Nick Tahou Hots sign
Nick Tahou Hots, originally known as Hots and Potatoes, is a Rochester landmark restaurant featuring a dish called the Garbage Plate. The restaurant was founded in 1918 by Nick Tahou, who died in 1997. While there are other Upstate New York variants, Nick Tahou's is the originator of the Garbage Plate and, as holder of the trademark, the only restaurant able to use the name.
Garbage Plate[]
A Garbage Plate is a combination of one selection of cheeseburger, hamburger, red hots, white hots, Italian sausage, chicken tender, fish (haddock), fried ham, grilled cheese, or eggs; and two sides of either home fries, French fries, baked beans, or macaroni salad. On top of that are the options of mustard and onions, ketchup, and Nick's proprietary hot sauce, a greasy sauce with spices and ground beef. It's served with rolls or Italian toast on the side, which is made fresh at the bakery next door.