by Michelle Monterrosas
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Located in the heart of Maspeth, Queens, Ocean Prime has become a neighborhood favorite for catching the big game, enjoying great food and drinks, singing karaoke with friends, or simply unwinding after a long day.
But behind every game on the TVs and every plate served is a story that began long before the restaurant opened.
José Funes arrived in New York from El Salvador when he was just 17 years old. Like many immigrants, he came looking for opportunity and found it in the restaurant industry. What started as a job quickly became a passion, as years spent working in kitchens taught him that great hospitality is about more than food—it’s about creating a place where people genuinely enjoy spending time.
Three years ago, that dream became Ocean Prime.
José didn’t set out to build a fine dining restaurant. He wanted a welcoming neighborhood sports bar where people could watch the game, enjoy fresh food and drinks, sing karaoke, and make memories with friends. A place where everyone feels comfortable walking through the door.
The name reflects that vision: always striving to offer the very best, both in quality and in the experience shared with every guest.
Running a restaurant takes resilience, long hours, and countless sacrifices. Today, those years of hard work have not only helped Ocean Prime become part of the Maspeth community, but have also allowed José to achieve one of his greatest personal milestones: seeing his children graduate.
For José, success isn’t measured by how big the business is. It’s measured by the community that’s been built around it. Three years after opening its doors, Ocean Prime continues to be more than just a sports bar—it’s a place where great food, great games, and great people come together.
The menu at Ocean Prime offers plenty of options for both casual diners and those looking for something a little different.
Among the restaurant’s popular offerings are the Chicken Prime Sandwich, made with chicken cutlet, mozzarella cheese, bacon and ranch dressing, and the Tempura Sole Sandwich, featuring crispy fried sole with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato. The restaurant also serves a variety of wings, burgers, seafood and classic bar-and-grill favorites, making it an easy choice whether guests are stopping in for a quick bite, dinner with family or food while watching the game.
Food is only part of the experience at Ocean Prime, with weekly specials and entertainment giving locals another reason to come back. Mondays feature a $9 Burger Monday special, while Taco Tuesday brings $3 taco offerings to the menu. The restaurant also features wing specials during the week, along with live music and karaoke nights that turn the restaurant into a lively gathering spot where guests can sing along with friends.
For José, the food and weekly specials are all part of creating the kind of neighborhood gathering place he envisioned when he opened Ocean Prime. “I wanted to create a place where people could come in, enjoy good food and drinks, watch the game, listen to music or sing karaoke, and just have a good time,” José said. “It’s about bringing people together and making Ocean Prime feel like a place they can call their own.”
For those looking to pair their meal with something sweet and creative from the bar, Ocean Prime also offers its Dubai Chocolate Martini, adding another signature touch to the restaurant’s food-and-drink experience.
Ocean Prime is located at 64-14 Flushing Ave., Maspeth, Queens, NY 11378.
