I really enjoy their food. Their ribs are very good and you get a really nice selection of sides to go with your meal. I think the price for a meal is pretty good since you get a generous portion. The service is excellent and the desserts are also
(4)
Jerry B.
For a chain, this place serves great food and a lot of it. Last time I ordered the full slab of ribs, 1/2 wet baby back and 1/2 Memphis dry. Took home half and loved the dry rub ones the best. If you get a desert, have at least three people to help you eat it. It is my now favorite BBQ joint. The hand cut fries are fully cooked and taste great! Surprising place to find in a mall!
(5)
Adam H.
As you may know i am not a fan of chains, but more a fan of convenience. So when my son and i where in Novi and wanted an early dinner we pulled into Famous Dave's. I consider myself s real "RIB GUY" so my expectations where low. To me RIbs are not "chain-able". I am a fan of Phoenicia in Birmingham or Slow's BBQ in Detroit and even Tunnel BBQ in Windsor Ca. I ordered the St. louis style ribs w/ cole slaw and mac-n-cheese with a piece of corn bread. I must say the food was quite impressive. The waitstaff was very cordial. The restaurant exceeded my expectations.
(3)
Gregory R.
My fiance and I love coming to Famous Daves. We started ordering coffee about 6 visits ago and is one of the main reasons we come back. The food is great but the coffee....the coffee is an unexpected surprise. On our last visit (just a little over a week ago) we decided to ask what coffee they use so maybe we could enjoy it at home. Our server that night was Keri and it was an absolute delight to have her. We asked her about the coffee and she explained that she couldn't bring the packaging out as it was commercial packaging and all goes in there coffee pot (or something like that). She offered to take a pic with our phone as an alternative. We complied and not only got our pic of the coffee but a few selfies on accident. We all had a good laugh about them. It was just great to be interacted with on a natural level not as if she was reading from a script. She gave us the perfect amount of attention, was never over bearing and was just an overall joy to have. We love the atmosphere, the food and of course the coffee. The food comes out hot, it always tastes great, is always cooked correctly and really it could not be better. Try getting the coffee next time you go in and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Wow! It has been a while since we have been here, so we decided to hit it up, knowing that we could do a Yelp review after. It was a Tuesday night and the place wasn't very busy. The other half of the restaurant was basically empty. Now to preface our bad review, we are not expecting 5 star service, but we do expect timely refills, food within 20 minutes of ordering, and getting out of the restaurant within an hour. We only eat out at non peak times, so I think these are fair expectations. Well, things started off fine as we were welcomed, given drinks, and our order was taken within 5 minutes. Awesome! That was the last time we saw our waitress for about 30 minutes. About 20 minutes after sitting down, I actually flagged down the hostess for a refill on my Pepsi. Our waitress finally came by and said it would be another minute or so. 5 minutes later we were given lukewarm food that had clearly been sitting under a lamp for a while. My wife needed a refill in the middle of her meal, but our waitress didn't come by until the end of our meal. My wife had sprite, but what came as a refill was soda water. Frustrated about the entire experience, my wife just wanted to leave. Unfortunately, we had to wait another 15 minutes for the waitress to return to pick up our bill. The food was fine, but it would have been better had it been hot. All in all, we will not be returning any time soon. Maybe in about 6 months. As one of the previous reviews stated, the nice thing about this place, is that it is within walking distance of so many other restaurants.
(1)
Ernie M.
Excellent Cat Fish. The Sauce is perfectly paired with the Cajun spice with the fish-----both just spicy enough!! The sides of beans and grilled pineapple were great. My wife had the chicken rice soup and a Caesar salad and said they were very good. The friends with us all got the ribs and loved them. Abby H. was as good a server as you could ever hope for---perfection.
(3)
L E.
Ordered the All-American BBQ Feast for Two. It was more than enough for the four of us. My mom's a light eater anyway. The beef brisket was tender and delicious... So is the ribs and chicken. As for beverage, had the strawberry lemonade, which I didn't care much for. Tasted medicinal :(
(4)
Maya C.
A very good meal! My husband had the St. Louis ribs and I had the pulled barbecue chicken sandwich. All the meat was tender and flavorful! The portions were more than generous and some of the sauces were quite good. The service was great! Only advice would be to clean things up at bit. The menus were sticky and dirty. The sauce bottles also needed a good cleaning. I would say keep things clean and fresh even if the place is getting old.
(4)
Cristina B.
My guy friend and I dined here this evening after a long afternoon of shopping at the mall. While it's probably not the best idea to go to the mall famished, we were each able to work up our appetites for our big meal at Famous Dave's! Parking was a bit chaotic, although that seems to me the norm in an area full of shopping centers and other restaurants. The hostess greeted us both with a smile and kindly made sure to get us a table ready in a moments notice, even though the place itself was incredibly packed. Because my friend and I were both starving at this point, we opted for the barbecue nachos as an appetizer. The large portion (told you we were hungry!) is almost $10 and it's reasonably priced. We both loved it and ended up bringing half of it home. Not too messy, not soggy, perfectly seasoned with the right amount of sauce and toppings. I'd recommend this to split with a big group! I choose the barbecue pulled chicken sandwich and it was scrumptious! The chicken was not fatty at all and was cooked for just the amount of time to leave it soft and not soggy at all, from the added sauces .... a winner in my book! Actually cannot wait to eat my leftovers and my mouth is watering again just typing this! Service was a tad slow, as I did mention the place was quite busy. My friend and I didn't mind, however, because we were both lost in each other's company. We both will be returning again! Sign up for their club to get special deals and even a free sandwich!
(4)
Kate J.
My meal was ok--I had the country roasted chicken, but my SO got the brisket and said it was tough and just generally not very good. We won't be back.
(2)
Jill H.
Yet another place I've been to a hundred times but haven't reviewed. Had a little wait this Sunday evening for a table of 7 but no big deal. The front desk guy kept us updated on our table's status so we weren't left in the dark. Food was great - from burnt tip sandwich, brisket and ribs to chopped pork. There was generous amount of chopped pork on my platter with no fat. Topped off with a little Sweet & Zesty sauce, the meat was perfection. The cole slaw and fries are my go-to sides and enjoyable as expected. Love their corn muffins, too! Service was good, he kept refills flowing and moved our meal along smoothly. I recommend for large parties, families of all ages or just a casual dinner out. Unfortunately they don't take reservations or call aheads so you'll have to nominate someone to get there early and get your name in.
(4)
Ethan L.
Chain food with a specialty price. This place isn't horrible, but if barbecue is going to be your calling, then you should do it better than this. It's basically on the level of Applebees or Red Robin, but with its focus on barbeque. Overall, not the worst place to eat, but I'm not going to choose to go there.
(2)
B F.
Usually come here during their lunch hours. They have a lunch special (2 meat lunch special with sides) that my wife and I order. The real reason why I personally like it here is the variety of sauces. Occasionally I like to try their most spicy sauce, but usually drench everything with their 2nd, "Devil's Spit". Or I mix all their sauces up like a mad scientist. Food - 4 Service - 4 Price - 4 Variety - 4
(4)
Julian B.
Ive only gotten carryout here. Have eaten inside at the Roseville locale. I havent tried all the bbq spots around town, but hve had bbq at my fair share. My top spot was Memphis Smoke. Im more partially to drub rub at rib joints but like wet too. I usually stick to ribs. Usually the baby back. Bottom line, other than one or two other spots, these are my fave ribs. Out of my fave four this is tops. Quality and taste. Plus when you say well done they char the ribs a bit. Love that. Their sides are tasty. The onion slaw and green beans are my usual. Writing this makes me want some now. Although this is a chain, the ribs are on point.
(4)
Samantha J.
I was in Novi Famous Dave's on Friday evening and had the best service I have had in years. Monica was so pleasant, gave excellent suggestions, and even paired my wine with what I ordered. I just can't rave about her enough!! The food was excellent as well. My boyfriend and I had a small pork nacho as an appetizer and it was delicious!! Monica recommended the pork on them and it was a good decision. My boyfriend had the burnt end and rib combo and I had the new short rib. I absolutely love the Mac and cheese with the jalapeños and the Wilber beans!! Monica told me she works Wednesday mornings in the bar, so needless to say, I will definitely be coming in for lunch on Wednesdays. :)
(5)
Danny M.
Really have never had a bad meal at Dave's. The wife and I go in with the blinders on never looking at the menu and always get the same thing, wings, St. Louis ribs and a Caesar salad, and of course some tall frosty beers (great selection)never disappointed. Recently attended a Shorts Brewery event at Dave's with pairing of delicious beer and food...Amazing..priced well too. Hope to see more events like that.
(5)
Lori M.
We attended a food & beer pairing event last night. It was amazing. Short's Brewery & Famous Dave's kitchen put together 5 courses that were fantastic! The vegetable package was most delicious. Pairing Nicey Spicey and Smoked Salmon Spread was great! Bread Pudding and Happy Jack...over the top! My husband and I are FD regulars. However our friends who joined us were newbies. All three were thrilled and plan to come back. One said, "I couldn't have been more surprised with how good this was. I only came because you guys invited me. We have to do this again. It was great!" The other two loved it so much they took a carry-out home for their son, studying for an exam. Thanks Famous Dave's for inviting Short's Brewery into your house. We loved it!!
(5)
Alex C.
Came in for the $8 to go lunch special. Got a pulled pork sandwich, drink, and fries. Everything was prepared quickly and the employees were very friendly. The food was still hot when I got home and was very good. I have no complaints.
(5)
Laurie B.
This is a mixed review. My husband LOVED the wings, I did not. We both agreed that they were not greasy and a little on the dry side. We both liked the more celery seed tasting BBQ sauce on them. Husband said they were the best wings he'd ever eaten. This is something from a guy from Buffalo whose eaten a whole lot of wings. I was not even in like let alone love. My salad was good, his coleslaw was too creamy. Corn muffin was unexceptional but fine. They used to have much better food and recipes but things change and we do live to eat another meal so not too attached to my uninspired view of this one. My husband is STILL raving about it some 30 minutes later so the review is mostly based on him.
(4)
Liz T.
Many years ago (in a galaxy far away), I would go to Famous Dave's for their rib tips. My favorite thing in the whole world from FDs. Something happened and they changed the menu and only had the spicy hot rib tips. Major disappointment. I avoided FDs for a couple of years. We agreed to meet friends here for dinner prior to driving to the Suburban Collection (and only pay to park one car) and I was surprised to see burnt ends on the appetizer menu - ordered those on a baked potato, with a salad. Tasted great, tender, bits of meat - what would be better? (Hard cider on the menu, but not complaining) Happy camper. (All the other food looked good, but I had bits of rib. Who cared?)
This place did not fail to deliver. the burnt ends and the baby back ribs were absolutely delicious. I would def go back again Famous Dave's is on point.
(5)
Rob F.
Used to like this place but we got handed two filthy menus with ants crawling all over them LAST time. Gross! Best thing about this place is that its located within walking distance of other restaurants!
(2)
Tim K.
For a chain place they have some pretty awesome ribs. They were super tender and moist and had some good smoke flavor. Dave did it right here. Their burnt ends were just okay though and could have cooked longer so they could be as tender as possible. We had a few tough chewy pieces and when it comes to burnt ends (because of the added cook time) they should never be tough. One of my favorite things to eat either in general or especially as a side item with some good BBQ is Mac & Cheese, however I do not care for theirs much at all. It is very soupy and the added Jalapeno just adds heat and not much flavor. I was pretty disappointed in this department. We had a party of 11 this visit and typically with groups that big they will have two Servers tag team the table, but we just had one. Surprisingly she did an awesome job and our overall Service was spot on. Also normally for parties of that size gratuity is included, but it's not here. As a former Server myself it was nice to have gratuity on large parties included because on occasion you would get cheapskates who stiff the tip on good service, but as a Consumer I prefer it the way they do it here. Reason being is because I tip on overall Service and do not think someone should automatically be entitled to something they may not earn. If you do a good job then I will gladly tip 20% or greater, but if you don't then you really do not deserve that much. I cannot in good conscious give this place a perfect score and saying it deserves four stars is a bit much so I am going with three. Plus the description of "A-OK" fits best for this place anyways. So let it be written, so let it be done, for I am the Pharaoh.
(3)
Divadoc T.
I recently went back with my family on a Saturday and I was pleased to see the return of the lunch menu until 5pm. The food was fresh, portions generous and I had a pleasant experience.
(4)
lorenzo r.
My first night in Novi after a long drive, hotel check in and pre-setup for my convention the next day I was gassed and just wanted something quick. I'd never been to Famous Dave's so why not give it a shot. After I found the take out entrance I decided on rib tips. Rib tips are how I judge a rib place. Kinda like how Pad Thai is how I judge a Thai restaurant. If they screw up a basic dish like that then you haven't spent a lot of money but you should have a basic idea about the place and if you'll give it a second chance. I think the person who took my order was named Beverly, and she was very helpful. She recommended I not get the dry rub tips but with the sauce on them instead. She was dead on. Not only that but the cornbread muffin is delicious. I ate it first. Best tips I've had in a while and the cole slaw was good as well. Made for a good night of watching Fast & Furious 6 on HBO back at the hotel.
(4)
Johanna B.
Have eaten at Famous Dave's many times and always get the Baby Back Ribs. They are consistently very good to outstanding. I wish they had better sides, though.
(4)
Phil G.
Update: Talked to one of the owners/;partners. He mentioned that the General Manager was wrong in his interpretation of the birthday coupon by limiting the $ amount. I mentioned that we all make mistakes... However, it's the GM's flippant attitude is what really upset me the most and is unacceptable especially in the service business....
(1)
Sarah R.
The food is pretty good, but I think it's a bit pricey. I'm a fan of the burnt ends, though and I dig their BBQ sauce. Not too thin, not too thick, just the right amount of smoke and tang.
(4)
Tamara Y.
I was fully expecting to hate this place. Mostly because I generally don't enjoy chain restaurants. But I didn't hate it. Not at all. The pulled pork was tasty, as was the variety of sauces. The sides were tasty too, although heavy on salt. The sides are also heavy on the spices. I'm completely fine with it -- actually, the more the merrier. But the hubby is spice averse. The spice averse folks will have to stick to french fries, because there are jalapenos in the mac and cheese and baked beans and horseradish in the coleslaw.
(4)
Mean Eyed C.
Minnesota native, been to Dave's many many times. This one is GROSS! Meat was edible at best, no Wilbur beans on menu, very dry leftover brisket. Wings were burnt beyond recognition. Needs help desperately or close!
(2)
Gary A.
I'm honestly not sure what to think about the place. It's usually very busy, especially for dinner on the weekend. But it's location on restaurant row in Novi, all of these places seem busy most weekend nights. I like BBQ, but I have not had great success with famous Dave's, ultimately I have found their BBQ to be to peppery. Not spicey hot, but peppery. I know ts a chain, and the food prep is limited. And they have multiple sauce options on each table, with a roll of paper towels for knapkins. They do have a good selection of BBQ styles and options, and even non BBQ selections. There are many things to explore and ts a friendly place. So it's worth giving tthis place a try, it might be your cup of tea.
(3)
Albert E.
absolutely horrible! every piece of meat was dry, my kid's mac/cheese bland and no taste and not even warm. rotisserie chicken at costco or sams's tastes better than what i had. worst of all, it wasn't even that, 4-5 other tables and it took forever to get our food and 5 min for the dumb waitress to return my credit card. never ever will go return to this place again!!!
(1)
Anonymous R.
Badly understaffed. Wait times for drinks, food, bill, were way to long. Even worse, after bringing this to the attention of the waiter himself and the manager...they give us nothing but excuses. Food is ok. You can spend the same amount of money at a real BBQ joint. There are a lot of great places to go in the metro area. Don't waste your money and go here.
(2)
Rick S.
Great BBQ. Not quite West Texas great - but definitely MI great :-) Pork is very good. Ribs some of the best ever. Good sides as well.
(4)
Nicole R.
We had to watch group after group go through and be seated after wait times of 10-20 minutes while our group waited over an hour. This isn't the first time at this restaurant we've experienced this here either. The service (managers, etc.) were absolutely unhelpful and not accommodating to customers. A HUGE recommendation would be to not seat large parties until all the guests have arrived and also have a better system of placing their customers in the restaurant. We will never be returning. I can find a better meal and service than this elsewhere.
(1)
MaryLiz S.
You can easily feel overwhelmed by all the huge slabs of meat and the t-shirts that invite you to "pig out." If you get the All-American BBQ Feast, it literally comes in a galvanized steel trash can lid. You'll have leftovers for a few days. I absolutely LOVE their mix of blues music. Always a treat. I hate to wait in the crowded lobby until nearly all of our large group has arrived before being seated. The lobby is usually packed around dinner time. They give you a pager so you can know when it's your turn. Once hubby and I (just the two of us) got there at exactly 5:00 pm, and there was no wait, but the place started to fill up while we dined. The meat is good, but the side dishes bore me. Overcooked corn on the cob. Come on, guys, really? Can't you find some way to make it taste like it hasn't been on the boil for an hour? The corn bread ... dry, but then that's corn bread anyway, if it sits around for more than a few minutes. The plank-shaped potato fries are great when you use BBQ sauce in place of ketchup, but I usually gain a lot of temporary water weight from all the sodium in the sauce. The baked beans and green beans ... not thrilling. Apples, maybe OK... Last time I was there, I noticed that they had steamed broccoli. Probably the only healthy thing they serve. (Wink!) Now that I know my way around the menu, I end up getting one of the huge dinner salads with a reasonably-sized piece of blackened salmon or BBQ on top of a bed of greens, and a dressing tinged with BBQ sauce. That way, I can get enough vegetation to keep my insides happy. Hubby usually gets one of the racks o' ribs, and shares the leftovers with me. Our cat, Victor, begs for some Famous Dave's if we're eating leftovers at home. Must be good, then. ;-) After about a dozen trips to Dave's to meet with friends, hubby and I decided to learn how to make tender ribs on our own at home. So the place is no longer the meat mecca it used to be. Still, I would not turn down the chance to visit. Tip: You can get some bread pudding to go if you're too stuffed after pigging out.
(3)
Becky K.
Can't say anything about the food because I didn't get any. Waited 10 minutes and NO ONE came to our table so we left. It's called customer service and they have none.
(1)
Scott O.
The best BBQ in Novi, the place offers very quick service. For parties of two to four ask to be seated in the south (bar) dining area. It's much quieter and the service is better. The rib tips aren't nearly as good as the most excellent ribs. The BBQ chicken is consistently excellent too. The carryout is good here too. Don't miss the Wilbur beans!
(4)
Rich F.
Famous Dave's, although a chain, is the standard for BBQ in Michigan. Excellent ribs, good chopped pork, good brisket. Good sides, great corn bread. You'll never get a bad meal, and with 5 or 6 different BBQ sauces to choose from, every palette will be pleased.
(5)
Jess S.
I absolutely love great bbq, growing up in a family who smoked their own meats and made their own bbq sauce I'm always looking for a restaurant that will live up to my very high standards. At first I was wary about Famous Daves being that it's a chain and I generally steer away from corporate establishments, but when a friend of mine dragged me there on a Friday night I was more than impressed. First of all it was Friday night in Metro Detroit and we wanted bbq...which usually means you will be waiting several hours for even two of you to get a table (i.e. Slows and Lockharts). I was shocked to be seated immediately, which then made me again suspicious they weren't all that great. Wrong again, we had the burnt end appetizer which was perfectly charred and very tender. Our server Katie recommended the feast for two and we could not believe how much food we received for the price. My friend had her heart set on baby back ribs and I had my heart set on the classic St. Louis style. Katie had an impressive knowledge on the different cuts, the different rubs and different sauces on both styles. She convinced my friend to try the St. Louis, and these are clearly their signature item for a reason. We were too full for dessert, but they are all made in house and the bread pudding looked like it was to die for. The service couldn't have been better, she was so upbeat and you could really tell Famous Daves is just a fun place to work. At the end of our meal the manager came over and chatted about our experience, he and I talked about the different smoking processes and you could really tell he took pride in what he does. I will for sure be back to Famous Daves and am happy I was persuaded to check them out in the first place!
(5)
Richard F.
We haven't been to this place in years, but we decided to give it a shot again. It wasn't bad at all and the prices and portions were still relatively good. We both ordered the two meat platter although we ordered completely different meats and sides. I had the really large, juicy and tasty smokey link and I also had a quarter of a chicken, I had Cole Slaw and potato salad as sides. Score on all four counts. I will go back,
(3)
Hailey M.
My family and I enjoy eating out at restaurants and rarely give below a 20% tip. Tonight's visit to Famous Dave's warranted a tip well below 20%, which is why I felt the need to write a review. Our server was Steve and he gave us some of the worst service we have ever seen. I had to ask him three times for a beverage refill and my mom asked twice for a water refill, which ended up never being refilled. It was rare that he would come to our table to ask if we needed anything and when we did, he would rush off in a hurry only to forget what we asked for. When he brought us our bill, Steve completely forgot the carryout we ordered twenty minutes prior. He tried to play dumb and say that it would be right up and that he just had it on a separate bill, but the extra long wait told us he had forgotten to add it on. We were very disappointed with the poor, inefficient service we had today.
(1)
Nijole T.
I only get a need for meat a few times a year but when I do BBQ is best. Real BBQ, not this crap, thats for damn sure. I thought give it a whirl, its dinner time and its a chain we had never been to. It was packed so waited at the bar for a table. When it comes to chains, I have learned just because you have to wait with an annoying beeper doesn't mean it'll be good, it means way too many people fall for this commercial mumbo jumbo, as did we.... My husband smarter than I could just tell it was going to be crap and did the unthinkable for him, only ordered a starter, I was speechless but let him get away with it, which was great so that we didn't leave too much money for this garage. He had the sampler with ribs (horrible and fake), chicken (again fake buggets out a bag), corn bread (dry and yucky) and onion strings. What a waste of money. I got the bbq briskit with a side of potato strings and salad. The briskit I had my son eat, not great at all and can you believe the potato strings were those tiny potato chips out of the can? They were never a real potato, not cooked, or fried, just a tiny bowl of cold chip stings, unbelieveable! The best or only ok part abutthe dinner here was the 4 house bbq sauces on the table, they were fine, just wish there was something edible to put them on! Save yourself the wait or even better the trip here, it straight sucks!
(1)
Diane S.
There used to be some healthy options on the menu, but those are gone now. We went because others in the group wanted BBQ, but for me there was not anything on the menu. I would think with the concerns about health the restaurant would at least have a choice for those of us who want to eat something healthier. How hard can it be to have a low fat dressing option?
(1)
Madison B.
My wife and I were in town for something and needed a late lunch/early dinner on a Saturday evening. We started looking over Google at the restaurants off of Novi Road near the Mall and near the plaza with Wal-Mart and the menu here caught our eye. I wasn't feeling great and didn't want to leave the room so we agreed she'd run over there and order/bring it back as she had to grab a few things elsewhere at the same time. We settled on the Sampler appetizer to share while I got a burger and she got chicken (the country roasted chicken I think). It took a bit for her to get back; but the place was very busy (it was about 5pm on a Saturday by the time she got there to place the order). When she returned I could smell the food before she came into the room and it smelled great. The sampler platter consisted of several things - onion straws, rib tips, boneless wings, chicken strips, and catfish fingers along with four sauces. It was enough food to take up two boxes (which were cutely labelled as "Samp" and "ler") and it was well worth the $15 or so we paid for it. Granted that's expensive for an appetizer; but this easily would've been an appetizer for 4-6 people; for the two of us it was almost enough for our meal. All of it was very good; my wife was especially fond of the rib tips. I went ahead and struggled with my burger as by now I wasn't really hungry. The burger was very good - specifically it was the "Jack and Stacked" burger with jack cheese and onion straws. I thought it was exceptionally good - yes I've had better - but not many. The fries were fries; nothing special, but not bad. My wife ended up saving her food for later as she was full after the appetizer; but when she did eat it, she liked the chicken a lot. Her sides were the mac and cheese which she said was good but a little spicy for her; and the cole slaw which was spicy enough that she didn't finish that. Now neither of us is big on spicy food per se; so perhaps she should've been a little more judicious in what she ordered. She didn't say either was bad, just more spicy than *she preferred* so i can't really knock them for that since they were clearly flagged as being spicy. All told it was a bit expensive for carryout; but largely due to the $15 appetizer - removing that I didn't find it any worse than any other casual chain (Applebee's, etc) and we'd love to go back. Apparently there are some in Missouri, just none near St. Louis which is too bad and hopefully they will rectify this in the future.
(5)
Rebecca G.
Are you kidding me, over 2 hours for my food to be served, the manager said it was because power was out in the area....sorry no power outages, that came up on my DTE map, they offered us a free dessert, that took our waiter 45 minutes to get a managers ok on it.........the pulled pork was like someone took a pile of salt and just dumped it. Will never go back
(1)
Gaylynn B.
This restaurant and the manager made someone's day very special today. A friend of ours is 93 and a WWII veteran. His daughter took him to lunch there today because he's always wanted to eat there. They live in Ohio but were traveling from Oscoda, Mi back home to Ohio. When they arrived for lunch the waitress noticed the veterans WWII hat he was wearing and told him to come back again on Nov. 11th for a free veterans appreciation lunch. His daughter explained that they couldn't be back because they lived in Ohio. A few minutes later the manager came to their table and told the veteran that his lunch was free today and thanked the veteran for his service to our country. This restaurant and staff are an outstanding example and certainly worthy of our patronage.
(5)
Mindy B.
Fantastic meal and our server, Andy, gave fantastic service. We always have a great experience at this Famous Dave's! It's our go-to place for Barbecue. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Betty B.
I am not really a bbq fan, but I like this place. I wished they cooked the briskit a little more, otherwise, very good. If you like fruity alcohol, try the Mama's Punch. YUM!! Trust me, you will only need one. ;)
(4)
Janie D.
Beautiful building, great ambience, service friendly and prompt. Food was middle of the road. Decent brisket. Ribs were a little too crispy.
(3)
Gary N.
I have been to many Famous Dave's from Wisconsin to the Gulf and this is one of the cleanest and nicest ones I have seen. Same good food, good staff and service.
(4)
Damon L.
The first time I went to a Famous Dave's - I was in Virginia. I had never heard of the place. I was with my family at the time and we all decided to check it out. It was excellent. Taste, portions, atmosphere. I remember leaving and thinking - wow - I wish there was a place like this back home. After moving to metro Detroit - I realized the restaurant had opened in the area. There is a location in Novi and one in Westland. I had to go back. The next few times around it was good - but not as I had recalled for some reason. Maybe I had just been hungry years ago - or it was an off day this time around. Maybe things are just not as great in Detroit (that I wouldn't be surprised). Then I went up to Minneapolis recently. Visited the Mall of American - and while there I decided to stop by Dave's again (it had been a while). It was rather underwhelming to be very honest. It is almost like the corporate / chain aspect has taken this place over and the food is being sacrificed. I won't go below a 3 star rating on Dave's because there is worse BBQ and I guess I'm holding on to the place I originally knew / tasted. But, I think you have to pick and choose on the menu and your experience will be based on what you order. Stay away from the burgers and most of the appetizers. I can honestly say the boneless wings are terrible. They are store bought frozen and not pleasing. The ribs, brisket, etc. (standard meals) are typically good. You definitely get a good size portion. I have had most everything from ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, etc. I actually had the rib tips basket most recently and it was way more than I needed. If you like a good rub - the spices are a nice blend. They have multiple BBQ sauces to choose from that you utilize at your own discretion. Most are either sweet based or spicy / hot. Cornbread is also tasty.
(3)
Robert M.
This is a great place for lunch. Famous Daves offers lunch specials all week, including weekends. My favorite is the two meat lunch special for $8.99. We started with the onion strings which were very crispy and tasted great with the sweet and zesty bbq sauce. I had the ribs and wings. The ribs today were meaty and tender. I loved the sauce. The service was great. We received a warm welcome and were seated promptly. The waitress was very attentive and made sure that we had an enjoyable experience. We are looking forward to our next visit. Keep up the good work.
(4)
Justine M.
Typical Chain BBQ restaurant. Friend and I went and split the large platter that comes w/ everything! (Fries, corn bread, brisket, pork, chicken, coleslaw, etc.) There were about 6 sauce selections already on the table. Price of the entire meal was around $38. Not bad quantity and price but not the best BBQ I've ever had.
(3)
Kurt P.
I used to love Famous Daves until I had the opportunity to experience real Texas BBQ. This isn't it. Service is OK nothing special. My memory of this place far exceeded the reality. I had brisket which was OK but not as smoky as I prefer. Portions are small but laid on Texas toast to look larger. It was lunch but still I was disappointed. I tried a side of grilled pineapple which I did enjoy, it was a light alternative to other options. But, after leaving I couldn't think of any compelling reason to come back.
(2)
Neil Y.
Consistency is their key. Whether you eat at the FD in Novi, Roseville or East St. Louis the quality remains in tact. Very difficult for chains to do this. Overly generous portions of tender, meaty, fall-off-the-bone quality. Sides are always done right; crunchy fries and sweet corn. I do agree that the prices are high but again the portions are huge. I recommend the platters for 2, 3, or 4 depending on your party size or appetites. You get a sample of all of their offerings from pulled pork, ribs, sausage, and that slow cooked brisket. YUM! The cornbread is decent according to my wife. She doesn't care for the sauces but we disagree here. Napkins are always on stand by at your table in real BBQ fashion--a roll of paper towel. Service is standard but sometimes great, depends on the day and server. My wife is a Sonny's Real Pit BBQ and everything else falls to the wayside. Next to Sonny's (which the closest one is 350 miles away in KY) I give Famous Dave's its due. They rock when it comes to the kid's meal. Good price and very generous with the food, enough so that both kids share one meal and there is always some to take home. Props to the team at the Novi store because the day I did find a hair in my food, they replaced the meal for free with a new serving and no arguments. This is why we come back.
(4)
Beverly S.
My husband & I have been going to Famous Daves at least 15 years when our daughter & her new husband moved to St.Paul MN. At that time, Dave himself was at his restaurant in St.Paul greeting guests & trying out new recipes on frequent customers. We'd ALWAYS beg Dave to open a store in Michigan. And, FINALLY...franchises began popping up all over the place! My husband & I SOLD our BBQ grill when Famous Daves opened in MI! OMG... Just the thought of their meaty, tender, lean & juicy Ribs makes my knees weak! We actually STOPPED BBQing because Daves was better, less time consuming, less labor intensive, more delicious!!!!! (Smile) NO other BBQ restaurant has better ribs! Even in a blind taste test, Famous Daves would win hands down! Great food...CONSISTENTLY GREAT is a true testament! If you're hankering for an amazing dessert just like Grandma used to make, try that mouth-watering Bread Pudding with amazing Praline Sauce! Just the thing to top off a great meal! Hey! I'm grabbing the keys..."I'm on my way Dave!"
(5)
Brian C.
Amazing Meal!! We were in the Novi area looking for a place to have lunch. Famous Dave's was recommended by the store owner of a store we just left. Tracy was our waitress greeting us with a smile and was extremely helpful with our first trip to Famous Dave's. We chose the 2 person sampler platter since we could not decide with all the great options on the menu. In minutes Tracy was at the table with a garbage can lid filled with BBQ items and sides. We chuckled at the way it was served, thinking what a great idea, a garbage can lid. But that was just the beginning of an outstanding meal. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were amazing. They were cooked to fall off the bone and the flavor was easily the best BBQ sauce I have ever had, flavored to perfection. The sides, corn on the cob, fries, coleslaw, and cornbread were all outstanding. The decor was also a treat keeping with the BBQ place theme. My son said it reminded him of a place he's seen on TV where they pull the tables to the side and break into dance. I cannot recommend Famous Dave's enough. Friendly professional service and outstanding food and decor. What more could you want?
(5)
Natasha P.
I love this place. We eat here as often as possible and get the BBQ platter for two. My favorite thing in that platter are the bbq ribs. They are tender and delicious! The corn, sausages, pork in beans, pulled pork, and chicken are all really good too. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the sauces that they serve at each table are tasty too. My fiance loves their corn muffins so much that w always take 4 extra home to eat later.
(5)
Greta D.
Food is good I you stick to the basics, lunch service is way to slow. Think I could smoke the stuff quicker at work.
(2)
Mike R.
Hostess sat my 10 yr old daughter and I in the bar area ( place was empty ) no big deal. Nobody came up to our table to take our order or greet us, so I walked up to the bar and asked if they where open. By the way it was 545 pm in Novi and we where the only ones there, that should have been my first clue that this place sucked and I should have left. No my dumb ass stayed, and I order the burnt ends. I'll add a pic. Took one bite and honestly thought I was eating JACKS JERKY LINKS tiny cubes of shit. My daughter had wings they where tiny and dried out. I thought Buffalo Wild Wings was bad this place made their Wings taste like lobster. Now I am pissed and send it all back gave her a $10 tip and ran the $&@" out. Horrible, Horrible, Horrible this place deserves negative stars. I will only send food back if it is this bad, I never send back or say anything,but this place really needed to know how shitty it was
(1)
Dana F.
I have to admit I was skeptical about a chain barbeque joint. I've been there twice in the past month - and the food is melt in your mouth fabulous. I've had the pulled chicken sandwich and the Barbeque chicken dinner. Both were outstanding. The sides I had - Mac N Cheese and Cole Slaw are some of the most delicious I've ever tasted. My husband raved about the ribs and pulled pork sandwiches he had during our visits. With outstanding service, reasonable prices, a cool non-chainy interior -I'm a convert! I love me some Famous Daves!
(5)
Minzi T.
This place is great. I wish they had places like this in California, sorry Lucilles - you don't cut it. I got ribs. They were awesome. All sides, awesome. I would come here again. Great service. Clean. Clean restrooms.
(5)
Brian M.
This is a truly just OK place, nothing I can think of to rave about, except for how well I've heard they treat their employees, which is commendable nowadays. The service the first time was great, ask for Kristen, the second time was about as OK as the food. It was way too expensive for the type and grade(quality) of the food served. It's BBQ and I guess I don't like to pay so much for food I can cook as well on the weekend. They should look for an "Only at Dave's" type of food item. I'll go elsewhere for BBQ, thanks.
(3)
Jennifer V.
Up until dining here for the boy's birthday, at his request, my only experience with Famous Dave's was buying their super spicy BBQ sauce in the bottle from the store. I actually didn't realize it was a PLACE for quite a while. So the boy decided he wanted to have his birthday dinner with the fam here, since he'd been here before and liked it. Having never been here before, I decided to try a two-meat combo since I couldn't actually decided what I wanted. I ended up going with the beef brisket and hot link, with french fries and potato salad as my sides. The beef brisket was pretty good - not the best, but definitely nothing to scoff at. It was tender, had good flavor, and had a good BBQ sauce on it. The potato salad was surprisingly good for a chain restaurant (and I wish they had given me more of it, instead of the massive pile of fries....). The fries were also really good, but holy crap they went a little overboard with them! My favorite part was definitely the hot link, though, because it actually had a bit of a kick to it. I'm accustomed to "spicy" food at chain places not actually being spicy, so I was surprised to find this hot link actually packing some heat. Definitely tasty! The service was quick and courteous and the food was pretty damned good. Can't really ask for much else!
(4)
Alan S.
My Uncle was here from Arizona and he wanted ribs so we decided to come to Famous Dave's. We got here about 4:30 on a weekday, we had to be someplace at 6:00 and the place was just about empty. We had a very good waiter. Took our drink orders. Gave us some time to look over the menu. I had a sandwich and everyone else had ribs. The food was great. The ribs were meaty not any fat. I thought they could have used a little more sauce but they had plenty of sauce on the table. I didn't care for the roll of paper towel used for napkins. It was very rough and not very absorbent. Reminded me of the paper towel we had in school. But overall everything was great.
(4)
Duke T.
I just want to say that I have not experienced anything that the other two reviewers have had. I have been a loyal customer for years and don't foresee changing anytime soon. The service is always top notch. My kids love how they really make them feel special. I bring my work colleagues in for lunch and we can get in and out in no time at all. That personally doesn't scare me, I think its great that we can get great bbq in a reasonable time. I have been across the US on business and have been to some of the great BBQ joints that people think of in Memphis, Atlanta, Dallas and KC and Famous Daves really compares right up there with them. I know great BBQ and for someone to say that this is not 'real bbq' makes me wonder what BBQ you have had. They offer sauces that represent what different parts of the US think of as BBQ. I personally prefer my stuff without sauce so you can really appreciate the smoke flavor in all the meat. The one thing I find great also is the attention the management gives toward guests, not just me because they sit down for a chat whenever we are in but the fact that they are always chatting with everyone around the restaurant. When I have had a problem with something not being right, they are very happy to get me something new...you just have to let them know. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone and am going back next Wednesday for $1 beers. Almost forgot to mention the bread pudding...you have to get it...wow!!!
(5)
Theresa S.
Really liked the food, and our waitress was awesome! She was so helpful and patient with our many questions, and seemed to go out of her way to make our experience enjoyable. I wish I could remember her name so I could compliment her personally. The other week was my first time at a Famous Dave's and I'm sure I will go back. I am not even a big BBQ eater.
(4)
Chris P.
Famous Dave's offers "BBQ" for people that have never had real barbecue. I say "BBQ" with quotes because this is not real barbecue at all, the ribs have no taste of charcoal or smoke. I had to come here with family so I decided to try the baby back ribs as a change as I've been forced to come here many times before. The rib meat was actually burned (how do they manage to burn BBQ?!!), rather leathery, dry, and not tender like baby backs should be. Anyone that knows anything about ribs knows they should be cooked or smoked low and slow, which means it should be near impossible to burn the actual meat (the sauce on the other hand can be easily burned). Famous Dave's has lots of sauces (which I am not a huge fan of) because they know their ribs have no flavor on their own. If you have to come here make sure to get the St. Louis style ribs, they have more fat so they are much harder for Famous Dave's to overcook and dry out, but they could still manage to burn them. They get a second star for their enjoyable bread pudding and being the only BBQ restaurant in the Novi area.
(2)
Bruce P.
Famous Dave's a pretty close to being just fast food, but they do it right. Food is tasty, portions are good, and atmosphere is nice (image Friday's with a BBQ theme). This review would've got 4 stars if our server was a little more friendly.
(3)
Luke R.
Yes I am a Fan Boy for Famous Dave's. I've loved almost every visit there. the Keyword is almost. Folks it can be Touch and Go at times at the Novi Location. Word to Wise - Anytime there is a Special Email Promotion - Make sure you have your darn Email Coupon printed out and with you. Too many times I've been in the To Go/Carryout side of Daves and some moron did not have their Special Coupon Don't get me wrong there have been some Bad Trips to Famousville, and a few times I thought I was gonna have to Boycott the Novi Location. But for some insane reason I always keep coming back. The Worst recent trip in memory was my attempt at BBQ Ribs on $15 Slab Day which was this year for the Super Bowl. Turns out at least 500 other people had the same idea at the same hour I decided to turn up. There Was One Line In, then 4 or 5 Lines inside and no order or idea who was on first. I almost left there in disgust as I could not Order at the Counter. I had to go back to my Car and call in my order, then walk back to the 1hr long Wait Line in the frigging Cold and eventually get inside when the Manager decided to finally after 3hrs of total mess to sort out the Lines and figure out Who had Ordered on the Phone, Who was waiting to pickup Food and Who had came because they saw 200 people standing in the Cold outside and felt gee whiz they must be something going on over there, lets go and See and Cut in Line. Another really Bad trip in recent memory was for my Birthday a few years back. My wife and my mother in law and I sat for 40mins to get waited on. Yes it was busy as heck but Within 5 mins no one had visited our table, within 10 more minutes no one had given us silverware or Water, and within another 20 minutes no one had come to take an appetizer order or even a dinner order... meanwhile watching every other table be visited 15 times over and over while we sat there... However we were Hungry, We had a coupon and it was My Birthday. Eventually the alleged Manager showed up to take our orders. We Ate, We chatted, and waited. Every OTHER Birthday Someone would Come at the end of Dinner and there would be 10 out of tune Waiters singing Happy Birthday and the Birthday Person would get a Free Dessert. No Birthday Song and No Free Dessert. Even after letting the Manager know I did not receive anything. What did I do? When I got home I wrote the NASTIEST Truthful letter to Famous Dave's Corporate I could come up with. And surprisingly Enough the next day, some Corporate Shmuck called me on my cell phone to profusely apologize and coerced me to return for complete free Dinner on him. A few days later in the Mail from that Corporate flunky was a Special Card with a Special Code for me to use the next time I decided to visit. I gotta say I was more than impressed. The Next week I called in one of the most expensive Carryout orders I had ever conjured up and when I came in to get my To Go order I gave them the Card and got it FREE. They earned my Trust enough to give them a go again. OK Time to gush about the Food. Famous Dave's is the only BBQ Ribs I will eat out. I normally hate most take out or eat in BBQ Ribs. There is always something wrong with them. And sometimes I really do like to eat with a Knife and Fork. However Famous Dave's Ribs are pretty darn good as long as you stick with one style. I have almost always purchased the St. Louis Style which are slathered in some sauce. I actually don't mind it so much as the St. Louis Ribs they offer are generally Meatier than other Ribs at other joints. I've ordered their Memphis Rub Ribs a few time and Have had spotty results... sometimes the Memphis Rub Ribs are charred and sometimes overly salty and sometimes Are actually Babyback Ribs. The Sides. most of the sides I've tried are decent - I prefer the Fries and Apples. Sometimes though I vary it and tried the Mac n Cheese which I hated and the Firecracker Beans are blech. I wish I could order Double Muffin and Double Corn instead. Aside from other issues, heres where I have the Biggest Beef (LOL)... And they Lose 1 Star for This too.... If you visit the To Go/Carryout when you get your Ribs they give you a few measely packets of their regular sauce. Sometimes its like pulling teeth to get them to give you a cup of Texas Pit sauce which my wife prefers. HOWEVER when you sit down at the tables inside, and order/eat in, At every Table is ALL THE SAUCE you could possibly Want. And you Are allowed to Mix & Stir and Conjure any flavor combo you wish. If you wanted too you could spray Devils Spit on your Ice Cream. IF YOU Really wanna you could squeeze the entire Bottle of Rich & Sassy into your Ice Tea. But If you get your Ribs To Go, you have to watch for the Sauce Police. They Will Censor you because Sauce Packets are apparently such a Rare commodity.
(3)
Matthew P.
I am shocked that this chain somehow succeeds as a "BBQ" restaurant. This place has the worst bar-b-q that I've ever had, hands down. I nearly broke my teeth trying to eat through the meat on the rib tips. Famous Dave's calling itself a Bar-B-Q place is like Casey Anthony calling herself a great mom. Skip it!
(1)
John H.
For good barbecue without doing all the work yourself this is a great spot. This isn't truest to the form barbecue but it is as close as your going to get to it for a chain restaurant. We eat here if i don't feeling like tending a grill all day long. The sides are delicious but could use a little more of a portion size.
(4)
Art V.
I have only one word for Novi Famous Dave's and that is Ya-hoo (or is that 2 words?) I have never been disappointed by the food or service at this or any location. Novi just seems to be a notch slightly higher than the rest. Comin back soon!
(4)
Holly P.
worst BBQ ever. I swear they warmed the food up from the night before and that is what they served us. We were one of the first few customers in for lunch and it took less that 5 mins to get our food! BBQ does not take 5 mins to prepare, it was leftover and a big disappointment.
(1)
Ypge E.
I wasn't ever a fan of BBQ. I've tried ribs made at backyard BBQ's, and been to some BBQ themed restaurants while traveling. But nothing really wowed me, maybe it was because growing up we didn't really eat it. I don't have the emotional attachment to BBQ that many people do. Famous Dave's is no exception. It doesn't wow me, either. But, it is consistent and it's not bad. I like the options on the menu, from the ribs to the sandwiches. I've always been treated well by the wait staff, and I have even gotten a $100 worth of carryout. I think the reason it's only worth 3 stars is because you can find better BBQ. However, given that you ARE about a 8-12 hour drive from any Southern State, it's probably the best you'll find around Novi. If you know of a better place, I'd like to hear it.
(3)
Kalyn M.
I'm a fan of Famous Dave's. Is it THE BEST bbq? noooo not really BUT it's very tasty and you probably won't leave disappointed if you stick to the popular items. The "trash can lid" is delicious. Their cornbread muffins are pretty good. I would recommend FD to a friend. Not a bad place at all.
(3)
Dan M.
Disclaimer--I love Famous Dave's in general, but not this one. This location has earned the distinction of one of the worst 10 experiences I have had in a restuarant in the past 10 years. The location in Westland is one of my favorite restaurants in Michigan, this is the opposite in nearly every way. I have visited 3 times and all were awful. I will definitely not be returning. After visiting once on my own and simply guessing I had bad luck I decided to stop in with my family. The food was terrible and the service was worse. The server was shocked we would eat dinner so late (after 9pm) with a 7 year old and said as much. The waiter was hardly to be found. The food tasted either bland or worse and we suspected much of it was microwaved. Once again attempting to give the benefit of the doubt I emailed their coporate office with my concerns (as well as praise for the other location). The manager called and convinced me to come back with 2 free entrees. We did so. Sadly we found more of the same and the manager himself was rude. His final comments to us where roughly: "well, maybe this restaurant just isn't for you then" in a blatantly unservicelike egotisitical tone. I was appalled and will not return. Especially not when I can go to Westland for 100X better experience.
(1)
Sarah M. B.
Wow, my first review...anyway....here goes! First off, Famous Daves BBQ is a chain and is located in the posh Novi town Center...pricing kinda reflects it. However, I was there for lunch so was able to get my shit at a decent price. First off, not many people in there as mom and I went in for a later lunch, you could tell the waitress was pissed she was still there and working a lame shift that pry netted her no money. Her displeasure wasn't descrete when I ordered a water and mom and I decided to split the '2 meat' lunch platter for 7.99. The food did come very fast, which scares me a bit....as it always does. The BBQ sauce was very good but here is where I got pissed. I ordered the chicken and yes, perhaps I SHOULD have asked if it was a breast or not...I had just assumed. However, the waitress SHOULD have asked if a leg would be ok or if I wanted a breast for however much more...I would have gladly paid the extra buck or 2 even if my mom wasn't treating. Plus the dumb bitch kept asking while we were deciding if we had questions and even ASKED if we had been there before. When we responded no, you THINK she would have made the extra effort to offer me a chicken boob. Being a former waitress, I let it go for not wanting to be a bitch The chicken wasn't nasty or fatty so I was able to eat it and mom's rib tips(very kosher!) were good too...the potato salad potatoes weren't all that cooked, but that flavor was good as was the coleslaw. Cornbread would have been fantastic had it been fresh since the rock hard butter packets kinda broke it apart. Corn was buttery. Bread pudding was out of this world!!! The bread pudding is what gave this place that 3rd star. I would go just to get that as a dessert. I would give this place another shot, but if you are trying to watch your caloric intake, like I am...this is NOT the place. Total bill was 18 something and because of the bread pudding I left fuller than I would have liked but that was my fault....I think it could be good with the right cooks and server...I'll let ya know!
(3)
Doris M.
Had family get together/birthday dinner here this past weekend. As usual, the food was great and service superb. Love this place! What more can I say
(5)
Rhonda L.
The only place I go for ribs. I think that says it all.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lauren M.
I really enjoy their food. Their ribs are very good and you get a really nice selection of sides to go with your meal. I think the price for a meal is pretty good since you get a generous portion. The service is excellent and the desserts are also
(4)Jerry B.
For a chain, this place serves great food and a lot of it. Last time I ordered the full slab of ribs, 1/2 wet baby back and 1/2 Memphis dry. Took home half and loved the dry rub ones the best. If you get a desert, have at least three people to help you eat it. It is my now favorite BBQ joint. The hand cut fries are fully cooked and taste great! Surprising place to find in a mall!
(5)Adam H.
As you may know i am not a fan of chains, but more a fan of convenience. So when my son and i where in Novi and wanted an early dinner we pulled into Famous Dave's. I consider myself s real "RIB GUY" so my expectations where low. To me RIbs are not "chain-able". I am a fan of Phoenicia in Birmingham or Slow's BBQ in Detroit and even Tunnel BBQ in Windsor Ca. I ordered the St. louis style ribs w/ cole slaw and mac-n-cheese with a piece of corn bread. I must say the food was quite impressive. The waitstaff was very cordial. The restaurant exceeded my expectations.
(3)Gregory R.
My fiance and I love coming to Famous Daves. We started ordering coffee about 6 visits ago and is one of the main reasons we come back. The food is great but the coffee....the coffee is an unexpected surprise. On our last visit (just a little over a week ago) we decided to ask what coffee they use so maybe we could enjoy it at home. Our server that night was Keri and it was an absolute delight to have her. We asked her about the coffee and she explained that she couldn't bring the packaging out as it was commercial packaging and all goes in there coffee pot (or something like that). She offered to take a pic with our phone as an alternative. We complied and not only got our pic of the coffee but a few selfies on accident. We all had a good laugh about them. It was just great to be interacted with on a natural level not as if she was reading from a script. She gave us the perfect amount of attention, was never over bearing and was just an overall joy to have. We love the atmosphere, the food and of course the coffee. The food comes out hot, it always tastes great, is always cooked correctly and really it could not be better. Try getting the coffee next time you go in and you may be pleasantly surprised.
(5)Charity F.
Came here on Friday night for dinner with my family. It was pretty empty considering the parking lot was jam packed. But then again this restaurant is surrounded by others. The hostess and our waiter were very friendly. Our waiter quickly got our drinks and placed our order. We ordered the sampler appetizer which came with chicken tenders, catfish nuggets, rip tips, and onion straws. I think there could have been one more item but i cant really remember. We also had ordered their burnt ends. The sampler was delicious it could've been a meal in itself. I think next time I come here, ill be ordering that instead of an entrée. The burnt ends on the other hand weren't so great. This was my first time trying them and I wasn't impressed. The other people in my group said that these weren't a good imitation of burnt ends. So save your money and pass on these. Now for the main course. We all split the American feast which came with a whole chicken, coleslaw, brisket, full slab of ribs, baked beans, corn on the cob, fries and 4 corn muffins. Everything was good except the corn on the cob which is surprising. How can you honestly mess up on corn?!? Well our corn was soggy and the texture was just off. I would have asked for more fries instead if i knew the corn would be a disappointment. Besides the corn and burnt ends everything was pretty good. If your looking for a quick bbq fix this would the place to go.
(3)Jeff W.
Wow! It has been a while since we have been here, so we decided to hit it up, knowing that we could do a Yelp review after. It was a Tuesday night and the place wasn't very busy. The other half of the restaurant was basically empty. Now to preface our bad review, we are not expecting 5 star service, but we do expect timely refills, food within 20 minutes of ordering, and getting out of the restaurant within an hour. We only eat out at non peak times, so I think these are fair expectations. Well, things started off fine as we were welcomed, given drinks, and our order was taken within 5 minutes. Awesome! That was the last time we saw our waitress for about 30 minutes. About 20 minutes after sitting down, I actually flagged down the hostess for a refill on my Pepsi. Our waitress finally came by and said it would be another minute or so. 5 minutes later we were given lukewarm food that had clearly been sitting under a lamp for a while. My wife needed a refill in the middle of her meal, but our waitress didn't come by until the end of our meal. My wife had sprite, but what came as a refill was soda water. Frustrated about the entire experience, my wife just wanted to leave. Unfortunately, we had to wait another 15 minutes for the waitress to return to pick up our bill. The food was fine, but it would have been better had it been hot. All in all, we will not be returning any time soon. Maybe in about 6 months. As one of the previous reviews stated, the nice thing about this place, is that it is within walking distance of so many other restaurants.
(1)Ernie M.
Excellent Cat Fish. The Sauce is perfectly paired with the Cajun spice with the fish-----both just spicy enough!! The sides of beans and grilled pineapple were great. My wife had the chicken rice soup and a Caesar salad and said they were very good. The friends with us all got the ribs and loved them. Abby H. was as good a server as you could ever hope for---perfection.
(3)L E.
Ordered the All-American BBQ Feast for Two. It was more than enough for the four of us. My mom's a light eater anyway. The beef brisket was tender and delicious... So is the ribs and chicken. As for beverage, had the strawberry lemonade, which I didn't care much for. Tasted medicinal :(
(4)Maya C.
A very good meal! My husband had the St. Louis ribs and I had the pulled barbecue chicken sandwich. All the meat was tender and flavorful! The portions were more than generous and some of the sauces were quite good. The service was great! Only advice would be to clean things up at bit. The menus were sticky and dirty. The sauce bottles also needed a good cleaning. I would say keep things clean and fresh even if the place is getting old.
(4)Cristina B.
My guy friend and I dined here this evening after a long afternoon of shopping at the mall. While it's probably not the best idea to go to the mall famished, we were each able to work up our appetites for our big meal at Famous Dave's! Parking was a bit chaotic, although that seems to me the norm in an area full of shopping centers and other restaurants. The hostess greeted us both with a smile and kindly made sure to get us a table ready in a moments notice, even though the place itself was incredibly packed. Because my friend and I were both starving at this point, we opted for the barbecue nachos as an appetizer. The large portion (told you we were hungry!) is almost $10 and it's reasonably priced. We both loved it and ended up bringing half of it home. Not too messy, not soggy, perfectly seasoned with the right amount of sauce and toppings. I'd recommend this to split with a big group! I choose the barbecue pulled chicken sandwich and it was scrumptious! The chicken was not fatty at all and was cooked for just the amount of time to leave it soft and not soggy at all, from the added sauces .... a winner in my book! Actually cannot wait to eat my leftovers and my mouth is watering again just typing this! Service was a tad slow, as I did mention the place was quite busy. My friend and I didn't mind, however, because we were both lost in each other's company. We both will be returning again! Sign up for their club to get special deals and even a free sandwich!
(4)Kate J.
My meal was ok--I had the country roasted chicken, but my SO got the brisket and said it was tough and just generally not very good. We won't be back.
(2)Jill H.
Yet another place I've been to a hundred times but haven't reviewed. Had a little wait this Sunday evening for a table of 7 but no big deal. The front desk guy kept us updated on our table's status so we weren't left in the dark. Food was great - from burnt tip sandwich, brisket and ribs to chopped pork. There was generous amount of chopped pork on my platter with no fat. Topped off with a little Sweet & Zesty sauce, the meat was perfection. The cole slaw and fries are my go-to sides and enjoyable as expected. Love their corn muffins, too! Service was good, he kept refills flowing and moved our meal along smoothly. I recommend for large parties, families of all ages or just a casual dinner out. Unfortunately they don't take reservations or call aheads so you'll have to nominate someone to get there early and get your name in.
(4)Ethan L.
Chain food with a specialty price. This place isn't horrible, but if barbecue is going to be your calling, then you should do it better than this. It's basically on the level of Applebees or Red Robin, but with its focus on barbeque. Overall, not the worst place to eat, but I'm not going to choose to go there.
(2)B F.
Usually come here during their lunch hours. They have a lunch special (2 meat lunch special with sides) that my wife and I order. The real reason why I personally like it here is the variety of sauces. Occasionally I like to try their most spicy sauce, but usually drench everything with their 2nd, "Devil's Spit". Or I mix all their sauces up like a mad scientist. Food - 4 Service - 4 Price - 4 Variety - 4
(4)Julian B.
Ive only gotten carryout here. Have eaten inside at the Roseville locale. I havent tried all the bbq spots around town, but hve had bbq at my fair share. My top spot was Memphis Smoke. Im more partially to drub rub at rib joints but like wet too. I usually stick to ribs. Usually the baby back. Bottom line, other than one or two other spots, these are my fave ribs. Out of my fave four this is tops. Quality and taste. Plus when you say well done they char the ribs a bit. Love that. Their sides are tasty. The onion slaw and green beans are my usual. Writing this makes me want some now. Although this is a chain, the ribs are on point.
(4)Samantha J.
I was in Novi Famous Dave's on Friday evening and had the best service I have had in years. Monica was so pleasant, gave excellent suggestions, and even paired my wine with what I ordered. I just can't rave about her enough!! The food was excellent as well. My boyfriend and I had a small pork nacho as an appetizer and it was delicious!! Monica recommended the pork on them and it was a good decision. My boyfriend had the burnt end and rib combo and I had the new short rib. I absolutely love the Mac and cheese with the jalapeños and the Wilber beans!! Monica told me she works Wednesday mornings in the bar, so needless to say, I will definitely be coming in for lunch on Wednesdays. :)
(5)Danny M.
Really have never had a bad meal at Dave's. The wife and I go in with the blinders on never looking at the menu and always get the same thing, wings, St. Louis ribs and a Caesar salad, and of course some tall frosty beers (great selection)never disappointed. Recently attended a Shorts Brewery event at Dave's with pairing of delicious beer and food...Amazing..priced well too. Hope to see more events like that.
(5)Lori M.
We attended a food & beer pairing event last night. It was amazing. Short's Brewery & Famous Dave's kitchen put together 5 courses that were fantastic! The vegetable package was most delicious. Pairing Nicey Spicey and Smoked Salmon Spread was great! Bread Pudding and Happy Jack...over the top! My husband and I are FD regulars. However our friends who joined us were newbies. All three were thrilled and plan to come back. One said, "I couldn't have been more surprised with how good this was. I only came because you guys invited me. We have to do this again. It was great!" The other two loved it so much they took a carry-out home for their son, studying for an exam. Thanks Famous Dave's for inviting Short's Brewery into your house. We loved it!!
(5)Alex C.
Came in for the $8 to go lunch special. Got a pulled pork sandwich, drink, and fries. Everything was prepared quickly and the employees were very friendly. The food was still hot when I got home and was very good. I have no complaints.
(5)Laurie B.
This is a mixed review. My husband LOVED the wings, I did not. We both agreed that they were not greasy and a little on the dry side. We both liked the more celery seed tasting BBQ sauce on them. Husband said they were the best wings he'd ever eaten. This is something from a guy from Buffalo whose eaten a whole lot of wings. I was not even in like let alone love. My salad was good, his coleslaw was too creamy. Corn muffin was unexceptional but fine. They used to have much better food and recipes but things change and we do live to eat another meal so not too attached to my uninspired view of this one. My husband is STILL raving about it some 30 minutes later so the review is mostly based on him.
(4)Liz T.
Many years ago (in a galaxy far away), I would go to Famous Dave's for their rib tips. My favorite thing in the whole world from FDs. Something happened and they changed the menu and only had the spicy hot rib tips. Major disappointment. I avoided FDs for a couple of years. We agreed to meet friends here for dinner prior to driving to the Suburban Collection (and only pay to park one car) and I was surprised to see burnt ends on the appetizer menu - ordered those on a baked potato, with a salad. Tasted great, tender, bits of meat - what would be better? (Hard cider on the menu, but not complaining) Happy camper. (All the other food looked good, but I had bits of rib. Who cared?)
(4)Grace W.
Came here Wednesday night with my fiancé. We were seated pretty quick, but it took our waiter a little longer to even come to our table. He took our drink order, and then took our order when he came back with the drinks. I ordered the brisket, but when it came time for my fiancé to order, the waiter wasn't even paying attention. He was staring back into the kitchen & then he dropped something. My fiancé stopped because why talk to someone if they're not listening? Eventually the waiter gave him his attention, took the order, and walked away. My food was great - brisket, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob & corn muffin. My fiancé however was missing his side of coleslaw. Every entree comes with two sides & he only got one. Our waiter never asked how our food was and if we needed anything. When he did come by to ask my fiancé if he wanted a refill, it took him about 10-15 minutes to come back with one! It was pretty ridiculous! Three stars cause the food was good, but the service was really lacking! When we were walking out, there was a lady complaining to the hostess about her service. I get people are unhappy with their jobs, but when your income is largely dependent on tips, then maybe you should rethink your profession or your attitude. Not sure we'll go back to this location again.
(3)fred p.
This place did not fail to deliver. the burnt ends and the baby back ribs were absolutely delicious. I would def go back again Famous Dave's is on point.
(5)Rob F.
Used to like this place but we got handed two filthy menus with ants crawling all over them LAST time. Gross! Best thing about this place is that its located within walking distance of other restaurants!
(2)Tim K.
For a chain place they have some pretty awesome ribs. They were super tender and moist and had some good smoke flavor. Dave did it right here. Their burnt ends were just okay though and could have cooked longer so they could be as tender as possible. We had a few tough chewy pieces and when it comes to burnt ends (because of the added cook time) they should never be tough. One of my favorite things to eat either in general or especially as a side item with some good BBQ is Mac & Cheese, however I do not care for theirs much at all. It is very soupy and the added Jalapeno just adds heat and not much flavor. I was pretty disappointed in this department. We had a party of 11 this visit and typically with groups that big they will have two Servers tag team the table, but we just had one. Surprisingly she did an awesome job and our overall Service was spot on. Also normally for parties of that size gratuity is included, but it's not here. As a former Server myself it was nice to have gratuity on large parties included because on occasion you would get cheapskates who stiff the tip on good service, but as a Consumer I prefer it the way they do it here. Reason being is because I tip on overall Service and do not think someone should automatically be entitled to something they may not earn. If you do a good job then I will gladly tip 20% or greater, but if you don't then you really do not deserve that much. I cannot in good conscious give this place a perfect score and saying it deserves four stars is a bit much so I am going with three. Plus the description of "A-OK" fits best for this place anyways. So let it be written, so let it be done, for I am the Pharaoh.
(3)Divadoc T.
I recently went back with my family on a Saturday and I was pleased to see the return of the lunch menu until 5pm. The food was fresh, portions generous and I had a pleasant experience.
(4)lorenzo r.
My first night in Novi after a long drive, hotel check in and pre-setup for my convention the next day I was gassed and just wanted something quick. I'd never been to Famous Dave's so why not give it a shot. After I found the take out entrance I decided on rib tips. Rib tips are how I judge a rib place. Kinda like how Pad Thai is how I judge a Thai restaurant. If they screw up a basic dish like that then you haven't spent a lot of money but you should have a basic idea about the place and if you'll give it a second chance. I think the person who took my order was named Beverly, and she was very helpful. She recommended I not get the dry rub tips but with the sauce on them instead. She was dead on. Not only that but the cornbread muffin is delicious. I ate it first. Best tips I've had in a while and the cole slaw was good as well. Made for a good night of watching Fast & Furious 6 on HBO back at the hotel.
(4)Johanna B.
Have eaten at Famous Dave's many times and always get the Baby Back Ribs. They are consistently very good to outstanding. I wish they had better sides, though.
(4)Phil G.
Update: Talked to one of the owners/;partners. He mentioned that the General Manager was wrong in his interpretation of the birthday coupon by limiting the $ amount. I mentioned that we all make mistakes... However, it's the GM's flippant attitude is what really upset me the most and is unacceptable especially in the service business....
(1)Sarah R.
The food is pretty good, but I think it's a bit pricey. I'm a fan of the burnt ends, though and I dig their BBQ sauce. Not too thin, not too thick, just the right amount of smoke and tang.
(4)Tamara Y.
I was fully expecting to hate this place. Mostly because I generally don't enjoy chain restaurants. But I didn't hate it. Not at all. The pulled pork was tasty, as was the variety of sauces. The sides were tasty too, although heavy on salt. The sides are also heavy on the spices. I'm completely fine with it -- actually, the more the merrier. But the hubby is spice averse. The spice averse folks will have to stick to french fries, because there are jalapenos in the mac and cheese and baked beans and horseradish in the coleslaw.
(4)Mean Eyed C.
Minnesota native, been to Dave's many many times. This one is GROSS! Meat was edible at best, no Wilbur beans on menu, very dry leftover brisket. Wings were burnt beyond recognition. Needs help desperately or close!
(2)Gary A.
I'm honestly not sure what to think about the place. It's usually very busy, especially for dinner on the weekend. But it's location on restaurant row in Novi, all of these places seem busy most weekend nights. I like BBQ, but I have not had great success with famous Dave's, ultimately I have found their BBQ to be to peppery. Not spicey hot, but peppery. I know ts a chain, and the food prep is limited. And they have multiple sauce options on each table, with a roll of paper towels for knapkins. They do have a good selection of BBQ styles and options, and even non BBQ selections. There are many things to explore and ts a friendly place. So it's worth giving tthis place a try, it might be your cup of tea.
(3)Albert E.
absolutely horrible! every piece of meat was dry, my kid's mac/cheese bland and no taste and not even warm. rotisserie chicken at costco or sams's tastes better than what i had. worst of all, it wasn't even that, 4-5 other tables and it took forever to get our food and 5 min for the dumb waitress to return my credit card. never ever will go return to this place again!!!
(1)Anonymous R.
Badly understaffed. Wait times for drinks, food, bill, were way to long. Even worse, after bringing this to the attention of the waiter himself and the manager...they give us nothing but excuses. Food is ok. You can spend the same amount of money at a real BBQ joint. There are a lot of great places to go in the metro area. Don't waste your money and go here.
(2)Rick S.
Great BBQ. Not quite West Texas great - but definitely MI great :-) Pork is very good. Ribs some of the best ever. Good sides as well.
(4)Nicole R.
We had to watch group after group go through and be seated after wait times of 10-20 minutes while our group waited over an hour. This isn't the first time at this restaurant we've experienced this here either. The service (managers, etc.) were absolutely unhelpful and not accommodating to customers. A HUGE recommendation would be to not seat large parties until all the guests have arrived and also have a better system of placing their customers in the restaurant. We will never be returning. I can find a better meal and service than this elsewhere.
(1)MaryLiz S.
You can easily feel overwhelmed by all the huge slabs of meat and the t-shirts that invite you to "pig out." If you get the All-American BBQ Feast, it literally comes in a galvanized steel trash can lid. You'll have leftovers for a few days. I absolutely LOVE their mix of blues music. Always a treat. I hate to wait in the crowded lobby until nearly all of our large group has arrived before being seated. The lobby is usually packed around dinner time. They give you a pager so you can know when it's your turn. Once hubby and I (just the two of us) got there at exactly 5:00 pm, and there was no wait, but the place started to fill up while we dined. The meat is good, but the side dishes bore me. Overcooked corn on the cob. Come on, guys, really? Can't you find some way to make it taste like it hasn't been on the boil for an hour? The corn bread ... dry, but then that's corn bread anyway, if it sits around for more than a few minutes. The plank-shaped potato fries are great when you use BBQ sauce in place of ketchup, but I usually gain a lot of temporary water weight from all the sodium in the sauce. The baked beans and green beans ... not thrilling. Apples, maybe OK... Last time I was there, I noticed that they had steamed broccoli. Probably the only healthy thing they serve. (Wink!) Now that I know my way around the menu, I end up getting one of the huge dinner salads with a reasonably-sized piece of blackened salmon or BBQ on top of a bed of greens, and a dressing tinged with BBQ sauce. That way, I can get enough vegetation to keep my insides happy. Hubby usually gets one of the racks o' ribs, and shares the leftovers with me. Our cat, Victor, begs for some Famous Dave's if we're eating leftovers at home. Must be good, then. ;-) After about a dozen trips to Dave's to meet with friends, hubby and I decided to learn how to make tender ribs on our own at home. So the place is no longer the meat mecca it used to be. Still, I would not turn down the chance to visit. Tip: You can get some bread pudding to go if you're too stuffed after pigging out.
(3)Becky K.
Can't say anything about the food because I didn't get any. Waited 10 minutes and NO ONE came to our table so we left. It's called customer service and they have none.
(1)Scott O.
The best BBQ in Novi, the place offers very quick service. For parties of two to four ask to be seated in the south (bar) dining area. It's much quieter and the service is better. The rib tips aren't nearly as good as the most excellent ribs. The BBQ chicken is consistently excellent too. The carryout is good here too. Don't miss the Wilbur beans!
(4)Rich F.
Famous Dave's, although a chain, is the standard for BBQ in Michigan. Excellent ribs, good chopped pork, good brisket. Good sides, great corn bread. You'll never get a bad meal, and with 5 or 6 different BBQ sauces to choose from, every palette will be pleased.
(5)Jess S.
I absolutely love great bbq, growing up in a family who smoked their own meats and made their own bbq sauce I'm always looking for a restaurant that will live up to my very high standards. At first I was wary about Famous Daves being that it's a chain and I generally steer away from corporate establishments, but when a friend of mine dragged me there on a Friday night I was more than impressed. First of all it was Friday night in Metro Detroit and we wanted bbq...which usually means you will be waiting several hours for even two of you to get a table (i.e. Slows and Lockharts). I was shocked to be seated immediately, which then made me again suspicious they weren't all that great. Wrong again, we had the burnt end appetizer which was perfectly charred and very tender. Our server Katie recommended the feast for two and we could not believe how much food we received for the price. My friend had her heart set on baby back ribs and I had my heart set on the classic St. Louis style. Katie had an impressive knowledge on the different cuts, the different rubs and different sauces on both styles. She convinced my friend to try the St. Louis, and these are clearly their signature item for a reason. We were too full for dessert, but they are all made in house and the bread pudding looked like it was to die for. The service couldn't have been better, she was so upbeat and you could really tell Famous Daves is just a fun place to work. At the end of our meal the manager came over and chatted about our experience, he and I talked about the different smoking processes and you could really tell he took pride in what he does. I will for sure be back to Famous Daves and am happy I was persuaded to check them out in the first place!
(5)Richard F.
We haven't been to this place in years, but we decided to give it a shot again. It wasn't bad at all and the prices and portions were still relatively good. We both ordered the two meat platter although we ordered completely different meats and sides. I had the really large, juicy and tasty smokey link and I also had a quarter of a chicken, I had Cole Slaw and potato salad as sides. Score on all four counts. I will go back,
(3)Hailey M.
My family and I enjoy eating out at restaurants and rarely give below a 20% tip. Tonight's visit to Famous Dave's warranted a tip well below 20%, which is why I felt the need to write a review. Our server was Steve and he gave us some of the worst service we have ever seen. I had to ask him three times for a beverage refill and my mom asked twice for a water refill, which ended up never being refilled. It was rare that he would come to our table to ask if we needed anything and when we did, he would rush off in a hurry only to forget what we asked for. When he brought us our bill, Steve completely forgot the carryout we ordered twenty minutes prior. He tried to play dumb and say that it would be right up and that he just had it on a separate bill, but the extra long wait told us he had forgotten to add it on. We were very disappointed with the poor, inefficient service we had today.
(1)Nijole T.
I only get a need for meat a few times a year but when I do BBQ is best. Real BBQ, not this crap, thats for damn sure. I thought give it a whirl, its dinner time and its a chain we had never been to. It was packed so waited at the bar for a table. When it comes to chains, I have learned just because you have to wait with an annoying beeper doesn't mean it'll be good, it means way too many people fall for this commercial mumbo jumbo, as did we.... My husband smarter than I could just tell it was going to be crap and did the unthinkable for him, only ordered a starter, I was speechless but let him get away with it, which was great so that we didn't leave too much money for this garage. He had the sampler with ribs (horrible and fake), chicken (again fake buggets out a bag), corn bread (dry and yucky) and onion strings. What a waste of money. I got the bbq briskit with a side of potato strings and salad. The briskit I had my son eat, not great at all and can you believe the potato strings were those tiny potato chips out of the can? They were never a real potato, not cooked, or fried, just a tiny bowl of cold chip stings, unbelieveable! The best or only ok part abutthe dinner here was the 4 house bbq sauces on the table, they were fine, just wish there was something edible to put them on! Save yourself the wait or even better the trip here, it straight sucks!
(1)Diane S.
There used to be some healthy options on the menu, but those are gone now. We went because others in the group wanted BBQ, but for me there was not anything on the menu. I would think with the concerns about health the restaurant would at least have a choice for those of us who want to eat something healthier. How hard can it be to have a low fat dressing option?
(1)Madison B.
My wife and I were in town for something and needed a late lunch/early dinner on a Saturday evening. We started looking over Google at the restaurants off of Novi Road near the Mall and near the plaza with Wal-Mart and the menu here caught our eye. I wasn't feeling great and didn't want to leave the room so we agreed she'd run over there and order/bring it back as she had to grab a few things elsewhere at the same time. We settled on the Sampler appetizer to share while I got a burger and she got chicken (the country roasted chicken I think). It took a bit for her to get back; but the place was very busy (it was about 5pm on a Saturday by the time she got there to place the order). When she returned I could smell the food before she came into the room and it smelled great. The sampler platter consisted of several things - onion straws, rib tips, boneless wings, chicken strips, and catfish fingers along with four sauces. It was enough food to take up two boxes (which were cutely labelled as "Samp" and "ler") and it was well worth the $15 or so we paid for it. Granted that's expensive for an appetizer; but this easily would've been an appetizer for 4-6 people; for the two of us it was almost enough for our meal. All of it was very good; my wife was especially fond of the rib tips. I went ahead and struggled with my burger as by now I wasn't really hungry. The burger was very good - specifically it was the "Jack and Stacked" burger with jack cheese and onion straws. I thought it was exceptionally good - yes I've had better - but not many. The fries were fries; nothing special, but not bad. My wife ended up saving her food for later as she was full after the appetizer; but when she did eat it, she liked the chicken a lot. Her sides were the mac and cheese which she said was good but a little spicy for her; and the cole slaw which was spicy enough that she didn't finish that. Now neither of us is big on spicy food per se; so perhaps she should've been a little more judicious in what she ordered. She didn't say either was bad, just more spicy than *she preferred* so i can't really knock them for that since they were clearly flagged as being spicy. All told it was a bit expensive for carryout; but largely due to the $15 appetizer - removing that I didn't find it any worse than any other casual chain (Applebee's, etc) and we'd love to go back. Apparently there are some in Missouri, just none near St. Louis which is too bad and hopefully they will rectify this in the future.
(5)Rebecca G.
Are you kidding me, over 2 hours for my food to be served, the manager said it was because power was out in the area....sorry no power outages, that came up on my DTE map, they offered us a free dessert, that took our waiter 45 minutes to get a managers ok on it.........the pulled pork was like someone took a pile of salt and just dumped it. Will never go back
(1)Gaylynn B.
This restaurant and the manager made someone's day very special today. A friend of ours is 93 and a WWII veteran. His daughter took him to lunch there today because he's always wanted to eat there. They live in Ohio but were traveling from Oscoda, Mi back home to Ohio. When they arrived for lunch the waitress noticed the veterans WWII hat he was wearing and told him to come back again on Nov. 11th for a free veterans appreciation lunch. His daughter explained that they couldn't be back because they lived in Ohio. A few minutes later the manager came to their table and told the veteran that his lunch was free today and thanked the veteran for his service to our country. This restaurant and staff are an outstanding example and certainly worthy of our patronage.
(5)Mindy B.
Fantastic meal and our server, Andy, gave fantastic service. We always have a great experience at this Famous Dave's! It's our go-to place for Barbecue. Highly recommend it!
(5)Betty B.
I am not really a bbq fan, but I like this place. I wished they cooked the briskit a little more, otherwise, very good. If you like fruity alcohol, try the Mama's Punch. YUM!! Trust me, you will only need one. ;)
(4)Janie D.
Beautiful building, great ambience, service friendly and prompt. Food was middle of the road. Decent brisket. Ribs were a little too crispy.
(3)Gary N.
I have been to many Famous Dave's from Wisconsin to the Gulf and this is one of the cleanest and nicest ones I have seen. Same good food, good staff and service.
(4)Damon L.
The first time I went to a Famous Dave's - I was in Virginia. I had never heard of the place. I was with my family at the time and we all decided to check it out. It was excellent. Taste, portions, atmosphere. I remember leaving and thinking - wow - I wish there was a place like this back home. After moving to metro Detroit - I realized the restaurant had opened in the area. There is a location in Novi and one in Westland. I had to go back. The next few times around it was good - but not as I had recalled for some reason. Maybe I had just been hungry years ago - or it was an off day this time around. Maybe things are just not as great in Detroit (that I wouldn't be surprised). Then I went up to Minneapolis recently. Visited the Mall of American - and while there I decided to stop by Dave's again (it had been a while). It was rather underwhelming to be very honest. It is almost like the corporate / chain aspect has taken this place over and the food is being sacrificed. I won't go below a 3 star rating on Dave's because there is worse BBQ and I guess I'm holding on to the place I originally knew / tasted. But, I think you have to pick and choose on the menu and your experience will be based on what you order. Stay away from the burgers and most of the appetizers. I can honestly say the boneless wings are terrible. They are store bought frozen and not pleasing. The ribs, brisket, etc. (standard meals) are typically good. You definitely get a good size portion. I have had most everything from ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, etc. I actually had the rib tips basket most recently and it was way more than I needed. If you like a good rub - the spices are a nice blend. They have multiple BBQ sauces to choose from that you utilize at your own discretion. Most are either sweet based or spicy / hot. Cornbread is also tasty.
(3)Robert M.
This is a great place for lunch. Famous Daves offers lunch specials all week, including weekends. My favorite is the two meat lunch special for $8.99. We started with the onion strings which were very crispy and tasted great with the sweet and zesty bbq sauce. I had the ribs and wings. The ribs today were meaty and tender. I loved the sauce. The service was great. We received a warm welcome and were seated promptly. The waitress was very attentive and made sure that we had an enjoyable experience. We are looking forward to our next visit. Keep up the good work.
(4)Justine M.
Typical Chain BBQ restaurant. Friend and I went and split the large platter that comes w/ everything! (Fries, corn bread, brisket, pork, chicken, coleslaw, etc.) There were about 6 sauce selections already on the table. Price of the entire meal was around $38. Not bad quantity and price but not the best BBQ I've ever had.
(3)Kurt P.
I used to love Famous Daves until I had the opportunity to experience real Texas BBQ. This isn't it. Service is OK nothing special. My memory of this place far exceeded the reality. I had brisket which was OK but not as smoky as I prefer. Portions are small but laid on Texas toast to look larger. It was lunch but still I was disappointed. I tried a side of grilled pineapple which I did enjoy, it was a light alternative to other options. But, after leaving I couldn't think of any compelling reason to come back.
(2)Neil Y.
Consistency is their key. Whether you eat at the FD in Novi, Roseville or East St. Louis the quality remains in tact. Very difficult for chains to do this. Overly generous portions of tender, meaty, fall-off-the-bone quality. Sides are always done right; crunchy fries and sweet corn. I do agree that the prices are high but again the portions are huge. I recommend the platters for 2, 3, or 4 depending on your party size or appetites. You get a sample of all of their offerings from pulled pork, ribs, sausage, and that slow cooked brisket. YUM! The cornbread is decent according to my wife. She doesn't care for the sauces but we disagree here. Napkins are always on stand by at your table in real BBQ fashion--a roll of paper towel. Service is standard but sometimes great, depends on the day and server. My wife is a Sonny's Real Pit BBQ and everything else falls to the wayside. Next to Sonny's (which the closest one is 350 miles away in KY) I give Famous Dave's its due. They rock when it comes to the kid's meal. Good price and very generous with the food, enough so that both kids share one meal and there is always some to take home. Props to the team at the Novi store because the day I did find a hair in my food, they replaced the meal for free with a new serving and no arguments. This is why we come back.
(4)Beverly S.
My husband & I have been going to Famous Daves at least 15 years when our daughter & her new husband moved to St.Paul MN. At that time, Dave himself was at his restaurant in St.Paul greeting guests & trying out new recipes on frequent customers. We'd ALWAYS beg Dave to open a store in Michigan. And, FINALLY...franchises began popping up all over the place! My husband & I SOLD our BBQ grill when Famous Daves opened in MI! OMG... Just the thought of their meaty, tender, lean & juicy Ribs makes my knees weak! We actually STOPPED BBQing because Daves was better, less time consuming, less labor intensive, more delicious!!!!! (Smile) NO other BBQ restaurant has better ribs! Even in a blind taste test, Famous Daves would win hands down! Great food...CONSISTENTLY GREAT is a true testament! If you're hankering for an amazing dessert just like Grandma used to make, try that mouth-watering Bread Pudding with amazing Praline Sauce! Just the thing to top off a great meal! Hey! I'm grabbing the keys..."I'm on my way Dave!"
(5)Brian C.
Amazing Meal!! We were in the Novi area looking for a place to have lunch. Famous Dave's was recommended by the store owner of a store we just left. Tracy was our waitress greeting us with a smile and was extremely helpful with our first trip to Famous Dave's. We chose the 2 person sampler platter since we could not decide with all the great options on the menu. In minutes Tracy was at the table with a garbage can lid filled with BBQ items and sides. We chuckled at the way it was served, thinking what a great idea, a garbage can lid. But that was just the beginning of an outstanding meal. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were amazing. They were cooked to fall off the bone and the flavor was easily the best BBQ sauce I have ever had, flavored to perfection. The sides, corn on the cob, fries, coleslaw, and cornbread were all outstanding. The decor was also a treat keeping with the BBQ place theme. My son said it reminded him of a place he's seen on TV where they pull the tables to the side and break into dance. I cannot recommend Famous Dave's enough. Friendly professional service and outstanding food and decor. What more could you want?
(5)Natasha P.
I love this place. We eat here as often as possible and get the BBQ platter for two. My favorite thing in that platter are the bbq ribs. They are tender and delicious! The corn, sausages, pork in beans, pulled pork, and chicken are all really good too. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the sauces that they serve at each table are tasty too. My fiance loves their corn muffins so much that w always take 4 extra home to eat later.
(5)Greta D.
Food is good I you stick to the basics, lunch service is way to slow. Think I could smoke the stuff quicker at work.
(2)Mike R.
Hostess sat my 10 yr old daughter and I in the bar area ( place was empty ) no big deal. Nobody came up to our table to take our order or greet us, so I walked up to the bar and asked if they where open. By the way it was 545 pm in Novi and we where the only ones there, that should have been my first clue that this place sucked and I should have left. No my dumb ass stayed, and I order the burnt ends. I'll add a pic. Took one bite and honestly thought I was eating JACKS JERKY LINKS tiny cubes of shit. My daughter had wings they where tiny and dried out. I thought Buffalo Wild Wings was bad this place made their Wings taste like lobster. Now I am pissed and send it all back gave her a $10 tip and ran the $&@" out. Horrible, Horrible, Horrible this place deserves negative stars. I will only send food back if it is this bad, I never send back or say anything,but this place really needed to know how shitty it was
(1)Dana F.
I have to admit I was skeptical about a chain barbeque joint. I've been there twice in the past month - and the food is melt in your mouth fabulous. I've had the pulled chicken sandwich and the Barbeque chicken dinner. Both were outstanding. The sides I had - Mac N Cheese and Cole Slaw are some of the most delicious I've ever tasted. My husband raved about the ribs and pulled pork sandwiches he had during our visits. With outstanding service, reasonable prices, a cool non-chainy interior -I'm a convert! I love me some Famous Daves!
(5)Minzi T.
This place is great. I wish they had places like this in California, sorry Lucilles - you don't cut it. I got ribs. They were awesome. All sides, awesome. I would come here again. Great service. Clean. Clean restrooms.
(5)Brian M.
This is a truly just OK place, nothing I can think of to rave about, except for how well I've heard they treat their employees, which is commendable nowadays. The service the first time was great, ask for Kristen, the second time was about as OK as the food. It was way too expensive for the type and grade(quality) of the food served. It's BBQ and I guess I don't like to pay so much for food I can cook as well on the weekend. They should look for an "Only at Dave's" type of food item. I'll go elsewhere for BBQ, thanks.
(3)Jennifer V.
Up until dining here for the boy's birthday, at his request, my only experience with Famous Dave's was buying their super spicy BBQ sauce in the bottle from the store. I actually didn't realize it was a PLACE for quite a while. So the boy decided he wanted to have his birthday dinner with the fam here, since he'd been here before and liked it. Having never been here before, I decided to try a two-meat combo since I couldn't actually decided what I wanted. I ended up going with the beef brisket and hot link, with french fries and potato salad as my sides. The beef brisket was pretty good - not the best, but definitely nothing to scoff at. It was tender, had good flavor, and had a good BBQ sauce on it. The potato salad was surprisingly good for a chain restaurant (and I wish they had given me more of it, instead of the massive pile of fries....). The fries were also really good, but holy crap they went a little overboard with them! My favorite part was definitely the hot link, though, because it actually had a bit of a kick to it. I'm accustomed to "spicy" food at chain places not actually being spicy, so I was surprised to find this hot link actually packing some heat. Definitely tasty! The service was quick and courteous and the food was pretty damned good. Can't really ask for much else!
(4)Alan S.
My Uncle was here from Arizona and he wanted ribs so we decided to come to Famous Dave's. We got here about 4:30 on a weekday, we had to be someplace at 6:00 and the place was just about empty. We had a very good waiter. Took our drink orders. Gave us some time to look over the menu. I had a sandwich and everyone else had ribs. The food was great. The ribs were meaty not any fat. I thought they could have used a little more sauce but they had plenty of sauce on the table. I didn't care for the roll of paper towel used for napkins. It was very rough and not very absorbent. Reminded me of the paper towel we had in school. But overall everything was great.
(4)Duke T.
I just want to say that I have not experienced anything that the other two reviewers have had. I have been a loyal customer for years and don't foresee changing anytime soon. The service is always top notch. My kids love how they really make them feel special. I bring my work colleagues in for lunch and we can get in and out in no time at all. That personally doesn't scare me, I think its great that we can get great bbq in a reasonable time. I have been across the US on business and have been to some of the great BBQ joints that people think of in Memphis, Atlanta, Dallas and KC and Famous Daves really compares right up there with them. I know great BBQ and for someone to say that this is not 'real bbq' makes me wonder what BBQ you have had. They offer sauces that represent what different parts of the US think of as BBQ. I personally prefer my stuff without sauce so you can really appreciate the smoke flavor in all the meat. The one thing I find great also is the attention the management gives toward guests, not just me because they sit down for a chat whenever we are in but the fact that they are always chatting with everyone around the restaurant. When I have had a problem with something not being right, they are very happy to get me something new...you just have to let them know. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone and am going back next Wednesday for $1 beers. Almost forgot to mention the bread pudding...you have to get it...wow!!!
(5)Theresa S.
Really liked the food, and our waitress was awesome! She was so helpful and patient with our many questions, and seemed to go out of her way to make our experience enjoyable. I wish I could remember her name so I could compliment her personally. The other week was my first time at a Famous Dave's and I'm sure I will go back. I am not even a big BBQ eater.
(4)Chris P.
Famous Dave's offers "BBQ" for people that have never had real barbecue. I say "BBQ" with quotes because this is not real barbecue at all, the ribs have no taste of charcoal or smoke. I had to come here with family so I decided to try the baby back ribs as a change as I've been forced to come here many times before. The rib meat was actually burned (how do they manage to burn BBQ?!!), rather leathery, dry, and not tender like baby backs should be. Anyone that knows anything about ribs knows they should be cooked or smoked low and slow, which means it should be near impossible to burn the actual meat (the sauce on the other hand can be easily burned). Famous Dave's has lots of sauces (which I am not a huge fan of) because they know their ribs have no flavor on their own. If you have to come here make sure to get the St. Louis style ribs, they have more fat so they are much harder for Famous Dave's to overcook and dry out, but they could still manage to burn them. They get a second star for their enjoyable bread pudding and being the only BBQ restaurant in the Novi area.
(2)Bruce P.
Famous Dave's a pretty close to being just fast food, but they do it right. Food is tasty, portions are good, and atmosphere is nice (image Friday's with a BBQ theme). This review would've got 4 stars if our server was a little more friendly.
(3)Luke R.
Yes I am a Fan Boy for Famous Dave's. I've loved almost every visit there. the Keyword is almost. Folks it can be Touch and Go at times at the Novi Location. Word to Wise - Anytime there is a Special Email Promotion - Make sure you have your darn Email Coupon printed out and with you. Too many times I've been in the To Go/Carryout side of Daves and some moron did not have their Special Coupon Don't get me wrong there have been some Bad Trips to Famousville, and a few times I thought I was gonna have to Boycott the Novi Location. But for some insane reason I always keep coming back. The Worst recent trip in memory was my attempt at BBQ Ribs on $15 Slab Day which was this year for the Super Bowl. Turns out at least 500 other people had the same idea at the same hour I decided to turn up. There Was One Line In, then 4 or 5 Lines inside and no order or idea who was on first. I almost left there in disgust as I could not Order at the Counter. I had to go back to my Car and call in my order, then walk back to the 1hr long Wait Line in the frigging Cold and eventually get inside when the Manager decided to finally after 3hrs of total mess to sort out the Lines and figure out Who had Ordered on the Phone, Who was waiting to pickup Food and Who had came because they saw 200 people standing in the Cold outside and felt gee whiz they must be something going on over there, lets go and See and Cut in Line. Another really Bad trip in recent memory was for my Birthday a few years back. My wife and my mother in law and I sat for 40mins to get waited on. Yes it was busy as heck but Within 5 mins no one had visited our table, within 10 more minutes no one had given us silverware or Water, and within another 20 minutes no one had come to take an appetizer order or even a dinner order... meanwhile watching every other table be visited 15 times over and over while we sat there... However we were Hungry, We had a coupon and it was My Birthday. Eventually the alleged Manager showed up to take our orders. We Ate, We chatted, and waited. Every OTHER Birthday Someone would Come at the end of Dinner and there would be 10 out of tune Waiters singing Happy Birthday and the Birthday Person would get a Free Dessert. No Birthday Song and No Free Dessert. Even after letting the Manager know I did not receive anything. What did I do? When I got home I wrote the NASTIEST Truthful letter to Famous Dave's Corporate I could come up with. And surprisingly Enough the next day, some Corporate Shmuck called me on my cell phone to profusely apologize and coerced me to return for complete free Dinner on him. A few days later in the Mail from that Corporate flunky was a Special Card with a Special Code for me to use the next time I decided to visit. I gotta say I was more than impressed. The Next week I called in one of the most expensive Carryout orders I had ever conjured up and when I came in to get my To Go order I gave them the Card and got it FREE. They earned my Trust enough to give them a go again. OK Time to gush about the Food. Famous Dave's is the only BBQ Ribs I will eat out. I normally hate most take out or eat in BBQ Ribs. There is always something wrong with them. And sometimes I really do like to eat with a Knife and Fork. However Famous Dave's Ribs are pretty darn good as long as you stick with one style. I have almost always purchased the St. Louis Style which are slathered in some sauce. I actually don't mind it so much as the St. Louis Ribs they offer are generally Meatier than other Ribs at other joints. I've ordered their Memphis Rub Ribs a few time and Have had spotty results... sometimes the Memphis Rub Ribs are charred and sometimes overly salty and sometimes Are actually Babyback Ribs. The Sides. most of the sides I've tried are decent - I prefer the Fries and Apples. Sometimes though I vary it and tried the Mac n Cheese which I hated and the Firecracker Beans are blech. I wish I could order Double Muffin and Double Corn instead. Aside from other issues, heres where I have the Biggest Beef (LOL)... And they Lose 1 Star for This too.... If you visit the To Go/Carryout when you get your Ribs they give you a few measely packets of their regular sauce. Sometimes its like pulling teeth to get them to give you a cup of Texas Pit sauce which my wife prefers. HOWEVER when you sit down at the tables inside, and order/eat in, At every Table is ALL THE SAUCE you could possibly Want. And you Are allowed to Mix & Stir and Conjure any flavor combo you wish. If you wanted too you could spray Devils Spit on your Ice Cream. IF YOU Really wanna you could squeeze the entire Bottle of Rich & Sassy into your Ice Tea. But If you get your Ribs To Go, you have to watch for the Sauce Police. They Will Censor you because Sauce Packets are apparently such a Rare commodity.
(3)Matthew P.
I am shocked that this chain somehow succeeds as a "BBQ" restaurant. This place has the worst bar-b-q that I've ever had, hands down. I nearly broke my teeth trying to eat through the meat on the rib tips. Famous Dave's calling itself a Bar-B-Q place is like Casey Anthony calling herself a great mom. Skip it!
(1)John H.
For good barbecue without doing all the work yourself this is a great spot. This isn't truest to the form barbecue but it is as close as your going to get to it for a chain restaurant. We eat here if i don't feeling like tending a grill all day long. The sides are delicious but could use a little more of a portion size.
(4)Art V.
I have only one word for Novi Famous Dave's and that is Ya-hoo (or is that 2 words?) I have never been disappointed by the food or service at this or any location. Novi just seems to be a notch slightly higher than the rest. Comin back soon!
(4)Holly P.
worst BBQ ever. I swear they warmed the food up from the night before and that is what they served us. We were one of the first few customers in for lunch and it took less that 5 mins to get our food! BBQ does not take 5 mins to prepare, it was leftover and a big disappointment.
(1)Ypge E.
I wasn't ever a fan of BBQ. I've tried ribs made at backyard BBQ's, and been to some BBQ themed restaurants while traveling. But nothing really wowed me, maybe it was because growing up we didn't really eat it. I don't have the emotional attachment to BBQ that many people do. Famous Dave's is no exception. It doesn't wow me, either. But, it is consistent and it's not bad. I like the options on the menu, from the ribs to the sandwiches. I've always been treated well by the wait staff, and I have even gotten a $100 worth of carryout. I think the reason it's only worth 3 stars is because you can find better BBQ. However, given that you ARE about a 8-12 hour drive from any Southern State, it's probably the best you'll find around Novi. If you know of a better place, I'd like to hear it.
(3)Kalyn M.
I'm a fan of Famous Dave's. Is it THE BEST bbq? noooo not really BUT it's very tasty and you probably won't leave disappointed if you stick to the popular items. The "trash can lid" is delicious. Their cornbread muffins are pretty good. I would recommend FD to a friend. Not a bad place at all.
(3)Dan M.
Disclaimer--I love Famous Dave's in general, but not this one. This location has earned the distinction of one of the worst 10 experiences I have had in a restuarant in the past 10 years. The location in Westland is one of my favorite restaurants in Michigan, this is the opposite in nearly every way. I have visited 3 times and all were awful. I will definitely not be returning. After visiting once on my own and simply guessing I had bad luck I decided to stop in with my family. The food was terrible and the service was worse. The server was shocked we would eat dinner so late (after 9pm) with a 7 year old and said as much. The waiter was hardly to be found. The food tasted either bland or worse and we suspected much of it was microwaved. Once again attempting to give the benefit of the doubt I emailed their coporate office with my concerns (as well as praise for the other location). The manager called and convinced me to come back with 2 free entrees. We did so. Sadly we found more of the same and the manager himself was rude. His final comments to us where roughly: "well, maybe this restaurant just isn't for you then" in a blatantly unservicelike egotisitical tone. I was appalled and will not return. Especially not when I can go to Westland for 100X better experience.
(1)Sarah M. B.
Wow, my first review...anyway....here goes! First off, Famous Daves BBQ is a chain and is located in the posh Novi town Center...pricing kinda reflects it. However, I was there for lunch so was able to get my shit at a decent price. First off, not many people in there as mom and I went in for a later lunch, you could tell the waitress was pissed she was still there and working a lame shift that pry netted her no money. Her displeasure wasn't descrete when I ordered a water and mom and I decided to split the '2 meat' lunch platter for 7.99. The food did come very fast, which scares me a bit....as it always does. The BBQ sauce was very good but here is where I got pissed. I ordered the chicken and yes, perhaps I SHOULD have asked if it was a breast or not...I had just assumed. However, the waitress SHOULD have asked if a leg would be ok or if I wanted a breast for however much more...I would have gladly paid the extra buck or 2 even if my mom wasn't treating. Plus the dumb bitch kept asking while we were deciding if we had questions and even ASKED if we had been there before. When we responded no, you THINK she would have made the extra effort to offer me a chicken boob. Being a former waitress, I let it go for not wanting to be a bitch The chicken wasn't nasty or fatty so I was able to eat it and mom's rib tips(very kosher!) were good too...the potato salad potatoes weren't all that cooked, but that flavor was good as was the coleslaw. Cornbread would have been fantastic had it been fresh since the rock hard butter packets kinda broke it apart. Corn was buttery. Bread pudding was out of this world!!! The bread pudding is what gave this place that 3rd star. I would go just to get that as a dessert. I would give this place another shot, but if you are trying to watch your caloric intake, like I am...this is NOT the place. Total bill was 18 something and because of the bread pudding I left fuller than I would have liked but that was my fault....I think it could be good with the right cooks and server...I'll let ya know!
(3)Doris M.
Had family get together/birthday dinner here this past weekend. As usual, the food was great and service superb. Love this place! What more can I say
(5)Rhonda L.
The only place I go for ribs. I think that says it all.
(5)