Rao's Hollywood Looks Ready to Roll the Meatballs

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Here's a glimpse at Rao's Hollywood's bright ruddy exterior, right along a drab, deserted stretch of Seward Avenue in the midst of various nondescript film studios. This newest location of the 115-year-old checked tablecloth establishment might be the ideal hideaway for wannabe mobsters and old-school Italian-American aficionados looking for a quiet place to dig into a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

At the moment, staff looks busy inside, sitting at round tables and discussing the restaurant's launch. The interior has dark wood accents, a bar to the right side, and tables strewn throughout the intimate space. Outdoor seating will likely be on the back patio, making a total of 95 seats both inside and out, quite a bit larger than the 10 at the original New York location (though not as big as the Vegas restaurant). At the moment, Eater Young Guns nominee Nicole Grimes, who came from the Caesar's outpost, will be running the kitchen here in L.A.

The original NYC Rao's was notorious for being one of the most difficult tables to score in the city, with diners required to "know" someone to get in, or win a raffle. One of the most anticipated restaurants to open this year, the official debut hasn't be released, though appears to be coming soon.
·All Rao's Hollywood Coverage [~ELA~]