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My girlfriend and i went to Tom's diner after a nice dinner in the neighborhood, after watching Seinfield the night before. Thought it would be fun. We ordered pie and cappuccino. The pie were freezing cold, could not really get the sense of the taste because it was so cold and sticky, so i asked the waitress to heat up the pies and put some ice cream on top. Now that the pies are slightly warm or more like room temperature, we can start to taste the plastic and artificial texture. Even the ice cream tasted fake. It was uneatable!!! Our cappuccino were from a packets but watered down. One bite and one sip was we can handle. The bill came to $23.00, the waitress was supper rude, almost throwing the dishes on the table and she did not even ask why we hardly touch the food. I don't think she was surprise. I do not recommend eating at Toms diner. Its such a shame, i love Seinfeld and every time i watch the show will remind me of this disappointing experience.

I ordered the chicken bowl with no bread (allergic), when it came it had bread on both top and bottom. The waitress was very eager to get us out, and gave us our bill during the first bite. Afterwards they came once more, and told us to hurry up. The bill was at 18 dollars, we gave three dollar tip. But then another waitress came, and yelled at me for not giving enough money. Watching seinfeld will never be the same again :/

Tom's has been a neighborhood/Columbia hangout since long before the invasion of mobs of tourists with bad taste (I have been a customer for over 40 years, since my first freshman week hamburger). If you judge the place by its hamburgers and milkshakes, as apparently are most reviewers, you are missing the point. It is a local diner, with excellent home made soups and hot meals (yes, there are clams in the clam chowder, they usually get stuck in my teeth). Try the vegetable or cream of broccoli soup, on Monday, Manhattan clam chowder, on Friday, or lentil soup on Saturday. Specialty home made main courses include baked breast of lamb, stuffed cabbage in egg-lemon sauce, baked leg of lamb and boiled beef with horseradish sauce. The days for these items vary. The Seinfeld pictures on the wall and Seinfeld's use of the place as a prop have, in fact, had very little effect on the real character of the place, other than to bring in a regular flow of tourists, most of whom are really looking for something else. If you want real food and authentic local New York atmosphere, this is the place.

The food, service and atmosphere were all poor to mediocre. Not worth the trip to see it or the money

This place has the best french toast and bacon on the planet. Stick with breakfast

Tom's is as part of the neighborhood as the subway. Good for families!

An institution, no, not in the lunatic asylum euphemistic sense, but in that it's been in the neighborhood for forever (and yes that means long before Seinfeld use the exterior and the tourists began to arrive). It's a diner, to be judged as diner food. Generally good, but, yes, it varies. The service, in my experience, is fine if you give the staff a chance. They deal with a lot of tourists who know they'll never return and are notorious for not tipping. Some students (not all) are the same. Treat them with decency and respect (they have a rough job) and you'll probably have a good experience. If not, not. The eggs are good, as are the burgers and fries. Not gourmet, no, as some complain, but good. The prices are reasonable if you're accustomed to New York prices, and insane if you're not. It's a matter of perspective. Yes, the shakes are formidable. A good place, with good people.