Mark’s Texas Hots

The staff was very nice but the place was dirty and the food was very bland. The prices were too high for the low quality of the food. The owner tends to sit in there a lot but is not friendly at all.

After a morning spent at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Dad and I were looking for a place to grab a quick lunch before my business meeting at the Eastman Kodak company. I turned to my trusty Unilocal app, and read lots of reviews for a place called Mark’s Texas Hots on Monroe Avenue, just off the interstate.
I had to chuckle as we drove up, and my Dad cocked an eyebrow as he looked at me and said, «Reallllly?» Mark’s has the appearance of a greasy spoon, dive-​y diner, with all sorts of colorful, local characters strolling the streets nearby. We slid into a booth along the back wall, and our waitress came over to say Hi and take our drink orders.
Dad’s eyes lit up when he saw the hot turkey platter with mashed potatoes and gravy for under $ 6, and he instantly stopped doubting my sanity for suggesting this place. I decided to check out the preferred meal of Mark’s regulars and Unilocal reviewers, and ordered Mark’s Sloppy Plate Special, which was 2 cheeseburgers over fries, potato salad; with 2 pieces of French bread, and the whole damn thing was covered with chili. *OINK*
There was no way in the world that I could finish this entire plate of food, but I sure had a lot of fun trying. I can see Mark’s being a popular late-​night stop on the way home from the bars. Under those circumstances, I’m quite sure that I’d be licking my plate clean!
This is not the type of place to go on a first date, and it’s certainly not a dress-​to-​impress kinda restaurant. This is good, basic comfort food, served in an extremely casual and colorful location. Have fun, you deserve it!

Oh Marks, how I love thee!
This is the best place for plates in Rochester. They aren’t as greasy as other places and it can order take out or sit down. They even have a bouncer to help avoid shootings and crowd control. If that doesn’t say ambience I don’t k know what does.
In reality it’s a great place to get late night grub or a daytime plates.

Service was very nice and accommodating. Restaurant interior was very «dive-​y», so just be aware of that before walking in. I ordered the «Mark’s Sloppy Plate» and it was OK; definitely not the best in the Rochester area. The plate was a little bland and the bread that was served with it was about as stale and hard as it can get. The onions were cut into large chunks (really?) and the meat sauce had very little flavor to it.
The next time I choose a place to get a garbage plate in Rochester, Mark’s Texas Hots would be towards the bottom of my list.

This place consistently has the best garbage plate as far as I am concerned service quick always. the thing I love most is I show so randomly (like twice a year) and they always know my name. great service and great food always.

Great joint day or night! Before I get into why it’s so great, here’s a little background:
So the night before my wedding, my then fiancé (e?) had her special night starting at the City Grill, but my lads and I wanted to class it up, so we came here. Being in the middle of winter, we knew we needed proper attire; I was dressed as superman, my best man as spiderman, and the other groomsman as captain america. Two things of note happened here: first, the waitress, who I would assume was used to being surrounded by drunks, treated us as if were were just regular customers (awesome!). Second, this is the only place where I have been both propositioned and insulted in the same sentence.
Oh! and the people watching; we certainly can’t forget about that. Ever since Gitsis closed, Mark’s has become the go-​to place to spot some of Monroe Avenue’s finest. While most of the customers are fine people, others are reminders that no matter bad off you are, things could always be a lot worse. One time I saw a guy who had a shirt with just two buttons and they were barely hanging on, but he wasn’t fazed. He was just enjoying his egg salad sandwich. Even though I was in the middle of a rough patch, I said «you know what? I still have most of the buttons on shirt; things are going to be O. K!»
One of the cheapest steak and eggs in town!

It’s extremely rare that I have felt unsafe in Rochester, but Mark’s Texas Hots at 2 AM is a place where I don’t want to find myself ever again. I was a bit unsure of why a Hots restaurant would have bodyguards standing at the door, but I should’ve known what I’d find inside. Drunk frat boys, unsavory characters, and lots of yelling were prevalent once we were seated.
Luckily the food made up for the horrible, almost uneasy atmosphere going on inside the restaurant. Their plates are delicious, and the hot sauce is both flavorful and spicy in all the right ways. Unfortunately their potatoes aren’t my favorite thing in the world, but it didn’t detract from the plate too much. Maybe the next time I come here it won’t be at a time where I genuinely fear for my life.

Mark’s is generally my last stop of the night after drinking. They are open late and generally keep the disorderly, orderly.
I’ve only ever ordered breakfast here, so can’t comment on the plates, sandwiches, etc. They do late night breakfast right. I like my homefries browned and they do that. I like my bacon or ham thoroughly cooked and they do that too. Everything is pretty great here for your late-​late night dining needs.
The waitresses deal with the drunkards pretty well, but please make an attempt to be nice to them and don’t forget to tip well.
Tip: Get here before the bars close or you’ll be waiting in long line.

Had chicken fajita wrap and chicken wings.
Fajita wrap was great. I’m gonna go there next time just for the fajita wrap.

This was my first experience here and I found the staff very friendly and prompt. After being seated our drink order was taken and delivered quickly. I came to try the sloppy plate and I ordered it with cheeseburger and hot dog. It consisted of fries, macaroni salad, onions, toppings, and mustard. It was delicious and reminded me of a picnic plate. I wil definately be back to enjoy this dish again.

This Marks the end of my Rochester reviews for the night. Get it. Marks. Oh dear. It’s bed time.
Before I go though, let me tell you that Mark’s is one of the better places for hots and for garbage plates in town. It’s definitely in the top 10, maybe even just inside the top 5 (in 5^th spot). The meat sauce has a really great flavour.
What to get: garbage place, or a white hot if you’re not as hungry and don’t have a death wish.
It’s a little overpriced but that’s because it’s on Monroe. It’s definitely the best garbage and hots place on Monroe, and that’s probably where you’ll be needing them, since you’re probably looking for this kind of food when you’re drunk, and in Rochester, that’s probably where you’re drunk.
And if your name is Engels and you have a lot of money, then get yourself to Marx.
And if you want to take your ex for a garbage plate, bring her here, because as I always say: ex? Mark’s the spot.

My favorite neighborhood diner. If I want to get out and get a quick bite, Mark’s is the stop.
Very few duds on the menu (I’d tried many many items). When I order something I don’t like, I just go with it because I’ve had so many good meals here. Great Plates!

Great food and always fast service. Amazing how consistently fast the service is. Nobody else can even compare. And unfortunately for the staff they are ALWAYS OPEN.

This is the spot I stop to grab something to eat when everybody else is closed up since its late.
Turkey bacon club with fries and Turk gravy on the side is bomb. I feel the same about the turkey gravy sandwich.
Can get loud on the weekends I just order for pick up only sit and eat when I have been drinking.

Come for the food and the atmosphere. Where else can you get a hot turkey sandwich smothered in gravy with a side of prostitutes, drug deals and gang related activities. It’s a yes from me

The food is great when it’s late and you’ve had a bit too many at the bar. The environment is iffy. Depending on what day and time you show up, you’ll either enjoy a nice meal with a comfortable environment or you’ll be surrounded by loud drunks that will ruin your meal. I will say this, if you want a Garbage Plate, this is the place to go. The Chef knows what they’re doing and they serve you an appropriately sized portion. Get a Strawberry Milkshake too, one of the best in town.
On a side note, know where you’re parking. This place is known to be a common spot for the tow companies and I’m sure they have some deal worked out with the tow company. Beware!

I loved how customers and workers were like one big family!
Food was great– I had frittata with sausage and the portion was amazing– I took home a half of the dish.
Coffee refills were on timely manner as well.
I loved this restaurant’s atmosphere– greens on the windowsills are awesome look too.
There is a private parking on the back, that makes easier (I’m not a big fan of parallel parking)
Definately going back there soon :)

If you’ve enjoyed a drunken night out in the roc, you’ve probably been to marks at least once or twice. Best time to go, 2am on a Friday or Saturday of course… Refuel after a drunken night out, and enjoy the amazing people watching.
If you do arrive at this time, you may have to wait in line outside, behind a velvet rope. Kind of makes you feel like a rockstar when you finally get in.
It’s generally pretty loud on the weekend nights. The waitstaff here is awesome, they seriously have the patience of saints. The menu is pretty good, typical diner food. Service is quick, and the food is tasty.
I’ve also been here during normal breakfast hours, and it’s a totally different atmosphere. The breakfast specials are great though. You can get a full breakfast and coffee for under 5 bucks.
Only complaint, the parking situation can be a hassle sometimes. They do have a small lot behind the restaurant, but it fills up quick on the busier nights.

It’s after 2am. It’s a weekday. You just left one of the 8342 bars on Monroe or Park Ave. You’re drunk.
And this is where divergence occurs. Some of us would rather go home, nibble on something healthy, drink a vitamin water, and get to bed as quickly as possible. For those people, this would be a 1-​star review. But for those of us who wish to pursue a greasy carbo-​load in the middle of the night for no other reason than the fact that «it’s time for this»… well, you have to judge things for what they are. And for what it is, Mark’s gets 5 stars.
I often get too caught up comparing Rochester to Boston. It’s something I probably need to let go of, and will probably even out over time. But I have to say… in this department, we are spoiled in Rochester. Boston’s bars close too damn early, most people can’t get home from the best bars without a taxi, and finding food at such an hour is an exercise in futility. But Rochester? pfff… those concerns aren’t even on the radar. We can walk to our bars, know that they won’t close ’til a sensible hour, and stumble out towards the direction of this city’s gem stone: the plate.
The place is kinda clean, but not too clean. The service is nice and quick, but they also act like real people and will have a laugh with you. A sketchy looking dude with a trench coat and thick glasses walks into the building and briskly rushes into the bathroom, where he spends a suspiciously long amount of time.
Q: What could he be doing in there at 2:30am that’s taken 25 minutes thus far?
A: Nobody gives a shit, because a pile of food was just set down right under our noses.
If you find that you’re unable to follow this line of thinking, then I suggest you go straight home from the bar. And that’s not to say that you can’t do either of these things depending on the evening. Sometimes it’s just not a night for Mark’s, even if you’re usually okay listening to people argue in Spanish on the sidewalk while you watch through the window and shovel 7 different kinds of food into your mouth in 1 bite.
The point is: it’s there. A ²⁴⁄₇ slop trough. Does it NEED to be sketchy? YES! At 2:30 in the goddamn morning?! Are you kidding me?! It wouldn’t be the same without it! My father has told me stories of sketchy nights at Nick Tahou’s in the late 70’s — early 80’s. Places like Mark’s and the vibe they adopt in the wee hours are a part of this city’s identity, and it’s been that way for well over a generation now.
OH! And the food was good. I think. I mean it looked great in my pictures, right? Yeah. Delicious. We’ll go with that.

So many visits, so little memory. …just kidding…
I’d rather have a garbage plate than a Big Mac. Sometimes I even like garbage plates when I’m sober. But, usually when I go to Mark’s there’s been beer involved in the night’s activities and I’ve never been here before midnight. Ever.
The staff here are powerhouses. You’re in and out in no time. Quick and dirty. Snappy service… not to be mistaken with snippy — the servers I’ve interacted are usually quite chipper considering the clientele (mostly drunk college kids and other Rochesterians wandering Monroe Ave).
The makings of Mark’s plate or should I say how I prefer my plate:
— Crispy, golden crinkle fries. Check.
— Mac salad popping with flava. Check.
— Mustard and onions. Check.
— Cheeseburgers patties that taste good despite being cooked all the way through. Check.
— Piping hot and sure to prevent a hangover. Check.
It’s a staple and will be my first choice whenever in the area.