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. If you'd like to read the lunch menu you can click here.

RAW BAR: Rao's Platter (sampler of seasonal oysters, fresh jumbo lump crab meat, steamed New Zealand mussels, jumbo shrimp, fresh top neck clams and steamed Maine lobster with a variety of cocktail sauces; small platter serves 2-3 people, $75; large platter serves 4 people plus, $120); Shrimp Cocktail (steamed jumbo shrimp served with cocktail sauce, $18); Sampler of Oysters (variety of six types of seasonal oysters on the half shell with shallots and vinegar sauce, market price); Cold, Cracked Maine Lobster (with tarragon cocktail sauce, $38; combined with three steamed shrimp, $45; combined with fresh jumbo lump crab meat, $47); Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Meat (with three steamed shrimp, $27). As a friendly reminder, eating raw or uncooked seafood or shellfish may cause illness.

ANTIPASTI: Antipasto Delia Casa (sliced prosciutto di Parma, Rao's roasted red bell peppers, gaeta olives, buffalo mozzarella, sliced tomatoes with grana padano cheese and arugula, serves two, $25); Shrimp Cocktail (served with cocktail sauce, $19); Pepperoni Arrostitti (roasted red bell peppers, tossed with golden raisins and pine nuts, $14); Insalata di Mare (steamed calamari, shrimp, PEI mussels, lobster and crab meat with diced celery, gaeta olives and parsley, $17); Vongole Oreganate (baked, stuffed little neck clams, $14); Fritto Misto di Mare (deep fried calamari, shrimp, cod fish and julienne zucchini with remoulade and marinara sauce, $16); Mozzarella in Carrozza (crispy fried fresh mozzarella sandwich with fresh tomato and basil sauce, $12).