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Dinosaur is a mini-chain hailing from Rochester, New York, with a homespun, upstate-roadhouse vibe and a welcoming atmosphere. They've got a nice drink program and a big food menu with a lot of options. As far as barbecue proper goes, they do a few things extraordinarily well. If you're craving brisket or ribs or barbecue chicken and nothing else will satisfy, you can get that here, and they'll do the job.
But sandwiches are really where you should look. The pulled pork is good on its own but practically begs for their house sauce—slap that on a soft potato bun with pickles and you're happy. It comes in two other varietals worth knowing: the Memphis style (my choice) is the standard sandwich plus a heap of coleslaw, whose vinegary pop, moisture, and crunch do a lot of good work. The Cuban is delicious too, though it veers away from barbecue territory entirely—saucier pulled pork, ham, swiss, and horseradish mustard piled on a long roll.
The room is lively, the servers are efficient and friendly, and the vibes are decidedly fun. This isn't the place for a specifically gastronomic outing. But you’ll enjoy your food and your time if you’re not expecting to have your socks blown off. Dinosaur is a great choice when you've got a crowd with varying tastes, vegetarians included. It's the place to spend time with good company over some tasty food, dependable and crowd-pleasing rather than transcendent.