Odie Robinson

The more I ate..... the madder i got. How the hell can BBQ in NY be this good? Why have I lived here 2 years and not had it? This was the 2nd best BBQ I've ever had. I'm from the South, and this was better. We got the deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes for appetizers. These appetizers deserve a gold medal. They were THAT good. I got the pick 3 combo. I tried the collard greens first. I don't think northerners knew what they were, but one bite and i was hooked. The flavor explosion was so intense i nearly had to call Homelsnd Security. Then I tried the Pork Belly........ let me tell you The Pork Belly will change your life. That was the best Pork Belley I have ever had. Then i had to try the baked beans. They were so full of flavor and deliciousness they damn near made me forget about the other meats. The ribs.....I could write a love song to the ribs. Perfectly cooked, sauced by a pro, and so tender the bone fell right out. The brisket was next. So moist and seasoned to perfection. This could have been my last meal as d I would die happy. It was worth the 3 hour drive downsrate to get. After that meal the rest of my day was downhill. There was no way to top it. My GF got the cheesesteak. That was ridiculously good. Like the kind of good that makes you want to eat here for every meal. This place is a gem and I can't wait to go back........tomorrow while I'm still in town!!!

Fantastic BBQ. I enjoyed my Korean-style wings and half rack of ribs. The flavours of everything were fantastic and the portion sizes were more than enough. Friendly, helpful and quick bar staff and service.

Words can’t describe how incredible this spot is. We have driven from Ottawa a few times now and it just gets better and better, we were just there on Saturday just gone and the food, atmosphere and service was amazing. They were incredible accommodating our stroller, I know it doesn’t sound like a lot but it is. We will be back in the next couple weeks. We’ll see you really soon

BBQ here was really good. Ribs were smoked perfectly and the sides were tasty. Definitely coming back here again.

Great first experience. I was in town for business and they came highly recommended by one of my colleagues and for good reason. I ordered the fried green tomatoes, and a combo plate that had the brisket, pulled pork and St Louis style ribs with Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy for my sides. Everything exceeded my expectations. The staff was helpful and friendly. Just a great must eat place in Syracuse!

+1

Amazing and consistent! Quality is always there, large portions and great value! We left with a smile and look forward to the next trip to Syracuse for more great BBQ

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que delivers exactly what you crave from a proper smokehouse: great food, a nice mood, and excellent style. From the moment you step inside, the place wraps you in warm, rustic vibes—exposed brick, vintage rock posters, and that unmistakable aroma of slow-cooked meats that hits you like a hug. The lighting is just right, the music is chill without being loud, and the whole atmosphere feels welcoming and unpretentious. Service is friendly and efficient, making the evening feel relaxed and fun. I went with the St. Louis ribs, and they did not disappoint—meaty, fall-off-the-bone tender, with a perfect balance of smoky char and tangy house sauce. The red beans were hearty and spiced just right, while the creamy mashed potatoes made the ideal comfort side. Also the bowls are big full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh and generous. My only real gripe? No brisket on the menu that night. As a brisket fan, I was bummed, but the ribs more than made up for it. Overall, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que nails the BBQ experience with great food, nice mood, and excellent style. Minor menu hiccup aside, it’s a winner. I’ll be back—hopefully with brisket next time. Highly recommended for meat lovers!

Jessie Atchie

Busy place but great food! If you’re in Syracuse, stop by the original Dino! Brisket was excellent, as was the pork and wings. We had fried green tomatoes and the charcuterie plate for apps and were delish!

+5

Katherin Chuni

My sisters and I went today on a busy Friday evening! Wait time est. 40-1hr but was more like 35 mins which worked out perfectly to catch our 7:30 show at the Landmark on time. We had time to browse the menu while waiting and got to order right when we sat. Food was amazing!! My sisters dont usually go for barbecue food but this place definitely left them with a great impression. We got the Tres Niños plate which was a perfect plate to try little bit of everything. The atmosphere was fun and our waiter was great too!

Jonathan Myers

An absolute must if you find yourself in Syracuse. We ordered the brisket and wings with mac and cheese and coleslaw for sides. Everything has a lots of flavour including the size. Portion size is very generous and the food comes out quick even when the place is packed. Could not recommend Dino BBQ more, one of my favourite restaurants.

Sarah record yr Arena

Always love coming to this historic honky tonk bbq joint. Live Music, colorful eclectic atmosphere, friendly nonstop service even on 2026 New Year’s Day! Busy and full of energy. Thank you for my takeout! Happy all these years later you are still alive and packed. Great food ! Love the smell inside.

Jaime Quintero

Atmosphere is definitely BBQ ambiance. Old Western style in Syracuse is NOT what you would expect coming from Cali. As for the food....Holy Cow & Chix!!! Our server could have been more attentive, but all else made it 4stars. CORNBREAD!!!! Great

+4

Since I left NY I always make sure when I come back first spot I go to is dinosaur. To me they have the best bbq I ever had and I am a foodie. I have not found a Mac and cheese that can compare to dinosaur Mac and cheese. Their food to me never disappoints. During the week is the best time to go as they aren't as packed as the weekend. No wait time. Seated fairly quickly.

Amazing food! We had brisket, Dino pouting, BBQ beans. Absolutely 💯 all of ut was spot on. The Brisket was tender and moist beautiful bark and smokey! I like my meat smokey. I don't want to guess if it is smoked. Certainly not acrid at all. Wonderfully smoked. The Dino Poutine is covered with pulled pork which is also tender and smokey. The baked beans were awesome. The fantastic finish was the peanut butter pie. Absolutely one of the best I have ever had. I am a fat guy that loves peanut butter everything! Itwas $7! what an awesome value. The atmosphere is cool and the smokey goodness hits you when you walk in. I highly recommend it! Kristy was our server and she was great. Informative and friendly. She took great care of us! Thank you Kristy!

N N

Although we've enjoyed eating at this restaurant many times in the past, this is the first time I've submitted a review. We decided to take advantage of the Syracuse Dining Weeks prix fixe dinner menu. It turned out to be a delicious feast. My wife and I began our meals by sharing two appetizers, creole deviled eggs and a pulled pork slider with the requested addition of a topping of coleslaw. The eggs were very tasty being well seasoned with cajun spices and chives. The slider was simply outstanding and resembled the Carolina pulled pork sandwich which is on the regular menu. Our mains were combo plates. I chose a 1/4 chicken and St Louis ribs. My wife chose the 1/4 chicken and a second portion of the chicken to take home. My ribs were delicious with some added Dinosaur wango tango BBQ sauce. The chicken was tender and moist due to a lathering of BBQ sauce while being cooked in a smoker. Each of our plates included two sides. I ate all of my barbecued beans and brought home a side salad. My wife enjoyed some spicy chili and a side of mac and cheese. The plates also came with delicious cornbread. Dessert was included and we chose peanut butter pie and a salted caramel cookie bar with whipped cream. Needless to say, it was a very filling meal with plenty to take home for a future lunch. The food here is excellent and reasonably priced and the service is friendly and attentive. UPDATE-1: Another great meal at the Dino. UPDATE-2: Met friends here for dinner on a Saturday night. Happily surprised that we found parking easily and had a short wait for table outside. I ordered a dinner combo of pulled pork and St Louis ribs. For sides I chose BBQ beans and coleslaw. My plan was to eat the coleslaw with the pulled pork like a Carolina Sandwich without the bread. It was excellent. The ribs and beans were also very good as always. My wife got a portobello mushroom sandwich and one of our friends got the catfish po' boy which looked great, and she said tasted great. A wonderful place to get together with friends.

+5

Adrian S

Always love coming to Dinosaur BBQ when I’m in Syracuse. Great BBQ and quick service. The sides are plentiful and a great variety. The mac and cheese highly recommend! Only inconvenience about this location is that they don’t take reservations. All the other Dinosaur BBQ locations take reservations.

Dakota

I give you the legendary Dinosaur BBQ sandwich: the PorkSket. Incepted by old time head ‘Cooter’, this is known as the King of Sandwiches here at Dino. The PorkSket is piled high with a 1/2lb of pulled pork and a 1/2lb of smoked brisket topped with sauce, melted cheese, pickled jalapeños, and a hearty helping of vinegary & crunchy coleslaw. Once I saw the PorkSket back on the Dino’s menu, I had to roll on in and order one for old times sake. The Dino and I go way back, one could even say that this is where my journey began. Thank you so much to the Dino crew for making this ol’ BBQ barndawg happy and giving me a delightful sandwich loaded up with delicious brisket burnt ends. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect sandwich and experience

+9

We ordered a 3 meat combo. The brisket is dry - we were only served the flat and no point. I'm not sure if it's because we're there for the dinner and they sold out the points. The rub is also a bit bland - only saltiness and not much else. Their pork dishes are the real highlight. The pork belly melts in your mouth. The ribs have very nice smokiness, though they don't fall of the bone easily (you need help from a knife). Side dishes are also great. But at the end of the day, you need good briskets to be considered a serious barbecue house, and they didn't deliver here.

The food was very good! Not Texas, but close. Highly recommend their pork ribs—one of the best I’ve ever had 🤌🏻 *** We came at 6pm, an hour wait was too long, so we set at the bar. The bartenders were super nice and friendly, took our order served the drinks and we started waiting. After 15 minutes they we were like “are you still waiting?” Like they weren’t the ones to bring the food. Brought appetizers. 30 minutes after that I asked how was our meat doing. Btw, they don’t actually cook meat to order, so pretty much any wait is ridiculous. The bartender went to the open kitchen, to a tray that has been sitting there for a while, brought us and said “just came out”. I mean… we are all human beings, it’s okay to forget. But not to lie. 😡

Eronini Decker

I had the chance to visit this spot while in Syracuse for a graduation. When we arrived, the wait time for a party of four was quoted at 35–40 minutes, but it ended up being closer to 25, despite the long-looking line moving fairly quickly. The place was crowded—likely due to the graduation—but I’ve heard it’s popular year-round. Our waitress (wish I’d gotten her name!) was excellent—super attentive and helpful with menu recommendations. I ordered the 6-piece dry rub BBQ ribs with fries and crispy coleslaw. The ribs were meaty and fell off the bone, though the tangy BBQ sauce wasn’t quite to my taste—I usually prefer a sweeter flavor like Sweet Baby Ray’s. The coleslaw was vinegar-based, and I tend to like it sweeter, so that wasn’t my favorite either. The fries were more on the softer side than crispy—perfect if you’re a fan of that style—and I enjoyed them. I also tried a piece of brisket, but it was a bit salty for me—though I’m not usually a brisket fan, so others may love it. Overall, we had a great experience and everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals. I’d definitely visit again and try the catfish next time. It’s a solid spot to hang out if you're in town.

MrMeowNow

Great place to visit, the food was very good and super tasty. My wife has a celiac disease, and I am happy to report she had no issues with this place, and felt great after eating there. The place is small and can get very loud, kinda hard to talk to the people that you are eating with. Also, they did mess up our order and got us 2 of the ribs instead of what we ordered, but it was still very tasty. Overall very good place to go and eat, good atmosphere, music a bit too LOUD! Prices are good, we were 4 people had food and drinks and the bill was around $100 ( not including tip). Recommend.

+5

I've been to restaurant in Rochester, NY. This was my first time at this location. It was much better than the Rochester location. I had the ribs (6), mac-n-cheese, and baked beans. The sides were delicious. Being from ATL we are real particular about our mac-n-cheese., minus the red pepper on top. The beans were tasty, bell pepper and meat are added to the beans. The ribs were good. HOWEVER, they came out cold. As well as the other people at my table. We did not send them back. Should have but didn't. When ordering make sure to tell them you want your meat hot. Would I return to this location, Yes I would. Portions for me were just right. Our waiter was honest when asked if he liked something or not. Which is valuable to me.

+4

Mike Sweeney

As far as the food is concerned, I don't get the hype. I was super excited to try this landmark establishment out, I left fairly disappointed. Everything that we had was average at best, and not worth making a venture (or even a stop along a road trip). My biggest complaint was that the pulled pork didn't have a smokey flavour, but it tasted like I was eating a tree, very woody. The salt levels were also very high, as all of us that were eating were very thirsty after departing. The brisket was average as best, not meating the expectations, I've had better at roadside pits all across the country. The service was phenomenal - I can't give them any knocks, and since they aren't in the kitchen, they desrve the call out. Absolutely friendly, drinks were kept full, and we felt attended to and welcomed. In short, lower expectations, and if there is a wait, it's probably not worth it.