers. The atmosphere is awesome too, very much like a hunter's cottage. Better than Dickies for sure. Overall an excellent value and the food is better now than when they first opened.
(4)Bill M.
So many places in the area are closing, I feel for Famous Dave's trying to compete with all the new places around. On the plus side, it wasn't very busy and the service was good. We hadn't eaten here in a while and found some new items. We tried these rib bite things that were very good and nicely seasoned. Our food was cooked great for us, we like things well done; though it was all still tender and moist. I'm glad we stopped in.
(3)Jalene W.
Horrible Customer service ! Came in and were seated ( p.s. our Veteran son in a wheelchair was with us). Two waitresses walked by our table multiple times with not even an acknowledgment let alone get us drinks. 15 minutes later a new family came in , were seated AND got chips to nibble on ( WE didn't even get ) and still no acknowledgement of our presence . We kept trying to get the waitresses attention to no avail. We walked out . Felt like we were purposely ignored ! We will NEVER EVER go back and will let the community know not to either !
(1)Tom K.
Have you ever went over to Famous Dave's to eat And the food just ain't no good? The macaroni's soggy, the veggies mushed, And the chicken tastes like wood With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat
(1)Carrie C.
Went on a date night to Famous Dave's. We were happy when we got there because for a Saturday night it was not busy. We were seated right away and then the waiting began. Our server took about 10 minutes to come over. I would not complain except the restaurant was virtually empty and there were servers standing around the restaurant. When our server did come over she was polite. The drinks and food did come much quicker after that. I was, however, a little irritated that thr table behind us got prompt service from the same server and we did not. Something was off about the pork. Overall was disappointed in the service and food. This was the second time we have eaten here and the service was not great either time.
(1)Bruce T.
We recently bought a house in Eagle and our real estate agent gave us a gift certificate to Famous Dave's as a "thank you". I like good barbecue, but my son is the real connoisseur and is known far and wide for his own cooking. Anyway, we were looking forward to a good dinner. Well, I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't that good, either. I guess if McDonalds did barbecue, Famous Dave's style food is what I would expect. My son wasn't nearly as impressed. I don't see any reason to return.
(2)Molly G.
We went to Famous Daves last night and hi dee ho cowboy, it was delicious! I was skeptical because of the average of 3 stars but I have to say, we all loved our meals. The ribs were fantastic (the rub was incredible) and so was the chopped pork. The coleslaw and corn was delicious too. I've had barbecue all over the country and this really stacked up. I'll be back.
(5)Jon B.
Great BBQ. Friendly and effective staff. Enjoyed the Ribs. Loved it for a chain restaurant. The choices in sauces were a great addition. Look forward to going back.
(4)Michelle C.
I'm going to start off saying that I have been to famous Dave's twice before and enjoyed both visits. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and thought we would celebrate and BBQ sounded good so..... The atmosphere was off tonight. Someone kept changing the station in the middle of the songs it would vary between pop, country and older pop. It was annoying but nothing too painful. We ordered the nachos which were the best part of the entire meal. Our food came and it was just really gross. My husbands food looked like it had been sitting around for awhile and his bread was mushy. My food looked good but by my second bite all I could taste was BBQ sauce, that peppery taste not flavor. I tried my very small portion of mashed potatoes and they tasted like boxed potatoes with garlic salt. I'm done and starting to get irritated that we paid $20 a piece for this meal. What tipped me over the edge was the waitress . She was young and sweet but really inexperienced. She couldn't give us any real tips on what to order and would just be wandering around the djinn groom. She held our bill in her hand while she chatted with some other people for over 5 minutes. So now I'm nauseous from the over abundance of pepper sauce, broke and irritated.
(2)Rachel Z.
My husband received such a gross burger there... looked like a hockey puck. Had them re do it and it still felt and looked like a hockey puck. Service can be good. Food can be good.
(3)Jerry M.
Ok, perhaps Dave's isn't the 'authentic' type BBQ you might have in mind, but really, they do have a great selection and serve up great tasting food. I have never been dissapointed in any of the Dave's I have ever visited, and the few times I've been here, the service and food has always been good. Like a lot of chains, I've been to Dave's in several states, and the quality has always been the same. I have to say that's a good thing for them, as one expects a certain quality to be as good, if not better, than the last one. I only hope that Dave's maintain's the quality that they serve now as they will 10 years from now, unlike a certain Italian chain I used to love that has someting to do with an olive. I have to commend the manager for having his crew always being very friendly and accomodating. My wife and I will definately make a point to come back and visit when we can. One thing else we noticed was that, even though we were sitting in the corner of the bar area near a speaker, it was much quieter than a restaurant we vistied a few nights before.
(4)Victoria P.
I enjoy Famous Dave's for several reasons: the service is always great! The wait staff and bar staff are happy to serve, as well as knowledgeable about their menus. The food is delivered promptly and with a smile. The food is incredible, their sauce options and variety on the menu always keep me interested and intrigued to try something new. My favorite aspect though is the healthy options they have, and the willingness that they go through to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for, and the availability and ease of substitutions to fit the dietary requests.
(5)Erin W.
This was our first experience at the Meridian location, and unfortunately it will be our last. We have eaten at the Portland, Oregon locations several times and we always had fabulous service and food. Sadly, this was not the case at the Meridian location. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Thursday evening. The hostess was very friendly. She asked if we preferred to be seated in the dining room or the lounge. Since we were on a date, without our children we chose the lounge. After being seated we waited more than 15 minutes and nobody came to our table. Several servers were standing at the bar and made eye contact with us, but still nobody came over. Eventually, since we had children that were with a babysitter and we had to get home, we left. The same hostess that had seated us watched us walk out the door without saying a word. Later in the evening my husband called to inform the manager of our experience. The most unfortunate thing is the manager "Famous" Wes absolutely did not care. He did not apologize or invite us back. He did not say he would give the staff any feedback. He gave some excuse about them changing shifts. I have spent several years working in the restaurant industry, and in every establishment I have worked in you do not ignore customers. If there is going to be some delay in service, you inform your customer. If you notice a table has been left unattended, you go figure out who is supposed to be taking care of that table! Also, if I were the manager in such an establishment I would want to make sure I corrected the problem. After all, the customer is who insures you get a paycheck! Wes...you my friend need a lesson in customer service! We will not be back.
(1)Luis M.
Awesome food!!! It was a good time. There was four in our party and everyone of us were excited to come back again.
(5)Jim G.
Came back because I got a bogo coupon. Won't go back. The brisket was cold and dry. I had to complain to get some fresh meat served to me. That time was pretty good. But I hate to complain just to get what I pay for. Won't go back. Goodwood BBQ is much much better.
(2)Sandy L.
Very disappointed, Went there for my Birthday dinner and The food was awful! Our burgers were under cooked and we got 8 french fries! We asked what the deal was and the waitress said they had to cut back and now everything is being weighed before it leaves the kitchen!!! Seriously??? It must cost a lot for soda too because we couldn't find the waitress for refills! She finally brought us some chips and it was a tiny bowl for 5 people! We spent a lot of money for dinner and left hungry and disgusted :(
(1)Theresa F.
Our large group ate here last night. The service we received was excellent. Our server was Alicia. She was a kick in the pants! The food was good but the service made it worth the trip.
(5)John W.
The staff was nice but thats about the only good thing i have to say about this place. I use there B.B.Q. sauce at home and its good but there meats are way over cooked the baby back ribs where burnt and nasty food. The food was over priced. I wont be back or reccommend this place to anyone.
(1)Wendy B.
Went for lunch because since we moved here 2 years ago and miss our pulled pork joint in Seattle so much we are trying to find its replacement. Famous Dave's is not it. I ordered coffee and the waiter asked if I wanted cream, sure, I don't usually but thought it might be nice, I got non dairy creamer with hydrogenated oil listed in it, cheap was my first thought. Mom and I ordered 2 chopped pork sandwiches I got a side of Mac and cheese and she got potato salad. When the order came her potato salad was cole slaw and both our first few bites of pork were so salty I could taste nothing but salt, yuck. Once I got through a few bites it was ok but nothing special. Mac and cheese and cole slaw just mediocre and not worth the price. There was no one to greet us when we got there so we had no idea if it was seat yourself or maybe serve yourself. The waiter was nice once he showed up to seat us and the manager gave us a first time packet with a bottle of famous sauce and take out menu. I read the ingredients on the label and the first ingredient...high fructose corn syrup...oh joy I thought since I had tried the sauce on my pork, thought I could water down the salt. This is not a restaurant that cares about its ingredients and appears to make things as cheaply as possible. I gave it a two star because of the staff...mom and I decided we would not go hear again...curiosity over this place is over. My question is what makes them so famous? Maybe the decor or nice fire place.
(2)Matt D.
Pricey, not very big portions, and meat is fatty. Best thing was the sauce.
(1)Kate J.
The brisket was way fatty and the food came out too quick. You could tell it was microwaved. Pretty expensive for what you get.
(1)Phillip D.
This is an update to my previous reviews of Famous Dave's BBQ. Its been 3 or 4 years since my wife and I have visited Famous Dave's. They have improved a lot. In my previous review, I noted a very incompetent wait staff. I am happy to say that now, the wait staff seems pleasant and knowledgable. Our waitress called herself Famous Joe. My wife and I responded with; "What are you famous for and is your name really Joe?" She thought for a few seconds about this. She did say that her name was Joe, but said that she was not sure why she was famous. I didn't ask, but my assumption is that all of the wait staff are referring to themselves as famous. I though it kind of cute. Corny but cute! Famous Dave's looks like a log cabin. A rustic look like I really approve of. It gives the restaurant a nice rustic Texan look. We noticed the same bottles of BBQ sauce on the table along with a paper towel holder similar to GoodWood. We looked at the menu, which looked all new. I was happy to see that they now had a couple new bbq sauces. The 1st one is a mango sauce that was rated as hotter than they Devils Spit. The 2nd is their hottest and is a Habanero bbq sauce. I asked the waitress why these 2 new sauces were not on the table. She said that the Habanero one was way to hot and had to be kept in back. The other is a sauce that they make in house. The waitress was nice enough to offer to bring be out samples. The mango sauce was very good. It had a very nice balance of heat and sweetness from the mango. If she had offered, I would have bought some to take home. The Habanero sauce was pretty hot, but I didn't think it was that bad. I prefer flavor in my sauce, so I stuck with the Mango BBQ sauce. I highly recommend it. I have ordered the Devils Spit Burger several times to go. In my opinion, its the best burger in town. My only complaint about the burger is they use sweet pickles, which I really dislike. This time, I decided to try the brisket again. The last time I tried it, it was fatty. For anyone that has read my reviews, I prefer my meat lean with no fat at all. I asked the waitress about this and she assured me that it would be lea. My wife ordered the Rib Tips. When it came out, I was pleasantly surprised. The brisket was lean and tender. It had a mild smoke flavor and was dark in color throughout. The brisket had a good flavor, but I prefer a more smokey flavor in my brisket. If I were to compare their brisket to GoodWood, Im not sure which would win. I would have to go back here several more times in order to compare. The best thing about GoodWood is their consistency. its too early to tell is Famous Daves can meet or exceed this. The steak fries was flavorless and bland. I left most all of them sitting on the plate. The brisket was sliced and served over a piece of bread. I think it had been toasted, but by the time I got it, it was a soggy mess. Texas Toast would be a better choice served on the side and not under the meat. Along with my brisket, came the same bad attempt at corn bread that I had in years past from famous Dave's. Their version of Corn Bread is more like a very very sweet cake that you would have for desert. My wife's rib tips were just ok. They did not have a good smokey flavor either. We might return some day. I do enjoy the hamburgers.
(3)Les M.
Our first trip to Famous Dave's was a delight. I love the "Devil's Spit" BBQ sauce. The food was just awesome and the selection of sides was very good. There was something for everyone. Our group of 12 ( 6 adults and 6 kids) ordered two rib platters, salads, and the large Garbage Can Lid Feast. You get an unlimited platter of home made BBQ chips. The chicken, ribs, and pulled pork were good but everyone went for the beef brisket served with the Trash Can Lid so we ordered another platter of beef brisket. Should have ordered two more because it went fast! Don't pass this BBQ up!! If I were to find anything to complain about, and I'm really thinking hard here, is that the salad didn't come with any tomatoes. They have a glutten free and kids menu. We'll be back.
(5)Chris H.
The best ribs I've had in town! Juicy, tender, with a great dry rub and a half dozen bbq sauces to choose from. Their steak fell short, but the mashed red potatoes and fries were good. If you are in the mood for ribs they are top notch. Wednesday night is family night and they have discounts for kids and their mascot running around.
(4)Jeannie M.
I've eaten here about 15 times since they opened. I love it! Course I don't eat BBQ... but hubby does and he always leaves satified. His favorite sauce 'Rich and Sassy' we even have at home. I always get the chicken fingers and between that and the sides of fried apples, corn bread, corn on the cob and cole slaw, I'm always too stuffed to get dessert. The waiters are very friendly. Make sure to go around 6pm if you don't want a long wait...
(5)Jonathan D.
Famous Dave's is a chain and is nothing special. I would say, like most the other reviewers have, the STAFF was the high point of my experience. The place was packed while I was there and my food took about 3 minutes (half a beer) to get to me. Needless to say it came too fast and was cold and not impressive. I did enjoy all the sauces they provide to mask the taste of the below par food. I enjoyed mixing and matching their BBQ sauces. While some have said Famous Dave's is expensive, IT IS, but not comparatively. Try and enjoy a meal at one of the rib shacks, either in meridian or eagle and you will spend way more than you would have at Famous Dave's.
(2)Mary A.
We were here recently because of a craving for barbecued ribs. We tried both the St. Louis and babybacks which were both tender and flavorful and not too spicy. The sides of coleslaw, macaroni, and potato salad were also good. One person in our party ordered the chopped pork which I sampled and I would probably order that when I come back here again. The side dishes of coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad also were very good. Our server was very pleasant and helpful as well and very efficient. We decided to share a piece of pecan pie and key lime pie but the manager informed us that both pies did not turn out well and we were offered complimentary desserts of bread pudding and a brownie sundae. We weren't disappointed--they were both delicious!
(4)Adam G.
I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwhich. It was delicious, very greasy but I am bad so I like that. Really enjoyed the server telling us about the sauces, My only complaint was the small portion sizes for the sides of Mac and Cheese otherwise it was enoyable. They also gave us a very nice bottle of BBQ sauce before we left which I thought was really courtesy. And the sauce really is yummy.
(4)Mark B.
I live this place!!!! I went there for my birthday last year and they came out with three snowball sized scoops of ice cream with chocolate syrup. It is a little pricey but I think the food makes up for it. Devils spit BBQ sauce= goodness. Ive been to the omaha location and a montana location. I think the boise location has better service and for jonathan d hot food. Their burger are delicious especially dave's favorite burger. Dave's rocks!
(5)Ben W.
I'm usually not a fan of BBQ at chain restaurants but this was actually pretty good. They have a nice selection of BBQ sauces and have a huge sampler platter that is great for groups. There are definitely better BBQ places in the valley but for a chain restaurant this is pretty good.
(4)Steve M.
Over priced mediocre food. The atmosphere was very "chainy" as I expected. The servers were very friendly. Its a shame they are wasted on this mediocre establishment. Specifically, the meats were either not of good quality or not prepared properly. Either way it was a disappointment. The sides were not a welcome addition to the entre in that they were just plain bland. Don't waste your time...there are better options. In fact, I can't recall ever having worse BBQ than I had at infamous dave's.
(1)Katie J.
The food here is good but the service is HORRIBLE. Sat in the Bar area on a Wednesday night. DOn't know our server's name receipt just says Bar Pm B. First my husband ordered a beer and the waitress checked his ID...well honey you looked at it you might have noticed too it was his birthday today. Major fail up front. Then it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. The food was good but he was asked if he wanted another drink when his food came and he did...well finally she remembered AFTER he was done eating. She was MIA for over 10 minutes at one point and she was the only server around. Finally when we were done eating and had been done for about 10 minutes we finally went up to the bar and paid and left. She got a big fat 0 for a tip and I really hopes she learned from it. The tables around us were very upset too. One table asked for Ranch dressing before their food even came and she did not get it for over 20 minutes. What a scatter brain she was!
(1)Jenny W.
If you want some good ole BBQ then you owe it to yourself to try this place out. They have been known to fill you up and send ya home with leftovers. If you are dining in for the first time the staff is very helpful in making suggestions and recommendations. Along with touring you through the variety of BBQ sauces. I had heard good things from friends and family who have eaten there so I tried it out. Glad I did. Its a hopin' place with lots of stuff on the walls the keep you visually entertained while you wait for your food, which usually is less than 15 minutes. I keep it on my rotation for good food and good service.
(5)Mark T.
I tried it again because I need another BBQ restaurant. The food was worse this time. I had a lunch 2 meat platter with ribs and brisket. I got two scrawny end ribs which were way overcooked with little meat on them. The 3 small pieces of brisket were tender, but the texture was like bologna. I've never seen anything like it. Both ribs and brisket tasted like charcoal cooked meat with liquid smoke rubbed on the outside. There was no smoke ring, and there was no smell of wood smoke inside the building or outside. The potato salad was very good. The corn on the cob was waterlogged. Skip this place if you have taste buds..
(1)Bill G.
We waited for the "new" opening jitters to settle down. Should not have bothered to wait. Great service, small portions, VERY SMALL, barbeque was anything but different. Expensive ! Spent just over $40 for three for lunch, on food that was skimpy and in NO WAY anything special. Lots of hype, very busy menu, lots of flashy decorations. Too bad they don't have better food!
(1)Django C.
love this place, good bbq, great staff, and love the kitchy kind of retro camping theme.
(5)Phillip D.
This is an update to my previous reviews of Famous Dave's BBQ. Its been 3 or 4 years since my wife and I have visited Famous Dave's. They have improved a lot. In my previous review, I noted a very incompetent wait staff. I am happy to say that now, the wait staff seems pleasant and knowledgable. Our waitress called herself Famous Joe. My wife and I responded with; "What are you famous for and is your name really Joe?" She thought for a few seconds about this. She did say that her name was Joe, but said that she was not sure why she was famous. I didn't ask, but my assumption is that all of the wait staff are referring to themselves as famous. I though it kind of cute. Corny but cute! Famous Dave's looks like a log cabin. A rustic look like I really approve of. It gives the restaurant a nice rustic Texan look. We noticed the same bottles of BBQ sauce on the table along with a paper towel holder similar to GoodWood. We looked at the menu, which looked all new. I was happy to see that they now had a couple new bbq sauces. The 1st one is a mango sauce that was rated as hotter than they Devils Spit. The 2nd is their hottest and is a Habanero bbq sauce. I asked the waitress why these 2 new sauces were not on the table. She said that the Habanero one was way to hot and had to be kept in back. The other is a sauce that they make in house. The waitress was nice enough to offer to bring be out samples. The mango sauce was very good. It had a very nice balance of heat and sweetness from the mango. If she had offered, I would have bought some to take home. The Habanero sauce was pretty hot, but I didn't think it was that bad. I prefer flavor in my sauce, so I stuck with the Mango BBQ sauce. I highly recommend it. I have ordered the Devils Spit Burger several times to go. In my opinion, its the best burger in town. My only complaint about the burger is they use sweet pickles, which I really dislike. This time, I decided to try the brisket again. The last time I tried it, it was fatty. For anyone that has read my reviews, I prefer my meat lean with no fat at all. I asked the waitress about this and she assured me that it would be lea. My wife ordered the Rib Tips. When it came out, I was pleasantly surprised. The brisket was lean and tender. It had a mild smoke flavor and was dark in color throughout. The brisket had a good flavor, but I prefer a more smokey flavor in my brisket. If I were to compare their brisket to GoodWood, Im not sure which would win. I would have to go back here several more times in order to compare. The best thing about GoodWood is their consistency. its too early to tell is Famous Daves can meet or exceed this. The steak fries was flavorless and bland. I left most all of them sitting on the plate. The brisket was sliced and served over a piece of bread. I think it had been toasted, but by the time I got it, it was a soggy mess. Texas Toast would be a better choice served on the side and not under the meat. Along with my brisket, came the same bad attempt at corn bread that I had in years past from famous Dave's. Their version of Corn Bread is more like a very very sweet cake that you would have for desert. My wife's rib tips were just ok. They did not have a good smokey flavor either. We might return some day. I do enjoy the hamburgers.
(3)Megs H.
Love the sauce choices. Like all the naughty food. Dislike the "Famous" schtick they do. Hate the lack of healthier options. Our "Famous Server" was pretty terrible; Forgot several things, got several items wrong on our order, we had to send things back... but the food was decent. NOT the best BBQ in town, but better than Mickey Rays (blech!). Buffalo wings are in fact NOT true "buffalo" sauce. It's more of a hybrid BBQ-Buffalo. Not impressive. If you aren't into healthy and want some southern fried naughtiness and Texas toast, and lots of options... this could be your place!
(2)Mike S.
Famous Daves, a place we have eaten at dozens of times, the service tonight was poor. No chips, no water refills. Disappointment.
(3)Carrie C.
Went on a date night to Famous Dave's. We were happy when we got there because for a Saturday night it was not busy. We were seated right away and then the waiting began. Our server took about 10 minutes to come over. I would not complain except the restaurant was virtually empty and there were servers standing around the restaurant. When our server did come over she was polite. The drinks and food did come much quicker after that. I was, however, a little irritated that thr table behind us got prompt service from the same server and we did not. Something was off about the pork. Overall was disappointed in the service and food. This was the second time we have eaten here and the service was not great either time.
(1)Bill M.
So many places in the area are closing, I feel for Famous Dave's trying to compete with all the new places around. On the plus side, it wasn't very busy and the service was good. We hadn't eaten here in a while and found some new items. We tried these rib bite things that were very good and nicely seasoned. Our food was cooked great for us, we like things well done; though it was all still tender and moist. I'm glad we stopped in.
(3)Jon M.
I use to love Famous Dave's,but over the last few years they have really went down hill. I'm going to start by saying the customer service has always been great and the BBQ sauce is decent. That's were it ends though. There Ultimate BBQ burger use to be one of the best burgers in town. The last two times I tried it,it was dry and burnt. This last time I got it home I opened the container and the BBQ pork still had about a four inch long connective fat tissue on it,that was put on top of my burger. Think of tripe and that's what it looked like. I don't mind a little fat in my meat,but when you don't even take the time to shred or cut the meat and you leave that junk on, that's just gross. To top that off the burger was burnt. My second complaint is the prices for the amount of food you get. I spent ten dollars on burnt ends and there was barely any in the to go box. There was more fried onions then burnt ends. I ordered a double boneless wings and it had around twenty wings in it. It cost me 20 bucks. I got more wings during happy hour for six bucks. Basically I'm saying if your going to famous dave's go during happy hour,but if your going because you want good BBQ go somewhere else. There's much better to be had elsewhere. Hopefully they will get it together,because it use to be a pretty great place to go. I'm very torn between giving them a one star or a two star. On one hand the burger deserves a one star,but the customer service that i have had the last two times I have been there deserves credit. So I'm going to give them two stars because the staff was so friendly and hope they get the food back on track.
(2)Jalene W.
Horrible Customer service ! Came in and were seated ( p.s. our Veteran son in a wheelchair was with us). Two waitresses walked by our table multiple times with not even an acknowledgment let alone get us drinks. 15 minutes later a new family came in , were seated AND got chips to nibble on ( WE didn't even get ) and still no acknowledgement of our presence . We kept trying to get the waitresses attention to no avail. We walked out . Felt like we were purposely ignored ! We will NEVER EVER go back and will let the community know not to either !
(1)Tom K.
Have you ever went over to Famous Dave's to eat And the food just ain't no good? The macaroni's soggy, the veggies mushed, And the chicken tastes like wood With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat
(1)Mark N.
This was the 2nd time we went, lat time the place was packed and while the food was good it wasn't "amazing." This time around there was hardly anybody there so we got a lot of attention from our server. We had a "meal for two" so the overall price was very good. The St Louis ribs were excellent, brisket flavorful, corn bread was sweet and slightly crispy on the edges...so just right! In fact the whole meal was great. More than enough for even me (a voracious appetite) so we had leftovers. The atmosphere is awesome too, very much like a hunter's cottage. Better than Dickies for sure. Overall an excellent value and the food is better now than when they first opened.
(4)Bruce T.
We recently bought a house in Eagle and our real estate agent gave us a gift certificate to Famous Dave's as a "thank you". I like good barbecue, but my son is the real connoisseur and is known far and wide for his own cooking. Anyway, we were looking forward to a good dinner. Well, I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't that good, either. I guess if McDonalds did barbecue, Famous Dave's style food is what I would expect. My son wasn't nearly as impressed. I don't see any reason to return.
(2)Molly G.
We went to Famous Daves last night and hi dee ho cowboy, it was delicious! I was skeptical because of the average of 3 stars but I have to say, we all loved our meals. The ribs were fantastic (the rub was incredible) and so was the chopped pork. The coleslaw and corn was delicious too. I've had barbecue all over the country and this really stacked up. I'll be back.
(5)Jon B.
Great BBQ. Friendly and effective staff. Enjoyed the Ribs. Loved it for a chain restaurant. The choices in sauces were a great addition. Look forward to going back.
(4)Jonathan D.
Famous Dave's is a chain and is nothing special. I would say, like most the other reviewers have, the STAFF was the high point of my experience. The place was packed while I was there and my food took about 3 minutes (half a beer) to get to me. Needless to say it came too fast and was cold and not impressive. I did enjoy all the sauces they provide to mask the taste of the below par food. I enjoyed mixing and matching their BBQ sauces. While some have said Famous Dave's is expensive, IT IS, but not comparatively. Try and enjoy a meal at one of the rib shacks, either in meridian or eagle and you will spend way more than you would have at Famous Dave's.
(2)Michelle C.
I'm going to start off saying that I have been to famous Dave's twice before and enjoyed both visits. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and thought we would celebrate and BBQ sounded good so..... The atmosphere was off tonight. Someone kept changing the station in the middle of the songs it would vary between pop, country and older pop. It was annoying but nothing too painful. We ordered the nachos which were the best part of the entire meal. Our food came and it was just really gross. My husbands food looked like it had been sitting around for awhile and his bread was mushy. My food looked good but by my second bite all I could taste was BBQ sauce, that peppery taste not flavor. I tried my very small portion of mashed potatoes and they tasted like boxed potatoes with garlic salt. I'm done and starting to get irritated that we paid $20 a piece for this meal. What tipped me over the edge was the waitress . She was young and sweet but really inexperienced. She couldn't give us any real tips on what to order and would just be wandering around the djinn groom. She held our bill in her hand while she chatted with some other people for over 5 minutes. So now I'm nauseous from the over abundance of pepper sauce, broke and irritated.
(2)Rachel Z.
My husband received such a gross burger there... looked like a hockey puck. Had them re do it and it still felt and looked like a hockey puck. Service can be good. Food can be good.
(3)Jerry M.
Ok, perhaps Dave's isn't the 'authentic' type BBQ you might have in mind, but really, they do have a great selection and serve up great tasting food. I have never been dissapointed in any of the Dave's I have ever visited, and the few times I've been here, the service and food has always been good. Like a lot of chains, I've been to Dave's in several states, and the quality has always been the same. I have to say that's a good thing for them, as one expects a certain quality to be as good, if not better, than the last one. I only hope that Dave's maintain's the quality that they serve now as they will 10 years from now, unlike a certain Italian chain I used to love that has someting to do with an olive. I have to commend the manager for having his crew always being very friendly and accomodating. My wife and I will definately make a point to come back and visit when we can. One thing else we noticed was that, even though we were sitting in the corner of the bar area near a speaker, it was much quieter than a restaurant we vistied a few nights before.
(4)Theresa F.
Our large group ate here last night. The service we received was excellent. Our server was Alicia. She was a kick in the pants! The food was good but the service made it worth the trip.
(5)John W.
The staff was nice but thats about the only good thing i have to say about this place. I use there B.B.Q. sauce at home and its good but there meats are way over cooked the baby back ribs where burnt and nasty food. The food was over priced. I wont be back or reccommend this place to anyone.
(1)Erin W.
This was our first experience at the Meridian location, and unfortunately it will be our last. We have eaten at the Portland, Oregon locations several times and we always had fabulous service and food. Sadly, this was not the case at the Meridian location. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Thursday evening. The hostess was very friendly. She asked if we preferred to be seated in the dining room or the lounge. Since we were on a date, without our children we chose the lounge. After being seated we waited more than 15 minutes and nobody came to our table. Several servers were standing at the bar and made eye contact with us, but still nobody came over. Eventually, since we had children that were with a babysitter and we had to get home, we left. The same hostess that had seated us watched us walk out the door without saying a word. Later in the evening my husband called to inform the manager of our experience. The most unfortunate thing is the manager "Famous" Wes absolutely did not care. He did not apologize or invite us back. He did not say he would give the staff any feedback. He gave some excuse about them changing shifts. I have spent several years working in the restaurant industry, and in every establishment I have worked in you do not ignore customers. If there is going to be some delay in service, you inform your customer. If you notice a table has been left unattended, you go figure out who is supposed to be taking care of that table! Also, if I were the manager in such an establishment I would want to make sure I corrected the problem. After all, the customer is who insures you get a paycheck! Wes...you my friend need a lesson in customer service! We will not be back.
(1)Luis M.
Awesome food!!! It was a good time. There was four in our party and everyone of us were excited to come back again.
(5)Jim G.
Came back because I got a bogo coupon. Won't go back. The brisket was cold and dry. I had to complain to get some fresh meat served to me. That time was pretty good. But I hate to complain just to get what I pay for. Won't go back. Goodwood BBQ is much much better.
(2)Victoria P.
I enjoy Famous Dave's for several reasons: the service is always great! The wait staff and bar staff are happy to serve, as well as knowledgeable about their menus. The food is delivered promptly and with a smile. The food is incredible, their sauce options and variety on the menu always keep me interested and intrigued to try something new. My favorite aspect though is the healthy options they have, and the willingness that they go through to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for, and the availability and ease of substitutions to fit the dietary requests.
(5)Sandy L.
Very disappointed, Went there for my Birthday dinner and The food was awful! Our burgers were under cooked and we got 8 french fries! We asked what the deal was and the waitress said they had to cut back and now everything is being weighed before it leaves the kitchen!!! Seriously??? It must cost a lot for soda too because we couldn't find the waitress for refills! She finally brought us some chips and it was a tiny bowl for 5 people! We spent a lot of money for dinner and left hungry and disgusted :(
(1)Wendy B.
Went for lunch because since we moved here 2 years ago and miss our pulled pork joint in Seattle so much we are trying to find its replacement. Famous Dave's is not it. I ordered coffee and the waiter asked if I wanted cream, sure, I don't usually but thought it might be nice, I got non dairy creamer with hydrogenated oil listed in it, cheap was my first thought. Mom and I ordered 2 chopped pork sandwiches I got a side of Mac and cheese and she got potato salad. When the order came her potato salad was cole slaw and both our first few bites of pork were so salty I could taste nothing but salt, yuck. Once I got through a few bites it was ok but nothing special. Mac and cheese and cole slaw just mediocre and not worth the price. There was no one to greet us when we got there so we had no idea if it was seat yourself or maybe serve yourself. The waiter was nice once he showed up to seat us and the manager gave us a first time packet with a bottle of famous sauce and take out menu. I read the ingredients on the label and the first ingredient...high fructose corn syrup...oh joy I thought since I had tried the sauce on my pork, thought I could water down the salt. This is not a restaurant that cares about its ingredients and appears to make things as cheaply as possible. I gave it a two star because of the staff...mom and I decided we would not go hear again...curiosity over this place is over. My question is what makes them so famous? Maybe the decor or nice fire place.
(2)Matt D.
Pricey, not very big portions, and meat is fatty. Best thing was the sauce.
(1)Kate J.
The brisket was way fatty and the food came out too quick. You could tell it was microwaved. Pretty expensive for what you get.
(1)Les M.
Our first trip to Famous Dave's was a delight. I love the "Devil's Spit" BBQ sauce. The food was just awesome and the selection of sides was very good. There was something for everyone. Our group of 12 ( 6 adults and 6 kids) ordered two rib platters, salads, and the large Garbage Can Lid Feast. You get an unlimited platter of home made BBQ chips. The chicken, ribs, and pulled pork were good but everyone went for the beef brisket served with the Trash Can Lid so we ordered another platter of beef brisket. Should have ordered two more because it went fast! Don't pass this BBQ up!! If I were to find anything to complain about, and I'm really thinking hard here, is that the salad didn't come with any tomatoes. They have a glutten free and kids menu. We'll be back.
(5)Chris H.
The best ribs I've had in town! Juicy, tender, with a great dry rub and a half dozen bbq sauces to choose from. Their steak fell short, but the mashed red potatoes and fries were good. If you are in the mood for ribs they are top notch. Wednesday night is family night and they have discounts for kids and their mascot running around.
(4)Jeannie M.
I've eaten here about 15 times since they opened. I love it! Course I don't eat BBQ... but hubby does and he always leaves satified. His favorite sauce 'Rich and Sassy' we even have at home. I always get the chicken fingers and between that and the sides of fried apples, corn bread, corn on the cob and cole slaw, I'm always too stuffed to get dessert. The waiters are very friendly. Make sure to go around 6pm if you don't want a long wait...
(5)Mary A.
We were here recently because of a craving for barbecued ribs. We tried both the St. Louis and babybacks which were both tender and flavorful and not too spicy. The sides of coleslaw, macaroni, and potato salad were also good. One person in our party ordered the chopped pork which I sampled and I would probably order that when I come back here again. The side dishes of coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad also were very good. Our server was very pleasant and helpful as well and very efficient. We decided to share a piece of pecan pie and key lime pie but the manager informed us that both pies did not turn out well and we were offered complimentary desserts of bread pudding and a brownie sundae. We weren't disappointed--they were both delicious!
(4)Adam G.
I had the Cajun Chicken Sandwhich. It was delicious, very greasy but I am bad so I like that. Really enjoyed the server telling us about the sauces, My only complaint was the small portion sizes for the sides of Mac and Cheese otherwise it was enoyable. They also gave us a very nice bottle of BBQ sauce before we left which I thought was really courtesy. And the sauce really is yummy.
(4)Mark B.
I live this place!!!! I went there for my birthday last year and they came out with three snowball sized scoops of ice cream with chocolate syrup. It is a little pricey but I think the food makes up for it. Devils spit BBQ sauce= goodness. Ive been to the omaha location and a montana location. I think the boise location has better service and for jonathan d hot food. Their burger are delicious especially dave's favorite burger. Dave's rocks!
(5)Ben W.
I'm usually not a fan of BBQ at chain restaurants but this was actually pretty good. They have a nice selection of BBQ sauces and have a huge sampler platter that is great for groups. There are definitely better BBQ places in the valley but for a chain restaurant this is pretty good.
(4)Steve M.
Over priced mediocre food. The atmosphere was very "chainy" as I expected. The servers were very friendly. Its a shame they are wasted on this mediocre establishment. Specifically, the meats were either not of good quality or not prepared properly. Either way it was a disappointment. The sides were not a welcome addition to the entre in that they were just plain bland. Don't waste your time...there are better options. In fact, I can't recall ever having worse BBQ than I had at infamous dave's.
(1)Bill G.
We waited for the "new" opening jitters to settle down. Should not have bothered to wait. Great service, small portions, VERY SMALL, barbeque was anything but different. Expensive ! Spent just over $40 for three for lunch, on food that was skimpy and in NO WAY anything special. Lots of hype, very busy menu, lots of flashy decorations. Too bad they don't have better food!
(1)Django C.
love this place, good bbq, great staff, and love the kitchy kind of retro camping theme.
(5)Katie J.
The food here is good but the service is HORRIBLE. Sat in the Bar area on a Wednesday night. DOn't know our server's name receipt just says Bar Pm B. First my husband ordered a beer and the waitress checked his ID...well honey you looked at it you might have noticed too it was his birthday today. Major fail up front. Then it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. The food was good but he was asked if he wanted another drink when his food came and he did...well finally she remembered AFTER he was done eating. She was MIA for over 10 minutes at one point and she was the only server around. Finally when we were done eating and had been done for about 10 minutes we finally went up to the bar and paid and left. She got a big fat 0 for a tip and I really hopes she learned from it. The tables around us were very upset too. One table asked for Ranch dressing before their food even came and she did not get it for over 20 minutes. What a scatter brain she was!
(1)Jenny W.
If you want some good ole BBQ then you owe it to yourself to try this place out. They have been known to fill you up and send ya home with leftovers. If you are dining in for the first time the staff is very helpful in making suggestions and recommendations. Along with touring you through the variety of BBQ sauces. I had heard good things from friends and family who have eaten there so I tried it out. Glad I did. Its a hopin' place with lots of stuff on the walls the keep you visually entertained while you wait for your food, which usually is less than 15 minutes. I keep it on my rotation for good food and good service.
(5)Mark T.
I tried it again because I need another BBQ restaurant. The food was worse this time. I had a lunch 2 meat platter with ribs and brisket. I got two scrawny end ribs which were way overcooked with little meat on them. The 3 small pieces of brisket were tender, but the texture was like bologna. I've never seen anything like it. Both ribs and brisket tasted like charcoal cooked meat with liquid smoke rubbed on the outside. There was no smoke ring, and there was no smell of wood smoke inside the building or outside. The potato salad was very good. The corn on the cob was waterlogged. Skip this place if you have taste buds..
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