Rao's
Restaurant · East Harlem, New York
A restaurant established in 1896. Wikipedia names the founder as Joshua Anthony Rao, who ran it until his death in 1909; the restaurant's own site names Charles Rao. Wikipedia quotes the New York Post calling it 'one of the hardest places to get into in the city.'
History
Vincent and Louis Rao took the restaurant on after their father's death in 1909. Patrons named by Wikipedia include John Gotti, Rudy Giuliani, Robert De Niro and Bo Dietl, with Woody Allen and Mia Farrow regulars in the 1980s. A spinoff at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas opened in 2006 and closed in 2021; a Hollywood spinoff opened in 2013 and closed on February 28, 2026; a Miami Beach location opened at a Loews hotel in 2023. The Rao's brand also sells packaged sauces, pasta, soups and frozen meals, and is owned by The Campbell's Company.
Visit
455 E 114th Street, New York, NY
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