Rao's

Getting a table at Rao's is harder than closing a deal in Midtown Manhattan. You do not make a reservation you know someone who has a table and they invite you. That is it. No website booking, no OpenTable, no walking in off the street. And once you understand that you understand everything about this place. It is not a restaurant it is a family. The lemon chicken is legendary for a reason simple, perfect, no shortcuts, no reinvention. The meatballs are my grandmother's recipe if my grandmother had been cooking in East Harlem for fifty years. The red sauce is the standard I measure every Italian restaurant against and none of them come close. The room is tiny maybe ten tables. Jukebox in the corner. Framed photos on every wall. Sinatra on the speakers. You feel like you walked into 1965 an

If you stand by your hard earned name, you are expected to be "meticulously anal" about who and how is using it. (Isn't this a great opening or what?) 2 simplistic scenarios: 1. you walk into the RAO, good food, reasonable service. Weeks later you find RAO's frozen pizza in your neighborhood supermarket. Recalling your near perfect RAO's experience you cook it, using instructions and you are getting ... (image attached). 2. you are in your local supermarket scavenging for the late supper deal and accidentally stumble upon RAO's frozen pizza. You cook it, per instructions and you get ... (image attached). Some time later, roaming NY's Upper East, you stumple upon RAO Pizza place. Q at hand: would you consider using their servvices? Net result: 1 customer lost. Wonder if RAO ever conducts

I own a concierge and event planning agency, so I quite literally go to all types of incredible restaurants for a living. None can be compared to Rao’s. It’s not only “worth the hype”, but from the second you walk up to the restaurant, you feel the history. The food is obviously unreal, but it’s the experience that will really change you. The Maitre D, Joe, sits down with you and explains the menu to you. It’s so old school and he’s great at helping you order exactly enough food. I still dream about how great the food was, and to say I can’t wait to go back is an extreme understatement. It was truly a bucket list item for me to go there, and if anyone gets the opportunity to go, take it—you will not be disappointed! The ONLY thing is, it’s “cash only” so plan accordingly!

Unforgettable night at Rao’s - from the food to the service and an unbeatable atmosphere this ranks as one of the best in NYC. Fried mutz, meatballs and the veal parm stole the show out of everything we ordered.

I am really, fully satisfied with a large meal of less heavy, healthier, and possibly lower gluten Italian durum wheat spaghetti topped with quality marinara sauce. I am even a picky snob as marinara should be ideally on its own a well seasoned and satisfying tomato sauce. The basic marinara sauce they make is superb. I love it and a dried parsley dash makes the dish. I wish to visit the restaurant. I love the pizza sauce on homemade honey whole wheat dough. 🥢🍅 🍕