DINOSAUR RESTAURANT Reviews

We stopped here on a Saturday night. Very crowded and over an hour wait for a table. Totally worth it. We got the pick 3 sampler and 3/4 rack of ribs for 3 of us gals to share. Nothing...... nothing..... was not excellent. Ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, coleslaw, cornbread.... was all excellent +. Will come back here whenever I m close to one of these in New York. Service was great, friendly, and full of suggestions. Really, if you anywhere near a Dinasouar BBQ, you won t be sorry if you stop for a meal. Always a great meal, couldn't wait for the state Fair to get my bbq fix, had the ribs which are always great

This is excellent BBQ in a place offering much character, live music most nights, friendly waitstaff, young and old gather here. I went to Syracuse but was told many others in NYC and CT can be found on website. Oh can't forget to say a fine beer selection, wine and mixed drinks. Get on down here!

OMG! The food is soooo good. I'm from the south (La.) & their corn bread, mac & cheese, fried catfish strips reminded me of home

The food here is unreal! Worth the wait. Definitely recommend and can t wait to try more

Awesome food. Drove 1 1/2 hrs to get some good ribs

Great food atmosphere. Can be await so book. We were lucky only 2 of us straight in.

Love the BBQ and the atmosphere great place to visit when your in the area

I order to go and they forgot my ribs so I called them up and they were very sorry and said to come back and get them as soon as I can then she asked how many people I had I said 3 she said Okay I through in some deserts I'm so sorry. When I got there she gave me my ribs, three pieces for pie and three brownies! BEST SERVICE EVER not to mention there food is to die for!

You can't get better bbq in Syracuse! Try the fried green tomatoes, you won't regret it.

Great atmosphere for a catered party upstairs. Food is too good. Easy to over eat.

Presentation of the food was great. You get a lot of food! However, the meat was very salty, potatoes salad was ok.

A "Most Memorable" BBQ!!
When hungry in Syracuse, this is the "go to" place-- as several thousand "TA" reviews have placed it in the top 1% of restaurants in Syracuse!!! While it is not at all "formal" [who would have guessed that it would be], it is a "comfortable" place to eat "comfort food"-- amidst fellow diners who love their BBQ!! The brisket is a definite speciality-- as are the "green tomatoes" -- but I LOVE the ribs! Like all the dishes they can be accompanied by a "set" of well prepared side dishes! Give it a try-- you will be glad that you did!!

I hope that this Review has been helpful.

Gotta love a place that shows YOU Love and support...so we dove N into great portions of good New York BBq

best bbq in upstate NY. Everything n was great from the ribs to the cornbread to the mac n cheese

As usual couldn't decide what to order sooooo I ordered too much. Always good. Great atmosphere.

Nothing like the original! Their food is so good, THEY RUN OUT!! Smoked and seasoned to perfection! The mack 'n cheese has a unique flavor to it. My son didn't like it, but I'd say give it a try before going all in on it.

Average... Turkey was really salty. I'm not a huge meat eater. They need some fresh veggies to counteract all that heavy meat. Drink selection was nice. Downstairs is very crowded and upstair is for party or reserved occasions.

Decent for a small city, but will never hold a light to some of the USA's offerings. It isn't close to BBQs like Lewis BBQ or Rodney Scottv's in Charleston. Too much sauce hides the cook on the brisket and hides the flavour of the pulled pork. The ribs were okay, as were the sides.

Ribs, sauces, and deviled eggs are tops of the top! Bring your attitude and be on time to this all time classic biker bbq joint. Syracuse's most famous food!

The brisket was amazing! So Tender and just falling apart. Large crowd so the food took a while but it was worth the wait.

Best restaurant ive ever been to. Food was phonominal and service great too considering it was packed

Great service and food... not particularly for young children though

This place is better than Rochester. Delicious bar b q

Sweet and tangy St. Louis ribs, tasty and tender brisket, delicious baked beans, and fantastic mac and cheese! A nice waitress and speedy service. A perfect stop for lunch!

Dino BBQ is a Syracuse staple. If you're new to the area, you absolutely must eat here. As a SU alum, I'm a well seasoned Dino BBQ fan and the crazy thing...I'm a vegetarian! I'm a vegetarian and I love this place.
It's such a fun environment to bring someone to - with the personalized carved tables and walls adorned with rock & roll posters, live music, and the friendliest of staffers. It's the kind of place where the waiters sit down when they're taking your order and take the time to tell you about a local brewery they have on tap. And the food - do yourself a favor and order the fried green tomatoes (order of 5). They're amazing! The mac & cheese and mashed potatoes are also must-tries!

Best mac & cheese. Great service but can get busy. Allow 10 min. To find parking first.

Fun atmosphere and family friendly. Great portion of food.

This place is right up there with bbq in Texas, North Carolina, and Kansas. It is a must stop restaurant when in Syracuse NY.

This place is okay they have good food and service.I love eating there.The location is okay it should be bigger thought.

Local syracuse historic restaurant. BEST BBQ AROUND. always fresh BBQ sauce made by the store and great if you have a spicy tolerance as well. Excellent deals like the family meal which gives you a huge amount of food to feed 4 to 6 people for $70. Really solid deal. Local music as well too frequently and there is a great upstairs place for receptions and dinners.

I've always wanted to eat at the original and it didn't disappoint. Food was awesome, very busy and service was on point. Oh and prices i found very reasonable.

Always great. I've been there before and I will be back. Great food, great beers and cocktails. Great wait staff. A true pleasure in dining.

The macaroni is the best I have ever had. The waitresses seem to forget about the tables though so dining takes longer than I would like

Walked in just before 3pm on a Saturday to a packed house. There were 4 of us, quote wait time 30 minutes. We waited probably 20 for a table. Seated and greeted by our server promptly. Drinks showed up quickly, appetizers not far behind. Meal was delicious and portions, while initially looked small, were definitely decently sized. We ended up taking about half of our meals home. The peanut butter pie is absolutely divine. All total, we spent about 2 hours inside the restaurant including wait time for a table.
By about 4:30, things had cleared out some. Definitely give yourself 2 hours plus.

So crowdes. The food is good, but we waites 45 min in line. It was 83 degrees out.

an institution known worldwide. great ambiance n food. sampler ate was amazing. eat slow. enjoy the joint.

Was excited to try this place when visiting Syracuse and waited a while for a reservation. The user who wrote Clearly a place that caters to locals is spot on. unfortunately did not actually get to try the food since the service was horrible. Our waitress didn t put in our order, or even check in on us after almost an hour of waiting. We then asked about when we d be served, and found out she didn t even put in the order. Didn t try the food so I can t comment on that but maybe go at a non-busy time.

The original Dino BBQ certainly lived up to its billing. The ribs were insanely tasty, and the sides, especially the mac and cheese, were phenomenal. We also had the jalapeno poppers, which were to die for. As an added bonus for my Pokemon GO enthusiasts, you can hit the gym from anywhere in there. Eat good food and battle in comfort, with booze.

The place was packed but the service and food was amazing

This was my first time in Syracuse and Dinosaur BBQ was recommended to us in the past. I remembered the unique name so we went. Hands down best BBQ I've ever had. Friendly waitress, fun bar atmosphere with natural wood floors, and the bathrooms are for 'kings' and 'queens'. That is all.

Was better before the franchise, food was prepared and made with quality over quantity type of mentality, HOWEVER.... food and service are still amazing, been going here since I was a toddler and it s always delicious

Awesome food, quick service and great atmosphere. We did the 2 options with 2 side and it was lots of food for 1 person. Glad we stopped on our way back home.

Brisket and pulled pork were great. The REAL gem here are the wings. They are smoked then baked and they are AMAZING!

Awesome atmosphere and great food. Would definitely recommend if you're hungry in Syracuse and have some time to kill. Great selection of beers on tap, too!

This place gets it right every time. Fast friendly service, great atmosphere, can get REALLY busy at peak times.

The ribs are the best bar b que ive tried here. I had a full rack and split it with someone which plenty and delicious. They were super busy when I went but they managed everything just fine even crowded and busy.

Great customer service and amazing portion size and flavor

There might be a bit of a wait, depending on when you go, but it is definitely worth it. The food is amazing.
The bar staff is also AMAZING.
they are so friendly and awesome.
So many beers on tap, and sooo many meats.
If you're in town, this is definitely the place to stop.
Would highly recommend!

Pickled jalapenos are delicious. They could be a side instead of a garnish. Food was delicious as always.

Best BBQ EVER! It explains why there is a wait, the waitress and the food service was extremely quick! No complaints! The side dishes were also super delicious. Look forward to returning to Dinosaur, even other locations as well.

Have been to events that were catered by Dinosaur BBQ, but this was my first time there. Awesome experience, food, drinks and service.

Hands down the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi

Sara our hostess is a awesome server...the food here is amazing delicious..I recommend this place to everyone

Best brisket and ribs anywhere! Sides are excellent, including fresh cut fries, my personal favorite! I always get the triple plater with brisket, ribs and a 1/4lb of dirty shrimp, fresh cut fries, black beans and rice! And it also comes with corn bread!!!

Awesome wings, great vibe, friendly staff. Only critique, could use a couple more TVs. Would make it a point to return here if I m ever in Syracuse again.

One of the best places to go to in Syracuse. Never have had an issue or complaint. Service is always good and on top of everything. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had. They also have your typical burgers, appetizers, deserts, & a few seafood items. You have to try the cornbread for sure.

If you want the most authentic NEW YORK BBQ experience, than come here. This place is legendary. Its in Downtown Syracuse and there food is almost unbelievable.

Always a super delightful delicious experience. Can't make up your mind, have the trio and load up the fries. Don't forget the fried green tomatoes. Yum

First of all, you can smell it about a block away. If that s not enough to draw you in by itself you ll probably like the inside. Formerly a biker bar that s gotten a little more tame, it still has that feel. Go in, sit down, and eat some great BBQ. You won t be disappointed.

Love this place. Favorite place to eat in Syracuse. Usually a fairly long wait to be seated but totally worth it.

When the main meal is as good as the sides, you know you got something good going. Do not hesitate to go here, it's crazy good.

Great food, fun atmosphere, service is a bit slow, they don't figure anyone is in a hurry here :)

Great barbeque, but what made our visit perfect was our waitress, Kristie. First question, had we ever been there before? Four of us had not and she explained everything, answered all our questions, allowed me to sample one of the beers. The sample plates are the way to go if it's your first time. The brisket and the pulled pork was absolutely the best I've ever had, and I'm from the south. So being from the south I ordered the simmered greens as a side. First she made sure I knew.. they are greens! (Collard greens, if you don't know). They were great, just enough smoke flavor. Never been... GO.

What a place! Good ol' bbq, great quality of meats, great sauces (recommend the habanero one) and great sides (the black beans were delicious). The patio on the back side was very nice and chill. The service takes some time because they're always crowded and they prepare the meats but it's worth the wait! Would definitely go back once I'm back in Syracuse.

The food is great and not super expensive. The place is always packed but makes for a lively atmosphere. I always stop by dinosaur when I'm in Syracuse!

Forget cooking, get out the door, everybody eat at Dinosaur. It's more fun to see the live music outside in the warm months, but it's cool to have a concert on the indoor stage too. Family, the granddad, keeps an eye on matters from a stool at the door. Maybe book your party at the Dino room upstairs.

Warm and friendly people greet you at the door. They welcome each and every customer with a smile. That alone is worth the trip in my opinion.
And the food... Is A ok!

It has been a long time since we were here. Everything was great. Had the catfish and it could not have been better. My wife had the brisket and said it was freekin good and she doesn't usually that kind of description!!!! Excellent place to have a meal out. Atmosphere and staff had to the experience.

Everything I've had here has been delicious! Ribs, pulled pork, brisket... If you eat meat, you'll love it.

Side note: Not many side choices that are lactose free... but they were friendly and willing to answer dietary questions, so no complaints here.

I'd go elsewhere... from the telephone order to the pick up to the food and the entire experience to stars is being generous. The only time dinosaur will get my money again is during the Great New York State Fair where I know it will be fresh and full. The girl on the phone who seem to be the same girl who rang me out was rude and short and made things uncomfortable. So much so that I forgot true or neglected to get barbecue sauce for my meal. I enjoy the Wango Tango sauce on my pulled pork sandwich. Nonetheless, I got a good spot out front and got in and out quickly. Without the sauce... I was going to drive home but the food smelled really good so I just parked and decided to eat just down the road so the food was still fresh. The sandwich, looked like something you would get at a high school kitchen wrapped in tinfoil... Nothing like the pulled pork sandwich that you pay the same price for when you sit down there to eat or the one you order at the fair where they give you a handful of meat in a slathering of sauce. This was a half of a sandwich, if that, with barely any sauce at all... It was more like eating a dry pork sandwich. I got 2 super small side cups with chili that was luke warm covered in barely melted cheese and some coleslaw, like 4 bites. This platter was around $13. I was still hungry when I finished. Will choose elsewhere next time.

My husband and I chose to have our rehearsal dinner here at Dinosaur in June and it was beyond amazing. We used the larger room upstairs and it was perfect for what we needed. All of our guests were from out of town (actually, mostly were out of state people) and with most of them being Southern, we knew we needed good BBQ for this event. Dinosaur is such a staple in Syracuse and we wanted them to have a unique experience. The buffet was amazing, we chose chicken, brisket and ribs, and the plates (more like platters!) were amazing- everyone loved it! The best part was that they were so accommodating, I had numerous vegans/vegetarians at this event and they went out of their way to make sure they had appropriate food for them. I was a bit skeptical because all of the planning was done via email, but it couldn't have gone better! We definitely recommend Dinosaur for a party!!

Definitely a working class place; very cool with a hip vibe and packed to the rafters with all walks of life. Of the offerings, Ribs and pork excellent. Brisket good. Shrimp ok,a bit bland, but we're a stretch from the sea. Sides varied from delicious sweet potato mash, excellent fries and cole slaw to bland baked bens which came to life with a splash of their own hot sauce. The BBQ sauces are in the St. Louis style and wholey enjoyable for those that like that style of sauce. The Hot sauce, Devils Duel, is HOT, beware. The garlic and chipotle was voted the best of the four. A shaker of Cajun Foreplay rub came home with us for future DIY BBQing. There is take out but no reservations so you will have to wait for cramped seating which no one seems to mind; it's the food they're there for.

Great BBQ. They had live music. I had a good time. RIBS AND BRISKET were worth. Sausage could have been better but still a must!

Great food. Different atomoshere but enjoyable to me. Good service to.

Overrated. Not as good as it used to be in its heyday

Ok. I am a New Englander who has lived in exile in the south for most of my adult life. So the bar for barbeque is high... And sorry dinosaur fell a bit below it. The atmosphere, service, and feel is great but food was mostly meh. We started with the sampler for four. The chicken wings with the devil's duel (the hottest). The waitress looked shocked I'd want them. They were tasty, but the spice was not that bad...my ten year old even ate one. I don't like tomatoes but the fried green tomatoes were amazing. The deviled eggs were good. The steamed shrimp were cold and unpeeled which is a no no in the Chesapeake Bay area. My son ordered ribs which he loved and I tried, very good. My daughter loved her fried chicken sandwich. I got the brisket and pulled pork. The brisket was tasty but not fall apart like it should be. My pulled pork was bland. The corn bread was dry. The baked beans were really good. The chili was bland too, like only chili powder was used. Not terrible but I don't think this place would really last down south when hole in the wall barbeque places are just leaps and bounds better.