Tom's scuttlebutt

Subject: Tom's scuttlebutt

i hear through the grapevine (but a reliable tendril of that vine) that tom's is going to start having later hours and opening on sundays.

just sayin'.

That would be fantastic!

Would be good- but I know he was closed on Sundays because he sang in the church choir. He doesn't believe in working on God's day. I love his old-fashioned style. I can't believe HE'LL personally be working, but maybe he trusts someone enough to run the place for one day.

He mentioned it to me once, but that was last year. They are such a nice couple as well as the rest of the staff.

I think it's quaint that they still close on Sunday. That said, I'm glad that every restaurant doesn't close on Sunday, and I think that I would go there more often if they were open on Sunday.

I hope this is true... Sundays without Tom's Belgian waffles are the pits.

what a stupid restaurant. who cares when they're open or closed.

i care. but my waistline might not appreciate the potential for two brunches a weekend.

rednaxela wrote: what a stupid restaurant. who cares when they're open or closed.

Nice.

I'd love it if they were open on Sundays, but I hope that Gus and Nonie still go to church and do their own Sunday thing... leaving it to the staff to run for them. They deserve their day off. As for later hours? The thought of being able to get the harvest pancakes past 4PM is amazing.

There is likey a deeper reason they would change their hours or open on Sunday

I love the decor and nostalgic component of Tom's, but the food, aside from the ricotta pancakes, is terrible. I once ordered a bowl of waterly slop coverd with a Kraft single (literally) that was billed as "cheese grits".

it's a diner. aside from the exotic pancakes, it's best to stick with the basics.

i for one am grateful that there's a place in my neighborhood that serves grits, and nearly always at the proper consistency. that it's made by guatemalans in a restaurant run by greek new yorkers is nothing short of miraculous.

cheese grits may be pushing it.

tom's does not have such great grits, it's true. the usual's are indeed better.

better than the usual's are bristen's (though i have to admit the quality varies), served as cheese grits with a side of bacon. i've only lately encountered ortine's (served under baked eggs), but found them beyond reproach.

on the other hand, tom's does make a mighty fine egg cream...though i may not be the most discerning judge of those, to be honest.

sweet tea wrote: tom's does not have such great grits, it's true. the usual's are indeed better.

better than the usual's are bristen's (though i have to admit the quality varies), served as cheese grits with a side of bacon. i've only lately encountered ortine's (served under baked eggs), but found them beyond reproach.

on the other hand, tom's does make a mighty fine egg cream...though i may not be the most discerning judge of those, to be honest.

Egg creams are not supposed to be topped with whipped cream.

I love Tom's (especially their chili cheese omelet), but just sayin'.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=sweet tea]tom's does not have such great grits, it's true. the usual's are indeed better.

better than the usual's are bristen's (though i have to admit the quality varies), served as cheese grits with a side of bacon. i've only lately encountered ortine's (served under baked eggs), but found them beyond reproach.

on the other hand, tom's does make a mighty fine egg cream...though i may not be the most discerning judge of those, to be honest.

Egg creams are not supposed to be topped with whipped cream.

see? that's exactly the kind of thing i don't know. (too bad, though -- it tastes pretty....)

grits, on the other hand, i know very well.

Subject: Why we love Tom's

Anyone who doesn't "get" Tom's, please enjoy your brunch elsewhere. We don't go every week because of the gourmet food. We go because it's family for those of us who don't have families here. I'm all for critique and I appreciate artful food, but as far as I'm concerned Tom's is above critique. See you Saturday!

does anyone know, is gus on vacation, retired or ill? it's been a while since i've seen him in there. the younger guys (his sons?) have been running the show lately.

not sure what you mean by "lately" and i admit i don't get in there all that often, but i did see him working last time i was there, in may. he looked fine.

He's around.

The word from his nephew Jim is semi-retirement.

as for the food...i am one of the biggest food snobs around and I LOVE IT!

After hearing the rumers about Gus, we ate there on Sat. It is true Gus and Nonie have retired. They sold the business to Jim his nephew. According to Jim, Nonie was getting arthritis and the doctor said she had to stop serving to get any relif and void sugery. Also according to Jim, Gus will be coming around from time to time. they are still living in the hood.

Jim is a really nice guy same open and warm personality as Gus. So hopefully the great Tom's tradition will live on. Maybe even with Sunday hours!

yearian wrote: Maybe even with Sunday hours!

Jimmy (Dimitri) will probably have to expand hours to pay back the note of the purchase of the business

Gus's mother owns the building so there was no rent and no loan. Now there is both.

wirenut wrote: [quote=yearian] Maybe even with Sunday hours!

Jimmy (Dimitri) will probably have to expand hours to pay back the note of the purchase of the business

Gus's mother owns the building so there was no rent and no loan. Now there is both.
Ouch! I hope they don't have to increase prices.

random q: knowing tom's history of closing on holidays... any chance they'd be closed tomorrow (july 3rd) in advance of the holiday weekend? i'm planning on going tomorrow but want to make sure they're going to be open...

I don't know 100%, but I'd bet they're open.

fwiw, they were open on memorial day.

Somehow I thought this thread was about something else...

i think tom's is only closed sundays, christmas, thanksgiving and labor day. they've also taken a few announced weeks off in the past.

the reason we haven't seen gus lately is that he and his mother are in greece. i'm not sure if this is the first time he's been, or the first time in something like 50 years, but i think it's great that he's finally taking some time off and can do something like this. he's certainly earned it.

and he'll be back, altho parttime.

jimmy, meanwhile, assured me nothing will change. but i noticed the music was different today, not the usual schlocky 40s big band stuff they've played over and over for years. nothing wrong with that. i'm just saying.

had my delicious brunch there on july 3rd, totally open. and gus was there, front and center. not to worry yet, he's still keeping a watchful eye over the place.