Rao's has been on my list for a long time. As a fan of the jarred sauce my expectations were high. It was easy to get a reservation for dinner on a Thursday night. Parking was a little complicated but there's street parking just read the signs before you park. The restaurant's ambiance was very nice felt very old school with sports memorabilia and autographed photos. Our server was very gracious and gave us recommendations. The meatballs were highly recommended and they didn't disappoint! They were so tender and juicy inside. We ordered a variety of pastas to try and they were all delicious. The veal Parmesan was also very delicious and big enough to share.

I wish this restaurant was closer to home because it's fantastic! The vibe inside is incredible, very romantic. The meatballs were the star of the show. I was blown away with how good they were. The penne with vodka sauce was perfect. The chicken parm was also great, the portion is big though so I recommend sharing! The staff was very kind and checked up on us often. I can't wait to come back!

Really good food and great service. The best way to go is to split a pasta and a meat if you can. It was the perfect amount of food, they split the pasta for us and the chicken parm was huge. The chicken parm is definitely worth it. We had the bolognese and while it was good I would want to try something else next time. For appetizers the meatballs were amazing. The mozzarella was okay, if you are between apps go for the meatballs. I made a reservation online but it wasn't too busy if you go when they open. Street parking and valet are both available.

I am a Rao's lover. I frequent the restaurant often because the food, ambiance and service is amazing. Special shout out to manager, Kevin! He really takes his job seriously and always makes me feel special when I'm dining there.

Loved the overall mood of the restaurant. It was giving Musso & Franks, DanTana's, Jones vibes. Nice music. Dim. Red. Cozy. Old Hollywood. Food was really good. I'd be picky and say DanTanas might have a more indulgent chicken & eggplant Parmesan, but these were still really fresh and tasty. Love the location, on a small, quiet up-and-coming studio street with little, if any, parking restrictions. Easy parking! I might go here, over Musso & Frank's, just to avoid Hollywood Blvd. The lowest priced red wine was really tasty. Much better than the crap I've been drinking at home. Service was attentive - and when I left my phone in our booth, our waiter chased us down to return it. I blame the wine.

My boyfriend and I dined here because we wanted to get dinner before a show at the Pantages nearby. We started with the Roasted Heirloom beets. This was surprisingly our favorite dish of the night. My boyfriend is not a big fan of salads, but he finished every last bite. Then we were served the veal Parmesan and Parpadelle Ragu. The veal was so flavorful and perfect. The Ragu was good but not outstanding. We finished with the Peanut butter pie which was like a Reese's cake but 10x better. We had an amazing waiter and rest of staff were super attentive. Drinks were great. Great first dining experience.

While the original NYC Rao's has been around since 1896, this location has only been here since 2011. Though it's less than twenty years old, stepping into Rao's Hollywood is like stepping into old school Hollywood. The decor and the vibe is comfortably cozy, with a vintage flair. I love sitting at the bar, while enjoying an ice cold gin martini. It's a nice way to relax before dinner. Open seven days a week, any day is a good day to go to Rao's. However, on this particular visit, we came for the 'Sunday Gravy'. The Sunday Gravy is once a week and it's the perfect dinner for two. It is a nice sample of what Rao's has to offer: Beef Braciole, Short Rib, Meatballs, Hot & Sweet Sausage, Rigatoni Pasta with Marinara Gravy and a House Salad. I asked for linguini pasta substitute, and they were happy to oblige. We also ordered the Baked Clams, which are delicious and a regular item on the menu. Marco did a nice job taking care of us, and Danni behind the bar, was just as accommodating. There is valet parking for $15 ($20 to keep your car close), but I would try street parking first. Rao's is more than just good food, it's a vibe, it's an evening. If you haven't had a meal at Rao's, then your LA dinning experience is incomplete.

Rao's has been a near-weekly spot for me during my 2 months in LA. I've brought friends, family, and also enjoyed sitting alone at the bar. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you've stepped into a cozy New York Italian restaurant with a bustling yet intimate energy. The service is always phenomenal, whether you opt for a table or a seat at the fantastic bar. The menu is family style, although if you're dining alone I'd recommend a smaller appetizer and a pasta dish. But Rao's is best experienced with company. Order a couple apps, pastas, and entrees and enjoy! I highly recommend starting off with the shrimp scampi, featuring enormous succulent shrimp in a sauce that's out of this world. Save some bread for dipping! All the pastas I've had are excellent, and the lemon chicken is one of their signature dishes. I can't recommend Rao's enough for a classic Italian American meal.

I use their pasta sauce at home, it's my absolute jar sauce! I've known there was a Rao's in Hollywood but never got around to checking it out. I really loved my dining experience there. Parking was easy, you can valet or if you're like me and prefer to street park I found something a block away - a 5 min walk. We made reservations on open table, they sat us in the patio which I loved the decor and ambiance. Kevin was an amazing server and Manny was on top of making sure our waters were refilled, our dishes were bussed, one of the best I've seen. The manager was there and came by the POS system often which we were sitting by but never once said hello or checked on us, that would be my only real complaint. Food - delicious! We started with the meatballs - make sure to put pamesean and chili pepper on it, it takes the flavor up a notch. For dinner we had the chicken parm and penne alla vodka and both were delicious. We look forward to coming back and trying more amazing dishes.

Last week's dinner at Rao's Hollywood was so good I forgot to post. The veal chop I had was to die for. It was easily one of the best veal chops I've ever had, and I've had veal all over the country. It had the perfect amount of kick from the Italian peppers and was thick and juicy. I also had a lovely, light, refreshing, cool seafood salad with a massive lobster claw atop the crab and other seafood. The veal parmesan was a huge portion and presented beautifully. It was tasty, but the veal chop outshined it easily. To finish off, an in-house made cheesecake that was the perfect finish to a delightful meal. Service was friendly and prompt, and the inside atmosphere is cozy and intimate. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more veal dishes!