Pitmaster John Stage and his founding crew expanded into 99 Court Street in 1998, taking over the former 1904 Lehigh Valley Railroad Station perched directly over the roaring waters of the Genesee River.
Commercial pit smokers burn hickory and applewood logs around the clock, seasoning whole beef briskets and pork spare ribs with coarse dry rubs before basting them over glowing embers.
Positioned in the heart of Downtown Rochester just off South Avenue, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que delivers an authentic alternative to commercial casual dining through its hardwood-smoked pit barbecue platters and scratch Southern sides.
Quick Bite – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Rochester, NY 🍖
Offset pit chambers slow-cook spice-rubbed St. Louis cut pork ribs until deeply caramelized, basting every rack in signature tangy barbecue sauce until tender.
The carving station slices juicy beef brisket against the grain under a bold peppery bark, while fryers finish jumbo pit-smoked chicken wings tossed in fiery Wango Tango glaze.
Over twenty-five years of consistent first-place wins in Rochester City Newspaper and Democrat and Chronicle readers’ polls have cemented its role as a premier Monroe County barbecue institution.
The Local Atmosphere – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Rochester, NY 🎸
Weathered brick walls, neon beer signs, vintage road relics, and live blues rhythms create an energetic, roadhouse-style environment directly above the river rapids.
Lunch hours and evening dinner rushes bring steady waves of locals arriving from surrounding neighborhoods like Park Avenue, South Wedge, East End, Brighton, and Irondequoit.
Servers carry hefty metal platters loaded with sliced brisket, honey-glazed cornbread, and frosty draft pints across the expansive wooden dining floor and river-view deck.
Signature Bites – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Rochester, NY 😋
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Pit-Smoked St. Louis Ribs: Pork ribs rubbed with custom dry seasoning, smoked low and slow over hickory, and basted with sweet and tangy barbecue glaze.
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Texas Beef Brisket Platter: Slow-smoked beef brisket with a dark pepper bark, hand-carved thick and served with house barbecue sauce and honey cornbread.
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Wango Tango Jumbo Smoked Wings: Pit-smoked bone-in chicken wings flash-crisped and tossed in spicy Wango Tango sauce, served with blue cheese and celery.
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Pulled Pork Sandwich: Hickory-smoked pork shoulder shredded and piled high on a toasted roll with crispy coleslaw and house pickles.
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Southern Fried Green Tomatoes: Crispy cornmeal-crusted green tomato slices topped with pecorino cheese and drizzled with spicy remoulade.
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Four-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese: Elbow pasta baked in a creamy cheddar and jack cheese sauce, finished with a toasted spiced breadcrumb crust.
Takeaway Bite – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Rochester, NY 😎
Stepping inside 99 Court St combines historic architectural character with decades of dedicated pit-smoking tradition.
John Stage’s commitment to real hardwood smoke, small-batch scratch cooking, and vibrant roadhouse hospitality keeps the dining room distinct from standard commercial chains.
That authentic smokehouse energy is why this mom and pops and hole in the wall riverfront landmark remains a quintessential culinary stop in Upstate New York.
📍: 99 Court St, Rochester, NY 14604
🕒: Mon-Thu: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM; Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Sun: 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM