So as part of my food adventure here in denver, Â BBQ Â was on the list. Â I ordered the 1/3 slab with the beef brisket. Â For my sides I got the corn on the cob and the mac and cheese. Â After reading a few of the reviews from other Yelpers, I have to agree that the food does come out luke warm. Â I would prefer that the food come out a little bit hotter. Â I thought the mac and cheese was pretty good. Â I especially liked the corn and jalapenos mixed in which gave it a little bit of sweetness and spice. Â THe cornbread muffin was good too, moist and flavorful. Â I do like the assortment of bbq sauces at the table. My preference was the "devils Spit" Â which had a decent bite to it. Â Overall I thought it was decent bbq.
Review Source:Stumbled upon this place by chance as we were staying at a nearby hotel. Â Service was great, and food was very good as well (at reasonable prices - at least compared to back home in Los Angeles). Â A little mainstream (as it is a chain), but pleasantly surprised.
Knocked off a star because the food came rather quickly, and not very hot - which leads me to believe much is pre-cooked. Â Nonetheless, the sauces were awesome, and quality of food was good.
Very good for a chain. Â I will try one of the locations back home to see how things compare across the board.
We went here for a quick lunch while running some errands. We came in and were directed to the bar area since the hostess was so standoffish about us sitting in the dining room. We sat down and things were great! Food and order was processed in good time, food was okay, but for a chain so big what do you expect? Then as we were finishing out meal, I overheard another server ask a different table "can you guys close out with me so I can do my checkout and leave" how inappropriate! I work in a restaurant myself and I would never ask people to close out even if they sat for hours with the bill in front of them. We finally asked for the bill, and we received a bill that wasn't ours, with a 100$ bill in it! Thank god we are good people and told our server her error, otherwise we could have made money off the meal. We also observed all the servers eating food in full view of guests and licking their fingers clean, then without washing their hands, serving food and drinks to tables. Gross. I won't be back.
Review Source:Here's the thing. Most BBQ in Colorado is just a sad, sad state of affairs.* I mean I once took Sir Nicholas to a bar in Charleston where he ordered what he proclaimed to be "the best BBQ sandwich" he had eaten in his ENTIRE life. I shed a small tear over that, what with growing up all over the South and having spent time (5+ years) in the Carolinas and visiting Memphis regularly. Because while the sandwich was good I bet there are a dozen places that would knock his saucy socks right off had we had time to explore a bit.
So....
While Famous Dave's is a chain I have to say it's the best BBQ I can get to without driving more than 30 minutes and because of that I will default to it any time I want BBQ and I'm not planning on going far.
There are things they do well. Among this list I count the cornbread muffins, the baked beans, and the pulled pork. I will personally not order the mac and cheese (it isn't bad, it's just not my style) or the green beans again. Both of these are proclaimed to by "spicy," but be warned neither are. I do look forward to trying other sides eventually, specifically the BBQ chips (house-made with BBQ seasoning) and Drunkin' Apples (warm apples in a cinnamon and amaretto sauce.)
The sizes are decent for the price and they have an easy take-out/to-go area with it's own entrance and waiting area so if you don't want to dine it that's a nice option. And it's family friendly if you need a spot to take the little guys and gals.
*Jabo's is my exception to this rule. I'll gladly take suggestions of others I need to try.
This is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at so we decided to use their catering services for our son's Christening party. We weren't sure if the food would be as good as it is at the restaurant, but let me tell you, they pull it off wonderfully. The price for delivery and set up is cheap ($1/mile) and the food tasted just as flavorful, tender, and delicious as we expected. It was great and everyone loved it!
Review Source:Not bad. I tend to get the brisket sammich, which is sliced brisket....yeaaaah, buddy. Haven't ever had a bad meal with this place and the sauce selection is pretty good. Ribs are tasty, just a good place in general. Service has always been good. Why 3 stars? Not horrible and not spectacular. It's just a reliable place to eat that has some good food.
Review Source:My company usually  uses this place about once a month for catered functions so I thought I would try it on my own.  I got it to go so I am rating it on the to go experience.
I had a coupon and the cashier seemed less then pleased with it. I'm not sure why since its off their website but the change in her attitude was a disappointment.
The sides are small as are the portion sizes for a to-go menu. Their BBQ plate looked sizable because hidden under the meat is a large slice of toast. Â The meat I did get was tasty.
The mac + cheese was spicy, the collard greens lacked pepper and the brisket sandwich was very thin.
Highlight of the night was the bread pudding which was moist and flavorful. The packaging on their to go containers was has and through but they only included 1 fork in the bag. There were no napkins or hand-wipes tossed in.
In the end I'm not going to be back, I'll just wait till my company caters them in again.
Thought it was going to be busy because people were waiting outside. But me and my family were seated quickly. The server didnt mind coming back a few times as my GF couldnt decide what she wanted. Our drinks came out quickly. The appetizer was delivered way before the food which is a plus.
He was great in explaining the bbq sauce to her and the kids because they have never been there before. Our food came out quick and right, love it when a place gets the order correct. My Rib tips were tasty. I took a bite of my kids burger and it had the charbroiled taste to it. No complaints from the service from start to end.
I had to break down my stars for Famous Dave's.
BBQ chicken, hot links, ribs were all 5 stars, very tasty.
Pulled pork was 4 stars.
Cornbread was 4 stars.
Sauces were 4 stars, BBQ chicken and ribs don't need sauce.
Sides were 3 stars.
Showing up at noon and being rushed was 2 stars.
Bartender was awesome, great service, 5 stars.
Hair in the sides, twice, brought down the overall rating.
After my 3rd visit to this place, I thought I was a bit past due to review. Â Very good food for a chain! Â The ribs are the best I've sampled in Denver, their selection of sauce choices are varied and uniformly good...and the mac 'n cheese with jalapenos is fantastic. Â I'm partial to the collard greens as well.
I read a few reviews below; the more negative ones are from folks who ordered burgers and nachos. Â Really? Â At a BBQ joint? Â We usually get the Feast for 2, and it's great, with ribs, chicken, BBQ Pork and/or brisket, sides and corn muffins. Â Drinks from the bar are good, and the service has always been friendly, informal and knowledgable (kudos to "T" at the bar on two previous visits; she's de bomb!)
Generous Happy Hour specials are offered, and portions on all entrees seem to be very generous and priced appropriately. Â I'm definitely a dessert person, but always find myself waayy too full after the BBQ to indulge.
My one gripe about this place is that the main dining room is an echo chamber, always busy and very loud...can't fault the popularity of the place, but the wood paneling on all walls and ceiling really tend to multiply the sound level of everything a bit too much...Hey, you don't go to a good BBQ place for an intimate, romantic dinner, though.
This is a very family-friendly place with very good food and service, try it!
Now granted, i was starving when the wife & I stopped by Famous Dave's, but wow was the food great! I had the Super Pit BBQ Burger & the wife had a 1/3 slab. Â My side of mashed sweet potatoes was a true delight for the belly as was the coleslaw & cornbread. Our waitress Christie was delightful & efficient so no complaints on that front either.
Review Source:Great food, prices are fair and when they had them the catfish fingers were really good. Â Hit the specials sign up on their website for discounts and birthday gift. Kid friendly and reserve a table during regular busy times as you will always wait if not. Superb sauses and lastly good deserts, I am a fan of the bread pudding.
Review Source:Of all the BBQ joints in Denver proper, I'm afraid that Famous Dave's might be the best large restaurant version of "Q" in the neighborhood.
Sorta' like Burrell's BBQ in Santa Ana, CA........ I've been searching for a small house, in a neighborhood converted from residential zoning to commercial....... with picnic benches along the side of the house, and a "to-go" window cut out in the kitchen, facing the side-yard. But alas.......... all I've found and sampled in Denver, and close to my "hotel-hood" (Embassy Suites on Havana off the I-70) are the three restaurant BBQ's; Bennett's, Jim 'n Nick's, and Famous Dave's. I've now reviewed them all. But getting back to the "Burrell's concept of BBQ"... and for really decent family "Q", check out my review of Hog Wild in Ft. Collins!
Long story short, I did the "to-go" area of Famous D's. I wanted to watch X-Factor that night in my hotel room. I had great customer service level from the guy and gal that ran the little register area, took our orders and made sauce suggestions. I chatted BBQ with the many locals that were coming in for their "to-go" orders...... and there were A LOT of those, which was the recommendation I wanted! One guy was a FedEx employee that told me about "Q" in Memphis, where he trained with FedEx. Other ladies waiting for their orders told me how they'd tried Bennett's, but found their meats "dry." My FedEx friend said he sorta' liked Jim 'n Nick's, and I shared that I couldn't find any smoke ring, and the sides were lacking. I guess that BBQ will always be subjective.
I got the St. Louis Ribs and Brisket Combo with slaw and mashed sweet potato as sides. I've had incredible bread puddings in my life, so I defaulted to my "other shared first dessert love......" ........ key lime pie. Bottom line, this was good BBQ. It wasn't "small house in the neighborhood great", but very good. The slaw was good, but I prefer my wife's sweet potatoes. And the key lime? I'll stick with my daughter's Emeril Legasi (sp?) modified recipe, or my all time favorite........ Joe's Prime Steak and Stone Crab in the Caesar's Forum Shops in LV. Â
My two best BBQ recommendations for "chain restaurant BBQ?" In San Diego try Phil's BBQ, and in Las Vegas..... Memphis Championship at their Rainbow Blvd. location on the West side.
I travel to Denver on business, and have now taken care of my BBQ cravings, a bit of my "best burger" cravings, and now have written Famous Dave's into my black book for consistently OK-Q.
Just sharin' my Denver BBQ notes is all.......... but still looking and not sayin' I've hit all the spots I need to yet.
Thank you Dave, for the BOGO coupon (up to $15) for my birthday. The Texas Brisket was excellent; got 1/2 dozen $1 ribs too.
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.fbmta.com%2Fclt%2Ffamdvs%2Flp%2Fjoin%2Ff2%2Fqs%2Fjoin.asp&s=6eedfd246fe8c80494c111d8ba95bdb31de1565060980758f6f4831efb946ab5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://assets.fbmta.com/…</a>
Menu has changed. Everything seems a little more expensive.......
Love the fact that one of these is really close to my apartment. I have been to this chain in PA as well and they are pretty consistent with food, wait staff, and overall variety.
A friend and I stopped in for some lunch/dinner. We were seated right away and so it begun. I had the Georgia Chopped Pork and my friend had the Full Rack of Ribs (huge by the way). Everything was very solid and tasty, love the variety of sauces they offer. I really enjoyed their cole slaw - Yummy!
I have a hard time giving a chain restaurant more than 3 stars. Maybe one more visit will push me to 4. For the first visit it was a solid 3 star performance.
New location as far as I know. Stayed at the DoubleTree across the street and was happy to find this.
Very friendly and fast. Happy hour specials were recommended and even offered minutes before it was over to make sure we were getting a good price.
Catfish app was good, brisket is the best meat there in my opinion, mac n cheese and sweet potato mash (found out once I got home that the sweet potato mash was a regional menu thing there) were also great.
so service can kill it for a any place. when you ask your dinner guest "where is our server" is bad especially when they have a full section and you see them every 5-10 mins. I'm not saying he needs to be at my table all the time but he could be seen in his section. my drink set empty often because of this... when he did come around i asked to try a sauce that wasn't in our basket and he just looked at me (i have seen this guy before so i knew he wasn't new) and says we don't make that sauce. I said its in the door way when you come in. says give me a second we might have bottle in the back. that was the last i saw him until i hunted him down standing in another section asking for our check.
it hurts to give a two star rating to a place i loved so much, maybe another visit later will bring it back up
I love this place. Â Denver has bad BBQ, and Famous Daves has great BBQ.
I also love the fact that their mascot, "Wibur," visited my kid multiple times when he was in Children's Hospital on several occasions.
I can tell that Famous Daves has a real community outreach that is not phony.
It's a chain. Let's stop comparing it to local non-chains.
For a chain, I think the BBQ is great! The husband and I love the pulled pork and the Georgia Mustard sauce is amazing on it. Their sides are good with the green beans being a big standout for me! I have always been impressed by the waitstaff - they are uniformly polite, gregarious, and attentive with drinks.
I came back last week for a business lunch with some clients. Â The service was fantastic, the food was tasty and we all had a great time! Â Our waitress made sure none of our drinks went empty and was quick to bring us anything we needed.
I ordered a smoked chicken sandwich and fries. Â One of the guys at the table suggested I try dipping my fries in the Georgia Mustard. Â WOW was it good! Â I love vinegary and sour food, this mustard is right up there in that category. Â I LOVED it! Â Famous Dave's also sells their BBQ sauce and mustard on line and in grocery stores. Â I am on a mission to get a bottle of that mustard! Â I already have a bottle of their Devil's Spit BBQ sauce at home, it's GREAT!
Overall, both of the meals I've had here have been good. Â No major complaints, tasty, great service, comfortable atmosphere and clean. Â However, I have had better BBQ, but not by a landslide. Â This location is definitely a strong 4 stars! Â Good job Famous Dave's!
Fun, Really Good BBQ with a choice of sauces to fit most peoples wants. Â The meat was tender. Â
I find that chains like restaurants can leave you feeling shorted. But Famous Dave will bring your faith back with quality and quantity. Â Not the best in Denver but will find it soon! Â bring on the BBQ
We came here after driving by MD's to find it closed. :(
I ordered the fiest for 2. $35 and pretty good value. This was enough food for 3-4 people so beware. Chicken, ribs, brisket, Texas toast, 2 corn muffins, French fries, Cole slaw, and beans. With 6 different bbq sauces. Served so appropriately on a trash can lid.
They had real sweet Tea, which is always a treat.
Everything was ok but their ribs need some work.
Mediocre to good chain barbeque. None of the meats are deeply hickory smoked or fall-apart moist. My guess is they just can't take the time, given the large numbers of folks they serve, and really slow smoking probably just doesn't fit their profit model.
If you want to compare this to some authenic slow cooked stellar bbq, eat here and then the same week go to Wolfe's on Colfax (better); Yazoo's on Broadway around 22nd (better still); or Boney's in the 1500 block of Champa, downtown (the best in Denver).
If you do that and still claim that Dave's is the best barbeque you've had, then let's just agree that you and I will never really have anything to say to each other, and while we might buy each other a beer somewhere, and compare the different barbeques we've had, I'll never really respect you.
Just want you to know that so our relationship starts out with honesty and candor.
Holy mackerel .... Glory be ..... DANG!!!!!! This stuff is damn good!!! Like tell all your friends and neighbors, scream it from the rooftops and go back real soon good! I was both shocked and amazed!
So we were running errands and we were getting hungry... enter Famous Dave's. I don't give 5 stars to chains, I also don't give 5 stars to places if it's my first time there. Today I break both aforementioned rules with this review. Ashamed ??? Hell NO!!!
Our server was Verona and she was awesome. She answered questions, was genuinely happy because we were so happy and did this cool BBQ sauce demonstration and explained each one. We all got to taste them, I love me some sauce and a whole bunch all set out like that, like an Easter parade... things don't get much better than this. I had a big Blue Moon and it complemented the BBQ perfectly!
This next part of the story should have its own review not just it's own paragraph. Three words ...Fried Onion Strings. I could easily commit a crime over such a dish, a crime of passion. These were sinful, insane, ridiculous and sublime. They were perfect and when we realized we could drag them through our BBQ sauce that had been perfectly presented by Verona...well let's just say it got quiet ..really quiet ,just chewing and gulping ...everyone keeping a watchful eye on their opponent. Disclaimer... lots of napkins were destroyed during this portion of the meal.
I would say an extra rib in both the platter combo and kid meal would be swell. 3 rather than 2 would be waaay better! However that is the ONLY improvement they could make. These ribs, with whatever sauce you want to douse them in, Crazy !!!!! Seriously some of the BEST I've ever had! I am planning to work the riblets into the meal next time! The amount of catfish I got was a lot, really it was. It was fresh and yummy and we all had some. Jessie had the hotlink thingy...it was HUGE! So with exception of the ribs the portions here are quite large.
Hmmmm what have I forgotten ...OMG The Corn Muffins ?!?!?! Oh Heavenly Days !!! They were so moist, and plump, and sweet and perfect, some serious weight behind these muffins. Easily the best I've ever had! The coleslaw was good too, maybe just needed a touch of salt and a dash of hot sauce. Oh goodness I almost forgot the steak fries ...Wowie ..Ok.. well...I may have just about covered it all. OH...and dessert .... JUST KIDDING !!!!! But I am going back for some very very soon!
I had a great lunch here after a few years of avoiding it - the reason? That logo with a smiling pig grilling up another pig's parts truly disturbed me. Well, I went for lunch and I really liked it! I had a two item combo for under $10 and it was quite tasty. It was a nice quick lunch.
While I prefer Jim 'n Nick's for BBQ, they don't really have the affordable lunch plates that they have here. I'll probably be back, I just can't look at any of the logos while I'm there!
More to come when I get to try more of the food!
This is the best BBQ place in Denver. Â Hands down.
I have lived in Austin for the past two years, and upon returning to Denver, I had definitely gotten used to GREAT bbq. Â Dave's absolutely delivers this!
Especially for the price! Â You get tons of food, great side dishes (my measure of a great meal), and fresh cornbread!
The drinks are pretty darn good too. Â Which is good, because we often have to eat in the bar since it is quite busy. Â But TOTALLY worth the wait. Â Just go early, or prepare to have a 30 minute wait--- then you'll get to try all the great sauces, and don't forget the brisket!!
As fellow Yelper Kathleen A says, "I don't care that this place is a chain." My favorite in Texas is now a chain; sometimes when something is good it just has to spread around."
I call ahead and order meat by the pound (beef brisket or ribs) and sides; we get potato salad, firecracker green beans, and Wilbur Beans. We are not crazy about the Cole slaw but still order because we do not hate it and you have to eat cole slaw with Q. By the time I reach Dave's, my order is ready to go. Neighbor Sam gets a kick out of the Devil's Spit bar-b-que sauce which we load up on as well as handi-wipes. (I find that if you mix the orginal sauce with Devil's Spit, you get a nice sauce.) In and out in less than 5 minutes, you just cannot go wrong with Dave's for bar-b-que in Denver..
I don't care that this place is a chain.
It is THAT good and very deserving of 5 bright stars!!
I've been coming to Famous Dave's for years and years and it has never once let me down. Can't go wrong with the rib and BBQ chicken combo served with corn on the cob, warm out of the oven corn muffins and mashies! I personally like the sweet potato mashies the best, topped with brown suger goodness. Â I like to dine in and try the variety of BBQ sauces they serve.
Take-out is also pretty sweet though too. They even have convenient original and Devil's Spit BBQ sauce packets you can take home. Â A 2-meat lunch combo runs at $7.99 and it's more than enough food for lunch!
I'm sure there are tons of other awesome BBQ places in Denver but this is definitely towards the top of my list!
I love the selection of bbq sauces and it seems to be consistantly good. For 2-3 people the all american feast is awesome...soo much food! We took almost 2 boxes home with us, and we can eat. So if that says anything..
The only bad thing is its always loud. I don't like screaming while trying to enjoy my food.
Best cornmuffins ever!!
Before I launch into my review let me give you my BBQ credentials. Â I was born and raised in St Louis and spent a good part of my formative years with BBQ sauce dribbling down my chin. Â I have enjoyed BBQ in Kansas City, Memphis, Atlanta, Amarillo, and even Rochester, NY. Â And then some... Â
That being said on with the review. Â
I Love This Place! Â I don't come here for the decor and as for service if they get my order right, hot and relatively quick I am a happy camper. Â So far they are up to par in this respect. Â As for the food that is the driving factor. Â The ribs are tender and flavorful. Â The pulled pork is just right. Â I also love the cole slaw, cornbread muffins and drunken apples.
So what it is a chain. Â It is good and that is all that matters. Â I usually prefer locally owned mom and pop places but I'll make an exception in this case.
I am not a fan of big restaurant chains; however, enjoying one of the last few days of great weather in Denver, I decided to stop here as I noticed that they have an outside seating area. Â
As I checked with the host, the outside area was 'not ready' but they decided to go ahead and open it after I requested it. Â I sat outside and kicked back to read my newspaper with a nice sweetened iced-tea, wishing the metallic chairs had a cushion. Â This is my first time at any Famous Dave's. Â But the very nice server guided me through the menu and explained all about it.
I decided to go for the half chicken and half ribs lunch special ($6.99) with a house salad. Â I am glad I did order the salad because, even though the food was super tasty and delicious, the portion was rather small. Â I only had to pieces of ribs. Â The fries were delicious but then again, I only counted 12 pieces of it. Â
The Final Verdict:
Restaurant Ambiance/Decor: Â 4.5 out of 5.0
Staff Service/Friendliness/Professionalism : Â 4.5 out of 5.0
Seating Arrangement/Layout: Â 4.5 out of 5.0
Seating Comfort: Â 4.0 out of 5.0
Food Quality/Flavor: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Food Price Value: Â 3.0 out of 5.0
Bathrooms Cleanliness: Â 4.5 out of 5.0
Final Score: Â 30 out of 40 Â (75 out of 100% or C grade)
Final Comment: A great place for good BBQ food, but the small portions left me with the desire for more. Â Good service and great ambiance.
Ok, so yes, its corporate. The service is average, what you would expect from any chain. The decor, well, its fine. The food itself. I love the food. I'm certainly not a bbq official but have been around and tried bbq from all over the country. Here my thought: the meat is OK / about average and nothing to get too excited about.
Im not about the meat at a bbq place - I'm about the sauce and their BBQ sauces are ridiculous. My friends and I all agree, if you like bbq because of the sauce more so than the meat, this is THE place to go. I usually get the manhandler sandwich (I hate having to order it hehe) but have tried other things including the trash can lid. Its great. Did I mention the sauces are tasty?
IM A SELLOUT!
Another corporate chain restaurant that I like!
GOOD:Chicken, Ribs, Brisket, pulled Pork and Beans. CHECK
6 Different sauces in handy squeeze bottle that fit nicely into back packs! CHECK (Joking) Have thought it though!
They serve a meal for two on a garbage can lid, I always order the Sesame Street Oscar special (no one ever gets this cultural reference to Oscars trash can!) Roll of papers towel included with every table! I like how they think!
BAD: Service: This is a typical corporate restaurant! They churn em out via a training program dress them in a corporate t-shirt with a clever saying on the back and give them a cute little pig name tag! Refills reach the point that you almost want to get the damn drink yourself! And once your order is delivered forget any follow up, they have a singular one task which usually inst your table!
The decor is slightly scary redneck cousin which is a tad uncomfortable but Ive bought BBQ from Roadside smokers so how can I judge!
Potato Salas and slaw are blah! Fries decent wedge style, and they have some big arse burgers! Cool bar area, with LCD's for all the Sports action, Good place for the quick bite to also avoid the look at that poor guy he is eating alone stares!
Definitely beats some other close local BBQ joints (Jim and Nicks will point out that Famous Dave's dosent smoke their ribs that its smoke flavor, well whooppidty do they still taste better then yours!)
In review Corporate chain, Tacky decor! Marginal service & Decent BBQ!
LIFE HACKER TIP: once again it is a corporate restaurant complain about anything its comped or replaced and you can get a free desert for complaints about bad service!
This restaurant must be in bed with Cabela's. It's a hunting lodge: antlers, vintage hunting signs, plaid coats, etc. (It's a little creepy, actually.)
And chains are not typically my first choice for dining out.
But when in Quebec Square, you've Country Buffet, IHOP, or Famous Dave's. The latter has Fat Tire on tap, so that's where I find myself.
Waiters in the dining room are almost always inexperienced. They're the type of servers who can't anticipate your most basic needs and who haven't mastered the art of multi-tasking. Â The bartenders, on the other hand, are surprisingly adept and attentive.
It is typical American food: outrageous portions of meat piled high. DO NOT order the Feast for Two, which is in fact more food than 5 people could eat in a sitting.
DO share some ribs with a friend. The sauce is yummy and they just keep a roll of paper towels on the table so you don't have to ask your MIA server for extra napkins every 2 minutes.
Mashed potatoes are disappointing, but potato salad, cole slaw are edible sides. Jiffy Mix makes better corn bread muffins. Sandwiches and burgers are served on paradoxical preservative-packed, slightly stale buns.
So it is really the ribs that glean the stars. They're good enough to bring me back in spite of all the cons. And it's pretty darn inexpensive, especially when you share.
Try to get there early, because it fills up fast every night.