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                                                                    Exhibit 31.1

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, David Goronkin, certify that:

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

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

     3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
          information included in this annual 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 annual report;

     4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
          establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
          defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15e and 15d-14) for the registrant
          and we have:

               a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures or caused
                    such disclosure controls and procedures to be designated
                    under our system to ensure that material information
                    relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
                    subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
                    entities, particularly during the period in which this
                    annual report is being prepared;

               b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                    controls and procedures and presented in this annual report
                    our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
                    controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered
                    by this annual report based on such evaluation; and

               c)   in this annual report changes in the registrant's internal
                    control disclosed over financial reporting that occurred
                    during the registrant's fourth quarter that has materially
                    affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                    registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

     5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based
          on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the
          audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons
          performing the equivalent function):

               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
                    the registrant'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 the
                    registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: March 29, 2004                   /s/ David Goronkin
                                        David Goronkin
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer