Rao’s

“Great food, great service and a very cool atmosphere.”

Kevin Joyce★★★★★

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 Itali

Jackie Botelho★★★★★

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

Claire Mae Elizabeth Grange★★★★★

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. 🥢🍅 🍕

Deven Shah★★★★★

Rao’s was absolutely fantastic. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was warm, lively, and unforgettable, and the whole experience was so much fun from start to finish. Every dish was delicious and you can really feel how special the place is the moment you walk in. And Tommy is simply the best — he made the experience even more enjoyable. Great food, terrific atmosphere, amazing energy, and an all-around memorable night.