My dear wife Karen had the perfect dinner suggestion while she was preparing to leave the Little Bitty for SMG.
She’ll cook after she gets home from work? Not this sunny day.
I’ll cook because I’ve got the day off? Not this second consecutive day off for me after my final seven-stretch at the store.
How about the Dinosaur, my smart spouse wondered out loud. My positive part of the plan was to grab the keys to my Chevy Cruze to drive her the 3 1/2 miles downtown so we would have just one car after our dinner later.
You may have heard of the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It’s been growing legs — and restaurants — around the northeast and even further. In fact, the Dino started more 25 years ago right here, a half-block away from the big daily, in the former location of the N&H, the neighborhood bar/restaurant run by the Hrim family that fed and liquored-up the newspaper crowd for two generations.
So we all went to the new joint and fell in love with the great food put out by owner John Stage and his former partners. And the atmosphere they nurtured. For me, then, of course I took to the blues music they put in the place every night, first in a tiny corner and then up on a ledge and eventually upstairs, too, as they grew the joint.]
My timing was fine. Karen was walking toward me from the office after I parked the car in my favorite spot outside the old big daily building.
Hover over any gallery photo for a description. Click on any photo for an enlarged slide show.
We thought perhaps we’d beat the crowd a couple of minutes before six on a weekday. Not so. The hostess told us we’d have a half-hour wait. Karen found us two stools at the corner off the bar, and her colleague from work stopped by to chat as we drank a bottle of Blue Light and glass of Merlot.
Our turn came in what seemed like no time, and we were led to our tiny table for two tucked against the wall.
Our vantage point allowed a great view of the Dinosaur-themed wall artwork by local guy Jeff Davies, honored by a plaque with his name and the date he created the murals. Some of them were as covered with graffiti as the table right in front of us. Interesting, this joint, more and more as the years roll by.
Karen went for the Pork Carolina, pulled pork on a roll with the Cole slaw piled on top, with one side only, the fries, because she wanted an app of fried green tomatoes to start.
I chose the bacon cheeseburger, cheddar, with the intriguing soup of the day roasted poblano and naked mac and cheese (no creole on top, please) as my two sides allowed.
They fed us well, still.
Even though I’d told Karen she’d be flying solo on the app, I managed to fit in the last of three tasty fried tomato rings when she talked me into it. It was warm and seasoned perfectly. The first time I ever tried a fried green tomato was at the Dinosaur, you see, and the little booger was too darn hot. It adhered to the roof of my mouth and burned the heck out of me, worse than any pizza slice incident, ever. That and only that was the reason for my initial wariness.
My medium burger was as big as the third-of-a-pound in the menu promised, and so juicy that I cut ‘er in half for better food management. The pepper soup was spicy to just the right heat kick. My mac and cheese was rich enough that I left at least a third on my plate.
Karen loved her pork-and-slaw, and allowed me to pick on a few perfectly seasoned fries, too. Our waitress spotted the leftover pork pulls stuffed into my leftover poblano cup and brought a lid, best to bring home for Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle.
We laughed when she asked if we wanted dessert. Too full!
I spent about 10 bucks at the bar, and Karen took care of the 28 or so for the meal, including a generous tip.
Taking the long way out along the length of the bar, we said hello to my old pal, owner Stage, seated and smiling along the back wall. We chatted about my new job at the Liverpool Public Library starting Monday his new pizza joint just opened across the street. He joked that what he’d most like to talk to me about was music.
We also got to say hi to waitresses Debbie and Missy, friends forever and still bright spots at the Dinosaur.
On the way out, we noticed that folks were enjoying the 60º F night around the building’s sidewalk seating as well.
Some folks around Syracuse complain that since Stage has sold a portion of the business to corporate partners and spread the Dinosaur name, things here have gone downhill. Portions. Prices. Atmosphere. Imagine that.
I thought the napkins were a little thin for a barbecue joint.
Yup.
Perfect suggestion my dear wife, indeed.
What do you like to order best at a barbecue joint? Have you ever heard of the Dinosaur, and would you like this place to put a franchise in your town? What’s your favorite photo and why?
Mark Bialczak 
YUM! I shouldn’t have read this before dinner! I want it all now! 🙂 When we go to a joint we like, we don’t mind waiting at the bar with a drink. It’s always worth the wait and it’s not like we are in a rush anymore these days! The mexican place near us is always packed but we always wait. 🙂
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Don’t rush around, Mrs. B. Enjoy. Ahhhhh. Yes, you and Mr. B would LOVE the Dinsaur. Come east to visit. 😉
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Dinosaur was good when we all went. I gave the BIL a hard time about Yankee BBQ, I was wrong.
If you haven’t tried fried green tomatoes you are missing a little joy in life. They aren’t actually supposed to be served volcano hot. We usually fry tomatoes with the last of the zucchini, served with a side of ranch.
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That sounds so good, SIL. Zucchini and tomatoes both with ranch. Yum. And we had good barbecue, we did.
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I’ve never heard of it. I’m open to it, I suppose. Truly, I don’t think there’s any really good, exceptional bbq in the north.
I’m not big on meat, but I do enjoy a tasty pulled pork sammich from time to time 😛 Usually, I go for the mac and greens in bbq joints. I’da been all up on Karen’s Pork Carolina, and that is my favorite pic as well 🙂
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Karen had enough to share, and that’s a big plate, Joey. 🙂
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Seriously…a restaurant that serves fried green tomatoes ?? I haven’t seen that for a long time. ☺ It was a summer staple at our house, with milk gravy.
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Yes, it sure does serve ’em piping hot, Van. You’d love them even without the gravy.
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Love hearing about this place. We do not have any in Minnesota. Famous Dave’s is the deal here. Though I’ll always prefer the ones that aren’t chains. Just the same, Dino looks like it rocks! My fave of what you’ve share is the paintings. So much fun–vibrant, etc. Here is a local favorite for me: http://www.capsgrille.com/index.php
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Dinosaur is an unchain-chain, Liz. If you know what I mean. Thanks for the cool link. 🙂
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Looks fab love the decor
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It’s pretty hip in its own way, Willow. 🙂
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Cool post Mark – very laid back and cheerful. I like the picture looking down the length of the bar. The murals are decent but the graffiti turns me off. I know it is supposed to reflect an urban environment in an urbane manner, but I just find it jangles the senses in a negative way. The food looks and sounds good – I too would have chosen the pulled pork with fries. Green Tomatoes? I’ve never seen them although I watched the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” and loved it. I guess it is a southern dish.
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It is a southern dish, those FGTs, Paul. Syracuse seems to love ’em.
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For obvious reasons – you know being an oinker – I’m going to let dad comment on this wonderful blog. Take it away dad. Thanks Bacon. Holy Pork Rolls!! Never heard of this place and it looks so delicious that I can’t stop looking at this pig sitting in front of me. Gotta mark it on my bucket list – thanks dude! XOXO – Bacon’s DAD
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You’d love the Dino, Pig Papa!
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I know I would. I’ve never met a sandwich I didn’t like yet. You can tell that from the cargo I carry in my belly – I think I’m starting to look like Bacon with my pot-belly – HA! XOXO – Bacon’s DAD
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i’ve not heard of it, but i am a huge bbq fan. i love most anything that can be bbq’d! this looks like a great place and good call on karen’s part.
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I hope you get one in Ann Arbor someday, Beth. It’s a winner. 🙂
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Never heard of the place Mark-and NO it would not go over big on this Barrier Island Beach Community. Much too conservative here. May go well across to the Mainland in a few areas though due North. Gatorette
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I think the food, though, would even pass your taste bud test, Gatorette. Maybe. Just maybe.
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lol doubtful-the atmosphere would turn me off! Not into graffiti-tats-loud mouths, noise, cluster seating Terp!
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But I was talking strictly the food, Gatorette.
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Mark-unless it is a very special occasion the Hubs and I do not frequent Restaurants. Too much Sodium is used, food safety is a huge concern and a host of other things. We enjoy my cooking and I can make anything!!! Gatorette.
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