Famous Daves

Walked in at 9:30pm and the website says 11pm. They wouldn’t serve us or sit us! Ridiculous-​change your sign on the door to the correct times. Bad customer service!

Used Famous Dave’s to cater the food for a party, our first time ever catering food. We ordered food for 50 people (½ brisket, ½ pulled pork and ribs), corn muffins, cole slaw, mac and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes and salad. The food was hot and great! So many people complimented the food and many admitted that they had never eaten Famous Dave’s but really loved it. The catering manager was really helpful and the manager on duty that Saturday was right on top of things. The staff as a whole did a great job and I would highly recommend them for parties. We had some leftovers and have been enjoying them as well.

I went to Famous Dave’s tonight, Tuesday, June 2, 2015, based on a really good experience at a Famous Dave’s in California a few years ago. As good as that experience a few years back this one came up seriously short.
The experience got off to a bad start when I arrived and no one was at the host/​hostess station. I looked around and there were customers seated in the dining room and the bar and one waiter working, but no evidence of a host or hostess. I waited, and paced back-​and-​forth, and was finally approached by the aforementioned waiter who seated me.
I sat there studying the menu, thinking, «where are the baby back ribs.» I think the Waiter realized I was struggling and asked me what I was looking for. I told him baby back and he told me that they had never served baby back and that all they have are St. Louis Ribs. He told me that they have never served baby back ribs as long as he has worked there.
So, I reluctantly ordered the St. Louis Ribs. They were tough as is typically the case with St. Louis Ribs, and were nowhere near the wonderful baby back ribs I had at the other Famous Dave’s. The Mac & Cheese was also disappointing with unexpected green peppers in it. The onion strings were the highlight of the meal. The fries were nothing special and the Corn Bread muffin was okay.
I’ve now done a bit of research, and some Famous Dave’s do have baby back ribs, like the one in California had. I can’t believe a rib place that would not serve baby back ribs. They are the gold standard of ribs. I see where someone else was disappointed to find that they didn’t have beef ribs either. I’d agree with that reviewer as well. You expect a full range of rib offerings when going to a place like Famous Dave’s.
As for me, I won’t be going back, and I’m bummed out as my past experience was so good but not having baby back ribs and not having the host/​hostess stand staffed was a turnoff. You know, when you stand there waiting to be seated, it is usually an indication that things are not going to go well…

Decidedly mediocre. That’s the best way to describe Famous Dave’s in Waukesha. In every respect, it was so-​so. A lot of times something in a restaurant experience stands out as terrible… or outstanding. Famous Dave’s it was like everyone was going through the motions. The place was clean but décor is boring. Our server was polite and fairly efficient but her face was blank, never showed a hint of enthusiasm, friendliness or sincerity. Food was okay, not bad but completely unmemorable. Comparing it to other casual dining chains like BJs, Chili’s, or B-​Dubs Famous Dave’s is missing the spark that I want when I’m dropping $ 55 on dinner for two.

Not as good as Pat’s rib place in Waukesha. Food here really tasted like pre-​prepared, prepackaged food. Nothing extraordinary that really left me wanting more.
Very ‘chain restaurant’-esque with its quality of food, no extra love in it.

Famous Dave’s never disappoints. Ribs are the best. Fun atmosphere and good service.

Place really hit the spot. There were 6 of us, got the meal deal and a platter for 2 and NOT ONE of us left unsatisfied. The manager checked in a couple times and the waitress was very nice. Overall, a 6 out of 5. Can’t wait to come back into town next year for my client to eat there again.

Ribs and muffin and beans and grilled pineapple are all great! On Saturday nights, maybe need to wait for a while, the good thing is there is a little bar where you can have a beer when waiting.

Haven’t been here in years, but it was actually just as delicious as I remembered. I love the fact that the sauces are right on the table so you can use as much or as little as you like of them or combine them and created your own crazy BBQ sauce concoction. The brisket was amazing, the spare ribs… I probably wouldn’t order again. (Personal taste preference, nothing against the restaurant) but you will walk out full and most likely with leftovers and a very happy belly!

I love the Wilbur and Devil’s Spit sauces! The rest is A-ok…cute bar… decent drafts, but there is something off with their Lakefront IPA…

We had the Garbage Can Lid on a Tuesday ! Service was awesome, Food was delicious and came out really really quick ! My friend and I couldn’t even come close to eating the whole lot but our boyfriends sure did enjoy the left overs ! We’ll be going again soon !!!

Food, staff and location is great. I’ve been here a few times since our hotel is next door & each time was did not disappoint. I’ve had the bbq chicken and it was not dry at all. Their cornbread is super sweet & dessert in itself.
Tip: Ask your server about the sauces.
Tip: If restaurant area is busy, try the bar area because there are a few tables in there.
Tip: Famous Dave’s has the BEST pickles. Buy a jar!

We had a hankering for bbq one night and decided to try this local chain. Our waiter was nice, but he was overwhelmed by his other tables. It took awhile to get our food. I was super excited to try burnt ends, but I was disappointed with the amount I received and presentation (they were on top of a piece of dry, hard toast). Ribs were pretty tasty, but the sides left a lot to be desired. Sauces were ok, but nothing special. Table next to us received a free appetizer and bottle of sauce since it was there first time at the restaurant. It was our first time too, but since no one asked us, no freebies :(

Tried ordering take out. Had to wait a good 9 to 10 minutes for the staff to stop horsing around in the kitchen before someone could be troubled to come to take our order.
Tried ordering the meat combo but was told even though burnt ends are prominently pictured on the menu in that section I couldn’t order them even as an add on.
Tired of all the trouble and the inconvenience we just walked out.
Lately it seems like this place is slipping. Used to be one of my favorites but I think I’d rather drive to East Troy to get BBQ than come here.

Good eats! Sadly they were out of brisket so I got the chopped pork and hot link. The pork was very good and the hot link was huge! The fries were delicious and so were the mashed potatoes. A nice, filling dinner but expect to pay about $ 20/​person with tip.

The boneless wings tasted strange, the ribs were dry and overall disappointed with the food here.

Never been to a Famous Dave’s.
The food was superb!
I have eaten BBQ all over the USA and what is considered BBQ in many countries around the world.
This is an excellent restaurant, the staff, the setting, and the food.
It is excellent BBQ, and all the better given it is made in WI, not known as a BBQ state.
‘Nuff said!

My food arrived cold. Why am I giving it a five star review? Because they handled it so well.
Not only did they take the food off the bill, they offered to make me another plate fresh (which I declined because I was too hungry to wait another 15 minutes). The waitress was very apologetic, and I was very happy with the way they treat their customers.
I have always loved this place. Great BBQ (I mean best your going to find anywhere in Wisconsin), and a great atmosphere.
You won’t be dissapointed. If you are, most likely they will most likely take care of you! :)
EDIT 10÷17÷13 — I have officialy reduced my rating from 5 stars down to two stars, and may even make it one star.
Sometime this summer, they decided to change the menu around and remove one of their signature items, the baby back rib dinner. Additionally, they removed a lot of their side dishes, and it seems like their service has been increasingly worse.
Famous Dave’s is unfortunately straying away from its roots. Their St. Louis style ribs are dry, jerky-​like, and have a funny «fake smoke» flavor. They claim they still serve baby-​backs on weekends until «the supply runs out». Thats gross. What are they talking about their «supply». Do they really stash thousands of baby back ribs for months and months and only give them out on the weekends?
I also found two places that serve significantly better BBQ. Ashley’s BBQ on 15^th and Center and Speed Queen BBQ on 12^th and Walnut is miles ahead of Famous Daves (of course about on par with the original famous daves before the new menu).
Sorry Famous Dave’s, I really wish I could continue being a customer, but your BBQ is disappointing.

OK, So I know that this is not a down home, collards and greens, corn on the cob BBQ joint. But for the sake of Pete, we’re in Wisconsin! If a BBQ place has a real smoker, complete with hickory wood, and they can churn out massive quantities of consistent barbecue? Well, I can spend my money there.
The ribs were almost perfect– and I mean I’ve had ribs from all over the country– Memphis, KC, Austin, SC. But the ones here in Waukesha, well– It just about brought tears to my eyes. It’s been too long since I’ve had a nice rib, pull off the bone (NOT fall of the bone, eh?) with a beautiful smoke ring. The sauce was great of course (They are good with the sauces, buy them at Menards) but more importantly, they sauced the rib with just the right amount.
Now a self admitted BBQ junkie like me might want a dry rubbed rib, so’s I could add my own sauces, but the choice they made in the kitchen was good enough. Good enough I say.
As an after thought, the brisket withe the Georgia Mustard sauce is deeevine. Divine, I tell ya.
BBQ so good, you’ll have to go to church in the morning. (Yes, I stole this)

Without a doubt, Famous Dave’s has the best St. Louis Style spareribs I have ever eaten in a restaurant, let a lone a national chain restaurant. Really. These are spare ribs, not back ribs, by the way. Prepared correctly, as Famous Dave’s does, spare ribs beat the heck out of the back ribs.
We’ve eaten at this restaurant in Waukesha on numerous occasions. The food is consistently excellent. Unfortunately, the service is also consistently iffy/​touch-​n-​go; sometimes there is a wait to get greeted at the table, a rush-​rush attitude (sometimes) and, on occasion, you only see the server two times; when they take your order (someone else serves the food) and when they give you the check, thus, the four stars instead of five.