Harbor Hots

Have been going to Harbor hots since they opened have never had a bad meal the place is always very clean that also includes the bathrooms people are friendly the prices beat everybody in the area.
The grill food is great and cooked the way you like not to mention their fish frys are great can’t go wrong for 8 bucks in the summertime there is a huge deck out back with large picnic tables and it is also covered to keep you out of the bright Sun whilel you eat I give it 5 stars I give it 6 if I could

Food is decent, yet the customer service was horrid. I recommend they hire someone with more customer service experience. To much of an attitude, gives off a bad vibe to the customers.

Went here after Zoo Brew, variety was awesome, and the service was pretty quick. I got the chicken finger plate with Mac salad and homefries. The hot sauce was some of the best I’d had in a while, it was spicy but not too spicy. Just right. Go here if you’re in the area, as its out in Charlotte.

I Harbor a little resentment for this place. The owner (I think?) wasn’t very friendly at all. I got the feeling he just didn’t like the look of me. But I don’t let something like that affect my opinion of a place, nor my rating. It’s all about the taste.
Unfortunately the taste of this garbage plate and these hots did nothing for me at all. I asked for extra meat sauce on the plate and on the hot, but honestly they were both a little dry. They weren’t very flavourful, and I might even go as far as to say it was my least fave of this kind of famous Rochesteronianish food, that I’ve had anywhere. And poor service too.
Also they don’t keep posted hours. They close way earlier than they are supposed to, on a fairly regular basis.
But having said that, it’s a family-​owned place and it’s continuing the Rochester «Garbage» tradition in a lovely part of town right by the water and by Ontario Beach (so beautiful!), so I’ll give it a 3 for moral support.

I was told to try the «garbage plate». Although my research shows this isn’t the originator of it. I can’t compare it to others, but this place is awesome! It was $ 7.99 for 2 cheeseburgers over home fries and macaroni salad. I added my own ketchup and hot sauce. They give you 2 slices of Italian bread. I hope to try other garbage plates one day, but this was a great start!!!

Ok to be fair I went here with every intention of it being a disaster. Honestly whenever I walk into an establishment and the cook and waiter’s age combined doesn’t add up to mine (Lol) I get a little scared. But hunger beats skepticism every time. I had the philly steak sandwich, ambitious I know! Surprisingly it was really good, really it was. I didn’t try any sides it was way too late in the day to sample that. I will have to go back to try those earlier in the day… yeah that’s my OCD, The fear of food left out too long. LOL
The place was very empty, almost museum empty, but the delivery was quick and the food was hot. If anyone is interested in sampling the rest of the menu I would love to hear your feedback, me I’m not a hots kinda guy but the steak sandwich was great and since the Philly Steak joint is under new management I am in desperate need of a steak sandwich fix! This place will do in a pinch, but I need that extra greasy, super sloppy, over the top, onions and peepers falling out, sauce dripping down the hands kinda steak sandwich. Anyone spot that yet?

For Garbage Plate newcomers (not that I am an expert), let me explain the little that I know. It originates in Rochester NY and it consists of a base of potatoes (home fries, french fries or boiled salt potatoes), with a couple scoops of macaroni salad or baked beans. This is then topped with meat (hamburger patties, grilled hot dogs ie red or white hots, pulled pork, sausage, etc). This mound is then topped with mustard, onions and hot sauce if you like, then it is all topped with a spicy ground meat sauce.
Here is a wiki article about Garbage Plates, particularly from Nick Tahoes in Rochester.
I have been to Harbor Hots twice, for the only two Garbage Plates I have ever eaten. The Rochester locals have told me it is among the 5 best plates in the city. The fact that it is clean and convenient to Charlotte Beach are bonuses. The salt potatoes are delicious. The macaroni salad and baked beans are good as well. On my first trip the meat sauce on top was spicy with a hint of cinnamon. Awesome. More recently the meat sauce was meatier and less spicy. I love the free pickles!
I could only eat about ¹⁄₃ of the JV plate, but it is a good choice for the morning after a night of fun.