Queens Spotlight: Park Side Restaurant

Park Side Restaurant, a celebrated Italian landmark in the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York, offers a dining experience steeped in history, authentic cuisine, and a unique New York ambiance.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the restaurant:

What Makes It Unique

Park Side is renowned as a classic, “old-school” Italian-American restaurant, often compared favorably to Manhattan’s elite Italian establishments but with a more accessible and welcoming environment.

• Generational Hospitality: The experience is rooted in three generations of Italian hospitality, ensuring every visit is treated with care and passion.
• The Vibe: It offers a “classy, white-tablecloth” dining setting, sometimes likened to a more accessible version of a famous, exclusive Italian-American spot like Rao’s. The downstairs is known for its “action” and “genuine New York vibe,” while the upstairs includes unique private dining spaces like the “Marilyn Monroe room.”
• Quality and Value: Patrons consistently praise the generous portions, the use of only the finest ingredients, and the exceptional value compared to similar high-end dining experiences in Manhattan.

History

The restaurant’s history stretches back over half a century:

• Early Beginnings: The location was originally opened in 1960 by the parents of Anthony “Tough Tony” Federici as the Corona Supper Club.
• Establishment of Park Side: Anthony Federici re-established it as Park Side Restaurant in 1980.
• The Federici Era and Events: Anthony Federici, who passed away in 2022, was the owner and a legendary figure in the restaurant’s history. His presence, and alleged ties to the Genovese crime family, contributed to its colorful reputation and ensured a “touch of glamour” that often attracted celebrities and famous faces alongside locals. A notable event was reported in 2000, when Federici was allegedly shooting a 20-gauge shotgun at hawks from the roof, where he kept racing pigeons. The restaurant has been an institution for over 40 years, maintaining its classic setting and consistent quality.
• Awards: Park Side has been a longtime recipient of the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS), receiving the award every year beginning in 1960 (for its location/predecessor) and continuing through the years.

Highlight Menu Items

The menu focuses on classic Southern Italian and Sicilian cuisine, emphasizing fresh ingredients and time-honored recipes. Here are some of the popular favorites highlighted by the restaurant and customers:

• Stuffed Artichoke: A featured dish, stuffed with Italian spices, cheese, and breadcrumbs. It was famously highlighted on CBS’s “Tony’s Table” cooking segment.
• Baked Clams: Described by one forum commenter as “the best Italian in the city” and noted by another as putting rival restaurants’ versions “to shame.”
• Chicken Scarpariello (Mixed On & Off The Bone): This has been cited as a favorite entrée, with one patron calling the Chicken Provencal (a similar chicken dish) the “best chicken dish in captivity.”
• Seafood Combination: A generous dish featuring scungilli, clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari in a marinara or fra diavolo sauce over linguini.
• Crab Cakes: Considered by one diner to be “easily the best crab cakes I’ve ever eaten.”
• Tony’s Veal Special: A highly recommended entree featuring thinned-out veal chop in a brandy and chestnut sauce.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback consistently praises the restaurant’s quality, atmosphere, and service:

• Consistency: “If you want classic Italian in a classic setting, nothing else will do. I think I’ve been going here for better than 20 years, always the same and always great. Whatever you order is exactly what you get.”¹

   

• Food Quality: “The quality o²f your food always remained top-tier. everything on your menu is worth ordering…” and “The fish is always incredibly fresh and well prepared.”

   

• Atmosphere and Service: Patrons appreciate the “white table cloth restaurant with excellent service in a relatively attractive setting” and the staff’s “friendly and attentive service.”

Location and Contact Information

For reservations or party inquiries, it is recommended to call the restaurant directly.

The restaurant is available for large parties and private events, offering flexible banquet packages for occasions such as birthdays, corporate affairs, and holiday parties. The upstairs event space requires a 30-person minimum to book and is noted as not being wheelchair accessible.