The start up cost is high, there are established brands in the market, and the real estate acquisition costs (WITHOUT government subsidy) is very, very high as a reflection of overinflated values and high property tax. This all adds up to something known as a high barrier to entry. Of course, what do I know. I am a red neck hick troublemaker with no accomplishment or experience, and no education.

DVR--Is barbecue the biggest worry facing Rotterdam?  Attacking businesses seems to be your specialty.  Are you sure you're not McGarry?

Quoted from joebxr

and don't forget the competition with DINOSAUR BBQ; well established, well liked and not far away

I tried them before the flood, and wasn't impressed for the price.  Has the water receded yet?  It was fun getting a good look at Sorors' yacht tho - mega bucks in that thing.

Quoted from 147

I tried them before the flood, and wasn't impressed for the price.  Has the water receded yet?  It was fun getting a good look at Sorors' yacht tho - mega bucks in that thing.

Their place in Syracuse and in NYC (Harlem) have great BBQ and recieve great reviews.  I don't know about the one in Capital District...should be as good. Maybe start-up pains.

Their food is mediocre. Rubbin Butts blows it out of the water, it is artisan southern style que. Dinosaur is institutional and more mass produced. Actually the best I ever ate was at a stand in Inverness Florida. There is a small shack in a side strip mall in Sedona, AZ that rules. Also there are several in the Carolinas (Henry's Smokehouse in Greenville is one of my favs) that are excellent, but I know there are hundreds of great mom and pops all over America that kick butt (no pun intended.) Texas is a whole differnt animal, it is heavily beef. You get a tex mex flare with cumin and chili powder in the rub and/or sauce. I have had excellent que in East Texas.


Here is what you need to make good BBQ
Meat
Wood smoke (I use apple and hickory plus some maple, oak on beef)
Technique (cook time, brine (I make my own), trimming the ribs etc)
rub ( I make my own)
sauce  (I make my own- 4 or 5 kinds depending on what kind of meat I am doing, but I always offer two home made sauces with any meat, sometimes three. I never use it out of a jar)

Doing it right is not hard in general, but you can't rush it. It is amazing how many people don't have the patience and can screw it up. MT knows what I mean.

Rubbin Butts?  Where's that GB?

ZAGAT Top 8 in NY
http://www.zagat.com/buzz/the-8-best-barbecue-restaurants-in-new-york

that is NYC

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

that is NYC

Yes, NYC...sorry if I mislead anything....didn't mean to imply anything other than NYC

Rubbin Butts is on upper Union St- they came in where the old Ricciardi's deli was!

Quoted from Yossi

DVR--Is barbecue the biggest worry facing Rotterdam?  Attacking businesses seems to be your specialty.  Are you sure you're not McGarry?

Go screw a goat -- I have NEVER attacked business

There are a lot of good BBQ places around the country -- and I have never paid $20 at those places ---
Dinosaur BBQ is one of those over-priced "fern bar" chains  --   what Rotterdam needs is a REAL  DOWN HOME BBQ  place  ...  nothing fancy or pretentious.   As for NYC restaurants --- except for some exceptional Jewish Deli's .... NYC has NOTHING worth driving or taking the train down there for.    The Capital District in general and the town specifically has many very good eating establishments that blow away the over-priced, faddish NYC restaurants.

Personally, I prefer  BBQ smoked beef brisket to ribs -- but I have a great recipe for ribs, too.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Go screw a goat -- I have NEVER attacked business

Quoted from 147

Oh?  You sir are a liar!  Just a quick search turns up results:

http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1296513547/s-100/highlight-uncle/#num100

Classic Texas BBQ was largely influenced by the German and Polish immigrants who settled in Texas in the first half of the 19th century -----  I had the opportunity to visit the Texas town where my great-grandfather first lived when he came to America and where he worked on cattle ranch.    Many descendants of those early settlers are sill living and ranching in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas is one of only seven states that does not tax individual wage income ... no wonder so many NY'ers like it over their own state (except those living off rich relatives)