If you search Yelp for the “best breakfast” or “best brunch” in Brooklyn, Tom’s on Washington Avenue will appear at the top of the list. Far from a new Brooklyn hot spot, this diner has been in the neighborhood for decades.
After years of wondering if a trip to Tom’s would better than our local diners, we finally decided to make a late morning trip during last year's holiday week. We waited for about 15 or 20 minutes for a table, and were ultimately seated on their indoor patio at a relatively small but comfortable table.
We decided to split a savory dish with a sweet one, and both were pretty good, though not outstanding (even for diner fare).
I got the veggie omelet with cheddar, which was definitely HUGE but otherwise not that special. The breakfast potatoes were also pretty good but didn’t really deviate from the norm for similar potatoes.
The husband got the Danish pancakes with blueberries. I think I liked them more than him in that the blueberries gave the pancakes a nice sweetness and the parmesan, which I couldn’t fully taste, may have added some salt to the dish? In any case though, I don’t think it’s a dish that we would necessarily re-order in the future.
So ultimately, we will probably go back to Tom’s if we are ever in the neighborhood at breakfast time. However, I don’t think we’ll travel again just to eat there.
782 Washington Avenue (at Sterling Place)
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Easily accessible via the 2/3 subway lines at Eastern Parkway, and slightly longer (10 minute) walk from the 2/3/4/5 subway lines at Franklin Avenue