NEW YORK Palm Restaurants and concessionaire SSP America recently unveiled The Palm Bar & Grille at JFK International Airport, the upscale steakhouse chain's first airport location.
The restaurant, located pre-security in JFK’s international Terminal 4, is a 3,000-square-foot outpost of the steakhouse chain with 108 seats in the dining area and another 30 situated at the bar.
Click here to see photos from the restaurant's grand opening.
Beleaguered New York Gov. David Paterson, who has been facing mounting pressure to resign amid two scandals, attended the restaurant opening Friday, saying he was confident the new restaurant would provide jobs for out-of-work residents.
Also at the opening were Wally Ganzi, co-chairman of The Palm Restaurants and grandson of its founder, and John Bettin, the chain’s president and chief executive. Ganzi, who grew up in Queens and fished as a boy in Jamaica Bay near the airport, said he was proud to return to his roots and bring his family’s successful business with him.
“The Palm has an unwavering commitment to providing our guests with only the highest quality food, unparalleled customer service and a casual but refined atmosphere that has made our restaurants legendary across the U.S., Mexico and London,” Ganzi said. “I look forward to personally working with SSP to introduce The Palm Bar & Grille in additional cities in the U.S. and Europe.”
While it offers the same steaks and seafood served at traditional Palm restaurants, The Palm Bar & Grille also focuses on premium burgers, salads and sandwiches, said Les Cappetta, SSP America’s chief executive. The average per-person check is around $39 for steak and seafood entrees and between $20 and $25 for more casual fare. The restaurant will also serve breakfast, Cappetta said.
“SSP’s investment in JFK’s Terminal 4 underscores our vision to redefine airport dining,” Cappetta said. “Our mission is to elevate travelers’ dining experiences in airports across the nation and our partnership with JFK is helping us do just that.”
Bettin said the company was already developing The Palm Bar & Grille as a sister concept to the steakhouse chain before striking the partnership deal with SSP America. They plan to open a second airport outpost in Houston late this year or in early 2011, he said.
Washington-based Palm Restaurants has more than 25 locations.
Contact Elissa Elan at [email protected].