From the splash of red on the walls, to clear lights strung on industrial piping, to the colorful chalkboard menu, Binghamton Hots is the kind of place where you can expect to find hipsters, executives and families all enjoying a meal in peaceful unity.

When I first heard the name "Binghamton Hots," I thought it was a hot dog place, but I couldn't have been more wrong. So, where does the "Hots" come from in "Binghamton Hots?" According to owner David Whalen, "The Hot Plate is our take on a Rochester, NY area dish called the "Garbage Plate."  A "Plate" consists of 2 sides dishes and one meat dish, piled high in a large to-go container and topped with our homemade meat-based chili sauce, mustard, onion and is served with Italian Bread. The name "Hots" is an abbreviation of the name of the original dish served in Rochester, NY called "Hots and Potatoes,"  describing a simple meal of Hot Dogs and Fried Potatoes, which eventually evolved into the Garbage Plate. " As you'd imagine, Binghamton Hots serves up hot plates among other delicious offerings, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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My husband and I had previously ordered to-go food from Binghamton Hots and really enjoyed it, so decided it was time to go in for a sit-down meal, and what better time to do that than during Binghamton Restaurant Week? We went for lunch and took advantage of their $12 per person meal, which included an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. Oh, and we took our toddler along.  Yes, we knew the potentially dangerous territory we were stepping into and we decided to give it a go anyway.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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Anyone with kids knows that there's always a chance for disaster when taking little ones along while dining out. I'm happy to say that the food at Binghamton Hots was so deliciously good that it distracted my son from what I could tell was a brewing random toddler meltdown.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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I didn't see any booster seats or high chairs at Binghamton Hots and didn't ask because they were really busy with the lunch crowd, but my little guy did well sitting on a regular chair, playing with his toy while we waited for our order.  My husband's three-course meal included Hot's turkey chili, pulled pork sandwich, and Greek yogurt pie with blueberry topping. Jay is the biggest pulled pork fan I've ever known and he gave Binghamton Hot's sandwich two BBQ covered thumbs up.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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My three-course meal included loaded potato skins, three burger slider sampler, and salted caramel apple crisp with whipped cream. First off, my kid devoured one of my sliders, and John is a picky eater, so that should tell you something. Secondly, there was so much food that I wasn't able to finish it all and so I took what I couldn't eat home. Last night, after I put John to bed, I curled up on the couch and slowly ate my salted caramel apple crisp, savoring not only every bite but also that I didn't have to share it with anyone. It was that good- the kind of good where you want to wrap your arms your food and say "mine" and not let anyone else have a taste.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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If you're looking for a restaurant where you can take the kids and not worry about being stared down by snobbish people who don't understand tiny humans and where you'll get quality and delicious food, Binghamton Hots would be it. Binghamton Hots is located at 128 Washington Street in Binghamton and is participating in Binghamton Restaurant week for lunch with the lunch price of $12 per person for three courses.

Binghamton Restaurant Week runs through October 27th with discounted lunch and dinner menus with a portion of the proceeds going to Truth Pharm and CHOW. Be sure to check out the lunch menu being offered by Binghamton Hots, as well as the menus being offered by other local participating restaurants.

[via EatBing]

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