On the Menu: The PalmOn the Menu: The Palm

Paul Frumkin

The Palm steakhouse chain has taken inspiration from both the summer season and a recent film release to craft two first-time promotional menus.

In a tie-in with the movie “No Reservations,” the 27-unit steakhouse chain has developed an inaugural children’s menu that draws on the input of co-star Abigail Breslin, the 11-year-old actress who also was nominated for an Oscar for her work in the film “Little Miss Sunshine.”

At the same time, The Palm is offering a number of lighter accompaniments for its traditional Palm Summer Menu extravaganza, which features new appetizers, salads, side dishes and desserts.

“We’ve done summer promotions before,” says Palm marketing director Randy Goldman. “But this is the first year we’ve done a full menu. It’s a new stage of culinary innovation.”

The new summer menu promotions began with the restaurants’ popular lobster-for-two promotion, now in its sixth year. During the months of June and July, guests were able to order a 4-pound jumbo Nova Scotia lobster, split for two, for $90. Customers also had the option to increase the size of the lobster order—five pounds for $105 or six pounds for $125.

While Tammero and his team were responsible for devising the new summer menus, Breslin helped produce The Palm’s first children’s menu. She worked with Tammero on the eight-item menu, which was launched July 24 at participating locations.

Tammero says Breslin visited the West Side Palm in New York with her parents and talked with him about the kinds of dishes she liked. “She said she liked her mom’s macaroni and cheese,” he says. “She also liked sweet potato fries. So we created two new dishes for her.”

AT A GLANCE

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.Website:www.thepalm.comCuisine: upscale steakhouseOpened: 1926Check average: $76Outlets: 27Menu maker: Tony Tammero, executive chefBest-selling dish: New York stripSlowest-selling dish: pork chops

Over the six-year life of the summer lobster promotion, The Palm has sold more than a million pounds of lobster, corporate executive chef Tony Tammero says.

However, during August and September The Palm has added a second two-for-$90 summer promotion that features a combination of Alaskan king crab legs and a 16-ounce USDA Prime Italian marinated skirt steak.

Tammero says he and his staff began working on the accompaniments for the menu last December, finally testing the new recipes in four restaurants for three months. “We were able to decide which items we liked the best and which sold the best,” he says.

Some of the more summer-centric sides include baby green salad with marinated eggplant, navy beans and lemon vinaigrette; summer orchard slaw with diced apple, shredded cabbage and chopped green onions; arugula salad with water-melon, feta and pear-infused vinaigrette; and seasonal vegetables including sugar snap peas, red pepper, sweet onion and wild mushrooms.

The menu also includes four seasonal cocktails, including strawberry mint lemonade, a watermelon mojito, and a white cosmopolitan for $12. A raspberry margarita sells for $13.50.

The Palm Summer Kids Menu will also feature a child-friendly version of The Palm strawberry mint lemonade cocktail.

“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Abigail, who is a tremendous young talent, both on screen and in the kitchen,” Tammero adds.

Although the children’s menu is expected to be available for only a limited amount of time, Goldman says The Palm might keep it if it turns out to be popular.

PALM SUMMER IT’S HOT

PALM SUMMER DINNER FOR TWO

Alaskan King Crab Legs & 16 oz. USDA Prime Italian Marinated Skirt Steak Dinner $90

Served with choice of two summer salads and two summer sides

PALM SUMMER MENUTEMPTING APPETIZERS

Pistachio-Encrusted Portobello Mushroom 10

prosciutto, imported mozzarella di bufala and roasted tomato sauce

Soft Shell Crab 12

chef’s preparation of the day

Baby Green Salad 9

marinated eggplant, navy beans and lemon vinaigrette

Arugula Salad 9

watermelon, feta and pear-infused vinaigrette

IRRESISTIBLE SIDES

Served family-style for two or more

Summer Orchard Slaw 5.50

diced apple, shredded cabbage and chopped green onions

Parmesan Truffle Fries 8.50

imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, drizzled with truffle oil

Broccoli 8

with bacon and shallots

INDULGENT DESSERTS

Caramel Ginger Apple Cobbler à la Mode 9.5 Brownie Cheesecake Sundae 9.5

PALM SUMMER Cocktails

Strawberry Mint Lemonade 12

Watermelon Mojito 12

PALM SUMMER IT’S COOL

This menu is inspired by Warner Bros. Pictures’ summer release “No Reservations” and was created by the film’s co-star Abigail Breslin along with Palm executive chef Tony Tammero

TICKET PRICE $20STARRING

Choice of One

Grilled Filet Mignon Medallions

Petite Salmon | Baked Macaroni & Cheese

CO-STARRING

Choice of One

Sweet Potato Fries | Palm Steak Fries

DIRECTED BY

Choice of One

Steamed Asparagus | Summer Veggies

GRAND FINALE

Choice of One

Palm Summer Apple Cobbler à la Mode

Palm Summer Brownie Cheesecake Sundae

Order a special Palm Summer Kids Drink—Strawberry Lemonade $6