{"id":4574,"date":"2026-07-01T13:49:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/don-peppe-queens-2"},"modified":"2026-08-27T20:02:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T00:02:59","slug":"don-peppe-queens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens","title":{"rendered":"Don Peppe \u26059.1"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"padrino-inject-root\">\n<div class=\"padrino-inject-inner\">\n<div data-padrino-shell=\"1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/top-restaurants\">\u2190 Restaurants in Queens 2026: 10 verified picks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><strong>Restaurant<\/strong> \u00b7 <span>in Queens<\/span> \u00b7 \u2b50 9.1\/10 \u00b7 1567 reviews<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><strong>Address:<\/strong> <span>135-58 Lefferts Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex is-nowrap wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+1718-845-7587\">Call<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/dir\/?api=1&amp;destination=40.668967,-73.8216764\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Get directions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad4345d1de71\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad4345d1de71\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Family-Style_Italian_That_Has_Not_Changed_Its_Mind_Since_1968\" >Family-Style Italian That Has Not Changed Its Mind Since 1968<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#The_Concept_%C2%B7_The_Story\" >The Concept \u00b7 The Story<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#What_to_Order\" >What to Order<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#The_Space\" >The Space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Good_to_Know\" >Good to Know<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Opening_hours\" >Opening hours<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Photos\" >Photos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Visitor_reviews\" >Visitor reviews<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/don-peppe-queens\/#Similar_places\" >Similar places<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family-Style_Italian_That_Has_Not_Changed_Its_Mind_Since_1968\"><\/span>Family-Style Italian That Has Not Changed Its Mind Since 1968<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Don Peppe is the kind of Queens institution people plan a trip around. Half a mile east of Aqueduct Racetrack, in South Ozone Park, it serves southern Italian-American food on platters meant for the middle of the table, takes no reservations and takes no cards. Almost everything about the place is a decision made decades ago and never revisited \u2014 which is roughly why the New York Times put it back on its 2025 list of the 100 best restaurants in the city.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Concept_%C2%B7_The_Story\"><\/span>The Concept \u00b7 The Story<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The family dates the restaurant to 1942, when Mike DeLuca Sr. opened it in East New York, Brooklyn. In 1968 the DeLucas moved it to South Ozone Park, and it has stayed there ever since. Today Mike&#8217;s son Michael Jr. runs it alongside his own sons, Michael III and John, while a cousin \u2014 also Michael \u2014 works as head chef, so the recipe file has never left the family. The racetrack next door shaped both the room and the crowd: jockey silks and framed photographs of thoroughbreds have hung on the walls since the move. The house has had a second life on screen too, from Food Network&#8217;s &#8220;The Best Thing I Ever Ate&#8221; to an HBO &#8220;Entourage&#8221; storyline.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Order\"><\/span>What to Order<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The baked clams are the signature: breadcrumb crust crisped almost black on top, creamy and briny underneath. Linguini with white clam sauce is the other classic, and the dish that carried the restaurant onto national television. Beyond the two, the board runs to shrimp luciano, shrimp oreganata, stuffed mushrooms, eggplant rollatini and fried peppers with garlic and oil among the starters; rigatoni with sausage, ziti with broccoli rabe and fettuccine al prosciutto among the pastas; and veal Don Peppe, chicken scarpariello, steak pizzaiola and a fresh-cut tomahawk steak among the mains. Bread arrives as whole accordion-cut loaves, and keeps arriving.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Space\"><\/span>The Space<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A bright, plain hall of round tables laid for sharing \u2014 no printed menus at the table, just a board on the wall and a waiter who will steer you through it. The room absorbs three-generation birthday parties and groups of twenty with the same unhurried competence, and the soundtrack is conversation at full volume plus platters landing. Service is brisk rather than soft, and the house posts its rules at the door: no hats, no tank tops, no credit cards. Dress is otherwise casual, the noise is real, and nobody walks out hungry.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Good_to_Know\"><\/span>Good to Know<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Do they take reservations?<\/strong> No \u2014 the restaurant works first come, first served, so arrive early or plan to wait, especially with a big group.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can we pay by card?<\/strong> No. It is cash only, and the restaurant states that policy itself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How should we order?<\/strong> Family-style: choose a few platters for the whole table rather than a main each, and ask the waiter how much you actually need.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which dish should a first-timer get?<\/strong> The baked clams, then linguini with white clam sauce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is it good for a big celebration?<\/strong> Yes \u2014 round tables and shared platters are the entire design of the place, and the staff handle very large parties as routine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opening_hours\"><\/span>Opening hours<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Day<\/th>\n<th>Hours<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Monday<\/td>\n<td>Closed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tuesday<\/td>\n<td>12:00\u201321:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wednesday<\/td>\n<td>12:00\u201321:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Thursday<\/td>\n<td>12:00\u201321:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Friday<\/td>\n<td>12:00\u201321:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Saturday<\/td>\n<td>12:00\u201321:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sunday<\/td>\n<td>13:00\u201319:30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"entity-gallery\" class=\"padrino-entity-gallery\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Photos\"><\/span>Photos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-1.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-2.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-3.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-4.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-6.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-7.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<details>\n<summary>Show 2 more photos<\/summary>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-8.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.queenska.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/06\/don-peppe-queens-9.jpg\" alt=\"Don Peppe\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"comments\" class=\"comments-area wp-block-group\">\n<h2 class=\"comments-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visitor_reviews\"><\/span>Visitor reviews<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol class=\"comment-list\">\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-0\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-0\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Cluinn Grymson<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n17 March 2026<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>A relic of better, bygone days in New York. Definitely one of my favourite go-to Italian restaurants for special occasions. Big, tasty portions&#8230; I&#039;ve tried so many dishes on the menu, and you can&#039;t go wrong with whatev\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-1\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-1\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Diana Abdullaeva<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n31 January 2026<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>A wonderful, warm family restaurant.<br \/>\nThe food is always fantastic, the service excellent, and the attention to detail impressive \u2014 especially the clean, hot plates for every dish.<br \/>\nThe atmosphere is cosy and relaxed, and\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-2\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-2\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Martin L<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n23 January 2026<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>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\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-3\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-3\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Edwin Lap<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n8 January 2026<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>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!<br \/>\nThere&#039;s no menu\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-4\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-4\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Rhoan Llobrera<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n16 December 2025<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>This is a late review, but I celebrated my birthday here, and it&#039;s definitely worth sharing. Everything was wonderful from start to finish. The baked clams were simply incredible \u2014 hands down the best baked clams I&#039;ve ev\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><small>Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 19:21:46<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav class=\"padrino-entity-related wp-block-group\" aria-label=\"Similar places\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Similar_places\"><\/span>Similar places<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/park-side-restaurant-queens\"><span>Park Side Restaurant<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/asian-jewels-queens\"><span>Asian Jewels<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/casa-enrique-queens\"><span>Casa Enrique<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/jiang-nan-flushing-queens\"><span>Jiang Nan Flushing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/leticias-restaurant-queens\"><span>Leticias Restaurant<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/holy-schnitzel-queens-queens\"><span>Holy Schnitzel (Queens)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/cafe-premiata-queens\"><span>Cafe Premiata<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/bruno-queens\"><span>Bruno<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/manettas-ristorante-queens\"><span>Manetta&#039;s Ristorante<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><small>Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: queenska.com and editorial picks based on reviews.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2190 Restaurants in Queens 2026: 10 verified picks Restaurant \u00b7 in Queens \u00b7 \u2b50 9.1\/10 \u00b7 1567 reviews Address: 135-58 Lefferts Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420 Call Get directions Family-Style Italian That Has Not Changed Its Mind Since 1968 Don Peppe is the kind of Queens institution people plan a trip around. Half a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":568,"featured_media":4110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"moimportance":[],"motype":[],"moformat":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4574","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-restaurants"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/568"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4574"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5652,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574\/revisions\/5652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4574"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=4574"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=4574"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queenska.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=4574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}