Metro Detroit: Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
In 1994, Dave Anderson opened the First Famous Dave’s restaurant in Hayward Wisconsin, and its popularity quickly grew! Today, they have over 180 locations in 30 states and 3 international locations in Winnipeg, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. There are 7 locations in Michigan: Saginaw, Flint, Roseville, Novi, Westland, Taylor and Troy.
If you aren’t familiar with Famous Dave’ they are a BBQ restaurant chain specializing in smoked ribs, pulled pork, chicken (smoked and fried) brisket and many other delicious items. They also do catering. In 2011 Don & Keri Becker, our brother and sister in law, had them cater their wedding reception (because that’s where they went on their first date) and it was delicious!
Being BBQ snobs, there are few places we will spend our time and money when it comes to BBQ.
Famous Dave’s is one of those places. Especially for their burnt ends appetizer! They are one of the few places to have it on their everyday menu AND at a reasonable price. If you aren’t familiar with burnt ends, they are the outer edges of the point end of the brisket ,which get really dark and “barky” during the smoking process. The brisket is made up of 2 parts, the point and the flat. The flat more lean compared to the point which is well marbled and extra fatty. The extra fat in the meat allows the outside to bark and the meat stays juicy and tender.
According to their website, Famous Dave’s has a happy hour M-F from 3-6 PM however not all locations do a full blown happy hour. For those who do, you can get
$4 Famous Fries, Fried Pickles or Southside Rib Tips
$5 Georgia Chopped Pork Sandwich, St. Louis-Style Ribs (2 Bones)
$6 Smokehouse Grilled Cheese, Traditional Wing Basket, or Build-Your-Own Burger
Here in our area they don’t offer the food specials but do offer deeply discounted draft beers which makes a full priced appetizer not seem so bad.
This brings us back to their burnt ends, our favorite thing to get here! They are delicious pieces of brisket, caramelized with their Sweet & Zesty BBQ sauce and served with onion straws, jalapeno pickled red onions and their famous Hell–Fire Pickles. If you have never tried their pickles, you need to, but beware they have some bite to them, sweet and spicy.
Typically if you see burnt ends on a menu they are a ridiculous price and an order can be skimpy, but here they are only $12.99 and you get a nice amount for the money. Pair that with a $3.50 beer and you are good to go. We had a couple beers each with our burnt ends and our bill was still under $30. They also offer a pork counterpart to their burnt ends, the Burnt Buttz.
If you have never tried burnt ends or burnt butts, get your BUTT to Famous Dave’s and give them a try . . . along with all their other delicious BBQ choices.
Until next time . . . live well, eat well and enjoy life!
-Keith & Teresa Becker
