Star Caricatures Turn Out (In Person) For Palm Restaurant’s 40th D.C. Anniversary Celebration

The Palm D.C.'s famous maitre d' Tommy Jacomo and prominent Democratic strategist James Carville.

NORTHWEST -- The District is the home to many worldly institutions, including the world’s largest museum and research complex (Smithsonian), the World Bank, and even democracy itself (White House, Congress, etc.). But few arguably taste as good as the Washington location of The Palm Restaurant.


Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the venerable D.C. eatery celebrated with a tasty blowout bash on Tuesday evening, which served-double duty as a fundraiser for Share Our Strength’s mission to end childhood hunger in America.

Greta van Susteren and John Coale.
Some of The Palm’s more famous patrons, many of whom are recognizable as caricatures and cartoons on the restaurant’s walls, began the night at 6:00 p.m. with a private congratulatory cocktail party.

Much as he does during a regular workday, beloved maître d’ Tommy Jacomo deftly maneuvered between Beltway insiders, as he warmly shook hands and delivered an avalanche of bear hugs.


And perhaps if anyone managed to share the night’s spotlight with Jacomo, it would have to have been Palm co-owner Wally Ganzi, who had traveled down to D.C. just for the occasion.


Wally is one of the descendants of John Ganzi, who, along with cofounder Pio Bozzi, opened the first Palm in New York City back in 1926.


The rest, as they say, is restaurateur history. Happy birthday to the Palm Washington!