Rao's
Rao's is an Italian restaurant founded in 1896 and located at 455 East 114th Street in East Harlem, New York City, with a sister restaurant in Las Vegas, NV.[1]
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[edit] History
The restaurant was started in 1896 by Charles Rao, who moved with his parents from Italy to the United States. He bought a small shop in Italian Harlem, once a very large Italian-American community, and ran the restaurant until his death in 1909. Louis Rao took over the business. He was seen by many as a very suave man. He had his hair cut at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and wore many fancy suits. Current co-owner Frank Pellegrino describes those days as "the days of big Cadillacs and usually convertibles." He was much more conservative in behavior and looks and refined the menu into a more simple Italian menu, with the help of "Aunt Jake." After Vincent Rao's death in 1999, it was taken over by Frank Pellegrino, Anna Pellegrino Rao's nephew, and Ronald Straci, another close relative. Anna Pellegrino-Rao refined the menu even more with the help of Vincent and she is the source of the menu's identity today.
[edit] Las Vegas and beyond
On December 6, 2006, Rao's opened a second restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. The executive chef is 'Carla Pellegrino'. Two ten-table rooms fashion Rao’s and additional seating is available on an outdoor garden patio.[2] In early 2009, Rao's in Las Vegas opened a bocce bar outside and began offering bocce lessons and cocktails there. [3]
Rao's now sells products in gourmet markets and supermarkets. Products include pasta products and sauce as well as olive oil.[4] Rao's was the basis for "Raimondo's," a fictional restaurant featured as the site of a murder in the Law & Order episode "Everybody Loves Raimondo's." The owner of the fictional restaurant was played by actor Ray Abruzzo, who later co-starred with Pellegrino on The Sopranos.
In 2009, Jay-Z shot the music video for "D.O.A." (Death of Autotune) at Rao's.
On Top Chef: All Stars (season 8), the episode 8: "An Offer They Can't Refuse" (February 2, 2011) elimination challenge required the chefs to cook a three-course family style Italian meal at Rao's restaurant for the judges and Rao's owners and staff.
[edit] References
- ^ [1] History of Rao's
- ^ Caesers Palace Rao's
- ^ Shindler, Merrill (May 28, 2009). "A Rao's-ing Tale". Zagat.com. http://www.zagat.com/Blog/Detail.aspx?SCID=42&BLGID=20987.
- ^ Rao's Specialty Foods, Inc. -Premium Pasta Sauces, Pasta, Oil, Vinegars, Marinades and Gifts
[edit] External links
