Such a great experience, as a Chef I am very picky with what I eat as it's rare when I have an all around great experience when I go out to eat. I drove up 5 hours for a leadership program and met with the team and we were hungry from the trip. We are all staying at the Hilton and unfortunately this wasn't one of the restaurants the hotel recommended. After some research I found this and we all agreed to go here. And it was great, the Mac and cheese was amazing, their Cuban sandwich was made to perfection, the fried green tomatoes were crispy and well done, everyone was satisfied with their food, also, the cornbread was by far the best corn bread I've eaten in any restaurant, we had such a great time and our waitress was the best, she was overwhelmed but was still focused and attentive and gave us such amazing service. This was definitely a great experience

Some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had and I’ve had it from all over the country. All of the smoked meats were amazing, the wings (especially the Devils Duel) were outstanding, and even the simmered greens stood out. So good. DO NOT LEAVE without trying the key lime pie. I used to live in Florida and have had it in the Keys from some of the (purported) best in the world. This one topped them all. Amazing experience. Thank you!!!

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. Longtime beloved manager Val retired 2 years ago now but the wait staff, busing staff and dining room manager are all still upbeat and energetic and the biggest and warmest group ever!! Started our night with their delicious deviled eggs, crunchy addictive fried green tomatoes and Dinosaur Poutine! 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 the first time we visited. This time ordered the 3 items special and again the moist pulled pork, the fattiest smoked brisket and fall off the bone ribs were still freaking amazing!! For the sides we shared mac & cheese, sauteed greens and rice & beans and all were tops!! 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.

+3

Got the sampler with fries and beans. It was so good!! The brisket was out of this world. Waitress was really nice. Place was very clean and so were the bathrooms. 10/10 recommend this stop. Nearby street parking is free after 6pm.

Heard about this place long time ago and finally got a chance to try. Food definitely worth the money. Got devil eggs, k-pow and wango habanero wings, both wings are meaty, juicy and the sauce is scrumptious. 3 meat combo with briskets, ribs, cornbread, Mac and cheese with fries. OMG the brisket is definitely the best juicy most tender I ever had. Ribs is very good too, meat fall off the bones. They have a good size menu, daily lunch and dinner special, also pretty good selection of drinks. Will definitely come back and try more other dishes when I get a chance.

+6

Went here for Fourth of July lunch and it was a truly amazing experience! We’d been here before so we kinda knew what to expect, but it exceeded those expectations! We (a party of 5) had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated, but seeing that it was a holiday, we completely understood. Our server (wish I’d gotten her name to shout her out) was excellent and very accommodating! We ordered the 3 meats combo (pulled pork, brisket, and ribs), the 13 wings (Korean and garlic chipotle) and the half roasted chicken. Everything was delicious! The pulled pork was super juicy, the brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the ribs slid right off the bone, the Korean wings were a good balance between sweet and spicy while the garlic chipotle was a balanced heat. The chicken was moist and juicy, the sautéed greens side was surprisingly good, with some bacon in it to offer some texture. The Mac and cheese was unreal!!!! The cornbread and coleslaw were exactly what I’ve come to expect from this place! If you’ve never been here before, then the decor might catch you a bit off guard because of its retro rock/punk style but you get used to it after a while. I ended up getting the 4 for the road sauce pack because it was a tremendous deal: 4 of their specialty sauces for only $15! All in all, this place lives up to all of its hype and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is in the Syracuse area!

+5

Just had my first experience at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and it was phenomenal. Lyra, our server, made the experience wonderful and so upbeat! The drinks had exceptional flavor and were nicely made. My husband (who had already been here) and I ordered the Sweetheart Special which included a full rack of ribs and 4 sides. We chose the hand cut fries, mashed potatoes, BBQ baked beans and the mac & cheese. The food was delicious with fall-off-the-bone, meaty ribs that were tender yet crispy and full of flavor. The mashed potatoes were creamy and hot. The beans were so good and fries were hot and crisp. However, aside from the ribs, the Mac & cheese stole the show for me during our entree. It had the incredible seasoning mixed with it, the cheese was creamy and rich. Superb! We also decided on dessert getting the peanut butter cup pie and the Key lime pie. They were both well made and were flavorful beyond compare. Excellent choices. Lyra was attentive to us throughout, making great conversation and recommendations. Between the food and the service I most definitely will return and highly recommend the location. What a great experience ❤️

Even though it was busy when we went (due to college graduations), they were able to get the 4 of us seated quickly. They have a great kids menu and offer coloring/activity pages for the kids. The food was incredible! The brisket melts in your mouth. Per my husband, the chicken was the best he's had! Their homemade applesauce is delicious. It did end up being too loud for the kids towards the end because of everyone from the graduations.

We went for dinner on a Friday evening and, luckily, were seated right away. I had the brisket and the St. Louis ribs, which were delicious. The brisket was the real standout. It just fell apart and the flavour... outstanding. I had a Dinosaur BBQ brew, which paired nicely with the beef and ribs. The service was great and the restaurant was lively. I'll be back! Update, April 2024: Attended an event in the upstairs party room and not only was the food delicious, the catering was top notch! Staff were friendly, there was plenty of ribs and brisket, and the sides were delicious! Nice room too!

+6

After we check in at our hotel, we asked for recommendations of where to eat in the area. We end it up at Dinosaur BarBQue. The wait was 35 min for 9 people and we were super hungry. We hesitated to leave but the awesome smell of the food and some convincing by other customers eating, we stayed to indulge on a great meal. We had the family platter; protein brisket, chicken, ribs, sides-pork beans, Mac and cheese, fries. Our waiter was fantastic. It was delicious! Truly recommend this place, it was worth the wait. Sorry no picts, we eat the food too quickly!

I was stuck in syracuse due to flight cancelations from weather. I took the opportunity to eat at dinosaur BBQ and it made me forget I was stranded overnight. The atmosphere was great, service was quick and friendly, and food was amazing. I grossly over ordered, because why not try as much as I could. I was happy I did and so full I had to roll into the Uber when I was done. I would definitely go back.

Dinosaur is my go to in Syracuse! No matter what you order in this place, you will not be sorry. Even if it is a salad!!! I keep coming back, and they keep me coming back! Incredible staff that are always there making sure you have what you need. Hands down my favorite place in Syracuse!!!Try them wings with extra char, and the Creole deviled eggs!

+1

Oh man, definitely one or the best BBQ in New York. Ribs, chicken and pork were smoked to perfection… beautiful smoked ring. Customer service was on point and very helpful when asked about an item. Price is moderate. Good for the whole family. Great Variety of beer. Moderately priced. I strongly recommend. 👍🏻

+4

This place is amazing!! The service, food, and restaurant was off the charts. We came on a Thursday at 3pm and the place was pretty crowded. Our waitress was so attentive and knowledgeable. The wings were well smoked and sauced. We have been to so many bbq joints that don’t smoke their food. We did the 3 meat platter: brisket, ribs, and pulled pork with Mac and cheese and coleslaw. All of the meats were so tender that you didn’t need a knife. They also weren’t drowned in sauce which we liked. It is also amazing in value for money. There’s places where a meat platter would be $40-50. We were really impressed with everything and would definitely come back again!

5 stars ! The food was excellent - brisquet was tender - melting in the mouth. Ribs had a very good hickory / smokey flavour and chicken was juicy. Fries were super good as well and I liked the cornbread. We got the 1/2 family startin’ - and it was more than enough for us 3. Friendly service and we went on a Monday around 5pm so we didn’t have to wait too long to be seated.

+3

I’ve been to Dinosaur BBQ quite a few times since I moved to Syracuse and they never disappoint. Service is always great and the few times there was a wait it was worth it. Enjoyed the pork belly and brisket this time around and I would definitely recommend it. Proud to have such a classic and iconic place to dine right here in Syracuse 🫶🏻

Super cool place to go meet friends or business people for lunch. It was my first time and I was very impressed. Interior is wicked fun and interesting restaurant. I am glad there are only a few of these - keeps them more fun, I think. Food was delicious and staff was very friendly.

+6

The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse was a welcome surprise for a group of visitors from Alabama. The food was really good and we visited twice. They have a daily lunch special, and I had the Spiceman sandwich made with smoked turkey and pulled pork. It was served with a choice of one or two sides. The fresh cut fries were really good, and the mac and cheese were ok (they had a different seasoning added from normal mac and cheese). The second time, I had a combo plate with a half chicken, 1/4 slab of ribs, fries, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Everything was good, especially the ribs. The service was great both times, and the food came out quickly. The parking can be difficult to find, and we had to circle the block multiple times to find a spot. Great place to visit and eat in Syracuse.

+5

I ordered the combo plate with three meats: prime brisket, pulled pork, and pork belly, along with two sides of my choice. The brisket and pork belly were the highlights—juicy, flavorful, and incredibly tender thanks to the rich marbling. The pulled pork was a bit lean for my taste, but still very tasty. Overall, the food was excellent and definitely worth trying if you’re in town!

Dinosaur BBQ is always a good time! Food was amazing! I will be transferring for work to Syracuse and I will be getting Dinosaur for lunch in the very near future. 10 out of 10 hands down!

Very busy on a Thursday at lunch. The brisket, pulled pork, slaw and beans are excellent!

Well worth the stop if you’re in the Syracuse area. As soon as I stepped out of my car, I could smell the aroma of barbecue. I was promptly greeted and seated at arrival. Service here was pfantastic. The server was knowledgeable of the menu and made some great recommendations. On to the food, which was amazing. I had the three meat platter, which did not fall short of quality and quantity. The portions were generous for the price. Very rare that I need a to go container, and in this instance, I did. The ribs were tender, brisket was delicious, and the chicken was seasoned perfectly. I highly recommend the mac-n-cheese and baked beans. Both were flavorful and unique. Overall, this is a fantastic spot in Syracuse. Can’t wait to come back!!!!

Check-in with the hostess was easy, wait time was accurate, they have some standing tables by the bar to have a drink while waiting. The server was quick and checked back often. The food was great, I'd come back. The deviled eggs were very good but not as good as mine ;).

Great BBQ Experience, Just a Bit of a Wait 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!

Food was amazing, service was excellent, had a great time. My spouse had a bloody Mary and we ordered the fried tomatoes and Cajun deviled eggs to start - delicious (the eggs were a bit salty - still good, but everything else was perfect). Pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, and BBQ beans and then the ribs and pulled pork with tomato and cucumber salad, corn bread, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Everything was perfectly cooked and I definitely ate too much!

Great place, it was our 1st time there. Little difficulty in parking because of snow night before but found a spot and the food here is very good. Gonna try the ribs next time. We will be going back Friday afternoon again.

Holy moly, this place is awesome. We arrived on a rainy Monday afternoon and there was a 20-30 minute wait at lunch time but it went by fast and boy was it worth it. The BBQ cheesesteak was absolutely delicious. I would recommend the chopped brisket. The sliders were good as well and they have a good selection of beers. Service was good and the food came out very quickly.

Been coming here my whole life and it never disappoints! Best bbq in the region. Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, although I highly recommend the chicken wings and a mixed platter so you can try a bit of everything! All their sauces are an added bonus to the great flavor of the meat! A must try if you’re in Syracuse or passing through!

Full disclosure: I captain a competitive BBQ team in Tampa, and know my way around a brisket. A colleague and I flew to Syracuse to attend a vendor's product launch, and wanted to bring a brisket to contribute to the buffet. I found Dinosaur BBQ online and thought it looked like the right pit for the job and boy, they did not disappoint! The whole brisket we ordered was among the best I have ever tasted - excellent bark, good smoke ring, and they went the extra step and brined it! It was SUPERB! Texas has nothing on this Syracuse pit. I wish we could have stayed longer at the restaurant. Friendly staff, the appropriate aroma of BBQ, and a vibe that just said "authentic." If you're ever in Syracuse and want the Real Thing, Dinosaur BBQ is the place to go!

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Went there with my mother and toddler, waiting got a little intense for my toddler and a lovely waitress brought out a couple fries to curb the hangry two year old. Food came out almost instantly after ordering which was amazing.Between the pulled pork and the brisket we left as happy, full people! Can highly recommend!

I moved out of state and haven’t been here in over 5 years but it’s like nothing has changed. It’s ALWAYS so delicious. The wait is definitely worth it.

Great local bbq joint with tasty mains and sides, colorful and comfortable interior. Ribs, sausage, beans, slaw, salad, cornbread, and mac n cheese were delicious. Brisket also nice, but not incredibly flavorful

Dinosaur BBQ is always top notch! Showed up early for drinks and appetizers with a friend, and we were seated immediately. Then my colleagues joined us and we were seated as a large group with only about 5 minutes notice . Service was fantastic. Food was fantastic. Highly recommended

Nothing compares to the OG Dino BBQ. Worth the wait, if there is one. Very friendly service - staff can't do enough for you. I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes and family meal if you're with a group.

I have visited this place twice, and both times it has amazed me! The food is incredibly good, and everyone is super fun and nice. The brisket is exceptionally delicious, and the side portions are generous. The coleslaw was perfect—not too sweet, unlike many other places. The burger is also fantastic. As for the beer, it's amazing, and I recommend following the server's suggestion. Annie S served us, and she was extraordinary. Today I was positively surprised by seeing the have a separate vegan menu, my friend had the mushrooms sandwich and she LOVED it!

+6

My wife and I were in the area from out of state. We had heard amazing things about Dinosaur Bar-B-Que from friends. Everything was AMAZING!! Our waitress was fantastic! The atmosphere was super chill. I've had a lot of great BBQ, but this was by far some of the best. The brisket fell apart with no effort, the house made sauces were delicious. The portions were way more than we could handle. We had to take half of our plates home for leftovers. Parking can be a bit tricky, but if you get there early enough, you should be able to get a spot that's close. We honestly might come back on this same trip.

+1

One of my "Top 5" BBQ experiences!!!! 🤯 Everything is killer good, including sides, beer, and atmosphere!! 👌 Brisket melts in your mouth, ribs 🍖 are perfectly tender, and seasoning/sauces are on point! You have to try the Greens with smoked 🦃 Turkey....😋😍. Service is fenomenal and the staff/management is on top of every detail making your Bar-B-Q experience a great one!! The Original Dinosaur Bar-B-Q is a bucket 🪣 list destination, for sure!

+6

I'm an older fella from the oldest town in Texas. And had a fantastic food experience! If you're in the Syracuse, NY area I recommend it. It was the best place I found while there for the week 😁.

Food was amazing with huge portions!. We had an hour wait however, it was Sunday evening and also Father's day so the wait was totally expected and ok with us! We had a great time! Our waitress was a little inattentive but, I know she was really busy. We will absolutely be back again!!

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is one of those places you walk into and instantly know you’re in for a great meal. The moment you enter, the smell of slow-smoked barbecue hits you, and it honestly sets the tone for the entire experience. The food here is incredible—tender, flavorful, and cooked with the kind of skill you only get from a place that truly loves what they do. The ribs fall right off the bone, the pulled pork is packed with smoky flavor, and the sides taste homemade, like someone cooked them with care instead of just scooping them from a tray. The service is just as impressive. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, fast, and actually seemed to enjoy being there. They answered questions, made recommendations, and checked on us at the perfect times without being annoying or rushed. It’s the kind of service that makes the whole meal feel even better. The atmosphere adds to the experience too—lively but comfortable, with music, great lighting, and that fun BBQ-style vibe. It feels like a place you can relax with friends, enjoy great food, and just have a good time. If you love real barbecue, this place is absolutely worth the visit. I’d give it more than five stars if I could.

Had the sliced brisket, wings, mac n cheese, fries. The sauces were great. (they sell a 4 pack of large bottles for 15$!). Service was great. Atmosphere was great. Short wait and the place was packed. Thank you 🤙🏼🤙🏼

Very good I got the combo platter, brisket, wibbbs, and jalapeño cheddar sausage with Mac n cheese and fricken mashhhed taters ate the whole plate, was on a diet for 3 days before I gave in but it was worth it

We had finished work and on the way to the airport we had to drop off a package at the UPS store. This place was near and my coworker had eaten here before. Glad he recommended it. I had a combo of ribs, 1/4 chicken and greens and Mac & cheese. I would come back again just for the greens!

This place is great for BBQ! I have been going here for years. Was just there for a company party in the upstairs banquet room. Service and food amazing! Bathrooms were clean too.

This place is one of the best barbecue restaurants I have ever been to. They have lots of delicious vegetarian options. Their sour draft beers are amazing. We ordered BBQ Mushroom Reuben and Fried Green Tomatoes from the vegetarian menu which were incredibly delicious! Very tasty coleslaw and combination of different flavors. Will be back to this place whenever I visit Syracuse again!

+1

Very nice place. I was there with a group and the reserved area was big enough to hold us. Ample food presented at their buffet set up. Be careful of which sauce you use and make sure you don't use too much. You'll need more napkins if you slather too much lol. And if you don't like it too hot... Just use the regular sauce.

I stopped in after a 4 day, 200 mile bike ride from Buffalo on the recommendation of a friend. Yes, the food was amazing. I had the most tender, not dry brisket I've found anywhere. More amazing was the service. One of the men in my party has a gluten allergy and the waitress pickup up on it right away and helped him put together an order that was perfect for him. She even made sure that the ubiquitous corn bread never touched his plate! Just go - it will make you happy.

Knew it would be good when we walked in the door, was packed and had a wait at 3 in the afternoon, incredible food, had the brisket tacos. Could eat that every day!

The food was great, we ordered quickly and our food was at the table by the time my daughter and I came back from washing our hands. I was hungry and had a hard time ordering as it all looked good but I went with the catfish, cucumber salad, and a side salad, and it was delicioso. The cucumber salad was super chunky and great and the cat fish was perfect. My wife got pulled pork and my daughter had the kids ribs and both were pleased. The only thing I didn't like was our small table right next to other people and their small tables but that may be the norm, I dont go out much and it's nothing against the restaurant.

Viplove

Tried this BBQ place for the first time during a road trip and absolutely loved the food. The pork belly was delicious, the sausage were juicy and tender. Definitely go back again. Would recommend making a reservation

+3

Ronia M

Absolutely ADORED this place, this was a highly recommended restaraunt to us before we even came up to Syracuse and it absolutely did not disappoint. As soon as you walk in you can smell the meat, and once you try it it's just absolutely sublime. The flavors are incredible, the meat was so tender, and the portion sizes were large too. We also tried a few of their mocktails which were all tasty! Our waitress was super kind and attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere overall was a lot of fun. I totally get why this is such a must-eat restaurant in Syracuse!

Trevor Bingham

Had to wait for about 45 mins for a table for 7. But worth the wait. Outside of Texas, this is a great Texas BBQ restaurant with generous portions and friendly service. The Ape Hanger beer was really good too!

Webster Basketball

Great BBQ with a fun, energetic vibe! Ribs fall off the bone, brisket was amazing, and the sides are legit. Staff is friendly and the place has an awesome, casual roadhouse feel. Can get busy, but always worth it!

Jison Zabala

Legitimately good smoked stuff - the type of southern style BBQ I miss. Brisket was great, sausage was melt in your mouth. Wound up sharing bites off of others plates at the table - pulled pork, the pork belly, ribs and chicken are also good eats.

Chris Jose

Line was always long. Since there are no reservations expect to wait anywhere from 60-90 minutes on a weekend for dinner. Regardless, me and my friends always stuck around for the wait as it is amazing BBQ. The best sliders and some of the best mac & cheese that I’ve ever had. Brisket and ribs were super tender, juicy, & flavorful. Cornbread was spectacular. Home made fries and wings were off the charts. Again, this is worth the wait. My friends and I would drive up from Ithaca since it’s that good.

+5

We arrived right at 11 am. on Sunday. We went a little crazy but ordered for the kids who were at home, too. We tried everything. The ribs were the best. Mac and cheese delightful. Fries were excellent. They have a few locations, but this one at Syracuse had a great atmosphere and the staff warm and friendly. We will be back.

+6

Bomb! Everything was good. We got every side besides the Cole slaw and rice and beans, and we’re very impressed with all of it. Brisket good, pulled pork good. No complaints. Place is extremely loud; just a heads up.

RANDY MILLER

Great spot, food was excellent service was great and it definitely had a lot of regulars. I went on a Tuesday at 4 and the place was packed, they were on a wait when I left at 6:15. I had the combo dinner with ribs and brisket they were both excellent as well as the sides and that cornbread was perfect. Overall a must if you’re stopping in Syracuse. Don’t skip this one you won’t regret it.

+6

Molly Hill

Absolute classic and a must-visit whenever I’m in Syracuse or Rochester. Incredibly delicious (I particularly love their pulled pork, pork ribs, and mac and cheese). Always busy but tables don’t take long to turn over because the food comes so quickly! Be sure to ask about taking some bottles of bbq sauce home too.

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

It’s great to visit the origin place. The food was good. The Mac and Cheese for the kids menu was spicier than expected which didn’t go down well with the little ones. Wished it was more descriptive in the menu. The waitress was nice but wasn’t really too knowledgeable about the menu. I was trying to figure out what portions of ribs to order and couldn’t get info on how much each portion generally feeds. Asked a couple of beer questions to figure out what to order and she couldn’t really answer. The food was good so worth checking out when in the Syracuse area. It’s a nice lively place with tons of energy. Good vibes!!

+6

Decent place if you are craving for Bar-B-Que. I had ordered the hot wings and the Pork Rib . The Wings were juicy and spicy and had a hot rub in it ..The Ribs were also good but little on the dry side. Also recommend the Cajun fried Cat fish The Mac n cheese was really dry but the cole slaw was good as side .The Corn bread was also on the dry side Also had a draft beer to enjoy the wings. My daughter tried the chicken sandwich and it was juicy and soft There is enough parking opposite to the restaurant and the place was a bit louder which is good and bad in which ever way you want to see it :)

+1

The food was pretty good and the "greens" I don't recommend they were very scary and stinky 😱. The brisket, ribs, and pulled pork were amazing. The pickled onions were really good too. The place was extremely busy (but to be as expected of someplace this popular and that has as good food as this). I would definitely recommend the food and the services. The waiter was very friendly and helpful!

It was a truly great experience! My friend and I loved the food, and the portions were huge. Atmosphere was busting, we waited an hour just for a party of 2. If you're with waiting, it's one of the best spots in town.

Took my kids and brother here for dinner. Great ribs, coleslaw was not my style (more vinegar vs. sweet) but the smothered greens and fried tomatoes TOP SCORES!! Portions are HUGE, kids didn't even eat half of thier kids meal. We sat on the back patio. Great service by Evan. He was so nice and helpful. It's worth the wait for a table!! Will go again.

If you’re ever in the Syracuse area, this a great place to grab a quick bite to eat or meet up with friends and stay awhile. Food and service is excellent. I hope to return soon $$.

+4

I am in town from Texas for work. I was recommended this from the guys at Enterprise in the airport so I thought I’d give it a try. The worst part of the plate was the cornbread, it was dry for sure. The sides (Mac and Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, BBQ Beans) were all surprising very well seasoned and tasted great! The smoked wings I got were the Tango Habanero and the Jerk Glaze. The Tango Habanero was the better of the 2 to me. Only thing about the wings I think is they should be smoked a little longer. I give Dinosaur BBQ a solid 8 outta 19 for everything I tried.

+1

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

Had to wait 45 min to be seated. Place was buzzing. Got a platter - pulled pork, pork ribs and brisket. Good for two adults. The brisket was a disappointment. It lacked seasoning, mainly salt. The ribs were excellent. It had an extra crunch on top. The sides were good though the coleslaw though creamy tasted bland. The cornbread was a bit drier than I prefer. I would recommend you skip the nachos. Service was prompt.

+1

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.