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Rao's
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
Sponsored Result
Special Offer Nearby
Trattoria Toscana
- Category:
- Italian
- Neighborhood:
- West Village
Sunday thru Thursday 10% off for Yelpers (cash only). Lunch specials all week for only $12.50, come join us and see what the Yelp is about
10 reviews for Rao's
the food was solid american italian fare.
not only are you not allowed to decide when you get to go to rao's; not only can you not make your own reservation; you also can't order for yourself. the same old mafioso italian man who brought you there will also insist on ordering your food for you.
the chicken vesuvio was quite impressive; the pastas less so.
the most important parts about my experience at raos were, ranked in order of awesomeness:
1. we ended up dancing the entire night away after mr. pellegrini began wailing along with the other mafiosos, "That's amoreeeeee!!!!"
2. someone from the restaurant actually drove all of us home in an SUV;
3. Woody Allen was at the table next to me with his lady-child Sun-hee
4. The man who insisted on ordering for me at my right actually told me how "Hillary Clinton couldn't even get a reservation here. You're so lucky you're here, my friend."
Now I just eat the bottled vodka sauce from the supermarket....
I'm a lucky girl! Fortunate for me a friend has a standing table at this highly coveted little spot. . . If you're as lucky as I, he won't suggest you "eat slow & enjoy" because that means. . . you're never coming back ;) The food is delicious and the cheesecake has no parallel in this universe! A lovely "family" meal with all the trimmings! Seriously, the espresso was served in one of those beat up little pots just like my grandfather had! Truly a great night with a great friend!
RAOS: Go to Vegas. You'll actually get a seat at the one in Vegas and the gnocci and veal chops are just as good. Don't worry, they have the jukebox too.
I ate here I had the stuffed artichokes. They were very good. I also had the Lobster Ravioli's with vodka sauce. Great food. It only taste better in Italy. In Italy everything is made from scratch even the pasta. Good luck getting in I had to grease 3 people.
If you ever have a chance to go to Rao's, as NIke says "Just do it." I got a last minute invite a month ago from some business colleagues, and had the pleasure of joining them for one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life.
The food is unpretentious Southern Italian, well prepared of high quality ingredients. Mouthwatering meatballs, baked clams bursting with hot clam juice, prosciutto and mozzz stuffed rib veal chop, lemon chicken (Italian Style), and the list goes on.
The scene/ atmosphere is one of a kind. Celebs, politicians, middle aged men with their "nieces", and lots of men of all shapes and sizes, many of whom wear large bracelets and rings, have standing reservations, and are in service businesses like trucking, construction, and cement..........
The room is non descript, every inch of the walls covered with photos of diners from Jerry Lewis, to Muhammed Ali to local Bronx residents. Miniature white Xmas ights permanently trim the walls. Lights are low.
The bar, which runs the length of one side of the room, was full the entire night, with Frankie the Vest holding court.
This place is a trip. If you ever have a chance, don't miss it.
Not to be gimmicky, but I quite like code breaking and secret messages. Spy codes are fun. Usually reserved for spy talk. But here is a code someone showed me in high school:
| |
AB | CD | EF
_____|_____ |_____ \ ST /
| | \ /
GH | IJ | KL YZ \ / UV
_____|_____ |_____ / \
| | / \
MN | OP | QR / WX \
| |
What does that have to do with my review? Well, here is all I can write about Rao's:
Advice:
_____ _____
| | | | | \ x /
| x | | | x | \ /
|_____| | | | \ /
_____ _____ _____
| | | \ x / | | |
x | | | \ / x | | | x
_____| | | \ / _____| |_____ |
Why not?
\ /
\ _____ /
\ | | /
/ | | \
/ | | \
/ \
_____
| | | | \ x /
| | | x | \ /
|_____| _____| | \ /
____
| | \ x /
| | \ /
____| |_____ \ /
______ _____
| | |
| | x |
|_____| |
Five stars awarded for the "we couldn't care less" attitude. It is actually quite endearing. But three stars retracted for communicating that attitude over an answering machine recording " ... our 2007 reservations book is full ... "!!
Oh my Gawd! I have only been here once, was taken here on probably one of the best meals of my life. I have no idea how my friend got us a table, but it was around my birthday, so I know he pulled some serious strings.
It's all true, you CANNOT get a table here, unless you know someone, I've heard people have waited years with no luck.
Part of the appeal is that exclusive speakeasy feel, and this is really a joint where actual wiseguys congregate (and can get a table).
Is it worth it? Completely and utterly, this is the best Italian food I'VE EVER HAD! You can of course buy some of their sauce now, but that's not doing it justice.
If you ever have any sort of chance to go, drop all other plans.
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.
If you can get in (they don't call Frankie "Frankie No" for nothin'), you will have some of the best Italian food of your life, even if you're eighty and have just come over from Sicily. The pasta sauces are so incredibly flavored, you could drink them straight.
If you can't, Frankie also has Baldoria, which is EXCELLENT although it cannot hold a candle to Rao's; that drinkable sauce is also available at your local fine grocer.
It is like the end of the world to me that there's a Rao's in Vegas now, btw.
well i really enjoyed Howard Stern companion (blond big front LOL) other then that its a very small amazing restaurant and my pallet ,,bla bla loved there Vegas caesar place better ,,,,
its interesting its cozy and u should go if u can ,,, if u don't know someone don't worry ,,, its only Italian food and to get a place in Vegas its not a problem ...
