Steve T. Hots

hot plates all day and all night

Price: $$$

Hours: 24h

Phone: (585) 429-6388

Steve T. Hots in Rochester is one of many. In a city whose cuisine is crowded with restaurants sharing the “Hots” name, Steve T. tries to stand out. Rochester’s signature dish, the “garbage plate”, is also a mainstay at this restaurant. While it’s an extremely versatile and customizable meal, a classic plate will contain either a hot dog or a hamburger sat atop a mountain of macaroni salad and french fries, covered in meat sauce. This creation, born in the city of Rochester, is a popular late-night snack among college students and tourists. At Steve T. Hots, they take advantage of this market by offering 24 hour service. This helps them stand out among their competitors, since many other stores close at night.

As far as their "Famous Plate" goes, the one I got was relatively unremarkable. It seems to me that as a result of their 24-hour schedule, Steve T. Hots doesn’t always make the plates to order. Leaving out prepared ingredients has many upsides, but the taste difference was noticeable for me. The meat sauce and french fries were dry, which really let down the rest of the dish. My cheeseburger wasn’t the best I’ve had, but it was more than sufficient. The best part by far though was the macaroni salad. Steve T. probably has the best mac salad I’ve had on a garbage plate in Rochester. To be fair, that’s the part that has the most variation, and personal preference plays a big role. However, I felt that the macaroni was perfectly cooked, and the ratio of sauce to pasta wasn’t overwhelming. Another point to consider is that I ate the garbage plate after driving home from the restaurant, meaning that the food wasn’t as fresh as it could be. Still, I’ve had better overall experiences doing the same from other restaurants.

RATING: 7/10

Overall, I would recommend Steve T. Hots as a late-night option. The atmosphere is friendly and the staff are experienced. If you’re in a hurry, this is the place to go. The turnaround between my order and receiving my food was only a few minutes, if not seconds. Although they might not have the best plates in town, it’s a solid option and your wallet won’t hate you for eating there.