Tom's Restaurant is one of the longest running family-owned diners still around, and has been a mainstay of Morningside Heights since the 1940's. More importantly, Tom's is Monk's Cafe from Seinfeld, making it a NYC institution (regardless of how you feel about the food). Oh, and more relevant to the story at hand: it's completely handicap-inaccessible. Not that there's anything wrong with that Yeah, there's probably something wrong with that.
Sixty-eight year-old Carolyn Coleman, who has been wheelchair-bound since 1996, has filed a lawsuit against Tom's for not being handicap friendly. Coleman claims she can't eat at the restaurant "because there’s no way I can get inside or maneuver."
Manuel Papas, a Tom's manager, admitted to the Post, "We no have access for handicapped. But we have tables outside, though, that they can use. It’s not a problem in the summertime." As you can see in the photos, Tom's has had outdoor seating for the last couple years, emblazoned with the names of the Seinfeld characters. But there is no ramp to get through the door.
Coleman is seeking more than $30,000 in damages and a court order that would force Tom’s to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also is probably looking forward to getting one of the best diner milkshakes in the city.
