Tom's Restaurant, New York City

Who can to New York and NOT see some grat memories from Seinfeld? This is one of the great Seinfeld locations. Though not actually filmed inside the restaurant, Tom's was used the exterior shot for 'Monk's', where the gang regualry went.

The food is great, but the Egg Creams are exceptional. Definitely try one if you haven't had one before. PS - there are actually no eggs in it! It's a carbonated chocolate drink (think Yoo-hoo kicked up a notch).

Perhaps I had a very different experience with Tom's Restaurant since I was a regular during my college days- my roommate and I frequented this diner perhaps 3-4 times a week, and subsequently were well recognized by the waitstaff. We never faced lines, never a wait (they always have 1-2 tables reserved for their regulars, which is so nice!). I dont know if we are that predictable (probably), but our food arrived within minutes of ordering. As scientists, we set to timing them and found that on average (after 10 or so trials), food arrives in about 8 minutes.

I normally order breakfast food (omellette with cheese, hash browns, sausage, bacon, toast), and my roommate gets crab cakes or clams on half baked shell. Food that only takes 8 minutes? Can't be beat.

Note: interior of this joint looks nothing like the set of Seinfield. Nothing but the fascade on the outside is similar. However, if you're interested in tours, there are Kramer Tours offered that give you insight to the show, and who can resist snapping a photo outside on the street with the fascade?

It is this restaurant that served for exterior shots of the "Seinfeld" diner scenes. The inside is somewhat reminiscent of the show's set but has been remodeled in recent years I believe. I've been here a couple times and was pleased with the food and the service.

Does it look familiar? Imagine a group of New Yorkers sit inside and come up with the idea of a show about nothing...

I'm a big Seinfeld fan, so I have to visit Tom's Restaurant. It's located just north of Central Park near Columbia University. I had my breakfast here one morning. Inside it's much darker and looked quite different from the TV. (The whole Seinfeld show was taped in California.) I ordered omelet. The food was so so and over-priced. The restaurant seemed to be run by an Italian family.

Any Seinfeld fan will pinpoint this place from a mile away. Tom's (Seinfeld's hangout) Cafe lies a few blocks away from the infamous Columbia University. I didn't try the food inside, but the outside does provide a nice picture opportunity for fans like me :). No, I didn't manage to see anyone from the Seinfeld gang in there.

Seinfeld Fans: Tom's Restaurant. (Diner)
Tom's: If you are a Seinfeld Fan, you'll recognize the sign. And we all know that annoying Suzanne Vega song, 'Tom's Diner'. (do do do do, do dit doo doo, doot dit doo doo do do doo do...) The song is all about Tom's. It's your basic greasy spoon, incredibly cheap and fast.

Favorite Dish: Tom's: Have a milkshake and soak up the atmosphere at the counter. Or you can sing 'Tom's Diner' by Suzanne Vega while you sip a coffee.

Toms Diner, where Seinfeldt and his friends go in the TV series.
This is the facade you see when watching Seinfeldt on TV, but the interior is a different one.

I was surprized to see that their prizes didn't differ much from other diners in the area.

Seinfeld's choice of his regular meet up place. Nothing fancy & nothing great.
No need to go in, just take a picture in the front & call it a day for the sake of the famous comedy show based on NY