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

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

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

Rao's is truly quite special. Superb location. Lots of good choices here, I was blown away with the menu, tried their Veal Chops and it was magnificent. The team was really friendly and service is fantastic. I love it here. read more

Rao's is really special. The ambience was laid-back and friendly. Every single thing in the menu looked magnificent, but I had to go with Lemon Chicken, it was a fantastic meal. Everyone is so helpful and welcoming. My compliments to Rao's it's a 10 star. read more

A most amazing experience! Awesome food, great cocktails and a staff that treats you like family. This place definitely lives up to its reputation. read more

Rao's - Peter Gorbutt , Carlos Gomez & Nicky the Vest Rao’s in E Harlem - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Had the honor to dine at RAO'S on 5/13. Place comes with a lot of hype and did not disappoint. Food and service were both A+. Must have are the Ravioli and lemon chicken! read more

Rao's - Must have are the Ravioli and lemon chicken! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered takeout, and thrilled to share that it lived up to the hype!! Was still nice & warm when we got home to eat it 45 min after pickup. Ordered the meatballs, penne alla arrabbiata, lemon chicken, veal parmigiana. Will order all again! Also, all the employees were so kind & incredibly appreciative of the business! read more

Rao's every single thing is good here. Very friendly service with a great atmosphere. I will tell all my friends to try their Mozzarella En Corozza, it was just incredible. Team are super nice and service is very swift. I loved it. read more

OMG, Rao's was certainly wonderful. Very nice and cozy environment. I chose Seafood Salad, which was terrific. It was so flavorful and delicious. Fabulous. Perfect service and staff. Overall, we definitely enjoyed this place. read more

Didn't expect it but, Rao's was definitely fantastic. Overall, I think this is a great, fun spot. The food was wonderful, Tartufo was delightful. And also, the service was very good and the staff was super pleasant. Love this place so much. read more

A phenomenal restaurant!!!! Jesus the food came out as if it was delivered from heaven! The service was great as well, Friendly staff, super patient people specially with keeping clean. Five stars !! read more

When considering how one should rate Rao's, one has to take the entire experience into consideration, not just the rather 3-star food. The atmosphere is pure NY-mob-style.. some real Mafia guys, but plenty of wanna-be hoods as well... on one table sit guys in velour track-suits, whilst on another sit corporate titans, or TV/Movie stars. The staff are funny, warm and full of character. As for the food: red sauce Italian at its best.. although predictable. But as a whole, it works wonderfully and is a MUST DO component of every foodie's bucket list. KRD NY read more

I had the pleasure of securing a table during the fall of 2016. Impossible for most but I have friends of friends. It still took several years. Definitely a bucket list item. The food and the atmosphere were everything I expected. There isn't much I can say that has already been said other than keep working angles if you want to experience this once in a lifetime dining experience. Don't give up. Tip: For what it's worth, the night I was there was election night where most of America was tuned into their TV. There is a 2-top table near the door that the owners control and I spoke with the couple who were sitting there who told me they just walked in. They tried the "sit at the bar and let them know you would love to eat there trick", and it worked. There may be something to showing up on a night that has a major event (Super Bowl, elections, etc) because it seemed a little less crowded at the bar than what I would have expected. As a result, it might increase your chances of getting picked for the 2 top if the owner hasn't already have it given out to someone else. Best of luck to you all. It was a dream of mine to go and quite a surreal experience. I took it all in and it made my top 5 list of "best days of my life" for sure. read more

Didn't expect it but, Rao's was definitely terrific. This is a great place and location with the nicest staff and over the top for value for the money. Mozzarella En Corozza was something beyond delicious. Terrific. Fabulous service and staff. I liked it. read more

Rao's is a strong winner. Rao's had great atmosphere, ambiance, cleanliness and customer service. I am very glad that we had Parmigiana, this was one of their finest dishes, really flavorful and delicious. The crew was very welcoming and service is great. I 'd say my experience here was awesome. read more

Goombah's must being leaving the reviews for this place - please $100 for 2 spagetti's and 2 salads and 2 glasses of wine - a sucker is born in Harlem every day read more

Rao's sauce is just OK. His chicken recipe is my grandmother's. She's been dead since 1957. Figure it out His sausage recipe would be much much better if it were a combination of small pieces of sausage along with the ground pork. read more

The meatballs were absolutely incredible. Just so moist. They cut like a cake. We also got the chicken parm which was really good, the lemon chicken which was literal lemon juice marinated in chicken, chicke Marsala, pasta, broccoli rabe, and a cheesecake. The cheesecake was also amazing. I highly recommend. This review still doesn't do the food justice. read more

Was happy to be able to experience a meal at this iconic restaurant located in Harlem. Holding only ten tables, it's very hard to get a reservation at this establishment. Situated on a small corner, the outside appearance is classic and inviting. Upon entering you'll notice a warm and familar feeling as the walls are covered in pictures that tell a tale of the restuarants's history. You will walk by a modest kitchen that pumps out awesome food. There's a well appointed bar area that is open to anyone coming in. While there, we had the meat balls, seafood salad and calamari to start. All of them were great. The meatballs are a staple must try and the seafood salad was outrageous. For dinner we had veal chops, shrimp francese and pesto. The pesto was the best I have ever had and the veal was done in a brown gravy with sweet and spicy peppers which creates wonderful contrast to the dish. Dessert was cheese cake and espresso. The cheese cake was excellent. It was made Italian style with ricotta instead of cream cheese, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This restaurant was a great experience. You never felt rushed or pressured during any part of the meal. The owner came around and shook everyone's hand and introduced himself. There was no menu instead someone came over and had a nice conversation about what was available. The entire experience felt very personal and special. I enjoyed my dinner and would recommend to anyone that they try to get a reservation at this great restaurant. read more

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Since I no longer live in the tri-state area & due to covid19, I am unable to have the pleasure of dining in this phenomenal restaurant, SO, i have gone to the raos.com website to order a "build-your-own" case of pasta sauce! I have received my case today, and I am pleased to say that their shipping packaging is awesome! Not one bottle was cracked or broken. Protected with care!! I also ordered the margherita pizza sauce. They have pastas, soups & other delish homemade goodies. This is the BEST pasta sauce SECOND-TO-NONE! We're talking real Italian gravy here!!! Don't deny yourself this precious indulgence!!! read more

Been there many times, best jukebox in town, had some great fun with Frank the owner singing My Girl. hes favorite, R.I.P. Frank you were a joy. read more

All I can say is WOW !!! This place lives up to all the hype. The food was amazing. We where greeted by the wait staff and Joe and then the experience began. Joe sat down at our table of 6 and rattled off every dish they had available. We wanted everything but started with the seafood salad,clams oreganto,an amazing salad all where amazing !!! Then came round 2. The pasta we had linguine and white clam sauce and the puttanesca along with a plate of there famous meatballs and words can't describe how good it was. Then came the final round. Sliced rib eye steak, the famous lemon chicken and a pork chop that was to die for. If you can find away to get a table at this place get it !!!! Finished with some home made ice cream and cheese cake. Played the juke box all night !!! read more

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RAOS'S is Awesome. Awesome if you can get in, which you probably Can Not, for it's The Toughest Table in Town. Regulars actually own tables. The place is filled with Celebs, Highly Influential people, Movie Stars, Rock Star, Sprots Stars and Guys with Bent Noses "If you Know What I Mean." If you are Lucky enough to ever get in "You'll Love it!" Rao's has Wonderful OLD SCHOOL ITALIAN FOOD awesome energy and ambiance. The Lemmon Chicken and Pasta with Cabbage are famous here, as are all the old Italian Favorites. Love it. read more

Rao's - SUNDAY SAUCE "The SUPREME DISH of ITALIAN AMERICA" !!! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Love Rao's so much. Such cozy vibes when you step into Rao's, especially in January. I was greeted by Nicky the Vest who is just the best. I felt like i was with my family from the moment I came through the door. We started with seafood salad, baked claims, then pasta with bolognese sauce with some meatballs (I loved the meatballs), lemon chicken, taste like the one my mom makes (I loved this chicken, and dunk the bread in the sauce), side of broccoli rabe and then I got the Ice cream for dessert cause Nicky said it was the best, and it was delicious. read more

Been coming here for 30 years place never changed you can leave for 20 yrs. come back same great food And ambience read more

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Rude and disrespectful management, they are classist. Food is mediocre at best. Don't waist your time and money if you want real Italian food and food service this is not the place for you read more

I have never written a review of a restaurant before. I had the pleasure of having dinner with an old friend from Brooklyn last evening. Besides the experience of just wonderful company, I don't remember ever having such delicious food. If it's impossible to get a reservation, I understand why. The service was outstanding and the owner made it his business to make sure his presence was known. What a memorable evening!!! read more

I need to get a reservation. Can't figure out how. No voice mail and no way to reach restaurant. Help please!!!!! Love the sauce. Will be in NY 4/2-4/5 read more

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. read more

My God. How do you write a review for a place like this? One of the greatest places you will ever eat at (or, well, NOT eat at) on this planet is undoubtedly Rao's. I say this with no remorse. If I could give this place sixty-two stars, it would earn each and every one of them, and I'd probably have to add four or five more. Upon entering you feel like you're in someone's living room. It's a small place, accented by the famous black jukebox and the old-world feeling bar. You'll notice the charming baldness of expert bartender Nicky Vest, who will probably be wearing some kind of sparkly clothing to compliment his sparkling head. You'll be greeted by Frankie, or Ron, or another one of the famous owners and be asked - Who are you? You've just done it. You've reached the end of the tunnel. You've found the gold at the end of the rainbow. You've been imprisoned in a whirl of mediocre restaurants for your whole life, and you've opened the dark dungeon door that has been locked for centuries, and you have arrived at Rao's: New York's most exclusive dinner club. At this point, one of two things will happen. You will be asked to leave (99% chance) or you will be shown to a table. If the second option miraculously occurs, you are then seated and there are no menus. An owner will, without invitation, sit himself down at your table and describe all the dishes. This may be somewhat uncomfortable at first, but don't worry -- he's (probably) not in the mob and (probably) doesn't have a gun in his jacket. So be cool and welcome him into your family for just a minute. Everything is served family style, and will be adjusted to the amount of people in your party. Your mind races, you don't know what to choose. Thoughts rush through your head like, "What do I order? Will I ever be back here to try something else? What if I order the wrong thing?" You may feel tempted to bolt, but relax, and stay - Frankie Pellegrino will make you an offer you can't refuse. We went with, for appetizers, baked clams, the famous seafood salad, and fresh mozzarella with tomatoes. Already I knew I had found home. I've never, EVER had mozzarella like that, ever, period. I half-expected to hear the moo-ing of a buffalo in the back, because it tasted so fresh. We were then brought out our shells with ricotta cheese sauce and three giant meatballs that looked like basketballs. I ended up eating TWO of those badboys, and my entire plate of shells. I wanted to lick the plate of the meatballs when I was done, and just drink the tomato sauce. That's how good these things were. By this time, Rao's was packed with regulars. I hate to say it, but the crowd is truly stereotypical Italian-American gangster. Big, thick Brooklyn accents you thought only existed in The Sopranos find home and solace at Rao's. Loud F-Bombs from the tables next to you ("....and my fuhckin' wife did this, and then fuhckin' ran away and now I gotta call my boys") rain down on your pasta like freshly grated parmesan cheese. It's truly an experience to be had. So we were stuffed, but WAIT! THERE'S MORE TO COME! We still had Rao's famous lemon chicken, and veal with sweet and hot peppers to arrive. But Rao's knows how eating copious amounts of Italian food goes. We had 45 minutes to relax and people-watch before our next course. We digested a bit, and before we knew it, we were hungry for more Rao's. So here comes more food.... The lemon chicken was extraterrestrial good. They say they make it in the kitchen, but I think it's made on Mars. I must've had four pieces. The veal? Don't even get me started on that goddamn veal dude. Just melt-in-your-mouth amazidgasogsdfognsofaasdifjasfoiasdfuaweeeeeea We were so full after this meal that I was questioning if I ever was going to eat again. And then I saw the bill. And the seven pounds of Italian food I had just consumed almost came spontaneously rushing out my other end. Make sure you bring money, and CASH ONLY. Go to your bank and raid your children's college funds. Because if you forget cash, I have a feeling instead of washing dishes you'll probably end up in the East River with a cinderblock tied to your tongue. And you know what? It would be totally unfair because human life is actually worth less than this food. You could be murdered for not paying a bill here, and Rao's is still getting gypped. I spent the rest of my evening visualizing the bill and crying, while trying desperately to pick out meatball residue from my teeth because I was dying for more. Part of the fun at the end of a good review is saying "I'll be back soon." Except this time I won't ever. :( read more

It was ok at best. Nice cozy place with history made it a nice experience once and only once. The food was good but nothing that should make anyone feel this is life changing. Anyone who thinks this was the best ever must not eat a lot of great food simple as that. All simple dishes nothing to elaborate but for the price per plate it definitely is sub par. So anyone who claims this is a shrine is just trying to buy into the so called cool factor of this place which is kind of embarrassing for them . Also Whatever you do don't go to the Rao's in Las Vegas. That place does make this one feel like il bulli read more

Showed up with my girl around 7 pm last night without a reservation. We prayed to the Italian Gods the entire cab ride out to east Harlem: "Please, oh merciful Gods of divine Italian cuisine! Shine your good graces upon us and grant us a seat at the table of holy scrumptiousness. Fill our stomachs with divine things such as lemon chicken and meatballs and that seafood salad everybody raves about on Yelp. Show mercy, dear lords!" Alas, the Italian Gods ignored our prayers *sigh* But that didnt keep us from having a marvelous time at Rao's. We sat at the bar, sipped wine and enjoyed the scenery and the wonderful cast of characters that walked through the doors. The staff was very friendly, particularly Frank who was kind enough to give us tips on the best time to show up unannounced with a better chance of getting a table (around 9:30 pm, although Frank apologetically said the chances are still quite slim). We left after 45 minutes, tormented by sights and smells of deliciousness wafting from the kitchen, yet totally satisfied with our special night at Rao's. Frank, if you're reading this, I promised my girl a dinner at Rao's and I want to deliver on my promise. Help a brother out? I'll be forever grateful! If anybody in Yelpland knows someone who knows someone that can get me a reservation, please have your people contact my people. I can be reached at talmoore@yahoo.com. Thanks! read more

Rao's is a true NYC institution. Difficult reservation to get but actually not impossible. There's always a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend who may have the connection. And it's worth rearranging your schedule and bringing your appetite because it really is THAT good. They greet you at the door (even if you've only been a few times they will remember you and make you feel like family), welcome you with a drink and show you to your table. The room is always peppered with celebs, wise guys, politicians all incognito. It's a really cool old school vibe, and just warm and inviting. You know you're in for a magical night. Just let them bring you a mix of everything : - seafood salad: incredible - clean and fresh, and just great way to start the meal. - baked clams / calamari : the best you can imagine - meatballs : the size of basketballs, they're huge !! - pasta course : you choose a mix and they plate it all up for everyone - lemon chicken : signature dish, absolute must. garlicky and lemony... just great - rib eye steak : perfectly charred and juicy - veal milanese : fresh chopped salad on top was fantastic with the light veal They won't let you leave without dessert and after dinner drinks which is just another classic way to end the meal. We were a group of 7 in the middle table which was perfect for that amount of food. (leftovers lasted the rest of the weekend). With several bottles of wine it ended up being roughly $200 per head, (cash only) which isn't unreasonable considering how special the experience is. They don't have a dress code but it's nice to get super dolled up (all the guys wore suits at our table) and show them the proper respect as well. Highly highly recommend. One of NYC's best. read more

This ad says they open 10-10 It's a lie After calling and confirming a lunch and driving 2 hrs to get there. They say we only serve dinner Not going back that's for sure read more

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. read more

Ah, one of the notoriously difficult reservations to get and one of the most magical places where you can eat dinner in this city. Rao's has come to be known as a lot of things: celebrity hangout, mobster supper club, impossible reservation. And perhaps it is all of these things, but the one truth that people don't seem to whisper about is that Rao's is a sliver of the past. When you walk into Rao's for dinner service, no one is sitting at a table. Everyone is crowded around the bar, chatting with each other, because yes, everybody knows your name. And since Rao's only does one seating a night, you can take your time saying hello to old friends and making new ones. When you sit down for dinner, there is no menu. The manager, comes up, tells you what they have, and asks you what you like. It's a conversation that leads to plates piled high with homestyle Italian food. Get the meatballs, they are the stuff dreams are made of. The food is made in Italian mother fashion: simple flavors and a dash of love. With only 10 tables, the restaurant staff really does come to love each diner, a sensibility of another time. I have no answers for how you can get in. But if you do, you will feel transported back to the early 1900s when this part of East Harlem was predominantly working class Italian families creating their meals from bread crumbs, boxes of pasta and San Marzano canned tomatoes. read more

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! read more

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 Uber from civilization - you won't regret it. read more

If you're lucky enough to know somebody who can get you in, I recommend you starve yourself for a good 3 days before you go. The food is served family style and it comes course after delicious course. I failed to pace myself and halfway through the meal I was so full I thought I was gonna explode. I expected an anti pasta course and a pasta course, but Frankie P. and the boys found courses between courses. The sauce is so good, you could put it on a brick and I'd give the brick a rave review. By the time their famous lemon chicken arrived I was well past full, but I managed a few bites - unbelievable. After that, I blacked out. I awoke with a cigar in one hand and a glass of port in the other. For a moment, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven, then I realized it was just another night at Rao's. Wheelchair access: It's down a few steps, but there's plenty of muscle to help. Look if you can get a table at Rao's, you'll figure out a way in. Note: There's a great Rao's cookbook that came out a few years back. read more