Famous Dave's

Name: Famous Dave's
Address: Mall - Level 1, Water Front, Dubai Festival City, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97142876161

Dubai Festival City

American restaurant 04 287 6161

Famous Dave’s is an American BBQ restaurant in Dubai Festival City, serving wood-smoked meats and Southern-style sides in a spacious, American West-themed setting. The brisket and Dave’s Fried Chicken are the clearest reasons meat-lovers keep returning, while fountain views add to the outing.

Reputation Score

4.2

★★★★☆

2,229 ratings

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The Good Stuff

Showing 2 of 6

Tender meats

Reviews describe brisket, ribs and steaks as tender and juicy when cooked correctly, including a medium-well steak that arrived as requested.

Large portions

Platters, burgers and sides are often described as generous; some meals are large enough to split or share.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Famous Dave's

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Famous Dave's, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 2

Creamy mash Net +3

“But when it comes to food, everything literally was top notch. The meat, the sides and even the mashed potatoes We ordered:”
Short rib Net +2

“Next, the main course. I ordered the beef short rib, smoked and marbled to perfection.”

Honorable mentions (50)

Mac and cheese Net +1

“We went with kids, they like the food, burger and mac and cheese were out of this world.”
Ultimate brisket burger Net +1

“The last dish was the ultimate brisket burger and like the other dishes was fantastic.”
All-american bbq feast Net +1

“For mains we tried the All-American BBQ Feast – and oh boy! A feast it was. This platter comes with beef ribs and brisket, roasted chicken, coleslaw, fries, corn, baked beans and corn bread muffins! It’s massive, and good for 4-5 people. And everything on this platter was perfectly cooked and delicious.”
Angus cowboy steak 16 oz Net +1

“- Angus cowboy steak 16 oz (199 Dhms): 9/10”
Arnold palmer Net +1

“For drinks I stuck to my previous order of Arnold Palmer – a refreshing beverage.”
Beef brisket Net +1

“One word AWESOME, best tasting BBQ in Dubai, the chicken Wings are out of this world good. And the beef brisket is just crazy juicy definitely must try if you're in Dubai”
Briskets Net +1

“The briskets were delicious and juicy.”
Buffalo ribs Net +1

“Try the Buffalo ribs or the big choice of beef burgers.”
Buffalo wings with onion string and ranch Net +1

“For starters we had the Buffalo Wings with onion string and ranch – and it was perfect.”
Burnt ends Net +1

“1st time trying the loaded fries and burnt ends which was very appetizing.”
Chicken tacos Net +1

“The servers were quick in taking the order and helpful, we ordered chicken tacos, chicken breast with fries and onion rings and a passion fruit fizz. The food arrived fast, the tacos were just amazing, one of the best i have had in months.”
Chicken wings Net +1

“One word AWESOME, best tasting BBQ in Dubai, the chicken Wings are out of this world good. And the beef brisket is just crazy juicy definitely must try if you're in Dubai”
Chilli and roasted half chicken Net +1

“Loved their Arnold Palmer drink though, that's a must if you haven't tried it yet. The chilli and roasted half chicken is decent too, something I'd have again.”
Coolers Net +1

“The coolers are a perfect choice if you're looking for something enlivening and revitalizing to enjoy during the summer months.”
Dave's famous fried chicken Net +1

“I always come here for the Brisket and my favorite fried chicken in all of Dubai, Dave's famous fried chicken!!!!”
Dave's fried chicken Net +1

“Loved every mouthful! We sampled two burgers, steak, and the renowned Dave's Fried Chicken. The flavors were fantastic, the venue was impressive, and the chilly weather enhanced our dining experience.”
Dave’s fried chicken Net +1

“Dave’s fried chicken was good.”
Dave's sampler platter Net +1

“We started with Dave's Sampler Platter, and it was awesome start and really enough to feed 4 big men.”
Dinosaur ribs Net +1

“Edit: visitied again and tried their dinosaur ribs. They're amazing. It was good for 3 people on its own.”
Double cheeseburger Net +1

“Liked the Double Cheeseburger, the burger was juicy and tender and really liked it.”
Foccacia lambwich Net +1

“I tried the Foccacia Lambwich after being attracted by the outdoor at the restaurant entrance: the sandwich is superb, a tender lamb in a tasteful foccacia.”
Fresh coleslaw Net +1

“For mains we tried the All-American BBQ Feast – and oh boy! A feast it was. This platter comes with beef ribs and brisket, roasted chicken, coleslaw, fries, corn, baked beans and corn bread muffins! It’s massive, and good for 4-5 people. And everything on this platter was perfectly cooked and delicious.”
Fried chicken Net +1

“if someome like chicken go with there fried chicken its yummy crispy and so hot”
Fries Net +1

“For mains we tried the All-American BBQ Feast – and oh boy! A feast it was. This platter comes with beef ribs and brisket, roasted chicken, coleslaw, fries, corn, baked beans and corn bread muffins! It’s massive, and good for 4-5 people. And everything on this platter was perfectly cooked and delicious.”
Grain fed tenderloin Net +1

“1.Grain Fed Tenderloin 2.Single bone Grain Fed Short Rib The taste of the meat, the blend of seasoning and the sauces made this one of the tastiest steak and ribs experiences for me.”
Grilled chicken Net +1

“Grilled chicken - it tasted okay”
Hot link Net +1

“- hot link was good but not as expected”
Large philadelphia monster burger Net +1

“The large Philadelphia Monster Burger is huge and tasty, it is one of the burgers, those you can complete at once, they accept voucher 1+1 for this one. In the weekend the service is slow, it is hard to catch a waiter if your require something. In general, this monster is a must to try.”
Loaded fries Net +1

“1st time trying the loaded fries and burnt ends which was very appetizing.”
Mashes truffle potato Net +1

“They have a lot of slides as options, I loved the mashes truffle potato.”
Meat balls Net +1

“1.The Brisket with Meat balls .The steak wasnt good at all not flavor just blant taste but meat balls and its sauce was really yummy goes good with Rice.”
Medium well tomahawk steak Net +1

“We ordered medium well Tomahawk steak which is mouth watering and cooked to perfection.”
Minnetonka monster burger Net +1

“We ordered the ultimate brisket burger and the minnetonka monster burger based on his recommendations. The food was cooked fresh and was extremely well portioned and delicious.”
Molten lava cake Net +1

“For the dessert we ordered Molten lava cake it was very yummy but should have been more warm”
Passion fruit fizz Net +1

“we ordered chicken tacos, chicken breast with fries and onion rings and a passion fruit fizz. The food arrived fast, the tacos were just amazing, one of the best i have had in months. The chicken breast was a little undercooked therefore it could have been better, onion rings were too oily in a way you can see oil floating there. The creamy potato mash with the chicken breast was good and so was passion fruit.”
Pecan pie with vanilla ice cream Net +1

“We tried the Pecan Pie with vanilla ice cream. And it was delicious, but too rich that you’re done with a couple spoonfuls of it. So make sure to share.”
Rib Net +1

“It's a must visit place especially for steak and rib lovers but you would probably get disappointed if you're looking for some veg.”
Single bone grain fed short rib Net +1

“1.Grain Fed Tenderloin 2.Single bone Grain Fed Short Rib The taste of the meat, the blend of seasoning and the sauces made this one of the tastiest steak and ribs experiences for me.”
Smoked brisket Net +1

“-The smoked brisket is so dam delicious and melts like butter in your mouth and u can never have enough of it”
Smoked brisket beef Net +1

“Tried Smoked Brisket Beef for main course. I’d recommend everyone to have this! The meat is been smoked for 12 hours in the oven /burner and it comes out so tender and juicy and delicious!”
Steak african meat Net +1

“I tried their brisket and steak African meat. Overall, the meat was medium rare and it was as instructed.”
Tenderloin Net +1

“The staff were very welcoming explaining the dishes, we had the brisket and tenderloin main courses. The staff made sure we got the steak as requested being medium well. Meat was so tender and juicy.”
Texas beef brisket 6 oz Net +1

“- Texas beef brisket 6 oz (79 Dhms): 8.5/10”
Tofee pudding Net +1

“Dessert was Tofee pudding and I finished it all in few minutes 😍”
Wings Net +1

“Believe me I am not being bias when i say the wings I ordered destroyed mostly every other restaurant i visited that served chicken wings. Perfectly cooked, these little meaty drumsticks from heaven offer a very mild crunch at the first bite that immediately dissolves in your mouth when you dive deeper in them.”
Lamb shank Net 0

Mixed feedback

“- Lamb shank was never better thas this with that super delicious gravy.”
Shrimp skillet Net 0

Mixed feedback

“The Shrimps skillet 10/10 but better it would had been hot in that sizziling Plate.”
Brisket with meat balls Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“1.The Brisket with Meat balls .The steak wasnt good at all not flavor just blant taste but meat balls and its sauce was really yummy goes good with Rice.”
Chicken steak Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“We had chicken steak which was fine.”
Ribeye steak Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“I tried their ribeye steak, and while it was incredibly soft and juicy, the flavor reminded me more of curry or nihari than a traditional steak. Personally, I prefer my steaks to have that classic, robust steak flavor, so this was a bit of a letdown.”

Drinks 4

Beat the heat drinks Net +1

“We recently tried the four new "Beat The Heat" drinks and they are incredibly refreshing and perfect for thumping summer warmth.”
Lemonade and iced tea Net +1

“Drinks - tried a drink which was a mix of lemonade and iced tea. Tasted good. Best part was that it was bottomless.”
Lemonade juice Net +1

“Nice lemonade juice.”
Bottomless drink Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“Bottomless drinks were ok. Nothing special. Especially the iced tea needs to have some flavour. It was more of a plain water.”

What to Avoid (9)

Food 7

10Oz brisket sandwich Net −1

“I had a 10oz brisket sandwich which was good. The taste was a little off so I couldn't finish it.”
Back ribs Net −1

“Back ribs were a little crisp and not juicy at all. Seems like it was grilled earlier and reheated with sauce to be served.”
Chicken breast Net −1

“The chicken breast was a little undercooked therefore it could have been better, onion rings were too oily in a way you can see oil floating there.”
Chicken burger Net −1

“We had chicken burger which was very tasteless. The chicken patty was raw from the middle. Very disappointed with the burger.”
Double bone grain fed short ribs Net −1

“- Double bone grain fed short ribs (175 Dhms): 4/10”
Onion rings Net −1

“The chicken breast was a little undercooked therefore it could have been better, onion rings were too oily in a way you can see oil floating there.”
Sassy burger Net −1

“Sassy burger was okayish with bland flavour.”

Drinks 2

Classic lemonade Net −1

“Food arrived first and waited for at least 20minutes for the drinks to be served, wouldn’t recommend the classic lemonade as it taste like plain syrup.”
Iced tea Net −2

“We also ordered iced tea which was without flavor. They said they only serve this way and there is no syrup to add flavor in it. It tasted like a cold drink with tea bags in it.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Visit off-peak. Visit outside busy periods if possible: customers report crowded dining rooms and slower service on busy days.

Share portions. Ask about portion sizes or plan to share; several reviews describe the meals and platters as unusually large.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Mall - Level 1, Water Front

Dubai Festival City, Dubai

04 287 6161

Get directions

Common Concerns

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Uneven cooking

Food quality can vary: one burger patty was reported raw in the middle, while other reviews mention cold brisket and ribs.

Slow service

Waits have been reported even when the restaurant was quiet, including a 40-minute wait for food and delays getting staff attention.

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Famous Dave’s is a spacious American BBQ restaurant in Dubai Festival City, with wood-smoked meats, Southern-style sides and a lively family-dining feel. Start with the brisket or Dave’s Fried Chicken; both have strong review support. Ribs, loaded fries with burnt ends and the molten lava cake are other named choices that come up often.

Portions are a real feature here. A platter may be enough to share, and customers describe burgers, steaks and sides as generous. Families can ask for children’s meals to arrive first.

The large dining room is comfortable, while window or terrace seating can bring views of the fountain, creek and skyline. The setting is lively, though noise from children and crowds can make conversation harder. The experience is not perfectly consistent.

Some diners received tender, juicy brisket, ribs or correctly cooked steak; others reported cold brisket and ribs, a raw chicken-burger patty, dry mac and cheese or a 40-minute wait. Service is often described as friendly, but slow attention and delayed bills also appear in the reviews. Prices are viewed as moderate to high, so check Festival Rewards, Entertainer, Smiles or Zomato offers before you go.

Visiting outside busy periods should also make the meal more relaxed.