Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

"Follow the smell of pit smoke wafting from under the steel arches of the Riverside Drive Viaduct to Dinosaur Barbecue and it'll lead you to some of the best smoked meat in the area. The dry-rubbed pork ribs are always a solid choice, but it pays to come hungry so you can try the mix-and-match combo platter: your own personal tray loaded with a choice of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and barbecue chicken. There are still plenty of options if you don’t feel the need to eat three different types of meat in one sitting, though, including chicken wings (everything from mild honey barbecue to the three-flame “Devil’s Duel”), sliders (pork, brisket, cheeseburger), and Dino’s very good deviled eggs. Take a stroll to the Hudson River a block away to walk it all off—the sunsets are incredible if you time it right." - the curious uptowner, sonal shah

"This sprawling barbecue with plenty of parking in the vicinity serves some of the city’s better smoked meats, spanning a pan-regional selection of styles. Since its founding in 2004, the menu has only gotten longer, adding sliders, banh mi, bowls, po’ boys, cheesesteak sandwiches, grilled salmon, and many other lures for kids and adults. Sides are particularly noteworthy, including good baked beans, great mac and cheese, and Syracuse salt potatoes, a nod to Dinosaur’s upstate New York hometown." - Eater Staff

"Founded in Syracuse in 1988 and still boasting upstate flourishes, John Stage's Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is one of the more established barbecues in NYC. Rather than settling on a single style, its menu evokes several different places around the country. Go for the pork ribs, baked beans, and, best of all, Syracuse salt potatoes. Located on the edge of Columbia University’s north campus, Dinosaur is a great spot for dining with kids. You will find other locations in Park Slope and upstate New York." - Robert Sietsema

"If you’ve spent any real time in Central New York, you probably have fond memories of Dinosaur BBQ. If not, just ask one of the 200 people you know who went to Syracuse - they’ll tell you all about it. Back in my Ithaca College days, we’d drive up to ’Cuse for three reasons: the mall, concerts, and (obviously) the original Dinosaur BBQ. This Harlem branch manages to stave off Manhattan compromise and maintains every ounce of the free spirited, upstate sensibilities Dinosaur is known and loved for. It’s a breath of fresh air in the way it would be if a roadside carnival with a ferris wheel were to appear on 2nd Avenue in place of you standard street fair that sells tube socks and underwear. Who buys socks at those things? But know that Dinosaur BBQ isn’t the best barbecue you’ll ever eat. It’s not even the best in Manhattan. It is, however, our kind of dining establishment. There isn’t a better place to congregate in, eat lots of meat and drink cold pitchers of beer. The service is warm and friendly, prices are reasonable by NYC standards, and the place is just generally fun. Food Rundown Jumbo BBQ Chicken Wings One of the things Dino BBQ is most well known for are these plump, deliciously juicy wings. They’re spice rubbed, pit smoked, then finished on the grill. Make sure you get a nice variety of the flavors they offer. Our two favorites were the mild honey barbecue and the spicy garlic chipotle. Sausage, Cheese, & Crackers A bite sized black pepper cracker with a slice of homemade sausage, pimento cheese and pickled onions. Yes. Chopped Salad A simple salad, but one that went fast around the table thanks to a really good house dressing. Order one for the table. Wedge Salad This nice iceberg wedge is served with smoky dressing and delicious bacon. What’s not to love? Pork Ribs The underlying theme in Dinosaur’s Bar-B-Cue isn’t the smoke, it’s actually the sweet. You’ll need a rack or two of these sweet St. Louis pork ribs. We weren’t blown away, but they definitely got the job done. Brisket Our favorite thing at Dinosaur? The brisket. It’s really, really good. The thinly sliced strips are just fatty enough and perfectly juicy. BBQ Chicken Another winner. The skin on the outside is charred to perfection, and the pearly white meat inside couldn’t be any better. Big Ass Pork Plate After the brisket, the pulled pork shoulder was our next favorite meat on the menu. This must be on your table. Sides Overall, the sides were disappointing. The fries were good, so definitely get some. The cole slaw was just OK. It had a nice kick to it, but it was a little too watery for our liking. But the mac & cheese was the real bummer. It is allegedly their best side, but we found it to be overcooked, dry and boring. Chocolate Icebox Pie Holy good god. This thing is like a chocolate pudding wet dream. End your meal on a high note." - Andrew Steinthal

"Dinosaur BBQ serves everything from St. Louis-style ribs and Memphis-style pulled pork to Creole deviled eggs. The grilled ribs and smoked jumbo chicken wings are both great, but make sure to get a few orders of the fried green tomatoes that come with a ranch-based dipping sauce. The location in Harlem is similar to the one in Gowanus in that it feels like a big warehouse that’s been converted into a barn, and it’s great for groups and kids. " - neha talreja, hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren, will hartman