DTA Club Lax Dinner of the Year: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
The club lacrosse circuit took us across the country this summer—but one meal in New York stood above the rest.
DTA Nation, how we doin’?
It has been an absolute ride this season, and we are officially on the final send.
Our Team36 club lacrosse season wrapped up this past weekend in New York, capping off what has been an incredible summer on the club circuit. Across the program, I made stops in Blaine, Minnesota; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Vernon Hills, Illinois; Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah; and Saratoga, New York.
The miles were logged. We snuck in a few rounds of golf along the way. Most importantly, we ate some great food.
There was a fun staff backyard barbecue at our Park City Airbnb, an electric pasta dinner with our 2029 team and, of course, chips and salsa in just about every town we visited.
However, one meal stood above them all.
The DTA Club Dinner of the Year
The DTA Club Dinner of the Year Award officially goes to:
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
This joint lived up to the recommendation that “The Big Man” gave our staff—and then some.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que opened its original restaurant in downtown Syracuse in 1988 and has since expanded to multiple locations across New York. We visited the Troy location, which was about an hour from where we were staying.
It required an hour-or-so drive in each direction, but I can confidently say it was worth every mile.
Troy, MI Location
The Pregame at Ilium Brewing
When we arrived, there was a short wait for our table. No problem.
We headed over to Ilium Brewing and snuck in a round while we waited. It had a unique atmosphere and is absolutely worth checking out when you are in the area—especially when you need somewhere to grab a drink before your table is ready.
After the quick pregame, it was time to eat.
The Dino Poutine Gets the Party Started
We asked our server what we should order for an appetizer and decided to follow her lead with the Dino Poutine.
It has “Dino” in the name, so I figured they probably were not messing around.
They were not.
The poutine was an outstanding party starter for the staff and set the tone for what was about to be an elite barbecue experience.
The aftermath - Clean Plate Club
The Main Event
Between everyone at the table, I think we covered nearly every protein on the menu and most of the sides.
You really cannot go wrong with whatever direction you decide to take, but a few items separated themselves from the pack.
Pork Belly
The pork belly may have been the table’s overall favorite if we were forced to choose just one item. It was rich, flavorful and everything you want from a great piece of barbecue pork belly.
Hot Link Sausage
The hot link sausage knocked Ted’s and my socks off.
It brought the flavor, had the right amount of heat and was one of the biggest surprises of the entire meal. This is a must-order when you visit.
Ribs
I really enjoyed the ribs. They were cooked perfectly, had great flavor and came off the bone exactly how you want them to without completely falling apart.
Brisket and Pulled Pork
The brisket and pulled pork were exactly what you hope to receive when you order barbecue.
Tender, flavorful and dependable. No gimmicks were needed. Just really good smoked meat.
Our One Mistake
Nobody at our table ordered the wings.
That was a miss by us.
I cannot officially review them, but the wings being delivered to other tables looked outstanding. They will be near the top of my order during the next visit.
There is always room for improvement, even during a championship-caliber dinner.
The Official DTA Score
Using the Dave Portnoy One Bite scoring scale, I am giving Dinosaur Bar-B-Que an:
8.9
This place was well worth the drive.
When you are anywhere within reasonable driving distance of one of its locations, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que needs to find its way onto your itinerary.
Check them out:
Website:dinosaurbarbque.com
Instagram:@dinosaur_bbq
Back to the Final Lacrosse Push
With the Team36 club season in the books, the final push of the lacrosse season is now underway on the YLM side of things.
I will be riding with the Prior Lake youth teams this week and, depending on the location and schedule, will for sure be spending time with our U12 age group.
Good luck to all your teams during the final stretch. Compete hard, enjoy the experience and hopefully I will see plenty of DTA Nation out at the fields.
For players looking for their next club opportunity, Team36 tryouts are happening this week.
Check out all the information and register here:
See you out there—and remember to order the wings.
