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Famous Daves Barbeque Compliment - Almost Famous - Barbeque
Compliment
DENVER, COLORADO -- And yes, there really is a Famous Dave. Dave Anderson opened Famous Dave's Barbecue Shack in Hayward, Wisconsin, in 1994, and since then he's been like the Johnny Appleseed of barbecue, planting locations all over the place, often outside customary barbecue strongholds (the Stapleton outpost is the first in Colorado). Anderson and company have won awards for their sauce, for their meats, for their operation -- for just about everything they do. And we're not talking rinky-dink local awards, either: In 1995, Famous Dave's took home a first place at the American Royal Barbecue Sauce Contest in Kansas City, Missouri (one of the biggest and most celebrated contests in the world). It's also won two "Greatest Ribs in America" titles (one in 1999, at the Great American Rib Cookoff in Cleveland) and more trophies than can be counted. All things considered, that ain't a bad run for a guy who was bankrupt in the '70's, turned things around with a Fortune 500 sales career, founded a barbecue chain and is now assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs.
I didn't love everything about Famous Dave's, but I was impressed. The place is big, but still near capacity on a Thursday night when everything surrounding it was as quiet as a grave. The service was fast and, if not entirely efficient, at least real friendly about it. It's done up in the style of a Wisconsin fishing cabin, with a lot of exposed, artificially weathered beams, antiques and fishing paraphernalia. To me, it looked like they opened the joint in an abandoned set for The Red Green Show's Possum Lodge, but that could be because I watch way too much PBS. And tucked away among all the fly reels, rusted cans of engine oil, aged posters and copies of Life magazine was a surprisingly well-run restaurant operation. The warren of dining rooms was broken down into seating areas, each of which felt more intimate than the whole; the bar was being used as overflow seating; a separate area was set off for to-go orders; and the kitchen was huge -- prepped and staffed to serve a thousand orders a day, easy.
I ordered the Georgia chopped pork and was pleased to see it come lumped atop a single slice of thick-cut white bread. The meat was smoky, shoulder-cut and touched with just enough sauce to give it a little sweet, Southern sting. The side of apples was awful -- at once tough and mealy and mushy, with an unpleasant tinny aftertaste -- but the honey cornbread was decent, and the beans (studded with big pieces of pork) were excellent.
Still, it was the ribs that really proved that Dave knows what he's doing. According to the legend of Famous Dave, Anderson spent 25 years traveling around the country eating barbecue and tasting sauces and experimenting with cooking methods that ranged from dry baking to greenwood smoking in a garbage can before he finally settled on his secret sauce and hickory slow-smoke process. I could taste his dedication in the ribs -- seriously, I got a little swoony after the first bite. They were that good -- tender, hit with just the right amount of sweet and peppery Southern rub, deeply smoky and served (on request) totally naked. I tried a bit of three different sauces on the side, but there was no need: The ribs were just fine on their own.
So if you ever find yourself out in the wilds of Stapleton with a hankering for some good 'cue, give Dave's a try. It might not be the best you've ever tasted, but it's a good addition to Denver's vibrant barbecue culture.
I didn't love everything about Famous Dave's, but I was impressed. The place is big, but still near capacity on a Thursday night when everything surrounding it was as quiet as a grave. The service was fast and, if not entirely efficient, at least real friendly about it. It's done up in the style of a Wisconsin fishing cabin, with a lot of exposed, artificially weathered beams, antiques and fishing paraphernalia. To me, it looked like they opened the joint in an abandoned set for The Red Green Show's Possum Lodge, but that could be because I watch way too much PBS. And tucked away among all the fly reels, rusted cans of engine oil, aged posters and copies of Life magazine was a surprisingly well-run restaurant operation. The warren of dining rooms was broken down into seating areas, each of which felt more intimate than the whole; the bar was being used as overflow seating; a separate area was set off for to-go orders; and the kitchen was huge -- prepped and staffed to serve a thousand orders a day, easy.
I ordered the Georgia chopped pork and was pleased to see it come lumped atop a single slice of thick-cut white bread. The meat was smoky, shoulder-cut and touched with just enough sauce to give it a little sweet, Southern sting. The side of apples was awful -- at once tough and mealy and mushy, with an unpleasant tinny aftertaste -- but the honey cornbread was decent, and the beans (studded with big pieces of pork) were excellent.
Still, it was the ribs that really proved that Dave knows what he's doing. According to the legend of Famous Dave, Anderson spent 25 years traveling around the country eating barbecue and tasting sauces and experimenting with cooking methods that ranged from dry baking to greenwood smoking in a garbage can before he finally settled on his secret sauce and hickory slow-smoke process. I could taste his dedication in the ribs -- seriously, I got a little swoony after the first bite. They were that good -- tender, hit with just the right amount of sweet and peppery Southern rub, deeply smoky and served (on request) totally naked. I tried a bit of three different sauces on the side, but there was no need: The ribs were just fine on their own.
So if you ever find yourself out in the wilds of Stapleton with a hankering for some good 'cue, give Dave's a try. It might not be the best you've ever tasted, but it's a good addition to Denver's vibrant barbecue culture.
Comments:
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2007-05-30:
Good review, the type I enjoy reading.
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
It was a nice informative. I went to the Stapleton location the other day. HBB, what other rib joints do you patronize? Like a glutten of bad Mexican food joints there is beginning to be the same with rib and "comfort food" joints out here. Just ask Cora Faye's Dive on Colorado BLVD!
Posted by superbowl on 2007-05-30:
HillBillyBumpkin, great handle! Good post. When my Mom lived in Denver there was a Mexican restaurant that had a waterfall inside and was really a nice place. Is it still around, we enjoyed going there.
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
Casa Bonita?
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-05-30:
This is by far the best "Famous Daves Barbeque" review I've ever read. Great job hillbillybumpkin for setting the record straight on "Famous Daves Barbeque".
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
What a coincidince! He/she posts this the day after mine and imagine that, Stewart and pirate trust this person automatically. Ha-ha-ha. I could have Googled up the same info.
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-05-30:
Oh zzrokk don't be that way... Your review was good in its own way it's just that hillbillybumpkin's was much better. But that doesn't matter because this isn't a competition for pete's sake. Aren't we all here for the sake of the consumer and to be good soldiers in this 'Consumer Revolution'!
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
Shutup!! : (.....
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2007-05-30:
Zork, if nothing else, use this review as an example of how to write a good one.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-05-30:
So which one of the two losers spawned yet another fake ID to try and upstage with a google your yesterday's review zz?
http://www.westword.com/2005-10-06/dining/almost-famous/
http://www.westword.com/2005-10-06/dining/almost-famous/
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
Stewart, I am a bit surprised at you. Does Mr. Sheehan, know that you guys "lifted" his review? Nice job outing these frauds, Slim.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-05-30:
I'm not (surprised at stew)
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
I wonder what Addy, has to say? Penalty points should be assessed.
Posted by superbowl on 2007-05-30:
Zzrokk, that was it, had a great time going there.
Posted by bill on 2007-05-30:
Great job Slim.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-05-30:
Well thanks guys. I must agree zz. Now all that's left is Billy to start "trusting" these two game players.
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-05-30:
Well I for one am shocked and feel totally foolish. A plagiarized review is not cool. Who ever did this should feel lame.
Slim I have ignored you for months yet you continue to harass me. I didn't create this ID nor did I post this review...it's not my style. So once again as always you are a bold face liar. Now shoo fly.
Slim I have ignored you for months yet you continue to harass me. I didn't create this ID nor did I post this review...it's not my style. So once again as always you are a bold face liar. Now shoo fly.
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2007-05-30:
This reeks of a slimjim setup to me.
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
BULL-ONEY!!!!!
Posted by zzrokk on 2007-05-30:
Super, you liked Casa Bonita, huh? I haven't been there but heard that the ambience is very nice. As for the food.....? Where would you rate it?
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-05-30:
Yeah, I think you're right Pirate. It's too bad the admins lack the cohonas to oust this loser.
Come on Admins... Check the web logs and expose this imposter for who he is. It's the right thing to do.
Come on Admins... Check the web logs and expose this imposter for who he is. It's the right thing to do.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-05-30:
It's not a lie if I believe it stew. I said it was either you or pirate, and I believe that.
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