By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — Manhattan's beloved Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was set to open new doors on 125th Street Thursday night after being forced to move from its 131st Street location due to the Columbia University expansion.
General manager Abigail Doyle said they were happy with the new space, which will serve its first customers at dinnertime.
"People have been amazed," she said, as workers bustled around finishing last touches at the new place. "The space is so much better."
The restaurant was closed for three days for the move, and had to turn away disappointed customers who came in hoping to catch the first lunch shift at the new location on Thursday.
Andrew Pannell, 32, came to the restaurant hoping to take his mother, who was in town visiting to his favorite lunch spot. He said the location made no difference to him — he was just looking to get some ribs and wings.
"It's my favorite barbecue joint in the city," he said. "I'm extremely bummed [it's closed for lunch today] because I'm starving."
To celebrate the opening, Doyle said the restaurant threw a party on Wednesday at the new location that went to the wee hours of the morning.
"But we're all here working now," she said.