Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
261
The expansions continued, as more offspring of John and Pio grew up and were assimilated
into the business. They have since opened almost 30 locations, including their fourth restaurant, the
celebrity magnet, The Palm in Los Angeles.
In LA, the place to see and be seen is The Palm. The likes of Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Billy
Crystal, and Brian Dennehy grace the walls as well as the tables. Because of the celebrity status of
the well-known patrons that frequented The Palm, the caricatures offered in every Palm restaurant
were often of them. These drawings soon took on a life of their own: Movie stars and pop idols were
known to sometimes sign their own pictures. Fred Astaire literally tap-danced down the top of the
bar in Los Angeles on his way to signing his likeness.
Originally, The Palm served only Italian food. But some customers would ask for a steak, so
John or Pio would run down the street to a butcher shop, purchase fresh meat, and cook it to order.
This happened so often that The Palm now runs its own wholesale meat company to ensure the
quality of its steaks.
Seafood started with third-generation owners Wally Ganzi and Bruce Bozzi, who introduced
gargantuan 4-8-pound lobsters in the 1970s, disproving the theory that larger lobsters are tough.
The Palm soon went from selling 150 pounds of lobster per week to 25,000 pounds per week. Even
with these additions to the old-style fare of the original restaurant, tradition at The Palm continues
to honor its roots. Several of John Ganzi`s original Italian dishes are still on the menu today.
The Palm restaurant remains the oldest family-owned white tablecloth restaurant to expand
across the United States and still maintain family ownership. Great grandchildren and great grand-
children-in-law currently run the business. Celebrities frequent The Palm because of its fine food,
casual setting, and accommodating service.
Reservations are recommended.
The Palm
9001 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90069
(310) 550-8811
