A Night to Remember: Rao's Opens in Miami Beach and Lives Up to Its Legacy
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: PHOTOS BY PABLO MEDINA PHOTOGRAPHY
By: Steve Turk
Epic, endearing, and delicious these three words encapsulate the experience at Rao’s Restaurant Group's newest Miami Beach outpost, which opened its doors to a hungry and excited crowd on October 25th, 2023. The setting couldn't be more fitting, nestled within the historic St. Moritz Tower at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, a property I had the pleasure of serving as Food and Beverage Director in years past.
A Classic Comes to Town
To say Rao's is a household name in Italian-American culinary culture would be an understatement. With its origins dating back 127 years in Harlem, New York, Rao's has cemented itself as a national treasure of authentic, southern Neapolitan cooking and homey ambiance. Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci, the co-owners, have impressively maintained the legacy of their family's restaurant.
"Rao's is a legendary experience, where every night feels like a Sunday dinner," exclaimed Ron Straci. Echoing the sentiment, Frank Pellegrino Jr. added, "It feels like a natural next step for our family, and a place for the people of Miami to call home."
The Vibe and the Staff: A Perfect Symphony
As I stepped into the restaurant, you could feel the buzzing energy. Rao's is not just a restaurant, it’s a gathering space that seems to say, “Welcome, make yourself at home.” There’s something about the ambiance, the soft lighting, the warm hues on the walls, the clinking of glasses that brings a kind of nostalgia, a relief from the outside world. The staff elevated this even further. Friendly, attentive, and passionately knowledgeable about the offerings, it’s evident that they are not merely employees but ambassadors of Rao’s heritage. I felt like I was transported to their restaurant in in New York City.
Let's Talk Food
On to the main event: the meal. The menu offers a wide array of both classic and contemporary dishes. However, how can one visit Rao's and not indulge in their legendary Rao’s Traditional Meatballs? Succulent, flavorful, and exquisitely textured, each bite was a love letter to culinary tradition.
Next up was the Uncle Vincent's Lemon Chicken, a dish that’s seen fame from coast to coast. The chicken was moist and tender, and the lemon sauce was an absolute explosion of citrus.
But Rao’s Miami is not just a carbon copy of its sibling in New York. The Miami location offers its own unique flare with contemporary dishes specially curated for the local audience. Let's just say, if you're in the mood for a culinary adventure, this is the place to be.
The Verdict
As someone who loves the restaurant industry and who has watched the Miami Beach culinary scene evolve, I couldn't be more thrilled to see Rao's plant its flag here. The entire experience, from the vibe, to the meal, to the staff was nothing short of exceptional.
Alex Tisch, President & CEO of Loews Hotels & Co, said it best, "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."
Rao’s Miami Beach has achieved the seemingly impossible task of transposing a century-old culinary legacy into a modern Miami setting without losing a dash of its original spirit. It’s a dining experience that deserves to be on everyone’s culinary bucket list. For Miamians and visitors to this sun-drenched paradise, Rao's isn't just another restaurant, it's a culinary institution that’s come to town, offering everyone a seat at their family table.
If you've never had a chance to experience Rao's, you owe it to yourself to make that reservation. If you're a Rao's aficionado, the Miami Beach location brings all the beloved classics, along with a dash of local flavor, that will make you fall in love with Rao's all over again.
Reservations for Rao’s Miami Beach can be made via Resy.com, and given the establishment’s history of being the "toughest reservation to land in the United States," it's advisable to book well in advance. For more information, visit Rao's Miami Beach website.
