Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was born in 1983 in Syracuse, New York as a roadside barbecue stand for the motorcycle culture of upstate New York, and has grown from those origins into one of the most beloved restaurant brands in New York State, with locations in Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, and at various points in New York City as well. The cooking is rooted in the wood-smoking traditions of the American South — ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken slow-cooked over wood for many hours until the meat is tender and smoky — but with a New York State sensibility that draws on the specific foods and preferences of upstate communities. The baby back ribs are the signature: a full rack of pork ribs rubbed with a proprietary spice blend, smoked low and slow until the meat pulls cleanly from the bone, and finished with one of the restaurant's sauces — the Wango Tango habanero sauce, the honey mustard, or the original Sensuous Slathering Sauce, which is bottled and sold nationally. The brisket is Texas-influenced, sliced to order with a proper smoke ring and served with white bread and pickles in the Texas tradition. The pulled pork sandwich arrives on a soft roll with coleslaw and sauce. The atmosphere at all locations is intentionally rowdy and unpretentious — motorcycle memorabilia, long communal tables, blues music, and a bar program that features local New York craft beers alongside an extensive selection of American whiskeys. Reservations are accepted at most locations for groups; walk-ins are welcome.