Actor And Co-Owner of Rao's In New York, Frank Pellegrino, Shares With Us The Long History and Mystic Of His Unique New York Restaurant
Rao's is renowned for its jukebox, its quirky decor, its unmatched hospitality and most of all, the spectacular Neapolitan cuisine. It's also notorious for being one of the most difficult restaurants in New York in which to get a reservation. Year-long waits for one of its ten tables are not uncommon. But what is it about this tiny, charming restaurant that makes it the most in-demand spot in the city night after night, year after year? For decades Rao's existed as a neighborhood restaurant. Its local customers would fill the tables with such regularity that eventually they were given standing reservations - bookings that persevere to this day.The Rao's phenomenon exploded in 1977, when New York Times food critic Mimi Sheraton gave Rao's a gushing, half-page, three-star review, splashing the city's best-kept secret in front of millions of readers. Since Rao's NYC location only has ten tables, and only one seating per evening, the resulting demand would have been overwhelming even if the tables weren't already spoken for. That the tables were "owned" like a condominium translated to almost no empty seats in the house, night after night. Frank Pellegrino is an American actor and restaurateur. Born in East Harlem, Pellegrino has often acted in law and gangster-themed film and television productions. He was a member of an early sixties singing group called The Holidays. There is a rare recording of a song called "Never" that appears on FOUND IN THE BASEMENT VOL. 1. Notable roles of his include Johnny Dio in GoodFellas, assorted appearances on Law & Order, and FBI Chief Frank Cubitoso on The Sopranos. Pellegrino is a co-owner of the restaurant Rao's in New York City. Books written by Pellegrino include Rao's Cookbook and Rao's Recipes from the Neighborhood. He also produced the CD An Evening at Rao's, featuring music from Rao's jukebox.
Dave Williams, GM At Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen On South Disneyland Drive, Is Talking With Us About What Surprises Are In Store For This Holiday Season
Jazz on over to the Jazz Kitchen, a savvy representation of New Orleans’ dual legacies – food and music- served up in a whimsical setting depicting the charm, ambience and hospitality of historic and contemporary New Orleans. Located in Downtown Disney® District, our two-story replica of traditional French Quarter architecture includes a ground floor, interior, open-air courtyard flanked by a quick service dining facility (Jazz Kitchen Express) and a New Orleans-style jazz club (Flambeaux’s).Upstairs, you’ll find traditional New Orleans dining rooms and an outdoor ‘Jazz balcony’ with seating that overlooks the revelry of the Downtown Disney® District. For over fifty years, Ralph Brennan and his family have proudly served the finest Louisiana ingredients and our Chef, Darrin Finkel, has peppered those celebrated flavors throughout our menus. The Jazz Kitchen boasts festive, ‘Big Easy themed’ private party facilities and comprehensive event planning services. From our mouthwatering Louisiana cuisine to the live jazz played at Flambeaux’s every night, every detail of the Jazz Kitchen delivers on the promise of New Orleans.
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