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RAOS

New York

455 East 114th St,
New York,
Tel: ??

there is one New York restaurant that's almost impossible to get into: Rao's. This famed Italian eatery only has about eleven tables, and you can't get a seat at one of them unless you are "invited" by one of the table's "owners." To boot Rao’s closes on weekends, doesn’t serve lunch, and has only one seating a night. A one time favourite of “wise guy” gangsters Rao’s is now a favourite hangout for New Yorks in scene with diners as exclusive as Billy Crystal, Bill Clinton, Ken Chenault and . The Service and traditional Italian cuisine is exceptional, with a secret pasta sauce that’s literally to die for. When you arrive, you'll notice that the restaurant (which is located a bit below street level) resembles a home living room, with a family-ish décor and kitschy pictures. There's a famous jukebox in the corner, and there's a small six-person bar toward the front, where barkeep Nickey Vest will get you what you need. For those of you looking for a bit of trivia, they call him Nickey Vest because he has a collection of hundreds of vests. Original, eh? Oh, and remember to wear something with pockets, because you have to pay in cash.

www.raos.com
Cuisine: Italian
Ambience: Formal Fine Dining
Groups: invitation only
Special: Celbrity Owner.

RAOS

New York

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