4. Restaurants

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

224 Market St, Newark, NJ, 07102
  • (862) 214-6100
  • Store is closed

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Menu

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  • Art B.

    Amazing! The real deal! Plenty of choices for vegetarians! Had the fried green tomato sandwich with Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes. Yum!!

    (5)

  • Shanell B.

    Hands down one of the worst restaurants I have ever eaten in! I have been waiting two years to try this place once it opened up. So many ppl raved about it and said how good it was but I just never had the opportunity to stop and dine. So another friend of mine who had been wanting to try their food and I dined last Friday and it was terrible. Not only was the waiting staff sketchy as all hell the food was terrible. Everything tasted so processed and generic. The flavors were not developed properly and the meal wasn't properly prepared. The best part of the dinner was the "fresh squeezed lemonade" that wasn't fresh squeezed lol. The Korean BBQ was salty, fatty and chewy. The Mac and cheese tasted like KFC Mac and cheese with jalapeño flavoring. The mashed potatoes were unnecessarily extra peppered and dry. The corn bread muffin was hard within minutes so it was probably microwaved. My friend's spicy mashed sweet potato was nasty. It was a waste of money and time. You could not pay me to step foot back in that place!

    (1)

  • Michael A.

    My friends and I came in after the Devils Rangers game Saturday night. Understandably the place was jammed but we were seated in a booth relatively quickly. Then the waiter cam over he looked at the big crowd and the first thing he said was "You see what I'm dealing with here? Okay? Okay!" Make what you will of that comment. The rest of the service was all over the place. I understand they're super busy but shouldn't a restaurant 20 feet from a major arena be more equipped and prepared for this sort of thing? Besides that the place was exceptionally clean and the food was really good. There's nothing like perfectly cooked pulled pork!

    (3)

  • Shawn D.

    So I stopped by for lunch here while I was on break from jury duty. I had to perk myself up and this place is a 2 minute drive away. I ordered the Dino Poutine and I was blown away. Fries were crispy, seasoned well, hot, and topped with a good gravy, cheese, and BBQ pork. GAME OVER. Needless to say, I had a difficult time not dozing off at the courthouse when I returned. I would go as far to say it was the best iteration of gravy fries I've had in NJ. The bartender informed me that this dish is $3 during happy hour. Best believe I'll be back for it.

    (4)

  • Madame W.

    The food was great. The service from the waiter was slow I was a little frustrated since their was very few people dining in the restaurant. The waiter was not attentive once we were seated & took his time to brimg the check. Yet, their was minimal wait for the food. We were greeted at the door. My husband & I will return based on the cuisine. The scenery reminds me of the South a Lil old but modern. The drinks arrived in Mason jars as well the utensils. :)

    (4)

  • Darren A.

    We had a great experience at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. The place was packed when we walked in and we were immediately greeted by smiles. We were seated very quickly and the waitress was excellent. We had the ribs and they fell off the bone. There were 4 sides clam chowder,mac & cheese,salad,fries all 4 were great and the right portion size. dessert was Pecan pie (AWESOME). If you like BBQ you will Really Enjoy yourself.

    (5)

  • Nomadic T.

    YO!! I slept on this place. Decided to grab some carryout on Sunday. Had the Memphis Style BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwhich, Mac N Cheese and Sweet Potatoes. Sandwhich was good 7.5/10, very filling, Mac n Cheese was a 10 pure and simple, some of the best I've ever had, sweet potatoes 5/10. Didnt care for the SP but I'm sold overall. Walked into the restaraunt (Sunday at about 7) to take a look, place was full, nice diverse group of people, decent sized bar, pleasant waitresses and hostess. I frequent Newark Penn and will surely make this a staple. Newark might really be coming back even if it's rebirth is concentrated in a 4 square black radius at the moment.

    (4)

  • Mary N.

    So glad there's a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que close to home! Always a great time. The service is terrific. Very friendly. Food is yummy. Hot wings to die for, green fried tomatoes are delicious, and of course the ribs are awesome. The chicken dishes are delicious. Have to try the brisket since it's been recommended so many times to us but we always fold to the ribs when there. So excited it opened in Newark!!!

    (4)

  • Brian J.

    I enjoyed my meal along with my drink. The serVice was slow but nothing too bad. I would definitely go back

    (3)

  • Matthew D.

    Best bbq in jersey. Best chain in tristate area.

    (5)

  • Atno S.

    I have eaten in the Harlem establishment many times on Riverside drive and find their food to be very comfortable and pleasing however, In Newark it seems like the host at the door allow the local welfare population mingle with the customers Some homeless guy was allowed to panhandle, while eating and another time some kids off the street was allowed to sale an assortment of candy. This is very disturbing while eating, worst then when the manager asks "how is everything" with a mouthful of food? I think I will do my dining east of Penn station, where Ironbound dining is free of the local riff raft?

    (3)

  • Vanessa B.

    Definitely go to this place!! They have the best macaroni and cheese I've ever tasted. When I went, I had the catfish with BBQ fried rice and macaroni and cheese which were all amazing! For an appetizer I had the sampler which came with salmon fritters, fried green tomatoes, and deviled eggs. My favorites were the salmon fritters and tomatoes. Overall, it's a pretty cool place to hang out, have a couple of drinks and yummy food.

    (4)

  • Kenton F.

    Food is decent to be a franchise but I am spoiled from working and living in the South too long. It is a very nice looking place on the inside and the staff is friendly. They have a jazz night every Thursday night so I will be back.

    (3)

  • Phyllis K.

    Went to Dinosaur BBQ for my boyfriend's birthday. We went around 6PM on a Sunday and only had to wait 10 mins to get seated. Our waitress was very friendly, she recommended popular side dishes like the Harlem potato salad and the BBQ fried rice. The BBQ fried rice was delicious but a bit oily. To be honest there was nothing special about the Harlem potato salad it tasted like any potato salad. The sweet tea she recommended with a bit of lemonade has the perfect amount of sweetness which made it very refreshing. She gave me a free refill to. :) We ordered the Sweetheart meal which serves (2) and comes with a whole rack of BBQ pork and 4 sides for $29.99. The rack was a good size and tasted amazing with the Dinosaur BBQ special BBQ sauce. I tried it on both the original sauce and the Mango Habanero sauce. The sides could have been a bit larger since we were splitting between 2 people. The BBQ pork and beans was a bit on the sweet end. Everything tastes good so I will be back. :)

    (4)

  • Elizabeth Z.

    Ok this was some seriously good BBQ. I had the brisket and bleu cheese sandwich. While the bleu cheese/brisket combo was a little iffy, the brisket on its own was great. I also ordered a side of gumbo which was fantastic. I may just order the gumbo alone next time. The atmosphere was nice and the server was prompt and attentive. My belly is excited to come back and explore more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    Just as good as the other locations, but the service was super slow even though the place was not busy. Sat around for 5 minutes before our waiter came by. We had to ask the random people who might or not be waiters/waitresses where our waiter was. Did I mention that it was 9pm on a Sunday night so the place was almost empty?? Had to ask 3 different people to get our bill. At some point I just got up and walked to the front to ask where my bill was. I was told that it was being printed up, which turned out to be untrue because it still took 10 minutes after that. Someone who appeared to be the manager chatting with the table next to us saw how annoyed we were and did.... nothing. At some point, I was tempted to walk out because they clearly didn't want my money. Do yourself a favor and go to the other locations.

    (2)

  • Tatiane M.

    We have our very own DINOSAUR BBQ! The skirt steak is the best I ever had around the area and I'm even comparing to the Brazilian restaurants in the area!

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Slightly pricey and average food but a great experience. Ribs were good, and my colleagues also seemed to enjoy their meals. What impressed me most, though, was when a waitress accidentally spilled a drink on my friend she made sure to make it up for him by bringing him a complementary beer and meal. Also, the manager came over to apologize and make sure were enjoyed our meal. My food was good, but the service really won me over. I would recommend going if you enjoy good BBQ in Newark!

    (4)

  • Trey B.

    Good eats here we got gumbo, I had ribs and chicken combo, good service very tasty enjoyed alot park at Edison park for free

    (4)

  • Tina S.

    The staff was one of the friendliest that I have ever seen at a Newark Restaurant. The ambience once inside transported me to a beach resort or some other bustling city's restaurant row..I wish Newark would bring more restaurants like this to downtown. The area was clean and the architecture inside and out is clever, smart and a terrific use of exposed brick and pipe.

    (4)

  • Martina S.

    The food and the selection of beers is really good, BUT every time I go there the management and staff are in total chaos! The restaurant is half empty yet the large amount of staff are running around as if the restaurant was booming. The service is slow and seems to be chaotic. The food is excellent I wish the service got better, so I can go there more often

    (3)

  • k o.

    Had the pulled pork sandwich, it was tasty but I expected more flavor. The fries, where amazing

    (4)

  • Alex R.

    I'll admit I had no idea what to expect. I havent been to any other Dinosaur BBQ locations, but Ive had good BBQ. Being made aware of this location in Newark, and it being fairly close to my home in Jersey City, a friend and I went memorial day weekend for a late lunch. Parking is not an issue, and the location is easily accessible by most means of public transport, minutes away from Newark Penn Station. The menu is a carnivores delight. Genuinely hard to pick if you love good BBQ. Deliberating for a good 15 minutes, opted for the appetizer sampler, gumbo, and pulled pork sandwich. Here is the thing, the prices are fairly reasonable, and I might dare say in-line with mainstream dining chains (think Fridays, Chili's). I was expecting a bit less chain and bit more soul. Alas Dinosaur didnt deliver on the soul. I cant say the food was bad, it wasnt. But the whole thing felt a bit "chainy". The size of the portions, the delivery, even the arrangement of the food was so weight and measured it was almost cafeteria-like. I got a pint of yuengling beer which really didnt look like a pint, and Ive had many a pint before. The apps platter for 2 had literally 2 bites of Salmon Fritter (think croquettes, my fav of the bunch), Chicken Wings (good and smokey but hardly jumbo), Fried Green Tomatoes (deep crusty coating of tangy green tomato) and Deviled Eggs, solid and also smokey. The pulled pork sandwich was ample, and the sides were equally portioned on a picnic plastic plate. My friends gumbo looked good but lacked flavor throughout. The mac n cheese side as well as Turkey Neck Greens were decent but no OMG good. Maybe I missed something, but Id venture and say there is something on this menu that I missed and need to try. I dont know what it is and am willing to give this place a second try.

    (3)

  • Ashley F.

    Decided to check this place out before the Devils Ranger game on Saturday 3/22. Despite being extremely packed (which we expected) the wait wasn't too bad. They jam everyone in the back of the restaurant to make room by the entrance, not ideal but they have no other options to keep traffic moving. After waiting about 35 min for a table we were seated by the hostess, no more than 2 minutes later the "manager" barked that we had to move, that others who were on a list were waiting for the table and we were not to just seat ourselves.Obviously he felt that we were full of it, and had us identify exactly which hostess sat us. It was understandable for there to be some type on confusion with so many people, but to be obnoxious AND accuse us of lying was not acceptable. Our waitress Felicia was very pleasant and did a wonderful job squeezing through the crowd to help us. Overall, food was pretty good.

    (3)

  • Terri R.

    I ate here on a Sunday afternoon with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law before heading to the airport. I heard it recently opened so I hopped on the chance to try it while we were in the area. The staff is very, very friendly, quick, and accommodating. Food was delicious. And to drink, try the Donkey Punch! Just one of those got me a little tipsy. For food, I ate the Big @$$ Pork platter with mac n cheese and harlem potato salad. I can't complain- everything was delicious! Everyone else enjoyed their food just as much as I did, and the guys ate every last bit of their food. I can't wait to come back the next time I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Bbq B.

    We liked the place and the wait staff had lots for friendly cleavage. We had an appetizer of 2 kinds of wings, and a combination plate of ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Brisket was no so great; not as tender as we would have approved of; under smoked and the seasonings complex and not memorable. Pulled pork was the best meat on the combination plate and we all agreed we would get that again fer sure fer sure; maybe as a sandwich. Ribs were not fatty but over smoked to the point that all rub flavor was lost. Potato salad was a classic version and another winner. Corn bread muffin was a little dry and on the hard side. French Fries were good. An additional side order of mac n cheese was not bad but a little strange and had some jalapeno heat to it; also a little on the dry side but not over dry. 3 different sauces on the table were interesting. The BIG BIG winner of dinner were the wings. We all agreed they are probably the best we have EVER EVER had. They were lightly smoked and then grilled with one of 6 different bbq sauces. We thought we over-ordered so they could be taken home and we ended up cleaning the plate. We agreed that we would just come back just for the wings alone and a beer for dinner.

    (3)

  • Jillian R.

    I was so excited to finally have a cool place like this right around my way. Finally I went and I must say I was disappointed. The hostesses was underage. And lackluster. The waiter was THE best part of my entire experience. My chicken was great. But knowing how greens, potato salad and Mac and cheese SHOULD taste. It didn't meet any of my expectations and was OVER PRICED. I wanted to put no stars but I couldn't.

    (1)

  • David H.

    A Haiku for Dinosaur NWK: Tasty pre show ribs Great beers and fun atmosphere My new Newark spot

    (4)

  • Christine L.

    I've been to Dino BBQ in Harlem and after going to a hockey game at Prudential Center, I was thrilled to see that Dino BBQ is RIGHT next to the stadium. I was calling them to see if they had any available tables and they said there were lots of tables and no wait .. but they wouldn't seat our party of six unless we were all present. Oddly Open Table was showing NO open tables available for several hours. Anyway, we go in and the place is virtually empty. I was surprised people from the hockey game didn't head over. Beers are cheap $4-$6 and the food was as delish as I remember it being in Harlem. The ribs are the best in the city - side of mac and cheese and sweet potatoes to top it off. 4 stars instead of 5 because our waiter wasn't friendly. When we were 'thinking' about whether we were ready to order, or similar situations, he would just turn around and leave. If you're a waiter.. you need to wait. And be patient.

    (4)

  • Catherine H.

    For me this was very typical barbecue food, nothing I found really impressive. My family members and I each ordered a different meat dish and shared a piece of it with everyone. We tried the Korean beef ribs, the chicken and pulled pork. The meat, overall, was pretty tender, but not enough flavor or seasoning, more so like they just threw barbecue sauce on it. The service was pretty good, our waitress was very polite and always came by to ask how we were doing and if we would like anything else. So all in all, service good, food pretty typical.

    (2)

  • Nick D.

    I will preface my review with the fact that I don't eat meat.... but I've had drinks here before and tried it for lunch while on jury duty in Newark and am a fan. Fried green tomato sandwich was very good. Staff was extremely pleasant, and they had me in and out quickly (which was my goal; I wasn't rushed). They even let me know I was near a power outlet in case I needed to charge my iPad (which I had in tow for reading).

    (4)

  • Phillip P.

    Great food, good beers on tap. Also in a good location, downtown near Penn Station. The fried green tomatoes are a great start. They keep plenty of extra sauce at each table, three varieties. All the sauce is good, but none quite hits the 5 star mark.

    (4)

  • Maryrose B.

    Don't wait to get your BBQ from Tennessee because right around the block is Dinosaur BBQ in Newark, NJ directly across Prudential Center. When you go, try the Baby Back Ribs with their homemade BBQ pork and beans. Also try the pork plate with Harlem style potato salad. Corn bread is also delicious. Service is ok and price is very good. I recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Susan F.

    We ate at Dinosaur BBQ in Newark last week before a hockey game and even during the madness of the pre-game rush, the service was great. We had a table of 10 that turned into 13 and the staff was so accommodating. Drinks were prompt and the food came out all at the same time, which is impressive for a table of 13. Food was excellent. I ordered the Cuban sandwich on a whim and it was delicious. Their Mac & Cheese is killer with a little spicy kick. It was really loud, but that is to be expected I think. Otherwise, we had a great time.

    (4)

  • Varun S.

    Ok, really wanna give this place 3 stars, really liked the decor, the beer selection, the atmosphere, the proximity to The Rock, but if you're gonna put the word BBQ in your name, the best thing about your establishment better be the meat. We had fried green tomato, wings, and salmon fritters to start, the brisket, and the pulled pork, with mac and gumbo on the side. I thought the appetizers were pretty darned good, and the sides were amazing, but the meat...not so. The brisket was bland and dry and looked like the turkey meat you get in your elementary school cafeteria the day before Thanksgiving. The pulled pork, wasn't pulled. The best I could describe it would be chunked pork. Even tried to pull it apart myself. Couldn't do it. Would love to give this place three stars for everything else, but a BBQ has got to have good meat; something Dinosaur BBQ didn't have.

    (2)

  • T A.

    I've lived in NC and TX and have often traveled to TN. You'd think I would have experienced the best bar-b-que this world has to offer in one of those states; however, it was this small chain establishment that gave me the best experience. I'm in love with the entire menu! The meats are well seasoned and sauced just right. The sides are home-style and unique. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Sean F.

    Not quite as good as the Harlem location but still the best BBQ in the area. Have only been for lunch so I'm not sure what it's like when the Devils are home. Cole slaw is very good.

    (4)

  • Crista V.

    Table for four was really too small to accommodate all the dishes and glasses. We had the swag sampler plate appetizer for four to start. It was decent. My husband and I shared the sweetheart deal for two. Plenty of food for both of us. Four sides adds quite a bit to the meal. The ribs were good. Not the best I've ever had - I expected them to be more "fall off the bone" than they were. But, overall it was tasty. The restaurant is located right near NJ PAC, so if you're going for dinner either before or after an event, keep that in mind when parking as there is no lot for the restaurant - pay lots only.

    (3)

  • Sara Y.

    BARBEQUE!! Gahh, I love dino bbq. However, this location was just meh. I always get the samplerand brisket plate and the best part were the deviled eggs....what. The locations in New York are much better.

    (3)

  • John L.

    For barbecue in NJ this is as good as it gets. The ribs are outstanding. I order them dry then put my own amount of sauce on them . Fired green tomatoes are fantastic. Sides are so good. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. My kids love going here. Free valet parking in a secure lot makes this place a must go to for dinner. A little pricey, $100 including tip for 2 adults and 2 children. But you'll spend that at Fridays or Applebees and the food at Dinosaur is much much better!

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    I want to like this place so much more, especially since it is so iconic. I love the Big Ass Pork Platter, the sides...eh. Mac n cheese is too spicy, the sweet potatoes are missing something, and I am 0/3 on desserts.

    (2)

  • John M.

    Me and my girl went here, midnight on a Saturday. It was really good. We had been to the one in Syracuse, and were pumped to try Jersey's own. The menu is extensive and delicious. The craft beer selection is great. The atmosphere is unlike any restaurant that I've ever been to in urban NJ. It's got a great vibe. The chicken wings and ribs were as good as it gets. The brisket and pulled pork was decent. But, it was closing time, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that both the latter dishes were the bottom of the barrel. The food wasn't super cheap, but it was not expensive either. Welcome to Newark. How about another location in Jersey City?

    (4)

  • David L.

    This is a really great place. The brisket was outstanding. The chicken and ribs are also. I have been to the one in Syracuse so I was hoping it was as good and it was. The food was excellent although Syracuse has been around a while and has some funky stuff hanging from the walls. Decor is nice but not as good as Syracuse. Newark parking is the only issue. Ideal if you going to the Prudential center which is next door, or are killing time before going to Newark airport which is right down 21.

    (5)

  • Anabela S.

    We decided to get some grub before the show at Prudential. It was 5:30pm on a Friday evening. Happy hour crowd added a very nice energy to the joint. Great customer service. Our waitress (I wish I remembered her name) was courteous, enthusiastic, fast, and super attentive. It was a pleasure to have her serve us. Manager Inas Meyers is also an asset. She performs frequent rounds to make sure the diners are getting the best experience possible. The only reason that I gave them a 4 instead of 5 star is because the ribs seemed like they were from lunch service and not fresh. All our other food choices (collards, mac/cheese, fries) were delicious!! I will go back for sure!!

    (4)

  • Inane B.

    Just not that good. As several folks mentioned, our food wasn't hot or even very warm. They use plastic plates which certainly contributes to the problem, they hold no heat. Brisket wasnt very tender, and was quite cold. Ribs were ok. Korean ribs were also not tender. Jerk lamb steak was pretty good, but the jerk flavor totally overpowers the very mild lamb. Sides were all good. But there's a theme here that everything gets somewhat the same flavor, must be some spice blend they (over) use. Desserts were terrible. The pecan pie was under baked and the flavors hadn't melded at all.

    (2)

  • Harry D.

    Had food Togo. Had pulled pork, Mac and cheese, and coleslaw . All good and packaged well. Would of had another star if it was priced better.

    (3)

  • Tressa L.

    My favorite ribs spot without having to go into the city! I highly recommend the mac and cheese, whipped sweet potato and the greens. If you are looking for a strong drink try the donkey punch , I think that is what it's called. Be careful though pretty strong cocktail and have a funny medicinal taste. I had to send it back for more pineapple juice. Definately one of my favs.

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    This is the second time I've had dinosaur BBQ, the first being the one in Rochester. Service was awesome, out waiter was super friendly and helpful. The mac and cheese was amazing, and the ribs were delicious. I like the atmosphere and decor, pretty nice beer selection also. I got the flight of beers which lets u sample different ones. Overall just a good place to indulge in some reliable comfort food.

    (4)

  • Allison P.

    This is my go-to spot for a lunch out in Newark. Very reasonably priced lunches and delicious food. The waitstaff is really great and personable. I left my umbrella behind once, and they came out to give it to me. I love the pit plate lunch special. The ribs and half chicken are great, and I love the cornbread with your meal.

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    We have been so excited about the new Dinosaur BBQ opening near our office, but were worried that the restaurant would have to work out all of its kinks before we paid a visit. We were wrong. We were a large party -- 10 people -- and were seated right away (we had a reservation). The service was excellent -- our server made sure we were taken care of and we didn't have to wait long for anything, including the food. All in all, everyone was happy with the food (and this is a tough crowd), which was delicious and we were equally happy with the service. A great start for the restaurant!

    (5)

  • M B.

    We came here following an event at NJPAC, about a five minute walk from Dinosaur BBQ. Very convenient that the restaurant is open until midnight. We were seated quickly and the waitress was very nice. My husband ordered a beer but his first choice had run out, so he went with his second choice of the house-made stout, which he said was very good and actually pretty light. I had soda. We started with a sampler plate ... the salmon fritters were pretty good (we're not fans of salmon to start with but we both finished our pieces), the deviled eggs were tasty, and the fried green tomatoes had a nice crunch without being greasy. The wings were good, but a lot spicier than we were anticipating (and we had ordered the Mild!). The plate came with three sauces - one was blue cheese and I couldn't identify the other two. Maybe some kind of horseradish sauce? They were all very good. Then we got a 3-meat combo plate with the ribs, pulled pork, and the half chicken ($3 upgrade, I think), all of which was really good. The honey hush cornbread muffins were O.K. As our sides we opted for the fries, which were very good, and the baked beans - the waitress came back to tell us that they were out of beans, so we chose the mac and cheese instead. I thought it was just O.K., my husband liked it a lot, and both of us thought that it had a "different" taste that neither of us could quite put our finger on. We were quite full after a while and still had a large spoonful of pork left, as well as a good portion of the chicken and a bunch of fries. We asked for a to-go box and were pleasantly surprised to get a recycled paper container, rather than the styrofoam that most restaurants use. The bill came to about $50 before tip. I would gladly eat here again, and right now I'm actually looking at the catering menu for an upcoming party. It's a little pricey for barbecue but we both felt that it was worth the price. If the NHL lockout ever ends, I'm sure I will be here before/after Devils games for food and beer.

    (4)

  • Donald D.

    I agree with Mitchell M that the food was a tad over priced. The reviews I read here on yelp were the compelling factor of my going. Parking was challenging (in all fairness the Devils Championship Hockey game was going on) Then I had a inexperienced waiter making mistakes. He actually came back to my table to repeat the order like 3 times. I was welcomed into this establishment by a very friendly staff. I really didn't want to give a new restaurant such a low rating but I just didn't enjoy the taste of any of the food items I ordered today. I got the 2 meat combo with 1/4 Chicken white meat & Rib. The side dishes that I chose to compliment this meal were the mushy Harlem Potato Salad, & the Creamy Coleslaw whats in that mustard? I was looking around for some sugar. The pacing of the meal was a tad off as well. I was trying to enjoy the first bite of the bland Fried Green Tomatoes when my meal came! I'm not much of a drinker but due to the reviews I had to try this Donkey Punch. Now that was pretty good stuff. It actually salvaged this trip. Ok Mr. Dinosaur I'm going to give you another chance to make this right next time I will be on a date. Hold up... Is there a "Group on" or a Yelp on" lol I better save up since this trip was like $35.00

    (2)

  • Frederick L.

    Stopped in after a visit to the Newark Museum, nearby. Great atmosphere (I especially like the schlock movie posters!) and fun vibe. Service was very good, attentive and helpful with suggestions (we really should have listened when she said she didn't think what we'd ordered would be enough, but dessert made up for it). We started with the deviled eggs, which we remembered from the Harlem location. Had the house-made sausage & pimento cheese/cracker also; very tasty. We shared 6 ribs and had beans & cole slaw with it. The sides were very good, crunchy homemade slaw and good heat in the beans. The ribs were terrific. Not enough of a connoisseur to tell one style from another but all I know is there was not a scrap of meat left on any of the ribs and they were moist, tender and flavorful. Dino house beer was good as was the coffee afterwards. Recommended.

    (4)

  • LeNard H.

    Great BBQ! Nice Atmosphere!

    (3)

  • Anthony E.

    Our waiter was very polite and the food tasted great! House sauce is sweet with a little kick to it. Perfect.

    (4)

  • Jaime M.

    I usually don't like the big name BBQ joints, and this new kid on the block I had low expectations for... However, I was pleasantly surprised. Staff is attentive, and the decor matches the food. Their actual BBQ I give 3 stars, the drinks and the wings, I give 5 stars, Rounding it to an even 4 stars... The BBQ itself is actually not the highlight of this place, but it's a good option in downtown Newark.

    (4)

  • Lala A.

    I was expecting more from this place. By no means was the meal bad, just thought the food would have been better. Maybe less chain like and more homestyle-ey. The sides we picked were all great. Even though the mac n cheese looked like typical macaroni in liquid cheese it was really good. I enjoyed my greens. My guy had some sort of dirty rice he loved. My bbq was okay, but nothing special. His was fatty. Our waiter was great. Id go again, but just with lower expectations.

    (3)

  • Richard M.

    My company sent me on a business trip to Newark, which just isn't right. Anyway, Dino BBQ was one of the few places downtown that was open at 9, so my coworker and I headed over. The only vegetarian things on the menu were deviled eggs, mac n cheese and fries. I got all three. The eggs were top notch. My coworker got a "big ass pork plate." It was neither big nor ass, but he seemed to enjoy it. Overall, the experience was solid, but the location and bags of trash piled up out front ding the score.

    (3)

  • Christine M.

    Delicious! Some of the best BBQ I have had. We shared pork ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. The brisket was the best. For sides we tried the macaroni and cheese, beans, sweet potato and cole slaw. The macaroni and cheese was my favorite and the cole slaw was just meh. Parking situation was slightly dicey. Warning - you will leave smelling like smoke.

    (4)

  • Yelena S.

    Maybe my BBQ palette is off because most of the reviewers here and people I know seem to rant about this place. I thought the decor was nice, service was ok, beer selection was good, but the food was 'meh'. After much anticipation I came here for dinner. I had the mac-and-cheese, Korean beef, mashed potatoes, and biscuit. The Korean beef was barely acceptable (just a hunk of beef covered in some spices). The mac was super mushy and had that cheap cheese taste - not even an attempt to bake it apparently. The biscuit was good, not Red Lobster biscuits good, but good. The fries were ok, I mean when are fries not good? So basically $20 later I was full but unimpressed. Maybe the pork ribs or other sides are better, but I can't even remotely consider this a great dinner spot. Two stars because it was a huge let down.

    (2)

  • Estefany F.

    I always enjoy this restaurant no matter what location I visit. I do agree with the fact that each location has its own personality but the food is just as good anywhere! I can't get enough of the ribs or white rice w/ black beans. The staff is freindly and upbeat. The prices are decent and the food is amazing. This restaurant is the reason why I love BBQ foods.

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    I visited Dinosaur BBQ at lunchtime on a recent Friday. I was by myself and walked in at noon without a reservation, but was seated without an issue. The restaurant filled up shortly after I arrived and there was a short wait by the time I left around 1. The restaurant is one block north of the Prudential Center and is a short walk from Penn Station and Newark City Hall. I got the two meat combo (brisket and pulled pork) with two sides (creamy slaw and bbq fried rice), with a mini corn muffin. Both of the meats were excellent. Tender and juicy without being greasy and a pleasant amount of smoke and sauce. I liked the slaw because it kept the cabbage at the forefront and didn't overwhelm it with the mayonnaise. The fried rice was disappointing. It wasn't bad fried rice, per se, but I couldn't figure out what made it BBQ fried rice, other than the fact that it was served at a BBQ restaurant. On the other hand, it's an odd side for a BBQ place and maybe I would have had better luck with something more traditional. I washed everything down with a Shiner Bock on draft, which seemed appropriate given the setting. They have a decent but not amazing selection of beer on draft and in bottles/cans. Also looked to have a good variety of whiskeys. The service was pretty good, but not great, mostly due to the fact that my waiter disappeared for about 10 minutes when I was waiting for my check. Not an issue since I wasn't on a lunch break, but I could see it being a problem if you had to rush back to the office. All in all, it was well worth the visit. The only things keeping it from 5 stars were the disappointing fried rice and the fact that the portions were a little undersized for the price.

    (4)

  • G B.

    i feel like i ordered the wrong thing today. maybe if i go back i gotta try something else. i ordered the crispy chicken sandwich with mac and cheese. both didnt like. too spicy. not like mouth on fire spicy just too many flavors. i know wut i like and i have had better chicken from bbq places. the pros are our waiter was very nice and my meal was only 11 bucks. not bad.

    (2)

  • Lily G.

    Great food! Highly recommend the Dino Burger! Great location right next to the Prudential Center. Large selection of beers and great friendly staff!

    (5)

  • Joselyn Y.

    Oh Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. How you have saved a many from stravation while waiting for events at the pruedential center. I went to the BigBang Galaxy LIVE Tour (AMAZING BY THE WAY!!!) and while waiting, my friend and I were straving and after getting soo lost/tired from looking for a place to eat, we finally found the Sinosaur. Both of us, being from New England were naturally a little hesitante to try "soul food and BBQ" which to us means a sauce flavor (I know, BBQ can't come in a bottle, its a way of cooking). But anyway, the place was PACKED with others also waiting for the concert and we waited for a grand total of maybe 2 minutes. Now, it was hecktic since the staff was working so hard and were having some trouble keeping up with the number of seats that they had but again, for a packed place, I expect this (we are all human and make mistakes). Anyway the decor was awesome, very southwestern and makes you feel like you aren't in Newark, NJ (although nothing wrong with either :D). Anyway, out server was attentive and hard working. The manager was out and helping with orders and helping out with the orders which were coming out left and right (always a good sign) and we saw people just working hard. Now onto the food. O.M.G. For Real. We got the hot wings as appitizers because come on, everyone says that its amazing and it was! I got the Jerk Pulled chicken on the recommendation of our server and WOW was it good! I am always hesitating on the BBQ food because I don't eat red meat, so sometimes I find I can't eat anything on the menu :(. But this was different! So, so good and wow, so much food! All the specality sandwiches come with one side so I choose Mac and Cheese and that was BOMB as well! It came out creamy and spicy at all the right places!!! A but heavy though, if you know what I mean so you might want to take this to go and eat it in the comfort of your house (again, if you know what I mean). Overall great find! We left happy and will definately be back if we find ourselves at the preudential center again.

    (4)

  • George M.

    Talk about the "Perfect Location". Dino's is located literally right next to The Prudential Center. I can see this place crawling in red and white before Devils games. The foods good, they have a lengthily beer selection and the inside reminds me of the bar from the movie Road House. I ordered the following . . . BBQ Ribs 3/4 Rack - 8/10 Home made Mac N/ Cheese - 9/10 Creamy Coleslaw - 6/10 Corn Bread - 7/10 Deviled Eggs - 8/10 The one thing holding me back from rating Dino's five stars is the service. I went with my father and when he received his plate the food was luke warm. He then politely asked the waitress to reheat the dish. When she returned ten minutes later the plate was still luke warm.

    (4)

  • Lori S.

    Was there on a Saturday for lunch . Made a reservation via open table that I tried to convince the hostess to honor. She would not honor it, but eventually the manager did . Took 1 hour to get 6 salads. Salads were missing items such as bacon and corn bread . Waiter tried hard but meal and wait time were terrible. Next time I go to prudential center I will not return to this restaurant-I'll eat lunch at a food truck instead.

    (2)

  • Sara Z.

    It was a hot, Sunday afternoon and we had nothing to do, so we decided it might be a good time to visit Dinosaur with little wait. We get there and realize there is an event going on at the Prudential center, hence all parking is "event rate." We coughed up the $15 parking fee in lieu of driving in circles to save a few bucks. The wait was set to be about 20 minutes. After about 30 minutes a crap table was available and we waited for a better table. I must say, the host was very accommodating and patient. We had some flat sodas from the bar and the bartender was very, very busy, so we just took them to our table and asked for them to be replaced. First, you must know that when there is not enough salt on my food I add it to bring out the flavor. Hence, I am not salt adverse. On that note, the majority of the food was extremely oversalted. The fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs and mac & cheese just had too much salt. The jerk wings were outstanding and my ribs were pretty good and meaty. My husband's Korean BBQ ribs were extremely flavorful. The timing was a bit slow and we noticed several irate customers missing out on their event due to the slow timing. As we had nothing else to do, it did not matter. However, if you are going prior to an event you might want to keep this in mind. Typically when you buy sodas at the bar, you don't get charged for the refills at the table. However we were charged. As the bill was already presented, we went ahead and did not say anything and just paid it. My husband hates any type of confrontation! All in all it was a good, but really expensive ($80 no alcohol or desserts with parking) BBQ meal. Unless someone was requesting we meet here, we will not be back. Famous Dave's is just as good and you don't have to pay to park.

    (3)

  • Tobey W.

    Took a group of 20 here for dinner tonight. The manager, Inez, couldn't have been more accommodating. She and the waitstaff went out of their way to seat us together in one unwieldy bunch and managed to serve our food quickly and as close to simultaneously as you could hope for. We love their BBQ. Some of the food is less than great but overall it keeps us coming back.

    (4)

  • Marcus B.

    I didn't go into this with any expectations yet I was still disappointed. I had the wings and brisket. I took my order to go. I don't understand how my food was so cold by the time I got home. I literally live around the corner. The wings were undercooked and the brisket was rough. The Mac and cheese definitely wasn't anything to write home about either. Service isn't too great. I sat at the bar (right in front of the bartender) and it still took about 20 minutes for me to get a drink. The only thing that saved it from being a total loss was the potato salad. I'm very particular about my potato salad and theirs was pretty good. I don't plan on going back anytime soon though. I don't care how close it is.

    (2)

  • Michael A.

    We arrived at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, on a Saturday and although parking was quite tricky, we did not have to wait for a seat which was a welcomed change from the Harlem Venue, which is always packed. As we approached our table, we noticed that the same biker/blues inspired theme could be seen in this location as the Harlem one. Pigs of all sizes adorn the walls made out of a variety of textiles, while movie posters from the back in the day fill in the gaps. Behind our table, a wonderful hand painted mural of Market Street complete with the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que mascot, the green Tyrannosaurus Rex like Dinosaur from the logo, crossing the street decorated the far wall. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, understands that although the food they serve is extremely important, one cannot overlook the magnitude of a truly prodigious beer menu at a BBQ establishment. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's beer list reads like a who's who of the craft beer realm. From the old standards like Pabst and Budweiser to the craft beer locals like Brooklyn and Ramstein, anyone can find something to wet their whistle at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Zoe was particularly happy that she was able to procure her new favorite vice, Angry Orchard hard cider, which pairs with BBQ much better than wine. The amount of love I have for Bar-B-Que and for Dinosaur Bar-B-Que cannot be summed up in one review. The true admiration I have for both this style of cooking and this restaurant cannot really be discussed, for I fear that this review would forever have an NC-17 rating. Let's just say that if you have not been to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and you are a fan of Bar-B-Que cooking you are doing yourself a grave disservice. The parking may stink at both the Harlem and the Newark locations, but any mild inconvenience is worth experiencing this amazing American tradition. Also keep in mind that this restaurant is literally around the corner from the Prudential Center, where the New Jersey Devils play so check the schedule before you get stuck in a hellish amount of traffic.

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    Great Brisket! Amazing Ribs! Be forewarned you will leave smelling like smoke.

    (4)

  • Jax E.

    I love how Dino BBQ provides flavors and items that that locals love and enjoy. I have been to the original Dino BBQ at Syracuse and the Dino BBQ at Harlem, NYC. The best one is still at Syracuse. The Newark location is huge and there's no wait like the Syracuse location. However, I felt the food in this location is also lacking. I had the ribs, korean ribs, and some briskets. If you really want Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, try out the Syracuse location. That's the best!

    (3)

  • Nicholas D.

    Lindsay, Good day. I just stop by DBBQ on market st in Newark today Sunday 26th of January of 2014 at 1:50p.m. to have lunch and watch the rangers @ Devils stadium series game televised locally on nbc channel 4. Upon entering I was greeted and proceeded to seat at the bar, I asked for the menu and the bartender to turn on the audio for the game and he refused, he said he contact the manager to address my concern. The manager did come to ask if I needed anything and I said to turn on the audio for the game and he refused to do it because of the cable company regulations that prohibit his establishment from playing live audio, there were other customers seated near me hear him say that. The other establishments in the area ( Edison ale house and Brick city bar & grill both on Edison place/st ) have live game audio when showing games on their tv's and no fines/penalties for them. I am totally disappointed with DBBQ, not returning for more dissapointments and lack of satisfying us the customers. I went to Adega grill on Ferry st in the Ironbound and walked into the bar and there was the Tv with the game and game audio playing, total satisfaction.

    (1)

  • Eric F.

    The BEST BBQ in north NJ. I like it so much I'm questioning whether I should give a good review because it is way too crowded before a Devils game. A bunch of beers on tap. A lot of friendly staff. I've had the wings, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, BBQ chicken, and brisket. Everything was tasty. My daughter loves the gumbo so much, that's all she has for dinner. I havent tried any of the pork products but the ribs look like they are a nice size. If you are into super hot food ask for their secret devil BBQ sauce that they only keep in the kitchen. I love hot food but this was CRAZY hot... Finally for a real treat, try the jalapeño martini. Everyone seems to have a great time. If you are going before an event at the Rock, make sure you get there at least 2 hours before the event starts if you want a seat.

    (4)

  • Ryan Y.

    We went here tonight with a large party. We had a nice family style meal..it was served very fast. We did have reservations so that definitely helped. We got served food before our drinks even came. The food was just average, and kind of room temperature. We had ribs, pulled chicken, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, corn bread, rice and beans, and cole slaw. I felt like I have had better BBQ food in the area. I probably won't be coming back to this restaurant in the near future..unless a friend really wants to try it out. I'm thinking if we ordered off of the main menu, it might've been a different experience...it's just hard to find free parking being so close to the prudential center, so next time I want bbq, we'll probably end up going to a famous Dave's where you don't have to pay ($20-30) for parking...

    (3)

  • Theresa W.

    Usually good, but today I chose the lunch special to go, a brisket sandwich. I specifically asked for lean meat. When I opened the bag (after I exited an extremely hard to find parking space and was in another location), I saw that the brisket was 85% fat!!! I was completely disappointed. This is the second time that Dinosaur BBQ did not live up to its former great quality for me. I will not be going back for a third letdown. At least, the person who took my order was nice and friendly.

    (1)

  • Kenny J.

    I went here with my girl on a Monday night and had a blast. Our server Adam was attentive and friendly. He suggested the dinner for two rib special platter, which came with four sides. My girl and I both got the sweet tea. I have no complaints about the place. I strongly recommend visiting the spot on a weeknight to get the true experience.

    (4)

  • Deborah G.

    My husband and I got a big takeout order for entertaining this weekend. Sadly, the ribs were tough, side portions minis clue and overall kind of ehh. Very disappointing as we love DB in Syracuse and Rochester. Got much better Barbeque in Morris County amazingly!

    (2)

  • J S L.

    Meh food but lively.

    (2)

  • Allison M.

    I have been to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que three times since it's opened, and each experience has raised my opinion of this sleek but relaxed establishment. Dino BBQ is an excellent addition to Newark, and offers a reliable restaurant option close to the Prudential Center. I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of barbecue, but the menu is diverse enough to offer enough options for those of us who tend to stray away from ribs and brisket. Take Aways: 1. Their takeout service leaves a lot to be desired. Don't try it if you think they might be overloaded that day. 2. Try the deviled eggs, carrot raisin salad, and chopped salad with creole honey mustard. They're all delicious! The first time I tried to eat here, my friend and I decided to order take-out. We were watching the Superbowl, and wings just seemed like a great idea. I had learned my lesson, so I ordered a few hours ahead. Our order was small--six Honey BBQ and twelve Wango Tango wings--but when we arrived to pick up our meal, the wings hadn't even gone on the grill. The entire operation was a mess: the communication from the register to the kitchen was disorderly, the waitstaff was rude, and we ended up waiting about an hour for eighteen chicken wings. The wings themselves were quite good, and the Wango Tango wings packed a smoky punch, but they were difficult to enjoy. What should have been a simple and easy process was nothing but. So I learned my lesson: don't order takeout during the Superbowl, and maybe don't order takeout at all. The past two times, however, I ate in the restaurant, and it was a much better experience. The service was still slow and the food still took a while to get out, but I was thoroughly pleased with my two meals. The first time, I ordered the Half BBQ Chicken Plate as well as the Rum Punch. The chicken was delicious: smoky, well-marinated, and tender, it filled me with a sense of comfort and warmth that can be difficult to find on a cold February day. But the best part of that meal was definitely the carrot-raisin salad. I am a sucker for slaws, and this one did not disappoint. The carrots were crisp, and the raisins balanced out the textures. The dressing tied it all together but was not overbearing. Most recently, I ordered the Creole Spiced Deviled Eggs and the Chopped Salad with chicken and Creole Honey Mustard Vinaigrette. I could eat deviled eggs all day, and these were very good. I was expecting more of a spicy kick, but they had a smooth texture and a bit of a smokier flavor. I would definitely order them again. The chopped salad has also become one of my favorites. Before you say that salad has no place in a barbeque joint, let me tell you that this dressing packed a punch. It offered just as much spicy goodness as the BBQ Chicken Plate, but with the added benefit of health and vegetables! Dino BBQ is a welcome change to much of the Newark food scene. They still have some kinks to work out in their service, but their food is reliable and their menu is diverse. I look forward to going again.

    (4)

  • Frank C.

    Great location if you are going to the Pru Center or NJPAC. Friendly greeting and good service. The decor is good down home rustic comfort. large bar area. It gets crowded before an event next door. Food was very good. Our group had burgers, pulled pork and briskit. They were all very good. The sides were pretty good as well. Of particular note was the "beans and pork". Great selection of beers on tap and a number of them are local. Would certainly go back and recommend. Martha did a great job selecting this as the place to eat !

    (4)

  • Stephanie M.

    Three stars from me and here's why....Went out for a nice lunch with some family who were in from overseas. We had a small child with us and needed a table I accommodate a high chair - that seemed to be too much to ask for the hostess, who was not very friendly to begin with- so I took it upon myself to get the table arranged. Next, we waited almost 5 minutes for our waiter to come over to our table; he seemed to be annoyed when he finally got there to take our drink order. We then ordered our food and it came out pretty quick. However, our waiter never returned to the Table to ask how things were and to see if we needed another round of drinks or napkins or even silverware! We finally were able to track him down. When it was time for desert, he took one of our orders and ran away before he could ask the other three people at the table what they wanted. He was the absolute worst waiter I've ever sat with. Food was excellent so That's the reason for 3 stars. The mac n cheese, chicken wings, and baled beans were amazing. Ribs and cornbread were awesome too! I might go back for the food because it was so good but please get me a better server??

    (3)

  • Tyeisha E.

    I have never heard of this restaurant before and I wish I never have. The drunkin spicy shrimp had no flavor at all boiled flavor less shrimp the pulled pork was bland and the ribs were dry and over cooked they didn't even pull apart easily the creamy coleslaw taste like cabbage and heavy vinegar and the mac & cheese was not appetizing and the honey hush cornbread dry and flavor less.

    (1)

  • Samer A.

    I'm going to give this place a 4 but I think it almost needs an explanation. I personally really don't like it when a restaurant gets a rating that needs an explanation. First, they have a great selection of beer on tap. 5 star Second, their smoked wing starter with Wango Tango is excellent. 5 star Third, their BBQ, well unfortunately here is where they start to lose points and they are a BBQ restaurant so not a good place to lose them. The problem is generally consistency. We have been here several times. Sometimes their BBQ is on point but sometimes it's just ok. I would say their spare ribs are their best piece of meat. The problem is they can be championship ribs one day and good backyard ribs the next. The pulled pork isn't very good in my book. The brisket isn't bad but nothing to write home about. The chicken is surprisingly good and surprisingly consistent in flavor albeit extremely fatty and I don't necessarily love the taste of chicken fat. Their Korean style ribs are a bit too sweet. Fourth, we can run through their sides but I won't do that. Instead I'll just say none of their sides blow my mind but most are decent. Overall, I'd still say it's decent BBQ that's accessible. The 4 is basically a blended rating for their ribs sometimes being 3s and sometimes being solid 5s.

    (4)

  • Eric G.

    Hey, if you have a couple of hours to kill, and you're not very hungry or thirsty, this place is PERFECT. If you haven't had real BBQ and your taste buds are easily impressed by meat with very sugary sauces on it, you'll be in HEAVEN here. And if you like chain restaurants in high-rent areas, you know that means higher prices and and as much cost-cutting as possible from the owners, which usually translates into poor service and mediocre food (see above). The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is the beer on tap. There's a decent selection. If I had actually gotten my 16 oz. within 10 minutes of ordering it, that would have been even better.

    (2)

  • Bernadette S.

    This isn't one of my Midwest BBQ favorites, but it gets the job done and satisfies that craving for smoked meaty goodness. After months of trying, I finally got in to Dinosaur before Devils game! Every time we previously tried, the wait would have seated us well after puck-drop. Taking advantage of the bad weather (and presumably smaller crowd), we got to Dino at 6:00 for a 7:30 game. We were quoted 45 minutes for our wait, but it ended up being more like 25 minutes. The use an ipad/iphone app for their seating, so it was really convenient to just get a text when our table was ready. Downloading the app also got me a free side, which was a nice perk. Our server was really nice (sorry I can't remember his name!) and provided prompt service for being so busy. My husband ordered the brisket/pulled pork combo platter and I ordered smoked chicken wings with their hot wango tango bbq sauce and a side of mac and cheese. The mac and cheese is great - super creamy and cheesy, like it should be. My husband enjoyed his meats. I didn't try any this time, so I can't comment further on them. My drumsticks were delicious, but the wings tasted undercooked to me. They were pink in color due to the smoking process, which made it difficult to judge done-ness by color, but I felt the chicken texture was a bit off (you know, that kind of rubbery texture of undercooked chicken). The manager came over, I explained my thoughts on the wings, and he assured me they were thoroughly cooked, but nonetheless offered to bring me new ones. Not wanting to waste food, I asked him to just bring me two more drumsticks, since those had been good all along. The manager explained that the wings are smoked for about 6 hours and then finished on the grill, so he said he'd have the kitchen char them a little extra for me. My little plate of two drumsticks came out a few minutes later. OMG were those good. The extra charring gave them the texture I'm used to in chicken, and made them taste amazing. The manager told me in the future I could order them just drumsticks, extra char. Mmmmm, looking forward to it! And something random to love: I'm not a beer drinker, so my drink options were very limited here - but it's not a problem at all because of their root beer. I forgot to ask what kind it is, but it's available on draft, and is amazing! When the weather warms up, we'll probably look to avoid the wait and get takeout to eat in the little Prudential Center park next door.

    (4)

  • Tyrone T.

    Went on a Sunday for bunch with high hopes. having been trying legal beans bbq in JC recently I was curious how this would compare. Sadly the pulled pork was not cooked down enough for me leaving too much fat and didnt seem to have much of a sauce. The Turkey neck greens were also both a little over cooked and not very well seasoned. I tried a strawberry citrus caiprahina which was pretty awful and undetectable levels of mint. The sweet tea was ok though. we had a very pleasant server but she did miss a couple of meals that were ordered and never came (thx goodness for the prodigious appetizers shared)

    (2)

  • Jessica M.

    Very good Pre- Devils ( or Pru Event) bar/restaurant. We have been here a few times and really like the food. Best items we've had include: Jumbo Wings, Chopped brisket platter, Pull Pork, and for sides the cole slaw and Mac N Cheese ( super yummy) are both great. Very good beer selection here too, lots to choose from...

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    A solid four stars. 5 stars for food and atmosphere, but 4 stars for service. I avoided this place for months after moving here, despite living within walking distance of this BBQ mecca. My friend had been begging me for months to go here, but as a vegetarian-almost-vegan, I always shot her down. Finally, one fateful day I gave in. I've never liked shroom burgers, so my game plan was to make a meal out of their much-adored sides, but once I sat down in that big cozy booth, took in a whiff of the smokey BBQ, and had a sip of some cold hard cider, I NEEDED that shroom burger. I felt like anything else would have robbed me of an authentic Dino experience. I loved that shroom burger so much that I ordered it again on a return visit. I have also dabbled in some of the sides. The whipped sweet potato with spicy walnuts is a fine choice; although I love sweet potatoes, I always think it's difficult to make it really "shine" and be truly stellar, but this was pretty good. The mac and cheese is just okay. I've only tried a bite (I've never ordered it myself), but I really didn't get the hype. Maybe I'm simply too dedicated of an Elbow Room fan. My favorite side, though, was the Cajun Corn. This was the veggie of the day on my third visit (on 3/22/13), but our waiter said, "Oh, that's my FAVORITE side," when I ordered it, so I assume they offer it semi-regularly. I can see why it was his favorite! It was loaded with flavor and contained chopped peppers and such. I think there was copious amounts of butter and/or oil involved, but I chose to ignore that. Another winner on the menu is the chopped salad. I know, I know, this is a BBQ place, but that salad is more than just the token health food item that most menus halfheartedly include. The greens were crisp and fresh, the veggies were crunchy, and the Creole Honey Mustard Vinaigrette was like, woah. Slightly spicy, slightly sweet. Oh, and the salad came with a cornbread muffin, so yeah, I was in my happy place. As for the service, I'm not sure why, but I always end up with awkward or downright cold waiters/waitresses. You would think this restaurant would be the type of place to emphasize oozing hospitality and almost obnoxiously cheerful service, but nope. Some of these waitresses can barely crack a smile.

    (4)

  • John N.

    Great BBQ!! Great service from Ben. Nice selection or seasonal brews. Loved the ribs, the brisket sliders and the original pork sandwich. Best BBQ I've had in NJ$

    (5)

  • Kristen S.

    The absolute worst BBQ I have ever had. The ribs were dry, flavorless and tough. Everything was almost impalpable. The Mac n cheese was dry and I couldn't eat it. The corn bread was even terrible. I don't know how a BBQ can mess up everything BBQ? Extremely disappointing, especially after reading some of these reviews. If you are a true BBQ lover, do not go here you will be greatly disappointed. I took some good home that I will be feeding to the neighborhood raccoons that is how poor the food was.

    (1)

  • Adam A.

    Good food. Downtown Newark on this side of the ironbound doesn't have a lot of great places to eat. The ambiance was noisy and slightly awkward for my taste but maybe i went at a bad time.

    (4)

  • H H.

    Smells like bbq the whole night. Not great for your cloths. $5 ales were flavorful and full bodied. Mac and cheese was incredible. I ordered it with the dino burger. The dino burger was undercooked. Make sure to ask for well done. I put some of the mac and cheese in my burger. Great touch. Fried tomatoes were ok. Bathroom downstairs. It was freezing. Bar and kitchen closed at 10 on a thursday.

    (3)

  • Liz L.

    I was here for a business trip and my colleague had already been here once. I am huge on customer service and this place was awesome for that! The hostess was so super nice and our waiter couldn't have been nicer or friendlier he never was to intrusive but always made sure we were well taken care of and had refills on our iced teas. The atmosphere is nice and cozy and they have a lot of delicious things on the menu. When you walk into the restaurant you smell this wonderful smoky scent which all BBQ's places should smell like without being overwhelming.my colleagues meal looked wonderful he had the lamb in jerk sauce. The sides are really good...in particular the Mac and cheese was delicious it had a nice little kick , I also had the pork BBQ fried rice which had a nice smokey flavour . I generally don't eat meat but Ii did have some pork ribs which were wonderful (I couldn't resist! the place smelled so good!). I ordered 6 ribs but was couldn't finish them because they were quite meaty and my eyes were bigger than my stomach. They serve their iced teas in little mason jars...I loved it. 2 things I really didn't care for There are several TV's inside the place so beware if you are going in with someone who can't take their eyes of a TV. Also the plates are like these weird divided plates that your parents may have served your dinner one with a place for your main meal and 2 side sections...it was difficult to eat off these plates. I would come back here again for the good food and the excellent service!

    (4)

  • Christine F.

    BBQ is not my thing so I ordered terribly wrong with the portabella mushroom sandwich (I wholeheartedly regret it), but my in-laws were more than pleased with their smorgasbord of meaty fried treats. The service was fantastic, the ambiance is cool, and the peanut butter pie is absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend if you're in town (not many other options in Newark...).

    (4)

  • Jay G.

    BEST BBQ IN THE AREA, hands down... I love this place.. The house special with chicken and ribs is my fave. The st. Louis ribs are ridiculously good.. Very tender. Brisket is PHENOMINAL.. They have a couple BBQ sauces that are good as well.... Service was A+ too.. It was a little too packed, but I guess that's expected being next to the Prudential center.. This place has set the standard of BBQ in my book.

    (5)

  • Mishae M.

    Dinosaur is a chain bbq restaurant that started in Syracuse,Ny and has recently started expanding to other states. The first one i had been to was the one in Harlem,NYC on 12th avenue which impressed my taste buds so much that i was delighted to see they now had a restaurant in Newark, which is where i have recently moved to. To put it plain and simple, the two stars would be for the "taste" of the sampler plate, not portion of it. The fried green tomatoes are the size of sparrows, but they are very good as was everything else on the plate. It is served with 3 different sauces, wings, salmon fritters and deviled eggs. The entrée i ordered was the smoked half chicken with mac and cheese and sweet potatoes . The chicken was undercooked and barely seasoned, the sweet potatoes were tasteless and the mac and cheese was good. Both me and my friends chicken was pink and red in several places, we had to ask for it to be changed to something else. The waitress had to ask the manager what to do in this situation because she was to clueless to figure it out on her own. The manager came to the table, we showed him the pink meat to which his answer was, and i quote, " we smoke the meat for 12 hours and if you google the art of smoked meat you would see that it comes out pink." Obviously he needs to google the art of customer service and the art of dinosaur cooking because this was just a imitation of the real dinosaur establishments. I guess you can enjoy the food if you're extremely drunk and cant tell your hand from your foot. Won't be back.

    (2)

  • Jill H.

    Everything was amazing. Friendly staff. Get the pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw! The BBQ fried rice, mac and cheese and even the mashed potatoes with gravy= THE BEST

    (5)

  • Keith H.

    Thank you John for going out of your way to personally set us up with a reservation for our family birthday celebration. We truly appreciate your quick response and solution. We were seated very quickly and our waiter Charles was wonderful and very attentive. The food was good, as always, and the service excellent. We will be returning very soon. Thank you again from our whole family.

    (4)

  • Victor L.

    Was there today place is located next to prudential center heart of newark great location the restaurant is really nice has outside seating customer service was good and our waiter knew and went over the menu from top to bottom My wife and I will def. will be going back food seem fresh the only thing i would say in my opinion is for the staff to have a better attire

    (4)

  • Kim K.

    A slightly shady location but this Dinosaur is as good as all the rest - super moist pulled pork, smoky ribs, nice staff, tons of seating, and just a general awesome vibe.

    (4)

  • Big Mike O.

    I went here after law school for dinner and a beer before the commute home. Maybe I just went on a bad night... I ordered the Pork-Sket and a Guinness. Glass was dirty and the place itself seemed like it needed a good scrubbing.. Food was so-so, a little cold when it came out. I have had better brisket at a cheaper price at Daddy O's and Famous Dave's BBQ. I didn't even finish the food. Guess I'll stick with Famous Dave's and Daddy O's locally, and check out Dino when I'm back up in Syracuse during the summer.

    (2)

  • Shannon F.

    This is a great place for a causal meal. The prices are fantastic (maybe it's because I'm from NYC!), especially at the bar. They have 22 bottled beers and another 20 on tap. If you can't decide, you can get a "Flight" (not sure why it's named that, but whatever); four different 4 oz. beers for $6. They have everything from pale ale to stout, and they list where everything is brewed, so you can opt for locally made NJ beer, if that's your thing. Food was great. I had a pulled pork sandwich with melted Swiss cheese and carmelized onions and it was piled high on that bun! I made it a platter, which means for a few bucks more you get two sides. I opted for black beans and rice, and mac 'n' cheese. The mac 'n' cheese was awesome- creamy, and with a bit of kick! The rice and beans left a lot to be desired; proportion was off (beans dominated) and the rice was hard and crunchy, severely undercooked. My wife got a half rack of ribs, which she loved. We also ordered the appetizer sampler for 2, and it was amazing. Deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, wings, and salmon fritters were all mouth-watering. Portions run average to small, and food is served on plastic compartment plates which kinda made me feel like I was back in grade school, but my biggest concern was how badly scratched they were- you hear a lot of things these days about how cutting boards etc. can trap bacteria, so, just saying. Servers were personable and attentive. They noticed we were in sports jerseys, so made small talk with us about the NY Liberty, which play across the street at the Prudential Center. Bathroom was funny- the toilet was immaculate and sterile, while the rest of the room was a wreck! Fingerprints on the faucet, hair in the sink, splashes on the mirror, dingy floors, and the garbage can was so full to the brim of paper towels that the garbage continued to spill out onto the floor. The baby changing table had mysterious brown stains on it. The toilet paper was a naked roll, not loaded into the dispenser, which is a personal pet peeve of mine. It looked as if whoever was supposed to maintain the restroom that day literally just cleaned the toilet and didn't touch anything else. But hey, the toilet is the important part, I guess! I'll definitely be back, because again, the people were nice, amd the food and prices are slamming!

    (4)

  • Brian L.

    Went to the Prudential Center to watch a Devil's game today and ended up going to Dino BBQ afterwards. Food was OK, but I wasn't as impressed as other reviewers... I got the brisket platter with mac and cheese and the sweet cole slaw. The brisket turned out solid and dumping daattt sauzzz on it just made it even better--my only wish is that they gave me moaaar meat! The mac and cheese didn't taste very fresh and could have used a little more creaminess, while the cole slaw turned out surprisingly good with a nice crunch and light sweetness. The cornbread side came a little dry--I've made better batches of cornbread myself and I don't work at a restaurant! Overall, the BBQ was fine for me, but a friend told me his chicken tasted like they poured sugar all over it. I do wish they had better value... at $16 a platter, I can see myself going elsewhere for cheaper and better eats.

    (3)

  • H M.

    WOW! Thank god this was next to the Prudential Center! I really enjoyed my dinner here before our concert! The WANGO TANGO sauce is da BOMB!!! spicy and tangy! mmm!!! Also the ribs and pulled pork was amazing. I wish the collard greens were cut into bigger pieces rather then tiny pieces. I wish there was a DINO BBQ in Philly! If it wasn't for a concert i would have purchased the wango tango sauce!!!

    (4)

  • Razzle D.

    I went to this place with my family on a great review from a friend. Omg was he wrong from the second we walked in and were seated we waiting 30 mins for a waitress to come to the table and this place was dead. Then she finally take our drinks 15 mins later we get those and then we start to order we got the sampler for 4 and the BBQ shrimp we waited no joke 40 mins before apps got to table we started eating and the food wasn't even hot it was like Luke warm to cold it was like microwaved disgusting crap no taste the best thing there was a half way decent fried green tomato the rest were disgusting had a horrible smell and a taste that after hours and many drinks and food after I can't get rid of it disgusting also very high priced and very little on the plates then entree came we each got the combo to try a bit of everything well we thought we had the worst omg dead wrong the fat wasn't trimmed off my brisket it was extremely fatty and cold the pulled pork was ice cold and no taste at all then ribs and I love BBQ ribs and BBQ in general these ribs were disgusting no taste dried out shoe leather horrible then after waiting while eating 35 mins for drink refills the waitress spills the cups all over the food and table and my sister and no manager ever came or anything we complained and nothing they didn't even provide replacement food so on that note we got the check 140 bucks on that garbage and the combos was 3 ribs 2 slices of brisket and a tiny pile of pork never again would we go here not even for free and to top it all off 20 dollars to park the most over prices garbage food we've ever eaten disgusting horrible staff horrible food idk how they r still open needless to say we won't get our 160 back but lesson learned this place is a crap shoot microwaved supposed BBQ bull crap I give this place 0 stars nothing worth going back for again!! A complete disgrace!!!!

    (1)

  • Joanna H.

    This place is right next to the Prudential center so it's a great place to kill time for a few drinks and get hyped up for a concert at the Prudential. That's what I did at my first time at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. The second time I was here was also b/c i was planning to go to a concert next door. This time I planned myself to get to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que earlier to eat some good food. When I saw the indulging plates or ribs and fries at my first visit, I told myself I would have to get the food next time. First of all, the waiter was so awesome. He made some awesome funny jokes that wasn't annoying. He explained the good popular menus and was very honest with the so-so food. The food was awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Everyone got different things-ribs. burger. steak. fries. mac&cheese. Every meat was tender. soaked in sauce with just the right amount. They have different sauces to dip ur rib in (mild. moderate. hot intensity of spicyness. I llove HOT food but I actually liked the original sauce the most) Fries were perfectly salted (very greasy tho. but it's alright cuz it was good). Mac and cheese-omg. Please get the mac and cheese. The cheesiness was just so perfect haha I will definitely go back. i wish Philadephia had Dinosaur bar-B-que.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Let me begin with saying I am a big Dinosaur BBQ fan having gone to Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Harlem. I was quite excited to learn that there was one in Newark and I was attending a concert at NJPAC just a couple a blocks away. So I made the two hour trek from home and arrived at Dinosaur BBQ at 5pm on a Sunday giving me plenty of time to enjoy my meal and still get to the concert. I am used to having to wait to get a table but was surprised that I was able to walk right in and be seated. Hostess seemed to be annoyed that night but again we were seated right away. Waitress finally came to us and took our drink order and apps but returned a while later o tell us that they were out of the pimento cheese for the Poutine but they could make it with another cheese. Fine no problem. Then asked if we were ready to order and we said we will both have the ribs. I'm sorry sir but we are out of ribs. Excuse me? Out of ribs? What BBQ place runs out of ribs at 5pm? My waitress apologized and I wound up getting a pulled pork sandwich, which was dry. Terrible experience, staff seems like they don't want to be there and it is a shame the sign says Dinosaur BBQ because it is a poor representation of what I know Dinosaur BBQ to be. Should have stopped at the Harlem location instead.

    (1)

  • J M.

    Had a few hours to kill waiting for a flight so I ventured into downtown Newark (not as intimidating as popular misconception would lead you to believe). Saw a sign with 2 pretty awesome things (dinosaurs and BBQ) and thought I would give it a shot. Living on the west coast (Seattle) good BBQ is a rarity so I had high hopes. I was not disappointed! I sat at the bar, and Anthony the bartender hooked me up with a pint and helped guide me to the sampler plate (chicken, ribs, cornbread, 2 sides). Awesome taste, perfect portions, I was speechless. Intelligent clientele and staff, great choice of beers, good BBQ, 5 star service, playoff football on the TV, can't think of anything better. Thanks DinoQ!

    (5)

  • John C.

    Oh yeah!!! About as good a lunch as can be found. Sometimes a little long wait for a table (next door to the Rock and Gateway office buildings means that there are occasionally crowds wandering around), but well worth it. A PILE of delicious food. Will only touch briefly: the smoked buffalo wings are amazing; the pulled pork and brisket combination is unbelieveable. The Mac and cheese rules. You will probably need to be wheeled out, particularly if you chase the above down with a few pints, but that's just necessary.

    (5)

  • Jim P.

    Food awful. Not up to par with the syracuse location. No way. Ribs all dried out like jerky. Come on now I can get better ribs at applebees

    (1)

  • Nic M.

    The WORST service ever. If it was possible give them zero stars, I would have. My family sat for a little over an half hour and the waitress must have forgotten we were there. She never returned to take our drink and food orders. The neighboring table ordered, received their food and were just about done eating while we didn't receive so much as a glass of water. We ended up walking out.

    (1)

  • B D.

    I have actually been to this place twice with my husband. We decided to go there during Sandy since we did not have power for a little while (we were lucky). The food was very tasty, but got cold kind of fast. We have been there for lunch, so I am not sure about the drinks, but at least the food was very good. I should mention that if you have a sensitive belly, it may not work out well for you. I unfortunately have to stay away from pork as much as possible, but they don't only have pork. On the other hand, my husband really enjoys their pork dishes (e.g. bbq ribs, pulled pork, etc.) Definitely give it a try, specially if you are a local.

    (4)

  • Xavier S.

    Been hearing good things about this place, namely the one in uptown NYC. I was in town at the Prudential Center for a NY Liberty Game (I didn't buy the tix, was gifted). Anyhow, was looking to get some food after the game because the food at the arena is wayy too overpriced...something to the effect of close to $10 for a few chicken fingers..oh well. Anyhow, for a Saturday night the Dino BBQ was jam packed, but luckily there were a couple of tables open near the back of the restaurant. Once seated and opened up the menu and wanted to get everything under the sun. Everything looked too good, especially the appetizers (I heard the Fried Green Tomatoes are tooo good, but I didn't get to try them yet). Perfect for 2, what we ordered (aside from cold bevvies): Sweetheart Deal for 2 which comes with a Full Rack + 4 Homemade Sides, all for $29.95 and the sides we got were as follows: 1) BBQ Beans with Pork 2) Mac & Cheese 3) Whipped Sweet Potato Sprinkled with spicy walnuts 4) Turkey Neck Greens To say the least, all the food was devoured rather quickly and I left happy and too sleepy. All the energy I had left was enough to pay the bill and walk back to Penn station. I needed a nap but had to trek it back home with the biggest case of food coma in my life. The path ride back home felt like I was in concord jet and ended up back home in a jiffy. Next time, I'm going to order the fried green tomatoes and hopefully save some room for the dessert.

    (4)

  • Inês L.

    Absolutely nothing vegan, unless you get lettuce but they did have a vegetarian sandwich and with some amazing sides, it was a great meal. But I wanted a little more of the sides! Everyone else enjoyed their wings, since there seem to be a bunch of options in flavors with those but no one got ribs or anything else "bbq" style. The restaurant was larger than I expected inside, reasonably priced and the staff was nice. I'd definitely go back, especially if they had some happy hour special since it's right by Penn Station.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    Had a really good meal on Saturday night before a concert at the Pru Center. I've been to the one in Harlem a few times, but this was my first trip to the new one in Newark. Wango Tango & Garlic Chipotle wings were excellent. I had the combo platter with brisket and ribs, which were very good, but not quite 5 star worthy. If you're planning on coming here prior to an event at the Pru Center be sure to make a reservation in advance. Even with a 6:15 reservation my party of 4 had to wait 20 minutes. People that were walk-ins had no chance of getting seated before the concert.

    (4)

  • Kathy A.

    Was really excited to try this spot that is conveniently located next to The Prudential Center, I buy the marinade all the time & love it. We went after the Devils game & as soon as we walked in the door was hit by the overwhelming smell of barbecue & the temperature in the restaurant was super hot. They need better ventilation. We sat down & our waitress took our drink order right away. We ordered Fried Green Tomatoes & the wings with the Wango Tango sauce. Both appetizers were awesome. Absolutely delicious! I ordered wings(mild) &pulled pork combo w creamy coleslaw & baked beans for dinner. Husband orders Ribs & brisket w sweet & sour coleslaw & gumbo. Just for the record out waitress didn't write anything down. We didn't see her for awhile & we were waiting a long time for our entrees. Finally food comes & it's our appetizers again....ummm we tell them we had them already & the server is annoyed. Another wait & our food comes, mine is fine but husbands is all wrong. He gets my exact meal. He tells the server what he ordered. & he is told they ran out of ribs & our waitress should of told him that & walks away... Basically too bad. Waitress insists that there were ribs available when he ordered... Says she will fix his order. & will send the manager over. Long story short... No ribs... Gets brisket & pork & sides. Dinner was ok not great.... Not running back. Whole experience was annoying. Oh & the manager never stopped by to apologize.

    (3)

  • Ashley P.

    Nah. Me and some girlfriends came here for lunch a couple of months ago. The place was packed, but we weren't in a hurry and didn't mind waiting for a table. After waiting for over 30 minutes, a group that came in after us was seated before we were, basically because they complained more. Kind of messed up. When we were seated, we were given a table too small for our party that was near the door and between two other tables - every time a waitress had to get to one of our neighbor tables, she had to rub up against me to squeeze by. Gross. The food wasn't anything to write home about. I got a grilled portobello which was burned and covered in charred scrapings from the grill. It was completely tasteless - I know that this place focuses on meat, but would it kill them to slap a little marinade, or even some salt and pepper, onto their vegetarian option? My companions were not super impressed with their meat options, though they didn't seem as displeased as I was. I don't even remember what sides I got, that's how boring they were. They get two stars because I had a good time with my friends otherwise and I thought the decor was pretty cool. I wouldn't go back though - just thinking about that crispy mushroom still makes me a little nauseous.

    (2)

  • cory b.

    The lack of salted potatoes that the Harlem location carries means they lose a star :( Great otherwise. The grilled acorn squash that they had as a special was kind of bleh, but the rest of it was fantastic. Among the best BBQ you'll find in northeastern NJ.

    (3)

  • Coury R.

    I would have given a better rating if the prices weren't so extreme. The ribs were very good for spare ribs, but the cost is insane. I have been to several other restaurants with more tender and better priced ribs. The collard greens and Mac and cheese were delicious! Great ambiance and service.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    people who have seen me eat can support the theory that I might have been a T-Rex in a past life as I'll eat pretty much anything. fitting that I ended up at Dinosaur BBQ, then! they stayed open late to handle the masses from the Iron Maiden concert. clever girl... good beers such as Ramstein and Shiner Bock are on hand and at decent prices too. I was quite the happy camper to see this! as for the food, the menu is quite diverse and you can eat as little or as much as you want. I went for the Texas brisket plate, which was a respectable portion of tender, smoky brisket topped with jalapenos. for the sides, I had mashed sweet potatoes with spicy walnuts (WHAT THE SHIT HAS SCIENCE DONE?!) and BBQ beans with pork. totally destroyed the whole plate. tried some of the ribs that Phil and Stacy ordered - really great, the meat just fell right off the bone! a variety of BBQ sauces are on the table too. the garlic/chipotle sauce and the habanero sauce were quite bitchin'. the tangy BBQ sauce was fairly standard, but that doesn't mean it was bad. service was quick and friendly, and the prices are reasonable. if you want my advice - just go here before/after you head to the Prudential Center for food and drank!

    (4)

  • Bob V.

    Great service and great food. Wish they had a place like this in Tampa. Came at 5 for a devils game. Sat us right away and the pounds of BBQ came out quickly. Took clients here and they were very happy. Waiter kept swinging by asking if we needed anything. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Lior S.

    I must admit I was a little disappointed. I really wanted to go to the original Dinosaur in NYC, and was so happy to learn that they opened one closer to home. The overall look of the place is fantastic. Long horseshoe shaped place with booths, a long bar, and then family style of the opposite side. Now the food. We really enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and the buffalo wings but the entrees were mixed. You go to a BBQ place to get MESSY and these guys seem to be very sauce-averse. I'm all for dry rubs and slow cooking but you have to cook with sauce...HELLO! I don't think I was the only one since some other tables I walked by seemed to have ribs for "take home" while other plates were clean (I could of course be wrong and they were "full"). The brisket looked delicious and the birthday boy cleaned the plate. We also really liked the sides, which thankfully didn't leave us going home hungry - would have loved to have creamed spinach though. Reading the other reviews I'm surprised to see extensive menu written since it was not even close to a recent BBQ restaurant I went to in the city. The place seemed overstaffed despite its size, and sitting by the kitchen we constantly heard the waitstaff entertaining itself and sounds of dropping dishes - they are plastic so no one was at risk ;) Also, since the area is narrow you constantly seem to run into staff trying to shuttle food to the other tables. Here's the kicker. When I got home to put my baby in bed I encountered a very odd smell. It took me a few seconds of sniffing my child to realize that she reeked of CHARCOAL. I then smelled my clothes and we both smelled like we were sitting in a smoker. Last I checked, this was not a cookout in a park where I had to walk with my plate to the BBQ and get immersed in it's natural and lovely smelling cloud of smoke. No volleyball net was anywhere in sight. This is a restaurant! Might want to address that.

    (3)

  • Phyllis O.

    Food was great! and ample. It could have been warmer when served. Lots to choose from on the menu. Great atmosphere. Our server was fun but a little too social. Reasonable prices. Looking forward to a return visit. We sat outside - only beer is served outside. A couple of homeless people tried to hit us up for money but we called the server and manager took care of the problem. Word must have gotten out, because after than we were not bothered. It did not alter my review of this restaurant. It's an urban city and somewhat expected.

    (4)

  • Shaviece H.

    We had the sweetheart deal & Wango wings. Nothing jumbo about the wings. They were wingettes. The SH deal comes with four sides. The sides were small and not enough really for two ppl. I really liked the baked beans. Potato salad was ok for a chain but I've made better. BBQ rice was ok/good. Would try again. Mac & cheese was ok. Wouldn't try it again. The ribs were really tasty. I prefer Carolina BBQ but this was good. St Louis BBQ...We did order takeout because we could not find parking ( on a Sunday) The one thing I will say is the staff needs to be a bit more professional, provided with more training and should wear uniforms.

    (4)

  • Taylor G.

    First time visiting this place. First Impression: Nice decor, homey, smells tasty, nice staff. Food: Bland. I tried the 2-meat combo(chicken & pulled pork) with whipped sweet potatoes, french fries and corn bread. The best part of this meal was the chicken. Very flavorful. The corn bread was dry, the potatoes were awkward and the french fries were burnt. Service: Waited 15 minutes after being seated to even SEE a waiter. Who came sporadically. Took his sweet time with the check as well. Prices: Pretty normal. Menu: Lacking in variety. I heard good things about this place but am very disappointed. HOWEVER, I will be giving them another chance because it could've been an off night.

    (2)

  • Eileen M.

    After attending a NJ Devils event, I went across the street to Dino's to an early dinner. There was a nice after work happy hour crowed in there along with a few diners. My sister and I both ordered the fried green tomatoes and the Brisket & Rib Combo with Mac and cheese with greens and lemonade to drink. I only ate a third of my plate and was full....although I wanted to eat it all it was so good and tender. I can't say enough about the wait staff, my waiter warned me about how they tow cars from 4-6 saved me 200 in tow fees. And when I came back in from the rain another waiter ran to hold the door open for me since it was storming out side. I've said enough......clean...good food...great staff. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Jon F.

    First time visit to D-BBQ. I've heard so many people tell me it's a great BBQ joint. It was good, but prefer other BBQ places in the NY area. The Salmon Fritters app was tasty. On to the entree... The rib plate was okay - my ribs were on the fatty side, the mac-n-cheese had a nice smokey flavor, and the BBQ fried rice is something different. The BBQ sauces on the table are good. It's next to the Rock so I'd stop back by for a bite and a frosty one if I'm going to an event. Otherwise, I'd rather make my way into NYC for good BBQ.

    (3)

  • Krista-Alana T.

    I came here Saturday afternoon, and the only reason I am not giving 5 stars is due to service. The service SUCKED! I can be a little hard on waiters/hostesses because I used to be one myself, but this was just bad. So bad. I came with my BF and his 7 year old daughter. The hostess (who didn't really offer any kind of greeting) told us to hold on one second while they buss the table. No probz. But when two women showed up after us, they were immediately taken to an open booth. Uhh.. what? We were then sat near the door at a high top table that was taller than the child I was with. WTF. When we told them we'd prefer a booth, we were told there were none open. Ugh, here we go... Our waitress -- or who I think was our waitress, as none of the employees have to wear any sort of uniform or matching style -- was literally the worst I may have ever encountered. She wasn't rude, and the food came out correct... but we never saw her. She came and took our drink order, came back to drop the drinks (she brought the 7 year old an adult-sized soda and charged us for it.. not sure if that's their policy? Most kids menus come with kids-sized drinks included) and take our order, then disappeared until she brought out our food. We wanted to order cocktails, but she was no where in sight, so I went up to the bar to order and pay for them there. My BF got a Schafer beer which he thought was hilarious because he thought it was a 70's beer. I got a Donkey Punch cocktail served in a mason jar. That drink is a delicious punch in the face. Rum on rum topped with rum. The food came out and most of the sins were forgiven. I ordered the Jerk & Pull Chicken Sandwich with a side of fries. It was very tasty... but not very hot. The 7 year old ordered a kid's meal of Pulled Pork Sliders with a side of fries and Mac&Cheese. She loved the sandwich but not the mac&cheese. I tried it and thought it was delicious, but could see why a child wouldn't enjoy it. It was a tad on the spicy side. My BF ordered a rack of pork ribs with turkey neck greens and mac and cheese. CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILD. Those greens. PHENOMENAL. We also ordered some corn bread for the table which was so good as well. We skipped dessert but I was eying some choices for next time. I will be going back to Dino BBQ many times in the near future. I just have ZERO trust in the waiting staff. We will probably sit at the bar to avoid the nonsense all together. I do want to give a shout out to the one employee who helped us out and seemed like a great staff member. Not sure of his name, but he was a late-20's slim black guy. He's the only guy working in the restaurant at the time I was there. If you see him, request him!

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Went with a small group on a saturday night. We got seated quickly and the staff was very very nice. I ordered the Ribs with chicken and pulled pork. Ribs were good but the best. They were tender and had a good sauce on them. Same goes for the pulled pork, it was ok. The roasted chicken however was really good. The sides were ok. I expected alot better especially on the BBQ rice. It had a weird after taste. I would probably rate them 3.5 if half stars were allowed.

    (3)

  • Tristan B.

    Dinosaur BBQ is a Rochester institution so when I found out that they opened a spot in Newark, I was super super excited! The Newark Dino BBQ is a good sized restaurant, though it pales in comparison to the Rochester location. The decor is pretty neat and industrial/retro style. The Dino BBQ has an extensive menu with everything from ribs to sandwiches and fried green tomatoes to gumbo. The fixings are also extensive with the standard mac and cheese, cole slaw, and baked beans. Overall, it is an extremely large menu for a BBQ joint. I would say that it is as large or larger than Famous Dave's. While I can talk about what they have on their menu for quite a while, it doesn't matter if they had a 100 page menu, what does matter is that the food is good! A wise man once might have said, "You don't judge a restaurant by its menu." I can report that the food here is indeed quite good and probably some of the best BBQ you can get without driving south and crossing the Mason-Dixon. The pork is super tender, juicy, and beyond scrumptious. The BBQ chicken is also really good (I have had BBQ chicken at the Rochester location and I am sure it translates pretty well). The others in my party had pulled pork sandwiches and really enjoyed theirs. The standard BBQ sauce while sweet is extremely good. The habanero sauce while it does have a kick is not super habanero-y, so don't judge a bottle by its label (don't get me wrong, it is indeed very very good). The fixings are all really good too. The mac and cheese is super creamy. The baked beans have a nice kick to them as well. I ordered a donkey kick adult beverage and it was really good. A very nice rum drink. I especially liked that it came in a mason jar. Service was good. Our server was really nice and enthusiastic. The kitchen made a mistake on one of our dishes and it was promptly fixed. Note that for those of you deficient in standard units, a pint is 16 ounces, don't make the same mistake as he who shall not be named and order a half pint and expect a nice sized glass of beer.

    (5)

  • S S.

    Was in Newark overnight and was getting ready to head back down to Maryland. Looked on Yelp and found this location. I'm so glad I did. I don't like BBQ but I do like smoked. We got there at 11:30 as they were opening up. There wasn't any street parking but there were public parking lots. I ordered the jumbo chicken wings with a side of mac-n-cheese and sweet potato soufflé and my friend ordered a platter for 2 because he was banking on taking the rest home. He had a full slab of ribs, bbq fried rice, backed beans, potato salad and turkey neck collard greens. My wings were smoked to perfection. I had the sauce put on the side but I chose not to eat it. All of the sides were very good along with the corn bread. As we were preparing to leave there was a lunch crowd lining up outside of the restaurant. We will return, definitely.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    Dino BBQ is amazing. Great food selection, great beer selection, cool southern vibe inside, and solid service. I was there with a group of about 20 and our waiter handled our table with ease. Water glasses were always refilled, kept bringing over napkins as needed, and was always ready to get us more drinks. Food was delicious. Got an order of wings to start with a spicy mango sauce and then got the Reuben special. Just an FYI there aren't a ton of vegetarian options if that is a concern.

    (4)

  • Cheryl J.

    I went to Dinosaur BBQ over the Labor Day Weekend. The restaurant was busy but not overly crowded. My daughter and I were greeted by the hostess and one of the servers showed us to our table. We asked to be moved to be moved to a different table because were were seated directly outside the kitchen. The table felt like it is in the way, since all of the foot traffic to/from the kitchen had to pass by us. I suppose we were seated there so that each server in the different sections of the restaurant had an equal number of patrons to wait on. however there were several tables that were empty in the front of the restaurant which have a better view. Our server was pleasant enough, though he was forgetful. We asked for 2 glasses of water, which he forgot. We did not receive cornbread with our entrees. We reminded him when we asked for containers for our leftovers. The Food We ordered the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. I thought they were delicious. My entree was a half slab of ribs, with whipped sweet potatoes and creamy coleslaw. I really liked the St Louis style ribs. I usually prefer baby-back ribs, but these were good! They are made with a dry rub which I've never had before. i decided to taste them before putting barbecue sauce on them ( there are bottles of sauce on the table) and I'm glad I did. The ribs were really flavorful without additional sauce. I definitely recommend the whipped sweet potatoes. Coleslaw was OK. My daughter had a combo platter - two meats with two sides. She had the pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, and greens. I thought the pulled pork was a little dry. I am from the south (NC) and I was expecting the vinegary flavor of East Carolina pulled pork. It tasted better once you added BBQ sauce. I liked the brisket, it was flavorful and moist. Mac and cheese, tasted like it had jalapeno in it, I wasn't ready for that. It was too creamy for my taste, i think it needed more cheese. The greens were very good also. We also had cocktails; Donkey Punch and Strawberry Caipirinha's. They were both very tasty. Finally, we shared a dessert, a slice of cheesecake with a raspberry sauce. The portion was generous and it was decent cheesecake. Despite a few short comings in terms of service, I would definitely give Dinosaur another chance and will be back. there are lots of things on the menu I want to try! It is also nice to see a BBQ restaurant in Downtown Newark. Note: There wasn't an event at the Prudential Center so parking was easy and convenient.

    (3)

  • Chrim K.

    Went here on a Sunday night and it was packed. Luckily we had a reservation for our party of 5. The food here is awesome. We all ordered combination platters (2 meats, 2 sides). Meats we had were chicken, ribs, sausage, and brisket. All were delicious, tender, and went well with the sauces on the table (habanero bbq!). The sides we had were gumbo, sweet potatoes, and mac and cheese which were all outstanding, as well as the corn bread that was served with each meal. They offer a nice selection of craft beers, as well as non-alcoholic drinks like sweet tea and Arnold Palmers. We will definitely be returning!

    (5)

  • Aly Y.

    Another overdue review. Went in late June. I guess they were still relatively new and hadn't quite got their act together. I hope by now (4 months later), they have worked out the kinks, like with their bartender who failed 3 times to give us an unsweetened ice tea (he finally tasted the pre-made iced tea and discovered that it was pre-sweetened). Long wait for a table even though there were many empty tables. Food was good though. I had the Korean short ribs - tasty and since I could use my knife and fork, I didn't have to get my hands dirty as I normally would if I ordered the baby back ribs. Liked the free parking in a private lot about a block away. Will give them another try.

    (3)

  • Mike M.

    For a NJ BBQ place, it's exceptional. The wings were terrific as a starter. We tried the St. Louis ribs, pulled pork and brisket. The brisket was good the other 2 were great. Reasonably priced and great service.

    (5)

  • L R.

    Pretty solid bbq. A bit more expensive than other places in ironbound nearby. The bbq is a well seasoned rub and the meat comes cleanly off the bone. The Korean style ribs are also good. I would stay away from the pulled pork and other entree offerings. The fried green tomatoes are a decent appetizer. For the sides the best appear to be the macaroni and cheese, sweet cole slaw, and fries. Their corn bread is slightly sweet but not the best you'll find around. Overall a decent place to go in Newark.

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    They had a nice set up, but I didn't enjoy my meal as much as I was hoping for. I'm not from this area though or I could have found a more suitable place to eat that is more my taste. Should still Check it out though

    (3)

  • Cara D.

    Went to Dinosaur again before a NJPAC concert and had to up my review to 5 stars. We had an hour until show time, told the host that and he relayed it to our waiter. He was at our table waiting for us to take our drink order. We ordered an app sampler and a few pork sliders due to time constraints and not wanting a heavy meal. Our food was out timely and together and, again, our sweet teas were refilled before we had to ask. My husband went NUTS for the deviled eggs, and their wings with Wango Tango are the best I have had in NJ. I can't say enough about the attentive and friendly staff. They were great and keep giving me a reason to go back!

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    I recently visited Dino BBQ in Syracuse, and it was phenomenal. I am a huge Devils fan and go to the arena 10-15 times a year so I was beyond excited when Dinosaur BBQ moved in next door. I went for the first time this past Friday and have to say it wasn't up to par. Our server was nice, but he brought out our drinks half way through our meal...after we had already reminded him. The food wasn't hot. It was warm to room temperature. The Pulled pork was about half fat, as were the ribs. The mac and cheese was cold. I love the food but it just wasn't prepared correctly. The wait staff was friendly but didn't seem to have the experience or training to do a great job. They brought us someone else's food at first and had no idea who ordered what food, for a group of 6 this was annoying. The decor and smell inside was great, and I'll be back to try again... because I know the food can be great, but everything was just poor in execution. Please improve, I want to like this place and give you my money!

    (2)

  • Lauren F.

    Came here 2X in the last 2 months and still very solid. St. Louis style ribs were awesome, my bbq bro & I barely polished off the full rack. It's Newark which I have to drive to, so no alcohol for us, though the non-alkie Arnold Palmers were good. 2nd time we wanted brisket & my boi wanted the peel & eat shrimp. Shrimp was ok but sauce was a little overpowering & the cornbread was soaked in it. Brisket was good, we totally wanted more and we got the fried green tomatoes both times (way better then my mom's) . We are planning to schedule ourselves for a return trip for the wings, which we don't normally do in bbq joints, but damn they looked good. Crowded can be mixed, local folks, business folks (as it's located near Newark Penn Station), and concert/event people (a stone's throw to Prudential Center, you can see the hockey player statue from the table). Staff is friendly but not intrusive (actually one waitstaff totally remembered us from the last time we were, which was the first time, and checked in with my buddy, who is currently disabled.) Await the return of @bbq_womp, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Newark!

    (4)

  • Chris E.

    I went here after a game one day and while I wasn't that hungry, I decided to order something because I heard from friends it was good. Anyway, the place is next to the Prudential Center and since it wasn't a Devil's game, the place wasn't too crowded. Decor is nice since you don't see many of these places in Newark and it looked cozy. Anyway, we weren't sure if we had to be seated since we didn't see a hostess so we sat ourselves at a table near the bar. Minutes later we were told we had to be seated. No biggie, it was our fault anyway. We finally get a table and now we are eager to try the delicious food we've been hearing about. Since we are newbies, we decide to barrage our server with some questions or suggestions. He seemed friendly enough but while asking questions and joking around (he was doing it too), he goes, "STOP INTERRUPTING ME!" to one of my friends. What's weird was it was the standard fare of questioning and our server seemed a bit odd and played it off like he was joking. If he was, any chances of us being normal was gone. We felt somewhat embarrassed and he pretty much ignored our table for the rest of our time there. I will say this though, THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS but poor customer service is such a major turnoff for anyone. I think at one point he was walking by and I tried to flag him down for service and just raised a finger and said, "you have to wait". He wasn't doing anything but walking by. Trust me, I was a server once at a place 10x busier than it was there and I managed my time (and attitude) with my customers. Probably the one time we wanted to leave no tip but we left him a couple dollars. What's really crazy is that I did really like the food and I want to come back. Crazy I know but I just hope I don't get the same server. UPDATE: When I return to this location, I will update my review. Like I said, the food was good and warrants a return for a second chance.

    (1)

  • Lizzz E.

    Visited Dinosaur Bar-B-Que last night before the Red Bulls game. Service was fast and friendly! Atmosphere was a lively buzz - even at 5.45pm on a Wednesday! Food was very good! We shared a three meat combo: St. Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket. (Skip the brisket). The Mac & Cheese and Bean sides were great! Overall Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was the perfect spot to get a quick bite before the game!

    (4)

  • Vanita B.

    I'm being generous, would give 3.5 if I could. The food is decent--the mac and cheese is tasty (not too dry) and the turkey burger is good too. The service, however, is slow. I came here for lunch on a weekday and had to wait for a confusingly long time, given that there were empty tables and we wanted to sit outside, which was even emptier. Our waitress was rushed, as well. Beware if you're meeting for lunch before getting back to work, which was my party's situation.

    (4)

  • Bee C.

    This was everything we hoped it would be. We went at 4:30 pm on a Friday and had no wait, but the place filled up fast. We got the 3/4 rack ribs, plate with pulled pork and brisket with sides of mac & cheese, coleslaw, cornbread and French fries. The cornbread wasn't our favorite, but there was so much food it didn't really matter. If you're in Syracuse go. It's worth it. They have a bunch of good beer on tap.

    (5)

  • Warren L.

    I was walking down Market Street toward the Pru Center for a Liberty game. I was running early and expected to stop at a burger place a block away but my eyes caught the sign, "Dino BBQ" and then the logo. Pleasant surprise. There are only a few places in the New York metro area that offer real BBQ and Dinosaur has its own unique style and ambience. Fine food, friendly staff...and right next door to the Prudential Center. On this first visit I had the beef brisket, fries and cole slaw. Next visit will be either pork or chicken. Yum.

    (4)

  • Bruce T.

    The location is great and it has everything that you would expect from a Dino BBQ place in terms in interior decoration. We had fried green tomatoes, the deviled eggs and then several plates of BBQ ranging from the baby back ribs - pulled pork - brisket and chicken. I felt that the quality of the BBQ was not at the level of the Dino in NYC. The brisket did not have the pink ring and was not tender. The chicken was good and the ribs were ok, but seemed over-seasoned and again had not spent enough time in the smoker. I love DINO and have been going for years. We will certainly give this location another try, but it just seemed a little "off" on this visit.

    (3)

  • David R.

    Highly recommended by the local folks. The food here was great and the small band playing when we came in was just right for this place. Actually it was just right for most any place. Nice heavy sax blues. Small but adequate selection of local and regional beers. I'm not a real BBQ connoisseur, I supposed it's a bit like art: I know what I like. This competes easily with what I've had in Memphis, St. Louis, and the Carolina's. Certainly better than any Texas BBQ (where they throw stuff on the grill, smother it with sugary ketchup, puff out their chests and call it BBQ.) I might have considered a 5 star rating, but the service was very, very slow. Pleasant, attractive, but damn ... I was hungry and thirsty. Well, thirsty and then hungry. I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Geoff c.

    Food is great. The meats are not too dry. Sauces are flavorful. Sides are done well. Service is good. The only drawback was that the servings are not as big as I thought they'd be (at least the brisket sandwiches aren't. nor the mac and cheese). For that price ($10-11 for a brisket sandwich + 1 side) I was expecting more. But that might just be influenced by my memories of eating brisket in texas, where everything is bigger. Drinks were also very expensive. $6 for a pint of yeungling.

    (4)

  • Tara B.

    If you've been to any barbeque-type restaurant, you know that you get to pick exactly what they put on your plate. Well, that wasn't necessarily what happened for us on Saturday night. Here's how good the food is: my boyfriend K went here on Friday for lunch. It was so good that he wanted to come back Saturday for dinner. There were 5 of us that went on Saturday and I made a reservation right through Yelp. We got to the restaurant a bit early and waited in the bar for our 5th. The hostess said she'd let us know when the table was ready. The beer drinkers were quite impressed with the selection on tap. I had a pom-berry fizz and although the flavor was good, it was not a strong drink. At the time of our reservation, K went and asked what the status of our table was because our 5th member had arrived. The hostess said "oh yeah you're table has been ready, it's right over there." Thanks for letting us know, I was maybe 25 feet away. Since we already had drinks, our waitress didn't ask for any more beverage orders. I'm a huge water drinker, so when we ordered our food, I asked for water as well. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese and whipped sweet potatoes. Halfway through our dinners we FINALLY got waters. R and K got exactly what they ordered. C and J did not. C ordered ribs and sausage and got ribs and pulled pork. J ordered mac and cheese and sweet and sour coleslaw but got fries. He mentioned that he wanted the cole slaw so the waitress did bring him some. She was quite friendly but not the most attentive. My pulled pork sandwich was on a cold potato bun. The smoky flavor was AMAZING but i would have liked it a little warmer. Perhaps a toasted bun would be nice too. The mac and cheese had a tiny cajun kick to it that was nice. The sweet potatoes come with "spicy" nuts on top but they just tasted regular to me. Apparently the sweet and sour cole slaw is amazing, but I have not tried it yet. The service also took a hit when it took 2 tries for R and C to each get another beer. K and I cleaned our plates :) R and C asked for theirs to be wrapped, so the waitress came back with 2 boxes and handed them over. I personally hate that practice- I am messy and not a professional, so if you could please scrape my plate over a sink, I'd really appreciate it. I also appreciated that there was a napkin dispenser on every table. I believe since there were ribs on the order we also got a pile of wet-naps. Here's a summary of my ramblings: PROS: takes reservations FANTASTIC flavors CONS: slow service/messed up orders food was room temperature to cool If you want to go here before an event at Prudential Center, ALLOW A LOT OF TIME! There was nothing at Pru Center that night and our service was still lethargic. We will definitely be back!!

    (3)

  • Michelle D.

    I've been going to this place off and on nfor a year and a half now and i really like their food. Their cuban sandwhich is great. Plus the fact that its right next to where the Devils play doesnt hurt either!!

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    We were there on Sunday, Mother's Day and I could not have been more pleased. We had 4 PM reservations and it was a good thing we had reservations. The place was jumping. We were seated in bar area in a booth which had great clean windows looking out on Prudential Plaza. I ordered the ribs and chicken platter with sides of mac and cheese and greens. The ribs were perfect....I left the bones squeaky clean...the meat came off that easily! They were so good with just the dry rub and smoke that I did not use any sauce. The chicken was tender and best of all juicy.....so many times bbq'd chicken is dried out, especially if it is cooked in bulk. The sides were very good. The one disappointment in sides was an order of slaw.....the slaw was not bad but $3.00 for barely a 1/3 of a cup is a little steep. Another companion ordered the salad wedge and was given a limp wedge of iceburg that should have had some of the leaves removed...a few cherry tomatoes and a little plastic cup of some dressing....$3.00-not worth it. My hubby had pulled pork and although the meat was flavorful, he was a little disappointed in the big chunks of meat....he is used to pork that is shredded with two forks....however, the taste was there....More ribs were eaten by others in our party and one person ordered the original burger that was so big it had to be cut in half and brought home for another meal. The prices are reasonable given the quality of the food and service (Thank you Devonne). The manager checked in on us a couple of times and we were just so pleased with everything.

    (4)

  • Susan B.

    My company is relocating to Newark so a bunch of co-workers and I went on a field trip to see the new office...but really to check out Dinosaur BBQ because we all heard so much about.....and it definitely lived up to all the hype! During lunch on an average week day the restaurant was not that crowded and the service was fast. The waiters/waitresses were also very friendly and helpful. Because we had a large group (about 20) we ordered a bunch of the Family platters which are a more than enough taste of everything! We were able to sample, chicken (very moist), ribs (AMAZING), pulled pork (great!), and brisket. All were really good. We also had a bunch of different sides. The mac and cheese was really good. Very cheesy and had a little kick to it. The baked beans were so yummy, perfectly sweetened with brown sugar! The french fries were crispy and not to oily. I am not a mayo fan, but the coleslaw was not bad because it was not drenched in mayo. The one thing I was looking forward to and thought was going to be better was the cornbread....it was just ok. We were all on our best behavior and didn't have drinks but I do have to say the lemonade was great! Served in a mason jar (great touch) it was not too sweet and not too tart! All in all....Dinosaur BBQ is 1 BIG POSITIVE of the relocation!

    (5)

  • Greg W.

    Not too shabby but won't knock your socks off either. I've gone a couple times for lunch now that the initial opening fever has subsided. The ribs are decent, the pulled pork is decent, a few of the sides are good. Service has been solid. Pretty good beer list and liquor selection. Prices are high for a bbq joint, but not outrageous. Overall its not a bad choice, a welcome addition into the neighborhood!

    (3)

  • Dawn G.

    Awesomeness on a plate! Had the BBQ chicken/pulled pork combo and it was amazing. Husband had the Cuban and said it was the best he's had. Huge portions, great beer selection too. Only complaint was the the service was a bit slow. We were told that everything from kitchen was made from "scratch", hence the wait. It was full , but not packed when we were there, couldn't imagine going before/after an even at Pru Center if service took that long!

    (4)

  • Kelly W.

    Food was great, I judge a BBQ place on their sides first, meat second. Mac and Cheese was outstanding, the greens and the baked beans were equally awesome and the gumbo was mild enough everyone could enjoy it. Ribs, chicken and brisket were great, brisket was slightly tough but had a lot of flavor. Also, their house smoked porter was good and the Donkey Punch cocktail seriously comes out of nowhere. This review though is more about the service. When you go, ask for Felicia. Probably one of the best servers I have ever had. Funny, friendly, knowledgeable. Everything came on time, her recommendations were spot on. She made an already good night out even better.

    (4)

  • Augusto M.

    Not a huge fan of Dinosaur in Harlem. Its good, but not wait for an hour good. I'll give this place another star just cause Newark is slim pickins. Good staff and good bbq sauce. not too sweet. A nice little kick. Brisket is eh. I've had better. But the pulled pork is pretty good. Especially with the sauce. As long as this place doesn't get too crowded its a decent place to eat and meet up in newark. BTW I hate their logo. That is all.

    (4)

  • Yatisha B.

    We had a wonderful experience at Dinosaur in Newark! My friend and I took my daughter there for an impromptu birthday dinner. The food was delish and the service was awesome. In fact, when we ordered desert and mentioned it was my daughter's birthday, the manager came over to ensure we were happy with our meals and our service, and gave my daughter a complimentary dessert. My girlfriends and I have been back twice since then for dinner. Great food, great drinks, great service!

    (5)

  • Kevin G.

    Meet a couple of College buddies here and was totally expecting sub-par BBQ and what a surprise !!! I got the 3 meat combo with brisket, chicken and ribs and everything was really good. The service was great too. The location was well decorated and a really nice BBQ atmosphere. The wings are off the chain as well :)

    (4)

  • R P.

    Barbeque Chicken, Jerk Salmon, Catfish, potato salad, cole slaws are all very good. Their sandwiches need help.

    (3)

  • Scott S.

    I have only done takeout here but I do plan on eating in next time. The ribs even 15 minutes later were awesome. I love their hot BBQ sauce with habanero. I heard the wings were good too.

    (4)

  • Electa L.

    The best thing about this place is the fried green tomatoes. Over priced, the barbecue is par boiled then baked a bit (not appetizing at all) and they managed to even ruin pecan pie by drizzling chocolate on it and skimping on everything thing that makes PECAN pie good. Save your money.

    (2)

  • Jonathan B.

    I've been to this place before and it gets pretty busy on event nights. This night was not a major event but the food took forever. They must have been short staffed somewhere. Our waitress was really nice and clearly working her ass off but it took over an hour before we had to cancel our order and head to our show @ NJ PAC.

    (2)

  • Lauren H.

    We really enjoyed our food! The fried green tomatoes are a must! The pork is extremely tender and full of flavor even without the sauce on top. The beans were my favorite side dish. It's hard to leave room for dessert but try to because the cheesecake is really good.

    (5)

  • Nikki R.

    When I first got staffed on a project in Jersey, I wasn't expecting much in terms of food, but a few good restaurant outings had my hopes (and expectations) high. Had I not had those experiences, maybe I'd be giving the Dinosaur BBQ a four, but alas, I cannot. The BBQ was okay. The ribs were good, pulled pork could have been a little more tender, and the brisket didn't have enough sauce. That being said, the flavor was pretty good, and the side of sweet potatoes I got were delicious, as was the salad dressing. Outside of that, I tried their two specialty beers, made just for the place. Both were okay, not the best I've ever had, but decent enough to match the decent dinner. Unfortunately, our waiter wasn't very attentive, so the entire meal took way longer than expected, which made the experience a little worse. Overall, not a bad place, but definitely not the best in town, and I'd venture a little further next time if I want BBQ again.

    (3)

  • Andrew P.

    I came here during an extremely hot day of being outside for over 12 hours total in the blazing sun. I was starving and insanely thirsty! When first walking in, I noticed that the customer service was pretty friendly. Once I sat down, some random dude in regular clothes asked what I would like to order. I said to myself "oh?, guess he works here". The waiter I had was ON POINT! Never asked if I needed refills, just kept swapping my cups as he was walking by & tending the other tables. He seemed very busy but still made sure he was paying attention to my table. It just seemed like everyone here was a very hard worker. The place was bustling with quickness and speed. There was not one person standing around or sluggishly walking. I give so much respect for people that have that type of work ethic. The food came out and it's pure BBQ pit style. Greasy, salty, charred goodness... you know what you're getting here. The stuff you need an entire roll of paper towels to walk away with a clean slate from. I thoroughly enjoyed the excellent service and the constant refills after a grueling day in the sun. On a $12 bill, I tipped the guy $10 cause I was that satisfied A quick lesson for you: The workers here just blend in. They aren't in uniform and don't have nametags. Did I go on a casual day? Anyway, just sit back and apprectiate the quick service, and take in the luxury of being around hard working employees. It's a rare sight these days. Oh, and the bathroom is a little scary, so stay away lol

    (4)

  • Christopher K.

    It was 1998. I had been living in Manhattan for about a year. And other than Virgil's in Times Square, nary a lick of real barbecue could be found anywhere on the island. New Yorkers didn't seem to care much. BBQ was not something we were clamoring for. Hell, you couldn't even find a decent cheesesteak in Manhattan back then either -- and that was far more concerning. Then the word got out that a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was opening in Harlem. Harlem! No one really knew it at the time, but this was probably the de facto opening of the portal for Harlem to eventually be gentrified by everything from Hipsters to Yuppies. Yep, that's right people. Blame it on Dinosaur. I, of course, was one of those people ready and willing to take a trip uptown to sample what was being billed at the time as some of the best BBQ north of the Mason-Dixon line. Back then Harlem was synonymous with crime and danger, as if The Warriors were still taking place out on the streets. Most of that was really just a bunch of silly hysteria generated by NYC transplants whose only understanding of Harlem was what they read in the Post or saw in bad TV shows. Hell, I was living in Chinatown at the time. Harlem had nothing on Chinatown when it came to crime and danger - just ask my former roommate. :0 That Dinosaur experience was an incredible journey. I can distinctly remember the wings being among the best I ever had. Other dishes like the pulled pork and dry rubbed ribs were also memorable. It didn't take long of course, for Dinosaur to start a barbecue mega-trend. Within just a few years, New York City would become the BBQ capital of the world. (In volume and variety, at least.) Last night was my first trip back to Dinosaur since the 90s, albeit this time at their Newark outpost. Marc N. and I were dragging our boys out for a quick dinner before a WWE Live event across the street at the Prudential Center. A decent kids menu kept the kids at bay long enough for Marc and I to wash our own meals down with a pitcher of Brooklyn Lager. But unfortunately, the food was hardly memorable this time around. Not that it was terrible, either, per se. But because I've now got another 17 years of barbecue-eating under my belt (literally), I've racked up some really amazing experiences. Sadly, the 'cue at Dinosaur simply does not rank up there with the best. We started with the smoked jumbo wings with spicy garlic-chipotle sauce, one of the hottest sauces they offer. Truth be told, they were neither jumbo nor spicy. The flavor was still decent though, and they were smoked nice and juicy. The blue cheese dressing on the side was a perfect accompaniment, and frankly, it was nice to depart from traditional buffalo wings for a change. We then shared a full rack of the dry-rubbed ribs. I'm used to ribs that slide right off the bone. I found these ribs to be a little too tough and fatty for my liking. The dry rub flavor was overpowered by the smokiness of the meat. And I was not a fan of the BBQ sauce on the side, which I was dipping into because the meat was just a little too dry. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend them. Sides were much better. If you order an entree that comes with sides, definitely try the BBQ fried rice. While super-salty and greasy, it is bursting with excellent flavor. Mac & cheese was also very good, as was the broccoli-carrot salad. Service was excellent for the most part, which says a lot considering there was a big WWE event about to start, and the place was filled with a thousand screaming kids running all over the place. We were in and out in under 45 minutes, which is exactly what we were hoping for. That said, if I was having a normal dinner here, this would have felt rushed. The only real scratch-my-head issue I had was with the outdoor seating. It was a beautiful night, perfect for sitting outside. And yet there is a "no alcohol" rule if you choose to sit on the patio. I'm sure it's some silly Newark law because of Dinosaur's proximity to The Rock. Well, I don't know about you all, but if I'm going to sit through four hours of men in tights pretending to beat the crap out of each other, then I'm going to need a few drinks. Check Dinosaur out if you're in the area. It's definitely convenient if you're attending an event next door. But I certainly wouldn't make it a destination trip. There's a lot of better barbecue out there than this.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    This place is just shy of 4 stars. I've been here a handful of times and Dinosaur BBQ is definitely a welcomed edition to Newark. I love how its walking distance from the boyfriend's apt so we can get some good ol' BBQ pronto whenever we're in the mood. I think I had high expectations for this spot, mainly bc my friends in Syracuse always rave about the original location there. My faves are the smoked wings with their wango tango sauce (nice kick & DELISH). I can eat a platter of this by myself. Smoky, succulent wings with the perfect sauce... Drooling. Fried green tomatoes are alright. BBQ chicken has great seasoning but is more on the dry side. Sadness. Brisket is a hit or a miss; it makes me very sad panda when it comes out all dry. Skirt steak is tender but small for the price, and the ribs are like CRACK. Fried rice is sad, gumbo is mediocre, cole slaw & potato salad are my faves. Def gotta try the pulled pork & sausages next time to get the full experience. I've been here with big groups and they are very accommodating. Service can be spotty and the drinks are on the weaker side, but I'm happy to have a good BBQ spot in Jersey.

    (3)

  • Cory X.

    I got the 2 meat combo meal (brisket and pulled pork), with beans and pork and the bbq fried rice. The food here is delicious and although it is in Newark, it is totally worth it. The sweet tea tastes great but the water tasted just awful for some reason. The cornbread is one of a kind but they didn't have it the last time I came. We waited 20 minutes and still nothing, this shouldn't happen. Service here this time was a little slow, but I have had great service before.

    (4)

  • Tressi J.

    I hate to tell y'all, but this barbeque sucks! Take it from a Southern girl who knows her shit! I had the worst bbq of my life here tonight. The sides sucked too. The only thing good was that the waiter was nice....I left hungry and mad! Never again.

    (1)

  • Stephen S.

    Soon after arriving at our hotel in Newark, we headed over to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, where our group of 14 Anaheim Ducks fans had 7:15 reservations for Thursday-night dinner. We were quickly seated at a couple of large tables at the back of the restaurant, in view of a television on which we hoped to watch the Ducks play the Bruins in Boston. We had two waiters, Mel and Tita, who were very friendly and did a pretty good job throughout the night. Mel kept us entertained while we were ordering, and his reaction was hilarious when he found out that we were visiting from Southern California. My girlfriend and I ordered the Jumbo BBQ Chicken Wings with their mild honey BBQ sauce along with something not on the menu, a vegetarian or vegetable platter of four sides plus cornbread. We chose Mac & Cheese, Turkey Neck Greens, BBQ Fried Rice, and the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. Others at our table shared some of their food with us, so I got to try the Fried Green Tomatoes, which I thought were good, and the Dino Poutine as well. I'm a big fan of poutine, but the version here didn't work that well for me. The pulled pork gave the dish a barbeque flavor that I thought was out of place, and the dish lacked cheese curds, which I consider essential in poutine. It wasn't bad, just not as good as I'd hoped. Unfortunately, I'd developed a terrible headache on our flight, and during dinner had to excuse myself to take a walk and eventually return to our hotel room. My girlfriend thoughtfully brought some of our food back to the hotel so I could eat it later when I felt better. She didn't bring any of the Jumbo BBQ Chicken Wings, so I didn't get to try them, but she told me that even though they came with the "mild" honey BBQ sauce, they were way too spicy for her. The Mac & Cheese was delicious, with a nice layer of cheese melted on top and a slight spiciness. The Turkey Neck Greens were also great, moist, slightly sweet and tangy, with little cubes of carrot mixed with the greens. And like the Mac & Cheese, slightly spicy as well. I also enjoyed the BBQ Fried Rice, which had plenty of bits of meat in it, and was--you guessed it--also somewhat spicy. The Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was okay. As expected, it was more spicy than the other sides. There was plenty of chicken in it, but I expected to also see some slices of sausage, and there were none to be found. Even though I wasn't feeling well, I enjoyed my time at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and the food I ate there as well as what I had later in our hotel room. I'd certainly eat there again if I was in the area. One common theme at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que seems to be "spicy," as most of the food had a kick to it, even items that you wouldn't expect to like the Mac & Cheese. That's okay with me, but if you've got a low tolerance for spicy food, review the menu carefully and ask questions before ordering.

    (4)

  • Lisa M.

    I was pleased to find a Gluten Friendly restaurant, and was greeted by a super friendly server named Jamel (aka "Mel). He was very helpful, even asking the chef, when I was asking a million questions about the menu and my food allergy. The food was great, and I received the BEST compliment EVER! I got carded for my glass of Malbec! Which made me jump up and hug him, literally. (he was only 20 years off.....) This guy is goin places :)

    (5)

  • Nicole D.

    All I can say is WOW!!! First time going and I was very happy, the food was amazing and great service. The donkey punch I highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    Love this place. The only reason I will set foot in downtown Newark is this place. Great for when NJ Transit trains are messed up because this is just a 5 minute walk from Newark Penn Station- and if you follow the signs to the Prudential Center, there's a walkway that keeps you inside for all except the last block you need to cross. My go-to meal here is the Memphis pulled pork sandwich- the meat is always tender, the slaw has a nice bite to it, and the roll is always soft. Side-dish wise, I've tried a few of them. I like the baked beans but the portion they give is on the small side. I like the Mac and cheese but occasionally it comes out all oily instead of creamy- but you can send it back and they'll do a fresh batch. I also like the gumbo, through occasionally it has come with an oil slick on the top. The Harlem potato salad is really good. Beer selection is great. I'm a sucker for 90 minute IPA which they have on draft, and the Kane Overhead is a close second for me. They also have a house brand smoked porter that is a nice change of pace. I think a lot of people don't even know that there is a Dinosaur BBQ location in Newark- my co-workers always assume that I wait hours at the Harlem location, but nope, I go to Newark and walk right in. Hint: if you go right before a Devils game it can get very crowded. Wait until 15 minutes after game time and you'll be fine.

    (5)

  • Michelle R.

    I sense a theme in New Jersey that unlike NYC, things here are slow. As suggested, I did call ahead to book a 7:15 pm table for 14 people on a Thursday night, and asked if we could have a TV so we could watch the Anaheim Ducks vs Boston game. On a non game day, its not busy here at all. The staff here was very friendly. We had Mel and Tita help us and we really liked their cheerful attitude. The service was a bit hit or miss as we had to ask for refills, wait for the food, etc. So don't expect super fast service. The portion here are generous. The food has a KICK to it, so if you don't like spicy, you may have a problem here. A bunch of us was really into their sides menu, and wanted to know if we could just order sides. They said there's a "SECRET" menu item, called the Veg Platter, which consists of 4 sides and a corn bread for $9.95. The 4 sides were perfect for a meal! - Gumbo - it was ok - Mac n cheese (had a kick to it) - Fried rice (YUM) - Greens with turkey neck (OMG the best choice) I also ordered the Honey BBQ wings, which were marked as "Mild". Oh my goodness were they SPICY... They either got the wrong wings, or I would hate to see what "not" mild tastes like. We ended up staying until 10:00 pm when they closed. I'd come back here.. perhaps try their other location.

    (4)

  • Amy K.

    Very nice hang. Friendly staff & great neighborhood vibe. Great barbecue. Convenient, easy parking.

    (4)

  • Brittany C.

    Omg the food's so good! That dirty rice almost brought me to tears (I'm a good way). I had the BBQ platter and shared with a few people and we were all perfectly satisfied. Our server was so nice and everything came on time despite us having a party of 16. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for good bbq.

    (4)

  • Olayinka A.

    Awesome, a little short of amazing. The Tres ninos is my fave dish.

    (4)

  • Michael F.

    I ate here last night. Got a rack of ribs with sides. Just ok. I would go back to give some other dishes a try.

    (3)

  • Amalia Y.

    I think I expected more from a place with a reputation as solid as dinosaur bbq's. this location right outside of the prudential center is a convenient stop after a Devil's win, before suffering through a long NJTransit commute home. on my last visit, unfortunately, the staff didn't seem prepared for a rush of hungry hockey fans. service was haphazard, clumsy, and inconsistent. the food was okay. we started with their poutine appetizer- fries, pulled pork, cheese, gravy... oy vey. as expected, the dish was greasy, salty- pretty good, actually. after trying all of the bbq sauces available, I wasn't thrilled with any of them- they seemed thin and lacked that smoky depth of flavor I was hoping for. for my meal, i ordered 6 wings, and was not thrilled- they were half-wings, and were just mediocre. no wet naps resulted in quite a mess. Boy enjoyed his pulled pork sammich and mac n' cheese. i'd come back for some pregaming or post-hockey drinks and a bite, but definitely wouldn't make a special trip just to eat here.

    (3)

  • James C.

    To me this is the BBQ spot. They have great combo meals so you can satisfy your savage desires to taste a little of everything and not crush your wallet in the process. Service is always spot on and food is always great. BBQ sauce is so good they could bottle it. Oh wait they do. Buy some! Dino BBQ - In!

    (5)

  • Sierra S.

    **WARNING** I'm from the south:) WHAT WE ORDERED: ribs, brisket, pork, collard greens, Mac n cheese, chicken, mashed potatoes PROS: Overall, I thought the ribs were pretty good. Meaty, tender, and a bit pink (which I'm a fan of). The beef brisket was good. And the pork was too. The BBQ sauce flavors aren't memorable, but they're not bad at all! Friendly waiter. Very reasonable prices. CONS: the reason they don't get a 3rd star from me is because all the sides need work. The cornbread was dry. My friend said it tasted like wheat bread. I thought it just tasted like a dry piece of bread. The greens ....had a flavor I didn't care for. The Mac n cheese...tasted like a spicy version of Kraft instant Mac n cheese. The mashed potatoes reminded me of the ones served in elementary school. WOULD WE GO BACK: probably ---I would get ribs or brisket from here again if I was in the area but I wouldn't make a special trip for it. (I wouldn't order any sides from here again.) The search for good, southern-style food continues...

    (2)

  • Eric V.

    Perhaps the worst-tasting tomato-basted bbq sauce I've ever had paired with stale mac n cheese and a whipped sweet potato that did absolutely nothing for me in this Newark, New Jersey bbq joint. Perhaps their Syracuse location is better? I doubt I'll make the effort to find out. Why stray from Italian food and steak while in NYC? At least a Social Distortion song just played in the restaurant. I guess I'll bump this place up a notch . . . to 2 stars.

    (2)

  • T C.

    Stopped in for a quick drink ! The bartender Kareem is amazingly funny and pleasant !! The food smells good and the environment is family fun!

    (4)

  • Terry D.

    So my fault that I already forgot my servers name and I've only been here 5 minutes and only had one beer. But it's good to see staff that understand the business. He checked my ID and noticed that I'm from Illinois. Be then asked if I was from Chicago and I am from the Chicagoland area and said yeas. He let me know if I liked the food I should visit the location that is opening in Chicago soon. I mentioned that someone at the Syracuse location said there would be a restaurant opening in Chicago. He said so you like the brand that's good so definitely stop by the Chicago location. Working in HR, it's always refreshing to hear someone who is enthusiastic about the company they work for and its not just a drudgery to be gotten through everyday. So that upped my experience ten-fold! Jamel, his name was Jamel. Management, you have a keeper!

    (3)

  • Shaquana A.

    I never dined inside here. I always order take out. For some reason they do not give you enough. I ordered the bbq rice and they gave me a small black baby cup of it. That was not enough for me. The wings looked like they slapped a lot of sauce on them. I was not happy. Their deviled eggs were delicious!!!!

    (3)

  • Mersadies C.

    RIP Joe. So sorry. I came in and things are much better. Glad to hear some of the bad seeds are no longer staff here. I will be coming in more offten. My food looks and tastes great today. Very happy. Thank you Mr. Joe S may you rest well.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    We went after a concert so it was a little busy. Not too bad, we waited about 10 minutes to be seated which was super quick for me. We were not greeted or asked to order drinks for about 10 minutes. Which was pretty long in my opinion... Had the donkey punch (strong as heck! Worth it lol) and the 1/4 rack of ribs. Says on the menu this comes with 3 ribs but I got 4. Lol Bonus! Ribs were delicious, smokey and topped with just the right amount of sauce. Mashed potatoes and gravy were awesome!!! My friend likes the Mac and cheese, and we both agreed that the corn bread was blah. Not the sweet corn bread you're used to more like a drier, savory one. Would definitely go back to try some other stuff. If you're ever at Prudential for an event just follow the yummy BBQ smell right next door afterwards.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle P.

    I'm giving the place two stars because they ran out of their essentials when I got there! A hand-written sign on the door informed us that the restaurant did not have any ribs. In addition, after ordering some gumbo, I was informed that they had no corn bread, and no rice. I know this place has a great menu, so I was disappointed. The bartender was great. I guess I'll have to call in advance before I come expecting ribs..........

    (2)

  • Jeffrey S.

    I really enjoy a good bar-b-que place and Dinosaur is no exception. Love the bar, seating area decor and layout. The three times I have been here the food has been consistently good. Waits are not too bad although, if you are going to an event at Prudential and plan on moseying on over afterwards, the line can be down right oppressive. Funny that everyone else there must have the same idea because, after all, Dinosaur is about the most convenient restaurant to Pru Center. It's also the most delicious. The one problem that I experienced is that the pretty, thin African American hostess is generally pissed off or at least she has been every time I have been there. No idea why but if you're that unhappy in your job, you should probably look elsewhere. It's a total bummer waiting to be seated for what you know is going to be a delicious meal and witness someone who's job it is to be congenial and friendly, lighting up one of their co-workers. I usually order a combo plate because deciding between ribs, brisket and pulled pork is a decision I have yet to be able to make. It's just all so damn good. Have I had better bar-b-que, absolutely. but this place is reasonable, fun and delicious. It's also more than convenient and never disappoints. Prices are actually less than I would otherwise expect to pay so I'm more than happy. Be back soon.

    (4)

  • K F.

    Order: 1) House Special - ¼ Chicken (Leg/Thigh) + ¼ Rack of Ribs w/ Gumbo and BBQ Fried Rice with BBQ meats $16.95 2) Southerner Burgers w/ BBQ Fried Rice with BBQ meats $12.50 Decided to go to this restaurant after an event held at Prudential Center. We ordered House Special - ¼ Chicken (Leg/Thigh) + ¼ Rack of Ribs and comes with 2 sides which I chose Gumbo and BBQ fried rice with BBQ meat and a cornbread. 2nd ordered was Southerner Burgers with BBQ fried rice as a side. Ribs are taste very good very tender and juicy. I really hate certain restaurants making BBQ ribs not ribs texture where they broiled the meat and taste like pull pork texture style with bones and ruined the entire ribs. This restaurant, they did an excellent job cooking the ribs. I felt like ¼ Racks not enough for me. ¼ Chicken - I ordered Leg/thigh area. I would say the outside skin had lots of flavor but inside is too plain. You will need some bbq sauce for dipping. Both sides' dishes and burgers are awesome not surprised enough to describe. However, the cornbread too small and also doesn't taste that good. I feel like the cornbread is missing something. I would suggest come to this restaurant for the Rack of ribs. Services are nice. People are friendly. No trouble or problem at all.

    (4)

  • Dan B.

    Came here a few times before heading to Prudential for a devils game. The food is ok not the best southern/country style food but not the worst either. Prices are reasonable and the portions are ok sized, nothing compared to the portions down south where everything is larger. I usually get their bacon (i love it) with mashed potates. I def recommend the bacon because its smoked and cooked in house. I've had their ribs and the chicken. Both are delicious but I can order the bacon all day.. Service is good.

    (3)

  • Krystal Archer N.

    There food was amazing when it first opened. Now im not sure what happened. Theres so much hype over it but it lacks so much. Wish it stayed the same, sad to know another place that went down.

    (2)

  • Marquis C.

    Barbecue joints are lacking in NJ... DINOSAUR Bar-B-Que comes around and makes up for that in the BESTEST way possible. #RugratsLingo I came here on a business lunch with a vendor of mine, who wanted to take me and my manager out in appreciation for our patronage. I chose "Dinosaur" since their office was in Newark. You walk in, and immediately smell barbecue, without the overwhelming smell of smoke that you would get in some more divery joints. First off... Their appetizers are the bees' knees. It was my first time trying Fried Green Tomaters. Yes, tomaters. DINOSAUR makes theirs in an original-style, and a "Fancy" style that is adorned with southern-style pimento cheese and pico de gallo. De-freakin-licious. Their wings are the shiznit. A truly BARBECUED wing, with an amazingly light kiss of smoke and char, but saturated with dope flavor. The shrimps? On point. I had the Brisket Plate as my entree. May I just say that it was my first time ever having true smoked, barbecue brisket in my LIFE. Soooo tender, juicy, and the sauces that they have at the tables are # TheBomb.com .... I ordered gumbo & sweet potatoes as my sides. Gumbo didn't exactly make my toes curl. The mashed sweet potatoes weren't uber-sweet as most people are accustomed to, but they certainly were refreshing and filling. It was nice to have sweet potatoes that weren't doused in syrup that was sweeter than RuPaul. The staff is pretty friendly. Not TOO engaged, but they're not overly fake and pretentious. Just a real, down-home piece of Americana in the middle of Newark. I'm a new fan.

    (4)

  • Kerry C.

    Went 10/29/2014 with two coworkers and we shared all of our food. I ordered the original BBQ brisket sandwich with sweet & sour coleslaw. The bread/roll was a bit dry, did not taste like a potato roll. The brisket was cooked well & there wasn't a lot of sauce on it. Tasted good though and I did try each of the Dino BBQ sauces on the table. The coleslaw was lacking in flavor and was not cold enough for me. I like my coleslaw cold. One coworker ordered the smoke fried half bird with corn bread, with whipped sweet potatoes and turkey neck greens. The chicken was cooked well, not a lot flavor so we all used the sauces on the table. The cornbread was ok, a bit on the dry side. The sweet potato was a bit too sweet and the spicy walnuts did not go well with it. The turkey neck greens was good but too salty. One coworker ordered the original pulled pork BBQ sandwich with mac and cheese. Pulled pork was cooked well and did not have a lot of sauce. We used the table sauces again. The mac and cheese was what one would expect mac and cheese. Overall, the meats were cooked well. They definitely want you to eat it with the sauces on the table or eat it as is since each meat did not come with abundant sauce on top or on the side. I did not like using cold, not fresh sauce on my BBQ. I've definitely had better BBQ at other chains.

    (2)

  • Kevin M.

    This is the 2nd time I've been here and I have to say I am more than happy to give them praise! The food is fantastic the service is great and it's a great chill spot. Our server Mel was so personable and very knowledgeable of the menu. You want soul food look no further dinosaur cafe is the spot to go.

    (5)

  • Lauren K.

    My primary reason for visiting Newark is hockey and Amtrak. I mean why else would anyone go to Newark. I was elated when Dino opened. Because living in NJ, I hate schlepping to Harlem. It's far. Anyways before a Devils game this place is packed with people pre gaming. I mean, why are you going to give the Devils $9.25 for Crap or Crap Lite? I really love Dino's craft beer selection. I usually go for the Blue Point, but they rotate their taps. That makes me happy. Beer is about $6-7 a pint. My favorite things to munch on pre-game are the wings and Mac & Cheese. I love the Mac & Cheese. I sometimes dream about the cheesy goodness. Basically if you love cheese, you will love the Mac & Cheese here. The chicken with lime is good too-it isn't a fatty cut of meat. This is my favorite restaurant/bar in the immediate vicinity of prudential center. They have the best beer selection. The bar tenders are attentive and good at managing large crowds of people. I'll be back at the next Devils game.

    (4)

  • Philip R.

    Great BBQ. Live the original in Syracuse and happened to be in Neeark, NJ for business. Tried it and although different menu items found some great favorites like the Wango Tango wings and new items like bbq fried rice. Very good!

    (5)

  • Rachel D.

    Service: Solid. + I made an online reservation for 8:30 on a Saturday night (only 3 hours before the reservation time) and it was honored. They seated us five minutes after we walked in. + Our waitress was very sweet (and cute) and took our orders relatively fast and made sure that we received refills as needed. When there was a problem with our order she corrected the situation promptly. FOOD: Blahhh + My bf had the ribs and said that they weren't good. The meat wasn't well-seasoned. The BBQ sauce didn't really do much justice either. +I had the 1/2 fried chicken and that was tasty! The meat (albeit a little dry) was flavorful and the skin crispy. + We ordered four sides: BBQ rice w/ the BBQ meats, Mac and Cheese, Sweet and Sour Coleslaw, and the gumbo. I didn't like ANY of the sides! My bf enjoyed the Mac and Cheese and Coleslaw. OVERALL: Never again + We won't come back here. Since 2011 we'd spoke about coming here, but after eating here last night we see that we hadn't been missing out on anything for the past four years. There are wayyy better BBQ spots throughout NY and NJ.

    (3)

  • John B.

    When they first opened the food was really good however during the past 6 months or so it has steadily went down hill. The ribs I ordered about 2 weeks ago can only be compared to day old BBQ shoe leather. They were so tough and chewy, Ribs are supposed to fall off of the bone by themselves if cooked right. I had trouble chewing them off of the bone they were so tough. The pulled pork sandwich I ordered about a week after was tasteless, extremal fatty and well. the name pulled pork should indicate its already pulled??? It was horrible. on a side note, the bathrooms are always horrendously filthy and never stocked with soap or paper towels.....way to look out for your customers Dino People. As a courtesy sent a direct message to the manager though here and was simply ignored so I thought I would share my experience with the public. Clearly they are content since they seem to only care if they pack the place on the "event crowds" and rake in the money, quality food is not their priority any more.

    (2)

  • Kristol M.

    My friend and I decided to try the ribs, so we got the sweetheart deal. Full rack and 4 sides - turtle neck greens, Mac n cheese, sweet potato and creamy coleslaw. The collar greens were a bit too salty, but the rest of the sides complimented the ribs well. I liked the coleslaw, the texture and creaminess was great combination with the ribs. We even ordered another side of Mac n cheese. The ribs were honestly a little dry, but the home made sauces softened it up with great savory spice. We ended our meal with two desserts - keylime pie and the chocolate peanut butter pie with vanilla ice cream. Both were very delightful. Our bartender was sweet, he was helpful for the most part. Just a tip for all servers and bartenders, water should be given all around weather you ask or not.

    (3)

  • Sarah G.

    I can't imagine anyone having something bad to say about this place! I came here at around 7 on a Friday night. My friend and I were seated right away and greeted quickly by our server. It was my first time there so he walked me through the menu and answered our questions about the beer list. We ended up ordering both flights of beer, the smoked veggie porto sandwich with the whipped sweet potatoes and black beans with rice, and the brisket sandwich with fries and mac & cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious. The veggie sandwich was flavorful, and the sides were great! I can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Mike P.

    I couldn't have been more pleased tonight. I had tried to make a reservation, but none were available until late. However, the hostess assured me that I would be accommodated, so I took her at her word. We arrived and our party of 4 was seated immediately. Our server, Joe, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and on point. He was a complete bonus on top of the fact that the pit master was on his game tonight! He simply went above and beyond. Joe was clearly knowledgeable about the product, and he seemed flat out excited to be a part of the team. The beer selection is exceptional for a BBQ joint. A nice range of craft beers on top of your usual suspects. As for the food: Started with some wings again, this time doing half wango tango and half garlic chipotle. The garlic chipotle pack a touch more heat, though they aren't significantly spicier than the wango tango. Both sauces provide a different flavor combo, the wango tango providing a sweet and salty spice, with the garlic chipotle being not so sweet or salty with a garlic/hot pepper kick. I'd still like a touch crispier skin, but still some darned good chicken wings. I'll just stick with my last assessment of the St Louis Ribs: meaty, flavorful, great smoke ring, nicely seasoned, with just the right pull from the bone. Well done! I like the confidence in serving them without sauce. Brisket: Thanks to Joe, a stepped up rendition. We asked for more towards the point of the brisket, with a hefty amount of bark, and we got it! Moist, flavorful, delicious brisket, with just the right amount of smoke flavor. Mmm... However, the low point was the pulled pork. Not bad, just not on the level of the other que. Could have a little more moisture in the pork itself, so as not to rely on the sauce as a crutch. Good, not great. I enjoyed the Korean style beef ribs. Thinly sliced with a sweet Asian style glaze of soy, hoisin and ginger. The texture and flavor were well done. The portion size was a little bit on the small side, especially given the $2 surcharge to include them in the sampler. However, it's hard to quibble over $2, and they really were quite good, and I'd probably order them again. Last time we had the-- BBQ chicken, and I'd said, "nice job here. A full bird, chopped in 1/6 pieces. Moist and delicious. I prefer a flash fry at the end to get that skin nice and crisp, but that's just my preference. The seasoning is on, as is the saucing, but that fatty almost rubbery skin just doesn't work or me." Problem solved! The smoked then fried half bird! This bird is smoked until just shy of done, then battered and fried until it is a perfect hybrid of smoked and southern fried chicken! Moist, flavorful and delicious, with a skin that is a perfectly seasoned crisp bite of heaven! The semi-boneless aspect makes it easy to cut and serve, while maintaining the frame of the chicken. A must-order for BBQ and fried chicken aficionados alike! Similar review for the--Baked Beans: very good version. A little saucy, and a little better on the pork add-in with a nice sweet, smokey flavor. Sweet Potatoes: delicious! Even got some of those walnuts that they this time around. I liked it better, but due to the nuts, my kids liked it less. I guess there's no pleasing everyone... Corn bread: still just ok. A little dry with that out of a box flavor. A clear throw-in. That being said, my 3 1/2 year old would have eaten every piece on the table if we hadn't cut him off. Black-eyed pea salad: a surprise highlight from last time, has been retired. According to Joe, it just wasn't so popular at the Newark location. The collard greens were very tasty. They provided a nice vinegar base, and that acid certainly helped to cut through some of that BBQ. I'm not usually a slaw fan, but this sweet and sour rendition was not overly mayo based, and the cabbage was still nice and crisp, indicating a very fresh version that hadn't been marinating for hours. The cabbage had not withered to death, providing a fantastic texture. There was a mac and cheese as well, but I did not sample it and can offer no review. Just wanted to mention it was in fact part of the order. All the aforementioned food was a very good value at $95. Plenty of leftovers to take home as well. Word seemed to spread of our knowledge and passion for BBQ as even Percy, the manager, came over to check on us and thank us with a huge smile on his face. It was just a delicious and welcoming experience. Word to the wise. Do yourself a favor and look up the event schedule at the Prudential Center before you go. If you don't have a reservation, or simply don't want to get caught up in a huge crowd, try to schedule your time either in the middle of the event there or during an off time. If you go before an event or as one is letting out, Dinosaur will get pretty crowded due to its proximity to the arena.

    (4)

  • Eileen k.

    The food is great so I continue to come for decent BBQ but, I definitely have some complaints. For one thing, service always take a long time (dine-in and take-out). When we do take out, we always try and compensate for the long wait (I get it, good food can take time) but more than once, we will give the place 40 mins before we try to pick up and I will still have to wait in the take-out area for the food to be ready. Secondly, more than once, the orders have been wrong. The first time this happened we didn't check before leaving the place and when we got home, items were missing and there were doubles of sides that we didn't order. Thank goodness we live so close that it's not too big a deal to go back, but it can get annoying. But yeah, now we always check the bag before we leave. The workers have always been apologetic and quick to remedy the situation when things went wrong, so we never go in raging about a wrong order. The place is always super busy when we go so we understand mistakes happen when things get frantic. Despite the hurdles to get the food, I do enjoy it and the convenience of location is hard to beat. Cost is not cheap, but if you're smart about what to order, I think the value is there. My recommendation is to order a sandwich platter, where you get a decent sized sandwich and two sides for like $12.

    (3)

  • Chesha H.

    I came on another busy Devils game night. I liked the "text message" based seating arrangement where you are sent a text when your seat is available. This gives you time to run to your car or grab something from the convenience store two buildings down. Despite how busy the place was, I didn't wait long (10mins) as most of the patrons were at the bar. Since I was alone at the time, I had greater seating options; unlike the larger groups. Now, my food: I wasn't a fan of the collard greens as they were on the sweet side. The really sweet side. I prefer a more savory or even vinagary green accompaniment. The Mac and cheese was better than expected. Nothing like my Mac and cheese or even whole foods(plug) Mac and cheese ..which gives you the sharp cheddar zing with a creamy mouth feel but still a firmness to the pasta. So, Dino's mac and cheese cabd be described and a subtle blue box Kraft brand using elbow noodles and with a sprinkling of sharp cheddar on top. Please correct me Yelpers if I'm sure wrong Sad thing is, I'm trying to remember what my entree was. I know it was chicken but it wasn't memorable at all. Should have taken a picture. Cornbread's good. My low calorie adult styled uptown was just okay. I'd return. Just won't order the collards and I'll have the small portion of Mac and cheese if I'm in the mood for some underwhelming. Hey wait! I forgot to mention the small portions of the sides. Anywho. Yup. Enjoy

    (3)

  • Fred D.

    Well we had to try it. We've been to a couple of Devils games and you can help but visit here. I'm not a fan of BBQ or soul food in general. But honestly, the flavors are good. The kitchen can be a bit more organized though. They sent out thing in the wrong order and ignored our request for Jo pickles or mustard on the Cuban sandwich. Nevertheless, the server (Ben) made it good and we enjoyed it. Well be back next time we're at a game... If we can get in.

    (4)

  • PV D.

    Very good BBQ bc the meat is always cooked right - not under or over cooked. For me, I usually get the pull pork and brisket combination. Pull pork just melt right off the bone and the brisket is perfect. The sauce is never too sweet and it always hit the spot. There are sides dishes that come w the meal however always get the Mac and cheese and/or Cajun fries. The Mac and cheese is my favorite - not too cheesy and the Mac is always always soft. Like at other BBQ establishment in the city, the Mac and cheese are either too cheesy or the pasta is sort of hard. Here , they use different cheese combination to give like a southern spice taste. With every meal, I always get the Mac and cheese. Tonight, we happened to stop in for some drinks on a Monday night and the service was unbelievable! The staff is extremely attentive, even when it's on a busy night. The waitress/bartender always kept our beer pitcher full. Amen! As for food with a large group, get the family style BBQ combination bc it comes w every type of BBQ meat. There's plenty for everyone and unless you're a vegetarian, this place is worth a visit when you're in Brick City (aka newark)

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    I've been here quite a few times and have never been disappointed by the experience. I typically order wings and ribs which are always yummy. I've also had their brisket, deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail. All very good. Northern NJ doesn't have many good BBQ options. This is one of two great places. Come here if you want the whole sit down experience with servers-- not cafeteria style like others bbq joints.

    (5)

  • James W.

    Me and a friend went here based on the reputation of Dinosaur BBQ. When I looked it up on yelp, it came up under the soul food category. We ordered, the half rack of Ribs, collard green, french fries, fried green tomatoes, and Mac and Cheese. The food came out in about 15 minutes. It was very obvious that everything was either frozen or sitting under a heat lamp all day. To start, the ribs were bone dry and the texture was that of beef jerky. When you bit into them it turned out to be less pleasant than jerky due to it being comply void of any moisture. The corn bread was literally ice cold like they didn't even bother to defrost it. The mac and cheese almost tasted like it had some sort of queso dip used in it and was also cold. To top it off, the french fries, which any fast food restaurant could make in 3 minutes were also cold, dry, and hard to boot. I didn't even bother to taste the collard greens because I was so disgusted with everything else. The place was just about empty and I could definitely see why. It takes a certain mindset to actually serve people cold, dry, and what seemed to be food that had been sitting for hours. I will not be returning here. If you do have the misfortune of visiting, do not mistake this for anything even remotely related to soul food.

    (1)

  • Mel R.

    First time here and I couldn't have been happier with how my evening went. Our waiter Mel was hands down the best server considering how busy the place was for a Saturday with multiple events happening in the area. Courteous, personable and straightforward when asked what was the best he could recommend. Food wise it was really good throughout the entire meal you could tell the food was cared for with how much flavor it had. The portions were decent unless you're getting the family platter which indeed was made for a family of at least 4. Overall a great experience and somewhere I will definitely recommend going to.

    (5)

  • Iam J.

    After coming back from vacationing in Texas I wanted that good tasting BBQ that I had experienced there. After experiencing some god awful BBQ in Bensalem, PA a friend of mines recommended I give Dinosaur BBQ a try, she guaranteed the food would be finger licking good and if not she'll reimburse me. The ride from my house to Newark is over an hour away, so you know, I had to factor in gas (with her proposition...lol). The restaurant is located in downtown Newark right next to the Prudential arena, so the location of the restaurant is good and in a well-lit area. We were seated promptly and then our waiter, Adam, came over within mins introduced himself and proceeded to tell us about the menu. Thumbs up!! He gave excellent choices to chose from and even apologized when the dessert he recommended was all gone (I heard it's to die for!!) but we settled for the cheesecake, which was still great tasting. Now on to the food review: We ordered the wings HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!! Beef brisket, shrimp, collard greens (EXCELLENT!!) BBQ fried rice, Koren ribs (MELT IN YOUR MOUTH). Everything was perfect and delicious!!

    (5)

  • Vanessa P.

    I've heard so many good things about this place-we HAD to try it after the Devil's game at Prudential Center. Conveniently located with a fun atmosphere, we participated in the mad dash for the restaurant after the game. We lucked out and got a seat right away at one of the last tables. It was around 10pm and we had to work the next morning so we were hoping to get a quick meal. That it was! My boyfriend went with the wings and I went with the Churrasco Chicken Sandwich which was grilled, excellently seasoned and all around delicious. It definitely hit the spot-especially because we were starving. The mashed potatoes were the perfect serving and paired well. A good, hearty meal with almost no wait time. Additionally, the waitress and food runner were very attentive and friendly. No complaints here-looking forward to going back when we have more time because that mac and cheese looks delicious!

    (4)

  • JoAnna D.

    Bold claim: I like DinoBBQ Newark more than DinoBBQ Harlem. There, I said it. I came here for lunch with my BF after running a couple of errands in good ol' Brick City. The vibe was more relaxed than DBBQ-Harlem, & for that alone, I was sold. Inside, the layout is more conducive to enjoying your meal. It's also deceptively HUGE, with another entire room on the other side of the bar! And unlike Harlem, this place is not loud, or super crowded, or uncomfortably cramped. There was a decently-sized crowd when we were there, & it didn't really feel like anyone was on top of each other. Parking-wise, I think we definitely lucked out with a meter spot right in front of the restaurant. I'm not sure where (or if) they have a designated lot of their own, but parking in Newark is kind of a pain anyway. That is the only thing that would deter me from returning often. (Ok, that and wanting to fit into my clothes.) I ordered the lunch-sized Ribs (bone count: 3) with BBQ Fried Rice & French Fries as my sides. (I also stole my BF's cornbread. DON'T JUDGE ME OK? The cornbread is delicious!) I'm not sure if I forgot how good the ribs were, or if they taste better here than in Harlem, or what was going on at all ... but the ribs were stop-my-heart amazing. The meat didn't fall off the bone, but you can certainly clean the bone easily and that's the next best thing, amirite? I think it's more of a dry rub than a sauce, but I found that I didn't need any sauce. The meat was so tasty that I didn't want to ruin the moment. The Fries were just ok (not my first choice, but I didn't like that day's vegetable side), and are much better when you dip them in the BBQ sauce provided on the tables. And the BBQ Fried Rice is always good -- though I can't recommend eating all of it unless you're starving. It always ends up making me feel super heavy & full, even with a small serving. BF ordered the Skirt Steak, medium-rare, with Gumbo & an Iceberg Wedge as his sides. The steak was delicious (I stole a piece!) -- perfectly cooked. He & the waitress had a nice conversation about how ordering a steak any more than medium is like chewing a shoe. I feel like he appreciated the camaraderie; I just appreciated that she knew the difference! And speaking of, our server was great. She was friendly, fast, & attentive. I definitely wasn't expecting this quality of service when I walked in! We both capped off our meals with a couple of fresh Arnold Palmers. I didn't have anything alcoholic to drink (it was lunchtime on a weekday!), but I really appreciated the Jersey-specific beer menu hanging over the bar. Pretty cool. Jersey pride!

    (4)

  • Jenean B.

    Not sure why but this location doesn't seem as good as the NYC location? The food was ok, the portions were eh, and the service was eh. The waiter was VERY nice and attentive. He kept apologizing for the slow service citing that the service was slow because of the Devil's game, but there was no wait when we got there and it was not packed. So not sure if the staff was watching the game in the kitchen and were distracted or if that was just the excuse he was told to use(LOL). Pros: 1.Wings were good 2.Waiter was VERY good and knowledgeable of the menu (I think his name was Charles) 3.Mac and Cheese was good 4.Location was clean Cons: 1.Food took long to come out 2.Portions were pretty small. We got the sampler for 2 and literally only 2 of each item came on the plate. 3.Staff attire - it was hard to tell who worked there and who was a dining patron. Some staff had on Dinosaur BBQ shirts and others were just dressed in street clothes. If there's a uniform policy it definitely is not enforced here. All in all it was ok. Definitely will not be running back there as there are other places that far exceed this spot.

    (2)

  • Devin M.

    Yesterday was my first time ever trying Dino-bbq wasn't my favorite bbq spot but the service was very good and I must say the bbq was good...I was expecting more due to the fact that I've heard great things but it wasn't a bad spot

    (3)

  • Rara A.

    A group of us went during lunch, and it was decently busy. We had a larger group, so we did have to wait a bit for a table (totally expected though). While I thought my food was ok (a bit pricey if you ask me), one of the people in my group had to send her food back 2 times before they got it right. Service was a bit slow too. I've eaten at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in other locations and found it better.

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    This is part of a small chain that started in Syracuse in 1988. One opened in Harlem in 2004. This is the fifth outpost opened in 2012. As of today there are 8 locations. This is good stuff at reasonable prices. The turkey neck greens are something special. The menu has some creative options... but this being my first visit I had to test the brisket. It passes with flying colors... although it could have been warmer when it hit the table. With precious few choices to eat between "the Rock" and the NJPAC... this place is an oasis!!

    (3)

  • George B.

    I maintain to this day the best wings I ever had are from Dino BBQ. The sauce, the meat, the aroma, all top notch. You better like the smell, because you will carry it with you when you leave. This location may not be the easiest to get to if you are driving. It is right across the street from the Prudential Center so parking is expensive and hard to come by during events. That being said, it is an easy walk from the train station. As of now, my favorite wings are the garlic chipotle. 12 of them will run about $14. The mac and cheese is also incredible. You can't go wrong with the brisket sandwiches as well. There is a take out counter to grab some food and go, but it is not very quick. Dino BBQ does have a varied beer selection, although it is of modest size. But hey its not the size that matters, its the taste of the....anyway they have great craft beers. You can get a flight of 4 for $6! Terrific deal. I enjoy Dino BBQ for both the food and the booze. There are not many places I can say that for.

    (4)

  • Skippy S.

    i have been to this location dozens of times and the quality is getting worse and worse. IMO, sitting at the bar you will get the best service. Anthony is my favorite bartender and is always on top of things. The "to go" section has always been a disaster. There has not been a single time that i've been there, regardless of how slow or busy the resturant was, the to go section did not take forever to get my food ready and mess it up. Wings are NEVER tossed in the sauce that i requested and I alwasy have to open up the box and ask them to toss the wings. You will usually get the food in a reasonable time sititng in the dining room but almost every time we have come here in last year , we have had some kind of issue with our food. We came here the other night and sat at the bar, ordered our wings with garlic chipotle sauce but as usual there was no sauce on the wings. We complained a few months ago to the manger that there was no sauce on the wings and he just pointed to the sauce on the table, REALLY ?!?!. What is the point of asking what kind of sauce you want if you are not going to put sauce on the wings and just point to the sauce on the table. We purposely waited to order our main meals so the food does not come before our apps which has happend multiple times before, mostly when we sit at the tables, not the bar. My main meal came out probably 45 minutes after i got my appetizer. I got the choppped brisket melt, which had about 3 jalepeno's in it, the bread was rock hard and the side of mac and cheese looked like the plate was sitting under the heating lamp in the kicthen for a very long time (prob the same reason the bread was rock hard). The bartender fixed the issue right away and when i received my plate, the bread was ice cold and the sandwich had no jaelepenos in it. I'm not the type to constantly complain and nag so I left it alone and finished my meal. This wasn't the bartenders fault, its the faullt of whoever runs the food and whoever manages the line in the kitchen. This resturant is going downhill and giving other dinosaur bbq's a bad name. I really wish management would get their act together. I've been to other dinosaurs and i've never had a issues like this.

    (2)

  • Lexx M.

    This place was very very good me&my buddy ate here b4 the DEVILS&ranger game in nwk nj, it was excellent the ribs were juicy & all the side were pretty dam good. I will mos def eat here again

    (5)

  • Yesenia R.

    Was excited to get some good ole BBQ, but was not able to enjoy my meal as planned. For starters we had gumbo, and devil eggs. My gumbo was delicious, the cornbread was cold and flavorless. My friend said her eggs were decent. For the entry I had Korean ribs, and brisket. The brisket was tender, but the Korean ribs were not authentic and cold. My collard greens were good, but the rice and beans were hard and flavorless. The mac and cheese tasted worst than box mac and cheese. The potato salad was good and I am not a fan of potato salad. A plus for me was that all the staff was happy and friendly.

    (2)

  • Stevo A.

    Dino Poutine 6.95 had almost no sign of cheese curd and was cold and fries were soggy. Ribs are ok. Wings ok. Dont loose the customers kids elevate this food. I want to go back. Go Devils.

    (3)

  • Nathaniel C.

    My wife and I went here for Memorial Day and Jamel (Mel as they call him) made this a night to remember. Exceptional service, great food, awesome drinks and humor made what could've been a lackluster evening into a night that we both are grateful for. I almost went to Virgil's or Brother Jimmy's but I'm so glad that we stay local. I recommend that all in search of good barbecue and a good time visit dinosaur barbecue in Newark. Great place to be! Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Kellen B.

    I have had the pleasure of enjoying Dinosaur BBQ in harlem and upstate and rarely does the experience disappoint. The BBQ wings were excellent and the beer selection was solid with some predictable and unique choices mixed in. My date and I both enjoyed the ribs for our entree and the sides are what really sets this chain apart in my humble opinion. The fries have a nice crunchy texture and the Mac is smooth and savory. We left full and content despite somewhat mediocre service.

    (4)

  • D F.

    I was a little iffy to come here due to some of the bad reviews but I'm so glad I did. My boyfriend and I came for lunch on a Thursday and it was packed. I had the original fried green tomatoes, which were phenomenal, and the cheeseburger sliders which were cooked to perfection. My boyfriend got a pulled pork slider that he said was great, BBQ shrimp and Mac n cheese. We happily enjoyed every bit and will be sure to come back again.

    (4)

  • Toni I.

    This place is good, but I like Mighty Quinn's better sad to say. The food was very tasty but a little too cold for my liking. The Wango Tango BBQ sauce is fantastic. The atmosphere is nice and has a rustic feel. High ceilings make the place a little noisy. I'm sure when it gets crowded the. Ouse level increases. The bar is well stocked and they have 20 beers on tap. The peanut butter pie was the absolute best part of the meal!

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    I thought I would like this place A LOT more. With that being said I did enjoy the rustic atmosphere and beer selection. I ordered the Pulled Pork (too dry) with a side of Greens (OK) and the Mac and Cheese (decent). I tasted the Potato Salad and it rocked (would definitely get that next time.) Everything had a lot of spice to it, which was great, but if you're not into that spicy smokey flavor you may not enjoy it. Even the Mac and Cheese had some spice going on. Overall BBQ is tasty and I would come back. I just expected better.

    (3)

  • gary m.

    Got there around 5 before the Devils/Caps game. place was pretty packed, they said hour wait, we waited 45 minutes in the back of the bar before our table was ready. I'm not going to ding them for the atmosphere (loud, crush of fans hitting you at your table), it's in a place and that was at a time where there's nothing you can fault them for on that. Apps: Poutine and wings, both solid offerings. hot fries, good pulled pork and gravy and cheese. wings were sweet and spicy and decent sized. Mains: I had the 3 meat combo, ribs, brisket, pulled pork with mac and gumbo. brisket was the best of the 3, but all were pretty good. you will not leave full, I couldn't finish my ribs and pork. Wife had korean ribs and shrimp with collared greens and gumbo. shrimp were cooked right and the ribs were like kalbi you would get at L&L bbq but a bit more saucy. greens were ok. Gumbo was not bad given location (e.g. not gulf coast). Son had a burger with fries. burger was huge and juicy. I'd go back, beats the hell out of stadium food.

    (4)

  • OJ J.

    Even though the place is often packed with wild Devils fans, I'm a total fan of their creole spiced deviled eggs. Parking is not easy and the staff can be a bit intrusive.

    (4)

  • Yvonne S.

    Excellent from the moment of arrival. The atmosphere was relaxing and next door to the arena. Adam was awesome and very knowledgeable about the menu choices. Everything he suggested was good, finger licking, still in your taste after arriving home good, especially the wings (I'm going to suggest getting more then 3). Will definitely be back for seconds:-) Hats off to the chef!!!

    (5)

  • Maya C.

    I've been to Dino BBQ a few times with my coworkers. This time we decided to go there for lunch. We arrived before noon and were seated right away. Our server came over almost immediately to get our drink orders and my coworker ordered fried green tomatoes to start. Our drinks came then a couple of minutes later, the yummy fried green tomatoes. We ordered our main dishes. I chose the beef brisket sandwich with creamy coleslaw and the potato salad. I immediately cut the sandwich in half. The brisket could have been more moist, but wasn't bad with some additional habanero bbq sauce. The sandwich also came with sliced pickles and some pickled sliced veggies. The creamy coleslaw is always good too. I was full by the time I finished the half sandwich and coleslaw, so I wrapped up the other half sandwich and the side of potato salad and ate it for dinner! 2 meals for the price of one! Our server was great too. Very friendly and attentive that he came with refills for our drinks without us asking for them. Will continue to come back to Dino.

    (4)

  • Tim T.

    Going to keep this short and sweet. 1) The waitress was nice and accommodating 2) The wings were tasty 3) The ribs were tough 4) The brisket was dry 5) The Shiner Bock was ice cold 6) The wait for food was waaaay too long When going to a bbq joint like Dinosaur, which I have been to on many occasions, you expect good bbq. It was far from it tonight and chances are I won't be going back. Instead of looking to expand on the brand, how about you look to make the food better... or better yet, back to what it once was.

    (1)

  • Tifane R.

    I was disappointed with my visit today. I come here quite often during Devils season, and today while picking up a family member from the airport decided to stop for a late lunch. It's usually very delicious and service is quick. Today, a not very busy late lunch crowd, was not the case. We wanted to substitute Ranch, instead of Blue Cheese, with the wings which didn't happen. The Mac n cheese I ordered was dry & not as good as I expected and they forgot my pickle. Waiter didn't stop to ask how food was or ask for any drink refills. However, Inas stopped to ask how our visit was and I let her know how disappointed I was. Well she apologized numerous times & took care of our bill for us, which was completely unexpected. They did offer a free drink, but we had to get back to our metered parking. Hopefully next time will be a better experience. A big thank you to Ines for trying to make things right!

    (2)

  • Cara P.

    i've been here a couple of times. it is my go-to place in newark if i am not feeling like Portuguese. that being said, i usually eat the "big ass pork plate". the pulled pork is lean, and the sauce is tangy and perfectly spiced. they also have great mixed drinks. i think i had the "donkey punch". fruity with a lot of kick, this may leave the casual drinker very buzzed even with a heavy meal of pork. excellent. the decor is rustic smoke house. heavy, dark timber, stuff on the walls. it looks great. the service is good but the place is often PACKED so it may be difficult for your server to be very attentive. still i am all about going here.

    (5)

  • Natavia H.

    I have been to Dino BBQ a few times, and I've always enjoyed myself. Its location to Prudential Center and NJPAC make it a convenient stop pre or post an event. The wait times range from none to an hour plus, especially if there is a function going on nearby. I didn't know you could make reservations, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. I've tried the wings, the brisket, bbq chicken and pulled pork. All are super yummy, especially the wings and the pulled pork. I found the brisket to be a little tough, but it was definitely still edible. My favorite sides are the mac and cheese (duh) and the bbq fried rice. Cornbread is good too, slightly sweet just how I like it. While the food here is definitely good, it's nowhere near authentic soul food or bbq, so if you are used to home cooked southern meals, give Dino a little slack when you visit. My boyfriend also mentioned that he was super dehydrated after our last visit here, so sodium sensitive people beware. All in all, though, this is a nice spot and I'm sure I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Reisa O.

    Awesome time today. Great knowledgable service from Mel. He went above and beyond to please. Food was fresh flavorful and tasty. Drinks were good as always. Hit the spot. One request bring the jerk wings back

    (4)

  • Harry P.

    This place has very good bbq, some of the best around. It is always packed during the hockey season since it is right next to Prudential in Newark, so if you want to grab a bite before the game, go early, or you will not get in. They have a decent tap selection and good specials during the hockey season. The food is excellent, try everything, especially the ribs. I am a fan considering NJ is not the best place for bbq compared to the south.They know how to put some south in your mouth.

    (4)

  • Toussaint B.

    My boyfriend and I just ordered take out from the Dinosaur BBQ location in Newark. Big mistake. We ordered a small order of Fried Green Tomatoes, 13 wings, and a Chicken Chopped Salad for me. The first two items were fine. What makes this a 1 star review is what happened with he salad. He gets home, I open the salad and I find wilted greens that fill 1/2 of the takeout box, 4 tomatoes, as many walnuts and nary a piece of chicken or bacon in sight. He calls and tells them the situation and asks for a new one that he'll pick up. He gets the other one. Brings it home. I open it and find greens. That's it. Not even 4 tomatoes or walnuts. Certainly no chicken or bacon. I'm fuming at this point. I call and explain the situation and demand a refund. In their defense they give me one. My issue is that if you offer a take out service you should be prepared to offer your take out customers he same level of food that they will find if they sit in your restaurant. If this is any indication of what I'd find if I went into the restaurant to dine in I assure you, I won't be doing that anytime soon. And I can assure you I damn sure won't ever order take out from this place again. Now I'm off to go find dinner.

    (1)

  • Bryce W.

    I'm quite familiar with Dinosaur BBQ's Harlem location, but didn't realize that the restaurant opened a spot in Newark, NJ. I only get out to Newark exactly once a year, always under extreme duress. I try not to stay in Newark a moment longer than necessary, but when we passed by Newark's Dinosaur BBQ yesterday, I insisted we stop for dinner. I was happily surprised to see that the location had plenty of tables available at dinnertime on a Sunday, something that NEVER happen in Harlem. This location is more spacious than its NYC brother, but also lacks the biker-esque decorations and the ever-present smell of pit smoke hanging in the air. This Dinosaur feels like just another restaurant. The food quality was just the same, if not better, however. My pork ribs were fall-of-the-bone tender. My zucchini gratin was cheesy and my lentil and ham soup was satisfying. The menu also had poutine as an appetizer, something I haven't seen in NYC. It was (sadly) lacking chili and salt potatoes however... fair trade off? I'm not sure.

    (4)

  • M. R.

    I'd heard so many good things about this place, so maybe my expectations were too high. The service is horrendous. The staff acts like everything is a huge issue. I went for happy hour, and there were so many rules! You can only drink beer in the outdoor seating area. You can't order from the bar if you're at a table during happy hour. The tables are only for people who are eating, but there's no space at the bar. The waiter gave us an attitude when we tried to move, and in no uncertain terms told us we couldn't move to the bar because he wanted his tip. If you really like the food, I recommend ordering delivery.

    (1)

  • Elizabeth A.

    Stopped in for a bite before heading back to NYC one night. Noisy, crowded...just like Dallas BBQ, but they have WAY more food options. I tried The BBS (brisket sandwich) with mac & cheese and whipped sweet potato. Everything was delicious except for the mac & cheese (not impressed at all) - the whipped sweet potato was sooooo good! A woman at the next table had ordered vegetarian plate (4 sides), which my server explained wasn't on the menu. I think it definitely should be, because that's what I'll be ordering next time I go.

    (4)

  • Steve A.

    My formative foodie years were spent with a little place called Cobb's in East Hanover. It was true southern BBQ, and then Boston Market came and outcompeted with cheap prices for people who prefer chains and don't know any better. Finally, years later, _real_ BBQ has returned to North Jersey! The chicken tastes exactly like Cobb's used to. The ribs are very flavorful, I was licking the bones for quite awhile. The cornbread is positively addictive. Turkey neck greens, not completely sold on, though they were good, and the gumbo is just meh as gumbo, though it makes a nice side soup if you think of it that way. Finally, I had chocolate icebox pie, and it was de. lect. able. EDIT: Came back a year later and tried some other stuff. The ribs were 4 stars - not tender enough for 5, but plenty of flavor. After tasting them, I slathered them in habañero BBQ sauce and went to town. The new sides I got included mac 'n' cheese (rather small portion, but with a jalapeño kick? tasted like it), mashed potatoes (just mashed potatoes, nothing fancy), BBQ fried rice. The last one was interesting - tasted like Chinese fried rice and was probably in a soy sauce, but had bites of BBQ meat inside. Not BBQy enough for me to order again, but a neat idea. I ordered extra cornbread at the end. It was that good. The other nice thing about Dinosaur is the beer selection. Rotating seasonals, locals and other American crafts on tap. I had three different and excellent beers during my meal. Phenomenal service - funny bartenders, an attentive, nice, sweet waitress, and our group of 5 had no problems a couple of hours before gametime. Negatives? Well, it's pricey. Downtown Newark, next to the Devils... yeah, you should know you're gonna pay. But you definitely get great quality food! EDIT: Came back before a Devils/Islanders game. Place was PACKED with Isles fans. Took 20 minutes to leave my name to wait another 45 minutes for a table. So your experience waiting will definitely vary depending on which day you go and which team is playing. I get the feeling all these Long Islanders wanted Dino the one time they're in NJ for the year. So how does this add up to 4 stars and not 5? I'm sorry, but I have to compare this to true Southern BBQ. And that's nothing but a compliment - most other BBQ wouldn't even make it to that comparison - but it's not authentic. It's a very well-done tribute, and the best you're gonna find in this area. With a little more subtly intricate flavors, maybe a bit more BBQ sauce selection (they needed 4, they only have 2), and maybe prices a bit cheaper (though I'm not going to deduct for that, they need to pay the bills). I'll still be back, and I'll still sing its praises. P.S. The wings are very good. They're not buffalo wings or hot wings. They're BBQ wings. They taste very much like BBQ. Don't expect them to be something they're not, and you'll enjoy.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    I'm still a fan. It's definitely not like the Harlem branch, but still good enough to eat. Service was great, the brisket was soft, pull pork was pretty darn good. Although I found the overall dish spicy (yes, even my mac and cheese and my turkey neck greens), I didn't mind the heat at all. Would definitely come back. Harlem is a little of a trek. Reservations are must! It just makes it so much easier.

    (4)

  • Ann D.

    I've been eaten Dino BBQ multiple times now. Take out one snowy day in Februrary, take out over the summer with my parents, weekday dinner, weekend lunch... I will say that their BBQ ribs are hit or miss. On good days, they are DELICIOUS. They are well seasoned, cooked nice and with just eough char. On bad days, the rib meat is dry and hard and it makes me very sad. The whipped sweet potatoes are one of my favorite sides to order. Just sweet enough and they go perfectly with any bbq. The fries are crispy, already perfectly salted, and you just can't complain about them. On the other hand, I find their coleslaws disappointing and their mashed potatoes to taste sub-par. Their cornbread is dry, not that sweet, and generally speaking much worse in quality than the cornbread muffins you can get at a grocery store. Service is a little slow, but always friendly. Take out is fast and efficient. Their $10 express lunch deal is a steal!

    (3)

  • Abe S.

    Great food. Great staff. Great ambiance. I've been to Dinosaur BBQ about three times and all at the Newark location. As soon as I walk into the establishment the hostess greeted my group immediately, even on a busy night (must of been a game or event at the prudential center which is right next door). We were seated within 15 mins and now our food story begins!! : ) Our server, Adam, was AWESOME!!! Super kind and very knowledgeable about menu items. Our table orders the wings which are deliciously smoked to perfection. I always get the wango tango and a side of devils dual to help fulfill my spicy adventures aide. I usually love my wings extra saucy so its great that all the tables have extra hot sauce already on them. The wings are great. Reminds me of the times I lived down south. You can't go wrong with Dino BBQ. Cool staff, GREAT food, and awesome ambiance. P.S. BE SURE TO TRY THEIR VANILLA BOURBON BEAN ICE CREAM!!

    (5)

  • Eugene O.

    Huge fan of this place. I always frequent the one in Harlem and always eat from their pit during the BBQ festival in Madison Square Park. The Newark location does not disappoint and its definitely my go to spot now that I actually made it out here. They offer free parking in the LOT across the street as we all know parking in Newark is very difficult. The interior is clean and very cozy and welcoming. There is a Jazz player from 530p-830p, tends to get a bit loud so if you want request a table closer to the door on in the back room as its almost impossible to carry on a conversation during the performance. They offer plenty of beer and do offer pitchers which is my personal favorite. Food is amazing as always, the deviled eggs are absolutely divine, and the ribs are soft and fall right off the bone. Don't forget to use the specialty sauces, the traditional or the HOT for the rebels out there. I never get to finish so I always take a doggy bag home. If you are looking for a cozy, friendly staff and environment and amazing food this is the place. I never had any dessert here as I am always full, however it looks good.

    (4)

  • Gary L.

    The food was decently prepared Barbecue and service was excellent. Ask for Kayman! He was a great server, very friendly and made you feel at home. He explained the menu well and emphasized that everything was "From Scratch". Try the Smoked Fried Chicken!

    (3)

  • Allison S.

    I went here last night with the bf before the Devils game. Being a Tues night, in the middle of a rather cold week in February, and a game going on that didn't draw a big crowd, we walked in and were given a table right away (around 5:30pm). We started with 6 wings- half Wango Tango, half Garlic Chipotle. Both sauces were good, but I wouldn't classify the WT as "hot," as was stated. The GC had a nice kick and I'd say that would be "hot." The boy had a pork sandwich with the wedge "salad" and fries. As was stated in another post- the salad was the wedge and literally 2 cherry tomatoes. I did the 2 meat combo- pulled pork and 1/4 chicken, with sides of the mac and cheese and sweet and sour coleslaw. I added some WT sauce to my pork and thought it was great. The chicken had a nicely smoked skin and I thought it was done well too. Sides were good, but nothing to be overly excited about. I have to agree that the portions are a bit small for what you're paying. Overall I enjoyed the place and could see myself going back. However, I have to agree with previous posters and point out some things: We walked into the place and there were a couple hostesses at the stand who could've been a bit more welcoming. I felt like I was disturbing them to say Hi and ask for a table. I also noticed that half the staff was in street clothes while some had on shirts that had the restaurant logo on them. To me that just seems rather unprofessional. Our waiter wasn't terrible but could've been more on his game.. We asked for waters with lemon and got them sans lemon. Also while I was ordering, he started to take my bf's order without asking what sides I wanted. I had to interrupt to make sure he got everything right. The orders did come out correct.. Finally, I saw the tables around us getting checked on more frequently than ours. If our stuff didn't come out right we'd have been waiting around for him to come around as it was another person that brought it to the table. As I said- not a bad place to hang before a game, but also nothing to necessarily write home about.

    (3)

  • KEESLA B.

    By far some of the best ribs and food I have ever had! Our family reunion had dinner here and it was wonderful. The staff, the food and the BAR were unbelievable. It will be a great memory for us. And we actually even enjoyed the music. The moonshine drink...wow!

    (5)

  • Andrew J.

    Food is good as hell. Everything tastes right, love the atmosphere. Servers are also pretty cool i guess. Beer selection is good. Ribs are always the best thing to get!

    (5)

  • Stephen B.

    Was told 15-20 minute wait, after 45 minutes they told us that it would be another 30 minutes. Had to leave in order to make my show. The bar was nice but after being duped into staying they lost my future business

    (1)

  • Sam K.

    The barbecue was not anything extraordinary. I hoped that for the price paid it would be at least somewhat filling, but the quantity was not that much either.

    (3)

  • Cat T.

    This place has fast service, cheerful staff, and tasty delicious scrumptious mouthwatering food filled with tons of flavor! I came here right before a devils game, which was held right next door, how convenient! I'm sure this particular chain is used to the constant crowds of sports fans so the extended bar in the beginning of the restaurant is very appropriate! I had a BBQ pork Memphis burger, consisting of pulled pork that melted in your mouth, cheese and cole slaw! I downed that sandwich in probably four bites! Absolutely delicious and not too large or awkward to hold either. The BBQ baked beans had a kick to them which I enjoyed. My friend had their signature mac and cheese, said it was awesome. We both stuck with BBQ themed food since that's what the place is known for. We also agreed that the portion sizes were perfect, not too filling or overbearing to eat. Our waitress brought us refills without us asking and was quick to deliver the check too. I couldn't have asked for a better meal to devour before the game. I would definitely like to return!

    (4)

  • Stephy C.

    The food is fantastic! You can't go wrong eating here to satisfy your appetite. They need to work on the service end of it. Some plates come out at great time others sometimes feel like an eternity. I asked for a Beer of a certain kind and got cider than when they replaced it they sent cider again. It's the little things that can throw a place off. I will come back for the food more so than the service.

    (4)

  • Florence C.

    Dinomazing! I had their Boylan's Root Beer and boy, was it rooty! On their menu, the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo (smoked chicken, okra, and chorizo sausage) totally jumped out at me since I hadn't had any in years. This took my tastebuds back to New Orleans. Very comforting! The accompanying cornbread was delicious and had the perfect moistness and texture. The Harlem Potato Salad was exactly how I wanted, but better with a little more spunk. I inhaled 2 BBQ sliders (pulled pork with coleslaw and some pickles). Yummy! I ate a ton but left feeling great and dinocharged! I can't wait to feel that way again!

    (4)

  • Lynne S.

    Just went to the take-out side and received warm, sour coleslaw, warm potatoe salad, leuk-warm sweet potatoes and dried-up Mac and no-cheese. We hope we don't become ill.

    (1)

  • Julie A.

    We made reservations for 9:00 pm on a Saturday and were seated right away. We had six in our group which included 2 toddlers. They were very accommodating to our party. Our server was very kid conscious, making sure utensils were away from the kids and the drinks were in the center of the table. He was also attentive to refilling out drinks and checking on us. Give them a try for yourself!

    (4)

  • Lorenzo T.

    Finger licking good food before the Devils game. Worth it if you want some quaity BBQ before watching the puck drop.

    (4)

  • Traci S.

    I was love this chain! Food is always great and service here in particular was wonderful. Came here late night after comedy show, no complaints at all. I wish I remember the servers name he was such a really nice guy and deserves to get credit for his wonderful service.

    (5)

  • Garreth G.

    Food was not bad. I liked their ribs but a little tough cutting though to get the pieces. My girlfriend and I shared a full rack with 4 other sides. As our sides we got the pulled pork with beans, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. They each came in these miniature bowls. I honestly think I could have finished it all by myself. The mashed potatoes was not bad. It wasn't the best mash or gravy I've had but it works well. The Mac and cheese was probably my favorite out of the 4. It was creamy and flavorful just like mac n cheese is suppose to be. The beans with pork was also good, hearty and filling. The service was very good. Our waiter truly told us the desert pies are not worth getting. They also ONLY do happy hour at the bar. This place is over hyped but where else can you get decent Bar-B-Que?

    (3)

  • James M.

    The service was amazing! We were taken care of by Mel and he made great recommendations for our dinner. Two of my colleagues were from Europe and had not eaten American BBQ before. We had a family style combination of chicken, ribs, brisket and pulled pork. It was heavenly! We also had Cole slaw, baked beans and macaroni and cheese. The Mac and cheese was out of this world! It has a little "zing" or spice that set it off. Overall, the food was plentiful and delicious. The atmosphere was great and the service was top notch! Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    OMG i am so excited to have found this place with my aunt! i LOVE soul food and man we only had the wings with a dry rub and they were fantastic! we had the corn bread and fried green tomatoes as well and dam makes you wanna slap your mama! :o) very good and i will be returning!!!

    (5)

  • Brittani S.

    My family and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night. There were 12 of us. They sat us in the back of the restaurant (which was fine) but there was a bunch of crates behind us? Not somewhere you want to eat dinner. It was so tight in that corner that we ended up splitting into two groups. We had a hungry baby with us (16 months) and had to ask 3 times to bring the poor thing some cornbread! The waitress seemed confused when we asked her to just bring some cornbread for the child right away. Just bring the baby some cornbread we don't care how many the child is hungry! The service wasn't the best, the food was okay. The cornbread was the highlight actually. They were a little slow.

    (3)

  • Pamella T.

    I have been to one in Rochester which had better service and meat. However the Asian flare is a nice change. Try the different sauces!

    (3)

  • Christine G.

    Don't come during a devils game. We unwisely did on our first attempt here and there was a 2 hour wait so we sadly had to leave. Second attempt was for lunch and they had a good crowd going but no wait. Service was great and friendly. Not too thrilled about the beer selection on tap but the great food makes up for it. I loved the garlic chipotle wings. Careful the heat creeps up after a few wings in. The Mac and cheese was my favorite side. Will have to come back to try the rest of the menu. Park two streets away in their metered parking. There always seems to be an empty spot. Other than that it's garage parking which can get expensive.

    (4)

  • Betty S.

    I haven't YELP'd in a long time but felt the need to after having lunch here this past Sunday. My husband and I went to have a quick lunch with our 1 1/2 yr old daughter before catching a show at the NJPAC. From the moment we arrived until we walked out the door the staff was amazingly friendly. Everyone stopped to say "hello how are you today", not just the quick hello brush off, and even made small talk when they saw we weren't busy stuffing our faces. We ordered the swag sampler for 2 (which I consumed myself because it was THAT good) and the tres ninos (brisket, ribs, pork). The mashed potatoes and gravy, whipped sweet potato and black beans and rice were our sides. The fried green tomatoes are excellent and the honey BBQ wings are mouth watering. You can't go wrong with any of their meat. If you want BBQ, This is the place to go. Portions are a little on the small side but still worth it. I also want to add from reading a previous review that I didn't feel any kind of racial tension. I am asian and my husband is white. The bartenders and staff were all smiles that day. I can't imagine them to be anything else.

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    It was just ok. We are used to going to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Harlem and find their food to be much better. Maybe if we weren't spoiled by their location we would have enjoyed it more. The service wasn't too great either. We barely saw our waiter and it wasn't busy. Not sure where he was. Recommendation: go to the one in Harlem, it's worth it.

    (3)

  • Desi M.

    I stumbled in this place before Yeezus and it was über packed!!!! First I walked to the end of the bar to see if I could try my luck and squeeze in but that wasn't happening. Their bar is pretty long and it was about 3 ppl deep. I gave my name to the hostess and was told it would be about a 45 min wait, eeeeek!!!! But I figured the food must be good. I got a table maybe 30 mins laster. I thought my server said her name was Fatima or something similar but my receipt said something different. Anyway, she was awesome. Very kind and articulate, my drink came efficiently, and she checked on me during my meal. It's amazing how many servers forget those basic things and they can really make an experience worth while. I'm a fan of the atmosphere. Food was delicious!!! I enjoyed a BBQ turkey burger, Mac and cheese, and greens. The greens were amazing, best I've had outside of family. I was sad when the concert was over because I wanted to go back for a drink but they were already closed. I really had a great experience. I plan on visiting their location in Brooklyn. If you're ever headed to the Prudential Center, stop here first.

    (5)

  • Miya A.

    I've never heard of dinosaur barbecue but my boyfriend put me onto it. The first time we went the service was great, we had a friendly hello and great service. The one thing that I would have to say kind of turned me off was how Luke warm the food was when it came out. I would say maybe it was just that time that we went but we've gone twice already and the food is always lukewarm never hot. I've only ever ordered one drink from there which I don't quite remember so I can't comment on that. One thing I did love about the restaurant was the mac & cheese it's delicious!

    (3)

  • N. C. M.

    I wish I could give 2.5 stars but I can't so I'm giving it 3. I have been to Dino several times in small groups, large groups, and with just one other person and the service for every experience is consistent....consistently bad. Every time I've been to Dino they always mess up an order or you are left wondering where your waiter/waitress is. This last time we joked about how we should have given the tip to my friend's fiance since eh got us the plates, napkins, and silverware. I know it's not a one off or an off night event because I have been multiple times and EACH and EVERY time something in the order gets messed up or forgotten. I don't know if this is a Dino thing since this is the only Dino I've ever been to or just the Newark location. It's not even that they are really busy, I've been at all different times of day and different days. I have never been during an event at the Rock so I don't know how they are then...but I would imagine not much different when with a bunch of hockey fans. I gave them the full 3 b/c at least everytime they mess up they fix it and they try to apologize. Although if it was correct the first time.... Also the food is pretty good. The vegetarian burger option is fairly tasty but I do not recommend getting the fried green tomato appetizer. Having lived in the South for many years these just aren't properly done...head over to Duke's for some real fried green tomatoes. The wings have a great sauce on them, I prefer the garlic chipolte for the heat. I had an issue with a delivery once (it never came) and the manager that I spoke to over the phone was nice and understanding and refunded my money. I would go more often to Dino if they could just get it together and stop messing up orders. I really don't know why it happens all the time every time. If you want a leisurely meal this is a great spot, but if you're in a rush I wouldn't recommend it.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth C.

    Very good place to stop while doing business in the area. The Tres Ninos was just a plate of deliciousness. Each item on the plate was better then the item before it. Coupled with the mac and cheese, it was the epitome of comfort food. The ambiance and atmosphere here is great. Great music in the back ground. Loud enough to enjoy, quiet enough to engage in conversation without yelling. They have a wonderful selection of beers. Only con, game night the place is packed.

    (4)

  • Karly Q.

    Awful. Just awful... And it makes me so sad because I'm a HUGE fan of Dinosaur BBQ. I've been to the Syracuse, NY and the Troy, NY locations and they're fantastic! But, this time it was beyond bad. Usually I would stab my own husband if he got in my way of the mac n cheese. But, at the Newark location the mac n cheese tasted rancid. The fries were undercooked ... twice (we kindly asked for a new batch because we thought they would be better. WRONG), my little corn bread muffin was dry as all get out, and my chopped chicken salad was disgusting. I will NEVER go back to this location. But.... I will absolutely go to one of the other locations I've tried and loved. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. ..... No. Just No.

    (2)

  • Angie D.

    Great food with a southern flair, especially loved the gumbo and the sweet potatoes! And of course the bbq! Terrific service, felt welcome and well attended. (kudos to Charles and Mel!)

    (5)

  • Nicholas C.

    Just finished some of the best BBQ I've had in a long time. We were seated immediately, and informed the waiter that we had plans in an hour. Within 5 minutes of ordering, our meals were on the table. I had the Big Ass Pork Plate which was extremely tender and delicious, topped with their house BBQ sauce. The pork and beans side and the Mac and cheese were both fantastic as well. My girlfriend had the BBQ brisket which was also melt-in-your-mouth. The French fries were nice and crispy and not greasy at all. The potato salad had too much celery for MY liking, but the flavor was delicious. Next time anyone flies out of or into Newark International, you should stop here, it's only 10 minutes away!

    (5)

  • Jaclyn G.

    At the moment I give this place 3.5 stars.. I've been wanting to try the Harlem location for a long time now but I've been so excited to learn a few months ago that they were going to open one close to home.. Last week, my coworkers & i were so hyped up on ordering take-out from the newly opened dinosaur bbq but to our dismay, they weren't doing take-out orders until the following week. Finally today, my coworkers & i ordered take-out for lunch. We got the deluxe family deal which includes 1 whole chicken, 1 full rack of ribs, 1 lb bbq pork, cornbread, mac & cheese, bbq beans with pork, and a bottle of the dino bbq sauce. One thing I have to say that their bbq sauce is quite amazing. I like the pulled pork the best and the ribs are next in line. I was expecting fall of the bones type of ribs but they were still quite delicious. Chicken was pretty good too. Not a fan of their corn bread. The mac & cheese would've probably been better warm. The bbq beans were just plain weird tasting to me. My expectations were probably way too high for this restaurant. Mind you, we arrived at the restaurant to pick up our order and back to work within 5-10 minutes (we work a few blocks away). I was disappointed when I took my first bite and it was already cold. Everything else was just okay to me. Nothing to write home about.. I would give them another chance and will revise my review once I finally get to go dine-in. I'm sure the dining experience in the restaurant will be much better (one could hope)

    (3)

  • Dan F.

    I grew up near the location in Syracuse, so my expectations were significantly high in Newark. While the atmosphere and decor are impressive, the food was a bit of a miss. I ordered a meat combo, ribs and brisket, with two sides (mac & cheese and beans). Food was decent, the brisket and mac were very good. I expected more out of the ribs; there wasn't as much meat as I had come to expect. I did expect more food for the price, based upon my experiences at Dino Syracuse. Ate at the bar, service was average. There was a significant wait time for tables, which is typical on evenings for the Dino.

    (3)

  • M L.

    If I could write a minus star! First the wait, understandable everyone's here before a NJDevils game but they should not pretend to give you a wait time that is So far from the truth (45 minute wait does NOT equal 1-1/2 hrs!) Finally seated, and it took another 40 minutes for the food to get to our table. Good thing they comped the meal but management does NOT CARE because they're packing them in at every game. Too bad, but don't waste your time!

    (1)

  • Andre N.

    I don't get it, what is so special about this place. Maybe it's the décor. I love Newark I really really want to love this place, but other than my PBR I get there what else? I have tried the ribs, the chicken, brisket and it isn't tasty at all over cooked "SLOWLY" I don't even know how that is possible. They tasted like a hungry man dinner! For the price your paying might as well head down to Mc Donald's BBQ in East Orange. Now that is some good bbq. I ordered the ribs from Harlem dinosaur bbq and it tasted the same way, rough and not tender. Chicken was just dry as the Sahara desert. Ok not everything is bad the wings are to die for and the mac n cheese will have you wanting more. Vineet S. and I ordered all their variations of wings. Now that meat was tender and even spicy. One goes there just go for the wings. The building i concur is the exciting part, sitting adjacent to the Terminator-1000 like hockey statue illuminating market street. The one time factory created In 1890. Similar to most buildings in Newark was in shambles. I have to thank the Dinosaur "peeps" for restoring its beauty and bringing that urban-shabby-chic to Newark. One can even see cool apartments in the works. Newark is seeing a great spurt of activity. Kind of cool to know they opened up a spot in Newark before they did Brooklyn. BOO YAHHHH!! Brick city baby.

    (3)

  • Marissa S.

    Newark Newark Newark... Sigh... Is it because I'm use to dining in NYC that makes it so hard for me to accept horrible customer service!? And horrible food!? Why does everywhere in Newark have such soooo slow customer service!?!? Dayummm!! Whew! Okay so. Walk in, ghetto greeting. That's fine. I'm in Newark. Got seated at a dirty booth. Whatever! Our waitress took forever to come.. They don't wear uniforms nor do they wear name tags so you don't even knows who works there! Shawnee finally takes our order.. Fries BLAHHH, Dry and unsalted! Coleslaw SALTY and BLAHHH WINGS GOT SENT BACK!! YUCK! Bloody and undercooked! The manager Jamal, Jameel something comes over. I complain.. His first response "it's a common misconception about the wings. I get this about 5 times per night with people thinking they aren't cook.'' Okay let me cut you off, if you get that many complaints perhaps you should consider revamping your "technique" of cooking these wings. They were so gross. What a waste of my life! 45 minutes later im rushing back to work. He promised us a free meal but honestly, I don't want to step foot near this place again. However, it did get them 2 stars.. DONT GO!!!!

    (2)

  • m p.

    The brisket was tough and lacked the smokey flavor I've come to appreciate at the best bbq establishments. The Harlem potato salad was better than the brisket. My dining companion had a pulled pork sandwich, corn bread, and sweet potatoes that was all good. 3 stars for the brisket. 4 stars for the pork.

    (3)

  • Eddie B.

    Small portions and high prices. I had the 'tres ninos' which was pulled pork, brisket and ribs, with 2 sides. The portions of the meat were very small as was the overall portions. It was $17 which wouldn't have been bad if there was a bit more food. I was a little disappointed in the food overall, it tasted like the food had been sitting for a while; it was Luke warm and greasy. The cornbread tasted like a sponge. Other than that service and atmosphere was fine. There are not too many decent restaurant choices for Newark where you can go without risking your life, but you should feel safe in here...when you walk outside, you're on your own...

    (3)

  • Samantha T.

    Came here around lunch time because we saw the commercials and heard they have really good food. Place was pretty empty. All the staff were wearing regular clothes which didn't look very professional. The hostess was talking to the phone the whole time even when seating guests. We asked for collard greens they said they don't make them until after 4 pm. We also asked if we can have the dessert menu but our waitress told us she has to check what they have left, so that was a turn off and we wound up not getting anything. But, Over all on the plus side the food was really good. I ordered the Dino burger and the people I was with ordered the Bbq Combo and they all enjoyed the food , just wish the staff was more professional. I heard there is a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Brooklyn I deff. have to check out that one.

    (3)

  • David K.

    DINOSAUR BBQ KEEPS CUSTOMER SERVICE SO SIMPLE THAT EVEN A CAVEMAN LIKE ME UNDERSTANDS! Question: How quickly does Dinosaur BBQ Customer Service respond to a review which describes a less than spectacular experience? Answer: Less than 24 hours after my recent review was posted, I was contacted by Robert A. Baker, PR and Social Media Manager for Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Very impressive. The ink was barely dry on my review, when Robert sent me a private message asking me if I could provide my contact information so that one of the Newark managers could talk to me about my recent experience and to make sure that my next visit to Dinosaur is more satisfying. Robert had me at "Hello." After exchanging a few emails to work out a best time to speak, Dinosaur Manager Michael gave me a call to address my experience as detailed within my Yelp review. Michael was kind and professional and right off the bat he wanted to know if I had made a complaint to the store management to inform them if I was unsatisfied with my meal. I responded that I was there with my wife for a birthday dinner and although not very happy with our meal that we weren't looking to make a big thing about it and complain to try to get any freebies. Michael said that he understood and then began to address my points of dissatisfaction. He apologized for the lack of creaminess to the Mac and Cheese and admitted that sometimes they do mess up and hoped that I would try it again. Like I said before, very seldom do I meet a Mac & Cheese that I don't like, so I'll give them another chance on that. No problem there. Michael then went on to explain to me the process of preparing the St. Louis Ribs and the desired tenderness. Hearing him describe how the ribs should be made me realize that in my review I had unfairly compared their St. Louis Ribs to Baby Back Ribs. Baby Back Ribs should have the "fall-off-the-bone" quality that I mentioned within my review. St. Louis Ribs come from a different part of the pig and have a dissimilar tenderness which was unfair of me to make a direct comparison to Baby Back Ribs. We probably spoke for about 10 minutes, and by the end of the conversation Michael invited me and my wife to return to the Newark location or any other one of our choice so that we could give Dinosaur BBQ another try. After a courteous call like that, how could anyone say no? To top everything off he said that he is sending us a gift card to use toward our next purchase. I have no idea how much it is for, but the gesture is much appreciated. Dinosaur BBQ, your customer service has won me over, so I'm pushing you guys up to 3 stars. Not sure if I can convince my wife to do BBQ again that soon (too bad my birthday only comes once a year), but I'm sure I can dig up a friend that would like to discover some Dinosaur ribs.

    (3)

  • Dejeunee F.

    Went to Dino BBQ last night (Father's Day) with a friend. Got there about 8:30pm and there was a 20 min wait. Not bad. We sat at the bar and were enjoying ourselves so much there that when they texted to let us know out table was ready we told them we would stay. I ordered a simple Cosmo which was decent and my friend got Jack & coke. The reason we ordered these drinks is because although the bartender addressed us, he did not offer any drink menus. I did glance at the drink menu however before I left; I plan on trying a few drinks my next trip around. As an appetizer we ordered the Dino shrimp. They were so good. They are sautéed and served in a bowl with a spicy chili sauce. It packs a slow smoky heat and it is delicious! We also had the full rack of ribs, it's served with just a dry rub, but don't worry, there's BBQ sauce available. The ribs don't necessarily need the sauce though... They're good alone. Mac and cheese was awesome! And the broccoli carrot salad wasn't too great. Overall good time and good food.

    (4)

  • Melissa Z.

    Nothing here is dinosaur themed!! Menu items are def not large enough to be considered "Dino size" either. Our waiter was very grumpy and was wearing sweat pants,. Don't get me wrong I would understand if it was very busy that it could effect his mood but it wasn't. He forgot our drinks,. And just really wasn't pleasant. Food was okay... I'm sure any local BBQ place could do a equal job on the food and probably blow this place away service wise.

    (2)

  • J. K.

    Never been to this location.

    (3)

  • Lia E.

    I'm giving this place a 5 strictly for their Brisket, Mac N Cheese, and Cole Slaw, but and overall 4. The brisket is delish. So tender yet flavorful. Totally flirted with my taste buds. Their Mac has this smooth but thick texture, highly flavorful. Cole Slaw was crunchy and fresh. Also ordered the Donkey Punch and yes, it was on point. Attempted to order the salmon fritters, but they were out. It's on my agenda to come back and order some of that salmon, and definitely anything with the brisket. Yummo! Service wasn't the best, but the food was and that's why I rate this place a 4.

    (4)

  • Adam D.

    Awesome BBQ. I went to this location about a week after they opened. You could tell they were a little unorganized but that's to be expected with most new places. I don't really care for getting served with paper dishes, but I can look past that considering the quality of the food. Overall, the sauces are great, the meat is cooked the way it should be and the side dishes are excellent. The mac and cheese, fries and beans are the way to go.

    (4)

  • Lauren H.

    Service is slow! Doesn't matter if you sit at a table or at the bar, it seems like hours before anyone comes over to just greet you. But once you finally get your food and drinks it's going to be a good meal. But the staff really needs to put down their cell phones and pay attention to their customers!

    (3)

  • Rashaan M.

    Another day of training at the Prudential Center. So we decided to try the dinosaur bbq we all heard about it so we had high hopes. It is trendy in a country western way the waitstaff were all nice and personable. The bartenders waited on folks and chipped in so the wait was extremely short, which was great for lunch. I had a sampler everything was good and they have a pretty good sauce that goes on the wings. I definetly will come back and I heard happy hour is cool.

    (4)

  • D D.

    This place has some great food, friendly service but very unorganized. It took a while before our server took our drink order. But the waiter was very friendly once he came to the table. They also ran out of silverware so the waiter apologized and have us plastic from the takeout side of the restaurant. Also they were out of their signature beer which was disappointing. All that being said, I really enjoyed the food. The pulled pork was fantastic. The St Louis ribs great and the brisket is pretty good. The BBQ sauces are amazing. And the wango tango wings are so tasty but a little fatty. The sides are amazing we had the Mac and cheese, Coleslaw's(both), and potato salad. I would recommend them all. So bottom line is if your in the area and want some delicious BBQ then this is the spot.

    (4)

  • Gail Anthony T.

    So my son loves trains; and he knows them very well. We're talking Path (or 'Paff' as he would say), subways, NJ Transit, Lightrail, shinkansens (Japanese bullet trains), Thomas the Train, you name it. He's also enthralled with all the train stations as well. One station he's never been to is the Newark Path station, and he was begging me to take him there. So I said, "Most definitely" knowing that we will get our grub on for lunch at any respectable eatery that's walking distance from the station. So I did some research on Yelp, and found out that Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was only a few blocks away. Aight, bet.... The ribs is where it's at. I'm not talking about the 'I'm Gonna Git You Sucka' scene where Chris Rock walks in and asks, "How much for just one rib???". There is no way in hell you will just eat one rib here. I ordered the 1/2 rack St. Louis Rib platter with a side of mini iceberg lettuce salad and fries. My son ordered his usual mac n cheese with a side of fries and beans. By the way, this place is a kid friendly environment, and their children's menu is both extensive and inexpensive. St. Louis... I think it was a sign. I have St. Louis going to the Final Four in my March Madness bracket, and these ribs were from St. Louis. I don't think i can describe the ribs better than how Stephanie Y. did in her review. I concur with everything she said. My son liked the mac n cheese. I don't think it's the best he's ever had. It was a bit peppery for his taste, and had a little spicy kick to it. After he told me that his tummy was hot, I told him to finish his fries instead. I went ahead and scarfed the rest of that 'liquid gold' like there was no tomorrow. One pro was that the baked beans had bits of pulled pork in it. Yes, I said pulled pork. After everything was said and done, we still had leftovers to take home. Awesome experience overall - from the food to the service. I'll definitely be back. Maybe next time, we'll sit in the bar / booth area, imbibe and eat like kings, and catch a game or two on their flat screens.

    (4)

  • Ashmita G.

    This place serves some great locally brewed beers on the tap and my favorite was Ramstein. Its a light beer with a citrusy flavor and now-a-days rare to find at Dinosaur. They are always out of this beer. Another must try is the sangria which is served in mason jars. They serve both the white and the red sangrias in summer. Coming to food, they spicy chicken wings topped with Garlic sauce are awesome. I loved the fried green tomatoes as well as the deviled eggs here. The batter is nicely seasoned for the tomatoes while the deviled eggs have a hint of cayenne in them that just explodes in your mouth. Main course wise, the corn bread was tasty before but now not so much. Must try are pulled pork and fried green tomato sandwiches. Ambience is good in general but on game nights can get too loud. Service is good.

    (3)

  • Sruthi S.

    Being vegetarian, I was not too keen on coming here, because logically, looking at the name, what would I eat at a BBQ place? Well, I found out soon enough! I've come here twice and both times, I ordered a combo of different veggie sides because they are excellent! The Mac n' cheese is the perfect size and has the perfect ratio of macaroni to cheese that did not set off my lactose intolerance alarm. The devilled eggs (which are not sides) are absolutely the best! Well-cooked hard-boiled egg whites topped by a delicious Cajun cream filled with spices, served on top of greens, combined with the rice and beans side made for a meal that I will not forget! Add a cider or a beer to it, you'll be set! Can't wait to see what other hidden delights there are to find on their menu!

    (4)

  • Sash M.

    Went last nite around 7pm. We were seated immediately which was good. Me and hubby always eat at Famous Dave's which has phenomenal BBQ but decided to give dinosaurs a try. It doesn't compare to famous dave's. The ribs were tender but sauce was ok. The fried rice and collard greens were not tasty to me, the rice was over fried tasted a lil burnt. The Mac n cheese and potato salad was good. For appetizer the deviled eggs and fried tomatoe were yummy. Overall it's a 7/10 not the best but not horrible. If your in the area give it a try.

    (3)

  • Marcella D.

    Went for lunch when in Newark for business. Cute decor, reasonable pricing. I had their version of the Cuban sandwich, which was ok, not great, and nowhere near a "real" Cuban like you'd get in South Florida. My lunch partner had the mixed barbecue and said it was "ok, but not impressive". Would give it a second chance.

    (3)

  • Jeremy W.

    A very worthy pregame stop; $4 beer, cheap buckets/pitchers, and awesome eats. The brisket is among the tops in the NYC area; wings are awesome, St. Louis ribs are good (though I must confess to always be a baby back man), pretty good cole slaw, mac n cheese, sweet potatoes, and deviled eggs. Service at a smalll Pru Center event was fair, so I'd imagine that might suffer before big games or concerts.

    (4)

  • Jenny V.

    Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - I've had very high expectations for this place since we've eaten at the one located in Harlem!! Ordered the Sweetheart Deal for Two which comes with a rack of ribs plus 4 sides. The ribs were cooked using a dry rub and not very saucy. If you are like me and like finger liking type ribs - you can lather on the bbq sauce provided on the table. Ribs were cooked well and sort of fell off the bone but I think next time I will opt to try something else. Sides we ordered were mac n cheese, cole slaw, fries, and carrot and raisin salad. All our sides were devoured! As far as the location goes, it's located next to Newark Prudential Center. We parked in the lot across the street for $7 since the area can be a little sketch. For ease of mind $7 is a steal! The couple we ate with parked at the meters and had to walk a few blocks. Just park wisely! I would have given this place 4 stars but removed 1 for the restaurant being extra smokey the night we went. I enjoy a smoked rib but I don't appreciate smelling like one.

    (3)

  • Augie R.

    First, a compliment: I almost always get excellent service here. It is near where I work, so I get here with some frequency, and I am impressed with the caliber of their services. Always friend and helpful! The place is also clean, which makes it an easy spot to recommend for a casual business lunch near the Gateway Center. The food, however, is pretty mediocre. People rave about the BBQ, but I recently moved from Texas, and this really doesn't stand up to the great stuff I've had there. In fact, one of my favorite lunch items here is the Cuban sandwhich. Also, I find most of the sides really quite poor. I've tried a half dozen of them, from Mac & Cheese to beans & rice to potato salad, and the only one I thought was good was the old standby: French fries.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    Food and service were decent.

    (4)

  • Coal M.

    Dino BBQ is one of my favorite places to eat before going to a Devils game. My most recent visit revealed good and bad things. First, the good. They don't accept reservations within 3 hours of game time, it is first come first served. Instead of giving you one of those stupid flashing pagers, they simply text you when your table is ready, which means you can be having fun next door in the fan plaza while waiting. The staff is always friendly and attentive. And the beer selection is good. The bad isn't really that bad, but there is a noticeable inconsistency in the quality of the meat. Sometimes it is the best I have ever had and sometimes, like my most recent visit, it isn't. This time the ribs were dry and over cooked. The sides were all great.

    (3)

  • Pat M.

    Great place. Right in front of the devil's stadium. Friendly staff, I didn't try the food but the wings smelled great.

    (4)

  • Susan T.

    ZERO STARS!!!!!!! They MAKE YOU GIVE THEM AT LEAST 1 STAR????!!!! Well, I would have loved the opportunity to rate this place! Called 2 weeks ago to set up a large group reservation in a private room, no one called back. I called today, explaining my situation - wanting to bring a dozen 10 year old girl scouts and their Moms there for dinner before a performance in November at the Pru Center, on a WEDNESDAY night. I was immediately shot down, NO ROOM AT THE INN for us! They have seating for 225 - I am asking for 25 seats - GUARANTEED together at 5:00 PM - NOT ACCOMMODATING at all! But I suppose with the Great RATINGS it got on Oct. 8 and Oct 11 - maybe we aren't going to be missing much of anything!

    (1)

  • Bobby Y.

    If by some miracle you escape getting shot or mugged while en route to this Dinosaur (I was hit up by two beggars in a stretch of a block), you're in for a treat...as it's the best food option near The Rock/Prudential Center that you'll find. If it's not Dinosaur, then you're only other option is Portuguese or Cuban, while respectful within their own food genres, not always the most appetizing before a three hour event at the arena. The restaurant's interior atmosphere is that new age rustic tin can restaurant feel, but it works for this gritty part of downtown Newark. On our recent visit, we found the service to be very friendly, but filled with blunders. Drinks were botched at the table by someone assisting our server, but he ended up rectifying it and doing a make-good. The menu has many great options in the world of BBQ. We've yet to find one menu item you could go wrong with. I loved their fried chicken sandwich, and ribs. The sauce was great too! We visited for lunch, but were thinking of ordering carryout for the drive home, as there's really few dining options in this terrible part of the Garden State.

    (4)

  • Jessy R.

    Eh! Nothing special about this place. Food is over rated, and service is mediocre. First time here so I had a couple of questions, unfortunately our waiter seemed a bit annoyed and could not be any more obvious. I will not be returning, not only for the above reasons but because the food had no wow factor .

    (2)

  • Timothy W.

    I mean it's Dino BBQ, do you need to know more?? The service and food is excellent, as you would expect at any Dino BBQ location. This particular location (about a block over from the Prudential Center) always seems a little cramped. Besides have the most awesome BBQ in the metro NYC area, my only complaint is that they don't have the Syracuse potatoes as a side dish like they do at the 125th St. location. I haven't let this stop me from returning a couple of times though.

    (4)

  • Chavon W.

    So, after my subpar experience and review, this establishment commented and inboxed me directly requesting that I send them my contact info. I have since returned to this restaurant, even though no one ever bothered to respond. Yet, they are the ones who asked for my info in order to contact me. Clearly, the lack of follow up and customer service is not only at the restaurant level. I won't be returning. Period. If I could give half a star, I would.

    (1)

  • Stephanie Y.

    Well, please sir can I have some more of those amazing ribs! Review highlight: get those friggin' ribs! So, this is another late night food review. I was hungry it was close to 11:30 and we were driving through Newark. Boom. Dinosaur BBQ closes at midnight, haven't been to the Newark location. Done. This place is huge and I really love the decor and ambiance: Wood bar, the white sort of small mosaic tile floors, nice big booths, drinks in mason jars. Yes, how I love thee and we haven't even gotten to the food. We sat down and quickly ordered up some of the Tango Wango wings and a 3 combo plate to share ($20) featuring pulled pork, brisket and St. Louis ribs. This platter came with 2 sides in which we opted for potato salad and the baked beans with ham and a piece of corn bread. The service was quick and the wings came out. This wings were large bad boys with a great spice and loads of meat. We got the Tango Wango which equated to medium heat and for medium heat they were perfect. Now, these wings weren't fried so don't come here expecting buffalo tenders. These are dry rubbed, grilled and then devoured. Let's just start with the low light of the platter, the brisket. This could have been the last plate of the night but, the 3 little pieces were a bit stringy and fatty, no juices, no flavor. Kind of a let down not gonna lie. The pulled pork pile was quite a bit of meat for the money and the pork was good though, I did need to add a lot of the delicious bbq sauce provided. Not a bad thing. But, the highlight of this platter: the St. Louis Ribs. Meet me in St. Louis yesterday if the ribs are like this. You could taste the pig not just the pork if that makes any sense. This smoked meat was some of the best ribs I've had in many of year. The meaty juice was an inch off the bone and didn't fall right off but, by no means was tough.The salty and crispy skin perfectly charred. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... pork................. Didn't get a chance to sample the drinks but, this being right next to the Pru Center, I'll be pregaming/postgaming/dining here again fo' sho'.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    The food was really good and a great price. The drinks were ok, I didn't order my usual Long Island Ice Tea which is what I use to determine if they are watering down the drinks. I forget what I had so it must have been good. Lol...

    (5)

  • Adeel K.

    Decent food at this Newark joint. I think it is the only option for BBQ in Newark. I mostly go here for lunch and usually end up spending around $20 for a brisket sandwich and drink, inclusive of tip. I would highly recommend trying the devilled eggs as they are very good, although they are pricey for the portion size.

    (4)

  • Emma B.

    When I originally started this review, I was giving this place 3 stars but after my last visit it was reduced to 2 stars. Overall the Newark location is OK...The food was warm and not truly hot. The service was ok when you dine in BUT when you are taking a meal to go the service is terrible. The staff is unprofessional and having conversations other people shouldn't hear. I will not be going back

    (2)

  • Jessica W.

    Brisket sandwich with blue cheese.. Mmmmmm jus' sayin! Would be 5 stars for food but service wasnt very attentive

    (4)

  • Kim L.

    10 /20/2013 -Our server Leslie was fantastic. She was attentive, helpful, refilled our glasses, and quick on the money. Although, she was great, it slightly concerned me that as a precursor she did ask if our sides were okay, and if they were "bad" she would exchange them. We all looked at each other, and shrugged off the comment. I've been to DBBQ in Syracuse, Harlem, Brooklyn and Newark numerous times. The service is always outstanding, unfortunately today the food was not up to par. My son ordered the Mac and Cheese kids meal, with the beans and fries. I had the 1/2 chicken with fries and salad, and my boyfriend ordered the ribs and pulled pork. The chicken was fantastic as always, the ribs were very dry, the pork was not up to Dinosaur standards and my son's mac and cheese was horrible. He started to look sick while we were there, and before we took it to go, I tried it. Immediately after we left, I started with a stomach ache, and he was in pain the entire ride home. About 2 hours after we arrived home, I called DBBQ in Newark and asked to speak with the manager Josh Alpert. Not only did Josh insult me by saying he tried the M&C three times today already and it was just fine, so what was my issue, but also asked if I had dietary or allergy restrictions. Josh- I have no concerns, no issues, we have been to Dinosaur countless times and I have never had an issue. I am not sure "if the customer is always right" at Dinosaur BBQ in Newark, but I'm going to assume after this customer service call today, that notion does not exist. I was not calling, for a freebie, I was not calling to hear about all of the complaints he DIDN'T get, I was calling for the fact, he should know and be aware that two out of three people at our table were sick, and he should take account of that. Josh, has failed at the customer service training his company provides, I would consider NOT going to Dinosaur BBQ again in any location, not because of our food experience today, but for the failed attempt at customer service I received there after.

    (1)

  • Tina T.

    If I could give it a 3 1/2 stars I would... Went here for dinner before seeing Katy Perry.. I like how its right next to the arena.. very convenient! We got there around 5:30 .. The hostess said would be about a 10 minute wait.. no problem! The place was hopping already.. My friend and I waited by the bar and in a matter of 5 minutes we were called..or I should say texted.. Our waitress Joy was good.... My friend and I ordered the ribs and chicken combo.. which comes with 2 sides and corn bread.. we ordered shortly after we sat.. but waited a good 35 to 40 minutes for our food.. The waitress kept saying it will be out shortly.. Finally it came and the ribs looked so good.. but they werent.. they were just ok.. They were a little tuff and a bit dry... surprisingly they are a bbq place.. but I was hungry so I just ate them.. There was no time to send them back... The chicken was good! tender and juicy.. the 2 sides were mac and cheese which was really good.. a little spicy but very good and fries which were good too..... corn bread was on the dry side..Boston Market has better corn bread.. Prices were average.. not cheap but not over expensive.. We saw a lot of pulled pork sandwiches going by us.. so maybe thats what to order next time..

    (3)

  • Howard Z.

    I'll start off by saying that I do have bias; having had plenty of southern, Georgia BBQ. I would honestly give it a 3.5 stars, but the helpfulness of the staff pushed it up. What I enjoyed - Good flavor. Brisket was smoked with good NJ hickory wood. Mac n' Cheese is gooey and well seasoned. The baked beans were good, but didn't blow my mind. I'm a believer in that there is just so much you can do with baked beans! Sugar and spice and everything nice and bacon. The bacon flavor came through almost too much? What was :( - I did order the Tres Ninos, and I do understand that it is more of a "sampler" than anything. However, for BBQ, the portions felt very small. Perhaps I should just go for a straight half rack of ribs or something. They were out of beer. Not just one, but a few. Logistics guys :T Definitely worth my time and trip down to EWR. Would come again.

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    Excellent pre-Devils game spot. Need to get there by 5:15 on game night. Great job to be gluten free friendly. The 2 beers available were clearly marked on the menu. I was able to try a new GF beer this night, Estrella Dora. Liked this a lot. They also have a gluten free menu available. Wango tango wings - 5 stars. These wing had such great flavor. Some smoke, some kick and all around good. Extremely juicy. Couldn't have been better. Half BBQ chicken - 5 stars. Nice portion size. Just like the wings, great flavor and extremely moist. Wouldn't change a thing. Chicken jumbo - 3 stars. Not a ton of flavor Sweet mashed potatoes - 4 stars My wife had a salad and they screwed it up 2 times. She didn't want to send it back a third time. This place would be close to 5 stars if they didn't botch my wife's salad twice. Will go back as long as we're there early enough.

    (4)

  • Susie T.

    If you try any appetizer at all -- make sure it's the fried green tomatoes. This is huge coming from me -- I don't even like tomatoes! They were that good! I can't speak for the entrees because I only shared an appetizer platter, but I look forward to coming back and trying some of their famous BBQ.

    (4)

  • Geoff C.

    Loved the pulled pork with BBQ sauce. Very yummy. Son loved the ribs. The portobello got thumbs up as well. Will be back.

    (5)

  • Klysha R.

    Loved it. The food is always good to me at Dino. I think they make one of the best moist briskets. I had a great time eating here with the family. The portions were great and the creamy cold slaw is another favorite. I must say that my waiter was wonderful. He was pleasant and went out of his way to help us with my family's food allergies. I will be back; I hope to see you very soon Newark DinoBBQ. Oh..try the rum and lemonade/sweet tea.. yummy!

    (4)

  • Siobhán H.

    HOLY FUCK. THIS PLACE IS SO GODDAMNED GOOD. I've been to Fette Sau. I've been to Rub. I've been down South. I've been to all of the places that were supposed to make me freak out over BBQ and I was always underwhelmed. Finally I understand how incredible BBQ can really be. I'm planning a trip here from Brooklyn this week and it's like the night before Christmas. I'm giddy with excitement. Everything I've eaten on the menu has been a complete 10 but I'm the biggest fan of the catfish. It's the most perfectly seasoned, juicy, well-cooked piece of fish I've ever eaten.

    (5)

  • D R.

    Let me start by saying that I'm not one of these people who only comes to Dino when there's a game or a show. I live and work in Newark! I'm officially done with Dinosaur BBQ! I had family in from out of town on Saturday and we decided to go there for dinner. Apparently, the hostesses there don't know what it means to be a host. These women are the RUDEST! Not only did they offer no information about the anticipated wait but I watched them (a group of a 5 ) stand at that podium and be rude to customer after customer. They acted as if they were pissed off because people were coming in. After waiting about 45 mins (they said it would be 20mins) we get the text that the table is ready. It wasn't. Then these stank attitude chicks had the nerve to get mad at us for standing there waiting! Finally we sit down. We immediately order drinks and apps. It took entirely too long for the appetizers and our server was not checking in! I had to eventually get up and ask a friend who works there to check on them at which point they were brought out! Then we waited another hour for food that NEVER CAME! We saw people who came in after us eat and leave! I was so embarrassed and my family was so hungry! Dino did waive our appetizer bill but trust I WASN'T GOING TO PAY IT ANYWAY! I won't be going there or recommending Dinosaur BBQ in Newark to anyone for a long time. #fail

    (1)

  • Paulette F.

    Came here 3 times and each time the food, drinks and customer service were great! However, I will not do any take out during lunch time. Definitely will go back!

    (5)

  • Rodney W.

    A little bit of a let down for me. The food was mediocre, my cocktail did not taste good at all & the server had a pleasant attitude but was too too too slow.

    (2)

  • Michelle C.

    My co-workers and I frequent this place for lunch. I've never had anything here that's not good - from the burgers to the bbq to the sides. They're all good. The smell of the bbq will make you hungrier as soon as you walk in. Tip: I ordered something to go and it wasn't good. For some reason this food is only good fresh and should be eaten as soon as possible.

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    Horrible experience. Made a reservation for 5:45pm for 6 people on a Sunday. Got there at 535pm checked in and they said it will be soon. We waited til 625 pm to sit down. Sat at our table for 15 minutes and no one came to even say hi. Went and spoke to a server who was passing by and he said he wasn't our server and they are busy tonight and under staff. Someone came by 10 minutes later. We placed our order to find out that they ran out of ribs and brisket. What kind of bbq restaurant runs out of the signature items. No one even apologized. We walked out after being there over a hour.

    (1)

  • Peter J.

    Blah, this place could do so much better. This place has so much competition in newark for BBQ but clearly exists because of their proximity to the prudential center. The quality of food here is really what takes the 3 stars. On a good note they have a bar and a decent amount of beers on tap.

    (3)

  • Steven S.

    First time at this location with my wife, son and daughter in law on a Sunday night. I love bbq joints and visit a lot of them. I expect them to be inviting and friendly, besides good chow. Our waitress was extremely friendly, but I just didn't get a good "BBQ joint vibe" from the rest of the place if you know what I mean. She took our orders for drinks, but we had to ask for them about 15 minutes later. She asked the bartender and was given a rude answer - the waitress apologized and said "You heard me get yelled at, didn't you?" We had our meals before the drinks finally arrived. We had some ribs, pork, mac n' cheese, brisket & appetizers. I had fries as a side but didn't get them til I was almost finished eating. The waitress said "they put down some fries that were sitting around so I told them to make some fresh ones." Good for her for taking care of me, but shame on the kitchen! They WERE good, though. The ribs didn't exactly fall off the bone but had good taste. The m 'n c was pretty dry. Pulled pork sandwich was good and plentiful. The desserts certainly didn't seem homemade. Hopefully this was an "off' night for them. Thankfully our waitress was accomodating and apologetic about the mistakes. She was a gem.

    (2)

  • doug m.

    I've been to 5 dinosaur bbq locations, and this is my least favorite. The food is sometimes great and other times a disappointment at this Newark location. I usually get the chopped salad and wings for lunch. This and other times they forgot to add the nuts to the salad. Other than the awesome house dressing, the rest of the salad seemed to come from a bag of greens (nothing was chopped). The wings were 13 for 13 wing (two bones) and no thighs. Half looked black like cooked twice and the other half were rubbery and pink inside - gross. The garlic rub tasted awesome, but prep execution was awful. Good luck!

    (2)

  • Matt D.

    Stopped in for a few drinks before catching a train at Penn Station. Drinks were a little pricey for the amount of alcohol that was actually in it. But we had great service by Frankie, who was very attentive. Frankie also took the time, after paying for the drinks, by addressing me by my name (having read it off my credit card). You rarely find places nowadays that take the time to utilize this customer service technique. Great service can go a long way.

    (4)

  • John S.

    The Newark Dinosaur stands tall with its brothers in Syracuse and Troy. The pulled pork, mac'n'cheese and brisket are all indistinguishable from the more established locations. And the service is also as efficient and friendly as the upstate NY spots. I can't imagine how crowded it would get before and during a Devils game, but on a weekend for lunch, tables were abundant and the food came out promptly. Outside of the Ironbound, this may be one of the best meals you can eat in Newark.

    (4)

  • Rosalina C.

    Went there for dinner and drinks with coworkers and had an amazing time! We ordered wings and deviled eggs for apps. They were so delicious and tasty! I had the half chicken plate with turkey neck greens and macaroni and cheese for dinner. It was decently priced and so good! Even their specialty cocktails were awesome. You have to try the Donkey Punch! This place is a must-do!!!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    Overall, I give them 3.5 stars. They are located right next to the Prudential Center. Parking can be an issue, unless you come here during the week and at night. The location is easily accessible by public transportation and just minutes away from Newark Penn Station. Prices were fairly reasonable and portion size was regular sized. The crowd is a mix of local residents and businessmen. Service was excellent! Our waitress was extremely friendly and kept on coming back and checking up on us constantly! I can't say enough about their lemonade: it was ridiculously good! Light and refreshing, perfect for summer nights! For my main entrée, I decided to order the combination plate (choice of meat, served with cornbread and 2 sides) I had the 2 meat combination plate: 1/4 chicken leg and thigh and the pulled BBQ Pork, with mac and cheese and BBQ Fried rice. The mac and cheese was good, but not the best I've ever had. I probably wouldn't try it again and rather choose another side. The BBQ Fried Rice was surprisingly good. The Pulled Pork was very tender and flavorful! The chicken, unfortunately, didn't impress me. It actually reminded me of Boston Market chicken for some reason. For dessert, I had the Key Lime Pie. It was actually way too sweet and won't be ordering it again when I come back. This is a good place to sit down and enjoy some food at a reasonable price. Generally when I think barbeque, I think knock your socks off kind of food and unfortunately, it didn't deliver that kind of feeling for me. The meat was okay but could have been better. Overall, I will probably be back to Dinosaur BBQ to try the other kinds of meats.

    (3)

  • Xiao Z.

    Long before I set foot at this establishment, I've been bombarded with fantastical raves and admiration for this chain restaurant. Unfortunately, unless this place actually dished out T-Rex on a platter, my standards and expectations had been raised too high before my taste buds could even make contact with the juicy, suckling ribs. Needless to say, the ribs were lip-smacking good, even after they were frozen and reheated the following day. The prices were...high-ish in my standards and the sides were just a little bit salty/over-seasoned in my opinion. But this was definitely worth a visit and the $4 parking, not sure if I'll go again =/, but that's just me. Food: 4 stars Price: 3 stars Parking: 2 stars

    (4)

  • Stacey C.

    I really wanted to like this place. My fiancé and I went on a Friday night after hearing some rave reviews. The place is set up nicely and clean which is always a plus. Upon entering we were happy to see that there were tables available near the bar. Unfortunately the hostess did not seem pleased that we did not have a reservation (mind you there was no wait and plenty of tables available) but we were sat. The waitress was not very friendly either. She asked what we wanted and pretty much disappeared after that. I had the pulled pork platter with mac and cheese and my fiance also had the pulled pork but with baked beans. We both agree that the meat lacked flavor as did the beans. The mac and cheese was very flavorful. Overall, I have had better BBQ and for the price I don't think it's worth it in my opinion.

    (3)

  • E e.

    Not everything is 5 Star...but 2 things won't be denied: The Brisket Sandwich Melt & Blue Cheese Dressing are just amazing. So naughty they're borderline pornographic. I'm not a chicken guy, but very tender breast meat. Sauce is ok...but if you're a brisket guy, don't pass this joint up.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Ok, ok so if you've followed Sarge's Yelps you all know I love good food and I REALLY love good BBQ. I haven't had much success with chain BBQ places but heard great things about Dinosaur BBQ and even though Mayor Booker and I might not see eye to eye on things he wouldn't steer me wrong here. I wanted to give the place a chance so I decided I wouldn't Yelp it until I did a thorough taste test and had tried the place 3 times... And as they say three times the charm. Let me start by saying if I JUST rated the food I'd give them 4.5 stars, but the take out service leaves a bit to be desired. My suggestion- order early and no matter what time they tell you-expect to wait. All three times I went I waited at least 15 minutes past the time they said the food would be ready. That said-the food was really awesome...absolutely delicious. First time I had a combo plus 6 wings for an appetizer. Wings were very tasty, not too slathered in sauce, but on the small side. Brisket was very tasty and didn't need sauce as I had a nice bark and the ribs were so good I wanted to go back the next day. So I did. Second trip I had a 'pork melt' sandwich that was delicious an overflowing with pork and I threw in 3 ribs to make sure they didn't just get lucky (they were awesome again!). Also had the baked beans and deviled eggs-WOW. Pulled pork IN the beans-can life get better?!? Final trip we got one of the big family combos and it fed 6 of us...we also got some wings and topped it off with an extra side othe BBQ fried rice (OMG!!!). So if you like BBQ and you're in Newark-don't bother with anyplace else until you try Dinosaur BBQ first. Been to other places (there are quite a few very good BBQ places in Newark) but the quality of the food at this place is too good to pass up...trust me-I wouldn't steer you wrong...

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    I eat here sometimes after Devils games and the food blows. I just hate it. Everything tastes like crap. The name is perfect because it tastes like you're eating dinosaur that's been sitting in the back since the ice age. And the waiters are totally clueless. This place is just a total mess. The atmosphere is cool though and unlike many other restaurants around Pru Center they have a full menu after the game, that's why I give it 2 stars instead of 1...

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    Wow! This place is the real deal. I had the Swag Sampler and the Gumbo. Everything was a 10! Including the gumbo, which was a big surprise in NJ. Do not miss an opportunity to eat here. I know I won't come back to Newark without making sure I come here.

    (5)

  • Vajaah P.

    I'm not one to head down to Newark for an evening but Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has made it into my family's rotation. We've found our favorites on the food and drink menu. Our go-tos include the Dino Mary, hot wings, salmon fritters and black eye pea salad. The bartenders are dead on. The service is darn good. There's a manager there though... He treats his employees like they're subhuman insubordinates and in efforts to accommodate he seems more than willing to cut corners. The bartenders took a drink off the menu because all of the ingredients weren't available. He put it back on with a substitute. If there wasn't so much to love about this spot, he'd drive me away from it.

    (4)

  • Miguel S.

    Best ribs... Enough said. Sweet, tender, fall off the bone good with a great smoke ring with the matching smokey flavor to go with it.

    (4)

  • Sean I.

    I never been to Dinosaur BBQ before. I have been to many BBQ restaurants before, all over NYC. This is by far the best one yet. I only tried the ribs with two sides - and their amazing sweet tea. The ribs were good but I was a bit disappointed because mine were a bit fatty and tough. But I loved the sauce, and they were cooked perfectly. The mac and cheese is to die for. Best mac and cheese, ever. Crispy on top, gooey when eaten and I could have ordered just an entire plate alone. I also tried the BBQ beans. I love good BBQ beans and this was another hit. Both sides and the cornbread alone is what gives this place four stars. Also I was driving so I didn't want to drink so I had the sweet tea - so worth it! They should sell it to go, I would have bought a gallon! A few cons: I sat at the bar and they had one HDTV. One. Guys, buy two more for solo eaters at the bar. Having one TV is lame. Also the beer selection is ok, but they could do better here. I didn't drink, but most of what they offered didn't interest me at all. How about Pacifico, Leinenkugels or something interesting? Most of what they had on tap was "meh". Would not stop me from coming back, however.

    (4)

  • David B.

    Went for a business lunch. Love the menu. Had two Dino Ales on draft. Food was exceptional. I had a Memphis pulled pork bar-be-que sandwich. Came with cole slaw just like when I lived in Charlotte. Sandwich was great and fries were perfect. My Guest had the ribs. He really seemed to enjoy them. Very generous portions for the price--great value. Menu is great if you like meat. Have a great selection of bar-be-que and grilled food. Lots of sides that are fitting. One side that I wish they would add is fried okra. This has a great saloon environment. Being located near the Prudential Center, it is set up for a pre- and post Hockey game crowd. But is also great for business since it is near the Gateway Center.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    Now I know what all the hype is about, and I totally agree. Dino BBQ is fantastic and I'm so happy that there is one in Newark. I was expecting a long line but I just found a bouncer at the door instead. The restaurant is large and has an open space, really great for gathering with friends or coming to dinner to show your date how you chow down on some ribs. The meat is well seasoned, marinated, cooked, grilled, smoked to perfection. I love my BBQ falling off the bone style and it does just that. reminds me of souther style BBQ which I love and miss. I'll be back for sure Dinosaur!

    (4)

  • Anthony L.

    Absolutely AMAZING, I go here at least once a month with my girlfriend. We both love it and the staff is fantastic. One of my favorite places to eat.

    (5)

  • Ace K.

    Their wings, fried green tomatoes and devils eggs are delicious. No parking though, otherwise, I'd come back regularly.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    I came here during a LMFAO concert was about to start. My friends were upset at me for not getting a table since I was the first one to arrive. I was so distracted by the hot mess that was walking to 'the Rock'. Oh I (Far East movement) headlined for LMFAO so naturally I was there.... Anyways, our group of 6 got seated at a round table that normally should sit 4-5 people. I noticed that the table was too small because our knees would touch. Anyways, we had to deal with it and ordered a couple pitchers of beer. Everyone order the combo platters with their array of side. I stuck to my gun after reading reviews on yelp and ordered ribs that comes with 2 side. I ordered 2 more sides since I know I probably won't come here in a long time. I got the slab with rice and beans, mac and cheese, bbq beans with burnt ends, and the potato salad. The corn bread was really good.. I gave 3 ribs to my friend because it was just too much carbs. Next time I will get only half a rack. The potato salad was the best side for me. it was not overly cold or heavy on the mayo. I do agree with the fact that the staff needs a uniform or something to set them apart. Our table was full of asian people. I order a soda after our entrée were ordered. The same waitress later brings out the soda to my friend. We were not sure to be offended because we all look alike.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    I should state my bias up front - my husband and I went to school in Syracuse and my husband loves the chain like no other. Since I was a vegetarian in college I didn't fully appreciate it then, but I've eaten at the Harlem location a number of times. We were very excited for the Newark location to open up since it's about a 15 minute drive from where we live. We went here with our families for Father's Day (made a reservation first since it was a large party) and they seated us promptly. It is very loud inside so just be warned. If you're looking for intimate conversation go elsewhere. We ate a lot so here's a rundown of initial impressions. Great - The ribs, mac and cheese, cornbread, and sweet & sour coleslaw. The ribs were fantastic, possibly the best I've had at Dinosaur. Nice and meaty, not fatty, and finger-lickin' good. Mac and cheese was insanely cheesy and gooey, as it should be. I've always had an issue with their cornbread (it's usually dry) but their cornbread muffins here were very moist and just sweet enough. This was my first time trying their coleslaw and I loved how crunchy it was, not to mention how it helped cut the richness of the other food. Okay - Pulled pork, brisket, gumbo, wings - We started with the wings which while good, were not up to the ones we've had in Harlem (which my husband says are his favorite wings ever). The pulled pork was tasty, but not outstanding. My father-in-law ordered the brisket and said it was tough, which is how my husband has described it on past occasions. I got the gumbo as one of my sides and it didn't really impress me. It also could have been hotter. Bad - This location doesn't offer chili. Are you kidding me???? This is by far one of the best dishes Dinosaur BBQ offers and the fact that the Newark location doesn't have it almost made me cry. Please, please, bring chili to this location! I'll start a letter-writing campaign if I have to. Meh - Beer list was a bit lacking. Nice that they offer some NJ brews but it would be great if they had some of the newer Garden State breweries available like Carton and Kane. The fact that they listed Bud Light under NJ did make for a good laugh, though. The restaurant was packed when we were there so it seems to be holding its own in Newark. Make the trip out here for some great BBQ and a good time.

    (4)

  • Ginette P.

    I stopped by this past wknd since we had tickets to the J.lo & Enriquee concert. The location is great nice & close to the prudential center coming in we had to wait about 15-20 minutes , no big deal we stayed by the bar & ordered the Donkey Punch drink ...delicous drink nice taste a lil sweet but don't let that fool u in thinking it has no alcohol because it certainly does. Our table was ready in no time , sat down & ordered the Jumbo BBQ chicken wings in hotter garlic chiptle sauce , yummmy these were really good , nice taste & just the right amount of sauce on them. Main dishes I tried the Churrasco Chicken sandwich w mac & cheese , sandwich was pretty good nice & juice piece of chicken. the Mac & cheese was good as well I liked the lil bit Of spicy kick to it. My friends had the Crispy chicken sandwich w fries , good as well so were the fries & the Half Rack of Ribs , nice taste w some beans & cole slaw. Not crazy about the bean , cole was ok. This was a good place to sit & enjoy some food, good bartendor service , very friendly service at the table , nice & quick , good prices. If in the area again i wouldn't mind returning for some food & definatley for some more of the donkey punch drinks.

    (3)

  • Tiffany L.

    Such mixed feelings about Dinosaur. I've wanted to try them for so long, and was excited when the Newark location opened. The interior and space is great, spacious with a big bar and plenty of seating, rustic and modern. I know they're working a lot of kinks out since they just opened, so I know I should cut them some slack. I started with a Sangria. A little watered down, but okay. My husband had the Dinosaur beer, he enjoyed it. We started with the Sampler Plate. Everything was really good. The wings were amazing, the deviled eggs were some of the best I've ever had. All of the dipping sauces were also great. The Fried Green Tomatoes were pretty mushy, my least favorite on the plate. I got the Pulled Pork Sandwich platter and it was incredible. The pork was tender, flavorful, and melted in your mouth. In combination with the soft potato roll and pickles, it was simple, and delicious. As my sides I chose Mac and Cheese and the Sweet Potatoes with Walnuts. The sweet potatoes were great, velvety and sweet with the crunch of the spicy walnuts. My Mac and Cheese started off great, super cheesy and gooey, but then I got a bite that was full of salt and pepper. It must not have been mixed in at all, because half of my mac was inedible and just drowned with seasoning and salt. My husband had the Brisket sandwich with bacon. It was really good. His sides were the BBQ Rice and Potato Salad. Potato salad was good, and he liked the BBQ Rice but I thought it tasted and looked exactly like Asian fried rice, and I didn't care for it - not with BBQ, at least. Dessert was Bourbon Pecan Pie and delicious, the crust wasn't the best, but it was full of Bourbon flavor and chunks of chocolate. I would have given the food 4 stars, but the service was just awful. Our waitress walked by our drinks sitting at the bar a few times. When she came over she said out loud, "What did you guys order again? What am I supposed to be doing?" She was obviously distracted. Her and the entire waitstaff was on their cell phones out on the restaurant floor in front of customers like it wasn't a problem. Our check was also dropped off in the middle of us eating our dinner, and our dinner came out while we were just 2 bites into our appetizers. These are some issues management needs to seriously work on!

    (3)

  • Stephen D.

    I love it here, it's a great business for the Newark area in terms of job creation, foot traffic and beautifying the neighborhood. The interior is really comfortable and industrial looking. The service was great, our server was extremely attentive and engaging. The lady and I came here for lunch, we got the Ribs for 2, tender & moist, but not falling off the bone moist; & 4 sides, Turkey Neck Greens, tangy and surprisingly rich; Mac & Cheese, cheesy gooey and flavorful with unique bbq spices; Cole Slaw, could have been creamier; Beans; sweet and savory. Overall great experience, definitely good for lunch and probably just as good for dinner. * If you are coming for lunch, come as close to noon as possible, any later you will be waiting.

    (4)

  • Dev C.

    If you ever get lucky enough to get a melty part of the beef brisket here.... aww man. It's so good. Also the sweet tea is really sweet - just how I like it.

    (4)

  • Esther C.

    It's a cool spot- very chill, awesome location, and fun atmosphere. Food: The food is mediocre. The wings rely too heavily on black pepper as opposed to other, more flavorful seasonings. The mac and cheese was not the best. I thought the food, overall, lacked taste. The drinks are good. Ambiance: Again, a chill, fun spot that's right in the heart of Newark.

    (3)

  • Jon W.

    First time there tonight. Decor is very, very cool. Love it. Service was amazing. Waitress was super friendly and helpful. Food was very good. My personal problem was that everything is a bit too spicy. It's hard to order several things and get some relief from the spiciness. Even the mac and cheese is spicy. I had a combo platter of chicken, baby backs and Korean Style ribs. The Korean ribs had no meat. Don't bother. The Harlem potato salad was good, but some of the potatoes were undercooked. Greens were good if a little soggy. Sweet and sour cole slaw was great. For dessert, I had the key lime pie, which was outstanding. I was very full after all of that. Probably next time I'll only order a two combo meal.

    (4)

  • Kenny L.

    Barely open a week and already there's 12 reviews. The food review is an amalgamation of the food in Harlem and Newark. The service review is all Newark. Food: Ribs were smoked to perfection, but I didn't care much about the rub. If the rub was better, I would not hesitate to call the ribs "the best in the world." I am not kidding. Sides, tasted good, but lost their temperature quick. The Mac and Cheese has a dusting of their rub, you already know what I feel about the rub. Pulled pork was pretty good and the brisket was just a little bit overdone, a little chewy. However, the habanero barbecue sauce is AWESOME, if you can handle heat, use it. Also another big highlight was the hot link sausage. Normally I get hot links at a barbecue joint because it's cheap and comparatively low mess. Most of the time, the hot links are purchased from a distributor. Anytime I rave about a barbecue place's sausage, it's scratch made. Dino's sausage is that good; good fat content, good seasoning and not too hot so anybody can enjoy it. Service: This is what push this review to four stars. It just opened, I came during lunch rush and yet the service was quick, efficient and friendly. The people here work like Dinosaur Barbecue-Newark has been open for years. Hats off to you.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Dinosaur BAR-B-QUE has a very rustic feel to it upon entrance. Such as it's faded wood walls and old cracked tiling on the floor. Tables, chairs and booth seating are all made from dark stained wood. Its very spacious inside with a large well stocked bar in the center, serving up about 8 different types of beer on tap. While I find the decor cool, it's the food where my problem lies. I went with the "Pick your own combo" which was Pulled Pork, BBQ Brisket and Korean Ribs. My food came out cold and slopped with sauce, so I couldn't taste the meat. It was as if the meat after being cooked sat under heat lamps that obviously are not working. For my sides I went with Turkey Neck Greens which I found too salty and Mac & Cheese that was clumpy. It Seemed like it was laying around for a while and so rich in cheese it made me sick. The fried green tomatoes were just ok. They tasted more of the breading then the tomatoe. I enjoyed their signature Root beer. It tasted more like a birch style if that's your thing. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The bathrooms there smell like a subway station and most likely are cleaned and maintained only once a day. For a restaurant that's so close to the Prudential Center and has the potential to be a gold mine you are definitely missing the boat. Your food is not up to par.

    (2)

  • Manny M.

    I wanted to come and update my review. Since my last review the Dino bbq team managers reached out to me and were really concerned with my experience at their restaurant. After hearing what happened they invited me to come back and gave me a gift card! This I was not expecting at all, I just like to make everyone aware of excellent or poor service. The fact that they took their time to reach out truly shows that the Dino team are on it, they do care about their customers and all that happens in their restaurant! I am very pleased with the way they handled this situation and can not wait to visit again!

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    Came here with a party of 13 for my birthday and boy was it a great experience! We came on a sunday night so it was a little dead, but thats normal for any restaurant. I made a reservation a week beforehand just to be safe and once I was inside the restaurant the hostess bought us to our table immediately and the waiter came not too short after. I wish I remembered the waiter's name but she was really good, describing what they had to us including her recommendations. She recommended the wings and it is to die for! They were one of the best wings I've ever had. Waiter asked what the occasion was for, since it was such a big party and we told her it was for my birthday and all night she called me birthday boy haha. "Birthday boy, what would you like to order?" "Birthday boy gets a free slice of pie on the house" Onto the food. I ordered half chicken with 1/4 rack of ribs with mac and cheese and fries as sides and THEY WERE AMAZING! Best chicken, rib, mac and cheese I've had in a while. I went to the DINO BBQ back in Harlem in NY and they were not as good as this one. Later on, when I was stuffed (I couldn't finish my dinner) my complimentary pie came and it was amazing as well. Sweet, delicate and delicious! If only this wasn't in Newark I would come back a lot more often. Living in Brooklyn, NY it is a long way to get here. But if I'm in Jersey again, I will definitely stop by again! Thanks for making me have a great birthday dinner!

    (5)

  • Polywog F.

    Went for lunch today - was seated right away and had the order taken quickly. Food was great! I am a vegetarian and the fried green tomatoes were amazing! Would highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Desiree D.

    Ive had my eye on this place for awhile, thanks to the reviews and the name. But you will be fooled..theres not much of a Dino theme here. But onto the food... Salmon nuggets are great. I was let down because there were only 3 lil nuggets with a small side of this zesty type sauce. Deep fried anything is great, its also mixed with some corn and other veggies. Addicting, yes! But give me more! Mac n Cheese is one of the sides here that people rave about. It was good, but over rated. I think they need to put more of that seasonin thats on top, throughout the whole dish. It deff. creates a diff flare to the usual baked mac n cheese taste. Sweet potatoe w/ nuts--uhh dont even waste your time. not sweet at all, barely any flavour and not enough nuts. deviled eggs are a must get here. i got 3 for about $4 and was wishing i got about 20. theyre creamy and filling Whats that in the middle of the table? sauces you say? The wango Tango is good, but sweet. diabetics watch out. The garlicy one is like franks hott, which i hate--such a cop out. but the grand finale and star of the show is the "Sensuous Slathering". it has a kick so watch out, but its delicious. I tried both Dino beers and was digging the darker one much more. story of my life. it was a toss up between coffee and chocolate. the place is cute, clean and interesting to look at. they have outdoor seating and parking sucks. overall, it was interesting and the food was okay.

    (3)

  • Lantz A.

    Way too expensive for this quality of BBQ! Really disappointing! Their desserts are great though!

    (2)

  • Michael Z.

    JUST AWFUL! Terrible, bad, not good, gross, YOU CALL THIS BBQ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I've been to the original in Syracuse and the one in Harlem and they were both sort of good and passable.......Not a huge fan of their sauce but those 2 cooked the meat very well. Now....Newark is a totally different situation....... I had the BBQ wings to start and while they were tasty they were under cooked!not even pink...red blood spots...... when I mentioned it to the bartender he emphatically told me I was wrong......Now there is some lame customer service. Then I got a 1/4 rack of ribs with a gumbo side and fries side. The fries were good, the gumbo was VERY good but the rice they served with it was not good....under cooked, hard and cardboard like. And the ribs........TERRIBLE! undercooked, flavorless and tough as leather. So they don't separate the ribs completely just cut them a little more than 3/4 of the way down.....this would be fine if they were cooked properly....I had to grab a rib in each hand tightly and pull really hard to separate them........Again, when I asked the bartender about this he made me feel like i was an ass for asking....... To top it all off, I'm there a block away from where the Devils play and I was watching the Capitals/Rangers playoff game. Now I'm an Islanders fan and I was rooting against the Rangers. The staff and customers couldn't understand why I was rooting against the Rangers......REALY! You are a block away from The Rock and you "root for the New York team" ? Ugh!

    (1)

  • Skii C.

    Once i walked in i had a choice of sitting at the bar, but i told the hostess i would want booth seating....i had a cool waitress, some guy with braids......dinosaur bar-b-que you know i had to get the BBQ! Lol....i went with half rack of ribs..with plenty of choices of sides.....but i went with my two favorites which are mash potatoe with gravy and mac & cheese......only complaint is i found a garlic skin in my mash lol...no biggy i am a big boy, i put it to the side.....mac & cheese was okay as well and ribs done right......portion was sort of childish, kids meal portion though i am not going to lie...if i am paying about 18$ i would want a bigger portion....shout out the mixologist...12$ for henny and coke, made real strong....all in all finger licking good bbq!

    (4)

  • Pablo C.

    Came here for the first time around 1030ish on a Thursday night and it was a welcome surprise. It had a good crowd going but not packed to make it annoying. The bartender was friendly, quick , and great overall from the first beer to stepping out. Their beer selection is NICE as is their mixed drink game. (my bloody mary had a cool twist to it) Had deviled eggs that were on point as was my pulled chicken salad with sweet potato side. I also had a BBQ wing from my friends platter that was GREAT. Am definitely coming back for the food but the atmosphere practically sells itself as a bar to start the night out in. (I am by no means a BBQ connoisseur but it was amazing for my taste.)

    (5)

  • Sharihan M.

    I wasn't too impressed with this place. Everything was mediocre. Came in with my husband and kids and we all ordered different things to share since it was our first time. The waitress wasn't all that either seeing how we had to hunt her down to get us more refills on our soda! The appetizer was okay but very small. The steak I had was dry and was so disappointed with the greens they served because I wanted some badly. The mac and cheese was just okay and sort of spicy(if that makes any sense) and so was the corn bread. The ribs my husband had were moist and tender and his gumbo was good. The chicken my kids had was just okay as well but nothing special. All in all, the ribs saved this place from receiving less than 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Gina R.

    Dino's!! To begin, I love that this place has entrances for take out and dine in. As for takeout, nothing beats a pulled jerk chicken sandwich with their bbq sauce, Mac and cheese, and potato salad with a cream soda!!! Dining in...Great salmon! Warning: they have a drink called donkey punch....it's the equivalent of the college red cup experience...stay away!! Lol The place overall is a great for catching up with friends, but parking can be a little difficult. If this place had a lot!!! I can only imagine....

    (4)

  • Sabir J.

    Great place if you're in the mood for wings. Anything else is mediocre at best. I love the Dino burger if you're in the mood. Great outdoor space for before a concert at the Prudential Center or NJPAC.

    (4)

  • Divya K.

    Decent veg options (Portabella mushroom burger) plus a whole bunch of veg sides to choose from that leave you satisfied and full, But the best part about this place is their mac and cheese!! One of the best I've ever had and the high lite of my dino bbq trips. 4 stars because sometimes the service is sooo slow.

    (4)

  • Todd W.

    Collard greens were great...good flavor BBQ sandwich was tender and very tasty. BBQ sauce was just right Only complaint was the price of the food was just a "bit" pricey Service was excellent especially for a lunch crowd

    (4)

  • Giavona J.

    I'm writing this review to praise Dinosaur Barbeque for exhibiting a level is customer service that I have not experienced in any establishment in a very long time. I have dined here previously and I've always had great food and quality service. But recently I purchased a living social deal that left my family feeling more than disappointed about the food and service. I contacted the restaurant the next day and spoke to a manager, Ivan, who was apologetic and kind. He extended an offer to let he restaurant right the wrong when I was ready. So yesterday because I was In the area for a concert, I called to see if it would be ok to dine at Dinosaur Barbeque. I spoke with Ivan, who remembered me, and said that I should ask for him upon my arrival. I arrived at the restaurant and followed his instructions. He came out to greet me, shook my hand, apologized again, and seated me. As with all of my other experiences at this restaurant, this one was great. The food was awesome. The service was exceptional. My waiter Jamal was an absolute pleasure to interact with . He was warm, personable, and knowledgable of the menu items. He even convinced me to try a couple of new items, which I loved. Ivan returned twice during my visit to assure that all was well. I was pleased with everything that I just had to extend an awesome review. If you're ever in the area, do yourself a favor and stop in for a meal.

    (5)

  • Aaron K.

    What a difference a few months make. Dino has always been a roller coaster ride, ranging from great to mediocre, but today took the cake of PISS POOR food and service. Sat at the bar for a few beers and a full rack of ribs and planned on watching the NFL football game. Walked in and the bartender had her back turned to the bar watching some old show from the 70's or 80's. After I finally got her attention I did get a beer and she did accommodate my request to put the game on (looking back after the way the JETS played maybe she should of left her TV show on). So now I got the beer and the game, however the bartender stood with her back to the bar while watching TV the entire time. I figured she did not want to be there on a lazy Sunday... After I received my Ribs, I realized nobody who worked there wanted to be there that Sunday. Ribs were came out hot, but tough, old and with no flavor. I asked for a side of Devil's Duel sauce, but I got a side of some other sauce. Whatever. My main complaint, is the Ribs were covered in GREASE. A greasy grimey tough mess. I have had their ribs here plenty of times and this is the First time I had my ribs drenched in OIL. How do smoked BBQ ribs come out drenched in oil?? I can only guess they probably had them laying around from Friday and tried to do something to juice them up... I do no't know. But it was gross. First time I have ever had a rack of ribs in this place and did not finish. Simply disgusting. check out the Photos of the TV watching Bartender and The puddle of Grease with my Ribs. TERRIBLE.

    (1)

  • Ngoc P.

    Damn it Dinosaur, why are you so inconsistent? One day you're good, one day you're meh. Cut it out. So, here are some of my tips I've come up with after eating here for like a bajillion times: 1. Eat at the bar if you can. 2-3 people can easily fit. You'll get quicker and friendlier service. Plus there's a happy hour board you can see along with TVs for when the times get awkward. 2. Get the pulled pork sliders. Seriously, they are delicious. Much better than the hamburger or the brisket. They are love between a bun ;) 3. Call ahead and ask if there's a big game when you plan on going. Whenever there's a big game at the Prudential Center, it gets super crowded. Like 120-minute-wait crowded. Be warned. 4. Get the wings. I've taken so many people here and the item that everyone loves are the wings. Big, juicy, and delicious wings. Wango tango has always been the crowd favorite sauce. 5. Share. Plate sharing or ordering smaller items will guarantee you a better time if you end up ordering something bad. 6. The ribs are always a hit-and-miss. At least for me. Sometimes they're dry, sometimes they're delicious. But they're never fork tender. I don't think Dino BBQ ever intended for it to be fork tender but they are always delicious despite the texture. Overall, it is a restaurant worth going to. Despite the bad experiences sometimes, I never stop going because I always end up having a good time. It's very casual and the atmosphere is fun. Plus, $5 pints. Woooot.

    (4)

  • Obsetee K.

    Came in today during lunch with a large group from the office. We are a rambunctious bunch but the staff made us feel welcome and did a fantastic job at accommodating all of our needs. I will definitely be back again!

    (5)

  • Chris A.

    4.5 Stars. What an awesome place! I was tired of going to the same boring places and asked a friend to reccommend somewhere different. He said his girlfriend really liked Dinosaur Bbq so I figured we'd give it a try. Our waitress, Zaryiah, ( sorry for the misspelling) was awesome. She was great from the second we walked in until the moment we left. Now to the food.. we started off with an order of poutine, which both my girlfriend and I thought was great. I went with a Brisket and bacon sandwich and she got a bbq chicken sandwich. All in all, the food was great and we definitely plan on going back. I like the fact that although they have a wide selection of beer and liqour, and have a bar area, they are a resturant first and foremost. Too many places try to do both at the same time and wind up doing neither well.

    (5)

  • Marcelle B.

    Mehhh.. Had to try it to make sure the reviews were accurate sadly they were. Nothing special to see here. Not terrible but just not somewhere I'd ever return to.

    (2)

  • Kim L.

    After suggestion from a friend to go, who ventured to the Manhattan location sometime back and raved about their BBQ, I finally went to visit Dino BBQ for myself. Very southern style BBQ but I can't say much about the flavor. I had some gumbo and tried the BBQ but there wasn't a whole lot of pizzazz. It doesn't seem fresh - it's not piping hot or prepared with TLC. Do yourself a favor and go to the nearby Ironbound to get BBQ!

    (2)

  • Ari J.

    The beer and food get 5 stars.. Understaffed bar makes for a painful trip at times but adds to the atmosphere... This place is consistently consistent a rare feat for any establishment. I do love this place. Great beer, amazing wings (smoked, dry rub, and then finished on the grill) these are full sized wings not dwarf midget sparrow wings! These are dinosaur wings my friend be ready.... and do not let these bad boys intimidate you. I go for the devils duel, a BBQ/scotch bonnet concoction that will take your breath away and won't give it back til you take a swig of your dog fish head 90 minute IPA (always available on drought). If you are traveling with a friend go for the tres amigos.. Brisket/ Ribs/ pulled pork All decent, but the ribs clearly are the star.... The Korean ribs are a thin slice of short rib marinated and served right off the grill, crispy ends and full of goodness. Collard greens are vinigary Mac n Cheez puts your mama's to shame Don't go shamin' your mama... Tell her they are good... but missing sumpthin'

    (4)

  • Lou D.

    Today I visited Dinosaur BBQ due to the previous experiences of my co workers. I had been to the locations in Harlem and Syracuse and was thrilled to visit Newark. What a big disappointment. The bill was $150.00 the food was terrible. All the sides were weak and we ordered plenty: Turkey Neck Greens aka Collard greens, canned, Mac and Cheese: chunky, Gumba: paste, white rice with black beans: crunchy dried out white rice. Mashed Sweet Potatoes: flavorless. I could go but you get the idea. Ok now the brisket, a disgrace to serve it, cuts were thick bland poorly prepared after the OVEN baking. Neither of the two Brisket Platter looked a like, the cuts were varied. We never got our cornbread either, should have been 7 pieces. The place was empty so no excuse on this one. The ribs for $30.00 were a complete waste of time and money, tough was nice word to discribe them. The service was good but the bathrooms were filthy. Fruit flyies, baby changing station (dirty), towels and toilet paper every where. It appeared urinating in an alley would have been cleaner. No reason to return or recommend this restaurant to anyone. Dinosaur BBQ Newark was a complete waste of money and time, stay away I had two ribs left that on the platter no one would even try to finish, guessing one taste of leather was enough. We had a contest who would cut the ribs apart or cut themselves trying. I asked for the container to bring them home to the dogs. Once I got in the car I throw them out the window let the rats eat them and save the dogs from the nightmare they have enough leather toys as it is. Photos are included in my profile 2 thumbs down, hell if I had four thumbs I would have gone to the extreme. I was in inbound Newark and next I will eat there and avoid this CHAIN WRECK! posted to Eat, Bayonne (facebook) dining review group, to keep it's members away as well.

    (2)

  • April M.

    Great service from Jim and crew at Dinosaur bbq. Got us a great table prior to concert and wouldn't even accept a tip said it was his job to make us enjoy. Loving this place.

    (5)

  • Andrew G.

    The best Mac 'n Cheese I've ever had. Dinosaur never fails to disappoint. I've been to the original Syracuse location, and now, the Newark location twice. Came here with my wife last Saturday before the Fleetwood Mac show at Prudential for a bite. Every time we've been there has been sensational food and service. Wait time: If you plan on going on a weekend night, make reservations WAY in advance, or get there super early and plan to have a drink and wait around. We got there at 5:00, waited an hour, and were seated. The place is BONKERS over weekends, and double check the event schedule at Prudential to make sure you really don't get swamped with a wait. Drinks: Awesome selection of beers on tap, especially some nice fall offerings. I really like the Blue Point Pumpkin they have on tap. They aren't too pricey either (~$7 a pop). Food: BBQ at it's best. I got the Pork Melt with caramelized onion and swiss on a nice bun - fantastic. The pork is smokey and sweet, done perfectly. With the platter choice, you get two sides: the mac 'n cheese and rice and beans were my choices, and were delicious. The mac 'n cheese had a nice little spice to it, while keeping the cheese heavy. In retrospect, two sides of MAC would've been the better choice... Didn't do dessert, but the other reason I'm giving Dino a 5/5 is the price - you can't beat a cheap-ish meal for the quality. It's delicious, in a good location

    (5)

  • Jeannette L.

    I've never been to the other Dino BBQ locations, so I can only rate this one. I like this place. While it's not an every day spot for me, I'm come here a number of times. The food is always on-point and never disappoints, and it's always nice to order off the beer menu there. The place is huge, but during an event downtown (like a hockey game or even NJPAC things) seating can become a hot commodity. So, consider calling in a reservation if you want to dine in. They also have take-out (there is a separate entrance for take out to the right). Staff on either side of the house are always friendly and happy to make recommendations. Here's the list of the menu items that I've had and say you should try - * fried green tomatoes * creole spiced deviled eggs (must try!) * chicken & sausage gumbo * jumbo bbq chicken wings (mild, both the honey bbq and hoisin sesame) * bar-b-que pork ribs * smoke friend half-bird * 1/4 lb. drunkin spicy shrimp (part of pick your own combo) * gumbo (homemade side) * mac & cheese (homemade side) * mashed potatoes with gravy (homemade side) * turkey neck greens (homemade side - top 3 favorite side) * bbq fried rice (homemade side - top 3 favorite side) * harlem potato salad (homemade side - top 3 favorite sides) Here's the list of menu items that are good, but have a caveat - * Korean ribs - Good, but not *really* really Korean bbq. So if you are thinking that, you won't get that. * Brisket place - I really like it, but I have ordered it and it came out kind of fatty, which may put off people - like my friend who didn't like hers because she said they should have taken off more of the fat pieces. * Specialty Sandwiches - I thought the Brisket Blue that I ordered was delicious. Perfect size and balance of ingredients. However, I have eaten with people who say they are too small for too high a price, so I have to mention that. * Beers and drinks in general - They have a great selection, but they are pricier than most places. However, I believe they have Happy Hour specials. Great place, great food, and great times. Check out the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Newark if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Tanya R.

    As soon as I stepped foot in the restroom at Dinosaur Barbecue in Newark, I was all puffed up and ready to dislike it. Broken handsoap dispensers and a toilet bowl that rocks and rolls were an annoyance. A very kind waiter and the fact that this place has over 20 beers on tap saved Dinosaur from an overall "F" grade. Boyfriend and I started with the appetizer sampler platter for two-meh buffalo wings, delicious deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes and cocktail shrimp which both tasted like heat N eat hors d'ouvers. My pork sparerib entree was undercooked for my taste and the side of baked beans tasted straight out of a Campbell's tin can. Cornbread minimuffins were piping hot and golden, buttery good. Bf says he liked his pulled pork sandwich but he left quite a bit of it unfinished. Mac and cheese was powdery and fakey in flavor and texture. Cocktails are big and pretty satisfying. I like that Dinosaur wasn't to packed on an early Saturday evening even with a stadium event happening nearby. I'd go back with my Rockstar just to drink and watch a game.

    (3)

  • Claudio J.

    If I could give them a 0 star review I would. Horrible bartender service. There is a concert next door and they have 1 bartender while the other fills orders for the servers. AMATEURS!!!!! Never again to this place.

    (1)

  • Britt W.

    I came here with my son's team for lunch and they were incredibly accommodating! The manager, Percy, was even able to work with my son's gluten allergy. Plus the food was delicious! I loved the deviled eggs and brisket. The kids also enjoyed it which isn't always easy. Thanks again and see you guys soon!

    (5)

  • Gregg R.

    I love going here before NJ PAC events. Great BBQ, cool atmosphere, and close to arena and NJ PAC. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Juan F.

    I will preface the review by saying Frank is a good bartender and I give him four stars. However, the main course that I was expecting to hit the spot did not. I shared the sweetheart deal which is a full rack of ribs with four sides. Flavor was good, but the meat did not just slide off the meat softly. It was a bit over done. Turkey neck greens (collard greens) were a little salty, but that's collard greens. Sweet Potato mash, Cole slaw and Mac and cheese were good; I actually ordered a second side of the Mac and cheese. Franky saved it all by recommending two very good desserts. Keylime pie, excellent. Peanut butter pie, which he accommodated my request by adding vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. That was cool.

    (3)

  • Yuriy B.

    Update: Dinosaur's social media policy seems to be as disastrous as this location's day to day operation. If you write a negative review, you'll recieve a Yelp message with the branch manager's contact information asking for you to get in touch with him. Because after you waste your time inside this place you want to waste your time contacting the manager to talk about it. Logical PR solutions in the modern age. Dinosaur, what happened to you? --------------------------------------------------­-------------------------------------------- If you told me, 6 years ago, when I first went to the Dinosaur in Harlem , that this same brand would be relegated to below the ranks of a Dallas BBQ by opening a new location, I'd slap you. Flat, firm, maximum palm surface area slap you. However, after recently being to this Dinosaur location, I can honestly say that I would welcome that slap right back in my direction. Because you would have been right. Just don't judge the others based on this location, alone. Credit where it belongs: the hosting was pleasant and professional. Our wait was 5 minutes instead of the promised 15, which also would not have been bad. Now for the bad part: everything else. Our waiter took a while to get to us, which is OK, they seemed to be a bit busier than what they were used to. It was all pretty downhill from there. The lack of professionalism in his tone was unique, to say the absolute least. You'd think this was a transaction on the corner based on the cadence of the guy's tone. We put our orders in fairly quickly since we knew what we wanted. One of our friends, who is a pretty large (but not fat) 6' 4" gentleman , tends to eat a lot more than the rest of us. His order was met with judgment and almost-disapproval by the waiter which annoyed him, and us, just based on the fact that it was a waste of everyone's time. In the meantime, we ordered Long Island Iced Teas , for nostalgia purposes, let's say. It's been 7 year since I last had one, but we all agreed that these were 1) awfully weak and way oversweetened and 2) for some reason, had tequila in them (they're not supposed to). Alright, moving on to the next point, our food comes out. Well 3 of us got our food, but one of our guys didn't. The sides are completely mixed up with the wrong entrees. It wasn't even worth fixing, we just plopped the sides to our respective plates because it was clear what the standard of service here is (The standard of service is that there is no standard of service). So five minutes pass, no waiter in sight and no fourth plate in sight. Finally, my friend goes to search for the guy and finds him, somewhere and somehow. His plate comes out a few minutes later and it's scalding hot. What that means is, it was forgotten in the hot window well after it was ready. And just sat there...and sat there....and sat there. This also means the food that was there is no dry and not nearly as good as it could have been. Our other meals were just alright, for Dinosaur. I got my Big Ass Pork plate which is usually a lot juicier in other locations than what came out here. My friend's chicken sandwich was haphazardly thrown together and looked worse than something you'd see in a run-down McD's. My coleslaw tasted akward and appeared to have been filled with way more fluids than what coleslaw should have, that's the best I could put it Finally, it took 3 attempts of asking the waiter to get us the check before he did. At that point there were 2 other tables besides us in the back section. The whole thing was just laughable. I was a waiter for a few years so I tend to be very lenient with service; this was inexcusably poor. Maybe the staffing wasn't great that night, but that doesn't REALLY matter when a crappy experience is cemented in for a group of people. This next point may be being overly obnoxious but the layout of this one is also significantly worse than the other locations. Dinosaur BBQ usually has a vast, dining-hall feel to it with high ceilings and a perception of space. This one is cramped and tiny, elbow to elbow, back to back. Maximum capacity in minimal space. Feel like you're in a pigpen while you're eating pig......meta. I've been to the other Dinosaurs around the city, this one has to be the worst (Brooklyn being the favorite). But this one also doesn't have to try to be anything above average, either . It'll cater to the game and event-going crowd, so they will make their money, whether the food and service absolutely suck (and they both absolutely do), or not. The location of this Dino BBQ is why they just don't have to care about the quality. It's a move that restaurants that don't care about their reputation or standard of quality make; I just didn't expect it from Dinosaur. Luckily there's a Chipotle next door for if you really, truly just can't wait to eat.

    (2)

  • Catalina D.

    Late night in the office so we decided to grab takeout at the takeout counter. Got the full rack w 4 sides. Ribs were excellent and I really enjoyed the sides, esp. the mac and cheese. Can't wait to go in person! Looks nice inside!

    (4)

  • Curtis E.

    I messed up. When I mess up, I want to admit it, and learn from it, and I messed up here, and you can learn from it, too. I went to Dinosaur BBQ in Newark because the mayor, Cory Booker, recommended it on Twitter, and Cory Booker is an awesome guy. I went to lunch after a training at a senior center--parked in the pay lot across the street, and overpaid muchly, but I wanted very badly to check out the restaurant and didn't mind the extra cost. I got the three-meat combo, which is where I messed up. I got the sausage, which was good and greasy and all that, but it's not anywhere near as spicy as you'd think something advertised as "hot links" would be. It's just fine, but I wish I hadn't gotten it. I also got the brisket, because I'm from Texas, home of the best barbecued brisket in the world. The brisket wasn't that great, either, and I knew that as soon as I looked at it. What they'd done, you see, is put sauce on the brisket and then put some jalapenos on top. I am generally in favor of barbecue sauce, but the test of whether your barbecue is awesome or just average is how it tastes without barbecue sauce. If you put sauce on the brisket before you even serve it, well, that tells me you don't have a lot of confidence in your brisket. There wasn't anything wrong with it--the brisket was nice and fatty, and had good smoke flavor, but there wasn't a lot of bark on it and it really needed the sauce. (If you want truly awesome brisket, either take the Lincoln Tunnel to Hill Country BBQ in Manhattan or go to Newark Airport and go to Austin.) But the third meat.... Well, the third meat was the St. Louis pork ribs, and they were outstanding. The dominant flavor was the char, and the char was perfect, just splendid. The meat was tender and sweet without being syrupy or gloppy, and it was lean enough that it wasn't all greasy or nasty. Just outstanding ribs, and I wish that I had ordered more--I mean a whole lot of them. Sides were okay--the mac and cheese was very cheesy and tangy, and the beans had a lot of smoky briskety goodness mixed inside. The only downside to the experience was the realization that Dinosaur BBQ isn't as wheelchair-accessible as I would like. The restaurant itself is accessible, but the restrooms (and the ATM machine) are all downstairs, and there's not an elevator or a lift to get down there. So I made a mistake. I only got three ribs. I should have gotten more. Don't you make the same mistake.

    (4)

  • Alice V.

    Whoever thought I would eat an order of spicy shirmp with a piece of cornbread in the middle of this savory hot sauce along with it?! Dinosaur Bar-B-Que absolutely surprised me and literally the first place to put me in an actual food coma. I knocked out for two hours after eating such an amazing meal! After the appetizer of the spicy shrimp, I had a six-rack ribs with the sweet and sour coleslaw and mac & cheese with a cucumber mojito. I fell in love with this food so much, I really can't wait for my next visit. You really need to be hungry in order to enjoy this place and just keep on eating! And believe me, it'll be the only meal you'll need to keep yourself happy and full the rest of the day. I will return!

    (5)

  • A. Bob B.

    I have been hearing about Dinosaur BBQ for some time now. I have a good friend who would always bring up the Dino BBQ during her time at Syracuse, whenever we had BBQ. As a food lover, you could imagine my excitement when I heard that the Dino BBQ was ready to open yesterday in Newark. So yesterday we all went to the DBBQ at Newark; my friends to see if its as good as it is in Syracuse, and for me to see if its as good as they rave on about. And boyyyy was I in for something... DBBQ is located very close to the Newark Penn Transit Station, making it reachable from a multitude of locations. While we drove there, we think the train would probably be easier and faster, and ideal for the beer nights. Once we got in, we were greeted by several hosts and hostesses, and quickly escorted through a rustic yet modernized bar area with high booth tables on one side and a long wooden bar topped with Flat Panel TVs airing all the necessary Sports Events that a guy can crave on the other. We were placed in a large table for the three of us which definitely gave off a country BBQ feel. Very shortly after being seated our waiter came and introduced himself, and gladly walked us through the menu, and any questions we had. He was extremely personable and polite, apologizing anytime he had to reach over the table to clear any finished mugs or plates. My friend confirmed that the menu's are pretty much the same, prices a big more expensive than the Syracuse location, but that's somewhat understandable. The Newark Location did have more sides, but the beer selection was a bit smaller. With so much to choose from, I thought it best to keep it simple and we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes and half a dozen honey BBQ wings to start. The apps came out fairly quickly, and the first thing you notice is the smoky color and smell of the wings. One quick whiff immediately sends your mouth watering, so without delay I went ahead and popped that Dino BBQ cherry. The wings were a good size, and full of flavor, and when dipped with the blue cheese it was like dipping an angel in a cloud of awesomeness. Being impressed by the wings, I went on to take a bite of the Green Tomatoes. With a quick tip into the "cayenne buttermilk ranch dressing" ... now lets pause here for a second. Just say that to yourself slowly... cayenne buttermilk ranch dressing, just hearing that sauce, how can you expect it to be anything more than party in your mouth. I can only explain The Fried Green Tomatoes as the best Blooming Onion God ever made, and then improving it 5x over. Yes, it was that good. At this point I am done with my apps, and knocked one of the delicious Sweet Tea beverages down. (Which was also very good, coming in a nifty little maple jar being not tooo sweet, but just sweet enough). So now awaits the main course. My 3/4 rack of ribs. Again let me remind you just how much my friend would talk up the ribs, as if it would blow my mind. And now I've gone into my meal w/ my mind pre blown, to re-blow it, is a difficult task. But nonetheless the food arrived shortly after our appetizers were finished, and I there it stood on the table, glaring at me. The same smoky scent, but an even more dark and impressive color coated the ribs. As it glared at me; unwavering and accompanied by his back up, the side of Mac n Cheese, and the side of Mashed Sweet Potatoes topped with spicy walnuts, I was intimidated, but I dare not look away. I reached for my own back up, some of the medium spiced, Original Sensuous Slathering Sauce, and threw some right over the ribs. While it was blinded for a moment, I took a knife and separated a rib from his brethren and I engaged. And there it was. A 4th of July/Happy New Years fire work explosion. This was by far the best Ribs I've ever had. With each bite, the meat didn't just fall off the bone, its as if it levitated to your mouth. Before I knew it I was halfway done with my ribs. I then experimented with the different sauces, while I myself cannot handle spice too well, found the Medium Spice rather mild, the spiciest one they had a chipotle garlic sauce was definitely spicy by my standards, but my friend told me that in the Syracuse location, they had a spicy "Wango Tango" sauce, which we tried to get but was unavailable. A few short minutes later, all that remained in the aftermath was an empty plate, and a pile of bones. While exhausted but still running on Adrenalin, we opted to sample their Key Lime Pie. Now everyone has their own opinion on how Key Lime Pie should be, I personally found it a bit too sweet and tarty for my taste. The portion wasn't small, nor monstrous, and the color wasn't green (which I hear is a plus), but the sweetness was just a bit too overwhelming. I of course did not mind one disappointment because the ribs were just that amazing. My overall analysis... Dinosaur BBQ is SLAP YOUR MOMMA GOOD.

    (5)

  • Sebastian H.

    I missed the grand opening (FINALLY) on Tuesday, but made it in on Wednesday. I have been to Dino in Harlem a good 20 times, so I am somewhat spoiled. I am happy that we have one close to home now. There are definitely some changes to the menu that I am unhappy with. 1st-Prices are higher here than in NYC (why?). 2nd-The combos are not on the menu anymore (House special, tres hombres, big ass pork plate, traditional sampler, etc). They want you to build your combo for a set price (back to more expensive than Harlem). 3rd- NO SALT POTATOES!!! What!? I hope they are on that menu soon! Big mistake not putting them on there. Now to the food........ Had to have wango tango wings (12 in Nwk, 13 in Harlem(hmmm). Delicous! They came out fresh and so good. I usually get chicken and ribs as an entrée, but opted for a dino burger. Pretty yummie. The sides I did have tasted the same, which is a good thing. I will definitely be back, but downtown Dino did not replace my love affair with their Harlem location. The vibe seems a lot "cooler" uptown. But I love knowing I can take a 5 minute drive if I crave wango tango wings and a dogfish. If you want a proper Donkey punch, ask that Sasha makes it, she got it down. And I suggest the manager tells her to show the other bartenders how to make them the right way. With all that said, get your ass to Dinosaur BBQ in Newark!!!! You won't regret it.

    (4)

  • Bumble B.

    I love this place. My husband and I went to the Dino BBQ in Harlem this past summer for my b-day week-end and we didn't even know that there was another one much closer to home. This location seemed to be a lot more spacious and brighter than the Harlem one. It's also conveniently located to the Prudential Center and Newark Penn. The service was just as friendly and the food was just as delicious as the one in Harlem. Try their lemonade served in a Mason jar. DELICIOUS and only $3! I wish that I would've saved room for dessert. Dying to try their pecan pie and seasonal apple cider drink! Will definitely hit up this place again real soon. :))

    (5)

  • Kane K.

    Went there Sunday for brunch. We went around 1:30-ish and there wasn't a wait and we were seated promptly. We were given a drink menu and I chose Pomegranate fizz and my fiance had their punch. The punch was delicious-definitely on the stronger side. To start, I've heard from my friends how awesome the wings were so I ordred 3 wings in the chipotle garlic sauce. I have to admit, I was disappointed in the size. They were supposed to be jumbo wings but there wasn't anything jumbo about them and three wings set me back 3.95. Kind of pricey for my taste. And also, a pet peeve of mine is when wings are not crispy. The skin was soggy. But the flavor was awesome. Definitely the right amount of heat for me. I got the 2 meat plate with bbq fried rice and gumbo. My fiance got 3 meat with mac and cheese and baked beans. His favorite part was the sausage link he got. He liked everything else as well and his least favorite was the baked beans. I got the St. Louis ribs and brisket. The brisket was on the lean side but I like that. The ribs were nice and moist-good fat content. The dish that stole the show? BBQ fried rice. I kid you not. You wouldnt really think at a bbq joint their fried rice would be good and I felt like I was taking a 50/50 chance but it is that good. It's delicious. For dessert I got the pecan pie and my fiance got the peanut butter pie. I do not like pecan pie but I wanted something sweet enough to hurt my teeth. This was grand. It hit the spot. The peanut butter pie was great too but we couldn't finish either of them. The service was courteous and prompt. Our waitresses (we had two) kept on checking in on us and were very polite. I will definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Karl W.

    I have been to this one and the one in Harlem. It has been good bbq both times, but didn't "wow" me. I have gone with the combos and had brisket, ribs, and sausage. In harlem the ribs were great, the second time they were actually pretty bad. Brisket was great and the sausage was good. I think bbq is hard to be consistent with, but i don't know. One thing that is really cool is they try and vary their menu by location, so you get some good variety. Sides were good and unique.

    (4)

  • Cynthia D.

    Waited about and hour and a half to get seated after we were told "about 25 minutes". To kill time some of us had a drink at the bar ( the "donkey punch" , is good stuff). After being seated, a member of our party made a comment about the wait and our waitress stated "well it's a 4 hour wait in the city sooo..." . Wow, right?! I was not yet over the shock of her statement when she had started to strongly suggest that we order our appetizers & entrees all at once because "there's like 2 other tables" that she needed to tend to. What?!?! Can't make this up! Fine, we did. Our appetizers didn't come out, waters never came out , BUT the manger did, per our request. He apologized for the madness & comped our appetizers, promised free dessert, but didn't follow through (which didn't even matter because we were so full). Before handing us our bill our waitress asked "we friends now?!" . This place is fine for drinks at the bar and some fried green tomatoes. The entrees are pretty good, but the service is so lousy that I wouldn't suggest that you sit through it. Just chill at the bar.

    (2)

  • Bryan K.

    Went for a couple pre game beers. The Bartender was a rude sassy "B" word. She lied about my friend and I being cutoff after our FIRST BEER, and she was rude and unprofessional about getting us a manager to speak to. The manager came over and cleared everything up so that we could enjoy a second beer. When we wanted to clear out tab and head to the gamete theatrics began again. The bartender was so unclear and unprofessional about how the card was rejected or declined or never swiped (still not sure what exactly the issue was) but we were given our card back but told to give it back again. We decided to just pay cash to alleviate the confusion but the bartender insisted on us providing the credit card again. A roll of the eyes and a sigh from the bartender brought us to another meeting with the manager. The manager was very helpful and provided us our entire bill for free. A nice gesture by the manager but it will take a lot more than that for me to ever return to this establishment.

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    As a Syracuse grad, and someone who became familiar with Dinosaur in central NY, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, I went there last night with a group of 8, and it was a very disappointing experience. To cut to the chase, they ran out of ribs ... they ran out of ribs ... on a Saturday night. We learned of this after our waitress took the eighth and final order of ribs at our table, which somehow finally reminded her that they were out. At first we thought she was messing around with us, but she wasn't. Oddly enough, two people in our party were saying before dinner how they had been to this location before, and they ran out of another item on the menu. We all ordered various combination plates as back ups, which were good (someone in our party ordered the wings as her dinner, which was an excellent choice. That's one consistency I've noticed among all the Dinosaur BBQ locations - the wings are always awesome). All in all the food in Newark wasn't bad, but management there seems suspect.

    (2)

  • Marc L.

    No, there are no Brontosaurus Burgers on their menu, but their ribs, chicken and brisket are to die for. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que got its start in Syracuse, NY several years ago. They began bringing their wonderful comfort food south in recent years. There is also a location in Morningside Hts, near the famed Cotton Club. The key to their success is their unbelievably good Bar-B-Que sauces, which are also available in many supermarkets under the Dinosaur label. The ambiance is appealing; looking like a real Memphis rib joint with classic blues music playing in the background. The food portions are liberal and the prices are fair. The servers are always very attentive. If you haven't tried this place - GO! It's worth the trip from anywhere.

    (5)

  • Maria F.

    I think the New York is a bit better, but very exciting to have DinoBBQ in Newark. Come hungry because their portions are BIG. Be sure to get the fried green tomatoes! Parking is kind of a pain, but the building is beautiful and really spacious. Great vibe.

    (4)

  • David P.

    Good food. Fun casual atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    We went here in the afternoon, and the service was awesome! the guy serving us really friendly! Food was awesome! Loved it. We were already talking about going back before we left.

    (5)

  • Pr D.

    While on a date with my girlfriend we ate lunch at Dinosaur BBQ in downtown Newark, and when we finished I was very disappointed. I checked the restaurant's website for the business hours, and saw 11:30am posted as the time of opening. We arrived exactly at 11:30am, and the doors was locked. At 11:32am the doors was still locked, and as we waited outside the employees was off loading food, and beverages from the delivery trucks. We asked one employees if the restaurant is open for business, and he said no. We asked him what time the restaurant opens, and he said 11:30am. We told him it was several minutes passed 11:30, and he was clueless as to what the correct time was. Finally, the doors was unlocked, opened, and was quickly seated at our table. Most of the waiters, and bartenders wore urban-like clothing while serving customers. Out of the 10 employees that I remember working inside only 3 had uniforms, and one had a uniform with a name tag on it. I ordered one appetizer, and two different entrées. Our waiter served us undercooked smoked buffalo wings, but he assured us it was well cooked, and said the sauce makes the meat pink. The smoked beef ribs that I ordered was very fatty, and may have been undercooked too. The meat on well cooked ribs should fall of the bone easily, but these ribs was tough, and chewy. I ate the food anyway. My girlfriend ordered the jerk salmon, and I ate a piece of it. It tasted nasty! I had better meals at Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, and some hole in the wall restaurants at a cheaper price than what I payed here, 70 dollars. I had diarrhea the day after. I will not recommend.

    (2)

  • joseph c.

    My wife and I went in dinosaur barbecue in Newark, New Jersey and so for its the best barbecue in New Jersey. My wife had fried Green tomatoes and she loved them. I had the barbecue brisket that they cooked down in the cellar 14 hours and it came out perfect. You have to try the Harlem potato salad and the Mac and cheese they were delicious. The Mac and cheese had a little crust and the Harlem potatoes salad had a little tang to it. We also had small rack of ribs and they were very meaty and tasty. The restaurant is an old industrial building with original ceilings and flooring that looks like it goes back 100 years all original. I give this restaurant five stars.

    (4)

  • Marcy S.

    We just came home from a fabulous dinner. First our waitress greeted us with a stunning smile and great attitude. We had a toddler in our group and she got him juice and crayons before we even looked at our menus. We tried a non-alcoholic Arnold Palmer (lemonade and ice tea). So refreshing and they appeared throughout the meal without us even asking. The ribs were the best we have had, fried green tomatoes some with the shrimp some solo. pulled pork sandwich classic, wings to die for. The Deviled eggs were basic with cayenne for the spicy edge. the sweet mashed potatoes were a reason to order a side, and my husbands catfish and beans were fresh and cooked perfectly. They have been open almost 4 months and the service all around was stellar and super friendly. We have been to Dino in Syracuse and Newark is better. We are planning to return soon.

    (5)

  • Julie T.

    Outstanding food matched by outstanding service! Korean beef ribs are awesome. Loved fried green tomatoes, brisket, Mac and cheese, turkey neck greens, sweet potatoes and baked beans. Very kid friendly.

    (5)

  • Leigh M.

    I've been lucky enough to go to Dino 5 times since opening, and the food has been consistent and delicious. I highly, highly recommend the mac and cheese - it is insanely rich and delicious. The BBQ Fried Rice is also surprisingly good - the rice can be a little dry, but the bbq pork that it is served with is just too good to pass up. I've always been more of a beef fan than pork, but here the real winner is the pulled pork. It's incredibly tender and flavorful, and their wide selection of BBQ sauce enhances it nicely. The brisket, the first time I had it (as part of a 2 meat combo), was pretty dry and lacking in flavor. I've had their Chopped Brisket Sandwich, which is good, but the meat is doused in sauce, and any good Texan would tell you that is not how you're supposed to eat brisket (good brisket, anyways). And tonight, I had the Dino Burger. It is GIGANTIC, which I guess is fitting considering the name. It is seriously good - but at a price. Between the meat, cheese, bacon, and sauteed onions, it is a grease bomb. It was cooked perfectly and the flavors were awesome - it is some real good sharp cheddar they've got on that burger - but I could barely pick it up because the grease was running down my hands. And forget about eating this thing and not getting dirty - it got everywhere. If you're in need of a burger, it will be incredibly satisfying. But if not, I'd stick with the more traditional BBQ items. Don't forget to order a sweet tea and a slice of key lime pie (if you have room). When I came on opening night, I knew the service would be a little scattered, and it's definitely come a long way since then - just be prepared for a wait at some point during your meal. And I totally agree with what other Yelpers have said - it is kind of annoying/confusing that the servers don't wear a uniform; the only way to know they work there is if they're carrying food/drinks or if you're lucky, they'll be wearing an apron to carry the checks in. But, overall, this place is definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and if you're coming from out of town, just make sure you check the Prudential Center calendar before planning your visit. If there is an event, traffic and parking will be insane and most likely the restaurant will be packed! And if you can get to Newark right at 6PM on a non-event weeknight, you'll be guaranteed a spot across the street from the restaurant!

    (4)

  • ShayDee L.

    My new FAV local restaurant. The staff is super friendly and professional. The manger STEVE is the best. So far on the menu, I'm loving the Sausage, cheese in crackers if you just want something lite. My favorite beer on draft is THE DOG FISH which is an IPA beer, it has a nice kick. The wings, brisket and devil eggs are a must have. It's not open a month and I have been there six times already. Yayyyyy! Newark we need some new business. Looking forward to the surrounding development.

    (4)

  • Jerry G.

    Dinosaur Barbeque Rocks.!! Was directed by a local in Newark for a lunch with 4 coworkers. The restaurant has a great design.. Exposed brick, beautiful wood floors, nice bar area.. Kudos to the designers.!! We didn't get the most wonderful of tables but it worked. Food was amazingly good.. Had chopped pork and brisket.. Very high quality.. Great smoke, lean.. Sauces are mild to hot and can be added later. Sides were blackeyed pea salad (good), gumbo (so so) and a corn muffin (passed on the carbs.) Companions pulled pork sliders, fried green tomatoes, pork sandwich (Memphis style with cold slaw on the sandwich). Rave reviews and complements from the entire group. Wait staff was really nice.. Can't recall her name but she took good care of us and even managed a joke or two while we were eating. We left after a 2 hour lunch and there was still a line waiting to get in. Clearing doing something right.!! Dinosaur Barbeque is a wonderful place. It's close the Amtrak Station and Prudential Center.. Next time I'm in town I will be returning.!!!

    (4)

  • Shari S.

    I had the pleasure of meeting their Wango Tango chicken wings. They are good. I also had the pleasure of meeting their half rack of ribs. They are good too. The catfish was fried in this hard crust that is very corn mealy (is that a word?). The deviled eggs we not good, as well as over priced. Three are priced at $3.95. The pulled pork is good. I recently tried the Dino burger and was slightly disappointed w/ the bbq mayo sauce. I've always ordered take out, but am looking forward to dining in to try more on the menu. The location is very convenient.

    (3)

  • Jane C.

    I recently had a dinner with friends there being that I was in town. Made a reservation for 15 at 8:30 and even though late to my own reservation, when I came in, my friends were already all seated. I really appreciated that since most places won't seat you until the whole party has arrived. As soon as everyone sat, the server promptly came and introduced herself. I forget her name, but she was really nice! We asked for water first, and right away she brought pitchers and cups. We ordered our drinks and she brought them out in a timely manner as well. Our food was AMAZING!! I ordered the combo brisket, and ribs but seriously I could have ordered just the mac n cheese and turkey neck greens. So delicious!! The shrimp appetizer was sooo good too. Food came out with no problems. Also, other staff around us were all friendly and welcoming. I will definitely go back again when I'm in NJ...thanks Dino BBQ!!

    (5)

  • Tom C.

    Good food but our server kept all change under one dollar. Tipped himself, I guess. We were paying cash for rounds of beer, the first time we were shorted we figured it was a mistake, so we tipped him. But every time we payed for more beer/food, he kept all coins. Is this a new trend I experienced for the first time?

    (3)

  • Mike H.

    I went here on Saturday afternoon with my wife. All I can say is WOW, their food is really good. At least their chicken sandwiches are good. I'm not a big fan of ribs, so I can't review them. I also ordered their soup of the day and mac and cheese. They have the best Mac N' Cheese I have ever tasted!! I liked it so much, that I googled their recipe online and my wife is going to try to make it herself next weekend. The service was decent and their prices were reasonable. You can get a sandwich platter which includes a chicken sandwich, and 2 sides for $10.99. My only grief with this place is that their sides are very small portions and I simply didn't feel that I ate enough when leaving. Maybe next time I'll see if they can give me 2 sides of Mac N cheese instead of the soup. I also didn't like that I had to chase down 2 workers just to get a spoon for my soup. They did apologize and claimed that most of the spoons were being washed at the time. Yeah, I recommend this place, but it may not fill you up.

    (4)

  • Dede N.

    In town on business and went on the hotels recommendation. It was fabulous!!! I had the gumbo and fried green tomatoes. Our server, Joe, was knowledgeable not only about the food, but the history of the building. The rest of the party had BBQ and raved about it.

    (5)

  • carolyn s.

    So I hate to say it...........I am a huge Dinosaur BBQ fan and have traveled from NJ to Harlem many times for awesome BBQ. Tonight I tried it in Newark and I am sooooooooo disappointed. My ribs were dry and did not fall of the bone and when I took a bite the whole membrane came off hanging out of my mouth (it was like a giant piece of cellophane) that never happened to me ever at the one in Harlem. The menu in Newark is slightly different also....no wedge salad with the thick slab of bacon...and no salt potato side....I don't get it?????

    (3)

  • NJ B.

    I went to the one in Harlem a few years ago and I liked it a lot. My girl took me to the new one in Newark for my birthday and it certainly did not disappoint. The chicken was great and the brisket was delicious but the menu item that will keep me coming back is the Mac and Cheese, it is awesome. The staff was friendly and helpful as well.

    (4)

  • Tommy W.

    Total tourist trap for visitors to the Prudential Center Arena. Went their with my son on a game night. Walked in early and immediately was escorted to a small table for 2 in the back by the kitchen. They really pack in as many tables as possible so much that the back of your chair will bounce off the table next to you if you try to get up. The service was fine as we were quickly approached by our server and placed our order. From then on it was a total rush job as our main entrees arrived while we were halfway through our appetizers and servers were constantly walking by our table trying to take away our plates every time we paused to take a breath. The honey bbq wings we had as an appetizer we pretty good. Big and juicy with just a hint of spice but it was all downhill from there. My son had the St Louis ribs with a side of bbq rice. The ribs were meaty and tough as could be, He struggled to rip the meat away from the bone with every bite. The bbq rice was horrendous. It was all gluey and literally tasted like mushy potatoes. I had a combination platter with ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The ribs this time were of the baby back variety and were dry and tough. The brisket had the exact same quality and the pork was all clumped together in a dry heap and very fatty. When were were done and let them take our plates away the server brought the check over and left it on the table without stopping and asking us if there would be anything else. OK I get it. The place is across the street from a hockey arena and they want to turn the tables over as quickly as possible on game nights. As we made our way out of the then very crowded restaurant the bar was 3-4 people deep extending almost back to the booths across from the bar. There was a very narrow lane to pass through and as we were trying all of the sudden a party of about 10 people were being escorted to their table so we had to wait to let them go by as there was literally no place for us to go. Next thing I know one of the employees is behind me yelling at me to keep going. I turned around and said we could not move until these people made their way past us. She kept yelling at me to push my way through cause she said she had a serious situation going on and needed to get to the front of the house immediately. I could not even let her go past me it was so crowded as the only way for her to move by was for me to go ahead of her. She kept yelling at me and my son and finally the path cleared for us and I watched to see where she was in such a rush to be. She went over to hostess stand simply to tell them that a table was open. I went right over to her and asked her is that what your urgent situation was that you had to be so rude and tell me to push people so we could all get through?. She said "that's right, I have a job to do here". So said once again "was that so urgent that it caused such rudeness on your part and you asked me to create a hazardous situation by pushing my way through a large crowd of hockey fans drinking at the bar?". She said once again "that's right baby". Well I would never patronize that establishment ever again. Worst $70 I ever spent.

    (1)

  • Dania D.

    I'm giving the food a four. However, there are a few things that are left to be desired about this location. Let's start with the positive. My husband and I shared the Sweetheart Deal for 2. The huge rack of ribs were delicious and juicy. The four sides were just as good: fries, mac n cheese, rice and beans, and potato salad. Now the negatives: my "sangria" was pretty sad. The restaurant itself just looked a little dirty and disheveled. I'm not sure if that's "the look" they are going for, but I find it to be a turnoff. Lastly, service is kind of slow which can be problem if you are dining here before a show at Prudential.

    (4)

  • Michelle R.

    Delicious southern soul food! I adore the sandwiches (especially the brisket). The sweet potatoes are to die for, and the potato salad and deviled eggs have some kick!

    (5)

  • Snah A.

    Get the wings with the sauce on the side! Woooo, get there early on game night. Let's go Devils!

    (5)

  • Kimberly G.

    I'm not a big barbecue fan, but I cannot stop raving about the food here!!! It is simply amazing! This place deserves 5 stars, but due to the lackluster service that I experienced this past Sunday, i had to bump it down to 4. I had shared the Swag Sampler, which included: salmon fritters, chicken wings, deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes. Those fried green tomatoes were so good that I had to order a side for just myself! The macaroni & cheese was a different twist on the comfort food, but it was really amazing and had a kick to it. The Arnold Palmer (with complimentary refills) was also awesome! I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • B G.

    Was ok not great. Chicken was a tad undercooked wwith great flavor. Bbq sauce I have had better.

    (2)

  • Pete Z.

    Only 3 stars as the portion size has declined since the opening. Still a very good meal for sure and NJ surely lacks good BBQ places. Had fried green tomatoes for the first time Saturday and those were outstanding. Brisket sandwich great as usual. I did not have the gumbo but 3 others at our table did and raved about it. Beer selection growing as well. Great spot for pre-game.

    (3)

  • Camryn J.

    The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is honestly a hit or miss, no inbetween. Service is very friendly, a down at home feeling. The thing is me and my friend got some Sampler for Two app and there were 2 types of chicken and 3 each and 2 Devilled eggs. For like $11 - $12. NOT WORTH IT. The ribs are amazing and the mac and cheese are eh. I'm would not recommend Mac and cheese, it leaves a slight after taste. There is The Prudential Center so be wary. The only thing pulling me in is ribs and service. Are they perfect, no but they pull me in with their friendliness and great smiles. And sometimes the gumbo but the gumbo can be watery. Try it for yourself! You never know what you'll get.

    (3)

  • Dennis M.

    This is my 1st time going to this place. Reasonably priced, delicious food. Our server was very friendly and attentive as well. A good spot for pre-event dining if heading to The Prudential Center or NJ PAC. Get there early... It fills up fast, and you'll need to fight your way through the bar crowd to exit.

    (5)

  • Christopher T.

    I've been there before two Devils games now and I must say that the food is excellent. The chicken wings were cooked perfectly and were very meaty, some of the meatiest wings I've ever had. I've tried the brisket, pulled pork and ribs and they were all spectacular. And the BBQ fried rice and mac and cheese on the side are delightful. Great beer list too. I strongly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Christina K.

    Got take out from here.....was expecting to be blown away and was not. Service was slow and I had to wait 15 mins for my food to be done even though I was told a pick up time of 430. Ribs were good but the chicken was dry and the pork hardly had any BBQ sauce on it. Dry and way too smokey without the sauce. Mac and cheese and black eyed pea salad were decent but I was expecting the meat to be the star and it wasn't. I'd skip this place especially for the price.

    (2)

  • Bari D.

    Went last Friday. It wasn't particularly busy, but busy enough where you figure there would be a cheerful staff ready to take your order. Sadly, we were at our table for more than fifteen minutes before a waiter came to our table, after two or three other members of the staff passed by. We were seated right beside the hostess booth, no less. Finally put our order in and figured why not just order food and drinks together. The food came out good as expected, but for the price, and the schlep to newark, there should be better service. They need re-training.

    (3)

  • Amatullah M.

    I am from Boston which in not notorious for good BBQ, however I know good food when I have it! I enjoyed the brisket and raved about it the entire time, it was tender and the sauce was perfect! My only reason for not giving a perfect 5 stars was because the sides were a bit lackluster. However the freshly squeezed lemonade is amazing(with a few extra lemons)! The service is great, with a friendly and inviting culture.

    (4)

  • David C.

    We went there on a Thursday night of the snow storm. There were a few patrons at the bar and about 6 booths filled. We ordered the sweetheart deal for 2 which is a full rack of ribs and 4 sides, fried rice=3 sweet potato=4 sweet and sour salad=3 gumbo=3 the ribs were a bit over cooked, I like my ribs to have some juice inside and the outside was a little charred bit. The server was nice but could use a bit of enthusiasm but she was ok. I like to come back another day and try another dish to see.

    (3)

  • Calvin W.

    2 meat combo. 1/4 chicken st louis ribs harlem potato salad and bbq fried rice with 90 min dogfish head to wash it down. sat at bar. roomy and above average service. took a min to get drinks but bartender was then pretty attentive....round two...went a few weeks later with friends and this time I went light with the swag sampler for 2. I think the for 1 is pretty tiny. Salmon fritters were pretty good, chicken wings were amazing with the mango fango sauce? Lol I forget the name. It was the first time trying deviled eggs so it was a weird, but not that bad. The best part was the fried green tomatoes. This was also the first time I had them...ever...and they were amazing. Had the 90 min IPA and our waitress "Z" was pretty good, but we did lose her for a moment(it was close to closing time though). Try this place, good food, good beers, and good service. PS. Friend said chicken was amazing and my other friend is addicted to the sliders(all versions).

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    First and foremost we came here twice in two weeks. We are total foodies who have had sc, nc, Texas, tn barbecue and are extremely picky on quality. The meat is fantastic. Their chicken wings and fried green tomatoes are some of the best ever eaten. Their dry rubs on all their meats don't even make you put sauce on them. The sauce choices are excellent but they are just a compliment to the meat definitely not needed. This is not the place for amazing sides. If you love good chicken, the best ribs and brisket; you're in hog heaven. I know we were. I'd go back and order fried green tomatoes and chicken wings as an appetizer to share and 2 meats for dinner . I've had two combos with different meats. Nothing was bad. Service is excellent. I can't say enough positive things about dinosaur. For a small chain I was pleasantly surprised.

    (5)

  • Jana H.

    If I were a Dinosaur, I would be a carnivorous dinosaur! RAWR! Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a pleasant gem in a city where the words "pleasant" and "gem" are typically not used in the same sentence. Come here hungry and be prepared to leave with a full stomach and a case of the meat sweats! Oh Mer Gawd! I Love This Place: -As soon as you walk in the door BAM; Your nostrils are smacked with that wonderful smokey BBQ smell! -Huge portion sizes & priced perfectly for quantity and quality of the food. -Prime location: Located in the heart of the Newark Central Business District next to the Prudential Center, short walking distance from Newark Penn Station and the University Heights area (Rutgers-Newark, NJIT, Essex County College). -Amazing Staff: From the hostess to the bus boys, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is full of beyond friendly staff that makes you feel at home. Comparable to the friendliness and dedication that one encounters at Trader Joe's. In other words, the staff goes out of their way to make sure you enjoy your dining experience full circle. -Open seven days a week with convenient hours. -The food is mouth watering, craveable and addicting. Your either a fool, on a diet, sick or a vegetarian/ vegan if you do not enjoy this pure amazingness! The only slight miss at Dino is the Honey Hush Cornbread. It was dry and majorly lacking flavor. This isn't the best BBQ I've ever had, nor is it down south authentic, but the food is literally finger licking good!

    (4)

  • Ashley S.

    Great experience, even for a picky vegetarian. We had Mel, who was a ton of fun. He even "sang" for my brother's birthday. Definitely ask for Mel!!!

    (5)

  • Liz S.

    I don't see what all the fuss is about. I came here with a group of 16 having big expectations and was let down. The ribs were pretty standard. Weren't bad but were not something I would rave about at all. Same goes for the pulled pork and brisket. My friends said it was good but not fantastic. The sides though were so gross. They looked like they had been sitting on the plate for a while. Maybe that's because our plates were brought out in the most bizarre way. The first 5 or 6 were brought out together then the rest of the meals were brought out one at a time. One. At. A. Time. It got to a point where it was a little ridiculous. By the time the last plate was brought out, the first group of people were finished eating (we tried waiting for everyone to get served before eating but it got outta hand). Honestly, I wouldn't go back. Not worth it.

    (2)

  • Xavier M.

    TL;DR: Cool atmosphere, food took over an hour, average at best. 2/10 would not recommend. Went to Dinosaur BBQ today for fathers say with my dad, brother and sister. Seated right away at a booth which was cool. Our server came over and asked about drinks, and we immediately put in an order of wings (thank god). Wings took about 15 minutes (not very good by the way) then we ordered our meals: ribs, a burger, pulled pork and brisket. I kid you not, we didn't get our food for an hour. A we watched a full half of soccer and the halftime show before we got it. The ribs were average at best, the brisket was subpar, and the mac and cheese was absolutely disgusting, I almost spit it out. However, my brother did say the burger was good and most if the sides were good. In the end, they copped us the wings and the burger so we saved like 25 bucks. Second TL;DR- staff was nice, food okay, took forever so they copped us Bout 1/3 or the meal. I do not recommend which is a shame because I really wanted to like this place.

    (1)

  • Thomas W.

    This place is really good. I've been a on a BBQ kick and this is just what the doctor ordered. We wound up golfing on a Sunday morning at Weequahic Golf Course in Newark. Not a bad course and the staff recommended we go here to get some dinner. The cab never showed so one of the managers of the course drove us here...already going well. Once inside, we talked to the manager of Dino who said we were welcome to sit at the bar and store our clubs near the bar. This was a nice touch and he was a great guy. We all wound up shooting the breeze about the playoffs for a while. Everyone is really friendly. The food was great. We had Frank or Frankie as our bartender who was also cool. I order the "Chow Chow" with pulled pork. It was really good and the platter comes with two sides. I order the gumbo which was great and the broccoli salad which was good. The pulled pork was delicious (especially with added signature and hot sauce) although I would have preferred the brioche bun instead of a portuguese roll. My friend got a combo ribs and brisket with collard greens and mac and cheese. He seemed happy. They have some good beers on tap. The mixed drinks are small and they use the jigger to measure the amount of booze which is a downer. Overall, I like the food and the company. Easy to get to from the Newark Penn Station. I thought I had to go to Harlem to try this the first time, so this was a nice surprise to find they have one close and in Jersey. I'd recommend it.

    (4)

  • Rob N.

    20 beers on tap and I got a bloody Mary. It's one that I have never had before and I don't exactly know how I feel about it. Place is right next to the rock but I just popped in while waiting for a friend to pick me up. I ordered a pulled pork salad. I don't know if the meat is supposed to be cold with the salad however it was good. My issue is the fact I had fruit flies buzzing around me at the bar the whole night. (Which is gross) Staff was awesome and very friendly. Please clean up the place

    (2)

  • Irene N.

    I was expecting the DinoBBQ chain to live up to its standards. I already tried it at the Albany location, which I'd give 5 stars, but Newark is another story. I ordered a ¼ rack of ribs, which comes with cornbread, and two sides, mashed potatoes and creamy coleslaw (which was dry). I've ordered this before at Albany and it was great; big portions, good quality. At Newark, I got burnt, but somehow lukewarm, ribs that were half the size and a piece of POTATO ROLL!!! So I assumed they ran out of corn bread. BUT NO! I looked over at other tables and everyone else had cornbread. You can see the difference in the picture and why I was so disappointed in what was supposed to be the same meal. s3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com… Plus, the fruit flies from other reviews are not an exaggeration. Will not be back again.

    (1)

  • Sharon K.

    This place is really cute and right next to the Prudential Center. Very convenient. What was not convenient was that the parking lot across the street advertising "park here for dinosaur bar-b-que" was closed. But I won't blame the restaurant. Apparently they do this on event days. Our waitress was really nice and friendly. We met a manager who was also pretty friendly and came to address our concerns. We got our food and they forgot to put my sister in law's food. They said they would rush her order. We tried our food and it was good, but luke warm. Kind of weird. I asked if they could reheat the food, and the manager came over and offered to remake all the food fresh for us. I thought that was really nice. I wasnt expecting that. They also comped my sister in law's meal. Very nice. The 3 stars is for the food itself. It was just okay, and the second round of food still came out only slightly warmer than the first round. I dont know what the deal is. I think maybe I would have enjoyed it more if it was piping hot. My sides were piping hot, but the meat was not at all. Oh, one thing I did really enjoy was the sampler platter. The deviled eggs were great. Salmon fritters nice, not too greasy. Not particularly meaty, but still tasty. Another negative was that the bathrooms were dirty. It was only lunchtime. Can't imagine what it would look like by the time dinner came around. I feel like this review is so scattered but there were some hits (good server/manager, cute ambiance) and some negatives cold food, dirty bathroom, kitchen confusion with the order, and then some additional confusion with the check at the end. If i was in the area, i would definitely come here again, but I wouldn't make the trip otherwise. I think they have a few kinks to work out yet.

    (3)

  • T R.

    First time doing takeout, wait wasn't long, open kitchen didn't look to sanitary to be cooking in. Ordered Pull pork melt platter and Jerk pulled chicken platter. Pulled pork was lacking meat, was to dry and bread tasted stale. Chicken was a 4 star. Sides included were gumbo, which I promise tasted like dirt, no flavor and rice was hard, BBQ rice with meat tastes like my local Chinese pork fried rice except burnt, Mac n chz looked great, tasted like microwaved tv dinner, only thing that I would buy again is the Harlem potato salad. Who knows maybe if I decide to eat there it will taste better, I would've stayed but the wait was 25 mins at 4pm.

    (1)

  • Renee O.

    HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!! Upon entering the waitress was having a conversation with another staff member as we were waiting by the doorway to be greeted and also seated. Finally after 7 mins we were seated, my husband stepped away to use the restroom; he came back and we waited about 15 mins longer until we realized no one even asked us what we would like to drink. My husband saw a waitress walking by and asked him if we can have some drinks to start in which he replied who's taking care of your table. We told him no one and as he walked over to the young woman at the front to inform her she replied "they have to wait" I know they don't have someone yet. My husband and I immediately got up and told her never mind we will grab something elsewhere. She replied.. Bye!! For this Resturant being in the location its in the service is horrible. It's understandable if they are short staff but the attitude of the woman as we entered was very distasteful and overall after a game we will never visit there again.

    (1)

  • John P.

    I've been here several times over the years. The food is fantastic, especially the wings, ribs, and bbq chicken. I really don't know where you'll find better BBQ in NJ. However, the service is BRUTAL. From the time that we placed our order, it was over an hour until we received it (after complaining to the manager). Once the food came, they also gave my daughter an incorrect order. We weren't the only people there with problems. The other people in view of us were also receiving extremely slow service and were complaining as well. Another table even left before receiving their food. Also the bathrooms were filthy The manager did apologize profusely and comped our food which was very generous. I also don't blame the server as that she was clearly busy and had many tables. Something needs to be done as that the speed of the food being served is completely unacceptable and this is not the first time that I've had a similar experience here. I'm now considering not dining here in the future as that the excellent is probably not worth the ridiculously poor service

    (2)

  • Brad V.

    This time we sat at bar. They had 1 bartender. Seriously, 1! The game just let out and a huge rush just came in. Do they even understand that there's a huge arena next door, and they need to adjust according to that schedule?? We even put an order in and he was so busy, he friggen forgot our order! Food is real good but managers must be brain dead.

    (3)

  • Desmonae P.

    Last night was my second time going to Dinosaur BBQ in Newark. The first time, the food was really good but the portions were very small. Paying approx $20 per plate at any other bbq restaurant, you typically get a lot of food for your money. I was still hungry after my meal. The second time, it was a Sunday night around 10 pm. I wasn't aware it was so close to closing time, but when our food came a lot of it was cold or barely warm. I was too hungry to send it back so I ate it anyway. The pulled pork was old and dry, and the Korean style ribs were extremely lacking in meat. And yet again, the portions were really small. The waitress was nice, but we had to wait forever to get our check because she was also working take out. If you want really good bbq, and actually get food worth your money then I highly recommend you go to another place. I definitely won't be returning a third time.

    (1)

  • Ariel R.

    The food was great as usual. You really can't go wrong with dinosaur bbq. We had a waiter named Charles and he was wonderful!

    (5)

  • Derek G.

    Amazing service, very consistent. Zykia is probably one of the best waiters I have ever had... Very attentive. Thank you for great food, atmosphere, and service!

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    I don't know what it is, but the utilization of mason jars for purposes other than the preservation of food really turns me on for some reason. Is that weird? Yeah? Well, fine. I've always seen this place in my peripheral when going to the box office for Devils games but never went in. I've also never read any reviews before going, but now that I have, I can say that most of us here are on the same page. Good eatin'. Being the Asian foodie that I am, I ventured into the chicken sandwich known as the "Chow-chow": Hoisin sesame bbq chicken, shredded cabbage with sweet & sour green tomato relish. I think it had the shortest descriptor out of all the chicken sandwiches, and they all cost the same, but I went with it anyway. I'm glad I did. It tasted super healthy and I'm glad the bun had like a 'hinge" (bread) on the back of it, because this thing would have squirted out otherwise. The hoisin sauce was awesome and I might have to buy some or learn how to make my own. I got a side of fries with it, but those didn't really do anything for me sadly. I don't put ketchup on anything, so maybe if you do, you'll care for them more. But I feel that things should be good on their own without aid. Like Batman, with or without Robin, he's a badass. I will say that I felt like we waited a tad too long for our food and wished I had timed it. But, other than that, no qualms. My friend got the mac and cheese and said they were "okay, alright". He loved his ribs though and left no sign of meat at the scene of the crime. He also wanted to get some cornbread to go. Like a ton of cornbread. A ton. The décor is great here. I liked the booths and the lamps and above all...the NJ Devils lamp near the entrance. If you can put your incomprehensible fear of Newark aside for a few hours, come on down...you won't regret it.

    (4)

  • Dimitri L.

    This place is really no that special. It's just ok BBQ. You can find a lot better BBQ within 20 miles. Gumbo was excessively salty and practically inedible. The ribs were good but the pulled pork was something to be desired. The waitress did not write down our orders and of course they came out wrong. Write the orders down!!!!

    (3)

  • Debbie K.

    If you LOVE BBQ, you NEED to go. Excellent menu (can't go wrong with anything). Awsome staff too!

    (5)

  • pam c.

    The food, prices and drinks (Donkey Punch) are great. The Bartender is a little unattentive.

    (4)

  • Miguel A.

    Lip Smacking good. Came here before a game and loved it. I've heard nothing but good things about this place and couldn't wait ti try it. I'm glad it lived up to the hype.

    (5)

  • Patricia D.

    Had heard this was the king of all BBQ places so we decided to try it. We were not impressed. While the service was great, the food was not. The beef brisket was as dry as it could be and not even the sauce could save it. The beans looked like they were referred and had a weird taste to them, it was like fennel sausage was mixed in. The cole slaw was vinegary tasting. And the pulled pork fatty. Did I also mention I thought the menu was overpriced? We had 2 combo meals and our bill came to $41! (We had water to drink, so we didn't spend on alcohol.) have to admit it was a letdown after hearing about how great this place is.

    (2)

  • Jon S.

    A strange thing about the Dinosaur mini-chain is how different every restaurant feels. I mean, I understand that the original location in Syracuse will have some additional rough charm based on its age and the sense that were making it up as they were going along, but I really can't wrap my head around the differences at three different locations I visited recently - Troy, Newark and Brooklyn. Brooklyn is in many ways the most unique, where Dinosaur is trying to fit its large, family friendly barbecue in the suddenly quite fit neighborhood of Gowanus. As I discussed in my review of that place, it's largely a failure, although the food is still commendable. Meanwhile in Newark Dinosaur seems to be largely a bar with a great beer selection. I'm sure this place is overrun when's there's an event at the arena, but I was able to have my pick of bar seats and booths for a recent meal prior to catching the PATH back into the City. The atmosphere is closer to a sports bar, with multiple screens throughout the room and different sports on each one. The service was friendly and well-paced, a far cry from the frazzled if well meaning servers trying to keep the hordes under control in Brooklyn. There's no need to wait for four light bulbs on a strange and not particularly accurate app. The cuisine itself is definitely recommendable, especially as it's not two miles away from truly excellent options as in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The smoked wings are a personal favorite, along with the half-rack of ribs and baked beans. All Dinosaurs are not created equal, and this is one of the better ones.

    (4)

  • MrsBaby C.

    This place is awesome, and the the waiter was off the hook love this place and the food came super quick

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    MMMMMMM brisket, it's so moist and tender and flavorful. The service is alright, not really that great. The first time I went there they gave us the wrong orders and the second time we went there I got half my food wrapped, but they didn't put all my food in the box. It's not going to stop me from coming there though because I really like the food.

    (4)

  • Ken R.

    Food was only okay if I'm being nice. Wouldn't go back but mainly because the service wasn't all that great. It wasn't terrible, but it was clear this was just a job for our waitress and it seemed like she was interested more in chatting w/ fellow staff than helping out customers.

    (2)

  • Dennis M.

    A decent place to go before heading to the Prudential Center; but not a place I'd go to on a regular basis. Food is good, nothing special or different from any other BBQ places. Service can get slow during game time at the Rock. Typical of most downtown locations, no parking lot; must rely on street parking or one of the local pay lots.

    (3)

  • Ock J.

    The wings are very good & well flavored !

    (3)

  • Rosalyn W.

    I dined here on Friday night 3/20/2015. The food was awesome and the service was excellent. Our server Leanne was very knowledgeable of the menu and gave us lndept explanations of each of our meals from taste to portion size. The food came out on time and hot. Leanne made my first time experience a very pleasant one. I will definitely dine here again!!!!! Congrats to this establishment for your great food and courteous staff.

    (5)

  • Feebee A.

    Nom nom nom!!! So good! I've been here twice and both times have been great. You get a lot of food for what you pay for. First time we came here was after a graduation. We had a large party and they were very accommodating. Food came out in a timely manner and the staff was on point with their service and hospitality. Second time was just my family and I and service was just as great. Both times I have gone, we've ordered the family style dining. Talk about a lot of food!! You get a whole chicken, rack of ribs, pound of pork or briskets (or a mix), 3 large sides and 6 cornbreads. Everything is always so juicy and tender. The meat on both the ribs and chicken practically falls off the bones. The Mac and cheese is so rich and a little spicy. The BBQ fried rice was also amazing. Did I mention their wings are really good? This place is also great for wheelchairs. So much room and space. I def recommend you try this place out!

    (4)

  • Charles L.

    Food is not as good as the original in Syracuse or the locations in NYC. Decor is cool and the smells are amazing. The BBQ for NYC is good, but you had better have reservations if you want to take in a pregame meal. A great safe option for a post game meal after all he prudential center especially if you have to wait for a train. The menu is inventive and the beer selection is good.

    (3)

  • L. Eliza C.

    Everyone in my party yesterday agrees with me that management made several changes that impacted quality of the food experience. 1. My side order was significantly smaller than usual. Same cup size for Mac and cheese but you can barely see it in. My friends' side dishes with their orders were also smaller. 2. Change of the beef. Even the visual presentation, it looked dried and my friends said it was mostly bone. 3. Not attentive service. I had to ask for a refill. Sorry but we won't be coming back for a while.

    (3)

  • Jonathan M.

    When I go, I always sit at the bar. The bartender is always attentive and service is good. Though sometimes they can be understaffed. I always get the Mac and cheese for sides and it is always excellent. I also get the ribs. Used to be always excellent as well but now have become hit and miss. Sometimes they are great and tender. However the last few times they have been only ok. Sometimes tough. One time I went for take out and they forgot my cornbread. I live in Jersey City so I did not want to drive back. So hit and miss but I will probably give them a couple of more chances.

    (3)

  • Susanna C.

    I have been here several times in the past couple years. Today I decided to write a review. The waiter was sooo friendly - although I've had good service every time. My must-have meal here is the beef brisket sandwich. I eat this every time, so I can't really tell you what anything else tastes like. They have a nice variety of sides, and I have never been disappointed in that either. Nice place, conveniently situated near the Prudential center.

    (4)

  • Evan P.

    Solid BBQ and good beer. It's not a very convenient or nice location but if you're in the area for some reason then stop in and have something! My brisket sandwich was pretty meaty and my sides were quite good as well. I particularly like their unique take on cole slaw. yum.

    (3)

  • Marilen R.

    Being fans of the Harlem location, we were expecting the bbq to be similar in quality. Much to my dismay, it was not. It could be that we came here on a Sunday night, when the restaurant was not busy and had lower turnover. We started off with an order of wings 1/2 Wango Tango 1/2 Jerk glaze. I only had 1 of each and thought they were tasty but husband said, "there's a difference between charred and burnt, and these 1/4 burnt." For our main dishes, he got the Tres Ninos combo which included, brisket, pulled pork and ribs. Brisket was not moist enough. Pulled pork was just ok. Ribs=DRY. I ordered the other combo with 1/4 chicken breast/wing and 3 ribs. The chicken was actually my favorite of all the meats. Skin had a nice crisp and the meat was moist. We both agreed that the rub on the ribs were flavorful, but we couldn't get pass the dryness. I did like the sides though - mashed sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, corn bread. We like the atmosphere of the place as well with that rustic, cosy, wooden, BBQ joint feel. The long bar looked inviting and makes you want to pull up a stool to watch a game. Good place to meet up with friends. I would like to give this place another chance and come on a Fri/Sat night when they are churning out the BBQ.

    (3)

  • Tom K.

    I order take-out from here a few times a month while working at University Hospital. The only negative is parking to grab the delicious food. The take-out staff are super friendly and nice. The ribs and pulled pork sandwiches are amazing. "Always a good smoke"! Bbq fried rice is yummy too. Wish they still had the key lime pie for dessert! I would recommend this bbq joint to a friend and look forward to my next mean. Thank you dinosaur!

    (4)

  • William M.

    I usually come in here with a big group and so we always get the shared family combo for 6 that has every type of meat with three sides with cornbread. The servers are very friendly and accommodating to whatever we needed. Good bbq

    (4)

  • Latisha L.

    Food great, been three times n never had anything bad....nice atmosphere , good drinks

    (4)

  • Vineet S.

    I love BBQ food, so this was a perfect spot to satisfy my cravings when I was in the hood. We came here in the evening on a weekday , there was no wait for table. We were greeted by the hostess at the door and were quickly seated. This place is actually quite big and have a big bar in the front too. They have a really extensive menu. We were in the mood for wings so we ordered two wing platters. On the recommendation of our server we got our wings in three different sauces-Devil's duel, Garlic Chipotle and Wango Tango. I also Pork side with bean. We didn't had to wait much for our food, we food arrived piping hot. Really liked the taste of the wings specially with Devil's duel which is the hottest sauce and garlic chipotle. The wango tango was little sweet so we didn't like that. My pork bean side dish was tasty too. Coming to the service our server was awesome and did a great job explaining the menu and serving us food. I believe the food here is little priecy though it is tasty, so I would round up the rating to 3.5 stars!

    (3)

  • Jessica C.

    I got a Memphis bbq sandwich platter with a gumbo and a wedge salad side. First off, the pulled pork was mostly fat that I had to spit out, and not flavorful delicious fat but like big wads of nasty fat. Not much meat on it. It came with coleslaw on top which was like three big pieces of cabbage on top basically. The gumbo was not flavorful or good at all, and the rice in mine was stale. The wedge salad was a dirty wad of iceberg lettuce with a big stem on it, they threw in a cherry tomato, and that's it. Nothing else there. They gave me the wrong dressing, too - some mustard dressing or something it tasted like. Completely underwhelming and disappointing for me because I grew up in Memphis and know what bbq is supposed to be. Their profit margin on you must be monumental. I'll try other things as I'm trapped working in Newark and there's no where else to eat, but this was no good.

    (1)

  • Eriny M.

    I've been there multiple times, and every time, my entire party is served cold food. There is no crowd or full dining room, I don't know why its so hard to deliver the food hot. The portions are also pretty small for the price. Won't be returning

    (1)

  • L B.

    Got there at 5:15 before a Devils game. By 545 the place was jammed. Have a nice tap beer selection there were about 12 options. We ordered the appetizer sampler platter it was plenty for three people the deviled eggs were great. I ordered the brisket and quarter chicken the chicken was moist and had a good flavor the brisket was a little fatty for my taste. The sides were good not great. The habanero sauce wasn't very hot at all. I would return and try some of the other menu items Very convenient for an event at the rock

    (3)

  • Jennifer T.

    *bbq wings (we got the wings with garlic chipotle sauce, the chicken itself was amazing, super juicy and tender and perfectly cooked, loved that aspect of it, and it was smoked not breaded thank god; the wings weren't drowned in sauce either which was nice; the bleu cheese was also pretty good) *pork melt platter (omg, the pork was really good but what made the sandwich was the carmelized onions, soo good!! loved this sandwich, and the bread perfectly packaged the meat) *mashed sweet potatoes (this was GROSS, they added orange juice or zest and it was horrible, watery; the spiced walnuts were the best part of the side, regardless, i didn't eat much of it); fries (yes! just the way I like them!) *mac n cheese (yum! I think they used cheddar, they added a smoked paprika I believe on top, the macaroni was al dente which was awesome! not super cheesey) *sweet and sour coleslaw (yummy! I really liked this, had a little kick to it and the colors were pretty) *mashed potatoes (blah, not impressed at all; the potatoes didn't have much flavor, but the texture wasn't bad) *bbq fried rice (not bad but nothing special) *ribs (YUM!!!!! loved the smokiness on the ribs and the meat tasted awesome, not saucy and definitely fall off the bone tender) *brisket (a little too tough for me, not my favorite) *strawberry citrus caipirinha (wow, strong! hahah, it was really good, muddled strawberries, limes inside; it was sweet and strong) This place is super cute, loved the set up but the booths are definitely tight, I like the pigs with wings hanging for decor; the service was blah, our waitress sucked, the rest of the staff was at least moving, I liked the food and would come back mainly for the ribs

    (4)

  • Mary A.

    I'm sure Lindsay will comment about thanking me for my review but bottom line is this place has potential but nobody cares about this location so it sucks. There is not one manager around here taking responsibility. I didn't want to listen to the reviews and went here anyway and bottom line it sucked. I wanted it to be good because I am a devils season ticket holder but I rather eat a dirty water dog from the guy outside. The severs push food out fast so they can fool around with their friends. This place needs management asap or else it's never going to last. Alicia was beyond sketchy as a server / hostest. Our chicken sandwiches came out so fast there was never an doubt they were not fresh. Chicken wings we ordered were sub par. All in all wish I had my money back. Not worth it. If in newark go to a deli. It's better.

    (1)

  • Chad C.

    I have been to Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse and it was an amaZing experience. The Newark location is more like a spin off chain. It's a really fun environment but its a totally different feel. We have been sitting for twenty minutes and no silverware or napkins yet. They are sort of busy but the waitress seems to be overwhelmed. Ordered the sampler Kansas ribs, pulled pork & 1/4 chicken. The food looks great BUT... Everything was cold. ice cold beef. The only thing hot on the plate was my fries. Total disappointment. My wife's food was also all cold. The place is not packed and were watching our waitress talk to the table next to us instead of brining our water. I guess I have to travel 4hrs north to get five star dinosaur BBQ Amber the front of the house manager came over and took care of the bill. Still so disappointed. Two stars for appearance.

    (2)

  • Phil H.

    You know what ultimate ballin' is? Pigging out on a rack of delicious monster ribs after an epic Iron Maiden concert and washing it down with Shiner Bock while the place is overflowing with fellow metal heads coming off the high of an amazing show. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que rocked my world! It does not get any better than this. They kept the place open past it's normal 11:00 closing time as they knew the ravenous horde would be piling out of the Prudential Center ready to eat and drink. The staff was courteous and super friendly, and did not even kick our group out even though we were the last customers in the place. The menu features an impressive selection of domestic, craft, and imported beers at reasonable prices. The food options range from small plates to brontosaurus sized platters. I could not believe they have Shiner Bock and happily gulped down a few cans with my feast. We started with fried green tomatoes, and then dug into a Sweetheart Deal For Two which included a full rack of ribs, cornbread, and four homemade sides for $29.95. As the sides we chose the mini iceberg wedge with bar-b-blues dressing, whipped sweet potatoes sprinkled with spicy walnuts, sweet & sour cole slaw, and marinated vegetables. Yes, this was gluttony at it's finest, and after dieting for almost three months I did not care! Calories be damned! I think I huffed down most of the platter by myself! Located right across from the Prudential Center and a few blocks away from the train station it offers easy access when attending an event, munching out, and then heading back into the city. Rolled out of here fat and happy with the sweet sounds of "Run To The Hills" still rolling through my mind. Up The Irons! \m/

    (4)

  • Seema U.

    Every time I look up "barbecue," I find Portuguese or South American barbecue places. This is probably due to where I live and I love a good Portuguese bbq but sometimes you just want good ol' BBQ sauce, mac and cheese, brisket, and other southern BBQ stuff. Thanks to Dinosaur BBQ opening up in Newark, I now have another good dining option in Newark. Do not park in the lots closest to the restaurant/Prudential Center (unless you feel like getting ripped off). Parking like a block or two away will save you a lot of money and you can either find a cheap-ish lot (depends on the time of day/what is going on in Prudential) or meters. Came here for a late lunch. Was celebrating the end of the school year (I survived my first year of teaching!) and had wanted to try this place since it opened. Ordered the cucumber mojito to start. It was really refreshing and perfect for the ridiculously hot weather. My one complain was that the top was the perfect mix of rum, mint, cucmbers, sugar, and club soda but the rest of it lacked liquor. Obviously it was partially my fault for not mixing it well but I feel that if I had mixed it, it would have needed a little more alcohol. But overall a really solid drink and perfect for the summer. For food, got the 3 meat combo: brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. Sides were mac and cheese and gumbo. Meat: my favorite was the pulled pork which was delicious. The brisket was pretty good also but a little on the fatty side. I only had one rib (I was stuffed!) and it was almost all bone. The leftovers are in my fridge; I hope they have more meat. The mac and cheese was good; it had this cajun seasoning on top that I personally could have done without but I think most people would like it. The gumbo was AWESOME. Even though I was full, I kept having spoonfuls of the gravy. It was good. I don't each much (or really any) gumbo so I have nothing to compare it too but I liked it. I also had the Dinosaur Hanger Ale. I really liked it and it had a really nice fruity (apricot) fish. It went well with the food and was a lot better than I expected. If you like really hoppy beers or are not a fan of beers with fairly strong fruit notes, stay away. But I really liked it and would buy it if it was available in stores. Also a plus is the beers are super affordable, especially for a place like this. Most pints are like $5-6 and they even have half pints for around $3. Major plus in my book. The service was also really good. My waiter was really polite (kept calling me "Miss") and attentive but not annoying. He (and the other waiter I saw serving another table) had a really nice, helpful personality and was just pleasant. Overall, I am a fan of Dinosaur BBQ. I would probably rate it around 3.5 stars actually because the meat was okay but could have been better. However good service, good drinks, excellent corn bread, yummy sides all made me round it up. I would avoid this place at all costs during Prudential events (there was American Idol registration going on today when I went but it was not crowded) unless you really want to eat there. Try it but also check out the other (non chain) restaurants in the Ironbound and other parts of Newark!

    (4)

  • Darrien P.

    The food is always consistant and good. I especailly like the warm-hearted bartenders. This location is a quick walk from Penn-station and a must stop before or after any events at the Prudential Center

    (5)

  • Shane T.

    9:20pm : After realizing I am not going to make the 9:22 train to New York, I decide to walk in to this place for a quick drink and bite to eat because shit how bad could it be. I've been to the Harlem location and it was pretty damn good. 9:25pm : After witnessing the bartender and waitress argue over a mistaken Sam Adams draft beer for 5 minutes I managed to get my server's attention and place my order for Korean short ribs and shrimp. Got my beer seconds later, cool I thought 9:35Pm : Woman who ordered the Sam Adams draft is now sitting next to me complaining she hasnt gotten her beer, because I give a flying F. 9:50pm : After my server has reassured me my order is coming right out, he comes back and tells me they are out of shortrib. He fprces the manager over who apologizes and says I will get extra ribs... Cool, make it to go because my train will be here in 20. 10:00pm : still no food, I go to my server and ask him to give me whatever they have ready. 10:05pm : I finally get my NEWLY to go order, and sprint out the door as my train leaves in 5 minutes and god damn it if I and going to spend an another hour in this hell hole. 11:00pm : I get home and open my order and what do I see? Two tiny sides and 1 half rack of ribs (no extra as the manager promised, though I was still upcharged for the shortribs, which I paid for and tipped without complaint) the 1/4 lb of shrimp??? ended up being TWO... TWO flipping shrimps.. are you fucking kidding me. FUCK this place FUCK THIS PLACE SO HARD, never again...

    (1)

  • Mitchell M.

    I think it is a tad overpriced, but otherwise a good spot. The set up is great. They did a great job on the interior, as it is very welcoming. Not only a spot you would come in for a meal, but they've created an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. Great service, and you can tell even the workers are excited that Newark now has a Dino BBQ. The Pork-sket sandwich the quintessential Dino order. Their signature brisket layered with cheddar cheese and jalapenos, topped with cole slaw and pulled pork. Yes, pulled pork is a topping. When it first arrives, it is very difficult to imagine being able to pick and up and eat without a knife & fork. Amazingly enough, it holds together to the last delicious bite. You can't go wrong with any of the rib combos here. I like a 1/4 rack, brisket & hot link sausage combo. Think it's called the Tres Hombres at other locations, not sure about that here. Some will say, "Ewwww," but I never say no to the Cajun Deviled Eggs. The Fried Green Tomatoes are good. The BBQ shrimp were messy, but tasty. However, I was having a hard time comprehending 2 notable omissions from the menu here. Syracuse Salt Potatoes and Drunken Peel n Eat Shrimp. Not sure why they didn't make the cut. They have an extensive beer list, and all at reasonable prices. It was the food I was referring to when I said I thought it was a tad overpriced. Not crazy out of touch pricing, just a few dollars over what I thought each plate would cost. Parking can be a challenge here, unless we missed something when we went.

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    In October may family brought me to Dinosaur BBQ for my Birthday. Food was excellent. The atmosphere was great and the waitress Shatters was superb. She anticipated everything we wanted. Made suggestions and was very entertaining. Got to come back soon.

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Legit southern style barbecue, friendly and convivial atmosphere, beautifully renovated space showing off a little slice of Newark history. Sandwiches are a major highlight, especially brisket-jalapeno and everything pulled pork . Their pulled pork and brisket are really the highlights, as are several of their sides. Try the turkey neck greens. They've made some great little nods to Newark in their use of Portuguese rolls and sausage made a few minutes away in the Ironbound district of Newark. I think highly of their beer selection as well. This place is always full or near full-- I've tried weekday lunch, weekday mid-PM, weekday late night, late Saturday night, late Sunday night (all without events). Its popularity is not connected to event crowds at all. As a fifth-year Newarker, I can attest that this place unites the people who live in and work in and visit Newark-- all sides of downtown and downtown-gateway-ironbound, like no other place in Newark. One of a handful of magical places in an all too stimattized and segregated city. A harbinger of things to come, I hope.

    (5)

  • Robert S.

    I went to Dinosaur on Sunday night. I was in a group of 9 people. Here comes the review: the service was incredible. No joke, the service we received compared to the service I have received at any of the top restaurants around the world. The waitress was absolutely amazing. Because we were a group, the tip was already included in the bill. We added more tip!! All 9 people in my group really enjoyed the food. It is tough to get good barbeque in NJ that will please 9 different people. This place was excellent. The ribs, chicken and pulled pork were loved by everyone in the group. The six different side dishes were all good. Only negative is the brisket was really a little too fatty, and the fried rice was a little too salty. We were two families. This place is great to go with kids.

    (5)

  • Griffin I.

    Sat at the bar this afternoon and had great service from our bartender, Tom. Very professional. The rest of the staff was very immature and kept congregating at the host stand to gossip between each other. Other than that, food was excellent and the restaurant itself is very interesting and unique.

    (4)

  • Peter S.

    I have been here twice. Once well before a devils game and once right before it. First time we got there was good until the staff was rushing us out. The second time we are waiting for our appetizer to come out and mid you 30 minutes had past and finally they came out which were the buffalo wings. They were ok. Than 45 minutes later we finally got our food. Even after our waitress goes to pick up our still wrapped utensils. I told her that we didn't even get our meal yet. Her response, "Oh". Even the manager came by and was of little help. If you want to eat and relax definitely not the place because you are either getting rushed out or not getting any food at all.

    (2)

  • Edris S.

    The place itself is really cool. I went on a Tuesday so it wasn't busy. Food was ok nothing special but it looks like this place is a great place to hang and have drinks...

    (3)

  • LouKris T.

    Here it is CUSTOMER #1 on opening night. I have the receipt to prove it. The wait was short. The smells were fantastic. The service gets a 10+ (APRIL WAS OUR SERVER). She really was from a 1 to 10 scale, she was a 35. Attentive and well versed. We had honey sweet cornbread muffins. They were, hot, good, and, moist. The BBQ beans were excellent. The house made root beer fuggedaboutit-Outstanding, It was rich but not tangy in flavor and had the same small carbonated bubbles like Stewarts Root beer, I drank 4 of them. Salmon cakes were an unexpected surprise. A welcome surprise they had peppers and corn in side. We had 2 orders of them. My wife's favorite item was the fried green tomatoes. Best I ever had bar none. We ate 6 of them. The BBQ beans were hot, sweet, and tangy and just fantastic. Baked long and delicious. The Brisket was tender and delicate as it should be. Great smokey flavor fills your sinus'. The rolls were fresh and butter soft. Here ir comes. The RIBS!!!!! We ordered two full racks. The mild sauce gets a 10 for sweet and smokey flavor. Exactly what a slathering rib sauce should be. Take home a bottle like we did. The portions of ribs were large and the prices were reasonable and worth every penny. The ribs themselves, were not so good. The some of the meat came off of the bone with little effort. But some required a two handed tri-cep workout to break them apart. I couldn't chew through the top skin on the rib. It was too hard and over cooked. Most of the rib meat that I was able to wrestle free from the bone, is still between my 2 rear molars. Had the chocolate pecan pie.It was very cold and should have been served slightly warm. It tasted great anyway. I would recommend this to others because the experience was fun and the staff catered to our every whim and did a good job at it. Sometimes the clean up/bus boys would hover about looking to snatch away your used napkin or dish before you discarded it. A little frustrating but this was day 1 so lets hope for the future. We sat near the noisy kitchen and saw the kitchen staff joking about which we really didn't need to see anyway. We will go back to see if they worked out the kinks. They are nowhere near the World Champion Cubby's BBQ Ribs in South Hackensack N.J. You leave there thanking GOD for that great meal.

    (4)

  • Melissa N.

    The best restaurant in Newark . Even better than Forno's of Spain

    (5)

  • Phil E.

    Great ribs. Family BBQ was more than enough for four of us. Whipped sweet potatoes and Mac and cheese were great.

    (4)

  • Domanique J.

    I'll start by saying it is delicious! I started with the sampler platter, salmon fritters, fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs and jerk wings. I loved every last item on the plate! My favorite would be the wings. I was semi full by the time dinner came but I did atleast taste it, I wasn't too impressed with the pulled pork or gumbo ( sorry my grandmas is better) but the chicken was very well seasoned. The yams are too stringy for me (maybe I'm picky but that has been a no-no since I was a child). Overall I really did enjoy myaelf, oh yes! And the service is excellent! A very warm and comforting feel, I love it.

    (4)

  • Jed H.

    Perfectly smoked brisket! Start with the wings! Place is smokin!

    (5)

  • Ebony W.

    The server I had was great but the food was disgusting. I will never be back again!!!!

    (1)

  • Tyler L.

    I don't know how to review Dinosaur because of the 6 or so times I've been, half were terrible and half were great. The terrible ones tended to be during hockey games though so I'll mostly ignore them for this review. I'll briefly mention the bad ones first. Once, we stood waiting to get the hostess' attention for 15 minutes only to be told we needed to get a reservation from a different hostess who had meanwhile taken about 20 more reservations ahead of us. We ended up going to the pickup portion and had great sandwiches. Another time we were continually told we'd be seated in 5-10 minutes for an hour before running out of time before a game. The times when we actually got seated or when we went when there wasn't a hockey game, things went much better. The best service we had was still the first week they opened when our server was incredibly attentive and offered tons of suggestions. Other times, service was pretty slow and our servers did not come by very often. I appreciate the food being made fresh to order, but waiting 40 minutes for ribs is excessive The food makes up for the spotty service though. The wings are totally incredible. I could do with a little more meat on the bones and crispier texture, but the wide variety of sauces and seasonings make up for it. The wango tango habenero sauces is my favorite and I kept bringing more home. The brisket is decent, but a little dry. I prefer the bleu cheese smothered sandwich to the brisket plate. The ribs were very good as well. The beer selection is pretty good too and features a bunch of craft beer, including some NJ local beer on tap.

    (4)

  • Art S.

    was there for dinner before syracuse/seton hall basketball game with my daughter. was really looking forward to good bbq ribs. good wings to start and we both ordered ribs. really disappointing as good ribs, the meat should fall off the bone. these were very tough and chewy. obviously not cooked enough. if we didn't have to get to the game, we would have complained and sent back. would not go again.

    (1)

  • Patrick M.

    Hey, it is great BBQ in downtown Newark. Each time I have eaten there the meat has been smoked perfectly and the sides are great. Sweet and Sour coleslaw being a must. The sandwiches and Soft drinks for $10 are economical and hit the spot when you don't have room for a more substantial BBQ experience. Inside is a great layout, nice worn wood bar, booths and tables. Great place

    (4)

  • J. F.

    To start, I used to love Dino. I used to go to the original Syracuse location when my brothers went to college there and the food was amazing. This place seems to have been on a consistent downhill slide since it opened. At first it was good, food was good and the service was decent. Over the past year the service has gotten to the point of comically bad. Bartenders being so drunk by 9pm they literally forget that you ordered a beer within seconds. Waiting 25 minutes for anyone to bring menus or a glass of water when the restaurant is empty. Waitresses leaving a beer sitting on the bar for 30 minutes while they chat with co-workers 5 feet away from you. It is literally like someone tried an experiment where they hired people with literally no service industry experience and decided to not have a manager. If there is a manager here they should consider another line of work. It used to still be manageable b/c the food was good, but that is no longer even the case. Wings come rubbery and cold. Ribs are tough and not actual barbecue, seems like they were maybe cooked for an hour. Unless this place makes some serious changes I would avoid it.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

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