Dinosaur Bar-B-Que — Restaurant in New York

This restaurant has gotten worse after the pandemic. I feel the original chefs were fired and replaced with individuals whom know how to make BBQ styled cuisine but without "southern soul"-which is what made this restaurant popular in the first place.

The chicken wings have no balance between flavor and crispy-ness. The skin is "gummy" especially if you order take out.

Last time I visited the waiter offered truly amazing service given the customer density and live music (which is why I gave 4 stars) but I feel his service was hindered by a slow kitchen and a soda machine that clearly another employee was too lazy to change the soda syrup for.

Beware: if you order a burger they will not cook it how you like. The server asked for the temperature and I requested medium rare. However the kitchen seemed so overwhelmed with orders (and more so because the staff are individuals whom become disgruntled fast and do not work as a team because they've hired individuals-most of them young and in college or a part of the new generation of those whom believe they're owed everything without working for it) that they cooked the burger meat well done. It wasn't worth complaining because I knew they'd just send another with the wrong temperature and that it'd take a long time to be sent out.

The owners are two very overweight women with attitudes. Not a good look for representing a brand designed to represent southern black and brown culture through food.

The live music they have are "artists" from the community with some talent but don't expect semi-popular or celebrity-status live music. Not saying there isn't good talent out there that isn't well known but I believe the restaurant is saving $ by providing a space for talents to try and portray the skills they believe they have. If you come on a day with live music, be prepared to spin the roulette.

Overall I would only come back if I have friends or family who could deal with this restaurant. Or if I'm...

The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que restaurant is an absolute amazing barbecue based chain that offers guest delicious Southern style cuisine ranging from brisket, ribs, pulled pork and wings.

In February of 2019, I brought and treated my wife and myself for dinner at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, specifically the branch based in Harlem, New York to celebrate our Happy One Year Wedding Anniversary!!! We both very much enjoyed our dining experience!!!

The staff warmly greeted us when we arrived at the restaurant and quickly provided us with a very large and comfortable dining table. Our server, Joel was very kind, superbly professional and made us feel right at home. He did a great job on explaining the menu options, the specials for the day and offered great tips on the dishes that we were likely to favor and enjoy. In addition, he perfectly noted our orders, and routinely checked in on us to make sure we were having a good time and that our needs were met. We thank Joel for his hospitality and wonderful service.

Ultimately my wife and I decided to order the “Family Stylin Bar-B-Que” entree which consists of 6 pieces of whole chicken, full rack of ribs, an order of pork or brisket, cornbread and 3 homemade sides. We were both in awe of the sheer quantity of food that was provided and we found every dish to be well cooked, perfectly seasoned and fabulously delicious. Everything was flawlessly made and a delight to eat!!!

If you enjoy Southern style cuisine coupled with great hospitality, you’ll definitely enjoy visiting and dining at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. My wife and I would love to thank this great restaurant for providing us an exceptional dining experience, one that we’ll...

I recently dined at your restaurant and wanted to share some detailed feedback — because the potential here is huge.

Areas for Improvement: • Coleslaw – Unfortunately, this felt like a low-effort side. The flavor profile was very flat, almost as if it were just mayo and a touch of black pepper. A bit of acidity, crunch variety, or seasoning could make this pop. • Potato Salad – Bland overall; it didn’t stand out in any way. A little more seasoning or texture variation could go a long way. • Sweet Potatoes – I appreciated the citrus note, but it didn’t quite come together. The nuts that accompanied them lacked depth of flavor and didn’t enhance the dish the way they could have. • Mac and Cheese – This was the biggest disappointment. It lacked the rich, indulgent flavor and creaminess I was expecting. This dish could be a showstopper with a more robust cheese blend or seasoning.

What Worked Well: • Brisket – Outstanding. I’d recommend this without hesitation. • Wings – Bursting with flavor; really enjoyable. • Pork Belly – Decent flavor, but I’d love to see this transformed into something more exciting, like a sandwich or slider. I probably wouldn’t order it again as is.

Other Notes: There’s a wide range of drink options, but our server didn’t highlight or recommend any, it felt rushed, which felt like a missed opportunity. A quick rundown of popular or unique drinks could really elevate the dining experience.

Overall, you’ve got some great proteins and a solid foundation. With more attention to seasoning, balance, and presentation for the sides - plus a little more proactive service - this could easily be one of my...