Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Reiksguard

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Dinosaur is a great Barbeque joint- hands down. We have hit the original one in Syracuse a few times, but the Rochester location manages to be larger, but still keep that blend of biker-bar with a welcoming smokehouse. Food is top notch if you are into smoked or slow roated meat.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see the large beer selection (22 on tap, 44+ in bottles) - most of them being craft beers. Several local selections from micros that don't even have bottling lines. I might have to make this place my new drinking hole when I come back into town.

07-06-2009 23:45:53 | More by Reiksguard

beernbbq

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

I am a Dinosaur lover since a friend of mine turned me on about two years ago. I especially love the Syracuse location, which I will write about after my next visit. I will echo my fellow reviewers here, with a rave to the Wings (Smoked, Meaty, tasty sauces and a slight charcoal at the end for a perfect finish), the ribs - St. Louis, tender and falling off the bones, the pulled pork, tasty anytime. The only subpar on my most recent trip was the brisket, which is usually tender and falling apart. Beer selection is OK, with the Middle Ages Impaled Ale being my top choice. It tried the Saranac Black Forest, but it had a decidely corny taste and I sent it back. I don't know if it was the tap or the beer in this case.

The best thing about the Dino is when you get one of the more seasoned servers, as they will mix it up with you in a fun way, with the usual kibbitzy banter. I enjoy this here for the most part as it is part of what makes the place fun, but they will also give you your space if you like. I would like to see a better beer selection, but the food is why you go here. I look forward to the NYC location opening in 2004.

10-19-2003 17:43:12 | More by beernbbq

John

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

Good selection of local micro draughts featuring Rohrbach, Middle Ages and Custom Brewcrafters, regional and national craft brews and some quality imports. The local CB and MA brews rotate often and include some of their seasonals as well as regular offerings. Decent selection of bottled beer. This is one lively joint. Bustling, noisy, raucous. Dinosaur is always packed so be prepared to wait for a table. Some of the best BBQ you'll find anywhere (and no, these guys didn't just jump on the BBQ joint bandwagon). It's the real deal. The smell of the hickory smokers can be detected within a half mile radius. Live blues music (national and local) every night. Consistently a quality place and definitely worth the trip.

10-20-2002 20:18:37 | More by John

alee42

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

I don't think there is a better place to sit down and have exceptional BBQ with a good beer. I've been to Dino several times now and every time I go there's always a new beer on tap. The waits are pretty bad on weekends at night, but for me it's a great opportunity to buy a pitcher of the lastest microbrew and stand outside next to the heaters. Last time I went I had a nice pint of the Goose 312 Urban wheat to start, and a pumpkin ale (forgot who makes it) with my beef brisket for dinner. The only problem I have with this place is that the service can be rather slow, but it's definitely worth the wait.

Go here if you love to eat a good barbecued Pig. It's the closest to quality southern-BBQ in all of Rochester.

12-21-2010 16:50:09 | More by alee42

crispybone

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

While swinging through Rochester on a business trip, we went here on the suggestion of a few locals - locals whom I will definitely thank later.

Absolutely incredible barbeque. And, since this is a BeerFly review after all, they have an impressive selection of beers on tap. I dove into a couple of flights of samplers as a perfect compelement to my food. It was good to see they had many regional beers in addition to the "tried and true" broadly distributed ones. A busy place, but surprisingly we were seated immediately. Noisy with random strange stuff hanging all over the place? You bet, but in my book that's actually a good thing in a barbecue/beer place.

Will certainly, 100%, return to Dinosaur on the next trip to Rochester!

04-02-2007 20:02:27 | More by crispybone

Flashy

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Went here with a party of 10, four adults, six kids under age 12. Had no problem parking and our trip was hassle free. Called ahead and was seated as soon as we got there, though it was crowded and got more so before we left. Started with a pitcher of Arrogant Bastard ($14) and then a pitcher of Rogue Dead Guy. The lines were clean, the beer fresh. The place has an awesome beer list and the barbeque is awesome and reasonably priced. Strong list of regional beers.
Our tab came out to $140, which was great for 10 who pigged out. If you are looking for great beer and great barbeque while Rochester, look no farther.
The only down side would be biker bar atmosphere, but that was certainly no deal breaker.

04-26-2009 15:31:59 | More by Flashy

rugbycritic

New York

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5

I love this joint. It is everything that everyone has said: biker chicks, bikers, cluttered, bustling, raucous, noisy, boisterous.

The smoking permeates downtown with a whiff of heaven, if you like meat. And meat they got. Tons of it. It's all good too.

The beer selection is superb as well; for a place that appeals to such a wide cut of the city there is precious little yellow beer. There are a great variety of beers of flavor and color from locals Middle Ages, Custom Brewcrafters, as well as macro micros such as Sams, SN, Bass, etc.

Frankly, I don't go there for the beer exclusively. It's a nice addition and balance when served with their exceptional barbeque fare.

When in either Rochester or Syracuse, go to the Dinosaur. You won't be disappointed. Go now, git on with ya!

12-09-2003 22:12:15 | More by rugbycritic

jyeast101

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

Every time I'm downtown I try to get to Dinosaur BBQ and I usually have the brisket plate and a couple of beers. Blues music going in the background, nice waitresses, and incredible food and beer. Had a couple Rhorbach's Scotch Ale, wife had a Sarnac Root Beer and a Sierra Nevada. A good variety of common craft and local beers. Didn't have to wait which is uncommon. Probably because it was a Thursday night? If you get the opportunity, and you like beer served in an unpretentious atmosphere, with kick ass food, you should go here. I'm just saying...

04-17-2006 19:44:25 | More by jyeast101

Hoagie1973

New York

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5 | $$$

I visit Dinosaur a couple times a year and it's always great. The decor is rustic like an old barn covered in various metal signs, flags, and various paraphernalia. Blues music (one of my favorite genres) playing constantly at comfortable volume levels so you can still carry on a conversation without getting a sore throat from yelling all night. The meat is unbelievable and every side I've tried has been excellent. Service is fast and friendly. Plenty of craft beer on tap and a nice bottle selection as well. Though they're frequently out of beers listed on the menu, which can be annoying.
It ain't cheap, but everything you consume is excellent. Live music on select nights as well.
A very cool, unpretentious place to hang and fill your gut with awesomeness.
One drawback (other than the beer menu) is that it's almost always packed on any night of the week and you could be waiting for a table for a while.

12-02-2010 14:55:29 | More by Hoagie1973

LittleDon

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

A BBQ joint that would have a place in Memphis or Austin. Good food, good beer.

I was taken to the Dinosaur by a colleague who had already made a few visits to Rochester. Both of us appreciate a good beer and he wanted to make sure that I made it there since there was little chance that I'd be back to the area. We stopped in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. The place was easy to find and there was little trouble find parking. The Dinosaur is housed in an old train station and the vibe is honky-tonk, old time BBQ joint (for those Houstonians reading this, think Goode's. We sat at the bar. Decent, but not overwhelming selection of drafts available. Enough locals to have plenty from which to choose. Service was very good. Bartender was familiar with the food and beer and was skilled at managing the customers (there's a fine line between being too attentive and not attentive enough). The food was reasonably good. I had a smoked pork sandwich with a brisket based soup and greens on the side. All very good. Prices were inexpensive. A fresh change from the bigger cities I have to service. Would I return? Good food, great beer, interesting atmosphere. In a heartbeat.

05-28-2011 21:50:22 | More by LittleDon