Famous Dave's BBQ Ribs & Blues

This place is a good chain bbq but it'll be a while before I return to them. I barely made it to the bathroom at home. I'll try them again in a year or two. Pros: Love the brisket Cons: Almost pooped my pants more

Deep in the heart of uptown, this BBQ pit will surely fill you up and make you want more, but you'll have... more

Deep in the heart of uptown, this BBQ pit will surely fill you up and make you want more, but you'll have to stop from the pain. Fun atmosphere wit... more

Deep in the heart of uptown, this BBQ pit will surely fill you up and make you want more, but you'll have to stop from the pain. Fun atmosphere wit... more

We took our family there during the uptown artfair, we thought the children would love the atmosphere. We arrived at 7:45 and were bullied into paying a cover charge for a show that didn't start until "9 or 9:30" (thats $25 just to be seated for dinner...whatever). Right, we have kids with us like we are going to sit there all night for a show with kids, we told him that we were just there for dinner. The "bouncer" told us if we got out of there before the show started we could get our "cover charge" back...so basically everything relied on our servers capability. Didn't enjoy anything as I felt we were in a hurry to order eat and get the hell out. The food was comparable to that of fast food or a frozen entree. The server was unpleasant...you don't go out to see someone else having a "bad day". Says a lot about the management. more

I was recently at Famous Dave?s with a group of 7 people; it was on a Sunday evening so it was not busy at 7pm. Because the group did not all arrive at the same time, many of them waited at the bar until our table was ready. Once we all were there we went to our table escorted by the hostess (some of us still had our beverages in hand). After 18 minutes one of the members of our group went to talk to the manager about getting a server to wait on us as the assigned server was not waiting on us. We received a new server, throughout the meal the service was alright. At the end of the meal when asked if we needed anything, we said no, hoping to get our check. It took another 10 minutes until another member of our group tracked down the server to get our check. We paid and left. Little did the staff of the restaurant know that every single person at the table was at one point in time or currently in the hospitality industry, so we know what is good and bad service. Some suggestions to the staff at Famous Dave?s: 1) Have the hostess communicate with the server when they are seating a group (especially if there have been at the bar drinking beforehand) 2) Let the serving staff know that just because their friends or someone they think is attractive is in the bar, others need service as well... (There is such a thing a too much customer service) The food was very good and the "open jam" session was very good as well. Maybe next time I go there, I?ll eat before and get my beverages at the bar... Pros: Good food, entertaiment, price/amount of food Cons: Inattentive staff. poor customer service. more

This is the most fun location to go if you are into Jazz/Blues. Here's a place you can go in Uptown, eat, and stay for the entertainment. The service was good. There was a huge line-up but they still got us in and seated in less than 20 min. Super service! The wait staff was super on top of everything. No complaints! Pros: Fun fun! Cons: none more

Sunday night is a crapshoot with open mic night and the management may want to consider buying a gong. It's painful watching someone develop stage legs, and you would have to be a double-fisted drinker to make it through most of the acts that I saw. Dave's is always a good bet for live music but don't waste your time on Sunday. Pros: Monday-Saturday Cons: Sunday more

I love this spot. I have been coming here for years and I never have had a bad experience. The Uptown location really makes you feel like you have left Minneapolis and you have just walked into a BBQ joint in Chicago. Service is always fast and friendly. Pros: Great Food, Quick Service, great atmosphere Cons: none more

Famous Dave's is a popular BBQ chain here in MN, but I have never been to, or never will go to, another location other than here in Uptown. I belive its the only one with music. The atmosphere is great. Food is outstanding, and I'm not even a huge fan of BBQ. Brisket is perfect. Happy hour is one of the best for drinking. Pros: food, happy hour, music more

I was taken to this restaurant as a surprise on my birthday. I had been to other Famous Dave's and loved the food and ambience, especially the recorded music. This was one of the best evenings out I have ever spent. The food was wonderful, we had the 'garbage can lid' full of wonderful bar-b-que and were entertained by a live blues band. The whole experience was just wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone who loves bar-b-que and blues. Pros: Bar-B-Que Food, Ambience, Staff more

The food is wonderful and the live music is a plus. Good place to just go and eat great bbq and have a good time more

The food is typical of FD's really great Ribs and Que. But the music turns a regular dinner out into an event you want to share with good friends and family. Always take out of towners there when they visit and I like to take my girlfriend to the Sunday brunch for a special event. Don't plan much after going there you will be completely full, maybe a little tipsy but I guarantee you will be very satisfied. Pros: Live Music, Laid back, Super Brunch Cons: , a little crowded, Wait for a table more

Great ribs if your looking for a commercialized BBQ joint. Ribs have a good taste but are not what I feel to be true BBQ. There are many smaller BBQ locations in the metro area with what I feel is true BBQ. more

Love the Georgia Chopped Pork sandwiches and of course the ribs! Best sauce, best beans, best muffins, best slaw. Love those garlic mashed potatoes!! Oink, Oink!! Pros: Fun atmosphere, Great food Cons: cost is high more

Famous Dave's is an "OK" generic BQ joint. You can find then anywhere. However it is pretty weak that it is rated #1 in a city the size of Minneapolis. Is there nothing with a little more local flavor? Please advise!! more

I keep seeing Famous Dave's, in the various locations, rated quite highly. It's OK, but not the spectacular food that the ratings seem to imply. The ribs are what I judge a BBQ place by. FD's were underdone, in my estimation. The meat had to be gnawed off the bones. Properly done ribs should not quite fall off the bone, but there should be no work involved in getting all the meat. And they were also a little short on the smoking time/flavor. The sides are good, too, but it's not really authentic Texas or Kansas City style BBQ, which is what they try to be. Pros: selection of sauces, assorted menu, numerous locations Cons: crowded, marginal BBQ prep more

Being from the South I can be pretty critical when it comes to BBQ restaurants in and around Minneapolis. Famous Dave's in my opinion is good for there pulled pork and ribs, but the brisket, sausage and chicken need help. When I am craving for BBQ I usually cook it myself, but if I feel like dining out Dave's is a safe bet. The ambience is that of places back home, service is pretty good and prices are reasonable. If they would smoke there brisket and sausage it would make Dave's a more complete BBQ restaurant. If they are smoking there brisket and/or sausage then someone's doing something wrong. Pros: ambience, service, price more

We recently tried Famous Dave's at Calhoun Square for a late lunch, as were pleasantly surprised that it was much different (and MUCH better) than other Twin Cities Dave's. My finace found the ribs flavorful and delicious, though the cut of meat wasn't the greatest. The usually flavorful shack fries were cold, yet were still tasty (Good potatoes, good seasoning). I ordered the chicken wild rice soup and caesar salad, and was delighted with the creamy texture of the soup and the bountiful, all white meat chicken. The caesar dressing, however, was far too tangy for my taste buds but should be well recieved by those who like "zip" in their meal. We will be back for dinner! Pros: Fabulous setting, Lots of tables, Hearty portions Cons: Parking is sparse, Slow service, Expensive more

There was 12 of us they put us at a table that would seat six.. Two empty tables by us the waiter did not want to give them up. our bill was 314.00 the waiter put in the automatic 17% So as far as service he new he was being paid a good chunk of change from us, I had never been treated so bad in a resturant in my life!!! Then there was the 5.00 cover charge I do not mind paying, but when you are haveing diner and you just paid 7.00 for parking come on we have to pay to get in!! No one in my party will ever return agian. Food was cold, and our waiter never came back to check on us. more