food is worth the walk . standard tired decor but the staff and service are wonderful we had eggs benedict and danish pancakes . danish was lemon ricotta and blueberry . outstanding. only 2-3 blocks from brooklyn museum . read more

My friend took me here when I was visiting NYC. It was a clustered looking place -- small, lots of people, not enough elbow room. Lots of things hung on the walls and the lights were dim. I sat down, looked around, and grew rather attached to the space. It felt welcoming. The food was tasty. I got lemon ricotta pancakes -- wonderfully fluffy and HUGE. It was enough for breakfast and lunch! My friend got something with sausages. I took a bite of greasy fatty salty goodness. It helped my already full stomach welcome more food. :D All in all, I would whole heartedly recommend this place! read more

Great Toms Diner! The food was good, the service was awesome, and the decor is so vintage and amazing. They had some really interesting and delicious flavored butters. Their pancakes were great. The presentation isn't mind-blowing, but I thought everything was pretty tasty! Majority of the people I went with thought the food was just average, but they aren't really a fan of diner food. If you like diner food, you'll love Toms! Parking was hard to find, and so was the diner at first. Seating/space is really limited; I would say, it is not a good place to bring kids who move around a lot. It's also not really a good place to go to if you have a large group... unless you don't mind being split up into different tables/sections of the diner. read more

So before Five Leaves, there were lemon ricotta pancakes ;-) I got the corned beef hash, cherry lime rickey and lemon ricotta pancakes. The corned beef hash tasted like something out the can (which is something I actually like) The cherry lime rickey is just another way of saying shirley temple. The lemon ricotta pancakes were good bordering on alright, I just wish they came with fruit by default (like Five Leaves). I'd def come back to try the other breakfast varieties they have simply because I just like the place and service. We were in and out faster than a usual Five Leaves visit since we're served by dudes trying to get people in and out where as with Five Leaves, you're served by hipsters where customer service is, "we'll get to you when we get to you". NOTE: the place is CASH ONLY, but they do have an ATM Machine inside. read more

Came once for weekend brunch and the line must have helped the hype, but today's weekday brunch was mediocre. We were immediately seated in the back room at half of a 4 person table. Service was a bit slow from start to bringing the check. Coffee came without milk and food with no lovin'. My eggs were in the stage right before you scramble them but over done, turkey bacon was burnt and then piled on top of my lemon ricotta pancakes? Hubby got the pumpkin walnut pancakes which were soggy. Mine were fluffy. Side of grits with cheese was just a slice of american cheese semi melted on top. (I spent 4 years in NC, I know what cheese grits are supposed to be like). Challah french toast was 5 sad looking slices, but tasted good. We weren't told what the homemade butters were but they were nice to have. I know its a diner but don't they have a reputation to maintain? read more

4.5 stars... Tom's is phenomenal. They are a NYC institution and rightfully so. The prices here are very reasonable with nothing over priced which is rare enough in the city, and extremely rare with a place as well known as Tom's. The outside of the diner is decorated beautifully. When I went this fall it was decorated with bushes, scare crows, and fall decorations you could only find in a quaint neighborhood restaurant in small town America. Expect lines on a weekend morning 25-45 deep but they have a remedy for that. They have a waiter come out every couple minutes offering things like, coffee, water, cookies, oranges, strawberries, french fries, etc.. to keep you entertained and keep your hunger in check so you don't leave. But if you get here on weekdays or earlier on the weekend like before 9am you probably won't have to deal with a line. They have all the classic breakfast items done extremely well and some innovative ones you'll never find anywhere else. IThey're well known for their egg cream, which I tried for the first time (the chocolate version) and I thought it tasted enough like chocolate milk (though slightly different) that I would probably just get chocolate milk instead in the future. The innovations are really centered around their dozen or so types of pancakes. From pumpkin walnut, to blueberry danish, to orange and everything in between there is a pancake to turn everyone's world upside down. If that wasn't enough they serve them with cinnamon, lemon, and strawberry butters. I got the orange pancakes with bacon and cinnamon butter and it was unbelievable. The portions here are a little modest but you won't be leaving here hungry and it ends up being just enough. If all those praises weren't enough the people were very nice and the timing was fantastic (I don't think I had to wait more than 15min for my hot fresh and tasty breakfast). The place has been around since the 30s and although I doubt they had as many Mexican employees back then I'm sure the warm service and good food hasn't changed a bit in the past century. Tom's is definitely the best breakfast I've had in NY yet. read more

Don't let the line deter you from Tom's. It's well worth the wait, especially since it moves pretty quickly. For two people, we only waited about 10 minutes. Tom's was exactly what I was hoping for- just a simple diner with good breakfast and lunch options. Their breakfast items sounded good, and they have a ton of omlettes, but I was looking for a sandwich. Tried the brisket with gravy on the side. My friend had the turkey club with french fries and we got a side of cole slaw. The cole slaw was refreshing and really good- not too mayo-ey. The brisket is lean so a bit on the dry side. Spooning some gravy on it moistened it up nicely. The turkey club was your average good turkey club. Their fries are good, especially when you dip them in their special chipotle tasting like spicy mayo sauce! If I could give an extra half star for service, I would. They are SO sweet there. Fast, efficient, but NICE. I asked the waiter what this Cherry Lime Ricky was that everyone raves about, and he described it as Sprite with Shirley Temple syrup, which did not sound appetizing to me, so I declined. But he was nice enough to bring both of us a glass of it to try on the house, and it tasted much better than I thought it would! Overall, solid place to go for a cheap, filling, friendly diner. read more

I honestly hate this place and hate that it gets such raving reviews. There are sooo many better places to have breakfast and lunch in BK. Now if you're into the whole diner scene then this place works out perfectly for you. read more

I can't stop telling people about Tom's. In a land of American (new) restaurants with Edison lightbulbs and flat white plates with sauce artfully scattered over the food, Tom's is a refreshing breath of fresh diner air. Don't get me wrong, I love me some melty locally sourced pork belly as much as the next girl, but sometimes on a Sunday you just crave a giant plate of unpretentious fried eggs, homefries, and sausage. As other reviewers have said: -Long line for weekend brunch, but it moves really quickly. It looked like we'd be waiting in line for hours but we were in and seated in about 25 minutes. -They fed us delicious bites while we were in line- cookies, coffee/tea, orange slices (what is this, soccer practice circa 1995? I love it.), silver dollar pancakes, etc -The food is priced right! Some of my personal favorite things: -The coffee and tea are served in BIG mugs! -The turkey sausage is juicy and delicious -The kitschy decor is awesome and cluttered (in a great way) and there are a zillion silly pictures/newspaper clippings, etc, to look at while you wait -The service is SO friendly, totally efficient Only one complaint- the homefries were pretty dry. This was easily solved by the addition of a lot of ketchup and runny egg yolk, but I wish they'd been a little more oily. read more

I know that this place is a neighborhood icon since the stone age, but just cause something is old doesn't mean that it is good. Remember that if you drink old milk--it can make you sick. I know I may be a little tough on this old diner, and that they are super nice when there is a big line out the door by giving you cookies and orange slices, but that doesn't justify the sloppiness of the food. I have been here 3 times and 3 times I've been disappointed with the food. The breakfast items are huge, but the scrambled eggs were burnt, bacon too overdone, and my hash browns a slightly raw. It isn't as cheap as you'd expect it to be, especially with the nostalgia they personify. I love that its a staple in the neighborhood. The people are nice and it will be around for another 50 years. read more

Delicious!!! Luckily we came on a Friday early morning, so we didn't have to wait on a line because we were one of only about 5 other tables at that time. Pancakes delicious! Service so friendly. And they brought us out cinnamon toast with honey, compliments of the house! So good. Wish I lived a closer - maybe up the block! - so that I could come here every day! Ha! read more

Super cute place with a no-nonsense menu of diner breakfast items. Four of us sat in a booth that might have been better suited for 2, but we don't mind cozying up a little bit for some good food. The coffee was good. The pancakes were huge and quite tasty, the eggs and corned beef hash was very good, the eggs and crabcakes was decent. I had the huevos rancheros, which was almost awesome. Almost. But my poached eggs were overcooked to the point of being hard-boiled and it kinda ruined the meal. I only ordered the eggs poached because they were offered under a different menu item, so I thought the staff would know how to do it. They didn't. My current plan is to head back to Tom's at some point, get the same meal except with over easy eggs, enjoy it much much more, and then update this review to four stars. They probably deserve it overall, but they didn't quite deserve it this time. I echo the previous reviewer who said that they do the simple things best. Keep that in mind when you order and there's a good chance you'll have a great meal. read more

Walking in, my girlfriend and I were petrified looking at the line of people that literally filled up the Diner in the middle as you walk in for a lunch date. We quickly decided we were going to stick it out and wait. Just then a man working with the restaurant went down the line of people waiting offering fresh cut and very cold orange wedges while we waited (it was so hot outside). Then he walked down a few moments later collected the peels. Then he walked down offering fresh french fries with homemade hollandaise sauce for dipping. It was a really nice gesture to offer a taste of the food while you wait. Certainly it kept the people waiting to hold out! (as we did!) We waited maybe 10 minutes, continually moving so people could maneuver in and out of the door (that's how crowded it was). Then about 6 groups of people were promptly seated on their side room in addition to us being seated. All of the waiters are quick to fill water glasses and they all work jointly in bringing food, refilling drinks, taking orders, cleaning tables, etc. It's a nice family operated jointness. It was refreshing to see (even if all the employees weren't family -- it was clear they were a team). My girlfriend ordered a Coke Float and I ordered the Famous Cherry Lime Ricky. This was AMAZING -- and the food we ordered was equally delicious. We both ordered the Veggie Burger and I ordered the sweet potato fries while she ordered the regular fries. The sweet potato fries didn't crisp up but the flavor was delicious. The regular fries are to DIE FOR -- crispy beyond belief and incredible. The service was fast and good. The tables are close to eachother so you can certainly hear other people's conversations but it's New York -- no one is listening! :) Also, note that they only do CASH at this Diner -- No credit cards. So be sure to have the cash handy! I just love the vintage feel of this place. Brings me back as if I'm in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" -- hilarious and probably why I liked it (along with the food) so much! read more

Tom's - wonderful amazing food -- feed you while you wait! so good the lines just linger! - Diners Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place was super busy when I went on a Sunday around 1:30pm. Its small yet cozy. Their extremely busy too! We ordered strawberry pankcakes, broccoli and cheese omelete, scrambled eggs and bacon for take out, due to the extremely long line. Of course they forgot to put the strawberry sauce inside but everything else was good. It wasnt die hurt amazing but it wasn't bad. I believe they accept, take out as well. read more

Tom's - Toms Restaurant & Diner - Diners Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I'm not so much a fan of the food as I am of the service. The food is mediocre at best. Two items that do stand out are the chili cheese omelette and the corned beef. Getting back to the service. It's one of the best examples of how a restaurant should treat its clientele. Gus, the owner is all smiles and greets everyone who walks through the door. Waiters will repeat my order with a smile, if there is something wrong with the order it is rectified quickly with no complaints. The rest of the staff give out orange slices and cookies. Water glasses are constantly filled. The delivery boy is courteous and patient (while I dig through my pockets looking for cash). High end restaurants should have good service like Tom's and can take lessons from them. My only complaint is delivery can take a awhile. Especially on weekends. read more

I "discovered" (ha! I use that word lightly because this place isn't really a discovery - it's been here forever!) this place on Yelp months ago and finally made the trek to Tom's last Saturday with my boyfriend. When we got there, the line was stretching around the corner of the building, but it only took us only about 15 minutes to make it inside to get a table. While we were waiting, servers came around with coffee, sausage, and fresh strawberries with whipped cream! That was probably the highlight of my first Tom's experience because it's so unique and friendly and totally makes the wait go by quickly and happily! I had the lemon ricotta pancakes for my brunch with a cherry lime rickey! I was one happy camper. My boyfriend had the crab cakes and he said they were really good, though not really his idea of breakfast food. I could understand that. read more

ok, so after reading all the reviews I HAD to try this place. I love pancakes. I love greasy ass diners. I love eating pancakes at greasy ass diners at 3pm on weekday. Because I can. And Tom's was certainly a great place to do that. I ordered the lemon riccotta pancakes, which were brought to me with the seasonal lemon lime butter, which sounds totally gross, but was suprisingly delicious. So delicious that I used the strawberry butter too. There was a ridiculous butter to pancake ratio. I didn't touch the syrup. The pancakes by themselves were not as lemony or riccotta-y as I'd hoped. For some reason I thought there would be some sort of lemon and riccotta topping, so I was let down at first. My spirits were definitely lifted after my first smear of delicious flavored butter. The turkey sausage was......interesting..... tasted good...... but interesting. My favorite turkey sausage in the whole world is from a midwestern chain called Cracker Barrel, and nothing will ever compare. Anyway........ I liked that they gave me a 20oz bottle of diet coke along with a milkshake glass full of ice and a newspaper. Loved the decor. Felt like I was in a very clean flea market. Service was absolutely awesome. read more

The reviews were right, there's definitely going to be a wait to cram you somewhere in the room, but once you're in it feels like you're part of a big family that is ready for some breakfast. Came here with some friends on a Sunday for brunch and we all ordered egg dishes which were humongous. Was there anything crazy special about the eggs? Not really, but you could tell that it was made right there and that it was fresh. Would definitely come back! read more

**Cash only** People love this place, and I can see why. It's consistent. They're very friendly will serve you food while you wait in line on a busy Saturday morning and it's a decent price point. I must say though, I go for those butters and the decor. The butter that accompany the pancake and waffles is out of this world. The pancake sand waffles are pretty good. I'm from down south and I'm actually partial to Waffle House Waffles (gimmie the lard baby). Portion sizes are awesome, I actually ate leftover banana walnut pancake for breakfast today. The food isn't lick your plate good, but its, I know I'll get something decent so lets go to Toms good. I've only been for breakfast but hopefully one of these days I'll make it over for lunch or dinner. read more

Amazing! The staff is great, ambiance makes you feel like you've gone back in time (in the best way). The food was good and exactly what we needed before a long flight home to CA from Brooklyn. Our server even threw in a free chocolate soda for us and they made us feel so valued and appreciated literally from our first steps in the restaurant. Loved Tom's and I would definitely go back if I find myself in Brooklyn again. read more

I love Tom's. My husband loves Tom's. My child loves Tom's. Luckily, this place is a quick 10 minute bus ride from our apartment and we always seem to get there before the line rolls out the door and around the corner. No one seems to care about waiting outside to eat because they waiters bring you coffee, orange slices and cookies! No matter what time of day I am there, i always order breakfast and it always tastes good. The staff is always fabulous and the kiddo always walks out with extra treats and dollar coins. Yea, Tom's! read more

My friends and I went here for brunch. The place is very small so you may have to wait in line for awhile. I wouldn't recommend a bigger group than 3 which we had because the booths are back when and they're tiny! I ordered pumpkin walnut Belgian waffles, my friends ordered it in the pancake and we had an omelette with home fries. The waffle was good, I just wish I would taste a little bit more pumpkin. But nonetheless it was good. But oh my, the fries! It's so yummy! It's freaking addicting! It reminds me of the Denny's fries but more home made and bigger. Overall, a legit, diner in Brooklyn :) Definitely a place for brunch time with friends because you know, we never wake up in time for breakfast! OH YEAH! CASH ONLY! read more

Best diner ever!!!! This place beats IHOP anytime 'cause their pancakes are awesome! Everything about this place is practically awesome. From their food to how nice they were of bringing out coffee and French toast bites to the people waiting outside. When I went a few weeks ago, it was kind of chilly, but with them treating me and my bf like royalty in the cold, we waited. I got pancakes, which were superb!, and my bf got a bacon cheeseburger, which took a little while to get to our table but that's because they were making it fresh for him. The place is a cool lil mom and pops diner with an old school flair. My new favorite breakfast spot! read more

So I went to this place for breakfast and must say I was very impressed. I figured it would be crowded since this place does have rave reviews; but the line moved quick and efficient. The service and staff was very nice, polite & patient. Food was delicious and @ a great price. Def. will be going back in the future. Thumbs up! read more

Tom's - 2for2 - Diners Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Had the cinnamon pancakes, with Bacon. Very very good food, not the best but very fulfilling. The butters are amazing. read more

Tom's - Diners Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love this place. Do not be intimidated by the line because they make sure you have small bites to eat before you enter. One morning I had small portions of bread,sausage, a cookie and orange juice all before I entered the place. The only complaint is that the place is very tight so be prepared to get an earful of someone else's convo while waiting for your food. read more

At 7am before a doctor 's appointment, I stopped in for breakfast. I figured a should indulge myself on the most important meal of the day. Tom's is a solid breakfast spot with a great selection of omelettes, pancakes, waffles and other breakfast staples. It's a small space with about 10-15 tables and a counter to sit at. I ordered the vegetarian omelette, side of bacon and French fries. The omelette was good, nothing special, but tasty and quick. The French fries were very good, crispy and well seasoned. They are probably a better choice than home fries. Because I was a bit pressed for time I didn't order the pancakes, and I actually regret not doing that. They had tons of options that all looked delicious. Guess I know where I'm going back to the next time I have a craving for pancakes. read more

Came here on a whim with my family after the Brooklyn Museum. Was genuinely surprised by this place. The inside was not nice at all, but the food was great. The Cherry Limeade drink was amazing too! It doesn't look like much from the outside, but this place is a hidden gem. read more

Great atmosphere, lots of history, terrible food. We had the eggs benedict, pastrami & eggs, veggie omelet, and ordered blueberry pancakes for the table. Everything was subpar and made with what appeared to be cheap deli meats. To be honest the food was pretty gross. Disappointing and definitely not worth the prices. read more

Trying the lunch menu at Tom's for the first time. (Sorry to burst bubbles, but the Tom's Diner in the song is actually in Manhattan)...any good burger, good fries, no complaints. read more

This was such a find! We had just walked the Brooklyn Bridge and on our way to the Brooklyn Museum for the Murakami Exhibit. But, we wanted to find a casual restaurant because we were starving! We walked up and down the street only to find hair salons, dry cleaners and convenience stores with the exception of this one place that had a looooong line out the door. We were wary, but we figured if the line was this long, it has got to be worth it. And IT WAS WORTH IT! It was a 20 minute wait, but the staff came out with free coffee, fresh orange wedges and strawberries and cookies. I ordered the Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and an Egg Cream. My husband can attest that I never finish anything, so you can imagine his utmost surprise when I licked my platter clean. They were that good! He had eggs and what looked to like 12 slices of bacon piled on top. Our friend had their Huevos Rancheros and he said they were better than anything he has had in Phoenix. Oh and Gus is such a sweetie pie! And I can only assume the woman is his wife? She was so cute. I am gushing all over this place so I have to give it a 5! read more

If you have the patience to tolerate the long Prospect Heights hipster/yuppie queue (who undoubtedly love the 'irony' of the place) to get into Tom's, then you will be happily surprised to find the best breakfast diner you could ever ask for. All you really need to know about Tom's is that the owner is a super-kind man, and the workingclass breakfast offerings are superb. Top that off with the fact that this is probably the last place within light years of Park Slope that still knows how to make a real Brooklyn egg cream (cue nasal yuppie voice: "What's even IN those?"), and you've got a sleepy hangover heaven. read more

It's a diner. Decent food. Good prices. Unbelievably busy on the weekends. Pros: The menu is extensive so if you have a group you can please everyone. Cons: Its packed on the weekends. Mostly because fish follow other fish. read more

This 1990 NYT review sums it up nicely. Love this place. "Time staggered past, and it became more than one decade since boards had covered too many windows on the avenue. But Tom's continues to serve exquisite chocolate egg creams and cherry-lime rickeys and all the treats, from grits to pies to roast chicken, that make living worthwhile. It remains a quiet outpost of civility and service and value in a city where such often seem in short supply." ABOUT NEW YORK; At Tom's, Coffee And Civility As You Like It By DOUGLAS MARTIN Published: Saturday, October 6, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/06/nyregion/about-new-york-at-tom-s-coffee-and-civility-as-you-like-it.html?scp=1&sq=tom's%20restaurant,%20civility&st=cse read more

This was my neighborhood diner for about 10 years and it made me not like other diners as much, as a result. The food was always fresh, fast and served with a smile. It's a little sad that Gus isn't around to great you and hassle you, but Tom's lived on. The Turkey Melt sandwich is amazing, burgers are solid and I always went for straight ahead eggs or corned beef hash for breakfast. It's worth the wait, especially since you get cookies, oranges and coffee in line. Once you get inside and get to listen to big band tunes and enjoy the decor, you'll settle down. Get an order of Silver Dollars to share with your table - you get to sample the unique butters and damn good pancakes. read more

Ended up dropping by here with a group of 4 on a Sunday morning around 1pm or so. It was a long party night and we were all pretty slow to get up, but we knew that we wanted some good, no frills breakfast food. Got to Tom's and saw some people waiting outside, uh oh...Turns out they were just waiting on some take-out and once we got in it was a quick 5 minute wait until we were seated. Service was very friendly and attentive, keeping our water and coffee full at all times. I ordered the sweet potato pancakes with a side of turkey sausage. The pancakes were fluffy and melted in my mouth. Turkey sausage was alright, I preferred my gf's pork sausage. Everyone else was very happy with their food (one ordered french toast, another cinnamon pancakes and my girlfriend had an omelet.) Great food, wonderful service and we even had a nice conversation with Jim (?) one of the managers. Definitely a go-to if in the area. read more

Need a traditional no fuss breakfast with a side of great old school service? Come to Tom's! U promise it won't disappoint. Eat the mexican omelette and you'll leave saying Orale! Maje sure to indulge in their shakes their lime rickey and their beef sausage! read more

I waited in a line around the block for this? ok, I didn't actually wait in the line because I went on a weekday morning, but I have been walking by this place for months on weekend mornings and seeing the wait to get in and hearing the rave reviews from neighbors made me think this was God's greasy spoon. Finally, I got around to trying it, and I didn't order an exciting dish--poached eggs, toast, turkey sausage, and home fries--but if you can't make something this simple not taste like a new shoe, then I can't trust the rest of the menu. (my girlfriend said her spinach and feta omelet was subpar). I will say that the interior alone was almost worth the low cost of the food and that expectation probably played a lot into my disappointment, but all in all, the food was really bland. read more

What can be said that hasn't already been about this place! It's a treasure trove in Brooklyn, serving some of the best, cheapest breakfast you can get. EVERYTHING on this menu is good...and I'd know, I've had most of it already. The pancakes are great (especially with the different butters), the hash is great, the corned beef is great, the omelettes are great, the sausage is great...seriously, nothing here is bad! What's more than the food (what, more important than food!! - ok maybe not "more", but "in addition") is the spirit of the place. Tom and his staff make you feel as though you were curled up in your home's breakfast nook...which is a feat considering this place is small and packed! Whether it's the bites of food and coffee served while waiting in line, the speedy service, the attention to details and wanting to ensure every customer is happy, or yes even the great food - this place is a breakfast mecca. Cash only. Deal with it :) read more

If you live in the neighborhood and haven't been here for brunch, you are doing something wrong. Tom's is like this place in Columbus that I love to this day called the Blue Danube, or the Dube, to locals. It is a diner. It has diner-y food. You'll probably eat something relatively unhealthy, or at least try to - I had a veggie omelet and french fries. Way to break even! But it has so many delicious options, and the staff are wonderful. It looks crazy inside, as there are a million autographed photos (i see you marlo stanfield) and signs and features from the paper about the place gracing the walls. Honestly, I wouldn't care if the walls were covered with kids drawings or old timey photos or police blotters. It just doesn't matter. There can be a line, but if so, they bring around coffee, and sausage, and french fries with their extremely strong horseradish sauce, so by the time you're seated, you've probably eaten half of a meal anyway. Service is fast and they'll give you a million diet cokes if you need them. Which I do. read more