Ресторан · Queens · ⭐ 9.1/10 · 1567 reviews · $$ · updated: 2026-06-30 19:21:46
Address: 135-58 Lefferts Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420, United States
Don Peppe: The Family-Style Institution by the Racetrack
Some restaurants preserve recipes; Don Peppe preserves an entire way of dining. In South Ozone Park, near the Aqueduct Racetrack, this southern Italian stalwart has spent generations setting giant platters in the middle of crowded round tables and letting families do the rest — no tasting menus, no reinventions, no apologies.
The Story
The lineage runs back to a 1940s Brooklyn kitchen; since 1968 the family has held court in Ozone Park, feeding jockeys, trainers and neighborhood clans alike. The dining room wears its history openly — jockey uniforms and horse photographs frame the walls — and the formula has not moved an inch: abundant food, fast warm service, cash only, everyone leaves full.
On the Table
The holy trinity is non-negotiable: baked clams with their almost-burnt crowns and rich, briny centers; linguine in white clam sauce heavy with whole cloves of roasted garlic; and the veal Don Peppe that gave the house its name recognition. Add a seasonal vegetable platter, a carafe of the famously cold house wine, and dessert only if someone at the table planned poorly.
The Space
Honest and unfussy: a bright hall of round tables dressed for sharing, built to absorb three-generation parties and post-race celebrations with equal ease. The soundtrack is conversation at full volume and platters hitting tables.
Who It’s For
Extended families with serious appetites, groups celebrating anything at all, and diners who want to taste what New York Italian restaurants were like before marketing was invented.
Good to Know
How should we order? Family-style — pick a few platters for the table rather than individual mains; portions are vast.
Do they accept cards? No — cash only, a tradition as fixed as the clam sauce recipe.
Is it good for a family celebration? Perfect; big round tables and shareable platters are the entire architecture of the place.
Which dish can’t we skip? The baked clams — widely considered among the city’s best for decades.
Should we book ahead? For weekend dinners and groups, yes; call the restaurant directly.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12:00–21:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–21:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–21:00 |
| Friday | 12:00–21:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–21:00 |
| Sunday | 13:00–19:30 |
Photos
Show 2 more photos
Visitor reviews
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 19:21:46
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: queenska.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
A relic of better, bygone days in New York. Definitely one of my favourite go-to Italian restaurants for special occasions. Big, tasty portions… I've tried so many dishes on the menu, and you can't go wrong with whatev…
A wonderful, warm family restaurant.
The food is always fantastic, the service excellent, and the attention to detail impressive — especially the clean, hot plates for every dish.
The atmosphere is cosy and relaxed, and…
Worth the hype. Simply exceptional family Italian-American food. We ordered rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe, veal Don Peppe, stuffed artichokes, tiramisu and cannoli. 10 out of 10. Everything was perfectly cooked…
I was in Queens on business, and someone recommended we go there. When we arrived, it looked like the restaurant was closed, but it was open. A wonderful family Italian (Neapolitan) restaurant since 1968!
There's no menu…
This is a late review, but I celebrated my birthday here, and it's definitely worth sharing. Everything was wonderful from start to finish. The baked clams were simply incredible — hands down the best baked clams I've ev…