Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

We had dinner here on a Friday night. Our server was super efficient and sweet. I liked that you could get a half pint of beer which was fresh and inexpensive. My husband and I shared the sweetheart special with a full rack of ribs that comes with four sides. The ribs did not fall off the bone and were overly smoky so we were disappointed with that aspect of the meal. The sides were really good though, we had the chili (loved it), collard greens, chopped salad (dressing really good) and beans. My son’s catfish was also very tasty and he enjoyed his mac and cheese side.

Combo platter with brisket and pulled pork. Asked for some burnt ends and was highly rewarded. Great bark and smoke on the brisket. Definitely worth going back for. Beans, slaw and greens were ok. Slaw mayo based, greens have a slight tang, and the beans were the most interesting. Finally ½ pints of beer are just the right size to have wiskey barrel lager and finish off dinner with a simple refreshing Coors light.

As good as any Dinosaur is. Love the décor. The food as always is awesome. This place knows how to serve, cook and not make us wait too long – 15−20 minutes for lunch on the MLKJ Monday. I had the Memphis BBQ sandwich with beans and stir fry rice. If you are not used to Dinosaur and many other BBQ joints anywhere in NY state – they have meat in them, so not vegetarian. They do however have some good vegetarian choices so don’t worry. My husband had a half-​rack of ribs with the same sides as me. Our service was exceptionally fast – food within 10 minutes. We had ice water and we both ate for about $ 30.-

I hope this place can come back. It was good about 3 years ago. On my most recent visit my pulled pork had so much fat, it had the consistency of mashed potatoes. The atmosphere is great and the staff is nice. But as far as BBQ goes… Its horrible.

There were some good and some bad. I’m from California and I’ve definitely had some good BBQ. My coworkers recommended this spot so I figured I’d give it a go.
I ordered the Big Ass Pork Plate with a side of Mac-​N-​Cheese and cole slaw. I also ordered deviled eggs to start and a sign of the wings with BBQ sauce.
I liked the wings better than the pulled pork. The mac-​n-​cheese were average in my opinion and the cole slaw was pretty good! Not a fan of the cornbread. The deviled eggs I can see myself ordering that again.
If I were to go back, I’d start with an order of deviled eggs, 12 wings and a side of cole slaw and I’d be one happy camper.
Give it a go!

You remain a 5! Monday afternoon, dead crowd, still amazing food! So glad I came again.

If you’re coming to Troy, New York, this is a «must eat at restaurant.» We came to town to tour Rensselaer, and heard from several people in the admissions office their barbecue was great. That was an understatement. Both my son and I had the barbecue brisket sandwich with different sides. The collard greens with mashed potatoes and gravy were outstanding. My son really liked the baked beans and the sweet potatoes with a nut topping. Root beer and homemade lemonade are outstanding as well. Awesome place, I wish it was closer to Oklahoma so we could come back soon!

I’m not a HUGE BBQ fan, so maybe I’m not the best judge of this place… but I don’t get the hype surrounding Dinosaur Bar-​B-​Que. One thing right off the bat that I will say is that the parking lot is CRAZY. It’s oddly shaped with weird lanes sticking out places. When my husband and I went, we wound up parking about a block away and just walking after getting into almost three accidents in the lot because of how packed and strangely shaped and «laned» it was.
I went on a Friday night and, unsurprisingly, had a long wait. We were waiting for much longer than we were told we would be, so I went to the take out window and got some corn bread to hold me over. It was good, but again, not great. Eventually we were seated. My husband and I each ordered ribs with two sides. I ordered the rice and the mac and cheese. The rice was FANTASTIC. The mac and cheese was so-​so… nothing particularly special about it. Same with the ribs. I did eat everything, so no room for dessert (which is strange for me).
I thought the prices were reasonable. Service was fairly decent. I would go back to Dinosaur at someone else’s request — not too sure I’d volunteer it as an option when discussing places to eat on my own. To be honest, the parking lot is my biggest complaint, and there was nothing bad about my experience, but nothing particularly good about it either.

ribs
brisket
roasted pork
burnt ends
mac & cheese
collard greens
bbg fried rice
french fries
bbq beans
cornbread
another place best visited in large groups
ordered 2 family meals
to enjoy as many types of meats
and side dishes as possible.
great waterfront views in troy.

Mediocre food, great service.
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed with Dino bbq’s food. I had the sesame chicken wings which was burnt in some places and the meat wasn’t as succulent and tender as I hoped– a let down given the restaurant specializes in BBQ. The mac n cheese was mediocre too, I felt if I could derive the same amount of pleasure preparing a box of KD at home. The price was a little on the more expensive side seeing I’ve seen wings go for cheaper elsewhere.
Our server was fantastic though, she checked up on us many times to make sure everything was alright and that we had enough water and napkins. All in all, it was an OK experience, but nothing more than that.

Why did I do this to myself? Why?
[Answer: because we were heading to an awesome ukelele concert at the Music Hall, left it too late to make reservations at Peck’s, and wanted the ease and certainty of an OpenTable reservation. But that’s not a good enough excuse. Bad Ewan, no cookie.]
There is excellent barbecue in the region. Capital Q, in particular, is a delight. As the old joke goes, there’s nothing like good barbecue — and this was nothing like good barbecue.
The good point was the service: not engaging at all, barely a grunt, but rapid and responsive: ok, fine.
The bad part was everything else; worst of all the meat, what should be the raison d’etre of the place. Quite _​how_​you make brisket that dry, tough, and flavourless I don’t know. Perhaps the starting material was drywall or something? And then to accompany it with pulled pork that is somehow simultaneously slimy and dry, without any integral flavour but covered in a dollop of what tastes like HFCS and ‘artificial smoke’?
Well: never again. Fool me once. but in fact this was my second visit, and the first had many similar elements. There will not be a third time.
(It is fair to say that some other bits of the meal were not as bad; the cornbread was passble if boring, the mac and cheese ditto. The beer selection was on the watery side but someone is at least trying. For a bbq joint to mess up the meat so badly, though — no way do you get more than 1 star at that point.)

I’m used to the Dinosaur Bar-​B-​Que in Brooklyn & Harlem. Having a Dinosaur Bar-​B-​Que in Albany on the water no less is a welcomed treat.
Walking in, this place is huge! Nice water views, different dining rooms and the same good BBQ makes this a welcomed treat.
We have a standard order at any of the three locations we’ve been to, the family combo platter. Ribs, Chicken and Pulled Pork is enough for our family.
Fried Green Tomatoes are another staple of the Bill S family Dinosaur dinner. They make them here and it’s the same as the other locations. Very very good.
Beer! It’s also on tap and there are lots of choices.
Nothing beats having a nice cold beer and Dinosaur Cue’ overlooking the water.
The reason why we’re here, our son is going to SUNY Albany. If you’re used to Dinosaur in NYC, their Troy location will not disappoint.

Delicious BBQ ribs and chicken. Pretty big portions at a good price, and a great location with a view! The place is huge and great for large groups.

If I could rate it 2.5 stars I would, just because they’re ok. I agree with another poster stating the place is overrated. I’ve only been probably 3 – 4 times, and my first experience a couple of years ago left me feeling nauseous so I have been hesitant to go back.
I actually suggested coming here to a friend for a large group outing over the weekend. We had a reservation, which was good because the place is ALWAYS packed (again, because I feel they’re overrated), and the parking lot is horrendous.
We were seated and served promptly. Our server was super attentive, and very friendly and funny. The food is just underwhelming for me.
I am not a BBQ expert by any means, and am only recently starting to expand my taste buds for the flavors, BUT I think the food leaves something to be desired. We ordered a sampling of appetizers, which consisted of their fried green tomatoes, shrimp, deviled eggs, and chicken wings. The app was decent, but pretty pricey at $ 20, considering if you’re sharing with a group, you get to try maybe one of each and pay $ 5 a person.
Their menu is deceiving in that they label many of their plates as «Big A$$» this or that. When I actually got my plate, I was disappointed at the serving size. I get they are a «BBQ» place, but they literally serve you on the plates like something you’d get at a picnic with the distinct sections for each item… and the sections aren’t even full.
I don’t know, I just expect to eat A LOT if I’m going out for bbq… and they don’t really deliver there. The food itself was decent, nothing life changing or memorable. Regardless of anyone’s opinion, the masses will continue to patronize this establishment, and they will still be bustling, so no need for them to change anything.

This place was amazing! It’s got a huge patio that overlooks the Hudson River, as well as big windows inside with the same view.
We had an awesome server named Gary, who made perfect recommendations for us. I had some of the best wings I’ve ever had here! The ribs, mac n cheese, and cornbread were also terrific!
We had just a perfect time here in every way! Great food, great atmosphere, and great service!

I don’t pretend to be a BBQ aficionado. But I do travel to Atlanta twice a year. When in ATL, we go to a BBQ joint that’s arguably the best in the city – a city with many very good BBQ restaurants. So I at least have an idea of what great BBQ is and it gives me a reference point for Dinosaur.
I used to really like Dinosaur a lot. But lately I just find it ok. Perhaps it’s because the BBQ I get in Atlanta is so excellent that they’ve ruined other BBQ for me.
That doesn’t mean Dinosaur isn’t good. It is good. The chicken is good. The sides are all decent. The prices are reasonable, and the portion sizes are generous.
Though the last time I got the ribs they weren’t good. They weren’t nearly as tender as they should be, and I had to really work to even pull them apart. They were tough and chewy and lacked flavor. I don’t remember them being that bad before. I remember them being pretty good. Maybe it was an off day.
It’s been awhile since I had the brisket, so I can’t speak to that.
In my opinion, Dinosaur is decent, but it’s not in the same league as better BBQ elsewhere.

Just sat there for fifteen minutes and didn’t even get a drink or a waiter/​waitress at our table so we left.
Also, ordered 2 burgers last time to go and got rare meat even though I asked for medium rare.

I am a big fan of Dinosaur BBQ, and have been to many of their locations including Syracuse (the best one of all), Harlem (also great), and Stamford, Ct (not so great). But the Troy location never disappoints! Stopped there recently for lunch w/​the fam and the hostess was very friendly, the servers were great, and most importantly, the food was top notch.
Had the pulled pork sandwich which was smoky, tender and on a great bun with just the right amount of bbq sauce. The mac and cheese and potato salad were both top notch.
They also have a great kids menu which my son enjoyed, as well as the crayons they gave him to draw all over the menu with!
I would definitely recommend this location of Dinosaur BBQ! Someone cares here and you can readily tell!

There’s something that I don’t want to tell you about Dinosaur Bar-​B-​Que. But in good conscience, I cannot keep it a secret. By sharing this little bit of information, I’m putting my own future enjoyment at risk. However, it is for the greater good.
Get the burnt ends.
It’s not on the menu. It’s a special cut of their brisket. The brisket that I typically find entirely underwhelming. But those burnt ends redeem a dish that is generally unremarkable. They are fatty, beefy, smokey and deeply flavorful. These often overlooked pieces of the brisket live in a realm somewhere in between pork belly, bacon, pastrami and brisket.
The problem is that each brisket only has two ends. And while the kitchen holds onto a stash of these best bits, there aren’t always enough to go around. While the kitchen was more than happy to give me more than my fair share, they didn’t quite have the quantity to fill my plate.
«Call in advance, if you want a full plate of burnt ends» I was told.
And now, I’m telling you. Because jumping through this hoop is totally worth the reward. If they don’t have enough to make a full burnt end plate, I’d gladly get a combo with either the ribs or the chicken.
Those ribs are really remarkable. They don’t fall off the bone. Falling off the bone ribs are overdone. But the meat does pull easily and cleanly away from the bone, which is exactly what you want to see. Personally, I could go for a touch more smoke, but perhaps that’s just because it’s hard for anything to stand up to the smokiness of the burnt ends.
Their chicken is pretty special too.
I’m less into Dino’s take on pulled pork, but that’s a stylistic matter of opinion and preference. Bar-​B-​Que is full of such disagreements, but thats’ not to disparage their product which goes pit-​to-​plate. The kitchen makes a heroic effort to predict demand, and time meats that take hours to cook. That’s no easy feat, and it gets harder when moving food as such volume.
The sides are even pretty decent. I’m a fan of the slaw, collards, and baked beans. They all kind of make me feel like I’m getting some non-​potato vegetables in with my meal, which make the whole thing extra healthy.
Yes, it’s a touch more expensive than it should be. However, it’s on the water. And I do enjoy the experience of eating there every now and again. Although if I go back to find all the burnt ends to be sold out, I may just throw myself into the river.

Some years ago I participated in a Wing Tour of Troy in which we visited six establishments in a day and tasted an identical order at each. We picked a winner but, other than one sorry establishment whose name began with B, the wings were very close in flavor and quality.
Yesterday, I got takeout from Dinosaur and discovered a whole new aviary. Dinosaur does not fry its wings. They take good and juicy drums and flats, slow smoke them at a low temperature, then crisp on the flame before dousing in your choice of sauce. Holy moly. Without the delightful distraction of a super crispy skin, the smoked meat flavor is pronounced and the sauce soaks in rather than sitting on the surface. The result is spectacular.
This was part of a to-​go pack which included a pound of pulled pork, six sliders and two sides. (I didn’t see it on the take-​out menu but I’m sure they could put it together for you.) Establishments that stew pig meat in a slow cooker till it falls apart, douse it with acrid yellow sauce and call it «pulled pork» should take note. This has real smoke flavor and clumps of fat and solid meat because it’s cooked in a smoker then dismantled by hand. Great stuff.
The beans have bits of last night’s pulled pork in them, plus (I was informed) some sausage on top of a sweet-​sour flavor base and are addictive. Absolutely no reason not to get this, and absolutely no reason if you are a restaurant that has leftover meat at the end of the day not to start making your beans this way. Potato salad was disappointing, and the potatoes themselves were undercooked. I think I may have gotten an off batch, prepared quickly because they ran out at lunch (I picked up at 1:30) so I’m going to let that pass.
I take my barbecue seriously, and reserve the fifth star for a place like Snow’s or Franklin (in fact, I gave Franklin four stars because I didn’t find it as good as Snow’s) but they are doing so many things so much better than other local establishments that I’m going with the tiara. Dinosaur Troy is also better than the original Dinosaur Syracuse if only because of the spectacular river view that somehow coexists with the ratty feel of a well-​used biker bar. Can’t wait to get back for a set-​down meal.