New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > Rao's Restaurant

All Reader Reviews of...

Rao's Restaurant

455 E. 114th St., New York, NY, 10029
at Pleasant Ave.
212-722-6709

Avg. Rating

9
Food: 9
Service: 8
Décor: 8
"Highly Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

80% would go back.

 Write your own review

first time at raos

By gail.w.garcia on 4/24/2013

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 4
  • Yes, I would go back!

was very excited to go.... when we arrived on a tuesday night, not to crowded...had a drink at the bar...everyone pleasant...sat at a booth they had...glad we were all thin booth very narrow....wine was great ,service was nice .no one bothered you ..they really were not friendly...for appetizers we had the seafood salad and the calamari was very very good ...the pasta was great the sauce so good. meatballs very good the linguine with calms so good......now the lemon chicken was burnt and was served with a long black hair in it... and the veal marsala was very salty.....if i go back will try something different

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

1st time @ Rao's

By gumbagabe44 on 9/11/2009

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Food is good. Sauce is excellent. Price is right. A must see as far as the "characters" hanging around.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
74 out of 152 people found this review helpful.

THE BEST!

By twistam1 on 3/12/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

I was lucky enough to get a table a few weeks ago on a monday night... the place was amazing! The food was awesome. Shells with ricotta sauce, meatballs...oh my god the meatballs. Im italian.. still live in brooklyn and ive had some great meatballs but this one puts them to shame (sorry mom and mrs g). the baked clams were crispy on the outside and so juicy and flavorful on the inside. The calamari in the seafood salad melted in your mouth. We finished up with veal marsala and lemon chicken. everything was top notch. The service was great and everyone was so nice even though we knew no-one. Big Frank even thanked us and took a picture. If you get a chance go.. don't miss out!

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
86 out of 158 people found this review helpful.

Excellent!

By sweetaloha808 on 11/3/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • No, I would not go back!

The whole experience was great! I had the lemon chicken to compare it too my husband's, who has mastered the recipe. And sure enough it was proven, he has. His is just as great as the original, delicious! Everything was great & the wine we ordered was $49.99, delicious also. Until we went to purchase it at the wine store to find out that it a 12.99 dollar bottle of wine. Not an expensive, top of the line bottle of vino. What a total mark up & rip off. Abit distasteful & cheesy, don't you think..

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
203 out of 389 people found this review helpful.

What can I possibly say? This is as good as life gets.

By rscottp on 1/29/2005

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

It's not just food. It's the feeling of being home with the whole big, ugly, gorgeous family. Every uncle, every aunt, cousins, nephews, nieces...all eating, laughing, being loud, loving, and sharing together under one roof. The food? Absolutely the best. I would gladly give whatever it takes to get a table there. I'm hoping (really hard) that we will have that opportunity again. It's magic, my friend, and there's no way to explain it.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
407 out of 784 people found this review helpful.

Add Comment

You will be prompted to sign in with your NYMag or
Facebook account.

  awful average excellent
In determining overall rating, food and service are given more weight.
Rate
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Food
Service
Décor
Would you go back?

Some Hints:

  • The best reviews give a clear sense of why you liked or disliked a restaurant, bar, or store. And that means details. Mention specifics dishes, type of crowd, pros and cons...
  • If it's helpful to compare one place to another, go for it.
  • Come up with clever, funny, pithy subject lines, and write in the first person.
  • Don't forget to read the user rating guidelines and rules.
CloseUpdating your review
By
| Not you?
Advertising
Advertising