Tom’s Restaurant

Killer diner food and good drinks. I love this dive bar.

Bomb af to say the least. The service is always on top of things. Coffee is always being poured. Water never goes below ¼ of the glass. The prices are right on time. I have no problem ordering a few menu items because of the fairness in pricing and portion size. The atmosphere is so casual it’s relaxing. I could easily snooze in the booth after waking up from a delicious food coma, only to order some more food. Between the attitude of the staff, the product that they work with and the space in which they operate, I am a fully satisfied and happily returning customer.

Tom’s Restaurant is a neighborhood diner that has been in business at the same location for decades. I stopped in for breakfast this morning and was impressed to see such a tidy, orderly, and clean dining room! (Honestly, I had been expecting a semi-​chaotic scene like a lot of other diners are at breakfast time.) I ordered a bacon, mushroom, and Swiss cheese omelette with hash browns on the side.. .and I requested the hash browns to be «nice and crispy». It was humorous that when I started to say to the waitress that I wanted my hash browns «nice and.. .», she actually finished my sentence for me and said, «crispy». That proves she knows what GOOD hash browns are all about. Anyway, my omelette was loaded with plenty of ingredients and my hash browns came out perfectly brown and crispy. Good food, friendly service, and fair prices.. .I like this place!

This place is total local and a must if your from the neighborhood. The best Bloody Mary in Portland. The staff is friendly most times.

For a real true-​life diner, not an air quote diner with hipsters – this place rocks! Fresh, not frozen, hash browns, perfect eggs, great biscuits and gravy, yummy bloody mary’s, solid beer selection, free wifi, great staff, parking lot!!! Love it, love it, love it!

Tom’s is comfortable, inexpensive and welcoming (parking lot!). As mentioned in other reviews the diner is an ideal breakfast spot (Denver omelette, Tom’s Bloody Mary with Bacon-​infused vodka!!). Our server was warm and attentive — my coffee and water were never empty.
I’ve also been to Tom’s Bar at least a dozen times, it’s become a default meeting spot for a group of us. I’ve also watched Blazer games here. Classic and inexpensive beer selection.

It is unfortunate that I have to write this review. My friend and I were excited to find a great place with parking to meet for lunch. Our first visit was fantastic and the food was good, but it ended in us both getting food poisoning. We have pinned it down to two things. We shared a bowl of clam chowder and we both had lettuce and tomato on our sandwich. Unfortunately this has made us not want to return. Not sure what their health dept scores are but be warned they may not be using proper cleaning techniques.

Hands down one of the best restaurants in Portland. Not only do you get delicious food for great prices, the family has a long tradition in town. Over 30 years serving up American classics and pouring cold beers, there’s a reason people always come back to Tom’s.
I highly recommend ordering the thick cut bacon & biscuits and gravy your first time (and really every time) you go. If you’ve got some time and you’re lucky, keep your eyes peeled for one of the owners (they’re all family!). Great stories and amazing people.
I love Tom’s!!!

incredible food very reasonable prices. staff is supreme. drinks are stroooong!
ski-​ball, billiards, front patio, pretty much the coolest Portland hangout spot

Impressed. From start to finish. Our server, Caitlyn was very attentive and serve worthy. Our sister party of 3 ordered chicken fried steak breakfast, patty melt and hummus plate. Food was great, hashbrowns A +! Patty melt with beer batter fries num! The hummus plate was good BUT, only one pita cut in ¼s was a tad chinsey. Had to order extra to finish off accompaniments. Overall, is highly recommend Tom’s for a good inexpensive and very satisfying meal!

I stand by my five-​star rating! I’m here every couple of weeks at least. The service is fantastic, the prices are unmatched, and the food is always great! It’s exactly what I want out of a diner breakfast, every time. That said, the reviews describing the owner being terrible to his employees are troubling. I hope this gets better.

I had a Swiss cheese omelet here with avocado and it was so good? It was way more flavorful than I was expecting for a cheese omelet. I took off a star because the hash browns were totally bland, but that omelet was great. Seated immediately, service was quick.

I’m editing my review. Today 12÷28÷15 our server seemed very distracted. She wouldn’t bring more coffee. We would ask and she would say ok, but then she would not bring it. It was frustrating. The food was good, but what is breakfast without plenty of coffee refills? It is just not as satisfying (for a coffee drinker, like me). There were not many customers, so it didn’t make any sense. I did notice who I presume was the owner taking her to task over something pertaining to the register. He was blustery and she was sheepish. I heard her say «Yes sir». I did leave her a tip… not because of good service, but because she was probably worried about this man and whatever she did that he was angry about.

This place may not always be the most gourmet or trendy, but the atmosphere and service is authentically «Old Portland» and wonderful. My grandmother used to come here, and I love the bar for a casual drink or karaōke on a lazy weeknight. Plus, I have always thought they have the best chocolate cream pie anywhere!

Old fashioned bar. Like Cheers with a bigger crowd and bigger tvs. Big tables and booths more accommodate groups of 4 – 6 than singles but it’s not a singles bar at all. None of the trendy hipster vibes. Here it’s about the company, the pool tables, and the Ducks game. 7 tvs (including a bbbiiiggg one) so you can watch from any angle in the bar. Food is diner dive-​y good but the prices match so you feel like it’s a fair deal (unlike so many other places on division).
As far as entertainment besides the game, there’s 3 pool tables, 2 skee ball things, keno & lotto machines, buck hunter (safari), and looks like a golf video thing in the corner.

We were very pleased with our experience at Tom’s. It was exactly what you would expect from a cheap diner. It was fast service and regular quality food. The waitress was friendly and helpful. All of the toast was burnt on one side, but the waitress happily replaced mine (my friends were not bothered by the burn). Portion sizes are big. Bacon is thick and good quality.
This restaurant did not change my world, but for the price we had an extremely satisfactory experience.

Tom’s is a solid restaurant-​bar combo in what might be the edge of «close-​in» SE Portland. I’ve only been to the restaurant, so cannot comment on the bar, though I see patrons there every day enjoying the outside tables. I find the restaurant a dependable stalwart in a changing part of the city.
Often craving something on the diner side of things (overtly non-​fancy, simple, predictable, etc.) food-​wise and ambience-​wise, my wife and I found ourselves at Tom’s the first time back in May. We’ve been maybe a dozen times since, and they’ve proved to be quite consistent. One can go early or late, and almost always be guaranteed a seat. I, admittedly, have been only for breakfast. I’ve had a range of their breakfast options and I consider the food average. I’ve had what I consider better «diner food,» and I’ve had worse. I’ve also come to appreciate simple, predictable food in a hyper-​commoditized food culture where every local eatery is trying to outdo the other with rich, outlandish combinations that remind one of Guy Fieri (shout out Santa Rosa!). The food is relatively cheap though I wish they had more options. Again, this menu is standard, predictable fare. I’m a coffee drinker so I drink their coffee. But I don’t like it. It’s pretty tasteless to me, in all honesty. I like the eggs. I like the toast and english muffins. I wish the hash browns were more cooked inside (instead of just the top layer). I don’t like the bacon. Just something about it. The pancakes are always overwhelming. Not my favorite, but they «quench the thirst.» The French Toast, however, I dislike very much. The omelettes are good and satisfying.
The staff here is awesome. Very friendly and always there to assist. Real folks, better at their job than some at establishments charging much more, I can say that. On this part of Division, there are actually a TON of food options. But for simple, everyday food that the average person can pull-​over and get at any hour, be in and out quickly and satisfied, this is a rare thing. Rarer everyday still in the new Portland, some say. So, coming from someone who has seen what the disappearance of diners has done to lower Manhattan, enjoy places like Tom’s (and others) while they’re around.

Tom’s is the best. Coming from New Jersey (the land of diners) I would love to take any of you pretentious shit talkers to a «Real Diner» in New Jersey and show you what’s up.
Tom’s is a Gem god dammit. It’s cheap and you get your money’s worth.
Yes the waitresses don’t have time for you (it’s suppose to be that way). The coffee isn’t going to blow your hipster socks off and entice your tastebuds… it might actually be «shitty». (once again it’s suppose to be that way) The food is not meant to be «critiqued» with fancy smart words and like ummmm stuff. It’s meant for you to shovel into your mouth and bring life back to your hungover self.
–How about you bring company with you who aren’t such a drag or bore that you feel the need to be «entertained» by the waitress. (get better friends)
–I don’t know why people complain about the bathroom at Tom’s it’s always been more then pleasant for me. Yeah it’s dimly lit, kind of dingy, and outdated but that adds to ambiance, allure, and experience. (I’ve actually pooped there, twice, OMGZ don’t tell anyone)
–The menu is simple and too the point but has a lot of options. (read it’s simplicity, choose and order) Don’t over think it, it’s not rocket science. When in doubt just get the two eggs, meat choice, hash browns and toast option and wash it down with a tall Greyhound. If you can’t appreciate that classic American breakfast then you are an idiot. (seriously)
–In terms of service. It’s not «amazeballs» but they get it done. I’ve actually gotten dare I say «good service» from Tom’s on more then one occasion. However, I am a «veteran» of the Food Service Army of America and actually know how to order and act as a consumer. Sooooo… I might have a little advantage. (once again it’s not rocket science)
— As for the food quality. Yeah it’s no James Beard contender for «Best Food in Portland» but by golly it’s sustenance.
Overall, Tom’s is exactly what it should be and I have never had a bad experience there ever. You go there for coffee, drinks, and food. Just be nice to people and order correctly and ⁹⁄₁₀ you’ll get what you wanted.
KEEP KICKING ASS TOM!

Nothing about this place is special except the price but that’s something. It’s a diner from the 70’s that’s never been updated. Good parking in the back which is unusual in that area. The food is fast, decent (at least for breakfast) and dirt cheap. You can get a traditional 2 egg breakfast for $ 6.50 (eggs, links, hash browns and toast). This means you will be fighting for a table with a lot of seniors and others on a fixed income.
Never tried the gyro here but love the fact that someone below is bitching about getting one that had feta on it. WTF?

I had my doubts about Tom’s from the outside. However the girl, @elvisismyman, was getting Hangry (#FearHangry).
I am a big believer that a bathroom is a big indicator of cleanliness. If so, I should have left immediately. Can you say two shades better than the Bathroom in «Saw».
However Tom’s Omelet caught my attention. It featured Gyro meat with onions and tomatoes. I added jalapeños. The girl wanted the same omelet with Feta (which I despise… feta not The Girl). Mine also arrived with Feta. When I pointed out the issue, our waitress said «I didn’t put it in». Do I care? Did I blame you? #ReallyReallyReally
The omelet was actually very good. However the service and bathroom really set this place rathet low on the scale. I would give Tom’s a 2 in comparison to restaurants of the same class. Not recommended!