Famous Dave's

Dave Anderson already had a distinguished resume before he decided to get into the barbecue business. That was back in 1994, when he opened his first Famous Dave's in Wisconsin, a joint that was casual, comfortable and so down-home that the barbecue was served on a garbage-can lid, in homage to Anderson's personal cooking technique. Since then, Famous Dave's has been smokin', with close to 200 restaurants now open across the country -- including this outpost in Thornton. In a BBQ-deprived area, Famous Dave's is the real deal, serving up burgers, chicken, salads, sandwiches and, most important, St. Louis-style spareribs, hickory-smoked and slathered with Anderson's own Rich & Sassy sauce made from a secret recipe. And if you're feeling really hungry, you can order the All-American BBQ Feast, presented, yes, on a garbage-can lid.