Rao’s Restaurant Heads South

Rao’s Restaurant Group (New York), an acclaimed purveyor of southern Neapolitan Italian cooking and a home-style family ambiance, announced it will open a location later this month in Miami Beach. The restaurant, set to open Oct. 25, is located within the St. Moritz Tower at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

The original Rao’s opened 127 years ago in Harlem and is celebrated as one of the oldest family-owned and operated restaurants in the country. Staying true to original recipes and dedicated to honoring the restaurant’s legacy, Rao’s co-owners Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ron Straci say they work to maintain a menu that pairs generations of authenticity and love with freshness and flavor.

“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 Straci. Adds Pellegrino “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.”

“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 and 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.”

In addition to its original locale in East Harlem, Rao’s has a restaurant in Los Angeles. The firm also had an eatery at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which closed in 2021.