Brooklyn’s barbecue-loving carnivores praised the smoked meat gods when renowned restaurant chain Dinosaur Bar-B-Que opened its first borough outpost in Gowanus this week.
The massive 180-seat, Union Street emporium is the Syracuse-based company’s seventh and newest location. The restaurant, which opened on Wednesday inside a former tool and die warehouse, turns out barbecue classics such as the chain’s legendary St. Louis-style ribs, chicken wings, pork shoulder and beef brisket.
The Brooklyn meatateria was supposed to open earlier this year, but Hurricane Sandy created a setback when it blew off the roof of the building between Third and Fourth avenues.
“We’re extremely excited to join the evolving Brooklyn community,” said Dinosaur founder and barbecue pitmaster John Stage. “The Park Slope/Gowanus area is vibrant, yet has just the right amount of grit for Dino to feel at home.”
Dinosaur’s succulent meat, which, contrary to its name, does not come from dinosaur, is slow cooked over big smoke pits fueled by burning hickory logs.
The menu features a handful of new items only available at the Brooklyn location, such as “Breakfast All Day,” a smoked brisket and poblano hash served with a sunnyside egg ($14.95), and the “Ode to Domolise,” a brisket sandwich with beef gravy, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, picked onion, jalapeno relish and barbecue mayo ($10.95).
Meat lovers who came opening night left with full and satisfied bellies.
“It was delicious,” said Ronald Almonor of Canarsie, a Dinosaur fan who has trekked to the chain’s Harlem location for his barbecue fix. “Now I don’t have to drive all the way to Harlem anymore.”
Stage said that the neighborhood welcomed his mini chain with open arms, even though barbecue restaurants Fort Reno, Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue, and Pork Slope are close by.
“We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback since we opened on Wednesday, and cannot be more thrilled to be part of the Brooklyn community,” he said.
The Brooklyn location’s dining room features a ceiling sculpture made of antique whiskey bottles created by artist Brandon d’Leo, wooden walls made from the historic Coney Island boardwalk, and a full bar featuring local breweries, including Brooklyn Brewery, Six Point Brewery, and Kelso. The joint’s take-out service is slated to start on June 24.
No dinosaurs were harmed in the opening of this restaurant.
Reach reporter Natalie Musumeci at nmusumeci@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Follow her at twitter.com/souleddout.
