Rao's??

Has anyone eaten at Rao's? I've heard it's nearly impossible to get a reservation at this place. Anyone have any advice on that? Is the food as good as they say? I'm doubtful.

[vinnyvette]

I want last week...unless you have an old great grandmother from Italy you will never have such homeade italian food...

YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRONG. GREAT MOZZ,SCUNG SALAD MEATBALLS AND CHEESECAKE

been 3 times, a friend of my father has a tuesday monthly table....the food is nothing special to maybe perhaps bad food, the wine list (recitation) is practicaly offensive...then again the experience is great, the vibe is certainly unique......it is a million to one to get a reservation, but if you show up later, like 9 or 10, you may get a table, if not just have a drink and enjoy the vibe. for exapmple, the regulars get the table for the whole night, so if they eat dinner at 7 and are done by 9:30 you have a chance to slide in....btw the last couiple of times i went, i went to patsy's afterward and had a slice...

Some consider Baldoria on 49th between Broadway and 8th to be as close as they can get to Rao's, without knowing Regis. Frank Pellegrino's son, Frank Jr., runs it, and it's much bigger.

Thanks for the replies.

Here's message thread about the place.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

I went there maybe six years ago now. Doubt anything's changed very much. I attach a link to an older post of mine about the experience.

I wouldn't worry to hard about not being able to get a table. It was all about the aura, and not about the food.

Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

I think the closest I'll ever get to Rao's is reading the cookbook and buying their brand of canned Italian "style" tomatoes. Never even met anybody who's been there.

been there..its Un remarkable

I've never been to Rao's. It doesn't sound like I'm missing much, foodwise.

On a partially related note, however, I'd like to put in a quick recommendation for their tomato sauce. I've been buying it for years. Originally, I had to mail order it by the case, but it's now available in stores. Try only the marinara flavor. The others are completely unremarkable, in my opinion. But the tomatoes in that marinara sauce are really tasty.

is quite good, or at least their rigatoni (which is the only one I've tried). Very large size noodles, which is hard to find in the boxed variety.