Rao's
New York, USA · No. 1 on the list
Ten tables, and the tables are basically inherited. The sauce is the export.
Regulars: Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese · Order: Lemon chicken and the meatballs
Celebrity Favorites · USA
Celebrity Italian Restaurants in NYC
Where do celebrities eat Italian food in New York City?
Rao's, Tribeca Grill, Carbone, Cipriani Downtown, Emilio's Ballato and 11 more — 16 rooms in New York City where the regulars are famous and the pasta earns it.
New York is the deepest bench on Larry's list — red-sauce institutions that have fed three generations of actors, a Brooklyn pizza circuit worth planning a day around, and a handful of rooms where the reservation is the hard part, not the pasta. These are the tables that keep showing up in tabloid photos and in chefs' own weekend plans.
The 16 tables, in Larry’s order
| Restaurant | Known for | Order this |
|---|---|---|
| Rao'sNew York | Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese | Lemon chicken and the meatballs |
| Tribeca GrillNew York | Robert De Niro | Whatever the wine list points at |
| CarboneNew York | The entire Knicks bench | Spicy rigatoni vodka |
| Cipriani DowntownNew York | Fashion week regulars | Tagliolini gratinati |
| Emilio's BallatoNew York | Rihanna, Barack Obama | Rigatoni Bolognese |
| Bamonte'sBrooklyn | Sopranos alumni | Veal parmigiana |
| L'ArtusiNew York | West Village film crowd | Bucatini with pancetta |
| Frankies 457 SpuntinoBrooklyn | Brooklyn musicians | Cavatelli with hot sausage |
| LucaliBrooklyn | Beyoncé and Jay-Z | Pie with pepperoni |
| Di Fara PizzaBrooklyn | Pizza pilgrims worldwide | Square slice with basil scissored on top |
| The PalmNew York | Broadway and boxing names | Veal Milanese the size of a hubcap |
| Patsy's Italian RestaurantNew York | Frank Sinatra's table | Clams posillipo |
| Tony's Di NapoliNew York | Post-show Broadway casts | Family-style sausage and peppers |
| Il MulinoNew York | Wall Street and film financiers | Veal chop and endless antipasti |
| Bar PittiNew York | Village actors and models | Panzanella, sidewalk table |
| Sant AmbroeusNew York | Upper East Side and Hamptons crowd | Cappuccino and veal Milanese |
Larry’s notes, table by table
Tribeca Grill
New York, USA · No. 3 on the list
De Niro co-founded it. The cellar is the real headliner.
Regulars: Robert De Niro · Order: Whatever the wine list points at
Carbone
New York, USA · No. 5 on the list
Italian-American theatre with tableside everything. Larry approves of the veal.
Regulars: The entire Knicks bench · Order: Spicy rigatoni vodka
Cipriani Downtown
New York, USA · No. 15 on the list
The Bellini travelled from Venice and never left.
Regulars: Fashion week regulars · Order: Tagliolini gratinati
Emilio's Ballato
New York, USA · No. 16 on the list
Buzz-in door, tin ceiling, sauce from another century.
Regulars: Rihanna, Barack Obama · Order: Rigatoni Bolognese
Bamonte's
Brooklyn, USA · No. 17 on the list
Open since 1900. The waiters have seen your grandfather.
Regulars: Sopranos alumni · Order: Veal parmigiana
L'Artusi
New York, USA · No. 18 on the list
Modern room, old discipline in the pasta water.
Regulars: West Village film crowd · Order: Bucatini with pancetta
Frankies 457 Spuntino
Brooklyn, USA · No. 19 on the list
Sausage and pasta done exactly Larry's way.
Regulars: Brooklyn musicians · Order: Cavatelli with hot sausage
Lucali
Brooklyn, USA · No. 20 on the list
Candlelight, one man, one oven, a four-hour wait.
Regulars: Beyoncé and Jay-Z · Order: Pie with pepperoni
Di Fara Pizza
Brooklyn, USA · No. 21 on the list
Patience is an ingredient.
Regulars: Pizza pilgrims worldwide · Order: Square slice with basil scissored on top
The Palm
New York, USA · No. 28 on the list
Caricatures on the walls, portions from 1926.
Regulars: Broadway and boxing names · Order: Veal Milanese the size of a hubcap
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
New York, USA · No. 29 on the list
Sinatra ate here so often they kept the table cold for him.
Regulars: Frank Sinatra's table · Order: Clams posillipo
Tony's Di Napoli
New York, USA · No. 32 on the list
Loud, enormous, exactly right after a show.
Regulars: Post-show Broadway casts · Order: Family-style sausage and peppers
Il Mulino
New York, USA · No. 36 on the list
You will be fed before you order. Accept it.
Regulars: Wall Street and film financiers · Order: Veal chop and endless antipasti
Bar Pitti
New York, USA · No. 49 on the list
Cash only, chalkboard specials, world-class people watching.
Regulars: Village actors and models · Order: Panzanella, sidewalk table
Sant Ambroeus
New York, USA · No. 50 on the list
Milanese manners on Madison Avenue.
Regulars: Upper East Side and Hamptons crowd · Order: Cappuccino and veal Milanese
How to actually get a table in NYC
Most of these do not take walk-ins at dinner. Call at opening time on the day reservations drop, ask for the bar, and eat early.
Menus, owners and reputations change. Larry’s rule stands: call ahead.
Other cities on the list
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in LA
9 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Rome
4 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Naples
3 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Capri & Amalfi
4 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Florence
2 tables
Italy
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Venice
2 tables
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Chicago
2 tables
USA
Celebrity Italian restaurants in Miami
2 tables
Or see all fifty on the Celebrity Favorites list.
Join the crew
Get Larry's latest recipes, episode drops, and gear picks delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We only use your email to send Uncle Larry updates.