Eastie diner owner charged with sales tax evasion
A landmark East Boston diner’s owner has been charged with cheating the state out of $60,000 in taxes on $861,000 worth of eggs, pancakes and coffee orders.
Donna Marquardo, 58, of Lynn, owner of Donna’s Restaurant at Saratoga and Bennington streets in Orient Heights, was due to be arraigned yesterday in East Boston District Court — but her case was pushed off to April 18 when Judge John E. McDonald Jr. recused himself after disclosing the two have a familial connection.
Neither Marquardo nor her attorney William Lovett could be reached for comment.
Donna’s is a spacious eatery distinctive for its Disney wall murals — and where French toast and home fries will only set you back $8.99.
Staff said Marquardo took yesterday off. They declined further comment.
Faithful patrons were stunned.
“The place is a local landmark. They’re very nice people . ... That’s a surprise if it’s even true,” said Domenic Amara, 78, as he left Donna’s yesterday.
“She’s here all the time,” Amara said. “The food is excellent. It’s good, basic, workingman food.”
Another customer said Marquardo is a hands-on restaurateur.
“She’s wonderful,” he said outside Donna’s. “I happen to love the place. I think they treat everybody fairly.”
Nathalie Dailida, spokeswoman for the state Department of Revenue, referred questions about Marquardo to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.
Conley spokesman Jake Wark said the charges of failing to pay taxes and filing false tax returns Marquardo will answer to next month deal with the years 2012 to 2015.
Wark said Marquardo is accused of charging a meal tax on $861,000 in sales at Donna’s during that period, but not reporting them for an alleged tax savings of $60,000.
Donna’s Restaurant has been a member of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce since 2013 and specifically touts its family atmosphere.
Marquardo’s father Jerry Zullo, who founded Donna’s, died in 2011 at the age of 79.