I have a bit of a moral problem saying that a chain restaurant is the best BBQ around, but dammit, this is some awesome BBQ. Best I've had since BBQ Pete's closed down. A buddy and I powered through the "Feast for Two" again last weekend, and left in a blissed out state of meat intoxication. Their BBQ just makes me all happy and stuff. Also, I'm currently trying to devise a plan to steal the Hamm's Beer "Scene-a-rama" sign that was hanging over our table in the bar. You know you want one, too.
(5)
John W.
LOve this place, Great food and menu. Fun interior and employees. If you like great BBQ (only better at Chris N' Pitts, but thtas another story if you ever heard of them?)
(4)
Kevin H.
I'm a huge fan of BBQ and was told by family and a couple of friends that I need to try this place. I was suspicious because it's a chain, and I've never eaten at a chain restaurant that had really good food. They're always just okay since they never have real, home made food. Well, Famous Dave's was a bit better than I expected, but not much. The atmosphere is fun and the portions are good sized, but I wasn't impressed by their BBQ. The meat was actually a bit dry (which slow cooked BBQ should NEVER be). The sides were just what you'd find at any other chain restaurant. Overall, not impressed and won't return if I'm the one paying the bill. I can do much better on my own grill in my own back yard. So, I guess the search goes on for a real BBQ restaurant in the south sound for those days that I don't feel like grilling.
(2)
DN S.
I am not much of a meat eater but I am madly in love with a carnivore! Sooo...he convinced me to go to Famous Daves cuz he was craving bbq. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The bbq sauces are all delicious. The Devils Spit being our fav. He very much enjoyed his brisket and ribs. I had a bbq chicken sandwich and took most of the meat off..but thats cuz Im wierd. But it was good. Portions good. The mac n cheese is too mushy for me. We would return,
(4)
Lars A.
I've eaten here 6 or 7 times and I can say there has been very good food on most visits, but then there are a couple of visits where I walked away puzzled by the poor quality of food - even for the same dish I normally order. Then there are those visits where the wait to get into the restaurant can be as long as 45 minutes, which puts a damper on the quality of the visit. However, when everything is running smoothly, the food here can be very good, the servers can be very personable and the atmosphere is energetic. As someone that travels throughout the Puget Sound region, Famous Dave's runs about 9th place in my book of BBQ joints, which is not to say that's bad. I rank F.D. 3rd place in a list of 6 BBQ joints in the Tacoma area.
(3)
Ty B.
I was out on a girls night for happy hour here. The bartender and my drink was wonderful but I can not say the same for the food. Our wings were so dry we had to smother them in bbq sauce and ranch. To top it off a gentleman came in the bar with a pet monkey!! The night manager did nothing nor said a word. In fact he told other workers who came out and took pictures with the monkey. The gentleman was allowed to sit and eat at a table with this animal. I asked for my bill and gave my concerns and left. I later sent the general manager my concerns via email. He in turn called and left me a voice mail but did not bother to compensate me for the food I could not finish due to an animal being near my food. I have told all my friends and family of this incident and suggested that a place that would allow an animal of this caliber to be in their establishment is not the type of place they should eat.
(1)
Dennis L.
The best meal I had while spending a week in Tacoma.
(4)
Cara T.
I have been here several times and although it is not the best food overall I will say that the salads are pretty good and the chicken wings are awesome! They have some nice deals at happy hour, 1/2 off wings and some other food items, and decent beer prices. Their mixed drinks aren't strong at all so we typically go and sit in the bar, order the 24 piece wings while the man drinks a beer and then take the leftover wings home (and stop off at the liquor store for me!!)
(4)
paul t.
Yes famous dave's! This is one of my favorite BBQ spot every time i visit tacoma. I love the ribs, briskets, georgia pull pork,bbq chicken, cup cake corn bread, bbq baked beans, 6 different type of sauces to choose from, & the never ending arnold palmer n southern sweet tea! I'm a BBQ finatic & this is a spot!!!!
(4)
Savy S.
I ordered the St. Louis Rib-N-Meat BBQ Combo with the mac side. Everything was good minus the corn. It tasted like it was frozen, thawed, and then recook. Very watered down.The raspberry ice tea wasn't much of an raspberry ice tea. It was like a regular ice tea with a small hint of raspberry. Service was good. Our waiter was friendly.
(4)
samantha k. s.
You know, this is my kids' #1 favorite place. Big, yummy food served quickly by friendly, well trained staff. You have to wait forever to get in, but they give you one of those little buzzer things and your kids happily trot off to the Sports Authority three doors down and play on the exercise equipment while you wait. Everything here is fine. The ribs are fine. The chicken is fine. All processed but in an inoffensive way. One funny thing - there is really almost nothing on the menu for vegetarians. Aside from the obligatory Caesar salad, and a couple of lame side dishes, you are on your own. Even the soggy green beans come porked up. Anyway, good beer. Tasty, fine food. Great post-game venue for the whole soccer/baseball/football/basketball ... team.
(3)
Mike P.
Was having a kind of a tough day on Wednesday, (my Friday) so decided to try out Famous Dave's because of all the good things I had heard about them. Hit there at my typically late lunch time but just in time for Happy Hour so chose to go into the lounge and check out the HH menu. Had some very tasty, meaty rib ends served in a basket over steak fries and covered in BBQ sauce accompanied by a golden beverage served in a frosty 22oz glass which shall remain nameless due to it being my lunch hour. Got out of there stuffed and mellowed for about $10 before tip, NOT BAD.
(4)
James W.
My daughter loves this place if she was rating it she would give 39 stars! - I wouldn't mind if it closed and someone opened another teriyaki restaurant. The service is so pathetic I almost got up and left, the place is always crowded but I seldom see the wait staff doing anything but messing up the orders and attempting to fix them over and over again until the patrons just accept what they decide your going to eat. The last time we were forced to go there we tried to keep it simple for the wait staff, I spoke slowly, pointed to the menu and even drew him a picture to assist but he and the cook still messed it up Three Times. My wife never even got her food; I had to send the food back only to wait 30 minutes to send it back again. I'm not sure why all the Yelpers are giving this place good marks I have been forced there seven times by my daughter all seven I left feeling insulted, ripped off and sick afterwards. Oh ya I forgot to mention the food is way overpriced for a party of two we dropped over $60 with only 1 beer each.
(1)
John C.
After a bad experience at The Lobster Shop in Tacoma we ended up at Famous Dave's BBQ. No waiting, excellent service from our waitress. Drinks and appetizers within five to ten minutes. Full slab of BBQ Ribs very deliciouso! Followed by a Sam Adams summer ale! And plenty of attention by our waitress Colleen.
(5)
Mac M.
Busy place, but good, fast and clean services. Never disappointed every time my family and I go here.
(5)
Linda S.
Huge portions! The mix drinks are weak. Food is good. Their pineapple bbq sauce is the best! Happy hour menu is okay.
(5)
Nikki F.
It took a while to get our drinks, but our food came fairly quickly and our waitress was very proficient at taking our orders. Everything was just as we ordered. I wasn't a fan of the catfish, but the beef brisket and ribs were flawless. I've never been a fan of pulled pork, but my son's was well cooked. The sauce variety at famous daves is awesome! Ask for a side of pineapple rage sauce if you like sweet and spicy!
(4)
Cyndi H.
Good food. Good service. Friendly young man took our order quickly.. Brought extra teas, napkins and silverware. We went for lunch and didn't have to wait for a table. They sat us down immediately. I love the decor in Famous Dave's. I could spend an hour just looking at all the cool stuff they have hanging on the walls. :)
(4)
Michael A.
The first time I came here it was pretty good. I would say 4 stars. This time was terrible. Took almost an hour and a half to get our food. Took me asking 3 times to get my beer and was all together a very bad experience. I will not be coming here again.
(1)
Sarawr O.
Decent BBQ, a bit spendy! We went out for bbq & found famous daves, it wasn't a bad find! Our server was friendly. The hostess told us '20 minutes at least' so we nearly left, but then our names were called in less than five. The potato salad was pretty good. My pork tips were very salty, so I needed big beer to wash it down & still couldn't finish - big portions, pretty big price tag.
(3)
C. Scott W.
Back to my favorite food; BBQ! I've eaten at all 3 Dave's in the south Puget Sound (Tukwila, Puyallup, and Tacoma. The Tacoma location is by far the best! Go there for lunch, even on Sundays and make sure you ask for the lunch menu. From there, order the onion strings (OS) for an appetizer (and only OS) and drop-kick the sauce they serve it with, it's horrible. All you need is a mixture of their BBQ sauces. (My kids like to add some ranch in with their BBQ sauce mixture for a kick.) After the OS arrive, PLACE YOUR ORDER! Do not place it at the same time as your OS, your food will come so quick, you won't have time to eat your OS. When you do order, get the 2 meat combo. Any combination will work. They are all good. I personally like the brisket and catfish. Wife likes the rib tips and kids like the BBQ chicken, ribs and sausage link. There is so much food, we usually share. For the side, ask for a loaded potato. Sometimes they charge a buck and sometimes they don't. About the BBQ sauces; mix, mix, mix! There is no rule that says you have to eat what sauces are in the bottles by themselves. Enjoy!
(5)
Holy C.
Ate here with a couple of friends for a late dinner around 6:45pm. The restaurant was busier than expected, so we sat in the bar area. Let's just say we sat down at 6:50 and didn't get our food until 7:45pm. :/ the waitress didn't ignore us though, she kept apologizing for the long wait and informed us that their cooks were short staff. I ordered the sweet water catfish with Mac n cheese and Wilbur beans. The catfish was delicious. A nice batter that wasn't too salty and had a nice crispy crunch with each bite. The side dishes were just okay, nothing too special. Not my first choice for BBQ food, but it wasn't bad. I don't blame the waitress for the long wait--stuff happens. I was starving though around 7:30pm.
(2)
Smaly K.
Went on a Saturday night, and the place was very busy. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. There were lots of people waiting. Everyone must love this place, but we didn't. Food wasn't too bad. The nachos were okay, and the burger I got wasn't too bad. But I did like the fried catfish.
(3)
Handsome G.
With respect to atmosphere, it's like having Dinner at Cabellas. Been here many times, The service is good to ok, just depends on which server Good BBQ. Nice variety of sauces. Plenty of paper towels. The trash can lid on the table is different. But it's Hill Billy BBQ. Good consistent BBQ!
(4)
Michelle M.
Awesome BBQ. The ribs are juicy. The corn is hot. The fries are crispy and soft. The pork is tender. Service is good and friendly. And the extra bonus is that it's messy as hell. Of course, BBQ is supposed to be messy. I love this freaking place so much!
(5)
Lisa P.
This is my favorite BBQ ever. I love the huge plates, the variety of sauces at your table. The waiter was fantastic. The beer leaves a little to be desired if you like a nice beer selection that is. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Maggie M.
We just moved to the area and had never been to this location. We were seated very fast, ordering was a breeze and we got our food within 5 minutes it seemed. Our waitress Colleen was sweet and very accommodating. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Tiffany D.
Amazing!!! Hostesses were extremely friendly and sat us right away and our waitress was amazing. We never had to ask for drink refills as she noticed we needed them before we did. The food was delicious. We had the pork nachos for an appetizer and the all American feast. We were very happy with our service and food there.
(5)
Norma A.
I was impressed! This place was awesome! Wasn't sure what to expect with the mixed reviews but I decided to head over yesterday and it was a great choice. We tried the happy hour items and we were impressed. The Rib Tips, the Wing Basket, the burger & fries plus a Brisket Dinner (Not happy hour item) and it was all very flavorful. I mostly enjoyed the quanity of food for the price. The happy hour items range from 3.99 to 4.99 so that was not bad. They also had a BBQ sauce for everyone, from sweet to spicy. The only weird things was the small amount of chips they bring, It is almost not even neccessary but we tried them and they were just Meh.Okay
(5)
Ian R.
I've never been to the Carolinas. Nor have I been Tennessee, or St. Louis. So what the hell do I know about barbeque.... Without regarding the factor of authenticity, Famous Dave's is not bad at all. The interior of the restaurant is supposed to make you feel like you are eating freshly smoked barbeque inside a woodsy cabin tucked deep in the woods. Hmmm, maybe that works for some people..... Now onto the food. The most notable being their ribs. They serve them dry, and leave you with 6 or so sauces at your table to douse the meat with. The ribs themselves are very meaty, so you're able to get a lot of protein in one rib. They're also pretty tender, considering they're not baby backs.. Another couple notable items are the chicken and their side dishes, like their jojo potatoes, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. Going back to those sauces - they vary based on spiciness, so you go from mild all the way to "Devil's Spit," which in my humblest of opinions, is still not too hot. Good set of sauces, though. I was leaning on 4 stars for this review, originally, but I've recalled several different incidents where the customer service just wasn't there. One vivid memory was when it took about 15 - 20 minutes of waiting to be served after seating, so I had to initiate the process by telling the manager about our situation. Even Red Robin has a metric to measure this, so Famous Dave's should take note. So Famous Dave's provides some tasty classics and give us naive NW folks a taste of what may (or may not) be some good ol' Southern BBQ.
(3)
Elvira S.
Wow, Rude!!! We were the last table of the night. We had to ask for our bill and get our own to go bag since they only brought us boxes. But to top it off. I am visiting from out of town, I go to the restroom before we leave and my family waits for me outside. I come out to our waitress and manager talking crap about my family. Yes, we had alot of kids with us but still not a reason to be rude and talk crap after customers leave. They had no idea, I was still there.
(1)
R S.
It has bee 30 years since we have had BBQ that is comparable to what we had when we lived in KC. This is now our go-to for BBQ; loved every bite of the ends, onion strings and ribs. The loaded baked potato was enough for a meal in itself. Chicken was also very good but didn't come close to the ribs and ends. Haven't tried the brisket yet but plan on doing so SOON! This is definitely Midwestern style BBQ but does give a nod to southern style with the Georgia sauce on the table but didn't have the North Carolina version of BBQ (which is fine with us since we also lived there for 13 years and didn't care for that version of BBQ). For dessert we tried the banana pudding...DELICIOUS!!! Haven't had any that good since Grandmother fixed it! We are now avid fans of Famous Dave's. Too bad that it is in Tacoma and we are in Olympia!! We first 'found' Dave's while we were vacationing in Portland and loved it so much there that we looked to see if one was close. It is really a treat for us.
(5)
Liliane E.
This location can be a bit hard to get to, and the parking lot is always an adventure. Our food was ok. The ribs could have been more tender. We opted for the broccoli side with our full rack of ribs. Disappointed when it arrived and we were given 4 broccoli stalks. We weren't given any butter with our cornbread, or offered any. The service was blah, we had trouble flagging down our waitress. And come to think of it. we weren't given or offered any wet naps for our fingers either. Boo. For a chain BBQ restaurant, this place isn't bad but there is definitely better out there.
(2)
Nicole F.
Never disappointed with the DELICIOUS food and good service from here. Being from the south, it's great to find good bbq. I believe our server's name was mike. He was great! My only issue is that the parking really sucks :(
(4)
Donny U.
Good food with good portions at good prices. The waitress was nice and friendly. Sweet restaurant. Will return.
(3)
Jessie L.
Waited for 15 minutes for our waitress to come back so that we could order a "tongue tingler" (happy hour appetizer) and by the time she came it was 6:02 (it ends at 6) and her manager said they couldn't do it. So stupid.
(3)
Earl O.
Came in for veterans day meal my daughter and son enjoyed the meal and service worth the wait
(4)
Frank F.
Ordered burnt ends, (which server commented "excellent choice"), but when food came, I got some kind of ribs (not close). Everyone else's was fine. Server said, sorry about that and ordered the burnt ends, and left me with the ribs. Good thing, as they brought the burnt ends, and there was about 12 of them on a piece of toast. They were very good, but a 13.99 meal should have more. A couple with us split a combo dinner, and they EACH got about same number of burnt ends. (There was also a 10.99 version, and thinking they were totally mixed up on what I ordered). Service was good. To sum it up, since I moved away from Kansas city, it has been difficult to find BBQ to rave about.
(3)
Bo H.
On the whole Famous Dave's is easily the best of the "family friendly" BBQ chain restaurants. And, IMO, their level of BBQ consistency is even better than many more critically acclaimed "legendary" joints. Still, some locations always seem to come up short. This review is solely reflective of my most recent experience at the Tacoma location and for take-out only. Be warned: this is an epic and tragic experience. Perhaps a singular poor showing, but one that absolutely must be chronicled. To begin with, a BBQ joint using an automated answering system to answer the phone is confusing at best and anachronistic at worst. Why would any restaurant seeking to create an "authentic" or "nostalgic" atmosphere on-site utilize a modernized computer system to answer the phone? It seems reasonable that every good BBQ should be able to craft a better than average burger. Likewise they should offer that better than average burger for take-out without sacrificing all the qualities that make said burger better than average in the 1st place. Ordering seemed efficient enough, once I was patched through to a human, though. The employee repeated my order back to me as I had ordered it. Yet, when I arrived there seemed to be some confusion regarding exactly what I wanted. But even that was settled quickly. When I returned home and opened the box I was shocked by both what I saw...and what I didn't. The 1st thing I noticed was the pitiful allowance of french fries. When I've ordered burgers in the restaurant I've always enjoyed a "mountain" of fries. Here I was doled out barely a handful. Next- the burger was unwrapped and open-faced. Open-faced is an appropriate presentation in the restaurant, but for take-home purposes you've got to keep the top bun on and wrap the sandwich. Too much moisture and heat can escape in mere minutes. Speaking of moisture- every bit would've helped. Grilled past both a desired "medium" and an acceptable "medium-well" this burger was over cooked in the weirdest way possible; charcoal around the edges and a chewy well-done in the center. Atop this disaster sat an opaque and brittle cheese that wasn't even close to being melted. Moving up- the bacon was filo-dough thin. It seemed to swirl in the air when I opened the box like a crispy, salty tissue paper. I couldn't tell if I was eating two rashers of pork or two hundred bacon crystals cultured in a lab. Underneath (and inexplicable along side as well) the bun was cold and un-toasted. Who doesn't toast a bun? When you don't toast the bun the moisture collects and results in a soggy and nearly inedible experience. Look, I know this review has been long. For me, too. Still, It's worth noting that I've used Famous Dave's take out for BBQ before and been totally satisfied. I've also eaten the burger inside and experienced a totally different meal. If nothing else Famous Dave's gets two more meals out of me as I attempt to determine of this is a fluke or a pattern. Updates to follow.
(2)
Alisse C.
Tried this place for the first time when I went to Washington. I love this place so much and I wish I could have it again. Soooo yummy!!!
(5)
Darren H.
Great place, love to hit it up when I'm in the area especially when it is happy hour time. Sadly one of my favorite servers left.
(4)
Delicia H.
This place stole money from me my bill came up to 40 I checked my credit card and it said 52 bucks I was rob didn't want to an get the girl fired they will catch her sooner then later I hope food good but service sucks damn thief's
(1)
Theresa M.
I am really, really hoping that my experience isnt the norm here. I'm pretty sure Ive heard good things from others, but I canNOT say I agree. We were trying to go to the Olive Garden on Valentines Day, but that was a no-go, since it was after work and EVERYBODY and their momma's were there for a romantic dinner. We resorted to Famous Dave's because we had our kids with us and waiting for over an hour outside (there was standing room only) was not gonna bode well. The wait was reasonable considering the holiday and were seated in a really fun booth with papertowels on a pipe-thingy and authentically "southern-ish" decor. The atmosphere was fine, until we got our food. My daughters mac and cheese was luke warm at best, my husbands sausage was the same. My salad was mediocre and I wasnt a fan of the drizzled bbq dressing all over my plate. But I may have enjoyed a different meal and just not their salads. Who knows. Anyways, the only one to not complain was our 5yr old, but you cant really go wrong with fries and chicken strips. The chicken in my shredded chicken salad was overdone in parts and almost as chewy as a piece of plastic. As I said earlier, Im hoping that the experience here was just marred by the overwhelming customers versus staff ratio and that the food is much better on normal days. Let me also mention that sometime in the middle of eating, a little girl was rushed to the restroom and minutes later two teens practically fell over themselves trying to get back to their table, stating that someone was throwing up everywhere in there. :( The other thing was that the food was super expensive! We spent $100 on 4 of us.
(2)
Hailey D.
We came here twice within a 2 week period. Both times we had great and fast service. The food was amazing, as always with Dave's. One of the nights it was my husband's birthday and our waiter Mike was awesome!! He was funny and very friendly. He even gave my grown adult husband his own free birthday treat. It was huge and delicious!! We all had to share it. Whenever we're in the area we'll be stopping by.
(5)
Justyne D.
Our waitress was awesome! The food was probably a 3.5 out of 5. It took about 20 minutes to get our food on a Wednesday night. They are pricey compared to real southern BBQ pits, but they offer a 10% military discount.
(4)
John C.
My wife and I stopped there for lunch today, we sat in the bar and a really nice young lady waited on us and gave excellent service. The food however reminded me of tasteless fast food , too much salt, and old grease, I felt I'll afterwards. The sweet tea was great though. I won't be going back for the food.
(1)
Kate N.
The food and the service was really great. The burnt ends are delicious and so tender. Didn't have to wait long. I would recommend a visit to famous Dave's
(4)
Judy N.
So so good! The service was wonderful!! The food fantastic. Best coleslaw ever. When I didnt like the corn ( to used to fresh ) the waitress brought me a different side. Rich had yhe beef brisket and I had the 1/3 rack of ribs, then we shared. Both were mouth watering.
(5)
Hillary S.
Love me some Famous Dave's! This has one of the worst parking situations! I hate this shopping center for that reason, you have to be super-vigilant or someone will hit you or you'll run over somebody. We usually sit in the bar area because we are childfree and like to avoid families with children. We have rarely had to wait for a table there. Service is always good and we've never had a problem with our food. The have THE BEST corn muffins! And I grew up in Alabama so I know what I'm talking about. I always have to get some to go.
(4)
Blossom K.
This place is definitely better than one in tukwila southcenter mall area. I've ordered full rack of ribs, beans and steamed broccoli as sides. 1. Ribs : $24.99 (NOV, 2013) it was better than we had at the same restaurant in tukwila. Had more smoky flavor to it. A bit too chewy and the surface of the ribs was all dried out as if it was cooked a day before and reheated to be served. 2. Beans and broccoli : beans were just normal beans nothing special, broccolis LOL hahaha I've received 1 and a half stems which were cut in half LOL it was so ridiculous when I saw it at first so I couldn't stop laughing. Don't order broccoli :D Not bad location. Service wasn't really good but not bad either. Waitress was very cheerful :)
(3)
Frank H.
This Famous Dave's is a good one at least during my visit. We went as a family at lunch, as it was too crowded on Saturday night. They seated us right away, and the food came out quickly. I will be back if I end up in this part of Washington again.
(4)
Michael M.
Great food. Crappy service. Yelp thinks I should write more. I think that's enough. They think it should be a tip, I think it says enough. And I'm glad that it is short, because they don't understand how bad the service can be.
(2)
Bsobla M.
This is a HORRIBLE place for lunch ! When I entered this place,: I'm immediately PATRONIZED by the confused wait staff . (Be aware: THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE YOU !!) There is no lunch menu. The lunch menu is like the dinner menu without an actual wait staff. So my lunch was presented as: COLD and DRY FRIES !! DRY mac-and cheese!! DRY briscut-stuff , NOT-LINK SAUSAGE THING as link-sausage. AND -- THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE YOU UNTIL YOU LEAVE !! If you live life, DO NOT EVER / NEVER go to this place for your lunch..
(1)
Daniel S.
I love Famous Dave's. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, it's hard not to love barbecue. The Tacoma location is great, except the parking can be a disaster at the wrong times. We usually try to have lunch on the weekends at about 2 so as to avoid the rush, and that seems to work great. Food comes out quickly and we've never had a mistaken order. Lunch prices are reasonable. Wait staff can be a bit overbearing about giving you a "tour" of the sauces, no matter how many times we tell them we've been there and know the flavors. I recommend getting the fries or beans with your meal, and my wife loves the mashed potatoes. Keep the muffin for your dessert!
(5)
T Rosa I.
I have been ordering from this Famous Dave's for over year now. I have never had such a rude person take my order over the phone before! I have had this same famous Dave's mix up my order before so I wanted to make sure she had my order correct since she kept saying the wrong thing! So, when I wanted to double check that she wasn't doubling my order she said so rudely...'I got it!'. Um, no apparently you didn't bc you kept saying double what I wanted to order! I asked why was she being so rude??! And she just gave a half assed apology. So, I asked to speak to the manager. When he got on the phone I told him what had happened and all he said was...'Ok? Are you going to place an order?'. I told him...'Um, are you freakin kidding me?!? NO, I'm not going to place an order after that! And that he needed to train his employees how to properly treat their customers and not be rude to them for no apparent reason! Well, now I see why the workers there are rude to their customers bc the manager doesn't give a crap how they treat us! I hope he gets fired bc clearly he doesn't know how to manage a restaurant sufficiently! Jerk!
(1)
Kristine W.
We come to Famous Dave's every once in awhile. Food, atmosphere and service are usually great. Today, the food was the usual level, delicious. Service? It was just terrible. Our server was hardly around. We'd see him head to the bar area and then walk back out. Clearly, there was a sports game on that was more important than taking care of us. Boo!
(1)
Brad S.
If you like good BBQ you'll like Dave's. This is the second location I've been to and both visits couldn't have been better. Friendly and helpful staff and great food. I don't get what the haters are hating on here. Ya, parking could be better.
(5)
Beth S.
It was New year's eve tonite and i came in to make a order to go. Im a new mother and a lil scattered brains when it comes to time. I got there a half hr before closing. The service was awesome, no one grunted at the frazzled woman walking in right before we close! The food and staff are always great! Wish the sides we a lil bit bigger for price tho.
(4)
Jeremy H.
Ultimate Burger... Awesome! Burnt Ends... Awesome! Sam Adams Cold Snap on tap... Sweet!
(4)
Neko G.
We got the onions strings and the feast for two. Prices are high but the food was okay. Server was nice.
(4)
Candace S.
I have been going to Famous Daves since the day it opened next door to my old job. It is always absolutely delicious. They have five different BBQ sauces to dip your food in. My personal favorite is the Devil's Spit, which is the most spicy one. I love their chicken wings in this sauce. Ribs are amazing!! Such good flavor and perfectly cooked. Their sides are all delicious and my absolute favorite part of the meal is the cornbread muffin, hands down the best cornbread I've ever tasted. My only complaint is that occassionally their rib tips are a little on the fatty side, but other than that I have nothing but good things to say.
(4)
Kat in the House s.
Hey... We stopped in for lunch and had an enjoyable meal. I had a employee of mine who is from outside the US in tow with me and he mentioned in the interview his favorite American food is "ribs". A quick spin on Yelp and this is where we landed. (I don't eat ribs and really was confused on how to chose a good place). My friend was in heaven with the chips that are brought to the table while you look at the menu - his second favorite food. A full rack of ribs later and the day got better for him. I chose the steak tacos- I know, I know it is a BBQ place- but I am not a smoke flavored meat kind of person- chalk it up to that scene in Fried Green Tomatoes (you know what I am talking about)! My dining companion wants to find housing in the shopping complex so he can be steps away from the place. I am not sure what the rent would be... I was confused about the review remarking that there was horrible parking- it is a strip shopping center with probably 600 spots... What was that reviewer driving that she couldn't find a spot- a commuter train?
(4)
Jim H.
I've come here numerous times and have never left a review. I'm always impressed with the service and the food. I would say they have the best ribs in the area by far. Corn muffins rock and I usually take half a dozen home with me. Wide range of sauces. By far my favorite place. Good value and portions.
(5)
Dan C.
I've always wanted to try Famous Daves, and today I finally got a chance to. A group of 6 went there for dinner. The interior was pretty nice, reminded me if a Coltons Steakhouse and a Bass Pro Shop mixed in together. It was clean, and I liked the picnic type feel to the restaurant. Instead of getting individual plates, we decided to go with the All-American BBQ Feast. Boy, was that a good idea. You get a full slab of ribs, a whole chicken 1/2 pound of brisket, famous fries, mac and cheese, dirty rice, corn on the cob, and corn bred muffins. You have the option of changing up the meats and sides and what not. The ribs were amazingly good. They were soft, not peel of the bone soft, but soft enough to where I didn't have to put much effort from getting the meat off the bone. The mac and cheese was phenomenal because it had some jalapenos in there. Bomb. The dirty rice was perfect too, the seasoning wasn't overwhelming. Oh almost forgot, it comes out on a garbage can lid. I thought that was pretty neat. Really I wasn't that hungry cause a few of us ate like 30 minutes earlier, but hey this place is a good spot for bbq. Also, there is a military discount, I believe its 10% so thats definitely appreciated. Our server was super kind and attentive. I would come back here anyday.
(4)
Blanca G.
Been here twice and have not been disappointed yet ! Left very satisfied both times . Definitely will be coming back
(5)
Harold B.
Good food. I love the corn bread. The ribs,and brisket was great. I like the bbq sauces are great you have to try them. The services was good. I would recommend the place to friends.
(4)
Julia W.
I haven't been to Famous Dave's in at least 5 years and had memories of the delicious BBQ salmon and the corn muffins they used to offer. So when it was my father-in-law's birthday, we suggested Famous Dave's to get something different (he usually goes for Red Robin). We showed up at noon and the place wasn't packed but it wasn't empty either. We had a booth in the rear of the restaurant which seated the 5 of us comfortably. The one big plus for them is that they offer Sweet Tea. Yeah baby! I hate going out and ordering iced tea and finding it to be unsweetened and having to spend time trying to get the perfect amount of sugar to make it not bitter ... only to have the waitress refill me halfway through and cause me to restart the sugar packets again. Small dings were for taking my BBQ salmon off the menu (Sad panda face). They replaced it with a 'citrus salmon' which just didn't seem as appealing and it didn't even come with the corn muffin. So I opted for an appetizer since I wasn't in the mood for ribs. I ordered the wings which was 12 in a basket. I really dislike when a place says they make 'wings' but they really make drums and then maybe 1 wing. At least have it be half wings and half drums. Our waitress was pretty good about keeping our teas refilled since they were freshly made each time. The drinks came out warm despite having so much ice in them due to how fresh they were. They also offer a 10% off military discount with ID (which we forgot to flash) but it is good to know since the meals weren't cheap. Gets busy on the weekends so definitely come early or be prepared to wait.
(3)
Shante H.
food quality has gone down. used to be much better. my brisket was so fatty. i barely ate any. it was a friday night and just barely anyone was there. famous dave, what happened???
(2)
Julie S.
I love the food at Famous Dave's. Specifically the Georgia chopped pork, the hot links, and oh my gosh, the corn muffins. Not to mention, the ribs, side dishes, and pretty much everything else on the menu is delicious. The burgers are okay, but with so many other choices, I would skip the burgers. Then, they have 5 different BBQ sauces to top it off. You can mix and match until your heart is content. To complete the meal, I always get the sweet tea. Perfect way to round out the meal. On the pricer side, but I've never left hungry or disappointed. It helps that my husband and I received about $100 gift card at one point, so we could go wild. Military discount available. My reasons for not giving it 5 stars are the parking, which is not really their fault because that whole shopping center is crazy, and the sticky tables. They are always sticky. And awkwardly placed next to poles and the other tables. We've occasionally had slower service, especially on busy nights.
(4)
Lawrence G.
My wife and I stopped in for a light dinner and our waiter Scott was awesome. He's got a natural knack for people and he's customer service skills are superb!! My wife and I wanted something good, small portioned but filling enough that we wouldn't need to buy multiple items. Scott thoroughly explained our options and we were 110% satisfied with not only our meal but our bill too!!
(5)
Lauren D.
I love Famous Dave's. This place has better barbeque than ANY place in San Francisco (where I live). Every time I come to the Seattle/Tacoma area I visit Famous Dave's so I can finally get some decent barbeque. Their new wings are also amazing...I LOVE the flavor of the buffalo wings they offer. I almost didn't order the buffalo flavor because it only had 2 chilis on their "hot-meter" and I like things spicier than that...but it was perfect. I love the Georgia Mustard (vinegar based sauce) that comes on the table. Usually you go to BBQ joints and they offer one sauce..if you don't like it..the whole place is a bust for you. This place offers you a bunch of choices and even brings chips out early so you can pick your sauce in advance. Great service, fun atmosphere, and a great place to take kids/groups, etc. Go during their lunch hours since their lunch specials are priced great and come with a ton of food. I'm a big fan of the chopped pork.
(5)
m m.
Food: ehh, average. The Sauce is good. The meat, not so much. The real rub. No drink list ? They don't have one. I asked what wines they offer. Our server's answer, "we carry Sutter Hill" ok? what type of Sutter Hill? Cab, cab, cab. "Pinot Noir?" I ask. "No, we have Pinot Grigio" Ok, scratch the wine. Ill try beer. The menu reads, "Ice Cold Beer." Great. "What ice cold beer do you have?" The waitress, frustrated - probably rightfully so by this point- asks, "what are you looking for?" I'm done: "Water" Here's a suggestion Dave; Don't put your customers at odds with your servers. How hard is it to provide a drink/wine list? Even 5-star, changing menu, restaurants have a beer/wine/cocktail list. If you serve average - at best - food, at least allow your customers to experience above average customer service. Unfortunately our family received below average service and marginal food. Henceforth, your 2-star - generous , really - review.
(2)
Ben D.
Went there about a week ago with a buddy. Ordered ribs and beef brisket. Both horrible. No flavor with the ribs unless you put BBQ sauce on it. Both meats tasted like it was cooked a couple of days ago, placed in a freezer and reheated. The service is much better however the food quality is overrated and overpriced. Recommend spending your money elsewhere.
(2)
Dean F.
Ordered 2 dinners to go, it came with no sides and no corn bread,( advertises 1 corn bread and 2 sides with each dinner). Called the manager to fix the problem. He promises everything I should get and a little more when I return to the restaurant again. When I return, the manager said he remembered me and he gave me 2 sides and nothing else. Such a rip-off and disappointment.
(1)
Argent F.
I was pleasantly surprised at how great it was. We were seated right away. Drinks were at the table within 3 minutes. An unexpected bowl of chips were hot and fresh and the waiter was on top of the drinks. Our drinks never went below half full. Very well done.
(5)
Naneki t.
Very disappointment for veterans on their day. Went to this restaurant Nov. 11th to celebrate with family hoping that Dave's might just be offering one of their famous choices....YIKES!!!Great disappointment with the menu. It wasn't what was listed on the posted menu Pasco had online.... it wasn't a pork sandwich, meaning meat in-between two slices of a bun, bread, or roll... it was an opened faced sandwich topped with what looked about 1/2 cup of pork with a side of beans. No free drinks here folks.Better off going to DQ for $5 bacon burger, fries, & medium drink + free small ice cream sundae. I ordered an appetizer to take home I did not know whether to laugh or cry. Would rather watch the Kardashian or TMZ. The burnt ends are suppose to be the best part to eat. Instead it was slices of beef chopped up in squares and thinner than the keys on a lap top. I finally snap to and escaped to Texas Roadhouse. That is where I will be going for now on veterans day.
(1)
John P.
Join the PIG CLUB! I have gotten some great deals! 2 for 25, coupons, free apps... its a great loyalty program that pays off to join it! Great BBQ too!
(4)
Jonah N.
2nd time here. Great service both times. Friendly atmosphere and outstanding wait staff. Food was wonderful and more than even my stomach can handle. Will surely be back. P.s. ribs are awesome!
(5)
Mertani G.
BBQ here is good! They give the option of ordering family sized platters too! Good place to eat for a huge group of people. Cornbread=yummy!
(3)
Sue N.
Impressed with the wait staff and the manager even asked us if everything was satisfactory. The food was very good and the price was reasonable. The atmosphere was fun and interesting. I definitely recommend it!
(5)
Jason C.
Great brisket, nice and smoky, tender and moist. Had the mac and cheese plus jalapenos which was good too. I love their sweet cornbread. Solid chain bbq place.
(4)
Becky N.
This is one of the better BBQ places in the Tacoma area, but it is a chain restaurant. I had the ribs and chicken. Both were good and had a nice smokiness to them, but were a bit dry. The sauce was sweet and tangy, and the side dishes were unoriginal. This is certainly not the best BBQ I've had, but it is a little better than your usual chain BBQ restaurants.
(3)
Rolo S.
Im a sucker for sliced bbq beef sandwiches and Famous daves has a great one! If your passing through Ft. Lewis give this place shot.
(4)
Harmony S.
All I can say is yum!! Not much else to say. Food was amazing, choices great, service was good, prices ok. Great place for families big or small. If you love southern food and bbq this is the place for you. We defiantly will be back!
(5)
Kumu D K.
Last night I invited my daughter and her brother (from another mother) to dinner at Famous Dave's. One reason was, I LOVE the brisket here ... and the fact that you can "add" a sauce to kick it up a notch. Secondly - she and I have about the same tastes - so I thought it would be a nice surprise to prove it to her. My bff and I got there early - so we went to the bar and got our favorite HUGE drinks. I do the signature margarita and he does the Texas tea. We enjoyed them - the tea wasn't strong enough for him, so we ordered an extra shot of vodka to add in it - and it was perfect! We ended up ordering the huge platter for four - American Feast? I think its called. We each had a corn bread muffin - which was sooooo good - I can't say enough about the way this place makes it so that it doesn't crumble and has just the right flavor of corn bread goodness. The ribs - lip-smacking and finger licking great taste down to the bone. I like that its smoked just right and then cooked and glazed with the sauce - yummmerz! But my favorite - and new favorite for the daughter was the Brisket - how does anyone get a meat like that to melt in your mouth -- and with the sauce ... you just want to play with it on your tongue for a while. I have to say - the brisket is my favorite part of this feast. My daughter really enjoyed the baked beans - and my bff likes their coleslaw. We swapped out the fries for garlic mashed red potatoes -w hich was a nice complement to the feast full of goodness. The brother liked that the chicken parts were so moist and flavor-full ... (but he still put some devil spit on it to "check") towards the end of his piece. We left with two containers full of left overs ... three corn on the cob pcs, two pieces of chicken, a quarter section of brisket on the slice of bread, three ribs, mashed potatoes and slaw. I'm sure they will enjoy it as a midnight snack or early lunch. What a great meal for four -including the fact that we each had a specialty drink and the bill was $100 - not bad for a two hour feast of food we loved and company that we shared our time with!!
(4)
William C.
Good food. The "hot" sauce was not very hot. Service was good. Overall pleasant experience. Decor is overly commercialized and fake. then again It is a chain after all.
(3)
Douglas K.
If you are in the mood for traditional BBQ, you won't be disappointed here, but you may have to wait for a table before you can feast. I took my dad here yesterday and we both enjoyed our food. He ordered the brisket dinner and I got the brisket sandwich. His was about a third more meat than mine, plus he got an extra side. As for my sandwich I ate eat piece of meat individually so that I could try everyone of their five BBQ sauces...I liked all of them!! The one warning I will give is DO NOT order their coffee drink off the dessert menu that comes with alcohol and caramel drizzle which looks appealing, but it was not very good (I think they gave me very old coffee) and was almost $8.
(4)
Michelle W.
Good food but it tastes like everything is doused in sugar and I got very sick after eating the signature bbq burger.
(2)
Marie B.
My partner and I had gone in to do a late lunch. The hostess had said it would be about 5 min about 20 min later after we were passed up, we asked that hostess and she said our name wasn't on the wait list, but she could put us down and it would be about 15, we left. Really bad customer service.
(2)
Khristian V.
Some days I feel like feeling lithe and spry, when nothing piques my interest besides teas and goat cheese-topped salads. Then, there are some days when I need to get my freakin' EAT on. So where did we end up the other night on a drive? Famous Dave's. OH the smell of roasting meats in the parking lot beckons you in. Even if you were actually going to Sports Authority next door for a new full-support running top, you would get sucked through those doors [both held open by the hostess and whomever else is out front with her] and into hog heaven. At the table sits paper towels, drink menus, and like.. 6 different barbeque sauces. Oh my god. I like-a da sauce. All of them. You get a plate of house-made barbeque chips and you douse them [or, for the more prim, dip them] into some of those sauces. Texas Pit is smoky with a kick. Devil's Spit is nice and hot. Rich 'n' Sassy is rich and sweet. What I love about this place is huge portions, choices of sides, and big ol' glasses of SWEET TEA. Sweet tea is my kryptonite. All I need in life is any meat paired with mac 'n' cheese, cornbread, and sweet tea. So my hubby got short ribs and I got wicked food envy because they were just SO GOOD. So good. Oh jesus. I picked off his plate sneakily. I had the brisket, and I wasn't a fan.. It was a little dry and pretty salty. I doused it in sauce but I still couldn't dig it. The jalapeno mac was amazing though as was the slaw. And the tea. Service rules here, they have beer and drinks, they have enormous portions of great barbeque, and it gets the job done. Don't forget to grab a bottle of your favorite sauce for at-home grilling escapades.
(4)
Karen C.
The service was great. The waitresses were super friendly. The food was hot, but the taste and texture was subpar. I had the Texas Brisket. I've had far superior brisket from roadside BBQs in the south. The sauces weren't that great either. The cornbread was good, and the service would make me consider going back only if a friend really wanted to go there.
(2)
Michael W.
Who has two thumbs and loves Famous Dave's sweet tea? THIS GUY RIGHT HERE!!!! The sweet tea is amazing along with their ribs and chicken. I don't know how many times I have been to this place but it is by far one of the best BBQ restaurants that I have been to in the Northwest. I love getting down and dirty with my food and showing how much I like it, and with their tons of sauces that they have, it is not hard to notice how much I like their food ha ha. If your not a BBQ person, at least try their sweet tea!!! Its a must!!!!
(5)
Marissa V.
My boyfriend and I decided to stop in for an early dinner and sat in the lounge as opposed to waiting for seating in the main area. While our server was very attentive and gracious, the loud mouthed bartender was not. She would talk so loudly to other patrons at the bar (the only other guests in the entire lounge) that my boyfriend and I couldn't even converse over our table! I contacted the manager upon leaving and he sent some gift certificates for us to come back. About a week later we did, only to have sub-par service from our waitress. She ignored our empty glasses the entire meal, and when we asked for a toothpick with our meal, told us we could get it our selves over there (pointed across dining area) on our way out. What happened to service and a welcoming atmosphere? While the food was good on both visits, the service left much to be desired. Needless to say we will not be back any time soon, unless it's to pick up a to-go order, as they shouldn't be sharing their lacking customer service with anyone.
(1)
Kay W.
First off, I have to say, there is nothing like southern and midwest BBQ. Having lived in states where people know how to make damn good BBQ, you can find great BBQ just about everywhere you go. That said, I have yet to find a great BBQ place here in the nw that even comes close to the south/midwest. And I've been looking for a good 20+ years now. What is it about the NW that no one can seem to get it right??? Don't get me wrong: Famous Dave's isn't horrible -I've had much worse-but it isn't great either. I will say that on one occasion I ordered the brisket and it was full of fat and was so disgusting that I ended up throwing most of it out. So, I guess on that occasion it was horrible! Service, however, has always been extremely friendly. So, what it lacks in the food dept, FD makes up for in customer service. If you've got one of the cravings that just won't let you sleep, this MIGHT do. Otherwise, you might want to grab a 2 piece chicken dinner and keep looking!
(2)
Clarissa M.
I've been here a few times before and the food is alright. They use a little too much of the smoke flavoring on some things but this is the last time I I there. There was a huge table full of black people who make such a big scene about someone picking up their phone that it drew he attention of the whole restaurant. We had to sit threw 10 minutes of them yelling and screaming at each other before the manager was called out then anther 10 minutes of them trying to explain to he manager what was going on....which was loud enough for everyone to hear. We were not offered any discount on our dinner or even a coupon for anything to try and apologize for that. I just don't think they deserve my business anymore.
(2)
Aries S.
Very good BBQ. Being from Texas I'm always looking for a good BBQ and this place delivered. We shared the 4 tray meal which had chicken, sausage, ribs, cold slaw, beans and cornbread. It was really big. The BBQ sauce is to die for and their cornbread is the best I've ever tasted. I've had better BBQ I'm Texas but this is by far the best I've tasted here. Recommended.
(4)
Rene A.
Food is preaty good. The corn moffiens are great. The wait staff are friendly, but the waiter we had was very distracted and keep missing items in our order.
(3)
Timothy C.
I don't know why I think because I'm in a different state and city that the food here would be better. Well I was wrong very wrong. It's edible but I only recommend eating there if that's your only choice and only as a last resort.
(1)
Mal H.
Against my better judgment I went here last weekend with my mom because she lives in the area. I have been before a couple times and I might be biased because my mom really does make the most amazing ribs but the food is nothing to write home about. On this most recent visit we sat in the bar and ordered some kind of bbq nachos. Besides looking like a plate full of vomit they were also cold. I would have sent them back immediately but the waiter did not come back within 5 minutes of dropping the food off (which is standard!!) in fact he didn't come back until he saw that we were finished with our drinks, didn't ask if we would've liked another drink but instead asked us if we were ready for the check. wtf!? oooh..and the self proclaimed "famous bar" was practically bare and when I asked for a 151 and coke he told me they dont carry 151 because its "too much of a liability", thats a new one. :P
(1)
Dale C.
Not bad. The food was 3.5 really...but our server was really great so I'll round up...but its being generous really. We ordered the Feast for Two for three hungry bbq-lovers. I think there was enough food to not be hungry after finishing, but definitely not full. If you got some bottomless pits, well...I hope money grows on trees. The ribs were the definite people's choice between all the select meats, though they were all decent. The brisket was a bit dry, the pulled pork was nothing special, but the chicken I'll say was tender and succulent, which is a difficult task in the bbq world. The baked beans were good, not great, the corn was like cafeteria corn, and the mac-n-cheese was semi-great. Cornbread was not bad. Whats unfortunate for this review is that all three of us had Lucielle's bbq in California two weeks before, which takes Dave's to school, and then drops him off at daycare. But, if you're craving bbq in Tacoma, it's not a bad place. They don't have apple butter, nor healthy portions that leave you comatose post-meal, but the ribs are pretty good and the price is fair.
(4)
Sarah C.
When I want some ribs, I expect some good juicy, tender meat that hits the spot and leaves me completely satisfied for the rest of the night, and this place succeeds at making them exactly the way i like em'! Lots and lots of food for the price, wonderful service that all know what they are talking about! Even the manager came to see if we were satisfied. We left full and happy! Will be back!
(5)
Art P.
Wonder spread of barbeque deliciousness. They are famous for a reason.
(4)
Ruth C.
Dave's has great food for a right price. I love Dave's. But the parking can be a problem. The problem is made worse by Dave's employees. Last night while driving around searching for a parking spot we observed four (!) Dave's employees entering or exiting their cars in spaces near the door. Those spaces should be reserved for customers. We frequently leave and go to another restaurant if we can't find a parking spot that doesn't require us to walk from the far end of the parking lot. We would have done so last night if we hadn't had a coupon for a half-off dinner that was about to expire.
(4)
Sandy G.
Mediocre.....AT BEST!!!!! From service, to decor, to food. Bleh. Won't be back again.
(2)
Daniel Z.
Yet another pleasant experience here at Famous Dave's today. I decided to go on a binge, have the brisket, house-made BBQ chips, and mac-n-cheese. All of these were delicious choices that I would highly recommend. If you haven't been here and BBQ is your thing, you gotta try it out!
(4)
Otto R.
Famous Daves, its not all that bad considering its chain BBQ, But after eating BBQ in Memphis, and having BBQ at some of the local establishments, Famous Daves just does not cut it. Usually extremely busy, the decor is kind of appealing, parking is not usually a problem. The Brisket is fair, and the baked beans are pretty good, I like how they have 6 sauces at the table, and the paper towel roll. Anyways if you have a need for BBQ, and this is the closest you can get, then go for it, if not, try to drive a little further for better BBQ
(2)
Alex C.
We went there Wednesday 6pm with 4 adults and 2 children. It was a weeknight and things we slow. Being a repeat customer, I was greeted the same server from before. I felt good that he remembered us from the last time. Then we were handed off to our server. We were seated next to the kitchen and all I could hear was "Corner" said before each server exited the hallway. That got very annoying through out our meal. We ordered the "feast" from the menu along with our drinks. I was disappointed with, since I've been going there and noted to in the military that this time I wasn't offered the Military discount. "Ok, the kaukau wasn't to bad everything good from the staahff was moe bettaah than the BBQ we it in Hawaii. Dah ribs was Ono that mama Lyn it the bone. She licked the sauce all the way to her elbows and even on the shirt and her pants she drip on. Papa Al would recommend dis iting place too all his Polynesian friends"
(3)
Victoria T.
Im from the South and to be completly blut this place is over priced and is just gross i've tried it a couple times just hoping it would get better because it is one of the few places in tacoma that has bbq but the only thing I got out of it was wasting my money and time. One thing I was pleased about was there happy hour there Long Island Iced Tea is amazing!
(2)
Erin K.
I've never had real BBQ so I figured a place like this is pretty safe. Can't be too disappointed if there isn't anything to compare it to :) I tried the beef brisket and the rib tips. Brisket was too smoky for me, but very tender and juicy. The rib tips were very saucy and good. Sides were good, if predictable. Service was very friendly and attentive. No complaints from me, and I would like to try more!!
(4)
Chuck F.
I ordered the "Feast for One" and it was a good value. The only problem I have is with the rib sampler included with the meal. There are three ribs, and while they were tasty and moist, the meat was skimpy. I don't remember what kind of ribs they used (baby back?) but they were not the kind that are of the falling-off-the-bone variety. They are so skimpy that you probably scrape your teeth on the bone more than usual, since you're trying to get as much meat as you can, knowing there's not a whole lot of it on the bone. If my main meal consisted entirely of a rack or half rack of ribs I would have been angry, and probably complain to management about it, but since the ribs were only a sample of what is included on the "feast for one" I let it go, but it was a disappointment nonetheless. You also get to choose two other meats and three side dishes, so I was full and satisfied from the entire meal. The beans were awesome, the mac and cheese was so-so, and cole slaw pretty good. The minuscule corn-on-the-cob was mushy, and corn muffin was very crumbly. Overall, it was a good meal and I would consider going back, but they had better improve the quality of the ribs, or it will definitely be the last time I go to Famous Dave's. Unfortunately, Tacoma is sorely lacking in a really good barbecue restaurant/joint.
(3)
Liw C.
I was in WA about 6 months ago... This barbecue place had one of the best barbecue Ive ever had! Everything was so yummy, yumm, yummm! The ribs, briskets, Georgia pull pork, bbq chicken, cup cake corn bread, bbq baked beans. They even had 6 different type of sauces to choose from. I wish we had one here in the bay area.
(5)
Brian U.
I was traveling on business and met a friend of mine up in the Tacoma area and i was craving some BBQ, so he suggested i try Famous Dave's, this surprisingly was a lot better then the Famous Dave's we had in the Long Beach area here in Socal. The lunch specials are actually pretty reasonable in price, the BBQ stuffed potato is off the chain and the ribs and 3 oz pork combo was very tender and juicy, and dont forget the sweet tea. The portions are fairly large and the waitresses are very tentative in keeping your drink full. I would recommend this spot especially up in in the Tacoma area because we could not find any other BBQ place.
(4)
Freda C.
For a quick and dirty BBQ place come here...nothing spectacular about this place but you leave full
(3)
Ted C.
The place opened up a little before I left the Army. My friend and I-he was raised in North Carolina where "they KNOW barbecue" went there. I went to college for a few years in the South and think I have a pretty good palate for barbecue. We liked it and brought our friends from Texas-you know they have a different sense of barbecue down there apparently. They liked it too. I enjoy their tea and their lunch specials are cheap and really filling. I found one near my area now and I flipped out to find out that there was near my house-well 45 minutes from my house but still.
(3)
Cyd L.
Awesome ribs...very tender and meaty...you can order a smaller portion because off that. Good service..fun atmosphere.
(4)
zubin l.
Let me start my reviews by telling you that I haven't had that many Ribs before. Its something I don't admire a lot and not something I hate as well. I tried their Regular ribs (4 bones) which is about $10-$12 and they were pretty good. (I could eat only 3). It comes with 2 rich sides of Corn and Corn muffin as well as two you of your choice. (tried their garlic mashed potato and Cole slaw (pretty good) )They have a long waiting periods for their restaurant (I guess on weekends) but you can order food in the bar which is pretty extensive too. We got sitting in less than 5 minute compared to their 30 minutes waiting for restaurants on Saturday. My friend tried their Mud slide which he couldnt finish. (because of taste).
(3)
Colleen P.
Have a big appetite- this is the place for you They say the barbecue chicken is "fire kissed" and that's what it was- moist but also a nice crunchy skin. Mix the sweet sauce and Devil's kiss sauce for just the right amount of sweet and spicy kick. Get up to your elbows in delicious barbecue.
(4)
Chris S.
Ate here before I made the vegetarian conversion. Horrible food. I have never had food be more dry and tasteless in my life. Best to try and find someplace else to.eat if I were you.
(2)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :1901 S 72nd St,Ste C-39
Tacoma, WA, 98408
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Oblio N.
I have a bit of a moral problem saying that a chain restaurant is the best BBQ around, but dammit, this is some awesome BBQ. Best I've had since BBQ Pete's closed down. A buddy and I powered through the "Feast for Two" again last weekend, and left in a blissed out state of meat intoxication. Their BBQ just makes me all happy and stuff. Also, I'm currently trying to devise a plan to steal the Hamm's Beer "Scene-a-rama" sign that was hanging over our table in the bar. You know you want one, too.
(5)John W.
LOve this place, Great food and menu. Fun interior and employees. If you like great BBQ (only better at Chris N' Pitts, but thtas another story if you ever heard of them?)
(4)Kevin H.
I'm a huge fan of BBQ and was told by family and a couple of friends that I need to try this place. I was suspicious because it's a chain, and I've never eaten at a chain restaurant that had really good food. They're always just okay since they never have real, home made food. Well, Famous Dave's was a bit better than I expected, but not much. The atmosphere is fun and the portions are good sized, but I wasn't impressed by their BBQ. The meat was actually a bit dry (which slow cooked BBQ should NEVER be). The sides were just what you'd find at any other chain restaurant. Overall, not impressed and won't return if I'm the one paying the bill. I can do much better on my own grill in my own back yard. So, I guess the search goes on for a real BBQ restaurant in the south sound for those days that I don't feel like grilling.
(2)DN S.
I am not much of a meat eater but I am madly in love with a carnivore! Sooo...he convinced me to go to Famous Daves cuz he was craving bbq. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The bbq sauces are all delicious. The Devils Spit being our fav. He very much enjoyed his brisket and ribs. I had a bbq chicken sandwich and took most of the meat off..but thats cuz Im wierd. But it was good. Portions good. The mac n cheese is too mushy for me. We would return,
(4)Lars A.
I've eaten here 6 or 7 times and I can say there has been very good food on most visits, but then there are a couple of visits where I walked away puzzled by the poor quality of food - even for the same dish I normally order. Then there are those visits where the wait to get into the restaurant can be as long as 45 minutes, which puts a damper on the quality of the visit. However, when everything is running smoothly, the food here can be very good, the servers can be very personable and the atmosphere is energetic. As someone that travels throughout the Puget Sound region, Famous Dave's runs about 9th place in my book of BBQ joints, which is not to say that's bad. I rank F.D. 3rd place in a list of 6 BBQ joints in the Tacoma area.
(3)Ty B.
I was out on a girls night for happy hour here. The bartender and my drink was wonderful but I can not say the same for the food. Our wings were so dry we had to smother them in bbq sauce and ranch. To top it off a gentleman came in the bar with a pet monkey!! The night manager did nothing nor said a word. In fact he told other workers who came out and took pictures with the monkey. The gentleman was allowed to sit and eat at a table with this animal. I asked for my bill and gave my concerns and left. I later sent the general manager my concerns via email. He in turn called and left me a voice mail but did not bother to compensate me for the food I could not finish due to an animal being near my food. I have told all my friends and family of this incident and suggested that a place that would allow an animal of this caliber to be in their establishment is not the type of place they should eat.
(1)Dennis L.
The best meal I had while spending a week in Tacoma.
(4)Cara T.
I have been here several times and although it is not the best food overall I will say that the salads are pretty good and the chicken wings are awesome! They have some nice deals at happy hour, 1/2 off wings and some other food items, and decent beer prices. Their mixed drinks aren't strong at all so we typically go and sit in the bar, order the 24 piece wings while the man drinks a beer and then take the leftover wings home (and stop off at the liquor store for me!!)
(4)paul t.
Yes famous dave's! This is one of my favorite BBQ spot every time i visit tacoma. I love the ribs, briskets, georgia pull pork,bbq chicken, cup cake corn bread, bbq baked beans, 6 different type of sauces to choose from, & the never ending arnold palmer n southern sweet tea! I'm a BBQ finatic & this is a spot!!!!
(4)Savy S.
I ordered the St. Louis Rib-N-Meat BBQ Combo with the mac side. Everything was good minus the corn. It tasted like it was frozen, thawed, and then recook. Very watered down.The raspberry ice tea wasn't much of an raspberry ice tea. It was like a regular ice tea with a small hint of raspberry. Service was good. Our waiter was friendly.
(4)samantha k. s.
You know, this is my kids' #1 favorite place. Big, yummy food served quickly by friendly, well trained staff. You have to wait forever to get in, but they give you one of those little buzzer things and your kids happily trot off to the Sports Authority three doors down and play on the exercise equipment while you wait. Everything here is fine. The ribs are fine. The chicken is fine. All processed but in an inoffensive way. One funny thing - there is really almost nothing on the menu for vegetarians. Aside from the obligatory Caesar salad, and a couple of lame side dishes, you are on your own. Even the soggy green beans come porked up. Anyway, good beer. Tasty, fine food. Great post-game venue for the whole soccer/baseball/football/basketball ... team.
(3)Mike P.
Was having a kind of a tough day on Wednesday, (my Friday) so decided to try out Famous Dave's because of all the good things I had heard about them. Hit there at my typically late lunch time but just in time for Happy Hour so chose to go into the lounge and check out the HH menu. Had some very tasty, meaty rib ends served in a basket over steak fries and covered in BBQ sauce accompanied by a golden beverage served in a frosty 22oz glass which shall remain nameless due to it being my lunch hour. Got out of there stuffed and mellowed for about $10 before tip, NOT BAD.
(4)James W.
My daughter loves this place if she was rating it she would give 39 stars! - I wouldn't mind if it closed and someone opened another teriyaki restaurant. The service is so pathetic I almost got up and left, the place is always crowded but I seldom see the wait staff doing anything but messing up the orders and attempting to fix them over and over again until the patrons just accept what they decide your going to eat. The last time we were forced to go there we tried to keep it simple for the wait staff, I spoke slowly, pointed to the menu and even drew him a picture to assist but he and the cook still messed it up Three Times. My wife never even got her food; I had to send the food back only to wait 30 minutes to send it back again. I'm not sure why all the Yelpers are giving this place good marks I have been forced there seven times by my daughter all seven I left feeling insulted, ripped off and sick afterwards. Oh ya I forgot to mention the food is way overpriced for a party of two we dropped over $60 with only 1 beer each.
(1)John C.
After a bad experience at The Lobster Shop in Tacoma we ended up at Famous Dave's BBQ. No waiting, excellent service from our waitress. Drinks and appetizers within five to ten minutes. Full slab of BBQ Ribs very deliciouso! Followed by a Sam Adams summer ale! And plenty of attention by our waitress Colleen.
(5)Mac M.
Busy place, but good, fast and clean services. Never disappointed every time my family and I go here.
(5)Linda S.
Huge portions! The mix drinks are weak. Food is good. Their pineapple bbq sauce is the best! Happy hour menu is okay.
(5)Nikki F.
It took a while to get our drinks, but our food came fairly quickly and our waitress was very proficient at taking our orders. Everything was just as we ordered. I wasn't a fan of the catfish, but the beef brisket and ribs were flawless. I've never been a fan of pulled pork, but my son's was well cooked. The sauce variety at famous daves is awesome! Ask for a side of pineapple rage sauce if you like sweet and spicy!
(4)Cyndi H.
Good food. Good service. Friendly young man took our order quickly.. Brought extra teas, napkins and silverware. We went for lunch and didn't have to wait for a table. They sat us down immediately. I love the decor in Famous Dave's. I could spend an hour just looking at all the cool stuff they have hanging on the walls. :)
(4)Michael A.
The first time I came here it was pretty good. I would say 4 stars. This time was terrible. Took almost an hour and a half to get our food. Took me asking 3 times to get my beer and was all together a very bad experience. I will not be coming here again.
(1)Sarawr O.
Decent BBQ, a bit spendy! We went out for bbq & found famous daves, it wasn't a bad find! Our server was friendly. The hostess told us '20 minutes at least' so we nearly left, but then our names were called in less than five. The potato salad was pretty good. My pork tips were very salty, so I needed big beer to wash it down & still couldn't finish - big portions, pretty big price tag.
(3)C. Scott W.
Back to my favorite food; BBQ! I've eaten at all 3 Dave's in the south Puget Sound (Tukwila, Puyallup, and Tacoma. The Tacoma location is by far the best! Go there for lunch, even on Sundays and make sure you ask for the lunch menu. From there, order the onion strings (OS) for an appetizer (and only OS) and drop-kick the sauce they serve it with, it's horrible. All you need is a mixture of their BBQ sauces. (My kids like to add some ranch in with their BBQ sauce mixture for a kick.) After the OS arrive, PLACE YOUR ORDER! Do not place it at the same time as your OS, your food will come so quick, you won't have time to eat your OS. When you do order, get the 2 meat combo. Any combination will work. They are all good. I personally like the brisket and catfish. Wife likes the rib tips and kids like the BBQ chicken, ribs and sausage link. There is so much food, we usually share. For the side, ask for a loaded potato. Sometimes they charge a buck and sometimes they don't. About the BBQ sauces; mix, mix, mix! There is no rule that says you have to eat what sauces are in the bottles by themselves. Enjoy!
(5)Holy C.
Ate here with a couple of friends for a late dinner around 6:45pm. The restaurant was busier than expected, so we sat in the bar area. Let's just say we sat down at 6:50 and didn't get our food until 7:45pm. :/ the waitress didn't ignore us though, she kept apologizing for the long wait and informed us that their cooks were short staff. I ordered the sweet water catfish with Mac n cheese and Wilbur beans. The catfish was delicious. A nice batter that wasn't too salty and had a nice crispy crunch with each bite. The side dishes were just okay, nothing too special. Not my first choice for BBQ food, but it wasn't bad. I don't blame the waitress for the long wait--stuff happens. I was starving though around 7:30pm.
(2)Smaly K.
Went on a Saturday night, and the place was very busy. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. There were lots of people waiting. Everyone must love this place, but we didn't. Food wasn't too bad. The nachos were okay, and the burger I got wasn't too bad. But I did like the fried catfish.
(3)Handsome G.
With respect to atmosphere, it's like having Dinner at Cabellas. Been here many times, The service is good to ok, just depends on which server Good BBQ. Nice variety of sauces. Plenty of paper towels. The trash can lid on the table is different. But it's Hill Billy BBQ. Good consistent BBQ!
(4)Michelle M.
Awesome BBQ. The ribs are juicy. The corn is hot. The fries are crispy and soft. The pork is tender. Service is good and friendly. And the extra bonus is that it's messy as hell. Of course, BBQ is supposed to be messy. I love this freaking place so much!
(5)Lisa P.
This is my favorite BBQ ever. I love the huge plates, the variety of sauces at your table. The waiter was fantastic. The beer leaves a little to be desired if you like a nice beer selection that is. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Maggie M.
We just moved to the area and had never been to this location. We were seated very fast, ordering was a breeze and we got our food within 5 minutes it seemed. Our waitress Colleen was sweet and very accommodating. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)Tiffany D.
Amazing!!! Hostesses were extremely friendly and sat us right away and our waitress was amazing. We never had to ask for drink refills as she noticed we needed them before we did. The food was delicious. We had the pork nachos for an appetizer and the all American feast. We were very happy with our service and food there.
(5)Norma A.
I was impressed! This place was awesome! Wasn't sure what to expect with the mixed reviews but I decided to head over yesterday and it was a great choice. We tried the happy hour items and we were impressed. The Rib Tips, the Wing Basket, the burger & fries plus a Brisket Dinner (Not happy hour item) and it was all very flavorful. I mostly enjoyed the quanity of food for the price. The happy hour items range from 3.99 to 4.99 so that was not bad. They also had a BBQ sauce for everyone, from sweet to spicy. The only weird things was the small amount of chips they bring, It is almost not even neccessary but we tried them and they were just Meh.Okay
(5)Ian R.
I've never been to the Carolinas. Nor have I been Tennessee, or St. Louis. So what the hell do I know about barbeque.... Without regarding the factor of authenticity, Famous Dave's is not bad at all. The interior of the restaurant is supposed to make you feel like you are eating freshly smoked barbeque inside a woodsy cabin tucked deep in the woods. Hmmm, maybe that works for some people..... Now onto the food. The most notable being their ribs. They serve them dry, and leave you with 6 or so sauces at your table to douse the meat with. The ribs themselves are very meaty, so you're able to get a lot of protein in one rib. They're also pretty tender, considering they're not baby backs.. Another couple notable items are the chicken and their side dishes, like their jojo potatoes, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. Going back to those sauces - they vary based on spiciness, so you go from mild all the way to "Devil's Spit," which in my humblest of opinions, is still not too hot. Good set of sauces, though. I was leaning on 4 stars for this review, originally, but I've recalled several different incidents where the customer service just wasn't there. One vivid memory was when it took about 15 - 20 minutes of waiting to be served after seating, so I had to initiate the process by telling the manager about our situation. Even Red Robin has a metric to measure this, so Famous Dave's should take note. So Famous Dave's provides some tasty classics and give us naive NW folks a taste of what may (or may not) be some good ol' Southern BBQ.
(3)Elvira S.
Wow, Rude!!! We were the last table of the night. We had to ask for our bill and get our own to go bag since they only brought us boxes. But to top it off. I am visiting from out of town, I go to the restroom before we leave and my family waits for me outside. I come out to our waitress and manager talking crap about my family. Yes, we had alot of kids with us but still not a reason to be rude and talk crap after customers leave. They had no idea, I was still there.
(1)R S.
It has bee 30 years since we have had BBQ that is comparable to what we had when we lived in KC. This is now our go-to for BBQ; loved every bite of the ends, onion strings and ribs. The loaded baked potato was enough for a meal in itself. Chicken was also very good but didn't come close to the ribs and ends. Haven't tried the brisket yet but plan on doing so SOON! This is definitely Midwestern style BBQ but does give a nod to southern style with the Georgia sauce on the table but didn't have the North Carolina version of BBQ (which is fine with us since we also lived there for 13 years and didn't care for that version of BBQ). For dessert we tried the banana pudding...DELICIOUS!!! Haven't had any that good since Grandmother fixed it! We are now avid fans of Famous Dave's. Too bad that it is in Tacoma and we are in Olympia!! We first 'found' Dave's while we were vacationing in Portland and loved it so much there that we looked to see if one was close. It is really a treat for us.
(5)Liliane E.
This location can be a bit hard to get to, and the parking lot is always an adventure. Our food was ok. The ribs could have been more tender. We opted for the broccoli side with our full rack of ribs. Disappointed when it arrived and we were given 4 broccoli stalks. We weren't given any butter with our cornbread, or offered any. The service was blah, we had trouble flagging down our waitress. And come to think of it. we weren't given or offered any wet naps for our fingers either. Boo. For a chain BBQ restaurant, this place isn't bad but there is definitely better out there.
(2)Nicole F.
Never disappointed with the DELICIOUS food and good service from here. Being from the south, it's great to find good bbq. I believe our server's name was mike. He was great! My only issue is that the parking really sucks :(
(4)Donny U.
Good food with good portions at good prices. The waitress was nice and friendly. Sweet restaurant. Will return.
(3)Jessie L.
Waited for 15 minutes for our waitress to come back so that we could order a "tongue tingler" (happy hour appetizer) and by the time she came it was 6:02 (it ends at 6) and her manager said they couldn't do it. So stupid.
(3)Earl O.
Came in for veterans day meal my daughter and son enjoyed the meal and service worth the wait
(4)Frank F.
Ordered burnt ends, (which server commented "excellent choice"), but when food came, I got some kind of ribs (not close). Everyone else's was fine. Server said, sorry about that and ordered the burnt ends, and left me with the ribs. Good thing, as they brought the burnt ends, and there was about 12 of them on a piece of toast. They were very good, but a 13.99 meal should have more. A couple with us split a combo dinner, and they EACH got about same number of burnt ends. (There was also a 10.99 version, and thinking they were totally mixed up on what I ordered). Service was good. To sum it up, since I moved away from Kansas city, it has been difficult to find BBQ to rave about.
(3)Bo H.
On the whole Famous Dave's is easily the best of the "family friendly" BBQ chain restaurants. And, IMO, their level of BBQ consistency is even better than many more critically acclaimed "legendary" joints. Still, some locations always seem to come up short. This review is solely reflective of my most recent experience at the Tacoma location and for take-out only. Be warned: this is an epic and tragic experience. Perhaps a singular poor showing, but one that absolutely must be chronicled. To begin with, a BBQ joint using an automated answering system to answer the phone is confusing at best and anachronistic at worst. Why would any restaurant seeking to create an "authentic" or "nostalgic" atmosphere on-site utilize a modernized computer system to answer the phone? It seems reasonable that every good BBQ should be able to craft a better than average burger. Likewise they should offer that better than average burger for take-out without sacrificing all the qualities that make said burger better than average in the 1st place. Ordering seemed efficient enough, once I was patched through to a human, though. The employee repeated my order back to me as I had ordered it. Yet, when I arrived there seemed to be some confusion regarding exactly what I wanted. But even that was settled quickly. When I returned home and opened the box I was shocked by both what I saw...and what I didn't. The 1st thing I noticed was the pitiful allowance of french fries. When I've ordered burgers in the restaurant I've always enjoyed a "mountain" of fries. Here I was doled out barely a handful. Next- the burger was unwrapped and open-faced. Open-faced is an appropriate presentation in the restaurant, but for take-home purposes you've got to keep the top bun on and wrap the sandwich. Too much moisture and heat can escape in mere minutes. Speaking of moisture- every bit would've helped. Grilled past both a desired "medium" and an acceptable "medium-well" this burger was over cooked in the weirdest way possible; charcoal around the edges and a chewy well-done in the center. Atop this disaster sat an opaque and brittle cheese that wasn't even close to being melted. Moving up- the bacon was filo-dough thin. It seemed to swirl in the air when I opened the box like a crispy, salty tissue paper. I couldn't tell if I was eating two rashers of pork or two hundred bacon crystals cultured in a lab. Underneath (and inexplicable along side as well) the bun was cold and un-toasted. Who doesn't toast a bun? When you don't toast the bun the moisture collects and results in a soggy and nearly inedible experience. Look, I know this review has been long. For me, too. Still, It's worth noting that I've used Famous Dave's take out for BBQ before and been totally satisfied. I've also eaten the burger inside and experienced a totally different meal. If nothing else Famous Dave's gets two more meals out of me as I attempt to determine of this is a fluke or a pattern. Updates to follow.
(2)Alisse C.
Tried this place for the first time when I went to Washington. I love this place so much and I wish I could have it again. Soooo yummy!!!
(5)Darren H.
Great place, love to hit it up when I'm in the area especially when it is happy hour time. Sadly one of my favorite servers left.
(4)Delicia H.
This place stole money from me my bill came up to 40 I checked my credit card and it said 52 bucks I was rob didn't want to an get the girl fired they will catch her sooner then later I hope food good but service sucks damn thief's
(1)Theresa M.
I am really, really hoping that my experience isnt the norm here. I'm pretty sure Ive heard good things from others, but I canNOT say I agree. We were trying to go to the Olive Garden on Valentines Day, but that was a no-go, since it was after work and EVERYBODY and their momma's were there for a romantic dinner. We resorted to Famous Dave's because we had our kids with us and waiting for over an hour outside (there was standing room only) was not gonna bode well. The wait was reasonable considering the holiday and were seated in a really fun booth with papertowels on a pipe-thingy and authentically "southern-ish" decor. The atmosphere was fine, until we got our food. My daughters mac and cheese was luke warm at best, my husbands sausage was the same. My salad was mediocre and I wasnt a fan of the drizzled bbq dressing all over my plate. But I may have enjoyed a different meal and just not their salads. Who knows. Anyways, the only one to not complain was our 5yr old, but you cant really go wrong with fries and chicken strips. The chicken in my shredded chicken salad was overdone in parts and almost as chewy as a piece of plastic. As I said earlier, Im hoping that the experience here was just marred by the overwhelming customers versus staff ratio and that the food is much better on normal days. Let me also mention that sometime in the middle of eating, a little girl was rushed to the restroom and minutes later two teens practically fell over themselves trying to get back to their table, stating that someone was throwing up everywhere in there. :( The other thing was that the food was super expensive! We spent $100 on 4 of us.
(2)Hailey D.
We came here twice within a 2 week period. Both times we had great and fast service. The food was amazing, as always with Dave's. One of the nights it was my husband's birthday and our waiter Mike was awesome!! He was funny and very friendly. He even gave my grown adult husband his own free birthday treat. It was huge and delicious!! We all had to share it. Whenever we're in the area we'll be stopping by.
(5)Justyne D.
Our waitress was awesome! The food was probably a 3.5 out of 5. It took about 20 minutes to get our food on a Wednesday night. They are pricey compared to real southern BBQ pits, but they offer a 10% military discount.
(4)John C.
My wife and I stopped there for lunch today, we sat in the bar and a really nice young lady waited on us and gave excellent service. The food however reminded me of tasteless fast food , too much salt, and old grease, I felt I'll afterwards. The sweet tea was great though. I won't be going back for the food.
(1)Kate N.
The food and the service was really great. The burnt ends are delicious and so tender. Didn't have to wait long. I would recommend a visit to famous Dave's
(4)Judy N.
So so good! The service was wonderful!! The food fantastic. Best coleslaw ever. When I didnt like the corn ( to used to fresh ) the waitress brought me a different side. Rich had yhe beef brisket and I had the 1/3 rack of ribs, then we shared. Both were mouth watering.
(5)Hillary S.
Love me some Famous Dave's! This has one of the worst parking situations! I hate this shopping center for that reason, you have to be super-vigilant or someone will hit you or you'll run over somebody. We usually sit in the bar area because we are childfree and like to avoid families with children. We have rarely had to wait for a table there. Service is always good and we've never had a problem with our food. The have THE BEST corn muffins! And I grew up in Alabama so I know what I'm talking about. I always have to get some to go.
(4)Blossom K.
This place is definitely better than one in tukwila southcenter mall area. I've ordered full rack of ribs, beans and steamed broccoli as sides. 1. Ribs : $24.99 (NOV, 2013) it was better than we had at the same restaurant in tukwila. Had more smoky flavor to it. A bit too chewy and the surface of the ribs was all dried out as if it was cooked a day before and reheated to be served. 2. Beans and broccoli : beans were just normal beans nothing special, broccolis LOL hahaha I've received 1 and a half stems which were cut in half LOL it was so ridiculous when I saw it at first so I couldn't stop laughing. Don't order broccoli :D Not bad location. Service wasn't really good but not bad either. Waitress was very cheerful :)
(3)Frank H.
This Famous Dave's is a good one at least during my visit. We went as a family at lunch, as it was too crowded on Saturday night. They seated us right away, and the food came out quickly. I will be back if I end up in this part of Washington again.
(4)Michael M.
Great food. Crappy service. Yelp thinks I should write more. I think that's enough. They think it should be a tip, I think it says enough. And I'm glad that it is short, because they don't understand how bad the service can be.
(2)Bsobla M.
This is a HORRIBLE place for lunch ! When I entered this place,: I'm immediately PATRONIZED by the confused wait staff . (Be aware: THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE YOU !!) There is no lunch menu. The lunch menu is like the dinner menu without an actual wait staff. So my lunch was presented as: COLD and DRY FRIES !! DRY mac-and cheese!! DRY briscut-stuff , NOT-LINK SAUSAGE THING as link-sausage. AND -- THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE YOU UNTIL YOU LEAVE !! If you live life, DO NOT EVER / NEVER go to this place for your lunch..
(1)Daniel S.
I love Famous Dave's. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, it's hard not to love barbecue. The Tacoma location is great, except the parking can be a disaster at the wrong times. We usually try to have lunch on the weekends at about 2 so as to avoid the rush, and that seems to work great. Food comes out quickly and we've never had a mistaken order. Lunch prices are reasonable. Wait staff can be a bit overbearing about giving you a "tour" of the sauces, no matter how many times we tell them we've been there and know the flavors. I recommend getting the fries or beans with your meal, and my wife loves the mashed potatoes. Keep the muffin for your dessert!
(5)T Rosa I.
I have been ordering from this Famous Dave's for over year now. I have never had such a rude person take my order over the phone before! I have had this same famous Dave's mix up my order before so I wanted to make sure she had my order correct since she kept saying the wrong thing! So, when I wanted to double check that she wasn't doubling my order she said so rudely...'I got it!'. Um, no apparently you didn't bc you kept saying double what I wanted to order! I asked why was she being so rude??! And she just gave a half assed apology. So, I asked to speak to the manager. When he got on the phone I told him what had happened and all he said was...'Ok? Are you going to place an order?'. I told him...'Um, are you freakin kidding me?!? NO, I'm not going to place an order after that! And that he needed to train his employees how to properly treat their customers and not be rude to them for no apparent reason! Well, now I see why the workers there are rude to their customers bc the manager doesn't give a crap how they treat us! I hope he gets fired bc clearly he doesn't know how to manage a restaurant sufficiently! Jerk!
(1)Kristine W.
We come to Famous Dave's every once in awhile. Food, atmosphere and service are usually great. Today, the food was the usual level, delicious. Service? It was just terrible. Our server was hardly around. We'd see him head to the bar area and then walk back out. Clearly, there was a sports game on that was more important than taking care of us. Boo!
(1)Brad S.
If you like good BBQ you'll like Dave's. This is the second location I've been to and both visits couldn't have been better. Friendly and helpful staff and great food. I don't get what the haters are hating on here. Ya, parking could be better.
(5)Beth S.
It was New year's eve tonite and i came in to make a order to go. Im a new mother and a lil scattered brains when it comes to time. I got there a half hr before closing. The service was awesome, no one grunted at the frazzled woman walking in right before we close! The food and staff are always great! Wish the sides we a lil bit bigger for price tho.
(4)Jeremy H.
Ultimate Burger... Awesome! Burnt Ends... Awesome! Sam Adams Cold Snap on tap... Sweet!
(4)Neko G.
We got the onions strings and the feast for two. Prices are high but the food was okay. Server was nice.
(4)Candace S.
I have been going to Famous Daves since the day it opened next door to my old job. It is always absolutely delicious. They have five different BBQ sauces to dip your food in. My personal favorite is the Devil's Spit, which is the most spicy one. I love their chicken wings in this sauce. Ribs are amazing!! Such good flavor and perfectly cooked. Their sides are all delicious and my absolute favorite part of the meal is the cornbread muffin, hands down the best cornbread I've ever tasted. My only complaint is that occassionally their rib tips are a little on the fatty side, but other than that I have nothing but good things to say.
(4)Kat in the House s.
Hey... We stopped in for lunch and had an enjoyable meal. I had a employee of mine who is from outside the US in tow with me and he mentioned in the interview his favorite American food is "ribs". A quick spin on Yelp and this is where we landed. (I don't eat ribs and really was confused on how to chose a good place). My friend was in heaven with the chips that are brought to the table while you look at the menu - his second favorite food. A full rack of ribs later and the day got better for him. I chose the steak tacos- I know, I know it is a BBQ place- but I am not a smoke flavored meat kind of person- chalk it up to that scene in Fried Green Tomatoes (you know what I am talking about)! My dining companion wants to find housing in the shopping complex so he can be steps away from the place. I am not sure what the rent would be... I was confused about the review remarking that there was horrible parking- it is a strip shopping center with probably 600 spots... What was that reviewer driving that she couldn't find a spot- a commuter train?
(4)Jim H.
I've come here numerous times and have never left a review. I'm always impressed with the service and the food. I would say they have the best ribs in the area by far. Corn muffins rock and I usually take half a dozen home with me. Wide range of sauces. By far my favorite place. Good value and portions.
(5)Dan C.
I've always wanted to try Famous Daves, and today I finally got a chance to. A group of 6 went there for dinner. The interior was pretty nice, reminded me if a Coltons Steakhouse and a Bass Pro Shop mixed in together. It was clean, and I liked the picnic type feel to the restaurant. Instead of getting individual plates, we decided to go with the All-American BBQ Feast. Boy, was that a good idea. You get a full slab of ribs, a whole chicken 1/2 pound of brisket, famous fries, mac and cheese, dirty rice, corn on the cob, and corn bred muffins. You have the option of changing up the meats and sides and what not. The ribs were amazingly good. They were soft, not peel of the bone soft, but soft enough to where I didn't have to put much effort from getting the meat off the bone. The mac and cheese was phenomenal because it had some jalapenos in there. Bomb. The dirty rice was perfect too, the seasoning wasn't overwhelming. Oh almost forgot, it comes out on a garbage can lid. I thought that was pretty neat. Really I wasn't that hungry cause a few of us ate like 30 minutes earlier, but hey this place is a good spot for bbq. Also, there is a military discount, I believe its 10% so thats definitely appreciated. Our server was super kind and attentive. I would come back here anyday.
(4)Blanca G.
Been here twice and have not been disappointed yet ! Left very satisfied both times . Definitely will be coming back
(5)Harold B.
Good food. I love the corn bread. The ribs,and brisket was great. I like the bbq sauces are great you have to try them. The services was good. I would recommend the place to friends.
(4)Julia W.
I haven't been to Famous Dave's in at least 5 years and had memories of the delicious BBQ salmon and the corn muffins they used to offer. So when it was my father-in-law's birthday, we suggested Famous Dave's to get something different (he usually goes for Red Robin). We showed up at noon and the place wasn't packed but it wasn't empty either. We had a booth in the rear of the restaurant which seated the 5 of us comfortably. The one big plus for them is that they offer Sweet Tea. Yeah baby! I hate going out and ordering iced tea and finding it to be unsweetened and having to spend time trying to get the perfect amount of sugar to make it not bitter ... only to have the waitress refill me halfway through and cause me to restart the sugar packets again. Small dings were for taking my BBQ salmon off the menu (Sad panda face). They replaced it with a 'citrus salmon' which just didn't seem as appealing and it didn't even come with the corn muffin. So I opted for an appetizer since I wasn't in the mood for ribs. I ordered the wings which was 12 in a basket. I really dislike when a place says they make 'wings' but they really make drums and then maybe 1 wing. At least have it be half wings and half drums. Our waitress was pretty good about keeping our teas refilled since they were freshly made each time. The drinks came out warm despite having so much ice in them due to how fresh they were. They also offer a 10% off military discount with ID (which we forgot to flash) but it is good to know since the meals weren't cheap. Gets busy on the weekends so definitely come early or be prepared to wait.
(3)Shante H.
food quality has gone down. used to be much better. my brisket was so fatty. i barely ate any. it was a friday night and just barely anyone was there. famous dave, what happened???
(2)Julie S.
I love the food at Famous Dave's. Specifically the Georgia chopped pork, the hot links, and oh my gosh, the corn muffins. Not to mention, the ribs, side dishes, and pretty much everything else on the menu is delicious. The burgers are okay, but with so many other choices, I would skip the burgers. Then, they have 5 different BBQ sauces to top it off. You can mix and match until your heart is content. To complete the meal, I always get the sweet tea. Perfect way to round out the meal. On the pricer side, but I've never left hungry or disappointed. It helps that my husband and I received about $100 gift card at one point, so we could go wild. Military discount available. My reasons for not giving it 5 stars are the parking, which is not really their fault because that whole shopping center is crazy, and the sticky tables. They are always sticky. And awkwardly placed next to poles and the other tables. We've occasionally had slower service, especially on busy nights.
(4)Lawrence G.
My wife and I stopped in for a light dinner and our waiter Scott was awesome. He's got a natural knack for people and he's customer service skills are superb!! My wife and I wanted something good, small portioned but filling enough that we wouldn't need to buy multiple items. Scott thoroughly explained our options and we were 110% satisfied with not only our meal but our bill too!!
(5)Lauren D.
I love Famous Dave's. This place has better barbeque than ANY place in San Francisco (where I live). Every time I come to the Seattle/Tacoma area I visit Famous Dave's so I can finally get some decent barbeque. Their new wings are also amazing...I LOVE the flavor of the buffalo wings they offer. I almost didn't order the buffalo flavor because it only had 2 chilis on their "hot-meter" and I like things spicier than that...but it was perfect. I love the Georgia Mustard (vinegar based sauce) that comes on the table. Usually you go to BBQ joints and they offer one sauce..if you don't like it..the whole place is a bust for you. This place offers you a bunch of choices and even brings chips out early so you can pick your sauce in advance. Great service, fun atmosphere, and a great place to take kids/groups, etc. Go during their lunch hours since their lunch specials are priced great and come with a ton of food. I'm a big fan of the chopped pork.
(5)m m.
Food: ehh, average. The Sauce is good. The meat, not so much. The real rub. No drink list ? They don't have one. I asked what wines they offer. Our server's answer, "we carry Sutter Hill" ok? what type of Sutter Hill? Cab, cab, cab. "Pinot Noir?" I ask. "No, we have Pinot Grigio" Ok, scratch the wine. Ill try beer. The menu reads, "Ice Cold Beer." Great. "What ice cold beer do you have?" The waitress, frustrated - probably rightfully so by this point- asks, "what are you looking for?" I'm done: "Water" Here's a suggestion Dave; Don't put your customers at odds with your servers. How hard is it to provide a drink/wine list? Even 5-star, changing menu, restaurants have a beer/wine/cocktail list. If you serve average - at best - food, at least allow your customers to experience above average customer service. Unfortunately our family received below average service and marginal food. Henceforth, your 2-star - generous , really - review.
(2)Ben D.
Went there about a week ago with a buddy. Ordered ribs and beef brisket. Both horrible. No flavor with the ribs unless you put BBQ sauce on it. Both meats tasted like it was cooked a couple of days ago, placed in a freezer and reheated. The service is much better however the food quality is overrated and overpriced. Recommend spending your money elsewhere.
(2)Dean F.
Ordered 2 dinners to go, it came with no sides and no corn bread,( advertises 1 corn bread and 2 sides with each dinner). Called the manager to fix the problem. He promises everything I should get and a little more when I return to the restaurant again. When I return, the manager said he remembered me and he gave me 2 sides and nothing else. Such a rip-off and disappointment.
(1)Argent F.
I was pleasantly surprised at how great it was. We were seated right away. Drinks were at the table within 3 minutes. An unexpected bowl of chips were hot and fresh and the waiter was on top of the drinks. Our drinks never went below half full. Very well done.
(5)Naneki t.
Very disappointment for veterans on their day. Went to this restaurant Nov. 11th to celebrate with family hoping that Dave's might just be offering one of their famous choices....YIKES!!!Great disappointment with the menu. It wasn't what was listed on the posted menu Pasco had online.... it wasn't a pork sandwich, meaning meat in-between two slices of a bun, bread, or roll... it was an opened faced sandwich topped with what looked about 1/2 cup of pork with a side of beans. No free drinks here folks.Better off going to DQ for $5 bacon burger, fries, & medium drink + free small ice cream sundae. I ordered an appetizer to take home I did not know whether to laugh or cry. Would rather watch the Kardashian or TMZ. The burnt ends are suppose to be the best part to eat. Instead it was slices of beef chopped up in squares and thinner than the keys on a lap top. I finally snap to and escaped to Texas Roadhouse. That is where I will be going for now on veterans day.
(1)John P.
Join the PIG CLUB! I have gotten some great deals! 2 for 25, coupons, free apps... its a great loyalty program that pays off to join it! Great BBQ too!
(4)Jonah N.
2nd time here. Great service both times. Friendly atmosphere and outstanding wait staff. Food was wonderful and more than even my stomach can handle. Will surely be back. P.s. ribs are awesome!
(5)Mertani G.
BBQ here is good! They give the option of ordering family sized platters too! Good place to eat for a huge group of people. Cornbread=yummy!
(3)Sue N.
Impressed with the wait staff and the manager even asked us if everything was satisfactory. The food was very good and the price was reasonable. The atmosphere was fun and interesting. I definitely recommend it!
(5)Jason C.
Great brisket, nice and smoky, tender and moist. Had the mac and cheese plus jalapenos which was good too. I love their sweet cornbread. Solid chain bbq place.
(4)Becky N.
This is one of the better BBQ places in the Tacoma area, but it is a chain restaurant. I had the ribs and chicken. Both were good and had a nice smokiness to them, but were a bit dry. The sauce was sweet and tangy, and the side dishes were unoriginal. This is certainly not the best BBQ I've had, but it is a little better than your usual chain BBQ restaurants.
(3)Rolo S.
Im a sucker for sliced bbq beef sandwiches and Famous daves has a great one! If your passing through Ft. Lewis give this place shot.
(4)Harmony S.
All I can say is yum!! Not much else to say. Food was amazing, choices great, service was good, prices ok. Great place for families big or small. If you love southern food and bbq this is the place for you. We defiantly will be back!
(5)Kumu D K.
Last night I invited my daughter and her brother (from another mother) to dinner at Famous Dave's. One reason was, I LOVE the brisket here ... and the fact that you can "add" a sauce to kick it up a notch. Secondly - she and I have about the same tastes - so I thought it would be a nice surprise to prove it to her. My bff and I got there early - so we went to the bar and got our favorite HUGE drinks. I do the signature margarita and he does the Texas tea. We enjoyed them - the tea wasn't strong enough for him, so we ordered an extra shot of vodka to add in it - and it was perfect! We ended up ordering the huge platter for four - American Feast? I think its called. We each had a corn bread muffin - which was sooooo good - I can't say enough about the way this place makes it so that it doesn't crumble and has just the right flavor of corn bread goodness. The ribs - lip-smacking and finger licking great taste down to the bone. I like that its smoked just right and then cooked and glazed with the sauce - yummmerz! But my favorite - and new favorite for the daughter was the Brisket - how does anyone get a meat like that to melt in your mouth -- and with the sauce ... you just want to play with it on your tongue for a while. I have to say - the brisket is my favorite part of this feast. My daughter really enjoyed the baked beans - and my bff likes their coleslaw. We swapped out the fries for garlic mashed red potatoes -w hich was a nice complement to the feast full of goodness. The brother liked that the chicken parts were so moist and flavor-full ... (but he still put some devil spit on it to "check") towards the end of his piece. We left with two containers full of left overs ... three corn on the cob pcs, two pieces of chicken, a quarter section of brisket on the slice of bread, three ribs, mashed potatoes and slaw. I'm sure they will enjoy it as a midnight snack or early lunch. What a great meal for four -including the fact that we each had a specialty drink and the bill was $100 - not bad for a two hour feast of food we loved and company that we shared our time with!!
(4)William C.
Good food. The "hot" sauce was not very hot. Service was good. Overall pleasant experience. Decor is overly commercialized and fake. then again It is a chain after all.
(3)Douglas K.
If you are in the mood for traditional BBQ, you won't be disappointed here, but you may have to wait for a table before you can feast. I took my dad here yesterday and we both enjoyed our food. He ordered the brisket dinner and I got the brisket sandwich. His was about a third more meat than mine, plus he got an extra side. As for my sandwich I ate eat piece of meat individually so that I could try everyone of their five BBQ sauces...I liked all of them!! The one warning I will give is DO NOT order their coffee drink off the dessert menu that comes with alcohol and caramel drizzle which looks appealing, but it was not very good (I think they gave me very old coffee) and was almost $8.
(4)Michelle W.
Good food but it tastes like everything is doused in sugar and I got very sick after eating the signature bbq burger.
(2)Marie B.
My partner and I had gone in to do a late lunch. The hostess had said it would be about 5 min about 20 min later after we were passed up, we asked that hostess and she said our name wasn't on the wait list, but she could put us down and it would be about 15, we left. Really bad customer service.
(2)Khristian V.
Some days I feel like feeling lithe and spry, when nothing piques my interest besides teas and goat cheese-topped salads. Then, there are some days when I need to get my freakin' EAT on. So where did we end up the other night on a drive? Famous Dave's. OH the smell of roasting meats in the parking lot beckons you in. Even if you were actually going to Sports Authority next door for a new full-support running top, you would get sucked through those doors [both held open by the hostess and whomever else is out front with her] and into hog heaven. At the table sits paper towels, drink menus, and like.. 6 different barbeque sauces. Oh my god. I like-a da sauce. All of them. You get a plate of house-made barbeque chips and you douse them [or, for the more prim, dip them] into some of those sauces. Texas Pit is smoky with a kick. Devil's Spit is nice and hot. Rich 'n' Sassy is rich and sweet. What I love about this place is huge portions, choices of sides, and big ol' glasses of SWEET TEA. Sweet tea is my kryptonite. All I need in life is any meat paired with mac 'n' cheese, cornbread, and sweet tea. So my hubby got short ribs and I got wicked food envy because they were just SO GOOD. So good. Oh jesus. I picked off his plate sneakily. I had the brisket, and I wasn't a fan.. It was a little dry and pretty salty. I doused it in sauce but I still couldn't dig it. The jalapeno mac was amazing though as was the slaw. And the tea. Service rules here, they have beer and drinks, they have enormous portions of great barbeque, and it gets the job done. Don't forget to grab a bottle of your favorite sauce for at-home grilling escapades.
(4)Karen C.
The service was great. The waitresses were super friendly. The food was hot, but the taste and texture was subpar. I had the Texas Brisket. I've had far superior brisket from roadside BBQs in the south. The sauces weren't that great either. The cornbread was good, and the service would make me consider going back only if a friend really wanted to go there.
(2)Michael W.
Who has two thumbs and loves Famous Dave's sweet tea? THIS GUY RIGHT HERE!!!! The sweet tea is amazing along with their ribs and chicken. I don't know how many times I have been to this place but it is by far one of the best BBQ restaurants that I have been to in the Northwest. I love getting down and dirty with my food and showing how much I like it, and with their tons of sauces that they have, it is not hard to notice how much I like their food ha ha. If your not a BBQ person, at least try their sweet tea!!! Its a must!!!!
(5)Marissa V.
My boyfriend and I decided to stop in for an early dinner and sat in the lounge as opposed to waiting for seating in the main area. While our server was very attentive and gracious, the loud mouthed bartender was not. She would talk so loudly to other patrons at the bar (the only other guests in the entire lounge) that my boyfriend and I couldn't even converse over our table! I contacted the manager upon leaving and he sent some gift certificates for us to come back. About a week later we did, only to have sub-par service from our waitress. She ignored our empty glasses the entire meal, and when we asked for a toothpick with our meal, told us we could get it our selves over there (pointed across dining area) on our way out. What happened to service and a welcoming atmosphere? While the food was good on both visits, the service left much to be desired. Needless to say we will not be back any time soon, unless it's to pick up a to-go order, as they shouldn't be sharing their lacking customer service with anyone.
(1)Kay W.
First off, I have to say, there is nothing like southern and midwest BBQ. Having lived in states where people know how to make damn good BBQ, you can find great BBQ just about everywhere you go. That said, I have yet to find a great BBQ place here in the nw that even comes close to the south/midwest. And I've been looking for a good 20+ years now. What is it about the NW that no one can seem to get it right??? Don't get me wrong: Famous Dave's isn't horrible -I've had much worse-but it isn't great either. I will say that on one occasion I ordered the brisket and it was full of fat and was so disgusting that I ended up throwing most of it out. So, I guess on that occasion it was horrible! Service, however, has always been extremely friendly. So, what it lacks in the food dept, FD makes up for in customer service. If you've got one of the cravings that just won't let you sleep, this MIGHT do. Otherwise, you might want to grab a 2 piece chicken dinner and keep looking!
(2)Clarissa M.
I've been here a few times before and the food is alright. They use a little too much of the smoke flavoring on some things but this is the last time I I there. There was a huge table full of black people who make such a big scene about someone picking up their phone that it drew he attention of the whole restaurant. We had to sit threw 10 minutes of them yelling and screaming at each other before the manager was called out then anther 10 minutes of them trying to explain to he manager what was going on....which was loud enough for everyone to hear. We were not offered any discount on our dinner or even a coupon for anything to try and apologize for that. I just don't think they deserve my business anymore.
(2)Aries S.
Very good BBQ. Being from Texas I'm always looking for a good BBQ and this place delivered. We shared the 4 tray meal which had chicken, sausage, ribs, cold slaw, beans and cornbread. It was really big. The BBQ sauce is to die for and their cornbread is the best I've ever tasted. I've had better BBQ I'm Texas but this is by far the best I've tasted here. Recommended.
(4)Rene A.
Food is preaty good. The corn moffiens are great. The wait staff are friendly, but the waiter we had was very distracted and keep missing items in our order.
(3)Timothy C.
I don't know why I think because I'm in a different state and city that the food here would be better. Well I was wrong very wrong. It's edible but I only recommend eating there if that's your only choice and only as a last resort.
(1)Mal H.
Against my better judgment I went here last weekend with my mom because she lives in the area. I have been before a couple times and I might be biased because my mom really does make the most amazing ribs but the food is nothing to write home about. On this most recent visit we sat in the bar and ordered some kind of bbq nachos. Besides looking like a plate full of vomit they were also cold. I would have sent them back immediately but the waiter did not come back within 5 minutes of dropping the food off (which is standard!!) in fact he didn't come back until he saw that we were finished with our drinks, didn't ask if we would've liked another drink but instead asked us if we were ready for the check. wtf!? oooh..and the self proclaimed "famous bar" was practically bare and when I asked for a 151 and coke he told me they dont carry 151 because its "too much of a liability", thats a new one. :P
(1)Dale C.
Not bad. The food was 3.5 really...but our server was really great so I'll round up...but its being generous really. We ordered the Feast for Two for three hungry bbq-lovers. I think there was enough food to not be hungry after finishing, but definitely not full. If you got some bottomless pits, well...I hope money grows on trees. The ribs were the definite people's choice between all the select meats, though they were all decent. The brisket was a bit dry, the pulled pork was nothing special, but the chicken I'll say was tender and succulent, which is a difficult task in the bbq world. The baked beans were good, not great, the corn was like cafeteria corn, and the mac-n-cheese was semi-great. Cornbread was not bad. Whats unfortunate for this review is that all three of us had Lucielle's bbq in California two weeks before, which takes Dave's to school, and then drops him off at daycare. But, if you're craving bbq in Tacoma, it's not a bad place. They don't have apple butter, nor healthy portions that leave you comatose post-meal, but the ribs are pretty good and the price is fair.
(4)Sarah C.
When I want some ribs, I expect some good juicy, tender meat that hits the spot and leaves me completely satisfied for the rest of the night, and this place succeeds at making them exactly the way i like em'! Lots and lots of food for the price, wonderful service that all know what they are talking about! Even the manager came to see if we were satisfied. We left full and happy! Will be back!
(5)Art P.
Wonder spread of barbeque deliciousness. They are famous for a reason.
(4)Ruth C.
Dave's has great food for a right price. I love Dave's. But the parking can be a problem. The problem is made worse by Dave's employees. Last night while driving around searching for a parking spot we observed four (!) Dave's employees entering or exiting their cars in spaces near the door. Those spaces should be reserved for customers. We frequently leave and go to another restaurant if we can't find a parking spot that doesn't require us to walk from the far end of the parking lot. We would have done so last night if we hadn't had a coupon for a half-off dinner that was about to expire.
(4)Sandy G.
Mediocre.....AT BEST!!!!! From service, to decor, to food. Bleh. Won't be back again.
(2)Daniel Z.
Yet another pleasant experience here at Famous Dave's today. I decided to go on a binge, have the brisket, house-made BBQ chips, and mac-n-cheese. All of these were delicious choices that I would highly recommend. If you haven't been here and BBQ is your thing, you gotta try it out!
(4)Otto R.
Famous Daves, its not all that bad considering its chain BBQ, But after eating BBQ in Memphis, and having BBQ at some of the local establishments, Famous Daves just does not cut it. Usually extremely busy, the decor is kind of appealing, parking is not usually a problem. The Brisket is fair, and the baked beans are pretty good, I like how they have 6 sauces at the table, and the paper towel roll. Anyways if you have a need for BBQ, and this is the closest you can get, then go for it, if not, try to drive a little further for better BBQ
(2)Alex C.
We went there Wednesday 6pm with 4 adults and 2 children. It was a weeknight and things we slow. Being a repeat customer, I was greeted the same server from before. I felt good that he remembered us from the last time. Then we were handed off to our server. We were seated next to the kitchen and all I could hear was "Corner" said before each server exited the hallway. That got very annoying through out our meal. We ordered the "feast" from the menu along with our drinks. I was disappointed with, since I've been going there and noted to in the military that this time I wasn't offered the Military discount. "Ok, the kaukau wasn't to bad everything good from the staahff was moe bettaah than the BBQ we it in Hawaii. Dah ribs was Ono that mama Lyn it the bone. She licked the sauce all the way to her elbows and even on the shirt and her pants she drip on. Papa Al would recommend dis iting place too all his Polynesian friends"
(3)Victoria T.
Im from the South and to be completly blut this place is over priced and is just gross i've tried it a couple times just hoping it would get better because it is one of the few places in tacoma that has bbq but the only thing I got out of it was wasting my money and time. One thing I was pleased about was there happy hour there Long Island Iced Tea is amazing!
(2)Erin K.
I've never had real BBQ so I figured a place like this is pretty safe. Can't be too disappointed if there isn't anything to compare it to :) I tried the beef brisket and the rib tips. Brisket was too smoky for me, but very tender and juicy. The rib tips were very saucy and good. Sides were good, if predictable. Service was very friendly and attentive. No complaints from me, and I would like to try more!!
(4)Chuck F.
I ordered the "Feast for One" and it was a good value. The only problem I have is with the rib sampler included with the meal. There are three ribs, and while they were tasty and moist, the meat was skimpy. I don't remember what kind of ribs they used (baby back?) but they were not the kind that are of the falling-off-the-bone variety. They are so skimpy that you probably scrape your teeth on the bone more than usual, since you're trying to get as much meat as you can, knowing there's not a whole lot of it on the bone. If my main meal consisted entirely of a rack or half rack of ribs I would have been angry, and probably complain to management about it, but since the ribs were only a sample of what is included on the "feast for one" I let it go, but it was a disappointment nonetheless. You also get to choose two other meats and three side dishes, so I was full and satisfied from the entire meal. The beans were awesome, the mac and cheese was so-so, and cole slaw pretty good. The minuscule corn-on-the-cob was mushy, and corn muffin was very crumbly. Overall, it was a good meal and I would consider going back, but they had better improve the quality of the ribs, or it will definitely be the last time I go to Famous Dave's. Unfortunately, Tacoma is sorely lacking in a really good barbecue restaurant/joint.
(3)Liw C.
I was in WA about 6 months ago... This barbecue place had one of the best barbecue Ive ever had! Everything was so yummy, yumm, yummm! The ribs, briskets, Georgia pull pork, bbq chicken, cup cake corn bread, bbq baked beans. They even had 6 different type of sauces to choose from. I wish we had one here in the bay area.
(5)Brian U.
I was traveling on business and met a friend of mine up in the Tacoma area and i was craving some BBQ, so he suggested i try Famous Dave's, this surprisingly was a lot better then the Famous Dave's we had in the Long Beach area here in Socal. The lunch specials are actually pretty reasonable in price, the BBQ stuffed potato is off the chain and the ribs and 3 oz pork combo was very tender and juicy, and dont forget the sweet tea. The portions are fairly large and the waitresses are very tentative in keeping your drink full. I would recommend this spot especially up in in the Tacoma area because we could not find any other BBQ place.
(4)Freda C.
For a quick and dirty BBQ place come here...nothing spectacular about this place but you leave full
(3)Ted C.
The place opened up a little before I left the Army. My friend and I-he was raised in North Carolina where "they KNOW barbecue" went there. I went to college for a few years in the South and think I have a pretty good palate for barbecue. We liked it and brought our friends from Texas-you know they have a different sense of barbecue down there apparently. They liked it too. I enjoy their tea and their lunch specials are cheap and really filling. I found one near my area now and I flipped out to find out that there was near my house-well 45 minutes from my house but still.
(3)Cyd L.
Awesome ribs...very tender and meaty...you can order a smaller portion because off that. Good service..fun atmosphere.
(4)zubin l.
Let me start my reviews by telling you that I haven't had that many Ribs before. Its something I don't admire a lot and not something I hate as well. I tried their Regular ribs (4 bones) which is about $10-$12 and they were pretty good. (I could eat only 3). It comes with 2 rich sides of Corn and Corn muffin as well as two you of your choice. (tried their garlic mashed potato and Cole slaw (pretty good) )They have a long waiting periods for their restaurant (I guess on weekends) but you can order food in the bar which is pretty extensive too. We got sitting in less than 5 minute compared to their 30 minutes waiting for restaurants on Saturday. My friend tried their Mud slide which he couldnt finish. (because of taste).
(3)Colleen P.
Have a big appetite- this is the place for you They say the barbecue chicken is "fire kissed" and that's what it was- moist but also a nice crunchy skin. Mix the sweet sauce and Devil's kiss sauce for just the right amount of sweet and spicy kick. Get up to your elbows in delicious barbecue.
(4)Chris S.
Ate here before I made the vegetarian conversion. Horrible food. I have never had food be more dry and tasteless in my life. Best to try and find someplace else to.eat if I were you.
(2)