My steady fav for more than 5 years is Comfort Diner. There are a couple of them, one on 45th bet 2nd and 3rd, and one on 23 and Broadway (?).

FANTASTIC french toast. Huge thick slabs of Challa bread, but each one is really fairly light, real maple syrup. Their omlettes are great, too. Friendly, efficient service.

Comfort diner is very resonably priced.

Avoid Frontier Diner, 39th and 3rd. AWFUL pancakes.