Famous Dave’s is often called "America’s Best BBQ," but does it live up to the hype? Let's find out.

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Recently, my wife and I found ourselves in Indianapolis and decided to give a popular barbecue chain a try. Now, if you don't know already, I love backyard barbecue and have spent many hours outside tending to my smokers. Still, I'm far from an expert and went into the restaurant with a standard set of expectations. Hungry and ready for some quality barbecue, I was excited to walk into Famous Dave's for the first time.

Why is 'Famous Dave' famous?

Famous Dave's BBQ restaurant chain was started by champion pitmaster Dave Anderson, who has won some of the most coveted barbecue awards in the nation. He opened the first Famous Dave’s location in Hayward, Wisconsin, in 1994, and the restaurant was a quick success. Today, there are around 150 of these barbecue joints nationwide, serving up slow-cooked meats like brisket and ribs, along with all of the fixins.

Jake Foster Visits Famous Dave's BBQ

Famous Dave's BBQ Platter
Jake Foster
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My wife and I arrived at one of their Indianapolis, Indiana, locations at around 3 p.m. on a Saturday. It was quiet, but the smell coming from the kitchen was divine. My wife and I each ordered the "Pick 2 Combo," which comes with two meats, two sides, and a corn bread muffin. We each ordered a different combination so we could try as many menu items as possible. The service was fantastic, and it didn't take long at all for us to get our plates.

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I ordered Famous Dave's pulled pork and burnt ends, while my wife ordered the brisket and St. Louis-style spareribs. As for the sides, I chose the Jalapeño Mac & Cheese and a loaded baked potato, while my wife satisfied her sweet tooth with the banana pudding. She also ordered a side of their garlic red-skin mashed potatoes. Each of our meals came with the aforementioned very sweet corn bread muffin, along with pickle chips and pickled onions.

Famous Dave's: The Good, The Bad, and the Money

Famous Dave's BBQ
Jake Foster
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Starting with our protein choices, I must say I was a tad underwhelmed. The brisket was great, but the pulled pork and ribs were nothing to brag about. Both had little smoke flavor and tasted like they had been in a warmer for too long. The burnt ends were actually my least favorite, as they were very small and somewhat dry. Luckily, Famous Dave's assorted sauces were enough to give each item a much-needed boost. Still, I was slightly disappointed with their smoked meats.

When it came to the sides, I wasn't disappointed in the slightest; they were certainly the star of the show. The loaded baked potato was perhaps one of the best I've ever had, and Dave's Cheesy Jalapeño Mac & Cheese was absolutely delicious. It wasn't too warm at all but had just enough spice to differentiate itself from your standard cheese and noodle casserole. The banana pudding and garlic red-skin mashed potatoes were also great, but our favorite side dish was definitely the corn bread muffins. They were very sweet, and I could have eaten a dozen with no issue.

After our meal, we were able to clean our hands with some moist towelettes, which were a welcome table feature. Each of our combo meals cost $21, and since we both had water to drink, our bill was around $45 before tip. In 2024, I didn't think the prices were terribly high at all, especially for a barbecue restaurant. That said, is Famous Dave's worth the hype? Probably not, if you were to ask me. It's not at all the best barbecue restaurant I've been to, but it's not inherently bad either. While the sides were absolutely stellar, the meats were not, which was a big bummer.

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