The garbage plate is at the heart and soul of Rochester, New York. It’s known for being a quick and easy thrown together dish that captures the Western New York charm. It’s a plate composed of either home fries or french fries, a choice of macaroni salad or baked beans, and a choice of meat: cheeseburger, hamburgers, Italian sausage, steak, chicken, white hots, or red hots. Then, it's topped with onions, mustard, and the signature meat sauce.
Recently, I had the great fortune of trying Rochester's famous garbage plates at Henrietta Hots located on West Henrietta Road, about eight minutes from campus. A popular location for RIT students to frequent.
We arrived early on Sunday morning at the time Henrietta Hots opened and were immediately greeted by amazing staff. Despite the earliness, they welcomed us in. I explained to them that we were filming for the undergraduate admissions marketing team at RIT and asked for more information on a garbage plate and recommendations to try. The kind cashier gave me a breakdown, showing me four pictures of the different styles. I ordered a JV Garbage plate which is smaller since it was my first time with macaroni salad, Italian sausage, home fries, and their signature meat sauce.
As we waited on our food, I took in the space around us, it was set up like a diner. The main front desk where you order is the first thing you see when you enter with the Christmas lights lining the words, “Welcome to Henrietta Hots”. Above the desk are the menus displaying all the variety of options you could get with the window that leads to the kitchen. On either side of me, the sunlight poured into the booths, lining the walls through the windows, giving the semi-small space a welcoming and throwback atmosphere. Merchandise lined the walls consisting from shirts to hoodies which I happily bought a hoodie after posing in front of them. Against the opposite walls, they had a slushy machine perfect for a hot day, next to condiments and drinks bar set-up.
As I waited on my food, I took the time to ask the staff some questions about Henrietta Hots. I came to learn it was a very popular spot for RIT students to go, because they are open late and closeby. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite with your friends or catch the latest Buffalo Bills football games or a place to go for after evening events. Sitting in the booths I can see why, like many RIT students before me, I’m sure they’ve made fun memories here together.
After a short wait, the garbage plate was finally ready. I was ecstatic but I couldn’t eat before taking a picture with the amazing staff to commemorate the moment.
I sat in the booth closest to the window and after recording a few shots for the vlog, it was finally time to try it. The plate was fresh off the grill and I could smell hot fries, meat sauce, sausage, and macaroni meshing together into a tasteful aroma.
I hurriedly chopped into the plate and took my first bite. I was hit with a variety of flavors that to my surprise didn’t clash. The sausage patty and meat sauce added that little spice and hearty taste that went well with the fries. The macaroni salad however tied the whole thing together. The coolness of the macaroni contrasted with the warmth of the other parts of the plate. It was rich and creamy that upped the level of the dish.
Prior to trying the garbage plate I was told that it’s better with mustard or ketchup, but to be honest, I was apprehensive about trying it that way. Nonetheless, I figured I'd give it a try, in order to get the full authentic experience. Topping the plate with mustard I generously took a bite, again to my surprise it leveled up my garbage plate experience. The tanginess of the mustard added a new level of flavor and emphasized each individual part of the plate, especially the fries and meat sauce.
I left a satisfied and very full customer. As an RIT student, I now see why everyone calls it a must-have while you’re in Rochester. I encourage you to stop by with friends or family and give it a try yourself. You won’t regret it.
About the author
Hello I’m Kayla Gullage, a first year Journalism with applied modern language in French dual major in the College of Liberal Arts. I love being active on campus experiencing different events, organizations, reading, writing, the violin, and most recently banana nut muffins from Java. I hope everyone enjoys the content we create. LET’S GO TIGERS!!!