This restaurant was very good. It is certainly the best restaurant barbecue that I have ever had. I came to Famous Dave's with my father because we had heard that it was a good restaurant. We shared the burnt ends and my father tried a bowl of chili. The burnt ends were very good, but my father said that the chili would have probably been better had they been thrown into it too. For the main course, I had a 1/2 rack of baby back ribs and the Texas brisket. This option came with two sides, and I chose to have the jalapeño mac and cheese and a helping of fries. I was unaware of the serving sizes, and even after having no breakfast, I barely made a dent in the massive meal that Dave himself had set in front of me. The reason that I could not give the restaurant a full five stars was because my father who had the entree sampler felt that it was not up to par with the rest of the food we had had at this outing.
(4)
Victoria S.
Went Saturday at 2pm and was so very satisfied that I had to share. The service was above and beyond. Our server was not only friendly but very attentive and noticed that my son and I had taken our lemons out of our waters. Our refills had no lemons afterwards without us saying anything. Our food was cooked and served within 10 minutes. Our large nachos were huge so all of us were able to eat some. She even gave us some BBQ packets to take home with our leftovers. Very happy
(5)
Joe S.
Loved this place. I haven't really had decent BBQ since I've been to Memphis and tasted what it should taste like. When you sit down, they give you a small basket of fries to try all of their sauces. We got the catfish appetizer which comes with a really good sauce for dipping. For dinner I got the big slab of ribs (its 25 bucks but it was two meals for me), which I couldn't even eat half of. My wife got the pulled pork and brisket combo and both were really good. You get two sides with each order, and I opted for the fries (couldn't get enough of them) and the beans. I loved the beans. My wife got the fries and the mac and cheese. They do a jalapeno mac and cheese and it is INCREDIBLE. I definitely recommend it. When you start trying all the different sauces on everything it really gets good. They also have a pretty decent drink menu. Overall it was great and I'll be back.
(5)
A. C.
(04/06/2013) Tried a Famous Dave's in Annapolis a very long time ago (several years). To my recollection, this time was consistently the same. Had a large catering order this time (BBQ chicken, roasted chicken, brisket, ribs). Appreciated the bottle of Devil's Spit BBQ Sauce (spicy, peppery, a little tingly but not numbing) they threw into the bag. The meat was well-seasoned, heavy on rub and red and black pepper, and tender, but not falling off the bone, some light smokiness. Mac & Cheese was oozy, creamy, cheesy with crunchy corn and a little kick from jalapenos. Can temper the heat with a very sweet, sticky, moist, large-crumb, corn muffin. Steamed broccoli is fresh, but, you know, it's just steamed broccoli (threw my portion into my Cheesy Mac & Cheese). Overall, OK for a chain (I wasn't paying, so wasn't my choice).
(3)
Rosemary O.
l went here for the first time tonight & it was meh. My server Tim in the Lounge was nice and attentive, but the food was middle of road, so the service was the saving grace. I got the KC spareribs and they were well done and the end was dry & inedible and a beer. Overall, it was underwhelming. And for the price, I would much rather have spent my $25 at one of the other local restaurants, its too bad I just happened to end up here tonight.
(2)
Arick S.
I always feel the same way at every Famous Dave's location. The food is quality but always comes off overpriced. It's hard not to compare it to Red, Hot, and Blue. In doing so RHB wins it every time. Dave's still has quality barbecue sauces on hand for any item you choose.
(3)
Vicktoria P.
Been to a lot of bque places and this place is by far the best overall. They have the best and largest variety of sauces. Recommend the trash lid, wont leave disappointed. Yes they have sweet tea. Coleslaw is outstanding and the beans are delicious. My favorite is the ribs. My husband likes the brisket. 5 stars well deserved
(5)
Larry P.
I really would rate it a 3.5, not on the choice list. The place was exactly what you would expect, a no frills place for dynamite ribs. The Louisiana style ribs were very good. The different sauces were a lot of fun to experiment with. Homemade chips were neat. But the big delight was our server, she was helpful, charming and attentive. Next time we feel like ribs, we will definitely return.
(3)
YourStomach S.
As a stomach, I have a hard time with BBQ. It's not the kind of hard time you're probably thinking, I'm not talking about a digestion problem, I'm talking about a craving problem. I have a hard time resisting the cravings I get for BBQ, and sometimes THAT can be a problem! So, tonight I had a craving for some ribs, so I called in a carry-out order, and drove down to get it. I went with the baby back ribs. They were good, but not great. It wasn't the flavor that was bad, actually, the flavor was sweet and slightly smoky... Really good! It was the fact that I typically expect bbq'd baby back ribs to come off the bone extremely easily. These ribs forced the mouth and teeth to do some extra work for this stomach. Again, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't what was expected. The ribs came with fries and jalapeño Mac n Cheese which was way better than it sounds. The corn bread muffin was perfect too! Overall, the FD carry-out experience was top notch. FD gets high marks for having a web-based ordering system as well. YourStomachSays: Go there now and make YOUR stomach happy!
(4)
Walter B.
Don't come here looking for anything healthy - it's BBQ and all the fixings. Service is uneven - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. The food is okay, just don't expect the pulled pork sandwich to taste like one you would get in NC because it doesn't.
(3)
Crit V.
For a chain has great bbq.
(4)
Bill M.
So yea, Famous Dave's is alright - in fact it is pretty darned good. We had been avoiding it because family members recommended it was terrible. But - it was summertime and we were craving BBQ and some refreshing summertime drinks and decided to give it a go...why not, right? We were pleasantly surprised! - I had burnt ends appetizer, which were just really good. I had a half slab of the St. Louis style ribs with mac and corn - the ribs were done perfectly, great smoky taste, meat was just tender enough with a delicious sauce on top. The mac is really good here too, it was a little mushy, but it had great flavor, very unique, with jalapeno peppers i think, the corn was not so hot, but fresh corn on the cob is tough to get good eating out. My girlfriend got the brisket - which was delicious tender and juicy! The smoke really permeates all of the meats we had, the sauces are rich and tangy - there is good Q here, they offer a variety of sauces, but what we had was so good we didn't need any extra sauces. We had a really enjoyable time here, lots of inventive drinks, casual atmosphere, and good barbeque - everything was solid and what you would expect from a good barbeque place, we will definitely be back the next time we are craving some sweet smoky meat.
(4)
Mike J.
Good bbq! Loved the burnt ends! Pulled pork was very good as well! The sauces were very good as well and the Devils Spit is probably one of my favorite I've tried anywhere! Reminds me of a hot mustard at a local pit in my small SE Missouri hometown. The fourth star was for the staff and service! Simply amazing, friendly, and fast! Keep up the good work! How staff should be everywhere!
(4)
Lisa G.
I love bbq and this place delivers. The Mac and cheese is very good. We normally order one of the meals to share. And there is never leftovers. I like that they have different sauces because everyone has there own taste in bbq. There cornbread is good as well. I'm sad that there is not a location in Pittsburgh.
(4)
Tanya C.
Ate here with my husband since I wanted a restaurant that has a lot of sauces. I had the pork sandwich which was very good. The sauces were also tasty and there was a large variety to try. I especially liked the spicy one. Service was also very good. Our server was very helpful and friendly. Overall a great experience!
(4)
Mark M.
My girlfriend and I like to change the places we eat at a lot. Tonight we stopped in at Famous Daves in Bel Air. We were seated right away (On a Saturday night) and we were lucky enough to be seated in Lane's area. His customer service was outstanding. He made us feel right at home and was it was a pleasure to have had a server who was this genuine. I highly recommend coming to this establishment hoping you have the same experience we did. And you should definitely ask for Lane to ensure you have a great time out!
(5)
John H.
The ribs are great ,what ever rub they use ,I would like some
(5)
Ji Y.
It's a hit or miss with this place. Some times you get the most amazing ribs and other days, the ribs are pretty dry. I do like their sides too. The mac and cheese has a nice kick to it! Yum. Also, there are a lot of bbq selection. I always get the feast combo that feed four to five people. There is a lot food on that big tray! With four people, we could never finish all the food. What I loved the most is that when we asked for to go boxes and some containers for the bbq sauce, the waitress said they give complementary bottles of the bbq sauce. I mean, a whole bottle was given to us to take home with our leftovers. That was awesome considering I love their sauces!
(4)
Scott H.
I know that a lot of the hardcore BBQ snobs hate on Famous Dave's like something fierce. I get it. It's a big chain. It's generic BBQ. It doesn't follow one specific regional style. It's the big box store equivalent of BBQ. It's kinda like how beer snobs hate on Sam Adams. But like Sam Adams, Famous Dave's grew from humble beginnings to improve on their craft and bring it to the masses. Famous Dave's may not be the absolute best BBQ in the world, but it certainly isn't the worst. Not even remotely close. I've been to this particular Famous Dave's about a half-dozen times or so now. Every visit has been consistent - prompt service, tasty BBQ. And they have one item that most BBQ joints - even the mom and pop shops - don't have. Burnt Ends. Those delicious twice-cooked point ends of a properly cooked beef brisket. Do yourself a favor and get some of these as an appetizer. So good. And it's not just the ends of their brisket that is tasty. The beef brisket here is always consistently flavorful with a decent smoke flavor. The pulled pork is good - it's more deep South style than NC style, and it's really tasty with their Georgia Mustard sauce. The sides here are also always consistently good, especially their spicy mac and cheese and redskin mashed potatoes. Notice that I've used "consistent" several times in my review. That's the upside of a well run large chain restaurant - consistency among the franchises. And consistency is a big issue with mom and pop BBQ joints - especially when it comes to sides, which tend to be slapped together with little thought while all the focus goes into the meat. At Famous Dave's, I always get a consistently tasty brisket AND delicious side dishes. I'm all for the BBQ enthusiasts/snobs seeking out the best style/cut/joint for BBQ, and forming their strong opinions on them. There's just no need to hate on Famous Dave's - they make consistent, authentic BBQ accessible to a greater audience. Just like Sam Adams does for the craft beer industry, Famous Dave's serve as an ambassador (of sorts) for the BBQ community.
(4)
Tom S.
Had a nice outdoor lunch today. It was sunny with a slight breeze and no one else outside seated. A nice escape when you want some privacy. The server was very attentive. Two of us chose from the lunch menu. I had the chopped salad, which came with a side order of cornbread. The salad was very good as well as the cornbread. Also had a beef sandwich with a side order of french fries. We ordered two drinks and an appetizer catfish with a remoulade sauce. The catfish was "okay " and the sauce had a lot of tarter sauce in it. It was a nice change for lunch and the service was good. All in all a lunch for two for $30.
(4)
Christopher T.
Deluxe BBQ Burger was excellent and the portions were just right. Service was terrible, hostess appeared to want to be doing anything but hosting and our phantom server was rarely seen. The bright spot about this location was the manager on duty was attentive and did most of our serving and therefore rescued a potentially disastrous meal.
(2)
Cindy C.
Not the same as when they opened. DH ordered the baby back ribs and I, the chicken tenders. His ribs were cold and tough as leather. My chicken was like warm and dry. We sent his ribs back and they were very apologetic. New ribs were hot, but still pretty tough. The muffins were hot and fresh from the oven, beans were great and the house made chips were tasty. The meat was a fail. The manager did take the ribs off of the bill and I never voiced my issue with the chicken. We had dined there a while ago, shortly after they opened and had the same style ribs and feel that standards have dropped. They used to be packed starting early on Friday evening. This friday evening, half of the tables were empty
(2)
Jason W.
My wife and I stopped into famous Dave's to eat,My burger was amazing! Her pulled pork wasn't as amazing but still a good meal. The Manager came to our table and checked in with us to make sure we were enjoying our selves, wait staff was good also. All and all great meal.
(4)
Adam B.
The other day, I had this HUGE appetite for some barbecue. Whether it was chicken, ribs, or just the plain sauce by itself, my craving for something barbecue was immense. As a result, I couldn't resist but to take a trip to my local barbecue joint, Famous Daves. And boy oh boy was I satisfied! Famous Daves is one of these restaurants that I truly can't get tired of. I have found myself gorging away at their smoked meats day in and day out (well mostly like twice or three times a month). The atmosphere is very casual and the decor is greatly influenced by pork. Now in terms of food, there is one thing that I always get, the Famous Dave's All-American Feast. Now let me tell you that this is nothing shy of a feast. You get delicious ribs, brisket, barbecue baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, french fries, corn on the cob, warm cornbread, and barbecue baked chicken, all of which is placed on like this huge trash can lid that cover's your entire table. I never have room for dessert so I can't really provide any comments about them, but I'm pretty sure they're good. In terms of service at Dave's, I must say that it's attentive when needed. What I mean by this is that the waiters and waitresses are very nice and helpful, but they do know how to give you your space, especially when you are devouring your feast. Also the food comes out really fast and is very fresh and hot. So overall, the service from once you are greeted until once you leave this restaurant is very good. So if you ever have a huge barbecue craving and are looking for great food at a very reasonable price, be sure to check out the nearest Famous Daves.
(5)
Jake H.
Went on a Saturday night, foods took forever to come out. I heard the waitresses apologizing for the slow service. Music is too quiet, babies screaming everywhere. Now for the food: decent barbeque, the Hawaiian Food is excellent. My girlfriend got the Huli Buli Rib and Chicken combo that was very tasty. My pork sandwich came out with very little barbeque sauce on it. They have 6 bottles of different barbeque sauces on each table. I only liked the Rich and Sassy flavor.
(3)
Cathy O.
We went to Famous Dave's because my husband loves ribs. He got pork ribs. They were dry and not particularly tasty. As for the sides: green beans were okay, but I can dump apples out of a can at home. Bottom line this is for the quantity not quality folks out there. If you like buffets, you might like the food here.
(2)
Glenn S.
went there for my 25th birthday and we got one of the sampler platters...it ended up being one of those dinners where you just keep eating even though your brain is telling you to stop. you know? i've been dying to go back just haven't had the time. BUT my birthday is coming up in 3 weeks ;) maybe i'll go back
(5)
Jeanie Z.
It was barely edible, that's about all I can say. We ran an errand in Bel Air, and decided to try to grab a bite while we were out. Famous Dave's was nearby, so we decided to try it. Should have known by the 'no wait' on a Saturday night! I have never had dry pork BBQ... until tonight! Even the safe chicken strips weren't good, the kids wouldn't eat them, they had a hard thick crust that had a hint of licorice. My husband was not impressed with the burger plate either. The sides were blah. The waitress only came back when we were ready for the check and did not ask why we didn't want doggie bags for all of our un-eaten food! When I wanted to tell her about our experience after we paid the bill (which was way too expensive), she whipped thru so fast as she said, "Have a good night.", there was no chance. Well, now we know... Never go back to a restaurant that never asks you how the food is... Famous Dave's.
(1)
Dave Y.
Ate here with the family on a Sunday afternoon. If you've been to anyone of the other Famous Dave's, you know exactly how it is. If not, it's a pretty standard barbeque place, just a franchise. Not much beef or chicken selection, but a ton of pork choices.
(4)
Brian B.
Tried them after months of seeing lines running outside. Midweek lunch break. Service was upbeat, accommodating and enthusiastic to explain their business to newbies. Food was good. Not mind blowing, not orgasmic but definitely satisfying. Their variety of sauces is a treat. We've purchased Devil Spit for our own home cooking.
(4)
elmer s.
No question it's the best place to eat in Bel Air. St Louis style ribs are my favorite but everything is really good. Always a good meal, haven't been let down yet. We have enjoyed Dave's since our first encounter at the marina at Cedar Point in 2005. There is no better combination than Dave's great ribs and the world's best amusement park. It's great that they opened in Bel Air last year.
(5)
Ron S.
Definitely the best BBQ spot in the area. Have always had good service, at times it has been slow but they also have a TON of tables so it is to be expected and the staff has always been very good about food taking extra time to come out. Their ribs are fantastic, and their sides are always fresh tasting and very flavorful. Have also tried pulled pork and brisket, also amazing. Overall just great BBQ. I like that they dont smother all their food in sauce and just let you choose if you want and how much sauce you want with their full selection of sauces in bottles on your table. Very good restaurant!!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Michael K.
This restaurant was very good. It is certainly the best restaurant barbecue that I have ever had. I came to Famous Dave's with my father because we had heard that it was a good restaurant. We shared the burnt ends and my father tried a bowl of chili. The burnt ends were very good, but my father said that the chili would have probably been better had they been thrown into it too. For the main course, I had a 1/2 rack of baby back ribs and the Texas brisket. This option came with two sides, and I chose to have the jalapeño mac and cheese and a helping of fries. I was unaware of the serving sizes, and even after having no breakfast, I barely made a dent in the massive meal that Dave himself had set in front of me. The reason that I could not give the restaurant a full five stars was because my father who had the entree sampler felt that it was not up to par with the rest of the food we had had at this outing.
(4)Victoria S.
Went Saturday at 2pm and was so very satisfied that I had to share. The service was above and beyond. Our server was not only friendly but very attentive and noticed that my son and I had taken our lemons out of our waters. Our refills had no lemons afterwards without us saying anything. Our food was cooked and served within 10 minutes. Our large nachos were huge so all of us were able to eat some. She even gave us some BBQ packets to take home with our leftovers. Very happy
(5)Joe S.
Loved this place. I haven't really had decent BBQ since I've been to Memphis and tasted what it should taste like. When you sit down, they give you a small basket of fries to try all of their sauces. We got the catfish appetizer which comes with a really good sauce for dipping. For dinner I got the big slab of ribs (its 25 bucks but it was two meals for me), which I couldn't even eat half of. My wife got the pulled pork and brisket combo and both were really good. You get two sides with each order, and I opted for the fries (couldn't get enough of them) and the beans. I loved the beans. My wife got the fries and the mac and cheese. They do a jalapeno mac and cheese and it is INCREDIBLE. I definitely recommend it. When you start trying all the different sauces on everything it really gets good. They also have a pretty decent drink menu. Overall it was great and I'll be back.
(5)A. C.
(04/06/2013) Tried a Famous Dave's in Annapolis a very long time ago (several years). To my recollection, this time was consistently the same. Had a large catering order this time (BBQ chicken, roasted chicken, brisket, ribs). Appreciated the bottle of Devil's Spit BBQ Sauce (spicy, peppery, a little tingly but not numbing) they threw into the bag. The meat was well-seasoned, heavy on rub and red and black pepper, and tender, but not falling off the bone, some light smokiness. Mac & Cheese was oozy, creamy, cheesy with crunchy corn and a little kick from jalapenos. Can temper the heat with a very sweet, sticky, moist, large-crumb, corn muffin. Steamed broccoli is fresh, but, you know, it's just steamed broccoli (threw my portion into my Cheesy Mac & Cheese). Overall, OK for a chain (I wasn't paying, so wasn't my choice).
(3)Rosemary O.
l went here for the first time tonight & it was meh. My server Tim in the Lounge was nice and attentive, but the food was middle of road, so the service was the saving grace. I got the KC spareribs and they were well done and the end was dry & inedible and a beer. Overall, it was underwhelming. And for the price, I would much rather have spent my $25 at one of the other local restaurants, its too bad I just happened to end up here tonight.
(2)Arick S.
I always feel the same way at every Famous Dave's location. The food is quality but always comes off overpriced. It's hard not to compare it to Red, Hot, and Blue. In doing so RHB wins it every time. Dave's still has quality barbecue sauces on hand for any item you choose.
(3)Vicktoria P.
Been to a lot of bque places and this place is by far the best overall. They have the best and largest variety of sauces. Recommend the trash lid, wont leave disappointed. Yes they have sweet tea. Coleslaw is outstanding and the beans are delicious. My favorite is the ribs. My husband likes the brisket. 5 stars well deserved
(5)Larry P.
I really would rate it a 3.5, not on the choice list. The place was exactly what you would expect, a no frills place for dynamite ribs. The Louisiana style ribs were very good. The different sauces were a lot of fun to experiment with. Homemade chips were neat. But the big delight was our server, she was helpful, charming and attentive. Next time we feel like ribs, we will definitely return.
(3)YourStomach S.
As a stomach, I have a hard time with BBQ. It's not the kind of hard time you're probably thinking, I'm not talking about a digestion problem, I'm talking about a craving problem. I have a hard time resisting the cravings I get for BBQ, and sometimes THAT can be a problem! So, tonight I had a craving for some ribs, so I called in a carry-out order, and drove down to get it. I went with the baby back ribs. They were good, but not great. It wasn't the flavor that was bad, actually, the flavor was sweet and slightly smoky... Really good! It was the fact that I typically expect bbq'd baby back ribs to come off the bone extremely easily. These ribs forced the mouth and teeth to do some extra work for this stomach. Again, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't what was expected. The ribs came with fries and jalapeño Mac n Cheese which was way better than it sounds. The corn bread muffin was perfect too! Overall, the FD carry-out experience was top notch. FD gets high marks for having a web-based ordering system as well. YourStomachSays: Go there now and make YOUR stomach happy!
(4)Walter B.
Don't come here looking for anything healthy - it's BBQ and all the fixings. Service is uneven - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. The food is okay, just don't expect the pulled pork sandwich to taste like one you would get in NC because it doesn't.
(3)Crit V.
For a chain has great bbq.
(4)Bill M.
So yea, Famous Dave's is alright - in fact it is pretty darned good. We had been avoiding it because family members recommended it was terrible. But - it was summertime and we were craving BBQ and some refreshing summertime drinks and decided to give it a go...why not, right? We were pleasantly surprised! - I had burnt ends appetizer, which were just really good. I had a half slab of the St. Louis style ribs with mac and corn - the ribs were done perfectly, great smoky taste, meat was just tender enough with a delicious sauce on top. The mac is really good here too, it was a little mushy, but it had great flavor, very unique, with jalapeno peppers i think, the corn was not so hot, but fresh corn on the cob is tough to get good eating out. My girlfriend got the brisket - which was delicious tender and juicy! The smoke really permeates all of the meats we had, the sauces are rich and tangy - there is good Q here, they offer a variety of sauces, but what we had was so good we didn't need any extra sauces. We had a really enjoyable time here, lots of inventive drinks, casual atmosphere, and good barbeque - everything was solid and what you would expect from a good barbeque place, we will definitely be back the next time we are craving some sweet smoky meat.
(4)Mike J.
Good bbq! Loved the burnt ends! Pulled pork was very good as well! The sauces were very good as well and the Devils Spit is probably one of my favorite I've tried anywhere! Reminds me of a hot mustard at a local pit in my small SE Missouri hometown. The fourth star was for the staff and service! Simply amazing, friendly, and fast! Keep up the good work! How staff should be everywhere!
(4)Lisa G.
I love bbq and this place delivers. The Mac and cheese is very good. We normally order one of the meals to share. And there is never leftovers. I like that they have different sauces because everyone has there own taste in bbq. There cornbread is good as well. I'm sad that there is not a location in Pittsburgh.
(4)Tanya C.
Ate here with my husband since I wanted a restaurant that has a lot of sauces. I had the pork sandwich which was very good. The sauces were also tasty and there was a large variety to try. I especially liked the spicy one. Service was also very good. Our server was very helpful and friendly. Overall a great experience!
(4)Mark M.
My girlfriend and I like to change the places we eat at a lot. Tonight we stopped in at Famous Daves in Bel Air. We were seated right away (On a Saturday night) and we were lucky enough to be seated in Lane's area. His customer service was outstanding. He made us feel right at home and was it was a pleasure to have had a server who was this genuine. I highly recommend coming to this establishment hoping you have the same experience we did. And you should definitely ask for Lane to ensure you have a great time out!
(5)John H.
The ribs are great ,what ever rub they use ,I would like some
(5)Ji Y.
It's a hit or miss with this place. Some times you get the most amazing ribs and other days, the ribs are pretty dry. I do like their sides too. The mac and cheese has a nice kick to it! Yum. Also, there are a lot of bbq selection. I always get the feast combo that feed four to five people. There is a lot food on that big tray! With four people, we could never finish all the food. What I loved the most is that when we asked for to go boxes and some containers for the bbq sauce, the waitress said they give complementary bottles of the bbq sauce. I mean, a whole bottle was given to us to take home with our leftovers. That was awesome considering I love their sauces!
(4)Scott H.
I know that a lot of the hardcore BBQ snobs hate on Famous Dave's like something fierce. I get it. It's a big chain. It's generic BBQ. It doesn't follow one specific regional style. It's the big box store equivalent of BBQ. It's kinda like how beer snobs hate on Sam Adams. But like Sam Adams, Famous Dave's grew from humble beginnings to improve on their craft and bring it to the masses. Famous Dave's may not be the absolute best BBQ in the world, but it certainly isn't the worst. Not even remotely close. I've been to this particular Famous Dave's about a half-dozen times or so now. Every visit has been consistent - prompt service, tasty BBQ. And they have one item that most BBQ joints - even the mom and pop shops - don't have. Burnt Ends. Those delicious twice-cooked point ends of a properly cooked beef brisket. Do yourself a favor and get some of these as an appetizer. So good. And it's not just the ends of their brisket that is tasty. The beef brisket here is always consistently flavorful with a decent smoke flavor. The pulled pork is good - it's more deep South style than NC style, and it's really tasty with their Georgia Mustard sauce. The sides here are also always consistently good, especially their spicy mac and cheese and redskin mashed potatoes. Notice that I've used "consistent" several times in my review. That's the upside of a well run large chain restaurant - consistency among the franchises. And consistency is a big issue with mom and pop BBQ joints - especially when it comes to sides, which tend to be slapped together with little thought while all the focus goes into the meat. At Famous Dave's, I always get a consistently tasty brisket AND delicious side dishes. I'm all for the BBQ enthusiasts/snobs seeking out the best style/cut/joint for BBQ, and forming their strong opinions on them. There's just no need to hate on Famous Dave's - they make consistent, authentic BBQ accessible to a greater audience. Just like Sam Adams does for the craft beer industry, Famous Dave's serve as an ambassador (of sorts) for the BBQ community.
(4)Tom S.
Had a nice outdoor lunch today. It was sunny with a slight breeze and no one else outside seated. A nice escape when you want some privacy. The server was very attentive. Two of us chose from the lunch menu. I had the chopped salad, which came with a side order of cornbread. The salad was very good as well as the cornbread. Also had a beef sandwich with a side order of french fries. We ordered two drinks and an appetizer catfish with a remoulade sauce. The catfish was "okay " and the sauce had a lot of tarter sauce in it. It was a nice change for lunch and the service was good. All in all a lunch for two for $30.
(4)Christopher T.
Deluxe BBQ Burger was excellent and the portions were just right. Service was terrible, hostess appeared to want to be doing anything but hosting and our phantom server was rarely seen. The bright spot about this location was the manager on duty was attentive and did most of our serving and therefore rescued a potentially disastrous meal.
(2)Cindy C.
Not the same as when they opened. DH ordered the baby back ribs and I, the chicken tenders. His ribs were cold and tough as leather. My chicken was like warm and dry. We sent his ribs back and they were very apologetic. New ribs were hot, but still pretty tough. The muffins were hot and fresh from the oven, beans were great and the house made chips were tasty. The meat was a fail. The manager did take the ribs off of the bill and I never voiced my issue with the chicken. We had dined there a while ago, shortly after they opened and had the same style ribs and feel that standards have dropped. They used to be packed starting early on Friday evening. This friday evening, half of the tables were empty
(2)Jason W.
My wife and I stopped into famous Dave's to eat,My burger was amazing! Her pulled pork wasn't as amazing but still a good meal. The Manager came to our table and checked in with us to make sure we were enjoying our selves, wait staff was good also. All and all great meal.
(4)Adam B.
The other day, I had this HUGE appetite for some barbecue. Whether it was chicken, ribs, or just the plain sauce by itself, my craving for something barbecue was immense. As a result, I couldn't resist but to take a trip to my local barbecue joint, Famous Daves. And boy oh boy was I satisfied! Famous Daves is one of these restaurants that I truly can't get tired of. I have found myself gorging away at their smoked meats day in and day out (well mostly like twice or three times a month). The atmosphere is very casual and the decor is greatly influenced by pork. Now in terms of food, there is one thing that I always get, the Famous Dave's All-American Feast. Now let me tell you that this is nothing shy of a feast. You get delicious ribs, brisket, barbecue baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, french fries, corn on the cob, warm cornbread, and barbecue baked chicken, all of which is placed on like this huge trash can lid that cover's your entire table. I never have room for dessert so I can't really provide any comments about them, but I'm pretty sure they're good. In terms of service at Dave's, I must say that it's attentive when needed. What I mean by this is that the waiters and waitresses are very nice and helpful, but they do know how to give you your space, especially when you are devouring your feast. Also the food comes out really fast and is very fresh and hot. So overall, the service from once you are greeted until once you leave this restaurant is very good. So if you ever have a huge barbecue craving and are looking for great food at a very reasonable price, be sure to check out the nearest Famous Daves.
(5)Jake H.
Went on a Saturday night, foods took forever to come out. I heard the waitresses apologizing for the slow service. Music is too quiet, babies screaming everywhere. Now for the food: decent barbeque, the Hawaiian Food is excellent. My girlfriend got the Huli Buli Rib and Chicken combo that was very tasty. My pork sandwich came out with very little barbeque sauce on it. They have 6 bottles of different barbeque sauces on each table. I only liked the Rich and Sassy flavor.
(3)Cathy O.
We went to Famous Dave's because my husband loves ribs. He got pork ribs. They were dry and not particularly tasty. As for the sides: green beans were okay, but I can dump apples out of a can at home. Bottom line this is for the quantity not quality folks out there. If you like buffets, you might like the food here.
(2)Glenn S.
went there for my 25th birthday and we got one of the sampler platters...it ended up being one of those dinners where you just keep eating even though your brain is telling you to stop. you know? i've been dying to go back just haven't had the time. BUT my birthday is coming up in 3 weeks ;) maybe i'll go back
(5)Jeanie Z.
It was barely edible, that's about all I can say. We ran an errand in Bel Air, and decided to try to grab a bite while we were out. Famous Dave's was nearby, so we decided to try it. Should have known by the 'no wait' on a Saturday night! I have never had dry pork BBQ... until tonight! Even the safe chicken strips weren't good, the kids wouldn't eat them, they had a hard thick crust that had a hint of licorice. My husband was not impressed with the burger plate either. The sides were blah. The waitress only came back when we were ready for the check and did not ask why we didn't want doggie bags for all of our un-eaten food! When I wanted to tell her about our experience after we paid the bill (which was way too expensive), she whipped thru so fast as she said, "Have a good night.", there was no chance. Well, now we know... Never go back to a restaurant that never asks you how the food is... Famous Dave's.
(1)Dave Y.
Ate here with the family on a Sunday afternoon. If you've been to anyone of the other Famous Dave's, you know exactly how it is. If not, it's a pretty standard barbeque place, just a franchise. Not much beef or chicken selection, but a ton of pork choices.
(4)Brian B.
Tried them after months of seeing lines running outside. Midweek lunch break. Service was upbeat, accommodating and enthusiastic to explain their business to newbies. Food was good. Not mind blowing, not orgasmic but definitely satisfying. Their variety of sauces is a treat. We've purchased Devil Spit for our own home cooking.
(4)elmer s.
No question it's the best place to eat in Bel Air. St Louis style ribs are my favorite but everything is really good. Always a good meal, haven't been let down yet. We have enjoyed Dave's since our first encounter at the marina at Cedar Point in 2005. There is no better combination than Dave's great ribs and the world's best amusement park. It's great that they opened in Bel Air last year.
(5)Ron S.
Definitely the best BBQ spot in the area. Have always had good service, at times it has been slow but they also have a TON of tables so it is to be expected and the staff has always been very good about food taking extra time to come out. Their ribs are fantastic, and their sides are always fresh tasting and very flavorful. Have also tried pulled pork and brisket, also amazing. Overall just great BBQ. I like that they dont smother all their food in sauce and just let you choose if you want and how much sauce you want with their full selection of sauces in bottles on your table. Very good restaurant!!
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