FAMOUS DAVE'S

Date of last visit:  December 2009
Address: 7121 SW Nyberg Street, Tualatin, Oregon
Phone:  503-486-5631
Hours: better call to find out --open daily for lunch and dinner
Link:  Famous Dave's

General Impressions of the place itself:  This place is a chain--a busy chain -- not a health food restaurant.  It has a large waiting area --they give you buzzers and tell you to wait an hour.  The decor is the standard, professionally decorated barbecue motif with old car license plates, and made-to-look-old metal signs. Yawn to all of that.
What we ordered: multiple racks of ribs--both beef and baby backs,the ribs were very tender and gave no one reason to complain. We also got multiple sides. These were less inspiring --the slaw was standard stuff, same with the french fries.  The baked beans were OK but nothing special; the green beans were overcooked and not as spicy as advertised; the corn muffins were tasty; the corn on the cob was soggy.
Things we liked:  they had a nice variety of barbecue sauces on the table.
Things we didn't like:   the long wait was a drag --and it really is not worth it.  We would have to categorize this is a place for people who only feel safe going to a known chain. 
Number in our party:  6
Total Bill: $85  (not bad for 6, including 3 hungry teenage boys).  But that price was the result of our ordering three slabs and serving it all family style.  And only two people ordered drinks--the rest of us had water.)
Recommended? not so much, not that it is bad but the wait is a drag and we prefer supporting independent restaurateurs.
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? 2+