Can not get enough, we could eat more! The parmigiana and tomato sauce is the best, can not wait to order again! Truly a New York gem. read more

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Ordered the take out prix fixe menu - $80 for salad, meatballs, pasta marinara and lemon chicken for Two Was not good - salad was basic, meatballs were good- but not the hype great, lemon chicken was Too tender and too much lemon, pasta was overcooked And marinara sauce was not flavorful (this was the most disappointing to be honest, it's Roa's sauce supposed to be great!) sure the restaurant is wayyy better read more

Rao's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I think back to the line in the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles where after a flight gets cancelled, Del Griffith says to Neil Paige, "We have a better chance of playing pickup sticks with our butt cheeks than finding a flight out tonight." The same holds true for getting a table at Rao's. It's almost unfair to write this recommendation because once I tell you how amazing the meals are there, the fact that you might not be able to get a table will sting all the more. I won't go into everything that's already been written on the internet about the table system ... the tables are basically 'owned' by people and they can give them away to friends, etc. if they aren't using them. So essentially, this is a private club. Knowing someone who knows someone is probably the only way to get a table. There are some other little hacks you can employ, which I won't go into here because they don't always work. I have traveled all over Italy and eaten so many great authentic meals in my friend's homes over the years ... usually cooked by an older Sicilian grandmother ... so I think I qualify as somewhat of an expert on good, authentic Italian cuisine. I am also not scared to spend all day laboring over a simmering pot of homemade sauce while pounding chicken cutlets in a hot kitchen. Let me just say that beyond the amazement of actually getting a table ... Rao's served the most authentic and best tasting Italian food I think I've ever had. If you don't have an Italian 'nona' (grandmother) who still prepares her cooking the old way ... Rao's will give you that type of experience. It is clear that all the ingredients are as fresh as you can get and the dishes are absolutely made with love. Sounds corny but what that means is respect for ingredients, made using a time honored recipe and tremendous quality control. The atmosphere is fantastic and there is an electric 'buzz' in the restaurant. Everyone is happy here. Everyone. The staff here from the owners to the waiters seem like they are thrilled to be here and even though I am not a regular, they treated me with respect, humor and graciousness. I had a terrible experience at another restaurant slash private club in Paris called Chez Louis Amor which was considered one of the hardest reservations to get there ... the staff was rude, condescending and arrogant to 'outsiders'. (and the food was average) Thankfully, Rao's was the complete opposite. They made me feel I was dining in their home and the food was among the best I've ever had. Should you get a table here there is no menu. Someone in a suit will come and sit down at your table and ask you what you want. If it's your first time, he will go through all the options for you. As is the case with most Italian meals at someone's house ... there will be lots of courses. You are expected to try a lot of things ... don't come here and think you'll just get a salad and bread ... or an entrée. Just an example of what we (two people) had ... fried mozzarella cheese, calamari, pene with Vodka sauce, the famous meatballs and veal parmesan. We really wanted to try the lemon chicken but already we were worried about being too full. It was hard to resist the fresh bread and olive oil as well. You order wine by the glass or the bottle and the house red is fantastic, just like it usually is in Italy. All of the fried food was done perfectly. Lightly fried, accompanied with homemade sauce and cooked perfectly. Everything came out with perfect timing. One plate left, another arrived, etc. etc. There were two of us and the portions were perfect each time. The star of the show was the meatballs. You have to try these at Rao's. They are hand made, pan fried and then baked so they are so juicy and flavorful. I've never had a better meatball. Another interesting dish was the Pene Vodka. As a huge fan of Rao's sauce from the supermarket (I normally make my own sauce from a recipe I was given in Rome while helping an older women carry her bags at the grocery store) but when I don't have all day to create a sauce, Rao's jar sauce really is as good as anything you'd get at most restaurants. However, it was almost surreal to be eating the sauce in Rao's vs. my own dining room. It is made fresh from scratch at the restaurant, but the taste is still remarkably similar to the home version. Trippy. Overall, I think you can tell that I'm a huge fan of Rao's. I know I likely won't get the opportunity to dine here often. However, I do hope to head back at some point and I am sure that follow up experiences will be as great as the first. Very rarely do you come across a restaurant where literally everything is perfect. Rao's is that place ... you find yourself able to laugh louder, converse better and smile more when all the other details (food quality, service, atmosphere, etc.) are up to snuff. Anyone who leaves a 1 star review is someone who likely felt entitled to a seat here and could not get it. Once you're in ... you're in. read more

Had the awesome opportunity to dine there the other night. It's all about the atmosphere. It's a small place with only about 10 tables. He the opportunity to chat with the owner and his daughter. The meatballs are fantastic. There is no menu. The Maître d' sat down with us and went through the food options. We had several courses. Enjoyed many bottles of Barolo wine. Hope I get another chance to visit again. It was definitely a bucket list item! read more

Nestled on a small corner in East Harlem with many years of history, not only is dinner at Rao's a good meal, it's an evening out that chalks up to a great, and memorable experience. This little gem has only 10 tables in addition to the bar area and the pictures that cover the walls speak volumes about the history of this place. The food is served family style and personally reminds me of the Sunday dinners at my grandmother's when I was a kid. Some of my favorites are the seafood salad, the meatballs, the orecchiette with sausage & broccoli rabe, the baked clams and the grilled lamb chops. As difficult as it is to get a table, you can have drinks at the bar which is always a fun time as well. read more

Rao's - Having a drink before dinner - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Rao's is one of those old school Italian restaurants in New York City known for their meatballs and "mobstereque" vibes. The walls are plastered with autographed photos featuring major celebs and TV personalities from all over the country. The apps are outstanding! For starters, my fiancé and I shared a huge plate full of oysters and, my God, were they good! Next up, creamy pasta, al-dente goodness, plated perfection! We then moved on to the meatballs. Let me just say, I have a Sicilian grandmother (I love you!,) whose meatball recipe can't be matched--but my goodness, Rao's...you're killing me here! I have to say, the meatballs...are better...than hers( I love you, don't kill me!) and don't get me started on the SAUCE! I'm sure you know how hard it is to get a table here. I mean you could always go to your local Whole Foods and pick up a jar of their marinara, but it just tastes so much better at a sit-down dinner with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, sipping one of the best martinis I've ever had! If you can get a reservation, I salute you! You won't regret dinner here. That's for sure. read more

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Had high expectations and Rao's didn't disappoint, good vibes and great food. We had 3 apps, 2 pastas and 2 entrees. By far the best dishes I loved were their famous Meatballs which were the best I've tasted, the seafood salad was exceptional and even non seafood eaters at my table couldn't have enough, and the lemon chicken entree was very tasty. The clams oreganata were also really good. The 2 pastas and pork chops we also had were good, just didn't stand out like the other dishes I detailed . Can't go wrong if you have an opportunity to dine here, do it. read more

I'm glad I tried this place so I can tell my friends not to. We ordered takeout: Penne alla Arrabiata, Penne alla Vodka, and Eggplant Parmesan. All three of these items were not only underwhelming, they were just bad. At first I compared it to Olive Garden, but the more I ate it it really just tasted like a school lunch or bad frozen dinner. The pasta was over cooked, the sauces had no flavor (might as well have eaten a can of hunts tomato sauce), and the eggplant was slimy. I can't imagine that dining in would have made a difference. I am a HUGE fan of the Rao's sauces sold at grocery stores, so naturally had high expectations for the restaurant and it would have been a dream to actually get a table at this place. I'm sad to say it doesn't live up to the hype - overpriced, bland and poorly cooked food, and too far to make it worth it. I'd eat Olive Garden over this any day. read more

Went here for our anniversary and everyone was great. The food was excellent and the wait staff was very informed on all the menu choices.

I've been living in NYC for over 33 years and had never gotten the chance to try the food at Rao's until Covid-19. We ordered 2 orders of the only option of the carry-out ($80 for 2 people): Salad, Lemon Chicken, Penne with marinara and Meatballs. I'm happy to say, that I haven't been missing anything all these years by not being able to get a reservation at Rao's. Both the meatballs and the lemon chicken was burned and the penne was super soggy from being overcooked! The salad was as sorry as it gets...Iceberg lettuce and very few tomatoes (I think 2) and onions. We threw most of the chicken out. What a waste of $160.! Review from my husband: The chicken was burnt! We reached out to them and they said that's the way they've been making it for over 100 years. The meatballs were burnt and the penne pasta so overcooked it was soggy. Their response to that was, we should have reached out sooner. This was a pick-up. We weren't going to drive back up to Rao's only to have gotten more burnt, charred tasting chicken. We've eaten at the finest restaurants in the world and the worst. Rao's was the worst and a completely overstated hype of a restaurant you can't get into. Don't waste your time. read more

Let me start this review by saying, if you have the incredible privilege of reviewing this restaurant, you are blessed & highlyyyy favored :-D. As many others mention, yes - it is so so extremely difficult to get in. Lucky for me, one of my very close friends took me here for my birthday this year... Best. Gift. Ever! I love iconic restaurants and I've stalked Rao's for so long that I didn't know what to expect when finally pulling up... The location is definitely random and I'm not sure why else anyone would be on the corner of E114th street at night, but if its because you're coming here... you do it with a smile. If Rao's was on Mars, I'd gladly give up my life on Earth. From the second we arrived, people were kissing us hello and welcoming us like they were reuniting with their best friends- you can feel the warmth and genuine care... Have you ever been to a wedding where everyone in the room is beaming with love, joy and pride? That's an evening at Rao's in a nutshell. Everyone inside is so pleasant and happy to be there (and why wouldn't they be, they're at the best restaurant in the world!!!) that the energy permeates through every fiber of your being... a truly magical place. Some things that surprised me about Rao's were how well organized everything was. Most of the employees have ear pieces to communicate with one another (very FBI cool) and you can tell they're running a really tight ship. I guess this is to be expected in such a tiny restaurant with only 2 seatings a night. Although everyone is super easy going, you can tell that they also mean business and will make sure that everything is going well 24/7. There is no menu at Rao's. Someone comes to your table and tells you the offerings of the night... I love how old school that concept is, and how someone like me (who can never make up their mind) has decisions made for them because theres only so many options to choose from. The food: everything we had was absolutely incredible. the seafood salad in particular was spectacular, the baked clams, mussels, pasta wit meat sauce, oil+brocc rabe.... I'm literally salivating as I write this. No matter what you order, you can't go wrong. The service: second to none. I didn't even know my drink was ever low because it was so constantly refilled (water + my martinis lol thanks for the best hangover ever) Everyone was so friendly and accommodating I felt like I could've asked for anything and they would find a way to make it happen. The space: surprisingly very small (even though I knew this ahead of time, I still couldn't believe how small it was when I was sitting there) but it's truly so cozy and inviting like your best friends kitchen... All in all -- if you are LUCKY enough to come here, you will have the time of your life! #BucketList #Raos #BestDayEver #DreamingOfMeatballs read more

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Finally, I can receive this place officially. God. So generally Raos is most known for its sauce in large wholesalers but their original and only location is located in East Harlem. Usually, getting a table here is impossible mainly because you need to have a connection/tie to the business somehow. Due to Covid-19, they opened up the take out channel which people have been going crazy about, me included. I was on my way back from a run along the east river with my n95 face mask on and saw this random guy just standing outside the restaurant. I walked up to him and asked if they were open for delivery (thinking he would say no) but he said they were offering a special "Taste of Rao's". He took out his pen and paper, wrote my name and phone number down and it looked like a longggg list with like at least 60-90 names on it.. He said I would be able to pick up by Wednesday but suprisinly enough we got a text Tuesday and I picked up the food. Overalll the food was solid, nothing crazy at all. I'd say the meatballs were the best, but everything else was pretty standard. The lemon chicken was super tendy, but filled with bones. The pasta was good, sauce was obviously amazing. Salad was a sore sight, but it's ok I didn't pay $80 for the salad. Overall 3.8/5. Meh read more

Got the takeout special: house salad, lemon chicken, meatball, penne with marinara sauce. Firstly, the oil and vinegar dressing for the salad is so simple but amazing. The chicken was cooked perfectly but it was a bit too sour for me. The meatball was quite good. The worst part of the meal was the penne w marinara. The sauce was thin and mediocre. Just awful. Their bottled sauce sold in supermarkets is much better! I actually used some of their bottled sauce which I had in the fridge as a substitute. At least I can cross this off my list. Closest I'm going to get to a reservation. But definitely not worth the $80 I spend. Tho' I was happy to give a NYC business my money in these strange times. I still can't get over how awful the house marinara was. read more

The ambience was beautiful and the service was good. The place was almost empty at the time, and it was 7:30. The food, not so much of either. The Uncle Vincent's chicken was not in a lemon sauce. It was swimming in about a cup of runny lemon broth that was so acidic you could barely eat it. It was like sucking on a lemon. The linguine and clams was tasteless. The frito mixto was good, but it's fried and how can fried food be bad, at least most of the time? The roasted potatoes were delicious, but I don't know that they were really roasted as they tasted more like they were fried. There were two of us, and it cost $200 plus the cost of parking. We each had one drink. Totally not worth it. read more

I am 31 years old and I have been dreaming of dining at Rao's for as long as I can remember. As such, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I found out that during this pandemic I could order Rao's to-go. I went on their Instagram account and immediately placed my name on the wait list. It was about two weeks or so later that I received that very special message from Rao's that I could place an order. They were only offering one option - the 'Taste of Raos,' which costs $80.00 (tax + gratuity included) and serves two people. Taste of Raos includes penne marinara, meatballs, lemon chicken, and a salad. I had set my pickup time for 4:00 PM on a Tuesday. Although the staff could not have been nicer, I was extremely disappointed with the food. To start - the salad. The lettuce was brown and wilted. The dressing came on the side and while I love vinegar, this dressing was simply too vinegary and too potent. Even after sprinkling some grated cheese over the lettuce, I could not enjoy it. Although we ate in our car immediately after picking our food up, none of the hot food (i.e., meatablls, penne, chicken) was actually hot. The meatballs - two came with the order. They were big, beautiful and moist but they lacked any real "meat" flavor. You could tell that there was a ton of bread in the mixture. The tomato sauce that they were served in was fresh and tasty. I was just missing some crusty bread to soak it up with! Sadly, the penne was extremely overcooked. Not only that, but it tasted like leftover macaroni that had been sitting in a chafing tray overnight. The marinara sauce was not the same tasty sauce that had coated the meatballs. This sauce was extremely watery. It had the taste and texture of marinara sauce that had been frozen, thawed, and reheated... The lemon chicken was just OK. It sat in a very watery liquid that had a pretty good lemon flavor. There was hardly any meat on the bones. The portions were small but I suppose what you could expect for this price point. I am sad to say that Rao's did not live up to my expectations, but I am glad that I can now check this restaurant off of my list. read more

Great to have finally gotten a table at this iconic East Harlem legend. My thanks to my host who has had a table here, in his family, for 70 years. Lot's of people on the walls and at the adjoining tables that we know from media, movies, music... Family style and family feel to the place. Everything excellence! Great experience if you ever get the opportunity. read more

Amazing food, probably the best Italian food I have eaten in a long time. If you go, you MUST try the meatballs, seafood salad, and the lamb chops. Great food, great atmosphere, I just wish Frank Pellegrino was still around. read more

Go here for the meatballs! The lemon chicken is a star as well as the veal piccata. My favorite will always be the orecchiette with broccoli rabe & sausage. read more

I've read the bad reviews about people ordering takeout but decided to give it a try because it is fucking Rao's. The food far exceeded expectations and was arguably the best red sauce Italian I've had. Loved the pesto and alla vodka. I really hope they stay in the takeout game forever. read more

This place is Great they treat you like family and I go once a year. Orchestra broccoli rabbe and steak with peas and meatballs are out of this world read more

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This restaurant is very welcoming. When you enter the vibe is very family oriented and fun. The staff is kind and friendly. The food is also amazing. Authentic Italian food, with a fun family feel. I recommend, 10/10. Plus you may never know if you get graced by the presence of a celebrity. read more

I ate here 2 Fridays ago. Scratch off the bucket list. Great ambiance! Not a lot of tables so it makes for close quarters. The best meatballs I've ever eaten. We also had Lambchops & Veal dish. Two pasta dishes. Pasta with aribiatta sauce & pesto sauce. Tommy & Joe were great. Unfortunately Nicky vest is no longer behind the stick read more

Had another memorable meal here. This time we shared fusilli pesto pasta, linguini lobster fra diavolo, meatballs, sliced steak with peppers, lamb chops, and a few others. Everything was top notch. read more

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The food here is ok. Rao's jarred sauce and frozen entrees that are sold in the supermarket taste better, in my opinion. I've been cooking Italian food for 15 years and I know what I'm talking about. Patsy's on 116th Street serves way better Italian food. If you can't get a reservation here: it's because God loves you and He doesn't want you to waste your money. read more

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 114th 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. We were dressed to Frank's satisfaction. John and I made it just at the right time. 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." read more

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SIX STARS!!! I WANT TO GIVE THIS 6 STARS!!!!! Holy damn. I cannot believe I'm writing a review for Rao's!!!!!!!!! You are all probably wondering how the hell I managed to get in, seeing that reservations are currently booked through 2011 (not that you can get one past that. It's really about who you know), and the only exceptions ever made for a table have been for Presidents!! And even then, those were extraordinary circumstances!! Well, let's just say working for a certain Food Network show featuring Bobby Flay throwing down against Rao's (with Rao's winning) certainly helped get our entire crew into the restaurant for the premiere of the episode!!! When the rumor first started flying around the office about the possibility of getting into Rao's, most of us shrugged it off as just that, a rumor. As time passed that rumor became a certainty! We eventually had scored at least the ability to come in and hang out at the bar, but were told that no way would be get a table. In fact, I'm pretty sure they laughed when we asked! So we all arrive and as predicted were crammed up against the bar for the screening of the episode. When I first entered, Frank Pellegrino came up and introduced himself TO ME!! As we all stood there I noticed a cast member or two from The Sopranos! After Frank silenced the entire restaurant to announce our entire team (whoa!!) we all watched the Feast of the 7 Fishes Throwdown! As the episode wound to an end, a rumor popped up that holy hell Rao's was going to seat and feed us. O.M.G!!!!!! That rumor proved true!! We were all seated and served fresh mozzarella, tomato and red peppers, clams, and a seafood salad for appetizers. I had everything that didn't involve seafood and my God was I in Heaven!! Not realizing that that was just the appetizer, our faces lit up with delight as they brought out the main course of pasta with marinara sauce and massive meatballs (ha ha)! These were probably some of the best meatballs I've ever had. Of course, my only frame of reference would be Ikea's. : ) Frank noticed we had finished our first bottle of champagne, and upon finding empty glasses unacceptable, snapped his fingers and made another bottle of bubbly appear! THEN he proceeded to serenade us with a performance of a song he wrote and sang back in the day. My God. People, this was like having Frank Sinatra give a private performance. Think getting that table is impressive? Try this. WE TOOK OVER THE WHOLE DAMNED PLACE!!!! They ended up clearing tables out of the way and making a dance floor!! Frank put on some tunes from the famous jukebox (I will Survive, We are Family, etc..) and all the ladies (and some of the gents) got up and tore up the proverbial rug with him! When all was said and done, and with delicious Italian food in our bellies, Frank thanked us all for such an amazing experience, which again further floored us, as it was US that had the amazing experience! We all went home to our beds to sleep, only to wake wondering if it was all a dream. But no, it happened. Thankfully there are pics to prove it! I wish I could say that I would be back at Rao's soon. Alas, that will most certainly not happen. This was TRULY a once in a lifetime experience. Then again, we never expected to even get in in the first place! So hey! You never know! ...no seriously, this won't ever happen again. : ) Thank You Frank and all of Rao's! And Congrats on your Throwdown win! read more

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Great food, service.This place is one in a million!Great at mosphere, enjoy Italian American food at its finest.

The experience was all you'd expect at the most difficult place to get in for dinner in the USA, NO reservations are taken and contrary to what some believe, they have NO menu. This is truly a place where you need to know someone who can get you in for dinner and an amazing experience. Our experience was amazing from the time we walked through the door and they told us to feel free to meander throughout and check the place out. The entire staff was awesome, they were VERY welcoming, funny, friendly and treated us like a close family member. The food was fresh, smoking hot, very flavorful and were healthy portions. It was a true treat for us to visit and for that we're very thankful, we'll definitely try to visit again in the future. Thank You for such a great night team, you were all on point and exceeded our expectations by far! read more

In town visiting relatives - they managed a reservation a while ago. For being so hyped up - was not impressed - marginal at best. Pasta was gummy and flavorless. I appreciated the company - but there is much better out there - maybe try somewhere off the beaten path. read more

Super rude and elitist! I came in to inquire about their menu like I have heard about them through social media and I was around the area. It was approximate 4-5pm in the afternoon and they told me that they're were closed. Which is fine and understandable but the way they spoke to my friend and I was like we didn't belong there and was extremely disrespectful. It just baffles my mind that an institution can be so elitist in a predominantly Latino neighborhood (East Harlem aka El Barrio). Might as well relocate to the Upper East Side, like locals or anyone that isn't white or has affluent status aren't even allowed to dine here. This place was on my bucket list but not anymore. If I wasn't eating there and I was spoken to like that. I can only imagine how I would get treated inside and what they could possibly do to my food. read more

Such a treat to get to dine at one the city's most exclusive restaurants!!! Rao's is a legend and a staple for NYC and if u are lucky enough to come here you will experience a fabulous night of food, hospitality, friendliness and partying! You feel like you are a part of the restaurant and the staff! Love this place and 5 stars are not enough! read more

Rao's is far above and beyond 5-stars and located in a category of their own. The iconic Italian restaurant in Harlem has been a staple of NYC since its founding in 1896. The restaurant is still family run and their delicious secret sauce is just the beginning of what makes this Italian eatery the finest in NYC. Eating at Rao's is like eating with family. Rao's uniqueness and charm begins when you descend the steps into the red painted restaurant and into what feels like a movie. There is not a word to describe the energy within Rao's. From the moment you step from the street into the restaurant you are transported into a different dimension unlocking the true beauty of the city that never sleeps and the overwhelming presence of diners past. (The walls are literally covered in autographed photos of past/present patrons.) One unique charm of Rao's is no menus. Frankie Pellegrino will pull up a chair to your table and begin to run thru the delicacies. If regulars are seated at your table there might be interruptions to the melody of the menu sonata by requests for staples of the restaurant from frequent guests - meatballs, lamb, seafood salad, and pasta of course! I was a pescetarian for 3 years before dining at Rao's, but when you are here it feels like what could be your last meal. I enjoyed one of their iconic meatballs with generous portions of Rao's Sauce and every bite was savory. All their food is truly phenomenal and clean plates were sent back to the kitchen from everyone at the table. To end the meal do not forget coffee, dessert, and cherries in brandy! Rao's ice cream can only be enjoyed on location so regardless of how full you may think you are be ready for a scoop or at least a bite of cheesecake. Eating at Rao's is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I will never forget. If you are invited just say yes and figure out how to get there to make your reservation in time. read more

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I figured I would start my first Yelp review off with a Bang. What seems to be the "chupacabra" of all reservations, I had the pleasure of dining at Rao's last night. I normally put a large emphasis on the food side when dining out but its impossible to ignore the decor and service side of your meal when dining here. I will not sit here and describe each dish using words like "moist", "nom nom", "cheesy", "to die for". I just write reviews the way I would want to read them from someone who knows what good food is. Service and Decor: 5 Stars You really do feel like you are in someones home when you enter. It really is very difficult to explain the vibe inside unless you have been there. I will say I understand why people enjoy going on a regular basis. For those of you who are star struck...the sightings can be overwhelming (I took the seat of a man who's name rhymes with Footy Hallan). The owners make you feel welcomed and Nicky "The Vest" couldn't be nicer. Around 11:30 the Jukebox was turned on and we were fortunate enough to see Mr. Pelligrino (and an unnamed 5 time Grammy Award winner) do a medley of songs for the patrons while a Hall of Fame Super Bowl winning Cowboy got up and joined them for the "Macarena". Memories that were worth the trip alone. Food: 3.5 The food is Good! It's not going to be the best Italian food you have ever had but certainly far from the worst. We really didn't have a bad dish and all of the classic staples were present. Someone pulls up a chair, sits down at the front of your table and says "Ok, this is what we have tonight". The must gets when at Rao's: *Seafood Salad *Mozzarella en carroza *Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and Sausage *Veal Parmesan *Black Raspberry Ice Cream ***Must Get: Meatballs The price was VERY reasonable (with wine and after dinner drinks included) I can only hope I am fortunate enough to spend another memorable evening there in the future. read more

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I've had the pleasure of eating here 4 times through the connection of a family member. It's my favorite place to eat in Manhattan because the minute you walk through the door you feel like you're at home with old family & friends. Ron (one of the owners) is so welcoming that you forget it took six plus months to get that coveted reservation. : ) The food is great. Very homestyle Italian. Never had anything I didn't like. I also love the fact that there are no menus. I feel there's less confusion about what to order. They tell you what they have that night. I always order the same things every time I go because it is consistently good: seafood salad, mozzarella en carozza, baked clams, pasta with cabbage & sausage, meatballs, lemon chicken, and pork chops with hot cherry peppers. It's served family style. Some people review this place and say how the food is not so great, and while I completely disagree, it's not about the food at all. It's the experience of going to Rao's. Between the famous jukebox, Nicky Vests (the bartender), what celebrity may or may not be sitting next to you, and the hundreds of photos on the walls, it is a place incomparable to any other restaurant. I've been to the one in Vegas. The food is very good and they do a great job trying to replicate the Harlem restaurant, but it doesn't come close to capturing that feeling you get when you walk in the door at the NY location. read more

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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. read more

Rao's - Just a few pictures from the restaurant. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

A lot of hype and the food is okay. I visited with a friend and we knew we probably wouldn't get a table, so we sat at the bar. We did end up getting offered a table, because someone had cancelled. I ordered the meatballs and they were okay - nothing spectacular. I think it was just the fact that it is hard to get a table there, and that creates all the hype. The bartender was super nice and I think getting drinks there is better than eating. People bust out singing and it can be annoying if you want a quiet evening. It is a bit cheesy with an overkill on stereotypical Italian. If you like that, go and have fun! read more

What can I say that hasn't been said. If by the good grace of god you're fortunate to dine here do not pass it up. To make life easy I'll just list what we had. -seafood salad -baked clams -roasted peppers -sausage/mushroom fusilli -meatballs -lemon chicken -shrimp diavola -spinach -chocolate/Black Forest ice cream Everything was on point. Joey sidles up next to you and gives you the menu from his mouth, no paper, nada. Pick what you want and go from there. Warning! It is a ton of food, order everything and bring anything left over home! Don't fill up on their awesome bread. Meatballs are a must and so is the seafood salad. If I find out you ate here and didn't order these two things I'm sending Vinny to come find you. End of rant, eat here, buona notte. read more

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Wow, Rao's was mind-blowing. It's in a great location and we were really pleased with our experience. My friend had Veal Chops and it was at another level. Staff are incredibly friendly and service is very quick. I loved it. read more

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. read more

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I ordered the lemon chicken, penne pasta, and meatball takeout meal. The iceberg lettuce was wilted brown and a gnat flew out after opening the lid. Pasta was soggy and sauce tasted like it came out of a can. The chicken was burnt black and so dry , I almost choked. The meatball was soggy and tasted more filler than meat. I tried to call but they didn't answer their phone. I've had better food in school cafeterias. It was nasty nasty and nothing about it tasted homemade. This place is a scam charging $80 for that garbage. read more

Rao's - Burnt black chicken with brown lettuce from their salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York