Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Beloved Breakfast Joint Tom's Restaurant Expanding To Coney Island
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Dec 7, 2011
Modified Dec 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Dec 7, 2011
Modified Dec 7, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Tom's Restaurant, a much-loved Prospect Heights breakfast (and lunch) joint that's been turning out omelets and cherry lime rickeys for the past 70 years, is moving on up to that great big kitchen in...Coney Island. Will the freaks line up for their eggs Florentine?
NY1 first reported the move, and a phone call to the staff at Tom's confirms it: "We're not moving," snapped a rep this morning. "We're expanding." The deal is still being finalized, but owner Jimmy Kokotas hopes to be up and running on the boardwalk space, the former site of ChaCha's and Nathan's boardwalk concession, this spring. "We'd like to stay open as much as possible," Kokotas told NY1. "The ultimate goal is 52 weeks so people can come and have pancakes and eggs and whatever else they'd like on the boardwalk in December, in January and February."
It's the family-owned restaurant's first-ever expansion, but our man played it cool on the phone, saying, "Who knows what we'll do after this—who knows what the future holds?" It'll be interesting to see how this legitimate mom-and-pop business will play into the "revitalized" Coney Island—you know, the one that previously kicked out a series of longtime establishments to make way for shiny new toys. Whether or not a septuagenarian greasy spoon can stay beloved in a new, controversial location remains to be seen, but as long as they keep their pancake recipe the same, they have a fighting chance.
Tagged
breakfast
coney island
diner
expansions
pancakes
tom's restaurant
zamperla
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .