Like so many New Yorkers, an uptown institution is moving to Florida.
Rao’s, the 127-year-old East Harlem red sauce joint known for its impossible to secure seats, is expanding to Miami. Located within the St. Moritz Tower at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Rao’s Miami will open for nightly dinner service starting on Wednesday, October 25.
“Rao’s is a legendary experience, where every night feels like a Sunday dinner, and we are excited that our iconic Harlem eatery and years of tradition can now be celebrated in Miami,” said Ron Straci, co-owner of Rao’s. “Our legacy continues to grow as we bring our passion for food and signature vibe to this new location. It feels like a natural next step for our family, and a place for the people of Miami to call home,” added Frank Pellegrino Jr., co-owner of Rao’s.
Unlike the original New York City restaurant, which is not on any reservation systems, Rao’s Miami will open tables via Resy for dinners bookable between 6pm – 10pm seven nights a week.
A seafood tower at Rao’s Miami
This is hardly the first expansion for the legendary Italian restaurant. Rao’s first expanded its meatball reach to the West Coast in late 2006, when its first sibling opened in Caesar’s Palace. The restaurant closed in 2021, but the 10-year-old Rao’s Los Angeles is still serving family-style fritto misto and penne alla vodka in Hollywood (but not making a table any easier to secure on East 114th St. in Manhattan).
The menu at Rao’s Miami will echo the original location’s. Traditional Rao’s classics include the legendary Rao’s Traditional Meatballs and Uncle Vincent’s Lemon Chicken, plus new dishes created specifically for the Miami location.
Traditional Rao’s Meatballs are a menu staple
“When it came time to think about our new South Beach restaurant location, we had to look no further than to Rao’s and our dear friends, Ron Straci, Frank Pellegrino Jr., Chef Dino Gatto and the rest of the team, all of whom we have known for years,” said Alex Tisch, President & CEO, Loews Hotels & Co. “Similarly, like Loews, the Rao’s team knows what it takes to give customers a memorable authentic experience, one that will make Rao’s Miami Beach a remarkable addition to the Miami culinary scene.”