Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que — Restaurant in Columbia

I wish I could give negative stars to Famous Dave restaurant in Columbia. Do NOT go here for BBQ-you will thank me later!

It started the moment we walked in. It was our first time visiting the area and it was my husband's birthday. No one was at the podium to greet us. There was a worker at the To Go table working with a customer. The restaurant appeared empty at 515pm on a Friday and we began to wonder if the restaurant was not open for seating. About 5 minutes later, a guy casually shows up to the podium. He doesn't greet us and I inquired about seating. He walks us to the back of the restaurant to be seated and we finally see a few families seated.

15 minutes later, no waiter and waitress showed up! I stood up to look at the front podium and there were 4 waiters and waitresses hanging around. I walked to the host and asked who our waiter was because we have been sitting for 15 minutes.

This waiter (who says he's a trainer and has been working there for 10+years) said "I'll take care of you" and walks back with me to the table.

He's friendly, BUT he kept talking, talking, and talking and pushing all kinds of food that he likes. He doesn't let you talk. I don't want to order your salmon or the combo dish of salmon and ribs! I came here for some brisket!

Another waiter shows up and stated he didn't know there was a table for him. It was such an unprofessional situation when the trainer waiter and our "assigned" waiter were deciding what to do in front of us.

The trainer waiter stayed with us. He took our drink order and said, "I'll be right back- I don't have any of my notes and pen. I will get your drinks"

Too much time has passed (5 minutes) and I was beyond irate. I looked up at the host podium and there are now 6 waiters hanging around. Really!?! Where in the hell is the service? I told my family to get up to leave.

It was the best decision I made leaving with my family! I could not bare sitting there stewing in anger in how terrible the customer service is at Famous Dave. Never again....

We went down to Mission BBQ ( a mile away) and we were greeted as soon as we walked through the door! The place was full of customers! The prices were cheaper and as soon as I ordered my food, I received within 5 minutes! Holy cow! The manager came by to check up on us later in our dining experience! The music, the atmosphere and the staff...

I am so outraged at the service received at this restaurant. I arrived at this to find that I would have to wait twenty minutes to be seated. After 25 minutes of waiting, my fiancé and I were escorted to our seats by the host. After waiting ten minutes, the waitress arrived to take our drink/ meal order (Appetizer - Burnt Ends, Main course- Feast for 2). Five minutes later, I received my Sweet Tea. 8 minutes later, my fiancé received her Mama Punch. 18 minutes later, we received our appetizer ( Burnt Ends). 30 minutes later, we asked the waitress for our Main course, she started we have a lot of online orders and in house orders. I said, Ok but can you explain to me why three tables in my area received their feast but we have not. She stated they have a lot of Feast for 2 orders. I stated I placed my order first, please why folks who came in ten - 20 minutes after us received their Main course. She stated we are very busy, I apologize Sir. After waiting an additional 15, I went to the Host desk to ask to speak to the Manager. I waited ten minutes to finally speak to him. He explained that it is the Holiday and they are very busy with in-house and online orders. I said, I are busy but I have been waiting well over a hour in this restaurant for my order. Why have people received their orders before me. Once again, he stated we are busy but I will check. Fifteen minutes later, I received no answer from the Manager. I told the waitress, I want my check please. She said please understand we are busy. I stated, “Madam, please I want my check. My time is valuable also. I should not have to wait more than 75 minutes for a Main Course. I understand it’s the Holiday but I have been patient enough. Seven minutes later, the waitress returns, “We are sorry for the inconvenience, the meal is the complementary. Happy 4th of July. I am sorry.”

Thanks Famous Daves for ruining my Holiday spirit and deeply disappointing me and my fiancé on this Independence Day. Now we have to depend on another restaurant to fulfill our dinner desires at 7:30 PM. We will no longer patronize this restaurant.

What a way to treat loyal customers.

Signed,

Frustrated but not Angry, Disappointed but...

While I do enjoy the food at this restaurant this particular location was not very sensitive to my allergies and the waiter actually had an attitude that I bought up allergy questions to him. This really agitated me because their menu does not list everything that's in their food and since the ingredients is not listed on the menu it was extremely important that the waiter get the information for me so that I can make sure I was not eating anything that I could potentially be allergic to. To make matters worse, I carry around a card with me that lives exactly what my allergies were and I provided one to the waiter so that he wouldn't have to go back and forth between me and the kitchen and he still had an attitude problem about it. At one point the situation got so bad that I decided it was best for me not to order anything to eat and allow the rest of my parties to enjoy their food. However one of the individuals I was with went and spoke with the manager and the manager came by and I explained the situation and he was able to deal with the problem. In the end, I ended up enjoying my meal however I wish the situation had been pleasant from the beginning and that waitresses or waiters would not get mad because somebody is allergic or has particular items that they cannot eat. I only recommend this area if you do not have a special diet or deal with allergies. The manager was nice and took my meal off the receipt but I went ahead and left the 20 dollar amount of my meal as a tip. I just hope that the waiter thinks twice next time before putting someone through...