When a Shark Tank star gets a taste of old-school Italian dining in New York City, apparently even the most seasoned entrepreneur can find something worth bragging about. Lori Greiner is singing the praises of Rao’s, the legendary East Harlem Italian restaurant, after a special night out that left her raving about its food, hospitality and, most importantly, spicy fried calamari.
The entrepreneur and television personality recently shared her enthusiasm on Instagram, posting a photo outside the iconic restaurant’s unmistakable red façade.
Lori Greiner Is All In on Rao’s Famous Sauce
Greiner made no secret of her affection for Rao’s, revealing that she has been a longtime fan of the brand’s famously popular pasta sauce.
In her Instagram post, she called Rao’s sauce the only one she buys when she isn’t making her own. That’s quite the endorsement from someone whose career revolves around identifying products worth investing in.
But the jarred sauce wasn’t the only thing winning her over. Greiner praised the restaurant’s food and hospitality, singling out its spicy fried calamari as one of the best dishes she has ever had.
High praise, indeed. In a city where everyone has a favorite Italian restaurant and an opinion about the perfect red sauce, that’s a serious culinary compliment.
Inside NYC’s Legendary Rao’s
Located in East Harlem, Rao’s has earned legendary status for its traditional Italian-American cooking and notoriously difficult-to-secure tables. The intimate restaurant has long attracted celebrities, influential New Yorkers and diners lucky enough to land an invitation.
Its reputation is built on classic hospitality, familiar Italian flavors and a fiercely loyal following. This isn’t the kind of restaurant that needs a flashy new concept every season. Its old-school charm is the entire point.
Greiner’s visit offers another reminder of Rao’s enduring appeal: sometimes the biggest restaurant flex isn’t a celebrity chef or a 20-course tasting menu. It’s a plate of calamari done exceptionally well.
A Shark Tank Star’s NYC Food Favorite
Between the famous sauce, historic atmosphere and spicy fried calamari, Rao’s clearly made an impression on Greiner.
For New Yorkers and visitors alike, her glowing review adds another reason to dream about scoring a seat at one of the city’s most talked-about Italian restaurants.
