666083 Tue Nov 10 10:04:30 -0800 2009 17 18 Manhattan 0 5170220 How? Tue Nov 10 10:04:30 -0800 2009 133413 offthebeatenpath1 1 5170251 Forgetaboutit. Not doable unless you know someoe who's a regular. (See numerouus posts on this subject.) Tue Nov 10 10:16:42 -0800 2009 5170220 74069 Ann900 2 5177864 Ann got that right. Fageetaboutit,,,, go to las vegas you can get in to that Rao's no problem And dont let anyone tell you Frankie Pelligrino's baldaria in the 40's is same as Rao's the only similarity is the roasted peppers which are great Thu Nov 12 22:34:44 -0800 2009 5170251 118604 foodwhisperer 1 5170252 There is no way that I know of, unless you are a guest of someone who's a "member". I've been only once with this way and the best part hands down was the scenery. The food was totally secondary. Don't get me wrong, it was good and fresh and well prepared, but no better or worse than you'd get at your Italian grandmother's house. Tue Nov 10 10:16:48 -0800 2009 5170220 1104460 Restaurant Dish 1 5170253 Sorry. If one has to ask, one ain't gonna eat there. There was a time when one could enjoy a cocktail or two at the bar and feel quite comfortable. There was a time about a year and a half back when people were abusing that privilege. There is *no way* you're going to segue from the bar to a table *unless* you're invited by the "owner" of the table. Vinnie Rao's in Heaven, and he's probably laughing at all the people carrying on about things down here on earth... Tue Nov 10 10:17:12 -0800 2009 5170220 270888 shaogo 1 5170299 Since it's not likely you're going to be able to eat there here's a link to a CH post which will give you a feel for the food. (It's good, not great.) http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/465600#3178589 Tue Nov 10 10:29:05 -0800 2009 5170220 10162 Bob Martinez 1 5170821 I got there when a friend won a table at a charity auction. Agree with everyone else that the food is very good, but not spectacular. The theater is priceless. I'll never forget Frank P and 2 very well known moguls who were dining together all singing Under the Boardwalk. Lucky for them, this was way before anyone had video on their phones - it would have been a You Tube sensation! Tue Nov 10 13:18:15 -0800 2009 5170220 12695 harrison 1 5170846 Buy the cookbook and have your Italian grandma help you make one of the dishes (that's what I did). It's about as close as most of us will ever get to eating there. If you don't have an Italian grandma, you can borrow mine for a day--Grandpa won't mind as long as you save him some food :) Tue Nov 10 13:25:56 -0800 2009 5170220 149592 iluvcookies 1 5170930 I went a few times several years ago when I was dating the son of someone with a regular table. You can make better Italian-American food at home without even trying too hard. It's all about the mystique. But if you have your heart set on it, as Harrison also mentions in his post , I have seen dinner at Rao's offered for auction at more than one NY-area charity event, most recently at a food industry event this fall. So, you could sniff around in that direction or just ask everyone you know if they know someone with a table. Tue Nov 10 13:57:16 -0800 2009 5170220 28236 Elaine Snutteplutten 1 5170950 just managed to get myself a table for next Thursday- will report back Tue Nov 10 14:06:00 -0800 2009 5170220 133413 offthebeatenpath1 2 5170954 How? Tue Nov 10 14:08:26 -0800 2009 5170950 201218 stephaniec25 3 5171000 friend of a friend Tue Nov 10 14:22:03 -0800 2009 5170954 133413 offthebeatenpath1 1 5171070 I'm so dismayed by all the allusions to mediocre food. I have memories, from my youth, of delightful fare, well-prepared and simply served. We went at least once a month back in the late '70s-early '80s. Ann and Vincent were alive then, and working in the restaurant. My "in" was the guy I worked for. Eight or more of us would go up. I have memories of richly-flavored hot appetizers contrasting with a cool, delightful salad of good mozzarella and *perfectly* ripe tomatoes. I recall angel hair pasta, done perfectly, and sauced with a bright red, almost orange fresh tomato sauce that was an exercise in lightness. Entrees tended to be full of flavor and very rich. The meal ended with espresso and anisette for everyone, and then a splendid platter of the most perfectly ripe fruit -- chilled -- would be put before us with knives and plates as accessories. The grapes, plums, and oh, the peaches! I was young and not very experienced in restaurant eating, but I had already gotten a taste of haute cuisine and mediocre cuisine. Rao's wasn't haute cuisine but it certainly wasn't mediocre at all. Tue Nov 10 14:51:58 -0800 2009 5170220 270888 shaogo 2 5171851 I've eaten there several times as an invited guest of a table holder. The food was good but not spectacular..Much better 'Nonna' meals are to be had at Enoteca Maria on SI. Tue Nov 10 21:31:04 -0800 2009 5171070 20921 Tay 3 5173212 Too bad Monte's Venetian Room isn't open anymore. Monte's in it's heyday blows away Rao's for the scene. Food is the same. Wed Nov 11 11:38:23 -0800 2009 5171851 210760 captainspacefood 4 5175097 Did Monte's close recently? It was still there about 6mo ago. Thu Nov 12 05:50:22 -0800 2009 5173212 10616 EJC 5 5175143 The building is still there but it's been closed for more than a year. http://lostnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2009/11/whats-going-on-with-montes-venetian.html Thu Nov 12 06:17:31 -0800 2009 5175097 10162 Bob Martinez 1 5173760 Somehow many years ago my wife was able to get a reservation at Rao's twice. Once was in 1986 and again a year or 2 later. As has been stated, the food is good, not great. It's your typical red sauce meal. Service was good and there was the requisite celebrity or 2. It's expensive for what it is or was. Wed Nov 11 14:27:07 -0800 2009 5170220 123366 ajs42548