Wednesday 17th of June 2009 01:51:13 PM

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Dinosaur BBQ got its starts down the road from Rochester in Syracuse. The day it opened in Rochester the restaurant scene went up a notch.

Strategically located next to the Blue Cross Arena and in a quaint building overlooking the Genesee River you will want to arrive at off-peak hours to get the most enjoyment. The place is small and wait times will easily surpass 90 minutes around dinner and 60 minutes at lunch time.

The food is some of the best BBQ you can get in Rochester. The sauces are outstanding (special tribute to Wango Tango). My personal favorite are the wings, large, smoked, and oh so tasty.

Dinosaur has a great atmosphere with some great live music on certain nights. They have coupled the great BBQ with an ever changing array of taps and bottles and you are always sure to find something there. My last foray found me pairing a Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye bomber with my pulled pork. The prices are not outlandish for the beer and the food prices are in line with a good BBQ joint.

One word to the wise, always check if there is an event going on at Blue Cross Arena. If so, avoid Dinosaur because it will be busy and the parking around the area can be tough unless you go into the garage across the street.

Friday 7th of December 2007 01:57:45 PM

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I go to Rochester a couple of times a year on business. During one of my visits, my customer picked this place for dinner. I now make sure I get here on every visit.

It is neat ramshackle old place. Its roots as a railroad building show. It is kind of sprawling with a couple of outdoor areas, dedicated eating areas and a nice high ceiling bar area. Worn wooden floors & a tin ceiling add to the ambiance. There is a small stage in the bar, but I have never seen any live music here.

The Dinosaur attracts a cool mix of suits, regular folks and bikers. I really liked the vibe. I would recommend arriving early because by 6:00 the place is packed and the wait for tables appeared to be fairly long.

The service is friendly but can be a bit slow. Sometimes you may have to wait for a pint. Speaking of beer, they have a nice tap selection with some well thought out choices. I’m guessing they have about 30 beers on tap and at least twice as many in bottles. Lots of offerings I can’t get in the Midwest, there is always something new to try.

As for the food, the place smells terrific and most of the food lives up to the aroma! I have liked everything I have ever had here with the exception of the bbq prime rib, while the flavor was fine; the meat was extremely tough and chewy. Portions are nice sized and most of the sides are well done.

This is a fun place with better than average food and a great beer selection.