Famous Dave's   

Pssstt got a vegetarian in your life who you just don't like? Be the bigger person and take him out to dinner. Here. Aside from a salad and a couple of side dishes, there's not a thing on this menu that won't send him running into the night. And so what? More for the rest of us. Dave's is, indeed, all about the BBQ. It's odd for a national chain to be best of anything, except maybe bad food and even worse service, but Dave's is a standout. With its crammed-to-the-gills decor, Dave's has the frenetic charm of a Hard Rock Cafe, but with a heavy Western / South of the Border influence -- the perfect background for its large menu of, well, meat. The emphasis is on BBQ, of course, with just short-of-obnoxiously-sized meals. There are slabs o' ribs from 4 to 12 bones; oozy beef, pork or chicken sandwiches; catfish fingers and salmon and a salad or two for good measure. Almost everything comes slathered or soaked in Dave's rich sauces, including one called Devil Spit. Side dishes include homey fare like garlic mashed potatoes, creamy cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread, and green beans (with bacon, of course). One of the more interesting appetizer choices: smoked salmon spread with fire-grilled flatbread. Prices are reasonable, especially considering that you'll never leave hungry. If you aren't close by to Dave's in South Philly and the Northeast, keep an eye out for two new locations in Springfield and Cherry Hill.