Best food at Cedar Point

As someone who is somewhat of a BBQ foodie, Famous Dave's is actually really solid. The CP location is fine, but if you can, get to one away from the park where prices are a bit better and all that. The flavor/quality of both the meats and sides are good, usually. I go to a lot of BBQ places all over the country (Texas, Carolina's, Nashville, etc...), and as far as a chain goes, they are up there. Four Rivers BBQ in the Orlando area would be probably my top spot though for a regional chain... Place is off the hook. Anyway...

Don't knock FD because it's a chain or you only had it at CP on a bad day... When on point, it's top notch. I've eaten at the CP location a few times and it has been pretty good, but portions are a little more restrained and of course, prices a bit higher than usual. FD is a go-to if we eat at the park, which is rare. The location in North Olmstead is fantastic, for those in the Cleveland area.

SteveWoA said:

Don't knock FD because it's a chain or you only had it at CP on a bad day...

I've never been to a Famous Dave's at Cedar Point, and I don't knock it because it's a chain. I knock it because it's overrated, in my opinion. I love me some good barbecue, and I think Famous Dave's is ok...but nothing to write home about.

Which BBQ is the vinegar-y style? Carolina? Not a fan... Anyway if you’re ever up near Rochester, NY (SeaBreeze, anyone?) try Dinosaur BBQ. My favorite BBQ anywhere. Oh and when we go to FL to visit the in-laws we eat at Shane’s Rib Shack. Counter service, good prices, hefty portions, and the best chicken tenders anywhere. Plus the name is pretty cool, too. As for Famous Dave’s (or The Pig Place as my son calls it), I was disappointed when they closed shop here in Rochester. Were they the best? No. But they were consistently good and we could feed the family and have leftovers for $40 with the half feast.

Whatever you do don't go to Coasters where the main midway splits. It was terrible. Ate one bite of the chicken sandwich and threw it away and waited the 90 minutes on the dining plan to go to Panda Express. I was happy that the dining plan included the chain restaurants because we were not impressed with the Cedar Point food they offer.

SteveWoA said:

......Famous Dave's is actually really solid...... The location in North Olmstead is fantastic, for those in the Cleveland area.

Funny you say that, because we live in North Olmsted and that's the location we base our "Famous Daves is terrible" on. We've eaten there twice in probably 10 years. The second time we just wanted some BBQ, so we said "let's give it another chance." It was just not that good. Basically FD is to BBQ what Olive Garden is to Italian.

Blue is the best color.

ShaneDenmark said:

Which BBQ is the vinegar-y style? Carolina?

Eastern N. Carolina; pork shoulder. It can be an acquired taste, but I've definitely acquired it.

I love me some Carolina style BBQ. I also like Texas and St. Louis and Memphis and.. OK. I just love BBQ.

Famous Dave's is alright, but I don't really make it a point to seek it out. I've tried a couple of different locations, and the burnt ends are definitely the best thing on the menu.

Tommytheduck said:

Funny you say that, because we live in North Olmsted and that's the location we base our "Famous Daves is terrible" on. We've eaten there twice in probably 10 years. The second time we just wanted some BBQ, so we said "let's give it another chance." It was just not that good. Basically FD is to BBQ what Olive Garden is to Italian.

Interesting. I never had any issue with the quality of food there. If I don’t feel like watching over brisket on the smoker for 16 hours at home, I find Dave’s Brisket, Rib Tips and Ribs to all be very good. The burnt ends and pulled pork are nice as well. I prefer it over other local places, such as Smokey Bones (ugh… is it even still there anymore?) or even Mission BBQ. But for the most part, I tend to do all my BBQ at home anyway as we hardly ever go out to eat these days.

I typically stick with rib tips and brisket most of the time. It likely depends what people end up getting... If you are getting burgers or other 'weird' items, then I can see it being "meh". The straight up smoked meats and sides though are fine though, again, at least for me and my experience there.

Actually, the burgers at Famous Dave's are really good. They use a nice brisket blend in the ground beef. My favorite non-BBQ items there is the Devil's Spit Burger and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich.

SteveWoA said:
I prefer it over other local places, such as Smokey Bones (ugh… is it even still there anymore?) or even Mission BBQ.

Famous Dave’s better than Mission BBQ? Blasphemy! Mission > 4 Rivers > Famous Dave’s. Mission is where it’s at! ;)

I haven’t had Famous Dave’s in as long as I can remember, but even as I started to experience BBQ in more local contexts, I never found Famous Dave’s terrible. Certainly not the Olive Garden of the BBQ world, Tommy, haha. I don’t even know if I’d put Smokey Bones that low, and I’ve only had Smokey Bones once. ;)

Yeah, I'd absolutely pick Mission over Famous Dave's. And they had a Smokey Bones near where I lived 5 years ago. Haven't been since, but I remember it was decent (and preferable to FD's).

Have we turned into BuzzBQ.com?

It's hard to imagine anything topping 4 Rivers. They're opening a food truck at Disney Springs, by the way.

ShaneDenmark said:

Which BBQ is the vinegar-y style? Carolina? Not a fan... Anyway if you’re ever up near Rochester, NY (SeaBreeze, anyone?) try Dinosaur BBQ. My favorite BBQ anywhere. Oh and when we go to FL to visit the in-laws we eat at Shane’s Rib Shack. Counter service, good prices, hefty portions, and the best chicken tenders anywhere. Plus the name is pretty cool, too. As for Famous Dave’s (or The Pig Place as my son calls it), I was disappointed when they closed shop here in Rochester. Were they the best? No. But they were consistently good and we could feed the family and have leftovers for $40 with the half feast.

Another vote for Dino, I haven't been to Rochester, but have visited Syracuse many times and Dino is hands down the best one I have been to, better than Dave's, 4 Rivers, Mission, and anything else I've seen mentioned in the thread. Seriously its leaps and bounds above.Dave's is great compared to park food which is why it has been mentioned so many times, but at the end of the day it's still a chain, and chains are just mediocre.

Does anybody know how Cedar Point gets away with the claim that Chickie's and Pete's is the #1 rated sports bar in North America? I went to the Chickie's and Pete's in Valleyfair and thought that it was pretty mediocre. I'd think that the true #1 sports bar in North America would have to be a stand alone classic bar that was right outside of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, or some other iconic sports street. Sure, maybe the poll was for chain sports bars, but its still misleading advertising.

Who exactly is going to police that and make sure they don't get away with it?

It is a stand-alone bar in Philly with a much larger menu than the parks. The poll was in regards to that location. https://www.uwishunu.com/2011/08/chickies-petes-named-best-sports-b...a-by-espn/

And it wasn’t CP that’s making that claim. They are only promoting what someone else says. Ya know, like Golden Tickets.
<:^)

SteveWoA said:

As someone who is somewhat of a BBQ foodie, Famous Dave's is actually really solid. T

I agree here. It's actually one of my top BBQ chains and the CP location is a bit pricier but still good and the best food option on property.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take the three block walk from work and get some 4 Rivers for lunch :)