The Evolution of The Garbage Plate

<p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Originating at Nick Tahoes, Garbage plates have become Rochester&#8217;s iconic meal. Now most restaurants, from hots places to fine dining, have some variation of the dish. Trash Plates, Sloppy Plates, Big Plates, whatever the name, they contain the same ingredients. Each contains meat, potatoes, mac salad, beans, and most importantly, meat sauce. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Garbage plates have become so popular that an entire sub-genre has spawned. You can now devour plates in egg roll, pizza, and empanada form. If you can stuff a garbage plate into it, chances are its happened. This is a quick guide to some of the more creative offshoots that Nick Tahoe&#8217;s signature dish inspired. </span></span></span></p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6311" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Nick-Tahoes-copy.jpg" alt="Nick Tahoes copy" width="620" height="256" /></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Original &#8211; Nick Tahoe&#8217;s</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the first plate, the one that set the standard for what defines a garbage plate. Located at 320 West Main, Nick Tahoe&#8217;s is ground zero for Rochester&#8217;s most iconic meal. Where ever your favorite garbage plate is from, you have to give a respect to the O.G. Plate.</span></span></span></p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6308" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy.jpg" alt="Empanada Stop copy" width="620" height="345" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy-200x111.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy.jpg 620w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <h3 class="western"><strong><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Garbage Empanada: Empanada Shop</b></span></span></strong></h3> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> These combined my two favorite drunk foods: empanadas and garbage plates. This garbage plate variety is perfect for quick on the go takeout. Who could resist deep fried pastries filled with Zweigle&#8217;s, meat sauce, and potatoes? Get these for about $3 a pop at the Empanada Shop located at 642 Monroe Ave.</span></span></span></p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6312" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy.jpg" alt="Skylark copy" width="620" height="326" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy-200x105.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy.jpg 620w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Trash Plate Meat Balls: Skylark Lounge</b></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Skylark Lounge serves up some of the best meatballs in town. Their trash plate is no different. Start with two Beer and Ketchup Balls, two mash potato balls, and mac salad. Then top everything with meat hot, mustard, and grilled onions. Everything is better in ball form right?</span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6313" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips.jpg" alt="Sticky Lips" width="620" height="401" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips-200x129.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips-618x400.jpg 618w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sticky Icky Plate: Sticky Lips BBQ</b></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Southern Barbecue lends itself to gluttony to begin with. Combine that with a garbage plate, and you have created a monster. That is the only word to use for this plate: Monstrous. Potato, mac salad, and beans, slathered with brisket or pulled pork. Top the creation off with cilantro, onions, and meat hot. I added hickory BBQ sauce, just to engorge myself a bit more. </span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6307" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy.jpg" alt="Dragon Fly copy" width="620" height="307" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy-200x99.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy.jpg 620w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Garbage Plate Eggrolls: Dragonfly Tavern </b></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> More proof that if you can stuff meat into it, chances are there is a garbage plate version. Dragon Fly took a unique idea and turned it into an amazing meal. These eggrolls not only make a plate easier to eat, the pastry adds a different taste to the plate.  </span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6306" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy.jpg" alt="DogTown copy" width="620" height="412" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy-200x133.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy-602x400.jpg 602w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mack Plate – Dogtown Hots</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Dogtown garbage plate is not only delicious, its diverse. I love the options they give you. For this particular article, I chose a split plate with loaded fries and vegetarian baked beans, and of course covered with meat hot sauce, mustard, and onions. A bit modest, but oh so good. If you have a few extra bucks you can go for what I call the Mack Plate. That&#8217;s a plate with double loaded fries, two cheeseburgers, a beef hot dog, Pitbull toppings, meat hot sauce and onions. I&#8217;m no food critic, so the only way I could describe this plate is extremely tasty with enough options to lead your taste buds to nirvana.</span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6305" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy.jpg" alt="Carilgios copy" width="620" height="411" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy-603x400.jpg 603w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Garbage Plate Pizza &#8211; Caraglio&#8217;s Pizza</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is a pizza of Epic Meal Time proportions. Loaded with all the fixings of a hot dog and burger plate. This pizza is a mound of starch, grease, and meat from heaven. We ordered the sheet pizza version, as true Rochesterians should. It took five people to tackle, making it the only plate you HAVE to share. </span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6310" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy.jpg" alt="Johns Tex Mex copy" width="620" height="506" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-200x163.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-515x420.jpg 515w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-490x400.jpg 490w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy.jpg 620w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mex Plate &#8211; John&#8217;s Tex Mex</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A new twist on the garbage plate, this  dish does not include typical plate ingredients. A delicious mound of meat, Mexican mush, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and salsa.  This Plate is a tower of food piled high on tortilla chips. The serving is so large, I often eat these in two sittings. Which for $7 is a steal. </span></span></span><br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6309" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy.jpg" alt="Hungrys copy" width="620" height="405" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy-200x131.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy-612x400.jpg 612w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plate Wrap &#8211; Hungry&#8217;s Grill</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The night is over. You are drunk enough to want a garbage plate, but too drunk to use utensils. You just want a fast way to get a plate in your mouth with as little fuss as possible. Look no farther than Hunrgy&#8217;s Plate wrap. Everything you love about a plate, wrapped in a tortilla ready for your mouth hole. </span></span></span></p>

<p> Originating at Nick Tahoes, Garbage plates have become Rochester’s iconic meal. Now most restaurants, from hots places to fine dining, have some variation of the dish. Trash Plates, Sloppy Plates, Big Plates, whatever the name, they contain the same ingredients. Each contains meat, potatoes, mac salad, beans, and most importantly, meat sauce. </p> <p> Garbage plates have become so popular that an entire sub-genre has spawned. You can now devour plates in egg roll, pizza, and empanada form. If you can stuff a garbage plate into it, chances are its happened. This is a quick guide to some of the more creative offshoots that Nick Tahoe’s signature dish inspired. </p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6311" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Nick-Tahoes-copy.jpg" alt="Nick Tahoes copy" width="620" height="256" /></p> <p>The Original – Nick Tahoe’s</p> <p> This is the first plate, the one that set the standard for what defines a garbage plate. Located at 320 West Main, Nick Tahoe’s is ground zero for Rochester’s most iconic meal. Where ever your favorite garbage plate is from, you have to give a respect to the O.G. Plate.</p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6308" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy.jpg" alt="Empanada Stop copy" width="620" height="345" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy-200x111.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Empanada-Stop-copy.jpg 620w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong>Garbage Empanada: Empanada Shop</strong></p> <p> These combined my two favorite drunk foods: empanadas and garbage plates. This garbage plate variety is perfect for quick on the go takeout. Who could resist deep fried pastries filled with Zweigle’s, meat sauce, and potatoes? Get these for about $3 a pop at the Empanada Shop located at 642 Monroe Ave.</p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6312" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy.jpg" alt="Skylark copy" width="620" height="326" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy-200x105.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Skylark-copy.jpg 620w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong>Trash Plate Meat Balls: Skylark Lounge</strong></p> <p> Skylark Lounge serves up some of the best meatballs in town. Their trash plate is no different. Start with two Beer and Ketchup Balls, two mash potato balls, and mac salad. Then top everything with meat hot, mustard, and grilled onions. Everything is better in ball form right?<br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6313" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips.jpg" alt="Sticky Lips" width="620" height="401" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips-200x129.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sticky-Lips-618x400.jpg 618w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong>Sticky Icky Plate: Sticky Lips BBQ</strong></p> <p> Southern Barbecue lends itself to gluttony to begin with. Combine that with a garbage plate, and you have created a monster. That is the only word to use for this plate: Monstrous. Potato, mac salad, and beans, slathered with brisket or pulled pork. Top the creation off with cilantro, onions, and meat hot. I added hickory BBQ sauce, just to engorge myself a bit more. <br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6307" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy.jpg" alt="Dragon Fly copy" width="620" height="307" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy-200x99.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Fly-copy.jpg 620w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p><strong>Garbage Plate Eggrolls: Dragonfly Tavern </strong></p> <p> More proof that if you can stuff meat into it, chances are there is a garbage plate version. Dragon Fly took a unique idea and turned it into an amazing meal. These eggrolls not only make a plate easier to eat, the pastry adds a different taste to the plate.  <br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6306" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy.jpg" alt="DogTown copy" width="620" height="412" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy-200x133.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DogTown-copy-602x400.jpg 602w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p>Mack Plate – Dogtown Hots</p> <p> The Dogtown garbage plate is not only delicious, its diverse. I love the options they give you. For this particular article, I chose a split plate with loaded fries and vegetarian baked beans, and of course covered with meat hot sauce, mustard, and onions. A bit modest, but oh so good. If you have a few extra bucks you can go for what I call the Mack Plate. That’s a plate with double loaded fries, two cheeseburgers, a beef hot dog, Pitbull toppings, meat hot sauce and onions. I’m no food critic, so the only way I could describe this plate is extremely tasty with enough options to lead your taste buds to nirvana.<br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6305" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy.jpg" alt="Carilgios copy" width="620" height="411" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Carilgios-copy-603x400.jpg 603w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p>Garbage Plate Pizza – Caraglio’s Pizza</p> <p> This is a pizza of Epic Meal Time proportions. Loaded with all the fixings of a hot dog and burger plate. This pizza is a mound of starch, grease, and meat from heaven. We ordered the sheet pizza version, as true Rochesterians should. It took five people to tackle, making it the only plate you HAVE to share. <br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6310" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy.jpg" alt="Johns Tex Mex copy" width="620" height="506" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-200x163.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-515x420.jpg 515w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy-490x400.jpg 490w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Johns-Tex-Mex-copy.jpg 620w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p>Mex Plate – John’s Tex Mex</p> <p> A new twist on the garbage plate, this  dish does not include typical plate ingredients. A delicious mound of meat, Mexican mush, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and salsa.  This Plate is a tower of food piled high on tortilla chips. The serving is so large, I often eat these in two sittings. Which for $7 is a steal. <br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6309" src="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy.jpg" alt="Hungrys copy" width="620" height="405" srcset="http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy-200x131.jpg 200w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy.jpg 620w, http://therochesterinsomniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungrys-copy-612x400.jpg 612w" sizes=" 620px) 100vw, 620px" /></p> <p>Plate Wrap – Hungry’s Grill</p> <p> The night is over. You are drunk enough to want a garbage plate, but too drunk to use utensils. You just want a fast way to get a plate in your mouth with as little fuss as possible. Look no farther than Hunrgy’s Plate wrap. Everything you love about a plate, wrapped in a tortilla ready for your mouth hole. </p>