Award & Recognition Dinner Restaurant in Forest Hills, Queens
An elevated banquet to recognize outstanding achievements in Forest Hills.
A Forest Hills Tradition for Award & Recognition Dinners
Portofino Ristorante on Ascan Avenue has hosted Queens award and recognition dinners for over fifty years, offering organizations an elegant Italian setting to recognize outstanding achievements, a neighborhood Italian landmark on Ascan Avenue where authentic cuisine and warm hospitality have welcomed celebrating families for generations.
An award and recognition dinner at Portofino is an elevated banquet experience that honors outstanding achievements, volunteer contributions, or team milestones. Our dining room, with its Italian coastal murals and warm mirrored glow, sets a celebratory stage for presentations, toasts, and the gratitude of a recognition well-earned. Our staff attends with care so the honorees and their guests can simply enjoy the moment.
Presentations & Toasts
Award and recognition dinners at Portofino often feature presentations, toasts, and speeches honoring the recipients. Our staff can help coordinate the pacing of presentations throughout the evening.
Elevated Banquet Experience
Our Package 1 and Package 2 multi-course banquet menus offer an elevated experience with antipasti, fresh handmade pasta, main courses, and a dessert presentation, perfect for recognizing outstanding achievements.
An Elegant Queens Venue for Your Recognition Dinner
Our Forest Hills dining room accommodates award and recognition dinners from intimate gatherings of twenty to larger celebrations of one hundred. The banquet area, with its warm lighting and Italian charm, transforms beautifully for award decor and a presentation area.
Located on Ascan Avenue in the heart of Forest Hills, Portofino is convenient for honorees and their guests traveling from across Queens, Long Island, and Manhattan. The Forest Hills transit hub is steps away, and parking is available nearby for your recognition dinner.
Custom Recognition Dinner Menus
Choose from our Package 1 and Package 2 multi-course banquet menus for predictable per-person pricing, or work with our coordinator to design a custom recognition dinner menu. Add a Prosecco toast, curated wine pairings, and a dessert presentation for the honorees.
What Your Recognition Dinner Includes
Every award and recognition dinner at Portofino is tailored to the honorees, but most celebrations include the following elements that have defined our Forest Hills hospitality for half a century.
Welcoming Antipasti
Begin with an elegant antipasti spread as honorees and guests arrive, perfect for mingling and informal toasts before the seated dinner begins.
Fresh Pasta & Main Courses
A fresh handmade pasta course and main courses follow, paced to allow presentations, toasts, and speeches to flow naturally throughout the evening.
Dessert Presentation for Honorees
Finish with our roaming dessert tray presentation and a candlelit treat for the honorees, presented with care to honor their achievements.
Plan Your Recognition Dinner at Portofino
Booking your award and recognition dinner at Portofino Ristorante begins with a conversation. Tell us about your event and our coordinator will craft a personalized Italian experience tailored to your celebration, your guests, and your budget. For immediate assistance, call us directly at (718) 261-1239.
Whether you are recognizing a single honoree or a full team, our event coordinator will craft an elevated Italian experience tailored to the achievements being celebrated. We look forward to honoring outstanding contributions the Italian way, right here in Forest Hills.
Request a Quote for Your Award & Recognition Dinner
Tell us about your event and our coordinator will craft a personalized Italian experience tailored to your celebration, your guests, and your budget.
Award & Recognition Dinners at Portofino — Your Questions Answered
How many guests can Portofino accommodate for a recognition dinner?
Our Forest Hills dining room seats award and recognition dinners from intimate gatherings of twenty to larger celebrations of one hundred. Full-room reservations are available for bigger dinners. Contact our coordinator to discuss your guest count.
Can we arrange presentations and toasts for honorees?
Yes. Award and recognition dinners at Portofino often feature presentations, toasts, and speeches honoring the recipients. Our staff can help coordinate the pacing of presentations throughout the evening.
Are there set banquet packages with per-person pricing?
Yes. Our Package 1 and Package 2 multi-course banquet menus offer set per-person pricing with antipasti, fresh pasta, salad, main course, and dessert. Custom recognition dinner menus are also available.
Do you offer a Prosecco toast for the honorees?
Yes. We can arrange a complimentary or custom Prosecco toast for the honorees, along with curated Italian wine pairings for the full party. Our daily happy hour from 5 to 7 PM also offers 50% off wine and beer for early-arriving guests.
Is Portofino convenient for out-of-town recognition dinner guests?
Portofino is located on Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills, steps from the Forest Hills transit hub, with parking available nearby. Honorees and guests traveling from across Queens, Long Island, and Manhattan find us easy to reach.
Can we reserve the whole dining room for a recognition dinner?
Yes. Full-room reservations are available for larger award and recognition dinners, allowing you to transform the space with award decor and a presentation area. Book early to secure your preferred date.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions for recognition dinner guests?
We happily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requests, including gluten-free pasta. Inform our coordinator of any allergies or dietary needs in advance and we will tailor the menu accordingly.
Do you host recognition dinners for organizations and teams?
Yes. We host award and recognition dinners for organizations, volunteer groups, and teams recognizing outstanding achievements, contributions, and milestones of all kinds.
Can we bring a custom dessert for the honorees?
Yes. You are welcome to bring a custom dessert or cake for the honorees, and our staff will present it alongside our roaming dessert tray. We also offer our own Italian dessert presentations.
How far in advance should I book a recognition dinner?
For weekend recognition dinners, we recommend booking two to four weeks in advance. For larger dinners or full-room reservations, book as early as possible to secure your preferred date.