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TESTIMONIALS
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| FAMOUS QUOTES |
EVERYBODY LOVES
FAMOUS DAVE’S...
“Barbecue is America’s food, and blues are America’s music.”
“Famous” Dave Anderson |
| Minnesota’s Governor Jesse Ventura. In Where magazine, said, “On the campaign trail, my favorite place to meet was Famous Dave’s – he’s got a great barbecue beef sandwich.” |
| “(George W.) Bush appeared to have some of the day’s most popular barbecue as supporters casually stood in a series of lines stretching at least 50 yards long.” (Sunday World-Herald) |
| “The place is a high-energy blast from top to bottom ribs that are impressive in size, meaty in content (close-to-the-bone meat, not fall-off-the-bone meat) and impressively flavorful.” (Chicago Sun-Times) |
| “These are the best ribs currently available in the suburbs. They are slow-cooked over hickory, not at all chewy, but not so abused that the meat falls off the bone. They are perfect for holding, admiring and dipping.” (Naperville Sun) |
| “A garbage can lid heaped with the All-American BBQ Feast delivers an embarrassment of riches.” (Chicago Magazine) |
| “The ribs were tender and the meat just fell off the bone...The service was outstanding.” (Lincoln Journal Star) |
| “Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues serves genuinely good hickory-smoked barbecue, slathered in a spicy sauce laced with sweet undertones.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) |
| “Famous Dave’s is BBQ Paradise...“It’s worth the drive from Des Moines or Fargo-Moorhead.” ...”It’s fabulous.”(Dave Duff, Sun News) |
| “As the season sets on the backyard barbecue, why not head to Famous Dave’s BBQ Shack, a popular joint with country charm and an award-winning recipe for ribs.” (Where Twin Cities) |
| “The ribs, chicken, beans, and corn muffins at Famous Dave’s, reputed (with good reason) to be the best good old all-American fare around, have won an extraordinary following.” (Twin Cities Business Monthly) |
| “The slab of bread pudding is excellent. It’s light as a feather (almost) and it comes with a dynamic caramel-nut sauce.” (Chicago Sun Times) |
| “I am pleased to report that Famous Dave’s actually lives up to the hype. This place does what it does extremely well.” (Naperville Sun) |
| “Famous Dave’s features hefty portions of hickory smoked St. Louis spareribs, Texas beef brisket, and herb-roasted chicken.” (Nation’s Restaurant News) |
| “You know you’re in a good restaurant when you’re sitting there thinking of people you have to share it with. We’re still letting people know about Famous Dave’s...” (Appleton -- The Scene) |
| “We ventured into Naperville for our own taste with skeptical buds. The bar was set so high, could Famous Dave’s live up to its reputation? After an XXL Rib Dinner, The Georgia Chopped Pork Platter, Shack Fries, Wilbur Beans, our Famous Bread Pudding, gobs of Texas Pit sauce and a tableful of other items, the answer is resounding yes.” (Chicago Daily Herald) |
| “Portions are plentiful, the grub is good, and the prices include cornbread muffins, corn-on-the-cob and a choice of two other sides... dainty it aint, but everything is well prepared, especially the lean yet tender St. Louis cut ribs. For dessert, there’s bread pudding with praline sauce so sweet your teeth will ache.” (Chicago Magazine) |
| “The brisket brought the thick, hearty, tender slabs I was hoping for (no stingy little shavings here); the chopped pork was plenty moist. The chicken, with an appetizing herb rub on the outside, also proved moist and meaty. And perhaps the most satisfying of all were the ribs – tender but not fall-apart messy, making them great hands-on food.” (Des Moines Register) |
| “If you’ve read my reviews, you know I’m a southern barbecue connoisseur. The food at Famous Dave’s tripped my trigger. The ribs were great. Pit-smoked and adorned with great sauce, they were scrumptious... The side dishes were also good. The corn bread muffin was moist and delicious, and the barbecued beans were exceptional...Famous Dave’s deserves its name.” (Janesville Gazette) |
| “If barbecue were religion, Dave Anderson would be the Reverend Billy Graham.” (Twin Cities Business Monthly) |
| “Dave is famous for good reasons... he does things in a big way.” (Dick Youngblood, Star Tribune) |
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“Famous Dave’s has built its acclaim and a growing customer base on atmosphere and great food.” (Minnesota Business & Opportunities)
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| “Fall-off-the-bone good. Tangy, spicy; chicken or pork. As long as you like meat, you’ll love Dave’s barbecue. (Chicago Daily Herald) |
| “The side fixins’ are just as good as the meats. The corn muffins are soft and moist, the slaw is peppery on the exhale, the beans are sweet and not mushy and the Shack Fries are golden and crisp.” (Chicago Daily Herald) |
| “The meat’s the thing at Dave’s... For a real blowout, there’s the All-American BBQ Feast, with ribs, chicken, choice of brisket or pork, coleslaw, fries, beans, corn-on-the-cob, and muffins.” (Des Moines Register) |
| “Famous Dave’s does some pretty mean ribs... slow-smoked over hickory. The result, any way you go at the ribs –fingers or knife and fork (ugh!) – is immediate and intense rib-eating gratification.” (Chicago Sun Times) |
| “The Wilbur beans should not be missed; a prime example of how a simple dish like baked beans can be elevated by a talented kitchen. Here, the beans are made with bits of brisket, sausage, and jalapeno peppers and slow simmered. Absolutely the best I’ve ever tried.” (Naperville Sun) |
| “Minnesota has long lacked what the South has in such abundance – good, messy barbecue, served in an unfussy setting by someone who knows there way around meat and sauce... But Dave’s, with its kitschy, wooden-shack appearance, is as friendly as a southern accent, and the rich, smoky sauce and tender meat (from North Carolina pork to Texas beef brisket) would have even Scarlett O’Hara licking her fingers.” (Mpls/St. Paul Magazine) |
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AWARDS AND HONORS
Few restaurants in history have achieved as much recognition in a few short years as Famous Dave’s. We don’t mean to brag, but look at the awards and honors we’ve received…so far.
2007
“Best Ribs – 1st place”; “Best Beans – 3rd place” – Midwest Championship Rib Cook-Off & Activities – Famous Dave’s Saginaw, MI – Big Ten Ribs
“Best Dessert – Bread Pudding” – Tallahassee Magazine readers – Tallahassee, FL – Fun-Yum
“Best Overall Restaurant” – 2007 Taste of St. Joe – Famous Dave’s St. Joseph, MO – Concord BBQ
“Spirit Award” – Nation’s Restaurant News – System-wide award
“Best Barbecue” – Phoenix Magazine – Famous Dave’s Phoenix, AZ – Desert Ribs
“People’s Choice – 1st place”; “Critic’s Choice” – Columbus Ribfest – Columbus, OH - Famous Dave’s Rib Team
“The Chinet People’s Choice Award” – 15th Annual Safeway National Capital BBQ Battle
“Critic’s Choice: Best Pulled Pork” – Famous Dave’s 3rd Annual BBQ and Bluesfest – Minneapolis, MN - Famous Dave’s Rib Team
“People’s Choice”, “Best Sauce”, “Best Presentation” – Holy Smokes Rib Off – Famous Dave’s Toledo OH – Big Ten Ribs
“Best Sauce” – Sioux Falls Ribfest – Famous Dave’s Sioux Falls SD - DTSG
“The Public Health Excellence Award for Food Safety” – Famous Dave’s Manchester NH – North Country BBQ
“Judge’s Choice” – Taste of Grand Haven – Team R n’ B Michigan
“Best BBQ” and “Best Caterer” – Chattanooga News Free Press – Famous Dave’s Chattanooga - Famous Five Dining
“Most Rockin’ Place in Knoxville to get BBQ” – WIMZ radio listeners – Famous Dave’s Knoxville - Famous Five Dining
“Silver Fork Award – Best BBQ” – Greater Manchester Dining Guide – North Country BBQ Ventures
“Best BBQ Restaurant In Frederick” – Frederick Magazine – Famous Dave’s Frederick, Maryland
Blue Ribbon “Best Southern Cuisine” – Taste of Tallahassee – Famous Dave’s Tallahassee FL – Fun-Yum
“Best Barbecue in Ocean County” – Asbury Park Press – North Country BBQ
“Silver Spoon Award 2007 - Favorite Barbecue Restaurant” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine Reader’s Choice
“Best Barbecue Restaurant” – Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine Reader’s Poll
“Best Ribs – Best of Long Island 2007’ – Long Island Press – Famous Dave’s Westbury NY – North Country BBQ
“Philly’s Best BBQ” – AOL City Guide 2007 – Pit Masters LLC
“New Jersey’s Best BBQ” – AOL City Guide 2007 – North Country Barbecue Ventures – Famous Dave’s North Jersey
First Place – “Super Chili Bowl Cook Off Competition for Best Chili” – Famous Dave’s Bismarck, ND – DTSG, Inc.
“Best Barbeque 2006” – Tucson Weekly – Famous Dave’s Tucson, AZ – Sonoran BBQ
“Best Barbecue 2006” – Yuma Sun – Famous Dave’s Yuma, AZ – Sonoran BBQ
2006
Critic’s Choice Best Ribs - The Nugget Best of the West Rib Cook-off, Reno, NV
“Choice Restaurant” – Chains Gold Award from Restaurant and Institutions Magazine
Readers Choice – Leader Telegram – “Best BBQ”
Best of West & Press Readers Choice – “Best BBQ & Best Chicken” – Wyandotte West Newspaper
“Best in BBQ” - City View’s Best of Des Moines
“Best BBQ” – Readers Choice – Central NJ
“City’s Best BBQ” – Philadelphia City Guide
“Best BBQ” - Taste of Tacoma
“Best of BBQ” – Seattle Bite, Largest Food Festival in Washington State
Readers Choice Poll/Best of Delco - “The Best Ribs in Delco” – Delaware County Newspaper
“Silver Plate Award” – IFMA
People’s Choice “Best Ribs” & 2nd Place “Critics Choice Best Ribs” – Ribfest - Cleveland Ohio
Battle of the Bones, Grand Haven, MI – 1st Place – “Judges Choice”, 2nd Place – “People’s Choice”, 1st Place – “Best Booth”
Famous Dave’s BBQ, Mishawaka, IN was voted Best BBQ in the 2006 Channel 16 (NBC channel WNDU) Viewer’s Choice Awards.
Famous Dave’s- BEST BBQ - by the readers of the Wichita Register
Best Barbecue / Reader's Choice- "Best of the Twin Cities 2006" issue -The City Pages
Best Blues Bar- "Best of the Twin Cities 2006" issue - The City Pages
Best BBQ Famous Dave's- "Best Restaurants" issue - Wichita Register
2005
Readers Choice – NJ Monthly Critics Choice Award – “Best BBQ Restaurant”
Readers Choice – Best of the Best BBQ” – Fredrick, MD
People’s Choice – Ribfest - Cleveland Ohio
People’s Choice Award for all Famous Dave's in MN – City Pages
“Best Blues Club” – City Pages
“Readers Choice – Favorite BBQ” – South Bend Tribune
“Best Ribs” People’s Choice Award – Southern FL Cook-Off 2nd Year in a row
“Best Beans” – 2nd Place - Southern FL Championship Cook-Off
“Celebrity Cook-Off” – First Place – Southern FL Championship Cook-Off
2005 Readers Choice - "Positive Attitude - Matt Diamond"
2005 "Best BBQ"
2005 "Organization of the Year", Kansas City, KS - Convention & Visitors Bureau
2005 Readers Choice - "Favorite BBQ" - Kansas City, KS
Peoples Choice – “Best in the West Nugget Rib Kick-off” – Sparks Nevada
“Outstanding Customer Service” – Kane County Chamber of Commerce
Readers Choice “Best Tasting Ribs” – Elgin Courier Newspaper
“Golden Fork Award” - Famous Dave's Best Ribs – Fox City Magazine
Wichita award- First Place Peoples Choice - Wichita Chili & BBQ Cook Off!
2004
“Best BBQ” In the City-City View Magazine- Des Moines
“Best Ribs” People’s Choice Award – Southern FL Championship Cook Off
“Best Beans” 1st Place – Southern FL Championship Cook Off
“Celebrity Cook Off” – 2nd Place – Southern FL Championship Cook Off
“Best Ribs” – 1st Place – People’s Choice – Cedar Rapids
“Best Ribs” – In Bismarck – Mandan – Bismarck, ND
“Best Ribs” – 1st Place – People’s Choice – Muskegon BBQ Cook off
“Best Ribs” – 1st Place – Judge’s Choice – Muskegon BBQ Cook off
“Best Beef Brisket” – 1st Place – Clarksville, TN
“Best BBQ Overall” – 6th Place – Clarksville, TN
“Best Ribs” 3rd Place – Critics Choice – Cleveland Cook off
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – People’s Choice – Pittsburgh Ribfest
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – People’s Choice – BBQ Battle Cedar Rapids, IA
“Best Single Product Roll Out” Sassy BBQ Salad - Menu Masters
“Best Caterer” – Twin Cities Best Restaurant – Twin Cities Business Month
“Top 50 Growth Chains” Presented to FD In recognition of outstanding sales – Restaurant Business
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – Rib America Food & Music Fest, Pittsburgh, PA
“Best Commercial Produced for $3,500 or Less” – MUFSO
“Best Commercial Produced for $10,000 of Less” – MUFSO
“Best Caterer” – 2nd Place – Twin Cities Business Monthly
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – Twin Cities Business Monthly
“Best Hot BBQ” – The City View Best of Des Moines
“Best BBQ” People’s Choice Awards – Taste of Chattanooga
“Best Bread Pudding” 1st Place – Taste of Chattanooga
“Runner Up – Signature Dish” – Taste of Chattanooga
“Best Beef Brisket” – Cookin on the Cumberland BBQ Cook-Off – the Rib Team
“Best BBQ” – People’s Choice – The Reader (Omaha, NB)
“Best BBQ” – Omaha Magazine
“Best BBQ” - 1st Place – People’s Choice - Wichita
“Best BBQ” – Best of the Bluffs
2003
“Best BBQ” People’s Choice Awards – Taste of Chattanooga
“Best Bread Pudding” 1st Place – Taste of Chattanooga
“Best Takeout” 1st Place – City Page Minneapolis
“Best Restaurant for Ribs” – Courier News- Mountainside New Jersey
“Best Ribs” 3rd Place- Sioux Falls Ribfest
“Best BBQ”- City Pages Minneapolis
“Best BBQ” – Best of the Bluffs
2002
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – Fargo Ribfest
“Best BBQ” Editorial Pick – Best of CitySearch Minneapolis
“Best BBQ” Audience Pick – Best of CitySearch Minneapolis
“Best Dining with Music” Editorial and Audience Pick –
Best of CitySearch Minneapolis
“Best Catering” –The Dakota Southwest Review
“Best Ribs” People’s Choice – Fargo Ribfest
“Best Ribs” – Minneapolis/St Paul Magazine
“Best Catering- Roseville Reader
“Best BBQ” Madison, WI- Madison Magazine
“Best Ribs” Madison, WI- Madison Magazine
“Best Place to Eat Out with Your Kids” Minneapolis, MN- CityPages
“Best Blues Bar” Minneapolis, MN- CityPages
“One of the Top BBQ in Nashville” Nashville, TN- The Nashville Scene
“Best BBQ” – Best of the Bluffs
2001
“Best Ribs” 3rd Place – Cleveland Ribfest
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – Sioux Falls Rib Fest – South Dakota
“Best Ribs” 1st Place – Cedar Rapids Rib Fest
“Best Desserts” 2nd Place – Taste of Madison
“Best BBQ” in Madison – Isthmus Magazine
“Best Wings” 2nd Place – Cedar Falls Wing Ding Contest
“Best BBQ” 1st Place – Golden Fork – Fox Valley, Wisconsin
2000
“Best Ribs” – Twin Cities Business Monthly
“Best Ribs” – Rib America 2000, Indianapolis
“Best Ribs in America” – 2000 Great American Rib Cook-off, Ohio
“Best Ribs” – Sioux Empire Ribfest, Sioux Falls
“People’s Choice” – Ribfest and More, Fargo
“Best Ribs” – Pontiac Rib America 2000 Ribfest
“Best Ribs” – Twin Cities Rib Fest 2000
“Best Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best Takeout” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best BBQ in Madison” – Isthmus Magazine
“Best BBQ in Madison” – Madison Magazine
“Best Food in Cedar Valley” – Taste of Waterloo
“Best Tasting Wings” – Cedar Falls Wing Ding Contest
“Best Ribs” – Post-Crescent 2000 Encore Award
“Best Ribs” – Fox Cities Magazine 2000 Golden Fork
“Best BBQ” – Citysearch, The Best of the Twin Cities
2nd “Best Ribs” Critics Choice – Cleveland, Ohio
“Best Ribs” People’s Choice – Cleveland, Ohio
“Best Ribs” – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
“Best Ribs” Critics Choice – Twin Cities
“Best Ribs” 2nd Place – Lincoln, Nebraska
1999
Critic’s Choice “Favorite Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Great American Cook Off, Cleveland, Ohio
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Twin Cities Ribfest
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Naperville Sun Reader
“Best BBQ Ribs” – West Suburban Living Reader
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Fargo Dome Ribfest
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Sioux Empire Ribfest, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Mature Lifestyles Madison Reader
“Best Chicken Wings” – Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce
“Best Sauce” – Great American Rib Cook-off, Cleveland, Ohio
“Best Entrée” – Taste of Waterloo
“Best Pork” – Mankato Ribfest
“Top 10 Restaurant” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best of 1999 – Music Club” – Nightclub & Bar Magazine
“Best BBQ Sauce in America” – American Royal Barbecue Contest, Kansas City
“Best Desserts” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best BBQ Joint” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Hot New Concept” – National Restaurant Chain Publication
“Entrepreneur of the Year” – Ernst & Young NASDAQ, USA Today
“Best Chicken Wings” – LaCrosse Tribune
“Best New Barbecue/Grill Cookbook” – National Barbecue Associations Award of Excellence for “Famous Dave’s Backroads & Sidestreets”
1998
“Best Ribs” – Des Moines Register
Critic’s Choice “Favorite Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
Critic’s Choice “Favorite Music/Entertainment” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
Critic’s Choice “Best Take-Out” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Ribs” – LaCrosse Tribune
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best BBQ Sauce” – Fargo Ribfest – People’s Choice
“Greatest Ribs in America” – Great American Cook Off – Critic’s Choice
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Twin Cities Business Monthly Magazine
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Music/Entertainment” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best Ribs” – Appleton Post-Crescent Reader
“Best New Restaurant” – Madison Capital Times
“Entrepreneur of the Year” – TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis
“Best BBQ Ribs” – Madison Magazine
“Best New Restaurant” – Madison Magazine
1997
“Best Ribs” – City Pages Reader Poll
“Best Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best Last Meal in the Twin Cities” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Ribs” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Restaurant Design” – Minnesota Shopping Center Assoc.
“Best Sauce in America” – Great American Rib Cook-off
People’s Choice “Best Ribs” – Fargo Dome Ribfest
Critic’s Choice “Best Ribs” – Fargo Dome Ribfest
“Best Ribs” – Naperville Ribfest
“Best Sauce” – Twin Cities Ribfest
“Best Ribs” – Twin Cities Ribfest
“1997 Hot Concept” – Nation’s Restaurant News
“Entrepreneur of the Year” – Emerging Company Division
“Best Music” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best Music” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Restaurant Promoter” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Entrepreneur of the Year” – Twin Cities Business Monthly
“Best New Restaurant” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
1996
“Best New Restaurant” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
“Best Last Meal in Minnesota” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Best Desserts” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
Critic’s Choice “#1 Ribs in MN” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
“Hot New Concept” – National Restaurant Chain Publication
“Best Ribs” – Minnesota Monthly Magazine
1995
“Best BBQ Sauce in America” – American Royal Barbecue Contest
“Best BBQ Joint” – Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
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