Let us cater to you here in Queens Neir’s Tavern, Thomasina’s Catering Hall and Don Peppe

by Naeisha Rose Associate Editor

If you are looking for a community-oriented tavern, a venue to celebrate milestones or a family-friendly Italian restaurant, Queens has got you covered.

Neir’s Tavern, Thomasina’s Catering Hall and Don Peppe, located in Woodhaven, St. Albans and South Ozone Park, respectively, are among the institutions that have been in the borough for decades, and the people behind them intend for these establishments to be mainstays for many more years to come.

Neir’s Tavern, owned by Loycent Gordon, marked its 194th anniversary on Oct. 7.

“We are on the road to reach 200 years,” Gordon told the Chronicle. “One of the things that we do is have the Neir’s Ambassadors Awards Ceremony.”

Every year, people receive a preservation, advocacy, community service and ambassador of the year award, said Gordon.

“The community service award is for people that hand out food and help with fundraising for the community and we also have an ambassador of the year, someone that goes above and beyond in making sure that Neir’s Tavern is resilient.”

The event also includes a community block party outside the tavern, which is located at 87-48 78 St., and it features a Hobby Horse Race that highlight’s the establishments beginnings as a watering hole for the old Union Course Racetrack.

According to multiple archives, 78th and 82nd streets and Jamaica and Atlantic avenues bound the racetrack from 1821 to 1888, and it became a lot for new housing. It was a nationally famous track known for having the first dirt course, which resulted in greater speeds for the horses.

“People have the horse with the sticks and they trot down the street,” Gordon said. “Kids do it and adults do it. This year, we had several elected officials and gave out several citations to the honorees.”

When it was founded in 1829, the tavern was called The Old Pump Blue House. It was then the Old Abbey Bar in 1835, Neir’s Social Hall in 1898, the Union Course Bar in the 1970s and then Gordon changed it to Neir’s Tavern when he bought it in 2009.

“It’s living, breathing history,” he said. Actress Mae West was said to have been a vaudeville act at the social hall. Hollywood icon Robert De Niro and other stars from “GoodFellas,” along with Ben Stiller and his cast mates from “Tower Heist,” had scenes shot there. “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” also featured the Woodhaven spot in its ninth season that highlighted Queens cuisines.

“Anthony ... sought us out,” Gordon said. “He had a steak sandwich ... He was so relaxed and so real.”

If interested in visiting the tavern, Gordon suggests that peo- ple try the award-winning Goodfellas burger.

“We also have our signature Haymaker Punch, a cocktail that was a premiere drink for early American farmers ... and I added Jamaican rum to it because of my background.” named, is having the place renovated and the work will likely be completed some time in 2024.

Neir’s has an Ambassador’s Club and will be opening applications for its 195th anniversary committee next month. It is also accepting preorders for Thanksgiving food deliveries. To learn more about the tavern, the club or to make a preorder, email info@neirstavern.com.

Thomasina’s Catering Hall is two years shy of its 30th anniversary, said its longtime manager Vivian McMillian, who has been there all 28 years.

She said the former owner, Frank William Sr., retired.

“I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support and encouragement we’ve received from our cherished customers throughout the years,” Williams said at his retirement party on July 31.

Williams received citations from the St. Albans Civic Improvement Association, state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Councilwomen Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans) and Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton).

“She has kept all the same employees,” including operational manager Tony Williams, McMillian said about the new owner.

Next Thursday, there will be a Thanksgiving feast and an R&B performance by Debbie Knapper and Knappertime Band from 2 to 6 p.m.

To learn more about the holiday event or to have one’s catering needs met in the future, call (718) 525-5273.

Some notable entertainers and guests have included Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Review, the Stylistics, Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Blue Magic, Howard Hewett, Shep and the Limelites, along with the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Mayors Bloomberg and Giuliani. The family of Sean Bell and state Sen. Malcolm Smith held meetings there concerning Bell’s shooting, according to McMillian.

“We are known as the community banquet catering hall,” McMillian said. “Even though Mr. Williams retired, we pray everyone will still support us ... We all are still here. The management hasn’t changed and the cook hasn’t changed.”

Don Peppe is a third-generation family-run business that originated in Brooklyn in the 1940s, but moved to Queens in 1968 after a wave of people started to leave the former borough for other states.

“We’ve been here for 53 years now,” said owner Mike DeLuca Sr. “My father started the business ... our regular customers moved to Florida and he decided to move to Queens and see what’s what. Thank God it turned out very good.”

His two sons, Michael Jr. and John, help him run the business and his nephew, Michael Agnello, is the chef.

“We mostly cater to the racetrack,” DeLuca said. “I’ve got all the jockeys, the trainers, the owners and the regular people from the neighborhood. We are five minutes from Aqueduct Race Track.”

If you stop by Don Peppe, which is located at 135-58 Lefferts Blvd., you’ll see be pictures of jockeys’ silk shirts and horses throughout, DeLuca told the Chronicle.

Local Venues

Initially, Williams had a flea market, then a grocery store at the spot before he transformed it in 1995 into an events venue, located at 205-35 Linden Blvd., McMillian said.

“He wanted something that would be nice in our community,” McMillian told the Chronicle. “The catering hall is named after his first wife who passed away.”

Over the years, wedding receptions, retirement parties, prayer breakfasts, community service events, talent shows, repasts and more have been held at the catering hall.

“The 113th Precinct does its Christmas party here every year,” McMillian said. “We do everything you can think of for the community.”

Thomasina’s does not have a set menu as it has a diverse clientele.

“Our community has so many nationalities,” she said. “We are able to prepare Caribbean, Southern, Indian, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and K kosher cuisine ... anything they want, we do.”

The manager said Thomasina’s has two exquisite banquet halls, one that fits 270 people and another that fits 80 people. While it is still operating, the new owner, who didn’t want to be

“Our most popular dish is the baked clams, our No. 2 is shrimp Luciano,” he said. “We also got the veal Don Peppe. It’s crushed veal with tomatoes and onions.”

Don Peppe also serves California house wine, beer and soda.

“The house wine gets a nine out of 10,” DeLuca said.

Over the years, the family has served people from varying backgrounds ranging from Italian to German to Irish to Indian to East Asian and more.

“Everybody comes in,” DeLuca said. “I’m also near the casino, so we serve whoever comes in. So far they all love it ... We got people coming from Northern Boulevard to people from Canal Street and Brooklyn.”

The restaurant’s proximity to JFK Airport has also brought in a slew of celebrities.

“There’s been so many, it’s not funny,” he said. “Joe Montano, Dan Marino ... we had Barbara Streisand years ago and Priscilla Presley.”

Muhammad Ali has also eaten at Don Peppe.

“He was one of the best boxers,” DeLuca said. “Everybody is just looking for good food. They get off the plane from California and then come right in.”

He said that he has more than 30 items of different pastas, meats and fish and people should come by for whatever they are in the mood for.

“We’ve been at the same spot for 53 years,” said DeLuca, who will turn 80 on Dec. 4. “So far, so good ... I thank God when I wake up in the morning.” Q