This is our second visit to this Texas style Bar.B.QUE restaurant in Falls Church . the first visit was great we loved the food Quality , well prepared and cooked just right , fresh produce and meats however the service was not up to standard service expected from a cooperate restaurant , the server lacked the proper training and steps of service were not followed , we did not raise any issues with manager who came by to ask how was our experience ... We simply said everything is ok . The second visit was terrible much worse than the first time ...they totally missed up and dropped the ball , we did not get the sauce for the fish or extra salad dressing , I did not get refill on my ice tea , no one came to check on us , I have to go to the host stand to ask for more tea and to get the check , it would've been nice if the MGR came and talked to us and offered to correct the mistakes , I don't know if I will come back to dine there or recommend this place to my friends ... If you don't mind a slow and poor service go there , you will love the food , it's simply great .
(2)
Todd H.
The food is usually pretty good, but the service is very slow. I've been eating at Famous Dave's for five or so years, it certainly seems like the portions have gotten smaller while the prices have gone up. A positive note: They usually kick butt when you hire them to cater an event.
(3)
Jon B.
I had originally refrained from posting this one year ago, but it seems things haven't changed much, so I'll post it now: Terrible service, terrible management, feels greasy, food is sub par. I love Famous Dave's, but will continue to drive to Oakton for my bbq...sadly I live within half a mile of this location. On one occasion almost every table was dirty, and somebody apologized because they had been very busy, and a lot of people had just left...strange that employees were standing around laughing, including what looked like the manager. I had to get up & ask that "manager" for a refill on my soda, at the bar. I hope management/franchise owner changes soon, and I hope the Famous Dave's Franchise reads these reviews.
(1)
Ryan Z.
In general, I like Famous Dave's, but this location is tremendously inconsistent. Sometimes the food and service are great, other times both are somewhat bad. The Route 1 location is a lot more consistent, in my experience.
(3)
Sunday M.
No they did not pay me to write this and I'm not from Virginia. I am from California and I've always liked Famous Dave's BBQ sauce. The Ribs are delicious and the service was great. Our server Meagan was very attentive to us and made sure we were taken care of. My favorite sauce is the Devil's Spit but she let us try the Wilbur's revenge. It is good and she warned us that it would be spicy. We should've listened to her but it was so good. I will definitely return whenever I visit again because of the food and great service.
(5)
Michael T.
To call the food mediocre would be a compliment. The BBQ sauce had more sugar than the ribs had meat. Mushy cornbread. Slow service even though the restaurant was almost empty. This was a mistake I will not repeat.
(1)
Carol F.
Food is decent. Service today was horrible. Very disappointing ! It took 10 minutes for someone to take my order and I was getting up to leave when they finally came? I guess late afternoon is not a good time to come here.
(3)
Robert H.
I was disappointed with my experience... The Men's restroom was so bad the health department would have shut down the restaurant. The service was ok, but when I reported the restroom issue they fixed the clog but left the fecal matter all over the seat and ground.... I exited when the hostess told me "we fixed the issue". "No you did not" What's wrong with this location????? I have to say I could have gotten better ribs from Tony Roma's..... My wife's fish was soggy and her mash potatoes were cold as well...... I have been going to famous Dave's for years and after this experience I will probably not return to this or any Famous Dave's location.
(1)
Cee D.
This used to be our got to spot for bbq. It was decent until about 4 months ago. We tried it again recently and it was even worse. The burnt ends were cubes of fat with minimal meat, the ribs were dry and chewy, the pulled pork was scraps oily greasy and dry (amazing they could get that combination of bad). I don't know what happened but it went way down hill.
(1)
Paulette B.
Our server took a long time. The food was good but took forever. We asked multiple times for silverware and the bill. We ended up asking a different server and he helped us.
(1)
Neida C.
For an appetizer I ordered the onion straws... They were salty and real oily didn't taste so good. Then, as an entree I ordered the chicken tender platter... The only thing good about it was the potato wedges and the corn on the cob I got. The chicken tenders felt over salted and i could only east half of one, it was that bad. My boyfriend bought a cheese Burger and let's just say he never finished it. Customer service was sad, the waitress left us or food not even asking if we needed anything (she just left) she didn't even notice we were out of drinks, we finally for another raspberry iced tea (after we finished our meals) and she only brought us one so we had to share it! Would not go back again and don't recommended anyone to waste their money like we did!
(1)
Lions R.
Service is horrible. Waited over 30 mins for a pickup that was supposed to be 15 - and then another 15 because they got the order wrong.
(1)
Some G.
I didn't think it was possible to screw up barbecue as badly as Famous Dave's does. As a chain restaurant, my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with, but the stuff they presented to us as "food" was just nasty. We ordered a combo platter and some "burnt ends". What we got was a pile of dog crap consisting of particleboard brisket, salt-lick chicken, and mediocre ribs accompanied by some gooey, ghastly cubes of mystery meat drenched in a sauce that tasted faintly of old fish. I'm not sure what Famous Dave's test kitchen staff are smoking, but it must be some good stuff if that's what they call edible!
(1)
Melanie R.
I visited Famous Dave's for lunch on a weekday with three friends. The restaurant had a handful of customers--not busy at all. It took a long time to be greeted by a server, for a server to bring our drinks, and to take our order (just four salads). Two of the orders were wrong and had to be sent back. In the meantime, we requested silverware twice, and when all the food was finally on the table, we waited 10 minutes for eating utensils. Don't visit unless you have 90 minutes for lunch or a good book.
(1)
Joel H.
Corporate picnic at Hains Point. They set you up properly with all the serving utensils. The group - by far - enjoyed the baby back ribs. Cornbread is excellent if you like it slightly on the cake side. I took them home in my back pack and they didn't crumble. The brisket and BBQ chicken were both lack luster compared to the taste of the ribs. The macaroni and cheese was runny and bland.
(5)
Andrew Y.
Famous Dave's BBQ! Womp womp! We had the nicest server ever.... Ask to sit at "P.J's" table, she's a lovely girl with a wonderful accent, and super-friendly! I am a visitor from the Midwest checking out this local joint. Saturday night, place was definitely not packed. There have been many reviews mentioning the bad service, and waiters tend to try to rush you out of the door... Perhaps because this was not a busy evening, my party had a much more pleasant experience. Ordered the Meal for 2, including rack of ribs, beef brisket, and chicken as the meats. Sides included fries, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw, and finally topped off with the cornbread muffins. Food was more than enough for a party of 3, although I'll admit none of us can inhale bucket loads of food. Their BBQ sauces were great, all having interesting flavors, ranging from sweet and tangy to spicy with habenero peppers. Our party's favorite was the Texas Pit BBQ sauce, a bit sweet and tangy, with a little bit of spice in it. Great on ribs and brisket! Cornbread muffins were awesome! Our server was so nice and brought us one's right out of the oven. Surprisingly, the sides were noticeably well done! Mash potatoes from scratch (opposed to flakes), corn on the cob was ACTUALLY cooked well (not overcooked and mushy like many places), and the creamy coleslaw was surprisingly delicious without going overboard! All in all, this place has won me over as an East Coast chain for ribs and other BBQ goodies!! I feel confident in recommending this eatery to others! Well done Famous Dave's -- "Yay! I'm a fan!" Hope that helps, have a great day Yelpers!
(4)
Roy S.
Service was terrible, food bland, brisket had no flavor, very little meat on ribs. Will not go back there, very disappointed.
(2)
Dave H.
Still coming once to twice a week for lunch. I like the new smaller plates and the updated table experience. They have a few paper towel holders that have USB charging ports built into them so handy to be able to recharge my iPhone during lunch. The lunch two meet combo is the perfect amount of food for me. Service and food meet my high standards on a regular basis. Always impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom and the fact they turn out the lights via motion sensor. The touchless water, soap, and towels consistently work well (can't say that for some other establishments).
(4)
Nya A.
You can never go wrong with BBQ. Family & group atmosphere. Service is great. A nice location. Reasonable price . We had shared an appetizer called cheesy burnt ends. Delicious!
(5)
Jeremy D.
I don't like this location. I have visited twice and had bad experiences both times. first time I went I placed to go order online and when I came to pick it up they "claimed" something was wrong with the machine and I had to wait another 35 minutes for my food. The second time I went for a Rib and meat combo and got a very small portion of food. 1 rib and a baby piece of chicken. They claimed that they are reducing their proportions but when I went to the Germantown location I got the portion of food I am used to when I order a rib and meat combo. The food is very lackluster here in comparison to other locations. If possible SKIP this location.
(1)
Mark O.
My family and I joined friends for dinner at Famous Dave's and the meal was OK but not great. My roasted chicken was excellent, just moist enough with a tangy flavor. However, the brisket was dry and came on fairly dry bread. I did like the corn on the cob, and they gave me two pieces which together were plenty for me. The cornbread was sweet and tasty. Overall, not a bad meal, but the brisket caused me to take away one star.
(3)
Antonio V.
I had full slab of the Memphis style ribs little on the salty side, but with there sweet and zesty sauce tasted great. Service was great, ribs took little long to come out. However I got what I ordered with the taste I wanted. I'll definitely come check this place out again when I'm in the mood for ribs
(4)
Randy M.
Really enjoy this place. If you sign up for the email club, you receive a free burger and some pretty good coupons after that. We've been numerous times for dine in and carry out and never had bad service.
(4)
Rebecca C.
Although we eat here at least every month, I am not a fan of the sides at all. When my family orders it, my husband is the only one that eats a variety of the meats and the sides. Myself, our 7 year old, and my brother only eat the ribs. I think the average person would like it, but this is not my idea of what BBQ should taste like. The ribs are not disappointing at all, but the rest of it, I can't bring myself to the same level of satisfaction like my husband.
(3)
Ashley P.
The food here is perfectly adequate. Everything tasted just fine, no more, no less. The atmosphere is fun, and the service is great, but for my money, if you want good BBQ in Falls Church, you're better off going to Red Hot & Blue, or even Bubba's.
(2)
Marshal M.
So we went on this Veterans day to get the ribs and the place had hardly anybody inside. Almost 45 min wait the waiter came out and said they are out of all pork! This obviously was a lie because the person that was not a vet got his order after me. That was a way to be cheep and detour me towards getting chicken. Don't let this place fool you they are cheep and do not support vets the way advertised just to pull you in. The waiter acted as if he didn't care with no further remarks after were out. I will not recommend this place due to the manager and waiter gave me a bold face lie!
(1)
John Z.
Terrible service and the food? Bring a barf bag. Really.
(1)
Steven W.
I caution all hungry customers to not eat the Wilbur Nachos. My friend and I went to this Famous Dave's location for a nice lunch and little did we know a few hours later we both had massive green poops. I don't know what they are doing back in the kitchen but its completely unacceptable. They must put green food die in the chili beans that they layer over these mediocre nachos. Other then the green shit..The food was great. AGAIN, STAY AWAY FROM WILBUR NACHOS or you will get giant green poops.
(2)
Karen H.
Service was slow server did not even greet us walked past a few times had to ask for a refill of tea not very good food either
(2)
C Q.
The recent visit was surprisingly well. The food was all delicious. The beef brisk was tender and juicy. It has enough fatty meat but not too much. The chicken had a good amount of the ribs. Some wings were still a little too salty, but it is not too bad. Our waiter was okay. He did his job well and checked on us multiple times during the meal, but he was not especially friendly. I am very glad we stopped by because we were too hungry to drive to the Oakton location. We will definitely come eat at this location again. Hopefully, the food would be just as good next time.
(4)
Shellie D.
This place gets a solid 3 stars. Good food, not great. Good prices. Good customer service. It's a chain, so you know what to expect. And the corn bread muffins are a great addition to the meal. We usually order the American Feast and dig in. It is worth it and comes with a great variety of dishes.
(3)
Tarik B.
Love their lunch sandwich specials. I get the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich with side for $5.99. I sit at the bar so the sandwich comes out in 5 min. Good for when you're on the run.
(4)
Chris F.
Famous Dave's is a chain restaurant that I have eaten at several times at several different locations in Northern Virginia. I checked out the one in Falls Church on a Friday afternoon for a quick happy hour at the bar. This is not really a bar, it is a restaurant / take out joint, but they do have a very very small bar that is more of a lunch counter than a traditional bar. Despite this being a small aspect of the business they do have some good beers on tap, a full bar, and my favorite, a Happy Hour. While I was there they Happy Hour (Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm) included $2.50 domestic drafts (bud lt, miller lt), $3.50 craft/import drafts (sierra nevada, Fat Tire, Bass, Sam Adams Seasonal, Blue Moon, Yuengling), $3 house wine, and $5 house margaritas. They also had some bar snacks on the specials menu including $3 onion straws, $4 Wings, Chili Cheese Fries, Chili Nachos, and $5 basket of rib tips & chips. The bar has just about 8 stools and is in a hallway, so there aren't any bar tables. This would be a good place to start a happy hour and fill up before heading out to other spots in the area that are more "bumpin". The food is good and the happy hour has good deals.
(3)
Eric M.
Food Awesome....service is not very good. Might try a different location. I have eaten here 3 times so far. First time was a home run! Started off with some burnt ends. Had Baby Back Ribs for main dish and then had fudge brownie for desert. Second time was not as good. Wairtess was not as good and food coming out of the kitchen was not that great. 3rd time the food was back up to par but waiter was not on top of his game at all and had to keep asking other staff walking by to send over the waiter for refills, desert order, and check. The food will have me coming back for a 4th time but if I see the same wait staff I might ask to sit in a different section. *** To Go Update*** After placing an order online and reading my order receipt, it told me to show up to the Resteraunt at 5:15 PM to pick up my order. I arrived and checked at the take out counter, it was not ready yet. I had a seat and waited for my order. Folks were coming after me and picking up their order before me. After 30 MINUTES of additional wait time (over an hour after the order was placed) it was ready. No explanation, no appology. I am never going to order carry out from them again.
(2)
Anna S.
You know those suburban barbecue places in strip malls, full of toddlers, with large portions, A-OK food, free soda refills, and well-meaning if glacial service? Chaotic atmosphere? Reasonable prices? Lots of sauce on the table? This is one of those places.
(3)
Jake K.
I'm not sure what's happened to Famous Dave's lately...or maybe it's just kinks with this new location. I won't go into ambiance or other crap like that as this is a chain restaurant, but will go directly into the food details. My riblets were overcooked and dry - no amount of barbecue sauce could moisten that up. Unfortunately I was so busy trying to eat while watching my son that I really didn't have time to have the server take it back so I just dealt with it. Also, the brisket/sausage sandwich had a ton of fat in it - I mean, whole chunks of fat that were chopped and inserted as if I liked eating cubes of cholesterol. I like to have meat in my sandwich, skip the lard. However, the sausage was very tasty so I'll give a star back for that. If I do go to FD's, I'll hit the one up in Vienna. I haven't had a bad meal yet from there. But the FC location needs some work and fast.
(2)
Gregory F.
We've been dining here almost once a month since the opening...it has been in the past, good to almost great. On our most recent visit (granted, two kids in tow in which no server likes to see) everything was terrible other then the team service brought cocktails and beers in relatively timely fashion...although it took 10 minutes for our initial greeting. The ribs used to fall off the bone...the wings used to be crisp but juicy... but these things are a thing of the past. Bad spare ribs, bad kids ribs, mildew tainted carrots, over done wings and slow to even slower service. We won't return...spend your 100 bucks plus elsewhere. Save to say the Oreo cookie wasn't stale, but was sealed in it's own wrapper... good looking out for the kids whom are footing the tab.
(1)
Lisa H.
3.5 stars. I had been craving BBQ for weeks. Stopped in and had a sampler that included the burnt ends. Everything was tasty. The collard greens were good. It came with a corn muffin but that was nothing special. Service was attentive. I think Famous Dave's serves a consistent product. I enjoyed it.
(3)
Lee F.
I've only eaten here one time, so take this review with a grain of salt. Everything was fine, but rather underwhelming. I've had much better barbeque. Chicken was rather dry. Service was lackluster. I feel I should give it another shot, but I also feel that would be throwing good money after bad.
(2)
Edward M.
I love ribs. Never eaten at Famous Dave's until tonight. Although the flavor of the baby back ribs was good, the meat was tough. I literally had to saw between the bones with a butter knife and when I tore the meat off the bone with my teeth, it made a tearing sound (Yep...TOUGH). For all of you rib goers, I'd like to know if this was an anomaly or typical for this restaurant. If it is typical, CEO...come on! Teach your cooks how to properly and slowly cook ribs. Invest in the equipment to do it right. The sides were EXTREMELY small. Each side is the amount of an ice cream scoop. The sides were expensive for the small serving. So, from my experience, this place has NOTHING over Texas Roadhouse...wish they'd move in.
(2)
Randy M.
Had a great dinner there. The food was real tasty. And service was good. All together a good experience and value. We'll be back!
(5)
Sant A.
Family favorite. Family feast. The new cheesy burnt ends are very hearty and hit the spot!
(4)
Stefannie T.
So it was my first time here, and oh lord oh lord was this place so so good to my taste buds! Not only did I love the ribs but I also love the sauces they got there. It isn't anything fancy but it sure someplace good to just pig the freaking out. Now this place can get a bit on the pricey side however it's so totally worth it. They have about 6 different types of sauces ranging from mild to super dying hot which I haven't tried yet. Anyways the ambiance is excellent for a group or family stuff if you just wanted to be here. I adore the decor they have with all the signs and stuff which makes it a nice experience. Note that this is only for table seating as I haven't been to the bar here yet, so this review is limited to that but out of what I experienced it was darn good, not to mention my waiter was pretty tentative so I liked that too. I say give this place a try its pretty good.
(5)
F. C.
After reading some of the other reviews here, I was kinda worried about going to this Famous Daves. The ommercials for the 'Burnt Ends" got the best of me and I HAD to do it. I am glad I did. The burnt ends were everything I hoped they'd be! This IS a BBQ chain so of course it's not the greatest BBQ ever. I used to always say Red, Hot & Blue was better but tonight's experience changed my mind. The food was fresh and delicious and I was served more than I could eat at once (and I am NOT shy with food). Our server (Todd) was very attentive and friendly. He checked on us often and had a smile on his face and a good attitude, which is extremely important to me. I had a good meal and an all round good experience here today & I look forward to going back.
(4)
Eric B.
Worst service ever and was waiting on my drinks till I was thirsty my tab was over price and a pice of shit save your time and money worst BBQ joint iv ever had and to top it off the food made me sick the next day recommend to no one worst experience ever ....
(1)
Aleksey C.
Meat was overcooked and dry. We wait for our order about 20 minutes, there was only 3 tables has been occupied. We ordered a cup of soup for the baby which was on a table at about 15 minutes later after our meals were finaly delivered! The waitress was annoying keep saying she was sorry and the soup was coming and i mean it - each couple of minutes! The high chair was full of crumbs! The hostess just looked at my wife and smiled! The end - never again will go back to that place.
(1)
Beth H.
Best BBQ in NOVA. Great service and a menu with a lot of variety. I like that they also provide 6 different kids of sauce. Wet naps and and a roll of paper towels tell you a lot about what you need to know. A lot of yummy sauce and meat and it can get messy eating it, especially because you don't want to stop. St. Louis ribs are to die for. I love that people don't seem to know this gem is here and that I can get in without a wait. And yes, sweet tea. Yum.
(5)
Caroline P.
I am sort of shocked at the people complaining about slow service, because every time I have been here, the server has been relentless at rushing us through a meal. I HATE it when servers do that. Asking to put things in a "to go" box before I've even had the plate in front of me for five minutes. I've never been and seen the restaurant super busy, so I don't get the point of rushing and it makes for a terribly unwelcoming experience. The BBQ is okay, but not great enough to make me want to come back often. This is a "we've eaten everywhere else and need a last ditch resort once a year" type of place.
(3)
Shaun D.
The service is fine, the food is meh... I don't get a BBQ place from MN. In the real BBQ world you don't hear the words "Good BBQ" and "MN" in the same sentence. I lived in Memphis for 7 years. There is probably no place better for BBQ. Dave's ain't Famous there. I ordered Baby Back Ribs tonight and they were dry and tough and expensive. The bbq beans were fine and the fries and corn muffin the best part of the meal.
(2)
Martin H.
For Thanksgiving this year, we decided to try the Famous Dave's Cherrywood Smoked Turkey (takeout) -- we also made our own turkey in case we didn't like the BBQ turkey. The Famous Dave's turkey was a hit with the entire family! Great BBQ smoke flavor throughout the meat. It was so good that we tried their Hickory Smoked Ham for Christmas. We also bought a Honey Baked Ham in case our guests didn't like a BBQ smoked ham and once again, the Famous Dave's Ham was the favorite (grandparents, kids, everyone liked it). The price for both items was reasonable as well for what you get. Highly recommended! I have been to this location several times when they first opened but the food quality was inconsistent so we haven't been back in a while. Sometimes the BBQ was great, but other times, it was dry and burnt (so this review is for our latest experience). The Turkey and Ham were so good, we are willing to trying dining at the restaurant another try.
(5)
Marjie C.
The baby back ribs were good, but not falling off the ribs good. My husband's burnt ends sandwich was not as good as other well known barbecue places - he would have only given two stars. The main reason for the lower rating was the EXTREMELY SLOW SERVICE we received from our server!! The table next to us was seated after us and just left We're STILL waiting for our check. Our luck to get the SLOWEST server in the place!!!!!
(3)
Peggi S.
I kept seeing the commericals for the Burnt Ends ....couldn't wait to try them if you love pork like me you know that is the best part...well they ere not what I expected. I went here in May 2013 on a Friday with my daughter, I gave it 4 stars because everything else was great, the waiter, and of course the drinks!
(4)
Krista V.
Good food. Not great. The quality of the meat is not consistent for some reason. One time we'll go and have amazing beef tips, and another night the same dish will be far less moist. We like the location, and the kid-friendliness. Service is just fine.
(3)
MamaBear B.
The food tasted great but 20 minutes later i got the shits.
(2)
Russell W.
For a food chain claiming to have established its reputation by winning BBQ cook-offs, this place is a total rib-off! I don't know where all the trophies that stand side by side near the entrance came from, but I'm pretty sure none was awarded for anything that came out of this location's kitchen! Ordered full slabs (mixed) to go, with garlic mashed potatoes and "firecracker" green beans with bacon. Also a bowl of chili. Well -- the ribs looked beautiful but were consistently on the dry side, tough, tight and chewy - no fall-off-the-bone flesh to be found anywhere. These gnawbones require way too much effort for so little mouth appeal - or deep-cooked flavor. How slowly are they cooked, really? Garlic mashed were just okay. Green beans were a disgrace - wrinkled little worms that had obviously been microwaved inside the same plastic cup they were delivered in. Yech! As for the chili, it had real tomato flavor and the appearance of meaty ingredients but was overwhelmed by too much chili heat. At home I added garlic powder, ground cumin and topped it with raw onions, cheddar cheese and sour cream - making it much more like what I expect from a southwestern chili. Staff are friendly but scripted - typical of a corporate-run enterprise where uniformity is the rule. Like the slick coating on those ribs, Dave's offerings impress the eyes, but - like those ribs, beans and chili - disappoint the eater. For the same price, RH&B offers ribs that are truly tender, while Backyard Barbecue has the meatiest ribs of all. Go find them both nearby!
(2)
Kathy N.
Ate at this location once and got food poisoning on the night of March 13, 2014. Definitely never eating at Famous Dave's again. Shame because it used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Also the food took a long time to come out which is unusal for this chain and there weren't even a lot of customers at the time.
(1)
Aaron D.
Enjoy this place very much. Always very courteous and food is fresh. Staff is fun and don't talk things too seriously. Refreshing to say the least. Recommend it for a casual day/night
(4)
Mandy W.
Worse service ever ... Bartender or w.e she was who brang my drink to the table dripped it all over the table and was soooo rude. Food was just as bad.
(1)
Doug W.
We've enjoyed several visits to the Oakton location, but this one just doesn't measure up. (A shame, since it's a lot closer to my house.) Brisket is downright good, and the sausage and pork get a solid "B". But the service - whooo. Their servers seem to spend more time chatting each other up than they do keeping an eye on their tables. And the one time I tried to phone in a carryout order: disaster. They're just not set up to sell you a pound of this, a half-pound of that, and a link of something else, and some buns and slaw to go with it. What you have to do is order a menu item, or a combination, which they put into giant plastic clamshells with black bottoms and clear (but foggy with condensation) tops. By the time you've driven a few blocks, it's cold and mushy. Somebody needs to teach Dave about butcher paper, paper bags, and cardboard french-fry sleeves. Three stars plus for the tasty barbecue - negative one for the abysmal service and the carry-out failz. Tip: If the line is long, there's a good Chipotle location just three doors down.
(2)
Keith S.
We have been here 3 times, and from eating at their other restaurants I know that the brisket is the best item on the menu (and better than I have had anywhere else.) The problem is that at this location, our brisket is not usually hot when we receive it. They usually fix it, but it is pretty annoying. This last time the manager said to ask for a manager when we order and tell them we want hot brisket. When we go back we will, but it seems like they ought to just serve it right to everyone without special instructions from the manager. The baked beans are great, and I don't normally like baked beans. The green beans are also very good, although they may be too spicy for some people. The potato salad is horrible. It is a watery sweet gross mixture that we will never order again. (By contrast Red Hot and Blue has the best potato salad). The variety of sauces is not very helpful as the only one we like is the sweet and sassy. 14 ounces of draft beer is $1 more expensive than a bottle of beer. The blues music is awesome...I just wish someone could throw a net over the obnoxious kids in the back...
(4)
Noel O.
While I think a lot of the other reviews here do hit the mark for this chain barbeque restaurant, I thought I'd add my own experience because it does show they're trying at some level. What used to be at this same location was a better than average pancake house, so when a friend and I met up here for some pancakes one weekend morning to discover a Famous Dave's was moving in, I was more than a little disappointed. Not to say the world doesn't need barbeque--I'm a lover of the craft--but chain restaurants aren't what I what I want to go to for real, slow cooked, fall off the bone meat product. Fast forward a few months: LivingSocial or Groupon has a deal for some chain barbeque restaurant that has a new location in Falls Church. Not looking at the details I assume it's for this Famous Dave's location. After ordering a lunch combo and a rack of ribs, the manager politely tells me that the Groupon I'm presenting to him is for their main competition. Oops! He's at least nice enough to hand me a coupon for my next visit, so at least they're trying to build a relationship with a new customer base. Now onto a description of the barbeque: The ribs came out looking good, and sufficiently gooped up with sauce. No complaints there, but then again, "real" barbeque to me is pulled pork in a vinegar base. Well here it's chopped pork (which I can live with), but done "Georgia style," which I guess means smoked and smeared in some sort of generic tomato-based sauce. Not very exciting. They at least do have a variety of sauces you can try--one being mustard based with the rest being tomato based--with varying levels of spice. Nothing too out of this world, as this place is definitely catering to the average Joe off the street. The sides were good enough, but you go to barbeque joint for meat! And while the meat here was fine, it's a chain restaurant. Pretty much what you'd expect.
(3)
Doug K.
Brisket is good, service was ok, waiter needs chapstick but overall I'm full n satisfied.
(4)
Michelle B.
The ribs had the usual Famous Dave's flavor, and the sides were good. I ordered a combo that included roasted chicken. I was disappointed because the chicken was bland. It was almost like they forgot to season it before cooking it. Other than that, I would definitely get the ribs again.
(3)
Blues Cool W.
I loved you once upon a time and remember fondly those early days when your bread pudding was all I wanted - needed - from you. Sadly, you changed & I've moved on. Maybe it was the lack of attention by a waiter or the cold platter that should have be warm -- warm to my heart & stomach. And, the bread pudding, too hot for the cooling touch of ice cream ( I scream OH NO) and whipped cream that flooded my plate, pooling like my tears. The salt in the sauce, swelling my ankles, a sad reminded the next morning of our last encounter. I still sing in praise of your corn bread, savoring the crumbs but alas, it can't make up for the other mistakes. I'll search for another and check on-line for the recipe to fulfill my desire. Take 8 eggs, beat....
(2)
Joseph G.
Friendly staff and reasonable prices. The BBQ tips and smoked hamburgers would convert a vegetarian!
(5)
Daniel B.
I love famous daves bbq. This one has a lot to offer that most restaurants in this area don't. A decent sized parking lot. Coming in for lunch the place is quiet, the food is timely, and everything tastes good, plus attentive and friendly staff makes this place great.
(5)
Eduard D.
Maybe, 50 years ago it was cool and tasty, but now the place is clearly outdated. I can convince myself to occasionally eat not very healthy food but at least it has to be tasty. At Dave's it was not. On the bright side they have a decent choice of spicy sauces that make you care about the texture of the food and availability of beer, but not the taste of what you're eating. Maybe it is worth going to once or twice, but after the excitement of a new experience is gone, there is very little to look forward to.
(2)
Honey B.
I got a catering order there this weekend/ Friendly staff, great price, awesome food. Everyone had a wonderful time at my party and left with a full belly. Would definitely order again. Thanks so much.
(5)
Harry R.
Arrived at five and the sitting was easy. Still working out a few kinks between the wait staff and the kitchen, but the server did her best and was pleasant throughout. The corn fritters received a boost with the addition of jalepeno, but tasted a bit too much like hush puppies to really break the fritter-barrier. Rib-tips were well seasoned but a bit on the dry side. The half-rack won rave reviews and the turkey burger (while a late arrival to the table) seemed to be well received. The sides were a mixed bag. The beans are loaded with pork and spice, and were quite good. The garlic mashed had been plated a bit too long and had the bad kind of "potato-skin" on the surface. Cole slaw was tasty, and the kahlua brownie dessert was huge and a hit. Definitely worth a return trip. Nice atmosphere with the TV's and comfortable seating. Kids menu has a number of choices, even though all they had to do was serve the Kraft Mac&Cheese for the little ones to go over the moon. Mgmt. took the initiative and sorted out confusion over a late entree with a generous move on the final bill.
(3)
Caroline K.
It was ok. Got there, we asked for a booth. They took us to seat us, and none were clean so they sat us at a tale while we waited for them to clear the booth. They should have just put us on a 5 minute wait to clear the table for us before they sat us. We sat at the booth, the waiter was friendly. The salad I ordered was really good and the onion strings we ordered were too, they both came out pretty fast. I ordered a burger, and that was good but there was a hair (one that definitely wasn't mine) on my pickles on the side of the tray it came out on. I also asked for cheddar cheese on my burger but the waiter messed that up and I got american. Not really a big deal though. I went to the women's restroom and there was toilet paper all over the place. Might wanna check that more often. It was my brothers birthday, so a sunday was brought out but no song or anything was sang, though I don't know if that's something they do at famous daves. Pretty good experience, but I've had better at other restaurants. Edit: I personally thought the ribs were a bit over priced. My salad as well. I don't remember the EXACT price of my salad but I remember it being much more than at most places.
(3)
Jessica B.
It's fine, but for BBQ, I think your best bet is to drive down to Rocklands in Arlington. They're BBQ is just much more authentic and tasty though there's not much seating there. For the price, it's definitely decent enough. The brisket is nice, but the ribs were not my favorite. The sides I had were tasty, cole slaw and potato salad. I'd probably go here again if other folks wanted to, but it's not my first choice.
(3)
Bill Y.
I've been to other Famous Daves and other BBQ joints and I can say this - if in the VA area and you're craving BBQ - skip this Famous Daves. The meat was tough. I ordered rib tips and the wife ordered pulled pork. Neither was moist or juicy - just over rubbed and shoe leather tough. The killer was that the rib tips came with a Southside BBQ sauce. I can't find any description for this sauce or what it should taste like but I can tell you this - the serving I got was the HOTTEST BBQ they had. There's a sauce on the table which is indicated in the menu as the hottest they have - that sauce tastes sweet when compared to the Southside. Long short - DO NOT USE THE SOUTHSIDE SAUCE UNLESS YOU DON'T WANT TO TASTE YOUR MEAL.
(2)
Rick S.
I was my BAD idea for my wife and I to take my sister-in-law and her husband to Famous Daves in Falls Church on the 4th of July, 2012. The GOODS: quickly seated, beer was cold, the beans were tasty, the server was very cute and, I think, embarrassed to be working at Famous Daves. The BADS: LONG time to get a server. LONGER time to get drinks (the server lost the order), out of pulled/chopped pork, the side orders were completely wrong, the rib tips were tough and burned. The server, who was a trainee, kept apologizing to several tables for taking so long, but none of the other staff helped her. Restaurant wasn't full but yet servers seemed to be rushing around all the time. In short, bad service and bad food. I didn't get through half of my meal as did my wife (we both had the rib tips). UGH - never again. Although the restaurant is relatively new, they've been open long enough to have overcome startup woes. Famous Daves should be Infamous Daves.
(1)
Alannah A.
The naked ribs are good. I usually just get a third of the ribs because it's a lot of food. The mac and cheese is also one of my favorites. Every time I've been here the service has always been good and fast.
(4)
E S.
Great food. Great service. Typical Famous Dave's yumminess. Little afraid because of some reviews. Even went on a Saturday night and service was on point.
(4)
shawn g.
I called to ask if there was a wait, since we were in a bit of a rush for lunch, and was told there was no wait on the phone. When we arrived about five minutes later, we were told there was a 15 minute wait for a table for two. As we headed out the door, another patron offered us her spot in line, and we were seated in less than a minute, with a high chair to accommodate the little one. The lunch combo is a great alternative to the full platters at a savings of about $5. The brisket was pretty good, although a bit wet, and the spicy sausage was larger that I expected (that's what she said). both arrived on toasted white bread. The Mac was better than the last one I had out in public, but a bit thick without being gooey. a tad too compact for my liking, but spiced well. Not sure if the floors were recently waxed, but watch your step, it gets real slippery if you're wearing dress shoes.
(3)
Catherine C.
You Rock! 'nuff said I think ... Though I will say this is the only location that offered me the bbq sauce tour so extra points. The Sassy BBQ Pork Salad was delicious as always and with that moist, sweet delight of a corn muffin ... music to my stomach!
(5)
MARIA G.
I'm not a big fan of chains, but my BF had a birthday bogo coop. I had the brisket platter with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. I love their cornbread muffins and everything else was descent. Our waitress was good too.
(2)
C W.
I admit that it's difficult to eat at a bbq place when I don't eat mammals. But I've had great chicken at other bbq places, so I was optimistic when going to Dave's. I feel like I gave it a fair shot, trying it on three different occasions, and getting three different entrees. Alas, they were all too salty, and quite yucky. I won't be trying again.
(2)
Sylvan F.
Cannot believe that this is the same restaurant as when they first opened. BBQ and brisket were mediocre at best and lacked any smokey flavor. REALLY overpriced for the amount/ quality of food. Servers not very attentive and were too busy texting and talking amongst themselves. Will nt return to this location
(1)
nikki t.
meh... gave this place two tries. once the food was horrible and ribs especially were dry and tough to eat :-( but thought i would give them another chance. So we went there the second time and the service just wasn't there. Server messed up our drinks and tried to convince us that it was the drink we ordered in the first place. later the main course was out even before appetizer and when we finally got the appetizers there were no plates to eat in. argh... atleast the food this time was decent. probably not go back there again.
(2)
Tom H.
A friend finally convinced me to go to Infamous Dave's on Broad Street. My disappointment actually surpassed my low expectations. The wait staff was disinterested with diners and the food they were serving, and the service was very slow even though the restaurant was fairly empty for a dinner service. I ordered the "award winning" ribs which were literally terrible. The meat was cold, the saucing congealed. My side order of beans obviously had not been put in the microwave long enough. If they had been hot, I would not have been as worried about the hair I found in them. I was sick later in the evening, but i am not sure if it was from the food or simply the disgust I felt about being talked into getting wretched food at terrible prices. There are many far better restaurants in Falls Church, so don't waste your time, money or appetite on the awful link in a crusted restaurant chain. If you must have BBQ, driving to North Carolina to get it would be a better value than dining here. Abysmal!
(1)
Mary G.
I had low expectations for a called-in, to go lunch today. Just because the best barbecue--any meat--I've ever consumed has been in North Carolina. In addition, this is a chain. But my expectations were exceeded. Beginning with the stop in front of the restaurant. There are designated parking spots for people picking up food to go and I easily snagged one of them. Upon entering the separate carry out section door a friendly young man greeted me. As he retrieved my bag of barbecue, I was ready to grab and go, but he said "let's see if everything you ordered is in here." He named the items, one by one, then said "your cole slaw is missing" and immediately retrieved a plastic bowl of slaw. His polite manner and customer service were much appreciated. I ordered a dinner for lunch, because I wanted to try two meats and both the cole slaw and baked beans. It was waaaay too much food for lunch, but a decent deal for $16. Here's my rundown on the food: --Rib tips - first time I've tried rib tips. They were probably cooked right for what they are, but I should have ordered the familiar baby back ribs. Enormous portion of rib tips. Guess I don't like this particular cut due to the high fat content. --Georgia chopped pork - perfect lunch portion served atop a slice of white bread. Fairly tasty. Wish I had more of this and less of the rib tips. --Cole slaw - fresh and pretty good. Small portion. --Baked beans - didn't really like them because Backyard Barbecue's version is so wonderful, with brisket pieces and other yummies in it. Again, small portion here, nothing wrong, just OK. --Corn bread - in the form of a muffin, but not sweet. Moist. --Barbecue sauce - both a spicy and sweeter version is available. Nothing special. --Pickle chips and marinated onions - an unexpected extra that would be great in a brisket sandwich. A little too intense to eat by itself.
(3)
Cheryl C.
Mixed reviews at out table. B had a flat draft beer followed by Texas beef that he described as tasting like processed meat from a can. Great sides though...crispy broccoli and tasty fries. My pulled pork platter was A plus. Tender and juicy. Cole slaw wasn't overwhelming sweet...just right amount of tang. Baked beans and cornbread muffins a big hit. Corn on the cob was soggy and overcooked. Best part of meal was the bread pudding. Save room for this custardy treat! Server seemed inexperienced but full of personality and checked in on us a lot.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch 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 : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pegah Y.
Decent and edible food and it certainly satisfied my random BBQ craving, but by no means amazing or somewhere I'd really want to order from again. We ordered take-out recently - my fiancé got a BBQ chicken sandwich, while I got the Texas BBQ brisket which came with two sides (I opted for coleslaw and potato salad) and cornbread. The brisket was pretty dry and the sides didn't taste very fresh, but they passed as edible. Bottom line: edible but not the best bbq. I'd recommend stopping by if you're really craving BBQ and are in the area.
(3)Yousef S.
This is our second visit to this Texas style Bar.B.QUE restaurant in Falls Church . the first visit was great we loved the food Quality , well prepared and cooked just right , fresh produce and meats however the service was not up to standard service expected from a cooperate restaurant , the server lacked the proper training and steps of service were not followed , we did not raise any issues with manager who came by to ask how was our experience ... We simply said everything is ok . The second visit was terrible much worse than the first time ...they totally missed up and dropped the ball , we did not get the sauce for the fish or extra salad dressing , I did not get refill on my ice tea , no one came to check on us , I have to go to the host stand to ask for more tea and to get the check , it would've been nice if the MGR came and talked to us and offered to correct the mistakes , I don't know if I will come back to dine there or recommend this place to my friends ... If you don't mind a slow and poor service go there , you will love the food , it's simply great .
(2)Todd H.
The food is usually pretty good, but the service is very slow. I've been eating at Famous Dave's for five or so years, it certainly seems like the portions have gotten smaller while the prices have gone up. A positive note: They usually kick butt when you hire them to cater an event.
(3)Jon B.
I had originally refrained from posting this one year ago, but it seems things haven't changed much, so I'll post it now: Terrible service, terrible management, feels greasy, food is sub par. I love Famous Dave's, but will continue to drive to Oakton for my bbq...sadly I live within half a mile of this location. On one occasion almost every table was dirty, and somebody apologized because they had been very busy, and a lot of people had just left...strange that employees were standing around laughing, including what looked like the manager. I had to get up & ask that "manager" for a refill on my soda, at the bar. I hope management/franchise owner changes soon, and I hope the Famous Dave's Franchise reads these reviews.
(1)Ryan Z.
In general, I like Famous Dave's, but this location is tremendously inconsistent. Sometimes the food and service are great, other times both are somewhat bad. The Route 1 location is a lot more consistent, in my experience.
(3)Sunday M.
No they did not pay me to write this and I'm not from Virginia. I am from California and I've always liked Famous Dave's BBQ sauce. The Ribs are delicious and the service was great. Our server Meagan was very attentive to us and made sure we were taken care of. My favorite sauce is the Devil's Spit but she let us try the Wilbur's revenge. It is good and she warned us that it would be spicy. We should've listened to her but it was so good. I will definitely return whenever I visit again because of the food and great service.
(5)Michael T.
To call the food mediocre would be a compliment. The BBQ sauce had more sugar than the ribs had meat. Mushy cornbread. Slow service even though the restaurant was almost empty. This was a mistake I will not repeat.
(1)Carol F.
Food is decent. Service today was horrible. Very disappointing ! It took 10 minutes for someone to take my order and I was getting up to leave when they finally came? I guess late afternoon is not a good time to come here.
(3)Robert H.
I was disappointed with my experience... The Men's restroom was so bad the health department would have shut down the restaurant. The service was ok, but when I reported the restroom issue they fixed the clog but left the fecal matter all over the seat and ground.... I exited when the hostess told me "we fixed the issue". "No you did not" What's wrong with this location????? I have to say I could have gotten better ribs from Tony Roma's..... My wife's fish was soggy and her mash potatoes were cold as well...... I have been going to famous Dave's for years and after this experience I will probably not return to this or any Famous Dave's location.
(1)Cee D.
This used to be our got to spot for bbq. It was decent until about 4 months ago. We tried it again recently and it was even worse. The burnt ends were cubes of fat with minimal meat, the ribs were dry and chewy, the pulled pork was scraps oily greasy and dry (amazing they could get that combination of bad). I don't know what happened but it went way down hill.
(1)Paulette B.
Our server took a long time. The food was good but took forever. We asked multiple times for silverware and the bill. We ended up asking a different server and he helped us.
(1)Neida C.
For an appetizer I ordered the onion straws... They were salty and real oily didn't taste so good. Then, as an entree I ordered the chicken tender platter... The only thing good about it was the potato wedges and the corn on the cob I got. The chicken tenders felt over salted and i could only east half of one, it was that bad. My boyfriend bought a cheese Burger and let's just say he never finished it. Customer service was sad, the waitress left us or food not even asking if we needed anything (she just left) she didn't even notice we were out of drinks, we finally for another raspberry iced tea (after we finished our meals) and she only brought us one so we had to share it! Would not go back again and don't recommended anyone to waste their money like we did!
(1)Lions R.
Service is horrible. Waited over 30 mins for a pickup that was supposed to be 15 - and then another 15 because they got the order wrong.
(1)Some G.
I didn't think it was possible to screw up barbecue as badly as Famous Dave's does. As a chain restaurant, my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with, but the stuff they presented to us as "food" was just nasty. We ordered a combo platter and some "burnt ends". What we got was a pile of dog crap consisting of particleboard brisket, salt-lick chicken, and mediocre ribs accompanied by some gooey, ghastly cubes of mystery meat drenched in a sauce that tasted faintly of old fish. I'm not sure what Famous Dave's test kitchen staff are smoking, but it must be some good stuff if that's what they call edible!
(1)Melanie R.
I visited Famous Dave's for lunch on a weekday with three friends. The restaurant had a handful of customers--not busy at all. It took a long time to be greeted by a server, for a server to bring our drinks, and to take our order (just four salads). Two of the orders were wrong and had to be sent back. In the meantime, we requested silverware twice, and when all the food was finally on the table, we waited 10 minutes for eating utensils. Don't visit unless you have 90 minutes for lunch or a good book.
(1)Joel H.
Corporate picnic at Hains Point. They set you up properly with all the serving utensils. The group - by far - enjoyed the baby back ribs. Cornbread is excellent if you like it slightly on the cake side. I took them home in my back pack and they didn't crumble. The brisket and BBQ chicken were both lack luster compared to the taste of the ribs. The macaroni and cheese was runny and bland.
(5)Andrew Y.
Famous Dave's BBQ! Womp womp! We had the nicest server ever.... Ask to sit at "P.J's" table, she's a lovely girl with a wonderful accent, and super-friendly! I am a visitor from the Midwest checking out this local joint. Saturday night, place was definitely not packed. There have been many reviews mentioning the bad service, and waiters tend to try to rush you out of the door... Perhaps because this was not a busy evening, my party had a much more pleasant experience. Ordered the Meal for 2, including rack of ribs, beef brisket, and chicken as the meats. Sides included fries, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw, and finally topped off with the cornbread muffins. Food was more than enough for a party of 3, although I'll admit none of us can inhale bucket loads of food. Their BBQ sauces were great, all having interesting flavors, ranging from sweet and tangy to spicy with habenero peppers. Our party's favorite was the Texas Pit BBQ sauce, a bit sweet and tangy, with a little bit of spice in it. Great on ribs and brisket! Cornbread muffins were awesome! Our server was so nice and brought us one's right out of the oven. Surprisingly, the sides were noticeably well done! Mash potatoes from scratch (opposed to flakes), corn on the cob was ACTUALLY cooked well (not overcooked and mushy like many places), and the creamy coleslaw was surprisingly delicious without going overboard! All in all, this place has won me over as an East Coast chain for ribs and other BBQ goodies!! I feel confident in recommending this eatery to others! Well done Famous Dave's -- "Yay! I'm a fan!" Hope that helps, have a great day Yelpers!
(4)Roy S.
Service was terrible, food bland, brisket had no flavor, very little meat on ribs. Will not go back there, very disappointed.
(2)Dave H.
Still coming once to twice a week for lunch. I like the new smaller plates and the updated table experience. They have a few paper towel holders that have USB charging ports built into them so handy to be able to recharge my iPhone during lunch. The lunch two meet combo is the perfect amount of food for me. Service and food meet my high standards on a regular basis. Always impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom and the fact they turn out the lights via motion sensor. The touchless water, soap, and towels consistently work well (can't say that for some other establishments).
(4)Nya A.
You can never go wrong with BBQ. Family & group atmosphere. Service is great. A nice location. Reasonable price . We had shared an appetizer called cheesy burnt ends. Delicious!
(5)Jeremy D.
I don't like this location. I have visited twice and had bad experiences both times. first time I went I placed to go order online and when I came to pick it up they "claimed" something was wrong with the machine and I had to wait another 35 minutes for my food. The second time I went for a Rib and meat combo and got a very small portion of food. 1 rib and a baby piece of chicken. They claimed that they are reducing their proportions but when I went to the Germantown location I got the portion of food I am used to when I order a rib and meat combo. The food is very lackluster here in comparison to other locations. If possible SKIP this location.
(1)Mark O.
My family and I joined friends for dinner at Famous Dave's and the meal was OK but not great. My roasted chicken was excellent, just moist enough with a tangy flavor. However, the brisket was dry and came on fairly dry bread. I did like the corn on the cob, and they gave me two pieces which together were plenty for me. The cornbread was sweet and tasty. Overall, not a bad meal, but the brisket caused me to take away one star.
(3)Antonio V.
I had full slab of the Memphis style ribs little on the salty side, but with there sweet and zesty sauce tasted great. Service was great, ribs took little long to come out. However I got what I ordered with the taste I wanted. I'll definitely come check this place out again when I'm in the mood for ribs
(4)Randy M.
Really enjoy this place. If you sign up for the email club, you receive a free burger and some pretty good coupons after that. We've been numerous times for dine in and carry out and never had bad service.
(4)Rebecca C.
Although we eat here at least every month, I am not a fan of the sides at all. When my family orders it, my husband is the only one that eats a variety of the meats and the sides. Myself, our 7 year old, and my brother only eat the ribs. I think the average person would like it, but this is not my idea of what BBQ should taste like. The ribs are not disappointing at all, but the rest of it, I can't bring myself to the same level of satisfaction like my husband.
(3)Ashley P.
The food here is perfectly adequate. Everything tasted just fine, no more, no less. The atmosphere is fun, and the service is great, but for my money, if you want good BBQ in Falls Church, you're better off going to Red Hot & Blue, or even Bubba's.
(2)Marshal M.
So we went on this Veterans day to get the ribs and the place had hardly anybody inside. Almost 45 min wait the waiter came out and said they are out of all pork! This obviously was a lie because the person that was not a vet got his order after me. That was a way to be cheep and detour me towards getting chicken. Don't let this place fool you they are cheep and do not support vets the way advertised just to pull you in. The waiter acted as if he didn't care with no further remarks after were out. I will not recommend this place due to the manager and waiter gave me a bold face lie!
(1)John Z.
Terrible service and the food? Bring a barf bag. Really.
(1)Steven W.
I caution all hungry customers to not eat the Wilbur Nachos. My friend and I went to this Famous Dave's location for a nice lunch and little did we know a few hours later we both had massive green poops. I don't know what they are doing back in the kitchen but its completely unacceptable. They must put green food die in the chili beans that they layer over these mediocre nachos. Other then the green shit..The food was great. AGAIN, STAY AWAY FROM WILBUR NACHOS or you will get giant green poops.
(2)Karen H.
Service was slow server did not even greet us walked past a few times had to ask for a refill of tea not very good food either
(2)C Q.
The recent visit was surprisingly well. The food was all delicious. The beef brisk was tender and juicy. It has enough fatty meat but not too much. The chicken had a good amount of the ribs. Some wings were still a little too salty, but it is not too bad. Our waiter was okay. He did his job well and checked on us multiple times during the meal, but he was not especially friendly. I am very glad we stopped by because we were too hungry to drive to the Oakton location. We will definitely come eat at this location again. Hopefully, the food would be just as good next time.
(4)Shellie D.
This place gets a solid 3 stars. Good food, not great. Good prices. Good customer service. It's a chain, so you know what to expect. And the corn bread muffins are a great addition to the meal. We usually order the American Feast and dig in. It is worth it and comes with a great variety of dishes.
(3)Tarik B.
Love their lunch sandwich specials. I get the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich with side for $5.99. I sit at the bar so the sandwich comes out in 5 min. Good for when you're on the run.
(4)Chris F.
Famous Dave's is a chain restaurant that I have eaten at several times at several different locations in Northern Virginia. I checked out the one in Falls Church on a Friday afternoon for a quick happy hour at the bar. This is not really a bar, it is a restaurant / take out joint, but they do have a very very small bar that is more of a lunch counter than a traditional bar. Despite this being a small aspect of the business they do have some good beers on tap, a full bar, and my favorite, a Happy Hour. While I was there they Happy Hour (Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm) included $2.50 domestic drafts (bud lt, miller lt), $3.50 craft/import drafts (sierra nevada, Fat Tire, Bass, Sam Adams Seasonal, Blue Moon, Yuengling), $3 house wine, and $5 house margaritas. They also had some bar snacks on the specials menu including $3 onion straws, $4 Wings, Chili Cheese Fries, Chili Nachos, and $5 basket of rib tips & chips. The bar has just about 8 stools and is in a hallway, so there aren't any bar tables. This would be a good place to start a happy hour and fill up before heading out to other spots in the area that are more "bumpin". The food is good and the happy hour has good deals.
(3)Eric M.
Food Awesome....service is not very good. Might try a different location. I have eaten here 3 times so far. First time was a home run! Started off with some burnt ends. Had Baby Back Ribs for main dish and then had fudge brownie for desert. Second time was not as good. Wairtess was not as good and food coming out of the kitchen was not that great. 3rd time the food was back up to par but waiter was not on top of his game at all and had to keep asking other staff walking by to send over the waiter for refills, desert order, and check. The food will have me coming back for a 4th time but if I see the same wait staff I might ask to sit in a different section. *** To Go Update*** After placing an order online and reading my order receipt, it told me to show up to the Resteraunt at 5:15 PM to pick up my order. I arrived and checked at the take out counter, it was not ready yet. I had a seat and waited for my order. Folks were coming after me and picking up their order before me. After 30 MINUTES of additional wait time (over an hour after the order was placed) it was ready. No explanation, no appology. I am never going to order carry out from them again.
(2)Anna S.
You know those suburban barbecue places in strip malls, full of toddlers, with large portions, A-OK food, free soda refills, and well-meaning if glacial service? Chaotic atmosphere? Reasonable prices? Lots of sauce on the table? This is one of those places.
(3)Jake K.
I'm not sure what's happened to Famous Dave's lately...or maybe it's just kinks with this new location. I won't go into ambiance or other crap like that as this is a chain restaurant, but will go directly into the food details. My riblets were overcooked and dry - no amount of barbecue sauce could moisten that up. Unfortunately I was so busy trying to eat while watching my son that I really didn't have time to have the server take it back so I just dealt with it. Also, the brisket/sausage sandwich had a ton of fat in it - I mean, whole chunks of fat that were chopped and inserted as if I liked eating cubes of cholesterol. I like to have meat in my sandwich, skip the lard. However, the sausage was very tasty so I'll give a star back for that. If I do go to FD's, I'll hit the one up in Vienna. I haven't had a bad meal yet from there. But the FC location needs some work and fast.
(2)Gregory F.
We've been dining here almost once a month since the opening...it has been in the past, good to almost great. On our most recent visit (granted, two kids in tow in which no server likes to see) everything was terrible other then the team service brought cocktails and beers in relatively timely fashion...although it took 10 minutes for our initial greeting. The ribs used to fall off the bone...the wings used to be crisp but juicy... but these things are a thing of the past. Bad spare ribs, bad kids ribs, mildew tainted carrots, over done wings and slow to even slower service. We won't return...spend your 100 bucks plus elsewhere. Save to say the Oreo cookie wasn't stale, but was sealed in it's own wrapper... good looking out for the kids whom are footing the tab.
(1)Lisa H.
3.5 stars. I had been craving BBQ for weeks. Stopped in and had a sampler that included the burnt ends. Everything was tasty. The collard greens were good. It came with a corn muffin but that was nothing special. Service was attentive. I think Famous Dave's serves a consistent product. I enjoyed it.
(3)Lee F.
I've only eaten here one time, so take this review with a grain of salt. Everything was fine, but rather underwhelming. I've had much better barbeque. Chicken was rather dry. Service was lackluster. I feel I should give it another shot, but I also feel that would be throwing good money after bad.
(2)Edward M.
I love ribs. Never eaten at Famous Dave's until tonight. Although the flavor of the baby back ribs was good, the meat was tough. I literally had to saw between the bones with a butter knife and when I tore the meat off the bone with my teeth, it made a tearing sound (Yep...TOUGH). For all of you rib goers, I'd like to know if this was an anomaly or typical for this restaurant. If it is typical, CEO...come on! Teach your cooks how to properly and slowly cook ribs. Invest in the equipment to do it right. The sides were EXTREMELY small. Each side is the amount of an ice cream scoop. The sides were expensive for the small serving. So, from my experience, this place has NOTHING over Texas Roadhouse...wish they'd move in.
(2)Randy M.
Had a great dinner there. The food was real tasty. And service was good. All together a good experience and value. We'll be back!
(5)Sant A.
Family favorite. Family feast. The new cheesy burnt ends are very hearty and hit the spot!
(4)Stefannie T.
So it was my first time here, and oh lord oh lord was this place so so good to my taste buds! Not only did I love the ribs but I also love the sauces they got there. It isn't anything fancy but it sure someplace good to just pig the freaking out. Now this place can get a bit on the pricey side however it's so totally worth it. They have about 6 different types of sauces ranging from mild to super dying hot which I haven't tried yet. Anyways the ambiance is excellent for a group or family stuff if you just wanted to be here. I adore the decor they have with all the signs and stuff which makes it a nice experience. Note that this is only for table seating as I haven't been to the bar here yet, so this review is limited to that but out of what I experienced it was darn good, not to mention my waiter was pretty tentative so I liked that too. I say give this place a try its pretty good.
(5)F. C.
After reading some of the other reviews here, I was kinda worried about going to this Famous Daves. The ommercials for the 'Burnt Ends" got the best of me and I HAD to do it. I am glad I did. The burnt ends were everything I hoped they'd be! This IS a BBQ chain so of course it's not the greatest BBQ ever. I used to always say Red, Hot & Blue was better but tonight's experience changed my mind. The food was fresh and delicious and I was served more than I could eat at once (and I am NOT shy with food). Our server (Todd) was very attentive and friendly. He checked on us often and had a smile on his face and a good attitude, which is extremely important to me. I had a good meal and an all round good experience here today & I look forward to going back.
(4)Eric B.
Worst service ever and was waiting on my drinks till I was thirsty my tab was over price and a pice of shit save your time and money worst BBQ joint iv ever had and to top it off the food made me sick the next day recommend to no one worst experience ever ....
(1)Aleksey C.
Meat was overcooked and dry. We wait for our order about 20 minutes, there was only 3 tables has been occupied. We ordered a cup of soup for the baby which was on a table at about 15 minutes later after our meals were finaly delivered! The waitress was annoying keep saying she was sorry and the soup was coming and i mean it - each couple of minutes! The high chair was full of crumbs! The hostess just looked at my wife and smiled! The end - never again will go back to that place.
(1)Beth H.
Best BBQ in NOVA. Great service and a menu with a lot of variety. I like that they also provide 6 different kids of sauce. Wet naps and and a roll of paper towels tell you a lot about what you need to know. A lot of yummy sauce and meat and it can get messy eating it, especially because you don't want to stop. St. Louis ribs are to die for. I love that people don't seem to know this gem is here and that I can get in without a wait. And yes, sweet tea. Yum.
(5)Caroline P.
I am sort of shocked at the people complaining about slow service, because every time I have been here, the server has been relentless at rushing us through a meal. I HATE it when servers do that. Asking to put things in a "to go" box before I've even had the plate in front of me for five minutes. I've never been and seen the restaurant super busy, so I don't get the point of rushing and it makes for a terribly unwelcoming experience. The BBQ is okay, but not great enough to make me want to come back often. This is a "we've eaten everywhere else and need a last ditch resort once a year" type of place.
(3)Shaun D.
The service is fine, the food is meh... I don't get a BBQ place from MN. In the real BBQ world you don't hear the words "Good BBQ" and "MN" in the same sentence. I lived in Memphis for 7 years. There is probably no place better for BBQ. Dave's ain't Famous there. I ordered Baby Back Ribs tonight and they were dry and tough and expensive. The bbq beans were fine and the fries and corn muffin the best part of the meal.
(2)Martin H.
For Thanksgiving this year, we decided to try the Famous Dave's Cherrywood Smoked Turkey (takeout) -- we also made our own turkey in case we didn't like the BBQ turkey. The Famous Dave's turkey was a hit with the entire family! Great BBQ smoke flavor throughout the meat. It was so good that we tried their Hickory Smoked Ham for Christmas. We also bought a Honey Baked Ham in case our guests didn't like a BBQ smoked ham and once again, the Famous Dave's Ham was the favorite (grandparents, kids, everyone liked it). The price for both items was reasonable as well for what you get. Highly recommended! I have been to this location several times when they first opened but the food quality was inconsistent so we haven't been back in a while. Sometimes the BBQ was great, but other times, it was dry and burnt (so this review is for our latest experience). The Turkey and Ham were so good, we are willing to trying dining at the restaurant another try.
(5)Marjie C.
The baby back ribs were good, but not falling off the ribs good. My husband's burnt ends sandwich was not as good as other well known barbecue places - he would have only given two stars. The main reason for the lower rating was the EXTREMELY SLOW SERVICE we received from our server!! The table next to us was seated after us and just left We're STILL waiting for our check. Our luck to get the SLOWEST server in the place!!!!!
(3)Peggi S.
I kept seeing the commericals for the Burnt Ends ....couldn't wait to try them if you love pork like me you know that is the best part...well they ere not what I expected. I went here in May 2013 on a Friday with my daughter, I gave it 4 stars because everything else was great, the waiter, and of course the drinks!
(4)Krista V.
Good food. Not great. The quality of the meat is not consistent for some reason. One time we'll go and have amazing beef tips, and another night the same dish will be far less moist. We like the location, and the kid-friendliness. Service is just fine.
(3)MamaBear B.
The food tasted great but 20 minutes later i got the shits.
(2)Russell W.
For a food chain claiming to have established its reputation by winning BBQ cook-offs, this place is a total rib-off! I don't know where all the trophies that stand side by side near the entrance came from, but I'm pretty sure none was awarded for anything that came out of this location's kitchen! Ordered full slabs (mixed) to go, with garlic mashed potatoes and "firecracker" green beans with bacon. Also a bowl of chili. Well -- the ribs looked beautiful but were consistently on the dry side, tough, tight and chewy - no fall-off-the-bone flesh to be found anywhere. These gnawbones require way too much effort for so little mouth appeal - or deep-cooked flavor. How slowly are they cooked, really? Garlic mashed were just okay. Green beans were a disgrace - wrinkled little worms that had obviously been microwaved inside the same plastic cup they were delivered in. Yech! As for the chili, it had real tomato flavor and the appearance of meaty ingredients but was overwhelmed by too much chili heat. At home I added garlic powder, ground cumin and topped it with raw onions, cheddar cheese and sour cream - making it much more like what I expect from a southwestern chili. Staff are friendly but scripted - typical of a corporate-run enterprise where uniformity is the rule. Like the slick coating on those ribs, Dave's offerings impress the eyes, but - like those ribs, beans and chili - disappoint the eater. For the same price, RH&B offers ribs that are truly tender, while Backyard Barbecue has the meatiest ribs of all. Go find them both nearby!
(2)Kathy N.
Ate at this location once and got food poisoning on the night of March 13, 2014. Definitely never eating at Famous Dave's again. Shame because it used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Also the food took a long time to come out which is unusal for this chain and there weren't even a lot of customers at the time.
(1)Aaron D.
Enjoy this place very much. Always very courteous and food is fresh. Staff is fun and don't talk things too seriously. Refreshing to say the least. Recommend it for a casual day/night
(4)Mandy W.
Worse service ever ... Bartender or w.e she was who brang my drink to the table dripped it all over the table and was soooo rude. Food was just as bad.
(1)Doug W.
We've enjoyed several visits to the Oakton location, but this one just doesn't measure up. (A shame, since it's a lot closer to my house.) Brisket is downright good, and the sausage and pork get a solid "B". But the service - whooo. Their servers seem to spend more time chatting each other up than they do keeping an eye on their tables. And the one time I tried to phone in a carryout order: disaster. They're just not set up to sell you a pound of this, a half-pound of that, and a link of something else, and some buns and slaw to go with it. What you have to do is order a menu item, or a combination, which they put into giant plastic clamshells with black bottoms and clear (but foggy with condensation) tops. By the time you've driven a few blocks, it's cold and mushy. Somebody needs to teach Dave about butcher paper, paper bags, and cardboard french-fry sleeves. Three stars plus for the tasty barbecue - negative one for the abysmal service and the carry-out failz. Tip: If the line is long, there's a good Chipotle location just three doors down.
(2)Keith S.
We have been here 3 times, and from eating at their other restaurants I know that the brisket is the best item on the menu (and better than I have had anywhere else.) The problem is that at this location, our brisket is not usually hot when we receive it. They usually fix it, but it is pretty annoying. This last time the manager said to ask for a manager when we order and tell them we want hot brisket. When we go back we will, but it seems like they ought to just serve it right to everyone without special instructions from the manager. The baked beans are great, and I don't normally like baked beans. The green beans are also very good, although they may be too spicy for some people. The potato salad is horrible. It is a watery sweet gross mixture that we will never order again. (By contrast Red Hot and Blue has the best potato salad). The variety of sauces is not very helpful as the only one we like is the sweet and sassy. 14 ounces of draft beer is $1 more expensive than a bottle of beer. The blues music is awesome...I just wish someone could throw a net over the obnoxious kids in the back...
(4)Noel O.
While I think a lot of the other reviews here do hit the mark for this chain barbeque restaurant, I thought I'd add my own experience because it does show they're trying at some level. What used to be at this same location was a better than average pancake house, so when a friend and I met up here for some pancakes one weekend morning to discover a Famous Dave's was moving in, I was more than a little disappointed. Not to say the world doesn't need barbeque--I'm a lover of the craft--but chain restaurants aren't what I what I want to go to for real, slow cooked, fall off the bone meat product. Fast forward a few months: LivingSocial or Groupon has a deal for some chain barbeque restaurant that has a new location in Falls Church. Not looking at the details I assume it's for this Famous Dave's location. After ordering a lunch combo and a rack of ribs, the manager politely tells me that the Groupon I'm presenting to him is for their main competition. Oops! He's at least nice enough to hand me a coupon for my next visit, so at least they're trying to build a relationship with a new customer base. Now onto a description of the barbeque: The ribs came out looking good, and sufficiently gooped up with sauce. No complaints there, but then again, "real" barbeque to me is pulled pork in a vinegar base. Well here it's chopped pork (which I can live with), but done "Georgia style," which I guess means smoked and smeared in some sort of generic tomato-based sauce. Not very exciting. They at least do have a variety of sauces you can try--one being mustard based with the rest being tomato based--with varying levels of spice. Nothing too out of this world, as this place is definitely catering to the average Joe off the street. The sides were good enough, but you go to barbeque joint for meat! And while the meat here was fine, it's a chain restaurant. Pretty much what you'd expect.
(3)Doug K.
Brisket is good, service was ok, waiter needs chapstick but overall I'm full n satisfied.
(4)Michelle B.
The ribs had the usual Famous Dave's flavor, and the sides were good. I ordered a combo that included roasted chicken. I was disappointed because the chicken was bland. It was almost like they forgot to season it before cooking it. Other than that, I would definitely get the ribs again.
(3)Blues Cool W.
I loved you once upon a time and remember fondly those early days when your bread pudding was all I wanted - needed - from you. Sadly, you changed & I've moved on. Maybe it was the lack of attention by a waiter or the cold platter that should have be warm -- warm to my heart & stomach. And, the bread pudding, too hot for the cooling touch of ice cream ( I scream OH NO) and whipped cream that flooded my plate, pooling like my tears. The salt in the sauce, swelling my ankles, a sad reminded the next morning of our last encounter. I still sing in praise of your corn bread, savoring the crumbs but alas, it can't make up for the other mistakes. I'll search for another and check on-line for the recipe to fulfill my desire. Take 8 eggs, beat....
(2)Joseph G.
Friendly staff and reasonable prices. The BBQ tips and smoked hamburgers would convert a vegetarian!
(5)Daniel B.
I love famous daves bbq. This one has a lot to offer that most restaurants in this area don't. A decent sized parking lot. Coming in for lunch the place is quiet, the food is timely, and everything tastes good, plus attentive and friendly staff makes this place great.
(5)Eduard D.
Maybe, 50 years ago it was cool and tasty, but now the place is clearly outdated. I can convince myself to occasionally eat not very healthy food but at least it has to be tasty. At Dave's it was not. On the bright side they have a decent choice of spicy sauces that make you care about the texture of the food and availability of beer, but not the taste of what you're eating. Maybe it is worth going to once or twice, but after the excitement of a new experience is gone, there is very little to look forward to.
(2)Honey B.
I got a catering order there this weekend/ Friendly staff, great price, awesome food. Everyone had a wonderful time at my party and left with a full belly. Would definitely order again. Thanks so much.
(5)Harry R.
Arrived at five and the sitting was easy. Still working out a few kinks between the wait staff and the kitchen, but the server did her best and was pleasant throughout. The corn fritters received a boost with the addition of jalepeno, but tasted a bit too much like hush puppies to really break the fritter-barrier. Rib-tips were well seasoned but a bit on the dry side. The half-rack won rave reviews and the turkey burger (while a late arrival to the table) seemed to be well received. The sides were a mixed bag. The beans are loaded with pork and spice, and were quite good. The garlic mashed had been plated a bit too long and had the bad kind of "potato-skin" on the surface. Cole slaw was tasty, and the kahlua brownie dessert was huge and a hit. Definitely worth a return trip. Nice atmosphere with the TV's and comfortable seating. Kids menu has a number of choices, even though all they had to do was serve the Kraft Mac&Cheese for the little ones to go over the moon. Mgmt. took the initiative and sorted out confusion over a late entree with a generous move on the final bill.
(3)Caroline K.
It was ok. Got there, we asked for a booth. They took us to seat us, and none were clean so they sat us at a tale while we waited for them to clear the booth. They should have just put us on a 5 minute wait to clear the table for us before they sat us. We sat at the booth, the waiter was friendly. The salad I ordered was really good and the onion strings we ordered were too, they both came out pretty fast. I ordered a burger, and that was good but there was a hair (one that definitely wasn't mine) on my pickles on the side of the tray it came out on. I also asked for cheddar cheese on my burger but the waiter messed that up and I got american. Not really a big deal though. I went to the women's restroom and there was toilet paper all over the place. Might wanna check that more often. It was my brothers birthday, so a sunday was brought out but no song or anything was sang, though I don't know if that's something they do at famous daves. Pretty good experience, but I've had better at other restaurants. Edit: I personally thought the ribs were a bit over priced. My salad as well. I don't remember the EXACT price of my salad but I remember it being much more than at most places.
(3)Jessica B.
It's fine, but for BBQ, I think your best bet is to drive down to Rocklands in Arlington. They're BBQ is just much more authentic and tasty though there's not much seating there. For the price, it's definitely decent enough. The brisket is nice, but the ribs were not my favorite. The sides I had were tasty, cole slaw and potato salad. I'd probably go here again if other folks wanted to, but it's not my first choice.
(3)Bill Y.
I've been to other Famous Daves and other BBQ joints and I can say this - if in the VA area and you're craving BBQ - skip this Famous Daves. The meat was tough. I ordered rib tips and the wife ordered pulled pork. Neither was moist or juicy - just over rubbed and shoe leather tough. The killer was that the rib tips came with a Southside BBQ sauce. I can't find any description for this sauce or what it should taste like but I can tell you this - the serving I got was the HOTTEST BBQ they had. There's a sauce on the table which is indicated in the menu as the hottest they have - that sauce tastes sweet when compared to the Southside. Long short - DO NOT USE THE SOUTHSIDE SAUCE UNLESS YOU DON'T WANT TO TASTE YOUR MEAL.
(2)Rick S.
I was my BAD idea for my wife and I to take my sister-in-law and her husband to Famous Daves in Falls Church on the 4th of July, 2012. The GOODS: quickly seated, beer was cold, the beans were tasty, the server was very cute and, I think, embarrassed to be working at Famous Daves. The BADS: LONG time to get a server. LONGER time to get drinks (the server lost the order), out of pulled/chopped pork, the side orders were completely wrong, the rib tips were tough and burned. The server, who was a trainee, kept apologizing to several tables for taking so long, but none of the other staff helped her. Restaurant wasn't full but yet servers seemed to be rushing around all the time. In short, bad service and bad food. I didn't get through half of my meal as did my wife (we both had the rib tips). UGH - never again. Although the restaurant is relatively new, they've been open long enough to have overcome startup woes. Famous Daves should be Infamous Daves.
(1)Alannah A.
The naked ribs are good. I usually just get a third of the ribs because it's a lot of food. The mac and cheese is also one of my favorites. Every time I've been here the service has always been good and fast.
(4)E S.
Great food. Great service. Typical Famous Dave's yumminess. Little afraid because of some reviews. Even went on a Saturday night and service was on point.
(4)shawn g.
I called to ask if there was a wait, since we were in a bit of a rush for lunch, and was told there was no wait on the phone. When we arrived about five minutes later, we were told there was a 15 minute wait for a table for two. As we headed out the door, another patron offered us her spot in line, and we were seated in less than a minute, with a high chair to accommodate the little one. The lunch combo is a great alternative to the full platters at a savings of about $5. The brisket was pretty good, although a bit wet, and the spicy sausage was larger that I expected (that's what she said). both arrived on toasted white bread. The Mac was better than the last one I had out in public, but a bit thick without being gooey. a tad too compact for my liking, but spiced well. Not sure if the floors were recently waxed, but watch your step, it gets real slippery if you're wearing dress shoes.
(3)Catherine C.
You Rock! 'nuff said I think ... Though I will say this is the only location that offered me the bbq sauce tour so extra points. The Sassy BBQ Pork Salad was delicious as always and with that moist, sweet delight of a corn muffin ... music to my stomach!
(5)MARIA G.
I'm not a big fan of chains, but my BF had a birthday bogo coop. I had the brisket platter with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. I love their cornbread muffins and everything else was descent. Our waitress was good too.
(2)C W.
I admit that it's difficult to eat at a bbq place when I don't eat mammals. But I've had great chicken at other bbq places, so I was optimistic when going to Dave's. I feel like I gave it a fair shot, trying it on three different occasions, and getting three different entrees. Alas, they were all too salty, and quite yucky. I won't be trying again.
(2)Sylvan F.
Cannot believe that this is the same restaurant as when they first opened. BBQ and brisket were mediocre at best and lacked any smokey flavor. REALLY overpriced for the amount/ quality of food. Servers not very attentive and were too busy texting and talking amongst themselves. Will nt return to this location
(1)nikki t.
meh... gave this place two tries. once the food was horrible and ribs especially were dry and tough to eat :-( but thought i would give them another chance. So we went there the second time and the service just wasn't there. Server messed up our drinks and tried to convince us that it was the drink we ordered in the first place. later the main course was out even before appetizer and when we finally got the appetizers there were no plates to eat in. argh... atleast the food this time was decent. probably not go back there again.
(2)Tom H.
A friend finally convinced me to go to Infamous Dave's on Broad Street. My disappointment actually surpassed my low expectations. The wait staff was disinterested with diners and the food they were serving, and the service was very slow even though the restaurant was fairly empty for a dinner service. I ordered the "award winning" ribs which were literally terrible. The meat was cold, the saucing congealed. My side order of beans obviously had not been put in the microwave long enough. If they had been hot, I would not have been as worried about the hair I found in them. I was sick later in the evening, but i am not sure if it was from the food or simply the disgust I felt about being talked into getting wretched food at terrible prices. There are many far better restaurants in Falls Church, so don't waste your time, money or appetite on the awful link in a crusted restaurant chain. If you must have BBQ, driving to North Carolina to get it would be a better value than dining here. Abysmal!
(1)Mary G.
I had low expectations for a called-in, to go lunch today. Just because the best barbecue--any meat--I've ever consumed has been in North Carolina. In addition, this is a chain. But my expectations were exceeded. Beginning with the stop in front of the restaurant. There are designated parking spots for people picking up food to go and I easily snagged one of them. Upon entering the separate carry out section door a friendly young man greeted me. As he retrieved my bag of barbecue, I was ready to grab and go, but he said "let's see if everything you ordered is in here." He named the items, one by one, then said "your cole slaw is missing" and immediately retrieved a plastic bowl of slaw. His polite manner and customer service were much appreciated. I ordered a dinner for lunch, because I wanted to try two meats and both the cole slaw and baked beans. It was waaaay too much food for lunch, but a decent deal for $16. Here's my rundown on the food: --Rib tips - first time I've tried rib tips. They were probably cooked right for what they are, but I should have ordered the familiar baby back ribs. Enormous portion of rib tips. Guess I don't like this particular cut due to the high fat content. --Georgia chopped pork - perfect lunch portion served atop a slice of white bread. Fairly tasty. Wish I had more of this and less of the rib tips. --Cole slaw - fresh and pretty good. Small portion. --Baked beans - didn't really like them because Backyard Barbecue's version is so wonderful, with brisket pieces and other yummies in it. Again, small portion here, nothing wrong, just OK. --Corn bread - in the form of a muffin, but not sweet. Moist. --Barbecue sauce - both a spicy and sweeter version is available. Nothing special. --Pickle chips and marinated onions - an unexpected extra that would be great in a brisket sandwich. A little too intense to eat by itself.
(3)Cheryl C.
Mixed reviews at out table. B had a flat draft beer followed by Texas beef that he described as tasting like processed meat from a can. Great sides though...crispy broccoli and tasty fries. My pulled pork platter was A plus. Tender and juicy. Cole slaw wasn't overwhelming sweet...just right amount of tang. Baked beans and cornbread muffins a big hit. Corn on the cob was soggy and overcooked. Best part of meal was the bread pudding. Save room for this custardy treat! Server seemed inexperienced but full of personality and checked in on us a lot.
(3)