BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)
Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)
Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)
Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)
Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)
Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)
Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)
David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)
Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)
John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)
Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)
Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)
Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)
Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)
Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)
Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)
Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)
Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)
Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)
Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)
Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)
Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)
Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)
Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)
Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)
Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)
Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)
Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)
Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)
Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)
Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)
Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
(3)
Hailee S.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)
Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)
Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)
Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)
Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)
Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)
Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)
Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)
Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)
Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)
James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)
Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)
Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)
Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)
Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)
Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)
Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)
Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)
Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)
Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)
Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)
Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)
Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)
Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)
Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)
Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)
Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)
Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)
Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)
Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)
Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)
Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)
Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)
Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)
Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)
Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)
Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)
John L.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)
Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)
Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)
Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)
Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)
John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)
Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)
Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)
Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)
Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)
Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)
Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)
Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)
Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)
Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)
Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)
Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)
Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)
Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)
Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)
Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)
Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)
Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)
Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)
Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)
Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)
Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)
Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)
Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)
Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)
Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)
Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)
Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)
Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)
Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)
Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)
Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)
Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)
Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)
Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)
Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)
James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)
Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)
Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)
Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)
Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)
Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)
Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)
Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)
Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)
David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)
Jason D.
They butter your toast for you.
(5)
Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)
Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)
Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)
Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)
Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)
Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)
Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)
Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)
Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)
John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)
Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)
Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)
Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
(3)
Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)
Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)
Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)
Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)
Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)
Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)
Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)
Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)
John L.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)
Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)
Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)
Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)
Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)
Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)
Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)
Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)
Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)
James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)
Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)
Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)
Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)
Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)
Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)
Dee M.
BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)
Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)
Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)
Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)
Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)
Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)
Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)
Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)
Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)
Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)
Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)
Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)
Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)
Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)
Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)
Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)
Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)
Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)
Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)
Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)
Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)
Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)
Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)
Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)
Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)
Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)
Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)
Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)
Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)
Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)
Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)
David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)
Jason D.
They butter your toast for you.
(5)
Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)
Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)
Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)
Dee M.
BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)
Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)
Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)
Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)
Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)
Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)
Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)
Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)
Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)
Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)
Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)
Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey, Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jason D.
They butter your toast for you.
(5)Dee M.
BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
(4)Hector S.
Found Tom Jones Restaurant by accident driving home to Maryland & was glad I did. They are open 24 hours/7 days. The food is tasty & very reasonably priced. Their creamy crab cake is surprisingly good. I'm a Marylander, so I know Maryland crab cakes are the world's best-but Tom Jones does it differently & it works! Service is quick & friendly with Free WiFi! The décor is retro-cool with just the right amount of dim, not too bright lighting, which matched the general relaxed ambiance perfectly. The service was friendly and fast and they even have a working pay phone near the restrooms--that's a rare sight these days. If you are passing through and need a quick, decent meal with decent pricing that happens to have a retro-cool vibe, then check this place out.
(4)John L.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
(3)Hailee S.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)Casey W.
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(4)Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)John L.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
(4)Hector S.
Found Tom Jones Restaurant by accident driving home to Maryland & was glad I did. They are open 24 hours/7 days. The food is tasty & very reasonably priced. Their creamy crab cake is surprisingly good. I'm a Marylander, so I know Maryland crab cakes are the world's best-but Tom Jones does it differently & it works! Service is quick & friendly with Free WiFi! The décor is retro-cool with just the right amount of dim, not too bright lighting, which matched the general relaxed ambiance perfectly. The service was friendly and fast and they even have a working pay phone near the restrooms--that's a rare sight these days. If you are passing through and need a quick, decent meal with decent pricing that happens to have a retro-cool vibe, then check this place out.
(4)Hailee S.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)Casey W.
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(4)Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)Lisa D.
Tom Jones is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 4am pancakes? Okay. Like everyone else said, it's a grimy place, but I think that's part of the charm. Before the state smoking ban, it was like walking into a wall of tobacco. Now, it still smells a bit like stale cigarettes and fried food. The booths and tables are old, and you can tell that most of the fixtures have been there for a while. The later you go on weekend nights, the more you tend to see hipsters and scene kids avoiding their parents. But. The food is damn good. The blue ribbon, even though it keeps increasing by nickles and dimes, can't be beat at any other diner. You walk out of there full, and two steps closer to a heart attack from all the bacon. You can't use credit cards, true. But that's part of what keeps the cost down. And it's one of the last places locally that I know of to still have a full ice cream case... for the milkshakes. Holy crap, the milkshakes.
(4)Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)Jason D.
They butter your toast for you.
(5)Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)Sean H.
The steak i ordered medium rare came medium well it was freezing cold inside the building the shrimp were ok the waitress was over worked (nice girl though) i will not be returning for dinner anytime soon but the blue ribbon is always good and also cheap overall dont take a date there to impress its more of a quick breakfast kinda place.
(2)Mike F.
Went again 2/08, to give it another chance. Had a grilled chicken melt sandwich & fries, and iced tea. The sandwich was pretty good, but the fries were lukewarm, iced tea watery. My friend had an average tasting chicken wrap, and a tiny bag of chips. We felt like they were skimping on the amount of food. So it was kind of so so...
(2)Bob A.
All I can say is blue ribbon special. I love his diner for the 2am munchies after the bar. I will be the first to tell you the food won't blow you away but the prices will. Cheapest breakfast in town, and GREAT service
(5)Maria S.
As diners go, this one leaves something to be desired. Good menu choices, as a plus. I ordered creamed chipped beef and it was runny and lacked flavor. Service was slow. I think they were understaffed, as I only saw one waitress and a manager. The icing on the cake (and why I won't return) - they don't take credit cards - yet I saw no warning signs about that - I found out when I went to check out. There was a convenient atm machine though (probably with a fee).
(2)Brian H.
Love the blue ribbon.
(4)Matt B.
My wife grew up with Tom Jones, so we occasionally go there for nostalgia. I've never had to wait for a table, and the service has never been bad. At less than $4, I often get their Blue Ribbon Special: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast, a cup of juice or soda, and a coffee. They also have good chicken fingers and fries as well as very reasonably priced crab cakes (don't get the mashed potatoes though). All-in-all, they've got some good food, and they've got some bad food, but you can't beat the price.
(3)John S.
Haven't been here in two years. Decided to check it out since I refuse to give any more business to my normal late night spot. I left there tonight majorly confused about the pricing structure here. Somehow you can get a blue ribbon special (two eggs, two sausage, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes, a 4oz glass of OJ and two slices of toast) for $3.99 but my three egg omelette with AT MOST 1/4 cup serving of undercooked "hash browns" with two slices of toast cost $5.47. I can't seem to figure that out at all. Also my service was minimalistic. She came took our order, delivered our food, without giving us silverware, we pointed out that we needed silverware and refills on drinks, she came back with utensils but no refills. After waiting 12 minutes I got fed up, walked to the waitress station and filled my own water. When I got back to my table I ate my cold omelette, with no longer melted cheese. She came up just as I was finishing my last bite and asked if we needed anything else, I replied no I got my own water I was tired of waiting. All she said was OH. This red headed girl is a joke and should be taught the correct way to be a waitress. She should have apologized at the least. I don't think this place deserves my late night business.
(2)Steve S.
No it's not the greatest place to eat in Delco. It's not "clean" whatever that means fir a diner. So why do I love it? I like many others in my day enjoyed more than one very cheap 2:30 AM meal here. Call it nostalgia. But really, how can you not love a place that keeps their signature breakfast dish under $4 in this tough economy? $3.89 for the Blue Ribbon Special at this time of writing. And it includes coffee. No one beats it. Stopped in after many years today and sat at the counter like the old days. Grabbed a jumbo Jomo burger which wasn't too jumbo. But at $5.69 including fries was certainly a worthy deal. Not the best burger ever but it was good enough. That's this place in a nut shell. It's good enough. The prices are what make it worthwhile. I don't think the place smelled like stale smoke at all. The whole cleanliness complaint comes from overly picky people. It ain't a country club by any means but there are far worse places in terms of clean. It's fine. I think they finally purged that smoke smell. And the orange booths are incredibly tacky, and I hope they never get rid of them. It wouldn't be Tom Jones without them.
(4)Hector S.
Found Tom Jones Restaurant by accident driving home to Maryland & was glad I did. They are open 24 hours/7 days. The food is tasty & very reasonably priced. Their creamy crab cake is surprisingly good. I'm a Marylander, so I know Maryland crab cakes are the world's best-but Tom Jones does it differently & it works! Service is quick & friendly with Free WiFi! The décor is retro-cool with just the right amount of dim, not too bright lighting, which matched the general relaxed ambiance perfectly. The service was friendly and fast and they even have a working pay phone near the restrooms--that's a rare sight these days. If you are passing through and need a quick, decent meal with decent pricing that happens to have a retro-cool vibe, then check this place out.
(4)Hailee S.
I love, love, love this place and will pass this on to the next generation just as my grandmother has done to my mother, and my mother has done to me. I'm sure they'll still be open. LOL
(5)Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
(3)Chris O.
A 24/7 diner joint, everyone has a story about something happening at Tom Jones. Maybe it was a fight your friend got into in the parking lot. Perhaps it was getting kicked out for causing a scene. Or maybe it was running into some strange crowd post 3 AM and chatting for an hour. No matter what it was, Tom Jones is a beacon in the memories of many Delco residents. The Blue Ribbon special can't be beat. Order a cherry coke? Prepare to have a lot of cherries swimming at the bottom of your glass. Tom Jones is an institution. Pies? Yup. Ice cream? Check the freezer right at the counter. Go to Tom Jones any time of day and you will be treated to good, affordable food that will satisfy everyone in your party - including the bah humbug friend that would rather sit at home and watch Mythbusters.
(5)Quyen T.
My go to diner. Can't beat the blue ribbon special, so cheap but delicious. Never been disappointed. Waitresses are awesome and extremely polite. Great place no matter what time. Think I've been there drunk or hung over more than sober but have yet to...how do I say this nicely, tasted the food twice, so that's a huge plus for me. Plus they have cake batter ice cream, one day, I shall get that, but I always stuff myself with the special. Worth the drive and the small line. Make sure you tip well! They work hard to make sure your pleased!
(5)Kai D.
Great place to get inexpensive and tasty food. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As other reviews have stated, you have to get the Blue Ribbon Special. It's price has increased over the past couple years, but it's still only $3.89. In addition to the vast amount of food it offers you, (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, 2 pieces of toast), you also get a cup of juice or soda (non-refillable) and a cup of coffee or tea (either of which have unlimited refills). Their strombolis are also awesome! Service is generally good, though sometimes you may get a somewhat apathetic server, (hence the 4 stars instead of 5). They don't accept credit cards, but you can use their ATM. Or if you want to avoid the surcharge, stop at the Wawa next to it and take out money. They have free Wi-fi, which is always appreciated. Love Tom Jones!
(4)Ian L.
I've been told about this place may be a thousand times, and just this week I had a chance to stop in for some breakfast. I have to say that I'm glad I did! Everything about this place was top notch; the food was delicious, service was very speedy (this may vary depending on how crowded the joint is), and everything was VERY cheap! Less than $4 for a short stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast (blue ribbon special)?! 10/10, would eat there again.
(5)Tim T.
Back to Tom Jones and time to update my review. I didn't see that odd ATM type machine that only lets you withdraw money to apply to your check. It's no longer there-used to be next to restrooms. There is still a payphone back there which I love. There are now ATM's at front entrance. The blue ribbon is now $3.79, but still a bargain since it includes everything: pancakes, 2 eggs, toast, sausage, bacon,juice & coffee. I ate here with my kids. My daughter's choice. Says she "loves Tom Jones". Our meals included blue ribbons, french toast, chicken, club sandwich & baked potato . Everyone gets what they like. I don't smell stale smoke and would not call it dirty. I like the "loud" orange booths. I feel like I went back in time with these and the payphone. Service is always fast and I always seem to get a different waitress. Don't know where they find these young ladies but they're good. I've seen different managers there and they are all quick and on top of things-which makes a good manager. Since it's my daughter's fave I'm bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars.
(5)Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)Jim M.
I didn't know much about Brookhaven until April 2013 when I was tasked to help sell an house there. I read about the Blue Ribbon Special and it is awesome. I can't believe the quantity and quality for the price. Also the restaurant is clean and the staff was extremely nice and professional. Worth a side trip from Harrah's Casino and Linvilla Orchards.
(5)Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)John L.
I've been in the DELCO area for about 10 years now, either due to my gf/wife or now living here. Tom Jones is THE spot to be for that much needed resupply of body fuel at any given time of the day. In all the years I've been coming here, I've never once gotten anything but the famous Blue Ribbon Special. 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, toast, juice for 3 bucks(cash!). Let me tell you something, it is the best feeling whether you're drunk, high, tired, stressed, paranoid, worried, happy, sad, indifferent, or even depressed. To know there is a place you can go to for a good breakfast anytime of the day, and just get the kind of thing that hits the spot. I love it and will always love this place until the day I die, and if there happens to be Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, or end of days. I am pretty sure Tom Jones will live on.
(5)Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)Casey W.
#NAME?
(4)Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)Louis B.
Every time I come here I like it more. Perhaps because I may be getting used to its proletarian atmosphere, but perhaps more because every time I come inside, there is either a new improvement or a noticeable thorough cleaning. And you can't beat the immediate service and the made-to-order food in the way that the customer wants it. The earlier the better for seating and food and ambiance. We were there about 9:30 AM and it was a quiet crowd with normal attire... As we were leaving, it seemed like the line to the Jerry Springer show, with cooky people coming in with their tattooes and piercings... On the other hand, maybe we should have come later.... :-) Cash only. No outside seating, but free Wi-Fi...
(4)Kamilah B.
First time here. The prices were awesome and the food was just ok. Hubs says that the portions used to be larger. Very diverse atmosphere, which makes it really comfortable. I hear that it is a "go to" spot for after prom. So, I will be avoiding that time. LOL It is a typical diner experience.
(3)Brian E.
I'm surprised this was ranked so highly. The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better." ranking is a dead on description. I think some people are nostalgic about coming here at 2am when they were in high school or something. You can tell the place has a history of people who've worked there forever, and that it was a smokers paradise back when they didn't know it was bad for you. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to walk out of the place, but it's just a diner. The service was ok; the waitress didn't get my order exactly right but she was friendly enough. The food, at least for breakfast, was really sub par. It's quick, cheap, relatively crappy food. I'd equate it to a Dennys. Coffee was Folgers Crystals, or something just as bad. I got the Blue Ribbon meal, which came with a shot glass full of orange juice that was maybe half an ounce bigger than the salt shaker. Bacon and sausage had been cooked earlier in the day and left on the grill or under a heat lamp to dry out. My wife's chipped beef was an oil slick...not near as good as Melrose Diner in South Philly. For breakfast in the area, you can do better at The Coffee Station in Morton (or the new one in Boothwyn, though I haven't been there yet) or even Nifty Fiftys in Ridley. But if you only have 4 dollars and want a big breakfast, you'll get more food at Tom Jones than you will at McDonalds.
(2)Jennifer M.
Nothing fancy and a dated interior but you can't beat the prices! A Delco staple, there's no better place for cheap, honest food available 24/7. The staff is friendly and know all the regular customers by name and order. Not much has changed since I was a college regular in the mid-90's, not even the famous Blue Ribbon Special: 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes, toast, juice & coffee for $3.50...yes, you read that correctly...$3.50!
(4)James K.
I went here on a Sunday morning around 5:30am for breakfast. Not at all crowded (as you would expect at that time). I ordered 2 eggs over-easy, canadian bacon, an OJ, with "rye" toast. I liked: The service was nice. I didn't like: The food was horrendous. The rye toast immediately deemed the nickname "sink toast" because it looked like they pulled it out of the sink. It seemed they toasted it in the microwave to melt the butter but that couldn't be true because the bread was completely flattened as if they buttered it with a meat tenderizer. The cheese-grater style hash browns tasted like cleaning detergent. There was hair all over my booth seat.
(1)Joe K.
If you are a local to the Delaware County area, Tom Jones is the place to go for great, honest, and affordable diner food. The waitresses there work their butts of to make sure you're happy. The portions are what you'd expect, but the prices make the food a steal. Whether you go on a Sunday morning or after the bar on a Friday night, this place is busy! You'll be seated within a few minutes of arrival, and food comes in about 15 or so. TJ's atmosphere is great for catching up, grabbing a bite, or take out. I've taken many friends there late at night, and they always leave happy and full. I recommend the blue ribbon special... It comes with WAY to much food to review here, but it's 4 bucks and you'll be taking home leftovers. Check this place out if you're stopping by, it does not disappoint!
(5)Ian S.
A good, solid diner. Cheap, good food, friendly service. Not fancy, no frills, but family owned and they work hard to keep the prices low, the portions big, and the customers smiling. Charming, and a tradition in the neighborhood. Good stuff!
(4)Jennifer G.
You get what you pay for. The blue ribbon breakfast special consisted of 2 tasteless pancakes that were rubbery, 2 sausage patty's that tasted and looked like cardboard and 2 eggs done not as I asked. The bacon was good and the bread was a well but really... You get what you pay for and this place was terrible.
(1)Milkyway B.
2 dirty plates. No substitutions. No credit cards. Only good @ 3 in the morning when you're drunk
(2)Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)Dee M.
BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)Adam F.
Writing a review about Tom Jones would be like writing a review of my family. Having been there so many times over so many years I could say just about anything I wanted and it would be true. How about... It's still weird sitting in the non-smoking section. I quit smoking long before the smoking ban & I still won't sit there. It's just not right. ...and unfortunately, it'll never be the same. TJ's was the e-pit-o-me of coffee & cigarettes.
(5)Ben F.
$3.79 Legendary Breakfast 2 eggs, any style 2 pancakes 2 pieces of bacon 2 pieces of sausage 2 pieces of toast coffee, unlimited refills juice Nuff said.
(5)Christina W.
I remember going here as a teenager. I went back a few years ago, after the smoking ban was put in effect and it wasn't quite the same. Nothing beats the Blue Ribbon Special, just don't eat both sausage patties. Also, skip the jell-o if you know what's best.
(3)Jeff H.
Last week was the first time I'd been to the Jones since the smoking ban. Strange. Bizarre. Like being in a disturbing alternate universe. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to taste my food and see my friends without peering through a Sherlock Holmes-esque night-on-the-moor fog of smoke but wow, it's just so different. It's going to be okay... everything is going to be okay. But all that aside, what gives with replacing the bacon and olive carpet painting with a giant American flag? Bring back bacon and olives!
(3)Mrinteresting W.
The perfect 24/7 diner. Full menu available to you at all times breakfast, lunch and dinner. Creative and fun names, a wide variety and good quality across the board. I can't say I've ever had anything 'bad' at Tom Jones. Plenty of mediocre stuff, but nothing bad. Tom Jones is everything you want in a diner, from the tacky orange seats to the classic white coffee cup and saucers. The blue ribbon special is an incredible deal, and the diner is famous for it. So far my only complaints are rubbery pancakes and all hash browns are the 'shredded' kind (I prefer whole potato pieces). Both of which are perfectly edible. Our family goes at least three times a week, kid friendly, mother and father approved.
(4)Tom G.
1997-2000 3 years of eating breakfast and $3 sandwiches at 1AM in a divey diner in Brookhaven. High School paradise. It loses a star because the food is pretty much garbage diner fare, but it was awesome as a high schooler.
(4)Kristen G.
The food isn't really anything special, but you know what - it's very consistent, and they do a great job getting it right even amidst chaos. I really enjoy their crab cakes as a change of pace from the blue ribbon special. The booths are really comfortable, especially the ones with the curved benches. All other diners pale in comparison to Tom Jones at 3am, it is the mecca of comfort food! "I'll have the gummer..."
(4)Philip L.
Was looking in this area for a diner-type place and came upon Tom Jones which in appearance would be more properly called a coffee shop (the place that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer hold up in Pulp Fiction--this is definitely not run by Greeks). Looks like most people go for their Grand Slam-ish breakfast special, but I was wanting an omelet and scrapple, the latter of which was great, but the former (mushroom, cheese, onion) highly on the dry side. Good (but also dry) hash-browns. Toast was kind of blah. Coffee par for the course (my companion said it was unacceptable as was the creamed chipped beef which was likely from a can). Delco can be hit or miss, and I'm sure Tom Jones has its fans but I'll stick with places run by Greeks for breakfast food. Bring cash as they don't take credit cards.
(2)Martha M.
Grew up going to Tom Jones after a long night of fun. Nice staff, cheap food and hot coffee! Now I love to bring people to experience the Tom Jones 'experience'.
(4)Samantha H.
Tom Jones is kind of gross but it's also super cheap and open 24/7. It was great for breakfast before school during delays or late night post-prom munchies, but when looking for quality it's not the place I want to go. Blue Ribbon Special is always my go to as it's a full breakfast that I usually can't finish for under $5. Just try not to think about the food too much and you should be ok.
(2)Amy Y.
What can I say about this place. I grew up in this diner. It's one of those local hometown icons that everyone in Delco seems to know of and appreciate for it's cheap CHEAP orders, fast service, cheesy orange deco, and never closing personality. I mean this place was open back during the blizzard of '96 when nothing else was. I walked there for three nights in a row through knee high snow drifts just to beat the cabin fever syndrome. I remember the only people allowed out of their homes were Pen Dot workers, so there we sat (3 of us) among the salt and plow people, drinking our coffees and laughing about how retarded we must be. Then we headed back home, trash can sledding all the way. This was no quick trip either. . .none of us lived that close, 45 minute walk at least. So this place is always open. It's sorta like the "Cheers" of the diner world, where everyone knows your name. . .aren't you glad you came. And you are always glad you went, well at least for the time there. Back home and within the privacy of your own bathroom you may feel differently, but you always seem to forgive their greasy ways. Remember this IS a DINER, and with that comes all the splendor a diner can bring. I don't think the wait staff has gotten new uniforms since 1972, yet they're always young college girls. And I don't think the menu has increased prices beyond a quarter per dish since 1995. (blue ribbon special still $2.99 for eggs, pancakes, toast, coffee, juice, bacon & sausage!) You just have to love this place. Especially if you grew up around here. If your traveling within the suburbs of Philly, drinking beers and laughing with friends, then this should be one of those local flavors you indulge in. Yay for Tom Jones. . .
(5)Enay V.
They have expanded their menu! Pierogies and fried onions - unreal! Service was great - Brittany was our waitress & was very nice. Ice cream was phenomenal (cotton candy is an all-time favorite). Use to going there in the middle of the night but not so bad in the daytime - place is always packed, for sure
(5)Mandi B.
Honest to God, I have no idea why I love this place so much. It's smokey, the food is alright, and its more often than not loud. But I just can't stay away. Its the best spot for late-night hangouts, midnight hunger cravings, and cheap food. The coolest thing though, is probably that on any given night I can walk in and know at least three or more people. Its just a Delco staple diner.
(4)Kyle B.
It's your basic diner. Nothing to special here. The prices are on par with what you'd expect and the food is of likewise quality. It's big so you'll most likely always find a seat or at least not have to wait long for one. My only complaint is that there is no background noise, no tv, no music, no nothing. It's just you the sound of everyones quiet conversations from around the room. Still, it's a diner, it's 24/7 and that's all I need when I'm hungry at 3 am.
(3)Geri M.
OK - I've been to other diners and I have to say that this was not a top of the line diner nor was it the cleanest diner, but the food was ok. It was your typical standard diner food. And that was just the type of food I was looking for tonight. My family with whom I went had been there before and they say that it's a staple in the community. I don't know that it would be my first choice again, but it comes through in a pinch. I didn't visit the restrooms so I can't say whether they were clean or not - that is usually my tell tale sign if I'm going to come back to a restaurant or not (if they are filthy, I won't return). But all in all, it was good for a late night (9:30 p.m. dinner of pancakes).
(3)Suzy G.
OK...this is the first time I've been here since the smoking ban, and it was great to breathe fresher air but you start to notice the decor more without the haze of smoke hanging over your head. The ceiling is definitely yellowed from years of smoke, but I did love the retro feel of the orange booths. Food is still dirt cheap and decent...plus any place that serves breakfast all day long gets my vote. My companion claims that they have not changed their prices in almost 10 years...and I have to agree with him....prices are pretty cheap. All the staff are super friendly. Great for cheap, quick eats.
(5)Michael L.
Me and my friends are all regular customers here and just cant resist this place.It has great prices, great service, and all around just great. We all can cant resist the 3 buck blue ribbon special so keep servin it!
(5)Bob R.
I really never could understand what all the hype was about tom jones. Its pretty dirty in there, but i guess thats somehting you have to expect of a restaraunt that never closes. I had a friend who washed the dishes there and on his first day he was scrubbing them and the silverware with soap and water. The manager told him to just squirt the food of them so it looks clean and push them aside. Their reasoning was because of the high flow of washing due to so many customers. That is discusting. As for the food its ok. Its cheap. Everytime i eat there i get the shits, maybe this is because of their low grade food. As for the employees there are some good some bad. Alot of the waitress' are snot nosed, snobby bitchs. Not the best resteraunt but i guess to each is own. Just explaining what i know and my personal experiences. Just hope when you put their spoon or fork in your mouth that the person who used it before you was clean. :(
(1)Tommy V.
I only come here when I'm drunk for the blue ribbon special and I'm only giving it 3 stars for the blue ribbon special. One word of advice: get the fucking blue ribbon special. I grew up in the Philly area & this diner was open 24/7 but now it's only on weekends all hours which is laaaaame. Every time I've had anything else besides the blue ribbon it's been baaaaaaad. Like something you could make at home in your microwave...... Yuckkkkk. Some of the waitresses are nasty too.... One time I came in with a group and we left a 7.00 tip which we all threw in a dollar and one of my friends didn't remember to put it down on the table and she chased us out of the place literally chased us and we were halfway down the stairs and she says "why didn't you leave me a tip? I work for that" and started a huge fight with us in front of everyone when we tried explaining to her that we forgot and she accused us. So nasty and unprofessional, but.... It's a diner what do you expect. Pretty average & I'd avoid it unless you're drunk.
(3)Marisa S.
I know everyone raves about the blue ribbon special but I'm skeptical as to why everything at this restaurant is so cheap. It's most likely all crap low quality food. I got pierogis with onions and my boyfriend got a burger. My pierogis were okay but his burger was so gross and low quality it wasn't even funny. It was definitely a frozen burger patty from a box. Gross. We also got chicken fries which was a mistake. They were also definitely frozen and so low quality. Their seafood salad was pretty good if you like imitation crabmeat. Otherwise, I don't think we'll be back to this place. Not to mention that the waitress had the most loud, obnoxious and annoying voice to top off the bad food. I was disappointed actually because this diner is close to us and I was excited about the family owned feel. I didn't get what I was expecting!
(2)Naomi M.
This place is just up the road from where I used to live, I've been here a few time but I only had the blue ribbon special. Im giving it 3 stars because last night me and my boyfriend went there and he got a New York strip streak and I got a crab cake dinner. We didn't really like the food. The steak had minimum flavor and the crab cake wasn't exactly a crab cake it looked like one but the inside was very runny. Overall we just weren't satisfied, I'd only recommend the blue ribbon special.
(3)Jaden C.
I got hair in my Blue Ribbon. My ketchup exploded because it was moldy. I am never going back to Tom Jones "Family Restaurant".
(1)Sybille P.
I found this place while flipping through Yelp for a place to eat breakfast not too far from my church job. I also needed a place with wi-fi in order to finish stuff for work. I didn't want to pay a million dollars for a breakfast sandwich at Panera, so Tom Jones it was. What a pleasant surprise. Sure it doesn't have the best decor and the smell is a little off, but after you get past that, it a great place to get an inexpensive meal. I ate to my heart's content and paid no more than $8.00. Plus the wifi connection was awesome and the best part no one rushed me and my laptop as I worked. This is my new go-to after a morning of singing.
(4)Sarah L.
Great value and good food, bring cash as they don't take credit cards. Been eating here my whole life, funky fun atmosphere. Waitresses always bust their butts and food is always brought out hot.
(4)Jason H.
Been eating at Tom Jones for over 30 years. Used to stop there several times a week - usually after midnight when there was nothing else opened. I introduced dozens of people to the wonder that was Tom Jones, and most became regulars. The Blue Ribbon Special and Steak, Cake & Bake were to of my favorites. I have to say, on my last few visits I have been pretty disappointed. It's just not the same. The food quality seems to have gone downhill as portion size has decreased along with pretty decent price increases. I'm sad to report this because I literally grew up at this place...
(2)Mario C.
Ok this place isn't the ritz nor is it even in the 21st century but the blue ribbon special is still the best deal in town. The decor had not been updated since 1970's and I fully expect Alice Vera or flo to come take my order but for under $4 u can get a meal and coffee and juice and not be hungry later. Cash only so be warned.
(4)David G.
Friendly and great food at a great price. But yesterday morning it took a loooooooooong time to get our breakfasts.
(4)Jason D.
They butter your toast for you.
(5)Grace B.
I've been coming here for 15+ years, and I still love it. It's not as busy as it used to be which, from a consumer standpoint, isn't so bad since you get seated and served faster, but, from a business standpoint, isn't great with so much competition around Brookhaven and Aston. I'm glad there isn't a smoking section anymore because even if you sat in the non-smoking section, you would still come out smelling like an ashtray. Not anymore! Thanks! The food is average and reasonably priced, but I gave this place an extra star because of sentimental reasons. I've been coming here since my church moved to the area, and it's always been another gathering place for the brethren and my family and friends. Whenever we're hungry, one of the first places that is suggested is Tom Jones :) Good times! The servers and managers are always nice, and the food comes out quickly. The hours are convenient and the location is great.
(5)Jarrett Q.
Found this place using Yelp! while in the area, playing in a hockey tournament. The reviews were solid so we gave it a shot. Upon first walking in, the atmosphere seems like a diner you'd find somewhere out in the Midwest. There is definitely some type of southern charm that made it seem very welcoming. The first thing I noticed once we were seated was that the wait staff was high energy and fast paced. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering good insight to several of the more popular breakfast items. I decided on "The Gummer" which was a breakfast sub with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and cheese on a buttered steak roll. It was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had and I was overly excited that I was advised toward such a wonderful sandwich. The food alone was probably worth 5 stars but I had to drop one star off because they are cash only. I don't usually carry cash but was lucky that I had $20 on me. Otherwise our $12 meal (before tip) could have ended up costing me an additional $5 in ATM fees. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely try to return here and try more of their food.
(4)Meredith G.
Okay, as far as diners go you can't go wrong with Tom Jones. The prices are unbeatable. I have taken so many friends here for breakfast and it's a great hangover cure. Just remember it's cash only but with the Blue Ribbon Special being only ~$4, having $10 on you is plenty.
(3)Dee M.
BLUE RIBBON SPECIAL is still the best breakfast value in Delco. Need more waitstaff though as service the last year had been exceptionally slow. Today, my sisters pancakes were undercooked. I received white instead of wheat as ordered. My other sister's bacon was just scraps from the pan. No one checked because they were today again understaffed so before the check came nothing could be rectified. Waitstaff running around like crazy. Don't they realize if they hired more servers the lines would again be out the door like they were 3 years Hoping TJ's realizes they need to step up to return to its former glory of the place to go in Western Delco. But as previously stated ,the blue ribbon special makes the slow service a little easier to handle.
(2)Leila L.
I stumbled upon this place many years ago while traveling for work, decided to come back with the gf since we love cheap eats and homestyle cooking. This time around, the food was not as good as I remembered. Don't get me wrong, nothing else will be as cheap and filling as this cash only place. The blue ribbon special consists of 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, 2 bacon strips, coffee, and juice. All that was offered for $4! How can you ever beat that price?!? Sadly, the sausage were burnt, the pancakes were undercooked, and the drinks didn't come for over 10 minutes on a slow night. I ordered the NY strip and western omelette since I was craving meat. The steak was completely well done even though I asked for medium rare. This didn't upset me though since you can't expect short order cooks to watch a steak that well. The problem was how salty the sauce was that came with it, almost made it inedible. Come here for cheap breakfast items, which is served 24/7, but don't expect amazing meals. You will save a lot of money by coming here, that's for sure!
(3)Karen F.
Note: No credit cards. Also they close at 10 or 10:30 on weekdays. I stopped in after the place I wanted to go to was closing at 8 PM. It was 7:40 PM and I needed dinner and a quiet place to take a 1 hour conference call. The young peppy (gorgeous) server was attentive and kind. I did not get the $3.89 breakfast (served all day) deal - but that is alot of food and I will consider it when I want breakfast. Mashed potatoes are from a box (so the server said) so I got a baked potato, ffrozen green beans and a surprisingly OK steak dinner. Plus a large diet coke with Vanilla syrup in it. (They can also put cherries in your soda). Very reasonable CASH only prices. Dated decor - but I bet it's fun when you are wasted on a Friday or Saturday night. It's been here for YEARS.
(3)Soraya P.
My favorite diner--feels like home. Of course, the blue ribbon special. (Although lesser known treats are the buffalo mozzarella sticks)
(5)Bill G.
Food is ok. A step down from Denny's. Great prices, but annoying that it is cash only. Decor is dated.
(2)Gina M.
The layout is extremely tacky. But the Blue Ribbon Special cannot be topped anywhere. That includes: two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, to sausage, coffee, home fries, juice. All under three bucks. It's every underaged drunk's dream. But I hope you brough cash because they dont accept credit cards!
(4)Amanda A.
The diner you visit, well because you always have! Not the cleanest place around, nor the most delicious food. But, you can rely on the menu being pretty much the same, and settling in with your friends or family like old times.
(3)Jamie D.
Stopped in this place around 1pm on a Sunday, so it was pretty packed. The manager said he'd get us a seat in 15 minutes and did it in 13. Holla. We sat and it took a really long time for our waitress to get our drink order and then we pretty much didn't see her for 20 minutes. She rushes by, stops, apologizes and gives us to another server. The wait kind of sucked, but at least it got handled instead of it continuing to take forever. I got the Blue Ribbon Special...it pretty much can't be beat and is a fatty paradise of meats, pancakes, eggs, and soda. I got a side of cheddar hash browns and it was a good idea. CASH ONLY
(3)Ryan B.
The Good: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED The Bad: THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED This is a classic late night spot for the local drunks/retired persons. The food is standard diner food, hard to mess up eggs and pancakes.... You might be discusted by the conversations you overhear or the dirt you see underneath the table. You will also probablly be grossed out by most of the persons eating in this place. Only eat here if your piss drunk or if you are about to die of starvation. But its good for a 24/7 diner I guess.
(3)Andrew P.
Slow service but 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, toast, coffee and juice for 3.89 can't be beat.
(4)Ed R.
The 5 stars is for the chocolate milkshake I had here on Monday night. One of the servers there is a master at making perfect chocolate milkshakes. It was the most delicious chocolate milkshake I have had in years, which is saying a lot. Wednesday night I was back for more. Somebody else made it. And it was good, but not perfect. If you plan to pay for your meal with plastic here, you'll have to hit one of their ATM's to get cash, because they only take cash. This place is clean, efficient, value-priced, always open, and popular.
(5)Valerie S.
Tom Jones isn't my favorite but we go there once in a while... It's obviously a favorite of lots of other people because every time we go there, the place is jam packed and you have to wait for quite a while to be seated, especially for breakfast/brunch on the weekends. The food is pretty good though and the prices are reasonable. Personally I think the restaurant itself could use a little updating, but I think that's what some people like so much about it...
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