Rao’s

My dads boss knew someone who could get us a table at this place and it’s amazing.

If you can possibly get in here which is nearly impossible be prepared to have the meal of a lifetime. A friend of mine had a contact and it was the only time i could get in. I got a call and was told someone couldnt make it and if i wanted to eat here get here 5 minutes ago. Man am i ever glad he called. seafood salad, veal, lemon chicken all incredibly good.

Awesome time last night great food and great staff… Felt at home. Everyone was Pleasant, it exceeded my expectations. Got to try the seafood salad it’s excellent !!! Thank you frank

Recently I visited another tough reservation in NYC (I’ll write about that later). But now, an oldie, but goodie, when I had my blog:
The most coveted table in the entire city (and maybe the entire world) My colleague John and I had been drooling over and talking about Rao’s for years. Rao’s is a very old Italian restaurant in my former neighborhood. It was founded in 1896 when 114^th Street and Pleasant Ave. used to be known as Italian Harlem. Finally John and I went ahead and set a date to just go there. If you call the restaurant, the message is something along the lines of this (try to read this with a Bronx accent): «Thank you for calling Rao’s. All the tables for 2007 are reserved. Thanks, have a good day.» (Yes, I realize I said 2007– it might still say that until about 2027.) It is illegal to think about getting a reservation there. They are only opened Monday through Friday. They don’t need to be opened on the weekends. They only take cash. Or personal check.
If you talk to anyone who knows anything about food in the city, they will explain to you that there is an elite haute class who «own» each of the ten tables. You have to either know someone or be really wealthy or really famous or all three of those things to get a table at Rao’s. The likes of Madonna and Rudy Guilliani and CEO’s of companies like Ferrari and a few others are the types who dine there.
But, the one loophole is this: you can sit at the bar. You cannot eat at the bar. But you can drink at the bar. And observe. Precisely our goal. John and I met up around the corner from Rao’s. We were dressed to the nines and we are Italian. You have to be. Turn back?
Not a chance. We are walking in. And we are walking in like we BELONG there… The bar was mostly empty. The server looked over at Frank Pellegrino, the owner, questioningly. Frank looked both of us up and down carefully. For a moment he looked perplexed. Finally, «Okay», he nodded. How did I know it was Frank Pellegrino? Because he is a legend in the city. He sometimes breaks into spontaneous song at the restaurant. He has been on Law & Order, and also the Sopranos (quel supris) and I believe several others. John and I made it just at the right time. We were dressed to Frank’s satisfaction. 8:15 to be exact. At 8:30 the bar was packed and there was not a seat to be had.
So we gawked. We laughed. We admired the people. There was one guy who looked like he belonged in the Corleone family. We locked eye a few times. The men wore suits of the finest threads. And those buttery soft Italian leather loafers. The women wore leopard print. Four inch stilletos and gold. Lots of gold. There was a jukebox in the corner playing Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. There were Christmas wreaths with white lights. (This is June.) The bartender is known as Nickie Vest because he owns so many vests. John and I continue to sit at the bar, whisper to each other as we observe the people dining at the restaurant, their clothing, their behavior, their food, their wine. That’s when Frank comes up to us. «You two look like you want to eat.» Uh oh. Are we busted?
Lo and behold, we were not, in fact busted.
«Well I think we can arrange for you to have a table,» Frank smiles.
My jaw dropped. I felt like a little kid who had just been told that she is going to Disney World.
«Oh.»
” My.”
«God.» John mouths to me. We are getting a TABLE. People wait for six years for a table here. People pay $ 3000 in charity auctions to get a table here. People DON’T get a table here. Frank couldn’t have been any sweeter. «Beautiful eyes she has», he told John. I was flattered. And I was hungry. There are no menus. Frank rattled off our choices with the familiarity of a priest officiating a bride and groom’s wedding vows. That menu is sacred to him.
The atmosphere of Rao’s was somewhere between an Italian wedding reception in my family and the basement of someone’s Italian home in New Jersey. We were just missing the Jordan Almonds and/​or a boxing bag hanging from the ceiling. We could have been in 1959 and part of «A Bronx Tale» with Chaz Palminteri and I would have believed you. You are transported back in time at this joint. The first six notes «When the moon hits your eye» made John and I both roll our eyes and smile at the same time. It is SO kitschy and SO quintessential Italian. We danced. We laughed. The next thing I knew, I was in a conga line. It was a magical night. It ended with coffee with Frangelico. John and shared the same sentiment: this was an amazing and magical once-​in-​a-​lifetime opportunity.
The next day at work I was called in regards to a serious student emergency and I was dealing with this student in peril near John’s office. I cannot really disclose the details, but it took awhile and I had to be serious. John asked me if she was going to be okay (she was) and as he observed me in my professional role, he could only think «Yesterday she was in a conga line at Rao’s.»

While this reservation is incredibly difficult to secure, the food and dining experience are unforgettable. My grandfather knew someone who knew people that could get a table, and as a birthday gift brought my family to dine there.
The first thing I was taken aback by was that a waiter came out and started asking what we wanted to eat and spouted Italian options that ran the gamut from seafood salad with lobster, shrimp, crab, and calamari to all sorts of pastas, veal, chicken, meatballs, sausage, clams, a basil and breadcrumb coated fried mozzarella and paired with a simple tomato sauce to create a «caprese» and other dishes I did not recognize or forgot in the deluge of options. They did this in a way that was very charming. Although it was overwhelming to have these options thrown at you rapid fire, it made you feel like they wanted to get to know you as a diner and prepare the meal specifically for you. As we were a party of 7, the spread that they eventually presented was incredible and had all of the above mentioned items.
All of these things were cooked beautifully and you could taste the time and energy that painstakingly went into producing every slow simmered sauce and accompanying item, and the proteins were all succulent.
As someone who is fairly well-​versed on food, but certainly not an expert on all available Italian dishes, I would say that if you’re open to a wide variety of options to ask what the waiter recommends, or ask other diners what they’ve enjoyed (if you feel so audacious), as I guarantee it will be unique, made to order, and absolutely delicious.
If you can get a table here cancel any other plans you may have had, this is an experience that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere.

Having seen the Barefoot Contessa’s show on Rao’s, I jumped at the opportunity to dine at Rao’s! It’s quite difficult to get into, as you have to know someone with a table– or have the patience of Job, but trust me, it’s worth the effort. The Food is outstanding and the whole experience makes you feel like you’re part of the family. Of course, order the meatballs, seafood salad, peas & prosciutto, broccoli rabe & sausage, and lemon chicken. You’ll roll out of there feeling delightful for a number of reasons!

Yes folks, it really is THAT good. If you are lucky enough to be able to actually get in here you will not be disappointed. Food is outstanding, service perfect, atmosphere is like nothing you’ve ever seen or experienced. No menu, cash only, almost impossible to get in unless you know one of the regulars, and even then, they better really like you.

Overall: Hands down the most perfectly cooked meal I have ever eaten but good luck ever eating here.
They weren’t kidding when they said this place is almost impossible to eat at. You would have better luck getting invited to dinner at the White House than getting a proper reservation at this Italian joint, and that’s because tables at Rao’s are not so much reserved but more or less owned/​controlled. Luckily my dad and uncle knew someone that got us a table for four and I was able to mark this item off my bucket list.
Here’s what we ate:
–Seafood Salad: Calamari, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab Meat, Peppers, and Olives marinated in a citrus dressing
–Baked Clams
–Veal & Pork Chop: Pan-​seared with sautéed hot and sweet cherry pepper sauce (both were cooked to perfection)
–Lemon Chicken
–Chicken Scarpariello
–Fusilli Pasta: Mild and Sweet Italian Sausage with Cabbage in Marinara Sauce (We ordered this as a suggestion from the person that got us the table and it was surprisingly really good)
–Meatballs
As I mentioned before, the entire meal was cooked to absolute perfection. I can’t say one bad thing about this meal. Putting the food aside, just being here was an enjoyable experience. We were treated like family and it brought back memories of Sunday dinner at my grandmothers house with the entire family. Everything at Rao’s is served family-​style which I personally enjoyed.

The food, the atmosphere, the service and there is magic. Yeah, but not magic like in a magic show where a bunny comes out of a hat but you connect with everyone there. Great food, great time and worth a visit – you will go back, for sure!

Such a wonderful experience! Felt like part of an Italian family. Every patron had a smile on her face, singing oldies, diving into fried mozzarella and delicious meatballs. This will be a night to remember!

Great experience with a friend. The soft shell crab are dynamite. 2 inch pork chops with escarole.

I’ve been going to Rao’s for 25 years. There is no better restaurant experience in New York City and the food never takes a back seat… it’s traditional, consistent, and delicious. Baked clams, seafood salad, roasted peppers, lemon chicken, shrimp scampi, all the pastas… it’s all good. If you can’t get a reservation, go hang out at the bar (anyone can) and have the Rao’s experience for the price of a drink. Advice: cash only, tip big, don’t dress like a slob and act like you belong there.

Oh my! My fifth time here and there is something to be said for consistency. Very friendly feeling, the people there are so nice. I was sitting at the bar waiting for my host, one of the owners, Frank Pellegrino and I had a brief chat and afterwards he bought me a drink. My host showed up and we continued drinking at the bar when he introduced me to the other owner, Ron Straci. The owners add to the ambience there, they walk around chatting with everyone, telling stories and greeting everyone.
The food did not disappoint as usual. We had clams oregonata, seafood salad, softshell crabs, and mussels for appetizers. For pasta we had orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, rigatoni pomodoro and a order of their famous meatballs. For entrée we had sole francese, stuffed veal, lemon chicken, peas with prosciutto. I wanted the steak pizzaiola as well but my host thought it would be over the top for two people. He was right but we did finished everything. We also had 3 bottles of cabernet sauvignon with dinner. Afterwards we hung out at the bar for a pot of espresso with Sambuca and chatted with one of the owners. Great evening!!!

Wonderful Experience From start to finish! Food, Drinks, Staff, Environment everything was Great!

Yes, it’s all it’s cracked up to be! The other reviews are spot on but here’s my addition; the staff. (actually they are more like your most beloved family members) It is the love emanating from that staff through the whole place as they smile delivering one beautiful dish after another past your gazing eyes that brings everything together for me! There really is a magical feeling in the air – if you have been there you know what I’m talking about.
Upon arrival, my husband and I met Frankie outside the front door on this beautiful NY evening. He is every bit the warm, charming and charismatic gentleman I had read about. Those words reflect the feeling once you walk through that door.
Inside you are greeted with friendly hugs and smiles like walking into your Aunt’s house for Christmas dinner. Let’s face it in a place where celebrities and local notables are dining on a regular basis, for me to get that same welcomed treatment is way cool! The place has maybe 10 tables, a dark and cozy interior (with walls that could talk no doubt) showing it’s age but also it’s history with framed photos of anyone who is anyone masking every inch of the walls. The somewhat ordinary Italian décor complete with the fake christmas greens and wobbly stools (6) at the bar, has Frank Sinatra playing on the jukebox. This lively and happy group of diners thoroughly enjoying themselves like they are all relatives catching up. It’s a loud but happy atmosphere; one that people LOVE to be in the mix of. I don’t know that I felt the «Godfather/​Soprano-​ish» clientele so much as others have noted, but it was clear this was a very smart, stylish dressed up crowd of people ‘with means’ (Maybe it’s the stretched limos’, bentleys and mercedes with drivers parked out front that gave that away) but there is a reason people come up to East Harlem for Rao’s.
There are no menu’s and you have no idea what anything costs; one of the owners just pulled up a chair and gave us the nights choices-​no easy task picking. The pasta and veges were very good too but these were mega standouts. (family style and big portions) YOU MUST TRY THESE
Seafood Salad
Meatballs
Bread and oil (never gets credit but its excellent)
Lemon Chicken
Chianti…lots of that!
The bill comes and it’s hand written on a piece of paper… love this!
Liquor 85
food 100
CASH ONLY … .For two people I thought that was a bargain quite frankly! We ate each delicious morsel until we couldn’t down another bite then topped it off with some Sambuca and their homemade vanilla ice cream. OK, roll me home–
It’s a bit later in the evening and all I can say, is Frankie, the ladies, singing and dancing and ME? I was right in the middle of it!
If you get the opportunity to go, have a big smile on your face and be prepared to have wonderful food in the company of an amazing group of people. (the people of Rao’s? just possibly the secret to their success)
It may be your once in a lifetime night, I think it was mine! THANK YOU RAO’S!
hmmm? I wonder how they made that lemon chicken???

How could one not be in awe of such an exclusive NY institution?
I’ve been to Rao’s probably 6 times now. Its the epitome of no frills, home style Italian cooking. The service is very efficient, and personal. There is no menu, rather the nice gent verbally rattling off the many options you have available to you. Its practically catered to your liking. There are 4 people in your party and you order the delicious mozzarella en corozza, and you get 4 pieces of the gooey deliciousness. Someone at your table doesn’t want fried… they give you 3.
Everything that comes out of the kitchen is to your liking, and delicious. If you ever get the option to dine here, it really is the treat you think it is, and I really hope it happens for you!

5 stars for the overall experience. Was lucky enough to have been invited here for dinner and it lives up to the hype.
The service is extraordinary. They don’t care who you are or how much you spend, they treat everybody like family.
The food is good (though not mind blowing). Everything was very fresh, simply prepared and huge family style portions. They don’t have a menu but the server will let you know what they have that evening.
We were 6 people and ordered the seafood salad, fried seafood, ricotta balls, burrata and tomato salad, meatballs, two pasta dishes, lamb chops, veal milanese and the lemon chicken.
If giving the chance definitely check out this new york legend.

Have you ever wondered — «Hey I really need to go to a restaurant that is not only impossible to get a reservation into, but located in north east Africa!» ?
I have.
And that wonder lead me here to the iconic Rao’s. The red wood exterior paneling outside is the something out of a yet to be filmed Scorcese blockbuster.
Onto the review, this was like a right of passage for me. A bar mitzvah for a native Brooklynite. The food was amazing — an onslaught of staff selected courses, pushing you to the brink of Chris Christie’s pre lap band body. Our waiter was rough, tough and had a festive vest embroidered with none other than Sylvester the cat. The bus boy had so much spillover machismo Italian swag, and was not scared to wipe the floor with my adopted Manhattan elitist skim iced cappuccino order, dooming me to obesity with whole milk only and no ice.
All in all, a great experience.
The entire place is littered from floor to ceiling with history, great memorabilia, and is a melting pot of celebs (no nouveau riche welcome, sorry Bieber), politicians, movers, shakers, and the wholesome female arm candy associated with all.
If you can get a seat here, and can stomach the $ 50 each way Über from civilization — you won’t regret it.

3 stars for the food
2 stars for the price
5 stars for the atmosphere and characters.
It was a real pleasure to be invited by a friend of mine and we had a great night, it’s exactly as you can imagine, part Goodfellas part family meal. Everything is family style, some things are ok, some good and some excellent. The best dishes for me were the seafood salad and the pesto fresh pasta dish.
You will need $ 200 per person if you drink.

Rao’s is amazing! Beyond the exclusivity, welcoming service, and energetic crowd, the food is delicious. My family literally grew up around the block [back-​in-​the-​day], so i truly felt at home.
My friend’s and I (party of 6) visited on a Wednesday evening and it felt like a Saturday night. What a great vibe. We ordered a few cocktails to start at the bar, tons of food, a few bottles of red, and limoncello to cap off a wonderful evening.
Get here… if you can.