One particularly adventurous day last week, two of my more adventurous girlfriends and I made the hike to Dinosaur BBQ, which caught our attentions nearly a year ago with all the hype about it being the best BBQ in NYC. Of course, it had to wait since its location in Harlem makes it way out of our normal path and impossible for us to go at night (unfamiliar neighborhoods are best avoided during quiet times).
Actually, we discovered that it is literally down the block from the train station, but that one block had a lot of factories/warehouses and skeevy people leering at us. Oh well. Was Dinosaur BBQ worth it…? Will I be going back?
Indeed, the food was quite yummy and well priced, hugely portioned.
(Sorry, none of the pictures are particularly good, we were hungry and I used the wrong settings on my camera!)
HB ordered a two meat combo of ribs and pulled pork with baked beans and salt potatoes. We weren’t sure what salt potatoes were, but she liked these well enough. I didn’t hear any complaints about the beans…
StB ordered the three meat combo (Tres Hombres, as seen on Food Network- Al Roker’s … something show?) with sauteed greens and baked beans. Her opinion can be found here.
I also got the Tres Hombres, wanting to try everything, with macaroni & cheese and cole slaw as my sides. The cole slaw was alright, nothing special nor horrid, but I was extremely pleased with the macaroni & cheese as it wasn’t super sharp, which many places seem to like doing when they make macaroni & cheese from scratch. Super yumm, and it wasn’t baked, which while I enjoy, isn’t always what I want.
The ribs were yummy as well, though not particularly special. It was the pulled pork that I started shoveling in my mouth, and we all agreed that it was delicious. Soft, tender, and not overly fatty, perfectly seasoned and flavored… oh, man, I want some again sometime soon. I’ll have to make the trip there just for this… and some cheesy mac, of course!
Though HB declined to try any brisket and StB found it only alright, I really liked my brisket. Having had brisket at a number of different places, I found this one moister and juicier- even without the sauce- than most briskets I’ve sampled. Probably because there was a fatty layer attached, but a little fat never hurt anyone, right? I don’t know if I’d really want to get the ribs or the brisket again, but the pulled pork is definitely on my list of yummy foods to go back and “try” again.
I actually thought it was a bit much food, so I took about half of the plate home. BF later on had some and really liked the brisket himself, though the ribs were only alright in his opinion. (In the interest of full disclosure, he’s been on a semi-brisket kick lately- I discovered that Bubby’s now delivers to our area in Manhattan, and he loved their brisket so very much.)
The service was friendly and helpful, while the restaurant itself had such a laidback, casual atmosphere. I commented that I didn’t feel like we were in NYC anymore, but rather, perhaps a rest stop (like Cracker Barrel) on some wild roadtrip we were taking… this was bolstered by the fact that when I looked out the window, I saw the River along with Riverside Drive or the West Side Highway.
Overall…
Yvo says: Die hard BBQ fans should make the journey at least once. Semi-fans of BBQ may want to pass unless you’re in the area. I liked the pulled pork a lot, but I also realized later that I haven’t ever ordered pulled pork and possibly have never eaten any either, so I will have to try other places’ versions before deciding whether or not it is worth another trip there. (Though I live in Manhattan, it is a good 40 or 50 minute trip on public transportation to get there, and there isn’t any other reason I’d be in the area, so it would be strictly for me to eat there and then leave. Hence it being out of the way.)
recommended
Homesick Texan says
I like Dinosaur’s brisket and they have the best bbq sides in the city. Sure, it’s a schlep but there is also that huge Fairway around there. Have you been to RUB? It’s much closer to you and if you’re a brisket fan you definitely need to try the burnt ends. Plus their ribs are really tender and smoky. No sauce needed!
ann says
oh god, you’ve just brought my childhood rolling back over me like a gentle breaker! I grew up on this stuff when visiting relatives in central NY. I keep a jar of their BBQ sauce in my fridge for impromptu dinners. And I love their hot sauces too. Thanks for reminding me I need to journey up there!
Swan says
heard from ryan that the 2 locations upstate are good but nothing to go out of the way for
Anonymous says
have you tried the bbq chicken?
Rev says
Salt Potatoes are a regional dish from Syracuse, home of the original Dinosaur BBQ. They are, very simply, small potatoes boiled in salt water. They owe their creation to the Irish immigrants who would work in Syracuse’s salt springs, boiling off the water to get at the good stuff. Bring a potato from home, toss it in the vat and you’ve got lunch.
Nice work on the blog, I look forward to trying out some of your picks.
Ed says
Let me give a tip about Dinosaur Bar-B-Q. I lived in Rochester, so went there many times and found the best time to go there for ribs is on a real soaking rainy day. Why? Cause all that extra moisture coooks into the ribs and on those days, the ribs are incredible. Fortuantely Rochester doesn’t get many hot dry days, but on the few they do have, the ribs can sometimes be on the dry side.
anon says
I can’t believe nobody has made mention of the Wango Tango wings!!! Easily the best wings I’ve ever had and well worth another trip up there alone.