Notoriously Exclusive Rao’s Is Already Flooded With Orders After Jumping Into Takeout

More luxe and exclusive NYC restaurants are jumping into delivery and takeout amid the ongoing novel coronavirus-related shutdown on dining in at the city’s restaurants and bars. Venerable East Harlem red sauce joint Rao’s — one of the hardest spots to get into in the city — is now doing take out and limited delivery, the New York Post reports. Also joining the list are Midtown omakase Sushi Yasuda and Williamsburg’s Peter Luger Steakhouse.

At East Harlem’s Rao, where it’s impossible to get in without a connection, employee Marc Mel posted on Instagram about the restaurant doing takeout and about the possibility of delivery.

The restaurant has already been inundated with orders, Mel writes via Instagram message to Eater. Rao’s has compiled a list of numbers based on the orders it received on Instagram and is slowly making its way through the list, according to Mel. “Just trying to figure out a way to make it all work,” he writes.

Midtown’s Michelin-starred Sushi Yasuda is now offering its entire menu for takeout and some limited delivery as well courtesy of its own staff. Along with a market price omakase, which is usually priced in the $200 range, there’s also a selection of a la carte sushi, salads, and soups along with sake, beer, and wine now that the state has eased up its restrictions on serving liquor for takeout and delivery. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery from Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nick Solares/Eater

The 133-year-old steakhouse institution Peter Luger’s is open for takeout — the business, which famously doesn’t take credit card, has even temporarily set itself up to take it as a payment “to reduce contact,” owner David Turtel tells Eater. Thick-sliced bacon, creamed spinach, and the famed Luger burger are all available, and the dry-aged steaks may be purchased raw for home cooking.

A message on the restaurant’s website encourages diners to order an hour before pick up. The current menu is a condensed version of their original one. It’s available from 11:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. daily.

These luxe spots now join restaurants like Carbone — also a tough reservation that’s been swamped with lines since it opened for takeout — and Shoji at 69 Leonard, which are offering takeout in light of the state mandate that has shuttered dining in at the city’s restaurants and bars.

• Famed eatery Rao’s offering takeout amid coronavirus lockdown [NYP]