Dinosaur BBQ - NYC

...Is open as of today. The Syracuse papers had a story this past weekend. I'll see if there's a link I can post. The NY Times sent someone to Syracuse to sample the Dino experience, and ran a story a couple of weekends ago. Their website www.dinosaurbarbque.com has an announcment with maps, etc...

Our office of architects will likely rent a bus for a field trip early next year. Until then, if any local natives get a chance to try it, give us a report.

New York Magazine said it is the answer for NYC Q Connoisseurs - all I know is that I sure am looking forward to trying it out. Although I am a bit hesitant when it comes to chain restaurants.

BB-
It would be difficult to find the "Missing Link" in a Chain with only 3 Links???????? Go for it, If it's anywhere near what we got in Rochester, it will be worth the effort.

I'm making my plans to get there, and should do so before the month is out.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

BB-
It would be difficult to find the "Missing Link" in a Chain with only 3 Links???????? Go for it, If it's anywhere near what we got in Rochester, it will be worth the effort.

Mr. Mayor is so right. Dinosaur is by no means a chain restaurant. They opened the first one in Syracuse about 20 years ago, opened a second in Rochester about 3 years ago, and have now moved to Manhatten. It's not a chain when they are all owned by the same partners. When I think chain, I think franchise.

Also, they are too highly regarded for the food quality in Syracuse and Rochester to offer any less in NYC. I hope all our downstate fellow Roadfooders enjoy their new location.

Here's a link (I hope) to the Syracuse Newspapers story. I'm new to the link posting thing, so I hope this works.

http://www.syracuse.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business-6/1101552990257611.xml?syrbubiz

I've been buying their sauce in Wegman's for a number of years. Although we all know the secret to Q is the meat not the sauce, the sauce is still really great!


Tom

Worry not about the "chaining" of Dinosaur BBQ. When they open their 75th location, and their kitchen has signs posted with diagrams of how the food should be plated -- then worry. I have been to both the Syracuse and Rochester locations, and am a big fan of BBQ. Dinosaur is easily the best BBQ in the northeast. I don't know if they would rank in the top 10 in TX -- but, for that area, it is exceptional.

Steve

We will try to get there sometime this Saturday, and keeping my fingers crossed about the crowds. Ya never know what to expect! I have such hopes for this places, as NY is so devoid of great barbeque (with minor exceptions.) So... hopefully, I will have a mini review by Sunday. Dinosaur and Fairways (across the street) is still in a pretty remote location that is not that easily accessible- but, have talked a friend of mine with a car into going. Soooo excited!

Does anyone know if they have a liquor license? Is it BBYO?

quote:

Originally posted by BaconBits

Does anyone know if they have a liquor license? Is it BBYO?

I'll see if anyone in Syracuse knows (I'll be putting theirs to use at lunch time).

Hi there. I called Dinosaur here in NY, and they do serve liquor. There is one problem this week, and glad I called- though just noticed this on their website- until December 14th there is limited hours available. They are not open for lunch yet. Tomorrow- Saturday we will attempt to be there about 630pm. If there is not a 2 hour wait, expect to see some sort of comments from me on Sunday... and hopefully I will be grinning.

Do you think it's going to be THAT crowded? It's quite a bit out of the way for most. Or am I being egocentric thinking that everyone lives downtown? I'm in the process of making plans to get there some time next week for dinner. I'm so curious!! PLEASE let us know how it is!!

Well, I'm here to report the liquor license in Syracuse is still working very, very well, and they report that John would be crazy to open a new BBQ joint without a liquor license...which I kind of figured anyway, but then, I don't know who you have to pay to get a license in NY.

I look forward to reviews.

quote:

Originally posted by BaconBits

Do you think it's going to be THAT crowded? It's quite a bit out of the way for most. Or am I being egocentric thinking that everyone lives downtown? I'm in the process of making plans to get there some time next week for dinner. I'm so curious!! PLEASE let us know how it is!!

Hi there.

I was told the other night... you could not get in the door.

It is in a remote area, but right across the street from Fairways, an incredible gourmet market- so there might be extra crowds. I just don't know what to expect. My reasoning being- it is in Harlem, and I think the crowd will be a late one. Plus- if they have limited hours right now, the people that wanted to try at lunch have been left out. I will let you know either way if I get to have dinner there, and of course- some take out.

Blondie, one of the waitresses in Syracuse showed me photos of the NYC interiors today. Its definitely got the Dino feel. I can't wait to get there.

By the way, I stopped in for takeout last night. I ordered the mixed grill special of the night, which was haddock soaked in buttermilk, floured and grilled, served on a mixture of corn, peppers and onions in a light cream sauce, with a 1/4 rack of ribs, and clam chowder, and mean money greens for sides. I ordered some of their mild chicken wings for an appetiser. My wife and I split it for dinner, all of it was great, especially the fish and veggie.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmos

Blondie, one of the waitresses in Syracuse showed me photos of the NYC interiors today. Its definitely got the Dino feel. I can't wait to get there.

By the way, I stopped in for takeout last night. I ordered the mixed grill special of the night, which was haddock soaked in buttermilk, floured and grilled, served on a mixture of corn, peppers and onions in a light cream sauce, with a 1/4 rack of ribs, and clam chowder, and mean money greens for sides. I ordered some of their mild chicken wings for an appetiser. My wife and I split it for dinner, all of it was great, especially the fish and veggie.

Cosmo

Before I go tonight, what should I order? I definitely want BBQ.. and not fish. I normally like my bbq pretty dry.. so is it sacreligious to order it that way? With some dipping sauce?

What kind of crowd did they have last night?

quote:

Originally posted by verysleepy
Cosmo

Before I go tonight, what should I order? I definitely want BBQ.. and not fish. I normally like my bbq pretty dry.. so is it sacreligious to order it that way? With some dipping sauce?

What kind of crowd did they have last night?

I got my takeout in Syracuse, thats about a 45 min drive to my home in Cortland, vs 4 hours from NYC.

As far as your order, if your looking for Q, I would go with a sampler plate of some kind. Assuming the menu is the same, a "traditional sampler" is 1/4 rack, with 1/4 chicken and sliced brisket with honey hush corn bread and two side of your choice,(the BBQ beans are awsome). You'll get your BBQ they way they cook it...but, they do finish the ribs and chicken on the grill, so I guess they could leave it a little longer. Give it a try.

They'll have an assortment of sauces at your table to sample. The "Sensuous Slathering Sauce" is the "mutha sauce" for most of their recipes. Its sweet and tastey. They have the "Wang Tango" habenero sauce too, great taste and a some zip too.

If your going with someone else, be sure someone orders the pulled pork, a pork carolina with coleslaw is my fave, but they have "bigass pork salad" too.

Bear in mind they are just getting started with a new operation, but I'm confident John will have everything humming when you get there.

Good luck getting in!

Ok, so where do I start? It was Saturday night about 6:45 pm, as we pulled up to Dinosaur's. I know that the restaurant just opened on Wednesday, and their hours are curtailed the first 2 weeks, but what we witnessed was astonishing. Also, please bear in mind, this location is in a very remote part of NY, and not easily accessable to public transportation.(131st Street and 12 avenue.) We go into the place, and I am not prepared, as there are hundreds of people standing ahead of us, and in the bar area, waiting for a table. Whoa!

The young lady taking names tells us there is a 2 hour wait (for a party of 3.) We decide to stay, and go to the bar. It seems as if there is a huge bar area, and a small dining room, but I will have to reconfirm this at some other time, as there were so many people. I order a ginger ale, and my friends a beer (23 different types on tap).. and we stand there. After about 5 minutes we say- are we crazy?... and decide to look at a menu, and then finally decide to take out. There is no way we could have been comfortable with all those people around us, and trying to balance plates full of BBQ. For the most part, the food I had tonight was great. We tried combo plates of Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket, and Chicken. I found the Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Chicken to be faultless, though the brisket I felt was not near Texas standards. We had ordered a variety of sides, and one order was not the correct one, but for the most part... all were great. My friends loved the baked beans- though I am not a baked beans person. I would be happy eating a rack of ribs, and pulled pork with no sides. My friends also tried the shrimp, and loved the sauce. Across the street, when we shopped at Fairways, we purchased a bottle of their Habenero BBQ sauce too, and my friends loved that.

So.... please I preface my findings with the caveat that we took the food home, and reheated a bit. That being said, the food was still a big success. This last year, I have been fortunate enough to to taste some great bbq in Texas- (Dallas, Taylor, Lockhart), in North Carolina- Raleigh, Wilson, and Goldsboro, and the year prior in Memphis. This bbq served at Dinosaur was just as good as the majority that I had sampled in these great bbq towns.

The menu looks similar to the one on the website, though not identical. There were fewer sides offered, and alas, the prices were higher. For Manhattan though, the value is still there!

Hopefully I will be able to return within the next month- when we have access to a car, and the hours are extended. I am so interested in hearing from others about your opinions of the food and the room layout. To me, it looked like they needed more seating! A warm welcome to Dinosaur, and may more bbq places flourish here.

Happy eating,

Nadine

There's a thread over on eGullet with pictures

.... http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=28968&st=60

Great link, sounds like they're off to a great start! I'm getting hungry already, and its only 11:00 am.

Cosmos-as far as you have experienced with the other Dinosaurs...if you get there at opening, can you avoid the 2 hour wait? Regardless of the quality of the dining experience, I am not the type to wait 2 hours for food.

Not that I didn't enjoy my takeout- but I much prefer eating in the restaurant.

In Syracuse, dinner is always crazy, but typically you can expect more of a 30-45 minute wait. I expect they are experiencing a grand opening rush. We always get there at 11:45 at lunch to avoid a wait

Has anyone tried it on a weeknight? What kind of wait can be expected? I'm thinking of heading over there on Wednesday night - I probably wont even get there until 9:30 - think there will still be a crowd?

Also, what's the cab situation like up there? Will we be able to find one to take us home after eating?

quote:

Originally posted by BaconBits

Has anyone tried it on a weeknight? What kind of wait can be expected? I'm thinking of heading over there on Wednesday night - I probably wont even get there until 9:30 - think there will still be a crowd?

Also, what's the cab situation like up there? Will we be able to find one to take us home after eating?

Bacon,

I don't think the cab situation is great, as they list the phone number of a car service at the front of the room.

quote:

Originally posted by stevekoe

Worry not about the "chaining" of Dinosaur BBQ. When they open their 75th location, and their kitchen has signs posted with diagrams of how the food should be plated -- then worry. I have been to both the Syracuse and Rochester locations, and am a big fan of BBQ. Dinosaur is easily the best BBQ in the northeast. I don't know if they would rank in the top 10 in TX -- but, for that area, it is exceptional.

Steve

I haven't tried the NYC one, but after having tried good Q from most the hot spots in the country I can tell you that Dinosaur is the best. It's tough to say that after hearing everyone talk about Texas, KC etc., and it took me about 15 years to really make this conclusion, but it's true!

Stephen,
We Moderators work real hard to prevent clashes on these forums...and then you pour hickory chips on the embers of some of the barbeque debates!!! Sheesch, I bet we have a motion to secede brewing (again) in South Carolina !!! They will rally the rest of the Southern Group and head North ! The Texans have been buying Scud Missiles to point at Syracuse and the folks in Memphis are building a Trojan Pig to deliver as a "Good Luck" gift to the Dinosaur.
Finally, I just got word that the Kansas City group is buying media time with a spot titled "The 'Que Stops Here", using a computer-generated Harry Truman as their spokesman!

Thanks a Bunch!!

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

quote:

Originally posted by stevekoe

Worry not about the "chaining" of Dinosaur BBQ. When they open their 75th location, and their kitchen has signs posted with diagrams of how the food should be plated -- then worry. I have been to both the Syracuse and Rochester locations, and am a big fan of BBQ. Dinosaur is easily the best BBQ in the northeast. I don't know if they would rank in the top 10 in TX -- but, for that area, it is exceptional.

Steve

I haven't tried the NYC one, but after having tried good Q from all the hot spots in the country I can tell you that Dinosaur is the best. It's tough to say that after hearing everyone talk about Texas, KC etc., and it took me about 15 years to really make this conclusion, but it's true!

I don't know if Mr. Rushmore has been taking an early dip in the egg nog, but I will respectfully stand by my initial claim that it is the best Q in the northeast. I won't say that it is NOT better than barbecue from other parts of the country, but the styles are so different, I don't know that one can lay claim to be better than another.

Before the firing starts....

Steve

Mayor, I like the idea of holographic Harry S. and Arthur B. images standing alongside Lewis & Clark, looming over the confluence of the Kaw and the mighty
Missouri, and protecting the stockyards district from Harm(and New Yorkers), much as
Obi Wan Kenobi & the boys did in a place far, far, away. It could even be like the attempt to revitalize
Downtown Las Vegas with that giant shower curtain. Of course, folks in KC would lobby to add Laser generated Boss Pendergast, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Mary Lou Williams images high above 12th Street, and that's OK. Satchel Paige could pitch Laser balls over to
Clark catching on the bluffs.

quote:

Originally posted by verysleepy

Ok, so where do I start? It was Saturday night about 6:45 pm, as we pulled up to Dinosaur's. I know that the restaurant just opened on Wednesday, and their hours are curtailed the first 2 weeks, but what we witnessed was astonishing. Also, please bear in mind, this location is in a very remote part of NY, and not easily accessable to public transportation.(131st Street and 12 avenue.) We go into the place, and I am not prepared, as there are hundreds of people standing ahead of us, and in the bar area, waiting for a table. Whoa!

The young lady taking names tells us there is a 2 hour wait (for a party of 3.) We decide to stay, and go to the bar. It seems as if there is a huge bar area, and a small dining room, but I will have to reconfirm this at some other time, as there were so many people. I order a ginger ale, and my friends a beer (23 different types on tap).. and we stand there. After about 5 minutes we say- are we crazy?... and decide to look at a menu, and then finally decide to take out. There is no way we could have been comfortable with all those people around us, and trying to balance plates full of BBQ. For the most part, the food I had tonight was great. We tried combo plates of Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket, and Chicken. I found the Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Chicken to be faultless, though the brisket I felt was not near Texas standards. We had ordered a variety of sides, and one order was not the correct one, but for the most part... all were great. My friends loved the baked beans- though I am not a baked beans person. I would be happy eating a rack of ribs, and pulled pork with no sides. My friends also tried the shrimp, and loved the sauce. Across the street, when we shopped at Fairways, we purchased a bottle of their Habenero BBQ sauce too, and my friends loved that.

So.... please I preface my findings with the caveat that we took the food home, and reheated a bit. That being said, the food was still a big success. This last year, I have been fortunate enough to to taste some great bbq in Texas- (Dallas, Taylor, Lockhart), in North Carolina- Raleigh, Wilson, and Goldsboro, and the year prior in Memphis. This bbq served at Dinosaur was just as good as the majority that I had sampled in these great bbq towns.

The menu looks similar to the one on the website, though not identical. There were fewer sides offered, and alas, the prices were higher. For Manhattan though, the value is still there!

Hopefully I will be able to return within the next month- when we have access to a car, and the hours are extended. I am so interested in hearing from others about your opinions of the food and the room layout. To me, it looked like they needed more seating! A warm welcome to Dinosaur, and may more bbq places flourish here.

Happy eating,

Nadine

verysleepy, thanks so much for sharing this. Having been to the Syracuse Dinosaur a couple of times, I'm very excited about the arrival of this creature to the NY area.

Just to put verysleepy's comments into context, what she experienced is virtually unheard of in NYC. Consider this: most NY'ers would not consider dining out before 8pm -- to have a crowd like the one she described well before 7pm is remarkable! This place is really, really remote. Not a lot of public transportation nearby and most cab drivers will not take you to Harlem (even though it's against the law not to). And although we suburbanites take our cars for granted, many (perhaps most) Manhattanites do not own cars because, for the most part, you don't need one and they are expensive to have around. So, it's safe to say that anyone who was up at Dinosaur's that evening was really motivated.

IMHO, there are two things that would cause that. The first is "Buzz" and the second is really good food. Based on my experience in Syracuse, I'm prediciting that when the "Buzz" dies down, Dinosaur is still going to be packing the crowds in.

So, if you have wheels, a healthy appetite and some good sense, go enjoy what may be the new king of BBQ in NYC!