Rochester’s beloved Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was named the No.2 BBQ chain in all of America this month, only trailing behind Alabama’s Jim ‘n Nick’s. The Daily Meal, a hugely popular website devoted to “All Things Food & Drink,” recently released its list of the 10 best barbecue chains in the United States. While Rochester locals are a bit shocked that the Court Street joint, part of a chain started in Syracuse, didn’t take the number one spot, no one is arguing that its flavors are more than enough to secure the restaurant the silver medal.

Barbecue is a Time-Honored American Tradition

The success of this self-proclaimed “honky tonk” barbecue isn’t any real surprise, not when you consider just how much effort the chain goes through to stay true to American BBQ traditions. While no one is sure where true BBQ started in the States after making the jump from the Caribbean — most are too afraid to start a fistfight by bringing it up in public — the most popular varieties come from Texas and the Carolina’s. Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que has done so well because it doesn’t try to define itself as being part of either school — the owners are only interested in bringing great BBQ to the masses.

Recent estimates show that 86% of all American households own a grill or a smoker, with 99% of those people having used their grill within the last year. American BBQ sauce companies pull in more than $2 billion a year. Needless to say, we are a people who love our barbecue. Just because we can do it at home, however, doesn’t mean we don’t prefer to order it from the masters. Many Americans can make good barbecue at home, but Dinosaur, with its fried green tomatoes, St. Louis-style ribs, and more, makes great barbecue. It’s no real surprise, then, that it earned such a prestigious honor.

Unlike Its Namesakes, the Dinosaur Adapts to Survive

Strangely, unlike many other restaurants that have taken flack for their less than healthy food — looking at you, golden arches — Dinosaur continues to be a popular choice, regardless of its potential impact on health. Consider, more than a third of American adults are obese, a main driver behind the renewed push for responsible, health-conscious food choices. Of special concern is fat deposited around the waist — increased adipose tissue around the waist has been tied to increased risk of heart disease. Even as we continue to miss the mark for healthy waist lines — under 40-inches for men, under 35 for women — we still love gobbling up the saturated fat-laden fare BBQ joints are known for.

Where Dinosaur continues to thrive, perhaps, is in its ability to adapt. The well-loved institution not only offers outright healthy choices, chopped salads and the like, but they also give customers a way to eat their classics in a more healthy manner. Full-flavor burnt ends from brisket, the leaner baby-back rib, and a variety of roasted and rotisserie chicken — all of these are great options offered by Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que. In the end, this means appealing to a much larger audience, beyond the steak and potatoes crowd.

Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que’s high ranking on the Daily Meal’s list of great BBQ restaurants shouldn’t be any big surprise. Not only does the chain hold true to the spirit of what American barbecue should be, both in the Texan and Carolinian traditions, but they’re also giving their customers the opportunity to make healthier choices — even if they don’t taste nearly as good as that full rack of ribs glazed with your favorite sauce.