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                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.1

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, David W. Anderson, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Famous Dave's of
    America, Inc.;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
    make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which such
    statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
    this quarterly report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
    information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all
    material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
    flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
    quarterly report;

4.  Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s other certifying officer(s) and I are
    responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
    procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for
    Famous Dave's of America, Inc., and have:

    a.  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
        disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
        to ensure that material information relating to Famous Dave's of
        America, Inc., including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
        us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
        which this quarterly report is being prepared;

    b.  evaluated the effectiveness of Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s
        disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
        conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
        procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on
        such evaluation; and

    c.  disclosed in this report any change in Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s
        internal control over financial reporting that occurred during Famous
        Dave's of America, Inc.'s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially
        affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Famous Dave's of
        America, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting;

5.  Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s other certifying officer(s) and I have
    disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
    financial reporting, to Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s auditors and the
    audit committee of Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s board of directors (or
    persons performing the equivalent functions):

    a.  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
        operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
        reasonably likely to adversely affect Famous Dave's of America, Inc.'s
        ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;
        and

    b.  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
        employees who have a significant role in Famous Dave's of America,
        Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  August 8, 2003                                   /s/ David W. Anderson
                                                        ---------------------
                                                        David W. Anderson
                                                        Chief Executive Officer