On the Rocks - by Maria C Palmer & Ruthie Robbins

About the Book

"On the Rocks chronicles the real-life journey of restaurateur Joseph Costanzo Jr., from his rise to success in the 1990s as a owner of the highly acclaimed Primadonna Restaurant, radio host, columnist, and aspiring politician to 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. Come along with Joe for a bumpy ride on the Rocks!"--Book jacket flap.

Book Synopsis

On the Rocks chronicles the real-life journey of restaurateur Joseph Costanzo Jr., from his rise to success in the 1990s as a owner of the highly acclaimed Primadonna Restaurant, radio host, columnist, and aspiring politician to 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. Come along with Joe for a bumpy ride on the Rocks!

Review Quotes

"It's colorful, gritty; it's Cheers with an edge, and you are going to

cry at the end, so there's no reason not to pick this up."

-Alicia Pozsony, Radio Host of Resilient YOU!

"I always felt stories like Joe Costanzo's and The Primadonna restaurant are so important to tell."

-Rocky Bleier, former Pittsburgh Steeler NFL player

"When sports figures, celebrities, and athletes came to town, everyone wanted to go to The Primadonna to eat. Joe made everyone feel like they were special, and he deserved every bit of success he had."

-Gerry Dulac, sports journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette