Nick Tahou's is best known for the heaping pile of food they serve called a Garbage Plate. Back in the day — $4.25 would get you two open-faced hamburgers topped with mustard, onions, and their home-made hot sauce, along with generous helpings of macaroni salad and home fries, and a pile of home-made bread. They're a little more money now - but still more food than I can eat and comfortably walk out of there.
Nick's is Located in a Tim Burton-esque oversized brick building with a black multi-faceted roof, in an "iffy" part of town. The front counter is large, and you can see the piles of hash browns, hamburgers, and hot dogs on the many grills behind. The restaurant is set up with cafeteria-style formica blue and orange tables on an antique linoleum floor, and the patrons are mostly locals.We used to visit there as college students because it was open 24-hours, and was cheap. I worked part-time as an EMT when I was in college — and we would swing through Nick's - hoping that we didn't get a gorey call right after we ate. If a call came through, the question was — stuff it all down now or eat it cold later. We usually took the risk and ate quickly on the way.
My wife and I spent our first Valentines day at Nick's because she worked second shift and nothing else was open at midnight. We even went there with my apprehensive mother-in-law a few years back and the late Nick Tahou introduced himself and sat down with us for a bit. He was a very warm guy who you could tell just loved coming to work every day.
This week, the lovely lady behind the counter gave each of our girls three wrapped Christmas presents! They each received a really nice coloring book, a box of 64 crayons, and a very soft pink teddy bear. Nora claims that "Snowflake" is her favorite stuffed animal now. Here is a restaurant that looks like its barely hanging on, and they told us they've given out over 200 gifts to kids who have come in. Unbelievable. Visit Nick's and you'll get some great "downtown" food at a great price. And if you're lucky - you might just get a pink teddy bear at Christmas.
Labels: Garbage Plate, holiday giving, Nick Tahou's, NY, Rochester
posted by Michael_Flint at
8:23 PM
Subscribe to the blog.
Post a Comment