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

Stopped by recently for our annual trip with a friend who visits every year. We did not make it last year due to covid, so it had been 2 years. You now have to order at the counter upon entering rather than having wait staff take the order at your table. Not really a big deal, but it makes it feel more rushed and kind of like a fast food restaurant. We stopped around 2pm on a weekend and ordered off the dinner menu.

My friend ordered water but was not given a glass. He asked the waitress when she stopped by and she said she'd get him one, but after we saw her go back and forth between the kitchen and other tables a few times (and chatting with a coworker) it seemed she'd forgotten so I got it for him.

I ordered the ribs and brisket combo with fries and corn on the cob. When it arrived, none of it was even warm, much less hot. Everything was just room temperature. It seemed to have been cooked properly, but apparently either left to sit before being brought to the table or had been left over from the lunch hour. There was no salt, pepper, or butter at the table. I discovered that salt and pepper had been moved to a self-serve station along with sugar and other things that would normally have been at the table. Considering that there was still ketchup and barbecue sauce at every table, I'm not sure what the point of making people hunt for other condiments is. I had to ask for the butter, which was cold from having been kept in the fridge. If the food had been hot this would not have been a problem, but putting cold butter on room temperature corn on the cob didn't work that well. My friend had ordered a burger and asked for specific toppings but it arrived without anything on it.

I'd always enjoyed going to Famous Dave's before, but this was just not a good experience. Granted, we came at a non-peak time, but you'd still think the food would at least be warm. Maybe this was just an anomaly, but I don't envision rushing back...

How do I tell you of this wonderful restaurant, I'll just tell all of it. I left oncology after labs & scan, I missed bus, it was cold, I have to use a mobility chair for more than a few steps. So to keep warm, I kept rolling, then I needed to use a restroom, I kept rolling, passed a few businesses but no ramp, kept rolling, I sas that Famous Dave's had an entry I could use, I rolled up door, no auto door but light weight door. Just as I was coming through 1st entry door, a man came to assist me with a smile on his face. Me, an older gal in chair, I was welcomed, I was assisted, I was welcomed. He had a female staffer assist me to restroom, then I ordered a baked potato w broccoli, bacon pieces (real bacon)my option was butter & sour cream, 1 side of coleslaw, w a fine ground corn meal muffin, coffee. The portions were generous. Fresh taste, great coffee, all served w a smile. The outside wall tables had outlets(2) for phone chargers. I was in heaven. I was welcomed 😊♿ Music was R n B, the best tunes, great sound, great acoustics, level of sound was hearable but not blaring. The music reminded me of someone I love. The atmosphere was like love, while I are the fresh nutritious food, even the large baked potatoe had delicious flavor, with the generous amount of perfectly cooked broccoli & pieces of bacon, it was heaven for me. I cried for a moment, I was welcomed, Me, a worn out lady w cancer in a beat up chair. I had help w smiles, I had a feeling of just being cared for & about. The whole visit to heaven was only $12.00, + tax . I did order from lunch menu, I order vegetable w pieces o bacon. Prices of meat are bit higher I assumed but the bacon was plentiful. I can't describe my joy, it's hard us In chairs to find accessible & oh so welcoming. I will dine at Famous Dave's soon again. They have a rewards type program also. So I hope people will give this...

Famous Dave's used to be one of our family's favorite places to eat. But like many businesses, they seem to have been impacted by COVID and never recovered. Instead of a normal sit down experience, they now are more like a Culvers or Mission BBQ. You place your order when you walk in, get a number, and they bring it to your table. You refill your own drinks. But, they clean up your table when you are done. I'm not even sure the appropriate amount to tip in this type of scenario?!

The staff was friendly and patient as we looked at the menu board trying to decide what to have. They were polite and courteous when bringing out the food. They forgot to plate the corn muffins, but quickly went back and brought them out when we brought it to their attention.

Like most places, prices have gone up. It is now $20+ for a 2-meat dinner, with upcharges for most of the sides, and $3 for a self-serve drink. I did a side salad (+$1) which was well sized (9/10) and peach cobbler (+$.50) which was kind of bland but the peaches themselves were very good (6/10). My jalepeno cheddar sausage was very good (8.5/10). The brisket was presented well, thick sliced on a piece of texas toast, but was not good at all (3/10). Lukewarm, no crispy edges, very little flavor unless you drench it in one of their sauces. The corn muffins haven't changed and are still delicious (9/10).

My son really liked his chicken, but the ribs were always his favorite and he said they were just okay leaving him a little disappointed.

Given the change in quality, service, and price, we probably will not be back. Difficult to say since Famous Dave's was always our go to prior to COVID, but Dickey's brisket is head an shoulders better (don't need sauce to make it good), and Mission BBQ is a better value (~$20 for a 2-meat plate with 2 sides...