Rao’s Hollywood will close its doors at the end of the month. The closure of the Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, with its East Coast roots and traditional cuisine, marks a significant change in the restaurant industry in Southern California.
Rao’s Hollywood to Close at the End of the Month
Rao’s dates back to 1896 in East Harlem, New York. It grew into one of the most well-known Italian restaurants in the country. The brand has become known for Southern Italian cuisine and intimate, old-school dining experience.
It has since spread out of New York to its U.S. Hollywood and Miami branches as well. The menu of Rao’s Hollywood features meatballs and homemade pasta, seafood entrees, and specials like lemon chicken and veal parmigiana.
Throughout the years, Rao’s gained fame in L.A. as the place to get the high-end yet nostalgic cuisine without having to go to Manhattan. It attracted both locals and visitors seeking a taste of the legendary brand.
Rao’s Hollywood announced the closure on its official website. After 13 years of service, the restaurant will shut its doors permanently on February 28, 2026. Patrons can visit for authentic Italian cuisine in the final days of Rao’s.
What Led to the Decision to Close
There has been a rising trend in the closures of restaurants in Los Angeles as a result of the changing trends in dining, the rising cost of operations, and consumer habits. Some of these attributes affected a renowned destination like Rao’s as well.
Firstly, the recent sale of the property in which Rao’s Hollywood operated led to its lease termination. Then, the restaurant tried to find another spot, but the situation of the hospitality industry in L.A. made it difficult too.
Wildfires, Hollywood studio strikes, and economic changes cumulatively led to the end of the restaurant’s journey.
As the Hollywood premise is about to close its doors, Rao’s is preserving its long-time tradition in the culinary industry through its other restaurants and its line of nationally acclaimed Italian food products.
