Graduation Party Restaurant in Forest Hills, Queens
Honor your graduate with a lively Italian family banquet in Forest Hills.
A Forest Hills Tradition for Graduation Celebrations
Portofino Ristorante on Ascan Avenue has hosted Queens graduation celebrations for over fifty years, offering families a lively Italian setting to honor the graduate, a neighborhood Italian landmark on Ascan Avenue where authentic cuisine and warm hospitality have welcomed celebrating families for generations.
A graduation dinner at Portofino is a lively family banquet celebrating hard-earned academic milestones. From high school graduations to college and graduate degrees, our dining room, with its Italian coastal murals and warm mirrored glow, sets a celebratory stage for toasts to the graduate and the family that supported them. Our staff attends with care so the graduate and their family can simply enjoy the moment.
High School, College & Graduate Celebrations
We host graduation celebrations for every academic milestone, from high school to college to graduate degrees. Tell us the graduate's achievement and we will tailor the menu, the pacing, and the presentation to honor the day.
Lively Family Banquets
Graduation celebrations at Portofino are lively family banquets, often featuring family-style antipasti, heaping plates of handmade pasta, and a celebratory dessert presentation for the graduate.
A Queens Venue Built for Family Celebrations
Our Forest Hills dining room accommodates graduation parties from intimate family dinners of fifteen to larger celebrations of sixty or more. The banquet area, with its warm lighting and Italian charm, transforms beautifully for graduation decor and celebratory toasts.
Located on Ascan Avenue in the heart of Forest Hills, Portofino is convenient for the graduate and their family traveling from across Queens, Long Island, and Manhattan. The Forest Hills transit hub is steps away, and parking is available nearby for your graduation celebration.
Custom Graduation 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 graduation menu. Add a Prosecco toast, curated wine pairings, and a dessert presentation for the graduate.
What Your Graduation Celebration Includes
Every graduation celebration at Portofino is tailored to the graduate, but most banquets include the following elements that have defined our Forest Hills hospitality for half a century.
Family-Style Antipasti Welcome
Begin with a generous family-style antipasti spread as family and friends arrive, perfect for mingling and toasts before the seated banquet begins.
Fresh Pasta & Main Courses
A fresh handmade pasta course and main courses follow, served family-style to encourage sharing and celebration among the graduate's family and friends.
Dessert Presentation for the Graduate
Finish with our roaming dessert tray presentation and a candlelit treat for the graduate, presented with care to honor their achievement.
Plan Your Graduation Celebration at Portofino
Booking your graduation celebration 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 gathering fifteen close family members or sixty friends, our event coordinator will craft a lively Italian experience tailored to the graduate and their achievement. We look forward to honoring your graduate the Italian way, right here in Forest Hills.
Request a Quote for Your Graduation Celebration
Tell us about your event and our coordinator will craft a personalized Italian experience tailored to your celebration, your guests, and your budget.
Graduation Celebrations at Portofino — Your Questions Answered
How many guests can Portofino accommodate for a graduation party?
Our Forest Hills dining room seats graduation parties from intimate family dinners of fifteen to larger celebrations of sixty or more. Full-room reservations are available for bigger parties. Contact our coordinator to discuss your guest count.
Do you host high school, college, and graduate graduation parties?
Yes. We host graduation celebrations for every academic milestone, from high school to college to graduate degrees. Tell us the graduate's achievement and we will tailor the celebration accordingly.
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 graduation menus are also available.
Do you offer a Prosecco toast for the graduate?
Yes. We can arrange a complimentary or custom Prosecco toast for the graduate, 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 the food served family-style for graduation parties?
Graduation celebrations often feature family-style antipasti and heaping plates of handmade pasta to encourage sharing and celebration, though plated multi-course service is also available.
Is Portofino convenient for out-of-town graduation guests?
Portofino is located on Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills, steps from the Forest Hills transit hub, with parking available nearby. The graduate and their family traveling from across Queens, Long Island, and Manhattan find us easy to reach.
Can we bring a custom dessert for the graduate?
Yes. You are welcome to bring a custom dessert or cake for the graduate, and our staff will present it alongside our roaming dessert tray. We also offer our own Italian dessert presentations.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions for graduation 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.
Can we reserve the whole dining room for a graduation party?
Yes. Full-room reservations are available for larger graduation parties, allowing you to transform the space with decor and celebratory toasts. Book early to secure your preferred date, especially during graduation season.
How far in advance should I book a graduation party?
Graduation season is busy, so we recommend booking as early as possible, ideally three to four weeks in advance, to secure your preferred date, especially for weekend graduation celebrations.