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

Two years in a row we have been incredibly disappointed in Famous Dave's in Smyrna. We live slightly outside the area so do not visit too often and based on the second time in a row of terrible management and service I don't expect to return to this particular Famous Dave's.

We arrived slightly early in the evening - a little after 5. The entire dining room was empty and several people were in the bar. The greeter told us that we would have to wait 15-20 minutes for a table... (recall the dining room was completely empty). We did anyway, as we love BBQ and this has been an annual tradition to visit it one night in December before seeing Christmas lights. So, we sat there waiting while no one was waited on or served in the dining room and eventually (about 20 minutes, so they were not wrong in the estimate at least) were seated down. Once seated, we waited more than 5 minutes before a waitress visited us at which point we were all ready with our drink and food orders.

Optimistic that the food would make everything work out we placed our orders and waited. It took a while to get the drinks but the appetizer we ordered came out reasonably quickly (cheese curds) and were good, but for $13 I would have expected more than 20 or so cheese curds. I could have gotten the same amount, slightly less quality, for 1/3 the price at Dairy Queen. Anyway, 8 of us each had 2 or 3 bites and while good, it was disappointingly small.

Dinner came out and most of the food was pretty good, but again, the portions were tiny (which is very different than my past recollections). My wife got a "pick 2" option and received 5 small pieces of brisket and 3 ribs for $23. She also received cornbread that had a bizarre, and kind of disgusting looking bottom of it under the unwrapped portion (I don't know what it's called - sorry). I've attached a picture of that as it was pretty much a perfect picture of our trip - disappointing and way too expensive. Until this FD gets some new management who retains enough servers to actually serve its customers we do not intend to return. I don't recommend this particular Famous Dave's although, if you have not been, don't take this to be true of other venues - across multiple states, this is the first and only one who has disappointed...

We walked in to see a sign that says “please wait to be seated” scribbled in expo marker. We waited 15 minutes before anyone even showed up to say hello or acknowledge our existence. I saw two people in the very back by the kitchen walking around but no one else. After not even being acknowledged in any way for 15 minutes a girl showed up (who obviously disliked her job) and asked how many people (4 of us). We did not receive a “Sorry for your wait”, “We are short handed”, etc. We followed her to be seated. We walked into the seating area and she looked around at multiple empty tables but a few dirty ones and said let me clean off a table first and walked off for another few minutes. During this time another couple waiting to order told us that we should leave, that they had been waiting 25 minutes to see a person to order. We took their advice and walked out, along with another couple who were standing in the front entry and also heard this. We are now next door at Hickory Falls enjoying a great dinner. We oddly enough ran into the same couple that left Famous Dave’s the same time we did, here as well. It took us less time to be seated and get drinks here than it took us to be acknowledged at Famous Dave’s. I would not recommend going to Famous Dave’s unless you are not hungry and have hours to build up an appetite while not being acknowledged. Unfortunately, you have to include a minimum of one start to post a review, otherwise they would receive a...

Sorry for how long this review is... I was in one afternoon after taking care of some business in the area & having been in a few times before. I've been a Fan of Famous Dave's for quite some time, plus I had friends in, from back home in Chicago. I'd told them the rib tips reminded me of there. Bragging Fam. Dave's up, really selling them on the idea. I had my lunch, and the food was good, the service not so much. At that point in time I was the only person of color in & the server gave much Less than I was used to at that location. I admit I was usually there later in the day, servers were usually pleasant, engaged and attentive. Now I get it that anyone can have a bad day, but when you work in customer service you have to forget your personal feelings and biases. Here's the thing, I ordered food to take to my friends and when I left, I even left a small tip... remember the service wasn't that good. But when I got to my friends and they opened their food the BBQ was dried out, overcooked and mostly inedible. I don't make a habit of bad mouthing Anyone, here's the reason for this review. I completed Famous Dave's online survey & submitted it, but apparently it didn't mean much to them because there has been No response even after a...