Interview · moment 9 of 12
The History and Allure of Rao's Restaurant
from Least Likely Cop · #114
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
6 minGuest
Bo gives a detailed history of Rao's in East Harlem from its 1896 origins as an Italian immigrant melting pot through its mob-era heyday, his own table since 1977, and the exclusivity of its nine tables, name-dropping Warren Buffett, Denzel Washington, and other regulars.
- 35:41Rao's restaurant in East Harlem opened in 1896 as a gathering spot for Italian immigrants.
- 36:21By the 1920s and 30s, mob figures like Lucky Luciano and Flying Dutchman were regular patrons.
- 37:04As a teenager, he drove Ralph Scopo to meet Fat Tony Salerno before becoming a cop himself.
- 37:21He started going to Rao's around 1973 and met Frankie, who stayed for two weeks and became the owner.
- 38:13In 1977, Frankie gave him a permanent Thursday night table—the most coveted reservation in New York.
- 38:31That table has hosted Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and celebrities including Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
- 38:50Rao's has only nine tables, each owned like a condominium with assigned nights for regular patrons.
- 39:19He donates his table to charities for $25,000 bids, never keeping the money himself.
- 39:51Tim calls Rao's the coolest restaurant he's ever experienced, superior to all five-star establishments in New York.
- 40:37Frankie Pellegrino transformed Rao's from obscurity by being a Renaissance man—actor, singer, and master entertainer who made guests feel genuinely special.
Rao'sFrankie PellegrinoLucky LucianoFat Tony SalernoWarren BuffettBill GatesDenzel WashingtonBruce WillisEast HarlemRalph ScopoTommy CollerAngelina JolieMimi SheratonHerman Bell