One of the better-known Brooklyn brunch spots is Tom's Restaurant at 782 Washington Street (at Sterling Place) in Prospect Heights. After a few recommendations, I decided that it was time to experience it for myself.
After an almost 4 mile walk, we got to Tom's located on the corner of Washington & Sterling. There were a bunch of people already outside so I knew the wait was going to be pretty long. With deck chairs set out around the place, the line snaked around the corner. The staff kept coming out and providing free cookies and coffee to all who were waiting yet the wait was up to an hour plus and it was only 11 AM! For that reason, we put Tom's aside for another day.
The next day we returned to Tom's earlier during the day (9:30 AM) for a second try. This time the line was only 20-30 minutes so we gave it a shot. The place itself is filled with kitschy artwork and is reminiscent of a time gone by. Tom’s opened in the 1930s and the music and décor is completely 30’s chic. The place itself is filled with a great cross section of people from cops to families with babies to young couples to old couples.
Once you sit down, the staff is eager (understatement) to take your order. Once you order, the food comes super fast. They know what they are doing and they get you in and out fast. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a leisurely brunch, this place is not it. They gave us the check before I’d eaten one bite of my food. However if you are looking for good brunch food like scrambled eggs and omelet’s, this is your kind of place. We had sides of the standard brunch faire – bacon and eggs – and they were cooked fast and well.
Further they have some interesting menu options including: crab cakes florentine, pumpkin walnut pancakes, and lemon ricotta waffles. We had the first two, which proved to be delicious. The pumpkin walnut pancakes were soft and flakey, different than usual diner pancakes, and they gave me a very good-sized portion. The crab cakes florentine came with home fries to give you a whole lot of food – very tasty and yummy.
All in all – a very successful brunch. Is it worth an hour plus wait? Probably not but see for yourself!
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