The Palm restaurant was founded in 1920 by two Italian brothers, Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi. While trying to obtain a license, the clerk had difficulty understanding this pair of businessmen, who had a strong Italian accent. Instead of issuing the license in the name of The Parma, they wrote The Palm. Bozzi and Ganzi decided it was easier to change the name of the restaurant, rather than change the name on the license.
The restaurant served lunch and dinner for many years, using a single dining room. Later, a second room was installed, later a second floor was added, before being expanded to a much larger location across the street.
Today, the company has 22 locations with plans to expand to 30 locations by 2020.
When the Palm first opened, it operated as a conventional Italian restaurant offering fare similar to that found in New York’s Little Italy neighborhood. Early in its history, however, a customer made a request for steak and the owners broiled it after retrieving meat from a butcher on Second Ave. As told in the Palm cookbook, the original request led to others and the item was finally put on the menu.
Later, the restaurant added Nova Scotia lobesters, as well as aged USDA prime beef, as well as a selection of salads.
Perhaps one of the defining features of the restaurant has been the tradition of using caricatures to cover the walls, rather than paint or paper. Those depicted in the murals are often celebrities, well known politicians, comedians, as well as sports and other media figures.
The Palm’s historical materials contend this tradition began as a twist on the phrase “sing for your meal” where an artist who enjoyed their meal would pay for it by drawing a portrait on the wall. Numerous celebrities have often provided an autograph next to their portrait. This tradition has continued at all other locations. 
The grandson’s of the original owners are the third generation now operating the chain. Frequent customers are encouraged to join the 837 Club, which offers an accumulation of points, which can be used on future visits, as well as a free lobster dinner on the patron’s birthday.
Good morning my name is James Heck and I know this isn’t the right department, but I’ve been calling corperate all morning with no luck. I worked for the Palm Steakhouse at 237 S. Broad St. Philadelphia,Pa. And I left the for another job giving the chef a proper 2wk notice the company closed its doors about 3wks later. Later I was played off my new job due to the Corona outbreak. I’ve been receiving unemployment insurance, but they stopped sending me payments because they sent the Palms a letter verifying my employment with the Palms but they never sent the letter back to them. I called the Palms corperate office and they said Landrys bought that Palms out and that you would have my information there. I’ve been waiting 16 weeks and they won’t compete this if I can’t verify that I worked for the Palms. Please forward this to the proper department. My email is james.heck50@ comcast.net and my phone # is267-418-XXXX. Thank you and have a good day.
After 30 years of going to Palm 2 in New York, new year dinner spoiled by your new management team that has zero know how on how to treat customers. My last visit and someone should inspect your standards before you get reviewed like Peter Lugers. Very regrettable. Diner reservation 5:30 New Year’s Eve.
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