My father took my boy and me to Famous Dave’s for a fun three-generational outing. It’s my youngest boy’s favorite place in town. He believes that it beats even Texas Roadhouse on the east side of Idaho Falls for rib taste and sauce zest. Likewise, my father enjoys Famous Dave’s for the more quiet atmosphere.

The place looks like a Rocky Mountain lodge. You step onto the porch, open the doors, and receive a greeting by a young man. Then a smiling hostess exhorts you to a wooden table by the warm fire. One of the waitresses gave us a hearty welcome. This is her night job. By day, she is our friendly bank teller at U.S. Bank, just down the road on Broadway.

The décor of the restaurant fits the log cabin motif: fishing, hunting, and logging, etc. It’s cozy. Perfectly situated for Idaho in the Inter-mountain West.

My boy ordered a half rack of baby back ribs. And my dad and I split the Tuesday “Feast for Two” special for $25. I was starvin’. Tearing into the platter with gusto, I used every sauce on the table. We dined like kings on the pork barbecue, bisque, ribs, chicken, broccoli, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and corn bread. Yet we couldn’t pack it all in our bellies, so we piled the leftovers into a to-go box. It made for a great lunch the next day.

If you are a carnivore with a hearty appetite, you need to visit Famous Dave’s on the west side of Idaho Falls, not too far away from the Eagle Rock fountain and the beauty of the Snake River.

After enjoying our meal, we drove to the east side of town and shopped at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Go figure. The two businesses go hand in hand with each other.