While I have aimed to highlight local restaurants that are delicious in taste and available for order during Syracuse University dining center off-hours, this week’s featured establishment, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, is recommended simply because it is that delicious.
The art of meat smoking may most commonly be associated with and practiced in southern states, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is quickly disproving this theory. John Stage, the founder of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, established the eatery with two friends in 1983 as a mobile food stand, using a 55-gallon oil drum to smoke the meats. At this time, Stage and his friends were bikers who believed that other bikers deserved a quality plate of food that Dinosaur Bar-B-Que could supply. Stage and his two partners took their mobile food stand to motorcycle shows and festivals throughout the Northeast for five years. Finally, in 1988, having been worn down from life on the road, Stage and his partners officially opened Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in downtown Syracuse, New York. While Dinosaur Bar-B-Que originally opened as a small, quick-service barbecue restaurant, the eatery quickly tripled in size, adding a fully functional bar, dining space and live entertainment. Following these additions, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que began to generate significant consumer attention, enabling them to open six additional locations throughout the Northeast.
Every smokehouse and smoker has its own signature rubs, cook times and processes. Considering Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s success, the eatery is none too eager to share any of its signature rub recipes or cooking processes. However, to give some insight into their established popularity, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que smokes up to 300-500 pounds of ribs, 450 pounds of wings and 400 pounds of pork on any given day. They do this at each of their locations. Prominent figures such as Alec Baldwin (@alecbaldwininsta) and Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) have lined up to try some of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s smoked meats.
If celebrity influence isn’t enough to convince you that Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is worth try, the restaurant has won numerous accolades and national achievements. In 2009, “Good Morning America,” named Dinosaur Bar-B-Que as the “Best BBQ in America.”
The joint has also been featured on numerous Food Network and Travel Channel segments, while also publishing a cookbook entitled Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse, which was voted cookbook of the year by the National Barbecue and Grilling Association. Meanwhile, their award-winning sauces and rubs are available for purchase at any Whole Foods location.
The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que menu offers a vast selection of meats that sure to satisfy and hungry carnivore. While the “Bar-B-Que Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Prime Brisket with Jalapenos and Bar-B-Que Chicken” are all delicious in their own right, the vast selection of delicious can be overwhelming. Allow me to offer a solution to any customers debating their meat selection: the combination plate. This exclusive deal allows you to pick two types of meat for $18 or three meats for $21.50, two homemade sides and cornbread. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s sides, which are debatably as good as their meats, include “BBQ Beans, Black Beans & Rice, Fresh Cut Fries, Mac & Cheese, A.K Chili, Simmered Greens and Mashed Potatoes (with gravy).” You cannot go wrong in picking your desired side, but allow me to recommend the “Mac & Cheese,” as it is dusted with a Cajun seasoning that leaves other customers and myself always going back for more.
Despite Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s more standard hours, their current operating hours are more than sufficient enough for any Syracuse University student to be able to place an order. The eatery is available for indoor dining, takeout and delivery seven days a week, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
With celebrity clientele, national accolades and a southern flare, what more could you ask for in your local Syracuse smokehouse? For all those barbecue-loving, smoked meat connoisseur Syracuse University students, make sure to stop or in order Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. You will not regret it.
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