Famous Daves BBQ

Smoothsmoke · 07-29-2010, 10:09 PM

What are your opinions of this place? Real BBQ?

Johnny_Crunch · 07-29-2010, 10:11 PM

who is the Dave that is so famous?

Boshizzle · 07-29-2010, 10:12 PM

The sauce is OK, but the meat served in the one in my town is poorly cooked, IMO. I don't eat there.

grossepellets · 07-29-2010, 10:15 PM

Dave is a Chicago guy - and started Q'ing I think in the early 80's with a UDS.
Just becuase its a "commercial" restaurant or a chain doesnt mean you wont get quality product - I have had excellent Famous Dave in Lincoln NE and I have had bad Q in a Daves in the Suburbs of Chicago. They all use wood and they all cook low and slow.
Unlike Chili's which advertises "BBQ" and you know their using gas or a microwave!

Alan in Ga · 07-29-2010, 10:17 PM

We don't have one here but I see the sauces in Kroger but haven't tried them yet.

grossepellets · 07-29-2010, 10:25 PM

The sauces are all corn syrup based- massive production - massive distribution - nothing wrong with that I guess -

DennD · 07-29-2010, 10:35 PM

I was using Famous Daves sauces before I knew of the Restaurant chain. There's a couple that are really standouts, but the rest are so-so. Most of them are pretty thin.

The only Famous Daves restaurant we've been to is the one on Michigan Ave in Indy. We've had some good Q there, but the last couple of times have been a disapointment. Their sausage is the only thing that seems to be consistently good. Maybe it's hard to mess up a good sausage recipe.... or more likely, the sausages aren't actually made on site.

chambersuac · 07-29-2010, 10:41 PM

I've only eaten at one location - Bloomington/Normal IL - it was actually very good, overall. I didn't care for the ribs, but everything else on the table got good reviews. I love their Cajun Catfish, even though it's not Q.

Midnight Smoke · 07-29-2010, 10:42 PM

The one here is not bad, I like mine better and so does the family.

sampson · 07-29-2010, 10:46 PM

Like others have said here, my experience with Dave's is that it depends which one your at... Most put out a very decent product for the masses they are feeding. Having spent some time running a pit in a commercial operation, I can tell you this is harder than you might think. The equipment and recipes they all use are the same but, as with most chains operations, they are at the mercy of the person doing the cooking. In this case the cooking does actually have to happen at the restaurant vs an operation like Olive Garden where most things are cooked offsite and then just heated and plated at the restaurant. And often the cook has little or no knowledge of Q before he started there. If you ever get a chance to attend the Best of the West Rib Cookoff, you will probably find him there. The ribs they put out for this event are just plain excellent and Dave is usually there saying hi to people...

dannypat21 · 07-29-2010, 10:55 PM

Honestly Dave's is the best BBQ I have found around me. Where I live there is NO GOOD BBQ. That is why I started doing it myself.

huminie · 07-30-2010, 12:01 AM

There is one down the street from me. It is pretty terrible.

seattlepitboss · 07-30-2010, 12:51 AM

There is a Famous Dave's a bit south of Seattle. I ate there awhile back. I was expecting a Tony Roma's kind of place, in other words I was expecting to be horribly disappointed. But I was pleasantly surprised. The meat was pretty good and the sauces were OK too.

Anyone who knocks FD's sauces for their high fructose corn syrup content, be aware that Sweet Baby Ray's is *loaded* with the stuff. And it is often highly recommended on this group. I use SBR's myself when I want to please the masses. It does the job.

SPB

flashdawg · 07-30-2010, 01:36 AM

steer clear of sticky fingers i ate there six weeks ago and have not been able to eat bar be que since way to heavy on the smoke

flashdawg · 07-30-2010, 01:45 AM

never had famous daves

07-29-2010, 10:09 PM	#1
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA	Famous Daves BBQ What are your opinions of this place? Real BBQ? __________________ Kamado Big Joe [COLOR=Red]Kamado Classic Joe Kamado Joe Jr. [/COLOR] A bunch of Webers

07-29-2010, 10:11 PM	#2
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX	who is the Dave that is so famous? __________________ J Crunch

07-29-2010, 10:12 PM	#3
Boshizzle somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-26-10 Location: Virginia	The sauce is OK, but the meat served in the one in my town is poorly cooked, IMO. I don't eat there. __________________ Operation BBQ Relief Founding Member - I am Obsessive Compulsive about BBQ. Google it.

07-29-2010, 10:15 PM	#4
grossepellets Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-26-09 Location: Chicago	Dave is a Chicago guy - and started Q'ing I think in the early 80's with a UDS. Just becuase its a "commercial" restaurant or a chain doesnt mean you wont get quality product - I have had excellent Famous Dave in Lincoln NE and I have had bad Q in a Daves in the Suburbs of Chicago. They all use wood and they all cook low and slow. Unlike Chili's which advertises "BBQ" and you know their using gas or a microwave! __________________ Proud owner of a Matt (RIP) MEYER METAL WORKS CUSTOM 6' off set smoker. WSM 18" Weber 18", one Electric Cookair and a large egg

07-29-2010, 10:17 PM	#5
Alan in Ga is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-19-09 Location: Macon,Ga	We don't have one here but I see the sauces in Kroger but haven't tried them yet. __________________ NB Black Diamond, 57 Smokehouse BBQ Team [URL="http://www.57smokehouse.blogspot.com/"]www.57smokehouse.blogspot.com/[/URL] Certified GBA Judge/Competetior [SIZE=3]Golden Goose Egg(4 Times Certified)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Stumps 223 ,2 UDS,NB Hondo[/SIZE]

07-29-2010, 10:25 PM	#6
grossepellets Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-26-09 Location: Chicago	The sauces are all corn syrup based- massive production - massive distribution - nothing wrong with that I guess - __________________ Proud owner of a Matt (RIP) MEYER METAL WORKS CUSTOM 6' off set smoker. WSM 18" Weber 18", one Electric Cookair and a large egg

07-29-2010, 10:35 PM	#7
DennD Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-03-10 Location: Fort Wayne, IN	I was using Famous Daves sauces before I knew of the Restaurant chain. There's a couple that are really standouts, but the rest are so-so. Most of them are pretty thin. The only Famous Daves restaurant we've been to is the one on Michigan Ave in Indy. We've had some good Q there, but the last couple of times have been a disapointment. Their sausage is the only thing that seems to be consistently good. Maybe it's hard to mess up a good sausage recipe.... or more likely, the sausages aren't actually made on site. __________________ Denny D GrillPro Cabinet Smoker(mods) 22" CKG(cheap kettle grill) Uniflame 16" Kettle Grill Chargriller ProDeluxe(mods) Brinkman gasser w/smoker box Wood Burning Firepit/Smoker

07-29-2010, 10:41 PM	#8
chambersuac somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-09 Location: San Antonio, TX	I've only eaten at one location - Bloomington/Normal IL - it was actually very good, overall. I didn't care for the ribs, but everything else on the table got good reviews. I love their Cajun Catfish, even though it's not Q. __________________ Dan IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball maker and IMBAS Sgt. At Arms. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. [Acts 20:32 KJV]

07-29-2010, 10:42 PM	#9
Midnight Smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-24-08 Location: Southern Arizona Desert	The one here is not bad, I like mine better and so does the family. __________________ ************************ * Terry ~ aka Pork Smoker * XL-BGE Hatched 06/20/2008 09:42 pm ** * Couple Weber Kettles, CharGriller, UDS * * Ultra Fast Red Thermapen * Projects Kamado Restoration Bandera Restoration

07-29-2010, 10:46 PM	#10
sampson is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-28-07 Location: North Logan, UT	Like others have said here, my experience with Dave's is that it depends which one your at... Most put out a very decent product for the masses they are feeding. Having spent some time running a pit in a commercial operation, I can tell you this is harder than you might think. The equipment and recipes they all use are the same but, as with most chains operations, they are at the mercy of the person doing the cooking. In this case the cooking does actually have to happen at the restaurant vs an operation like Olive Garden where most things are cooked offsite and then just heated and plated at the restaurant. And often the cook has little or no knowledge of Q before he started there. If you ever get a chance to attend the Best of the West Rib Cookoff, you will probably find him there. The ribs they put out for this event are just plain excellent and Dave is usually there saying hi to people... __________________ [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Two Big Fat 22.5" WSM's[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Two Well Worn UDS's[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain Gasser[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]KCBS Member and CBJ[/FONT]

07-29-2010, 10:55 PM	#11
dannypat21 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-01-10 Location: Castaic, CA	Honestly Dave's is the best BBQ I have found around me. Where I live there is NO GOOD BBQ. That is why I started doing it myself.

07-30-2010, 12:01 AM	#12
huminie is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-11-10 Location: Gilroy, CA	There is one down the street from me. It is pretty terrible. __________________ 2011 CBBQA Rookie ToY - 6th Overall, 2012 American Royal Invitational - Huminie's Hogalicious BBQ

07-30-2010, 12:51 AM	#13
seattlepitboss is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-05-09 Location: Seattle, WA	There is a Famous Dave's a bit south of Seattle. I ate there awhile back. I was expecting a Tony Roma's kind of place, in other words I was expecting to be horribly disappointed. But I was pleasantly surprised. The meat was pretty good and the sauces were OK too. Anyone who knocks FD's sauces for their high fructose corn syrup content, be aware that Sweet Baby Ray's is loaded with the stuff. And it is often highly recommended on this group. I use SBR's myself when I want to please the masses. It does the job. SPB

07-30-2010, 01:36 AM	#14
flashdawg Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 04-23-10 Location: hephzibah ga.	steer clear of sticky fingers i ate there six weeks ago and have not been able to eat bar be que since way to heavy on the smoke

07-30-2010, 01:45 AM	#15
flashdawg Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 04-23-10 Location: hephzibah ga.	never had famous daves

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