Rao’s NYC

Hi all, this is a million to one shot but I thought i would ask you VMB-ers anyway!

Myself, my wife and 10 year old daughter are going to New York for 5 nights from 30th December, flying over from Scotland.

Does anyone have a table at Rao’s or know anyone who does? The 3 of us are real foodies and would be a dream come true if we could have a meal in there.

I know it’s a real long shot but you never know

Thanks in advance!

 

You have a better chance, if you ask "Fat Tony" from Bensonhurst .
.
You think I'm kidding ?

 

I can get you a corner booth at Amery (Wisconsin) Family Restaurant.
If you want to venture a little out of the city!

Best wishes on your table hunt.

RICHARD

 

I’m an optimist haha!

Cheers Richard! Love the offer but just a tad too far haha

 

Just show up, don't look like a tourist, sit at the bar, and if you're lucky, they'll seat you.

 

I wish you well, @Tuggy79.
Rao's is a tiny restaurant with regulars who book far ahead for their preferred tables.
Being the height of the holiday season in NYC, you may want to think about another place.

 

I've lived in NYC almost my entire life. I've been to loads of NY Italian restaurants and most of them are pretty good. I understand wanting to go there because of the name and there is one in Vegas. I've never been in the one in NY but I have been to the one in Vegas and my opinion is it's at least 20-30 percent overpriced and the veal I had there I didn't finish because it was so tough and chewy. There are so many great Italian restaurants in New York you could flip a coin and it would be probably as good as Rao's.

 

Thanks @oghuman . Yeah we were never banking on getting in. Just would’ve been good to try the whole experience. Any decent recommendations for Italian elsewhere? We are staying Midtown West 28th St/Chelsea area

 

Worse case scenario you get to your hotel and have someone refer to a local yokel. It may look like a HitW, but the food be through the roof, you never know.

 

....I'll give you a recommendation for one of my favorites in the Midtown West, Theater District @Tuggy79.
Trattoria Trecolori. It's on W 47th, between Broadway and 8th Ave. The food and service are phenomenal.
You can make reservations on their website too. It's feels intimate but has lots of seating and the restaurant is family friendly.

http://www.trattoriatrecolori.com/home

Hey, it's NYC. You're going to find many great Italian places in the area you'll be staying.
If you try out Trattoria Trecolori and don't like it, I'll take you to dinner with me and the hubster next time you're in Vegas.
Wishing you and your family a fantastic trip.

 

I seldom eat Italian in Manhattan as I live in Queens which is a 40 minute drive or similar on Public transportation. I normally eat closer to home and there a couple of places I go to almost every other week. However, a restaurant that went to a couple times in Manhattan is Ai Fiori on 36th Street. You could also take ardee's advice. You can look at reviews but people's opinions vary. Like I don't consider Chicago's version of deep dish as pizza. I call it tomato pie. Not say it doesn't taste good it just ain't pizza to me. In any case I hope you enjoy your meal wherever you end up eating.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d2005229-Reviews-Ai_Fiori-New_York_City_New_York.html

 

Another vote for Trecolori. I remember we always would eat another ''Tre'' in NYC---Tre Scalini---now closed. Still eat at Tre Scalini in Rome. I've eaten at Rao's @ Caesars, 3 times.. Latest time was in June. Still not good---to me. Agree about the veal---tough. Very average food.

 

Try Carbones in the West Village Have the spicy rigatoni and Veal Parm. Doesnt get any better than that

 

Thanks Ardee! Had a look online and it looks good!
I’ll hold you to the meal haha! We are in Vegas next October for my 40th

 

Thanks Tony! I’ll have a look at that too. Thanks for your help

 

Buon appetito!

We often go in October so if we're there around the same time, a meal on us.

 

I'm not a NYC regular, but shouldn't OP just go to Mulberry Street and then just eat wherever? Similar to going to North End of Boston, closing your eyes and eating wherever you accidentally walk into.

 

Little Italy? Sure.Lots of tasty places in that section of the city.

Trattoria Trecolori came to mind for me, as it's pretty close to where @Tuggy79 said he'd be staying.

 

I second the vote for Carbone's, among many spectacular Italian restaurants in NYC. My one visit to Rao's was, with respect, not a life-changing event. Frankie Pellegrino, owner-host, is gone now and Nicky the Vest, legendary bartender, is on very limited duty, if at all. What you have left is a very nice red-tablecloth place that doesn't want your business.

 

Thanks for the info @sukiran . Seems a bit of a recurring theme that it’s over-rated/just as good other ones out there. It’s my first trip to NYC so I am very happy with the suggestions and help