Tom's Restaurant / Tom's Diner / The Diner From Seinfeld / Monk's Cafe

About

I first became aware of this New York City (Morningside Heights) diner when I heard the song called "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega (the remix by DNA) back in 1990. I loved it so much that I bought "Tom's Album" and loved all the unique interpretations of that song on the album. Later I became aware of this diner when I saw it on the TV show Seinfeld. Yes, this very diner had a song written about it AND the outside of the diner is shown on Seinfeld every time Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer went to the fictional diner called "Monk's Diner". I didn't realize the two diners were the same diner until I went to the actual diner myself in the late 90's. 

The actual name of this diner is Tom's Restaurant. The exterior with original neon sign does look very much like what you see on Seinfeld, however, theinterior does not (the interior does have an original vintage diner look of it's own though). According to wikipedia "Early Seinfeld episodes showed the entire neon sign; later, allegedly to avoid royalties, the "Tom's" portion was cropped out, showing only the "RESTAURANT" wraparound. Even though the interior and exterior have undergone minor remodeling since the show, Tom's is featured in the Seinfeld New York Tour conducted by Kenny Kramer and the trademark "Tom's Restaurant" marquee still exists above the exterior windows."

This original 1940's NYC diner has been owned and operated by the Minasizoulis family since the 50's. Located on Broadway between 111th St & 112th St.