By Melissa Elise Randall, Editor
The almighty garbage plate. It's exactly what it sounds like. And for those not from Rochester or Upstate New York, a "garbage plate" is a paper plate littered with home fries, onions, meat sauce, and macaroni salad, though you can make swaps based on your preferences. Atop the messy masterpiece, your choice of hamburger, cheeseburger, hot dog, and for the bold, chicken fingers or grilled cheese.
(If you still don't get it, just get your booty over to Binging With Babish and figure it out. He's from Rochester.)
If one were asked, "where do you get a garbage plate? Which place is the best?" you'd be met with an array of answers, similar to finding the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia, or best orange in Florida (I know very little about what Floridians hold dear.)
One of the most popular answers you'll find online is Nick Tahou's. I've been to Nick Tahou's numerous times, so I get the appeal. It's gritty. There's history- Tahou's has been open since 1918, run by the same family, and the creators of the garbage plate.
They also own "garbageplate.com", which basically makes them the OG, right?
But is the Nick Tahou garbage plate the best? I asked five former or current Upstate New Yorkers for their take.
They mostly talked smack and recommended other places.
"Poor mayonnaise consistency."
"I drove there from Syracuse a few weeks back and they were closed, even though Google said they were open. I prefer Fairport Hots grilled cheese plate and mac salad. Good mayonnaise consistency."
- Erica, Syracuse, NY
"Amazing."
"I’ll never forget my first plate. I didn’t grow up in Rochester, so when someone said garage plate I had no idea what I had been missing. Looking down on the heaped plate, I didn’t now what to think, then I took a bite. Amazing.
The mixture of cold mac salad and hot fries, melty cheese and meat hot, makes the trip into the dangerous part or Rochester worth it!"
- Rachel, Canandaigua, NY
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This is a Garbage Plate, a delicacy of Rochester, New York. Leisuring in my leisure suit bihhhhh
"Overrated."
"Nick Tahou's is the most overrated plate in Rochester. Mark's Texas Hots has the best plates. They have the best mac salad and they cook their home fries perfectly."
- Jeff, Rochester, NY
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Behold.... the Rochester Garbage Plate in all its glory. #rochester #dogtownrochester
"It's a dive."
"Tahou’s is a dive - the sign looks like it’s been through a hurricane, a tornado, and the crippling recession that most any rust belt town experienced in the late 20th century. You’re typically met by a gruff worker and if you don’t know your order, they’ll get impatient, scrambling the tenderfooted among its visitors.
I had the pleasure of ordering from the direct descendent of Nick Tahou, Alex, one day in college. He berated me for not buying my classmate’s meal (we were not dating, and I was living with someone else). As any Rochesterian, I eventually found a favorite “plate” elsewhere, but the original is worth a try at least once. For my favorite, head to Monroe Ave and visit Dog Town.
Now I’m hungry."
- Eric, Colorado Springs, CO
"I don't eat meat."
"I love garbage plates, but since I don't eat meat I can go to anyplace for them. The potatoes, mac salad, and hot sauce are always gonna be on point...."
- Claire, Wilmington, NC
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