Wanted to see what all the hype was about and the meats are no joke. The ribs were smoky and fell off the bone. The brisket was juicy and melted like butter. No need to chew. Service was decent given the crowd and the ambiance was lively! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Brisket plate with coleslaw slaw and Mac and cheese. Brisket - get it. Mac was too rich for my taste and the coleslaw too tangy. - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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The hostess and waitress were nice, and I would describe the atmosphere as lively and welcoming. Sweet tea came with a lemon slice; Southern way is no lemon or politely ask if guest would like lemon in their sweet tea. Anyway, I immediately took the lemon slice out and the sweet tea was good, but tasted like they use white sugar rather than cane sugar. I will admit it was the best sweet tea I have had in all of New York. Tried the appetizer "creole deviled eggs" and they were good but a little heavy on the dill. Mac & cheese, BBQ beans w/pork, and the mashed potatoes with gravy all had an overwhelming pepper taste. The mac & cheese did not have much of a cheese flavor at all. On the menu was listed as simmered greens with smoked turkey, so before ordering I inquired with the waitress whom confirmed they were collard greens, however, they tasted and looked like mustard greens or a mix of. Also had a strong peppery taste, but was the best thing when paired with the cornbread. They did not have any Louisiana hot sauce I could add, so I added some of theirs (Dinosaur garlic habanero hot sauce) and it made the greens taste better. The cornbread by itself was very dry and lacking flavor. The ribs were very fall off the bone tender, but were also lacking in flavor, mainly missing that smoky flavor I was expecting based on the menu description. Overall, I think this place is marketed as southern BBQ, but nothing tasted like any authentic southern BBQ or sides I have ever had in southern states which was initially a disappointing surprise. However, I did find it to provide a unique flavor experience worth a visit. read more

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I went back on a Saturday after an SU game. I suggest enjoying bars downtown and then making your way over to Dino. You're probably going to have a wait, likely the minimum of an hour, so put your name in and either go to the bar or try out any of the other bars in walking distance. They'll text you when your table is ready. I'm not sure how long you have to get back, but NYC has a pretty standard 15 minute time frame. Service is great. The ambiance is straight up cool. This used to be an old biker bar, which is now a family friendly environment, but has still managed to retain its heritage. VERY COOL. Is this the best BBQ in the U.S.? No...and you're not going to find that in NY of all places. In my experience, BBQ outside of a few states, especially in NY is worth skipping. Dinosaur is an exception to that rule. It's just plain solid BBQ for whatever state you're in. Is there better? Sure, absolutely. But you're in Upstate NY and you're having arguably the best BBQ in the entire state (outside of what you smoke at home). I highly recommend coming here. The meats are quality (Prime beef, Duroc pork), the sides have unique twists to them, service is great, the beer selection is solid and it's cold. Can't complain one bit. There's no reason not to go back and in fact I'm looking forward to my next time downtown, so that I can stop by for some pulled pork and ribs. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Solid BBQ by many standards! Food was well prepped and served on a tray. Like any BBQ it would stand up without the sauce. Not slathered to conceal anything but just enough to enhance the flavors Brisket - tender with lots of juices and a great bark! Pulled Pork - pulled not chopped. Good amount with plenty of sweet flavor and a touch of spice on the back end Jalapeño Sausage- cheesy with just the right heat from the peppers. Pickled Onions Sauted a bit under it! Yes please Mac&Cheese - plenty of cheese, noodles cooked perfectly with a bit of BBQ spice sprinkled on top Fries were fresh cut & fried but tue corn bread needed moisture Service was on point at the bar with an eye candy bartender. Root Beer was excellent as a draught. Plenty of things to look at from the stickers to the paintings to the art. Make it a stop and enjoy some really good BBQ! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Draught Root Beer Oh my! - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Love it here! The owner recently changed and a lot is different now... I've been coming to this location for 30 years. Now, the inside is cleaner, more open, the menu is the same, but this location (the original location!) no longer has music inside. I love ordering the sweet tea, fried green tomatoes, the wings, collard greens, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, whiskey cheese cake, etc. I recommend all of the food here! But, my favorite items off of the menu are the fried green tomatoes and the pulled pork. Enjoy! read more

This Texas girl wanted bbq so bad. I was a little disappointed. My deviled eggs were very salty not good. My friend ordered brisket and got nothing but the fat cap again just sad. The fried green tomato's were great and their sauces are good. Ribs fell off the bone so I'm satisfied. Beans and rice had no flavor just a miss on that. Very friendly service and great vibe for the atmosphere. read more

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I'm going to say this was for my friends wedding and it hit the spot completely delicious. Great ribs chicken and cornbread. read more

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This is BBQ. IT IS GOOOOD. ...my husband is from Texas... he loves to bbq at home. He makes excellent bbq. We think this is one of the top 3 places we have ever had bbq. Srsly. If you like bbq you will not be disappointed. Ambiance is great for family or group of good buddies. Fun decor and free flowing drinks on tap. Service was on point. read more

Service was OK. Waitress was attentive. Food Cuban was very good with Mac Salad. My 3 Meats bad news. Served in about 5 to 6 minutes from ordered cold and not very flavorful. Their ribs smaller compared to previous picturesposted, pulled pork and brisket portions were larger $18.50 and much more flavorful. Portions are smaller. Sides beans and chili were excellent and the size are back to larger portions. Wouldn't run back. Great draft beer selection. The inside hasn't really changed much. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Tres plate, pulled pork, ribs beef ok - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Cool ambience and overall atmosphere, went there early and it was still happening. Ordered a brisket Philly. A little soggy and lacking meat, but the service was great. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Brisket Philly. Would not recommend. Just kind of soupy. The Mac and cheese was good. - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Food service and ambience great for a girls birthday weekend...I ate like a dinosaur and still had food to take. Thank you for the experience! read more

I was on a business trip in Syracuse and decided to try the iconic Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. We started with the fried green tomato appetizer, which had great flavor and presentation. For the main course, I ordered the 2 meat platter with ribs and brisket, along with mac and cheese, cornbread, and a cucumber/tomato salad. The food arrived hot and tasted fantastic--definitely lived up to the hype! The only downsides were our seat location (we were freezing because of the air conditioning) and the long wait for our food. But despite that, I'd still recommend it and would definitely return! read more

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Great BBQ. Brisket and Ribs were cooked well and flavorful. Due to the crowd (and fact we had dogs), we ate at the sidewalk table which wasn't ideal but good enough. Will be back. read more

This place has a lot of character. They backed it up with great food. I am a born and raised Midwesterner so used to high quality meats and ketchup based BBQ. I also travel a lot for work and frequent Houston, TX. I live in the Carolinas now so I know a thing or 2 about good BBQ! This place really caught me off guard as it was very good! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Smoked jalapeño sausage, brisket, mac, BBQ beans and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I want to do-over! I ordered wrong, I think. I went with a 2 meat combo Brisket and Jalapeño-Cheddar Sausage, I took the fries and coleslaw. The meat comes with sauce, a cheddar sauce on the sausage and some bbq sauce and jalapeño slices on the brisket. I was not ready for that, it makes it great for the presentation but it gets in the way of the meat. Of the meat I tasted without sauce it was good, so I wonder what with the sauce. The fries were perfect! And the slaw was to great to me, since I favor more of mayonnaise and tang. All in all I would could back to try it again. ***Flight Attendant approved*** read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - 2 meat combo - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Decided to try this place after a friend recommended it, and it was pretty good! I've been eating barbecue for the last few years in Texas, so I'm willing to be a bit more critical than usual. I got the two meat plate with brisket and the jalapeño cheddar sausage, and the baked beans and mashed potatoes for my sides. My plate also came with a slice of cornbread. The cornbread was on the dry side, but I liked the flavor. For the sides, the baked beans were deeeelicious! Perfectly sweet and smoky, no complaints here. The mashed potatoes were less of a hit, not sure what seasoning was used in the gravy but I ended up enjoying the crispy bits of the mashed potato. Now for the main event; the serving of brisket was pretty small, just a little strip. Unfortunate because it was tasty, not too much fat and not drowning in barbecue sauce. As for the sausage, it was a good-sized portion and I would consider it the best jalapeño cheddar sausage I've ever had at a barbecue joint. It was my favorite thing on the plate apart from the baked beans, and it is not to miss! Overall this place is worth trying and is a pretty good value. read more

If you don't want to overeat? DO NOT COME HERE. I have lived in N.Cal, New Orleans, Florida, Georgia and SC. By far the best BBQ I have ever had. Melts off the bone. To make matters worse? The sides are amazing!!!! I had the BBQ Baked Beans and Savory Greens. I should have just ordered those. YUM! Thanks to CJ for being a great bartender and recommending a lighter beer to go with the Q. Who knew the best BBQ was hidden in Syracuse, NY. read more

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The food was soooooo good! My ribs were tender falling off the bone, my mac & cheese was cheesy and delicious. I fell in love with the collard greens it was sweet and salty at the same time! I had to get the cat fish and I'm glad I did it was so crunchy and fresh. I loved my meal and my husband had no complaints either. Our nachos were good the only thing I would say is that there was more chili than chips which is an easy fix. Service was quick nothing to complain about there either. If I'm ever in the area again I will definitely be back! read more

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Awesome place to get some drinks and good bbq. The decor and setup inside is really cool and sets the stage for a great meal. You can definitely tell there is a lot of history at this location. My wife and I were just stopping in so we didn't get full meals. I really wish we would have came back later because the food I had and saw other people getting looked amazing. I did have the brisket slider and it was one of the most flavorful things I've had in recent memory. The brisket itself was cooked perfectly, super tender. On top of that, the pickled onions, horsey Mayo, and their bbq sauce was delicious. A must stop spot in Syracuse! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

A breath of fresh air for BBQ restaurants north of the Mason Dixie Line. Being from the south, and Having had DBBQ a couple of times, I firmly believe that the restaurant does a very nice job of emulating southern style BBQ. Its styles range from central Texas, to St Louis style, to the Carolinas. I find their palette to be more in line with places you would find in Memphis overall, especially with their slight vinegar based sauces. DBBQ has some very nice sides including their Mac Sal and slaw and I enjoy their Pulled pork sandwhich topped with slaw. Overall a very nice change of pace! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Sandwhich with Mac Sal and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is the Rock & Roll bad boy of brisket. Great Q, lots of available beer and Led Zeppelin cranking throughout the restaurant always makes this a fun spot anytime. Once I pulled into Syracuse, I parked on the street across from the restaurant. I walked in during lunch time and was quickly seated. The menu is substantial, I only want one thing that I can't find back on Long Island, a proper Fried Green Tomato. I ordered FGTs with a Brisket sandwich. The FGTs from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que are insane. I'd even go as far as to say better than Magnolia's in Charleston SC. They are that good and a must order. The same with the brisket. I savor that flavor from the meat. The bark is perfect and it's a juicy, tender cut put on two pieces of bread. Now add a side of cole slaw and what you have is a lunch treat that's fun to eat. There are lots of available seating inside and at the bar. The interior has lots of cool art on the walls. It feels almost like an Irish bar but its more BBQ'y, are you feelin' me Yelper? My waitress? Awesome. She always came by to check on me and had her favorite sauce recommendations. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, thanks for the great meal during my time in Syracuse! read more

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We have been here many times but not so often since we moved farther away. We stopped in late November on a rainy nite at 7:30pm for dinner. The food and service are still excellent and Dinosaur BBQ remains one of my top BBQ restaurants in the country. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Full rack with fresh cut fries, black beans and rice and cornbread! - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Went here for dinner on a Tuesday night- it was pretty packed and had a 15 minute wait to sit. We sat at the bar at first in front of the door, so it was chilly- we ended up moving to a booth when one opened up. It also felt very chaotic at the bar so the booth was a nice, calmer place to sit. The lighting is pretty dark inside and there are stickers everywhere (which added to the chaotic feeling). One thing we didn't like was when the bartender was talking to another customer saying how they accept all stickers except for "trumpy racist bullshit". Immediately turned us off but we had already ordered. Luckily when we switched to the booth, we got a different server whose name was Evan. He was super nice, attentive, and an all around great server. We ordered 3 Dino sliders- bbq pork, prime brisket, and cheeseburger. The bbq pork was alright, the cheeseburger tasted kind of like a Wendy's burger, but the prime brisket was so good! The honey mayo and pickled onions on the prime brisket was the perfect combo. We also got a 6 piece of the barbque chicken wings with garlic chipotle sauce. The wings were nice and tender but maybe cooked a couple seconds too long because the skin tasted a tad burnt- maybe that's just preference because my mom loved it. They have 3 barbecue sauces on the table for dipping as well- original, wango habanero, and a chipotle garlic hot sauce. The wango habanero was really good especially with the prime brisket slider. We also got a side of the Mac n cheese which was very good!- honestly probably better than the rest of the food we got. It was an average restaurant, probably wouldn't come back, but it's not like I regret going. read more

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Great good, service and atmosphere. If you are in the area, don't miss out!! The ribs are some of the best Chicken is outstanding and the sides are a feast on its pwn own. read more

Visiting my son over Parent's weekend and we finally got to try out this place. Ambiance was great. The place was packed but plenty of room by the bar and people were in a good mood. Lots of memorabilia on the walls to look at. We had over an hour wait for our table but managed to get a couple of seats at the bar while we waited. T bar staff were fantastic. They poured a great pint and a decent shot. Lots of good draft beer to be had. Our table was available right on time as promised. When we sat at the table our waitress was super helpful. I had the brisket plate with collards and my wife had fried catfish. Son and daughter had ribs and chicken. We got sides of baked beans and Mac and cheese. Everything was very good. I actually expected a worse showing being that this is NY. I would check it out but be prepared to wait. Get there early, have a drink while you wait for a table and enjoy read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Porter ale and a shot - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Dinosaur BBQ was amazing and exceeding our expectations for sure! First of all, it was a Tuesday evening, so we did not think it would be that busy. There was no street parking (free) available so we had to park in the lot across the street $8 (they accept card if you don't have cash). As we walked up we were nervous because we could see that it was PACKED! The upstairs was full and people were standing near the front door. They were able to seat us immediately though (the people waiting were groups larger than 5). The art work and decor was so very cool. Our server was the loveliest girl. She was very attentive and sweet. You could tell she wanted nothing more than to please her guests. Hubby ordered the two meat plate; brisket with jalapeno and St Louis ribs. His two sides were fresh cut fries and mash potatoes and gravy. I ordered the sampler which came with St Louis rubs, pulled pork and brisket with jalapeños. My two sides were Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. Both our plates came with a corn bread. The corn bread was nothing to write home about, dry and gritty. The mash potatoes tasted fresh, homemade and was very well seasoned with the perfect portion of brown gravy. The Mac and cheese was so delicious!! Creamy melty cheese and parsley seasoned then sprinkled with paprika. I could have ate a huge bowl of Mac and cheese and made it my meal. The sample meats were perfect portions. The St Louis ribs were so tender and juicy and just came right off the bone. I tried the garlic chipotle sauce and the Wango habanero sauce that they offer on the table. The Wango habanero was my favorite for sure and I could eat that with everything. We were so full we could not try any deserts but I have no doubt when we return to the area we will make another visit here! They also offer a military discount read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Brisket (with jalapeno) and St. Louis ribs; fresh cut fries and mashed potatoes with gravy and a side of ranch. Corn bread on top. - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Food is really good. It actually taste like they put effort into the food they cook. The service is really nice. I've never been to the actual restaurant, but I was there for a party one time and the party room was set up so nice they came in they helped with everything they needed to come in and help with and there was one person that had trouble figuring out how to use the elevator to take it upstairs with a wheelchair and dinosaur barbecue staff came over and helped them right away and helped them get right up there and make sure they got it safely and everything ambience is very rustic and very like an upscale little bit but not fancy perse read more

The food was nice and ambient was very punk. Dinosaurs were drew on the wall outside the restaurant. Kids loved that so much. We ordered family feast and the portion was LARGE!!! Bbq was ok, not as moist as I think but it's ok. Service is pretty decent on a busy Friday night. Won't come back again but overall good experience. read more

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We stopped in for lunch after our hotel shuttle driver mentioned it being close to the hotel. We heard it was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives so of course we knew it would be great! We both ordered a pulled pork sandwich. I added a side of mac and cheese while my husband went for the greens. The sandwich was delicious but boy oh boy was the mac and cheese phenomenal. It had a smoky taste to it. I would have skipped the sandwich if I would have known the maf and cheese was going to be so good! Our waitress was quickly and friendly and it looked to have all sorts of portraits and little murals on the walls. I would have liked to walk around inside more to really get a feel for the ambiance and local things. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I heard about Dinosaur BBQ from coworkers and after seeing reviews, I paid a visit. I ordered a combo plate of brisket, ribs, with Cole slaw and fries as side. I will say, the star of the meat was the brisket, man it was tender and moist and had the right amount of smoked flavor! Cole slaw was good, more on the vinegary side. Chicken wings were good, could have had more of a fry to it. Fried green tomatoes were surprisingly tasty as well. Overall a great bbq joint in upstate NY! read more

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We were on our way back from PA, Dinosaur BBQ was the intended dinner stop. We did not realized on a Tuesday evening at 7 pm it would be no street parking near and a long wait! We parked in the paid lot across the street, paid $6. And was told a 20 minutes wait. We were going to take a walk, but as soon as we walked out, we were called back with seats! 20 minutes turned out to be 20 seconds, no complaints, we were happy. The place was packed, we got lucky. I ordered the sample plate with briskets, ribs and pulled pork with greens and coleslaw. All were very tasty. The briskets were slightly fatty, but still very good. I think for $18 it is a very good deal. This was the first time to the Syracuse location. I have been to the Buffalo location a few time. The atmospheres are not the same, but both are good. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Sample plate - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Everything from the service to food was excellent!!! We were traveling from out of town and so glad we stopped here! Location was good with outside seating and staff was fast and friendly!! Food delicious!! read more

Food is absolutely amazing, the place is extremely unique and the service was spot on. Couldn't say enough about this place. Excellent must try. read more

Hands-down once again, the best ribs I have ever eaten. Fall off the bone ribs, and the sides to match. I got the mac & cheese and the coleslaw which are my go to's and they were delicious. Also ate smoked jalapeño sausage which was good from start to finish. Service was excellent with friendly hostesses and the ambiance is busy but down home. I do recommend you go on the off hours 12:00-4:00 or you may just be waiting in a long line because they are that good. This is my second time eating here and it's even better than what I remember. If your in New York and like BBQ you have to make this a must stop, trust me you will not be disappointed! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Combo three meat plate - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

This place was absolutely packed for lunch on a Tuesday. Almost every table was taken and I knew that had to be a good sign! We were lucky and got seated very quickly. Our food must have only taken another 10 minutes to come out too, it was VERY fast especially for how busy they were. I ordered the Salad Project with pulled chicken and a side of mashed potatoes. The salad was loaded with spring mix lettuce and veggies. The candied walnuts were so good and the chicken was the perfect topping. If you are craving a salad but also want some bbq food, this is the way to go. I also got a side of the mashed potatoes which were super creamy, flavorful and even better with the gravy. Our server Annie was very friendly, attentive and helpful. She made the experience that much better. I would absolutely come back to this location! read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - The Salad Project with pulled chicken and honey mustard vinaigrette, YUM! What a perfect combo. - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

The hubs had been here like 39 years ago and did not have a good experience then. We almost didn't pass by, but thanks to Yelp we decided to give it a try. Thank Goodness we did!!!! It was exceptional!! Some of the best Brisket I've ever had !! I had the Brisket plate with coleslaw and Mac and Cheese. The Brisket was amazing and the Mac and Cheese was great. The coleslaw was ok, I like it sweet and this one was tangy. The hubs had the Turkey club Tuesday special, he loved it. His two sides were the chili, delicious, and the cucumber salad which was good. Service by Annie was friendly and on point. If we are ever back in the area, we'll definitely return. read more

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Great ambiance and great foods! We had drinks at the bar while waiting and had a table for 3 of us in the lighter part of the place. Given a perfect advice by our waitress, we ordered Sweetheart Deal for 2 which comes with full rack of BBQ pork ribs with 4 homemade sides. Ribs are extremely delicious and so did sides. And it came at surprisingly affordable price. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Sweetheart Deal for 2 - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

First review, but would guess at least 30 visits over the last 15 years! I have travelled to Syracuse many times and have always stopped at Dinosaur. I also stop whenever passing through Syracuse on the NYS thruway... Everything is great, tend to gravitate to the Cuban sandwich or Brisket but everything is exceptional. Favorite sides are the baked beans ( worthy of 6 stars) the greens and the Mac cheese. I have also eaten at the Harlem and Rochester locations and hope to visit Troy, but nothing beats the ambience of Syracuse! read more

Delicious meal! Generous portions and a great kids menu! Very cool atmosphere and super friendly service. read more

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - Best kids menu! - Barbeque Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Strongly recommended by a local Syracuse person. Fun atmosphere, great friendly service, good portions, flavorful food, lots of seating. Only thing lacking is easy access to parking but that's a city planning issue. Here's what we ordered: (every plate came with delicious cornbread) 1. Brisket plate with mashed potatoes and barbecue baked beans, Stella Artois 2. Garlic chipotle chicken wings with French fries, root beer on tap 3. Cajun blackened catfish with coleslaw and beans-and-rice, water. My catfish plate was so satisfying! Every bite packed with texture and flavor. Next time I'd like to try the fried green tomatoes! read more

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