[What You Should Order At…] Dinosaur BBQ: Vegetarian Edition

I’m a vegetarian for a variety of reasons, none of them having much to do with my health. Save your brown rice and grilled eggplant for some other sap. This cowgirl wants a plate of all the fixins (or just the fixins, as the case may be).

It’s hard to avoid Dinosaur BBQ. Because of the size (huge), the price (reasonable), and the atmosphere (fun), it’s the perfect spot for Park Slope 30-somethings who still expect people to show up to their birthday parties. Because of the noise level (high) and the lighting (dark), it’s the perfect spot for Park Slope parents who need to breastfeed their crying babies during lunch. And because of the sides (various) and veggie options (tasty), it’s the perfect spot for Park Slope vegetarians who are eating out with their carnivorous friends.

The Dinosaur offers two vegetarian sandwiches (which must have been created just for PS…I never noticed them at the Harlem location, nor at their flagship in Syracuse). First, the Smoked Veg Melt. It’s smoked cauliflower, Portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, caramelized onions, poblano peppers, BBQ mayo, and melted Swiss. It tastes just fine, but for my money, I’d rather have something fried. That takes us to the F.G.T.V., option number two. F.G.T. stands for Fried Green Tomato (I’m guessing the V. stands for Vegetarian). It’s served on a Portuguese roll and topped with pimento cheese, shredded cabbage, BBQ mayo, and chow-chow (a kind of sweet-and-sour tomato relish).

The fried green tomato is where Dinosaur really excels. The tomatoes are ripe, tart, and juicy, with a crispy coating that never seems to go limp. They’re so good in fact, that I suggest skipping the sandwich altogether and ordering a 5-piece fried tomato plate as your meal. They offer “original” (sprinkled with Pecorino Romano cheese and served with buttermilk ranch dressing) or “fancy” (topped with pimento cheese and chow-chow).

BBQ joints are known for their sides, and Dino is no exception. In the vegetarian category, they’ve got mashed potatoes (skip the gravy), mac & cheese, black-eyed peas with kale, crispy coleslaw, Harlem potato salad (nearly a puree), broccoli & carrot salad, and a mini iceberg wedge. All of these taste good. All of them taste better next to a puddle of your favorite Dinosaur Sauce. All of them taste best next to both a puddle of your favorite Dinosaur Sauce and a puddle of that previously mentioned buttermilk ranch.

Finally, if you’re the type of vegetarian who eats eggs, a plate of their Creole Spiced Deviled Eggs will do you just fine. They come in orders of three, six, or twelve. The puddle rule applies just as well.

Dinosaur BBQ is located at 604 Union Street between 3^rd and 4^th Avenues. Five-piece Original Fried Green Tomato Plate: $8.95. F.G.T.V. Platter (comes with two sides): $12.50.  Six Creole Spiced Deviled Eggs: $6.95. www.dinobbq.com