Famous Dave's

Ridiculously long wait. 1 hour to get seated.

No where to really wait especially when it's jam packed like it was when I went.

Got this meal for 2 that was served on an upside down garbage top which was pretty cool. The food was just okay. I actually wasn't that crazy about the signature bbq sauce that they're supposedly so famous for.

The service was just okay. Several different waiters came to our table as opposed to the same one server who took our order.

The atmosphere is very family oriented. Very loud. Annoying children. Place is not the cleanest.

Loved the corn bread but otherwise the food was just okay. Nothing special enough to go out of the way. I only go when I am with family who want to go there.

Oh my goodness. Adam and I came here on a whim, driving down Harlem and looking for a place to eat. I decided I wanted BBQ, and Famous Dave's (with it's Good Food decal in the window) called to me. So we looped back around and made our way inside.

I wasn't sure what to expect--the entryway is pretty small. But it opened up into a good-sized restaurant. It took a while for our server, Ann, to get to us, but the host made sure we were watered while we looked over the menu.

I got the St. Louis spareribs with a side of Wilbur beans and corn. Adam got the country roasted chicken with the pineapple steak and mashed potatoes.

While we were waiting for our food, Ann brought us some chips and explained the different sauces to us. She then encouraged us to try them all (except the red-topped stuff--we heard HABANERO and said "thanks but no thanks") and to tell her our favorite. We both really liked Sweet and Zesty blend, and also their signature award-winning blend whose name is eluding me right now, but they were all tasty.

Our meals came out lightening fast, and we dug in. The corn bread muffin was sweet and yummy. The ribs were OMG so good. And the corn, although it wasn't Iowa corn (not in season yet) was still sweet and tender. I didn't care much for the Wilbur beans. I felt like they were overpowered by onion flavor. Now, those who know me and have the (mis)fortune of cooking for me know that onions and I have a tricky relationship. I hate onions, but I like what they can do to food--to an extent. Too much and I can't enjoy the rest of the dish. I'm the same way with garlic.

ANYWAY. They exchanged my beans for fries with no problem.

The manager, Lissa, popped over a couple of times to check on us, as did Ann. What I really loved is that they seemed really excited and grateful that we stopped by, but it wasn't overkill. How often do you feel like a restaurant or any establishment, really, is truly glad to have you there? I felt really welcome there and I loved that. At the end of the meal, they gave Adam and me each a bottle of the flavors we liked best, and coupons toward our next meal there.

Will there be a next meal there? Most certainly. I plan to try the baby back ribs next time. :)

My friends recommended this place for good BBQ, but I wasn't impressed.  I had better bbq ribs at House of Blues..  I thought the chicken and ribs were quite dry.  The waitress also got most of our sides mixed up..