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Dinosaur Bar-B-Que voted America's best barbecue in ABC's

05/23/2009

Source: Tim Knauss / The Post-Standard, photo courtsey of Al Campanie / The Post-Standard

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Syracuse, NY - Today was just another day at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse -- motorcycles parked outside, blues music blaring from the speakers and diners elbow deep in their food -- except that on this day, managers could tell patrons they were eating at the best barbecue joint in America

The Dinosaur won a contest sponsored by ABC's "Good Morning America Weekend" program to find the best barbecue to find the best barbecue in America, beating out three other restaurants in Internet voting.

John Stage, who co-founded the restaurant 21 years ago, said he got the call from a producer about 3:30 p.m. as he was returning to Syracuse from New York City.

The Dinosaur -- which has locations in New York City and Rochester, in addition to the original joint in Syracuse -- beat out restaurants from traditionally barbecue-rich regions of the South and Midwest.

"It's cool, eh?" Stage said.

Stage said he is scheduled to appear live on the program at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Stage will speak by live remote to the show's anchors, who will be in the New York City studio, he said.

A cheer went up in the Syracuse restaurant when news of the victory was announced over the sound system about 5 p.m., said Ana Mulroy, service coordinator.

The other finalists in ABC's search for the best barbecue were Cousin's BAR B Q in Fort Worth, Texas; Woody's Smoke Shack in Des Moines, Iowa; and Archibald's BAR B QUE in Northport, Ala.

Based on recommendations from viewers, "GMA Weekend" went in search of the best barbecue restaurants and selected the four finalists. Internet voting determined the winner.

Mulroy, who started working at the business 18 years ago as a waitress, said she and other employees wouldn't finish today's shift until about 3 a.m. Sunday. But the employees planned to be on hand for Stage's on-air interview, she said.

"There's no point in going to bed," Mulroy said.

Stage said patrons are also welcome to show up for the on-air segment.

"At 7:30 in the morning, we're gonna have a little party," he said.

Check out a gallery of photos from the Dinosaur.

Earlier from The Post-Standard:

- Dinosaur named one of top barbecue joints on "Good Morning America."

- Food Network celebrity slathers it on at the Dinosaur

- Dinosaur opens its new Upstairs at the Dino event space