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I don't think has been asked yet, so here goes... what's going on with The Usual? Are they just remodeling? Closing? I was worried when I saw the sign being taken down yesterday.
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My husband noticed this over the weekend. I forget where I read this, but I think they're closing. I think the building was sold."Now if every newspaper editor had to deal with a reader like Emily, boy, would they think twice, or three times." --greg
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say it isn't so?!?!
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I've never eaten at the place, but I'd always intended to... drat....not that there's anything wrong with that.
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WhyFi » I've never eaten at the place, but I'd always intended to... drat.
Same here. Double drat! -
Carnivore » [quote="WhyFi"]I've never eaten at the place, but I'd always intended to... drat.
Same here. Double drat![/quote] Triple drat.===
Doing just fine, thank you. -
BrookFetish » [quote="Carnivore"][quote="WhyFi"]I've never eaten at the place, but I'd always intended to... drat.
Same here. Double drat![/quote] Triple drat.[/quote] you didn't miss much. think Tom's about 10-20 cents cheaper per item minus the atmosphere. it lacked the Tom's line, on one hand, but any wait was too long, on the other, since the place had 5 or 6 tables. if you need a greasy breakfast and can't wait at Tom's, just head to Carneviento, or Nick's.like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote -
alafairnadia » you didn't miss much. think Tom's about 10-20 cents cheaper per item minus the atmosphere. it lacked the Tom's line, on one hand, but any wait was too long, on the other, since the place had 5 or 6 tables. if you need a greasy breakfast and can't wait at Tom's, just head to Carneviento, or Nick's.
Yeah but... well, I never got to have the folowing exchange with my wife - "Where you goin'?" "Oh... The Usual." That was the most appealing part!!!...not that there's anything wrong with that. -
They're just closing for renovations. Husband and I ate breakfast there two weekends ago. The owner said they were partnering with someone new and looking to offer an expanded dinner menu.
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geezee » They're just closing for renovations. Husband and I ate breakfast there two weekends ago. The owner said they were partnering with someone new and looking to offer an expanded dinner menu.
agreed - the owner told me and my husband the same. they are renovating the interior and updating the menu. we like the place - a good, quick breakfast, and the owners and employees couldn't be nicer. -
cyn707 » [quote="geezee"]They're just closing for renovations. Husband and I ate breakfast there two weekends ago. The owner said they were partnering with someone new and looking to offer an expanded dinner menu.
agreed - the owner told me and my husband the same. they are renovating the interior and updating the menu. we like the place - a good, quick breakfast, and the owners and employees couldn't be nicer.[/quote] oh good... while the food might not be as good as tom's, it's my alternative for a cheap quick breakfast. the owners are fantastic. -
Good news! We like it a lot for a low-key brunch. They are very friendly."Now if every newspaper editor had to deal with a reader like Emily, boy, would they think twice, or three times." --greg
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Thank god they're not closing. Good food, good service, and none of the crowds and annoying people you get at Tom's.their world is entirely different from ours, a whole different set of rules apply, fierce, natural, savage -- it's the only way they can survive in their world.
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Yea, I have to say I'm glad their not closing either - I'm also glad though that they've decided to update - of course that probably means an increase in prices, but... my husband LOVES their french toast. He was crushed this past weekend. Maybe I could have made him some...hmmm, didn't think about that at the time.
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I have to say, Too bad they're not closing. Every time I've gone there, I've had shitty, surly service. Drinks slammed down on the table. Inattentive waitresses. Rotten, moldy ketchup. And let's not forget about the time I forgot a water bottle at the restaurant. I had this classic exchange with an employee: "Excuse me, sir. But I left my Nalgene water bottle here." "How do you know?" "I had it when I walked in, then I didn't." "Someone could've stolen it." "Why would someone steal my used water bottle?" "They steal lots of things here." "Could you at least look?" "No. You didn't leave it here." No more business from me.
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JoshB » I have to say, Too bad they're not closing. Every time I've gone there, I've had shitty, surly service. Drinks slammed down on the table. Inattentive waitresses. Rotten, moldy ketchup. And let's not forget about the time I forgot a water bottle at the restaurant. I had this classic exchange with an employee: "Excuse me, sir. But I left my Nalgene water bottle here." "How do you know?" "I had it when I walked in, then I didn't." "Someone could've stolen it." "Why would someone steal my used water bottle?" "They steal lots of things here." "Could you at least look?" "No. You didn't leave it here." No more business from me.
LOL! that's hilarious! (I mean, sucks for you, and yes, it would make me not return to a place, but still. hilarious. that's one paranoid freak.)like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote -
Subject: didn't miss much?
wrong wrong wrong what they've missed is the friendliest, neighborliest (i like making up words) service in the entire area: Viva The Usualalafairnadia » [quote="BrookFetish"][quote="Carnivore"][quote="WhyFi"]I've never eaten at the place, but I'd always intended to... drat.
Same here. Double drat![/quote] Triple drat.[/quote] you didn't miss much. think Tom's about 10-20 cents cheaper per item minus the atmosphere. it lacked the Tom's line, on one hand, but any wait was too long, on the other, since the place had 5 or 6 tables. if you need a greasy breakfast and can't wait at Tom's, just head to Carneviento, or Nick's.[/quote] -
JoshB » I have to say, Too bad they're not closing. Every time I've gone there, I've had shitty, surly service. Drinks slammed down on the table. Inattentive waitresses. Rotten, moldy ketchup. And let's not forget about the time I forgot a water bottle at the restaurant. I had this classic exchange with an employee: "Excuse me, sir. But I left my Nalgene water bottle here." "How do you know?" "I had it when I walked in, then I didn't." "Someone could've stolen it." "Why would someone steal my used water bottle?" "They steal lots of things here." "Could you at least look?" "No. You didn't leave it here." No more business from me.
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Subject: Re-modeling Again?
They shut down for about a month and a half 2 summers ago to remodel, at the time the owners Mike and John said they were hoping to create a dinner menu. I guess this is attempt #2. And this place is much better than Tom's--no wait, better food, and more neighborhood character--Tom's is just a scene now. -
you must have projected something to get that tude back...
Uh, you mean asking if they saw my water bottle. Wow, I never knew a customer asking a question could be perceived as a paranoid threat. I must've read the wrong customer-service manual. -
the usual is a great spot and the food is much better than Toms. I live closer to Toms and have been going there for years and the food keeps getting more and more generic. Pretty soon it will be the same caliber as McDonalds... The usual is a true mom and pop without the commercial character that tom's has adopted.Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm--Sir Winston Churchill
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I like Nick's...if only for the price.===
Doing just fine, thank you. -
Thank god they're not closing spoken here. It wouldn't feel like PH if they weren't here. What would be the point of going on?
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Subject: Re: Re-modeling Again?
dadler21 » They shut down for about a month and a half 2 summers ago to remodel, at the time the owners Mike and John said they were hoping to create a dinner menu. I guess this is attempt #2. And this place is much better than Tom's--no wait, better food, and more neighborhood character--Tom's is just a scene now.
i still think of it as "George's," which is what it was called until this last renovation. dinner would be great, but i sure hope they don't clean it up too much. i love all the grease, the frantic work behind the counter during the morning rush, the slamming for the water glasses on the tables... -
I love both Tom's and The Usual, and the best part is that I never have to choose between them - Tom's gets Saturdays, The Usual gets Sundays. That way, nobody gets jealous. Eat them up yum!
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the usual is one of my very most very most very most favorite things about living here. i love those guys, i love the other people who work there (i won't claim anything about the water bottle story, but since i have a hard time imagining any of the folks i know there acting like that, i hope whoever that was is gone), i like the cheap, decent food, i like the neighborly conversation....i just LIKE it. a lot. also, mike was one of the very first people to welcome me to the neighborhood. i was there my first week in town, and he gave me his card and said "if you ever get lost, don't be stupid. call me or my brother, and we'll tell you how to get home from wherever you are." i am surprised that they're thinking of adding more dinner. mike had told me that they had started closing early (earlier than george's) not because they weren't making money but because they missed time with the family, especially johnny's kids. on the other hand, i think the boys do whatever they think will be fun to do, so maybe they think dinner will be fun.... oh, and if you want to here about ph back in the day, there is a regular named moses who will tell you marvelous stories.... man i love that place.Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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The cooking area and all the decorations and seat are gone...just walked by there tonight. And it looks like new drywall is going up on the walls. They had a nice vibe; good enough breakfast food. True Tom's is less expensive but always more crowded.
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Hillyer Junkie » The cooking area and all the decorations and seat are gone...just walked by there tonight. And it looks like new drywall is going up on the walls. They had a nice vibe; good enough breakfast food. True Tom's is less expensive but always more crowded.
If anyhting Tom's is pricier than Georges. What you spend $5 at Tom's you can get 1 1/2 times as much at The Usual. However, I like both. The service at both is quite friendly."Clamato! Straight Up! No chasah! -
I'm glad to hear they are remodeling and putting up some new drywall -- I haven't been back since I had breakfast there with a roach crawling next to me on the wall...
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I've got to weigh in with some props for the Usual. Its everything you want in a low - key neighborhood joint. Toms is great too, but it can feel a bit over the top sometimes. BTW, WTF is a Nalgene water and why is it worth going back for? Couldn't you have justp picked up a new one at the newstand?
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Duke of Flatbush » BTW, WTF is a Nalgene water and why is it worth going back for? Couldn't you have justp picked up a new one at the newstand?
It's not the water, it's the bottle.
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Ahhh... Makes more sense now.
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Idlewild » If anyhting Tom's is pricier than Georges. What you spend $5 at Tom's you can get 1 1/2 times as much at The Usual. However, I like both. The service at both is quite friendly.
When it comes to Diner Warz, why is it Usual vs. Tom's, with Purity not rating a mention? I have a few basic requirements: not having to queue, and not receiving a free gastroenteric disorder with my meal. Tom's fails the first. So far the Usual passes and I prefer it, but the housespouse prefers Purity and it does seem comparatively clean to me.The world will little note nor long remember what we say here. -- Abraham Lincoln -
doctorj » [quote="Idlewild"] If anyhting Tom's is pricier than Georges. What you spend $5 at Tom's you can get 1 1/2 times as much at The Usual. However, I like both. The service at both is quite friendly.
When it comes to Diner Warz, why is it Usual vs. Tom's, with Purity not rating a mention? I have a few basic requirements: not having to queue, and not receiving a free gastroenteric disorder with my meal. Tom's fails the first. So far the Usual passes and I prefer it, but the housespouse prefers Purity and it does seem comparatively clean to me.[/quote] Is Purity even open anymore? I never see it open. I would object to going there on the grounds that it claims to be open 24h and is clearly not. -
I've never been to Purity, sort of on principal. I swear that every single time I've driven by it late at night in a cab, I've been able to clearly make out the 'Open 24 Hours!' sign in the dark window, just behind the closed gates. That's just wrong.
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I agree re: Purity that the lack of 24 hourness is lame. I have had many 2:30 a.m. meals at ToD overlooking the shuttered Purity. in fact, the ONLY time I've ever seen that place open I was having brunch at ToD and noticed a former board member getting food at Purity. and then it closed. okay, just kidding, it was still open, but I was full from ToD.like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote
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Ditto on wishing Purity really was open 24 hours. When it IS open, I like it -- the wait staff are super-nice, the portions are large and in charge, and the joint is clean.
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sweet tea » the usual is one of my very most very most very most favorite things about living here. i love those guys, i love the other people who work there...
agreed! I love love love mike's/john's diner. going to breakfast at mike's turned PH into a real home when I moved here. I can't think of a friendlier establishment in the neighborhood. -
i'm not happy about the new awning. the old place had character. worried...
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I haven't seen the awning yet but when I walked by over the weekend, they were painting the--what is that thing called--security gate, and the guy who owns the place was standing outside. He told me they'd be reopening in a few weeks. I think as long as those two guys are still working there, it'll have character..."Now if every newspaper editor had to deal with a reader like Emily, boy, would they think twice, or three times." --greg
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Idlewild » Is Purity even open anymore? I never see it open. I would object to going there on the grounds that it claims to be open 24h and is clearly not.
it was open 24/7 when we first moved into the area in may 05, then they slowly cut back the hours during the winter. it looks like they've just extended the hours to 11pm. hopefully they'll gradually increase the hours until it's at least on par with dean. we spent many a late night there when we first moved in, and the staff have always been real nice, and the food has always been on par with any typical diner. -
i use to go there a lot when i first moved into the nieghborhood about 2 years ago. they had pretty good french toast and sausage. and it was so cheap. i hope it opens up with a better menu and night hours. there arent many place to get diner if you get back to the hieghts after 8:00.
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so i stopped by the usual and talked with mike and johnny today -- they're planning to reopen on monday. they've totally remodelled -- kitchen in the back, sliding glass in the front window so it can be open in good weather, second bathroom for ladies -- and now they'll have a back yard! the plan is to offer the same menu as before up to 6 pm. then the "fine dining" begins, with food cooked by their new partner, who has been a chef in manhattan. i saw the menu, and it's pretty reasonable. entrees are in the $12-$20 range, with salmon, roasted meats, etc. good looking app and dessert list, too -- can't remember the details, except for tempura battered fried mozzerella, which struck me as an amazing combination of diner and upscale aesthetic....Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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As long as I can get my egg on a bagel and coffee on Saturday mornings, I don't care what frou frou they serve at night. I am so glad they're coming back!their world is entirely different from ours, a whole different set of rules apply, fierce, natural, savage -- it's the only way they can survive in their world.
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They make a mean grilled cheese with tomato, onion and tons of bacon sandwich. And the pickles ain't so bad either. If they served oatmeal I would be their's forever."Clamato! Straight Up! No chasah!
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Subject: usual update
i walked past there on sunday around 2:30 on my way to bergen bagels looks like thye have made some serious progress. from what i saw they took out the counter area and mooved the grill to the back out of sight. i think they also worked on a garden area out back. they now have these really generic looking chairs and tables. the place looks alot like that restaurant on carlton ( thast used to be a bodega ) very bland and generic. but hey there not done yet. -
Anyone know if it's open yet? I want pancakes."He said, 'Oh, I should have known that you would go and do some bogus s*** up in my house...'" R. Kelly, Trapped in the Closet, Chapter 2.
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it wasn't open yet yesterday morning.Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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Hey, can someone tell me where Nicks is? I know where Toms is, and I have never seen Purity opened... I need a local diner-diner!
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Corner of Vanderbilt and Dean. Never that crowded.... and very, very cheap!
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