The Valley Desperadoes rode, four hundred in all, to the Holy Family Church in Camillus for a bike blessing.? And the lord said it was good. Afterwards, they rode down from Tip Hill and into Limp Lizard Bar and Grill, where they partook of the BBQ and the fellowship of their brother bikers.?
And the Lord thought it was ALSO good.

For Syracuse bikers, the communal food of choice would obviously be barbecue. Motorcycles and BBQ go together like peas and carrots. Not prone to live with small gestures, bikers live large, and love the large bold taste of barbecued ribs, half chickens, pulled pork, and jalapeño cornbread, and washing it all down with cold bottled brew. Paradise indeed!
As owner of Limp Lizard, Chuck Orlando understands the heaven that every Harley owner envisions. Since his first motorcycling experience, when he crashed his friend’s bike in high school, Chuck’s passion for motorcycle culture has only intensified ‘til he finally created a favorite haunt for his motorcycle friends.??
From May through September, Tuesdays are scheduled as Bike Night, with motorcycles spread throughout the parking lot. All the bikers trade stories and talk shop, while the rhythms of bluesy-swamp rock weaves itself through the atmosphere.?

At Limp Lizard, located on Onondaga Boulevard across from Western Lights, the pictures hanging from the walls really do tell stories: of owner Chuck Orlando, his family, his love of motorcycles, his skills as a carpenter, and his passion to create a haven for friends and family, a place to drink, eat, and enjoy life. More like an institution than a restaurant, Limp Lizard offers the real deal, the kind of place Chilli’s or TGIF can only pretend to be.
For the real culture, for the stories of the regulars, there is no substitute.
It all began four short years ago, when Chuck Orlando converted an out-of-business fast food joint into a happening little stop called Limp Lizard Lounge. His inspiration came from bars in Aruba. Following a vacation there, Chuck returned from the island as only a man driven by a mission can: dedicated to his cause despite the challenges in his path.? When several banks said no to a loan, he had nowhere to turn but to friends.
“I told them in one year, I’ll pay you back, no questions asked or nothing,” Chuck Orlando said. “And they did it without blinking an eye. Sure enough when the year was up, I was able to repay them all in full.”
Having previous experience working the festivals and fairs, Chuck and his crew brought the pit to the party, and soon Limp Lizard’s business boomed in catering graduations and summer parties.
Renowned for the spirit of its service, Limp Lizard has grown largely through word of mouth. “Without my great crew, family, and friends, this would never be what it is,” Chuck said. “My wife, my brother,?my crew, everybody is responsible for this. Almost everyone has been here since the beginning.”
If camaraderie can be considered the heart of Limp Lizard, than the food is its soul. For the value, this place can’t be beat. Under the section menu titled Smoker Stuff, the Chicken with Rack of Ribs challenges the eater to indulge in a massive amount of food for under fifteen dollars. After the first bite, the idea of eating it all becomes easier to swallow. With two sides to boot, you can’t go wrong choosing the red skin potato salad, or the bluntly titled Slaw. For kids, there is a special section of the menu titled “Little Lizard” which includes burgers, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese.

Limp Lizard also offers it’s own brew, a Pale Ale called the “Limp Lizard Brew”. Made especially by Middle Age brewery in Syracuse, it’s tweaked uniquely for the Lizard. The brew has a smooth taste, and after a few you’ll find the wild spirit of the Lizard take hold.
Then comes the night, when the TRUE party begins. With its size, the Limp Lizard becomes a jumping little gig for bands like the Z-bones, one of several Limp Lizard house favs. What makes the Z-bones an exception to most bar bands is that they play originals along, along with covers by the Clash and Elvis Costello. One of their originals in particular, “Don’t Let the Smile Fool You,”?has become a Limp Lizard classic. With it’s infectious reggae beat, the crowd cheers when people hear the beginning riff of that song.?

“Chuck makes this a great place to play,” said Michael Launsbery, singer and conga player for the Z-bones. “The first time I came here, I brought a poster and a crummy recording from the early nineties for him to hear us. And he immediately put the poster up and asked me when we could play.”
Along with posters, the walls are peppered with motorcycle gas tanks, memorabilia, and a great mural painted by Elliot Mattice, who also designed the Limp Lizard’s logo: a red-eyed, retro reptile, symbolic of the scene’s laid back style. Don’t forget to say hi to the Limp Lizard’s house pet, Ricky, a widower who only recently lost his mate Lucy.
While there are similarities between Limp Lizard and the other famous BBQ joint in Syracuse, Chuck said he doesn’t believe that he’s trying to steal customers from anyone.?“It’s friendly competition,” he said. “I’m friends with those guys at Dinosaur, and I go there sometimes. I can’t be here all the time or I would go crazy.”
The future holds hopes of expansion, but Chuck’s waiting for the right space. For now, the Lizard lives on, long into the night, with the advice to ride free on the open road.
of the For more info, call 471-7831, or go to www.limplizardbbq.com. Limp Lizard offers eat in, or dine out. Happy hour is from 3pm-7pm.