Twice I found myself in Rochester, NY, chasing business with Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris, but the real memories came after hours—when coworkers turned tour guides and the city’s culinary quirks took center stage.

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🍺 Genesee Brewery & The Hot Dog Sampler

Down on State Street, we hit up the Genesee Brewery, one of the oldest continually operating breweries in the U.S., founded in 18782. Their bar and grill served up cold pours and a crash course in Upstate New York hot dogs—specifically, the mysterious red hots and white hots.

🌭 What’s the Difference?

• Red Hots: Traditional cured and smoked hot dogs made from pork, beef, or both. Despite the name, they’re not spicy—just reddish from the curing process.
• White Hots: Uncured, unsmoked sausages made from pork, beef, and veal. Pale in color, they char beautifully and have a rich, bockwurst-like flavor.
• Both are Rochester staples, often served on a bun with mustard, onions, and the region’s signature meat hot sauce.

I had the sampler platter—because I was raised on plain dogs and had no clue what I was getting into. Verdict? Rochester knows how to elevate a humble frank.

🐖 Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Riverfront Royalty

Next stop: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, housed in a 1905 Lehigh Valley Railroad station overlooking the Genesee River5. The place was packed—bikers, tourists, business folks, all shoulder to shoulder in a smoky, bluesy haze. We waited an hour, but it was worth every second.

• Drinks flowed, the pork BBQ was fall-apart tender, and the vibe was pure roadhouse-meets-riverfront.
• The tab? $500. The memory? Priceless.

Dinosaur started as a biker food stand in 1983 and grew into a nationally acclaimed BBQ chain. Rochester’s location is one of the originals, and it still feels like a place where stories are swapped over ribs and whiskey.

🗑️ Nick Tahou Hots – The Garbage Plate Pilgrimage

And then came the late-night legend: Nick Tahou Hots, home of the infamous Garbage Plate. We weren’t supposed to go. It was 11 PM, we were tired, and the place looked like a dive. But curiosity won.

🥄 Garbage Plate Origins

• Invented in the 1970s by Nick Tahou, whose father opened the original restaurant in 1918.
• The dish? A chaotic, glorious pile of home fries, macaroni salad, baked beans, and meat of your choice—topped with mustard, onions, ketchup, and their signature meat hot sauce.
• Served with Italian bread and butter, and best eaten mixed together like a culinary dare.

We ordered, we devoured, we survived. The place was small, not touristy, and exactly what it needed to be—a shrine to Rochester’s late-night cravings.

as glorious. A dirty spoon, a dive joint, a late-night laugh that felt like we’d crossed into the secret handshake of Rochester cuisine.

Havana Cabana – Rum, Rhythm & Cuban Cuisine (now closed)

While in Rochester, I had to have a visit to. Havana Cabana, located at 289 Alexander Street, a cozy Cuban spot known for its vibrant atmosphere and rum-forward cocktail menu.

• Specialties: Ropa Vieja, tamales, Cuban sandwiches, and sweet treats like Mani Cortado
• Rum lineup: Caribbean classics and house infusions
• Vibe: Tropical, relaxed, and perfect for unwinding after a day of Kodak meetings

It’s the kind of place where the mojitos are muddled just right and the pork melts off the bone.

🎯 The Dr’s Inn – Darts, Wings & Dive Bar Charm

Just off downtown, The Dr’s Inn (1743 East Ave) delivered exactly what you needed:

• Darts and pool tables
• Wings that earned local praise
• Friendly staff and a jukebox that let you DJ the night

It was low-key, no-frills, and full of character. The kind of bar where you hand over your keys, queue up your favorite tracks, and let the night unfold. I felt home.

📍 Rochester, NY: Kodak Footnotes & Culinary Side Streets

🏭 Corporate Days

🍺 Genesee Brewery

• Red hots vs. white hots—classic Upstate New York flavor showdown
• Sampler platter reflections and crisp pours

🐖 Dinosaur BBQ

• Riverfront, retro train station
• Hour-long wait, biker-meets-business energy
• Pork BBQ that made the $500 tab feel like a bargain

🗑️ Nick Tahou Hots

• Dirty spoon, dive décor
• Garbage Plate masterpiece: hot dogs, burger, potato/macaroni salad, beans, chili, onions, ketchup, mustard, and mystery
• Late-night, off-limits, and unforgettable.
• Thank you Bill!

Havana Cabana

• Rum tastings, Cuban comfort food
• Tropical rhythm in a tucked-away Rochester corner
• Thank you Gloria!

🎯 The Dr’s Inn

• Darts, wings, jukebox jams
• East Avenue’s low-key hangout
• Darts Anyone! Beers on me!

⚓ Erie Canal Bar & Grille (West of Greece, NY)

• Patio overlooking historic waters
• Possible mule-era history if it’s the North Tonawanda spot
• Peaceful nightcap away from the city buzz.
• Thank you Darlene!