Tom’s Restaurant

This 70-plus-year-old institution in Prospect Heights has thankfully survived the neighborhood’s rapid, still ongoing, gentrification. With its large plantings and flower pots framing the entrance, it’s impossible to miss when you’re walking down Washington Avenue. There’s also always a massive line outside, since the dining room is small and diners are never rushed to finish their stacks of pancakes or plates of eggs. It’s best to come for breakfast during the week, when locals line the old-school counter, while weekend brunch draws couples, friends and families from all over the borough.