The Palm – New York
Steak house · Midtown West ·
Steakhouse fare, seafood, and diverse wines in clubby surrounds
Steakhouse fare, seafood, and diverse wines in clubby surrounds
"Established in 1926, The Palm in Midtown is another long-running steakhouse that continues to be part of the city's dining landscape." - Melissa McCart
"A classic steakhouse at 250 West 50th Street prized for its warm, familiar dining room lined with caricatures and a menu built around excellent steaks and seafood; signature offerings mentioned include lobster bisque, chopped salads, Chilean sea bass, bone-in rib eye, surf and turf, jumbo lump crab cakes, and traditional sides like asparagus." - ByAli Francis
"The Palm began in New York City in 1926, planting steakhouse locations across the country appealing to a power dining crowd. In 2019, The Palm’s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Florida. Locally, The Palm boasts a Houston location at 6100 Westheimer Rd." - Adele Chapin
"Known for its caricature-filled walls and nearly century-long history, this 93-year-old steakhouse chain is now exploring a sale after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year following a bitter family lawsuit that resulted in a $120 million payout to two grandchildren of the founders. The dispute centers on claims that cousins Walter Ganzi Jr. and Bruce Bozzi Sr.—who in the 1970s created a separate company that owns all locations outside New York and collects licensing fees—locked Garry Ganzi and Claire Breen out of proper profits; Ganzi and Breen were part owners of the original Palm that closed in 2015. The proposed sale would convey full ownership of 18 locations, majority ownership of three more, and licensing of three others, among more than two dozen locations across the U.S. and Mexico (including three in New York City). Both Ganzi Jr. and Bozzi Sr. have also filed personal bankruptcy, and the company faces separate lawsuits from former employees alleging an atmosphere of sexual harassment at some New York City restaurants. Despite the legal and financial turmoil, the Palm continues to position itself as a place for a relaxing cocktail, a generous steak with the perfect glass of wine, or special-party bookings." - Stefanie Tuder
"Long regarded as a fabulous old-school steakhouse, the Palm has been accused by former servers Bernadette Kaestner and Tracye Shearin of fostering an atmosphere of sexual harassment at its New York restaurants, with managers allegedly turning a blind eye to groping and retaliating against staff who complain. Kaestner’s complaint (filed in 2017) alleges incidents beginning in 2012 — including a regular at the East Hampton location grabbing her from behind and placing his hand between her thighs near her crotch — and says kitchen staff routinely watched pornography on their cellphones (she reported frequent workplace porn in 2015), that upper management responded nonchalantly, scaled back her hours, demoted her to part-time, and that her tire was later slashed in the employee parking lot; she also claims she was wrongfully fired in 2017. Shearin’s complaint (filed in 2018) alleges she was unjustly fired that same year after complaining about a slow salad station and that a general manager routinely asked her to send free drinks to women and get their phone numbers. Colleagues told investigators a male worker once showed female employees a picture of his penis, and attorneys say such misconduct has become an “accepted part” of working at the Palm. The chain — which has more than two dozen locations in the U.S. and Mexico and caricature-filled walls (three in New York) — denies the allegations, saying it has the “utmost respect for its employees,” and its parent company recently filed for bankruptcy amid a family legal dispute over profits." - Carla Vianna
