Saturday: An Old-School Family Style Feast at Two Toms

A brightly lit, wood paneled room reminiscent of your local VFW post, Two Toms may not be a "stunner" in the decor department. But, what the restaurant lacks in looks, it makes up for in friendly service and belly-filling feasts.

Two Toms has been serving steaks, chops and red sauce Italian fare to generations of families, friends and festive gatherings since 1948. While you won't find anything revelatory on the menu, that's not really the point. The manicotti is middling, the parmigiana, passable, and the eggplant rollatini, really pretty average. But, a weekend dinner at Two Toms is a hassle free affair, a place where groups can gather on a whim and break bread without busting the budget. 

pork chops

Whatever you end up ordering, be sure to include the signature double-thick pork chop as the primary protein of your meal, cooked rare and served with excellent vinegar peppers and mushrooms. It's delicious.

Pass around the plates, pour from carafes of house wine and plan to stay a while. 

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: About $45 per person, depending upon the size of the group. Tax and tip included. 

-Your server may push the overpriced and unnecessary "party menu," but politely decline and order a la carte. 

-Both the house red and white wine come chilled. The red wine is perfectly fine for some festivities, but avoid the sweet white wine, unless you like waking up with one helluva hangover. 

-Two Toms accepts reservations. While they usually aren't necessary, the restaurant is booked for private events from time to time, so it's worth calling ahead. 

NEARBY:

-If it's the first Saturday of the month, check out Littlefield for the monthly Reggae Retro party. 

-If you're dining on the last Saturday of the month, head to The Bell House for The Rub, practically a New York institution and one of the best monthly dance parties in the city.