30/05/2026
This restaurant is harder to get to than the Met Gala.
Rao’s in New York has become legendary not only for its food, but for its almost impossible access. The original East Harlem restaurant is known for its long-standing table system, where regulars effectively hold their places for years, sometimes across generations.
There is no ordinary reservation game. No simple online booking. No guarantee that fame, money or status will get you inside.
That is what makes Rao’s fascinating. In an age where almost everything can be bought, true access still feels like the final form of status.
So, what do you think?
Is this the ultimate restaurant myth, or is exclusivity sometimes taken too far?