While traveling from California for the last 7 weeks, we visited Famous Dave's BBQ in Mishawaka Indiana and found the best tasting ribs, beans and cole slaw yet. We were starting to worry about the infamous reputation of great BBQ in the Midwest. But today, Famous Dave's proved otherwise. We will definitely be looking for more along our travels.
(5)
Johnny R.
As someone who has only found one BBQ restaurant in Chicago that I like, I had very low expectations when we happened to stop here one time on our way back home from a vacation. As we waited to be seated, I saw a see of folks wearing Notre Dame and IU sweatshirts and figured the food would be hot, plentiful, and not very good. I was surprised. It was actually pretty good. We got the $37 sampler and shared the food with our young sons. It came with ribs, brisket, chicken, pullled pork, baked beans, coleslaw and cornbread. Oh and it also came with a few half-pieces of corn. it was enough food for three guys or four regular people. The brisket, pulled pork and the ribs were all very solid. The brisket was very tender, and actually pretty decent. I've had much much worse in Chicago. I have to admit, I really liked their bbq sauces so I was tempted to give them four stars but it would be bogus, I'd just give the sauces four sauces to be honest hehe. Going forward a 3/5 stars is a pretty good rating from me, so if you are looking for a place to eat around there, you cannot go wrong. Next time I'd just get the big slabs of ribs and split them with the wife, we don't need all that food we got last time.
(3)
Tom S.
One thing that really hit me when moving to this area is chain restaurants rule the landscape here. I was expecting just another average meal but the food is really good. I love the brisket. Wait staff are always friendly. They really work for their tips though. On more than one occasion these people have said things like, "we aren't supposed to give seconds on chips but I take care of my customers". It's like I get it, you need the tip. I'm a great tipper anyway but sometimes it gets annoying.
(4)
Michelle S.
great choice for messy BBQ out with friends. A little pricey for the BBQ for two, but great service, relaxed atmosphere, and no loud music to talk over.
(4)
Nar W.
This is my favorite place for ribs... On a first visit I would recommend having the sampler which has ribs, chicken wings, chicken tenders, catfish fingers, and onion straws. The shack fries are a must have. Wilbur beans are very tasty. The best hot BBQ sauce is the Devils Spit, which I love. For desert there's the bread pudding, which I thought would be horrid, but was instead made of awesome. Also, this place tends to hire women with nice curvy parts, which makes me very happy.
(5)
John N.
Pretty good. Sweet tea is good and pretty much anything barbecue. I like that the meals come with cornbread and corn on the cob.
(3)
Tom K.
Another restaurant chain whoo hoo - the specialty here is of course BBQ and fried foods. If you are ready for some ribs, bbq pork etc then this is your place to go. If you are trying to eat healthy then this is NOT the place to go.
(3)
James O.
Wow stay away.... No one but three parties in the place, I'm by myself sitting for 5 min and not even water....
(1)
Dave E.
I used to love eating here. At one point I would have given them a five star review. It seems as if the quality has gone down hill a little. Sometimes it's pretty good, sometimes not that great. It's hit or miss. That knocks off one star. The other star gets knocked off because the last time I ate there, they brought out cornbread and there was a fly in it. And I don't mean there was a fly on top of the cornbread, I mean there was a dead fly that was baked halfway into the piece of cornbread. One wing and half his body was sticking out and the rest was sunken into it. After we said something about it to the waitress who was on her way back to the kitchen, the manager came out right away and apologized and whisked the plate away as quickly as possible before any other patrons took notice. He said something about taking care of us with the bill and we thought great, because we didn't eat much food after that from the loss of appetite, and we figured at least we don't have to pay for it. When the bill came around they charged us for all the food and gave us free drinks... Whoop-di-doo...
(3)
Brian B.
I have given this place a try twice and both times I have been completely disappointed. The chopped pork was dry which if its smoked properly it will be moist with a Smokey flavor you then add the sauce of your choice and the brisket was tough flavorless. The ribs were dry and almost no meat on them. I have some $ left on the gift card but i will probably let it go. With all the places to eat nearby try five guys or bar Louie across the street.
(2)
Daniel S.
Good food, nice decor, clean with a friendly staff. They were overstaffed for the clientele, -- maybe 10 of us at 4 in the afternoon. What surprised me, was that it being "Black Friday" across the street from the overcrowded mall, they were so slow. The sit-down grill at the mall was super busy, and this place, easily a shorter walking distance from the grill than the actual fast-food court would have been, had you had simply walked outside, across the parking lot and the street, was practically dead. I guess I don't think like the sheeple though, so who knows. Anyways, the rib tips were good, and the sauces were each one unique, although the hot one wasn't hot enough for my tastes. I found the Georgia Mustard quite interesting, indeed. The food was hot, fresh and came fast enough. The TVs could have been bigger for a room the size were in. The bar didn't look very comfy to sit at as it was too close the row of tables behind it. You would have had to have been very careful getting out of your seat if you were a reasonably large size person not to sit in someone's lap behind you while they were eating (had it been busy in that room). All in all, a decent experience.
(4)
J S.
Famous Daves has a hard earned reputation for quality, consistency and service. The food is excellent, the establishment is clean and fun, the menu is varied and the staff are darn good at what they do. Whenever I'm in Mishawaka I try to make a trip here, usually for their ribs or brisket. If you're disappointed in this place, I'll eat my napkin on my next visit (it'll already be covered in bbq sauce anyway)
(5)
T H.
I went here with my husband and we ordered the feast for two. The brisket wasn't even enough for two and the meats were tough and cold. I wouldn't be shocked to hear that they use old meat. The service wasn't any better. If you want good barbeque and good service then I suggest that you go anywhere else but here. Waste of time and money. On a side note; The managers are quite rude.
(1)
Jenna S.
Great BBQ and Famous Dave's never disappoints.
(4)
Mable A.
I don't know how the owners can just ignore the same complaints on here. It's weird that they just don't care. This restaurant is NEVER busy. With reason. The staff is beyond unfriendly. Seems like a group of miserable people. And I can also say I noticed the loud unprofessional profanity and yelling from the kitchen. Pretty unappealing. Waitresses- attempt a smile. I'm sure your life isn't that terrible. Food is ok. It's the last resort when people don't want to drive so far to the real BBQ places in town. Sad because its a neat set up and always smells amazing inside.
(2)
Roz H.
Great lunch! The corn muffins are To. Die. For!!! Ribs are perfect! Selection of BBQ sauces is representative of national styles. If you like vinegar sauces, they have one. If you like the brown sugar thick sauces they have those too. Be certain to ask your server why he/she is Famous!
(5)
Thomas T.
This is what happens when you piss-off and disrespect your customers- your business FAILS!!! I hope the owners lost A LOT OF MONEY struggling to keep this wreck afloat. I heard from another restaurant manager in the area that the REAL reason this place shut down was THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARMENT SHUT THEM DOWN!!!
(1)
L W.
They had multiple health code violations and finally shut the whole business down for good.... smh.. yuck!
(1)
Penny C.
Don't go to this restraunt. They just received a $1400 fine for REPEATED critical health violations. I for one will not be beckoning their doors.
(1)
Melody F.
It's alright. I found my ribs to be a bit tough, which isn't typically what one's looking for. The cornbread was good.
(3)
Rachael G.
Really gross. The kitchen is dirty and there are flies and gnats in the dining area. They have had numerous run ins with the health inspector. There are better places for bbq in the area.
(1)
Shannon M.
This is chain BBQ fare. That said, it was god for what it is. There's a choice of sauces (I mixed the Sweet & Zesty with the Rich & Sassy; as much as I like spice, the Devil's Spit was not for me), and an interesting array of sides (I picked the tasty grilled pineapple and the okay macaroni and cheese, which oddly had corn kernels mixed in?) My chopped pork was respectable, and my friend chowed down on his spare ribs without hesitation. Service was fine, atmosphere is loud. Come hungry, leave sticky.
(4)
Michelle M.
Good margaritas, good service, and good BBQ. Not the best BBQ Ive had, but I got the brisket with corn, corn bread, and mashed potatoes. I also tried my husbands spicy baked beans and ribs. The ribs were not fall of the bone and I thought were covered in sauce- which normally I like sauce and appreciated the different sauces on the table, on the ribs it seemed like the sauce was hiding the ribs. I liked the sassy table sauce the best. We went with family and enjoyed the decorations, the atmosphere, and the company.
(4)
Gideon O.
The main courses and desserts are very good here, but most of the sides are subpar. Service is very hit or miss, with it sometimes being excellent, usually subpar and occasionally terrible. Most of the time you can get seated quickly, but twice I've left after bizarre seating delays in a mostly empty dining room. Prices are fine, and you get a lot of food. Over all, it's great on a week night or for lunch on a weekend, but the service might not be great and go for "safe" side dishes like broccoli and fries. Brisket, ribs, rib tips (and the pickles/onions they come with), chicken, and sausage are all great. Not had any of the other main courses. Macaroni, broccoli, fries and mashed potatoes are acceptable and the cornbread muffins are good. The coleslaw and potato salad are absolutely terrible. Desserts are very high calorie, and choices are limited, but the bread pudding is always a winner.
(4)
Ms. Sweetie P.
As a woman who was raised on good real BBQ I don't recommend famous Dave's at all! It's way tooooo comercialized. I grew up on real authentic BBQ my grandfather...... who's from the south would make, and Famous Dave's is fake BBQ. Just like when us Americans try to imitate Mexican food or Asian food. It's just not the same. So if your looking for some down home (authentic) BBQ don't go to famous Dave's. If you just wanna eat BBQ and don't really care where it comes from then Famous Dave's is the way to go.
(1)
Bella D.
Went here tonight with my husband. No way in hell I am coming back. I was so disappointed with the food. We both ordered the $12.99 rib tip classic dish, which was delivered to us about 5-7 minutes later, which also gave me red flags. I really believe this meat was two days old and then microwaved (it wasn't even hot, just lukewarm). It had that stiff, microwaved texture. The cornbread muffin was good, though. This place has such potential, but they need to reinvent their ribs somehow.
(1)
Angela A.
I love Famous Daves. I have not ever had a bad meal here. Food comes out hot and fast. I usually get the two meat combo/pork and chicken fingers. Request the roumalade sauce to dip the chicken fingers in, it is A M A Z I N G! Wilbur beans have a nice kick and the green beans are out of this world and spicy! They do not give half corn on the cobs anymore with your meal, so you have to pay for that now. That is the only bummer.
(4)
Drew G.
Food is awesome. Sauce is AMAZING! Love the new menu choices. Minus one star because the service can be slow at times.
(4)
Chris H.
The service was alittle slow, otherwise I would have given them 5 stars. But WOW, I really enjoyed the food here. Ordered the bbq chicken with green beans. The chicken was so tasty and moist. Others had pulled pork and ribs. We'll be back for sure!!!!
(4)
Jean D.
My family and I go there frequently and usually have good food and service. This past Sunday was not as good as normal. The rib tips were tough and dry, and a few of them had almost no meat on them. The waitress was okay, but definitely not top notch. We ordered a desert for the table and she brought it before she cleared the table, so we had to help her clear our own dishes. It is usually much better than this. Maybe because it was Father's Day. We will go back and hopefully this is not a trend.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sue H.
While traveling from California for the last 7 weeks, we visited Famous Dave's BBQ in Mishawaka Indiana and found the best tasting ribs, beans and cole slaw yet. We were starting to worry about the infamous reputation of great BBQ in the Midwest. But today, Famous Dave's proved otherwise. We will definitely be looking for more along our travels.
(5)Johnny R.
As someone who has only found one BBQ restaurant in Chicago that I like, I had very low expectations when we happened to stop here one time on our way back home from a vacation. As we waited to be seated, I saw a see of folks wearing Notre Dame and IU sweatshirts and figured the food would be hot, plentiful, and not very good. I was surprised. It was actually pretty good. We got the $37 sampler and shared the food with our young sons. It came with ribs, brisket, chicken, pullled pork, baked beans, coleslaw and cornbread. Oh and it also came with a few half-pieces of corn. it was enough food for three guys or four regular people. The brisket, pulled pork and the ribs were all very solid. The brisket was very tender, and actually pretty decent. I've had much much worse in Chicago. I have to admit, I really liked their bbq sauces so I was tempted to give them four stars but it would be bogus, I'd just give the sauces four sauces to be honest hehe. Going forward a 3/5 stars is a pretty good rating from me, so if you are looking for a place to eat around there, you cannot go wrong. Next time I'd just get the big slabs of ribs and split them with the wife, we don't need all that food we got last time.
(3)Tom S.
One thing that really hit me when moving to this area is chain restaurants rule the landscape here. I was expecting just another average meal but the food is really good. I love the brisket. Wait staff are always friendly. They really work for their tips though. On more than one occasion these people have said things like, "we aren't supposed to give seconds on chips but I take care of my customers". It's like I get it, you need the tip. I'm a great tipper anyway but sometimes it gets annoying.
(4)Michelle S.
great choice for messy BBQ out with friends. A little pricey for the BBQ for two, but great service, relaxed atmosphere, and no loud music to talk over.
(4)Nar W.
This is my favorite place for ribs... On a first visit I would recommend having the sampler which has ribs, chicken wings, chicken tenders, catfish fingers, and onion straws. The shack fries are a must have. Wilbur beans are very tasty. The best hot BBQ sauce is the Devils Spit, which I love. For desert there's the bread pudding, which I thought would be horrid, but was instead made of awesome. Also, this place tends to hire women with nice curvy parts, which makes me very happy.
(5)John N.
Pretty good. Sweet tea is good and pretty much anything barbecue. I like that the meals come with cornbread and corn on the cob.
(3)Tom K.
Another restaurant chain whoo hoo - the specialty here is of course BBQ and fried foods. If you are ready for some ribs, bbq pork etc then this is your place to go. If you are trying to eat healthy then this is NOT the place to go.
(3)James O.
Wow stay away.... No one but three parties in the place, I'm by myself sitting for 5 min and not even water....
(1)Dave E.
I used to love eating here. At one point I would have given them a five star review. It seems as if the quality has gone down hill a little. Sometimes it's pretty good, sometimes not that great. It's hit or miss. That knocks off one star. The other star gets knocked off because the last time I ate there, they brought out cornbread and there was a fly in it. And I don't mean there was a fly on top of the cornbread, I mean there was a dead fly that was baked halfway into the piece of cornbread. One wing and half his body was sticking out and the rest was sunken into it. After we said something about it to the waitress who was on her way back to the kitchen, the manager came out right away and apologized and whisked the plate away as quickly as possible before any other patrons took notice. He said something about taking care of us with the bill and we thought great, because we didn't eat much food after that from the loss of appetite, and we figured at least we don't have to pay for it. When the bill came around they charged us for all the food and gave us free drinks... Whoop-di-doo...
(3)Brian B.
I have given this place a try twice and both times I have been completely disappointed. The chopped pork was dry which if its smoked properly it will be moist with a Smokey flavor you then add the sauce of your choice and the brisket was tough flavorless. The ribs were dry and almost no meat on them. I have some $ left on the gift card but i will probably let it go. With all the places to eat nearby try five guys or bar Louie across the street.
(2)Daniel S.
Good food, nice decor, clean with a friendly staff. They were overstaffed for the clientele, -- maybe 10 of us at 4 in the afternoon. What surprised me, was that it being "Black Friday" across the street from the overcrowded mall, they were so slow. The sit-down grill at the mall was super busy, and this place, easily a shorter walking distance from the grill than the actual fast-food court would have been, had you had simply walked outside, across the parking lot and the street, was practically dead. I guess I don't think like the sheeple though, so who knows. Anyways, the rib tips were good, and the sauces were each one unique, although the hot one wasn't hot enough for my tastes. I found the Georgia Mustard quite interesting, indeed. The food was hot, fresh and came fast enough. The TVs could have been bigger for a room the size were in. The bar didn't look very comfy to sit at as it was too close the row of tables behind it. You would have had to have been very careful getting out of your seat if you were a reasonably large size person not to sit in someone's lap behind you while they were eating (had it been busy in that room). All in all, a decent experience.
(4)J S.
Famous Daves has a hard earned reputation for quality, consistency and service. The food is excellent, the establishment is clean and fun, the menu is varied and the staff are darn good at what they do. Whenever I'm in Mishawaka I try to make a trip here, usually for their ribs or brisket. If you're disappointed in this place, I'll eat my napkin on my next visit (it'll already be covered in bbq sauce anyway)
(5)T H.
I went here with my husband and we ordered the feast for two. The brisket wasn't even enough for two and the meats were tough and cold. I wouldn't be shocked to hear that they use old meat. The service wasn't any better. If you want good barbeque and good service then I suggest that you go anywhere else but here. Waste of time and money. On a side note; The managers are quite rude.
(1)Jenna S.
Great BBQ and Famous Dave's never disappoints.
(4)Mable A.
I don't know how the owners can just ignore the same complaints on here. It's weird that they just don't care. This restaurant is NEVER busy. With reason. The staff is beyond unfriendly. Seems like a group of miserable people. And I can also say I noticed the loud unprofessional profanity and yelling from the kitchen. Pretty unappealing. Waitresses- attempt a smile. I'm sure your life isn't that terrible. Food is ok. It's the last resort when people don't want to drive so far to the real BBQ places in town. Sad because its a neat set up and always smells amazing inside.
(2)Roz H.
Great lunch! The corn muffins are To. Die. For!!! Ribs are perfect! Selection of BBQ sauces is representative of national styles. If you like vinegar sauces, they have one. If you like the brown sugar thick sauces they have those too. Be certain to ask your server why he/she is Famous!
(5)Thomas T.
This is what happens when you piss-off and disrespect your customers- your business FAILS!!! I hope the owners lost A LOT OF MONEY struggling to keep this wreck afloat. I heard from another restaurant manager in the area that the REAL reason this place shut down was THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARMENT SHUT THEM DOWN!!!
(1)L W.
They had multiple health code violations and finally shut the whole business down for good.... smh.. yuck!
(1)Penny C.
Don't go to this restraunt. They just received a $1400 fine for REPEATED critical health violations. I for one will not be beckoning their doors.
(1)Melody F.
It's alright. I found my ribs to be a bit tough, which isn't typically what one's looking for. The cornbread was good.
(3)Rachael G.
Really gross. The kitchen is dirty and there are flies and gnats in the dining area. They have had numerous run ins with the health inspector. There are better places for bbq in the area.
(1)Shannon M.
This is chain BBQ fare. That said, it was god for what it is. There's a choice of sauces (I mixed the Sweet & Zesty with the Rich & Sassy; as much as I like spice, the Devil's Spit was not for me), and an interesting array of sides (I picked the tasty grilled pineapple and the okay macaroni and cheese, which oddly had corn kernels mixed in?) My chopped pork was respectable, and my friend chowed down on his spare ribs without hesitation. Service was fine, atmosphere is loud. Come hungry, leave sticky.
(4)Michelle M.
Good margaritas, good service, and good BBQ. Not the best BBQ Ive had, but I got the brisket with corn, corn bread, and mashed potatoes. I also tried my husbands spicy baked beans and ribs. The ribs were not fall of the bone and I thought were covered in sauce- which normally I like sauce and appreciated the different sauces on the table, on the ribs it seemed like the sauce was hiding the ribs. I liked the sassy table sauce the best. We went with family and enjoyed the decorations, the atmosphere, and the company.
(4)Gideon O.
The main courses and desserts are very good here, but most of the sides are subpar. Service is very hit or miss, with it sometimes being excellent, usually subpar and occasionally terrible. Most of the time you can get seated quickly, but twice I've left after bizarre seating delays in a mostly empty dining room. Prices are fine, and you get a lot of food. Over all, it's great on a week night or for lunch on a weekend, but the service might not be great and go for "safe" side dishes like broccoli and fries. Brisket, ribs, rib tips (and the pickles/onions they come with), chicken, and sausage are all great. Not had any of the other main courses. Macaroni, broccoli, fries and mashed potatoes are acceptable and the cornbread muffins are good. The coleslaw and potato salad are absolutely terrible. Desserts are very high calorie, and choices are limited, but the bread pudding is always a winner.
(4)Ms. Sweetie P.
As a woman who was raised on good real BBQ I don't recommend famous Dave's at all! It's way tooooo comercialized. I grew up on real authentic BBQ my grandfather...... who's from the south would make, and Famous Dave's is fake BBQ. Just like when us Americans try to imitate Mexican food or Asian food. It's just not the same. So if your looking for some down home (authentic) BBQ don't go to famous Dave's. If you just wanna eat BBQ and don't really care where it comes from then Famous Dave's is the way to go.
(1)Bella D.
Went here tonight with my husband. No way in hell I am coming back. I was so disappointed with the food. We both ordered the $12.99 rib tip classic dish, which was delivered to us about 5-7 minutes later, which also gave me red flags. I really believe this meat was two days old and then microwaved (it wasn't even hot, just lukewarm). It had that stiff, microwaved texture. The cornbread muffin was good, though. This place has such potential, but they need to reinvent their ribs somehow.
(1)Angela A.
I love Famous Daves. I have not ever had a bad meal here. Food comes out hot and fast. I usually get the two meat combo/pork and chicken fingers. Request the roumalade sauce to dip the chicken fingers in, it is A M A Z I N G! Wilbur beans have a nice kick and the green beans are out of this world and spicy! They do not give half corn on the cobs anymore with your meal, so you have to pay for that now. That is the only bummer.
(4)Drew G.
Food is awesome. Sauce is AMAZING! Love the new menu choices. Minus one star because the service can be slow at times.
(4)Chris H.
The service was alittle slow, otherwise I would have given them 5 stars. But WOW, I really enjoyed the food here. Ordered the bbq chicken with green beans. The chicken was so tasty and moist. Others had pulled pork and ribs. We'll be back for sure!!!!
(4)Jean D.
My family and I go there frequently and usually have good food and service. This past Sunday was not as good as normal. The rib tips were tough and dry, and a few of them had almost no meat on them. The waitress was okay, but definitely not top notch. We ordered a desert for the table and she brought it before she cleared the table, so we had to help her clear our own dishes. It is usually much better than this. Maybe because it was Father's Day. We will go back and hopefully this is not a trend.
(2)