Profile

Located in the formidable shadow of the Penthouse Executive Club, the family behind this frills-free diner has been serving alcohol-absorbing food since 1969. Perhaps lured inside by the ATM just beyond the doors, its customers are a mix of suited men straight from the strip club, barhopping neighborhood types, and uniformed doormen—all seeking reliable, round-the-clock eats like eight-ounce cheeseburgers, club sandwiches, and crispy fries. The comparatively streamlined menu offers the full monty of entrées and breakfast options, like challah French toast that can be paired with bacon, ham, or even ice cream. Comfort-food favorites such as grilled cheese and sugary staples like brownie sundaes are markedly better than diet deviations like the Pom Pom health salad, a puzzling medley of fruit, grilled chicken, and mozzarella. Despite the maroon pleather booths, Pom Pom lacks the conspicuous features of classic diner décor—instead of chrome accents and autographed celebrity photos, you’ll find terra-cotta walls and utilitarian-looking tables. The only sense of nostalgia evoked by this place comes from one wall-size mural of the pre-9/11 skyline at night. — Alexis Korman

Bacon cheeseburger, $7.50; challah French toast, $4.95