Tom's Restaurant
Shall we say it? This Morningside Heights joint is the ultimate New York diner, complete with a neon sign that wraps around its cornered exterior. Suzanne Vega wrote a song about it, parts of Seinfeld were filmed in it, and Columbia students can be found in almost every booth almost every morning, fixing the damage they did the night before. What's better for a hangover than a Lime Rickey, better-than-Mom's meatloaf, and a thick stack of pancakes? Plus, you get to stare at local newscasters' headshots from the 1970s. Oh, and you can nibble on orange slices and crispy bits of sausage while waiting in line. Done and done.
Tom's Restaurant, 2880 Broadway (at 112th street); 212-864-6137.

Photo: Courtesy of Standard Output