To lead their first restaurant outside of their original in New York, the Rao family has chosen a chef near and dear to its heart: Carla Pellegrino, Frank Pellegrino Jr.'s wife. Indeed, trust is the name of the game here, as Chef Carla's honest home-cooked Italian cuisine uses the same fresh ingredients that are used at the New York original. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, Chef Carla has been cooking since the tender age of 10, and her cuisine is as authentic as the original itself. The menu options at Rao's are extensive, as you can see from the menu items below; and while there are daily specials, you can rest assured that all the signature dishes you'll find at the original and in the Rao's cookbooks are on the menu here, as well. We've been told that Uncle Vincent's Lemon Chicken, in particular, is a dish worth coveting. To complement the menu items below, Rao's offers a variety of coffees, specialty drinks, wines by the glass and even a Rao's chardonnay that's made in California, exclusively for the restaurant. So sit, relax and enjoy the ride; the servers won't rush you, but rather will help you figure out the best menu items for your liking. If you'd care to read TravelsinTaste.com's exclusive interview with Carla Pellegrino please, click here, otherwise to learn even more about this amazing chef, read her biography or you can read the entire Rao's listing complete with dinner menu by clicking here.

Gli Antipasti: Affettati Misti (thinly sliced Parma prosciuto, soppressata, cubed provolone cheese, Gaeta olives, pickled cornichons, sweet marinated garlic and mache greens); Caesars Salad (romaine lettuces, Classic Caesars dressing (olive oil, parmesan cheese, anchovies, capers, oregano), butter croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese and marinated fresh white anchovies); Insalata della Casa (green leaf lettuce, iceberg, cucumber, endive, fennel, radicchio, red onion and tomatoes in house vinaigrette).