Hi
I would like to find an old fashioned Italian restaurant - dark wood, booths, candles, heavy classic cooking, romantic... the kind of places where the Mafia are hanging out in bad movies you see late at night on TV. Anyone have a recommend?
Thanks!!!
J

Try Rao's:

http://www.raos.com/raos_restaurant.html

. . .and good luck getting a table at Rao's, unless of course someone dies and they have willed their table to you.

Thanks!
What is the neighborhood like? How can I get there - subway?

Didn't scoutfish just describe Patsy's?

I think if we tell you, we will then have to kill you.

Not sure about the "Mafia" thing but we used to love Marios on Arthur Avenue.
Lunas in Little Italy, something about drinking rough red wine out of a water glass.

Rao's is at 455 E. 114th St in Harlem. The phone number is 212-722-6709. Patrons include include Woody Allen, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino and from what I have heard, John Gotti used to eat there quite a bit.

And when I said good luck getting a table I wasn't kidding!

Don't even bother going to Rao's. They used to open up some reservations in early December for the following year--there were just a few openings for the whole year. A couple of years ago, they stopped doing that. Now, it's only for regulars, celebrities, friends of the owners. The regular public like us (or at least me) doesn't have a chance.
Arthur's on Jerome Avenue is excellent, as is Mario's in the Bronx.

Hi Scout:

I was one of the rare few that has eaten at Rao's. Faugedaboutit! You will never get into Rao's.
Try John's on 12th and 3rd? Not to many wiseguys there but it looks the part! Red Sauce is not too bad!
John

Patsy's on W. 56th St. is the restaurant that Frank Sinatra loved. In fact, they have a shrine to him upstairs.

I don't think they've ever changed the decor. The food is very good too.

Forgeddabout a table at Rao's. Aint gonna happen

Rao's brother has a fantastic restaurant on West 49th, Baldoria. Plenty of old Italian 'charm', with wonderful food, using many of the Rao's recipes. Meatballs are fantastic. Ask to sit upstairs for the full effect. And this isn't an Italian place, but Spark's Steakhouse was the first place that popped into my head when you mentioned Mafia.

Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy was the sight of a mafia hit about 20 years ago. I've never eaten there so can't comment on the food but it might have the nostalgic feel you're looking for. If you really want to try Rao's just have drinks at the bar and when a table opens up around 9-9:30 they might let you have it.

My family and I saw John Gotti and his lawyer Bruce Cutler in Lanza's on 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets many years ago. They were sitting at the last table in the left corner facing out. I have to say John Gotti was impeccably dressed. Not a hair out of place either. Lanza's used to be a good choice, but the owner died so I don't know if it's good anymore. Da Umberto's on West 17th may fit the bill for you. On the other hand I want to add that there are many very good Italian restaurants in the Bronx that match your description. Although there isn't as a big a mob presence in the Bronx as in other boroughs I suggest you try Rino's on Tremont Avenue, Gino's on Allerton Avenue, Pine on Bronxdale Avenue, Joe & Joe's (a Bronx landmark) on Castle Hill Avenue, Venice on Williamsbridge Road, and Il Boschetto on Gun Hill Road. You won't be disappointed.

It is completely and utterly impossible to get a table at Rao's unless you REALLY know "someone" (i.e., Pacino, DeNiro, Allen, etc.)and even then, it's very difficult. Try Paolucci's on Mulberry St.

From the NYTimes 2/29/04:
AFTER surveying the Tuesday night crowd at La Scatolina, an Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village, a newcomer might think twice about settling in for a meal there. The variety show staged one recent evening seemed quaint enough, but the patrons had the fleshy, grim faces of mobsters.

This is just a small, inexpensive restaurant on 6th Av near 9th st. The times no longer displays the entire article (you have to buy it), but I did read it in the paper, it was actually talking about actors who play gangsters.

RAO's does have the qualities you are looking for though, someone was shot dead in there a few months ago. Maybe his table is available. ;-)

Thanks all for the responses

I think I may have gotten folks off track... my goal was dark wood, booths, romantic, intimate, small, not necessarily clean, definitely not upscale... a place like Rao's seems very cool, but not really the small intimate "hole in the wall" where I envisioned my friend and I holding hands while waiting for the big plates of pasta...

Thanks thanks thanks for all the fun responses...

I really think you need to venture out of the city and into one of the other boroughs such as the Bronx. Although I am not familiar with Italian restaurants in Staten Island, you will also find what you are looking for there. Big presence there. I really understand what you are looking for.

OK Scoutfish, first, there are no bad mafia movies. Capisce? Except of course for mafia spoofs that contain Sylvester Stallone.

How about Sparks Steakhouse on (East?) 46th Street? I have never been there, but Paul Castellano was whacked in front of that one.