Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que

Though I have seen its BBQ sauce at many grocery stores, I got to go visit Famous Dave’s for the first time today. I have to say that they did not disappoint. I went with a group of ten people and we were seated within 20 minutes, most of which I spent at the bar enjoying a beer. When we were seated, we quickly decided to go with the massive group plates that they serve on a metal garbage can lid. These things were delicious! They came with ribs, chicken, and brisket. The meat was very good for a chain and I particularly enjoyed the ribs. The sides that came on there included corn on the cob, a few slices of bread, beans, slaw, and the wonderful cornbread. These two plates fed the entire group. The service here was very fast for a group of ten, and the waiters and waitresses were very friendly and accommodating. All I can say is that if I happen to be in the Vernon Hills area again– I will be stopping by.

My girlfriend and I are always impressed with Famous Dave’s. The service has always been top notch. The waiters and waitresses are very knowledgeable and kind. The food is always good. We love their ribs and chicken wings. As for the sides we absolutely love the mac and cheese and their cornbread. We highly recommend Famous Dave’s to anybody who loves good food. Five stars for Famous Dave’s.

3.5 stars.
Have only been here as part of a group of 22 so any comment on service etc is going to be skewed.
The portion sizes here are immense! The food tasted fairly generic but did I mention portion sizes were huge.
There were food coma issues across the board! Our servers were accomodating and eager to please.
You’ve been warned!

I’ve been here probably about a dozen times since it opened, so I was somewhat surprised that I did not review these guys in the past.
As a mid-​price chain restaurant, it is pretty good, as a bbq place: its middle of the road.
The menu has basically stayed the same, except for the addition of the baby back ribs.
We usually go for the meal on the trash can lid or whatever they call it.
It feeds three relatively well and we get a kids meal for jr.
The brisket is ok, sides are ok, cornbread is pretty good.
The kids meal rib dinner, comes with 2 ribs. Well basically two bones and 1oz of meat between them.
The ribs here are more bone than meat, so order a larger portion than you normally would it.
Worth coming back for a relatively quick, convenient and not-​too pricey bbq option in the area.

I’m visiting from out of town but have been to Famous Saves in my hometown. I was not disappointed with this location. The food was outstanding and the staff bent over backwards to make us happy. I highly recommend this place.

Maybe living in Texas spoiled me, but I’m a fall-​off-​the-​bone kinda rib girl. You definitely need to floss afterwards b/​c unfortunately the ribs were kinda tough here :(I did however enjoy the cornbread and my husband liked the brisket. We went on a Sunday at around 5pm. Good thing we didn’t have to wait for a table– don’t think it would have been worth it.

On a Saturday night at 8 pm this place was fairly quiet, which for the area isn’t a good sign. I had not been to a ‘Daves since the Palatine location disappeared one day, and my wife had a «free Birthday Dinner» offer, so there we were. It still is prettly decent ‘que, particularly the Rib Tips, which she is fond of. (PS: Rib tips are PORK, Chad) I had a combo of the Tips plus boneless Buffalo Wings. The Tips were as good as usual, but my advice is to skip the «wings» — actually gnarly odd pieces of heavily breaded chicken «parts». The sides were good — Baked Beans, Apples, Cole Slaw. Oddly they serve no butter with the Cornbread Muffins that come with every meal. Service was fine, though it was a bit off-​putting to be seated in the area where they were scouring the tables at «end of day». I guess they were closing that section. Rib pricing is getting a bit up there lately and the sampler combo for 2 – 3 is now $ 35. Multi sauce choices are still great, but watch out for «Wilbers» — it is deadly hot.

Food is ok, as for customer service, terrible.

It was a slow Saturday night — a contradiction in the suburbs so we should have known something was wrong. It took 30 minutes for the order to get taken, including the waitress coming by once and saying she would be back to take our order — and then 15 minutes went by. My beer was 9 (nine) months past its ‘Sell By’ date. Then they got one of our orders wrong.
The restaurant does not play music so it has the depressing end-​of-​life restaurant feeling. Like the Palatine location, it’s probably only time. If they were this slow on a Saturday night, things can’t be good.
Ribs are average, sauce is average, service is poor.

This is really a 2.5 star review. 2 doesn’t do it justice, 3 would be too much. It pains me to say it, as Famous Dave’s was one of my favorite places to eat in college. But after being exposed to truly great BBQ (Smoque, Merle’s, Missouri Hick’s, etc.) I’ve learned how very average and forumulaic Famous Dave’s is.
I’ve had almost everything on their menu at some point or another, so I’ll try and summarize. The main sauce they use (sweet and sassy) is solid, but it’s a typical sweet, thick BBQ sauce. They also have a few other flavors modeled after smoke flavor or spiciness, but they aren’t that good.
Their ribs are ok, not fall off the bone, not terrible meaty, but not bad. The pulled pork is their best, I believe. It’s usually tender and not too dry. Their brisket leaves a lot to be desired, it really looks and tastes like food service brisket. Basically, it’s a place to get average BBQ consistently.
They also serve these awful pickles. They are spicy and bitter, but not in a good, dill pickle sort of way. Most of the sides are pretty good: cinnamon apples, fries, cornbread, etc. They do usually have pretty good drink specials, especially during happy hour.

If you’re craving barbeque sauce, this place has like 7 million different kinds.

I’m not really sure why I like this place, but it’s just really tasty. I know it’s a chain, but it’s a rare chain like Red Lobster that the food actually tastes good at. And they give you a TON of food.
A tip: stay away from the rib tips and anything else that’s not beef or pork. In particular, I recommend the two-​meat combo, with the two meats being beef brisket or ribs and pulled pork. You’ll get a corn on the cob (meh) and cornbread muffin (yum!) plus two sides. For the sides, I recommend the drunken apples (cinnamon soaked apple slices) and a baked potato. Like I said, tons of food, but very tasty.

mmm BBQ! I ordered some take out of ribs, wings, strips, and onion fries or whatever theyre called. All tasted so good! It also came with this sweet and sour sauce which was amazing as well. I would definately come back for more bbq when im Chicago again. The ribs were laced with amazing bbq sauce and the wings as well. The chicken strips were crispy good and the onion fries were right on point.

Yes it’s a chain. But the food is good and the portions are pretty much what’s to be expected. Portions sizes are clearly stated in the menu.
The saving point of this place would be the perfectly smoked St Louis style ribs. Smoke ring and all it was in a word delicious. The Original BBQ sauce has won many awards and tasting it makes me a believer of it’s magic. Yes it’s good enough to be bottle and sold (which it is). The spicy BBQ sauce however is a disappointment, tastes way to generic or like something you could probably make in 20 mins in the kitchen.
Parking was plenty, but the place is probably smaller then you’d expected it.

I had heard about this place and how good the food was and the large portions. Well I ordered some combo platter and really all I could do was look at my platter and shake my head. It was like 3 ribs, yes 3 ribs only and separated, I was looking for Cris Rock so I could give him one. It also came with a few chicken pieces and a couple of sides all for around $ 12, I have rarely felt so cheated. The food was decent but I thought the famous sauces were boring and all tasted similar.
At the end I was looking to see if they sold a McRib.

I think it’s amazing that this place is a chain, the food is just not that good.
Huge portions (that’s not necessarily a good thing) and decent service. Chintzy décor and heavy, uninspired, assembly line food. Can’t think of a reason why I’ll come back…

Been here twice; first time I was drugged up on Nyquil so I was quite loopy. I do remember that the waiter was extremely helpful and friendly, explaining the tons of hot sauces they have on the table.
Both times I got the chicken fingers and it is good. You also get cornbread and two sides or something. Pretty good deal for what you’re paying. I like the jalapeño mac n cheese.
Plenty of parking and tons of seating.

They serve up damn good BBQ for a chain restaurant. I usually order the St. Louis Rib-​N-​Meat BBQ Combo, which is a ¹⁄₃ slab of spareribs and your choice of meat. I definitely recommend either the chopped pork or beef brisket. Good stuff! It’s a huge meal, that also comes with a corn bread muffin, corn-​on-​the-​cob, and two sides. I’m full just thinking about it!
There are several choices of BBQ sauces on your table. I usually go for the original «Rich & Sassy», the «Sweet & Zesty», and the «Texas Pit». I like Dave’s BBQ sauce so much that I always have a bottle of it at home.

The last time I dined with Famous Dave’s, was a few years back in the West burbs and I remembered it being expensive, not very much value and/​or taste. Recently I gave Dave’s a second chance and enjoyed the experience. Not as expensive as I remembered it. Many meals are priced around $ 10 and they give you an abundance of food and side items. You will be full when you leave here and you may have yourself some good leftovers for take out.
Setting foot into any of their many locations is like eating in a wood cabin in the country. Wooded décor all around, as well as tons and tons of typical country (reminding) decorations. Reminds me of eating at Cracker Barrel. Fun background for the kids.
On the night we stopped in it was early evening, happy hour time and it was dead. There were less than 5 customers in the place. They don’t offer a happy hour or bar specials! It’d be a fun place if they did. The waiter mentioned that corporate removed bar specials some time ago and they’d noticed a steady decline in business.
Good meals at a good price. Staff was friendly and available! Nothing else for them to do.
Corporate if you can hear me, bring back the beer specials!

This was my first experience with Famous Dave’s and it was good. I always thought it would be expensive, but considering everything I got, it was an awesome deal and tasted good too.
I bought a rib tip dinner and I got fries, onion rings, a piece of corn on the cob, and a cornbread muffin with it for under $ 11. I got it to go, so I can’t comment on the waitstaff.