Our bar-b-que is nationally acclaimed.
Our bar-b-que is nationally acclaimed. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has gained a reputation far and wide for serving some of the best BBQ in the country with a vibrant and lively setting. Our food and sauces have won honors in publications such as Women’s and Men’s Health Magazines and have been featured on various shows such as Food Network, Travel Channel, Good Morning America and ABC World News. Our spice rub and full line of specialty sauces are available throughout the country and in Europe and Japan. Our cookbook, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse, was voted as one of the best BBQ cookbooks by the National Association of BBQ.
At Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, fresh, homemade, and high-quality aren’t just catchwords, they’re our foundation. Our commitment to food quality and genuine hospitality is unyielding and intense. We pride ourselves on our loyal guests, employees, and being a great place to have fun and while sampling some of the best bar-b-que in the country. Our menu is firmly rooted in the traditions of Southern bar-b-que, but there are other influences that shape our flavors and give our food its own distinctive character. That’s one of the secrets of great bar-b-que — staying committed to tradition, but finding your own stamp and signature.
The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Story
The Founder
John Stage
John Stage, the founder and owner of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, began his career in cooking out on the open road. In 1983, John and two partners started the business by cutting a 55 gallon drum in half to form a makeshift barbeque and hit the road—catering to motorcycle shows, fairs, and festivals up and down the east coast. In 1988, tired of the nomadic lifestyle, Stage decided to settle in Syracuse, NY, where he opened his first Dinosaur Bar-B-Que restaurant.
In the following years, Stage has expanded with locations in Rochester, Manhattan, Troy, Newark, New Jersey, Brooklyn and Buffalo. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has gained a reputation far and wide for serving some of the best BBQ in the country with a vibrant and lively setting. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s menus are firmly rooted in the traditions of southern barbecue and influenced by flavors that give Dino BBQ’s dishes their own distinctive character. “That’s one of the secrets of great barbecue,” says Stage, “staying committed to tradition, but finding your own stamp and signature.”
John Stage has built Dinosaur Bar-B-Que into a nationally known brand that includes a catering division complete with mobile barbeque rigs. Dinosaur’s line of award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs is available in Whole Foods. Additionally, Stage is the author of a successful cookbook, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse (Ten Speed Press; 2001) that has sold over 175,000 copies and was voted cookbook of the year by the National BBQ Association.
Have questions or inquiries about our 'que or offerings? Our dedicated team is ready to assist you. We're passionate about providing our customers with an exceptional dining experience, and we're always available to provide the support you need.
Six Locations
Dinosaur settled in 1988 in downtown Syracuse, N.Y., as a quick-service lunch/dinner bar-b-que joint. In 1990, the restaurant tripled in size, adding a full bar, full-service dining and live music. Since then, Dinosaur has opened five additional locations: Rochester, NY (1998); Harlem, NY (2004); Troy, NY (2010); Brooklyn, NY (2013) and Buffalo, NY (2014).