What do Suzanne Vega, Barack Obama and Jerry Seinfeld have in common? Tom’s Restaurant!
It was founded by Tom Glikas in the 1940s and still retains its original name and its distinctive sign. The sign would look very familiar to the fans of TV sitcom “Seinfeld” because Tom’s Restaurant is the place where Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer regularly meet to eat and chat. Early episodes showed the entire neon sign, but later the "Tom's" part was cropped out, leaving only the "Restaurant". The interior shown on the television show, however, looked very little like the real Tom's, as indoor scenes were filmed on a set in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, the connection is strong and the walls are now covered with Seinfeld memorabilia.
Tom's Restaurant played a role in music history, too. This is the place which Suzanne Vega's famous song "Tom's Diner” is about! Before she became a well-known singer and songwriter, former Columbia student Suzanne Vega used to eat at Tom’s regularly. Rumor has it that she wrote the song while sitting at the counter observing the regulars.
"I am sitting in the morning at the diner on the corner
I am waiting at the counter for the man to pour the coffee
And he fills it only halfway, and before I even argue
He is looking out the window at somebody coming in
"It is always nice to see you"
Says the man behind the counter to the woman who was coming
She is shaking her umbrella
And I look the other way, as they are kissing their hello's
And I'm pretending not to see them
And instead I pour the milk"
As Tom's Restaurant is located on the ground floor of Columbia University's Armstrong Hall, it is a frequent stop for Columbia students and their parents. Senator John McCain often ate here when he visited his daughter Meghan when she studied at Columbia. Likewise, Barack Obama frequented the restaurant as a student.
Photo: Rick Dikeman (en:User:Rdikeman)
