By RACHEL BRANT

Staff writer

Wilbur made his Silverdale debut Monday morning.

The Famous Dave’s pig cruised into town aboard a Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue fire engine to celebrate the grand opening of the barbecue joint.

After roughly six months of construction, Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que opened on St. Patrick’s Day along Plaza Road across from Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

Famous Dave’s staff members sang songs and chants to get the crowd of spectators pumped for Wilbur’s arrival. Once the Famous Dave’s pig was present, Ben Adams, general manager of the Silverdale restaurant, received embers from Famous Dave’s of Bakersfield, Calif. to fire up the Silverdale barbecue. The Bakersfield restaurant was the last restaurant to open and, in keeping with tradition, Adams received embers from that Famous Dave’s.

Rather than a traditional ribbon-cutting, Famous Dave’s holds rib-cutting ceremonies to open their restaurants. Adams and Kathryn Quade, mayor of Poulsbo, cut the rack of ribs together to commemorate the Silverdale restaurant’s opening day.

Adams said the community feel and family values of Silverdale made it the perfect location for the 169th Famous Dave’s restaurant nationwide.

“Famous Dave’s, as a company, values the family aspect of community and Silverdale seemed to us a great place to be a part of it and fit in,” Adams said.

Adams added that the military has always been a great supporter of Famous Dave’s and the company is pleased to open another location close to a military base.

Famous Dave’s serves up award-winning ribs, chicken and pork. Famous Dave’s has won more than 200 awards for their barbecue. The menu also includes salads and homestyle desserts such as their award-winning bread pudding.

“We even have smoked salmon,” Adams said.

Aside from the dine-in experience, Famous Dave’s also offers catering and to-go services. The restaurant was started by Dave Anderson in 1994 in Wisconsin as a to-go business, according to Adams.

“Our to-go food is always part of what we do,” Adams said. “It was based on a to-go business. That’s one of the reasons our food is so good.”

Famous Dave’s catering vehicles, including the red Famous Dave’s ambulance, are specially designed to keep food hot and cold until delivery to ensure the customers enjoy the best-tasting meals possible, according to Adams.

Adams spent two-and-a-half weeks hiring the 115 employees at the Silverdale restaurant. The group of enthusiastic employees started the “full-on training process” more than a week ago. Famous Dave’s had mock service practice this past weekend where employees served their friends and family members to prepare themselves for opening day.

Adams said Famous Dave’s intends to not only provide great service and tasty food, but to give back to community events and organizations as well.

“We don’t just believe in standing around taking people’s money, but we believe in giving back a little too,” Adams said.

Famous Dave’s

3276 NW Plaza Road

Silverdale

TO GO: (360) 307-9999

Sunday-Thursday

11 a.m. — 11 p.m.

Friday-Saturday

11 a.m. — midnight