DINOSAUR RESTAURANT Reviews

Great BBQ! Everything was delicious - ribs, pulled pork, brisket, Mac & Cheese, cheese soup, and cornbread. You can't go wrong!

Didn't like wait too long 30 minutes, then stuck us party of nine. In corner, front room . Not enough elbow room to eat. Food was not the quality of in the past. Over cooked and buried in sauce. TERRIBLE OVERALLP.

Reviews Are very accurate they have amazing food and the best barbecue in upstate New York. Most upstate New York citizens would agree with the statement and it is the most hold on but just rose Mike is

Considering how busy this restaurant is, the waitresses and waiters are very friendly and get your order correct. I have both eaten in the restaurant and ordered to go. I would be here for hours typing nothing but great things. Don't make your decision based on my review, go have a nice sit down dinner and enjoy!

Amazing. Best BBQ we've ever had. Atmosphere was really cool and our server was very informative and on top of it. Food was so good I didn't want to get full. I just wanted to keep eating. Highly recommend!

Waited 25 minutes after the pickup time for the order

Ribs were great, they always are. Service was excellent. Waitress was friendly and cheerful.
Band was great. Emily & Bad Mama Blues Band.

Best Barbecue in the country! Ribs are amazing, sides are delicious, love the clam chowder soup on Friday and the baked beans, and the waitstaff is great. Not quite the same experience like when they used to give you sass back in the old days, but still quick, friendly and efficient (which is probably what most people prefer). My 11 year old could eat their ribs everyday and he loves going down there to see the mix of people. Don't forget to try the Extra Fancy Fried Green Tomatoes, you wont be disappointed!

Service was great, it was a Sunday so now wait and not parking fee. Food came out fast, and I had a poutine and meat sampler and left full, but I happy and with leftovers.

Try to stop here every time we're in Syracuse. Food is always good, beer selection is pretty good. Can get crowded around dinner time, so time it right for the most successful visit. Parking can be a challenge as well, but there's a pay lot across the street if curb parking isn't available.

Good BBQ food, good service, reasonably priced. We ordered the pick 3 meal which includes 3 meat choices with 2 sides & cornbread. I ordered a Pumpkin beer. We also ordered a salad which was fresh.

The best BBQ in the area. It's a staple of Syracuse. A must if you're just visiting or have never been.

It was great. I came here with my girlfriend, I didn't have to wait too long to get a table which was good. It is expensive but you'll get your money's worth. I loved it. The only things is that I wish I didn't have to pay twice for orange juice but other than that it was great.

Staff HUSTLE, take a breath and hustle more. Food is fan-freaking-tastic!The fried green tomatoes are a must! Excellent music, decor is legendary.

Food & service were outstanding. Our first time eating here. Atmosphere was kinda busy but not noisy. Had barbeque chicken, coleslaw, barbeque beans, and mouth watering corn bread.

We were disappointed since the corporate takeover. Hopefully, it was an off day. The food was fair at best. Really salty and much smaller portions.

Still best BBQ in town, but it's changed a bit.
Stick with the pulled pork and ribs and chicken.

IDK. I hate this place sometimes and other times it's the best place ever. Very hit or miss.

The hype is real. The food.. better than expected. From the ribs, to the sides, to the service. It's good down south smoked meats done well. Good job Dinosaur BBQ. You did not disappoint.. -Semper Fidelis

There is no other place like this...even there other restaurants are all unique. Great food and ambiance.

Delicious! Friendly staff. They were accommodating to my food allergies, too.

It's a must visit stop whenever you are visiting the Syracuse area!! It is definitely worth the wait and deserving of any and all high praise it gets. I always make sure to add a side of cornbread, it's 75 cents and so yummy and filling!!

I'm giving you 5 stars just because I want a Robert Kraft pulled and jerked sandwhich ...you guys are hillarious !!..hope its worth the 40 hour drive !! Ps ....to heck with the haters u guys are funny !!

Are you kidding? The best BBQ joint in the NE. You cannot go wrong here unless you are a Vegan

The original place to have great BBQ. The lunch service was lightning fast.

Definetly a decent bbq joint. And for the size of it they move through the que of people pretty reasonably. When im back in Syracuse ill certainly be coming back

Great bbq, plenty of texas style as well. Couldn't finish everything we ordered, will get brisket, ribs and chicken again and again. The slaw was a bit salty but still good.

First experience after hearing a lot of hype, but was disappointed. We decided to get take out since the wait list for a table was 45 minutes long. For perspective, I've been to Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, and Atlanta for some really, really good BBQ. I was hoping it would be similar but really missed the mark. Not sure if our order was given a lower priority because it was take out, but the ribs were dry, hard, and had little flavour.

That said, with the entire population of Syracuse going for dinner at Dinosaur, there must be a good reason for it. Perhaps we just got shafted this time. I'll try it again next time I swing through Syracuse.

Not bad. Crazy atmosphere experience but the BBQ was only average compared to most BBQ shops.

If you like delicious then the DINO is for you.. Avoid the line by sitting in the back at the picnic tables & ordering from the bar menu. Fast, smokey & live music on Saturday evenings.

Unbelievably good! Their briskets are cooked to perfection!!

This place seems to be "the place to be" in Armory Square. It is so very busy, and has such a cool vibe. The service was kind of slow (due to the volume), but very friendly. The food was really good - you also get a good amount of food for the price you pay. Definitely worth a visit!!

Excellent food and fast service. It is almost always packed with people. The only poor report I can think of is the parking. Very poor parking availability.

A favorite location for tasty bbq. Nothing to complain about. Looking forward to returning with my friends. I see why this place has a lot of good reviews.

My first time at the Syracuse location and so happy we stopped in on our way further north!

The space was packed with waiting people everywhere yet the hostess was zero stressed and quickly moved parties in and out awaiting tables both back and front of the dining room. Decor is super hip and fun. The wait staff, busing staff and dining room manager Val are all upbeat and energetic and the biggest and warmest group ever!!

Started our night with their crunchy and addictive fried green tomatoes! Ordered their famous family BBQ platter that came with a full rack of fall off the bone ribs, unctuous smoked brisket, the moistest pulled pork, and a whole cut up smoked chicken with generous portions of 3 sides of your choice and that amazing corn bread! Everything came out in the perfect temperature for my 3 ravenous kids could just dig in straight away.

I always enjoyed the NYC location, even ordering catering for office functions from there but something about the staff and location of this one makes it my top pick. So looking forward to being back soon.

Greasy, flavorless, overrated. The bbq was sweet, the meet was dry. Meat did not taste fresh. Staff was nice and engaging. The place looked more run down that rustic.

Up in central New York and had to make a stop at the original Dinosaur BBQ. Yes they have one in NYC and I think Stamford CT but this place has the original atmosphere. The wait for a table was 45 min. We had a drink at the bar and were quickly,called to our table. The food came out fast and was really good. The place gets really busy so be prepared for a crowd but well worth it.

Last time I ordered take out then I received a bowl of rice with literally two beans in it and my food was cold. The other order that I had was hot which was good. We brought this to the attention of management and they said they would send a coupon/gift card. Mind you that I had other friends in the restaurant hearing them belittle us on the phone call as this went on. Nothing arrived after providing my address. It has been two years now. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of this place but after that then I will never go there again. I would give a 5 star review and I don't need free food if publicly shamming me was not a thing there and I just wanted what I ordered and paid for at a premium price.

Anyone who has spent time in the south can confirm: this BBQ is fairly mediocre. The prices are steep for quantity and quality served. Excellent ambience, lots of interesting wall art, pictures. Wait staff easily overwhelmed by busy lunch time traffic. My lunch experience took about 2 hours from being seated to finally paying bill. Of course, this is one of the very few BBQ purveyors in upstate NY, so supply and demand forces inflate the value of this establishment. If you absolutely crave BBQ, check this place out. Otherwise, your money and time would be better spent elsewhere.

Amazing meat. Sooooo good. If you are in town you have to stop in. Even the dessert is great!

Can't say I've ever had anything bad here. The original sure beats the others in WNY.

Great BBQ but the place is packed. We went on Memorial Day and lucked out by snagging a couple of seats at the bar. Brisket was one of the best I have ever had, and the wings were solid. A little disappointed in the ribs as they were a little dry, but that may just have been a bad batch.

I wont be able to write anything that hasn't already been said, this is some of the best BBQ in the country, hands down. Expect to wait if you show up at peak times. I suggest coming on an off hour ti be seated quicker. Its definitely worth the wait though.

Place was packed which was expected. The food was great. Totally loved it

Truly the Mecca for BBQ lovers. Often imitated, never replicated.

This place is the best, wonderful bar b q, great music and total pro staff!!!
Atmosphere that only time can create!

Had some amazing BBQ here last week. The ribs are absolutely to die for. I really appreciated the fact that Dino BBQ didn t cover the meat in sauce, they let the meat and smoke speak for itself. This is without a doubt the best bbq since leaving Texas.

Hour wait on a fri night but well worth the hype. Food is awesome. We got the nachos and combos and would recommend all of it! Best chicken wings I ve ever had in my life!

Shout out to Lori a great waitress. Great food! Nice place! In from RI working at the NY Fairgrounds.

In all honesty. Food is alright but overrated. I don't mind the atmosphere, but I don't go often because is overcrowded and it can be overwhelming for me. I wouldn't mind so much if there were more availability of seating outside. Unfortunately when we went there to eat, there were only seating on the inside available.

Always one of my favorite spots to eat at in Syracuse. Sometimes the wait is long, but the food is always worth it. If you have yet to eat at Dino BBQ, you're missing out! Do yourself a favor and get a plate of brisket or pulled pork, and pair it with a side of mac and cheese or mashed potatoes. You can also order a drink at the bar while you wait.

As always great food! Great service and friendly staff!!

Delicious food, and a great price. Be prepared to wait for a while if you go on a weekend though.

Love this place... The over crowding with no place to stand, obnoxiously super long wait times, and inconvenient parking are all part of the charm... Really... Foods delicious! Order everything on the menu. If you can't fit it all in in one go, suck it up and make multiple trips you pansy.

I was up here for a 3 day work trip and this BBQ restaurant was so good I ate here twice! I never had poutine before but their Dino poutine is massive and every bite was flavorful with chunks of soft, smoky, pulled pork. Their beef brisket, ribs and wings were tender and flavorful. You can see and taste the love in the food and the wings were seared up just right for every bite. Hats off to everyone there that made this a great experience especially the pit master(s)!

Was in the area for a wedding and had been excited about getting back to Dinosaur for weeks. Lived up to the good memories.

What a cool dinner spot, you got to try green fried tomatoes as an appetizer, brisket is super tasty too. The place is busy and very "happening"

Their BBQ is amazing. Pretty decent craft beer selection. Funky vibe and great service. You can't go wrong at Dinosaur BBQ. Show up early, it's always packed.

Great meal as always. I enjoy the Dinosaur here in Syracuse and closer to home in Troy. Best brisket plate!

Coldest Utica club & honey glaze carrots better than the wife's

Had the meat sampler. Brisket was very good, ribs were delicious. Somehow the pork wasn't wasn't. Easiest one to not screw up was a little dry and stringy. Beans were good and the mac was great. Not much parking but not their fault. Pleasant server and fair prices. Surprised we found such good bbq in Syracuse.

This is not the place for me, the ribs were dry. The slaw was terrific as well as the cheese fries. The staff were very busy and not as attentive to our needs as I expected based on what everyone was telling us before we went. We will try them again some day as I always give a place three tries, if bad two times in a row they may not get a third try.

Loved the ambiance! Although It was very busy, our order came out in a timely manner. I had the fried green tomatoes, delicious, have to try! Also had the Cuban sandwich which was great too. The pickles were unlike any other pickle I ever had (possibly butter, sweet and dill all in one) made in house for sure.

Great BBQ and excellent choice of sides. Good beer selection and wonderful wait staff.

The ribs were fall off the bone, finger licking good! The greens with smoked turkey were delicious, & the mac n cheese had a little kick to it, but sooooo good! They have the best cornbread I've ever had! I'm definitely coming back for more!!!

Phenomenal food! Fun, casual atmosphere. Staff are friendly and work hard to make sure you're happy.

It's a great hole in the wall. Food is amazing. Good luck with parking. You have to pay to park as well. Could be a little cleaner. It's still a great place to eat.

Great food and wonderful service. Place was packed but got a seat quickly and our food wasn't too far behind. Everything was cooked perfect. Noisey rough bar feel but a great place for great BBQ.

Loved it.... the atmosphere was exciting, kind of reminded me of New Orleans. The food was gr8. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the fried green tomoatoes

Great barbecue ribs in an authentic historic building. Limited street parking.

Over rated, food is ok nothing special as far as BBQ goes. Way too dark, even for intimate dining. What don't they want us to see??

Love this place! Very comfortable location, easy to find. Good food good prices and a very friendly staff with excelent customer service.

Love this place, can't say enough about the food and atmosphere, kid friendly, take out and bar!!