The Restaurant In New York With Surprisingly Delicious Garbage Plates
By Christy Articola|Published February 14, 2023
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Have you ever heard of a garbage plate? If you’ve heard of it, do you know what it is? Have you ever had one? This iconic, central-New York dish is quite popular in the middle of the state, and there are lots of restaurants in the area that battle for the title of the Very Best Garbage Plate out there. Dogtown in Rochester is a strong contender. This small hot dog stand not only offers some of the best garbage plates for carnivores, but for vegetarians and vegans, too, all in addition to its wonderful and unique items in the hot dog realm. Read on to learn more about this incredible spot and plan a trip there today!
Dogtown is a very special restaurant that has something to offer for everyone.
Before we even get to the garbage plates, there are so many good things to say about Dogtown. There are numerous ways this place goes above and beyond.
This spot offers 22 different hot dog toppings from which to choose. Plus, Dogtown uses fresh sauerkraut, real sharp cheddar cheese, 80% lean ground beef, homemade macaroni salad and coleslaw, scratch-made soups, and romaine lettuce instead of iceberg. Wow!
Dogtown has 18 speciality hot dogs that are on the menu every day. They're all named after dogs, of course. Then, they have regular specials, like this Brittany Spaniel Dog shown here with coleslaw, sweet potato fries, and mustard.
But wait, there's more! Dogtown also loves vegetarians and vegans! There are 10 speciality dogs on the menu every day that are made for people who don't eat meat.
And, all the soups are vegetarian! Dogtown is also a four time winner of the Best Vegetarian Chili award at Great Bowls of Chili. Veggie burgers are handmade in-store and there are veggie specials every Thursday.
The sides and apps are great, too. Check out these perfect cauliflower wings. You can also get french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, baked beans, macaroni salad, or coleslaw.
But now, onto the garbage plates. Dogtown calls them Junkyard Plates. They're available in carnivore and vegetarian versions, and there are several to choose from o both the "Meaty Menu" and on the "Veggie Menu."
Nick Tahou Hots invented the garbage plate back in 1918 in Rochester - over 100 years ago! That establishment is still serving garbage plates and you should have one there, too, to have one from the source. But the variety and beauty of the Junkyard Plates at Dogtown is impressive. You'll love them.
All meat-based Junkyard Plates at Dogtown come with your choice of two sides for a base. Choose from home fries, macaroni salad, french fries, baked beans, and coleslaw. A Junkyard Plate with "everything" includes mustard, onions, and meat sauce.
Once you choose your sides, you choose meat to go on top of them. Options include two hot dogs, two cheeseburgers, one cheeseburger and one hotdog, a variety of different sausages, and various combinations of the above.
Veggie plates also come with your choice of two sides. "Everything" also includes mustard and onions, but instead of meat sauce, it comes with Dogtown's Three Bean Veggie Chili.
You can then choose vegetarian version of different meats like veggie burgers or veggie hot dogs, or get it with a grilled portobello mushroom cap as the centerpiece.
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No matter what you choose to include in your garbage plate at Dogtown, you're going to be impressed. And likely very full, too - these plates are huge!
You’re going to love everything about Dogtown in Rochester! Get a garbage plate while you’re there, and a few hot dogs to go. You’re going to want to come back time and time again to try everything on the menu. Be sure to bring your appetite!
