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Tick Tock Diner

2.5 star rating
based on 46 reviews

Category: Diners  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District, Manhattan/Fashion District
481 8th Ave
(between 34th St & 35th St)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 268-8444
  • Nearest Transit:

    34th St-8th Ave (A, C, E)

    34th St-7th Ave (1, 2, 3)

    33rd Street (PATH)

  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: Yes
  • Takes Reservations: No
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No

46 Reviews for Tick Tock Diner

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Photo of Liz R.

 

1

8

Liz R.

New York, NY

4 star rating
08/04/2008

I love diners. Tick Tock has good food (I've had breakfast and dinner here) and is generally clean with quick service.

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5

45

Vanessa F.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
08/18/2008

We came here out of convenience... our hotel was connected to it.

We first went for breakfast, where the food was pretty darn good and seemed to live up to their motto of "eat heavy."

I had the upside down banana pancakes, which were just pretty damn good. Others in the group had autumn pancakes and irish benedicts. They said they were both good, but the next day everyone ordered the banana pancakes... they were so good in fact, that I'm sitting here writing this as my dear other is trying to make a version of them to satisfy my cravings.

We went later in the day for millkshakes... which were pretty terrible. They were very thin. Family members shared the tartuffo... which was a great disappointment and not as the description on the menu had described.

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Photo of Jen L.

 

5

71

Jen L.

Philadelphia, PA

1 star rating
08/03/2008

This diner was ok for what it was....basic diner food, convenient to Penn Station and the Bolt stop. It really isn't anything to write home about, though.

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6

29

fayza a.

Woodside, NY

1 star rating
07/27/2008

Not so great.  Leave it for tourists and hangover crowds.  Service is slow.  How do you screw up eggs? Nothing more to say.

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5

45

Amber J.

New York, NY

3 star rating
07/25/2008

Not my favorite diner in the city. I just went in because I was exhausted and hungry.  The place is huge though. There is a lot to choose from.  I had the "French Dip" which is a philly-cheese steak relative. It was pretty good.  The food was made is a very fast time too.  Overall, a reasonable place, if you're in the area.

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6

50

Adina B.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
07/20/2008

To be honest, a diner is a diner is a diner. Same sandwich, same bagel, etc. But I will say that considering the location, surrounded by chain restaurants, it's nice to sit down and have a simple meal. And the prices werent bad either.

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Photo of cherie c.

Elite '08

62

816

cherie c.

Dorchester, MA

3 star rating
06/09/2008

Tick Tock's location, right where the BoltBus stops, was convenient to my 45 minute layover between Philly & Boston.  My NY friend got there before  I did and ordered my food to go.  I ate with her for 20 minutes, then headed out to the bus.

Our food was meh.  My turkey mango wrap was made with salty cold cuts, not fresh turkey.  And it was a hot wrap, which we didn't expect.  Turkey mango sounded cool and refreshing on a hot day.  Oh well.  Service was gruff and disinterested at best.

The cashier helped the man before me, who'd ordered fries to go.  He thanked her profusely, proclaiming these fries "the best!"  She nodded, then turned to me and rolled her eyes.  "Whatever you say...." she trailed off, shrugging her shoulders at me.  Sheesh!  I've always found New Yorkers to be friendly; my guess is that the tourists in the area encounter places like this and form their opinion of NY.

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24

134

gerard l.

San Leandro, CA

3 star rating
05/27/2008

Came in here to have our first meal in NYC for vacation. I ordered the Irish Omelette, corn beef hash...so good, but not the best. This place seemed just like any other ordinary diner. Friends that were with, weren't too ecstatic. I actually might be giving this place the highest review out of 5 people.

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18

35

Tony B.

Milpitas, CA

2 star rating
05/28/2008

Not the best diner in the world.  But it is a damn good diner when you just arrive to New York and haven't eaten in 6 hours.

I had a turkey and mango wrap...it was kinda flavorless.

My friend had a roast beef sandwich.  The sandwich was composed of roast beef and bread!  Weak.  Well, at least I didn't pay 7 dollars for that sandwich...I paid 6 dollars for a wrap.

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Elite '08

300

531

Andy H.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
06/14/2008

Typical diner food.

Nothing flashy or amazing about their food. It is diner food...burgers,shakes,fries etc.

Good location if you want some grub before a show at the Hammerstein or the Garden.

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Photo of Jana D.

 

8

73

Jana D.

New York, NY

2 star rating
04/14/2008

Food is alright, not anything special. The service is ALWAYS bad, no matter what time of day or night you are there. There are better diners just down the block - try the Skylight instead.

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Photo of Clint E.

 

0

7

Clint E.

Union City, NJ

1 star rating
06/07/2008

There is nothing special about this place, the food was tasteless I would not gave this food to my enemies dog, the food tasted like a wash cloth well I guess that is what I get for going to a second rate restaurant. I gave them a star well because I am a nice guy.

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Photo of martin c.

 

8

49

martin c.

San Carlos, CA

2 star rating
05/19/2008

Absolutely nothing remarkable about the Tick Tock's food. Standard diner fare that filled a hole in my stomach without managing to excite the taste buds. Clean, well-decorated and good menu choice but service is slooooow. 20 minutes after ordering and watching other customers vainly trying to signal for their check (despite it being quiet) it became apparent to me that the trick is to ask for the check when they bring the food and just leave the money on the table. It's right next to the office but I won't be rushing back unless it's raining and I don't want to get too wet.

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11

52

Goldie Gi R.

Bronx, NY

3 star rating
05/28/2008

Okay, gonna buck the yelpers on this one today....I have been here before lots of times and although never anything to write home about in terms of the knosh,and definitely the service is usually like an iv drip slow,  today we had  california burgers which were moist, perfectly medium well done and they were at our table in record time. I asked for gravy for our fries and before I had put my burger together it was there and it was good! What?! Yup,all the food was good and we hadn't aged in the time we were there. More over we were able to make the movie across the street on a full tummy and on time. A Miracle on 34th St. and its not even christmas.

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Photo of allie c.

Elite '08

76

223

allie c.

New York, NY

2 star rating
03/25/2008

Ambience, Food, and Service - all 2 star. I always get the same thing when i go to diners. Omelette with ham cheese tomato spinach and onion. it was mediocre. not bad. but i've most def had yummier elsewhere. Crowd was mixed. It's a diner so you know what kind of random ppl are here esp around 34th st. And service was slow. Not the worst but not good at all. Quite inattentive but i wasn't bothered bc my friend had me dyin laughin the whole time. Only came here bc i was in the area and there was no where else to get a late night meal.

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Elite '08

53

136

Jennifer M.

Atlanta, GA

3 star rating
05/20/2008

I got stuck eating here twice in a day.  It wasn't the best food.  However, they did have some good vegetarian options and even a couple of vegan dishes.  I had trouble finding anything other than eggs and toast at most diners.

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Photo of Geoff W.

 

0

12

Geoff W.

Raleigh, NC

2 star rating
04/12/2008

I go here for breakfast when I am staying near the Garden. It's solid diner food, waiters seem a llittle harried, missing in action after they deliver,  good-looking gal handled the seating, Italian omelette not bad, could go easier on the mozarella, but still better than many hotels in the city at 1/2 the price!

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Photo of Ariela B.

Elite '08

42

203

Ariela B.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
11/12/2007

Eh. It's a diner. I'd care more if the waiters didn't seem stoned and disenchanted with life all the time. They don't seem to notice new people coming in, and the service takes longer than it should, even when you and your group are the only patrons in the place. And when you want to get the check to leave, the entire staff just seems to disappear, leaving you stuck there waiting for SOMEONE to come out that you can flag down. I've been late quite a few times because they took forever to bring the check in the first place (you'd think they'd actually WANT my money).

Usually the food is mediocre, often undercooked or soggy. I've had some decent meals there, but overall it's not a place to go if you actually care what your food will look like before you ingest it. Their milkshakes are pretty good though.

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4 star rating
10/31/2007

Well I just got back from the village halloween parade '07, and it was such a blast. What else is there to do after a huge ass parade? Get drunk at the pubs? Sorry, unfortunately I'm 20 still, so off to the diner we go! Don't laugh assholes.

So, I struted my stuff into this diner. Its pretty spacious, and has some really good grub, I'll be completely honest. The service is HORRIBLE, however, the food always comes quick, and its always damn good.

Suggestions: Rodeo Burger

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Photo of Leslie O.

Elite '08

42

59

Leslie O.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
08/16/2007

This is how it went for me:

Me: What is your soup du jour?
Waiter: No, we have no soup right now
Me: No? no soup? are you sure?  :mumble: but the menu saids... ok then can I have the mozzarella sticks and...
Waiter: Actually, we're out that too
Me: really? ok but you do have mash right?
waiter: OMG no, I'm really sorry
My friend: Can I have a bagel toasted w/ ....?
Waiter: I'm sorry, we're all out that too.  The delivery comes in an hour.
My: I think if you tell us what you have  it'd be much easier :)?
waiter:  burgers, salads, eggss...do you guys need a minute?
Both: NO!  
Me:  Do you have tea?
Waiter: Actually yes we do
Me: (Thank GOD!) can I have a coke please and some French Fries

What kind of diner is this.  I understand it was 2 am on a Tuesday but please that's what diners are for.  To feed the hungry!

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Photo of jordana r.

 

0

1

jordana r.

New York, NY

4 star rating
05/08/2008

my favorite diner, period.
absolutely love it, relatively inexpensive (at least for new york).
service is the only thing that's a bit eh, but if you can catch their attention then they're rather attentive.
conveniently located from the train station, too.

another huge plus is that it's clean, inside the bathrooms too!

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Photo of Russ W.

 

668

411

Russ W.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/02/2008

The ever so lovely Samantha Dark and I had late breakfast after a meeting one day here, and I was surprised at how, for a diner, it was pretty good!

I had poached eggs and corned beef hash.  The hash was amazing.  I asked the waitress, as she smacked her gum a la Florence Jean Castelberry on Alice, if there were onions in it.  I didn't really think she cared, even though she said no.  Much to my surprise, she did, and she was right.  It was a surprisingly tasty brekkie.

Sam had poached eggs on whole wheat toast, and said it was good.  There isn't too many things one can do to screw that up, but they did it right.

The service was very to the point, no frills, no checking on the table for drink refills, condiments, etc. even if you wanted something, but not problematic enough to deter me from going again, should I find myself that way again.

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Photo of Matthew Alan R.

 

53

157

Matthew Alan R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/05/2006

I don't know how i forgot about this place for so long.  When i was living in NY in the educational housing on the 28th floor of the New Yorker Hotel, this place almost kept me alive.  Its basically in the lobby and they'll deliver to your room (room service?) at ANY hour of the night.  The food is standard diner fare, but when you're up at 4:00 AM writing essays on King Lear in your underpants and the prospect of putting them on just go go downstairs to pick up that chicken club is just too much work....this place hits the spot.

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Photo of Ames F.

 

41

85

Ames F.

New York, NY

3 star rating
12/05/2006

My fave place to grab some quick eats before seeing a show at Hammerstein or Madison Square Garden. It's not gourmet, but it's got juicy burgers, humongo fries, and even a darned good grilled cheese, for those who don't want lead weight in their stomachs while they stand through a concert.

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Elite '08

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1293

Alex S.

New York, NY

2 star rating
02/07/2007

While this place is a decent diner, the service seriously needs help.  The food and the prices are diner worthy, but the rude service can go home.  I consistently waited a long time to get my food and equally long to get my check.  My experiences here have been completely determined by the service, which has been bad nearly 8/10.  The backbone of such an touristy establishment is the quality of the food, which is typically quite decent.  At the very least, they're open 24 hours.

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Elite '08

19

95

Michelle M.

New York, NY

2 star rating
05/09/2007

Most people head to a diner with the knowledge that the food will often be very forgettable, but even for diner food this was bad. I got a burger and disco fries (french fries with melted cheese and a side of gravy) and it was below my very basic expectations. The fries were soggy, the burger gristley and the gravy was salty and lumpy. I could have walked a few blocks to the Mc Donalds and gotten a better meal for less money. Even in a happy buzzed state after a long night of bar hopping I couldn't convince myself that this food was good eats.

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Elite '08

7

111

Marja M.

Fremont, CA

3 star rating
12/14/2006

After attending a hockey game at the Garden, this place really hit the spot. Yes, not fantastic; yes, not superlative service, but eminently affordable, within walking distance and my bleu burger came just the way I like it! The shake was good, although I'm a little bummed there was no tin with the "leftover" shake provided.

Bill for drink, burger and tip: $15.00. And why would I want to go to the TGI Friday's across the street? I'm in New York, dammit! I can eat at Friday's any day of the week!!

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Elite '08

87

242

Karen M.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
10/05/2006

Oh, it's not that bad. It's pretty standard Diner fare and is crowded with tourists, but the prices aren't that bad, and hey, it's a diner. They have decent milkshakes.

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Elite '08

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1337

Irene F.

Morganville, NJ

2 star rating
08/16/2006

It's just another diner, with typical fare and brusque service, just ina kind of odd location. I worked in the area for a bit and we came here for lunch whenever we ran out of ideas. Salad bar would probably have been of comparable quality. Just very....eh. Nothing in particular stand out in my memory as being very good or very bad, excellent for a late night drunk snack.

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Elite '08

55

535

diana m.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
09/25/2006

I really didn't care for this place. The food was medicore, and I'm sure it was pre-prepared. There's no way my turkey burger could have come back that quickly if they cooked it after I ordered it.

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Elite '08

21

198

Amanda M.

Islip, NY

2 star rating
10/25/2006

Nothing special about this place, except for the fact that it's affordable, especially if you don't have the pocket change to eat at the TGI Friday's across the street.

Hell, if you're looking for cheap food, just go to Gray's Papaya. Screw the diner.

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Elite '08

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81

Anna H.

New York, NY

2 star rating
08/26/2006

It's just a diner.  And not the greatest one.  But it's near me, so it's an easy option if I'm craving greasy diner fare or if I'm hungry late at night.  Very disappointing black & white milkshakes too.

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Elite '08

53

373

Kimberli M.

New York, NY

2 star rating
08/26/2006

A quite run of the mile diner. It's close to the 8th Avenue cinema making it convienent although not particularly tasty.

Standard fare, some more bland than others. Beware if you have kids with you, this family restaurant has no kids menu and the portions are quite large. Not sure you'd want to take such "eh" leftovers home.

Service has its ups and downs. Varies by the day.

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1168

deb n.

Palo Alto, CA

3 star rating
08/03/2006

The menu was huge but ok, more filling then tasty, what was memorable were their dessert case.  Chock full of flaky and cream filled delights with a smattering of chocolate goodness.   Cakes, cookies, cannolis, pies, so many varieties and kinds.

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Elite '08

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254

Bonnie P.

Atlanta, GA

2 star rating
03/12/2007

How do you screw up potato pancakes AND french toast? This place did not meet my low expectations.

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35

Jay I.

New York, NY

3 star rating
06/20/2006

The food isnt that great, but our waiter was the freakin man.  He was super nice, funny, and we had everything we needed before we could even ask for it.  It was like he had ESP.   Probably wont go back anytime soon b/c the food wasn't very special, but I know I'll be taken care of if I do!

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Elite '08

162

341

Meryl C.

New York, NY

2 star rating
10/27/2005

Not as sketchy as you might think for a mid-town greasy spoon.  Go if you are deperate for a bite after a late-night show or if you are killing time before an early morning LIRR train.

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Photo of J. H.

 

5

127

J. H.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
09/01/2005

Typical NYC diner/greasy spoon. It is accessible from the street or from the lobby of The New Yorker Hotel nextdoor. Service here isn't great or fast and the food is nothing spectacular. It is very convenient to Madison Square Garden, in case you are looking for someplace casual to grab chow before or after an event at MSG.

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Photo of Adrienne R.

 

36

174

Adrienne R.

New York, NY

3 star rating
12/22/2005

Because I lived in the hotel connected to this diner I've eaten here about a hundred times, so yes, I'm sick of the food. But it's a good, convenient diner. The service is fast, the food is pretty good. But the waiters are very very grumpy.

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Photo of Paul B.

 

43

31

Paul B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
10/31/2004

Run of the mill 24h diner.  Turkey wrap was damn good when I was nice and buzzed.  The sliders however sucked.

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