Rao’s had the recipe for success during the World Series — hosting VIP dinners for Major League Baseball at its famed NYC as well as Los Angeles locations.
We hear that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred brought out the first ceremonial meatball on Tuesday night at a private dinner at the impossible-to-get-into East Harlem eatery before the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the Bronx.
At an earlier LA version of the saucy Series celebration, MLB Deputy Commissioner Noah Garden did the honors on the opening meatball.
Attendees included former baseball greats CC Sabathia, Gary Sheffield, Nick Swisher, Dellin Betances, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins.
At the uptown celebration, rapper Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, did an impromptu rendition of “Walk This Way” for lucky diners.
Rao’s Frank Pellegrino Jr. hosted the LA event, while the famed resto’s other partner, Ron Straci, was in NYC. Mayor of the meatball, chef Dino Gatto, was behind the menu.
A source said that stirring the proverbial sauce behind the events was serial entrepreneur Kenny Dichter, whose latest venture is REAL SLX, a “global sports and lifestyle experience club.”
Rao’s and Dichter have previously teamed on sporty pop-ups at of the eatery at events including the Super Bowl and the Masters.
We’ve also reported that Rao’s is keeping an eye out for a permanent Las Vegas location — after the restaurant’s previous permanent Sin City spot closed in 2021 following an impressive 15-year run at Caesars Palace.
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