This is a perfect example of when a restaurant has lost its priorities, money is now more important than than quality.

The thing with pasta is that when you put hot pasta into a airtight container it's will continue cooking from the residual heat. You would have to get the pasta in the restaurant to eat it on a plate to stars the difference. The plastic lid on the container acts as a pot cover and the left over steam cooks the pasta more

I am happy to know i am not missing out on the food from Raos. Thank you guys for your honest review : )

I would love to see you recreate the meal yourselves. Show us how it should really be made with recipes and the cost to make it! Love you guys ❤

Jessi and Alessio I absolutely love watching your videos !! You both are so lovely, it's always such a blast to watch your videos. Thank you for sharing such warm and informative, fun videos .I can't wait to see future videos.

You guys are too nice. If your gonna tip, i suggest doing it when you get upstairs to the apartment. Never tell the driver your a tourist. Unfortunately there are some bad apples out there who will try sneaky tactics to squeeze money from you. Just say thank you and head up. Dont look back. Then tip a few mins later. If your not sure the tip went through. Wait a day, check your bank account and then see.

I really like the format and content, and I believe the honest review. Please make more!

Your cat is licking its chops lol. I was waiting for your cat to swipe a meatball off the table lol. Love you guys.

Your cat was warning you, “Give to me, I’ll enjoy it more than you ever will!” 😂 We get their sauce from the supermarket regularly, but never been to the restaurant despite all the times I’ve been to NYC since I live in the metro area, and now I see why. Shame it doesn’t live up to the hype and boy is it overpriced. But we appreciate your honesty! “I’m pissed” I’m sure he’ll never be as pissed as he was when he realized Italy didn’t qualify for neither the 2018 nor the 2022 World Cup

I went to Rao’s in Vegas many times before they closed it. I know it’s not the “original” Rao’s cooking but the restaurant was insanely good. I absolutely loved everything they had on the menu. We even made our plans around the reservation time to not miss a dinner there. I sigh when I think of them closing the location. And, so sad to hear the original is not great. Back to the Italian food drawing board! 😕

I love you guys and always enjoy your videos… as a born and raised New Yorker (Arthur ave was my neighborhood) of italian immigrant parents, who ate at many top restaurants over the years, but never Rao’s… i am so devestated by your review i had to shut it off …i’ll be back but cant watch this one 🤦🏻‍♀️ ❤

First of all, thank you both for taking one for the team. We appreciate your review and will of course dine elsewhere. I did try the one in Las Vegas some years ago and thought more favorably about the wine than the food. Nice to know it wasn't just me. I think the problem is that the place has become a tourist trap for the wealthy...those who can afford to pay for the use of the tables. That doesn't make it great food, just exclusive food. The problem with touristy places is that many times, the food is less seasoned as tourists (read as non-regulars) have a different palate profile, so the tourist gets their food seasoned down so as not to offend the buyer. Even a mediocre 5-6 meatball will be consumed by the very people who don't know better, and think they're getting great food because of the restaurants reputation. Just look how Peter Luger's fell from grace by the New York food critics.

I’m from 3 blocks from Rao’s lived in East Harlem in the 1960 / 70’s. My parents where from Italy and I never heard of Rao’s until many years later. If it was great maybe that time has passed. By time we all hear about a place it’s original owners have all moved on or pasted away and the place is a tourist attraction. I went to Buffalo many times and wanted to go when they invented buffalo wings. Went to the Anchor Bar, the wings where good. But every place in Buffalo the wings where just as good. I went to Buffalo many times and asked a local where the place Buffalo wings where? She told me a place and it was in a residential area and they where much better wings.

I am laughing so hard. Comparing Rao’s to Olive Garden. We Italians here don’t compare anything to to Olive Garden because we have never been there! You guys are great.

I love your cat so sweet…wanting you to share 😋. Always enjoy watching you too.I love Alessios explanations 🤗🤗

I make my own Italian food after watching about a zillion Italian chefs on KZfaq. Simplest is best. Onion, olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, a little salt and pasta. Can't beat it.

Thank you for your honest reviews. Love you guys and your channel ❤

after this video I just can't stop asking myself "why is this restaurant so exclusive?!": that quality food shouldn't be exclusive at all, in Italy you can find those dishes (except for the penne) in every trattoria and it would be definitely better. Penne alla vodka was a trend in the '80s but not anymore (like the famous strawberry risotto 😂), that chicken is an ordinary roasted chicken with a lot of watery lemon juice, meatballs maybe are the only things that can be saved (but 20 dollars for two meatballs...!)😂Jessi's expression when she tasted the penne was amazing 😂

You two are the cutest. I am surprised however to hear her refer to the pene as a “noodle”. 3x!!! It wasn’t a slip. That’s a term I would expect someone completely inexperienced with Italian culture or cuisine to say. But someone married to an Italian? Brought a tear to my eye😊🇮🇹🇮🇹 Noodles are noodles, pasta is pasta!!!😮‍💨

I just discovered you both... I really am enjoying your analysis of the food.

I knew he would not be impressed. I appreciate you guys taking the Ubers and spending time and money and filming the content. Alessio obviously can cook and you're used to his cooking. These days it's really hard to compete against a home chef with years of experience. I enjoyed the video. God Bless you guys 🙏

I love your honesty. Thank you.

I am so very glad that I found you two . You have such a great relationship . Finding that you have a cat ,he/she is so cute . I really enjoy your posts .

I’d love to see y’all try to find a good gnocchi in the US/NY. I have always made them fresh with my grandma and have yet to find any I like in a restaurant. Love y’all’s videos, makes me feel like I’m with my family, loud opinionated Italians!!!!

Wow, I feel like I could beat this with any of the creole Italian restaurants in New Orleans. Good review!

Thank you! I’ve always wondered about the hype of that restaurant, in my heart i knew it wasn’t going to be authentic but I held out hope. 😂❤

Thanks guys. I used to live right around the corner from Rao’s in East Harlem and on the street it was always considered over rated. Better off going to some of the local Spanish restaurants for cheap and tasty cuisine.

Just picked up a jar of Mutti tomato sauce with basil from the grocery store. As good as my friend's Nonna's summer sauce. Less expensive than Rao's jarred sauce.

you both look great together first of all.i was praying for the chicken but my prayers did not come true lol,next time a bit of nice red cab to forget about that meal lol.great video!

You both make me want to find my amore:) couple goals!!!!! Sending love from Canada ❤❤❤❤

He doesn't look pleased after you rushed him to get going and it was just a pick up and return home. Just subscribed.😂😂😂😂

Your the most beautiful couple ive ever seen the love and honesty u both have is an inspiration. Your food vlogs and review is gold honest and truthful i would follow ur food recommendations alessio knows his food.

Never thought I'd hear the day when Alessio said something at Olive Garden is better.

I don’t know about other places, but in NYC, all rideshare drivers are professional drivers. You have to have a special class state DL, a taxi and limousine commission license, and your car must have special registration/inspections. Waiting until your customer walks into the front door is normal behavior, for your safety. It has nothing to do with tips. It’s to make sure you’re in, safe. As far as Rao’s… during the pandemic most New Yorkers got a chance to find out that Rao’s food actually sucks. It’s not just not Northern Italian food… it’s generally not Italian food.

Hi, you remind me of my cousin and her husband his is from Sicily, I think, but she is older then my father and I am 45 he is the baby of 9 kids. All I remember at thanks giving is he would cook some dish for the adults and have lots of wine. He at that time I sometimes couldn't understand him when he would talk he had a really thick accent. All I know is he was a chef in Beverly Hills for an Italian place

Nice Honest Review You Guys! Love The Channel! Anthony

Always trust an Italian's emotions, especially when there is food involved.

We rarely eat at Italian restaurants. I grew up in a Sicilian household. Always had the best homemade Sicilian/Italian food. My closest friends are of Sicilian descent as well. We all grew up together in Monterey, California. Whenever we get together, which is often, and eat Italian food that we’ve made, we have to critique everything we prepared. I don’t know if it’s just a Sicilian thing or what. So, you can only imagine when we go to an Italian restaurant…

Love you guys. My question is about your fur baby Micha. I am surprised that you take her along on vacations. Does she adjust well to new surroundings?

That's a cool cat that looks like knows that you two eat some good food.

I’ve actually pretty much stopped eating out. I’m constantly getting disappointed in the taste of their food. My thought is always “I can make it better at home”. There is only one restaurants food that I can’t make better at home

I just ordered some Mutti tomato purée based on one of your earlier videos. I can’t get it anywhere nearby so I just ordered it from Amazon. It’s supposed to show up tomorrow. Rao’s Arrabbiata has been my “go to” sauce for years. It’ll be fun to try something new. I know it won’t have as much flavor, but I have a bunch of spices I can throw in if I really want to spice it up, rather than keep it light and fresh.

Yeah, that chicken was soooo suspect, even from way over here! 😂

Did you try Carmine's? It's another Italian-American spot and their servings are HUGE!

Thank you so much for giving us your honest thoughts and opinions! Always trust the Pasinis!

Amore this is no lemon sauce I love him!! U guys re both great!! My name is carlo I live upstate in Albany I’m from siderno Calabria would love to link up with u guys my mother would love to cook for him too seeing he’s probably homesick from missing his mothers cooking I’m sure good little Italian boy he is

I’m glad that Rao’s now offers take-out on their website but the you can’t fully recreate the Rao’s experience...the year-round holiday decor, the conviviality among the diners, the jukebox, there’s no substitute for that. It is so worth it!

Thank you. It makes me regret buying their fettuccini that was on sale at the grocery yesterday. I also got fresh Rana and Rommo is coming today. La Molisano when I can get it somewhere for a sensible price (I live in a very rural town). Back to Raos... I've always felt they are more about marketing than food quality. I do love the sauce, it's convenient, but due to the sodium I am back to making my own and am happy. They sell it though giving the impression that their restaurant is "family" oriented or old world traditional Italian. It's very disappointing to see that it's all lies. Maybe the children got business degrees instead of learning to cook. You took such care with making this video. It was not only interesting, but you answered all of the questions I had. I'm sorry you had such a poor meal. It makes watching you share meals you love so much more enjoyable. Wishing you a safe winter and wonderful holidays

You can buy Rao's pasta, jar sauces, jar soups, and frozen entries all over the eastern US now. I didn't like jar alfredo until I bought their label ($7-9) because it uses real parm, and romano, cream, and lots of butter. I'd spend that much on making it myself so it's a good value considering the quality ingredients.

As she dips the chicken..."the courage of this girl!" lol. Always enjoy your videos.

I've heard Edmonton alberta Canada is alot like new York when it comes to food and the art atmosphere I've never been to New York but I've lived in Edmonton and I'm only 4 hours away from it so I've always been to Edmonton and love the food that's around the city

I have heard that it's virtually impossible to get a reservation here. The jarred sauce is phenomenal.

The Uber thing is sketchy. You don’t have to like..wait to leave the vicinity in which you’re dropped off to end the trip or even tip lol. You just.. leave. I don’t even tip right away as I’m usually carrying bags or with friends. So I tip later when the app reminds me to rate the driver. Just thought this was weird. First time? 😂 j/k Love your vid’s ❤

Thanks for sharing your day out Did you guys move marry Christmas and as always be safe and best wishes

That’s very surprising. I would have thought Raos would be much better. Have you tried Carmine’s ? They have a very busy restaurant in Times Square. Also, Tony Di Napoli also has a very busy restaurant in Times Square. Both are popular for Italian food served family style. I would be very interested in your review of these 2 very popular Italian restaurants.

That would be hilarious if you guys hung out with Carlo & Sarah!!!

If people want to snag a Rao's reservation, they have a better chance at doing so at their Los Angeles location which is bigger (96 seats) but has the same atmosphere as the NYC one. They also had another location in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace with 260 seats, but they closed it in 2021 after being there for 15 years. The Rao's in NYC was started in 1896 by Joshua Anthony Rao, who moved with his parents from Italy to the US. He bought a small shop in Italian Harlem, once a very large Italian-American community, and ran the restaurant until his death in 1909. Though small, Italian Harlem culture is still kept alive by Rao's and the Giglio Society of East Harlem.

He needs to open a Italian restaurant in the US! Authentic 🙌🏼

I am shooketh to the core. This has been THE restaurant to get into for years in NYC. Thank you for ending 10 years of serious FOMO for me!

Never ate at Rao's but I think their marinara bottles at the store are pretty good actually. Haven't tried the others.

Hi Jessi and Alessio.....Sorry you missed one of the best Italian restaurant in NYC while you were on Arthur Ave in the Bronx. It's DOMINICK RESTAURANT (2335 Arthur Ave.) It's the best. I have been eating there for over 40 years and the place has never let me down. Generation of families have been going there. It's CASH ONLY. Everything tis fresh and comes from the local stores on the Ave. There calamari is out-of -this world. Everything is delicious and their Sunday Gravy is fantastic. Try it and you will see.

You could tell that chicken was burnt just by looking at it

Sadly places like Raos where it is impossible to get a reservation and it's all hyped up are usually overrated. Smaller hole in the wall places like Pasta Eater, where you two visited in one of your videos, is a perfect example of a hidden gem with great food and a cute atmosphere. But nothing can compare to cooking meals at home. Honestly unless you can get a reservation to a Michelin star restaurant specializing in the cuisine you so desire and are prepared to drop some serious cash you may want to stay home. Thank you both for the honest review and for posting your videos. ☺🍝🍷

I love watching you two. I’d have heated this a little before serving. It isn’t anywhere near as good as it should be when served barely lukewarm. A quick microwave on reheat, low power would have done it . Cheers!

You two are adorable! My surrogate Mother was from Modena Italy and your accent reminds me so much of her. Caio

Sounds like a Peter Luger’s review from a couple of years ago.all hype. Thanks for the heads up.

Try Enzo’s in Williamsbridge, Morris Park in the Bronx ! Try the Zuppa di Pesce or pork braciola

QUESTION: If you were in Rome for 3 days before Xmas and staying in this area Largo Angelicum, 00184, where would you eat for pasta? My wife and daughter are traveling and I would love a recommendation, if possible 😀...

If you guys are in the Chicago area I'd love to see you review Maggiano's. Very much Italian American, my Italian american side eats there a lot. Generally we know it isn't the top restaurant in the area but it is always very consistent where ever you go. I am guessing it is as good if not slighly better than Raos.

If you like to try non-Italian, I suggest Asuka Sushi, it is delicious. However, Casa Toscana artisan eatery- Bombolone Nutella YUM!

Thank you for the lowdown on the meatballs. Can cross this off my bucket list and won’t make the trip.

What a brilliant idea having an Italian and a Southerner rate real Italian-American food, a type of food that neither of them understand. This place is legendary, and for a good reason. But let's all be KZfaq simps and believe everything that they say instead. Give the food to the cat - it has better taste.

i think these two Really see themseleves as food critiques now :D

So glad you made the video. Raos off the list.

That was an interesting outcome...I was surprised!

I swear by Pasquale's for everything on the menu when I visit Rhode Island. It's real Italian. And so am I.

I am so tired of paying huge prices when going out to eat only to get mediocre food. I mean, it happens all the time anymore. If I am going out and paying a high price, I expect EXCEPTIONAL food quality with EXCELLENT TASTE and be full when I leave. There is nothing more irritating than going out to dinner and paying premium prices only to need to stop for something else to eat on the way home.

Raos is overhyped in my opinion. Last year, they allowed takeout through texting so I tried their food. $25 dollars for Chicken Parm but no pasta. People are really friendly though. They also closed their larger restaurant in Vegas last year. Try John's of 12th street, they been around for about 100 years, much easier to get to and one of the better red sauce joints in NYC

Oh how sad!! I’m not getting to-go food anymore from anywhere. It’s just not good by the time you get it home. I can’t fathom spending that much on one dinner, plus the taxi fare and tip and you probably ate again later! Blessings. 💕

can you do a comparison between italian american and italian food? when i went to italy, i was struck by how much lighter and fresher the food tasted. there was a cleaner, simpler taste to the food. the sauces in the states taste heavy and muddled by comparison

Rao’s hR sauce is fantastic. Their Arrabiatta sauce is spicy and delicious. I love Rao’s. We only use Rao’s sauce. I heard the food was delicious at their restaurant from a woman who ate there. Very good food.

Scusate, non so l'inglese ma guardo i vostri video con i sottotitoli...poi, la faccia di Alessio dice tutto, quindi si capisce cosa pensa😂😂, volevo chiedervi, avete mai pensato di provare L'antica Pesa di Francesco Panella, dicono che è il ristorante delle star, in teoria dovrebbe essere il massimo.

Jeez, thanks for sharing. That is daylight robbery.

I really enjoyed your jarred sauce taste test video. After watching that I tried your choice of Barilla traditional sauce and it is quite close to the homemade sauce at a local Italian restaurant that makes their own pasta and sauce fresh daily, they also make their own sausage and meatballs, it is family owned and operated and Barilla is quite close to their sauce.

Is he a November baby? You two are adorable !

As a New Yorker i always tip cash which delivery people appreciate more. You all should eat Italian at that restaurant on East 17th. If i'm correct address is 45 E 17th st. Most of the Authentic Italian restaurants were in Little Italy which use to be much bigger. The lockdown killed them all

I love Sicillian marinara, I am used to it.

If you guys ever get to Detroit a must eat is Giovanni's Ristorante. The menu is written in Italian.

Did you guys hit up the food? Food always taste better when it’s hot. Thanks for sharing.

Hello Chow so I love you guys and your channel I mean I sit here and watch it all day but I live in Belize I'm an American I can't afford to live in America even though I have a firefighters pension so I live and believes beautiful place beautiful place beautiful people depending on where you live but sometimes I don't eat for days sometimes I don't eat for a week I'm living on peanut butter and tuna it's really hard for me to watch you eat this food now I understand believe me I understand you're giving honest opinions and what not but I think to myself the food that they say is crap I would kill for not get it if it's crap it's crap and I know it's good it's good and what's bad is bad keep doing your thing I guess I just keep watching it because I know what good food is I used to I used to now I'll be happy to live off the scraps that you get it's really hard to explain I'm so underweight I have several palsy and I'm I can't walk anymore I'm living in a third world country illegally good thing people like me I don't know why I watch food channels all day when I know I'm starving just food is my thing so I don't disagree with anything you say but at the same time it's really hard to do but I keep watching I trust your opinions and I used to have a bunch of money and I'm a world traveler but I'm stuck now I have no family I was adopted and then all the people that adopted me passed away everything happens for a reason please don't throw your food away give it to somebody who needs it whoever that may be okay? Please you know your parents used to say eat all your food on your plate because there are people starving in the world well that's true anyways I love you guys keep being honest❤❤❤ thank you😊😊😊

Ive had Rao’s meatballs from the frozen section of the grocery store. I dont know if they are the same as these….. but I really like them- especially fav of frozen meatballs.

Oh you can always tip way later with Lyft and Uber. Just say “Bye, I’ll catch you on the app with the tip!” 💙🙏🏻💙

I like their frozen /ready to eat meals

Hey guys, you shouldn't have to worry about the tip. It's totally optional so I recommend you do what I do- get out the car and don't worry about the driver. I sometimes forget about rating the driver and only do it the next time I call an Uber. Rao's sells their marinara sauce for like $7 a jar, which is insane. Also, you took a Uber to get there so def add that to the price of the meal🙄 You guys are super cute❤🙏

I would cut the meatball before putting on the sauce. That way, the sauce won't roll off. "Olive Garden is better". That's a phrase you will rarely ever hear.

Rao's is definitely one of those places where the reputation, lore, and ambience increases the realistic quality of the food by about 300%.

Wow… appreciate that honest review… What a shame the so called best is not as what it seems…..

You need to take Alessio to Boston and go to Faneuil Hall it is a cornucopia if cheeses and all sorts of epicurian delights from around the world and really awesome Italiano Bakeries and Gelato

If you guys ever come up to Albany, we have a place called Delmonicos Italian Steakhouse. I don't know if it is a chain or not, but I enjoyed their food when I went there.

I think he 4:00 waited to see if you guys got in safe or is most likely adding another ride to his day as in seeing who he should pick up next