Rao's Restaurant

(212) 722-6709

455 E 114TH St
New York, NY 10025 40.7945 -73.9357

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Neighborhoods: East Harlem (El Barrio), Uptown, East Harlem

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 4.01.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Special Occasion Dining, Celeb Hangout

Cuisine:

Italian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Rao's Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Martin Scorsese has been known to treat his editing crew to dinner here, and it's easy to see why. Entering this small room--beautifully restored to its former glory after a fire destroyed the premises--is like walking onto the set of "Goodfellas." But unless you're a friend of owner Frank Pellegrino or otherwise "connected," you might as well forgeddabout it. You'll age a year before you get a reservation. – – The Food – The best homestyle Italian cooking and service (Menu? What menu?) in New York. In fact, you can't really say you've arrived in this town…

Editor's Tips

Look Good:
Can't get a reservation at Rao's? Check out Baldoria, the theater district restaurant owned by Frank Pellegrino Jr.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is decent at best, and the ambience, well, it's a matter of opinion, some may consider it to be a sweet thing, I thought it was just annoying.”
  2. “Rao's has the best service and atmosphere in NYC.”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “Wineturtle worked with Nick in the old Daleys Rest by Bloomies 30 some years ago and he was the best barman around in those days,an half step slower now but still sitting at his bar is magic ,watching a master mixer run this old time bar is still a treat ”
  2. “also found very annoying apeople looking from the bar to our table.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The service was excellent, the food was excellent, but the entire experience was very cool.”
  2. “Some say Frank is the show,some say the food is the show,both right BUT NICK IS THE BEST!”
  3. “The food is decent at best, and the ambience, well, it's a matter of opinion, some may consider it to be a sweet thing, I thought it was just annoying.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “Wineturtle worked with Nick in the old Daleys Rest by Bloomies 30 some years ago and he was the best barman around in those days,an half step slower now but still sitting at his bar is magic ,watching a master mixer run this old time bar is still a treat ”
  2. “The service was excellent, the food was excellent, but the entire experience was very cool.”
  3. “Rao's has the best service and atmosphere in NYC.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/02/10

Not worth the hassle

by GustavChichoni at Citysearch

Not worth the trouble for getting a reservation. Pure hype. Went with some friends who have a secured a table and noticed that the pasta they use was De Cecco - which can be bought in the store. Plus if you go with friends or family is almost impossible to have a conversation without other people listening what you are saying. Frank Pellegrino was nice and tried to be a great host but doesn't go further than that. I also found very annoying apeople looking from the bar to our table. Definitely not a place that a public figure would like to go. One of the person at our table was within that category and he didn't enjoy the experience. I guess what keep the business going is the reduced number of tables they have available. Very unlikely will be able to fill a bigger space and keep customers coming.

  • Pros: familiar atmosphere
  • Cons: reduced space, luck of privacy
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/01/04

Nick the Vest is Best!

by wineturtle at Citysearch

Wineturtle worked with Nick in the old Daleys Rest by Bloomies 30 some years ago and he was the best barman around in those days,an half step slower now but still sitting at his bar is magic ,watching a master mixer run this old time bar is still a treat and the staff he has trained....well they would shine anywhere else but next to Nick every one takes a back seat(alas even Wineturtle). Some say Frank is the show,some say the food is the show,both right BUT NICK IS THE BEST!

  • Pros: Nick , The food, Franks 'songs
  • Cons: , Hens teeth are , hard to get.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/27/03

Great place...

by galano at Citysearch

I have been to Rao's probably 15 times the past 3 years and it keeps getting better. For those that go once and don't enjoy it, all I can say is that they just don't get it. Rao's has the best service and atmosphere in NYC. Good luck getting a table.

  • Pros: Parking is easy, Celebs, Impossible to get in
  • Cons: Expensive, Impossible to get in
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/02/03

Wow

by Taurian32 at Citysearch

I was at Rao's last Wed. for Meetball Night. The service was excellent, the food was excellent, but the entire experience was very cool. It's true, you feel like your in a scene from Goodfellas. Nicky the Nose at the bar is a treat. If you wrote a bad review, it's because you don't understand what Rao's is all about. I can't wait for the nex time.

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/22/02

Too Snobby for Real New Yorkers

by JERSEY at Citysearch

Been there, done that, and New York, it's not that big a deal. The food is decent at best, and the ambience, well, it's a matter of opinion, some may consider it to be a sweet thing, I thought it was just annoying. If celebrities make you sweat, then your in for a ride, but if your like most around these parts then you'll just yawn and wonder whats with all the hype. Rao is a good restaurant, but it's nothing special.

  • Pros: friendly service
  • Cons: cramped, difficult to get in, so so food

The Details on Rao's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • decent food
  • nice frank pellegrino
  • excellent service
  • very cool entire experience
  • very annoying apeople
  • best atmosphere
  • best barman
  • like public figure
  • great host
  • not enjoy experience
  • good restaurant
  • best but nick