Eating in Rochester (New York): Diners, Burgers and Hots

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• Jay's Diner, 2612 W. Henrietta Road (across the street from the Movies 10 budget cinema), +1 585-424-3710. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. A popular hangout with local college students, there's cheap food and it's always open. $5-$10 (10% discount with student ID).
• Highland Park Diner, 960 South Clinton Avenue, +1 585-461-5040. Rochester's last classic diner. A 1948 Orleans diner restored in 1986 to an art deco style. Their motto is "real food, served real well at real prices". A neighborhood joint with very good food. Friendly, personal service (the owner himself often takes orders) and fantastic Sunday breakfast/brunch menu: berries & peaches stuffed French toast, tasty savory omelette's and a glorious eggs Benedict. Be sure to ask for "sweet cheese" on your waffles, pancakes & French toast.
• Nick Tahou Hots, 2260 Lyell Ave, +1 585-429-6388. The original location on west main street is in a bad part of the city, but the Lyell Ave address of #2 is in a better area. Tahou's is the origin of Rochester's authentic cuisine, the garbage plate. For a few dollars, the plates come with your choice of meat, macaroni salad, home fries, onions and special sauce. The most common plate can be ordered by as quickly as possible saying "Cheeseburger plate, mac salad, home fries, everything!". For an authentic "Nick's" experience, visit the original at 320 W. Main St.
• Mark's Texas Hots, 487 Monroe Avenue, +1 585-473-1563 This is where drunk college kids stumble off of Monroe Ave. to eat a garbage plate. The garbage plates from establishments that reside inside the city limits of Rochester have a decidedly more flavorful character than those in the suburbs. Mark's is the only diner I have ever been to with a bouncer. Go if only for the spectacle.
• Vic & Irv's, 4880 Culver Road, +1 585-544-7680
• Schaller's Drive-In, 559 Ridge Road East, +1 585-544-2097, 965 Edgemere Drive, +1 585-865-3319