The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black isn’t just serving world-class golf this September. For four nights, it’s serving up family-style Italian dining with the kind of exclusivity that makes getting a table inside Rao’s feel like winning a lottery.
From September 25 to 28, following match play each evening, Rao’s, the legendary East Harlem institution known for its impossible-to-get reservations, will open a full replica of its restaurant on site—cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and Southern Italian classics served inside a custom-built dining experience. The guest list will be strictly invite-only. Tables fit six, eight, or ten, and availability is limited to Ryder Cup attendees.
This is not Rao’s first time popping up at a big event, but organizers are billing this as their most exclusive pop-up yet. Co-owner Frank Pellegrino Jr. points out that Rao’s has always been about family, tradition, and creating memories around the table. Making that part of the Ryder Cup experience feels like a power move rooted in deep cultural integrity. The PGA’s commercial chief called it “truly unmatched,” combining the thrill of golf’s biggest team event with New York’s most revered dining experience.
It’s the kind of crossover our culture loves. You spend your day watching the Ryder Cup chase history, then step into a dining room that transports you to East Harlem, sauce ladled out with no apologies, laughter echoing like home. The invitation to this—now that’s as rare as getting into the real Rao’s in the city.
Rao’s at the Ryder Cup is more than a pop-up. It’s a statement. It’s where Italian-American tradition meets championship passion. Reservation? Forget it. But if you’ve got the invite, you’ve hit the jackpot.
