Tom's Restaurant

The Scene – Columbia academics, local hospital workers and tourists who snap pictures by the famous neon sign outside flock here daily. The clean, sunny interior looks nothing like Jerry and the gang's dingy haunt, but it showcases fun ephemera like "Seinfeld" cast autographs and press clips on how the diner inspired the musical ode by Suzanne Vega. – – The Food – Expect standard burgers, gyros, triple-decker clubs and comforting open-faced sandwiches dripping with gravy or oozing with cheese--reliable food that's for eating quickly before running back to class or…

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The Extras:: For more tourist fun, visit the Cathedral of St. John the Divine one block away.

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User Reviews (23)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“All in all, we had fun & a tasty breakfast.” “went to this famous restaurant with a buddy for fun more than anything else, and it turned out to be reasonably priced, with great service and delicious breakfast food!” “It was a traditional, comfortable diner.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“The menu was huge - I had corned beef hash, potatoes & eggs easy-over plus coffee with a free re-fill.” “In fact if you want some great coffee and unbelievable french toast go half a block up to Deluxe.”
food quality	75.0% positive	“Fun diner, great food!” “Especially enjoyable were the chicken fingers which were the best we had ever had.” “went to this famous restaurant with a buddy for fun more than anything else, and it turned out to be reasonably priced, with great service and delicious breakfast food!” “In addition to friendly tolerant staff the food is what you expect from a diner, plus the delight of having Seinfeld paraphernalia around you makes for good conversation.” “delicious food, good prices, SEINFELD” “Possibly the worst food I have had in NYC” “The service is terrible and they barely passed their food inspectio.” “In fact if you want some great coffee and unbelievable french toast go half a block up to Deluxe.” “their food is decent (a bit overpriced since remodeling last year) although i could make a better grilled cheese in the dorms.” “There is bad food, and there is unedible food.” “The menu isn't extensive but the food was pretty good for diners and decently priced.” “otherwise, decent food.” “Not only is the food very tasty and the service is great, they also have a bunch of Seinfeld gear!” “The coating was golden brown and crispy, and the chicken was juicy, tender and flavorful.” “The menu was huge - I had corned beef hash, potatoes & eggs easy-over plus coffee with a free re-fill.” “frequent this restaurant because I think the food is decent and I live around the area.” “All in all, we had fun & a tasty breakfast.” “Columbia University is right they and they may feel students have money for pay that tuition, then they can afford an overpriced meal.”
menu variety	78.5699987411499% positive	“We will most certainly return to try other enticing menu options.” “the menu isnt so much delightful as just typical of a diner!” “The menu was huge - I had corned beef hash, potatoes & eggs easy-over plus coffee with a free re-fill.” “The menu isn't extensive but the food was pretty good for diners and decently priced.” “There was too much choice on the menu and the prices were good, I thought.” “On the menu it says free refills, when one of the diet cokes was asked to be refilled, the extremely rude old waitress picked up the bill and added $2.50 on it!” “Tom's clean, friendly booths, beautiful waitresses and extensive, quintessentially-diner menu will leave you feeling as though you have reached the Shangri-La of diners, the diner to end all diners, the crowning achievement of New York Civilization.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“We will most certainly return to try other enticing menu options.”
service	50.0% positive	“However, until this Saturday noon I had never experienced such rude service at a restaurant.” “Tom's clean, friendly booths, beautiful waitresses and extensive, quintessentially-diner menu will leave you feeling as though you have reached the Shangri-La of diners, the diner to end all diners, the crowning achievement of New York Civilization.” “In addition to friendly tolerant staff the food is what you expect from a diner, plus the delight of having Seinfeld paraphernalia around you makes for good conversation.” “the service is rude and mean.” “went to this famous restaurant with a buddy for fun more than anything else, and it turned out to be reasonably priced, with great service and delicious breakfast food!” “The servers are stupid and dont take notice of anything you need.” “It's moderately priced and the waitresses are nice.” “On the menu it says free refills, when one of the diet cokes was asked to be refilled, the extremely rude old waitress picked up the bill and added $2.50 on it!” “The service is terrible and they barely passed their food inspectio.” “As for the waitstaff, they were standard--not too nice, not too friendly, can be at times nice, rude, etc.” “the service is rude, but very quick.” “Beware stray ingredients and bad service” “Not only is the food very tasty and the service is great, they also have a bunch of Seinfeld gear!”
value	83.33000183105469% positive	“Columbia University is right they and they may feel students have money for pay that tuition, then they can afford an overpriced meal.” “The menu was huge - I had corned beef hash, potatoes & eggs easy-over plus coffee with a free re-fill.” “their food is decent (a bit overpriced since remodeling last year) although i could make a better grilled cheese in the dorms.” “decent prices.” “There was too much choice on the menu and the prices were good, I thought.” “delicious food, good prices, SEINFELD”
wait time	50.0% positive	“the service is rude, but very quick.”

10/14/11

Tasty food.

by FlorenceAndrea at Citysearch

I went to Tom's one morning just to try what it felt like to eat breakfast alone in a public place. Well, the food was very tasty. I saw a lot of people eating at Tom's, all at different ages. All of them seemed to be a regular customer at Tom's. I think this place is very convenient. People are comfortable. The waitresses were fine too. I had no problems with them.

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11/15/09

Fun diner, great food!

by Karen Jayne at Citysearch

We went to Tom's for breakfast on my boyfriend's birthday, as he is a big Seinfeld fan! I went because I know he wanted to but it was great! The outside only is the Seinfeld bit, they didn't film inside. It was a traditional, comfortable diner. The waitresses looked miserable but they were helpful & polite. The menu was huge - I had corned beef hash, potatoes & eggs easy-over plus coffee with a free re-fill. There seemed to be students & locals of all ages eating & those that didn't finish were taking their doggy bags with them! All in all, we had fun & a tasty breakfast. I would recommend :)

Pros: Massive menu, good prices
Cons: A liitle trek to get to

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11/05/08

Customer service is more of the "soup" episode on seinfeld than anything!

by eeyore1965 at Citysearch

Visiting and of course had to go to Toms restaurant! There were 4 of us, it was around 3 pm, so lunch was over, not ready for dinner. We ordered 1 ice tea, 2 diet cokes and 1 shake with a piece of pie. Bill was about $20. On the menu it says free refills, when one of the diet cokes was asked to be refilled, the extremely rude old waitress picked up the bill and added $2.50 on it! We asked about the free refills and in her broken accent she said. You no eat, no refill for you! Explained that we did have a piece of pie (which was horrible) She said again, no eat no refill! Needless to say she had us out the door in minutes. Now its just a story about how rude they are!

Pros: Its Toms, you have to see it, just be careful if you go in
Cons: Rude

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10/11/08

Tourist attraction

by pcooper9 at Citysearch

Tom's is a mediocre diner at best and certainly not the top choice for those who live in the neighborhood. There's just nothing special about it other than everyone in the world saw it Seinfeld for 8 or 9 years. In fact if you want some great coffee and unbelievable french toast go half a block up to Deluxe.

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08/26/08

Fun Diner

by Brasco1 at Citysearch

In addition to friendly tolerant staff the food is what you expect from a diner, plus the delight of having Seinfeld paraphernalia around you makes for good conversation.

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Editor's Tips

10/14/11

Tasty food.

by FlorenceAndrea at Citysearch

11/15/09

Fun diner, great food!

by Karen Jayne at Citysearch

11/05/08

Customer service is more of the "soup" episode on seinfeld than anything!

by eeyore1965 at Citysearch

10/11/08

Tourist attraction

by pcooper9 at Citysearch

08/26/08

Fun Diner

by Brasco1 at Citysearch

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