603878 Sun Mar 15 03:18:34 -0700 2009 10 32 Chains 0 4506120 A friend of mine mentioned she had dinner at Famous Dave's. I've never even heard of this place. Chowhound opinions? Sun Mar 15 03:18:34 -0700 2009 12947 gmm 1 4506405 Oh, there are a few. Start here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/517666 Sun Mar 15 07:54:30 -0700 2009 4506120 243172 Samalicious 2 4506549 My wife loves it. I'm not even sure its barbecue. Worst ribs I ever ate. The fried catfish was pretty good. How they manage to draw huge crowds in KC is beyond me. Sun Mar 15 08:57:52 -0700 2009 4506405 11178 chileheadmike 3 4572513 They closed up in KC, but are supposedly set to reopen. Mon Apr 06 13:44:48 -0700 2009 4506549 57415 rubinow 1 4506944 It's okay, just don't come expecting Arthur Bryant's. Sun Mar 15 11:56:01 -0700 2009 4506120 23970 MandalayVA 1 4507301 Pretty much matters on whose working in the back. No consistency at the one in my town. Front of the house not much better. The garbage can lid thing is stupid. Sun Mar 15 14:29:37 -0700 2009 4506120 140140 mrbigshotno.1 1 4508657 i've been to one here in suburban d.c. (vienna, va), and it was so-so. my sister and brother in law (picky eaters, cattlemen, and beef and bbq cognoscenti) and my nephew (a good hunter and all-round outdoorsman) LOVE the one in s. fort myers, florida. so, i'm thinking the deliciousness is location-specific. Mon Mar 16 06:03:51 -0700 2009 4506120 105717 alkapal 1 4545243 As usual...buy local is always better than a chain. My friends from Minneapolis swear this place used to be good. They opened locally and the same friends say it is terrible. When in doubt go local and avoid chains. Fri Mar 27 18:07:56 -0700 2009 4506120 15039 Tripper 2 4554121 The original Famous Dave's was started in Hayward Wisconsin by Dave Anderson as a one store operation bbq shack. He later expanded to Minneapolis and then a few year later expanded the chain throughout the Midwest. It's now national and Dave is not actively involved. He is very involved in chartitable work with at risk youth and Native American eductational issues. He is an active member of the Choctaw/Chippewa tribe in Wisconsin. So whatever his Famous Dave's have turned out to be, it did start with one guy doing the cooking and not a corporate concept like many chains. Tue Mar 31 08:55:58 -0700 2009 4545243 11256 LikestoEatout 1 4562687 If you order a salad to go along with your meal, eat the salad (huge fresh and filling) and doggie-bag the entree to give to someone you see on the side of the road. Because you won't want to eat it. And you won't miss a thing. Thu Apr 02 17:30:24 -0700 2009 4506120 84643 OneSonTwoCats 2 4603085 In Delaware on business (Newark area), a Texan was raving about Famous Dave's. It was the worst BBQ brisket I've ever had. Thu Apr 16 19:54:29 -0700 2009 4562687 250209 blindowl