‘On The Rocks: The Primadonna Story’ Tells Tale Of The Little Restaurant That Could

On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story by authors Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins chronicles the real-life journey of restaurateur Joseph Costanzo Jr., from his rise to success in the 1990s as an owner of the acclaimed Primadonna Restaurant, chronicling along the way his stints as a radio host, columnist, and aspiring politician.

The book also talks of his sharp fall in the early 2000s, ending in an investigation and a stint in federal prison. Costanzo is a complex character, whom readers will admire for his confidence and rebuke for his arrogance, will love for his generosity and despise for his egotism, and will learn from in both his attention to detail and lack thereof.

This driven, not-your-average-Joe is an unforgettable character who achieves the seemingly impossible but can’t help getting in his own way.

The book, written in the late Costanzo’s voice, was the grand prize winner of the 2024 New York Book Festival, www.newyorkbookfestival.com.