The Palm San Antonio

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Dining Tradition Nearly a Century in the Making

The Palm San Antonio, situated on East Houston Street in the heart of downtown, carries the full weight of an American institution behind it. The story begins in 1926, when Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi — two immigrants from Parma, Italy — opened a restaurant on Second Avenue in New York City. A bureaucratic quirk turned "Parma" into "Palm" on the registration papers, and the name stuck. What followed was nearly a hundred years of Italian-rooted hospitality that has since reached cities across the country, including San Antonio.

From a New York Neighborhood to a National Name

The founding philosophy was straightforward: treat guests like family, serve great food, and always exceed expectations. In the early decades, The Palm earned a devoted following of journalists, artists, and civic figures. A customer once asked for a steak, and John Ganzi ran up the block to a butcher to fulfill the order — that improvisational generosity set the tone for everything that came after. The next generation added a two-pound lobster to the menu, creating the Surf 'n' Turf combination the restaurant became known for. Later owners introduced a four-pound whole lobster and expanded the reach of the brand to Washington D.C., Houston, Chicago, and beyond.

Four generations of the Bozzi and Ganzi families have shaped The Palm into what it is today — a place where business lunches, family milestones, and long overdue catch-ups all feel equally at home.

The San Antonio Experience

The Palm San Antonio carries that same spirit downtown. The Italian cuisine heritage remains central — evident in the kitchen's commitment to quality and in the warm, unhurried atmosphere the brand has cultivated since its founding. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, with outdoor seating available and valet parking on hand. Private parties and full catering services make it a practical choice for larger gatherings as well.

Wine Spectator recognized The Palm with its Award of Excellence, a fitting acknowledgment for a restaurant whose wine program has long been considered part of the full dining experience.

As The Palm itself puts it: "It's like the family you want to visit again and again. Authentic. Intimate. A little quirky. Always amazing food." That description holds in San Antonio just as it did on Second Avenue nearly a century ago.